Tomasso Spadolini on CdM's 42m Explorer Crowbridge

“The yacht is for very experienced repeat clients of mine who have owned several previous yachts, although all of them have been planing hulls. They decided to make the switch to a custom displacement yacht for family reasons and wanted to cruise in more leisurely comfort,” Spadolini comments. 

Spadolini has revealed that Crowbridge, who cruises at a speed of 10 knots and has a top speed of 15 knots, marked something of a change in mindset for the owners, who were accustomed to faster transfers at 25 knots. The trade-off on Crowbridge though is her wide beam of 8.5 metres, accommodating much more space for valuable family time, and her round-bilge hull with bulbous bow equips her for venturing out in conditions which would keep a planing yacht in port. 

Generous interior and exterior space was a must for Crowbridge’s owners, who spend several weeks at a time on board. Spadolini has emphasised the preciseness with which the owner and his wife approached their desired layout. 

“We worked closely with the naval architect Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec to maximize the internal volumes and in the superstructure we managed to create the perfect compromise between the interior layout and both the size and positioning of the large windows,” he adds. 

One rarity on a yacht of this size was the request to fit six ensuite guest cabins on the lower deck - three double cabins for the owners’ sons and three twin single cabins for their grandchildren. The master stateroom is also unusually spacious for a yacht of 42 metres, complete with private study, walk-in wardrobe, His and Hers bathrooms and a convertible day sofa. 

Family life onboard Crowbridge is centred around the large galley on the main deck, which is well-stocked for ultimate autonomy at sea. The family also preferred a traditional salon and dining room on the main deck, but specified an extendable dining table on the upper deck - ‘a practical solution that reflects their yachting experience’. 

The sundeck comes luxuriously decked with a hot tub, bar unit and small dining lounge - further evidence of the owners’ yachting experience can be seen in that the hot tub can be half-filled with water while cruising so the kids can use it when the yacht is underway. 

Further storage is located in the stern garage, while the tender is housed on the upper deck aft. Crowbridge’s crew are well catered for in three cabins, and there is also a tank-top tunnel providing extra storage space on long voyages. 

“Experienced owners invariably bring a lot of good ideas to custom projects like this and make life easier for the design and build teams. This was very much the case with Crowbridge and I know for a fact that the family will have some wonderful times onboard,” adds Spadolini.