United Kingdom

BMT Nigel Gee

Tecnomar 44m power catamaran This Is It

SuperYacht Times took an exclusive technical tour of This Is It, previously known as Project Illusion, Tecnomar's radical 44m power catamaran.

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Illusion made reality: Building Tecnomar's radical 44m power catamaran This Is It

Radical superyacht concepts of last few years

Over the years we have seen a variety of radical superyachts concepts, we take a look at ten radical superyacht concepts from the last few years.

A swan, a canoe and a super schooner: 10 radical superyacht concepts 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop and Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> has sold the 37.19-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> in-house with a last asking price of $5,495,000.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/112456/image/large-e227a387050256598e1832aed3db0c63.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112456">Delivered to her original owner in 1930 under the name Celeta, the iconic classic yacht was designed by Alfred Mylne and built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Philip & Sons (Company)">Phillip &amp; Sons</a> for Sir William Burton. Burton enjoyed the yacht for a decade until she was recruited to Operation Dynamo to help evacuate English and Allied troops from Dunkirk.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/112452/image/large-fed68a95412d39296470f26f64030551.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112452">After WWII, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a>&nbsp;was fully restored by her&nbsp;Greek shipping magnate owner and was relaunched as Ariane in 1948. 50 years later, yachtsman Tom Perkins purchased her and rebuilt the yacht with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>, naval architect <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">Nigel Gee</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/148" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ken Freivokh Design (Company)">Ken Freivokh Design</a>. With at least $18,000,000 spent, Perkins' rebuild is reputed to have been one of the most expensive refits per meter to date.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/112457/image/large-a349ab637c061bf1629b1714838920ce.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112457">Relaunched as new in 1999 and again refitted in 2013, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a>&nbsp;is one of the most detailed expedition motorsailers around. Her interior design features art deco aspects, artisan glassworks and a layout consisting of a main saloon, dining area and three staterooms. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/112450/image/large-c56dcdd2a42c481e416452f56ce4bf66.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112450">Her new owner is Jim Clark, owner of the J-Class yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/384" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hanuman42.1m (138'1&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2009">Hanuman</a>. Having been the tender to the J-Class <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1276" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shamrock V36.58m (120'0&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1930">Shamrock</a> after her initial launch in 1930, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> is once again tender to a J-Class yacht 90 years later.

Historic 37m WWII recruit yacht Atlantide sold to become J-Class tender

Northrop & Johnson has sold the 37.19-metre sailing yacht Atlantide in-house with a last asking price of $5,495,000.

Historic 37m WWII recruit Atlantide sold to become J-Class tender

The 37.28-metre classic yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> (ex: Corisande) is on the market waiting to be noticed by a new owner. Built in 1930 by the British shipbuilder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Philip & Sons (Company)">Philip &amp; Sons</a> with original exterior lines and naval architecture by UK studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/239" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A. Mylne & Co (Company)">A. Mylne &amp; Co</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> has gained a notable history. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112456/image/large-e227a387050256598e1832aed3db0c63.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112456">Having been enlisted as one of England’s fleet of ‘Little Ships’ for Operation Dynamo, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> aided in the evacuation of English and Allied troops from Dunkirk - a cause for which she is entitled to fly the honourable St. George’s Cross. After the war, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> underwent a complete two-year restoration at Thornycroft Shipbuilding before being purchased by a yachtsman who invested a small fortune in rebuilding her at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/25401/image/large-325f4572e084ac23f7dc6b83f87c5f48.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/25401">Relaunched in 1999 with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">Nigel Gee &amp; Associates</a> naval architecture and an aluminium superstructure, deck, and interior layout designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/148" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ken Freivokh Design (Company)">Ken Freivokh Design</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> returned to the seas with a new sailplan on two spars including a yard and square sail for downwind, allowing her to cruise at seven knots under sail alone. A Vosper stabiliser ensures the comfort of her guests during sail. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112450/image/large-c56dcdd2a42c481e416452f56ce4bf66.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112450">Accommodation on board this <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> sleeps up to six guests in a master suite, a VIP cabin and double staterooms. Six crew members take care of her guests and can make use of three staterooms and a crew lounge. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112452/image/large-fed68a95412d39296470f26f64030551.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112452">Art Deco inspired the design and decor of the antique <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/atlantide" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Atlantide for sale</a>. Intricate glasswork by the Deco artisan Rene Lalique adorn the interior spaces of this <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a>, which is contrasted by an array of woods including quilted smoked maple wood, ebony and padauk. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112451/image/large-1886bb15382d051b704304e3a28b24bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112451">Having benefited from regular refits between 2013 and 2015 that serviced and improved her systems, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> is for sale in turn-key condition. Equipped with two diesel-fuelled Gardner engines with 231 hp each, she reaches a top speed of 12 knots and cruises at 10.5 knots. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> also has a transatlantic range of 3,200 nautical miles. &nbsp;

Classic 37m motor yacht Atlantide for sale 

New to the market: Motor yacht Atlantide for sale! She is a 37m Philip & Sons yacht built in 1930.


New to the market: 37m motor yacht Atlantide

A year ago this month, during the annual HISWA press tour, an exciting brand was announced; <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral Naval Architects</a> was established to deliver a new perspective on innovative engineering and naval architecture. This new company was formed as a way for two long-time strategic partners to work collaboratively on some of the world’s most unique superyacht projects, marrying creativity with engineering expertise, and has been one of the industry’s most talked about business developments over the past year.<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/339411383" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>Since the launch, it’s been both an eventful and successful year for the Southampton-based company. The first major event was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral’s</a> unveiling of the next-generation 102-metre<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/926" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Company)">&nbsp;Sinot&nbsp;</a>designed superyacht concept Balance, in addition to an interesting partnership with young designer Jeremy Kitzinger to conceive <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/lavilla-yacht-concept-created-by-jeremy-kitzinger-and-lateral" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Lavilla.</a>&nbsp;January 2019 saw the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/bravo-eugenia-yacht-oceanco" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">delivery</a> of the much-anticipated 109-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5963" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bravo Eugenia109.0m (357'7&quot;)Oceanco2018">Bravo Eugenia</a> from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco&nbsp;</a>whose naval architecture came from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral’</a>s drawing boards. More recently, in February the striking 105-metre eco-friendly explorer yacht concept Esquel was unveiled at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/27" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai International Boat Show - 2019">Dubai International Boat Show</a>, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bozca Design Ltd (Company)">Timur Bozca</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5405" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gina Brennan (Company)">Gina Brennan</a> with naval architecture from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral.</a><img src="/uploads/store/photo/48785/image/large-5ff79a0da2a9daecfd489515cacb1591.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48785"> <img src="/uploads/store/photo/81636/image/large-98c2091ee3f7bfc13f36ab4bd52735ea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81636"> In terms of their services,<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">&nbsp;Lateral</a> provides complete engineering expertise to the superyacht industry from the conception of a project right through to its delivery. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> is collaborating with shipyards, designers and a wide spectrum of industry partners on a highly diverse portfolio of projects. With its core competence in engineering, the company focuses on developing meaningful innovation, which according to its manifesto, begins with asking new questions.To find out more about the new questions <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> has been challenging over the last year, and its aspirations for the future, SuperYacht Times finds out the latest from Managing Director James Roy.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/81635/image/large-2a89a962a18bf4e8f4138bfe09d7548d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81635"> What has been the particular focus for the workforce over the last year?We have a number of specific areas we focus on in the business and it is very much about balancing the needs of today with the vision of tomorrow. Today's work is delivering a high quality, flexible and responsive service to our current projects. We have 377 metres of new-build under construction for which we are providing engineering and naval architecture.&nbsp;In addition to this, we are working with multiple owners’ teams delivering technical consultancy and early project development in the pre-contract stages of four projects, the smallest at 65 metres, through to the largest at 130 metres. On top of this, we have a steady stream of smaller consultancy and refit projects. In our first year, the team of 55 will have undertaken over 100,000 man-hours of engineering, and that takes a lot of energy and focus.At the same time, we have to balance that against looking to tomorrow’s future. Our R&amp;D focus is heavily biased towards the development of new propulsion and energy architecture systems, with particular emphasis on electrification, alternative fuels and hull refinements for improved performance. It is an exciting time in the wider marine industry, and we are leveraging technology from many areas into our thinking.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/65527/image/large-0650e4d796a63d71b7ee53746a334aea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/65527">How do you think has Lateral been able to secure its position as one of the top players in the industry so quickly?We are fortunate that we started from a very solid baseline within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">BMT,</a> the core of the business was well established and the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">BMT</a> brand well recognised in the market. Married to that a simple and compelling strategy for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral,</a> and a carefully developed plan for the first year. Ultimately good old-fashioned business development skills have been a key ingredient, which means getting on planes, trains and automobiles and talking to people across the entire superyacht ecosystem.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/58662/image/large-3e0064a55ff2d3da7a38f11646796f35.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/58662">The launch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5963" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bravo Eugenia109.0m (357'7&quot;)Oceanco2018">Bravo Eugenia&nbsp;</a>within our first year has also served as tangible evidence of our brand’s credibility, and the LIFE platform that underpins her the degree to which we can bring technology to bear in better serving the design community. All of that said, we continuously reflect on ourselves and recognise that we remain a new brand and many parts of the industry have not yet heard of us, so there is no room for complacency.It is worth noting that, in launching the company there has been some confusion with some people thinking that we are diversifying into design. We have no short or long term plans to do so: our business is built on our core competence of engineering and naval architecture and to enable design and will continue to be so. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/81634/image/large-1143b59eb293af2674c5cfde5d74b33f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81634"> What makes&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral&nbsp;</a>so unique?That is an interesting question. When I really reflect on an authentic answer, it is that we do more than just supply naval architecture and engineering. Our brand DNA which has a focus on innovation not being just about creating new solutions, but starting with asking the right questions, indeed asking new questions. Via this thinking we can help bring new perspectives from the start of a project onwards. What that means in practice is that we make ourselves part of a project’s ideation; what is the narrative and how is the application of technology going to serve that and give the design community greater creative flexibility? That insight can be critical in laying the foundations for a complex project: it is far more than numbers and drawings.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/81631/image/large-db3b9bd7f8f28ff11899da54bcda27ad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81631">How would you describe the working dynamic of the team at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a>?Our workload is very high and fast-paced, so intense would be one way of describing it. We have put in place a core management team who are the experts that lead our technical disciplines and projects, we very much want to develop leadership at all levels of the business so that we have a supportive and open working environment. I think that if we had a motto, it would be work hard and play hard.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/81633/image/large-a73cbc8098004a403fe1523f76360ac0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81633">What plans does&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a>&nbsp;have for the coming year? &nbsp;The last twelve months have passed very quickly. Time flies when you are busy either doing the work or chasing it, and even more quickly when you are doing both! The year ahead has some exciting milestones with existing projects coming to life and exploring new ideas via collaboration with a wide spectrum of designers, shipyards and technical partners.If you had shown me everything we would achieve in 365 days I would have said we don’t have enough people! I would like to thank the entire <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Latera</a>l team for their hard work and commitment over the last year, as well as our clients and partners with whom we openly collaborate. Here’s to the next 365 days!&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/81632/image/large-e6e80913285cf1b721636c64f1562e6d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/81632">Head to the company’s <a href="https://www.lateral.engineering/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">website</a> to find out more about <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral’s</a> exciting projects and plans for the future.

Lateral Naval Architects celebrates one year anniversary 

Lateral Naval Architects is celebrating its one year anniversary today. Find out more about the company's story here. 

Insight: Lateral Naval Architects one year on 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco’s</a> impressive 106.7-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl&nbsp;</a>was recently put under the spotlight when this innovative superyacht was let loose in the Mediterranean Sea during a recent photo shoot where she showed off her new generation sailing system and sleek design lines. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/73477/image/large-c07b142a956e019b98afd0f162227290.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73477"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/73476/image/large-09be520ad77971cd14be9fdc592585be.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73476">Delivered to her experienced owner last year, represented by Derek Munro, designers <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/148" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ken Freivokh Design (Company)">Ken Freivokh Design</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> and Villate Design all played a significant role in Black Pearl’s design evolution.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">&nbsp;Dykstra Naval Architects</a> designed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl’s</a> three 70 meter DynaRig carbon masts and sailing system. The sail area is subdivided into smaller lesser-loaded sails and they can be set by a push of a button. According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, all 2,900 square metres of sails can be set in just 7 minutes.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/73482/image/large-272c9906641d609027608ac76389fb19.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73482"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/73483/image/large-aa71969a93f5abe0238da8e03a807aea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73483"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">BMT Nigel Gee&nbsp;</a>collaborated with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> to create <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl’s</a> hybrid propulsion system as well as other onboard systems such as waste heat recovery. In addition, features such as her advanced DynaRig system, hybrid propulsion package and power regeneration mode when underway makes her one of the most innovative yachts on the water today.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/73474/image/large-fa9bbac2a2bcbea643a5a8e99869eb8c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73474"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/73473/image/large-3cf0086c71f5c196ad1f66501b25a272.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73473">In addition to wind power, she is powered by 2 x 1080kW MTU’s / 2 x 400kW electrical propulsion motors. Her accommodations include a master suite, 2 VIP suites, 2 double guest cabins and a full-beam beach club that is convertible into a cinema.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/73478/image/large-f7c472e639542549a24d127655012c6b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73478">

Oceanco 106m sailing yacht Black Pearl in action

The 106.7-metre Oceanco sailing yacht Black Pearl in action under full sail in a recent photo shoot in the Mediterranean.

In Pictures: Oceanco’s 106m sailing yacht Black Pearl in action

It has to be said, the route to becoming a superyacht designer can sometimes be a surprising one. Proof of which can be seen in the early career of 21-year-old Jérémy Kitzinger, previously an intern at the engineering firm of <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lateral-naval-architects">Lateral Naval Architects</a>. We sit down with Jérémy to find out more about Lavilla, his new superyacht design concept he created while studying for a design and engineering degree. Kitzinger was set the challenge to devise a real-world project by <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lateral-naval-architects">Lateral Naval Architects</a> - a strategic partnership between <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/bmt-nigel-gee">BMT Nigel Gee</a> and Dutch shipyard <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/oceanco">Oceanco</a> - which was formed in 2018.&nbsp;After being given a brief and a technical platform as a basis by Lateral, the design developed on the platform - Lavilla - is uniquely Kitzinger’s. To find out more, we caught up with Kitzinger for a quick Q&amp;A about his design.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/49108/image/large-c1b0dc07e6e3e0f41cc16c393cdf339c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/49108">Tell me about the concept behind your design and how it came about. It all started during my internship at <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lateral-naval-architects">Lateral</a>. They wanted to challenge me with a real-world project that would align engineering with design aspects. Lateral do not undertake design or styling and they gave me an existing technical platform to work on with James Roy (Managing Director) acting as an "end client". We focused on the need to develop a compelling design narrative before drawing anything and do something that was designed true to the narrative, that would perform differently and be authentic in look and layout.&nbsp;The narrative played on focusing on traditional design rules such as golden ratios, proportion and form. The project started as a simple block and the design evolved from the inside-out using these fundamentals and step-by-step layout development. A bit like an architectural project with two driving forces in mind: Flow and family.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59223/image/large-1038e50fe4eff8b8757d3c3312bbf23f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59223">I wanted to play with space and how we interact with it. For instance, I feel that many yachts of this size follow a standard formula; you often see lots of repetition of the same space on each deck, main deck saloon, upper deck saloon, with a lot of corridors with cabins off them. The problem with corridors is that even if you have windows all the way through the side of the vessel, you might say, ‘this is where light will be introduced everywhere’, actually, this is only the case for the rooms situated behind the windows, corridors remains dark, and can be very long in some areas.&nbsp;The entire living space of&nbsp;Lavilla is designed without any corridors, which is quite challenging to achieve whilst still integrating the philosophy of protected escape routes as required by the regulations.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59226/image/large-22d57da76c7696b7729c2aec6c4a678f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59226">The other driving force of the project is 'family'. Lavilla’s layout is conceived around how family and friends spending time both together and apart. Modern family living is not spent in spaces with high levels of subdivision... well-designed living spaces flow effortlessly and integrate with every aspect of family life. All of this led to the concept of a home on the seas.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59232/image/large-2268ca4fd5fe392769812b216ced5e8f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59232">I wanted to break the idea of having decks on top of one another and for those onboard to feel like moving seamlessly from one space to another with absolute freedom. The design incorporates a four-metre high multi-purpose open plan living space with an open kitchen, saloon, dining area, all leading towards the sea. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/59231/image/large-3a3be2054815156dc444573e7348ea48.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59231">Doing that led to having the deck above fully being dedicated to the owner. Being only half a deck height difference from the guests’ deck, the owner is still connected to his family and guests but still in a private environment. Even though we wanted to connect people, there comes a time where you want to have some privacy as well. There are living spaces in both the forward and aft parts of the vessel with about 200-square metres for a 'creative area' spread on both ends of the layout and an owner’s workshop, a media studio and a 100-square metre area with full-height windows, open to the garden, left blank on the GA for the owner’s imagination depending on their hobbies. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/61416/image/large-f3789392c741c5a3a25e541cf31df1c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/61416">The next thing was to capture light, not just to see the outside but to have natural light throughout the entire living space. This led to two atriums, a grand central atrium of 9-metres in height, and a forward atrium with a garden. I really wanted to design it so that wherever you stand, you can see throughout the 110-metres of the vessel.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59228/image/large-eba19f2cfd1d7d9a4f21de5e669060ae.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59228"> How did you come up with the name? Lavilla is a home on the sea! If you look at the profile, you can see a classical sheer line and the house on top of it. It was quite challenging to make it look nice, mainly because the decks are shifted.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59227/image/large-060175f3b9720ab7f90cc1c5f8b7d57c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59227">Yachting is sometimes seen as a conservative market: it is no secret that a lot of owners basically want a cookie cutter yacht; they want their three decks and their four decks; they want their master suite on the main deck, full beam, and so on.&nbsp; Do you think there is a market for a yacht like this which is so different?&nbsp; It is hard to say, but I like to think so. At the end of the day what you want is to travel around the world and be on the seas with absolute freedom. It is the job of designers to propose new ideas, to try to provoke owners with something they didn’t think of. The wealthiest people tend to be younger nowadays, and although the traditions may not be broken, they will evolve in a more open-minded way. This will lead to a more open-minded way of living, maybe less crew, maybe less service, less divided areas.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59229/image/large-8b86b61290135a0f92f75ff526317355.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59229">So, you’re only 21-years-old and you've just done this incredible concept with a very prestigious company. Tell us, how did you get into it? Well, I have grown up in these kinds of areas. I lived close to Monaco and have always seen yachts around. Thanks to my family and culture, I’ve always been connected to the sea. From a fairly young age, I have this passion for designing stuff, whatever I could. So I studied design engineering, to stay technical and very broad, keeping doors open. I was very fortunate to do a two-month internship at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> in the design office and I loved it. It made me realise how deep I could go in terms of technical thinking and design, I really liked how you can think about both at the same time with great creative freedom and challenging technical problems. After getting a taste on the design side of the industry at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> I decided to learn about the engineering side of it at Lateral; where I’ve met amazing and passionate people.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/59222/image/large-eae4d6a08cce38c0df7427b75da2f8c3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/59222">Finally, how do we get more young people into the yachting industry?&nbsp; I have actually met quite a lot of young people who are really keen to do yacht design. Sure, the most famous designers are a bit older; they are still here and still doing great things. The young talent will grow. It is up to us to propose something different while learning from the experimented designers. I definitely encourage young designers and engineers to come into the industry. Engineers are also doing a great job; engineering and naval architecture are both really creative. People tend to give the credit to designers, but actually being surrounded by both is great. &nbsp;

Lavilla yacht concept created by  Jérémy Kitzinger and Lateral

Read more about the Lavilla yacht concept created by  Jérémy Kitzinger and Lateral.

Young designer’s new 110m Lavilla superyacht concept

The superyacht industry may be small to some, but it is filled with a range of experts and professionals from around the world. In this series, we shine a light on some of the specialists working within the different segments of the industry to learn more about what they do for the sector.&nbsp;As Principal Mechanical Engineer for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a>, Simon Brealey looks after “anything that has a pipe attached to it.” With <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> having helped coordinate many luxury superyacht projects this year, there have been plenty of pipes for Simon and his mechanical engineering team to work on. With the team working closely with the company’s group of naval architects, structural and outfit engineers, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> has become “one big team, and we are all specialists within our field.” Here, Simon sheds some light on what he thinks the future holds for the world of yachting. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/58458/image/large-975e93e76a9340387132955669b78c90.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/58458">How do you think the industry perceives Lateral? There is a lack of visibility of what we do at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a>. For years and years, we have been doing interesting and innovative things. I was blown away by some of the projects we’ve been involved in when I joined the company back when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> was just a yacht division under <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/238" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee (Company)">BMT Nigel Gee</a>, working on some of the best yachts in the fleet and many prestigious owners.Nobody knows every project we have done, and it is very hard to publicise this when you’re part of a bigger company that is doing other things such as wind farm and military projects. These are all interesting aspects - but it's a confusing image to portray if you’re saying “on the one hand we’re doing high-speed ferries and wind farm support vessels, and on the other, we are creating high-end bespoke 100m+ yachts.” This is one of the reasons it was so important for us to launch a brand with its own image. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/36127/image/large-29a97cb3dc4974a8fbcdf2519cb8cee3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36127">Naval architecture is not commonly seen as the sexy side of yachting, do you think this is because nobody understands the technicalities of it? I think it's because the focus is always on design, and rightly so. These guys spark the imagination of the client who builds the project. You can’t survive without designers, but equally, you can't survive without naval architects. &nbsp;As well as the traditional designer-led approach some of our clients like a technically lead design, which allows them to go to a shipyard or a designer with a solid workable framework backed up by somebody who can advise where the limits of the design are.&nbsp;One of the things about <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> is that we like to apply creative engineering, so we bring new ideas of technology to designers and owners to improve their design. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral</a> eHybrid system is an example of how we use our knowledge in technology to optimise a yacht for silent battery-only operation, something that a lot of clients want in a yacht. We like to go out and look at options, be intelligent, smart and creative in how we apply technology. Some of the great yachts we’ve been involved with use existing technology but are successful because of the way this technology is integrated and thought about. Sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a>&nbsp;is an excellent example of how this technology can create a fantastic effect.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/36125/image/large-bcf285c4da1747e36539b0b262d1f3f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36125">For people who are not technical, what are the benefits of investing in this technology? Are people not put off by the cost of hybrid? Hybrid propulsion can make a yacht much easier to operate, can reduce the size of the engine room and of course can improve the environmental impact of a yacht. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a> is showing the world the benefits of the dynarig sail system, stored energy and hybrid propulsion. Having the potential to cross the Atlantic not using any fuel is amazing! An equivalently sized yacht would use tons of fuel - but nobody wants to be seen to be driving around in a gas-guzzling car, and it’s the same with yachts. We have an environmental focus in our designs, and in doing so, we make our systems intelligent and smaller. This can be seen in our Balance concept, where hybrid propulsion is combined with intelligent naval architecture to both improve efficiency and create more luxury area on the yacht.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/58459/image/large-b745f19ea450dde170ec55744e19104d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/58459">There is however still a market for a well-done conventionally powered yacht. I would say that 50% of the yachts we do are like this, and it is great to create a conventional yacht well and get the best out of traditional technology. The other half are hybrid, diesel, electric or innovative in other ways. The results of using eco-friendly technology will depend on the kind of owners you have at the time and how they use their yacht. Everyone is individual and wants something different from their yacht, so we will respond to what the owner wants. Most of us in the office are practical people; having worked in shipyards building yachts so we understand that there is no point selling an owner a technology without briefing them on the risk and cost. We use a TRL (Technology Readiness Level) scale, which is a technique used in aerospace to evaluate how risky and difficult something is. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/48785/image/large-5ff79a0da2a9daecfd489515cacb1591.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48785">Do you think the world of yachting can reposition itself as being better for the environment than everybody thinks?&nbsp; The more test cases there are of advanced yachts pushing the envelope of efficiency and design the more likely eco-friendly technology will be adopted in other areas of shipping. So I think one of the best things the world of yachting can do is to serve as a hot lab for all this technology. We are in the ideal position to be at the forefront of technology and showing what’s possible. The push to decarbonise shipping is an exciting challenge, which the superyacht industry and owners of yachts will need to rise to in order for us to make sure that we are doing our best now and in the future. &nbsp;What do you think yachts will look like in 25 years time?&nbsp; This is difficult to predict, but I think we will have a better idea in four years time when the IMO will determine what, as a global industry, we are going to do in order to operate with fewer greenhouse gases. To reach the IMO target by 2050 a lot of things have to happen. A large proportion of commercial shipping will have to decarbonise and move away from diesel. What we are not sure of is how this is going to be enforced, perhaps through energy indexes for large yacht projects. It is quite possible legislation combined with public opinion will force us to change technology, which will change the shape of yachts. Right now we must prepare for the fact we will probably have to start to change our ways in the next five to six years, which is only one new build generation away.I imagine in 25 years, there will be yachts that look exactly like what we have now, and there will be yachts that look like they belong to a different world with designs based around brand new architectural designs and ship design concepts. Underneath the skin, I am sure we will be using alternative fuels and energy sources with intelligent adaptable systems using AI and machine learning to optimise efficiency and safety!&nbsp;

5 Questions with... Principal Mechanical Engineer of Lateral

Find out more about Simon Brealey and his role as Principal Mechanical Engineer for Lateral. 

5 Questions with... Lateral’s Principal Mechanical Engineer, Simon Brealey

Although discussions continue as to what exactly constitutes an explorer yacht, there remains a category of yachts whose exploration credentials are undisputed. Many of the early yacht conversions started life as rugged utility vessels, and have been transformed into true explorer yachts in every sense of the word. Here, we pay homage to two iconic groups of these fascinating early conversions: three German tugs and four Dutch pilot cutters.The tugsA number of large salvage tugs were built for the towage company Bugsier GmbH &amp; Co. KG from Hamburg, Germany between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s. These tugs had plenty of towing power and ice-breaking capabilities, so it should come as no surprise that three tugs ended up being converted into explorer yachts in the 1990s: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic&nbsp;</a>and her slightly smaller sister ships <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Simson</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Khozam77.34m (253'9&quot;)">Atlantic</a>. Although we will mainly focus on the conversions of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic</a>&nbsp;and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Simson</a>, it is interesting to note that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Khozam77.34m (253'9&quot;)">Atlantic</a> was converted into a yacht support ship for a Middle Eastern ruler and renamed<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Khozam77.34m (253'9&quot;)">&nbsp;Khozam.</a>Arctic P<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/53463/image/large-2293b6a1441b3600990c5c2aca19c677.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/53463">Completed in 1969, the very powerful 87-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic</a> and her sister were the flagships of the Bugsier fleet for many years. In the early 1990s, however, Bugsier divested of all but one of its large salvage tugs. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic&nbsp;</a>was sold to a Dublin-based investment firm in 1993 and renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic Research.</a> Soon after, in 1994, she was sold to an Australian owner - whose family still own the yacht today - and sent to Malta Drydocks for an extensive conversion. Kusch Yachts presided over the conversion and redesigned the exterior, while C. Kidston and A. Sassoon designed the new interiors. While her conversion was extensive, the yacht retained her distinctive exterior features. She re-emerged in 1994 as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic P</a>, a name which she has kept to this day. Accommodating 12 guests and a crew of 25, a range of 20,000 nm and fuel capacity of 1.4 million litres, qualifies her for explorer status.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/27417/image/large-2db6416965548bab6de15a6cb9e826f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/27417">Sea RangerThe <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Simson</a> was sold in 1994, to famous French owner Jack Setton, known for his taste for unusual yachts. He renamed her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Simson S.</a> and like her fleet mate <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic P</a>, she went to Malta for conversion into a yacht under the supervision of Kusch Yachts. She emerged from the rebuild in 1995. Like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/900" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arctic P87.58m (287'4&quot;)">Arctic P</a>, she retained most of her original exterior design after the rebuild, while sporting a completely new interior by Heinz Voller. Setton sold her in 1997, and her new owner, the late Peter Lewis, renamed her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Lone Ranger</a> while putting her through another extensive refit in Miami. Lewis literally took her all over the world, including Antarctica in 2005. In 2009, Lewis gifted the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Lone Ranger</a> to an ocean research charity before being sold at auction in Antibes in 2013. Under her new name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/696" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Ranger77.4m (253'11&quot;)">Sea Ranger</a>, she proceeded to Romania for a refit. She re-emerged briefly in the Mediterranean in 2014 before heading to Romania again. In 2018, she reappeared off the South of France, looking as good as ever.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/50887/image/large-d471041d58451615e9927766ea8883d2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/50887">The pilot cuttersThe Dutch ship pilot service previously owned a significant number of pilot cutters, which are floating pilot bases. Despite their elegant looks, the cutters were tough vessels, able to stay out on station during the most punishing gales the North Sea could throw at them. During the 1980s and 1990s, the pilot service sold many of these cutters. Enterprising yacht owners quickly saw opportunities to create unique yachts out of four of these vessels: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capella C59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Capella</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/855" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Intuition II59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Spica</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/723" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Altair III59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Altair</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Fomalhaut</a>, which we now know as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capella C59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Capella C</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/855" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Intuition II59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Intuition II</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/723" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Altair III59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Altair III</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Akula</a> respectively.Capella C<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capella C59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Capella C</a> was a bit older than the other pilot cutters, as she was completed in 1968 by the Gebroeders Pot yard in Bolnes, near Rotterdam. In 1985 she was sold to an Australian owner who converted her into a yacht, based in Monaco. She was now able to accommodate 22 guests across 12 cabins, as well as a crew of 17. Externally, she remained largely unchanged, except for being painted all white. She underwent several refits over the years, the latest taking place in 2008. In 2014, she was sold to an unknown owner, believed to be based in Britain. Most recently, she has been out and about in Scandinavia.Intuition IIBefore Amels delivered its first new build yacht in 1982, the yard built cargo and utility vessels, including a series of three pilot cutters for a division of the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The first of the cutters from Amels was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/855" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Intuition II59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Spica</a>, delivered in 1973.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/53466/image/large-03eeffd7108cef3434b03f1be4cfaeab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/53466">She was sold in September 1997 to an American owner and dispatched to Southampton, Britain, to be rebuilt into a superyacht by Vosper Thornycroft and Southampton Yacht Services. She underwent a complete metamorphosis leaving few clues about her previous identity apart from her sturdy hull. Indart signed for the exterior redesign, while Southampton Yacht Services together with Nicholson Interiors drew up a completely new interior providing ample room for 14 guests and 14 crew members. The rebuild was completed in 1998 and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/855" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Intuition II59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Intuition II</a>, as she was now named, spent a lot of time in the USA, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean until she was sold in August 2017 to an unknown owner.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33233/image/large-39504ba393831a6bf66fe3229aae5c38.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33233">Altair IIIAmels delivered the next pilot cutter, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/723" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Altair III59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Altair</a>, in 1974. She was sold in 1995 after 21 years of service to a Dutch private owner, who chartered her out to Greenpeace that summer for an eventful campaign against nuclear testing. The campaign had a dramatic ending when she was raided by French commandos in the Italian port of Brindisi in October 1995. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/723" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Altair III59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Altair</a> then set course for a different future. In 1996, she was sold to an American owner, who sent her to the Oceanfast yard in Australia to be completely rebuilt. With a new exterior and interior design by the late Jon Bannenberg, she is arguably the most heavily converted yacht mentioned in this feature. When her next owner bought her in 2000, he put her through another refit at the Arredamenti Porto yard in Genoa, which she visited again in 2003, following a further sale. This time, her bridge deck was lengthened under the supervision of Australian designer, Sam Sorgiovanni. She has remained with the same owner since 2003 and has been cruising the Mediterranean under the name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/723" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Altair III59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Altair III</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/32981/image/large-ee10ff73b1d61812df4d8dc862b2a1f9.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32981">AkulaThe last of the three pilot cutters by Amels was the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Fomalhaut</a>, delivered in 1974 as yard number 335. She was initially sold in 1997 and renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Princess Laya</a>. In 1998, she also visited Vosper Thornycroft for a rebuild. Naval architects BMT Nigel Gee provided all naval architecture and structural design for the conversion.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/27181/image/large-01dd695d37cc04d28d329d962f5571f0.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/27181">She emerged in 1999 as the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Elanymor</a>, now sporting a flight deck and helicopter hangar, amongst other changes. In 2008, she was sold on, renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Akula</a> and subjected to a partial interior and extensive exterior refit at H2X in La Ciotat. In 2010, her engines and generators were overhauled in Malta. Although she has been on the market now for a while, she is being kept in perfect condition.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/38762/image/large-c65760229bdd3fc978731fb84248138e.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38762">Successful trailblazersAll of these seven tugs and pilot cutters were converted into yachts over 20 years ago, yet almost all of them are still highly active and in mint condition: a testimony to the quality of their original build, their smart conversions and loving owners. Most of them are travelling around the world, so be on the lookout!This article is featured in the latest edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription">Subscribe now</a> to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.

Insight: Explorers, the early conversions

Following the launch of Lateral Naval Architects earlier this year, the British naval architecture and engineering company has proved to be one of this summer’s most talked about business developments in the world of yachting. It's not difficult to see why. Formed in a strategic partnership between the well-established naval architecture practice, BMT Nigel Gee and Dutch shipyard, Oceanco, the longtime associates joined forces to work more collaboratively and more efficiently on some of the world’s most unique superyacht projects. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/38442/image/large-baeebeafee6e7f468c3c1ebda07437b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38442">To find out more about the current focus of Lateral's work and shed light on some of the key questions surrounding the partnership, SuperYacht Times sat down with Managing Director, James Roy, and the Lateral team at their offices in Southampton to hear more. &nbsp; SYT: Lateral Naval Architects was officially announced at the HISWA tour this summer. Three months on, how is business and what has the reaction been from the industry? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The reaction has been very positive! Of course, our business is a continuation of the yachting division of BMT Nigel Gee so we’ve always had a lot going on. Right now we’re busy preparing for the launch of a 109-metre, plus concurrently engineering three other yachts of over 100 metres. Alongside this, we are developing a number of innovations based on our theme of asking new questions, some of those we are revealing in Monaco next week. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/36065/image/large-52ae7f1086f659078d9e05d99564ca82.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36065">We have received lots of questions from the market about Lateral, particularly around our connection to Oceanco. We’re very transparent and authentic about that: it is what we say it is. Oceanco has a share in the business, and that means that we are strategically aligned to meet the needs of their projects. They have no interest in running a naval architecture business. If you view business as one big competition where you can only have one winner, well, our strategic partnership is perhaps hard to understand. If you take a more 21st century perspective on business and understand the collaborative approach, then it’s very straightforward - the end client is the winner of our collective collaboration.&nbsp;SYT: What have been the most challenging points to explain? &nbsp;Ultimately the feedback is: ‘Looks great, makes sense… but how does it actually work?’ So beyond the initial explanation, a lot of the questions are surrounding intellectual property and confidentiality. Oceanco has a position on the board of this company, and that is it. It works the same, pretty much, as it did when we were BMT Nigel Gee. There are no pipelines going anywhere with information flowing out of the company, and no one outside of the company can come and look at our work. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/48784/image/large-3aad8d95829e3bd5c84757aa28d8b182.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48784">Our undertakings under non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements binds everyone in this business. So our NDA undertakings are exactly the same as they were before. &nbsp;The knowledge we gain from all our work is our intellectual capital. We leverage that knowledge from working with a very broad spectrum of clients and projects, and in that broad spectrum, we’re exposed to different ideas. We’re constantly asking new questions and developing new things. Not necessarily inventing but developing. Knowledge and intellectual capital flows both ways between ourselves and our clients. However, our clients' intellectual property is protected via our commercial undertakings. That is no different than it was when we were BMT Nigel Gee. &nbsp; SYT: Next week Lateral will be exhibiting at the Monaco Yacht Show. What have you got in store for your Monaco debut?&nbsp; The focus of much of our recent research and development work is on energy generation, management and prolusion system architecture. We are investigating all electric (large) yachts, electric hybrids and exploring near, medium and far-term battery and alternative fuel technology to enable those. Alongside that, we have developed a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) system. The system assigns a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) score and positions this against a diffusion of the innovation curve. In this way, innovative ideas can be benchmarked by technical maturity and risk. &nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/36128/image/large-5f1ee462db1be0823172ff25e0ec2e47.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36128">All our work starts with a clear technical narrative, we think it is too often the case that engineering ideas are researched because they are technically interesting, and then post-rationalised into why they offer an advantage within a design. &nbsp;We like to start with a narrative, a question; it’s the question that drives us. &nbsp; This will be evident in the work we present at Monaco. Firstly, we have undertaken further technical development of the 115m Lobanov designed Tuhura that we launched at the Dubai show in late February. That work focuses on an electric hybrid architecture. Secondly, we have a model to reveal a new 102m Sinot design that incorporates a number of innovations to leverage a better utilisation of technical space and enable more luxury areas on board. The ideas and innovations embedded in that project will be seen in the market very soon with our 109m launch. &nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/36049/image/large-cf135b4edae21b8a9e84ad12a2bb1b3b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36049">We also have Lavilla, a design developed by a recent Lateral intern, Jeremy Kitzinger. He is studying both a design and engineering degree, and although Lateral does not do exterior or interior design, we wanted to challenge him with a real-world project to develop whilst he was with us. We set him a brief and gave him a technical platform as a basis, the design developed on that platform is his own. Lavilla is about living space, and how families live together. Watch out for him in the future, he is a talented guy! It’s our first Monaco Yacht Show as Lateral, and we’ve got a lot to show and talk about.

Lateral Naval Architects: a 21st Century approach to the superyacht business

Though the superyacht business is a relatively small industry, it is packed with international professionals from all walks of life, and it can certainly be easy to get lost in the sea of faces we're presented with at boat shows, yachting events and beyond. In this series of articles, we take a step back from rushed business meetings and hurried networking and sit down with professionals from across the wide spectrum of the superyacht business to learn more about who they are and what they do for the industry. This week, we get to know James Roy, Managing Director of the recently formed Lateral Naval Architects, to hear more about this new venture.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/38441/image/large-ca7ad856bc819b9426477dcfbd5b1dad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38441"> You are working in the yachting division of BMT Nigel Gee. How did you get into working as a naval architect?From an early age, I was interested in ships and boats. I have a vivid memory from around the age of 5, drawing a picture of a ship I had just seen steam past, and proclaiming that when I grew up I was going to design boats.Some 20 years later, in 1996 I graduated from Southampton Institute with a first class honours degree in naval architecture, and in October of that year, I began work with a small independent practice in Southampton. Nigel Gee and Associates was a specialist in high-speed commercial vessels and with around ten employees, and as many years in business. It had established itself not only in supporting the local marine industry but also on the international stage.I quickly realised that this was an exciting business. From day one I have been challenged to think differently by both the principles of the business, my colleagues, and the diversity of the customer base. The workload has been varied and dynamic with opportunities to learn and explore with every job that came to my desk. Adventure and the spirit of ‘work-hard play-hard’ were the platforms upon which I developed my career.The company expanded rapidly into new markets, in all corners of the world and I took every opportunity to grow with the business, moving to Senior Naval Architect within five years. Thereafter, I was at the forefront of the company's development of highly specialised vessels; from the implementation of production engineering software and processes, through to research and development of new hull forms to address challenges brought about by new economic and defence landscapes.With yacht design having become a significant contributor to the company's turnover, I took on the role of Yacht Design Manager in 2006 and became a director of the business in 2008. Starting with small steps, a clear plan, and a long-term view I have led a talented team who have built the BMT brand in the yacht market and positioned us as a leading independent practice in naval architecture and engineering.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/38442/image/large-baeebeafee6e7f468c3c1ebda07437b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38442"> Lateral Naval Architects is a new collaboration between Oceanco and BMT Nigel Gee, announced during the HISWA Superyacht Press tour this year. Talk me through the philosophy behind the brand: what does the 9 dot puzzle have to do with it?It has been a fascinating journey to discover the Lateral brand. Note the word discover, it is of subtle but significant importance. Authentic brands are not created in a design environment, they are a representation of who we are already; our collective culture, beliefs, values, and behaviours.&nbsp;In this way, what we say about ourselves is truly authentic rather than a string of marketing superlatives. There are a number of key factors in the DNA of our heritage that are at the heart of characterising the Lateral brand. One is inquisitiveness - adventurous thinking and engineering excellence. The second is the breadth of depth of knowledge and insight - both technical and owner insight.Our logo is a simple array of nine dots. The challenge is to draw a continuous line through all the dots with no more than four straight segments. The solution, whilst simple, is not obvious, but it requires some lateral thinking! Although this is a collaboration with Oceanco, you have also been clear that Lateral Naval Architects will also work with other shipyards, who may obviously be in competition with Oceanco. How do you see this working in the future and who will you be working with?Lateral has been created as a company that will operate independently of BMT and of Oceanco. That being said, we will leverage the knowledge of BMT and Oceanco. The opinions, conclusions, and insights we continue to deliver to clients are formed independently, however. Those clients represent a global customer base in all areas of the superyacht industry and via the strategic partnership, they will gain access to a broader base of knowledge and insight.Lateral will not deliver primary naval architecture to a project that is in direct commercial competition to Oceanco. However, the practical reality is that when considering the whole market, this is quite a small spectrum of projects. Also, consider the fact that all of Oceanco’s primary competitors have their own naval architecture capacities. In that regard, the situation is no different under Lateral than it was under BMT. Lateral continues to work with long term partners and clients that we have had a relationship with for many years under BMT.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/38443/image/large-b83ca0c132d5f860bd2ee4143afb39f1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38443"> How will the information sharing work between Lateral and Oceanco? What would you say to those who might be concerned about the sharing of information about another yard with Oceanco?&nbsp;Lateral is run independently of Oceanco. Lateral operations remain at Shamrock Quay adjacent to BMT. Oceanco does not have access to our systems, data, or information beyond that which we deliver for Oceanco projects.&nbsp;As would be expected within any joint venture the board of directors has members from both parties. The board’s purpose is to ensure the company’s success by collectively directing its affairs. In carrying out these duties the board members are bound to act only in the interests of Lateral. Lateral will continue to trade upon its integrity and strict approach to project confidentiality. Lateral operates an industry standard non-disclosure agreement that binds everyone in the company.If we look to other industries delivering large and complex engineering projects, those can often only be achieved via multiple competing companies collaborating within the umbrella of a commercial and legal construct. For this to work, there must be trust in the integrity of that umbrella. For Lateral, the undertakings we commit to under our non-disclosure ‘umbrella’ remain the same as they did under BMT.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/38440/image/large-231f254944b48640fd1609a0fc58a9d0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38440"> What can we expect in the future from this collaboration?Our brand manifesto is built around the idea that real innovation is about asking new questions, not just coming up with new answers to existing ones. By doing so, we aim to challenge and enable ourselves, our partners, our clients, and the wider industry to collaboratively develop the next generation of iconic yachts.

5 Questions with… James Roy from Lateral Naval Architects

The British naval architects at BMT Nigel Gee have announced an exciting new venture today at Oceanco’s facilities during the second day of the annual HISWA tour in the Netherlands. Formed in a strategic partnership between BMT Nigel Gee and Oceanco, the two brands have officially launched a new naval architecture and engineering company: Lateral Naval Architects Ltd. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/36065/image/large-52ae7f1086f659078d9e05d99564ca82.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36065">The very first superyacht project to be launched by the new company will be no other than the highly-anticipated 109-metre superyacht Project Y718, Bravo. Currently in build at Oceanco and featuring an exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard and an interior from the drawing boards of Reymond Langton Design, she is scheduled for launch this summer. Upon delivery, Project Y718 will be one of the largest yachts ever built in the Netherlands - certainly a memorable milestone for Lateral® to look forward to. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/5687/image/large-c1ea047d81ff40568dd4e84badd4e671.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/5687">Although formed in cooperation with both BMT Nigel Gee and Oceanco, Lateral Naval Architects is an individual company in itself. Lateral will undertake all yachting division projects from BMT Nigel Gee - a sector within the company that has been growing exponentially over the years (read our in-depth feature with the newly appointed Managing Director of Lateral, James Roy,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/47315" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="BMT Nigel Gee: making naval architecture cool (2017-06-21 12:15:00 +0200)">here</a>!). Lateral’s dedicated offices will be based in Southampton, adjacent to BMT Nigel Gee's current facilities.&nbsp;The new company has been formed as a way for the two long-time colleagues to work more collaboratively together on some of the world’s most unique superyacht projects, always marrying creativity with engineering expertise. James Roy says that this means placing innovation at the core of the exciting new brand: “Lateral provides complete engineering expertise to the superyacht industry from project conception to delivery. Our core competence is engineering, but our unique focus is on meaningful innovation to enable superyachts to meet the demands of today’s owners.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/36067/image/large-689d64640a94ece5717a9575dea27db3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36067">The symbiotic relationship will provide an assurance of capacity, knowledge and protection of intellectual property for the Dutch yard, with Lateral hereby acting as Oceanco’s exclusive naval architecture partner - excluding sailing yachts and Oceanco’s 700 programme. For Lateral, this means securing a significant amount of challenging projects that will work to form the backbone of the company. Importantly, Lateral will also work within the wider superyacht industry on projects that do not directly compete or conflict with those of Oceanco.&nbsp;On signing the strategic partnership, Oceanco CEO, Marcel Onkenhout, comments, “With the ever-greater integration of the Oceanco and BMT teams, the formation of Lateral is a natural step in bringing our companies closer together. Lateral will not only deliver high-quality naval architecture and engineering to Oceanco with greater focus but will work with the best across the whole of the superyacht industry to apply expert knowledge and deliver exceptional projects.”The launch of Lateral comes after a decade-long relationship between BMT Nigel Gee and Oceanco. Roy continues to describe the partnership between the two companies: “Our relationship is long-term and enduring, as are our aims for Lateral. We started working together with Oceanco back in 2008, in the development of several 100+ metre projects. Our respective teams have challenged one another to apply both technical and process innovation in a search for continuous improvements. By leveraging our respective areas of expertise, knowledge and insight we have delivered more than the sum of our parts.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/22617/image/large-b0e5987a9ff406009fabbbdee7a5bcf3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/22617">Indeed, the collaboration between the team of James Roy in the yachting division of the engineering firm and Oceanco commenced with detailed engineering of some of the most iconic yachts in the Netherlands, including the 110.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4796" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jubilee110.1m (361'3&quot;)">Jubilee</a>, the 86-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5516" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aquijo86.0m (282'2&quot;)">Aquijo</a> and the 106-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.0m (347'9&quot;)">Black Pearl</a>. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/26294/image/large-26c1375a9396986509a12503877149cd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26294"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/23930/image/large-ef7af6078a97e2792d4d60225ba6ed6e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/23930">Although there is no shortage of notable projects to come out of the collaboration with Oceanco, Roy and his team have not been limited to one yard throughout their yachting careers - an integral aspect of how Lateral will also operate. Just some of the many collaborations since the yachting division of BMT Nigel Gee was established include the 59-metre Amels-built <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akula59.0m (193'7&quot;)">Akula</a>, the 73.98-metre Trinity-built <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/365" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cocoa Bean73.98m (242'9&quot;)">Cocoa Bean</a>, and the 96-metre Devonport-built <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)">Vava II</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/15645/image/large-561cb6d4a8101f8485d7e97f79bd05dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/15645">Stay tuned for more information regarding this exciting new partnership soon. Head to <a href="https://www.lateral.engineering/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">www.lateral.engineering</a> to learn more about Lateral.&nbsp;

Lateral Naval Architects: a collaborative partnership with Oceanco

Though the superyacht business is a relatively small industry, it is packed with international professionals from all walks of life, and it can certainly be easy to get lost in the sea of faces we're presented with at boat shows, yachting events and beyond. In this series of articles, we take a step back from rushed business meetings and hurried networking and sit down with professionals from across the wide spectrum of the superyacht business to learn more about who they are and what they do for the industry. In this week’s episode, we get to know Igor Lobanov, founder of the Lobanov Design studio.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/31746/image/large-ede6a0552289a9c42804ae8f2c248ddc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/31746">At this year’s edition of the Dubai International Boat Show, you unveiled an exciting new design in collaboration with Oceanco: the 115-metre Tuhura. Tell us more about the development of the project.It was a childhood dream of mine to design an ultra-modern yacht with a very classic hull. I love the shape of canoes and wanted to make a serious yacht project out of it. I think this hull works very well and deserves its revival. It’s a project we did without having any particular client in mind, just the chance to create a pure beauty, just as herself.&nbsp;You collaborated with Oceanco and BMT Nigel Gee. Were they involved from the inception?To check the feasibility of the project, I called BMT Nigel Gee in the very early stages to research together what could be achieved for the canoe-shaped yacht at 90 and 100-metres in length. Having shown these projects to a few people in the industry, I soon realised that a project of this unique nature should be published. Oceanco expressed an interest to become a part of this project and proposed a collaboration with the scale model and a video production, which was unveiled during the Dubai Boat Show this year.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/26377/image/large-51c2817fca19abf37f7b3fdcfdb0e896.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26377"> The project was also missing an interior design, so I called Achille Salvagni, who was very kind in accepting this invitation to the project and has contributed a beautifully styled interior in a very short period of time. To me, personally, interior matches exterior in a very natural way. I’m very proud of this project and the team behind it.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/26368/image/large-28ad418b8c3e54aa9751e6c6a4365747.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26368"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/26370/image/large-500a45ce55333d4a4161072ac3260081.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26370"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/26367/image/large-1a13e04f315ef53fae5ef9738eb0a133.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26367">Tuhura is certainly an eye-catching, unique design. When presenting fairly radical concepts, what kind of feedback do you receive from owners and industry professionals alike?It all depends on the individual as to how radical a particular project is perceived, everyone has a different concept as to what is radical and what is not. I don’t see Tuhura as a radical concept at all. Radically beautiful – yes. This project can be built and will work well.Tuhura is not your first collaboration with Oceanco, with the 110-metre Jubilee delivered last summer, and the 85.5-metre St Princess Olga (now Amore Vero) before that. Can you tell us more about your relationship with Oceanco?&nbsp;We had a great time building those yachts at Oceanco, they are an outstanding shipyard and I will be happy to build any new projects with them in the future. However, we are an independent company and there is no kind of ‘exclusivity’ deal between us, we’re working with other shipyards, including competing ones, as they work with other designers. There cannot be any prevention. The market is open.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/26294/image/large-26c1375a9396986509a12503877149cd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26294">What’s on your drawing boards right now?Right at this moment - 30, 36, 50, 50, 74, 75, 85-metre projects of various types: sport, classic, explorer. The only yachts we try to avoid designing are boring ones!

5 Questions with… Igor Lobanov 

Following the news of the delivery of the 106.7-metre Oceanco-built Black Pearl last week, the world’s most talked about sailing yacht has arrived in Gibraltar. Here she is pictured with her formidable black sails deployed.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/30000/image/large-ff4b1d81478d724dd2f6164a06f8a14f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30000"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/29999/image/large-5cc7de81d4d2b87a318eafc745dfef05.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29999"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/29998/image/large-cbba9ceea91c89b94fbf0e6de9a4bc9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29998"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/29997/image/large-dc929f5bf0fffee2033334af30a2f586.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29997"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/29996/image/large-4ee84ecbfd6b5db33f2bd54d907ed29d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29996"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/29995/image/large-3ff99957fae9914fd5cd942d9cdf5e83.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29995"><iframe width="710" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7pCkzz7IWY" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

In Pictures: the 106.7m Black Pearl arriving in Gibraltar under sail 

The 106.7-metre sailing yacht Black Pearl&nbsp;sailed out of Dutch waters for the first time today as she waved farewell to the Oceanco shipyard where she was launched at the end of 2016. The highly advanced superyacht now cruises in international waters for the first time on her maiden voyage to her first port of call.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/28970/image/large-c33adda121be81c273508c65fa19d2fb.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/28970">The designers Ken Freivokh Design, Nuvolari Lenard and Villate Design all played a significant role in Black Pearl's&nbsp;design evolution. Dykstra Naval Architects designed Black Pearl's three 70-meter (230ft) DynaRig carbon masts and sailing system. The sail area is subdivided into smaller lesser-loaded sails and they can be set or furled by pushing a button. Astonishingly, all 2,900 square meter of sails can be set in 7 minutes.BMT, Nigel Gee collaborated with Oceanco to create&nbsp;Black Pearl's hybrid propulsion system as well as other onboard systems such as waste heat recovery.Since her launch,&nbsp;Black Pearl&nbsp;has proven to be a new generation landmark sailing yacht with a unique identity. Not only is she the largest sailing yacht in the world, but her unique features such as the state of the art DynaRig system, single level engine room, a hybrid propulsion installation and regeneration mode when under sail - she is set to turn heads the world over - and for decades to come.