Ivor Wilkins
08/01/2007
New Zealand expatriate Neville Crichton is a sailing man through
and through. Since the age of 12 he has owned more racing yachts than he can
easily recall, as well as a string of superyachts, many of which have pioneered
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Photograph by Bryce Taylor. (Click image to enlarge)
By his own admission, a boat needs a mast and sails to really
stir his passions, but his latest acquisition is a 41-meter (134-foot) luxury
motor yacht. The irony of that decision is diminished when Crichton declares
that the principal purpose of the handsome tri-deck, Como, is to serve as
a floating home and tender for his racing maxi, Alfa Romeo, a high-tech,
canting-keel 100-footer that he campaigns with great distinction at major
regattas around the world.
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"I will use the boat principally to feed and entertain crew, guests and media during maxi regattas," says Crichton, who lives in Australia. "It will mainly be in warm locations, especially the Mediterranean, where most of these events take place."
But, even if motor yachts are not his first love, Crichton has nevertheless invested his customary keen attention to detail to this project—and the result comes together in a beautifully realized package.
Noted designer Ed Dubois of Dubois Naval Architects says: "Como represents another fine example of Alloy Yachts’ boatbuilding and engineering expertise, and we are delighted with the result. She is a ‘go anywhere’ vessel and has an accommodations layout which reflects the owner’s very extensive experience."
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Indeed, Crichton’s experience as a superyacht owner puts him in a very rarefied club. He has built six sailboats over 100 feet. Como is his first motor yacht over 100 feet, although he earlier built a 60-footer and has owned a number of production motor yachts through the years. Como is the ninth vessel he has had built at Alloy Yachts in Auckland, New Zealand, and the seventh designed by Dubois Naval Architects.
Taken as a body of work, his superyachts represent a significant, possibly unmatched contribution to the world fleet, not just in terms of their number, but also because of their technological innovation and development. Esprit, Espada, Corinthian, Sovereign, Kokomo and Destination Fox Harb’r saw a steady progression in size from 106 feet to 134 feet, as well as a steady injection of sometimes bold leaps in technology, many of which have since become industry standards. They include the first superyacht carbon fiber mast, the first in-boom furling system and the first employment of bow and stern thrusters.Thriving on competition, Crichton has raced motorcars at a high level, but racing yachts is his abiding passion. His superyacht projects have run parallel with a veritable fleet of racing yachts and have often drawn heavily from technical advancements developed on the racing circuits.
This latest project has had something of a long genesis. Crichton started planning a large motor yacht with Dubois Naval Architects early in the new millennium. The original plan was to commence building at Alloy Yachts after S.Q.N., the 128-foot motor yacht, launched in 2003. But Crichton gave up his building slot to a friend, and his own motor yacht project went on hold.
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In the meantime, the award-winning Ad Lib was built. In the nature of these projects, Ad Lib, at 131 feet, was a development of S.Q.N., and now Como, at 134 feet, represents further refinement.
Stretching the vessel just over three feet in overall length and extending the rake of the bow and stern has subtly altered the aesthetics, presenting a lower overall profile. "The additional length, combined with 300 extra horsepower in the engine room, has also boosted performance by about 2.5 knots," says Crichton.
The vessel is powered by twin 1,550-hp Caterpillar diesel engines with a cruise speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 17.5 knots. The impeccable machinery installation has plenty of space and light. The engine room treadplate of polished aluminum, with tread patterns perfectly matched at all the joins, emphasizes the precision and care that has gone into the entire engineering and finish of the vessel.
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Photograph by Ivor Wilkins. (Click image to enlarge)With her deep blue hull and metallic silver superstructure, the yacht’s sleek lines are enhanced by the uninterrupted sweep of black glass windows along the main deck and stylish stainless steel louvers that wrap around the aft side coamings and the forward superstructure. The window line further assists the external aesthetics and the internal experience by being lowered 2.5 inches; the sense of light and the views from the expansive salon are glorious.
Internally, the extra length has allowed the salon, owner’s suite and engine room to be enlarged and the weight distribution shifted slightly aft. The interior design is by British-based Redman Whiteley Dixon. The most striking element of the design is the white marble flooring throughout. Combined with the large windows and the strong linear definition of the furniture, the overall impression is of a contemporary space with light pouring in from all sides.The extensive use of marble is visually stunning and technically well executed. Such hard surfaces can transmit sound, sending echoes booming around an area. Great care has been taken with the acoustics, which register lower than the contract levels. Also, the marble has been softened with the judicious introduction of cream silk carpets in selected zones.
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The flybridge deck offers open
and covered areas. Photograph by Martin Fine. (Click image to enlarge)Weight is also an issue, but Crichton’s experience as a performance yachtsman, one obsessed with culling unnecessary bulk, has been brought to bear. The marble is cut in thin layers and mounted on an aluminum honeycomb core to retain a sense of depth and mass at a fraction of the weight. Subtle texture is added to the mahogany and ebony joinery ranging from matte satin to gloss varnish, with selected feature pieces finished in black piano lacquer. A styling theme that recurs throughout is the delicate stainless steel inlay detail on tables, furniture pieces and floors.
The main deck comprises the aft cockpit with a curved settee following the line of the transom and facing forward, and a coffee table and cane-weave occasional chairs making a pleasant gathering place in the sun. Forward and under the protection of the overhang from the flybridge deck is a dining table for eight guests. Automatic steel and sliding glass doors open to admit guests into the main salon, which features a modern bar portside, with a formal lounge and dining area forward. Standing, or seated, guests enjoy panoramic views through the continuous side windows. At the same time, the tinted window treatments assure complete privacy. Two companionways lead forward from the main salon. The starboard companionway opens into an entry lobby from the main side deck via a yard-built pantograph door. A dayhead is situated in the lobby.
Continuing forward on the starboard side leads to the owner’s suite, which spans the full width of the superstructure. It features a centerline forward-facing bed, with a dressing room tucked behind the aft bulkhead, and a discreet office with deep gray leather desk and a sofa. The flooring is covered in cream silk carpets, with overhead white and mahogany ceiling panels. Opposite the foot of the bed are twin his-and-hers bathrooms with a large shower situated between the two; access is from either side. The bathrooms continue the theme of white marble floors, with aquamarine back-painted glass on the shower and cabinets.
From the main salon, the portside companionway leads to the
service areas of the vessel. As it leads forward, a half flight of stairs rises
to the wheelhouse, while another stairway leads down to the lower deck and
directly into the galley. The galley features custom fridges with brushed
stainless steel doors and a large under-the-floor cold store. A fully equipped
laundry is on the starboard side, with a crew mess forward of the galley. The
wheelhouse is finished in mahogany and leather with a handsome steel and teak
wheel fronting an impressive electronics array. On-watch crewmembers have good
visibility through the heavily raked windscreen, with access onto the side decks
via a pantograph door on the port side. Access to the flybridge is via a
stairway from the wheelhouse or direct from the aft cockpit up a stairway
comprising teak treads "floating" on a stainless steel column. The flybridge
offers a mixture of covered areas and open sun decks, with a helm station
forward and a bar and sun loungers aft. Under the protection of the stylish
composite bimini is a dining table and barbecue. The décor here is polished
stainless steel and bright white lacquer surfaces with taupe upholstery on the
settees, loungers and barstools.
Guest cabins radiate from a lobby on the lower deck. The lobby
continues the white marble theme, with black lacquer chests on either side.
There are four guest cabins, two doubles and two twins. The starboard twin also
has a Pullman berth. All the guest cabins have bathrooms finished in white
marble with aquamarine back-painted glass showers and backlit cabinets.
Increasingly, guests wish to mix more sybaritic pleasures with a fitness regime,
and this requirement is catered to with a gym situated in the lazarette. The
lazarette serves as a garage for the six-meter owner’s tender (a 4.3-meter crew
tender stows on the foredeck), as well as a range of watersports equipment. When
the tender is launched via an overhead gantry crane through a watertight door on
the port side, the lazarette, with its all-teak sole, serves as a fully equipped
gym.
While Crichton’s purpose in building Como is really an
adjunct to his passion for sailing, that doesn’t detract from his satisfaction
with the outcome. Reviewing the vessel after commissioning trials, he gave an
assessment weighted with years of involvement in the international superyacht
scene.
"I’m extremely impressed with the workmanship," he says. "The boat is very,
very good. I would say that the interior finish is close to or equal to the best
of the European yards, and the level of engineering is superior."
| Yacht Name: | Como |
| Yacht Year: | 2006 |
| Yacht Type: | Motor Yacht |
| Builder: | Alloy Yachts |
| Interior Design: | Redman Whiteley Dixon Design |
| Draft: | 6' 2" (1.88m) |
| LOA (Actual length): | 134' 0" (40.84m) |
| LWL (Length of water line): | 27' 11" (8.51m) |
| Displacement: | 236 tons |
| Max Speed: | 17.5 kts |
| Cruise Speed: | 16 kts |
| Range: | 4,000 nm @ 10 kts |
| Beam: | 27' 11" (8.51m) |
| Architecture: | Dubois Naval Architects |
| Hull Material: | Aluminum |
| Superstructure Material: | Aluminum |
| Exterior Design: | Dubois Naval Architects |
| Fuel Capacity: | 8,000g (30,283.29L) |
| Water Capacity: | 2,200g (8,327.91L) |
| Classification: | Lloyd's |
| Gearbox: | 2x ZF 1965 4.036:1 |
| Engines: | 2x 1,550-hp Caterpillar C30 |
| Generators: | 2x Caterpillar, 51 kW |
| Shore power: | 2x ASEA, 47 kW per day each |
| Bow thruster: | 2x Trac II 90-hp thrusters |
| Stabilizers: | Naiad 420 w/Multisea II controls |
| Paint: | Awlgrip, Metallic Silver (superstructure)/ Majestic Blue (hull) |
| Deck Windlass: | 2x Maxwell VWC4500 windlass |
| Tenders: | 20' (6.0 m) 190-hp Novurania, 14' (4.3 m) 50-hp Novurania Yamaha outboard |
| Radar: | Furuno, 12 kW |
| Autopilot: | Furuno Navpilot 500 |
| SatCom: | Furuno SC-50 |
