Cantieri Navali Codecasa can trace its roots all the way back to 1825 when Giovanni Battista Codecasa began building wooden sailboats in Viareggio. In the last century, the shipyard became one of the first in Italy to produce leisure vessels over 30 meters. Today, it specializes in building semi-custom steel-and-aluminum displacement motor yachts, and includes such notable owners as Leonardo Del Vecchio of Luxottica (Moneikos) and Giorgio Armani (Mariù) among its clients.

But undoubtedly the most significant client for CEO Fulvio Codecasa was the one for whom he built the yard’s first-ever open model – his wife. Named for her, 35-meter Maria Carla is an impressive entry into the luxury performance yacht market.

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"My intention with Maria Carla was to produce something very different from the fiberglass opens on the market and that reflected the Codecasa tradition of working in light alloy aluminum," he said. "In fact, the success of Maria Carla has convinced me to open a fourth premises in addition to the three already in operation, where we’ll be able to build open models of up to forty-five meters."

The yacht certainly creates an impact with her gunmetal gray hull and silver superstructure, low-slung radar arch and aggressive profile. "The metallic gray paintwork was all part of the aim to make Maria Carla stick out from the crowd," explains Codecasa. "We also wanted to emphasize her hull over the superstructure, because this is what an open is all about."

An open model’s appearance means little without the performance to back it up, however. Naval architect Andrea Bacigalupo was brought in to design a planing hull that would provide top-level comfort when cruising at a speedy 34 knots. (Click image to enlarge)

Maria Carla is powered by twin 2,775-hp, 12-cylinder MTU engines coupled to KaMeWa water jets. Her engine room would do justice to a much bigger boat. "We’re used to producing fifty-meter yachts," said project manager Roberto Dalle Mura, "so we find it hard to scrimp on space, even in the engine room!" Headroom is never less than six feet, three inches and every piece of equipment is easily accessible, despite the considerable area taken up by the MTUs, two Kohler 33-kW generators, two Idromar watermakers (each producing 4,000 liters of fresh water per day) and a 100,000-Btu air-conditioner unit. There is sufficient space left over for stowage areas and access to a garage that houses a Zodiac 420 tender.A sense of open space runs throughout the yacht. Creating this effect must have taken a decisive readjustment for a yard accustomed to building large displacement yachts, but they seem to have gotten it just right. The second 35 Open, due for launch next summer, has the same layout and similar styling as Maria Carla. "My wife was very involved in the interior décor and worked closely with the designers, Franco and Anna Dellarole," said Codecasa. "The aim was to create a sober, clean-cut interior for an airy, relaxing and elegant ambiance."

Maria Carla’s gray aluminum hull and metallic superstructure emphasize the fact that she is not your typical fiberglass open. Utilizing pale oak and dark wengé, her interior sports a similar contemporary – yet not stark – style, as shown in the main salon and wheelhouse. (Click images to enlarge)

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An LCD screen that, at the flick of a switch, can appear transparent or smoked separates the wheelhouse from the dining area. Utilizing the same technology applied in skyscraper windows, an electrical current in the screen realigns the polygonal liquid crystals to lighten or darken the glass. The dashboard is divided into two distinct areas: one for the engine and water jet controls, and one for the communications and navigation instruments. Three LCD screens display the integrated bridge system that monitors the radar and GPS data, the propulsion-control systems and the closed-circuit TV.

Top: The view aft in the guest accommodations, and Bottom: the full-beam master stateroom, illustrate the spaciousness that pervades Maria Carla’s design. (Click images to enlarge)

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Belowdecks, a central corridor runs fore and aft. A mini-bar recessed into the wall allows guests easy access to cool drinks without having to call a crewmember. The full-beam owner’s cabin is located amidships and features a central king-size bed, chaise lounge, walk-in closet and dressing table. Twin ensuite guest cabins, situated on either side of the corridor, boast nearly three feet of space between the single beds. Hydraulically operated Pullman bunks in each add extra berthing space.

The VIP cabin lies at the forward end of the corridor and is almost as spacious as the owner’s cabin. On most open models, the VIP’s bed is placed forward and the services aft, but Codecasa has put the bathroom and a small wardrobe behind the aft-facing bed’s headboard on a slightly raised level. This unusual arrangement optimizes available space and enhances a cabin that often seems like the poor relation to the owner’s suite.

As befits an open, Maria Carla has lots of sunbathing space on the foredeck, the coach roof and the aft main deck when the Jacuzzi is covered. A WaveRunner and a Sea-Doo are housed in the forward garage under the sun bed. Even here, Codecasa has spared no expense, installing a power socket plus fresh water and compressed air connections, all in stainless steel, for hosing down and cleaning the watercraft.

For a boat that essentially was conceived as a prototype, Maria Carla fulfills every one of Fulvio Codecasa’s expectations. Hull No. 2 will feature an exterior spiral staircase to the flying bridge and topside controls for maneuvering in port, but is otherwise unchanged. "I’m very proud of this yacht," admits Codecasa. "We’ve come up with a high-performance open that provides the same level of comfort as a fifty-meter displacement yacht. That’s simply fantastic."