MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
On board Alia Yachts' 53m superyacht Limerence that doubles as a playground
Part workhorse and part thoroughbred, the 52.5-metre Limerence is a floating water park with the capacity of an explorer and the stylings of a superyacht. Katia Damborsky gets in the splash zone
CHRISTIE YACHTS
If you asked a diehard watersports enthusiast to dream up a treasure trove of all the water toys, nautical gadgets and ocean accessories that their heart desired, it would probably look something like Limerence’s toy chest.
The watersports centre is located on the main deck of the boat, where you might expect to find a main saloon, and it’s stocked with stacks of boards (paddle, jet-boards, E-foils, surfboards) and dive sets, and the walls are jammed with high-grade fishing poles and spearguns, pristine rash vests and expensive looking snorkel masks.
In the aft deck overhead, the yacht stores one RS Tera sailing dinghy and one RS CAT sailing catamaran, plus there are three tenders, including a beefy Ski Nautique GS20 whose sole use is wakeboarding and waterskiing – and the yacht’s full complement of inflatables could rival something from Total Wipeout.
“From the outset, the owner and the Alia Yachts team set out to create something that could handle extreme operations”
“There’s pretty much not much more you could even have,” admits Captain Richard Craven, who is currently at the helm of the boat and also followed it through construction. “We were incredibly privileged with the owner giving me free rein to order any toys we wanted.”
Clearly fun was the name of the game when kitting out Limerence (and it was Superyacht Tenders and Toys that did the equipping), but she’s more than just an entertainment platform.
If you ask Christie Yachts, her central agency for charter, she’s an adventure yacht with expedition potential thanks to a 4,000 nautical mile range. On the other hand, her builder, Alia Yachts, describes her as a new concept that was born from the blueprints of a shadow vessel.
“From the outset, the owner and our team set out to create something that could handle extreme operations,” explains Alia Yachts founder Gòkhan Celik. “As the project evolved, it became increasingly clear that this wasn’t just going to be a support vessel.”
During the four years of design and construction (the yacht was started with a blank sheet in 2021 and delivered in 2025), Alia began to see the value and flexibility of turning Limerence into a standalone superyacht.
SHAPE SHIFTER
Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture began developing the Limerence concept in 2021, collaborating closely with her owner and Alia Yachts, and the firm remained at the heart of the project right through to delivery.
“From the outset, the brief was to introduce a revolutionary yacht that offers the tender and toy storage capacity typically found on an 80-metre-plus vessel, high-end guest accommodations and a huge sweep of entertainment features,” says designer Marco Boscarino. “The real challenge lay in delivering all that within a sleek 52.5-metre platform without compromising the refined aesthetic of a genuine superyacht.”
Limerence aimed to evolve the support vessel concept by moving away from the conventional explorer look.
Instead, she was conceived to deliver support vessel functionality in “a design that rivals high-end superyachts in both comfort and attention to detail.
“From layout definition and exterior design to the meticulous selection of tenders and toys, including the creation of a one-of-a-kind inflatable water park, our team was involved at every step,” Boscarino adds.
“Bringing this concept to life was not without its challenges. Each stage, from the first sketches to final delivery, demanded collaboration and teamwork across all parties involved. “Managing the development of this remarkable project has been an extraordinary journey,” he concludes. “And now, seeing Limerence in action – her guests and crew enjoying all her special features – is a truly rewarding experience.”
Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture began developing the Limerence concept in 2021, collaborating closely with her owner and Alia Yachts, and the firm remained at the heart of the project right through to delivery.
“From the outset, the brief was to introduce a revolutionary yacht that offers the tender and toy storage capacity typically found on an 80-metre-plus vessel, high-end guest accommodations and a huge sweep of entertainment features,” says designer Marco Boscarino. “The real challenge lay in delivering all that within a sleek 52.5-metre platform without compromising the refined aesthetic of a genuine superyacht.”
Limerence aimed to evolve the support vessel concept by moving away from the conventional explorer look. Instead, she was conceived to deliver support vessel functionality in “a design that rivals high-end superyachts in both comfort and attention to detail.
“From layout definition and exterior design to the meticulous selection of tenders and toys, including the creation of a one-of-a-kind inflatable water park, our team was involved at every step,” Boscarino adds.
“Bringing this concept to life was not without its challenges. Each stage, from the first sketches to final delivery, demanded collaboration and teamwork across all parties involved. “Managing the development of this remarkable project has been an extraordinary journey,” he concludes. “And now, seeing Limerence in action – her guests and crew enjoying all her special features – is a truly rewarding experience.”
Achieving that dual identity of high-grade, superyacht standards and commercial capabilities made Limerence one of the most technically demanding builds in Alia’s fleet. Chief among the challenges was the helipad, which is fully certified for some of the large choppers, like an Airbus H145 or a Bell 429. The craft can be stored and refuelled on board Limerence, with up to three tanks’ worth of fuel on tap.
“As the project evolved, it became increasingly clear that this wasn’t just going to be a support vessel”
Mid-build, the yacht’s 8.6-metre beam was extended over the helipad area to 11.7 metres, to allow the yacht to accommodate larger helicopters. This also created an area that doubles as a court for basketball, pickleball and volleyball. Hanging off the aft is a little balcony with two sets of tables. “We added that during the build,” Craven says. The addition turns the deck into an area where some guests can shoot hoops and others can relax with a drink overlooking the ocean.
Achieving that dual identity”of high-grade, superyacht standards and commercial capabilities made Limerence one of the most technically demanding builds in Alia’s fleet. Chief among the challenges was the helipad, which is fully certified for some of the large choppers, like an Airbus H145 or a Bell 429. The craft can be stored and refuelled on board Limerence, with up to three tanks’ worth of fuel on tap.
“As the project evolved, it became increasingly clear that this wasn’t just going to be a support vessel”
Mid-build, the yacht’s 8.6-metre beam was extended over the helipad area to 11.7 metres, to allow the yacht to accommodate larger helicopters. This also created an area that doubles as a court for basketball, pickleball and volleyball. Hanging off the aft is a little balcony with two sets of tables. “We added that during the build,” Craven says. The addition turns the deck into an area where some guests can shoot hoops and others can relax with a drink overlooking the ocean.
When not in use, the helipad serves as a sports court for basketball, pickleball and volleyball, or as an outdoor cinema at night
That is, of course, when the all-important helipad isn’t in use. The helipad was crucial because “the owner enjoys flying”, says Craven. He adds that “all the crew have done multiple flights as well as additional training on top of the standard training”.
“The crew’s natural enthusiasm and expertise make them the ideal guides and instructors for guests looking to dive into adventure”
He stresses understanding the “seriousness” of being trained in heli-ops. “Sometimes on yachts it’s hard to instil that in a yacht crew if they’re doing one flight a month,” but because the crew handles heli-ops frequently, Craven says “it’s brought everyone up to a really professional standard”.
That is, of course, when the all-important helipad isn’t in use. The helipad was crucial because “the owner enjoys flying”, says Craven. He adds that “all the crew have done multiple flights as well as additional training on top of the standard training”.
“The crew’s natural enthusiasm and expertise make them the ideal guides and instructors for guests looking to dive into adventure”
He stresses understanding the “seriousness” of being trained in heli-ops. “Sometimes on yachts it’s hard to instil that in a yacht crew if they’re doing one flight a month,” but because the crew handles heli-ops frequently, Craven says “it’s brought everyone up to a really professional standard”.
CHRISTIE YACHTSLimerence’s fleet includes a Wajer, an X-Tender RIB, a Ski Nautique and Jet Skis, plus a sailing dinghy and catamaran
CHRISTIE YACHTSLimerence’s fleet includes a Wajer, an X-Tender RIB, a Ski Nautique and Jet Skis, plus a sailing dinghy and catamaran
The crew is one of the chief selling points of the yacht on the charter market, according to Will Christie of the eponymous charter and brokerage firm.
“The crew aboard Limerence are a close-knit team, all passionate about watersports,” he says. “Their natural enthusiasm and expertise make them the ideal guides and instructors for guests looking to dive into adventure.”
Craven agrees, although he confirms that most of the crew need to wear many hats. “Having 12 crew members with the amount of toys we’ve got, everyone has to do a little bit of everything and get stuck in,” he says. “This crew really pulls together.”
The crew is one of the chief selling points of the yacht on the charter market, according to Will Christie of the eponymous charter and brokerage firm.
“The crew aboard Limerence are a close-knit team, all passionate about watersports,” he says. “Their natural enthusiasm and expertise make them the ideal guides and instructors for guests looking to dive into adventure.”
Craven agrees, although he confirms that most of the crew need to wear many hats. “Having 12 crew members with the amount of toys we’ve got, everyone has to do a little bit of everything and get stuck in,” he says. “This crew really pulls together.”
Chief among the challenges was the helipad. Mid build, the yacht's 8.6-metre beam was extended over the helipad to 11.7 metres to allow for larger helicopters
Case in point: setting up the entire inflatable complement (which includes a 200-kilogram tower swing) takes three hours from the time it’s removed from the hatch to being set up on the water, but it’s significantly less when the crew pull together.
It’s the same story for two of the cabins, which can be configured as a double or two twins. At first, the conversion transformation took three hours, but fine-tuning it as a team managed to shave an hour and a half off the process.
There are other crowd-pleasing features to cater to the charter market on Limerence. The main deck aft doubles as a fully fledged entertainment zone that can host €100,000 worth of Panasonic professional-grade music systems with laser lights, strobe lights and disco balls for a true superyacht party. The aft deck swim platform area is also a box-ticker, capable of hosting up to 16 diners in an elegant waterfront set-up.
CHRISTIE YACHTSAdded during construction, a balcony overlooking the main deck gives guests another elevated spot to watch the watersports
CHRISTIE YACHTSAdded during construction, a balcony overlooking the main deck gives guests another elevated spot to watch the watersports
But one of the best-loved features is one that charterers don’t even tend to look for in a yacht: “Of all the money we’ve spent, the most unexpectedly popular thing on this boat is the pizza oven,” laughs Craven. At an event in Miami, UFC personality Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett came on board Limerence after a big win. “He and his team loved it,” says Craven.
“We believe a project like Limerence - bold, innovative and refreshingly unconventional - deserves a distinctive colour that captures and enhances its spirit”
As for the itinerary, the yacht has already ventured to the US and the Mediterranean, but the owner plans to take it further afield to prove her mettle as an explorer in the future. “This summer we are in the Mediterranean, then she will go to the yard to add a jacuzzi onto the sundeck,” says Christie. After that, she’ll spend the winter in the Caribbean, Bahamas and possibly Costa Rica.
But one of the best-loved features is one that charterers don’t even tend to look for in a yacht: “Of all the money we’ve spent, the most unexpectedly popular thing on this boat is the pizza oven,” laughs Craven. At an event in Miami, UFC personality Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett came on board Limerence after a big win. “He and his team loved it,” says Craven.
“We believe a project like Limerence - bold, innovative and refreshingly unconventional - deserves a distinctive colour that captures and enhances its spirit”
As for the itinerary, the yacht has already ventured to the US and the Mediterranean, but the owner plans to take it further afield to prove her mettle as an explorer in the future. “This summer we are in the Mediterranean, then she will go to the yard to add a jacuzzi onto the sundeck,” says Christie. After that, she’ll spend the winter in the Caribbean, Bahamas and possibly Costa Rica.
CHRISTIE YACHTS
CHRISTIE YACHTS
Limerence sleeps six guests in three cabins (two can be doubles or twins) with space for two children on a pull-out sofa bed. The owner’s cabin is remarkably large, located forward on the main deck, and it definitely fits the bill for luxury and comfort, as do all of the social areas.
There’s no main saloon, as this space is given over to the toy garage, but there is an upper saloon that’s perfect for congregating, particularly as it’s aft of the wheelhouse so guests aren’t far from the navigation action.
It would have been easy to overlook the interior details in favour of focusing on Limerence’s fun personality, but actually the design has a distinctly high-end feel
Alia’s outfitting department and local Turkish studio CT Mimarlık followed a brief for an understated and soft interiors theme with overarching elegance. The owner brought in his own designer, Michael Smith Inc (who’s best known for designing the White House Oval Office) to put his own stamp on that scheme.
It would have been easy enough to overlook the interior details in favour of focusing on Limerence’s fun personality, but actually the design has a distinctly high-end feel about it.
Bright accents adorn the upper saloon, which is the yacht’s principal living area. Fabrics are by Loro Piana, Dedar, Mariaflora and Perennials
“We own our own interior outfitting company, which has won several awards over the years. Their contribution to this project was crucial,” says Celik. Craven agrees. “Alia’s interiors have been phenomenal. The workshop is the size of two football fields and they do everything in-house.”
On the outside, Limerence’s bold blue colour is an Azure signature, also seen in Azure-designed superyachts like 58-metre Damen Yachting Pink Shadow and 75-metre Admiral Kenshō.
“We believe that a project like Limerence – bold, innovative and refreshingly unconventional – deserves a distinctive colour that captures and enhances its spirit,” says Onne Logger, director of Azure. “A strong, well-defined colour identity is essential for highlighting standout projects, helping them leave a lasting impression.”
CHRISTIE YACHTS
CHRISTIE YACHTS
That may be true when the yacht’s underway, but when she’s at anchor, I can imagine that Limerence might be more recognisable for the huge inflatable water park unfurled at her stern.
Ask any yacht owner how they got into yachting, and most will say it’s about one thing: fun. Granted, “fun” means different things to different people, but nearly all owners can agree that owning a superyacht is about embracing life on the ocean. Limerence, with her near-endless list of toys and her focus on getting off the beaten path, has managed to put enjoyment front and centre, without neglecting style and design.
First published in the October 2025 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.
LOA 52.5m | TENDERS 11.6M WAJER 38S; 12.5M XTENDER; SKI NAUTIQUE GS20 |
LWL 51.64m | OWNERS/GUESTS 8 |
BEAM 8.6m | CREW 12 |
DRAUGHT 2.6m | CONSTRUCTION STEEL HULL; ALUMINIUM SUPERSTRUCTURE |
GROSS TONNAGE 499GT | CLASSIFICATION LLOYD'S REGISTER |
ENGINES 2 x 970W CATERPILLAR C32 | NAVAL ARCHITECTURE DIANA YACHT DESIGN |
GENERATORS 3 x 86EKW CATERPILLAR C4.4 | EXTERIOR STYLING AZURE YACHT DESIGN & NAVAL ARCHITECTURE |
STABILISERS NAIAD 820L FIN STABILISER (AT REST) | INTERIOR DESIGN ALIA YACHTS; CT MIMARLIK; MICHAEL SMITH INC |
SPEED (MAX/CRUISE) 15/10 KNOTS | BUILDER/YEAR ALIA YACHTS, 2025 |
RANGE AT 10 KNOTS 4,022 NM | ANTALYA, TURKEY +90 242 2595951 |
FUEL CAPACITY 62,500 LITRES | CONTACT@ |
FRESHWATER CAPACITY 40,000 LITRES | FOR CHARTER CHRISTIEYACHTS.COM |