Photo: Wikimedia/Harvey Barrison from Massapequa, NY, USA - Barcelona_2015 10 12_0199 (Composite)
Many superyachts boast of breaking the mold, revolutionizing the industry, reinventing the wheel, throwing expectations out the window, whatever you want to call it – and many do. But few do it with such flare as Yas, a megayacht like no other in the world.
Yas is one of the most visually striking private vessels in the world while also ranking high among the largest and most expensive. The fact that it has military DNA, which translates into surprising performance, given its length, only makes it that much more impressive.
As it happens, Yas is also pretty much a secret. Presumably owned by a member of Abu Dhabi royalty (Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by his full name), it was never offered for charter or shown to trade publications, as is customary with most other private vessels if they feature innovations that allow them to claim world firsts.
This has only added to the aura of mystery and the irresistible appeal of the leisure craft so that whenever it's spotted by yacht watchers, it tends to make headlines around the world. Yas was seen at anchor in Dubai earlier this month, and the sighting makes for a great opportunity to try and have a more in-depth look at it.
Photo: Wikimedia/Ministerie van Defensie
The long way home
Yas took the long way home, which, in itself, is a novel feature for a private vessel, let alone one that was rebuilt on request for one of the world's wealthiest men. The megayacht started out as a Dutch-built frigate that divided its service years between the Royal Dutch Navy and the UAE military.
Launched in 1977 as HNLMS Piet Hein, the frigate was originally 135 meters (443 feet) long, but with a typical narrow hull that rendered it super-fast. Frigates are warships designed for speed and easy maneuverability, and this particular one had been built by Koninklijke Schelde shipyard in The Netherlands, serving the national Navy for more than two decades.
In the late '90s, it was sold to the UAE, where it entered service right away, serving nearly another decade here. The vessel was retired in 2006, but it didn't fail to secure a private buyer almost right away. The new – and only, as far as the world knows – owner was instantly attracted by its military DNA, which translated into an oversize vessel that was nonetheless capable of impressive performance.
It only needed a few adjustments to become truly "perfect."
Photo: Greenline Yacht Interiors
Yas, the megayacht inspired by a dolphin
Like with most projects that truly stand out on this segment of the yachting industry, planning for Yas and the building of Yas ended up being two different things.
The initial plan was repeatedly and continuously reworked, resulting in an extended hull, an absolutely spectacular superstructure, and a very generous interior volume that allows for a 60-guest accommodation capacity. The standard capacity for superyachts or even some megayachts is 14 guests, for comparison.
Photo: Pierrejean Vision Design Studio
Dubbed Project Swift during the rebuild, the hull was launched in 2011 as the eighth in the world by length. However, it would be another four years before the project was completed, with work underway at the ADM Shipyards in the UAE and costs ballooning to more than $200 million. Jacques Pierrejean handled the exterior, while Greenline Yacht Interiors, whose resume includes the interiors of Eclipse and The Floating Seahorse, did the interior design.
Length was extended to 141 meters (462.5 feet), allowing for an interior volume of 5002.0 GT. The new superstructure is inspired by a dolphin and it allows Yas to retain its speed and maneuverability capabilities from the days of yore. The superstructure is also what sets it apart from countless other superyachts and most superyachts, especially with the oversize glass dome at the bow, which houses the owner's suite.
The glass dome also houses the bridge, and it sits in sharp contrast to the aft part, which was left almost entirely open to the sea. Amenities are incredible, just like you'd expect from a dolphin-shaped megayacht that cuts through water like a hot knife through butter. There are several pools onboard, including a waterfall feature, an oversize helipad with hangar, a spa area that would shame the world's glitziest resorts, and many presumed wonders that were never shown to the public.
Photo: Pierrejean Vision Design Studio
As a matter of fact, the only glimpse into the interior of Yas comes courtesy of renders done by Greenline when they took over the project from previous contractors. This might only change if Yas itself changes ownership at some point.
Powered by twin Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines, this massive vessel cruises at 25 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph) and is capable of hitting 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph) at full throttle, and has a transoceanic range at cruising speed. Yas might have come a long way from a frigate visually, but it's still the same beast underneath that fancy exterior.
PHOTO OF THE DAY 141m superyacht Yas in Dubai
The 141-metre motor yacht Yas was recently observed anchored in Dubai, with the Burj Khalifa rising in the background.#potd by https://t.co/f9r2MSBJGo
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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