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A Herculean effort on the part of Alfa Four’s design-and-construction team turned Theodore and Gianna Angelopoulos’ newest yacht into a gold-medal project.
by Jim Gilbert
photography by Ed Holt (Exterior only)
01/01/2005
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The decision to hire Andrew
Winch Designs to replace Disdale as the designer was not made simply on
aesthetic grounds. Key to being able to finish the yacht on time would be
extremely fast decision-making on critical design-and-construction issues. The
Angelopoulos’ had worked with Winch on their previous project and felt they had
already established an excellent rapport. In describing the tempo of the
project, Winch said, “It was a hundred miles an hour from day one. We didn’t
have a week to lose, not even a day to lose!”
An example of that rapport
between Mr. and Mrs. Angelopoulos and Winch is evident in the rapidity of the
redesign approval. Winch said he was given 10 days to make a presentation of his
redesign concept. He said his team, which included Oliver Sterling as design
project director, was charged with coming up with a scheme that reflected the
owners’ desire for a look that was not only “powerful and confident,” but also
extremely livable. Winch said Mr. A was particularly adamant about maximizing
the yacht’s visual and aesthetic connection to the sea, while his wife insisted
that every facet of the interior reflect the highest quality. “She really knows
what she’s looking for, and looking at,” Winch said. “Mrs. A has a spectacular
eye for quality.”
Winch’s team came to the initial meeting armed with color
renderings. He described the meeting as being much shorter than expected. His
clients required only one look at the proposed design, which draws inspiration
from modern, classic and art deco sources. After Mrs. A studied the renderings,
Winch remembers her saying simply, “That’s it. Let’s do it.” Mr. A said the
success of the initial presentation underscored the wisdom of changing designers
mid-stream. “It was a big advantage time-wise,” he said, adding, “Winch hit it
on the head immediately.”
The same strict adherence to schedules applied to
Oceanco, which was tasked with re-engineering the aft bridge deck support
structure to permit chopper landings and take-offs. Mr. A said helicopter
accessibility is very important to the way he uses his yachts, but decided not
to try to have Alfa Four certified for permanent helicopter operation due to all
the changes that would be necessary under class and MCA rules.
Mr. A, whose
previous yachts include Feadships, a Benetti and a high-speed Oceanfast, said
his long experience as a yacht owner is one of Oceanco’s strengths as the firm
moves forward. He said it’s unique to have a yacht company that combines the
depth of yacht production expertise with management know-how that includes both
commercial and superyacht ownership and management. In his experience, Mr.
A said, “Most owners lack experience on one side of the equation or the other.
We have an edge in the market because I have experienced myself both the good
and the bad things that yacht ownership brings.”
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