Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines an oasis as "a retreat, a refuge, a haven, a sanctuary; something providing relief from boring or dreary routine; and/or an area or period of calm in the midst of turbulence." Lürssen shipyard’s latest 195-foot (59.4-meter) launch Oasis is just that.

Her owner, an American entrepreneur, decided on a new build after repeated charters aboard the 141-foot Trinity Relentless (ex-Mia Elise). The experience helped him sort out his likes and dislikes, and allowed him time to establish a relationship with Robert Scott, the yacht’s South African captain who later signed on as the owner’s representative for the project. Familiar with the build process, Captain Scott helped guide the owner through the unfamiliar waters of selecting a builder and designer. The two visited Europe’s most significant yards and eventually chose Lürssen, not only for its quality shipbuilding but also, according to Scott, for the yard’s "ability to weather a storm—financially."

With the capital to build the yacht in place, the owner was eager to start—and finish—the project. But, as anyone who has ever been involved with a new custom build will attest, this sort of request is typically unfeasible, particularly for busy yards such as Lürssen. Thinking creatively, the parties decided to use an existing hull, the sistership to motor yacht Capri, and adapt it to their needs—which were only conceptual at this point. The deal was finalized in December 2003 for a two-year build out. (Click image to enlarge)

The hull worked for the owner’s target size, just under 60 meters LOA. He knew his wife had an affinity for "parking" in all the right places, and at this size the yacht could be berthed in such coveted ports as St. Barth’s, Saint-Tropez, Capri and Portofino. He also knew he wanted to put the vessel into charter service; his goal size allowed for a comfortable six-stateroom arrangement.

Beyond the LOA and accommodations, the brief dictated only that the layout be maximized—a loose order that subsequently gave Captain Scott and the design group a great deal of influence over the yacht’s specifications.

The last member added to the Oasis team was designer Glade Johnson. Fond of Johnson’s exterior and interior styling on Capri, the owner enlisted the designer in spite of a nine-hour time difference between Johnson’s Washington State–based office and Lürssen’s yard in Bremen, Germany. The offset was, according to Captain Scott, no small challenge for the owner, considering the daily go-between for builder and designer.

Tender garages are located both port and starboard. (Click image to enlarge)

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"Their goal was to create a unique yacht with individual exterior styling and a distinctly contemporary, warm and luxurious interior," explains Johnson. With his experience on Capri, he was particularly qualified to take the design to the next level and worked closely with Oasis’ owners and Scott to grow the design into something that would meet their needs. Despite their shared heritage, Oasis varies greatly from Capri, evolving all aspects of her design, from styling to technical applications.

Feeling that Capri sat a little low in the water, Scott adapted the tankage and reduced net tonnage and net weight for better performance. Although her transom and swim platform are longer than Capri’s, Oasis’ overall displacement is 56 tons less, which "really helped her come out of the water," Scott says.Perhaps her most defining difference, however, is a complete rearrangement of the sun deck. Outdoor living was a priority for the owners and the team. The goal was to create an atmosphere where 12 guests could interact regardless of their location on the deck. "Whether in the spa pool forward or a sun chair aft, you can still have eye contact with one another," says Scott. To achieve this, Johnson established three distinct areas that can be linked or separated from one another using glass partitions.

Forward is the barbecue, spa, sun pads, bar and outdoor shower. Amidships is the gymnasium, which can be air-conditioned after being enclosed using the retractable fore-and-aft glass doors. Aft is the alfresco dining and lounge area fitted with one of the yacht’s two large outdoor dining tables—the other is aft on the main deck—and loose teak furniture and umbrellas. The radar arch and a retractable Bimini provide protection from the sun and wind.

The sun-deck lounge. (Click image to enlarge)

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A gently curved stairway with leather railing leads guests indoors to the skylounge one deck below. The transition from outdoors to indoors is smoothed using large windows and arced floor-to-ceiling glass walls/doors aft looking out to another open-air dining area. The sensation of being on the water is ever present, and a palette of aqua, yellow and blue boldly references the sea and sky.

As with the sun deck, this lounge features distinct zones. It’s a theme repeated throughout the yacht’s public spaces—intimate and inviting seating areas punctuated by large open spaces. Satin anigre paneling is accented by high-gloss wengé furniture pieces. Aft, a large sectional sofa, a low coffee table and several ottomans invite you to kick up your feet and take advantage of the room’s advanced media array. A full-service bar, which conveniently leads to the upper-deck pantry, separates the television area from a reading area forward.

The deck’s shower is concealed in the radar arch. (Click image to enlarge)

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Light enters the bridge through nine large vertical windows. A large sofa is raised along the length of the aft bulkhead in the center of the wheelhouse and is the ideal spot for guests to observe all the action. A state-of-the-art helm console displays everything from oil pressure to security surveillance to CNN on seven screens.On the main deck, the formal reception foyer shows off Johnson’s intricate and contemporary design elements, including impressive stainless steel balustrades and door pulls, and satin-finished anigre wall panels with inlaid veneer placed with the grain running in alternating directions. In places throughout the yacht, textures in the custom carpeting mirror this pattern. The inlaid maple burl and wengé joinery is finished in high gloss. The stonework here presents an optical illusion. Cream, tan and black marble produce the effect of walking on 3-D coffers.

The full-beam master suite forward is entered through a generous, curving corridor that hugs the owner’s study, which features glass doors and floor-to-ceiling glass glazing along the starboard side. A central whirlpool dominates the master bath, dividing the room into his and hers. Continuing the palette from the sleeping areas, the bathroom is anchored by Pakistani onyx flooring in translucent green with crimson and orange veins. Viewing the suite from the central foyer is impressive, with its enfilade of spaces opening one onto another—the corridor, the owner’s study and the owner’s suite lounge.

While Johnson and the design team were trusted with much of the interior, the owner’s wife played an integral part, selecting fabrics and art, much of which was commissioned by artisans in the Seattle area.

In the main and dining salons, the fabrics set a formal tone. Like the skylounge, intimate groupings, open spaces and large rounded aft windows define the area. Here, the atmosphere is dictated by burgundy and midnight blue upholstery with raised black velvet filigree. Few straight lines are found, replaced instead by sweeping curves and gracefully rolled edges on virtually every surface, such as an oval-shaped, full-height sideboard that separates the main salon from the dining area. (Click image to enlarge)

Belowdecks, four guest staterooms radiate out from a central guest lobby. Two king berths are forward, and a queen and an oversized twin stateroom are aft. Each guest room benefits from large vertical windows that illustrate the floor-level waterline and passing waves when the yacht is under way. The ensuite bathrooms in all of the guest accommodations (as well as the dayheads) are done in lightweight panels of book-matched marble and onyx accented by inlaid stone bands and borders. Because the yacht was built in Germany, Lloyd’s regulations allowed the deadlights to be disguised behind pop-out frames—a treatment that greatly softens the windows. MCA doors have been equally well disguised behind breakaway wall and floor panels. Extra efforts such as these elevate the yacht to that ethereal "next level."

Oasis is equally impressive in technical terms. Support spaces, from the forward crew quarters for 15 to the aft engine room, are practically laid out and generously proportioned. Virtually all mechanisms, from the electronic cable doors in the salon to the hydraulic gull wing–style garage openings, are smooth and silent.

Powered by two 1,957-hp Caterpillar engines, Oasis reaches a top speed of 16 knots and has a range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles at cruising speed.

Much to the satisfaction of her builders, designers and captain, the owner of this haven on the sea will not follow the track record of many recently launched Lürssens. Oasis is not for sale: "This one’s a keeper," her owner confirms.