VESSEL REVIEW | Cerulean – Custom steel/aluminium yacht for Atlantic fishing and diving trips
Italian builder CRN has delivered the displacement motor yacht Cerulean to her owner following the completion of tests and sea trials at its yard in Ancona.
The one-off vessel was designed to meet the owner's request for a motor yacht capable of lengthy cruises and able to support his existing sailing yacht.
Dutch studio Vripack developed Cerulean's exterior, early stage naval architecture, and overall layout. CRN undertook engineering and construction, while Nauta designed the interiors and outdoor living areas.
As the owner's representative and project manager, Y.CO oversaw inspection and acceptance, monitored construction through all its phases, and coordinated third-party suppliers.
Agile vessel inspired by sail-equipped contemporaries
The owner competes in regattas, and Vripack said his mandate shifted the design away from the bottom-heavy profile of modern motor yachts in favour of the sharp entry lines associated with sailing yachts. The result is a low-profile hull with a long, narrow waterline entry and elongated bow. Its bilges curve into a smooth exterior, and it was developed for efficient cruising and convenient manoeuvring.
"The family's design inspiration very much came from the long and elegant close-to-the-water lines of graceful sailing yachts," said Vripack co-creative director Marnix Hoekstra.
The yacht has no bulbous bow. According to Hoekstra, tank testing showed the narrow entry was efficient enough that a bulb would add more resistance than it removed.
"The reduction of resistance is so low that it doesn't weigh up to the added resistance of the bulb," he said. "The tank testing facility said they'd never seen it before but advised us against adding the bulb as the hull is already super-efficient."
The sheer line formed the starting point of the design work. The owner also requested vertical lines be used consistently across the yacht, including on every window mullion. Vripack said this added complexity because the lines shaped the flow of the interior layout.
Cerulean has a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure. She has an LOA of 70 metres (230 feet), a beam of 11 metres (36 feet), a draught of only three metres (10 feet), and a gross tonnage of 1,100 across four decks.
Ample accommodation coupled with energy-saving features
Propulsion is provided by two MAN V12 engines each rated at 1,213 kW (1,630 hp). Vripack listed a cruising speed of 12 knots and a maximum speed of 15.5 knots.
The yacht is also fitted with an energy storage system (ESS) that manages onboard energy flows in line with the planned operating profile. The ESS also provides peak shaving and enables silent operation at anchor.
CRN said the system helps substantially reduce fuel consumption.
The owner's suite and five VIP cabins can accommodate 12 guests, while nine cabins house the 15 crewmembers.
An enlarged swim platform at the stern provides water access and additional deck area, and the top deck has a glass-enclosed garden.
Vripack began design work in 2018. In May 2024, the hull was transported by barge to the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, where a full 3D scan of the hull was carried out before the installation of machinery and onboard systems and the start of outfitting. The yacht was launched on June 4, 2026.
Cerulean is intended to serve as a base for diving, sailing and fishing during cruises in the Mediterranean and between Florida and the Bahamas. A smaller sailboat is also planned for delivery alongside her.
