Hitting top speeds approaching 16 knots, the new Excellence embarked on her first set of sea trials today in Germany. In the process, she gave the yachting community better looks at her dramatic and decidedly uncharacteristic styling.
This new Excellence is reportedly the sixth same-named megayacht for her owner. We say “reportedly” because the client’s identity remains confidential. However, given the yacht’s name, widespread belief is the owner is Herb Chambers. The businessman behind the largest auto dealership in New England has actually owned many more than five previous megayachts. However, the ones bearing “Excellence” have often included Roman numerals to distinguish them from one another. In fact, his prior yacht, Excellence V, saw delivery from Abeking & Rasmussen, the current yacht’s builder, in 2011. Excellence V sold several weeks ago and now charters as Arience.
The new Excellence first appeared at Abeking & Rasmussen just a few weeks ago. LOA is believed to be 262 feet (80 meters), since she employs the same engineering platform as Kibo, a slightly larger Abeking delivery. Interestingly, publicly available AIS data displays her length as 246 feet (75 meters). No matter what her length is, though, there’s no easy way to take your eyes off her “statement glass.” This is how the styling team at Winch Design describes the swath stretching two decks high in her superstructure. In fact, it adds, the largest of these extraordinarily large panels is about 20 feet (6 meters) long.
The video, taken as the new Excellence returned to the shipyard after her trials, affords a better appreciation of those panes. Note, especially, the handful of people walking around on deck. They put the sizes into perspective. They further allow you to see how the light and surroundings play off the glass’ mirrored surfaces.
Abeking & Rasmussen abeking.com
Winch Design winchdesign.com
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