The Feadship fleet welcomed the 57.60 m custom mega yacht Larisa. This luxury yacht was built for an owner with experience with the aim to upgrade to the world's leading luxury yacht brand. The Larisa's interior was left in the hands of Bannenberg & Rowell Design.
Larisa's exterior is classic and contemporary, and has a wide range of modern features. A straight knuckle, which runs all the way around the mega yacht from the stern to the bow, supports the strong curvaceous signature lines of the design. Other features worth mentioning include the liberal deployment of stainless steel railings and the sun deck with its grey functional design. The railings come into their own on the forward part of the yacht and descend into the top plate echoing the classic features of the old Feadships.
Feadship's past experiences in interior design have influenced Larisa's interior, but the designers have managed to set new standards for this impressive superyacht. Bannenberg & Rowell ventured on a three-year design adventure that took them to explore design lines from Italy, Greece, the Byzantine Empire and the Riviera, to blend them smoothly within the interior. As it is Feadship's custom, the layout of the interior is customized to match the way any owner enjoys his time on board. For instance, the bridge deck aft features a fabulous circular dining area. Guests can enjoy an outdoor meal thanks to the round doors to the aft deck, which slide all the way open.
The remarkable low bulwarks and the use of glass in the side of the staircases to starboard and port accentuate the feeling of "openness". Another of mega yacht Larisa's highlight is a novelty for Feadship. The assistance of crew via pushbutton controlled doors is not necessary to access the inboard balcony in the owners' lounge on the main deck.
Feadship director Henk de Vries complimented at the launch ceremony the outstanding cooperation between the owner's team, Bannenberg & Rowell Design and the captain. "The designers did an incredible job in creating detail and intricacy, creating an interesting and detailed interior." De Vries also informed that superyacht Larisa's contract had been the first new order signed after the start of the financial crisis. "A Feadship is not just a luxury product - it also has to add up financially. The smart and efficient negotiating skills of Will Christie at Y.CO played an important role in bringing this project to fruition at a crucial time for the industry."
James Verity, Larisa's captain, shared with the watching crowd how much fun the entire project had been. "It has long been an ambition of mine to be involved with a build at Feadship. Over the past three years I have seen that the real Feadship magic occurs on the shop floor – the quality of workmanship, the attention to detail and the pride that goes into the work here is unmatched, and this is why Feadship is at the very top of modern yacht building today."
Just before the highly-awaited champagne toast, the owner also spoke a few words. "It's now some 400 years since Peter the Great came from Russia to the Netherlands to learn yacht building and we have been trying to perfect the art ever since. But we still can't beat Feadship, which is why I had my boat built here. As someone who has been involved in engineering various construction projects, I understand how difficult it is to create something as magnificent as Larisa on time and within budget. Everyone at Feadship has done a fantastic job."
Technical specifications
Builder: Feadship
Type: Twin screw motoryacht, steel hull and aluminium superstructure
Length overall: 57.60m 189'
Beam overall: 10.55m 34'4"
Draft (loaded): 3.25m 10'8"
Fuel capacity: 100,000 l 26,417 US Gallons
Fresh water capacity: 25,000 l 6,604 US Gallons
Design
Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
Exterior styling: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
Interior design: Bannenberg & Rowell Design
Propulsion
Main engines: 2x MTU 12V4000M53R – 1140 kW / 1529 bhp
Generators: 2x Caterpillar C9 – 200kW / 1500 rpm
Stabilizers: Quantum zero-speed stabilizers
Max. speed: 15.5 knots
Range: Transatlantic
Accommodation
Owner: Owners' stateroom with separate bathroom and dressing room
Guests: Four guests in two guest staterooms; and two guests in one VIP Stateroom
Crew: Twelve crew in six cabins, captain's cabin, laundry and storage rooms on lower deck
Water sports: 2 x 7m tenders; scuba gear
