You’ve heard of A, now meet Z.
The unusually named yacht is being built by Marco Yachts, based in Chile. At 85.3 meters (279’9″) LOA and a beam of 14.8 meters (48’6″), Z is the second-largest superyacht under construction in the Americas, a scant few inches shorter than Cakewalk at Derecktor.
If Marco Yachts is a name new to you, you aren’t alone. Even though it’s part of a large group of companies and shipyards with more than 50 years’ experience in tugs, fishing vessels, and support vessels, this megayacht division is only a few years old. The first some people learned of it was early 2007, when it finished refitting the 50-meter (164-foot) Karina, built by Amels. It’s getting additional notice now with this new-build project, being managed by Burgess, which also has her for sale.
The exterior styling by Ken Freivokh Design complements Z’s unusual name. Note the vertical swath of glass in the profile illustration above. Not just for show, it spills light into a five-deck-high atrium, where a glass elevator also resides. Shell doors to each side near the waterline are intended to make tender launching and retrieval easier, just like many yachts do these days–but additional similar hatches will permit guests to board and crew to load provisions and other necessities.
Freivokh is also overseeing the interior design, where more interesting amenities lay. The gym, for example, is said to be far larger than most and opens onto the “beach platform” at the transom. There are also (count ‘em) six saloons, one of which is illustrated here; each has a different design and features, though no further details have been released. The owner gets a deck to himself, while two VIP staterooms, and four double cabins accommodate guests. Three double staff cabins are among the 16 crew staterooms, which sleep a total of 30.
Z, which will be delivered next year, is expected to see a top speed of 17.5 knots and a 6,000-nautical-mile range at her 14-knot cruising speed, thanks to twin 2,486-hp Caterpillars. In the meantime, the yard is also working on a 75-meter (246-foot) expedition megayacht, also managed by Burgess.
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