Cana Gökhan and Fatih Sürekli, partners in life and co-founders of Red Yacht Design, are aboard 28-metre Waterlily, the first in the new steel-hulled series of pocket superyachts they designed for boutique builder Mazu. The yacht made her debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival and our conversation has turned to the perception of Turkish yacht designers and their status in the industry.
“It can be a disadvantage in this business if you’re not from the UK, Italy or Holland,” says Cana. “Even when we propose something better, the top yards will usually pick Italians or British designers, which is one reason why we set up a London office and moved there. But what hurts most is that the big Turkish players are the same. They have their comfort zone and want to work with overseas designers because that is how they sell boats, so why try something new?”
“Attitudes are starting to change,” says Fatih. “There is a new generation of managers looking to beat their own path. They’re young, tech-savvy and much more willing to invest in home-grown talent.”
One name that pops up is Emre Sandan, a contemporary of Cana and Fatih who shares a similar background. Cana graduated in architecture from Yıldız Technical University and worked for the Ulutas outfitting company before moving to Scaro Design in Istanbul where she was lead interior designer for the now defunct Peri Yachts brand and its highly regarded motoryacht series. While at Scaro Design she met Fatih, a naval architect who studied at the same university, as did Emre Sandan, who also worked at Peri Yachts and other Turkish shipyards before recently setting up his own engineering company, Mes Marine.
“There was a nucleus of designers and naval architects who graduated from Yıldız Technical University and started working in yachting when the Turkish industry was taking off,” says Fatih. “We were reunited with Emre when he was shipyard manager at Sarp Yachts and we were chosen to create the exterior and interior design of the XSR series.”
Like Edge, the Mazu 92DS Waterlily sports chunky crossover styling, but pushes the design boundaries even further. The raised pilothouse is positioned well forward to maximise the interior volumes and aft deck space, the vertical bow adds visual impact and increases the waterline length, and the two-tone paintwork introduces a striking new aesthetic. Not only is it Mazu’s first displacement model, it is also the first steel-hulled yacht to be equipped with triple Volvo Penta IPS propulsion.
“The edgy proportions and exterior lines of the DS series are inspired by the design DNA of Mazu’s fast runabouts,” says Fatih. “The idea was to create something new and different with huge windows, generous interior volumes and big exterior spaces. Having the IPS engines so far aft helped a lot in terms of layout and meant we could create a massive beach club in the stern.”
“We don’t like palatial or extravagant interiors,” says Cana, a keen sailor who recently completed an RYA Competent Crew Course in Southampton. “It’s a question of taste, of course, but if we don’t feel it we don’t do it. Luxury is not about stuffing boats full of rare and expensive materials; it’s more about taking away. Simplicity is better than embellishment. Just being out at sea with friends and family is a luxury in itself. The experience is what’s important and we’re already talking with clients about reducing the quantity of interior materials on board.”
As nominal head of design at the Red Yacht Design (they avoid formal titles) Cana jokes she is the brains behind the operation, but it is clear they relish being able to work together on both the interior and exterior design of projects along with their 10-person strong team in London and Istanbul.
“I don’t like when there is a mismatch between the interior and exterior styling,” says Fatih. “It can sometimes be a surprise, but usually the effect is jarring. Working on both means they develop in tandem and we avoid any discrepancies in style.”
As relative newcomers, Red Yacht Design is not encumbered with the pressure to play it safe, which makes all the difference. Younger owners generally prefer open-plan spaces, outdoor living, unique experiences, holistic design and understated luxury. Cana and Fatih have locked on to these styling cues to imbue their projects with a contemporary vigour that is compelling and exciting.
"There are so many boats out there that look the same," says Cana. “We like doing things differently and we don’t want to feel like we’re just designing another boat. We’ve been lucky so far that the yards we’ve worked with have all been bold and brave and also want to make an impact. That makes for a perfect match and we love it.”
This article is featured in Issue 47 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. Subscribe now to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.