Benetti Clear Waves 70M: how a superyacht starts with a question

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Benetti’s Project Clear Waves, a 70-metre concept unveiled in early 2025, begins not with a brief about interior volume or cabin count but with a single design question: how do owners actually want to live at sea? Designer Luca Dini’s answer scraps the superyacht convention of maximum rooms stacked into minimum space and rebuilds the vessel around light, horizon and the constant presence of water. The result challenges what a 70-metre yacht can be, and why it matters matters now.

Harvey Hira spoke with the design team about the genesis. The superdeck reveals the thinking. A timber frame of geometric pattern stretches overhead, repeating through railings and pergola below, casting shadows that track the sun’s movement through the day. Full-height glazing frames the water without barrier. Two sculptural seating pods in pale upholstery angle toward the horizon; a circular marble table grounds the composition. The timber flooring on the side decks runs flush and unbroken. What Benetti calls the Longevity Suite—the owner’s quarters and guest spaces—are each positioned to capture specific qualities of light and sea view at different times of day. Wellness moves from a dedicated spa deck into the architecture itself: light, air circulation and thermal control are woven into how the vessel is structured, not added as amenities.

The exterior form supports this restraint. The hull carries a sharp, analytical profile in white, the superstructure kept as the primary visual gesture. Two levels stack with precision, the upper deck stepping back to prevent the visual weight that can overwhelm yachts at this scale. The sheer line drives forward with purpose. At 70 metres, Clear Waves avoids the convention that size must announce itself through added volume. Luca Dini, who has designed yachts for Benetti and others across three decades, applies a consistent language to the work: geometric precision, selective material palettes, and the conviction that a yacht’s interior should respond to its specific location and light conditions rather than follow a predetermined house style.

Benetti, based in Livorno, Italy, has built superyachts since 1959 and remains among the world’s largest builders in the segment. The shipyard evolved from a family operation into a company that now commissions work from contemporary designers rather than defaulting to house styles. Clear Waves represents this shift: a concept that uses design clarity and material honesty as the expression of luxury, not additional volume or ornamentation. The 70-metre is in design development; the full specification—interior volumes, guest capacity, propulsion and range—will emerge as the concept moves toward a buildable specification. What is visible now is the design intent: a superyacht that treats the ocean not as backdrop to interior luxury but as the primary experience, integrated into every space. For owners sceptical of superyacht interiors that could sit in any city, Clear Waves suggests another way to think about scale.

Luca Dini has spent his career designing yachts where proportion and material clarity outweigh decoration. His work for Benetti and others shares a consistent language: geometric precision, selective material palettes, and the belief that a yacht’s interior should respond to its specific location and light conditions. Clear Waves applies this language at a scale where most builders instinctively reach for complexity.

Benetti itself, based in Livorno, Italy, has built superyachts since the 1960s and stands among the world’s largest builders in the segment. The shipyard has evolved from a family operation into a company that commissions work from contemporary designers rather than defaulting to house styles. Clear Waves represents this shift: a concept that uses design clarity and material honesty as the expression of luxury, not additional volume or ornamentation.

The market for 70-metre yachts is competitive. Owners at this size typically choose between established builders with proven delivery records and custom yards known for singular design visions. Clear Waves positions Benetti as a builder willing to question superyacht convention, to start with the question of how you actually live aboard rather than how much space can fit into a given length.

The 70-metre is currently in design development, and the full specification—interior volumes, guest capacity, propulsion and range—will emerge as the concept moves toward a buildable specification. What is visible now is the design intent: a superyacht that treats the ocean not as a backdrop to interior luxury but as the primary experience, integrated into every space and moment. For those who have grown skeptical of superyacht interiors that could sit anywhere, Clear Waves suggests there is another way to think about scale.

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Imagery courtesy of Benetti (@benettiyachts).