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Superyacht Galleys: How do we build them better?

In the role of a Superyacht Chef, the working environment directly influences performance. With minimal space, it’s vital that a Superyacht galley is designed effectively. GN-Espace Systems specialise in yacht galley designs and are here to discuss how to make galleys better.

As shipyards and owners compete with each other to build the largest Superyacht, it is fair to say that the general mood amongst yacht chefs is a positive one. Larger Superyachts typically mean more room in the yachts’ working areas. And of course, this translates into bigger galleys with more storage spaces, tools, equipment, and so on.

Historically, in the days when a well-endowed yacht was just a shade over 50m, owners were reluctant to sacrifice living space for crew and other working areas. For example, if you step onboard a classic pre-1990 Feadship, you’ll often find a galley that largely represents a home-style kitchen with few mod-cons.

Let’s just say, cruising a Superyacht was a different game back then. There were fewer boats on the water and ample space in the marinas. Guests had fewer worries for safety and privacy, which made venturing ashore for restaurant meals more common.

However, fast forward to now and things have changed a lot, and guests look forward to indulging in luxury cuisine on board. The demand for this means Superyacht builders have to ensure the yacht galleys’ designs are a slick, near-commercial operation from the get-go.

So, what is important when designing the ideal yacht galley?

It doesn’t take a degree in architecture to dream up a functioning yacht galley space. But, equally, it would be foolish to address a layout without first consulting a professional yacht chef. Most of the chefs we spoke to during the creation of this piece agreed on one point…Professional consultationis the most important factor in making sure a new-build yacht galley meets its maximum potential.

Charter yachts will see stews and stewardesses having access to the yacht’s galley regularly. Because of this, it’s good to keep fast-moving traffic in mind when designing galley systems. Some chefs will say that this can be done by designing cooking equipment space, preparation areas and the overall chefs area at one end of the galley. While over the other side will be an area for collecting food/disposing of food. This is to reduce the hazard of crew and chefs getting under each other’s feet.

To further extend on galley equipment space – the majority of Superyacht galleys feature designs in which tools and applicants are out of the way under the counter and in cupboards. By doing so, it creates a larger work area.

“Space is the most important thing to get right in the galley. If the allocation of space isn’t quite right, this will have a knock-on effect on the overall design and working environment.” – Ralph Olingschlaeger, director at GN Espace.

Entrepreneur galley designer, Julian Kimberley and CEO of GN-Espace discloses:

There is still vast scope in the marketplace for specialist contractors in these types of working areas onboard yachts. This is evident through the success of similar businesses such as Superyacht gym designers Gym Marine , and yacht tender suppliers Superyacht Tenders. It’s a prime example that the industry is still very much willing to listen to experts.

Luxury blue water cruisers @Gunfleetyachts exhibiting in Hall 16 at @nonstopboat. Equipped with GN Espace galley. See us in Hall 11 F04 pic.twitter.com/wUbmSkQYiv — GN Espace (@GN_Espace) January 17, 2017

GN Espace has been operating in the Superyacht industry for over 10 years. They’ve overseen the evolution of Superyacht galleys, as yachts become larger and larger. From speaking with Julian, he uncovered that the yacht design industry has now embraced the idea of function-over-form. And, he goes as far as saying that this is the key to designing a first-class yacht galley.

“In the past, these galleys were designed as home-style kitchens, made to look beautiful with plenty of wood and marble. Practically speaking though these galleys are commercial kitchens nowadays, more akin to restaurant or hotel cooking facilities. This means that we are urging designers to include more surfaces and units in stainless steel. As well as to take more time studying the layout, to ensure better levels of food hygiene and efficiency.” – Julien 

“Preparation is key. I ensure that at the beginning of the season or before a charter I stock up with just about every conceivable thing a guest could request. We have always been lucky to have ample freezer space and large dry stores on the yachts I’ve worked with. When I have been presented with tighter storage solutions, I have employed multiple-use pieces of equipment to make room for more provisions. Having the right ingredients is much more important than having a special gadget when space is at a premium” – Jules Wigley, a kiwi chef who has enjoyed a career cooking onboard some of the most high profile yachts in the Superyacht industry.

Whatever the future holds for the new-build market, one thing is for certain; Despite the importance of space in the galley design phase, it needs to be created with a technical mindset, as opposed to a style-driven approach.

Visit www.gn-espace.com for more on specialist yacht galley designs, systems and equipment.

For the latest crew mess news, click here. 

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SPECIFICATIONS

A classic feadship motor yacht.

Yacht LACROMA is a Classic Feadship Motor Yacht built in 1965. In 2016 LACROMA underwent a full refit and was restored in her natural classic style and she remains in excellent condition with all the classic charm of a by gone era.

ACCOMODATION

During the refit the owner spared no expense in restoring the classic exterior of the yacht whilst adding modern touches to the interior to combine classic elegance with modern convenience. With an impressive inventory of leisure equipment, she is simply delightful to charter. M/Y LACROMA offers a huge amount of outdoor space in her different deck areas.On the large romantic aft deck you will find a dining table for 8 persons, dine al fresco while savoring special creations that the chef prepared just for you. The relaxation lounge area on the sundeck includes sun beds, a bimini and dining table, perfect to soak in the sun while taking panoramic views in complete privacy.

On the top of the helm there is a vast sunbed exposed to the Mediterranean sun. For easy access to the water, the hull has wide steps leading from the starboard deck right down to the ocean where there is a small platform and ladders.

Carter Yacht LACROMA has a wide selection of toys on board including a hard bottom dinghy with 40 Hp, sea scooter, water-skis, wake board, donuts, snorkeling equipment and fishing gear, BBQ on sun deck.

LACROMA is completely authentic with her very elegant woodwork from the sixties. This superb Feadship is a wonderful classic and has been well looked after. The yacht has had almost a complete refit from stem to stern with an all new modern classic interior.

At entry level there is a large salon area which was completely rebuilt during the refit; it offers a wonderful view in all directions when she is cruising. The Inside Dining and open Galley area offers a fantastic ambiance with the atmosphere of the sixties. The galley is fully equipped.

LACROMA can accommodate up to 6 guests in three comfortable double cabins, all with en-suite bathroom, TV and DVD and individually controlled air-conditioning.

The master cabin is equipped with a large center line king-sized bed and the bathroom includes a large steam shower (Hamam). There is one double cabin and one twin bunk cabin. Each cabin in finished in cool modern decor with light woods and cool tones which create a feeling of spaciousness.

TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT THE M/Y LACROMA

M/Y LACROMA can acommodate up to 6 guests in three comfortable double cabins, all with en-suite bathroom, TV and DVD and individually controlled air-conditioning.

LEAVE US A MESSAGE

Captain Ante Gotovac Classic Yacht Lacroma 21000 Split Croatia

T. +49 (172) 4000123 F. +41 (41) 4171077

K + K Pula Marine LTD A Koidl and Cie. Company 3, Bullace Labe Dartford Kebt Da1 1 BB

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Yacht Cruising Lifestyle

Everything fun you can do from your yacht

Setting Up the Perfect Boat Galley

March 19, 2021 by Travis Turgeon Leave a Comment

Living on a boat comes with countless challenges, but few can cause more frustration than a poorly designed galley. It’s tough enough to cook a great-tasting meal that everyone enjoys in a standard kitchen, but managing that in a swaying, confined space with limited resources can make you want to hurl yourself overboard. A perfect boat galley is well-designed, highly functional, and safe to use. Below, we cover everything you’ll need to know to make the most out of your space.

The Boat Galley

Boat galleys vary in a ton of different ways. Size, layout, storage, proximity – the list goes on. Each boat will require a slightly different setup than the next, but certain features are beneficial across the board.

Boat Galley Basics

Boat Galley Location

From cooking and cleaning to remaining mobile and social, the location of a galley can dramatically impact your culinary experience at sea. The galley should be accessible from both the cockpit and saloon, well ventilated and in an area that is less prone to boat roll than other areas. Placement at the foot of the boat’s companionway is ideal, as it satisfies the three considerations mentioned above. Those with multiple roles on the boat will enjoy this location as they make trips above and below deck. Each boat will have a different setup, though, so be sure to consider the specifics for you and your crew. What works for some will be less than ideal for others. 

Boat Galley Layout

The shape and layout of your space will dictate how you set up your kitchen and arrange your boat galley accessories. Three standard layouts for a boat galley exist – Linear, L-Shaped, or U-Shaped. L-Shaped and U-Shaped galleys are more commonly found on offshore cruisers, as the design provides more support and security when the boat is rolling. They also keep spaces and cooking accessories nearby for a busy evening as the lead cook.

While these confined layouts are more suitable for safety and convenience, they reduce the overall ability to be creative in the kitchen. Less space means you have to be more mindful of the equipment you’re using, as well as how many dishes you can prepare at once. It would be best if you determined your galley’s layout by evaluating how many people are on board, how often you’ll be cooking during open-water passages, and how creative a cook you are in the first place. 

Functionality  

Gimballed Boat Appliances 

A gimbal is a single-axis support system on which objects pivot to stay level, even when their surroundings are not. Having gimbaled boat appliances is essential to cooking safely, especially when making long passages in inclement weather. The most common boat appliance to mount on a gimbal is a stove and oven. Gimballed boat appliances are lockable when not in use, so you can use the equipment as usual when at anchor or docked in the marina. 

Logical Refrigeration Placement

While modern boat galleys are becoming more logical in their design and layout, there are often things that leave us scratching our heads when looking at older vessels. Unfortunately, one of the most common issues we see is the placement of refrigeration and freezer units. Whether due to space restrictions or simple neglect, we see these cooling units installed near engine rooms, ovens, or in areas with minimal ventilation. For obvious reasons, placement in these areas will drastically reduce energy efficiency and drive up costs. When looking to buy a used boat or renovate your existing galley, make energy efficiency a primary consideration.

Boat Galley Convenience Features

Double-Basin Sink

While this is, of course, a subjective opinion, many offshore cruisers prefer to equip their boat’s galley with a deep, double-basin sink. Deeper basins offer a few advantages, although not every person will see them as essential.

The main advantage is the ability to soak your dishes without worrying about water overflowing when the boat rolls. However, if you’re only cooking for a few people, you can manage this with a shallow sink as well. The selling point for most is the double basins. With two basins, you can use one for washing and draining while the other serves as a soaking station. After all, efficiency is the name of the game in such a small and limited cooking space. If you aren’t using one of the basins, you can increase your counter space by placing a fitted cutting board or surface over the second basin. Depending on the meal, you may require more space or an assistant in the kitchen. 

Locking Cupboard, Drawer, and Oven Latches

Installing lockable latches to anything with a swinging door or a sliding drawer is the best way to prevent things from coming open during a passage. Not only are you risking breaking your kitchenware, but you’re potentially turning ordinary household items into dangerous, high-speed projectiles. These latches are cheap, easy to install and provide peace of mind for a more relaxed journey.

Vertical Cupboard Dowels

Another infinitely helpful boat galley accessory is vertical dowels, installations to keep glasses in place and prevent breakage. You can also use dowels to stack plates and bowls, although most find the best use for them to hold their precious wine glasses and beer mugs. Ensure you won’t be drinking your wine from plastic cups by installing these boat galley accessories in your cupboards.

Wall-Mounted Racks

Having wall-mounted racks in strategic locations around the galley can help the chef stay organized and uncluttered without sacrificing accessibility for items like oil and spices. If your wall rack doesn’t have a security band or horizontal dowel to keep items secure, you can easily install a bungee cord to keep things from moving around. 

Boat Galley Safety Features

Grab Rails and Handles

When it comes to the boat galley, you need to consider safety a top priority. If not, you’ll quickly find out why this is such a pressing matter. One of the biggest threats to a cook is the prospect of being tossed across the galley. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is by having handles and grab-rails within reach, although some prefer tether systems. The debate will likely continue through eternity, but most long-term cruisers seem to prefer handles and grab-rails as it keeps them mobile in case of emergency. 

Tether System 

Depending on who you ask, tether systems that hold a cook in place are extremely useful or extremely dangerous. Most seem to think they are more dangerous than beneficial, but those with knee or back injuries may find them invaluable in keeping them stable and safe in the kitchen. When cooking on a boat during a rough passage, being tied in place directly in front of hot liquids, fire and pans can be dangerous. If any of those things spill in your direction, burns and bruises are sure to follow. Handles and grab-rails are a common alternative to tether systems, but debates on a better design can become heated depending on who you ask. 

Boat Galley Upgrade Considerations

Another method to improve refrigeration efficiency is to create an “organization plan.” Installing shelves and drawers will help with organization and space efficiency, and using color-coded labels can help with the quick identification of any item.

Hand and Foot Pump Faucets

Using your freshwater supply to clean dishes is far from economical, so installing a hand or foot pump to the faucet is a great way to minimize the use of your limited resources. Cleaning your dishes with seawater is not only easy, but the resources to do so are completely free. You can arrange hand pumps and foot pumps however you prefer, but a common method is to hook a hand pump to freshwater and a foot pump to seawater. Just clean your dishes with soap and saltwater, and give a quick rinse with fresh water to conserve your onboard resources. You can take the conservation efforts a step further by filling a spray bottle with fresh water to rinse dishes. Although a hand or foot pump uses minimal water, a spray bottle uses even less. 

Stainless Steel Boat Appliances

Everything from your kitchen sinks to refrigerators and stovetops is subject to deterioration from salt while at sea. Most new vessels come equipped with all stainless steel appliances for just that reason, but certain models cut costs by supplying the galley with boat appliances made of other materials. If you have boat appliances or kitchenware constructed with anything other than stainless steel, it’s worth considering an upgrade. By spending money on items constructed with high-quality material now, you can avoid higher-cost replacements down the road. 

Boat Galley Lighting

Poor lighting in your boat’s galley can create a dull and uninspired atmosphere, so upgrading your existing lights to LEDs can help liven the mood. Apart from your mental health, LEDs are far more efficient than standard bulbs, which reduces long-term energy costs. Consider installing additional lights to areas above the sink, stove, or countertops. Some LED lights can switch from red to white light, which is beneficial when setting the appropriate mood. 

Port / Hatch Enlargements – Ventilation

Your boat’s galley is the space that needs the most ventilation – for comfortability, safety, and health. When cooking on a boat with propane, it’s crucial to have a well-ventilated kitchen space. Natural gases tend to be denser than air, which means that the gases will “fall” beneath the lower deck if a leak goes unnoticed. Once below deck, the heat can cause combustion to occur, endangering everyone on board or near the boat. Improper use of propane has killed and injured many cruisers in the past, so be sure to prepare appropriately if you decide to use propane as a fuel source. On that note, install gas monitors for further protection. 

Galley Cookware and Accessories

With a small amount of planning and preparation, cooking on a boat in a small galley can be enjoyable. Some of the most important considerations to make are the essentials and non-essentials for kitchen cookware and boat galley accessories.

Boat Galley Essentials

Pressure Cooker

Pressure cookers are the perfect answer to your multi-purpose needs in a boat kitchen. With the steam vent left open, a pressure cooker serves as a standard pot for all daily meals you would prepare in a kitchen at home.

Closed, your cooking time decreases drastically, making those long-haul passages in inclement weather nothing short of a breeze. Although most people who venture into the cruising lifestyle don’t have a ton of previous experience with pressure cookers, the learning curve is exceptionally shallow. You can master it in nearly no time. 

Nesting Pots and Pans

Dual-purpose kitchen cookware covers all of your bases without stocking up on too many unnecessary items. Further, having nesting cookware is the key ingredient in keeping storage space efficient and uncluttered. Simply put, nesting cookware cascades in size, allowing you to stack each item inside one another. Once you clean them, stack them together, and viola – efficiency at its finest.

Tin Foil and Freezer Bags

Two of the most challenging items to find in foreign countries, whether in the south Pacific or the Caribbean, are heavy-duty tin foil and freezer bags. Keeping your perishables fresh and delicious becomes extremely difficult without the proper boat galley accessories, and these two items are at the top of the list. 

Anything and Everything Silicone

Silicone products are a full-time cruiser’s best friend, making life easy in a variety of ways. Silicone mats allow you to bake without using oil or parchment, are easy to clean, save on storage space, and provide slip-resistant surfaces for any area in the galley. Collapsible mixing bowls and measuring cups are unbreakable, light, and space-efficient. 

Almost all silicone kitchen items can serve multiple purposes, as they are heat resistant, soft, and have gripping properties. Not only are silicone products highly functional, but they are also stylish and colorful – bringing even the dullest of kitchens to life. 

High-Quality Knives

Having just a few high-quality, sharp knives on board makes a world of difference for the seasoned chef. In this case, quality over quantity has never been so important. Stainless steel material is the go-to in saltwater environments. High-quality knives make it easy to serve multiple purposes without sacrificing storage space or functionality. 

Boat Galley Storage

Living on a boat will turn even the messiest of us into overly neat and well-organized human beings, but this only happens through trial and error without proper direction. Luckily, information is right at our fingertips these days.

Dry Storage

Storage Hammocks

Keeping dry goods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices in a storage hammock is a great way to conserve your cupboard space in the boat galley. Storage hammocks are just what you would imagine them to be. They are small, mesh nets that hang as a hammock does above your sink or stovetop – just try to keep them out of the way of cabinet doors and drawers.

Many experienced boat cooks keep the essential items here for easy access and quick use while preparing meals. The hammock swings just slightly when sailing through rough seas, but they are far from a nuisance if you install them in an ideal location. 

Rotating Cupboard Shelves

Instead of pulling out every spice jar to reach the back of the cupboard, install a rotating shelf to make life easier on yourself. Emptying your whole cabinet during passage is a huge inconvenience, and keeping everything secure can become a hassle. You can install rotating shelves as multi-tiered vertical fixtures, so you can use each shelf to organize in a sensible way for your galley. 

Refrigerator Storage

Knowing What Needs Cooled

Not all foods need cold storage for safe consumption. Having a good understanding of which items in your kitchen need cooling will save you space and energy, so familiarize yourself with the requirements of the foods you keep onboard.

Grains, rice, flour, fruits, vegetables, and many other items sealed in jars don’t need cooling for healthy consumption. Follow this LINK for estimated keep times of various food items commonly held on a boat.

Top-Loading Refrigerator 

Generally, top-loading refrigeration units are open and empty spaces without bins or trays for a personalized organization. When people first try to figure out the best way to organize their cold foods, they often just stack things wherever seems easy and convenient. For most, this leads to developing bad habits that ultimately cost them money as they continually reduce their energy efficiency. We recommend using dividers, trays, and compartments to organize. Over time, you will learn to optimize your storage space – making life less stressful in the galley.

Freezer Storage

Color-Coded Mesh Bags

Having a storage system for your frozen goods is the best way to minimize the time that the freezer door stays open for unnecessary reasons. A standard method for doing this is to have color-coded mesh bags to store frozen items. When looking for fish, poultry, vegetables, or anything else, having a color system reduces time spent fumbling through storage looking for something specific. 

Freezer Placement

When buying a new or used boat, your cooling units will likely already have a home. If you’re planning to replace or upgrade your freezer, however, install it below the waterline for a lower ambient temperature – this will help with energy conservation, especially in warmer locations like the tropics.

Keeping Pests Under Control

Cardboard and Paper Labels – Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the biggest nuisances on a boat, especially when stocked with long-term provisions. Small spaces between cardboard mesh and underneath paper labels are the ideal breeding ground for cockroaches – the reason behind most boat infestations. Some cockroaches species carry egg capsules inside their bodies, and before dying, they release dozens of offspring. Getting rid of cockroaches is extremely difficult if not identified promptly. When provisioning, your best bet is to entirely remove any paper or cardboard from every item before placing your goods into storage. Once you remove the labels, use a permanent marker to indicate the contents of the container. Instead of using cardboard boxes as storage, invest in hard plastic tubs and trays to minimize the otherwise continuous battle. Air-tight bins and plastic bags are low-cost and efficient in keeping cockroaches at bay.

If you find yourself with cockroaches scuttling across your floors, you need to act quickly. While there are dozens of strategies for clearing your boat, each will require a different approach. Some cockroach species are easier to eradicate than others, and it seems that everyone has different results with the same methods.

Your best bet is to employ several of the following simultaneously:

• Cockroach Gel-Bait
• Poison Powders
• Fumigation When Necessary (this method requires you to vacate the vessel for 48 hours and remove any cookware, cutlery, and utensils beforehand)

Air-Tight Plastic Storage – Weevils 

Weevils are another common onboard pest, and they can be majorly destructive to your provisions. Food items such as rice, nuts, flour, and beans can become infested quickly if not correctly stored in air-tight plastic containers. These foods act like magnets for weevils, and they are the perfect breeding ground for their nearly unnoticeable larvae. Even when treated with pesticides, things like flour provide the ideal habitat for weevil larvae to flourish.

If you are unfortunate enough to open up your grain or flour containers to find weevils, there are a couple of tried and true ways to get rid of the infestation. For flour, simply microwave the product for five minutes or longer, or bake it in the oven at 200 degrees F for 30 minutes. After heating, let cool before storing in an airtight plastic container and store with bay leaves to repel future weevils. For food items such as grains or nuts, you can place them in a deep freezer for several hours to several days. For the freezing method, you need to have a freezer that reaches temperatures well below freezing. 

Keeping Clean – Ants

Whether on land or at sea, ants are among the most common pests in a kitchen environment. Sugary drinks, crumbs, and unattended spills are all reasons for ants to come aboard, so clean diligently everywhere on the boat – not just in the galley. You should take preventative measures before you ever see a single ant on the boat to ensure that a full-blown infestation doesn’t occur. Once ants make their way on board, you need to eradicate the problem at the source.

Preventative measures include:

• Creating Barriers on Dock Lines (Petroleum Jelly)
• Strategically Placed Ant Traps and Poisons in High-Risk Areas
• Whole or Ground Cloves Placed Near Sugar Containers
• Keep Sugars, Syrups, Honey, etc. in Sealed Plastic Bins

You can manage an existing ant infestation in various ways, although using several of the following methods at once is e asy and effective:

• Poisons (Borax and Sugar Mixture)

Galley Cookbooks

The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard, by Carolyn Shearlock 

The space is tight, the ingredients are limited, and you just caught a fish you’ve never even considered preparing before. The boat-friendly recipes and tips in this book are sure to help out any long-term cruiser in the galley, but especially the unseasoned, first-time liveaboard chefs. In some parts of the world, chickens come whole, fish come uncleaned, and you need bones for your broth. Making bread and yogurt can also be a daunting task with limited resources. Taking raw, simple ingredients and turning them into full-blown authentic dishes inspired by cuisines worldwide is easy with this galley cookbook. Make sure this book is onboard – you’ll find plenty of uses for it. 

Feasts Afloat: 150 Recipes for Great Meals From Small Spaces, by Jennifer Trainer Thompson

This book addresses one of the biggest problems with cooking on a boat, and it mentions it directly in its title – limited space. While other boat galley cookbooks try to create complex recipes with unusual ingredients and specialized cookware, this book takes a different approach – bringing you straightforward, easy-to-cook meals without sacrificing taste or quality. You can cook a new boat-friendly recipe from this book every day for nearly half a year, although you are sure to find a few weekly staples along the way. The printed, high-quality color photos inspire the boat chef and create a mouthwatering appetite for everyone on board. If you only keep a couple of cookbooks on board, this should be one of them. 

* For a complete list and description of our favorite books to help you plan, prepare, and execute a life of cruising, follow this LINK !

Galley Tips and Tricks

• Before preparing a meal, take out every ingredient you’ll need and situate them in a way that will maximize workflow. Fumbling through your cramped and limited storage becomes frustrating when you need something at a moment’s notice.
• Decide on the items you find most useful, and make sure you have them with you – even if it means sacrificing a bit of storage space. If you eat vegetables with every meal, you can reduce the time spent in front of your cutting board by buying a heavy-duty hand dicer. If you’re a skilled fisherman and eat seafood often, having a vacuum sealer can be a lifesaver. Tailor your kitchen equipment directly to your needs, rather than using the “blanket method” for preparation.
• If you don’t have silicone mats, use damp towels to prevent plates and bowls from sliding across surfaces. You can take this idea a step further by applying a small amount of rubber cement to the bottom of plates and bowls. Once dried, few materials will grip surfaces more tightly. 
• Wear a full-length apron to ensure that you won’t suffer burns if hot liquids spill as the boat rolls during passage.
• Old tube socks serve as excellent protection for precious wine and liquor bottles. Some will choose to invest in proper fixtures to make sure breakage does not occur, but you can just as easily prevent this from happening with towels and socks. 
• When preparing freshly caught fish, the smell on your hands may linger for hours or even days. Washing your hands with vinegar is a sure-fire way to get the odor off right away. 

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Nero: The 90m new build with an old-world soul and neo-classic styling

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the classically styled 90.1-metre Nero has been sailing the seas for centuries. Dig a little deeper and you'll find she is an architectural confection of old and new, as Holly Margerrison discovers.

Nero is a yacht of many secrets. For years, she was home to a plump, ginger stowaway from the Chinese shipyard she was built in. Named Nelson, the cat stayed with the owner on board, only going ashore if guests were not fond of the feline, and he even had his own chair in the wheelhouse that he scratched to pieces. Everyone gave up trying to replace the armchair and eventually threw a blanket over it.

Frederica Findlater of Burgess recounts a beautiful photo of the yacht taken from the stern. You’d be mistaken for thinking Nero was the subject of the image. Instead, sat on the capping rail, tail straight down, is Nelson, lapping up dusk’s soft light. Oh, to be the stowaway on Nero and to know the stories she holds.

Several years and two substantial refits later, these nostalgic traces can still be found throughout – if you know where to look. On a bright day off the coast of Monaco, I tour the modern-classic build, witnessing the wealth of details that make her such a revered yacht.

For example: Tucked behind the door in the owner’s suite is the epitome of British naval power. Poised high on the top shelf is a bust of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson (from which the cat borrowed its name) – a charismatic legend who led the British fleet to victory against the much larger French and Spanish fleets in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Follow the compass-embossed marquetry a little further along the deck and you uncover the next jewel in Nero 's trove. Here lies another bust, this time of Lord Byron, a figure heavily connected to the Greek War of Independence and the author behind the 1814 poem The Corsair . The poem tells the story of a wild and ruthless pirate, and served as inspiration for the name of one of the largest privately owned vessels in the 1930s, a 103-metre classic named Corsair IV that was itself the inspiration for Nero .

These treasures, along with model yachts that evoke the spirit of sea battles in their golden age, imbue Nero with a maritime history that goes much deeper than her clipper bow, black hull and iconic yellow funnel. It was British entrepreneur Neil Taylor who commissioned and designed Nero, initially setting out to restore a true classic. But when a suitable donor yacht wasn't available, he built a replica design of Corsair IV, owned by finance and industry icon JP Morgan in the 1930s.

Taylor inserted himself in the traditions of early 20th-century yachting and created something which both looked and felt like a time-honoured yacht. He pays his respects to JP Morgan across Nero with ubiquitous intertextual links. For a start, Corsair Yachts , the yard that Taylor created specifically for his build, is a nod to Morgan’s Corsair series of yachts. The bust of Nelson also honours the financier's fascination with the naval figure, who spent his life collecting ephemera and memorabilia. 

John Leonida, consulting superyacht industry advisor from LP Squared Ltd, shared much of his extensive research into Nero . He said: “The level of detail is extraordinary. It’s the bringing together of so many nautical themes that makes this such a spectacular boat.” Speaking of the figurehead of Byron, he added: “It’s an easter egg. If you don’t know it’s there, you don’t know that’s Byron. It adds another dimension.”

Her exterior is equally as captivating. As Captain Paul Bell explains, her sheer line “[rises] up as if it were an old-fashioned yacht. It’s taken from the time, so it’s architecturally correct. It’s the only boat I’ve worked on that has one of those, apart from an old-fashioned sailing yacht. She feels like a mix of a motor yacht and a sailing yacht because of her full-length keel. When she’s sitting at anchor like this, she feels like a sailing yacht.” He adds: “It’s quite relaxed, it’s not like a modern-day superyacht.”

It wasn’t always so relaxed inside and, for this, interior designer Laura Pomponi is to thank. As she puts it, she “transformed the yacht from a gentleman’s club to a lady of the seas”. Pomponi was tasked with the 2016 refit in MB92 in Barcelona, under a new owner whose brief was “contemporary, classic elegance”. Pomponi explains the biggest challenge of this refit was balancing a fresh aesthetic while “keeping the soul of the vessel”. To accomplish this, she introduced considerable light, cream interiors that are anything but clinical, and an amalgamation of cosy textures throughout.

Light in colour yet springy underfoot, the handmade bouclé carpet on the main deck invites guests to take their time as they walk across it. When it came to sourcing the fabric (of which there was 3.2km in the first refit), she explains “we pick up a little bit here, a little bit there. We don’t like well-known brands, we look for something special”.

Prior to the refit, purple, black and gold tones were a common theme on board, and they have since been replaced with nautical-hued furnishings, while dark high-gloss woods have been substituted for lime-washed oak and brass fittings have been stripped and dipped in chrome to resemble silver.

The mix of old and new artwork, chosen in collaboration with the owner and sourced predominantly from Italy and America, heightens the maritime theme with a contrast between tall ships and steamships.

The result of the first refit? A tactile, retro yacht where guests are encouraged to enjoy the space. Not cavernous yet also not claustrophobic, Nero encapsulates all that is to evoke “quiet luxury” – not defined by the amount it cost to build her, nor her refit costs.

Fast forward to 2021, when Pomponi’s expertise was called on once again. This time, the brief was more technical and focused on a wellness boat that would appeal to charter clients, aligning with an upgraded programme.

With this in mind, the snug was converted into a self-serving gym on the top deck and the previous gym was converted into a beauty saloon-come-massage room. They also changed the loose furniture and the owner opted for new colours, allowing Pomponi to weave in greens and yellows amongst the teal and blue. The sofas, designed and upholstered by the studio, demand to be sat on – the level of formality stripped in favour of ergonomic design. The floor surrounding the skylounge bar was also changed to wood to be more universally appealing.

The gym was Pomponi’s challenge for the 2021 refit, not least due to the technical constraints of the camber and the sheer of the floor. To make the ultra-modern kinesis fit, her team removed the floor and replaced it with technical cork panels, which are also easier to maintain. She then harmonised the contemporary and classic ambience with glass mirrors produced by an Italian company, Sicis, that specialises in glass mosaics. The mirrored cabinets are coated to give an antique effect.

In a testament to how the boat flows, this “quiet luxury” extends to the service provided by the unobtrusive yet attentive crew. They refute the formality of a silver service associated with a yacht of this size in favour of a more personable approach.

While little is known about the name behind Nero , there are certainly some characters who tell her multifaceted story. Nelson – both the feline and the naval figure – certainly have a part to play in this. For now, Nero will play host to charter guests – next stop Tarragona, before the Antigua Yacht Show.

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Vagabundo was designed and maintained to be an all-weather ocean-going craft performing well under both power and sail. Her iconic profile shows an ageless beauty. To walk her decks, salon, galley, stateroom and wheelhouse is to be transported to a time of nautical elegance. Today, Vagabundo continues to embody maritime refinement through modernizations implemented in a traditional craftsman manner, including a gourmet galley, and custom woodworking throughout, all with thoughtful designs that make cruising a pleasure.

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