Francesco Castellacci’s Bespoke Yacht Inspired Bellini’s Newest Model

One Italian-Monégasque racer has turned out to be the driving force behind Bellini’s new model.

The Italian yard, known for building high-end walkaround cruisers between 36 and 70 feet, just unveiled a new model inspired by a one-of-a-kind 38-footer designed for Francesco Castellacci.

The 39-year-old driver, who is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Vista AF Corse, approached Bellini’s customization atelier with a very specific brief: to create a yacht that offers the thrills yet precision of his Ferrari race car. 

“What struck me was the extremely tailored approach to the project: it’s not just about choosing a boat, but building it together, detail by detail,” Castellacci said in a statement. “It was a project where I was able to bring elements of my world, that of racing, into a different yet equally technical and refined context. The result is something that fully represents me.”

Castellacci’s Astor 38 Pista became the basis of a new production model. The Astor 38 retains the racing spirit, quality craftsmanship, and advanced marine engineering of his one-off, but will be available to the masses. 

“When we first collaborated with Francesco Castellacci, we knew we were creating something exceptional,” adds Bellini Group marketing director Martina Bellini. “Transforming the one-off into a series model was a natural evolution.”

Castellacci’s yacht features a vivid silver and red livery that evokes his own race car. “The reference to the colors of my Ferrari LMGT3 Evo makes it even more personal, like a direct link between the track and the sea,” he explains. It is also emblazoned with custom graphics and the “Pista” signature—pista being Italian for “track.” The helm recalls a cockpit, with shell seats in a custom pattern inspired by the iconic Ferrari Daytona upholstery. Other nods to motorsport include carbon fiber elements, red accents, and a custom windshield frame in Ferrari’s famous Giallo Modena yellow.

The Astor 38 shares the same sleek silhouette as Castellacci’s cruiser, but has “enhanced aesthetic elements,” according to Bellini. It appears to have a more subtle colorway, with a mostly silver exterior and only a small splash of blue. The layout includes an ergonomic cockpit, a refined interior with a twin cabin aft, and a teak deck with fold-out platforms and sunpads forward and aft. 

Bellini says the hull is optimized for stability at high speeds, with power coming from a pair of either diesel or gas Volvo Pentas rated at 350 and 300 hp, respectively. The latter gives the yacht a top speed of 32 knots at one-third capacity. 

Castellacci’s Astor 38 Pista will be on display at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 8 to 13. The Astor 38 will be available from September. Bellini has not yet shared pricing for the model. 

Click here to see more photos of the Astor 38 Pista.