Bellini Yacht is expanding its Astor lineup with the Astor 38, a 38-foot sport yacht that blends Italian styling and dayboat practicality into a package aimed at upscale weekend cruisers.
The model’s roots are in a custom commission called the Astor 38 Pista. The yard developed that boat for Italian racer Francesco Castellacci, whose résumé includes GT and endurance competitions, along with campaigns at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What began as a one-off collaboration has evolved into a production yacht scheduled to become available later this year.
The Astor 38 is the latest step in Bellini Yacht’s push into series production following the launches of the Astor 36 and Astor 58 in recent years. Bellini Yacht itself is still relatively new, having been established in 2023 as part of Italy’s Bellini Group, though the parent company’s marine roots date back to 1967 on the shores of Lake Iseo in northern Italy. The company built its reputation through yacht brokerage, refit work, marina services and the restoration of classic Riva boats. In recent years, the company expanded into yacht manufacturing, partnering with designer Brunello Acampora and industry veteran Norberto Ferretti as it developed the Astor line and a broader range of models up to 80 feet.
The builder says the Astor 38 was conceived to translate the feel of high-performance automotive engineering into a yacht environment. Castellacci reportedly worked closely with the shipyard’s customization team during development, influencing everything from ergonomics to styling cues on board.
The resulting yacht carries a distinctly automotive aesthetic. The original Pista version has metallic silver and red paintwork, carbon-fiber accents and seating inspired by Ferrari Daytona upholstery patterns. A steering wheel with a red center insert and yellow-highlighted hardware further reinforce the racing theme. Bellini says the production model will retain much of the prototype’s aggressive character while incorporating more refined styling elements intended to broaden its appeal.
The yacht’s hull is engineered for stability at speed, while the cockpit layout draws from motorsports-inspired ergonomics intended to keep controls and seating within easy reach during spirited operation. Belowdecks, the layout includes twin aft staterooms along with contemporary interior finishes.
In terms of performance, the builder intends to offer the Astor 38 with twin 350 hp V-8 gasoline or 300 hp D4 diesel inboard propulsion options from Volvo Penta. While the Pista version was intentionally fast-forward in design, this production version should appeal to boaters who also want to tie up at the dock and enjoy a quiet dinner on the waterfront.
The debut comes at a time when more European builders are leaning into crossover-style yachts that merge luxury-tender styling with genuine weekend accommodations. Bellini appears intent on carving out its own niche within that market by emphasizing bespoke craftsmanship and automotive-inspired personalization.
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