Built by Feadship’s Royal Van Lent yard in the Netherlands, the 61.20-meter (200’9”) Secret is full of surprises. Designers De Voogt Naval Architects, the owners and interior designer Jim Harris have taken the classical concept of a Feadship as their blueprint, then created a yacht that is very much at home in the 21st century. In doing so, the partners have ensured that Secret combines unprecedented attention to detail and nautical elegance with the very latest technologies. The secret to success is out.
Seen from a distance, with her delightful semi-canoe stern and varnished teak cap rails, Secret has a genuinely classic look with various subtle enhancements that make her very much a timeless yacht of today.
Her balanced and clean profile offers a clear evolution from the classic yachts of the last century, with all the finest features retained, updated and enhanced to today’s requirements. A wealth of soft curves and large radiuses, a sophisticated mix of shapes on the horizontal and vertical plane, an absence of harsh lines, the reversed rake on the stainless steel stanchions… Secret encompasses 100 years of yacht styling.
A warm welcome
Regardless of who is privileged enough to cruise on Secret, they are assured an inviting welcome when coming aboard via tender. The giant transom hatch descends to become an easily accessible landing platform. Guests then alight a grand staircase, centrally located in the aft deck, which widens as it ascends. Exceptionally large windows on the aft deck visually draw in the main lounge, increasing the impression of space. Once raised, the transom offers both a clear style element as well as added security at night.
Nautical elegance
Step inside Secret and you will enter the epitome of modern nautical style and hardware. In fact, although discretely concealed, the yacht has the highest possible specification in terms of her high-tech AV set-up (essential for the convertible cinema), sophisticated satellite and internet connections, and her overall systems.
The man responsible for Secret’s interior style is Arizona-based designer Jim Harris. The degree of customization could not be higher as Jim has been responsible for designing and styling the owners houses and airplanes during a 30-year relationship.
As a result, Secret feels more like a mansion than a typical yacht, with a completely fresh feel and genuinely refreshing approach. Jim has created something truly unique, not only for a Feadship but throughout the global superyacht fleet. This is apparent both in the remarkable selection of colors and surface finishes, and the use materials such as glass beads and mother-of-pearl.
“The owners of Secret are great lovers of fine detail regardless of the location,” says Jim, who describes himself as a visual sort of guy with a love of symmetry. “To have the chance to implement the owners’ excellent taste within a yachting environment was a delightful challenge. They were keen to avoid the traditional library look that one sees on many superyachts. Together we elected to take classic elements and subtly place them in today’s world.”
Rich in contrast
One of the most fascinating features of the interior is the high degree of contrast between light and dark elements, primarily achieved by using the same woods in different proportions on different decks.
For example, on the lower deck where there is less natural light, the paneling is satin white with ebonized walnut furniture. The further one goes upwards in the boat, the ‘darker’ the living areas become. Thus we see an increasing use of the warm beige pickled oak in the main deck lounge, with wood trimming on the chairs, while ebonized wood predominates in the bridge deck lounge. This creates three distinctive levels, each with their own feel yet all harmonized into a distinctive whole by, for instance, keeping the corridors and staterooms light.
The sun deck
Secret’s stunning sun deck fits this impressive yacht perfectly. It has three distinct areas, each with a dedicated function: The central enclosed part is a gym with a varnished interwoven teak parquet.
The gym is linked to the forward outdoor section through glass doors. This consists of a seating area, a beautifully varnished teak bar with stools and a dumbwaiter station, and a spa pool flanked by sunpads further forward. The awnings are fixed to avoid trouble in adverse weather conditions. The sun lounging area aft, which fits eight chaises longues and includes plenty of room in the shade, is so large that it can be converted into a helipad thanks to the removable aft bulwark and cap rail segments.
Wheelhouse
Secret’s plush wheelhouse is the result of clever layout and ingenious design, the ideal place from which to enjoy the motoryachting experience. Although the dashboard looks simple at first glance, there is a wealth of integrated technology behind the five screens. Thanks to the wide control panels, expansive seats, beautiful walnut and myrthe burl paneling, teak and ebony floor, and slate brown leather details, this is a guest area and cockpit showroom as well as an operational space.
Out and about
A spacious lazarette houses two large Yamaha Jet Skis as well as a wide range of other water toys, such as kayaks, windsurfers, a wakeboard, diving gear, and other equipment, including the shore power converter and emergency systems. Secret’s two Nautica RIB tenders are stored aft of the bridge, launched by a pair of beam cranes that reach out on either side of the superstructure.
For more information on Secret contact Feadship: www.feadship.nl