Yachting Magazine

Real freedom, for some people, is a goal worthy of lifelong pursuit. Richard Ford has been chasing it since just after his military service in South Africa, at age 21. “I wanted to backpack through Europe, like all us kids used to dream about doing, and I didn’t have two pennies to rub together,” he says. “I couldn’t fly from Cape Town to Europe and backpack. I even looked at trying to join the Merchant Navy to jump a ship and try to get there. And eventually, there was a boat.”

It was a 45-foot ferrocement Hartley Tahitian ketch that, on a good day, would hit 5 knots. But it needed crew, and it was headed toward the future Ford imagined. It had no refrigeration. No loran. No GPS. The kind of marine toilet where you had to lean your head down toward it and pump. Out on the North Atlantic. In February. “I’ve never been so cold in my life,” Richard says. “But, you know, we got there.”

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The first Itama 70 has been launched at Ferretti Group’s new production facility in Ravenna, Italy, marking the debut of the latest model in the builder’s ongoing range renewal.

Measuring 69 feet 8 inches in length overall with a 17-foot, 5-inch beam, the Itama 70 was developed by the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee and Engineering Department. Exterior styling is by Vallicelli Design, while the interiors were created by IdeaeItalia.

The yacht retains a number of hallmark Itama design cues, including a large foredeck sunpad and elongated hullside glazing that emphasizes the boat’s low-profile, open-yacht silhouette. Aft, the beach area is designed to stow and launch a 10-foot, 8-inch tender, while a large sunpad connects directly with the cockpit dining space through an integrated backrest arrangement.

The cockpit includes a U-shaped dining area and a wet bar opposite a convertible chaise-style lounge. An electrically operated bimini top provides shade over the social area. At the helm, twin 16-inch touchscreen displays handle navigation and vessel systems, while a centerline walkthrough windshield provides access to the foredeck.

Belowdecks, the layout includes three staterooms, each with a private head. The owner’s stateroom is positioned aft, while a galley and dinette are arranged amidships to maximize living space and natural light.

Power on the first hull comes from twin optional 1,550 hp MAN V-12 diesel engines. According to preliminary figures from the builder, the yacht is expected to reach a top speed of 40 knots and cruise at 35 knots. A Seakeeper NG14 gyrostabilizer is also fitted.

Founded in 1969 and part of Ferretti Group since 2004, Itama has built its reputation on open yachts that blend performance, style and strong seakeeping characteristics. The current lineup includes the Itama 45RS, 54, 62RS, 70 and flagship 75.

Boaters should approach a visit to Barcelona as they would a visit to one of its countless tapas bars: by sampling a taste of its many attractions. From iconic architecture to world-class cuisine, a passionate sports scene, fascinating history and beautiful beaches, Barcelona richly rewards exploration.

One name is synonymous with Barcelona: Antoni Gaudí. The famed Catalan architect’s designs define the city’s aesthetic and skyline, none more so than the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. This breathtaking 534-foot-tall church, started in 1882 and still under construction, is the city’s tallest building and Spain’s top tourist attraction. Book (well in advance) an afternoon guided tour with tower access for views of the city and church’s exterior, to learn the fascinating history of this landmark and to take in the nature-inspired interior while aglow in a kaleidoscope of colors cast by sunlight pouring through towering stained-glass windows.

Make time as well for Gaudi’s equally jaw-dropping Casa Batlló, a mosaic masterpiece, and his whimsical Park Güell.

Art lovers also gravitate toward the Picasso Museum and National Art Museum of Catalonia. Sports fans can schedule a tour of Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s home stadium. Or visit the Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum on the grounds of the summer 1992 Olympic Games. History lovers can check out the 17th-century Montjuic Castle—popular for its nighttime fountain and light shows—as well as the waterfront Maritime Museum of Barcelona, which houses a full-size replica of a 16th-century Royal Galley. Anyone looking for a new yacht can stop at Marina Port Vell, home to the Barcelona Boat Show in October.

Barcelona is a foodie’s dream. Among its four restaurants with three Michelin stars, Cocina Hermanos Torres adds an element of spectacle to its superb tasting menus of inventive Mediterranean fare by anchoring its dining room around the bustling central open kitchen.

La Palmera in Eixample offers an innovative spin on Catalan cuisine, particularly with its foie gras dishes. For fresh seafood, the Botafumeiro is praised for its vast food and wine selections, especially its lobster dishes. At the informal Puertecillo and La Paradeta seafood chains, customers select fresh fare from market-style counters.

Can Ros has mastered the city’s signature rice dish—paella—since 1908. Cadaques earns acclaim for its duck and rabbit variations. For top-notch tapas, the wait is worthwhile at La Cova Fumada, Cal Pep and Bodega Biarritz. Or snack your way through La Boqueria on anchovies, Jamon Iberico slices and crema Catalan, with churros and thick hot chocolate for dessert.