The 52-meter Benetti Solafide underwent a complete refit in less than a year.
Signed by Tommaso Spadolini and Giulia Grassi and curated by Ims Shipyard of Toulon, the restoration has transformed a 1994 model into a modern superyacht with new interiors, styling and technological updates.
In less than a year, the Benetti 52-meter Solafide has been given a new lease of life thanks to a complete restyling by architect Tommaso Spadolini. The project also involved yacht designer Giulia Grassi of Supernova Design, who was responsible for the interiors. This ambitious undertaking required extensive work on the yacht's structure, onboard technology, and aesthetics.
The work, carried out at the French IMS Shipyard in Toulon, transformed a 1994 vessel into a model of elegance and innovation. The restyling included modifying the exterior profile, renovating the common areas, replacing hull parts, and updating the engines.
According to Spadolini, “The owner's requests were very clear: he had fallen in love with this Benetti, but wanted to renovate it both technically and in terms of its exterior and interior design, maintaining the boat's classic nature but with a more contemporary look, and above all, ensuring it could sail with his large family. We started from the yacht's original cream color, replacing it with white, adding dark stripes and steel grilles. In particular, we focused on the aft area of the main deck, originally used to house two tenders, transforming it into a lounge area that can be enjoyed both underway and at anchor. New hatches were created, and the aft railing was modified by opening the two fold-down side terraces to improve visibility of the sea. A fully equipped solarium was created in the area forward of the wheelhouse, complete with awnings and accessible via a new entrance. On the flybridge, the original technical area was transformed into an elegant space, with teak flooring and awning poles.”
A major technical challenge was overhauling the two 16-cylinder Deutz engines, each producing 2.400 hp. This required removing them and cutting away the living deck, which was only reassembled after the vessels' return. The sundeck was also reinforced to accommodate a helicopter landing, with removable furniture and a dedicated area.
The interior design project, overseen by Giulia Grassi, focused primarily on brightness and livability, while also maintaining a balance between the yacht's history and the introduction of modern design elements. "The owner requested increased seating and cabin capacity," explains Giulia Grassi. "We completely transformed the spaces, optimizing them by rearranging the interior bulkheads and adding custom furniture, such as sofas and furnishings, that reflected the yacht's overall aesthetic. Specifically, we removed some built-in furniture in the main deck dining area to make room for a table that could comfortably seat all family members. The exterior areas were also enhanced with custom cushions and modular furniture, increasing flexibility and comfort, especially in the new aft area of the main deck, where the connection with the sea is now very strong."
The technological upgrades included electrical systems, navigation systems, and connectivity, ensuring cutting-edge standards. The two original davits were retained for loading tenders during long crossings.
“It was a pleasure to modernize such a beautiful yacht as this Benetti 52m, originally designed by Stefano Natucci, whose work was truly excellent,” concludes Tommaso Spadolini. “Now, with practically new engines, she can cruise at 21 knots thanks to a narrow, high-performance hull. Her maximum beam is 'just' 8,9 m, an unusual figure for modern yachts of this size. We were also proud to keep her displacement below 500 t, 472 tonnes to be precise.”
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