Who says you have to go to the South of France or South Florida to see superyachts? Dubois Naval Architects and Fitzroy Yachts showcased two sloops, Artemis and Zefira, in New York City this week.
Dubois and Fitzroy Yachts have collaborated on seven megayacht projects over the years. Several have been at yacht shows, but the two-day event in New York (with The Superyacht Owner) was an opportunity to engage with clients and potential clients in a more personalized way. They did so at an evening reception in the New York Yacht Club’s famed Model Room, followed the next afternoon by open houses aboard Artemis and Zefira at North Cove Marina.
Launched as Salperton in 2007, Artemis measures 148 feet (45 meters). She’s a low-profile megayacht meant for world cruising, with a warm, contemporary interior design by Adam Lay Studio. Note “warm”: rich wood soles, with cream carpeted inserts in some rooms; leather pulls on drawers and cabinets; and furnishings that invite you to sit and linger a while make Artemis arguably more appealing than other modern-themed megayachts. Her big, open-layout design also helps, with just steps separating a TV area from an upper-level seating area and bar. So, too, do large skylights and side windows. For flexibility while the owners are aboard or while Artemis is on charter, the tables in the seating area can be fitted with one large tabletop, for dining.
Artemis’ four staterooms offer further flexibility. One cabin has a double and a twin, plus a pullman, ideal for parent-kid or nanny-kid combos. Yet another stateroom, with a twin and a pullman, can convert to a gym, without the crew needing to haul furnishings around. They just lift a sole hatch next to the twin bed to reveal a folding treadmill. Another hidden feature: The nightstand can rise up to become a full-size locker, for extra clothing. As for the pullman, it’s opposite the twin, not above it, and a crewmember actually had to point it out to me. When it’s folded up, you’d be none the wiser it even exists.
Zefira, meanwhile, is a fast-cruising sloop, with a hull speed of 18 to 19 knots. Built in 2010, Zefira has entered a handful of regattas in the Caribbean and the Med, besides entertaining her owners on private cruises as far away as Fiji. The 164-footer (50-meter) has a highly chic and sophisticated Rémi Tessier Design interior, with abundant white leather and bleached woods. It’s clear that Zefira’s owners have an artistic inclination, as there are plentiful fine details like silver threads in fabrics and crystal tabletops embedded with sparkling elements. Somewhat similar to Artemis, she has a lower TV lounge just a step or two down from the rest of the main deck. However, the big difference is that Zefira has a full formal pilothouse between the saloon/dining area and the TV area. A fixed glass bulkhead to port and a sliding glass bulkhead adjacent to it can provide captain and guests alike privacy when needed without making Zefira’s spaces feel boxed in.
Also keeping Zefira from being boxed in: sliding windows to each side aft, flanking her shaded alfresco seating area.
To receive more information directly from Dubois or Fitzroy Yachts, please fill out our contact form. To see more photos of Artemis and Zefira in New York, visit the Megayacht News Facebook page.
Leave a Reply