used, says Jenkins, and he also points out the dancing pole. “After a few
drinks, if you’ve got the party wigs and silly hats on, it’s just for a bit of fun...”
But the real hotspot for dancing on board is the sky lounge. This space is
the one that perhaps best shows off the holistic indoor/outdoor ethos that
Gatto and Laupman pulled off with such aplomb. “We took out everything,
we erased the drawings and made an extension of the outside deck – inside,”
says Gatto. The only built-in furniture is a small bar, and everything else is
loose Paola Lenti outdoor pieces that can be used inside or on the aft deck.
With full height windows, it’s a lovely place to sit and watch the world roll by,
and the glass doors open completely so that the lines between inside and
outside are blurred. Or close the doors, remove all the furniture and add a
mirror ball and smoke machine to create an epic party room.
More fun can be found on Home’s foredeck, in a telescopic seat that rises
from the bow, allowing uninterrupted 360 degree views. It can even be used
under way if the conditions are right. It’s the ideal spot to watch dolphins
riding the bow wave, especially in the clear water of the Bahamas.
It can’t be forgotten that Home rides on Van Oossanen’s Fast Displacement
Hull Form. This is the third optimization of the design, and one that the naval
architect says makes her 48 per cent more efficient than other 160ft yachts,
and with a superior level of comfort. Upping the ante on efficiency is the use
of hybrid propulsion. Home’s captain enjoys the variety afforded by the four
engine modes: basic diesel cruising, ideal for quicker passages; quiet mode
with electric motors; boost mode, which combines diesel and electric for an
added surge of power; and the fourth, which is Jenkins’ favorite: eco mode.
On our sea trial from Monaco to Antibes, we put Home’s various engine
modes to the test. On the mains, the captain takes her to 17.2 knots. Boost
mode kicks things up a notch, just a bit faster to 17.7. But it’s her silence that
speaks volumes. We cruise at 9.3 knots on electric power, the air con louder
than the engines. Wandering into the master cabin, the quiet is disarming as
we cut through the water, gazing out the massive windows and watching the
waves move by in soundless bliss. It’s easy to see how the owner will make
this yacht his sanctuary, truly his home at sea.BPURE AND SIMPLE
The light-filled
master (right) is
even more of a
haven when the
yacht is in eco mode
BRIGHT WHITE
A skillful mix of
14 different textures
brings the simple
color scheme to life