In 2024, the Cannes Yachting Festival was the stage for 120 world premieres: one of the most notable was the unveiling of the Astor 36 by Bellini Yacht. This launch represents more than just a new walkaround with classic lines; it marks the comeback of a historic brand deeply rooted in Italian nautical history.
THE ASTOR 36
Bellini Yacht’s first model under its revived name, the Astor 36, is a walkaround yacht designed to harmonise function with understated luxury. Measuring 11.30 m in length and 3.90 m of beam, the first Bellini Yacht embodies functionality, rationality, and the purity of minimalist design. It is the meeting point of refined aesthetics, top-quality materials, and technological solutions.
The boat’s identity is well-defined and clear: the open spaces, walkaround layout, and large, spacious cabins underline its functionality. The classic, timeless lines enhance its appeal, while the colour of the boat displayed in Cannes further reinforces its enduring design.
SEA TRIALS
During the first sea trials, the hull of the Astor 36 – designed by Brunello Acampora, founder of Victory Design – proved to be extremely stable and performing, underlining Acampora’s professionalism and specialisation in product engineering as well as design.
The model showed a clean wake and offered a comfortable and dry sailing experience. Critical structures specially made of carbon fibre ensured optimal stability and lightness of the hull, allowing the Astor 36 to reach a maximum speed of 42 knots. Even when turning, the boat showed clean and stable behaviour, confirming the precision of its hull.
The boat displayed in Cannes was equipped with two Volvo Penta V8 350-horsepower petrol engines. For Bellini Yacht’s clients, there is also the option to alternatively install two 300-horsepower diesel engines.
WHISPERED LUXURY
The Italian designer crafted the interior with a focus on space optimization, ensuring a layout that is both elegant and practical. “The Astor 36 was conceived with meticulous attention to every detail, offering an open, welcoming environment for its owners,” Acampora noted.
The Astor 36 is committed to ‘whispered luxury’ – a concept defined not by extravagance but by subtle refinement. “We embrace a minimal and iconic style that does not need to be flaunted or explained but rather perceived and experienced through welcoming, comfortable, and elegant lines and environments,” the Bellini team explained.
This discrete approach to luxury is reflected in every aspect of the yacht, from its clean exterior to the materials chosen for the interior.
CUSTOMIZATION
Another key feature of the Astor 36 is customization, allowing owners to create a yacht that truly reflects their personality and preferences. Bellini Yacht offers a wide array of options, including handcrafted upholstery and bespoke fabrics.
“Each decision is made with the owner and our designers to ensure a result that embodies the elegance of Italian style,” says the Bellini team. Customisation naturally aligns with exclusivity, exemplified by the special signature cocktail blend developed in collaboration with Nio Cocktails.
The Milanese-headquartered company, renowned for its ready-to-sip premixed cocktails easily transportable and stowable in the galley, has crafted an exclusive Mediterranean-flavoured cocktail specifically for Bellini Yacht and its customers.
REVIVING A LEGACY
Bellini Yacht’s history stretches back to the 1960s when Battista Bellini’s grandfather, also named Battista, crafted wooden boats under the Bellini name in Iseo Lake until 1982. Although the company shifted focus after his passing – dedicating itself to restoration, refitting, sales, and after-sales services – the family’s passion for boatbuilding endured.
In 2019, Bellini Nautica, with Martina Bellini, embarked on extraordinary collaborations with renowned international artists including Britto, Brainwash, and Xavier Casalta, infusing art and creativity into the heart of the brand.
In recent years, the Bellini family has decided to revitalize their boatbuilding heritage, particularly following their listing on the Euronext Growth Milan segment in 2022, which strengthened their position in the financial market. CEO Battista Bellini spoke of the brand’s rebirth with pride: “For us, this truly is a return to our roots. In the 1960s, my grandfather built wooden boats under the Bellini name in the port of Filanda di Cusane.”
This strong connection to the past informs every aspect of the company’s new direction. The Astor 36 is the first of many planned models, with Bellini Yacht set to produce vessels all characterised by their refined aesthetics.
elegant lines and environments
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN RENOWNED NAMES
The creation of the Astor 36 would not have been possible without the combined efforts of esteemed professionals of the Italian nautical world. Norberto Ferretti, a well-renowned businessman with a legacy spanning decades, played a crucial role in guiding the project.
“It is a great honour for me, and for all of us at Victory Design, to contribute with our work and passion to the success of Made in Italy worldwide. We owe a special thanks to the Bellini family for believing in us and entrusting us with such a significant project, both for them and for the Italian nautical industry – a sector where a new generation is ready to shine,” Acampora said.
“I am particularly grateful to Norberto Ferretti, who has brought dozens of Italian brands to global success, for once again inviting me to stand by his side, when the canvas was still blank, to shape the identity of a brand through design and performance.”
The collaboration has resulted in a vessel that not only performs exceptionally well but also upholds Bellini Yacht’s commitment to timeless design. “A special thank you goes to Norberto,” said Battista Bellini, “whose deep understanding of the market, vision, and vast experience have allowed us to create a yacht that is a perfect synthesis of rationality and design, always placing the owner’s needs at the forefront.”
BALANCE BETWEEN FORM AND FUNCTION
Reflecting on his involvement, Ferretti remarked: “I led the team in the design and creation of the Astor 36 with dedication and enthusiasm. The result perfectly balances the functionality I have always considered essential in yachts, with a design that meets modern standards of elegance.”
Brunello Acampora’s work on the yacht’s hull further exemplified the balance between form and function mentioned by Ferretti. “The deep V hull of the Astor 36 was developed through systematic studies and our team’s 30 years of experience at Victory Design,” Acampora explained.
The hull’s design is intended to provide reduced fuel consumption while delivering a sporty, high-performance experience. Using carbon fibre for key structural components, the yacht is both light and stable, reaching a top speed of 42 knots.
