Picture playing basketball, badminton, even baseball on the foredeck of a Feadship. All this, plus more, is possible aboard Hampshire II, just launched on Saturday from the Royal Van Lent yard.
In fact, several friends of the owners’ and Feadship craftspeople played soccer (football, for you European readers) there before the 257’7” (78.5-meter) megayacht hit the water. Hampshire II has a teak-laid helipad that doubles as a ball court when the whirlybird isn’t aboard. A net rings the area to keep the action contained, too.
All of this is because Hampshire II was comissioned, by a repeat Feadship owner, to focus on high action. Should someone not consider him- or herself an athelete, though, it’s not a problem. A zipline can be set up from the crow’s nest down to the water. Considering the crow’s nest rises 82 feet (25 meters) high, it should be quite the ride. Less action-packed but no less thrilling is taking in the view while riding up and down the elevator to the crow’s nest.
When they’ve had enough thrills, the owners and 12 others have a split-level interior, designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon, to enjoy. (The design team also styled the yacht.) Hampshire II is beyond beamy, spanning 41’8” (12.7 meters), handled by a crew of 21, with two additional staff housed when needed. Classic themes dominate inside, like an English pub look for the skylounge on the bridge deck. The owners further have balconies at their disposal. Special guests of theirs may be treated to a visit to the wine cellar below decks, complete with underwater viewing port. Also below decks is a private cinema. Of course, there’s additionally a beach club, with driftwood-like adornments. The beach club forms when platforms to each side of Hampshire II’s transom fold down, joining the swim platform. There’s even a skylight in the beach club, surrounded on the deck above by seating.
For more of a thematic décor departure, guests would do well to check out the engine room. Glass walls to each side straight down a passageway here let them take in the Ferrari red, white, and black color scheme. The colors combine with stainless steel and spotlight-lit MTU 16V 4000 M53R diesels. Hampshire II should have a 5,500-nautical-mile range at 12 knots and a top end of 16 knots thanks to those powerplants.
The rendering above gives you a good idea of what Hampshire II will look like on delivery in a few weeks. For now, enjoy the slideshow of scenes from her launch party.
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Ray Parker
She looks incredible!