The Explorer 49.5, designed by Tommaso Spadolini is ready to become a reality.

Great cruising range, comfort on board, and social layout are three keywords that guided Tommaso Spadolini in designing the new Explorer 49.5. The project, started a year ago and commissioned by an Italian owner, is now in the final stages before construction.

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

“The owner’s demands were very clear from the very beginning,” says Tommaso Spadolini. “First of all, to have large spaces, with as few differences in level as possible, and to have them covered and protected from the wind, so that the yacht could be enjoyed not just in the summer but mid-season as well. Then, they asked for a lift connecting all the bridges and, finally, for a flying bridge that wasn’t a classic… flying bridge!”  

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

Tommaso Spadolini designed a flybridge accessible by a lift, a staircase for guests and a service staircase for the crew. In addition to the protection provided by the hardtop, it is possible to fit a “sail-inspired” sprayhood, which protects the flybridge on three sides when at anchor in a roadstead. The structure wasn’t just an area to relax in, with the classic “structural” sundeck, but a meeting place for the owner and his family around the central galley unit, the large worktops and the table for twelve.

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

One of the distinguishing features in the exteriors of this Explorer 49.5 is the absence of fixed sunbathing areas on a specific request from the owner. Therefore, some umbrellas and sunbeds can be removed as required. A perfect example of this is the ‘furnishable’ helipad area, which makes full use of the space provided by the hull design at the bow, which widens in its upper section, to comply with the touch & go parameters. These accessories also furnish the large flush deck cockpit that conceals a swimming pool. When closed, it remains perfectly integrated into the flooring; a hydraulic system raises it by 70 centimetres, and it can be filled with seawater and enjoyed while sailing. Moving towards the stern, the transformer in the centre of the large swim platform allows people to get on or off the dinghy comfortably.

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

“We also designed a second service tender, because one of the owner’s requests was that the side-opening aft garage should be able to accommodate a tender of at least six metres, in aluminium, with a bow that can be opened to bring ashore the motocross bikes and the quad that will be on board,” says Spadolini. “A rescue boat will be positioned at the bow.”

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

From the cockpit on the main deck, it is just a step down to find a proper lounge area sheltered by the superstructure of the upper deck. Sliding glass doors mean that, when open, they can be integrated with the interior living room with sofas and a dining area, eliminating any separation between inside and outside and creating a single large living area.

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

We find the full-beam master suite on the main deck with a study, walk-in wardrobe, and a double bathroom with a central shower. There are two twin cabins with twin beds and en-suite bathrooms in the central section of the lower deck, which can also be reached by lift. The captain’s cabin is aft of the wheelhouse on the upper deck. At the same time, the crew area occupies the forward section of the lower deck, with an enormous mess area, professional galley and four cabins, all with their bathrooms and laundry facilities. The 1.5-metre-high technical spaces of the lower deck house the cold rooms.

Photo Credit: Tommaso Spadolini

The Explorer 49.5 will be built with a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure, and Tommaso Spadolini has managed, in these twelve months, to keep it under 500 GT: a vital feature for a 49.5-metre yacht and also a request from the owner.

“We are currently finalising the full technical specification: the Explorer 49.5 will have a guaranteed transatlantic range with a speed of ten knots using CAT engines. Everything has been designed to be able to safely cope with extreme navigations such as those in the Arctic Sea.” With the project now almost complete, it is time to choose the shipyard that will construct it. “We are considering several possibilities,” Spadolini concludes. “For now, all we can say is that it will definitely be built in Italy.”