A single profile rendering is all that’s available for the public to see of a 272-footer (83-meter) presently underway at Feadship’s Royal Van Lent shipyard. The code-named yacht Project Solent reunites a previous owner with the Dutch builder.
In fact, the owner is set to take delivery in the summertime in two years’ time. Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design, renowned for sleek sailing superyachts, is responsible for the profile. Some sailing influences are noticeable here, such as the long, low hull. The gently sloping transom is both a classic sailing element and a traditional motoryacht element, too. The same is true of the round windows below decks. Malcolm McKeon, head of the eponymous studio, calls attention to the overall “clean, enduring lines, reflecting our belief that true elegance lies in restraint and proportion.” Modern and still-restrained aesthetics include the full-height glass walls on multiple decks, additionally prominent as curving walls fore and aft. The views from inside these areas remain uninterrupted thanks to subtle carveouts outboard, further with glass insets.
Although confidentiality agreements prevent the owners’ representatives at Cecil Wright from revealing more specific information, a few extra details stand out. Firstly, the yacht Project Solent doesn’t just reunite the client with Feadship. It further reunites Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design with Royal Van Lent. The Feadship yacht Project 826, which launched this past spring, is a result of their collaboration. Secondly, the yacht Project Solent brings the design studio, the shipyard, and interior designer Mark Whiteley together again. They joined forces for the 253-foot (77-meter) MM770 yacht project a few years ago.
Further onboard amenities may become available as construction progresses, including what Cecil Wright calls “innovative features.” For now, Chris Cecil-Wright, the founder of the company, says, “It’s a privilege to be guiding this exceptional project from inception through to delivery.” He also considers Malcolm McKeon and Whiteley “two of the industry’s most visionary talents.”
McKeon himself shares, “This yacht captures the essence of the owner’s vision, distilled into a concept that resonates with MMYD’s design DNA, performance, innovation, and a connection with the sea.” Finally, he asserts that Project Solent “will stand as a benchmark for years to come.”
Cecil Wright cecilwright.com
Feadship feadship.nl
Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design malcolmmckeonyachtdesign.com
Mark Whiteley Design markwhiteleydesign.com
More About the Yacht Project Solent
LOA: 272’3” (83 meters)
Beam: not available
Draft: not available
Guests: not available
Engines: not available
Range: not available
Builder: Feadship
Stylist: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design
Naval Architect: De Voogt Naval Architects
Interior Designer: Mark Whiteley Design