As impressive as super-size superyachts are, intimacy can sometimes be lost. So, too, can the sensation of being amid the spectacle of Mother Nature. Solis skillfully avoids both of these problems—this, ironically enough, in spite of being the biggest megayacht to date from Mulder Shipyard. Solis shows how important harmony with each other and with the natural world is to one particular cruising family.
At about 112 feet (34 meters), the fully custom Solis is an anomaly, a size almost entirely comprised of semi-custom craft. The owners wanted something human scaled, so to speak, designed completely around the way they like to live. They found kindred spirits at the family-run Mulder Shipyard. The Dutch yard focuses on series-built and custom yachts to 148 feet (45 meters). It moved into a new facility in 2013 to extend its size range, in fact, while remaining personal in scope. Mulder also has nearly all disciplines in house. These helped convince the owners that Solis, and they, would be in the right hands.
From the lines of her profile right through each interior space, Solis reflects this family’s ethos. Her styling, by Claydon Reeves (with naval architecture by Van Oossanan Naval Architects), is a contemporary take on the traditional raised pilothouse. Subtle nods to other traditional elements, like the plumb bow, mix with refreshingly modern features. The nearly full-beam set of transom stairs is one good example. (Solis’ beam is 26 feet, or 8 meters.) Yet another is the curving wall of glass hugging the main aft deck (better seen in the photo gallery below). The glass is particularly nice, eliminating a typical barrier between guests and the sea.
That elimination of barriers continues elsewhere aboard Solis. It’s quite important to these owners to feel connected to the natural environment. Sliding side doors and a fold-down balcony are key features in amplifying that connection. Witness, too, the hues of blue and aqua that they and Claydon Reeves selected for interior furnishings, plus the warmth of the oak paneling. There’s even a whimsical interpretation of the connection in the guest foyer below decks, in the form of swimming fish (see photo at top).
Oftentimes people who deeply appreciate nature are more in tune with their own wellness. This is certainly the case with the Solis family. They’re passionate about yoga and remaining fit. They requested that Mulder and Claydon Reeves create room to do both on the hardtop-shaded sundeck. The barstools just visible forward can lower to make room for stretching and poses. The teak-laid sole near here also conceals a treadmill.
Solis spent the past several months cruising around Europe. Warm-weather winter destinations are in the owners’ sights, too. No matter the location, something tells us they’ll be at home, with each other, blissfully so.
Here’s more of Solis.
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