FormitAliA

Above: the contemporary and timeless living that reflects the tradition and craftsmanship of Aston Martin sports cars Below: a modern style where the essential is enhanced by refined materials and exceptional finishesg, it is that distinguishes the Formitalia production

The new Portofino’s is a 47-foot catamaran in latest generation 5083 aluminium. It has an integrated system of automotivederived lithium batteries, solar panels and a superinnovative storage system. Another distinctive feature is the engine positioned at the center of the catamaran instead of the stern

SAIL INTERVIEW

WATER, EARTH AND AIR

RAFFAELE ROGNONI, FOUNDER OF PORTOFINO MARINE SERVICES, TELLS US ABOUT HIS STATE OF THE ART CATAMARAN text Teresa Favi

Raffaele is a 3000 Ton IMO Master (International Maritime Organization) with more than 40 years experience on the sea and over and 3,500 scuba dives. Several number of ocean crossings. In other words, a true sea wolf. This is Cesena (Emilia Romagna) native and grown up in Sicily, Tuscany and Liguria, Captain Raffaele Rognoni, who after thirty years sailing the world’s seas, decided to move to Dubai. Here in 2008 he founded Portofino Marine Services, which offers a wide range of services for yachts and leading nautical industry brands, and is a reference point for customisation of sail and motor yachts. He’s now puts its name into a spectacular state of the art catamaran. It is designed and built in collaboration with the University of Genoa Team of Naval engineers and Architects. Zero13 is the company for the structural design and Satura Studio the exterior and interiors. Portofino’s catamaran - a fusion of functionality and aesthetics - is available in two models, Cat 47 Sport and Cat 67 Villa, soon to be joined by Cat 57 and Explorer 60. Waiting times are at least 2 years, since Raffaele and his team work as if building a Formula 1 car.

What are the salient points of the design?

It is a 47-foot (about 15 meters) catamaran in latest generation 5083 aluminium. An integrated system of automotive-derived lithium batteries, solar panels and a super-innovative storage system guarantees extended

autonomy: what today’s boats do by keeping the diesel generators running 24 hours a day, here is possible with 4/5 hours of ignition. In short, you can sleep with the air conditioning on all night without using the generator. Another distinctive feature, as well as an unprecedented design formula, is the engine positioned at the center of the catamaran instead of the stern: in addition to providing better weight distribution, it allows direct access to the ‘HERE THE BREEZE sea from the aft, or main, cabins.

GENERATED BY You can wakes up in the morning

THE DIFFERENCE and dive straight into the sea. IN TEMPERATURE BETWEEN THE Where do you love to go sailing in Dubai? The season here is very long, from

SEA AND THE October to May, and the breeze

DESERT CREATE generated by the difference in VERY FAVOURABLE temperature between the sea and CONDITIONS FOR PEACEFUL SAILING the desert create very favourable conditions for peaceful sailing anywhere. One destination I love

ANYWHERE. ONE is The World Islands.

DESTINATION I Recommendations for an itinerLOVE IS THE WORLD ary from someone like you who

ISLANDS’ has lived in Dubai for many years and feels at home? My life is divided between yachts, family and friends. When I feel like a weekend out of town, I go off-road to the beautiful rocky mountains on the border between the Emirates of Dubai and Sharjah, and go paragliding to enjoy spectacular views of the desert. For those, who like me, are diving aficionados, I recommend the northern part of the Gulf of Oman with its fantastic diving spot.

Some sketches of the plan by Alessio Belloni (top right): a nearly 500,000-squaremeter Portofino and Riomaggiore-style village in Khorfakkan in the Emirate of Sharjah www.alessio.ae