Danish Yachts came to most yacht buyers’ attention with the delivery of Moon Goddess in 2006. In the same spirit of that lightweight, super-fast superyacht, Danish Yachts introduced the AeroCruiser 38 II series, of which the 125-foot (38-meter) Shooting Star is the first launch.
It’s certainly unusual for a Scandinavian shipyard to offer a yacht that’s much more Mediterranean in styling. But then again, Danish Yachts is decidedly different. Take its construction material of choice: carbon fiber. Not many megayacht yards are using this. Among the ones that do, it’s employed mostly for small parts like hardtops or, in the sailing world, for masts. By contrast, Shooting Star’s entire hull and superstructure are constructed of carbon fiber.
That keeps weight down, a key element of making a fast yacht. The other key to speed is hull design. Here’s where Danish Yachts taps its military expertise, specifically in building patrol boats. Shooting Star’s hull design is based on one used for those vessels, with modifications by Espen Øino. Not coincidentally, the famed naval architect collaborated with Danish Yachts on Moon Goddess. Tank tests confirmed top speeds for Shooting Star around 48 knots. Danish Yachts also says Shooting Star, powered by twin 4,750-hp MTU 16V4000 M93s coupled to waterjets, can go from full speed to full stop in three boat lengths. And the yard chose waterjets as part of the propulsion package to be a bit more environmentally minded, given its lower fuel consumption compared to other options.
Of course, an open-style yacht typically puts great emphasis on interior design, and Shooting Star does not disappoint. Art-Line Interiors graced her with light-tone maple and an overall stylish Scandinavian flair. There are also great expanses of glass aboard Shooting Star, designed to make this open far more open. Her side windows and several skylights, including ones in the master suite, do the trick quite well. Better yet is the two-tier windshield, which doubles as a skylight atop the atrium-like below-decks foyer, since the helm isn’t flush to it. And even though it’s not glass, the sliding sunroof is perhaps the best open element of all. No mere section of the superstructure, Shooting Star’s entire roof opens.
Here’s more of Shooting Star. Take special note of her wheelhouse, which has the look and feel of a Formula 1 racecar:
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Johan
Thanks for an interesting article, Diane! As for the weight of Shooting Star, the gross tonnage of 297 is not the weight, but the volume. I doubt her displacement is that much, for comparison the 50 m Mystique from Oceanfast was noteworthy for (among other things, not the least outstandingly good looks) her low displacement of some 200 tons.