YPI announced in March that they had partnered up with VR-development company, Bricks & Goggles recently to introduce a technology that would allow yacht owners to walk around their new build projects before they are built. Yacht Harbour caught up with Ingmar Vroege, co-founder of Bricks & Goggles to learn more about this project.
The cooperation between YPI and Bricks & Goggles started at the 25th edition of the Monaco Yacht Show where the development team was showing exhibitors some of its prototypes. Before collaborating with YPI on their central listing, the 105-meter Raptor project, the development company did several projects in the real-estate sector in the Netherlands.
After only 2 months, the company was able to deliver to YPI the software that allows for a walkthrough of the yacht. The application runs on the Oculus Rift, a VR headset that is set to soon be available its in consumer version. Running the application involves connecting the headset to a PC computer with a powerful graphics card and an HDMI 3.0 port. This allows the simulation to run at a stable 75 frames per second, the minimum required according to Ingmar for the brain to interpret as reality.
3 scenes have been developed for the 105m project Raptor, a fly-by of the exterior as well as two interior scenes. Prospective owners are then able to freely move around the yacht through an Xbox joystick to get various views and angles of the yacht. The yacht design itself was done by H2 Yacht Design and McFarlane Ship Design.
Our system allows owners to walk around a complete virtual construction of their yacht both inside and on deck as well as seeing it from the air. You can see and experience how the layouts feel in terms of space and volume as you walk around. Imagine the money, time and potential disappointment that can now be saved thanks to this technology?
Russel Crump, Director of Sales, YPI
The development of this VR application goes in line with YPI's initiative to implement 360-degrees immersive photography which the company says it offers as standard to all of its central agency clients.
As an industry, yachting is sometimes a little slow at integrating the vast array of new digital tools and technology into the way it helps clients. Our work allows us to offer our clients a very real way of experiencing their newbuild projects before they commit to the full investment
Mark Duncan, Commercial & Marketing Director, YPI
Ingmar Vroege, co-founder of Bricks & Goggles explained to us that they are able to develop such VR simulations by using 3D design sketches made by designers which they can then convert to interactive VR applications. Here below is a picture of one of the startup's engineers, Dimitri den Elzen, using the Oculus Rift application.
Developing VR simulations such as these ones is no different from creating games. This simulation runs on the UNITY game engine in fact.
Ingmar Vroege, co-founder, Bricks & Goggles
A version of the VR system can also be directly downloaded as an app on smartphones which allows users to either use special readers to immerse themselves or to simply move around their screens to look around. You can download the application on the Apple Store and Android to take a tour of the Raptor project.
The 89m Here Comes The Sun has departed the Damen Yachting Vlissingen City shipyard in the Netherlands ready to take on a global itinerary. Before heading to waters further afield, the now 89m Amels – the largest delivered to date – made a port of call in London marking her first public display beyond the local shores of the Damen Yachting facilities where she has spent the last 16 months. She was originally delivered in 2017 and returned to Damen Yachting in 2020 under new ownership for an extensive Amels refit. The owner appointed Azure Yacht Design, the yard’s original partner for the naval architecture, to re-pen this iconic Amels from 83 to 89 meters.Her 6-meter extension and the volume increased from 2827 to 2977 GT became all the more evident. The modifications also included the new colour, the extended sun deck aft with helicopter landing area, extended bridge deck aft accommodation to allow for two VIP suites with exterior balconies and extended main deck aft providing a larger beach club, spa facilities and a large 7-meter swimming pool. Further modifications include alterations to a number of deck and interior areas and layouts. Damen Yachting Project Manager Sander Peeters was present at the yard as Here Comes The Sun set sail. “The refit of Here Comes The Sun was a very large scale and complex project. We are all very proud to have delivered on time and to such a high quality, made possible by the teamwork and collaboration between our own teams, our co-makers and the owner’s team and crew. We would like to thank everyone involved for their part in making this special project a success. Seeing her leave the yard is a very emotional moment and we look forward to following her next chapter and adventures with her owner.”Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
December 3, 2021
Camper and Nicholsons has sold the 36.60m Mamma Mia, with Camper and Nicholsons’ senior sales broker Fernando Nicholson representing the seller, and Jim McConville of Allied Marine representing the buyer.A tri deck Mamma Mia is a highly customised Benetti Classic 120. She was launched in 2007 as a part of a very successful series.Mamma Mia offers accommodation for up to 12 guests across five well-appointed en suite cabins, comprising a master suite, three doubles and one twin.Mamma Mia's interior, designed by Zuretti, is elegant and classic with neutral colours set against mahogany. The larger, shared areas of the yacht, such as the sky lounge and main foyer, also feature marble finishes.The classic exterior lines come from designer Stefano Righini and aboard Mamma Mia, the extensive deck space. The main deck is covered, the bridge deck partially so and has a seating/dining area with extra tables to suit a buffet style set-up, and the sun deck, with a bar and hot tub, has an optional bimini and umbrellas.Mamma Mia also has a large tender garage, positioned aft, with space for a tender of up to 6m along with a jet ski or two, and her 4.5m Williams jet tender.Credits: Camper and Nicholsons
December 3, 2021
Andiamo, a 150' Palmer Johnson built in 2007, has been sold. She was asking USD 12,900,000 at the time of sale. Alex G. Clarke from Denison Yachting introduced the buyer and AJ Blackmon with Apollo Yachts represented the seller.The sporty Andiamo had a refit in 2020. Her interior and exterior design is by Nuvolari Lenard, although her interior underwent a complete refit of all soft goods with the addition of custom furniture, new upholstery, new carpet, and bed linens. Naval architecture is by Donald L. Blount.She can accommodate 12 guests across five cabins, plus eight crew.Onboard amenities include a beach club, swimming pool, hot tub on the bow and another one in the master, and cinema. Her top speed is 26 knots with a maximum range of 700 nautical miles when navigating at a cruising speed of 18 knots. Credits: Denison Yachting
December 3, 2021
A 110m concept Malena was revealed by studio Rodriguez Design. The steel and aluminium yacht with sleek and sharp profile spreads across four decks and can accommodate 24 guests in 11 cabins, including six VIP’s on the main deck and four doubles on the lower deck. The owner suite is located at the owner’s deck. The owner deck, the upper deck and the sundeck feature the side balcony system. “With the side balcony system, we wanted to create the feeling of being on a super luxury skyscraper. Wherever the yacht is docked or moored, the city will have a new addition to its skyline,” explains Josh Rodriguez, studio founder. The yacht features two infinity pools at the main deck with a bar. The stairs lead down to the hydraulic swimming platform. The hot tub is located on the owner’s deck. The additional pool is placed on the upper deck. Here is also posted a large dining table and lounge area. A touch and go helipad for an Airbus ACH 160 helicopter can be found at the bow. Malena will have a hybrid diesel electric propulsion system. Her top speed is 18 knots and she has a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.Credits: Rodriguez Design
December 3, 2021
The 26.29m Sunseeker 86 Yacht Hard 8 has been sold. Listed for sale with Nick Hatfield of Sanlorenzo Yachts UK, the buyer was introduced by Harry Bristow-Holmes of Bristow-Holmes. Hard 8 was launched in May 2017 by Sunseeker, with the highest degree of specification of any Sunseeker 86 to leave the yard. Her interior in satin-finished wenge wood comfortably accommodates eight guests in four cabins consisting of an amidships master suite, a forward VIP and two double guest cabins. All guest cabins have entertainment centres, Apple television screens and en-suite bathroom facilities. The crew quarters are located aft.The spacious main saloon has large settees to port and starboard, plus armchairs and ottomans, with an entertainment centre featuring a Bose stereo surround sound home cinema system. Forward of the saloon is a formal dining area with seating for eight guests, while further forward still is an open galley with breakfast area.The yacht’s exterior spaces are designed for relaxing, entertaining and dining, with the aft deck having built-in seating around a teak table and the foredeck sunbathing area incorporating a removable parasol. On the flybridge, shaded by the hard top, she offers a wet bar with barbecue, sit-up bar, hot tub and sunpads. Twin 1,500hp MTU diesel engines power the vessel to speeds of up to 30 knots and she is fitted with hydraulic fin stabilisers.Hard 8 was sold for an undisclosed sum, but was asking £3,550,000 ex VAT.Since 1969 Sunseeker Yachts has built composite semi-custom yachts from 12m to 47m. The shipyard's main facility is located in Poole. Credits: Maa Agency
December 3, 2021