
One of the more secretive superyacht projects in recent years, the 241-foot (73.61-meter) Pegaso has had her final hand-over. This, following some unfortunate incidents that required further work and extended sea trials that initially started late last summer.
Built by the family-run Freire Shipyard in Spain, Pegaso was initially delivered just prior to the Monaco Yacht Show last September. She was also set to debut there, marking one of the most highly anticipated premieres. Why? First, Pegaso is the largest private vessel built in Spain. Freire Shipyard is also not a yacht builder, focused instead on fishing vessels and a variety of other commercial ships. But, that same experience is what attracted the owner: Pegaso wasn’t commissioned as your typical yacht. In fact, she’s classed as a research vessel. To that end, she has Dynamic Positioning and an ice-class steel hull. She also carries a submarine, housed in a dedicated hangar. She’ll further welcome researchers aboard on some cruises. Jean-Michel Cousteau of the famous Cousteau family was even present at her launch.
With all of this making Pegaso stand out, it was disheartening that, just prior to the Monaco Yacht Show, she encountered problems. Sea trials conducted prior to that were reportedly fine. However, the stern thrusters malfunctioned in September. This in turn made maneuvering the megayacht difficult, and she ended up hitting rocks close to the dock. Thankfully, Pegaso was not at her 14.5-knot cruising speed, but still, damage occurred. Between the repairs and reported delays in receiving new equipment, Freire Shipyard had Pegaso at its Vigo, Spain facility for longer than expected.
The troubles seem to be behind both builder and owner now, as the photo of Pegaso here was taken in Gibraltar over the weekend. A look at her profile also reveals more about why she was so highly anticipated. Compare her to other expedition yachts and vessels, and Pegaso looks much more like a “white boat” than a tough boat. It’s thanks to design work by BMT Nigel Gee and H2 Yacht Design.
Pegaso was listed for sale a few months ago but is no longer on the market. When she was listed, a few additional facts stood out. She’s equipped with a commercially compliant helipad (a true landing area, not just touch and go), and she has an astounding 10,000-nautical-mile range.
Few details are known about her interior, other than that Mark Berryman Design was hired to outfit her six staterooms and accommodations for 27 crew. The owner’s suite is reportedly about 1,292 square feet (120 square meters).
As for the owner, a look at the yacht’s transom gives it away. A horse’s head, with wind-swept mane, graces it. That same design is the logo of Grupo Pegaso, a Mexico-based telecommunications company.
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