The Yacht Ximena Is About Sun, Sand, & Self-Care: Megayacht News Onboard

Although Alia Yachts has been around for nearly 20 years, it’s only recently begun making inroads in the United States. The yacht Ximena, conceived for the quintessential Miami lifestyle, is a good example of how it’s differentiating itself in the world’s largest market.

Yachting-industry estimates reveal that about 8,000 superyachts are currently afloat. Many of those projects coincidentally have launched since Alia Yachts opened its doors in Turkey. Within this same time period, semi-custom construction has taken widespread hold. At 141 feet (43 meters) LOA, the yacht Ximena is entirely custom, a notable departure. Alia Yachts’ full focus is on custom builds, too. Additionally notable, its shipyard includes a dedicated interior-fabrication department, about 100 craftspeople strong.

Considering Americans comprise the majority of yacht buyers, it may come as no surprise that the owner is American. While he and his wife (whose name is Ximena, naturally) had a few priorities, paramount among them were head-turning style, South Florida to Bahamas cruising, and enjoying a floating retreat.

Style and speed often go hand in hand. The profile of their superyacht is from Omega Architects, which gave her sharp, sculpted lines. The way her shapes flow forward lend the impression she’s still moving even while docked. This suits her actual performance, since the top speed approaches 23 knots. Van Oossanen Naval Architects’ fast-displacement hull form lends itself well to the coveted crossings to The Bahamas. Island hopping for a day or two or weeks at a time are each options at the most-efficient speed of 12 knots and the cruising speed of 20 knots, combined with a nearly seven-foot (2.1-meter) draft.

Both the Miami and the yachting lifestyles revolve around enjoying the outdoors. Gökhan Çelik, Alia Yachts‘ president, says the yard’s clients love foredeck lounges. Buyers seeking ideas for their next project might appreciate the casually comfortable, multi-functional lounge aboard Ximena. At the same elevation as the raised pilothouse, it’s an ample and private observation and coversation area, complementing a seating, dining, and cocktail area on the hardtop-shaded upper deck. Simultaneously, the foredeck lounge is a sunning space, thanks to the inclusion of a sunpad.

With design by the Yodezeen studio, the interiors of the yacht Ximena are just as welcoming, with an extra air of chicness. The studio says the husband and wife wanted a balance between comfort and elegance, and it shows, starting with the backlit stone bar greeting guests as they step in from the aft deck. Subtle nods to the yachting lifestyle flow throughout, particularly in the wood slats overhead. They mimic the teak decking without being exactly the same. Clever repetition of the design occurs in the staterooms, through the use of leather-wrapped slats as ceiling details and headboards.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the onboard experience is about self-care. It gets a big boost from an ample gym—not where you’d expect to find it, however. It’s just beyond sliding glass doors spanning the transom. Furthermore, it’s not a corner of a larger beach club. It is the beach club.

Consider that nearly 700 yachts are in the 131- to 148-foot (40- to 45-meter) range, close in length to Ximena. Equally noteworthy, most megayachts are 98 to 131 feet (30 to 40 meters). Clearly, Alia Yachts and the owner of Ximena believe there’s merit in pursuing far different paths.

Alia Yachts aliayachts.com

Omega Architects omega-architects.com

Van Oossanen Naval Architects oossanen.nl

Yodeezen yodezeen.com