High Sea Rinascimento
By Nick Walton
The groundbreaking new Maiora 42 Exuma is a yacht concept designed to embrace the essence of living at sea.
Ushering in a new paradigm for luxury yachting by Italian shipyard Maiora, the 42 Exuma combines the architectural vision of Giorgio Maria Cassetta and the refined interiors of Elie Saab. to deliver a vessel that disrupts convention while drawing on the power of nature.
The result of owner feedback, the 42-meter superyacht concept proudly goes against the grain of traditional nautical design, abandoning the often-rigid functional stratification of yacht architecture by separating entertainment and relaxation spaces from technical areas and operational passages and delivering a humancentric approach that’s elegant, functional and liveable.
Comprising spaces designed to be truly lived in, enjoyed and shared, the yacht’s lines and layouts redefine the balance between aesthetics, function and onboard wellbeing.
A Collaborative Approach
For the 42 Exuma, Giorgio Maria Cassetta of Cassetta Yacht Designers has tapped into his over 18 years of yacht design and 400 yacht projects to introduce a new concept of dynamism defined by extremely sleek surfaces developed horizontally, large continuous glass panels and fluid proportions that visually connect the interior and exterior spaces.
The architecture achieves that all-important balance between form and function, with a silhouette that evokes speed – even at anchor – and maximises the infusion of natural light into every space.
The overall result is a high-performance vessel (something Cassetta describes as a “gentleman’s yacht”) that caters to 12 guests with generous interior volumes that belie its clean, refined external profile, and an open and transparent layout that allows exterior decks to appear to pass through the hull’s shell, enhancing continuity and flow.
This is best seen on the intimate forward infinity deck, and in the dual-level cockpit, with its folding side wings creating a direct sea view and a convivial breakfast area (for even more flexibility, an additional pilot station can be integrated on the upper deck or sun deck).
An Innovative Architecture
However, the most significant innovation that this design approach has led to is the movement, from the lower deck to the main deck, of the five guest cabins (including the owner’s suite), allowing the lower level to be dedicated to services and leaving the upper deck and sun deck to be blissfully free of clutter and instead dedicated solely to the guest experience.
This departure from the conventional main deck layout, which would usually only allow for a main salon and an owner’s cabin, infuses natural light into all guest spaces, which in turn benefits from more functionality, relinquishing the need to adhere to the hull’s form.
The main deck’s natural terminal is a vast aft sunbathing area, accentuated by folding bulwarks, and under which water toys are stored. Beyond, twin stairs lead down to an additional swim platform.
Also on the main deck is the wheelhouse, strategically positioned away from the main salon to guarantee maximum privacy for guests and owner alike.
An Elevated Guest Space
With the guest and owner’s cabins sharing the main deck, the upper deck’s open-space lounge, which offers uninterrupted views from stern to bow, becomes the true heart of sociality on the vessel. In traditional layouts, this space would suffer from the presence of the captain’s cabin, the helm station and bulky technical areas, directly impacting liveability and privacy.
However, on the 42 Exuma, the upper deck has been entirely rethought, with the length of the vessel accessible via walk-around decks on the upper deck (with both the main deck and the upper deck featuring openable terraces).
A true panoramic living area, fully glazed and openable on all sides, the upper deck measures 36 x 11 meters, including fold-down terraces, and becomes a natural extension of the outdoor areas, where an integrated pool is positioned aft, with a transparent bottom that filters light even to the lower deck in an architectural element that becomes an integral part of the yacht’s design and visual enjoyment.
Inside the upper deck’s salon is the main dining area, with the total absence of invasive structural elements amplifying the sense of space and reinforcing the connection with the sea, a connection that continues towards the bow, with its expansive sunbathing area.
The uppermost level of the 42 Exuma, the 80-sqm Sun Deck, has been designed as a fully customisable space entirely dedicated to relaxation and outdoor living.
Functional & Discrete
With the main and upper decks devoted to guest accommodation and enjoyment, the lower deck is almost entirely dedicated to services and crew, who benefit from spacious, functional areas, including large crew cabins accessed via an external staircase. The crew mess is roomy and designed for a team of nine and is complemented by an adjacent cold room and dry storage, as well as a laundry with ironing and drying zones. A larger dumbwaiter allows for simultaneous, discrete service.
Also on this deck, but separated, is a multifunctional space that can be configured as a gym, massage room, media room or sixth cabin with a bathroom, while a private outdoor crew area, designed to offer a protected space for fresh-air breaks or outdoor workouts, is located on the main deck and ensures the crew’s well-being and sustainability onboard.
Adjacent to the engine room, the lower deck also houses a garage for a six-meter tender plus two jet skis.
Liveable Interiors
Enhanced by that extensive use of glass surfaces, the interiors, the creation of Elie Saab, under the creative direction of Carlo Colombo, are an expression of the unmistakable elegance of the famed couturier, bringing his sophisticated and timeless vision to the nautical world.
A refined selection of pieces from the Elie Saab Maison collection is complemented by luxurious (and highly resistant) materials, crafted in Italy, including Fumo di Londra and Mystic Ocean marble, light bronzed mirrors and teak wood flooring and ceilings. The result is a combination of timeless design with marine-specific functionality that’s at once elegant and tailored to the demands of life at sea.
Accessed via a central corridor, the yacht’s four generously sized guest suites feature well-proportioned layouts that include large closets and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the spaces with natural light, creating bright and welcoming environments. The guest accommodation spaces are connected to a central lobby where an optional panoramic glass elevator can seamlessly connect the three decks.
In fact, this unique main deck guest accommodation layout and the optional elevator are both features typically found on yachts over 60 meters.
The full-beam owner’s cabin is located at the bow, to meet the needs of an owner who values discretion, and is elegantly arranged into separate sleeping and living areas, featuring a private bar corner, two walk-in dressing rooms and his and her bathrooms.
Surprising Performance
The 42 Exuma is powered by either twin Volvo Penta IPS 40 2000 hp, delivering a top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots, or three MTU 2600 hp with MJP, which offer an impressive top speed up to 30 knots (28 knots fully equipped), and a cruising speed of 26 knots.
The result is a yacht that redefines the standards of liveability and functionality on board while delivering a performance that surpasses the average for yachts in its class.
The first unit of the 42 Exuma has been sold with delivery scheduled for summer 2027.
Technical Specifications
LOA: 42.49 m
Draft (full load): 1.55 m
Beam: 8.90 m
Gross tonnage: 430 GT (approx.)
Range: 2,100 nm at 10kn (IPS); 1,800 nm at 10kn (MJP)
Cabins: 5
Guests: 12
Crew: 9
Top speed: Up to 30 knots
Cruise speed: Up to 26 knots
Engines: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 40 2000 hp; 3 x MTU 2600 hp with MJP