One of the world’s most famous super-size superyachts is getting a major makeover at Icon Yachts in The Netherlands. She’s Legend, whose rough-and-tumble outside belies genteel luxuries inside.
Legend is arguably better known under her previous name, Giant. The 241-foot (73.5-meter) megayacht started life as a ice-breaking salvage tug for Russia in 1973. A gentleman known for yacht conversions acquired her in the 1990s. She relaunched as a charter yacht in 2003 at a shipyard in Mexico. Dark-stained woods inside created a gentleman’s club atmosphere. Her toys included two 40-foot sportfishing boats (painted red to match her hull) and a Jeep. The yacht chartered for some time, but suddenly withdrew from the market a few years ago. During that period, she seemed to keep a low profile.
That is, until a new owner acquired her last December. The owner of Legend has grand plans in store. The refit checklist includes lengthening her stern by 11’8” (3.6 meters), to accommodate a pool and a swim platform. Legend will have a garage for a personal submarine, too, but not aft. Instead, it will be beneath the foredeck. A number of systems upgrades are on order as well, as is the helipad. Inside, accommodations for 30 guests are in the making. In Legend’s previous life as a charter yacht, she accommodated 24 guests. No specifics on common areas are known at this point. Though, it’s easy to imagine that Legend will, like Giant, have a few saloons and perhaps even a theater.
Icon Yachts is collaborating with Diana Yacht Design, which is finalizing engineering details, for the refit. The shipyard has not revealed the completion timeline. However, when Legend does relaunch, she will retain her Class 1 icebreaker status. She’ll further meet Lloyds and SOLAS requirements. Legend will then embark on charters where few other yachts head: Greenland, the North Pole, and Antarctica.
Also worth noting, Verkerk Yachting Projects is overseeing the refit of Legend. This is the same team that built Sherakhan, a 26-passenger charter yacht, in 2004. Perhaps not coincidentally, Sherakhan is also at Icon Yachts right now, for some minor work.
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