SOLANDGE With enjoyment designed into every inch of her 279 feet, this new Lürssen is both the pinnacle of her owner’s dreams and poised to deliver spectacular charters. text by  marilyn mower   photography by  Jim raycroft

To characterize the yacht Solandge, start with the word “exuberance.” Some yachts are genteel, some cutting edge, some yachts are minimalist, some are Deco, and each with the ambiance that label implies. But with the 279-foot Lürssen Solandge, every inch wants to make sure you are having a good time, every element is about living life to the fullest. And it’s not by accident. Solandge, says Richard Masters, the yacht’s project and operations manager, had a long design incubation. “The owners had another, smaller Lürssen that they had bought on the brokerage market and refitted for their use....

In terms of scale, Solandge is nearly 65 feet longer and three feet wider than her predecessor. In terms of accommodations, she offers one more guest cabin—a full-beam VIP to swoon over. But as her chief engineer says, “in terms of the technology, the nine years make a tremendous difference.” Along with design details and an insistence on the comfort of everyone aboard, sound and vibration engineering were two of the hot buttons. Decibel levels were part of the construction contract although Masters says the yard exceeded the requirement by as much as 20 percent in some places. “It was a matter...

these pages The bridge deck is a resort complex where a sauna, massage room and gym lead aft to the large swimming pool. Both this deck and the sun deck above have an air of Ibiza and Nikki Beach. The vast interior spaces, like the main salon (left page, center) are divided into natural sections; the onyx-clad bar is opposite a lounge, just aft of the dining table and a television viewing area. All custom yachts by definition present an owner’s vision. With a yacht beyond 200 feet LOA, even a bit of tentativeness translates to a great deal of cautious, repetitive conservatism or worse, confusion...

these pages The main salon’s theme derives from Murano glass music pieces and the LED-backlit amethyst quartz walls as one enters from astern (opposite page, far right). Also on the main deck, the VIP suite features gold onyx and mother-of-pearl details and can be divided into two cabins (opposite page, top left). A “tree of life” runs from the tank deck up and contains 1,423 points of light (opposite page, top right). Maxx Ainsworth adds, “We were able to fit in a substantial tender garage, a full dive center and dayhead and a sauna aft with access to the swim platform.” Pushing boundaries is...

Evolution system to Solandge. The yacht is divided at its axis by an atrium lobby dominated by a 50-foot-high lighted sculpture that has come to be known as the tree of life. This ultra-modern column contains 1,423 points of light. Its nexus was a simple request from the owner for something running the entire height of the vessel from the tank deck. Made in California by Wired Custom Lighting, the light sculpture is encircled by a magnificent stainless steel and leather bannister that anchors the floating staircase. Among the details chosen by the owner are the 25-plus wood veneers. He selected...

different color scheme. One is convertible to a guest office/ media center, while at the end of the corridor is a VIP suite that can be converted from a stateroom with attached sitting room into two separate cabins. While each half makes a spacious cabin, together the suite with its large windows, closets and bath would be suitable as the master suite. That is, of course, until you see the master a deck above. On the owners’ deck, the apartment includes a private office, his dressing room and bathroom and her dressing room and bathroom and then the stateroom itself with 180-degree views overlooking...

these pages The master has 180-degree views overlooking the bow and its own mosaic-clad infinity pool (above left). The owners’ deck offers a nautical theme in the salon (opposite page, top and middle), a masculine touch in the office (opposite page, bottom) and a subtle feminine influence in the stateroom, with handmade Italian furniture and hand-painted window mullions depicting the Garden of Eden (top). on a horseshoe-shaped bar with gold mosaic finish, while tucked away on starboard is a romantic bed-size platform piled high with cushions under a twinkling star overhead. With the open sunning...

these pages The sun deck spa pool can be covered with Perspex glass to create a dance floor (opposite page, right). The social area also incorporates an outdoor cinema and DJ equipment. Solandge’s deck spaces alternate seamlessly between fun and practicality for the crew. both levels of the engine room and it clearly increases efficiency and eliminates traffic jams. Engineers have a dedicated workshop separate from their control room. There’s a workshop in the dive center and an office for the chef and chief stewardess next to the crew mess and opposite the custom galley, which was designed by...

party ready: Divided into three areas, the sun deck has a DJ station forward, a dance floor, a gold mosaic bar and lounge area aft. Total Control: The wing stations have drop-down control screens that allow the captain to pull up any info from the bridge. Spa deck: A full-service spa deck includes a hamam, therapy bath, sauna, massage room and beauty salon, leading to the large pool aft. Heli-capable: Forward of the owner’s stateroom, a Sing a song: Behind a painting, a concealed TV is one of several on board rigged with a state-of-the-art Karaoke system. service: With the galley on the lower...