The Darwin 86 'Empire' has been delivered by Cantiere delle Marche.

Cantiere delle Marche announces that the Darwin 86 Empire was recently delivered to its American owner.

"The Darwin 86 Empire, which joins the Darwin family launched to date—a small fleet of yachts between 86 and 112 feet—exemplifies the success of the range to which she belongs. The Darwin Class continues to give us great satisfaction, confirming the validity of a model that stands the test of time," said Vasco Buonpensiere, co-founder and CEO of Cantiere delle Marche.

The Darwin 86 delivered features a series of customizations requested by the owner to make it suitable for long-distance cruising, even at the most extreme latitudes. She has therefore been equipped with a hull reinforcement at the waterline (ice belt), and all appendages have been reinforced to withstand navigation in icy waters with complete peace of mind. "Complying with a rather unusual request from the owner," explains the shipyard, "the hull was partially constructed with bulletproof steel plates. The owner intends to explore areas that may pose safety risks for guests and crew. To this end, Empire is also equipped with sophisticated anti-intrusion systems. Another unique feature is a fourth helm station located in the engine room."

The interiors were designed by Alessandro Massari according to the owner's specific requests, including the number of cabins, with a simple, nautical-inspired layout. The designer created welcoming and functional interiors, designing much of the furniture and complementing the furnishings with pieces from renowned brands. The full-beam master stateroom, located amidships on the Lower Deck, offers its occupants ample space and maximum comfort. Adjacent to the master stateroom are two double cabins, each equipped with a pullman bed to accommodate additional guests. Forward, two additional guests are accommodated in a spacious double suite.

The crew quarters, designed to comfortably accommodate four members, are located forward on the main deck. This area also includes a spacious crew dinette. The crew quarters are strategically connected to the wheelhouse on the upper deck via a dedicated staircase.

Empire's Main Deck – the press release continues – is the hub of social life onboard, with welcoming and functional spaces both inside and out. The cockpit dining area is equipped with a bar and barbecue, while the main galley is an integral part of the saloon, separated from it by a counter suitable for snacks, breakfast, or cocktails. The Upper Deck features a spacious and well-equipped gym for staying in shape during longer voyages, but also serves as a living/relaxation area that opens onto an aft terrace. The wheelhouse, designed with integrated Boening monitoring and control systems, ensures ease of management for the Captain and crew. The Sun Deck offers an additional relaxation area with a dining table and comfortable chaise lounges.

With a total length of 26,30 meters, Empire is a compact and robust vessel, with a high bow and the typical profile of the Darwin range yachts, underscoring their characteristics of comfort and reliability. The yacht is powered by two Scania engines, each producing 294 kW, and is equipped with three Northern Light generators, providing a total of 155 kW of power. The yacht also features sodium-lithium chloride batteries for greater energy efficiency.

During official sea trials (with the yacht half-laden), Empire reached a top speed of 11,6 knots with a modest fuel consumption of 146 l/h. Both noise [below 40 dB(A)] and vibration tests showed very low levels, confirming the excellent comfort the yacht offers her guests in both the social and private spaces. In summary – concludes the CdM statement – ​​Empire is a well-designed yacht that combines comfort, functionality, and great reliability.

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