The yacht, Zanziba, carries some serious design pedigree. Her rig was designed and optimised by Gerry Dykstra, while the UK’s Fairlie Yachts contributed to the structural design. The interior, meanwhile, was put together by David Wright Design.

The 248GT yacht began life as the brainchild of a UK businessman, but he exited the Project when the boat was about one-third complete. Zanziba’s hull then languished in the boatyard until it was picked up by a Turkish businessman who saw the yacht’s potential.

The cold-moulded mahogany boat has elegant deckhouse covers an interior designed to be warm, natural and relaxed, to reflect the way in which the yacht will be used.

The hull is being built using the cold moulding process, by which a laminate hull is built up using thin, resin infused wood planking. The result is a rigid structure with an excellent strength to weight ratio, an done that requires little maintenance being both impenetrable to marine parasites and proof from osmosis.

The palette of interior materials includes goatskins, buffalo leathers, woven rattans and soft chenille fabrics. The hardwood beams in the saloon are the actual exposed structural elements of the deckhouse.

‘’For the most part, the backdrop of the interior is open grained oak panelling, with carved oak doors with a warm chocolate stain. The main saloon features a fulll length ceiling dome whose hardwood beams are the actual exposed structural elements of the deckhouse, with bamboo tatami panels in between the beams.’’

The main event on the deck is likely to be a carved, quartzite bar in the cockpit, which serves twin dining tables to the rear.

The accomodation is spread over two decks, with a spacious deckhouse containing the saloon and covered dining area offering spectacular views, and a lower deck with the guest cabins, crew quarters and service areas.

 

A generous beam of nine meters comfortably accomodates 5 cabins, 3 twin and 1 double guest cabins, an one immaculate full beam owners cabin all with ensuite facilities in the forward section of the yacht, plus four twins aft of the engine room for the crew.

The modern systems referred to include everything from air conditioning, CCTV, WiFi, and a full Lantic entertainment system to NavTec rod rigging, Stratis™ sails by Doyle, hydraulic winches by Lewmar and Harken and comprehensive navigation, electrical and hotel systems.