Cantiere delle Marche Interviews Yacht Broker Alex G. Clarke

Please tell me more about your history with Cantiere delle Marche and your view on explorer yachts?
I have known Vasco dating back to his days at CRN, and both Ennio Cecchini & Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec are long term friends. I find that all three have a common passion for yachting, and in particular the explorer segment of the market which is something that I believe will continue to grow in popularity amongst the yachting market as owner’s get tired of doing the standard Mediterranean & Caribbean seasons. They want to see more of the world, to be able to explore the far corners of the oceans that are still relatively untouched by people – and Cantiere delle Marche can provide that product. 

Your client is building a Darwin series yacht, correct?
Yes, my client is actually building a Darwin 100 which is a modified version of the Darwin 96. In order to accommodate a second tender, in fact, we extended the transom & swim platform yet kept the integrity of the design assuring the vessels sea keeping abilities remained superior. The design of this special Darwin 100 is already implementing all those features of what we call the ‘Darwin Class 2.0’ style, which I feel will appeal to a larger demographic of potential buyers. 

Tell me more about the custom Dive Center onboard?
This is a great feature and proof that every Cantiere delle Marche yacht is customized specifically for each client. My client is a very experienced diver so it was mandatory to build a full service dive center in the lazzarrette area. We have plumbed in a mixed gas Nitrox compressor with multiple fill stations, custom dive lockers for the BCDs/wetsuits, tank storage, work station for camera equipments and organization of masks/snorkels/fins, and racks for the new generation SeaBob SF5 series. And to compliment the dive center the shipyard is designing a 6.5 meter all alu custom ‘explorer’ tender specifically built for dive expeditions. It was a great team effort. 

What is your opinion on the build quality at Cantiere delle Marche?
This is an easy answer. The owner of this Darwin 100 also owns a much larger 70+ meter yacht built in Northern Europe at one of the most well respected shipyards in the world. When we first considered building at Cantiere delle Marche I travelled with the captain of his 70+ meter to inspect the Darwin 96 ‘Stella di Mare’ and visit the shipyard. At the end of our trip the captain stated that the quality he had viewed at CdM was equivalent to what he has experienced in Holland & Germany. In particular he said ‘I have run four different Feadships & a Lurssen and you have me sold!’ which is always the highest compliment available when put on the same level as some of the finest shipyards in the world. 

How has Cantiere delle Marche been to work with?
Vasco has been my main contact through the sales & customization process and he has made my life as a broker much easier which is a pleasant surprise. I have never dealt with a yard that has been so transparent & honest with the client/shipyard relationship. As I mentioned before, my client is extremely experienced thus very demanding and I feel we have exceeded his expectations with customer service. The yacht will be delivered in August 2015 and I am 100% confident that the final project will do the same. From contract negotiations, to change orders, customization of the dive areas, tenders, and even modifying the super structure & general arrangement – CdM has been receptive to my clients visions & rather then saying they were impossible CdM made it happen. One of my client’s advisors once told me that in order to meet the demand of this individual one must ‘make the impossible possible.’ And I am confident we have accomplished this goal as a team.

For more information Contact Cantiere delle Marche Brand Manager
Alex G. Clarke +1 203.722.3047 | Alex@denisonyachtsales.com

Source: CdM EXPERIENCE