When’s the last time you saw an observatory—as in, a place with a celestial telescope and opening roof—aboard a megayacht? Never, right? Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though. Diana Yacht Design proves the engineering is indeed possible, with the Beyond yacht concept. The naval-architecture studio proposes her as a 197-footer (60-meter) taking exploration by yacht to new heights, literally.
For traditional cruising exploration, the yacht concept Beyond calls for a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. She should see 4,500 nautical miles at 12 knots under Caterpillar power. In addition, Casper Marelis, who drove the design of Beyond, says styling was just as important. “I wanted to create an explorer yacht which really has the rugged look associated with this type of vessel,” he explains.
Meant for 14 in the owners’ party, Beyond is meant for carrying an unusual assortment of toys. Indeed, the tender garage can hold snowmobiles, plus typical dinghies. Furthermore, the megayacht can carry a sub and more toys for exploring on the bridge deck, aft, along with a helicopter (sitting on a certified helipad, too). Marelis wants to “ensure her owner is able to discover more than just the obvious.”
As much as taking snowmobiles aboard a yacht may pique interest, the observatory is the real show-stopper. The yacht concept calls for a dedicated room on the sundeck (at top), complete with a gyro-stabilized telescope. Because the observatory shares deck space with bimini-shaded alfresco areas, Diana Yacht Design situates the telescope so that there’s no interference. This way, too, guests can delight at seeing stars in the sky as much as they’d normally see starfish in the sea.
Speaking of seeing, the yacht concept Beyond has some other creative touches. These include a glass wall aft in the owners’ lounge, directly connected to the observatory. The 39-foot (12-meter) beam should also handily accommodate a comfortable dive store (not a mere locker). There’s also a wellness center, plus a board room, if the owners want to conduct business meetings in their travels. Ultimately, the configuration is up to a customer to decide.
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