The German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen has delivered a new motor yacht - the 68-metre Soaring - under extraordinary conditions.
Jörg Kleymann, Senior Project Manager of the company’s Yacht department, is not going to forget this particular experience: “About two weeks before the superyacht was to be handed over, half of Europe was engulfed into a ‘lockdown’ caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”. According to Kleymann, “It was simultaneously an extremely challenging time and a bold demonstration of the efficiency and flexibility of Abeking & Rasmussen, even under the harshest of conditions”. A special crisis management team, an elaborate safety and hygiene concept, as well as a two-shift production approach, helped the shipyard to deliver the yacht on time.
Soaring was built for an experienced owner whose briefing listed, amongst other things, a separate owner’s deck with aft looking grand master suite, the biggest possible tender and a gym together with a wellness centre both with direct access to water.
Apart from the Owner’s area the yacht features 4 Double-cabins and 1 VIP Suite, as well as generous double and single crew cabins in the bow, providing accommodation for up to 18 crew members.
The design pitch was won by Focus Yacht Design. The Bremen studio, only a short car ride from the yard itself, created a truly distinctive and impressive design with the harmonious and contemporary exterior, the prominent window surface, elegant grey–white colour scheme and Soaring’s signature aesthetic feature - a striking line stretching all the way from the bow to the swim platform.
In the words of Soaring’s designer Thomas Mühe: “I have experimented with this solid line, stretching the entire length of the superyacht, for years. And it all, finally, came together in Soaring”.
Further distinctive design elements are the bow side windows that work as a unified and solid feature lending the superyacht an element of dynamics. Thomas Mühe comments on the commission and its execution: “Our goal was not to put together a selection of attractive details, but to create a coherent and harmonious whole that was to be simultaneously impressive and imposing but most of all a reflection and representation of the owner’s central life themes and requests. Early on it was clear that the owner valued originality and had no interest in a yacht that could easily be mistaken for another”.
Technology-wise, Soaring’s captain has at his disposal already proven components. The steel / aluminium construction with a volume of 1541 GT is powered by two 1492 kilowatt strong MTU engines. The smooth hotel operations are ensured through 383 kilowatt strong Caterpillar generators and the tanks with a diesel capacity of 180 tons in total ensure a cruising radius of 4500 nautical miles. In addition, the superyacht fulfils the strict regulations of the IMO Trier III concept with its waste gas purification system.
Two Schottel thrusters provide comfortable manoeuvring, Naiad Zero Speed stabilizers cater to a smooth ride even when at anchor and two Compass tenders of 7.5m and 9m length respectively offer convenient and comfortable water transfers.
Interior work was done by, yet another Lemwerder company, Klaus Rodiek GmbH to the Focus Yacht Design specifications. They worked primarily with two types of wood, Amara and Tiama, natural stone and genuine Italian leather. The supremely outfitted living space used by the owner and his guests totals 471 square metres.
LOWER DECK
Soaring’s lower deck’s absolute highlight is the beach club with direct access to the swim platform. Together with the adjoining wellness centre the area boasts 74 square metres. Teak was used for flooring and the glossy eucalyptus, intertwined with 30cm long silver strings, for wall panelling.
The large sofa is custom-made for the superyacht as well as the ceiling-high Italian light sculpture.
The gym area, equipped with a ballet barre and a refreshment bar, connects with the wellness centre through a lobby that further leads to a dayhead and a shower as well as to a hammam port side and a massage room starboard side.
The hammam, decorated in natural stone mosaics, caters for up to six people and the massage room to two. A professionally trained crew member is on hand to offer various treatments to the owner and his guests.
Further forward on the lower deck is the engine room’s upper level and, located midship, yet another one of Soaring’s remarkable features. A 25 square metre starboard stowage is packed full of water toys including kayaks, surf boards, sea bobs, bicycles and electric scooters. Diving equipment can be found in the adjoining room and all of the equipment can be loaded and unloaded through a top hinged store hatch and a 400 kg-capacity crane.
Opposite, on port side, a 20 square metre galley with direct access to the cooling rooms is manned by a professional chef and thanks to its large windows is flooded in daylight.
MAIN DECK
For those boarding Soaring from a tender, the main deck is reached from the swim platform via stairs and when docked the superyacht can be reached via a swivel gangway. The ample aft deck contains a sofa with two side tables and a centrally placed round dining table for twelve. In order to provide the owner and his guests with privacy at lunch or dinner, especially in buzzing marinas, a side board with a retractable frosted glass panel placed between the sofa and the dining table offers visual cover if needed.
The 80 square metre salon, laid out with a hand-tufted rug, is classically partitioned into a lounge area with hand-made upholstered furniture and a dining area at the front of the room. The two areas are separated by a ceiling-high room divider, with an inset TV facing the sofa and bronze tiles throughout offer dazzling light effects in the natural sunlight. Almost parallel to the room divider are the panels on port and starboard side showing specific star constellations that are of personal significance to the owner. In addition, a piece of a genuine meteorite is incorporated into the interior so that the ‘cosmic’ theme is reflected manifold in the dining area.
The principally used wood in the salon is “stained Amara” and the Italian leather is in “Lugano” shade.
A starboard door leads from the salon into the lobby, the staircase and the guest cabins, all of which are located on the main deck. The visual highlight here is the Claus Hartmann’s sculpture depicting two stylized hippos. The Weser Island Harriersand based artist is best known for his figurehead works made for prominent ships such as the Gorch Fock. Focus Yacht Design drew the inspiration for this commission from the owner’s interest and love of nature. The superyacht’s very name Soaring recalls the free flight of an eagle.
The guests on Soaring pass the bronze hippos on their way to their cabins. The four 20 square metre rooms, three with double beds and one with two single beds, all embody a particular theme - Nautilus, Ginkgo, Turtle and Bamboo. The themes are reflected in the bed heads and travertine inlays in bath, corresponding to each cabin’s theme. At the end of the passageway is a luxurious 33 square metre VIP-cabin, stretching the whole width of the superyacht, with an ensuite and a separate dressing room. Theme of the VIP cabin is waterlily.
The two tenders are also stowed on the main deck. The 7.5m Compass sport and 9m limousine tenders match Soaring down to the striking line stretching across the length of their hulls and are lowered to the waterline using a crane.
OWNER’S DECK
The upper aft deck is used almost exclusively by the owner and this was a part of the superyacht’s concept from the very beginning. The 82 square metre stately master suite at the rear of the yacht is accessed through an 11 square metre office. Minimal furnishings, including an opulent armchair and a bed, reflect the starting idea behind Soaring’s concept of open spaces and free spirit, a motif seized upon once again in the eagle bed head on master bed. Sliding doors open on to the aft deck, offering complete privacy. A genuine dressing room of 13 square metres and a bath with a tub and a separate shower complete the owner’s grand suite.
In the passageway further forward are technical rooms, as well as an additional crew cabin. All the way at the very front of the upper deck, normally reserved for the master suite in other vessels, is the library. The original and unconventional lounge is glassed-in on three sides guaranteeing amazing views. Centrally placed in the room are three white, U-formed sofas and another visual highlight is on the back wall in the form of a bookshelf made of back-lit onyx. The library can also be completely dimmed, thus converting into a private cinema.
Forward of the library, the top of the tender garage allows the owner and his guests to practice their golf swings, naturally using biodegradable and water-soluble golf balls.
BRIDGE DECK
Soaring’s bridge deck is the uppermost deck itself. Behind the Portuguese bridge deck, the captain and his officers work in the fully integrated wheelhouse using Gyro compass, Synapsis-NX-Radar and Raytheon Anschütz Nautosteer Auto Pilot. The captain inhabits a 16 square metre cabin, next to a ships office used by the officers on board.
The aft deck, equipped with a Jacuzzi three metres in diameter with an adjoining bar and a generous sun pad, is once again reserved solely for the use of the owner and his guests. By request, the crew can organize a BBQ directly on the sun pad and a sofa with table offers additional seating possibilities.
As we are continuing the series of the 16 winners of World Superyacht Awards , let's discuss boat number 14 - Spectre.Spectre won an Award in the category of Displacement Motor Yachts between 500GT and 1,999GT. Spectre is a 69 m / 226′5″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Benetti in 2019. She has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. She is powered by engines giving her a maximum speed of 20 knots. The motor yacht can accommodate guests in cabins and an exterior design by Benetti, Giorgio Cassetta. The name pays tribute once again to James Bond after “Quantum of Solace” and “Diamonds Are Forever”. It’s first owner John Staluppi fell in love with the leading character in the series of films inspired by the novels of Ian Fleming.This original superyacht was developed around the latest marine technologies and combining different styles and philosophies of interior decoration. References to Art Nouveau in France mixed with modern details designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta. He said that he was very fond and proud of this project. As it was the perfect example of the ideas of the owner and the shipyard. John and Jeanette Staluppi, with their outstanding energy, pulled us together on to imagine and develop with everything that could be desired on a boat this size.The style of the interiors, created by Benetti’s Interior Style Department, feel of some French hotels and boutiques, standing out from Staluppi’s previous yachts in a more classical way. For example, the floor in the main lounge draws inspiration from the Art Nouveau style flooring in a Paris resort, with symmetrical forms and clean-cut geometrical patterns. Other references to French taste are the windows, a reminiscent of Paris’ typical Art Nouveau shops.The megayacht features with a swimming pool and touch and go helipad. Accommodating 12 guests in unforgettable comfort, the layout has two owner’s cabins: one has a private terrace, a sun lounging area and a hydromassage tub; two VIP cabins on the Main Deck and two guest cabins on the lower deck. Benetti’s most advanced construction technologies is the Ride Control technology by Naiad Dynamics - the system significantly increases stability during navigation and improves comfort on board with the help of four stabilising fins and three vertically-adjustable blades.The lines of the hi speed cruising hull by Dutch firm Mulder Design, deliver maximum navigation efficiency, with a range of 6,500 nautical miles at 12 knots and a top speed of 21.2 knots, which is 30% more than a traditional displacement hull.A seven Full Custom yachts planned in 2018/2019, including 3 giga yachts over 100 meters each, now are building in parallel at the Benetti’s Livorno shipyard.
November 17, 2020
As we are still talking about the 16 winners, let's mention boat number 13 - Cecilia.Cecilia won an Award in the category of Displacement Motor Yachts Between 300GT and 499GT - 48m and Above.Cecilia is a 49.56 m / 162′8″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Wider in 2018. With a beam of 8.43 m and a draft of 2.29 m, she has an aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 499 tons. She is powered by MAN engines of 725 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 13 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Cecilia's maximum range is estimated at 3000 nautical miles. The motor yacht can accommodate 12 guests in 5 cabins. The yacht was designed by Fulvio de Simoni.Credits: Wider s.r.l
November 17, 2020
Dutch yard Feadship with the French studio Marveille Yachting presented plans for a 77.11 metre Eco Explorer concept.The concept encompasses the most of motor and sailing yachts and features a much lighter hull shape, one of the features that helps further reduces fuel consumption.Cantenot revealed that work began on the project a year ago. One key feature is a mast system with wings “that can be propelled at twice the strength as a traditional rig,” Vollet said, meaning that fuel consumption is vastly reduced on board. Cantenot and Vollet stated the Eco Explorer’s computerised wings, which eliminate heeling while underway, mean this concept is likely to appear to traditional motor yacht owners.The computer-controlled wings make the sailing experience on board e like a motor yacht than a sailing yacht. “You use it as a motor yacht although the wind is going to be one of the major components of propulsion,” he added. Eco Explorer's speeds range up to 18 knots in a regular wind, while its top speeds can get up to 25 knots.Credits: Feadship
November 17, 2020
The 110 metre Oceanco superyacht Kaos has been spotted off the coast of Gibraltar. The 110 metre Oceanco superyacht Kaos has been spotted on her maiden voyage off the coast of Gibraltar. Previously named Jubilee, Kaos is a 110.1 m / 361′3″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Oceanco in 2017. With a beam of 16.4 m and a draft of 4.4 m, she has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 4523 tons. She is powered by MTU engines of 4828 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 18.5 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. Jubilee's maximum range is estimated at 5000 nautical miles. The motor yacht can accommodate 31 guests in 16 cabins with an interior design by Sam Sorgiovanni and an exterior design by Igor Lobanov.Not only her size makes her that special, but it’s more even about the way she looks and feels. Jubilee combines fast lines and smart surfaces with elegant proportions. The whole look of her is very modern and, at some point, is futuristic. “The hull shape is deliberately minimalistic to contrast with the superstructure,” says Igor Lobanov of Lobanov Design, which created Jubilee’s exterior. “At the same time, a massive white funnel pins the entire layers down to the white hull, leaving a feeling that the white structure goes inside through the decks.”From overhead, the superyacht looks like a contour map of an island, with each deck appearing at different heights above sea level.“The 3-D modeling was quite a challenging task, which pleased my mathematical part of the brain,” Lobanov says. “Each of the layers meets and splits under certain rules, which can be noticed from different angles.”Her top speed is 18.5kn and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 5000.0nm at with power coming from two 4828.0hp MTU diesel engines.Credits: Giovanni Romero
November 16, 2020
As we are still talking about the 16 winners, let's talk about boat number 12 - Viatoris.Viatoris won an Award in the category of Displacement Motor Yachts Between 300GT and 499GT - 30m to 47.9m:Viatoris is a 40 m / 131′3″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Conrad in 2018. With a beam of 8.32 m She is powered by Caterpillar engines of 670 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 13 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Viatoris's maximum range is estimated at 4000 nautical miles. The motor yacht can accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins with an interior design by Conrad and an exterior design by Reymond Langton Design.In May, 2018 YachtHarbour reported that 40-metre superyacht Viatoris was launched by Conrad Shipyard. Now, Polish boatbuilder Conrad Shipyard has delivered its largest yacht to date, the 40-metre superyacht Viatoris. After development period and a building time of two years, the Conrad C133 named Viatoris, will be not only the largest yacht to-date for the Conrad Shipyard, but also the largest luxury motoryacht ever built in Poland. She will be premiered at the Monaco Yacht Show 2018. Viatoris is set to leave Poland to head north to the fjords of Norway. She will then make stops at other northern European cities before proceeding to her base in Croatia.Reymond Langton Design was commissioned by Conrad Shipyard to create this graceful 40-meter luxury yacht for an experienced yachtsman and repeat client of the yard. The design brief was for an elegant, yet aggressive vessel that has modern and unique lines, which will remain timelessly stylish. Built to the highest Northern European standards, she features finest luxury interiors and a layout with elements of a much larger yacht. Conrad Shipyard is pleased to announce that this harmonious marriage between the prestigious design by Britain’s Reymond Langton and proven naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design of the Netherlands, in partnership with Conrad Shipyard’s world class Polish engineering and craftsmanship, is now offered as a semi-custom model.With a focus on safety, quality, and efficiency, this full-displacement luxury motor yacht was engineered to meet the most demanding technical and safety standards of Lloyd’s Register and MCA. Built with a robust steel hull and a light aluminum superstructure, we worked with the most trusted specialists, consultants, and surveyors, using only the best equipment available. The result is a luxury yacht that can safely, efficiently, and comfortably cross the Atlantic while being operated by a relatively small crew.Luxury and highest quality has been the guiding theme throughout this outstanding vessel, and the interior design and finishing are no different. Designed by Conrad Shipyard’s in-house design team in close cooperation with the owner, the interiors boast finest materials and elegant yet understated design details, which are both aesthetic and functional. Decorations were sourced from Europe’s top design houses in London, Milan, and Paris. Conrad Shipyard’s design team happily works directly with the owner, or designer of choice, to create custom interiors to meet our clients’ vision.Check our Timeline platform to get the full access to our analytics platform, that offers you a detailed report on the timeline of each superyacht, real time market view to see the yacht market developing and much more!
November 16, 2020