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• Superyachts

ACE Yacht – Splendid $160 M Superyacht

The ACE yacht was launched by Lürssen in 2012.

The 87m(285.4ft) superyacht is currently for sale at $160,000,000 after being used exclusively by the owner.

The unconventional design of the boat has brought great pleasure to guests and crew alike and features many toys and tenders to make the yachting experience memorable.

The boat has a running cost of $10-$15 million per year and is the 32nd largest boat built by Lürssen.

ACE yacht interior

The ACE yacht was closely influenced by the requirements of Yuriy Kosiuk to be a family-orientated yacht.

With his guidance, Winch Design took the unconventional designs of the owner to create an interior that aimed at having a good time with family and making life onboard work better.

To achieve this, the traditional layout of a superyacht was reorganized.

Several changes were made, including placing the owner’s suite facing aft and not upfront, allowing the owner privacy and panoramic views of the ocean.

The crew deck was built on the main deck, with sliding doors on the side deck to give them air, create happy working conditions, and attract the best crew.

The interior includes ten guests in 5 rooms and accommodation for 30 crew. The interior reflects a contemporary grand hotel with a light and fresh feel.

There is a Roman villa-inspired spa on the lower deck, a Russian tearoom, and a nightclub on the upper deck.

The main deck has a gym, and cinema and is large compared to the owner’s deck to allow more space for family fun.

The exterior features unique sweeping arches that appear wave-like on the haunches of the superstructure.

The superstructure is aluminum, and the hull is steel. ACE is a Lürssen construction designed by Winch Design.

The exterior reflects a seamless transition between the interior and exterior. The arches on the ACE yacht are meant to show the “fantastic power of a wave,” reflecting the passion and enthusiasm of the owner. ACE has several toys to aid in the fun of the family and the guests.

Specifications

With a length of 87m(285.4ft), the ACE yacht displaces 2732GT. The boat has a beam of 4.5m(47.6ft) and a draft of 3.75m(12.3ft).

Her 2 MTU engines give her a top speed of 16.5kn and a cruising speed of 14kn. The yacht has a range of 6500nm.

The boat features Quantum XT Zero stabilizers that afford a comfortable experience aboard ACE. She was built to Lloyd’s 100A1 specifications. The boat was built in 2012 and refitted in 2018.

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• Introduction
• The Shipyard
• Craftsmanship
• Refit & services

February 22, 2023

Inside C144s ACE. Conrad Shipyard Presents a History – Making Superyacht.

Any new superyacht project should prioritize allowing owners to embrace unrivaled comfort and ravishing surroundings, while still being able to enjoy privacy and tranquility without compromise. With fittings of the highest quality, this 44.5-meter superb craft sets new standards in every sphere. Thoughtfully designed to deliver superior cruising experience, ACE is every owner’s dream.

The very first pure custom superyacht for an experienced Swiss client, ACE was launched in October 2022 at Conrad shipyard, becoming the largest motor yacht in the company and in Poland’s history. Reflecting a modern, yet timelessly stylish design, she marks the first unit from the C144s line, with more to come in upcoming years. 

A different world ACE reunited the Conrad Shipyard, Reymond Langton and Diana Yacht Design, the same team that had worked on the impressive 40-meter Viatoris , delivered in 2018. The interior design was taken care of by the Milan-based company M2 Atelier, composing a truly bespoke décor with the Italian soul embodied in this creation. The new build is a big step forward in terms of complexity and size (she is 497 gross tons, compared to Viatoris 393 GT) . “The boat is a magnificent combination of harmony, elegance, and sophisticated craftsmanship. This is an entirely different world inside and outside. A piece of art and timeless sculpture, I said to myself with a pride when I saw ACE on the water for the very first time, says Mikołaj Król, Conrad’s Charmain and CEO

The 44.5-meter ACE is characterized by a bold and striking silhouette that reflects a powerful and dynamic stance upon the water. Closer to the yacht carefully considered sweeping lines and fine details emerge, proportionally pleasing from all angles. The purely white hull and superstructure contrast with the glossy black of the deckhouses and hull window band, as well as a distinctive element of the straight bow, resulting in the ACE’s imposing presence. “Our signature undercut “rolling wave” on the superstructure reflects the sky above and the water below, simultaneously casting captivating shadows on the decks as the sun moves across the sky” , Reymond Langton Design Studio describes. The exterior decks blend harmoniously with the interior design, bringing a refreshing, unique approach to voluminous spaces. 

Less is enough Meeting the highest demands of quality, ACE provides the supreme level of luxury with custom-tailored interior by M2 Atelier. “Less is enough” – that is the philosophy dear to the Italian designers which stands behind ACE’s concept. Thanks to the open dialogue established with clients, it was possible to embrace a more fluid, informal concept for their yacht. The true envision of this approach is visible in the main saloon, where openness and transparency meets to create a large, inviting space. 

Almost all the furnishings are designed to give the impression of being suspended above the ground, accentuating the sense of free-flowing continuity and the idea of the “floating home”. Floor-to-ceiling windows add natural light and an airy elegance to the saloon, offering a majestic view of the ocean landscape.

The bridge deck saloon provides a very informal, asymmetrical lounge area ensconced with a comfortable L-shaped sofa that stretches out under a row of panoramic windows, while a bookcase conceals a large-screen TV behind a panel.

The superyacht can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in the beautifully appointed 5 staterooms, 9 crew members in 4 double cabins and a captain’s quarter on the bridge.

ACE’s master cabin is the quintessential idea for expanding the overall perception of space. “ The spaces allowed us to experiment and push the boundaries. Every corner of the boat was designed to create spaces that were like those found in much larger vessels” , Marco Bonelli and Marijana Radovic from M2 explain.

The detailed nature of her interior is created by spacious windows, a sofa, king-size bed, and bedside tables arranged and suspended in a perfectly light balance. Sections of mirrored glass built into the ceiling enlarge the space. 

The full-beam master bathroom is entirely covered in white Lasa marble, equipped with two monolithic sinks and a spacious central walk-in shower. 

The lower deck houses four guest staterooms with ensuite bathrooms, all continuing the yacht’s light and soothing color scheme, but with some small, yet tasteful variations on the theme. “Shape is the result of an optimized relationship between space and structure” M2 Atelier says.

The designers opted to use only a few, carefully selected materials, with light wood (oak inside, teak outside), marble, gray leather, light colored fabric, and dark metal taking the lead. In this way, the interiors create a sense of luxury and abundance that comes less from an opulent accumulation of different materials and more from how each is treated.

On board the vessel, there is essentially a strong emphasis on continuity and perspective between the interior and exterior decks. ACE offers immense alfresco relaxation areas – all the spaces on board are entirely customized and adapted to match the owner’s navigation plans and lifestyle.

The outdoor deck is a clever combination of multiple multifunctional areas: starting with a stunning aft platform with a beach club, 4 remarkable lounge areas, a deck cinema, 2 bars and 2 dining areas, and ending with an infinity pool on the top deck. The boat’s transverse garage can hold a 7m² tender plus two full-sized jet skis and multiple sea bobs. 

Unmatched cruising experience True to Conrad’s philosophy, ACE performance comes from smart engineering and construction. The naval architecture is a masterpiece crafted by Diana Yacht Design, which used its vast experience in creating this unique hull. “Our team of engineers went the extra mile to make the construction easier for the yard’s craftsmen to build and for the crew to maintain after completion. We took special care of the fuel economy with clever construction solutions for weight reduction” . Powered by twin Caterpillar diesel engines, she can reach speeds of up to 13,8 knots and boasts a maximum cruising range of 5100 nm when cruising at 10 knots. This ultramodern superyacht is largely autonomous and provides the utmost cruising experience. ACE is built to Lloyds LY3 and MCA standards. Her propulsion allows for transoceanic range and solid performance in rough seas. The low drag and efficiency provided by the vessel’s hull design enables autonomy of over 51000 nm with 51 300L of fuel capacity. This versatile craft is not only dedicated to exploring new horizons, but also represents another important step for the Polish luxury shipbuilding industry.

ACE is the first in her series, leveraging Conrad’s experience and craftsmanship. Work on the project’s construction took place during the pandemic, which meant plenty of remote cooperation and online meetings between all involved parties. This history-making project reflects tremendous dedication and is the epitome of the custom-build yachting experience.

“We are honored to have been entrusted by the Owner of M/Y ACE with the management of the project from the very beginning” said Nicola Nicolai, Managing Partner and Director of Project Management at Nicolai Yacht Consulting & Project Management, who advised and represented the client before contract and throughout the entire build managing the project and construction on the owner’s behalf.

After delivery to the client, ACE will make her debut on the international charter market with Luxury Charter Group. Radek Gendek from Luxury Charter Group who had introduced the Owner to the shipyard after managing his charter vacations for over a decade says:  „ ACE is yet another example of how the relationship built with a dedicated broker is essential in purchase and construction of your dream superyacht. When making the leap from charter to ownership, there is no better person to guide you through every step of the process from conception to delivery.” 

ACE was officially christened and introduced to the wider audience on December 5th, 2022, in Gdansk – Poland. 

The 87-metre superyacht  Ace  was built back in 2012 by the German shipyard  Lürssen  and refitted in 2018. Here, thanks to a recent photoshoot in Barcelona, we get an insight of what the vast and voluminous 2,732 GT yacht looks like inside.

Built for an experienced owner, the  superyacht is now for sale . She has only ever had one owner since new, and has only been privately used.

The yacht’s unique lines and beautiful interiors are a product of  Winch Design , who was the studio behind both her exterior and interior looks.  Winch ‘s state-of-the-art design includes oval balconies and large side-arches, complemented by a timeless, classic interior.

Ace  breaks the conventions of yacht interior layouts to optimise the onboard family living experience. She has a seamless inside to outside transition by way of design, and her upper deck dedicates almost 1,000 square metres to social spaces.

Ace  features accommodation for 10 guests across her six impressive staterooms. She is also capable of carrying up to 30 crew members onboard to ensure a relaxed journey. Although this is her current accommodation layout, builders say it would be possible for a future owner to convert the massage room into a sixth stateroom, which would then provide accommodations for 12 guests.

As well as a helipad, her main deck offers a cinema, gym and guest suites with easy access between them all. The master suite faces aft and offers unobstructed panoramic views with a small aft terrace providing a wind-sheltered area for the owner.

Unique port and starboard private staircases run directly from the owner’s deck all the way to the swim platform. That means the owner has no need to pass through any deck interiors.

The forward area of the dining saloon on the upper deck is a cosy sitting room and library area with a fireplace, piano and games table. This deck also includes a bespoke Russian tea room and nightclub.

Located aft on the lower deck,  Ace  features large tender garage doors for easy water access. She also has another opening in her hull which has the option to be utilised as a tender docking area and a beach-style swimming platform.

Ace  is also known for having travelled with the  recently-sold support vessel,  the 67.15-metre  Garçon . The  Damen -built support vessel was the Dutch shipyard’s first large support vessel and provided  Ace  with tender, crew, provisioning and helicopter support.

The pair of yachts and their crew have also been involved in environmental  clean-up missions in the past. Powered by twin MTU 16V 4000 M61R diesel engines,  Ace  can cruise comfortably at 12 knots and reaches a top speed of 17 knots.

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The human side of yacht ownership

How would you characterise the typical yacht owner? Whatever you may have been led to believe, the truth is simple: for most, it’s about using their yachts for precious family time, and for many it’s also about using their yachts for good.

There’s a theme that is repeated on countless yachts large and small the world over – superyachting, for most, is not about being seen but rather the opposite. It’s about yacht families and their friends enjoying precious, private moments away from the pressures of demanding business lives and the long hours running those businesses can entail.

“I have an extended family, and when our schedules allow we all like to gather on the yacht and spend some quality time as a family,” Douglas Barrowman , owner of the yacht Turquoise , told Superyacht Life back in 2017. “There is no place like a yacht for family togetherness.”

Douglas Barrowman with family

A love of the sea, adventure and technology

Superyachts and yacht ownership are also a way to explore the world around us, and to interact with and grow to understand extraordinarily diverse communities from remote Pacific islands to the Scandinavian Arctic. It’s something that inspired tech entrepreneur Jasper Smith to combine his love of adventure and his love of the sea with an opportunity for owners to give back while indulging their passion.

“I have always had a deep passion for the ocean,” Smith says. “I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau movies and being enthralled at the idea of being challenged by an endeavour.” When he set out to find his own perfect explorer yacht, however, he realised it didn’t yet exist. His answer was to create Arksen. “My aim with Arksen was to create the perfect machines to enable adventure,” he enthuses. “I also wanted to build sustainable boats which considered full life cycles, from material sourcing to recycling.”

That’s not all – Arksen also asks owners of its yachts to sign up to a pledge it calls 10% for the Ocean, where they will donate 10% of their vessel’s time to philanthropic activities. “A lot of people who have the money feel a responsibility to try and make sure that the oceans are well looked after,” Smith explains. “The people that are attracted to Arksen are passionate about the ocean and want to go off on slightly more advanced expeditions and trips. With that audience, there is a tremendous buy-in to the boat being for more than just their own purposes.”

Superyachts as a force for good

It speaks to the heart of the matter, which is that the superyacht industry and yacht owners in particular have a heart – they care about preserving the environment they enjoy, and they care about the communities they interact with who make them feel so welcome when they visit. It’s reflected in the smallest of gestures, such as donating materials and books to local schools, to the largest – helping with last-mile delivery of critical disaster relief. It’s about superyachts giving back.

It’s a positive-impact attitude toward humanity that is quietly typified by hundreds of superyacht owners, who often prefer to do their thing under the radar rather than take false glory for their philanthropic or humanitarian endeavours. For some it’s as straightforward as getting involved in projects with organisations like YachtAid Global . For others, their endeavours become a key reason for yachting.

American superyacht owner Carl Allen is a prime example of these philanthropic yacht owners. After selling his company, and having enjoyed chartering and owning yachts as a family for years, Allen set up Allen Explorations to deliver a full programme of projects, ranging from historical shipwreck searches and environmental research to disaster relief. Indeed, Allen’s support yacht Axis played a vital role in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian – one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the Bahamas.

“We had to drop everything and help after the hurricane,” says Allen. “ Axis delivered over £700,000 of supplies and made multiple trips to Little Grand island in the Bahamas. We’ve turned it into the epitome of how to organise hurricane relief.” The team helped get the local school back up and running, and organised for a group from Florida Power and Light to help restore power. “The island also lost their water tower,” he adds, “so we delivered four tanks on  Axis .”

Jasper Smith

Celebrating the good in the superyachting good life

From family time to time spent embracing the global family, superyacht owners have a far greater positive impact than many assume from preconceived ideas about what a superyacht is and the sort of person who owns or charters one. It’s one of the reasons The Superyacht Life Foundation, in association with the Monaco Yacht Show , has unveiled The Honours, which is a way to celebrate the people of our industry rather than the yachts which so often get sole focus. It’s about recognising the extraordinary contributions that people make, the change they inspire, the opportunities they create, and the lives they change.

On 26 September, the eve of the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show, three honourees – nominated by people from across the superyacht industry, and selected from a shortlist by an expert panel of industry judges – will be feted for their work and contribution to superyachting. These are industry professionals and yacht owners who epitomise what superyachting can do. These are people who highlight the good in the superyachting good life.

Yacht owners, impactful journeys

All around the globe, yacht owners are enjoying precious time on their yachts with family and friends, and many are also realising that their yachts can be a force for good and for change, tying in with their philanthropic works and humanitarian endeavours.

“Our yacht is a platform for much of our life,” offers Joe Anderson , co-owner of the Benovia Winery in California with his wife, Mary Dewane. “For instance, we used it at a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis in Baltimore at the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner event. The Blue Angels were flying overhead and used Bella Una [the couple’s yacht] as a GPS coordinate and performed flybys, tipping their wings at us. It was quite a thrill. Having a yacht is a way to keep the family intact, enjoy time with friends and have fun.”

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Motor Yacht

Ace is a custom motor yacht launched in 2012 by Lurssen Yachts in Rendsburg, Germany and most recently refitted in 2018.

Lürssen has remained a family-run German shipyard since its inception in 1875 and is now in its fourth generation of private ownership. The company was founded by Friedrich Lürssen with a desire to create a leading shipyard in both quality and performance.

Ace measures 85.00 metres in length, with a max draft of 3.85 metres and a beam of 14.44 metres. She has a gross tonnage of 2,732 tonnes. She has a deck material of teak.

Ace has a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure.

Winch Design is an award-winning design studio, established in 1986 as a specialist exterior and interior yacht designer, by Andrew Winch and his wife Jane.

Ace also features naval architecture by Lurssen Yachts.

Performance and Capabilities

Ace has a top speed of 17.00 knots and a cruising speed of 12.00 knots. She is powered by a twin screw propulsion system.

Ace has a fuel capacity of 205,000 litres, and a water capacity of 43,000 litres.

She also has a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

Accommodation

Ace accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. She also houses room for up to 30 crew members.

Other Specifications

Ace is MCA compliant, her hull NB is 13665.

Ace is a Lloyds +100A1, SSC Yacht (P)MONO, G6 class yacht. She flies the flag of the Cayman Islands.

She is also fitted with a jacuzzi (on deck), helicopter landing pad and beauty salon.

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Yacht Specs

Other lurssen yachts, related news.

One of Britain's richest men spotted on his 1930s superyacht in Devon

Alicia has been named for the daughter he lost in a car crash, aged 11 months old

• 13:57, 30 OCT 2018
• Updated 12:50, 14 NOV 2018

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One of Britain's richest men has been spotted in his newly refurbished 1930's super-yacht - named after his daughter who was tragically killed.

Ian Wace, 55, who has a net worth of £505m, was spotted on board the Alicia, previously known as the Janidore.

The multi-millionaire hedge-fund manager has recently taken back the vintage vessel after it underwent a three-year refurbishment.

It was released following a christening ceremony where it was re-named in honour of Mr Wace's daughter Alicia, who died in a car crash aged 11 months alongside his son Guy, four, and wife Joanna, 34.

Images showed him getting off the vessel after it docked in Dartmouth, Devon.

The 50-metre classic yacht emerged following a major refit at the Southampton Marine yard after work began in 2015.

The ship's systems were rebuilt and the yacht underwent "major structural works".

The yard said that Alicia, which was originally launched in the 1930s as one of the eight yachts to be built by US yard Defoe, had been restored to 'the splendour of her era'.

Alicia is the third iconic super-yacht refit for the yard following Sir Charles Dunstone’s Shemara and Lord Sugar’s Lady A.

Mr Wace's boat also bears more than a passing similarity to James Dyson's 250ft Nahlin. In 2010 it also emerged from a lengthy refit and was pictured pulling in to the same Devon port.

The Nahlin, once owned by newly succeeded King Edward VIII was built in 1930 and boasted six guest staterooms with en-suite bathrooms, a special ladies' sitting room, a gym and a library.

The ship found fame when the royal chose to take his married lover Wallis Simpson on an extended cruise around Eastern Europe.

Mr Wace has now followed in James Dyson's footsteps and has had his own 1930s motor yacht professionally restored and birthed in the same port.

Mr Wace is the chief executive officer, chief risk officer, and founding partner of London's Marshall Wace hedge fund.

He became a successful businessman after witnessing the haunting death of his first wife and their two young children.

Speaking in 2011 Wace said: "The motivating force of my life was the accident.

"It's no use avoiding it - it's the elephant in the room. Something terrible happened to people very dear to me.

"It is what it is, I can't undo it. But a positive force did emerge, in Ark, and I'm happy to be part of that."

Peter Morton, the CEO of The SMS Group, described the yacht as “unquestionably beautiful” and said the launch was “a major positive milestone in another huge refit project.

He said: “The project has seen the best of British design, innovation and engineering and we now look forward to a successful period of trials pre-handover."

“Today’s launch is a major positive milestone in another huge refit project for The SMS Group, all our colleagues and all our suppliers.

"It’s big, big news.

"As a company, we are genuinely thrilled to have had the inspiration and support of another truly exceptional British businessman; and whilst the project has been challenging the end result is simply outstanding.

"MY Alicia is unquestionably beautiful.

“MY Alicia, MY Shemara and MY Lady A were all managed by SMS in a totally transparent and honest way – working directly with the owner.

"This ensures the very best value for money and complete control of the project; owners are therefore, masters of their own destiny, which is so very important to all those involved.

"In this case, it was the owner’s vision that has inspired the growth and creation of a business as opposed to just another project; we’re extremely grateful and look forward to very many future successful projects.”

The christening of MY Alicia was caught on camera by Jacek Prawdzik, who also shared many pictures of the boat on social media.

On deck two other boats can be seen, one a motorboat and the other by sail, and a tender is located towards the front of the vessel.

As per tradition, a bottle of champagne was broken on the hull - although it took a few attempts for the bottle to its target. There was also a well-stocked bar at the event.

Alicia is now expected to head for the Mediterranean and join modern and classic yachts for the 20th Les Voiles de Saint Tropez in September.

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On board with Bob and Amy Book, owners of 47m superyacht Book Ends

Having gone two years without a yacht, superyacht owners Bob and Amy Book are making up for lost time. They have crossed the Atlantic to explore the Med – and meet new friends along the way, as they explain to Risa Merl...

“Yachting defies common sense. It's really irrational when you think about it; a deep-rooted love,” says Bob Book, owner of 47 metre Heesen Book Ends , his 17th yacht of that name.

It was in the middle of their honeymoon more than 40 years ago in Acapulco, Mexico, that Book and his wife Amy discovered their passion for boating. The newly-weds went out on a little five metre boat along the coast, and Book was instantly smitten. “I went back every day until I got sun poisoning. I’m on my honeymoon in this very romantic place, and I couldn’t do anything! Good introduction to boating, right?” Book says with a laugh. Back home in New York, Book wasted no time and bought his first boat.

“It was a 25ft single screw. It had a mustard hull and yellow seats. Amy named it Book Ends , which has stuck all these years,” says Book. “I was the captain and she was my first mate. And we had no idea what we were doing.

”Since that time, the Books have become seasoned sailors, owning ever-larger Book Ends , including a Westport 112 and a 40 metre before their new Heesen. The maiden voyage of the first little yellow Book Ends was a short mosey down the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. For second-generation Americans, whose grandparents arrived at Ellis Island as immigrants escaping troubles in Europe, seeing Lady Liberty from this perspective brought tears to Bob and Amy’s eyes. “Our grandparents arrived in steerage, and here we were in our own boat, living the American Dream,” says Book.

Truth be told, Bob Book is the American Dream incarnate. Born the son of a rabbi and raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Book’s idea of boating as a child was riding the Staten Island Ferry, which cost five cents. But a little ingenuity propelled him from immigrant’s son to serial entrepreneur before he even graduated from college.

“My first business was an accident,” Book says. He was attending NYU in 1970 and discovered there were 21 colleges and universities within the five boroughs of New York City and all were suffering from student housing shortages. The city was also at the height of its financial crisis and hotels were “in the doghouse”, as Book puts it, reporting less than 50 per cent occupancy. He saw an opportunity, and at only 19 he started his first business, a student housing company that worked with hotels to rent unused rooms to students. This expanded to offer rooms to young professionals as well, with its reach soon growing across the country and the world.

Book’s next business was a natural evolution. “I had thousands of students in lots of different hotels, and half of them couldn’t pay the rent each month,” he says. “So I started a temp service to find them jobs.” One of the students who was constantly broke was particularly good at making sandwiches, so Book came up with an angle. “Around 11 o’clock every night, I’d send him to all the rooms in hotels – just about the time when the kids would start getting the munchies because they were smoking grass – and he’d sell out his sandwiches every night!”

By the time Book graduated, the temp service was going strong, so he and a business partner started an employment agency. This was just the beginning of a long list of successful businesses that he has helmed over the years. A decade ago, he acquired what’s currently his biggest company, Jet Support Services, Inc (JSSI), the world’s top independent provider of aircraft maintenance programmes. Book is the chairman and one of his two sons, Neil, serves as CEO. JSSI has headquarters in Europe, Asia and Chicago, where Neil keeps his own boat on Lake Michigan.

“That’s his third boat in three years, so he’s following in my footsteps,” Book says, beaming with pride. “The first two boats were Sea Rays. Next year I think he’ll move into a 22.8 metre Viking ; and my grandson Sidney, who’s six, loves it!”

Being able to pass down the love of yachting to their children and grandchildren is part of the joy of yacht ownership for the Books. “Yachting is also a great way to keep your family together,” says Amy. “You know, ‘if you build it, they will come’? Well, if you have a boat, your family comes and spends time with you! It’s the best.”

Spending time on board with family and friends – and meeting new friends along the way – is a big part of the attraction for the Books. Every summer for seven years, they would rendezvous with their good friends, the owners of the 61 metre Hakvoort Just J’s . Before the summer of 2017, Book received a call from the owner of Just J’s saying he was planning to move the boat from Newport to the Med for the summer. “He asked me, ‘are you sure you’re going to have a boat by this summer?’” Book recalls.

The Books had found themselves in a rather unusual place – without a superyacht. Their previous Book Ends , a 40 metre Westport, had sold surprisingly swiftly, and they were in the middle of a two-year shopping trip to find the perfect yacht, one that would have the range and space they desired to go further afield than their usual cruising grounds of the Eastern Seaboard and Bahamas.

“I was in every shipyard in Europe for two years and spent almost $2 million shopping for a boat,” Book says, explaining he had marine surveyor Ian Kerr check out any boat he was serious about. “If you do it right, that’s a couple hundred thousand bucks. I would frankly never buy or build a boat without Ian overseeing it.”

When the owner of Just J’s called again to ask if he’d have a boat in time, Book responded positively, thinking he was about to close a deal. “But that deal blew up over lunch, and that’s when Thom Conboy [of Heesen Yachts] called me,” says Book. “I had just stepped out of the lunch and Thom said, ‘what’s it going to take to get you in this 47 metre?’” Book had been to Heesen on his yacht shopping tour, but because they were originally after a 55 metre, the 47 metre in build at the Dutch yard hadn’t caught their attention. “It was like divine intervention – we agreed on a price and 48 hours later I was in the shed.” In less than a month, they took delivery, just in time to join Just J’s in the Med.

The new Book Ends ticked a lot of the boxes – steel hull, long range, good storage – but it didn’t exactly match their preferred interior style. The Books like to have a simple base to personalise, and since taking delivery they’ve worked to tone down some aspects of the original design, adding simpler joinery, more white carpets and removing superfluous furnishings, all the while adding their signature bright orange hue and bold artwork, much collected on their travels.

In Portofino they bought pieces from a local artist, who they invited over for breakfast the next day. “He said no one had ever invited him on board before,” Book says. “And now I’m trying to arrange an exhibition for him in the States.”

Meeting new people, whether it’s the couple on the yacht next door in La Spezia or locals in the Med or Bahamas, is what keeps the Books interested. They prefer this over “seeing and being seen”. “Our favourite places might be places that not everyone likes,” says Amy. “Capri is beautiful, but it was not what we wanted. Because we were there in the summer, it was like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. We like places where we can walk around, where we can really talk to people. We’ve made so many friends because of the boat.”

During their six weeks in the Med, the Books particularly fell for Italy, and among their favourite spots were Elba and Forte dei Marmi. The latter is the home of their good friend Andrea Bocelli , who helped the couple find a new captain, and one of their favourite restaurants, Santa Monica, is nearby in Viareggio.

Though the Books value the friendships they’ve made, the yachting life is also filled with a healthy dose of competition. They own a Viking 62 sportfisher and are about to take delivery of a Viking 72. The Vikings, named Book Ends Team Hookers, are put to work in fishing tournaments along the US East Coast and in the Bahamas. Book says fishing itself is boring – it’s the tournament atmosphere and meeting people from all walks of life that he enjoys. “I love the competition,” he says. “I have a great team whoall want to win. There’s an old expression, ‘show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser’. So the fishing is always competitive, and it’s a lot of fun.” Book heads to Bahamas-based tournaments with a fleet – Book Ends serving as the mothership while the Viking and his Scout 42 head out to the fishing grounds.

Bob and Amy plan to spend even more time on board this summer. Book relishes the fact that he can work from his on board office. “Nobody knows where I am! We could have a board meeting and they just assume I’m in the office – no one knows I’m really in Italy.”

It’s not all been unalloyed good times, but the Books are experienced enough to know that peaks always follow troughs. “So many times I’ve said I’m getting out, it’s just not worth it; it’s so much stress, it’s so expensive and so many things can go wrong – and they usually do in boating,” Book says. “But then you have a summer like we had, six weeks cruising all over the Med and discovering places. You know if you leave it, you wouldn’t be sitting here, you’d be sitting on a couch somewhere watching a football game.”

Amy adds: “And we would never have gone to some of these places without the boat. Even if people do go by land, there’s no comparison to seeing these places from the water and having your home with you.”

Images: Shutterstock; Jeff Brown/Breed Media; Adam Pass; Tiziano Canu; Andrea Pisapia; Charlie Clark

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