For those who dream of a definitive blue water sailing boat, the Italian shipyard Stem Marine offers the Stem 50, a new high-tech aluminium sailing boat that can be fitted out to suit your needs.
The life of a sailor evolves over time, always on the edge of practical experience, accumulated miles, dreams and an absolute love of sailing. In this constant evolution, both technical and human, sailors develop a deep relationship with the boats on which they sail. Over time, they choose ‘travelling companions’ that are increasingly in line with their own needs, style and sailing ambitions. Standard production cabin cruisers generally manage to fully satisfy most owners.
There are sailors, however, who are particularly demanding and at a certain point are no longer satisfied with the various compromises offered in series construction. What they want is a ‘custom’ boat. They desire one that is customised across the board and able to fully reflect their way of sailing. This includes performance, safety and on-board comfort.
Aluminium sailing boat, ideal for blue water sailing
Let’s take for example a 45-50 year old sailor who sails with his family. Years of cruising behind him, accustomed by now to life at sea and with a more and more precise idea of what he wants from the boat in terms of size, equipment, fittings and living space. If his goal is long voyages, in the Mediterranean but also in the ocean, and why not, a round-the-world voyage, then this owner will certainly aim at complete autonomy. He will seek maximum safety and the best that technology can offer him.
Of the various options, it is very likely that he will opt for an aluminium hull, a material that has always been the king of blue water sailing. Solid, reliable, light, versatile and above all definitive. It does not fear the wear and tear of time, is practically indestructible. It also requires very little maintenance.
In Italy Stem Marine launches the new Stem 50 – an aluminum sailing boat
In Europe there are several shipyards specialising in building aluminium sailing boat. France certainly leads the way with Allures Yachting, Alubat, Boreal, Garcia Yachts and Meta Yachts. But there are also the Dutch yards Hutting Yachts and KM Yachtbuilders.
Italy itself, however, boasts a yard at the forefront of aluminium. This is Stem Marine, a company founded in 1998 by Ezio Menna based in Medesano (Parma). It is currently one of the world leaders in the construction of professional work boats for water rescue, firefighting, rescue and offshore and coastal patrol. Its vessels, hand-built with attention to every detail, are used by Coast Guard, Fire Brigade and Maritime Authority operators around the world, from France to Korea, Thailand to Venezuela.
In 2024 Stem Marine opened a new division dedicated to sailing aluminium boat, which is inaugurated with the Stem 50. It is a 15.24-metre cabin cruiser dedicated to blue water and fast cruising. The Stem 50 condenses an avant-garde look, high-tech solutions and in which the company pours all its know-how on aluminium craftsmanship.
Meticulous design and sail fitting out
The design of the Stem 50 is by French designer Nicolas Purnu, who trained in the prestigious Marc Lombard studio, with which he still collaborates. His is the ergonomics of the elegant and functional deck plan with flying bridge, covered cockpit, outdoor galley and deckhouse with removable windows. He also designed the hull lines, including the appendages, including the double rudder blade, the keel blade with torpedo keel and the bow and stern crash boxes.
But the Stem 50 project does not end there. We often encounter boats where there seems to be an inexplicable distance between the person who designed and built the boat and the end user. This is why Stem has chosen to have Luca Sabiu “come on board” as Navigate Advisor. He is a professional who in his long career has been the owner of racing and cruising cabin cruisers and who today works alongside many owners and their boats. He personally takes care of the outfitting, upgrades and optimisation, also with a view to ocean crossings.
Luca will be in charge of bringing aboard the Stem 50 a new, totally “Easy Sailing” concept, optimising, in addition to the sail plan, the whole part of manoeuvring and navigation. This the rigging, the deck plan, the set of sails, the equipment from bow to stern, the management of loads on board, up to the electronics, the navigation instruments, power and safety.
A great opportunity: full customisation
Construction of the first example of the Stem 50 is currently well underway. But here comes the best part. Stem Marine allows the new owner to follow all the final stages of the project, including testing in the company’s private dock. Above all, to customise every aspect of the boat with the help of Luca Sabiu and the company’s technical staff.
From the layout of the interior to the materials of the fittings, from the arrangement of the manoeuvring equipment to the choice of sails, from the navigation instruments to the safety equipment. This also includes power generation systems that include solar panels, inverters, special battery packs and hydro-generators. For those who dream of a tailor-made aluminium sailing yacht, the one offered by Stem Marine is truly an extraordinary opportunity.
The starting point for this innovative aluminium cabin cruiser is already there.The author’s design, the vocation for long navigation, the excellent craftsmanship, the high-tech solutions and the use of domotics for the management and controls of the boat. Everything else is ready to be moulded and customised to create that ideal, definitive boat in one’s own image that every sailor dreams of owning sooner or later.
