June 2013 – Ferretti Yachts presents Ferretti 960, the largest planing pleasure boat ever designed and built by the Group’s historical brand. Registered as a CE craft below 24 metres in length, this new yacht develops further the design philosophy embraced by the brand over the last few years, maximising its concepts and contents with the aim of achieving an unprecedented product in its category. This is the core philosophy behind this new flagship, entirely built at Ferretti Group’s Cattolica shipyard.
The Ferrretti 960 is yet another outstanding result of the close cooperation between Studio Zuccon International Project, which designs Ferretti Yachts’s entire range, AYTD – Advanced Yacht Technology & Design, and Ferretti Group’s team of engineers, architects and designers. This new yacht preserves the hull design and waterlines of the previous flagship, the Ferretti 881 - one of the most successful models for the brand -, while developing it further, thereby becoming the latter’s legitimate heir.
Thanks to its 29.20-metre overall length and 23.98-metre hull length, the new flagship belongs to the CE design category and can therefore be managed as a pleasure boat, without requiring the presence of a professional captain, while offering impressive habitability and comfort compared to other models in its class. Ferretti 960 makes the most of the layout concepts currently found even on larger models in its class: indeed, the new flagship is Ferretti Yachts’s first planing yacht boasting the master cabin forward, on the main deck, and as many as four guest cabins, all equally sized and with equivalent furnishings and fittings, located on the lower deck. The layout - of which alternative versions will be available so as to meet the needs of the various international markets on which the Group is currently present - also features three crew cabins with reserved access from the galley, a solution normally found on maxi-yachts only, ensuring the outmost privacy for the Owner.
The external profile sets a new trend in the design of large planing hulls: the glazing runs along the entire main deck “cutting” it from stern to the extreme bow and contributing to a much lighter profile while ensuring incredible interior brightness. This choice has a considerable impact on the overall design, resulting in a very sporty look and renovating Ferretti Yachts’s top of the range. The lowered gunwale along both broadsides in the middle of the boat, at the level of the dining area, substantially increases indoor brightness and results in lighter outer lines; the raised helm station, in turn, allows to make the most of main deck interior space and reaching a record deck overall surface in this category. Outdoor areas have been extended too: the very spacious flybridge is now entirely devoted to total relaxation and leisure activities. Underdeck, the four large hull windows at the height of the guest cabins let through plenty of natural light and strengthen the concept of having “perfectly equivalent” cabins.
AFT AREA AND COCKPIT
One of the main innovations on this new flagship is the aft area, which has been carefully designed and reinterpreted creating a brand-new concept of aft area, which is indeed now conceived to be entirely enjoyed for leisure activities, without any detriment, however, to its traditional functions, i.e. storing equipment and launching the tender. The garage door features a series of comfortable sun pads which de facto turn it into a chaise longue with a magnificent sea view. The door pistons have been hidden in the upper part of the door, preserving this area’s aesthetic features at best. The swimming platform is fitted with a convenient mobile section which makes it much easier to launch and haul the tender, the seabob, and any other items stored in the garage. The lift can be lowered to various depths and can therefore also be used as a platform to dive into the water or get back onboard. Once the garage door is opened, the central part of the swimming platform can be lowered to flood part of the garage, so that the tender can easily slide into the water with no need for any davit. The garage is really large: it can store an approximately 4.5 metre-long tender and various equipment, such as diving gear, thanks to several peaks. Access to the engine room is also gained from astern, through a door located under the left steps leading to the swimming platform: when these steps are lifted, a watertight door is disclosed. The cockpit is very large, comparable to those found on much larger yachts, and is furnished with a large C-shaped sofa and a wooden dining table that can seat up to eight people.
MAIN DECK
The glazed door of the cockpit - electrically driven upon request - leads to the main deck interiors, whose layout stands out, first and foremost, for a large open space salon divided into the living area and the dining area. Oak wood has been used for all furniture and furnishings, with details in walnut stained oak wood, like the window frames, with a courtesy backlight, and the shelves hanging above the floor units. When accessing the salon a bar unit with icemaker and a small bottle rack can be found on the right hand side. Long, uninterrupted glazing grants a wonderful view on the sea, which is even more striking in the central part on both broadsides, between the sofa and the dining area, thanks to the lowered gunwales. Moreover, two full-height windows have been inserted along the broadsides; upon request they can be replaced by sliding glazed doors connecting the interiors to the sidedecks. To starboard stands a unit with the hiding-TV-set, which can fit a screen up to 55” wide. Opposite are a large U-shaped sofa by Poltrona Frau and a smoke-shade table by B&B.
The dining room, signed by Bonaldo and characterised by a glass top and a painted metal base, can be extended to seat up to 12 guests.
The whole central part of the main deck has been designed as a lobby area and to divide circulation routes to the upper and the lower decks. The starboard lobby grants access to the day toilet and leads towards the master quarters, located forward, while in the middle a staircase allows to reach the lower deck. Maximum safety along the stairs is ensured by a wooden balustrade with a leather-lined curved handrail.
Along the port broadside, another passageway leads forward to the galley; alternatively, going up the stairs on the right the mezzanine floor can be reached, where the raised helm station is to be found.
The master cabin has been conceived to ensure the utmost privacy end comfort, also thanks to the flawless noiselessness obtained by installing a series of multi-layer soundproofing bulwarks that divide it from the galley. Stepping into the cabin, a walk-in wardrobe with a double sliding door can immediately be found on the right hand side, while on the left are a large chest of drawers and a full-height mirror.
Along the entire starboard broadside, under the glazing, the cabin is furnished with a unit with vanity set and several storage compartments. The TV set, located in the aft part of the cabin, is just in front of the double bed, featuring a leather and metallic Kvadrat fabric headboard. Lighting, particularly the backlights installed in the window frames, has been carefully arranged to further enhance volumes and geometric features, as well as the contrast with the original headboard inserts.
The bathroom, located at the extreme bow, is on a lower level and features a double washbasin in Corian by Antonio Lupi. Bulwark lining is characterised by horizontal stripes in various materials and colours: the central one, at the height of the washbasins, is lacquered in white and covered by a dark-lacquered partition near the mirror. The shower box and the toilet are divided from the rest of the bathroom by glazed walls by Bianchi&Fontana. The LED lighting above the mirror adds another refined touch to this very airy room, which benefits from the natural light let through by the end section of the long glazing running along the entire main deck.
The galley is located forward to portside, and can rely on three different accessways, allowing to create dedicated onboard routes, direct access to the underdeck crew cabins, and, hence, maximum privacy for the owner and his guests. Access to the galley can also be gained from the salon and through an external door along the port broadside. Signed by Ernestomeda, it is in lacquered wood with white quartz work top and features a service dinette, a side-by-side fridge, and Bosch household appliances, as well as several compartments forward and on the left.
LOWER DECK
Access to the four underdeck cabins is through a central lobby fitted with a front mirror. The double cabins are identical and allow the owner to offer his guests perfectly equivalent cabins, all with ensuite bathroom, separate shower box, and spacious storage areas. The two forward cabins are fitted with sliding beds and can therefore conveniently been converted into twin cabins.
Oak wood has been used in all cabins, adding walnut stained oak wood details at the basis of the walls and in the beside tables. The most distinctive element, which also contributes to highlighting the large hull glazing, is the wide Alcantara headboard which, besides being used to store the curtains, extends all the way to the ceiling covering the entire wall and curving at the sides, thereby “softly embracing” the guests in their sleep - a feeling that is further enhanced by the backlighting found along the entire bulwark. Leather is the main material used for the headboard and the stripe running around the bed. The bathroom has floor and furniture tops in walnut stained oak wood, while the wall hanging units are in oak wood. The washbasin is by Antonio Lupi, with a Corian top. The bathroom walls are characterised by the same curved shapes found in the cabins, resulting in a flawlessly harmonious style. The shower is separated from the rest of the bathroom by a glass wall.
Great care has been devoted to the soundproofing of all cabins on the lower deck too: multi-layer bulwarks have been built to dampen the noise and vibrations coming from the engine room, the crew area, and the adjacent cabins. The crew quarters, located at the extreme bow and accessible directly from the galley, include three cabins hosting up to five people and several storage compartments. The captain cabin - to starboard - is fitted with a bathroom and separate shower box, while the two sailor cabins, with twin beds, at the extreme bow, share a bathroom with separate shower box. There is also a passageway with a corner fitted with a washing machine and a tumble drier.
FLYBRIDGE, HELM STATION AND OUTDOOR AREAS
Access to the spacious flybridge is gained via the cockpit staircase and from the helm station located on the mezzanine floor. The outdoor areas on the upper deck are even larger thanks to the possibility to store the tender in the garage under the cockpit and can are now entirely devoted to relaxation and leisure. However, upon request, a davit can be installed on the raised fibreglass basement where, in the standard version, life rafts are normally stored.
On the left-hand side of the flybridge is the helm station, furnished with an electrically-adjustable height pilot seat. Behind it stands a spacious U-shaped sofa with two separate tables that can be joined together thanks to two wooden trays, offering maximum comfort. On the right hand side is the co-pilot seat and, upon request, an additional steering panel to simplify manoeuvring even further. Behind it, the bar area is furnished with two units containing the fridge, the sink, the grill and - upon request - an icemaker, and with a raised glass top where cocktails can be served or food be stored. The aft sundeck can be fitted with a Jacuzzi tub. The whole area is sheltered by a hard top with central opening section. The aft area, entirely surrounded by handrails, can be fitted with free-standing seats.
The helm station, on the main deck, is connected to the flybridge by a central glass hatch; it is very spacious and fitted with a large number of peaks and bookshelves above the stairs coming from the main deck; the glass windshield offers the captain the best possible visibility. The forward outdoor area on the main deck features two large anchor chain peaks and is furnished with two sofas with large storage compartments under the seat, separated by a ladder leading to the wide forward sundeck, on the deckhouse.
ENGINE ROOM AND PROPULSION
Ferretti Yachts's first CE-certified 96-footer, the brand's new flagship, can be fitted with three different sets of MTU engines. The standard version has two 16V 2000 M84, 2218 mhp engines allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 27.5 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots. Two optional solutions include two 16V M93, 2435 mhp engines or two 16V M94, 2638 mhp engines, respectively. In the former version, the maximum speed will be 29 knots, the cruising speed 25; in the more powerful version, installed on the first hull, the Ferretti 960 can reach a peak of 31 knots and enjoy a cruising speed of 27 knots (preliminary data). The ARG (Anti Rolling Gyro) system is standard, to ensure maximum onboard comfort. Underway stabilising fins can also be installed upon request, to ensure even smoother navigation.