First Peek at the Yacht Project Secret, From Vitruvius Yacht Design & Tankoa Yachts

Imagine a megayacht where half of the overall benefits are alfresco areas and wellness-focused spaces. These are your initial looks at one boasting just that—and more. In fact, these drawings of the yacht Project Secret really only hint at what she’ll have in store come delivery next year.

At 171 feet (52 meters) LOA, the confidentially named yacht is in build at Tankoa Yachts. Tankoa and Vitruvius Yachts unveiled some details in 2022. A couple who thoroughly enjoy yachting, and have for some time, commissioned her. Since Vitruvius Yachts is the brainchild of renowned naval architect Philippe Briand, much of the information focused on performance. The initial details additionally emphasized performance because this marked a first-time collaboration between the shipyard and studio. For example, Vitruvius designed a slender, lightweight aluminum hull, while Tankoa devised the hybrid-propulsion system with Siemens. The design team further worked for more than a year on meeting the owners’ expectations for performance and efficiency.

Unavailable until now, however, were specifics on the yacht Project Secret’s profile and interior. “From our first meeting, we were inspired by our clients’ fresh perspective and their passion for designing a truly personal life on the water,” Briand says. “They challenged us with questions that spurred innovation.” Among the challenges was ensuring amenities of a much larger superyacht complied with the limitations of a sub-500-gross-ton vessel.

yacht Project Secret Vitruvius Yachts design

As mentioned, having so much of the volume devoted to alfresco and wellness areas pushed the team to think differently. It helps explain why guests can access the full-beam gym from the main deck or, unusually, the swim platform, too, for direct access from a tender or the sea. (The gym, by the way, spans the entire beam and includes a sauna.) The swim platform itself becomes an enviable open-air lounge space as well thanks to fold-out sections and a hot tub.

Just a few steps up forward, meanwhile, the owners of the yacht Project Secret can welcome friends and family to sit beneath the shade of the overhanging deck. Cooling breezes circulate while they further cool off with a refreshing drink from the adjacent bar. It’s also an indoor-outdoor lounge, so whether it’s sunny or cloudy, it’s the daytime spot for seeking serenity.

The owners, who have strong interests in art, put an equally high priority on openness and re-imagining spaces inside. With FM Architettura collaborating with the owners on design, the dining area becomes an indoor-outdoor experience at the press of a button. (It’s quicker than requiring the crew to open doors or activate a mechanism, or both.) Similarly, the owners can slide open a simple door themselves in their main-deck suite to enjoy their morning coffee out on a fixed balcony.

With a panoramic lounge on the foredeck and five guest staterooms below, the yacht will launch early next year. “Together, we’ve created a vessel that combines cutting-edge efficiency with a deeply personal and luxurious onboard lifestyle,” Briand says.

FM Architettura fm-arch.it

Tankoa Yachts tankoa.it

Vitruvius Yachts vitruviusyachts.com