boatinternational.com• 072019polishedsteelcentercolumnandreflectivesurroundsupporting
floating,backlitwhiteonyxsteps.Onayachtdesignedfor
relaxation,itisoneoftwohigh-glamspotsthatgiveitunique
character,theotherbeingthewinedisplaywallsofbacklitonyx
attheentrancetothesalon.
TimmoElliott,whoservedastheowner’sinteriorproject
managerduringthefit-out,callsthistheshow-stopper.Withthe
salonentrancenarrowedbyairductsandastairwaytotheengine
room,Benaventechosetowrapthespaceinboldlypatterned
andbacklitonyxtodisplaywinebottlesthatfloatoffthewall
courtesyofsomecleverspring-tensionedholders.Considering
thatthedisplayisnotchilled,it’ssafetosaythevintageDom
Pérignonwon’tbestoredonthewall,buttheeffectisentertaining
andwelcoming–justwhatanentranceneeds.Theentryopens
ontoasalonthat,althoughitistheboat’smostformalspace,is
stillshoes-offcomfortablewithchunky,modernfurniture
upholsteredinsoftchenille.
Elliott,whosesuperyachtrésuméincludesthe285ftLürssen
Aceandthe331ftKuschYachtsIDynasty,mademyriad
on-the-spotdecisionsandhelpedfinessetheimpactof
commercialcertificationonBenavente’sdesign.Healso
enhancedtheyacht’sfunctionalityfromacrewperspective,
increasingthenumberofwashingmachinesandclothesdryers
andaddingextraspaceforair-dryingclothes,plusseparating
thelaundryfromthecrewmess.
Lowerdeckaccommodation–fourdoublecabinsandafull-
beamVIP–isrelaxedandcarriesthesamedesignandcolor
schemeasthemaindeck.Thetwinberthscanbetransformed
intodoublesbythecrewinjustafewminutes.Foreaseofservice,
ahiddenpassagelinksthecrewareawiththeguestcorridor.
Thebridgedeck,withitsuppersalonandoutdoordining
area,islikelytobetheprimehang-outspace,andwiththisin
mind,thepantryonthisdeckislargerthanmost.Adumbwaiter
linksittothegalleybelowtofacilitateservice,whilea75in
televisionandalargebacklitonyxwetbarsignal“mancave.”In
keepingwithhispassionforfishing,theownerhadthreelarge
outdoortablesmadefortheboatbyReleaseMarine,apremier
builderoffightingchairs.
Theonlythingmissingfromthemothership’swishlistwas
Maria’spoolandwaterfall.Whileanentirepoolanditsrelated
dumptankcouldnotbeaccommodated,Heesenfoundawayto
locateanunusuallylargespapoolonthesundeckandframedit
withawaterfallfeature.Withanotherwetbarflankingmovable
chairsandsunloungers,thesundeckcanbeturnedintoparty
centraldocksideand,assuch,itisfittedwithanRGBcomputer-
controlledlightsystemthatcandialupanycolorimaginable.Toavoidobstructingtheartistryofthefeaturewallwithitsgleamingsteelbands,thereisnochandelieroverthediningtable,whichalsocontributestotheroom’s
contemporaryandmorecasuallook.Oppositepage,top:Benavente’s“show-stopper”winedisplayand(below)aslattedbatteneffectcreatesastrikingstaircase