REVIEW
Amadea
MASTERS AT WORK Now based in the UAE, the 106m Amadea is a masterpiece by designers Espen Øino and Francois Zuretti, builder Lurssen and owner’s representative Imperial, which describes her as “the most detailed superyacht ever built”. WORDS CLAIRE LIM PHOTOS © IMPERIAL YACHTS PHOTOGRAPHER GUILLAUME PLISSON
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Amadea HEAVYWEIGHT COLLABORATION Amadea is another triumph by Monaco-based Øino and Germany’s Lurssen, arguably the world’s leading designer and builder of large superyachts respectively, who both also teamed up with Imperial on Flying Fox. “Working with Espen is a real pride and joy on every superyacht project,” Stewart says. “Our collaboration is truly outstanding and always gives birth to something extraordinary. “So, while Espen focuses his creativity on designing functional and breathtaking masterpieces, Imperial plays its part with our detailed construction management procedures built on thousands of hours spent at the yard, with the suppliers, with our clients, to make the dream a reality.” Imperial also has a like-minded partner in Lurssen, which built
Amadea in northern Germany, where her layout and details were kept very much under wraps. The steel hull has a huge 18m beam, significantly more than many other yachts of this length, while the decks are not made of steel but of aluminium. Amadea also has an astonishing range of 8,000nm at 13 knots, powered by two MTU 20V 4,300kW engines and armed with 392,000 litres of fuel – that’s 392 cubic metres or more liquid than in a 25m by 10m swimming pool with a depth of 1.5m! There are also Quantum Zero Speed stabilisers for exceptional comfort at anchor or underway. “Utmost quality, deadline respect and precise follow-up are the key guidelines of our construction management procedures. We learn from every yard we collaborate with and obviously Lurssen’s impressive record of luxury superyachts, especially those above 90m
Built by Windy under Imperial’s supervision, Amadea’s 11m custom Limo tender and 11m custom Open tender match the lines of the mothership and even feature miniature versions of the albatross sculpture; below: aft view of the lower, main, owner, bridge and sun decks
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ne of the nice things about visiting Amadea by tender is the views. Not from Amadea but from around it. Admittedly, a tender doesn’t offer the bird’s-eye perspective that the owner enjoys when he arrives or leaves by helicopter and looks down on Amadea’s iconic overlapping overhangs, shaped like hexagons and described by exterior designer Espen Øino as ‘clamshells’. However, arrival by the 11m Windy Limousine tender – also designed by Øino – does allow you to see the 106m Lurssen build in all her glory before circling around and gradually closing in on the details. On both sides of this colossus, the standout features are the three angled, protruding balconies, each sheltered by the clamshell above. Rounding the bow allows you many angles of the art-deco albatross sculpture, whose beak points the way when Amadea glides over the seas. The stern, 348ft away, is another beautiful sight, with the broad swim platform dominated by ‘AMADEA’ in backlit lettering, topped by the 10m see-through pool on the main deck. However, the tender arrives at a foldout platform on the starboard side, where guests are escorted to the meeting room before taking a lift upstairs to the main deck. PYC-compliant, this 4,400GT superyacht can welcome up to 22 guests while cruising and 16 overnight in its eight suites. Based in the
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UAE since early 2020, Amadea was originally scheduled to appear at the Dubai International Boat Show, which has been twice postponed and is now set to be held from March 9-13, 2021. Delivered to her owner in 2017, the yacht only made her public debut two years later at the Monaco Yacht Show though owner’s representative Imperial, also the Central Agency for her sale. The Monaco-based brokerage has been behind several of the leading superyachts launched in recent years including the 136m Flying Fox, 107m Lana and 82m RoMEA, all for charter. In contrast, Amadea was designed for private use by an exacting owner and remains a tribute to immense attention to detail in all aspects of design and construction. Her pristine condition is also a testament to the dedication and professionalism of her crew – up to 36 on board at any one time – who have ensured she’s as good as new, if not better. Julia Stewart, Director of Imperial, says: “Amadea is the most detailed superyacht ever built, with extreme care given to every single area or item on board. She is a masterpiece and it’s a source of pride for Imperial to be involved with a superyacht of this calibre. “All clients who have visited her have been very surprised to find out she was delivered in 2017. She looks in better condition than some new deliveries in 2020. This is not by chance. We invest a lot of time and effort in her presentation and condition to exceed the expectations of demanding clients.”
The huge art deco-style albatross welded to the bow was created by sculptor and designer Willem Lenssinck, and is among Amadea’s many distinguishing features
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REVIEW
Amadea
The aft bridge deck and owner’s deck below both have bioethanol fire pits outside, while the 10m long swimming pool is the centrepiece of the main deck aft
or 100m, speaks for itself,” Stewart says. “As the most detailed yacht ever built, Amadea boasts unique finishing that immediately catches the eyes of visitors. All materials and furniture used on board were carefully made with outstanding attention. We can proudly say Amadea is the exact representation of one of our mottos: attention to all details.” MAIN ATTRACTIONS Stewart says Imperial’s relationship with Lurssen has “explored and reached new boundaries in yacht construction”, and Amadea’s 33ft-long pool is an example of fine design, craftsmanship and engineering coming together.
The vast swim platform is a good base for watersports and lounging by the sea
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It starts with steps down to four submerged bar stools, where guests can socialise with those lounging on the L-shaped sofas forward or those lazing in the sunbathing areas on either side. Or, of course, they can just enjoy the infinity view aft and the pool itself, where further sunken steps lead to the deeper swimming area, which has a large, decorative mosaic inlay on the bottom. The main-deck saloon is your likely welcome to the astonishingly ornate interior by Francois Zuretti. Based in Nice, just along the French coast from Imperial and Øino in Monaco, Zuretti started his career creating Middle Eastern palaces and royal residences. Since 1987, he has been designing superyacht interiors including Ambrosia for Ambros Young, one of Asia’s leading superyacht owners. Amadea’s 2,700sqft saloon starts with entrances either side of a beautifully illuminated bar that faces forward to large lounges on each side and a two-deck atrium, formed by an oval cut-out in the ceiling that opens up to the owner’s deck. Forward are a games table and more sofas beside a hand-painted piano by Pleyel, the Paris-based piano builder founded in 1807 that has built for the likes of Chopin. The customised baby grand features 24-karat gold hardware from pedals to hinges and took 18 months to build. The formal dining table seats up to 14 guests and stretches the width of the saloon, with doors opening to balconies on either side, while midships is the central staircase featuring red carpeting and a rectangular glass lift that connects the guest decks. The forward part of the main deck is dedicated to five of the guest suites – two to starboard, two to port, and the full-width VIP cabin, which features two king-size beds. All bedrooms have dressing tables, desks, sofas and ensuite bathrooms, while the VIP cabin has a full lounge to starboard.
Situated on the 92m-long owner’s deck, the vast helideck has a 12m D-value and allows the owners to land and walk straight to their private chambers
tonnes take-off weight. From the elevator or stairs, a forward hallway leads to the ‘private chambers’ including a beauty centre to port and the owner’s office to starboard. The vast bedroom features a huge bathroom to port with tub, shower and separate spa, while to starboard is the enormous dressing room. The full-beam stateroom offers magnificent views and features the forward-facing bed to port and lounge to starboard, both facing a large TV in the middle of the front window. The stateroom has access to beautiful balconies on both sides, which offer comfortable, cosy nooks for peace and quiet with breeze
and open views. Forward of the stateroom is the owner’s private retreat, a covered outdoor zone with lounging areas either side of a whirlpool. Although the deck is designed for the owner to live autonomously and in total privacy if needed, the aft social areas are ideal for hosting guests and intimate dinner parties. Aft of the staircase is a gym to starboard, while to port is an elegant dining room with round table, a central ‘degustation area’ featuring rare whiskies and cognacs, and a wine cabinet. (The main wine cellar is on the tank deck.)
The aft end of the owner’s deck features a large, round dining table, a portside bar offering great sea views and lots of aft-facing seating
OWNER’S PARADISE Above the main deck is the 92m-long owner’s deck, where the owner and guests can arrive by helicopter on the enormous forward helipad, which has a 12m D-value and can accommodate up to 3.5
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Amadea
The lower-deck sea terrace is a nice place to relax after time in the spa
Forward of the swimming pool, the main deck has a large covered area with a games table, outdoor bar and other seating areas, and leads to the main saloon and atrium
The owner’s lounge features large sofas and a fireplace, while there’s also a games table, self-playing piano, library and fun views down to the main deck through the atrium. Outside, the huge, covered aft deck has a round dining table for 10-12 guests, a bar with great sea views, and aft-facing sofas around a bioethanol fire pit. “On every deck, Amadea offers everything an experienced owner could imagine – ample spaces, tasteful outfitting and perfect use of space,” Stewart says. “She was designed and built so every single space, inside and outside, has a function. There are no lost areas.”
The bridge deck provides a cosy place to unwind in the evenings
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CINEMA, SUN DECK, WINTER GARDEN External stairs lead up to the bridge deck, where the aft area offers another great outdoor area with a bioethanol fire pit and lots of seating and lounging space. The cinema lounge is arguably the bridge deck’s main attraction, featuring D-Box technology that moves and vibrates the sofas in time with the action on the screen. This multi-purpose room can also double as a conference room. The deck also houses two guest cabins – a VIP suite to port and a double to starboard – while the forward part of the deck is dedicated to the officer’s and captain’s cabins, ship’s office and the wheelhouse. The sun deck boasts the best views on the yacht and lives up to its name with a large jacuzzi flanked by sunbathing areas, although the area can be covered by a bimini when needed. Forward are outdoor sofas, chairs and coffee tables, plus sun loungers to port. With a first-class AV/IT system, the sun deck is also suitable for events and parties as the jacuzzi can be covered by teak flooring and transformed into a stage. However, the sun deck is also home to the enclosed winter garden, an indoor dining room draped and decorated with plants and featuring a custom-made dining table that can be extended for large numbers of guests. “The main-deck dining table and the winter-garden dining table on the sun deck are outstanding creations and among fantastic masterpieces custom-designed for Amadea,” Stewart says. “Many key items have been designed for the yacht.” WATER SPORTS AND WELLNESS Those customised items include two Windy tenders – the Limousine version for guests and the 11m open version designed for the owner’s use, both featuring a miniature albatross figurehead.
There’s also a Pascoe Beachlander and two Castoldi Jet Tender Solas rescue boats. If the tender collection is impressive, the water toys are outstanding. Four Sea-Doo jetskis, four Seabobs, a jetpack and flyboard are among an incredible range of toys that also includes a 20m inflatable sea pool, an inflatable trampoline and an inflatable slide that connects to the bridge deck! There are four sets of dive equipment, waterskis, wakeboards, paddleboards, other boards, kayaks, towable inflatables, PFDs, wetsuits, protective head gear, fishing gear … you get the idea! To recover after a day of water sports and outdoor activity, Amadea offers a superb wellness area on the lower deck. A door on the port side of the main saloon entrance accesses stairs leading down to a Finnish sauna, hammam, chromotherapy room and massage room. And if you fancy even more R&R after all the relaxation, there’s a Moroccan-inspired lounge with comfortable daybeds, sofas and cosy cushions that opens out to a large sea terrace, offering waterside views, a cool breeze and the sounds of waves lapping. “The whole spa area is fantastic and offers much more than anybody would expect prior to coming on board,” Stewart comments. “The spa and lounge with sea terrace are among so many areas to enjoy on Amadea, from the 10m pool to the huge interiors with two wide saloons or the cinema with D-Box seating. Amadea offers everything a superyacht owner could expect.” While the ownership of such enormous vessels is a rarefied world, superyachts’ relevance to such owners has only heightened in the Covid-19 era due to the increased importance of seclusion, safety and family time, and the appeal of the great outdoors. “Yachts have long been considered as the safest place to be and during this period, superyachts have obviously gained in appeal,” Stewart says. “When all luxury resorts and hotels closed their doors, when travelling became hugely difficult, the yachting industry immediately stood out as ultra-high-net-worth individuals were looking to escape the madness around the virus situation. This is still the case today.” Amadea is a stunning tribute to the combined strengths of Øino, Zuretti, Lurssen and Imperial, the latter ensuring the sky-high standards involved in producing an eight-cabin yacht of this calibre are continued in its daily operations, overseen by a proven first-class crew. “Imperial’s operational teams and the crew have maintained the vessel in pristine condition, like she was delivered yesterday. This is hard work day-to-day, but worth it,” Stewart says. “In fact, the real benefit for a future owner is they can buy a vessel in better condition than a new build just delivered.”
SPECS Length overall 106.1m (348ft 1in) Length waterline 91.7m (300ft 10in) Beam 18.0m (59ft 1in) Draught 4.1m (13ft 5in) Main engines 2 x MTU 20V 4300kW Generators 3 x MTU 12V 2000 Series Fuel capacity 392,000 litres
(103,555 US gallons) Fresh water capacity 77,000 litres (20,341 US gallons) Maximum speed 20 knots Cruising speed 13 knots Range 8,000 nm at 13 knots Guests/Crew 16/36 Classification DNV-GL 100A5 NC AUT (PYC 36), Commercial Passenger Yacht
www.imperial-yachts.com
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