The 30-year-old Benetti vessel, originally built in 1994 and formerly known as Tommy, has been reborn as Solafide following extensive work at IMS Shipyard in Toulon, France.
Fast-Tracked from Concept to Completion
Work began in earnest in mid-2023, after the new owner outlined his vision: to retain the character of the classic Benetti while modernising both its systems and appearance. First design drafts were produced in August, finalised by December, and by April 2024 Solafide was back in the water.
Spadolini worked closely with interior designer Giulia Grassi of Supernova Design Studio, along with the shipyard’s in-house teams, to complete what he described as a “tour de force” effort. The compressed timeline required careful planning and coordination across every aspect of the rebuild.
A Fresh Profile and Upgraded Technology
One of the most striking changes is the new look of the yacht for sale. The original cream hull has been repainted white, accented with dark detailing and stainless steel grids.
The owner's vision was crystal clear: he had fallen in love with this Benetti but wanted to refresh it both technically and aesthetically inside and out while maintaining the classic character of the yacht, but with a contemporary look."
Architect
The aft main deck, once home to two tenders, has been redesigned as a spacious lounge area for use both underway and at anchor. Retractable terraces open up views to the sea, while a fully equipped sunbathing space now sits forward of the bridge.
Up top, the flybridge has been transformed from a technical area into a more refined space with teak decking and removable furnishings—adaptable for helicopter operations thanks to a reinforced deck and an ‘H’ marking.
Behind the scenes, both 2,400hp Deutz engines underwent a complete rebuild, which required cutting through the living deck to extract and later reinstall them.
Several steel and aluminium structural elements were replaced, and the yacht’s electrical and navigational systems were brought up to modern standards.
Interiors Tailored for Family Life
The interior refurbishment of the motor yacht for sale was equally extensive. Giulia Grassi’s brief was to make the yacht brighter, more liveable and better suited to a large family—without losing the spirit of the original 1990s design.
Key to this was rethinking the main deck layout. Built-in furniture was removed in favour of a large, freestanding dining table, while modular, custom-made sofas and armchairs expanded the available seating. Many pieces include hidden storage or can be adapted to seat more guests, and soft furnishings throughout were refreshed to create a lighter, more contemporary feel.
We carried out a full transformation of the spaces, optimizing them by reorganizing internal partitions and adding custom designed furniture, like sofas and pieces that reflected the yacht’s overall aesthetic."
Yacht Designer
Supernova Design Studio
The dining area now features a section of white onyx beneath the table and a colour-changing backlit wall. A system of mirrors cleverly captures reflections of the sea, visible from every seat. Curtains were removed entirely, replaced with more subtle window treatments to enhance the sense of space.
Upstairs, the lounge area doubles as a convertible guest cabin thanks to a custom-designed sofa bed. A new VIP cabin has also been added.
Meanwhile, the aft deck and flybridge were fitted with new air-conditioned furniture—again, all designed to be movable when helicopter access is required.
Classic Lines, Contemporary Performance
While the owner’s suite remains largely untouched following an earlier upgrade, the yacht overall has taken on a new lease of life. With a high-performance hull and a relatively narrow 8.9-metre beam, Solafide now cruises comfortably at 21 knots and stays under the 500GT threshold with a gross tonnage of 472GT in total.
“It was a pleasure to reimagine a yacht of this pedigree,” said Spadolini. “The original design by Stefano Natucci was exceptional. Our job was to honour that while giving Solafide the capability and comfort of a modern superyacht—and I think we’ve achieved that.”
Solafide is on the market with MY SEA and is currently asking €19,500,000.
More to Come: Benetti’s Expanding Production
The refit of Solafide arrives at a time of strong momentum for Benetti. The Italian shipyard currently has over 60 yachts in its order book, spanning a wide range of sizes and styles. Among the most anticipated builds is the 85-metre Project Life, which is set to become a major milestone for the brand upon delivery.
Benetti’s current production also includes strong demand for several popular lines. The Oasis series continues to resonate with owners, particularly the Oasis 34m and Oasis 40m models, which integrate relaxed open-deck living with stylish, contemporary interiors. Meanwhile, the B.Now 50M Oasis stands out with its distinctive aft deck design and emphasis on indoor-outdoor connection.
Also notable is the B.Yond 37M, Benetti’s interpretation of the modern explorer yacht, offering long-range cruising in a more compact, manageable format. This diversity across the fleet highlights Benetti’s ability to cater to different owner preferences while maintaining a clear design identity—and demonstrates its position as one of the most active shipyards in the superyacht sector today.
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