Nestled within the craggy coastline of the southwest of England are a number of leading shipyards, specialising in the design and build of both motor and sailing yachts. There’s Pendennis, of course, a major player in all three areas – new build, rebuild and refit – which occupies a major corner of the idyllic Cornish town, Falmouth. On the other side of the Tamar, in Plymouth, is where another industry leader laid bricks and mortar, Princess Yachts. But the Devonshire port city was also home to a lesser-known builder, Devonport Yachts – the shipyard which built and delivered the United Kingdom’s modern flagship superyacht, not once but twice. 
The 82-metre superyacht Sarafsa proudly claimed the plinth from 2008 - 2014, and her story has an unlikely origin: the Netherlands. Amels’ 54.5-metre superyacht Faribana V (ex. Sarafsa) was the seed that fertilised the road from concept to sea. Her owner enjoyed life on the water, the pleasures of superyachting and the excitement that comes with overseeing the construction of a major project. Faribana V was a great success and the fact that she’s only had two owners since 1998, and was sold after being on the market for less than three months, speaks volumes. But her commissioning owner wanted more volume – 2,347 GT more to be precise.
Winch Design, headed by Andrew Winch, displayed deft craftsmanship with both the exterior and interior design of Faribana V, and the client wanted to emulate this success. After enjoying life on the water with the Amels-built superyacht, the client knew exactly what they liked and what didn’t fit so well with his lifestyle; they re-approached the British studio with a fresh list of requisites and Andrew Winch was more than happy to stretch the dimensions and draw up a fresh design. The result was an 82-metre project.
Even though Devonport Yachts had built and delivered just two superyachts prior to Sarafsa, it was the British shipyard’s weighty maritime history that won over the client. “The yacht had to be British through and through,” Matt Pinckney of Burgess explained. “Devonport was chosen because of a long shipping history – predominantly looking after the Royal Navy. And commissioning a 3,179 gross tonne project, it was essential that a yard with large vessel experience was selected.” With such prowess, commissioning Devonport Yachts for the project wasn’t as much of a vote of confidence as one might have thought. 
A major difference between the first and second project is the naval architecture, the former was engineered by Amels while the latter was the work of Burness Corlett - Three Quays Limited. But “there are many similarities between his previous yacht and the new one, not only due to the Andrew Winch design, but in many influences that have been repeated,” Pinckney continued. Much like Faribana V, Sarafsa is equipped with some unique features such as a hairdressing salon and a general arrangement that provides the owner with ultimate privacy.” 
Sarafsa is a bazaar of thick carpets, heavy fabrics and is a rich contrast of colours and patterns throughout. She embodies a Middle Eastern sensibility that wouldn’t seem out of place framed in marble as the setting for political debate or as an abode fit for royalty. She’s a superyacht that spans six decks, with an elevator that services all levels. Sarafsa can accommodate as many as 14 guests across seven staterooms. Even though she’s only been used privately, she is commercially classified and can carry as many as 23 crew, making her an appealing vessel for charter. 
While the style of décor is perhaps not to everyone’s taste, her long list of amenities certainly is. Sarafsa has been well thought out and each deck offers its own flavour; her sun deck, for instance, is all about wellness and is home to a hammam, gym and a Jacuzzi – located under a retractable roof. Meanwhile, the bridge deck is a wealth of entertainment. Winch Design planned this deck to cater for large social gatherings, fitting her with a spacious informal lounge area and fully equipped bar, a formal dining room for up to 16 guests which leads seamlessly to the aft deck where a bar and buffet area can be found. After long functions guests can find sanctuary in her large screening room, collapsing in one of many of her plump seats to watch a film.
A core facet of the superyacht Sarafsa is her commitment to privacy and safety. Guests will find their accommodation on the main deck, below the bridge deck, which they share with a hair salon, a formal lounge area and access to her swim platform. The dedicated owner’s deck is situated much higher, and occupies the penultimate level. The owner’s deck is then akin to a penthouse suite and simultaneously boasts astounding views and the utmost privacy.
Winch Design optimised the space by fitting a lounge and observation area forward, with exclusive access to the upper foredeck. The owner’s apartment itself is aft and it has its own lobby, bathroom with bath, walk-in wardrobe, changing room and spacious private terrace aft. There is a second VIP cabin forward of the deck, which has been installed with additional staff or security in mind.
Performance-wise is where Devonport Yachts’ prowess truly shines, “Sarafsa is nothing shy of excellent when underway,” her lifetime captain explained. “She’s a solid build and handles impeccably – virtually no vibrations and excellent stability. Regrettably, Sarafsa has not travelled far of late. She has spent most of the past few years along the Côte d’Azur and more recently in Sardinia. She has been Med based for much of her years in service, and we did take her to the Caribbean for a two-week trip!”
It is this lack of use that has prompted her owner to place Sarafsa on the market for the first time. “There are several client profiles that spring to mind; clearly there are Middle Eastern features which would appeal to this region, but equally there are US & Asian clients that prefer this style and décor,” Matt Pinckney said. “Perhaps what she offers most, is the potential for someone to create their own interior and style for a fraction of the costs for a replacement vessel.”
Read: Devonport’s 82m superyacht Sarafsa for sale
Sarafsa is constructed out of steel and aluminium for her hull and superstructure, respectively, and powered by twin MTU engines that deliver a top speed of 16.5 knots and a transatlantic range. She has huge storage for four tenders and plenty of toys. She also features a touch-and-go helipad. 
Two years after the launch of Sarafsa, Pendennis Shipyard acquired Devonport Yachts and the site became Pendennis Plus in 2010.
Read: Pendennis Shipyard: Reinforcing the legacy of British yacht building