A few hours before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, about seventy kilometers from Milan — in Erbusco, in the province of Brescia — a far more private but equally heartfelt ceremony took place compared to the large event at San Siro stadium: the presentation of the Maxi Dolphin MD58ab, a 17.90-meter one-off fast cruiser.
Present were the Maxi Dolphin workforce and CEO Luca Botter, representatives of several media outlets including PressMare, and of course the owners, together with their project manager, Enrico Tettamanti.
The yacht is the latest project developed with Argentine naval architect Alejandro Bottino, with whom Maxi Dolphin has a long-standing collaboration. It is a one-off conceived for an experienced owner couple, not at their first boat, seeking an advanced balance between performance and cruising comfort, with specific customization requests: from the forward coachroof glazing to dedicated storage for diving equipment, from a protected cockpit that preserves the yacht’s elegance to a deck layout optimized for short-handed long-range sailing. All elements made possible by one-off construction and the yard’s attention to both visible and hidden details. Launch is scheduled shortly in Varazze.
MD58ab is built entirely in advanced composite, with carbon fiber hull and deck and a Corecell core, a solution that keeps weight under control while ensuring high structural stiffness and safety at sea. Displacement is 21 tonnes, including 6.4 tonnes in the keel which, combined with the 5.2-meter beam, provides significant righting moment for stability and performance.
Naval architecture by Bottino and clean deck layout
The hull lines clearly reflect Alejandro Bottino’s design approach. The maximum beam, set aft of midship and carried toward the stern, supports downwind performance and provides generous midship volumes. The hull features a chine designed to reduce wetted surface when heeled and improve dryness underway, while the vertical bow combines contemporary styling, extended waterline length and increased interior volume.
Deck layout is designed for maximum cleanliness, with all running rigging led below deck to the cockpit. The twin helm stations — with refined steering pedestals — ensure control and visibility in all conditions. The rig includes a carbon mast and boom by Hall Spars and a full sail plan with mainsail, furling genoa, Code Zero and gennaker, suited to light Mediterranean summer winds as well as higher-speed sailing in stronger breeze.
Elegant, spacious and bright interiors
Below deck, MD58ab features an interior concept inspired by a loft at sea, with a large central living area integrating dinette, chart table and lounge space. The galley is positioned forward near midships, enlarging the social area and creating functional continuity between interior and exterior spaces.
The owner’s suite is located in the bow, with a central bed and en-suite bathroom, ensuring privacy from the common areas. Two guest double cabins are arranged aft, each with a dedicated bathroom, offering volumes and comfort above average for this size range, comparable in feel to a 65-footer.
Natural light is a key design feature: the large glazed companionway, longitudinal and forward coachroof windows, hullside openings and eight flush deck hatches provide bright, well-ventilated interiors. Lightweight sandwich furniture is finished in bleached oak with horizontal grain, combined with light panels and light-gray upholstery for a sober, contemporary result. With MD58ab, Maxi Dolphin continues its tradition of high-performance custom yachts, leveraging advanced composite construction and close cooperation with leading designers, in a project strongly focused on owner-specific requirements.
Giuliano Luzzatto