teak hatch. “The boss is up, has his juice and coffee and is off for a
swim all independently. When he’s finished, he’s back to his suite
without ever having to go through the saloon,” says Cook.
Atypically for a yacht this size built today, Ngoni has direct
mechanical steering via a quadrant, chain and cable. Royal Huisman
engineered the system, putting considerable ingenuity into
reducing friction at the various turning blocks in the mechanism.
Considering the forces generated by the sails flying from a 72 metre
Rondal mast, the request for direct rather than hydraulic steering
necessitated thorough tank testing of the keel and rudder.
The stainless steel keel foil is shaped for delivering maximum lift to
windward and the flattened torpedo bulb contains all the yacht’s
73 tonnes of lead ballast. “The boat is perfectly balanced with just a
touch of weather helm,” says Cray.
Taking the helm as the boat
cruises in light airs off the cliffs of
Mallorca, I’m happy to confirm this
and, as the last of the season’s sun
turns those cliffs a deep gold, it’s
impossible not to think of Dubois.
At the press conference announcing
the project in Monaco, his ultra-
modern profile sketches induced
gasps from the assembled press. Now
three years later I’m the first journalist
allowed on board. I look aft to admire
the stairs stepping down to the sea,
appreciating how Dubois’ career
came full circle before he died. When
he burst on to the scene in 1986 with
Aquel II, people were amazed at the
yacht’s open stern with steps down to the water.
ButNgoniis not a requiem for Dubois, rather it’s a celebration.
“The best part of the build experience was the people and the
opportunity to utilise 20 years of experience and passion to create
something special,” says Cook. “The energy and expertise everyone
put into creating this very special yacht was like nothing I had
experienced before. My only regret is that Ed did not get to see this
magnificent yacht sailing. I am sure he would have been
exceptionally proud of his final yacht.”BUtilising his experience of how his owner uses the yacht, Iain Cook guided the
development of a sturdy side boarding ladder that ends in a bathing platform that
folds out of the hull. The opening features handy access to a locker for diving gearand matching staircase surround and
coarse fabric on the sofa form a
counterpoint to the glass and white
painted panels. Elsewhere, highly
figured Tabu and Alpi veneers and
simple leathers form the backdrop to
the passing scene. Aft of the saloon
proper is an outdoor lounge with
enormous L-shaped sofas under a
hardtop that extends aft from the roof
line. Sliding side windows can make
this well sheltered in inclement
weather or open to the breeze and it
grants a great view of the dual helms.
A 75in television monitor pops up from
a cockpit counter for an al fresco
cinema next to an outdoor dining table.
From the saloon a circular staircase
descends to the accommodation and guest dayhead. Two guest
cabins benefit from being at the widest point of the yacht, just aft
of the engine room. The rest of the lower deck accommodation is
all owner’s suite. First up is a glass-walled gym with a maple floor.
Opposite is the owner’s study, wrapped in turquoise leather and
panelled with a striped engineered veneer the owner spotted in
Italy. Niches display books and racing memorabilia. It is a chorus
of curves from sofa to desk and pleasantly cocoon-like compared
to the openness of the main deck.
Furthest aft is the master suite, a double-height masterpiece of
relaxation. The wardrobes and dressing area are on the same level
as the gym and guest cabins but then, to gain width, the floor is
raised three steps and this is the location of a stunning pewter free-
form desk, a curved sofa and the master bed. The master bath is next
aft but instead of being full beam, there is a small owner’s pantry to
starboard with facilities for rustling up coffee, tea or snacks. A secret
staircase tucked in here provides access to the aft deck through a
I admire the stairs
stepping down to
the sea, appreciating
how Dubois’ career
came full circle
before he died
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