Explorer but Observer too. Francesco Paszkowski talks about the philosophy behind the new XO yacht range he has created with Baglietto. Boats that draw on the design languages not of yachting alone but of the transportation world as a whole, proposing a new way to sail. Numbers would be enough on their own to tell you exactly who Francesco Paszkowski and his firm are: 33 years of history and over 300 yachts launchedwith the very best yards of superyachts in the world today. Among the dominant signs of his ‘boat-making’ is the constant search for new language codes, both aesthetic and functional, linked to his focus on the evolving dynamics of taste.
A new idea of sailing
Among the firms he works with, his soundest partnership is certainly the one with Cantiere Baglietto which this year celebrates its 170th anniversary. And precisely on the occasion of this anniversary, Francesco Paszkowski and the Ligurian shipyard are proposing a new idea of sailing with a project where past and future come together, but also between worlds that at first sight are light years apart. Paszkowski is a great lover of the form of anything that moves (and a passionate student of car design) so we asked him in person to tell us what Baglietto Yacht’s new XO range is all about.
“Our idea was to start from the past but set a new direction for the future. Baglietto has always been associated with the concept of speed in both its planing and displacement hulls. With XO, however, we wanted to start from the idea of the Explorer which, among all yacht categories, is the one most closely linked to the world of work and heavy duty. In addition, however, we wanted to add the Observer idea to it”.
So what was the starting point of this design process?
“Formally, the XO is undeniably an Explorer, with the balance of volumes typically leaning towards the bow, with the entire aft area dedicated to tenders and water toys. But, at the same time, we wanted to propose a new way of interpreting the sea, with an approach designed around a family that can sail, even in extreme places, exploring and observing. Going to sea in a new way”.
What made this transformation possible?
“A stylistic element never seen before on an Explorer, a capsule, a central glazed structure. From here you can observe the world. The very powerful reference is to earthmoving machines”.
A passage that might seem daring…
“We wanted to create something related to the world of transportation in a broad sense, a little less yacht, a little more linked to the earth. The first inspiration came to me from the Settebello train which had a striking feature, a front lounge. Passengers were able to enjoy a forward view and not just a side view, as is normally the case with trains. The pilot’s station was slightly elevated, what in the nautical world would normally be called a raised pilothouse”.
So you took up this concept and…
“Reversed it: below the pilot area, above is the fully glazed observation capsule that eliminates any separation between inside and out. In addition, a large retractable screen permits extended observation and exploration. Here, images sent by the on-board drones can be shown. At the bow, instead of a helipad, there is a helidrone area for drones to take off and land, after they have explored the coastline and the ‘world’ around the XO’s navigation area”.
(Full article in A&D no. 269)
