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The Baia 78 Atlantica Makes an Open-and-Shut Case for Italian Design.
by Louisa Beckett
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10/01/2005
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| Baia 78 |  |
When it comes to the Baia Atlantica 78 Cruiser, "open"
describes not only what she is, but also what she does. With the push of a
button, her double-jointed hardtop folds back and the rear glass door slides up,
opening the salon and pilothouse to the breeze. "The trend is toward hardtops,
but we didn’t want to lose the feeling of being in an open boat," said Mario
Borselli, Baia sales manager, during a recent sea trial.
A side door in the structure also rises, gull-wing style, to
allow access to the vast foredeck area, which features an unusual nonskid
pattern. "It is copied from Michelangelo’s floor for the Capitoleum in Rome,"
Borselli said.
| Click on the Spec tab at top to see complete list of resources. |
Italian styling infuses every aspect of Carlo Galeazzi’s design
for the Baia 78. The yacht’s sleek profile minimizes functional items such as
portlights and railings while emphasizing stylish details like the wraparound windshield and winged hardtop. The aft deck holds an enormous sun pad, mandatory
for lazy afternoons in the Med.
Opening the cockpit door unites exterior and interior seating
areas to form an extended salon. Inside, the curvilinear leather furniture,
metallic bar and high-tech helm impart a sporty, masculine feel. The
windshield’s dramatic design sacrifices some interior space but makes up for it
with 360-degree views.
The lower deck has a semi-custom layout available in three- and
four-stateroom configurations. Each features a large, angled master with desk
and ample closet space, a VIP and quarters for two crew off a stainless galley.
The owner can work with Galeazzi in selecting decor from a variety of woods and
color schemes.
While the interior accommodations support the hardtop version’s
"Cruiser" label, the 78 Atlantica is really a sport yacht. Baia was the first
shipyard in Europe to design hulls specifically for use with Arneson drives, and
the boat’s performance when powered by Arnesons coupled to 2,000-hp MTUs
reflects this experience. On sea trial, the kevlar-and-vinylester resin hull
planed instantly and sliced cleanly through five-foot seas. She stayed on plane
down to 16 knots; a safety advantage in rough conditions. Cruise speed was
43 knots at 2,200 rpm and top end, achieved at 2,350 in smooth water, was 48
knots.
Combining speed with style, the Baia 78 Atlantica appeals to
the sportsman with a taste for luxury.
Contact Cantieri di Baia at 39 081 8687231. www.baiayacht.it.
In the
U.S.,
contact Global Yachts at 305-371-2628.
www.globalyachts.com
 Waterfront: A Meter, But So Much More
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