Xplorer 80 Yacht From Damen Yachting Is An Adventure Yacht With a Softer Side

The Damen Yachting Xplorer series (previously the SeaXplorer series) is for those who want to head off the beaten path. The Xplorer 80 yacht, a new model, lets you roam autonomously for longer while providing a heightened luxury yachting experience.

Ensuring there’s a family feel to the full line, which includes the Xplorer 60 and Xplorer 105, Damen Yachting tapped Azure Yacht Design for the new 262-foot (80-meter) project’s styling. Notably, though, even with the resemblance to her sisters, the Xplorer 80 is a little less rugged-looking, with softer, more polished lines. During a press event at the Palm Beach International Boat Show yesterday, Damen Yachting explained that initially, the series evolved as a way for clients to cruise polar regions. However, polar trips are essentially just voyages there and voyages back, due to the climate. Additionally, the autonomy from shore built into the series suited an abundance of tropical destinations far less visited than the typical cruising regions.

With the Xplorer 80 yacht, Damen Yachting wanted to give clients an augmented experience of traveling far from home, staying even more autonomous, and doing so amid an ambience of home-like luxury. For styling, it worked once again with Azure Yacht Design, to preserve much of the series DNA. Therefore, you’ll find features like the crow’s nest and the open bow, the latter for fully experiencing every destination. Interiors, meanwhile, are from Harrison Eidsgaard, which wanted to lend the look and feel of a chic Manhattan apartment. The studio also envisioned the upper deck aft as the primary living area, with a lounge and dining area inside, a teppanyaki bar just outside, and the pool just aft of that. Each are slightly terraced, too. Clearly, customers can tailor the interiors to their liking, but Harrison Eidsgaard’s suggestions are in keeping with contemporary tastes.

the Damen Yachting Xplorer 80 yacht beach club/gym

Simultaneously, they bring some new ideas to the table, particularly for explorer megayachts. For instance, the Xplorer series originally featured a helicopter hangar. Still available, it sits to port beneath the certified helipad. However, some clients informed Damen Yachting that they don’t use helicopters, or don’t use them often. So, the team created a few alternative configurations. They’re pre-engineered configurations, too. Customers can have twin tender garages if they want to carry a lot of toys. Or, those who treasure seaside relaxing can have a full-beam beach club. Yet another idea, a beach club that doubles as a yoga studio/gym and has a spa area. And these are just for starters.

Interestingly, the choices don’t stop with the interior configurations. Damen Yachting invited Harrison Eidsgaard to pen slightly different looks for the styling. It did the same with Espen Øino. Further takes on the interior come from Winch Design and Reymond Langton.

the Damen Yachting Xplorer 80 yacht saloon

While all of the design details are attention-getters, the aspect that will grab the most attention is the autonomy. This 2,900-gross-ton megayacht can stay independent from shore for up to 40 days. It’s nearly double the autonomy of the Xplorer 60. It truly changes the way that customers can view traveling to some of the most remote places on earth.

Azure Yacht Design azure-na.com

Damen Yachting damenyachting.com

Harrison Eidsgaard he.design