yachtstyle2020

Readers of the annual Top 100 Superyachts of Asia-Pacific will recall that, a decade ago,  the first Madsummer, a 78.5m Lurssen designed by Espen Øino , was part of a complex swap in which a Mexican billionaire acquired the vessel and renamed her TV. She then cruised extensively in the Pacific and visited many Asian ports.

Madsummer was delivered in 2019; Photos: Jeff Brown & Giorgio Boroni

The original American owner acquired two smaller superyachts and a Sunseeker in the interim, calling them all Madsummer, and now owns the 95m Lurssen Madsummer. Convention precludes naming the dashing owner, but he is widely identified online, and is closely associated with Miami Beach’s high-profile Fontainebleau Hotel.

The stunning new vessel, says Lurssen, “is a bold, joyous expression of her owner’s love of yachting. From her beautiful sweeping exterior curves penned by Eidsgaard Design to her colourful and personality-filled interior by Laura Sessa, Madsummer is a home from home for an owner who isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd.

“This superyacht is a first collaborative effort for Eidsgaard Design and Lürssen, and proved a very successful partnership, with the yacht being delivered ahead of schedule.

“On the inside, however, it was to be a meeting of old friends, with Laura Sessa and the owner having worked together on projects spanning the last 15 years.”

Peter Lurssen comments: “The owner’s brief was demanding. However, we believe our engineering expertise has surpassed his wishes to own a yacht that many years from now will be timeless and yet still ahead of its time.

“Our thanks go, of course, to good design and communications with the designers of the exterior, Harrison Eidsgaard, and Laura Sessa respectively for the interior as well as to Moran Yacht & Ship and the owner’s captain who supervised the build on behalf of the owner.”

The interior of Madsummer is suffused with bright reds, whites and, most extensively, blues. The brief from the owner was to incorporate colours and textures in a way that was both stylish and contemporary but also homely and personal. Throughout the yacht, moments of fun and levity complement the décor, allowing the spaces to be beautiful without pretention.

The main salon, says a Lurssen spokeswoman, is a prime example of this patriotic tribute to colour, with a soft royal blue silk carpet. A captivating raised geometric pattern on the walls, made from dark Mutenye wood, cleverly disguises the handles to the storage spaces behind.

To port, a bespoke dining table for 14 catches the eye: layers of coloured lacquer are concealed beneath a white layer which is scored off in circular patterns to reveal the colours beneath, forming a unique and contemporary talking piece.

On the wall, a piece of art depicting an important date to the owner reflects the personal element of the brief. Pale Oregon pine elements and ceilings with straw details lighten the space. To starboard, a comfortable sofa completes the room. A stylish lift carries guests across four floors from the main deck to the sundeck, while a staircase with white leather steps surrounded by a dark Mutenye boarder encircles the lift.

The main deck forward is home to six of the yacht’s 10 cabins. The cabins are split between four identical doubles aft and two twins forward, and each have their own colour scheme. The doubles are red, turquoise, beige and royal blue, while the twins are green and navy blue.

The cabins are awash with their chosen colour, with lacquered sycamore wardrobe doors, silk carpets, custom lampshades, bed frames and even the loo seats all bold and bright. The colours are carried through to the bathrooms as well, with stunning hand-dyed mother of pearl surrounds on the mirrors and bright Calacatta marble throughout.

The upper deck houses three more guest cabins: a double and two matching VIPs. The double cabin may be small in size but it packs a heavyweight punch in style. It boasts a blue and white, nautical-meets-The Hamptons theme, with a beautifully woven wool carpet, dressing room, stunning marble bathroom and enormous windows.

The two VIP cabins are identical except for colour, with one in blue and the other in a warm burnt orange. These two cabins boast a stunning accent wood that has been laminated with bronze. Running along the wall and framing the large windows, the whole shimmering structure becomes a piece of art in itself. The bathrooms boast eye-catching Zebrino marble and bronze Armani marble, complemented by rose gold taps and handles. On the cabin walls, pictures of vintage seaplanes are an homage to a passion of the owner.

Overlooking the bow is the cinema. Deep sofas include stainless
steel trays to hold drinks and snacks as well as charge phones. From a technical perspective, this room also includes a first, with the huge floor to ceiling 2m by 3m windows boasting electrically switchable glass.

A flush-line sliding door on each side leads out onto the foredeck, with a built-in sofa and table on one side and a sunpad on the other, protected from the elements by the height of the bow.

In the upper deck salon, a superb bar in backlit white alabaster with deep blue stripes immediately draws the eye. This is a mature, grownup space, as confirmed by the white Steinway and Sons grand piano in the corner.

On the port side, comfortable sofas surround two custom coffee tables. One of the objectives of the brief was to create central guest spaces that would form the heart of the yacht and be easy to move between.

The upper aft deck is one of these key areas and is home to the informal exterior dining space as well as the large ethanol-driven fire pit. Glass windbreakers slide in to position along the side decks to provide respite from the elements, a key request from the owner. Next to the dining table is a sizeable Teppanyaki bar.

The bridge deck is home to the bridge forward and the master suite aft. Inside the master suite the brief to include colours and textures has been stepped up a gear and the space explodes into a kaleidoscope of warmth and personality.

The wall panelling in white tinted oak finished with a clear blue luminous resin gives the space a stylish, futuristic feel. To port and starboard are two corridors of his-and-hers dressing rooms with spy mirror wardrobe doors. At the end of the central hallway to the cabin a large work of art in bright red makes an impressive impact.

On the port side, her bathroom is a feminine, clean space, with a striking white quartzite light-reflecting floor and geometric inlay work in stainless steel. Among the aesthetic details there are practical considerations too, such as a refrigerator for beauty creams.

To starboard is his bathroom, where a dark Travertine marble gives the space a masculine energy, with bold details in brushed painted teak. A huge shower is reminiscent of that of an opulent spa.

The cabin itself is a homely, patriotic space, with lots of blues accented with reds and whites. A blue silk carpet shimmers in the light and provides a warm sweep of colour. The headboard is a custom design in velour and embroidery with colourful details.

The master cabin embodies the joyful personality that shines throughout the whole yacht and confirms Madsummer as a family space that has been lovingly and passionately curated by everyone involved.

In a breakaway from the owner’s previous yachts, it was decided to have the master suite in this space to maximise the views and enjoy the luxury of a private aft terrace.

Here there are a number of distinct spaces to relax in, including a dining table, two sunbeds, sofas and coffee tables and even a hanging egg chair. As on the deck below, sliding glass panels, reflecting the distinguished curves of the superstructure, protect the deck and its occupants from the elements.

Forward on this deck is the state-of-the-art bridge. Growing up on the water and at one stage racing offshore powerboats, the owner
 is very knowledgeable about the workings of yachts and enjoys spending as much time as possible in the bridge. To this end, there is a Hermes-style raised sofa and table for the owner to sit at and enjoy underway, a favourite pastime of his. Aft of the bridge is a sizeable cabin for his longstanding captain.

The sundeck is home to a gym which includes a kinesis machine and hidden television screens. The sundeck aft is a large exterior space used to store a Husky seaplane. When at anchor, the seaplane is lowered into the water and the whole deck becomes a dance floor and party space. To highlight this, a bar in backlit white ICE-glass sits poised. Furthest forward on this deck is a cosy observation area with sun pads, tables and a Jacuzzi under the mast.

On the main deck aft is the impressive 9m pool and Jacuzzi, where the teak deck curls up to the sides of the pool, creating a visually striking, flush surface that reflects the curves evident in the yacht’s exterior lines.

Alongside are inbuilt sunpads and sofas that slide on a rail mechanism to cover the technical areas when they are not in use. Forward are two large formal dining tables. Round sofas and coffee tables provide separation between the spaces, as does a bar with custom bar stools.

Large sliding glass doors to the salon allow for an easy flow between the interior and exterior and details such a scatter cushions in red, white and blue and subtle blue piping on the bar stools enhance the design relationship between the inside and the outside.

On the lower deck is the yacht’s spa and wellness retreat. A large foldout balcony on the starboard side also functions as the reception space for guests arriving by tender.

The spa itself is a calming, quiet space, with intricate mosaic tiles and lacquered wood details. A sliding door reveals a well-stocked bar next to a circular day bed. A huge circular ice shower leads to a beauty and hair salon, a massage room and a Hammam and sun shower. There is also a day head here, which, in keeping with the rest of the yacht, proudly sports a royal blue loo seat.

On the technical side, Madsummer is also world class. In a superyacht first, she boasts a peak levelling system thanks to a special battery pack. This 125kW, lithium-ion battery pack ensures the electrical generators can always run on the best percentage, burning less fuel and requiring less maintenance by storing the excess energy produced. It then uses this to fuel the system and level the peaks if the system requires more energy, removing the need to start another generator.

There are two tender garages on Madsummer, one forward and one aft. These house an 11m Maori Yacht limo tender, a Ski Nautique, a 10m rib and a rescue tender. There are also five PWCs, a range of skis and boards and a large selection of dive equipment.

The foredeck is certified for helicopter operations and bunkering, and a helicopter can also be stowed on the aft sundeck. Thanks to her two powerful MTU 16V4000M63 IMO-compliant diesel engines, Madsummer has a range of up to 6,000nm at 12 knots and a top speed of 17 knots. A round-the-world trip and a Pacific cruise are on the agenda, with the galley and cold storage being designed with long distances in mind.

A complement of 29 crew are on hand, with spa professionals and dive masters among them to ensure guests are able to enjoy every aspect of this exciting yacht.

www.lurssen.com

• The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 52 (click image below)
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