The 83.5-metre Savannah is a superyacht of many firsts. Delivered by Feadship in 2015, her boundary-pushing design has landed her a trophy cabinet of awards and international acclaim as one of the fleet's first truly "eco-conscious" superyachts. Her glossy silver exterior and fawned-over interior is by Parisian studio Cristina Gherardi Design and she remains one of the most popular (and pricey) yachts in Edmiston's fleet. BOAT takes a closer look at what sets her apart...
The Nemo Lounge
Arguably Savannah's most famous feature is her Nemo Lounge, which also represents one of the most technically impressive feats of engineering in yachting to this day. The semi-submerged sheet of glazing in the hull provides a view under the surface of the sea like no other. Positioned aft, it is in one of the most stable parts of the yacht with stadium-style seating for spotting marine life above and below the waves. It can also be converted into a cinema, fitted with a drop-down screen that covers the glass wall.
The nine-metre mosaic pool
Taking pride of place on the main deck, Savannah's sprawling superyacht pool is one of the best in the game. Designed with input from artist Cecily Brown, the custom feature pool is covered in various blue and green glass tiles to create an abstract mosaic painting from above. Bordered by loungers and sofa seating, it lies flush against the deck and directly aft of the main saloon, blending into the saloon to create a single indoor-outdoor space.
Read More/The coolest superyacht pools in the worldThe metallic finish
The first superyacht to be given a completely metallic paint job, even the undersides of Savannah's exterior decks are painted "Sea Foam" metallic green. Feadship developed a special spray nozzle technique to accomplish the look, with two teams of six painters working in a simultaneous sweep to achieve a flawless finish. Around 200 paint samples were prepared before meeting the owner's approval and the paint had to be applied in one go, with no room for error.
Fun fact: Savannah was the world's largest metallic-painted object at the time of her launch.
The main deck’s video walls
These double-height, five-metre-high video monitors line the passage between the two saloons on Savannah's main deck. The screens can be static or flowing and have been programmed with changing abstract images as well as videos of sea life, including jellyfish. “It was hard work designing and implementing,” said Cristina Gherardi in BOAT's original yacht report on Savannah. “But it was worth the effort. It creates movement… a view, in a space which is normally stale.”
The glass-encased owner's cabin
Savannah's upper deck is dedicated entirely to the owner, bookended by a sunbathing area and a broad helicopter deck. The real showpiece, however, is the master cabin. Flanked by an arched wall of windows and a grand oval skylight, it benefits from spectacular ocean views and natural light. It is also fitted with a marbled, spa-like bathroom and a separate dressing room.
Fun fact: In an effort to balance privacy with "flow", the bedroom is the only area on this deck with an interior door installed.
The eco-minded engine
Savannah features a first-of-its-kind hybrid propulsion system, blending a main diesel engine, three gensets, a megawatt of storage batteries and an azimuthing thruster. While some Japanese passenger ships have used this method in the past, Savannah is the very first yacht to do so, resulting in reduced emissions and "fuel savings of some 30 percent" at the time of launch, according to Feadship CEO Henk de Vries. She can achieve a maximum speed of 17 knots.
The sundeck
The state-of-the-art DJ station, built-in Jacuzzi and open fireplace (fitted with barbecue grills) earn Savannah's sundeck the secondary title of "party deck". This charter yacht is also a favoured spot for casual, al fresco dining thanks to its plush, U-shaped sofa seating and far-flung views off the stern.
Stainless steel is used to great effect on Savannah, as seen in the sundeck's exhaust columns, which have been subtly integrated into the hardtop.
This curving staircase
Designed by Gherardi in collaboration with Marcello Bozzarelli, this elegant spiral staircase is the linchpin of Savannah's holistic interior design. The superyacht’s ample 12.5-metre beam means that the rosewood staircase can unwind lazily from the top deck to the main deck, connecting all four decks in a clean sweep.
Another architectural highlight: There are no straight corridors in Savannah's guest spaces. Everything is curved, including the red hallway that separates the master cabin from the rest of the upper deck.
The main saloon's starry ceiling
Savannah has one of the most intricate lighting plans ever engineered on a superyacht. The design team worked with consultant Metis Lighting, of Milan, on these sophisticated light fixtures – some of which have up to 10 colours, lens types and positions. The main saloon's light-studded, mirrored ceiling is a definite crowd-pleaser. Designed to bring the outdoors in, it reflects the sea by day and resembles a starry sky at night.
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