March 27, 2010

Boat Review: Cerri 102 Flying Sport

Presentation
Cerri's 102 Flying Sport follows on what this refined North Italian builder did with the 86 but in a bigger more important one hundred foot plus size. Launched in late Spring 2009 Cerri's 102 Flying Sport is the biggest yacht ever build by the Tuscany, Carrara builder which continues a story filled with cross over style design innovation as the main character. Obviously company owner Carlo Cerri follows the schemes seen on the 86, in the 102 featuring the much wanted invisible unnoticeable only know about once you are on it flybridge. Then again just like the smaller 86 the 102 is much more then just Flying Sport offering a semi custom interior, high performance surface drives propulsion giving forty knots top speeds, and a reliable sea worthy hull designed by military experienced engineer Gianfranco De Casa. If you liked what you have seen with the 86 be ready also for more on the big Cerri, as is the case with the top fly deck which is similarly large as to that of a standard flybridge Super Yacht.
Accommodation
Customization is a stamp for Cerri who made tailor making request a big part to his boats from the start. This is farther testified with the all different twelve units delivered of the 86. Hull number one of the 102 Flying Sport featured a not so common for this size Super Sport Yacht five cabin version. A four cabins version with a larger owners cabin is also available.
The 102 welcomes you on its aft deck with a sunpad, curved settee for five persons, central table and free chairs making this area excellent for Al fresco entertaining. Going to fore is very easy with deep side bulwarks all around. The central theme of the fore deck is for the central located circular table which is a second more private dining Al fresco area, and the large sunpads forward to this. Another third exterior socializing area is the flybridge reached from a stair case inside. If you think this is just a second sporty helm station you are wrong as here we have 28 squared metres of space just right to compete with a similar sized looking full flybridge yacht. The layouts on the flybridge are endless and owners can really use there imagination. You can have it like in the plans with a large C-shaped settee to aft, or as the case for hull one using free moving chaise lounges to suit your needs.
Entering inside of the 102 Flying Sport you are welcomed into the interior relaxing area saloon. Here you find a C-shaped settee with a sofa opposite. More to fore is the dining table for ten persons and to starboard we have the stairs which lead to the large flybridge. Upfront of the main deck and ahead to the dining table is the three seated central interior helm station which can be separated from the living area by a descending blind. The galley is located to mid ship below decks and is a C-shaped design. Here is also the space for a lobby and an extra crew berth. To fore reached from the outside deck is the other twin double bunk cabins with shower head.
Going to the guest cabins below is from a circle shaped stair case to starboard. The five cabins layout offers a VIP to fore, two double guest cabins in between, a second VIP to port side, and the central owners suite located centrally. Hull one also featured a small L-shaped settee with TV unit below. In the four cabins version you will loose the second VIP and get more room in the owners suite which benefits from a large walk in wardrobe. All cabins in the 102 Flying Sport are en-suited in both the plans so far on offer.
Toy storage plays also an important part in the 102 Flying Sport with the aft garage taking a large tender and jet bike, and a stowage for a small motorcycle on the main deck. One last note is that while the script above and plans below show actual layouts these are just examples for hull one and two, and if the 86 was any proof Cerri really make the possibilities endless to customize a build to owners wishes.
Performance
Just has been since 1997 when Cerri debuted its first 28 model, the 102 Flying Sport features a hull design by Engineer Gianfranco De Casa. While not much known outside the professional scene, De Casa is a very famous military and working hull designer and so far did all Cerri's previous five models underwater shapes. For the 102 Flying Sport, De Casa presented a medium vee warped shaped hull which ends with a sixteen degrees deadrise aft. Unusually angled for this size of yacht and what should make a formidable match to surface drives propulsion and high forty knots top speeds. Hull one for the 102 Flying Sport was fitted with twin MTU 2400hp engines, and Arneson surface drives. This package produces a fast 40 knots top speed, and an all time cruise of 33 knots giving a range of 450 nautical miles.
Positive
Flybridge Size
Performance
Customization
High Quality
Negative
Crew head for cabins to fore
Competition
The Cerri 102 Flying Sport gets to be a bit unique against its super sport yacht peers. What makes Cerri's flagship stand out is surely the big flybridge, high customization, and the five cabins layout. This seems to be not available from the competition bar the new bigger Pershing 108. Performance is also similar with some staying with a tradition line shaft system like the Azimut 103SL which is the slowest, others opting for jet propulsion like the Arno and the Overmarine, and some opting for a triple propulsion choice as the Pershing or as optional on the Baia One Hundred.
Arno Leopard 32M - flybridge, but looks sport overall
Azimut 103SL - you see the flybridge on the red SL, but it is sleek
Baia One Hundred - huge glassed surfaces, invisible fly, 50 knots with 3500hp MTU
Pershing 108 - launching soon, similar fly deck, 41 knots, five cabins optional
WILD CARD: Overmarine 105 Mangusta - raised saloon helm, similar performance
Conclusion
Carlo Cerri thirteen years of operation has given a lot to the boating world not only for cross over design innovation but also for a unique way to build its product. If you visit Cerri shipyard you will be surprised in that you will find adjacent to the boat building premises a gym with pool and spa, and music played while the workers are completing the boats. With this Cerri is passing on a strong message in a producing World where numbers seem the only thing important. It is true numbers are important but if you want someone to build your boat you want these people to have a passion for it, feel good in the premises, and to be part of a family. The 102 Flying Sport is a proof of how since 1997 the Cerri brand has flourished and follows its Constructors of Passion trademark. This new Cerri 102 Flying Sport flagship as is the smaller 86 and the other projects in store from the Italian Tuscany company like a bigger 120, and a smaller seventy foot model are just testimony to this.
Technical Data
LOA. 31.10 metres (102ft)
Waterline length. 24.47 metres
Beam. 7.20 metres
Draft. 1.40 metres
Displacement. 80 t
Fuel Capacity. 10000 litres
Water Capacity. 2000 litres
Max Persons. 21
Accommodation. 10 or 8 guest berths, 6 or 8 crew berths
Engines. 2 x MTU M93 16v 2400hp
Propulsion. Arneson ASD 16L surface drives
Speed. 40 knots max, 33 knots cruise
Range. 450 nm at 33 knots cruise
Hull Shape. vee shape with 16 degrees deadrise aft
Project. Cerri Cantieri Navali, Gianfranco De Casa hull
Construction. Vinilester resin followed by isophtalic with bi and quadrixial glass solid hull, core sandwich in sides. Super structure in aramid and vinilester resins.
Certification. RINA Cross of Malta MACH Y unrestricted.
Picture Copyright Cerri. Data Cerri.

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