UPDATE, JULY 10, 2013: Apostrophe was recently delivered to her owner, who plans to cruise Norway for the remainder of the summer. The megayacht will then make her boat-show debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. Read on to learn more about her launch.
Three years after her keel-laying ceremony, Apostrophe emerged from Hakvoort Shipyard this past Saturday and slipped into salt water for the first time.
The 1302” (39.7-meter) megayacht has been known simply as YN 247, her build number, since she was signed. But there doesn’t seem to be anything simple about Apostrophe. First, there was the large hurdle presented by the global economic crisis, something the owner and Klaas Hakvoort, co-director of Hakvoort Shipyard, discussed at the launch. As Klaas Hakvoort explains, the contract for Apostrophe was actually signed five years ago, just before the crisis kicked in. “The usually cooperative banks refused to finance the construction,” he related at the launch. “The owner’s business was also facing challenges, and, together with the brokers Moran Yacht & Ship, whose contribution has been way beyond the norm, we came up with a unique solution.” The situation could have dissuaded the owner, a first-time client of Hakvoort’s and a first-time custom-megayacht buyer, having owned smaller yachts previously. But, thankfully he didn’t. Klaas Hakvoort added an apt analogy, comparing Apostrophe’s completion to this point to her having “successfully battled her first storm.”
Other things that make the megayacht anything but simple are the intricate shapes incorporated into her superstructure and the curved ports designating both the master suite on the main deck and the skylounge one level up. These and other exterior design elements are from Raymond Langton Design, complemented by their suggestions for an Art Deco interior.
Reportedly every idea they presented to the owner was embraced by him with no concern for cost. The 27’2” (8-meter) megayacht’s beam is enhanced inside by rich, deep tones of woods like ebonized walnut and macassar ebony, offset by copious mother-of-pearl inlays. Then there are additional stainless steel, brushed nickel, and leather accents. No one boarding Apostrophe’s main entrance can miss a lavish, custom chandelier created by Crystal Caviar, either. Crystal Caviar was commissioned for several other art glass pieces aboard, too, like curved backlit panels adorned with sea life.
The eight guests who will join the owner on cruises can take comfort knowing that a Russian Orthodox priest was at the launch to bless Apostrophe and all who enjoy her. Apostrophe should cruise at 11 knots and top out just shy of 13 knots under twin Caterpillar power.
For more photos of the launch of Apostrophe at Hakvoort Shipyard, visit the Megayacht News Facebook page.
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