Few events have ever affected yachting as much as the sinking of the 60 meter Yogi. The largest yacht to ever sink, its wreck strongly hit the Turkish shipbuilding sector and made owners take a hard look at their insurances and dangers, even though no one was hurt. Despite the accident, Yogi was no less of an exceptional yacht.
Yogi was the largest yacht ever built by up and coming Turkish shipyard, Proteksan Turquoise at the time of her delivery in 2011. Reminiscent of an explorer style yacht through her design by Jean Guy Verges, Yogi featured oversized portholes in her hull that brought in tons of flight into the yacht's cabins.
Built for Stephane Courbit, a French media and TV millionaire valued at €450 million, Yogi was built to be operated as a charter yacht part of its hotel collection. Maximizing space, the yacht had many amenities for her size including a swimming pool, beach club, wellness center and media room.
Yet, on February 17th 2012, just as the yacht was days out of leaving the yard where it was undergoing warrantied maintenance work, it sank in the Aegean sea. The weather was particularly difficult during that day and yet it seems to be an engine failure that, tied to a number of circumstantial events, led to the 60-meter yacht sinking to the bottom of the Mediterranean.
The report did, however, clear Proteksan in the quality of its build, focusing on what was a mixture of human oversight and extreme conditions. A Turkish investigations arrived at similar conclusions. Manned by a skeleton crew of 8 during this voyage, it took an hour to evacuate by helicopter the yacht's crew as seas at their peek featured waves of up to 7 meters.
The largest yacht to have ever cruised with the French flag, Yogi was part of Courbit's Lov Collection, a holding company that includes the Les Airelles palace in Courchevel as well as the Pan Dei hotel in St Tropez. Built with charter in mind to its existing and new clientele, the yacht commanded prices of up to €378,000 per week and featured 800 square meter of interior space in a particularly luxurious interior.
A key element in Yogi's design was her large pool with overflow that sat aft of the yacht's main deck, directly on top of its beach club. In the middle of the pool was a glass porthole that flooded the area underneath with light. All around the pool were lounging pads for Yogi's guest to take in the sun when the yacht was anchored off in a bay.
To complement the swimming pool aft of the main deck, a Jacuzzi was also placed aft of the sundeck, for guests that wanted to enjoy the sun in a hot tub. Also surrounded by sunpads, these feature a common beige design throughout the yacht with colored pillows. Same can be said for the customizable lounging area aft of the upper deck.
On the inside, Yogi was reminiscent of Courbit's luxurious hotels. Featuring a beige and creme tone throughout the yacht, the 60-meter was fitted with floor to ceiling windows that visually increased the size of its 800 square meters of interior space. Its main salon was structured into a lounging area and a TV sector with a wide screen built into the wall.
Stretching across the full beam of the yacht, Yogi's master bedroom was no less spectacular with both lots of light and space. A king sized bed throned in the middle of the suite with access through a central corridor to a dressing room and his and hers bathrooms.
The yacht's guest accommodation didn't also pale in comparison with the owner's stateroom. Finished in the same style, the double and twin guest cabins could be connected or separated through double sliding doors. In total, Yogi could accommodate a total of 12 guests across 6 cabins.
Tall windows could be found throughout the yacht and were a real differentiating factor from competition on the market for Yogi. 'The idea was to have a yacht that could be chartered and run just like a resort.' detailed its designer, Jean Guy Verges in a later interview. 'She has been designed to the specific request of her owner. I think this jewel offered more than you would expect of a yacht her size.'
Another interesting amenity of Yogi was her observational lounge up on the sun deck. Finished throughout in glass, the area boasted a 180 degree view into the yacht's surroundings through a climate controlled environment. Equipped with custom furniture from the likes of Hermes, this media lounge separated the sun deck into a Jacuzzi and a raised dinning area.
Down on the upper deck, which also featured a covered dinning room, guests would find an extensive lounging pad with tiles that could be raised or flattened to create lounging chairs or sun beds. Connected to iPods and iPhones, which in 2011 was still rare, Yogi featured an advanced system for her time with TVs that slid out even in front of lounging pads.
Viewed by many as a step forward for the Turkish yacht building sector and as an endorsement of their quality, when Yogi sank, the whole country took a hit. By 2011, yacht owners and charters had started outgrowing the stigma of building in Turkey and the market was picking up for local builders. In fact Yogi was the largest yacht ever built by Proteksan.
Yogi's delivery was followed weeks after by their newest flagship, a 70.5-meter reminiscent of a Dutch-build quality, Talisman C. Shortly after it followed the 72-meter Vicky and it looked like Turkey would emerge as a yacht building destination. This all ended when Yogi sank in February 2012 and owners' stigma towards Turkey developed once again.
Although some Turkish shipyards continued to prosper, many faded down their ambitions in a global recession. This ultimately culminated with the acquisition of Proteksan Turquoise by Dutch-based Oceanco. Backed by billionaire investor Mohammed Al Barwani, the Dutch superyacht builder since set out on a mission to make the yard competitive and got an order for a 77-meter yacht now under build.
Having initially started his career in television in the 1990s, Stephane Courbit where he built a reputation, eventually starting his own production company behind hits such as Miss France. Eventually acquired by Dutch holding Endemol, Courbit exited from the company in 2001.
His LOV Group currently includes companies in the audiovisual space with several production companies behind some of France's most popular game shows. Other investments include several betting sites, which he started in acquiring in 2007. One of his fastest growing divisions has now becomes the Airelles collection of hotels.
After investing nearly $200 million into the purchase and renovation of the five star Courchevel palace, Les Airelles, Courbit acquired the Pan Dei Palace in St Tropez. His hotel portfolio then grew with the Bastide de Gordes in 2014. Two more Airelles hotels are set to open in the next two years, one in Versailles and one in Val d'Isiere.
The 83m concept Comète comes from the A Group designer Thibaud Le Merdy and yachting director Matt Pegrum. <iframe width=560 height=315 src=https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjco2ulDBXA title=YouTube video player frameborder=0 allow=accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture allowfullscreen></iframe>This design is the result of the perfect balance between spaces open to the surrounding nature and refined, clean forms. Spaces of the yacht were created to be the closest to the sea and what she can offer, without any hindrance. For the exterior design, A Group has worked on a dynamic and the beautiful silhouette without any compromise.The green technologies are also an important part of the project. The creators were closely monitoring the development of hydrogen fuel cells for the project. In addition to batteries for peak shaving and waste heat-recovery systems (for heating the swimming pool and hot water), which are already proven, the yacht can have an all-around efficient energy production and storage system.Her well-engineered hull form and sleek design made of lightweight materials (to reduce propulsion requirements) remain the most effective way to control the environmental footprint of the yacht.The hybrid solution for reduced consumption also makes it possible to redistribute space on the boat, offering the best place of the boat for guests.Comète can accommodate fourteen guests in seven cabins. Her top speed is 16 knots. Credits: A Group
April 14, 2021
At the La Spezia shipyard, Sanlorenzo is starting construction on the first unit of the superyacht 57Steel, which aims to be one of the new stars of the Sanlorenzo range; she will be equipped with a hybrid diesel/electric engine system. A sophisticated superyacht with an extreme cleanliness of form (something all Sanlorenzo ranges have), she is distinguished by a straight bow, providing an image of importance and decisiveness. The new 57Steel is an ambitious project, the result of intense typological experimentation carried out by the shipyard together with Studio Zuccon International Project, which has led to the creation of a 56.70-meter-long yacht with five decks and a tonnage of 1000 GT.The volumes doubled compared to the 52Steel, which have made it possible to offer indoor and outdoor spaces that are decidedly out of the ordinary for a model of this size and with unprecedented functional content.The innovative layout alters the traditional balance on board: the wheelhouse area, normally forward of the upper deck, has been relocated to an additional deck – a real bridge deck, as on larger yachts – thus making it possible to use the upper deck from a different perspective. This is where the owner's cabin is located, a 54-square-metre space overlooking the very large owner's deck, a private deck from which to enjoy an exclusive view over the infinite sea.The new layout has also made it possible to create a spacious full-beam VIP cabin forward of the main deck that can be used as a second owner's cabin. "The versatility of use that distinguishes the spaces on board is a key element of the 57Steel, which makes it possible to satisfy the many requests of a diverse and multicultural market like that of superyachts,” says Bernardo Zuccon. “A model in which there is no ostentation of the brand and whose external lines are defined and extremely fluid, transparent and clear, in which the language of the shipyard shines through. We can define the 57 Steel as a skilful balancing act between content and container.”The swimming pool, with its transparent floor, allows the passage of light into the environment below; the beach area is 110 square meters. The garage is placed at the bow and can accommodate tenders of up to 7.5 m and numerous toys.Sanlorenzo was founded in 1985 in Viareggio by yacht builder Gionvanni Jannetti. In 2005, Massimo Perrotti became the majority shareholder in the shipyard. Sanlorenzo builds yachts ranging from 28.60 to 62m in length. Credits: Sanlorenzo
April 14, 2021
The Morning Glory is Perini Navi's 48m sailing superyacht, famous for having Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch as a previous owner. This historic ketch, built in 1993 at the iconic Perini Navi shipyard in Viareggio, has been restored to her original splendor according to the wishes of her Italian owner. Through the Forza 5 company in Milan, Lusben was chosen to carry out the ten-year refit of the yacht.The Lusben team has painted the hull, living areas, and part of the aft cockpit. The generators were also replaced and almost half of the teak deck were refurbished. The refit went on for a total of five months and involved almost fifty workers in total, including direct employees and external suppliers who worked in cooperation with the crew. The owner is now ready to cruise the Mediterranean.Morning Glory is the first of six Perini Navi boats to be launched this season. The remaining five are currently undergoing refits at the Lusben facilities in Livorno and Viareggio, planned for delivery to their owners in the coming weeks.Lusben, with over 60 years of experience in the yacht refit sector, boasts facilities at which know-how, organization, attention to detail, and hospitality make up the foundation for the company philosophy. To further expand the range of services, in 2004 Lusben acquired a new site in Livorno in order to be able to operate on yachts of 120 meters in length. Credits: Lusben
April 14, 2021
Sea Coral 2 is the third hull in the award-winning Arcadia A105 series. Sea Coral 2 is a 31.5 m long, 7.76 m wide yacht. The hull and deck are built in fibreglass, while some of the veranda’s elements are made with aluminium. All this adds up with a full load displacement of 145 tonnes. The interior decor was created in collaboration with the owner's personal designer and the support of Milan-based Hot Lab firm. "Yet another achievement that underlines how, for Arcadia Yachts, furnishing does not simply mean placing a designer sofa or table on board – it means carefully choosing every detail to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of our yachts,” says Francesco Ansalone, Arcadia Yachts Marketing & Communications manager. "In the case of the Sea Coral 2, we enriched our experience working closely with the designer chosen by the owner and the professional support of Hot Lab design studio," he adds."Having carried out many prestigious projects in some of the most beautiful places in the world, such as Saint-Tropez, Paris, Formentera, Val d'Isère, Casa de Campo, etc. I had no doubts about accepting the task of working on board an Arcadia A105," says Alain Perrier, the owner's designer. “If there is one yacht that makes a difference, it is this one: low on the water, with a sleek profile and a modern design. The Arcadia A105 represents the art of experiencing relaxation, comfort and safety on board an exceptional yacht. That's why I wanted to preserve the spirit and concept of the shipyard, while adding the owner's personality through the decor."The open aft cockpit on the main deck is openThe living hall on the upper deckThe inner bow area of the main deck could be used either as an office or as a second VIP cabinThe large living area at the centre of the main deckAnother view of the main living area on the main deckOne of the twin guest cabins on the lower deck, where the entire sleeping area is locatedThe full-beam owner's cabinThe reverse view of the owner's cabin highlights the TV’s central position: the owner’s access to the bathroom is to the right, while the door to the left leads to the walk-in wardrobeAfter the first few months cruising in the Mediterranean Sea, Sea Coral 2 has crossed the ocean and is now in the Caribbean. Arcadia Yachts is based in Naples, Italy. Since 2008, they have been building semi-custom luxury composite yachts and have succeeded in perfectly integrating artisanal craftsmanship, modern technologies, attention to detail and to the surrounding environment. The Arcadia Yachts fleet has included two ranges since September 2016. The shipyard’s first and most characterising range is the A range, which includes four models (A85, A85s, A105, and A115).The Sherpa range has a new model, the 24m Sherpa XL, which was launched at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival. Credits: Arcadia Yachts/Alberto Cocchi
April 13, 2021
Camper & Nicholsons has announced the in-house sale of 48.77m Elaldrea+, with Fernando Nicholson and Tommaso Bilotta representing both the seller and the buyer.Delivered in October 2018 by Benetti, Elaldrea+ is a tri-deck yacht designed by Horacio Bozzo Design in partnership with the Benetti Style Department. With a six-stateroom arrangement and the capacity to accommodate twelve guests. She has a 60-square-meter owner’s suite with automatic sliding balcony door, and two 25-square-meter VIP suites. Her interior finishes make use of distinguished materials such as Canaletto walnut, Tanganyika woodwork and various marbles. Elaldrea+ also features a beach club and two separate pool areas: a 4-meter pool located on her 115 square meter flybridge and another forward of the wheelhouse that can be filled with either seawater or freshwater. This forward pool can also house a 3.4m crew tender, while the main garage can house a 6.3m tender. Her top speed is 16 knots, and she’s all ready for new adventures with her new owners.Credits: Camper & Nicholsons
April 13, 2021