The powerful presence of Alia Yachts’ 0110

Built by Turkish yard Alia Yachts, 0110 makes up for her relatively modest size with a powerful presence. The 26.5-metre yacht features sharp lines and a graphite-toned exterior that glints darkly in the afternoon sun. Waiting to greet me on the aft deck is the owner, with a big grin and strong handshake that swiftly dispels any fantasies of brooding espionage.

Founded in 2008, Alia Yachts is a custom yacht builder based in Antalya, Turkey. There are seven projects in its sheds ranging from 43 to 65 metres, with the yard perhaps best known for the 45-metre SAN (which earned dual honours at the 2025 World Superyacht Awards and BOAT International Design and Innovation Awards) and Limerence, a 52.5-metre support vessel turned adventurous yacht. 0110, with her sub-30-metre LOA and intensely private profile, may seem a bit of an outlier. But she still fits the bill of a truly bespoke build, which is the yard's specialty.

All the capstans and mooring lines are hidden away, while the unfolding bulwarks are attached to an artfully concealed, full-beam garage that stores kayaks, dive compressors and other fun diversions. The owner tells me the SeaBobs are the most-used toy, thanks to his two children, though he has been trying to convert them to his great love of waterskiing. “They’re getting there,” he jokes.

There’s enough space for some modular furniture, too, but the owner prefers that everyone stay “on the same level” – literally. “For me, this is the yacht life,” he says. “Whether I’m with a top CEO, a business partner or my childhood friends, I want everyone to throw themselves down and just relax. The music’s playing, and we’re all connected.”

The main deck, and its single-space living ethos, is shaped by this desire for connection. The yacht has no side decks in favour of a deep-set main saloon, connected to the stern by a set of sliding glass doors. This, in turn, is attached to the bow lounge, where a curved sofa beckons guests to take a seat and soak in the rugged scenery. A removable Bimini keeps the space breezy without ruining any hairdos.

“People love flybridges. Why? All you do is go up and down, up and down,” the owner says. “With this layout, I can see the whole deck – and the water – from wherever. It also means you can talk and mingle with people easily.”

Alia Yachts’ custom offering extends to yacht interiors, too. There are 120-odd people working across their interior division, producing everything from concept design to metalworking, carpentry and textiles.

As a result, the Turkish yard is responsible for almost everything onboard, down to the staircase railings and hammered copper details in the dayhead. The only exception is her loose furniture. “This is by Giorgetti, and that is Liaigre,” says the owner, pointing to the main saloon’s plump grey sofa and cluster coffee table, respectively.

The space is wonderfully alternative. For years, yacht design has favoured floor-to-ceiling windows and bright, sunlit living spaces. In this main saloon, all the lighting is indirect; slanting through shutters, glinting off glossy surfaces and radiating from matte-black floor lamps.

There are no cutouts in the ceiling, either, which makes the space feel cooler, even cocooned. Forward of the lounge is an intimate six-person dining table, situated right next to the helm station and interior staircase.

The soft, moody vibe continues downstairs, as does the owner’s specifications. “I needed comfortable stairs, a lobby, generous headroom and a decent dayhead,” he explains, leading me to the accommodation. To facilitate this, compromises had to be made. 0110 has three lower deck cabins, instead of the standard four, though this includes two comfortable VIP cabins and full-beam owner’s suite.

The latter is situated forward, furnished in a similar style to the main saloon with minimal natural light and a monochromatic colour palette. On paper, this might sound stuffy, but the actual effect is cozy and intimate.

Wood grain and shades of beige and brown uplift the space, while the en suite, with its saloon-style doors, black marble and waterfall shower, is reminiscent of a spa. “This yacht is great for hosting, but I didn’t want to accommodate a lot of people overnight,” the owner explains. “I’ve prioritised individual comfort over capacity.”

The yacht's naval architecture has also been designed with comfort in mind. Twin Volvo Penta engines power 0110 to a respectable 21 knots, though 14 knots is “the sweet spot” for smooth seakeeping the owner says. There’s little challenge to be found in the balmy bathwater of this Turkish coastline, but 0110 is still admirably steady, without much pitch, roll or any tangible sense of strain.

This is because of her special fusion hull also courtesy of Dixon Yacht Design, which blends planing and displacement forms for a softer, more efficient ride. Modifications included a shortened inner bussel for better running at displacement speeds and a reduced transom outer deadrise, to streamline the hull itself.

“Modern designs are, as we know, very voluminous and heavy compared to past trends,” Berg explains. “This fusion hull means 0110 can have a 7.3-metre beam with very little resistance penalty.”

It also results in a shallower draft of 1.1 metres, allowing 0110 to visit remote isles, shallow bays and wieldy ports at leisure. Her last summer was spent in Göcek, which is known as "the Turkish Riviera" for its jewel-toned waters and strong sailing culture.

The owner, who is based in Istanbul, has toyed with the idea of venturing further afield, but ultimately enjoys the flexibility that Turkey and 0110 affords. “Everything I need is right here,” he shrugs. “I can travel down [from Istanbul] and spend the weekend on board, enjoying delicious food, wine and good conversation with a friend. For me, that’s time very well spent.”

The owner’s busy schedule may only allow for intermittent use, but to call 0110 a weekender would be doing her a grave disservice. A detailed custom design – including a striking exterior, sociable layout and “superyacht finish” worthy of a shaken martini or two – puts this yacht several leagues above her LOA.

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