Benetti's 56m "Galaxy" - First Pics!

Galaxy is the first motor yacht built by Benetti in the new Livorno facility. She symbolizes the dawn of a new era for Benetti. Galaxy was commissioned by an Australian Owner, who put together his team, comprising the Benetti technical office and project manager Walter d’Avanzo, the Owner’s Representatives Geoff Lovett and Neil Cheston from Camper & Nicholsons and the technical surveyor Greg Morrison.

The naval architecture comes from Benetti’s technical office while the exterior styling from Stefano Natucci. The interior layout is also by Stefano Natucci, but the styling has been planned by the Owner’s private interior specialist, who also designed and decorated his homes in Melbourne and Los Angeles.

First Launch Picture...

Out of this world...

Galaxy's "Mini-Me"...

Launch Celebration Podium...

The Ceremony...

The christening of Galaxy...

Even though the Owner will use GALAXY for family cruising, she was conceived with selective charter in mind. Accommodation is for 14 guests in 6 cabins comprising the Owner’s Suite (on the main deck), 2 Double Cabins and 2 Twin Cabins with Pullman bed (on the lower deck), and a VIP cabin (on the upper deck). She accommodates 14 to 16 crew in 8 cabins (two extra crew cabins are located on the under lower deck). 5 cabin on the Lower deck, 2 Cabin on under lower deck, captain’s cabin on upper deck.

Several exotic timbers have been chosen for the interior of GALAXY, among them eucalyptus, European plane tree, maple burl and sycamore. Boarding via the main deck passerelle, guests can relax on the covered aft deck on a large built-in sofa with 12 seats, with rectangular teak table. Coming inside, into the creme / beige coloured main saloon, through twin electrical sliding doors, the seating area is quite inviting. Two oval loose sofas can seat 14 people. Cabinets have been placed on both sides of the yacht to allow storage for glasses, crockery, silverware.

The main deck saloon, dining room and lobby are vertically panelled in timber and leather and the dining table is rectangular with an extension for 10/14 person. Large side windows afford a great view over the sea, with electrically operated curtains and blinds. Two pop-up 50 ” plasma tv, port and starboard, are linked to DVD and satellite. The floors of the area as well as lobbies, main foyer, upper deck saloon and veranda are burma teak parquet, giving the yacht a cosy, yet vibrant atmosphere.

Forward is the professional galley in stainless steel with an extensive list of equipment including microwave, water softener, electric deep fat fryer, electric square plates and induction, steam and regular oven, compactor, dish-washer, large 3 door fridge, heating lamps, etc). The dumbwaiter goes from the pantry up to the sundeck, but in addition to this, one of the special features of Galaxy is the food lift that goes from the galley to the under lower deck, where the large cold room and dry storage is located.

Accessing to the Owners quarters through the main lobby, guests will discover another of GALAXY’s unusual features - the round, glass-panelled elevator from the lower deck right up to the sundeck, landing under cover in the spacious gymnasium. The maple burl powder room is located to starboard.

The beige / light brown full beam Owner’s suite in clear maple burl is located forward on the main deck. It is composed of three separate areas:

1. The owner’s stateroom with His and Her bathrooms ( in Honey Onyx), and dressing rooms. The plasma screen 42”slides out from the panel to starboard to face the king size bed.

2. The lounge, located forward and up the stairs allowing a great view over the sea through the 9 windows. This area features Her desk to starboard and another plasma screen to port. Built-in sofas allow comfortable seating.

3. Owner’s private study with desk and office’s equipment.
The 4 guest cabins are located mid ships on the light green lower deck and can be accessed through the central main staircase or by the glass elevator down to the guests lobby, fitted with a cabinet mini - bar. Eight to ten guests can be accommodated in 2 double cabins with queen size beds and 2 twin cabins with 120cm beds with pullmans. All the guests cabins have their own individual 26" plasma tv / multizone DVD and music centre. The port forward twin is made of European plane tree, and the starboard one of eucalyptus. The port cabin bathroom is decorated with laguna green marble, and the starboard one with Guatemala green. The 2 double cabins are aft. The wood used is birdeye maple port and harewood starboard. Their bathrooms feature jacuzzi bathtubs and separate toilet. The port one is decorated with stallatite marble and the starboard one with Egyptian Yellow.

The oak wheelhouse with 9 windows allowing a 180° view and the radio room with audio and TV receiver are located on the upper deck, as well as the captain’s cabin and bathroom and his office. The wood chosen for this area is birdseye maple. The large rectangular window allows for a great view outside.
Navigation and Communications equipment list available on request.

The natural colour bur maple burl VIP cabin is located to starboard. Its large rectangular window going all length of the cabin makes it quite special. It features a queen size bed and a large ensuite orange onyx bathroom with jacuzzi bathtub. The welcoming skylounge is dedicated to the entertainment of the guests thanks to a large corner bar, the game table and its 4 chairs, its 2 separate seating areas with sofas and lose armchairs. It is made of European plane tree and the floor is burma teak parquet. A 42” plasma screen and a 77” retractable screen with a projector equip this are that can become a home cinema.

To allow top quality service, the bar area communicates with the pantry and with the crew stairs. This is also the area where the dumb waiter is located. The bar area and pantry are equipped with day fridge, icemaker, wine cellar for 70 bottles, espresso machine, dishwasher, microwave.

One of the most exciting features of Galaxy is its large glass panelled panoramic dining room in European plain tree and with burma teak floor. Access is possible through the glass door in the skylounge, or from the outside area of the upper deck. 2 of the 4 central glass panels open electrically and allow a 180° view on the sea. The enlargeable round table can seat 8 to 14 for formal or informal dinner. The pulpit is aft of the panoramic dining room

The sundeck layout is definitely a true innovation as the input of the Owner generated lots of changes in the accommodation. The white lacquered wood gym is located in the centre of the deck, surrounded with glass windows. The lift arrives inside the room. Therefore, the guests can go up to exercise or to relax the jacuzzi pool - which is completely veneered with teak planks - without running into the crew. A large cabinet has been designed to store towels. The Hi-Fi system stands alone. In the gym there is: a running machine, a trade mill, a cross trainer bicycle, and racks for weights. Each machine is equipped with its independent TV. Access to the gym is through sliding glass doors on each side. The large Jacuzzi pool located forward is protected from the breeze with plexiglass screens, and is surrounded with 2 corner sofas.

The bar area hides the dumb waiter, storage, sink, fridge and ice maker. The aft part of the sundeck is dedicated to relaxation and dining on an wood oval glossy teak table for 12 guests with lose chairs and built in sofa. Behind are placed very 5 comfortable sun lounges. On this area can land an helicopter. A custom awning has been designed to shade the dining area. The yacht features underwater lighting on the stern. Another interesting outside feature of Galaxy is the hydraulic side-boarding ladder, fully automatic, with self-levelling, teak steps and stainless steel stanchions. This enables guests to embark and disembark on the starboard side of the yacht with direct access to the main deck lobby. The garage stores a NOVURANIA 660 (2 X 90 hp Yamaha) tender, 2 Yamaha Jet skis, a sunfish sailing boat and a lot of water toys.

Galaxy Specifications:

Builder: Benetti Shipyard – Livorno, Italy
Material: Steel Hull and Aluminium Superstructure
Length: 56 m
Beam: 10,40 m
Draft: 3,1 m
Displacement: 805 tons
Fuel capacity: 130 000 litres
Fresh water capacity: 20 000 litres
Main Engines: 2 x Caterpillar 3512B, rating C HD, 1 850 hp@1600rpm
Maximum Speed: 16 knots
Cruising Speed: 15 knots
Long range speed: 12 knots
Range at 12 knots: 5.000 n.m. approx.
Generators:
1 x Caterpillar 155kW; 1 x Caterpillar 200kW;
1 x Caterpillar 30kW
Bow thruster: Vosper
Watermaker: 2 x Idromar 12000 litres / day
Stabilisers: Vosper
Propellers : 2 x Five blades Benetti design
Exterior Styling: Stefano Natucci
Interior Styling: Stefano Natucci / Owners
Accommodation for Guests: 14 persons
Accommodation for Crew: 14 to 16 persons
Classification: Lloyd’s Register of Shipping – MCA compliant

Front Page Picture...

Artist's rendering...

Deck Plans:

1. Flybridge
2. Upper Deck
3. Main Deck
4. Lower Deck
5. Crew Quarters