Each week, we place a spotlight on one of the world’s finest superyachts for charter. This week, BOAT delves into the credentials of the 55-metre Perini Navi superyacht Galileo, an exploration marvel concealed in elegance.
Defined by a well-balanced, deep-blue hull the 55.7-metre Galileo is as elegant as they come and looks like she should be cruising the Riviera’s stylish ports. This isn’t, however, what she was designed for.
In fact, Galileo has an impressive globetrotting résumé, thanks to her Ice-classed, steel hull with extra-thick plating. She was designed to conceal a fiend for exploration, complete with iceberg radar, rudders with ice knives, super-tough propellers and heated deck gear.
In warmer latitudes, she is not only a luxurious superyacht sanctuary, but the ultimate dive partner, equipped with sonar for wreck hunting.
Key Features
LOA: 55.7m
Year: 2011 (2023)
Guests: 12
Crew: 11
Entertainment: Diving, exceptional toy box, gym, exceptional chef
Cruising: Maldives, Seychelles, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia
Delivered in October 2011, Galileo was built by Perini Navi's Picchiotti shipyard in La Spezia. She was the second vessel delivered by the yard that was designed by Philippe Briand’s Vitruvius franchise, which is well-known for its elegant, elongated lines and well-balanced profile. In Galileo’s case, a low centre of gravity draws the design out, resulting in a hugely elegant vessel, which borrows cues from sailing yacht design, for which the designer (and shipyard), is famed.
The focus here, however, is seaworthiness and efficiency in the name of exploration. Her ice-classed hull has often ventured to cooler climes, cruising down the Antarctic Peninsula. This year, however, she will bask in the sunshine and explore South-East Asia before the Indian Ocean later in the year.
Galileo has a staggering range of 9,000 nautical miles, and a surprising amount of space on board with a volume of 726GT, with spaces well-equipped to accommodate guests for extended periods of time. This extends to noise levels in the interior; cruising at 10 knots will register just 46dB in the saloon and owner’s suite.
Life on board
Despite her hardy exterior, Galileo cocoons her guests in comfort and luxury with a warm and welcoming interior. She can accommodate up to 12 guests sleeping on board and embodies a traditional-meets-contemporary aesthetic with neutral tones, wooden finishes and bursts of colour. In a nod to her expedition credentials, there is a narwhal tusk in pride of place in the main saloon.
The theme throughout is predominantly mahogany with wengé inserts. Light pours into the main saloon, which has comfortable seating and a dining area, partly separated by a pillared sideboard. While she has been designed to emanate elegance, the interiors are well balanced with a natural wooden table and a collection of ornaments from her travels.
In line with her expedition credentials, the crew of 11 operate the yacht in remote areas for long periods of time, so a key consideration in the design was the exceptional crew area forward. The result is a proven track record pointing toward adventure, excellent food from the galley and a convivial atmosphere on board.
Out on deck, the theme contributes, with elegant spaces primed for lounging in the sun and taking in the dramatic surroundings. Her large foredeck is often used for yoga sessions on board, while her aft deck not only has a large dining table, but a large lounging area.
9.5m Zodiac Hurricane (Jet) Great dive and surf jet boat capable of 35 knots
5.5 “smuggler” Williams tender (Jet)
4.2m William’s tender (Jet) Also doubles as a rescue tender
SVHO Yamaha jet ski which is used for surfing
Wake Boards
Water skis
Paddleboards
Sea bob
New top-of-the-range diving gear capable of night dives and onboard dive instructor
Surfboards and onboard surf instructor
Local & Big Game Fishing Equipment
Inflatable Sea pool
Inflatable Slide
Inflatable Floating Dock
Where will Galileo be cruising?
In 2024, Galileo will be cruising South-East Asia before the Indian Ocean later in the year. She has planned visits to Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Maldives and Seychelles. In the June issue of the magazine, Galileo’s captains Anthony Daebritz & Wes Bartho put their heads together to design the ultimate cultural route to capture Timor-Leste’s mesmerising heritage.
Galileo is available to charter with IYC with a weekly rate from €280,000