The last Saturday in March saw Feadship launch two superyachts, namely Air and the then-still-confidential hull #802. Air launched at Royal De Vries, while Hull #802 slipped into the water at Royal Van Lent. The owner of Hull #802 has finally permitted release of the name and some images.
Christened Tango, the yacht measures 77.7 meters (255 feet), and she marks a few significant developments. First, as the photos here show, her styling and paint job comprise anything but the traditional Feadship look. The styling developed through a collaboration between De Voogt Naval Architects and Eidsgaard Design, the latter being the same firm behind the sailing yacht Saudade and the refit of the motoryacht Queen K. Tango has a decidedly modern appeal, with the decks of her aluminum superstructure seemingly floating on a sea of nearly full-height glass. The bold looks are accentuated through a combination of metallic grey swaths and blue paint on the superstructure, striking a nice contrast with a white hull (hard to decipher in these images, but truly a dramatic contrast).
A second noteworthy achievement is Tango’s speed: 21 knots. Imagine something of her magnitude cruising past you at that clip. Feadship performed extensive tank tests and computational fluid dynamics to ensure the contract speed would be met. (If you’re not familiar with computational fluid dynamics, or CFD, it’s a computer-based method of simulating how a structure interacts with liquids. Thanks to technological advances, more and more shipyards and design studios are using this method instead of model testing.) After the tests, Feadship determined quadruple MTU 16V4000 M70 diesels would deliver the results required.
Eidsgaard Design was also responsible for the yacht’s interior design. The owners have a deck to themselves, complete with aft alfresco area. If they so wish, they can invite guests (up to 12) to enjoy the skylounge on the same level, as well as shaded outdoor dining. As for those guests, all of their staterooms are on the main deck. It’s an unexpected twist, but one that ensures excellent views whether underway or at anchor. It also ensures more voluminous accommodations, considering the megayacht’s 12.2-meter (40-foot) beam. There’s also an outdoor cinema, plus a spa and a contra-flow swimming pool on the bridge deck.
Since a proper yacht deserves proper toys, Eidsgaard Design styled one of Tango’s two tenders, a 30-footer buit by EYOS Tenders. The looks are akin to those of the mothership, thanks to the two-tone paint job. Even the 22-footer, designed and built by Compass Tenders, matches Tango, thanks to a silver metallic paint job.
Jaap van Goor (Vaarwijzer)
Currently (20 July 2011) she is lying in Barcelona, next to the Mare Magnum Center. Looks very ready, but today we saw delivery of some new items in big boxes. Probably some artwork.
Warwick Conlin
I just piloted the yacht through the northern part of the Australian Great Barrier Reef. On her way east into the SW Pacific. Very nice ship and a great crew, I wish them all well.