Just as an archipelago is a collection of islands, Archipelago has been collecting adventures since delivery in the summer of 2019. In fact, the owners only paused enough just recently to let those of us in the media take you on an onboard tour. This fifth Darwin 102 from Cantiere delle Marche reveals why the series remains so successful.
Interestingly, Vasco Buonpensiere, the yard’s co-founder and sales and marketing director, asserts that the series is the most successful explorer between 90 and 110 feet (27.4 and 33.5 meters). Like the others in the Darwin Class range, Archipelago has 12-milimeter-thick steel plating, denser than typical for yachts. The emphasis on long-range cruising, as proven by Galego and other Darwin 102s, keeps customers coming, too. Specifically, Archipelago should achieve 4,700 nautical miles at 9½ knots under Caterpillar power and top out at 13 knots.
Even with a set technical package by Hydro Tec, the Darwin 102 series provides plenty of opportunity for personalization. The wife half of the owners collaborated closely with Francesco Guida and the shipyard’s own interiors department to incorporate not only colors echoing the sea and sky, but also a sink-in-and-relax ambience.
Primarily, whites plus subdued greens and blues highlight the 24-foot (7.43-meter) beam. The entire party of 10 can lounge in the saloon, for example, where the mood is slightly more formal than the skylounge. Despite that formality, the saloon still welcomes for the shorts-and-T-shirts set. In both rooms, furnishing arrangements encourage spending time with one another while simultaneously focusing on the seascapes. In fact, the skylounge settee partially faces aft for this purpose.
Regardless of where guests focus attention, Archipelago makes use of oak soles, oak and lacquered wall panels, Travertine and grey marbles, plus bouclé and velvet fabrics. Some notable custom furnishings include a teak alfresco dining table aft of the skylounge. Enhancing the formal dining area, meanwhile, a custom oval table has a fractured-glass layer between two clear-glass layers.
Click any of the images in the gallery above to take an armchair tour of Archipelago.
Cantiere delle Marche cantieredellemarche.it
Hydro Tec hydrotec.it
Guida Design & Engineering guidadesign.it
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