Few escapes are as total as an oceanic journey. A maritime microverse becomes yours the moment you step onboard—every touchpoint of this floating home away from home is a conversation between human, machine, and the elements. And needless to say, not all ships are created equally.
Sanlorenzo Yachts are characterized by their bespoke architectural and design-focused layouts. While northern European builds often focus on minimalism and engineering efficiency (think Porsche and BMW) this northwest Italian shipbuilder claims a charismatic, just-so style (think Maserati and Ferrari). One particularly emblematic Sanlorenzo vessel is Contigo, a 50-meter yacht completed in 2024. Like virtually all yachts in its class, this is of an entirely bespoke construction. However, Contigo, or Almax as she was originally named, began as the personal commission of Sanlorenzo CEO, Massimo Perotti. Spoiler alert: the cobbler has impeccable shoes.
Contigo is configured to a degree of personalization akin to a coachbuilt sedan from the 1930s. The exterior was penned by Rome-based design firm Zuccon, and offers a seamless airiness between outside and indoor areas. Interior spaces were designed by Milan and New York-based Piero Lissoni, incorporating five main decks which include a so-called floating master suite, a sky lounge with an elevated transparent hot tub and an aft workout area, living and dining areas at staggered elevations. Automatic sliding glass doors separate book-matched marble tables and furnishings by Knoll and Herman Miller from the teak-lined exterior deck. It takes a crew of 11 to service this 164-foot yacht, which is rated to carry up to ten guests.
It only seemed natural to pair my yacht excursion with an appropriately themed timepiece: the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique (5007 1130 B64B). The choice was hardly arbitrary. The Fifty Fathoms and the sea share a creation story: both the watch and Contigo exist because someone with exacting taste refused to compromise. The Fifty Fathoms originated in 1953, born from a collaboration between Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter, himself a passionate diver, and French combat divers Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, who needed a purpose-built watch rugged enough for military frogmen. The design that emerged is widely considered, alongside the Rolex Submariner born the same year, to be among the first modern dive watches. Seventy-plus years on, the Automatique carries that lineage without apology.
My reference, the 38mm in black, wears with the quiet authority of something that has nothing left to prove. Delivered with a rubber strap, it is purposeful but subtly posh in person, presenting as modestly sized even on my relatively petite 6.75-inch wrist. The domed black bezel, fitted with a sapphire crystal overlay rather than a painted aluminum insert, does what the original was engineered to do: track elapsed dive time with unambiguous clarity. Even at anchor in the Bahamian sun, the anti-reflective coating on the slightly domed sapphire crystal ensured the dial stayed legible at every angle.
Given that my yachting experience was preceded by the Amelia Concours at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, I might have preferred the sail-canvas strap to take the edge off the strictly maritime theme. Regardless, the in-the-know concours guests recognized my wrist candy with a knowing smile, differentiating it from lesser strains.
Just beyond Nassau International Airport’s customs area I was met by our small group. It would be the last time I touched my luggage for days. From here we’d be taken care of by charter company Cecil Wright & Partners as well as Contigo staff. After a spirited drive to the marina at Hurricane Hole, porters transported our luggage to a Wajer 55 chase boat, which took us on a 40-minute ride to Contigo.
The multi-million vessel signals a clear sense of occasion that accompanies this elevated microcosm of yacht charter; the vibe continues as we approach Contigo’s aft deck, whose wings fold down to create a so-called Beach Club layout. With the staff standing at ease awaiting our arrival, we are handed welcome beverages within moments of stepping aboard. One cannot help but recall a memorable line from the satirical yacht dramedy, “Triangle of Sadness.”
“The success of a luxury cruise mainly depends on two moments: The first hours the guests are onboard, and the last day…” The sentiment rings true: I filled out a detailed 31-page questionnaire ahead of the trip about my food, drink, and leisure preferences, and was greeted and handled with equally diligent attentiveness. My bags were unpacked with my permission, clothes and toiletries thoughtfully hung, folded, and arranged. All the while, chef Joe Adams worked behind the scenes to create dishes like prawn ceviche with buttermilk and chive dressing, sesame seared tuna with red cabbage slaw, and beef filet in a yuzu emulsion.
Making use of our brief two-day stint aboard Contigo, we boarded the Wajer once again and dove into the warm Caribbean waters, playing with electric-powered stand-up e-foils and bodyboards. The Fifty Fathoms, rated to 300 meters, was entirely unbothered by the proceedings—which is exactly what you want from a watch you’ve forgotten you’re wearing. Returning as the sun dipped onto the horizon, we had a moment to freshen up before enjoying dinner surrounded by a view of the azure sea. The onboard staff operate with calm efficiency thanks to their impeccable aptitude for service and tools like in-ear walkies which enable them to communicate discreetly with the crew. Craving a postprandial Pappy Van Winkle? It’ll be in-hand before you can say “ahhh.” Hoping to make full use of my first night at sea, I wound down on a recliner and rested my eyes on the night constellation before retiring.
Though the ship’s expansive master suite went unused, I had a restful night in my lower deck stateroom, a well-appointed space with generously sized portholes, a tiled en-suite bathroom, and Scandinavian-style cabinetry that cloaked cupboards and closet space. My second day started on the top deck with some light rowing in order to absolve myself of the Pappy’s indulgence. Following breakfast, we boarded the tender to visit a nearby cove where the staff set up lounge sofas, umbrellas, and an array of snorkeling and water toy equipment including Seabobs, James Bond-like propulsion devices capable of diving below the surface.
Beneath the surface, the Fifty Fathoms earns its name. The unidirectional rotating bezel, a feature Blancpain pioneered on the original 1953 design specifically to prevent accidental over-extension of dive time, clicked into place with the satisfying precision of a well-engineered thing doing exactly what it was built to do. The 38mm case disappeared under the cuff of my linen shirt without complaint, and the luminous indices and hands stayed readable however deep the Seabob pulled me below the surface. The Blancpain felt especially well-suited to this adventuresome endeavor, offering clear visibility beneath the surface while I contemplated my last few precious moments before returning to reality.
Once acclimated to Contigo’s combination of impeccable floating architecture and seamless service it feels jarring to make landfall—even if that real world is the charming town of Nassau. While this $55 million asset requires a steep commitment to own, especially with estimated annual maintenance of around $5 million, it should be known that Contigo is available for charter through Cecil Wright & Partners at a rate of $375,000 per week. You’ll need to add a 35% APA (advanced provisioning allowance) fee to cover docking fees, food and beverage, various operating costs, as well as the standard 10-20% gratuity for the helpful staff. Top notch yachting may not be for the financially faint of heart. As J.P. Morgan famously once said, regarding the asking price of luxury items, specifically yachts; “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”
