Roberto Cavalli wanted a yacht that Batman would like to drive! And so, Tommaso Spadolini created the 28m M/Y Freedom for him.
Luxury yacht architect Tommaso Spadolini and Roberto Cavalli’s relationship goes back nearly 20 years when the latter commissioned the 41m Baglietto RC yacht, which he used for his corporate events and for hosting VIP guests. In 2016, Cavalli reconnected with Spadolini to get a personal yacht made, which would only be used to cruise with his partner, accommodate up to four guests, and need no more than three crew members.
“Roberto Cavalli wanted something sporty and aggressive that would reflect his personal approach to life at sea and his strong personality. In his own words, he wanted “a boat that Batman would drive!” shared Spadolini. The resulting yacht was 28m M/Y Freedom with a metallic black hull and superstructure in metallic dark grey and two sweeping arches framing the aft cockpit.
“As he has a nautical licence, Roberto also wanted a smaller boat to be closer to the water and so he could go back to driving it himself, which meant a waterline length of 24m or less. The yacht also had to be capable of 40 knots, which led to specifying three MAN engines coupled to three KaMeWa water jets and lightweight construction using aluminium and carbon fibre,” commented Spadolini.
As Cavalli will be driving the yacht himself, he wished for his suite to be behind the pilothouse – a first on a yacht of this size. The room also offers all-round sea views and natural ventilation. To achieve this Spadolini had to devise a split-level layout whereby the main salon is on the main deck aft with the owner’s suite just four steps above on the same level as the pilothouse.
On the lower deck of Robert Cavalli’s yacht is a VIP suite and a guest cabin (with bunk beds, a bathroom that also serve as a day-head), along with the galley/dinette and accommodation for the crew members. There is also a lovely sundeck lounge, with private access from the owner’s suite. The 3.8m tender is housed under a carbon fibre hood on the foredeck.
“To ensure privacy, the owner’s suite is accessed by a staircase from the main salon that also serves as a private lounge when there are no guests on board. And to provide close contact with the sea the aft deck cockpit is much lower than normal, functioning as a continuous outside space with sliding glass doors on three sides. Lowering the deck height was quite an engineering challenge as the engine room three is directly underneath,” shared Spadolini.
When it came to the interiors, Roberto Cavalli was completely involved. Speaking on the process, he shared, “I’m a creative person, so I wanted to do the interior design myself, which meant selecting all the materials, finishes and accessories. Tommaso assisted me along the way to make sure the chosen furniture would fit properly into the available space. My style is eclectic, and I chose a lot of African animal-skin prints for the upholstery, cushion covers and bedspreads, which is a theme in some of my fashion collections. I’m also a keen photographer and the bulkheads are decorated with panoramic photos taken during my travels.”
The yacht was built at Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) in Carrara, Tuscany, which was convenient for Cavalli, who lives in Florence, and was able to frequently visit during the 14-month schedule.
“I’m overjoyed with the final result and aim to spend as much time as I can on board,” commented Cavalli and signed off by sharing, “I’m planning to start the season with an Easter cruise and hopefully live aboard until September!” Bon voyage!
Photo credits:©Giovanni Malgarini/MondadoriPortfolio