After a three-year refit, Xana will hit the charter market in August 2021. BOAT discovers the new features guests can expect on board...
Xana has been sailing since 1994, but a new chapter began for the Codecasa yacht in 2017 when she was bought by her current owners. Within months, Xana was handed off to the team at the Greek naval architecture firm Navinco to undergo a complete rebuild that would transform her into the ultimate charter vessel.
“After she was purchased by the new owners, the intention was to enter into reconstruction right away,” says George Tsokris, the leading naval architect who oversaw the project, together with interior designers AMK Architecture & Design. Tsokris credits the firm’s successful track record, which includes the 2015 World Superyacht Award-winning rebuild of Ancallia, as a major factor in persuading the owners to contract Navinco for Xana’s refit.
Xana’s captain Tasos Keramidas was already well acquainted with Xana’s owners before the sale of the yacht and worked closely with the teams at Navinco, MVS and AMK to ensure communication between all parties was as smooth as possible.
The extensive refit program included a five-metre extension of the stern, increasing Xana to 45 metres overall. The lengthening allowed for a complete reconfiguration of her interior layout and the addition of extra outdoor deck spaces as well as a toy garage and swimming platform. “In general, there are more spaces that are usually preferred by charterers,” says Tsokris. Keramidas agrees, arguing that the refit has transformed Xana into “a completely different boat.”
The sundeck now has fresh teak, enhanced al fresco dining and lounge spaces, a drinks bar forward and a new jacuzzi, all with unparalleled views out to sea. A hard top has been added for shade which features a new arch resembling the “X” of Xana.
Indeed, the sundeck is now Tsokris’ favourite element on board post-refit; “going up to the sundeck is like entering a new yacht,” he says.
With the expectation that both the owners and the charter guests will be spending plenty of time outside, the new garage has been stocked up with two top-of-the-line tenders and other toys including jet skis. But that’s not to say that the indoors spaces have been forgotten. “Both the main saloon dining area and the sky lounge have been maintained in terms of their space,” says Tsokris. All of the main deck windows have been substantially enlarged to ensure those who prefer to stay inside “still have direct contact with the sea.”
The refreshed interiors, which can host up to 12 guests in six staterooms, include new soft furnishings handpicked by the owner. The colour scheme is a neutral palette, comprising of calming colours in shades of white and taupe combined with earthy browns and greys. The owner and the captain were largely responsible for the final aesthetic, with the pair agreeing on the layout and the owners specifying the materials and colours used throughout.
Crew areas have had a redesign too with the aim to make service as seamless as possible. The galley has been transferred from the lower to the main deck, and crew accommodations have been increased to make space for one more member. Keramidas explains that the crew now have “a bigger space to relax and can have a better time,” ultimately meaning that “they can serve the guests as best as they can.”
The addition of a garage will benefit the crew as well, according to Keramidas. Before the refit, the tenders were stored on the main deck, which presented challenges. “It was difficult for the crew to put the tenders down as they didn't have the space,” Keramidas says. Now deploying toys and tenders will be an easier process.
On a technical level, Xana boasts brand new navigational tech and entertainment systems and now has Naiad zero-speed stabilisers. She has also undergone an engine overhaul and is equipped with new generators to make her more fuel efficient.
Despite all these changes, Xana’s origins remain visible; “One of the wishes of the new ownership was to maintain the Codecasa character,” explains Tsokris. Her classic lines and raked bow thus remain as subtle hints to her Italian heritage underneath the new trappings.
Xana hit the water in July 2021. She has returned to her usual cruising grounds of the Mediterranean, where her captain is happiest sailing around the island of Lemnos in northern Greece, and will welcome charter guests on board for summer 2022.
Xana is managed for charter by IYC with a weekly charter rate starting from €150,000.