Grey-stained wood – on the interior of a yacht? Yes – and in combination with mirrored overheads, cream carpeting, and myriad tones and textures.
Before you start envisioning battered teak amid a decor that’s a mishmash of clashing elements, rest assured that it works – and works well. These are among the many pleasant surprises aboard Trident, the latest delivery from Feadship. She’s 65 meters (213 feet) of creativity, from her interior design to the way she adapts to changeable guests’ needs.
Like many owners do, the client looked at other launches to draw inspiration. He was particularly impressed with Blue Moon, another Feadship built at the Royal Van Lent yard in 2005. There are therefore some similarities in exterior style between Trident and Blue Moon. The flared bow is one; both Blue Moon’s and Trident’s are from the drawing boards of De Voogt Naval Architects, responsible for nearly all Feadships. Similar, too, is the way the tenders are stowed above deck, tucked just forward of the bridge-deck lounge.
Donald Starkey, who has collaborated with Feadship on several projects, including (you guessed it) Blue Moon, was chosen by Trident’s owner to create a contemporary look inside. Here’s where the creativity really kicks in. Starkey was given what’s surely every designer’s dream: complete control. Take a look at the bridge-deck lounge (the top photo) here, the room with the above-mentioned grey-stained wood (pine, to be exact) and mirrored overheads. Having been aboard twice, I can attest to how the two really open up the already-large space. I felt as if the ceiling was far higher than it was. And I wasn’t alone: About two dozen other journalists were onboard with me on my first visit, and everyone remarked on the effectiveness of the visual trick. As for the grey stain, it lends surprising warmth and a casual ambiance to the room.
And this is exactly what Starkey wanted. He finds that most yachts have a disconnection between the ambiance in the lounge and the alfresco areas immediately aft. Think about it: Owners and guests are typically clad in shorts and bathing suits outside, yet when they enter the lounge, the traditional dark-tone woods tend to set a formal scene. The result is a room that doesn’t exactly make them feel welcome, Starkey believes. So, he wanted to lighten up the atmosphere, literally and figuratively. The sliding glass doors and full-height windows aft underscore the effect, transforming the lounge into an indoor-outdoor space.
More transformative creativity lies below decks, in the guest staterooms. The day I was aboard, there were four staterooms set up, and in a matter of seconds, there were just two. How is this possible? They’re arranged in pairs, with adjoining walls. Fold-back doors in those walls (see above) turn them into two-room suites: a bedroom with a TV/reading room. Setting up the relaxation zone is as easy as rearranging the twin beds into L-shape lounges. This makes Trident particularly appealing to charter guests, who will be able to start cruising aboard in the Caribbean this winter. (Feadship Charter Division is overseeing bookings.) It’s also what prompted François van Well, president of Feadship of America, to comment, “She adapts to the group rather than the group adapting to the boat.”
Trident adapts to her guests in more ways. The VIP stateroom is steps away from the owner’s suite on the main deck. Most megayachts in this size range feature the VIP either below decks with the rest of the guest staterooms or one deck above the master. The main-deck location makes sense when you realize the owner may cruise with children or other family members, perhaps even a personal assistant. It’s simply more convenient.
Also convenient is the double duty that the owner’s office can serve. Opposite the VIP stateroom, it has one doorway leading from the main hallway and a second door leading from the owner’s bedroom. The first lets anyone, owner’s guests or charter guests, use the office as a library. In this case, the owner can also lock the door leading to his bedroom. For times when he needs time to make calls or do other work, he can lock the hallway door and keep entry contained to his suite.
There’s a lot to like about Trident. Here’s a better look at her.
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