Italian design, naval engineering, and a clear point of view on how boats should be lived in
Before a new yacht brand becomes a range of models, it begins as a point of view.
For Santasevera, that point of view belongs to Francesco Guida, the Italian naval architect and yacht designer whose work has long sat at the intersection of elegance, practicality and onboard experience. A Neapolitan naval engineer by background, Guida’s relationship with yacht design began early. By the age of 12, he was already taking his drawings to Sanlorenzo’s Giovanni Jannetti for an opinion, and by 22 he had graduated with first-class honours in naval engineering.
That foundation matters. Santasevera is not a styling exercise built around trend. It is the result of a designer returning to the core pleasures of boating: space, protection, proportion, performance and the simple enjoyment of being on the water.
The brand’s own heritage traces the idea back to the structure of an old lobster boat, reimagined by Francesco Guida and the Guida Design Studio to capture seaworthiness, timelessness and a more intelligent way of living onboard. Rather than following the familiar centre-console or walkaround formula, Santasevera places emphasis on generous aft living areas, protected cockpits and a layout that feels open without leaving guests exposed.
It is a philosophy Guida has articulated clearly. In a 2026 interview, he pointed to a growing demand for large outdoor spaces, longer cockpits, sunbathing areas and sheltered zones, noting that owners increasingly want open boats that are still comfortable when conditions change.
That thinking is visible across the range. The current Santasevera fleet includes 36, 42 and 52 models, with the 52 offered in HT, Sport and Cruise variants. The flagship 52 measures 16.11 metres overall with a 5.05 metre beam, giving the boat the volume and social space normally associated with larger yachts.
The Santasevera 52 was the first model to introduce the brand’s vision to the market. It combined a clean, contemporary Italian aesthetic with expansive open spaces, a carbon hardtop, a sheltered helm and lounge, and an aft deck designed around relaxed Mediterranean living.
The newer Santasevera 42 continues the same thinking in a more compact format. Its forward helm opens up the aft cockpit as the boat’s primary gathering space, while the swim platform, sunpad and beach-club-style layout extend the social area right to the water. Motor Boat & Yachting described the 42 Sport as a 41-foot open day cruiser where the day spaces “flow one into the next,” carrying forward the ideas first seen on the flagship 52.
For Carbon Yachts, that makes Santasevera a natural fit.
It is Italian, but not ornamental. Luxurious, but not overcomplicated. Modern, but grounded in proper naval architecture. The boats speak to owners who want the beauty of a Mediterranean dayboat with the usability required for real time on the water.
Santasevera is a young brand, but it does not feel inexperienced. It carries the confidence of Francesco Guida’s career, the discipline of Italian craftsmanship and a design language that understands where the market is heading.
Less volume for the sake of volume. More space where people actually live.
That is the origin of Santasevera. And it is why the brand feels so relevant for Australia and New Zealand.
