5 reasons CRN is the Italian builder of choice

When Sanzio Nicolini founded Costruzionie Riparazioni Navali (CRN) in Ancona, Italy in 1963, he was not afraid to go against the grain. His avant-garde approach-building luxury yachts from steel and aluminium - paid off: by the late 1960s the yard was building 23 metre SuperConeros for a select and discerning clientele. A collaboration with Carlo Riva followed in the 1970s. CRN's yachts gradually got larger through the 1980s and beyond: milestones include 61 metre Il Vagabondo in 1986, 32.8 metre F100 in 1983, 47 metre Azzurra II in 1988, Awal II in 1990, 50 metre Maracunda in 1990, 61 metre Numptia in 2000 and many more. Since 1999, CRN has been part of the Ferretti group with the fleet of outstanding yachts built in the last 18 years.

Standout historical boats built by CRN before 2000 include:

• Bagheera (38 metres, 1973)
• Gazella (31 metres, 1974)
• Moneikos (35 metres, 1976)
• Caribe III (35 metres, 1979)
• Santa Cruz Tres (36 metres, 1979)
• Fath Al Khair (47.2 metres)
• Awal (47 metres, 1980)
• Akitou (52 metres, 1981)
• Santa Maria (53 metres, 1984)
• Vanina (32 metres, 1986)
• Abdulaziz (45 metres, 1987)
• F100 (32.8 metres)
• Azzurra(47 metres, 1988)
• Jameel (44 metres, 1985)
• II Vagabondo (61 metres, 1986)
• Awal II (65 metres, 1990)
• Maracunda (50 metres, 1990)
• Lady Anne PB (40 metres, 1994)
• Pegaso (48 metres, 1996)
• Sahab IV (50 metres, 1997)
• Pestifer (50 metres, 1998)
• Numptia (61 metres, 2000)

CRN develops unparalleled projects characterised by state-of-the-art solutions that are real trendsetters in the yachting world. The open stern, allowing owners to enjoy closer contact with the sea, fire appeared on 54 metre Ability in 2005 and later morphed into the beach club, which debuted on the 2009 60 metre Blue Eyes. Balconies, terraces, convertible floodable tender garages, designed for J'Ade, launched in 2012, the MyConcierge and staff calling system, and 80 metre Chopi Chopi's circular pilothouse with a 42 inch touchscreen I-Chart table - all have been pioneered by CRN (and offered inspiration elsewhere) to enhance the owner's experience on board.

In 1983, CRN built the fully custom F100 for the head of Fiat, Gianni Agnelli. The 32.8 metre yacht's "monastic" design - by naval architect Gerhard Gilgenast - was unmistakable and helped to launch the "minimalist" movement in the contemporary yacht design. She was very seaworthy and comfortable craft, suitable for long cruises in all weather conditions - the first recreational explorer yacht. This ground-breaking yacht would prove to be inspirational and pave the way for many others to follow.

One of the many strengths of CRN is its impressive 80,000 square metre yard and building facilities, which drive its excellence: a private marina with 12 moorings for 24-100 metre yachts: six sheds specifically for the construction of steel and aluminium yachts and as many for Custom Line composite yachts; an investment programme of €25 million by 2020. Add to that specialised workers, a team of engineers, architects and technicians that conceive the best-performing bottoms and naval platforms, the "shipbuilder's heart"- a skilful technical team with problem solving experience, always ready to meet the challenges of exacting customers - and an interiors and design department that has half a century of working with world class architects and designers like Carlo Riva, Gerard Gilgenast, Terence Disdale, John Bannenberg, Walter Franchini, Francois Zuretti, Alberto Pinto and Paola Smith, and it becomes clear why CRN is considered the "ambassador" of Italian shipbuilding all over the globe.

A long-term cooperation is currently in place with yacht designers like Zuccon International Project, Nuvolari & Lenard, Omega Architects, Francesco Paszkowski Design, Studio Laura Sessa and Andrew Winch Design who “sign” CRN megayachts and many more designers to develop new concepts like Harrison Eidsgaard, Vallicelli Design, Nauta Yachts, Lobanov Design, Alessandro Pulina, March & White and Studio Indigo.

Innovation is the trademark of CRN and, as such, the yard's focus is to anticipate trends and market demands and to develop new concepts and designs, while ensuring the owner remains at the centre of everything. Recent notable launches include 74 metre Cloud 9 and 50 metre Latona, which was delivered in May. Three new yachts are developed and under construction; the 79 metre CRN 135, the 62 metre CRN 137 and the 62 metre CRN 138. This trio will join CRN's global fleet of more than 180 vessels, including military and commercial ships as well as yachts - each one an ambassador of this prestigious Italian yard.

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