Clockwise from
above: the main
salon, the beach
club, the owner’s
stateroom balconyFollowing her sea trials, it’s no surprise that she earned
the RINA Comfort Class certification. Maneuverability
is another advantage of the Azipull system, with the
thrusters controlled by a joystick in the wheelhouse.
This makes mooring up a much smoother experience,
for guests and crew alike.
Moving forward, the side-loading garage is not only
home to a pair of jet skis and a Williams Dieseljet 565
tender, it also adds a welcome noise buffer amidships.
Guests dozing in the three double cabins and one twin
cabin on the lower deck will notice the difference.
Elegant styling comes courtesy of long-time yard
collaborator Stefano Righini, who drew up the lines
for Skyler back in 2015 as an alternative to Iron Man’s
streamlined exterior. He describes it as a “more
classical design.” The lightweight carbon and epoxy
resin superstructure has been given a raised brow,
which helps to reduce glare in the wheelhouse, while
further aft a modified arch increases the size of the
upper deck windows. Both modifications have been
carried through to hull No 4 in the series, Lejos 3, which
splashed in Viareggio last May.
The benefits of the extended windows are most
noticeable in the light-flooded sky lounge, with
freestanding furniture from Sutherland and Meridiani,
long blinds and a 75in television. As a result this relaxed
and comfortable space can easily become an onboard
cinema. Benetti has already proven its flexibility in
transforming this space on the Fast 125' – the owner of
Iron Man chose to fit it out as a workout space. On
Skyler a smaller gym has been created amidships on the
upper deck with an Octane Fitness cross-trainer and
floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
Outside, there are four distinct areas for relaxing,
starting with the beach club and its teak-lined bar. Al
fresco dining is offered on the bridge deck aft, where
custom deck chairs surround a circular table inlaid
with glass and stainless steel. Up on the sundeck,
action revolves around the bar, which is shaded by a
convertible bimini. Bar stools by Glyn Peter Machin
and custom Minotti armchairs provide plenty of
relaxation options. Meanwhile, a forward-facing perch
with three stools provides the perfect spot to enjoy the
sunset with a cocktail or overlook the foredeck, its
built-in spa pool and surrounding sunpads.
Another feature that sets Skyler apart from her
sisterships is the pair of port and starboard owner’s
balconies that fold out at the touch of a button, leaving
the owner spoiled for choice when it comes to
breakfast spots. His culinary interests can also be seen
in the custom galley, which has been fitted with a
marble-clad table and an island breakfast bar.
The attention to detail is carried through into the
crew quarters, most notably the captain’s cabin, which
features fine leather and rosewood. Two further cabins
and a mess in the bow mean that Skyler can comfortably
accommodate five crew.
For Captain Jeffrey Foerster, Skyler stands apart
from the previous models in the Fast 125' series. “What
makes her different is how much involvement the
owner has had in terms of the interior design, as well
as the layout of all the exterior decks,” he says. “The
general layout has not changed too much; most of the
changes were to do with the soft goods, but the exterior
deck layout and furniture was pretty heavily
customized by the owner.”
With all these fixtures and fittings, it would be
reasonable to expect a drop in cruising performance,
but Benetti has more than offset the extra weight
through its innovative lightweight drive train.
Developed in collaboration with Rolls-Royce and
installed on all models in the Fast 125' series so far, the
Azipull C65 uses carbon fiber throughout, even on
load-bearing parts. Vincenzo Poerio, Benetti’s CEO, is
in no doubt as to the advantages, adding: “Efficient and
lightweight propulsion is key to reducing the
environmental impact of a modern yacht.”
His words are backed up by Skyler’s cruising range –
1,540 nautical miles at 12 knots, despite a total fuel
capacity of just 6,600 gallons, setting a new standard
for the Benetti Fast 125' fleet. This was put to good use
in the summer, when the owner explored
the Mediterranean, before moving her to Florida
and cruising down to the Caribbean in time for the
winter season.
Several more hulls have been sold, taking this semi-
custom series to a total of seven yachts under
development. And with the clever alterations and
variations seen on Skyler, future owners can be sure
that they are working with a tried and tested yet highly
flexible platform – a thought to engender peace of mind
as well as soothe the senses.contemporary