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[ MEGAYACHT ]
by Paola Berteklli picture by Christopher Scholey
A custom-built explorer tailored for an ultra-sporty, adventure-seeking owner. Built by Abeking Rasmussen and with sophisticated interiors by Liaigre, which include an open fireplace in the saloon, provide a sumptuous counterpoint to Espen Ă˜ino’s powerfully masculine exterior 78
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t might seem strange but a love of mountaineering spurred
feature sofas and day beds, afford views unobstructed by masts and the
the owner to commission Cloudbreak. This ground-
like. Aft on the main deck, the traditional cockpit has been sacrificed in
breaking craft has blurred the barriers between two worlds
favour of space for the garage where two enormous and very powerful
which, on paper at least, could not be more different: the
tenders live.
sea and the world’s most remote mountains.
Every single element aboard is the result of careful deliberation by the
The leitmotif running through the design of this 72.5-metre is absolutely
designers who worked hand-in-glove with the owner throughout.
precise and revealing of the yacht’s mission to take the owner to the
Central to the project is an astonishing helicopter deck that is fully
often inhospitable and inaccessible areas of the world where he indulges
certified, including for commercial use, equipped with a full fire-
his passion for adventure sports, with a particular focus on snow and
suppression system, pitch and roll indicators and wind instrumentation.
mountain-related disciplines in particular.
It is designed so that when the helicopter whisks the owner and his
It was to this brief that Abeking & Rasmussen crafted the wonderful
guests back from, say, a day’s heli skiing, they can repair straight to the
Cloudbreak. Espen Øino clothed the 72.5-metre’s exteriors in signature
wonderfully warm, comfortable sun lounge to watch videos of their day
lines and did the general arrangement while Paris-based studio Liaigre
on the slopes as they relax. Cloudbreak’s other impressive amenities
dreamed up an exquisite interior design that sets a new benchmark in
number a ski room, an extensive beach club with gym and spa and seafacing terraces, and a gorgeous open fireplace in the main saloon. The interiors all have a fresh, modern feel with a soft colour palette used with tinted brushed pine in the lounges to create a sense of homeliness. The partition wall layout throws up lots of unparalleled walls too, creating unexpected perspectives and adding a sense of dynamism. The 85 square metre master suite is located forward on the main deck – it’s most delightful quirk is permanent balcony complete with daybed where the owner can overnight in warm weather. There is a further open-out balcony. The lower deck offers four guest cabins with a fifth up on the bridge deck. Unusually, the cabins on the lower deck are, at the owner’s request, connected to the gym by a long corridor that traverses the upper area of
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sophisticated decoration and furnishings.
the engine room, allowing guests to return to their cabins after a sauna
For both yard and designers, however, the greatest challenge was to
or workout without having to go through the lounges.
maximise the outdoor experience right across the board.
Another of the owner’s direct-contact specifications was the winter
Cloudbreak is an explorer yacht aboard which form most definitely,
garden on the bridge deck, a full-beam lounge complete with sofa,
but very successfully, follows function. The distinctive clam shell look
bar and dining table. A retractable sliding glass system engineered by
of the wheelhouse, for instance, is no quirky stylistic indulgence but
Abeking & Rasmussen makes sure this space is incredibly versatile –
an integrated wave breaker which protects the foredeck in the big seas
it can be used 365 days a year at any latitude from Greenland to the
that are part and parcel of venturing into extreme climes. The stairs
Caribbean, Alaska to the Mediterranean. And Cloudbreak is sure to be
leading from the winter garden to the sun deck hug the shape of the
exploring all of the above because her owner’s love of adventure will
helicopter platform on the deck, while two observation decks, which
see to that. www.abeking.com
Espen Ă˜ino had clothed Cloudbreak in beautifully imposing lines. Her heli deck can convert to a spectacular dance floor complete with hideaway screens and lights. Opening photo, the saloon on the main deck featuring a triangular dining table designed by Studio Liaigre
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Warm bright colours characterise the interiors. The lounge on the sun deck, left, is a very sociable area design for winding down and chatting after a day’s sport. Above, the master suite with its balcony spread out over the sea. Opposite page, the gym and the winter garden in particular reveal the influence that creating contact with nature had on the project as a whole
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Owner representative Jim Evans
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he owner did not want a typical “Med� yacht. He wanted to own a global cruising yacht which could access parts of the world inaccessible to others. That was to be achieved by having a yacht with huge range and capacities coupled with having a working helicopter permanently onboard. The owner’s active lifestyle was a strong driver in organising how the boat would operate and what activities would be catered for. In his day-to-day life, he is fanatically keen on snow sports of every kind from cross-country skiing to downhill and ski touring. At the same time he is very interested in mountaineering, hiking and all other mountain-based activity. Cloudbreak carries equipment for all of these activities. She must be unique in having a fully equipped ski room. Naturally enough, the yacht also carries the full range of water toys including a 12-metre and a nine-metre tender. Perhaps she is unique in that her mission statement is primarily one of active lifestyle adventures with the luxurious relaxation we all associate with yachts of this calibre being a wonderful bonus. Cloudbreak may not be the first of the explorer yachts but the focus she has on delivering all the promise that her owner dreamt of when designing her is unwavering. There is no chance that this boat will simply end up doing the usual transatlantic pattern of cruising. Instead she will cruise the world and none of the enormous effort that went into her design will go to waste. 85
Exterior Design Espen Øino
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he owner’s design brief was very much informed by his strong desire to practice adventure sports both on land and at sea. Actually, the focus on land-based activity is what really sets this unique yacht apart from all the others. Central to the owner’s brief was his desire to use the yacht as a platform for helicopter skiing. For that reason, it has one of the few fully certified helicopter decks on any existing yacht. Coming down one deck from the sun deck we see the outdoor lifestyle philosophy of the boat once again reflected in the clever design of the winter garden. The idea for that area is obviously to provide a space that can be completely open in tropical climes or completely enclosed in colder climates. In terms of specific exterior design elements, you will note that the tenders are placed on the main deck which is a huge benefit in waters which may not necessarily be calm as the main deck is the safest and most practical place to launch them from. In addition, the owner is just as fanatical about surfing as he is winter sports. For that reason it was vitally important to have large, rugged tenders to provide transportation to and from the surf breaks. The huge gull wing doors the tenders sit behind are louvered to protect the tenders but they allow the air to freely circulate to that area while still constituting a wonderful styling feature. Overall the design of Cloudbreak is both clean and purposeful with an emphasis on the whole ‘less is more’ concept. The yacht lacks absolutely nothing in terms of equipment, comfort or quality yet she is a particularly functional vessel.
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Espen Ă˜ino has succeeded in melding the severity of form of an explorer vessel with a sublime elegance. He has also created two observation decks furnished with sofas and day beds – perfect for whale watching or just enjoying the unique views of the day
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Interior Design Guillaume Rolland
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he owner wanted a yacht with very warm, welcoming interiors where he could chill out and rest after indulging his passion for extreme outdoors sports. He had a wide range of cruise travel plans and the challenge was to create a cosy interior without using too much dark wood to guarantee a sporty, fresh, young look. The big thing was not to turn it into a chalet but to allow the owner and his guests to “breathe� the warm spirit of a chalet. A fireplace lounge at main deck level welcomes guests aboard when the weather is cold or after an afternoon of skiing. This lounge also has an authentic chart table allowing everybody to share and discuss travel plans without having to go to the wheelhouse. A long display screen shows all navigation-related data such as boat speed, wind force and direction, heading, sea and air temperature, etc. and ensures there is ongoing animation in the saloon. Directly aft is the dining room with a huge triangular table designed by our studio. The forward wall has a wood bas relief by Dutch artist Mathieu Nab. This artwork is the main focus when people enter the boat through the aft door. The passageway has tilted walls to modify the classic perspective and corridor feeling. In this passage, there is a wet room near the starboard entrance lobby where guests can leave their soggy gear to avoid walking through the boat in dripping clothes.
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The sundeck is more focused on evening entertainment and has a dark ceiling. It can be used for watching videos made during the extreme ski sessions or expeditions from earlier in the day. A hi-fi system and giant flat screen are installed in a metal and glass vitrine display case. This area can also convert to a night club that extends outside onto the helipad.
Above, the stairs from the winter garden to the sun deck. Top, and below: the bedside tables in the guest cabins and, the original nook next to the entrance to the master stateroom. Opposite, the fullbeam lounge on the bridge deck is large enough to encompass two main sitting areas with two deep L-shaped sofas
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The Shipyard Jörg Kleymann, Project Manager in line with the special focus of an explorer yard, she does incorporate superlative functionality combined with an elegant appearance. Cloudbreak had a steep bow in comparison to conventional ships – this delivers both smooth sailing in heavy seas and space for all the toys in the forward tender bay. Combining solid boat-building methods, the best traditional workmanship and high quality equipment with leading-edge technologies such as an amazing integrated audio system, a fully certified helicopter deck with fuelling and defueling capabilities, a versatile winter garden, and an awesome Beach Club area was the main challenge for Abeking & Rasmussen.
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he owner was very much involved in the project and most of the decisions regarding design, technical equipment and outfitting were taken by him. His requirements were not extreme – five comfortable guest cabins, four on the lower deck and one on the bridge deck, special cabins for the helicopter pilot and sports instructor, and a spacious main deck master suite with balcony and sea terraces, along with lounges and a dining saloon. This, in combination with the owner’s sportiness and the equipment he required, is very exciting. The designers focused greatly on incorporating all the requirements, formal detailing and material combinations. Abeking & Rasmussen and Rodiek – which built the interior – did a superb job, which really kept the smile on the owner’s face. While Cloudbreak’s exterior layout is generally
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