The owners of the new 52-meter (171-foot) Perini Navi Tamsen break the mold. The captain is one of the owners, and the person sleeping in the master cabin can be seen scrubbing the decks. Launched April 21, Tamsen is such a vivid expression of the owners and their shared life philosophy that to understand the yacht is to understand some history of the owners, who call themselves Firestone Family and Friends.

It began in 1973 when seven California families, inspired by clinical psychologist and author Robert Firestone, pooled their resources and bought an unfinished wooden schooner, Vltava. The purpose was to provide the group’s teenagers with a healthy energy outlet and to nurture
parent-child connections. Adults and adolescents alike worked and sailed on the boat, which became a petri dish for revitalized relationships. They created an environment that encouraged—in fact, required—authentic self-expression. The highlight of the venture was a circumnavigation that began in 1976 during which 11 teenagers, ages 14 to 19, served as permanent crew. Under the leadership of their elected skipper, then 16-year-old Steve Firestone, Robert’s son, their successful epic voyage made headlines when they returned to San Francisco in 1978. (Click image to enlarge)

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"The boat was a vehicle for self-discovery and growth. We left [as] teenagers and came back adults," noted Steve, who in many ways still helms Firestone Family and Friends. When the trip was over, the bonds formed were so tight that marriages, children and business partnerships ensued.

Top: There is nothing to interrupt the flow of group conversations in the massive salon. Bottom: Robert Firestone’s art graces the dining area’s wall and chair backs. (Click images to enlarge)

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As businesses flourished, from real estate development and computers to psychology practices and design businesses, and the group expanded with family and friends, it purchased a 104-foot yacht. "We kept learning things on the boats, then we would bring that back home," reflected Mike Wolfe, an original Vltava crewmember. "To this day, the best part of our lives is usually on the boats. People are the closest, feel the best and develop the most on those voyages."

The 104-foot yacht was later sold to make way for the group’s first Perini Navi, the 46-meter Liberty, renamed Tamsen. Given the financial stretch its members made, it was inconceivable to the group at that time that it would ever be in a position to build its own, even larger boat.

"When we bought Vltava we sailed to Catalina, then to San Francisco, then a crossing to Hawaii," said Robert. "We didn’t think we would go around the world. It just evolved."The idea to build evolved in much the same way. Discussions for the new 52-meter Tamsen took place on a lovely day in Antigua, in December 2004.

To Romani’s delight, he was mistaken: "I got into their mentality. There is playfulness, not fighting, and always concern for the group."

Although the 50-meter’s basic blueprint was used as a point of departure, so much has changed to suit the owners’ specs that it grew two meters and is hardly recognizable.

To express the owners’ traditional aesthetic, bulwarks were added and the sheer of the hull was increased and tapered to a counter stern. The rig was reduced by three tons, thanks to its redesign, allowing for thinner aluminum sheets in the masts and reduced sections of the rig’s steel cables. For the first time, this Perini rig is classed to Germanischer Lloyd standards. Carbon electric-furling booms keep weight in check.

"The most difficult part of the design," admitted Romani, "was to fit the tenders in the wells forward. It was very tight." Twenty-four mock-ups later, the 7.3-meter Pascoe custom tenders rest snugly in place on the forward deck.The aft deck comprises two distinct levels. The lowest cockpit level, an extension of the interior, provides a settee, coffee table and a table for 12 nestled into the curve of the higher deck.

This stainless steel stairway—a sculpture in itself—gracefully and quickly connects the aft deck to the flybridge. There the large spa pool takes center stage. To starboard, a hi-lo table for six and a full wet bar with stools complement the portside seating. Forward, the helm and navigation stations flank a companionway hatch that connects to the raised pilothouse and the rest of the interior.

Standing in the wheelhouse, Steve grinned. "One of my favorite things about the boat," he said, "is how aesthetically pleasing and operationally proper the wheelhouse is."

The voluptuous stainless steel staircase leads to the flybridge spa. (Click images to enlarge)

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Many ideas realized on Tamsen emanated from the group’s combined 30 years of sailing. One such idea is the location of the captain’s quarters adjacent to the wheelhouse. The suite consists of a bedroom, an office and a head. John Zamir, who was a mere three years old when his family first bought into Vltava, is now Tamsen’s official captain. John and his wife Aggie take the bedroom, while two-year-old Siena and her beloved Nemo snuggle into her special portable bed set up in the office.

Tamsen’s design and layout speak volumes about what is important to her owners. Nowhere is this more evident than in the galley. Its location on the main deck, forward of the wheelhouse, is novel—a first for Perini Navi and a perfect solution for the group."Cooking meals is an activity we enjoy sharing, so rather than tuck our galley down below, we brought it into the main living area to create a family kitchen. Now it is the heart of our boat," said Tamsen, her eye sweeping the vessel’s width from the dinette across to the galley. The port galley, with an extra oven, boasts two U-shaped areas beneath large windows. On the aft wall, refrigerators punctuate the galley and the dinette area’s teak wall. Centerline and running lengthwise is an island counter that separates the galley from the dinette.

Aft, past the raised wheelhouse, is the main salon, which is vast and arranged for the large-numbered, in-depth conversations valued by the Firestone group. Comfortable couches, chairs and hassocks are arranged around two large coffee tables for group discussions and movie viewing. That’s not to say there won’t be smaller enclaves of conversation or activity at the corner games table, but the room is set up to accommodate everyone.

"I would say the most important element that has contributed to the success of our group is that we can express ourselves. This deep conversation and freedom to express feelings is the key," commented Robert.

The placement of the dining room all the way aft allows a spatial and visual connection with the table outside through the aft window, which electronically changes from opaque to clear, thus expanding the dining area at the flick of a switch. Light filtering through the aft window illuminates the beautiful Perini-crafted dining table and chairs. The table, a rich milk chocolate-colored walnut with a burl inset, is finished to perfection. Designed by Chichi, the chairs are at once a traditional and modern gesture. Their backs use fabric featuring Robert’s artwork. In fact, almost all of the fabric designs on the yacht are his, created especially for Tamsen.

While on board, Robert uses his own "studio" to produce his art, which is shown in galleries worldwide. Forward of the salon a flight of stairs leads below to the stateroom foyer. Aft, the full-width master suite houses the large flat-screen TV, computer and other digital equipment that keep Robert’s creative juices flowing. This sanctuary to port doubles as a sitting room for the master suite.To starboard is the king-size island bed, covered with a silk bedspread that showcases another of Robert’s designs. This side serves as Tamsen’s office, where she works on projects varying from marketing her fashion line to editing Robert’s latest book. Behind the master suite, a large walk-in closet joins the split bath.

Four other staterooms branch off the foyer; each one slightly different and adaptable to suit the group’s various comings and goings. Pullmans are plentiful and all staterooms are ensuite.

Downstairs from the galley is the crew dinette with the split personality of a bedroom for the children. Across from the dinette is a luggage room, a humble but mighty pièce de résistance for the group, especially for the kids who have their own individual drawers for properly stowing belongings.

Four crew cabins are forward. All cabins have heads. The two forward are single and the heads are aft with doors to the hall, making them usable as dayheads. Stairs lead to the foredeck. Another two-person crew cabin with toilet and sink is located just abaft the engine room.

The interior décor is traditional teak, spruced up with walnut moldings and appointments. Sue Firestone, who has run her successful interior design business, sfa Design, for more than 25 years, was instrumental in producing Tamsen’s lovely interior. Among other tasks, she handpicked every piece of marble and granite on the boat, from tabletops and galley counters to bathroom showers, baths and vanities. Most of the art on board is Robert’s creation, although one sculpture by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, affectionately nicknamed "Fish Boy," continues his swim on the newest Tamsen.

Just as "Fish Boy" has made the transition from one boat to the next, so have Firestone Family and Friends. Everyone still stands watch. Everyone still uses the core values of teamwork, honest communication and respect to welcome new challenges and live new dreams.

"We really liked being together on Vltava, so we chose a lifestyle to be together with whom we love and relate to," said Steve.

"Yep," chimed in Mike, "The trip is over, but the journey continues."