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[ YOUNG TALENTS ]
A SEAFARING
C O M E T by Mary Hegarty
An ambitious concept that earned Thibaud Le Merdy the Young Designer of the Year award in 2017, Comète is clothed in ultra-sporty lines and offers great swathes of elegant spaces with the exteriors the real star of the show
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he Comète Project, which spans an 80m superyacht and its attendant limousine and day cruiser tenders,
is the startlingly ambitious concept that won 25 year old Thibaud Le Merdy the Young Designer of the Year title in 2017. The Frenchman cut his design teeth in Marco Casali’s Too Design Italian studio but then moved back to the French Riviera where he spent three months in the Oceanco Design office prior to taking up a job with Silver Arrows Marine. Le Merdy thought long and hard about the Comète mother ship as his goal was strike a delicate balance between a chic elegance and sportiness of line as well as ensuring it was a very feasible project that would be ready to build
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A majestic stern view of Comète showcasing her massive relaxation areas complete with suspended glass pools, tropical gardens, waterfalls, Jacuzzi and wellness area. Arriving guests are greeted by a spectacular central staircase that runs up to the main deck
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[ YOUNG TALENTS ]
The wonderfully airy, spacious and minimalist exterior lounge on the main deck. Note the theatrical waterfall in the background that acts as a divider with the dining area. Comète will also have two 11m tenders. The Biela Cruiser, left, was designed to whisk guests and a plethora of fantastic water toys to the beach and beyond
immediately. He also focused on enhancing the al fresco living
dining space, lounge and Jacuzzi section on the latter.
areas to allow guests connect with the sea as much as possible.
Both of the tenders are 11-metres and were designed not merely
Nature is all around thanks to very creative flourishes such as zero
to reflect the lines and contours of the mother ship but also her al
gravity pools and tropical gardens.
fresco living ethic. The Halley limousine will whisk guests ashore in
The outside lounge forward on the main deck is a lovely cosy,
complete safety and comfort. It can seat up to eight in the interior
private nook to gently fritter away the time close by the water. A
where there is a bar and a day head but there is also plenty of
gorgeous waterfall tumbling down from upper deck pool separates
space forward on the main deck with the steering position in its
this spacious area from the dining area.
own space aft.
Le Merdy’s other main concern as he designed the concept was to
The Biela Cruiser, on the other hand, was conceived to guarantee
make life aboard as comfortable for passengers as possible. To do
guests as much fun during their stay aboard as possible. It has its
so he slotted in an impressive array of relaxation areas including
own built-in sporting fishing chairs aft and a broad stern platform
a wellness space that offers amazing 180-degree sea views. The
to facilitate water sports. There is even a roomy open-plan area on
forward section of the upper deck and the sun deck are also very
the foredeck for stowing any and all kinds of water toys to bring
much wellbeing-centred with a pool area on the former and a
either out to sea or to the beach.
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