More of this Feature • Part 1: Benetti’s Amnesia • Part 2: Benetti’s Amnesia continued • Amnesia Specs • Amnesia Deck Plans
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The primary recreation spot on most megayachts is the saloon, and Amnesia is no different. However, its layout is a definite departure from that of most yachts in her size range. Instead of featuring the saloon and dining area as separate rooms, she incorporates a single open-plan room. The danger of this arrangement on a large megayacht is creating a room that looks and feels much like a bowling alley, but it’s avoided here due to wise space planning. Two large settees are grouped together in the middle of the saloon, permitting the owners and guests to simply converse or to watch a movie on the large television that rises from the cabinetry to starboard. They can also get a drink at the bar tucked into the aft port corner.

The dividing line between the saloon and dining area is created by the forward settee, which abuts a marble-topped buffet. The fact that the dining area has some different design elements, the primary one being a mirrored forward bulkhead decorated with ornate Lalique lamps, also helps in this regard.

Another place where the owners' guests and charterers alike are invited to unwind is the full-beam sky lounge. It’s an ideal place to enjoy the vistas while the yacht cruises at 16 knots. (Twin 2,262-hp MTUs give her a top speed of 18 knots and a 3,800-NM range at 12 knots.) But there’s plenty to look at within the confines of the room, whether everyone is sitting at the chair and settee arrangements or standing at the bar. The chairs (aft to port) are matched with a crystal coffee table that mimics the Lalique sconces and smoked-glass panels at the bar, which is just forward. The settees (opposite the chairs) have their own coffee table, this time featuring wrought iron. And even the crew gets a break up here: Thanks to a dumbwaiter, the task of serving snacks or larger meals is much easier.

The adults aren't the only ones who’ll be having the times of their lives. Even the kids have their special recreation area. There's a cabin just forward of the sky lounge along the starboard side that contains two sofa beds, a television, and a table perfect for spreading out Pokemon trading cards. En suite facilities make it well suited for an overnight spot.

As you'd expect of a yacht that spends part of her time chartering, Amnesia has plenty of outdoor spaces for everything from intimate gatherings to group dinners. Nestled into the foredeck, a curved seating area with a table is aptly named the panoramic area. Just aft of the sky lounge is an al fresco dining area with large sofas and a table for 14 to enjoy relaxed meals in privacy. Up one deck, there’s a table with seating for 10 that's saded by the radar arch. For more privacy, especially when the yacht is Med-moored, everyone can head to the huge sunpad dominating the forward portion of this sun deck or the large whirlpool just aft of it. The area can serve as a helicopter landing pad when required.

When it's too hot to stay in the sunning areas and the Jacuzzi tub just doesn’t cool them down enough, guests can head to the tender garage. The transom folds down to create a large swim platform—big enough that half a dozen people can use it to put on snorkel gear—and launching area for the Novurania tender, two PWCs, and lots of other watersports equipment.

There’s one more aspect to Amnesia that some people may mistakenly believe has nothing to do with the owners’ or guests’ leisure: the crew area. As any megayacht yard manager or experienced owner can attest, if the crew isn't happy, the owners will spend more time sighing over the cruises they’ve missed instead of rejoicing in the good times they’ve had on the water. European owners tend to allocate smaller cabins and mess areas to their crew than their American counterparts, but onboard Amnesia, the crew is allotted five good-size twin-berth staterooms forward on the lower deck and a large mess area; the captain has a double-berth room and office abaft the wheelhouse. A laundry room—again, a good size—and a large cold-storage room (capacity is several thousand gallons) complete the features.

Even before Amnesia’s owners cruised away from the shipyard, they had signed a contract for a larger Benetti to be delivered in 2003. Although the design is still being fine-tuned, the yacht will most certainly incorporate the sweeping lines that have become a Benetti hallmark. And whether or not there's an Italian tenor at her christening or the crowd gets wet when she hits the water, her debut should be just as memorable.

Richard Bertram Yachts Phone: (305) 633-9761. Fax: (305) 634-9071. www.richardbertram.com.

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