Italian yard Maiora, a brand of NEXT Yacht Group, has announced that the first hull from its Maiora 42 Exuma yacht series has arrived at the Group's production headquarters in Viareggio, Italy, to undergo outfitting.
The new 42-metre design was first revealed in July 2025, with Maiora also announcing that the first unit had already been sold to an American owner. Italian designer Giorgio M. Cassetta and fashion designer Elie Saab (under the direction of Carlo Colombo of A++) are responsible for the exterior and interiors of the project.
Said to "break free" from traditional yachting concepts, the Maiora 42 Exuma eschews design tropes such as lower deck guest cabins, "oversized and underused" main saloons and cramped crew spaces. Highlights include a fully glazed upper deck (for 360-degree views) and a private outdoor area dedicated to crew breaks.
A four-deck layout sees up to 12 guests accommodated across four VIP cabins, which join the owner's suite on the main deck. A separate sleeping and living area characterises the owner's cabin, featuring a private bar corner, two walk-in dressing rooms and a his-and-hers en suite.
Interior renderings are bright and welcoming, with living areas distributed across the decks rather than concentrated in a main saloon. This airy design is developed further with two terraces (on the main and upper deck) and an open-plan lounge on the upper deck, where the sightlines stretch from bow to stern.
Statement pieces from the Elie Saab Maison collection have been woven throughout, complemented by bespoke works from the fashion designer "specifically for the yachting environment". Materials used include Mystic Ocean marble, light bronzed mirrors, teak ceilings and "high-resistance" fabrics and finishes for longevity.
Outdoor liveability, meanwhile, is often defined by the upper deck – with traditional layouts said to "suffer" from the presence of bulky equipment such as the helm station and technical areas. All functional interference has been removed on the Maiora 42 Exuma, resulting in a fully glazed (and panoramic) level designed for relaxation, complete with fold-down terraces and a glass-bottom pool that filters light through to the lower deck.
Inside the saloon is the main dining area, while the bow has a circular sunbed area that is remotely adjustable, allowing guests to follow the sun's path through the day.
The lower deck is almost entirely dedicated to crew and services, with the exception of a separate, multifunctional space that can be configured as a gym, massage room, media room or a sixth cabin with a bathroom. A larger dumbwaiter will be installed here for simultaneous service across all decks. There is also the option to have a panoramic glass elevator connecting three decks, a feature typically found on much larger yachts.
"The vision of this high-performance gentleman's yacht took shape in a quick sketch," Casetta explained at the model's unveiling last year. "It was a challenge to create a balance between lightness, interior volume and generous heights while maintaining a clean and refined look."
Key specs include an 8.9-metre beam and an expected top speed of 30 knots.
In June, the Group celebrated the launch of the second unit from Maiora's smaller 36 Exuma series, which hit the water alongside the third unit from AB Yachts' flagship model, the AB 130. Last month, Next Yacht Group announced that it had acquired 100 per cent of SIMAN, a specialist in metal fabrication and mechanical engineering for the yachting industry, furthering its production capabilities.
Read More/Next Yacht Group acquires metal fabrication and mechanical engineering company SIMAN