[dropcap]F[/dropcap]eadship has launched the 47-metre Project 697 for an experienced owner keen to revisit the classic era of Feadship motoryachts while enjoying a rich range of cutting-edge on board facilities. Reminiscent of beauties such as Feadship’s 1992 Aurora B., she marries a striking Midnight Blue hull with a sophisticated superstructure in Matterhorn White aluminium and exterior teak woodwork with stainless steel details.
The elegance of Project 697 is in her tasteful classic design. Signed by Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, the yacht’s profile appears deceptively simple until you notice the delicate grace of her silhouette, the walkaround deckhouse, the curved gunwale of the sun deck forward and the cambered teak deck – all discreet characteristics underpinned by superlative craftsmanship.
The traditional design is enriched by the interior architect, who added several subtle contemporary touches such as large windows and bright spaces. Perhaps the most striking modern components on Project 697 are the grilles on the mast, the sides of the superstructure and the main deck forward: these are part and parcel of the underlying aluminium structure. Perfectly clean, even and harmonious, and yet representative of avantgarde design, metalwork and paintwork, they epitomise the yacht’s resolute but unassuming elegance. They were also exceptionally difficult to build.
A similar element is the lacquered teak handrails in the gangways on both decks – not commonly seen on yachts for quite some time, this graceful nautical feature is staging a comeback. The outdoor seating areas on the main, bridge and sun deck are finished in teak, creating a traditional feel offset by the clean stainless steel and teak stairs connecting the decks. The sliding doors connecting the lounges with aft open spaces have been finished in lacquered teak on the exterior, while the other exterior doors mirror the white of the superstructure.
The sun deck contains a wealth of sun lounging space. The centralised mast – a rare sight nowadays – is modestly styled in keeping with the classical style. This required Feadship to incorporate a lot of clever engineering in order to fit the emergency generator and switchboard exhausts. The result is an ingenious technical Tetris puzzle within a stylish conical shape with integrated decorative grilles.
The interior echoes the exterior in its delicate nautical theme overlaid with contemporary details and state-of-the-art technology. It consists entirely of high-gloss dark European walnut panels, light oak parquet, white wooden ceilings and judiciously placed white panelling. The galley, which adjoins the owners’ stateroom and is designed with a clever central nook where the owners and their guests can spend time, is exceptionally spacious and well-appointed, featuring the same high-gloss lacquered walnut finishing with exclusive stainless steel countertops – an outstanding example of a bespoke solution that reflects how time at sea will be enjoyed.
