When Alloy Yachts launched Red Dragon II in December, her owners, Guy and Myriam Ullens, a Belgian couple known for their collection of contemporary Chinese art (one of the largest private collections in the world, in fact), were so delighted they likened the 171-foot flybridge sloop to a piece a curator would be proud to possess.
When you get a close-up look at her, you’ll probably agree. The gray hull and snow-white superstructure highlight her contemporary lines, and bold-red Chinese characters spelling out “Red Dragon” set into the covestripe practically pop from the hull. There’s no clutter on deck and no clashing tones to interrupt the flow–not even teak caprails. The absence of these may alarm purists among you, and as much as I might typically agree, I believe that it was the right approach for all of the design elements to come together here. (It’s also a huge maintenance-saver; the captain says that maintaining external varnish can easily eat up six weeks each year.)
Inside the watchwords are calm and cool. If you’ve seen photos of the previous Red Dragon, a 140-foot sloop, you’ll recall mahogany paneling as a major feature; the Ullenses bought her from her original owner and, despite enjoying the experience, felt the look was too dark. Red Dragon II represents quite a departure, with pale tones on every surface. As Guy Ullens explains, “We wanted something more contemporary and brighter. Mimi was looking for the right color, and we were walking on a beach one day in Antigua when we found a large piece of driftwood. She took one look at it and said, “‘That is the color we want for Red Dragon.'” The couple even shipped pieces of the wood to their interior designer, Wilmotte & Associates (which, in an interesting side note, had never collaborated on a yacht before).
The results are what you’ll see in this slide show, featuring exteriors photographed by Ivor Wilkins and interiors by Martin Fine. As for Red Dragon II herself, she’s now in the hands of the Ullenses, who plan to spend about three months onboard over the course of the year.
May they make the world her canvas.
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