Discovering Codecasa

Shipyard odecasa’s two centuries of trading is in itself an Tristan was arguably the strongest of the family’s dynasty, Giovanni’s descendant, Giovan Battista Code- C achievement, but when a shipyard boasts amongst personalities, at just 27-years of age, he undertook a casa, also known as ‘Tristan’ (1875-1956), was arguably its production portfolio commercial trawlers, container significant expansion of the shipyard established by his father the strongest of the family’s personalities. In 1902, at KEEPING!IT ships, high-speed Coastguard launches, offshore supply just 27-years of age, he expanded the building site by boats, fast aluminum yachts, large open sports yachts 1,258 square metres and began building small ships in and custom steel yachts of up to 65m… that is seriously ‘Darsena Lucca’. But, the limited size of the inner basin impressive. Such experience and a spread of compe- necessitated the creation of an additional shipyard in the IN!THE!FAMILY tences in varied fields, ensures Codecasa’s reputation for new “Darsena Toscana”. Such investment enabled Giovan quality of construction is comparable with the best inter- Battista to survive the Great Depression of 1920’s, which national shipyards. Such a deep knowledge of shipbuil- decimated the shipwrights in Viareggio. ding can only be built over a long history of breaking new For a short two-year hiatus, the firm was sold and came ground and a long tradition of innovation. The founding under the direction of Cooperativa Calafati Codecasa, of the Codecasa shipyard in Viareggio dates back to 1825, however Tistino continued to direct and to supervise when Giovanni Battista Codecasa (born in 1803) settled work through until 1922 when the Cooperativa was dis- there and began building sailing boats. solved and the Codecasa family reassumed ownership Known as the ‘Maestro of Ascia’, Giovanni primarily of the yard. World War I had a particularly harsh impact focussed his talents on the brigs, ‘goélettes’ and other on the town of Viareggio and subsequent technical evo- ‘barcobestia’; the latter a local reference to a type lutions in maritime design and manufacture seriously of merchant ship of heavy tonnage. Continuing the disrupted the traditional shipyards. The two main revo- The resplendent Codecasa headquarters are located in Viareggio, along with three of their five shipyards 96 I 97 YUAE32-96-107-Codecasa.indd 97 6/26/12 12:45 PM Shipyard lutions; the switch from sail to engine propulsion and the metal construction, and thus become one of the pio- the market fully justified his foresight. Thus, Codecasa switch from wood to metal construction were managed neers of steel shipbuilding in Italy. With extensive expe- became one of the first, and leading, Italian steel built pri- with brilliance by the Codecasa family, proving its capa- rience building commercial vessels, the yard continued vate yacht shipyards in Italy. While it was Fulvio’s father city for adaptation. to concentrate their attention on launch trawlers and Ugo that first worked steel hulls, the son preserved and The Battistas family grew and produced five children, small trading ships. In the 1960’s however, with Europe developed his father’s legacy until moving more recently four of whom were boys: Ugo (1908-1973), Sandro (1907), back on its feet and an increasing demand for leisure into aluminium builds. Antonio (1904) and Marcello (1912) and Rosa (1915). During craft, the brothers embraced the opportunity to build In 1977 Codecasa created another shipyard in the port his time directing the yard, Giovan Battista, assisted by large steel private yachts and, along with compatriots area, called Codecasa Ugo. In 1978, the partnership his sons Ugo and Sandro, built nearly a hundred ships. Benetti, carried the torch for Italy in this field. Ugo Co- became a joint stock company, a legal structure in Throughout the 1930’s the family continued its high level decasa continued pushing the family business forward line with the brand’s future strategy. In 1982 Codecasa of production and underwent restructuring – bringing all until its death in 1973, when his 35-year old son Fulvio Due was also created in Darsena Toscana, integrating everything back under one roof in a single shipyard. While (1938) took his place, while his brother Sandro, retired the shipyard Fulvio’s uncle Sandro had founded. Then Marcello and Rosa chose different careers, Ugo and San- eight years later in 1981. the repurchase of the closed shipyard Giorgetti in 1988 dro continued to collaborate with their father until 1946, 1973 proved to be a pivotal year for the Codecasa brand. enables Fulvio to create a third yard, named Code- when Tistino stood down from the running of the business. Following the death of his father Fulvio found his hand casa Tre, right next to Codecasa Ugo. So, with three Under the two siblings Codecasa once again restructu- on the tiller of Codecasa and, given a great freedom to shipyards operating under the Codecasa brand, the red, dividing production across several smaller specialist develop his ideas and define a new strategy, he turned company lays down a marker and enters the world of yards, each concentrating on a particular portion of the his attention to exploiting the specialist niche of the private yacht construction with some aplomb! wide and varied range. This diversification enabled Code- leisure yacht market. Fulvio was a firm believer in the The 1970’s started with a yacht of 80’ launched and, with casa to gracefully navigate the transition from wood to growth of the private yachts sector and the evolution of its explorer-style looks, is favourably received by the It is difficult to imagine a more contemporary design in yachting. Bathed in light and fresh air, the salon and dining area are truly groundbreaking. 98 I 95 YUAE32-96-107-Codecasa.indd 98 6/26/12 12:45 PM Shipyard In the 1960’s, with Europe back on its feet and an increasing demand for leisure craft, Codecasa began to build large steel private yachts. Ugo Codecasa continued pushing the family business forward until its death in 1973 98 I 99 YUAE32-96-107-Codecasa.indd 99 6/26/12 12:45 PM InShipyard Real Wonderful vistas from skylounge and a pilothouse, perhaps better described as a flightdeck. YUAE32-96-107-Codecasa.indd 100 6/26/12 12:45 PM Shipyard market. Conceived in collaboration with naval architect nium. Produced by the Codecasa Due yard, the range Franco Harrauer, the yacht named Gram featured a hull consisted of two models; an 18m and 22m. While three inspired by the long-distance commercial craft the yard units were built, one of 18m in 1987 and two 22m in 1988 has so much experience with. The second yacht pro- and 1991, their popularity was restricted by the compa- duced was the G.V. First (35m in 1972), and she boasted rative cost of the new fibreglass built craft. Meanwhile, the dramatic profile of a thoroughbred ocean-going ves- the Codecasa Due yard, which specialised in aluminium sel. From 1973 to 1981, Codecessa launched yachts that builds, produced two offshore oil rig support vessels; proved to be extremely different from one another. En- Packeta in 1989 and SD 101 in 1990. trepreneur a 35m splashed in 1974 and designed by An- The new Codecasa 33m Ambra, launched in 1987, pro- selmi Boretti, plus Casabella (33m in 1975) sailed regularly ved to be the first in a long series. A total of six of these in American waters. In 1976, the 35m Renalo was built in full-displacement units were launched between 1987 and collaboration with the Italian shipyard Profilmarine and 1995. In 1990, the owner of Aleanna (a 50m delivered in sported angular lines penned by Alberto Mercati. During 1986) took delivery of his new 60m yacht; Jonikal. Pro- this period of eclectic production, a ‘Codecasa style’ pelled by 3,760hp Wartsila Nohab engines, this new 760- began to emerge; the 1975 launch of the 27m yacht Fair tonne giant of the seas flirted with a top speed of around Play and 1978 splashing of sister ship Malua are widely 20-knots. Later purchased by Mr. regarded as the first to carry Codecasa’s distinctive DNA. ‘‘In times of crisis we built yachts and Al Fayed, Jonikal was refitted Following in the same spirit, the 35m Gipsy was launched and lengthened by almost 5m in 1979, but Codecasa proved they were still flexible and waited for more favourable times to sell’’ before being renamed Sokar. In willing to surprise the market with the unveiling of a light of the increasing demand 35m steel/aluminium sailing vessel called Barcablu. Two for faster yachts, in 1992 Codecasa launched the 37m highly important launches followed in 1982: Luisella and aluminium craft, Aquajoy. Featuring ultra-modern lines Maichol. Not to only was Luisella the largest yacht ever and twin 2,200hp MTU engines, Aquajoy could achieve built by the yard at 62m, but it was also highly innovative, 25-knots. being the first yacht specifically intended for the charter In 1994, Codecasa launched another aluminium yacht, Blue that could accommodate more than 20 passengers in Velvet, who’s naval architecture and external design came eleven suites. This splendid small liner allured celebrity from the drawing boards of Frank Mulder. Built by Code- Max Grundig (the producer of television sets by the cassa Due, this curvy 31m jewel was powered by a veritable same name), who renamed it Maria Alexandra. Maichol, Evidence of Codecasa’s cavalry of almost 7,000 horses coupled up to two KaMeWa an extremely well proportioned motor yacht, was the first design DNA has been waterjets.

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