Peeks Onboard the Yacht Project Thunderball

With the launch coming up next year, CRN is providing more details and closer looks at one of its largest builds. These peeks onboard the yacht Project Thunderball are the best looks yet at a superyacht with some pretty specialized priorities.

A 230-footer (70-meter) to support diving, sailing, and fishing, the yacht is now in her last stages of construction. The owner enlisted the designers from Vripack for her profile as well as contributions to naval architecture and general arrangement. Though these photos are limited in scope, you do get a sense of how strong, linear details lend character. Scaffolding surrounding her prevents fuller looks at larger shapes. However, initial renderings from CRN when the shipyard announced the contract in 2023 reveal a bow with sailing-yacht-like flair.

Yachts with similar dimensions to Project Thunderball—which further has a 36-foot (11-meter) beam—tend to belong to experienced buyers. Not surprisingly, this owner has purchased a number of boats and yachts over the years. However, Project Thunderball is the largest so far. The envisions spending most of his time in the Med and venturing back and forth between Florida and the Bahamas. Especially for the latter, the megayacht will carry pretty special tenders, including a sailboat.

Although specifics on how the sailboat and other tenders will launch still remain confidential, there are extra details about the design amid the five decks. Firstly, the owner wanted a united look inside and outside. In fact, shapes that guests will first spy out on deck reappear in various rooms. So, too, is there a consistency of sizes and dimensions when it comes to these elements. The sketches below are the first anyone outside of the owner’s team and build and design teams has seen what will eventually appear onboard the yacht Project Thunderball. They’re from Nauta Design, which is handling the interiors.

As for those interiors, every area is a sort of mini experience, with its own personality. Yet, some of the shapes and soft goods, whether they be stone, leather, wood, or metal, are complementary from room to room. This fulfills the goal of a unified design while still allowing textures and tones, for instance, to differentiate a guest stateroom from a lounge.

Importantly, lighting plays a role in the experience onboard the yacht Project Thunderball. Here as well, Nauta Design devised custom solutions—some concealed, others part of the décor. Lighting doesn’t just illuminate a room. Instead, it highlights artwork and even furnishings. Furthermore, it helps create moods.