Dubois-designed yachts for sale - 5 superyachts from the boards of a master

When he started out in the early 1970s all Ed Dubois wanted to do was design yachts that would win races.

‘I started on my first boat when I was 23,’ he says. ‘The goals were boats that would win the Admiral’s Cup and the Ton Cups. I wanted to tread in the footsteps of German Frers, Ron Holland and Bruce Farr.’

He achieved one of his goals with his first design, Borsalino Trois, which won the 1976 Three-Quarter Ton Cup. With this early success he caught the wave of racing yacht design, launching a racing career and Dubois Naval Architects, and putting his name to a string of custom-designed, high-performance racing yachts that would win the Fastnet Race, Sydney to Hobart, the Admiral’s Cup and other world championships.

After cutting his teeth on racing yachts, commissions for production boats followed, but in 1985 Dubois started working with an owner who wanted something ‘different’. This would turn into Dubois’ first superyacht.

‘In 1987 we launched Aquel II, a 37 metre yacht which was the first to have the hidden captive winches and ventilation systems,’ he says. ‘I was fortunate to have an owner who wanted the space planning to be a little different. As a result, I realised early on that people were interested in the look of the boat – it had to be seaworthy, but whether it went 14 or 15.5 knots didn’t matter. It had to knock your socks off when you looked at it, the flow through the living areas had to work, and people wanted to be able to see out from the living areas to the horizon – they didn’t want to feel as if they were going into a dark, enclosed space where you got seasick.’

Aquell II caught the eye of Australia’s Neville Crichton, and he commissioned Esprit (now called Eclipse, and currently for sale) the first of eight Dubois yachts that would be built by Alloy Yachts.

Here we present an eclectic selection of five Dubois-designed yachts – both sail and motor – currently on the market.

Turquoise | 2011 | 55.4m | $35.5 million

Her high bow gives Turquoise a masculine elegance | photo by Marc Paris

The motor yacht Turquoise was launched in 2011 by the highly regarded Proteksan-Turquoise shipyard in Istanbul, Turkey. Her interior design was a collaboration between HOK Design in the USA and Suntay Design, Turkey.

Unusually low noise levels were achieved throughout with advice from Silent Line, Istanbul, by clever structural design and the use of special materials.

At 55.4 metres LOA, Turquoise boasts a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 12-14 knots. At 12 knots Turquoise offers a worldwide cruising range in excess of 5,000 nautical miles.

Read the feature on Turquoise

Stuart Larsen has Turquoise listed for sale at Fraser Yachts and comments, ‘She has six staterooms for 12 guests with the owner and VIP suites on the main deck. There are great outside spaces with a large spa pool and a huge sundeck. Fitted with zero speed stabilisers, Turquoise is Lloyd’s classed and MCA compliant.’

Turquoise specifications and pictures

Silver Dream | 2001 | 43.8m | €10.9 million

Silver Dream: yacht for sale with Burgess and Edmiston

Silver Dream is a 43.8m motor yacht built by Warren Yachts in Australia and delivered in 2001. She is an exceptional yacht, outfitted and equipped to the very highest standards. Sleek and elegant, her Dubois-designed black hull and silver superstructure ensure that she is a real head-turner.

A beautifully crafted interior designed by Sam Sorgiovanni creates a very special atmosphere in which to relax. Silver Dream offers accommodation for 10 to 12 guests. The superb full width master suite is located forward on the main deck and features a study, lounge, dressing room and his-and-hers bath and shower rooms. There are four guest cabins on the lower deck, two twins and two doubles with en suite shower rooms. In addition there is a double cabin with an en suite shower room on the upper deck which can be used for guests or as the captain’s cabin.

Silver Dream is being marketed for charter by Burgess and for sale by Burgess and Chris Cecil-Wright at Edmiston who says, ‘One of the unique selling points is her GRP construction. Robustly laid up and immensely strong, the insulation qualities of GRP means significantly reduced transmission of vibration and noise.

‘GRP is often overlooked as a build material for large “one-off” builds because it’s significantly more expensive than steel, but in Silver Dream the additional expense has proven to be well worthwhile.’

Silver Dream specifications and pictures

Ad Lib | 2006 | 40m | €13,950,000

Ad Lib: yacht for sale with Burgess

The motor yacht Ad Lib is an ocean thoroughbred with the style and elegance of a true aristocrat.

Designed by for an experienced and discerning owner, Ad Lib reflects the quality that comes from the single-minded pursuit of excellence. Built by Alloy Yachts in 2006, this 40m yacht is an accomplished passagemaker that cocoons owners and guests in comfort while reeling off the miles.

Powered by twin 1450hp Caterpillar diesels, Ad Lib has a cruising speed of 13 knots and a top speed of 16.5 knots. Generous tankage allows for a range of 4,500 nautical miles.

An expansive interior by Donald Starkey accommodates nine guests in four staterooms and she was a winner at the 2006 World Superyacht Awards.

Ad Lib is listed for sale by Burgess where James Clark comments: ‘These 38-40m Alloy motor yachts are always very popular on the pre-owned yacht market as experienced buyers recognise the sailing yacht practices and attention to detail shining through. Ad Lib affords the chance to cruise in comfort and style and at the same time is the perfect size yacht to access remote cruising grounds.’

Ad Lib specifications and pictures

Tenaz | 1996 | 40m | €7,550,000

Tenaz: yacht for sale with Dubois Yachts and Northrop & Johnson

Winner of the Voyagers’ Award at the 2010 World Superyacht Awards, Tenaz has earned a superb reputation for her performance under sail, regularly achieving 17 knots.

She has a sleek profile, which gives wonderful visibility forward from her huge and comfortable cockpit, with horseshoe seating and a large dining area providing shaded space beneath the bimini, which can be enclosed should conditions require. Her expansive foredeck offers ample space for enjoying the sun or relaxing under the stars. The transom platform lowers to the sea for diving, bathing or boarding the tender.

Three en-suite guest cabins, two with Pullman berths, and a well appointed owners’ suite provide flexible accommodation for friends and family. The pilothouse leads from the main cockpit down to a full-width saloon. The dining area to port and seating to starboard offer more formal surroundings and a space to unwind from the heat of the day or relax in the evening.

Launched as Mamamouchi by Pendennis Shipyard in 1996, Tenaz underwent an extensive refit at Pendennis over the winter of 2008/2009.

She is listed for sale by Dubois Yachts and Ann Avery at Northrop & Johnson who says, ‘Tenaz has a special place in the market as, at 40m she is the only one in her price range, yet has all the modern features of her sisters: from a roller-furling composite boom and opening transom to light-filled upper and lower saloons.

‘What’s really terrific is her unique, very safe, deck layout which offers an entire central social section, completely uninterrupted by traffic from the pilothouse to the helm and aft deck. An enclosed cockpit walkway offers tremendous outdoor safety. After the family’s world cruise, the owner completely refitted Tenaz so she is ready to go around again. That’s a real benefit to a buyer – provision and go!’

Tenaz specifications and pictures

Alcanara | 2009 | 29.14m | €6.8 million

Alcanara - yacht for sale with Dubois and Burgess

The 29.1m fast cruising sloop Alcanara was built for an Australian client by Steve Ward in Perth, Western Australia in 2009.

The owner wanted a thoroughly seaworthy, elegant and fast cruising yacht at just under the 100 foot mark, with a superstructure that had a contemporary look.

Her interior was designed by Rhoades Young and evokes a relaxed, light and sophisticated feel with German birch wood and teak, stainless steel and coffee leather trim used throughout the yacht. All timbers have been specially treated to resist yellowing, leaving a bright and light interior.

An expensive mix of Italian fabrics and marble has been used throughout the yacht, with custom carpets manufactured especially for Alcanara in pure New Zealand wool. Accommodation is for six guests in three cabins.

She is listed for sale by Dubois Yachts and Henry Craven-Smith at Burgess who says of her, ‘Alcanara was built to Lloyd’s classification for an Olympic yachtsman and seamlessly combines exceptional sailing credentials with both elegance and comfort. This is undoubtedly a very special yacht that will have enormous appeal for sailing enthusiasts while still providing a high degree of luxury.’

Alcanara specifications and pictures