Made to Measure: 159 metres of Custom Feadships Launched on the Same Day

In an extraordinary day even by Feadship’s standards, Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw and Royal Van Lent each launched a giant Feadship for delighted owners on Saturday 26 March 2011. The 81-metre Air instantly becomes the largest Feadship available for charter in the world as well as being the largest yacht built by the De Vries Aalsmeer yard to date.
The other launching was of hull #802, a 77.70-metre Feadship at Royal Van Lent. She has a very characteristic exterior styling, including a daring combination of a white hull with a metallic grey and blue superstructure.

Both the new Feadships are full-custom superyachts built for owners with very distinctive tastes. “It is interesting to note that while other major superyacht yards are increasingly focusing on semi-custom series yachts, Feadship continues to lead the way in bespoke and entirely unique projects,” comments Francis Vermeer, head of marketing at Feadship. “Moreover, both Feadship yards have a very healthy portfolio for the coming years with ten superyachts currently under construction ranging from 45 metres up to the latest Royal Van Lent order of 101.50 metres in length.”

The historic day of launches began with a confidential project at Royal Van Lent. “We are always delighted to show the world our new yachts, and therefore are pleased that we are allowed to disclose some information about this exceptional yacht,” says Vermeer.

Hull 802 is a textbook example of the many facets involved in a custom yacht-building project. An excellent team spirit is essential and the Royal Van Lent yard worked seamlessly with Eidsgaard Design, Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects and Edmiston & Company. The result is an exceptionally creative and innovative yacht in terms of both the exterior profile and the interior styling and layout. The yacht has a contemporary two-tone exterior: Her muscular looks are combined with signature lines that bring additional elegance to the profile.

Special features of the interior include a full beam main lounge, the location of guest accommodation on the main deck, plus a private owners’ deck. A contra flow swimming pool and a spacious sun deck with outdoor cinema are among the superlative al fresco facilities.
Hull 802 also pushes the window in terms of her engineering. Propelled by four engines, the yacht is capable of reaching some 21 knots. Extensive model tests and CFD program development were required to achieve this performance.

Excellent teamwork was also the order of the day on the construction of the 81-metre Air, as Koninklijke De Vries and De Voogt Naval Architects partnered with interior designer Remi Tessier Designs and IYR, the owners’ highly experienced build team. “The owners of Air have already built at Feadship before and we are very aware of the quality standard to which they aspire,” explains Vermeer. “They are a wonderful example of repeat clients who have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of building a Feadship. With her Harley Davidson black hull, Air is an exceptional superyacht that showcases our ability to create truly one-of-a-kind vessels for the most discerning customers.”

Air has an exceptionally sleek and elegant exterior with modern lines, while also incorporating a distinctive Feadship flared bow. She is the first superyacht built under Annex 2 of LY2 to have a fully certified commercial helicopter pad. This requirement represented a major challenge in terms of styling, and the designers at De Voogt Naval Architects have achieved something very special indeed by ensuring that Air’s elongated aft deck remains in perfect proportion to the rest of the giant yacht. Meanwhile, her unique matt black hull has been painted with a specialised and environmentally friendly nano coating technique.

A highly sophisticated minimalistic design makes for a stunning interior. Main materials used include matt-finished sycamore, leather, matt-finished special paint, high gloss stainless steel, palladium leaf, back-lit white onyx, off-white & black limestone and a wealth of carved glass. An undoubted highlight in terms of the luxury spaces is the owners’ observation lounge with a breathtaking vista over the eight-metre long pool on the vast main deck forward area.

Great views are also assured from the magnificent sun deck, which offers many relaxation options such as a gym, lounging areas aft and forward with Jacuzzi, and a 102” pop-up television screen for outdoor movie viewing. Air carries two 9.8-metre tenders in dedicated and fully enclosed bays. There is also a large foldable swimming platform with bar from which to watch the world go by.
Air is exclusively available for charter via IYR (International Yacht Register) and the Feadship charter division.

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