Apache is a 76-metre concept super yacht ‘inspired by modern architecture’, complete with a beach club with folding sides and a glass-bottomed swimming pool. Jenny Southan reports
Unveiled at the recent Monaco Yacht Show, Apache has been designed by Alberto Mancini, who envisions a whopping 76-metre steel and aluminium boat with “beautifully sleek exterior styling, chic interior design and never-before-seen luxury features”.
Ready to be built by Italian shipyard Tankoa for a willing paying customer, the standout feature of Apache will be its double-walled glass-bottomed swimming pool suspended in the bow.
Tankoa CEO Vincenzo Poerio says: “Apache consolidates Tankoa’s ability to build yachts of this size. It is an evolution of existing projects into something innovative and more contemporary with the collaboration of a top designer like Alberto Mancini.”
It will also have a beach club with folding side terraces offering a total of 125 sqm of “upscale resort space” and a floodable swimming pool with access via a grand central staircase from the main deck.
It is connected to the garage, which when emptied of tenders and toys offers even more deck space. The folding platforms are also fitted with one-way glass the same colour as the hull so as not to spoil the exterior aesthetics.
Mancini says: “I wanted to avoid the typical cave dark effect that today we see in many beach clubs. Indeed, Apache’s beach club design is not just an area for accessing the sea to be enjoyed only when anchored during the day; it is fully integrated with the main deck salon so it can be used day or night as an extension of the outdoor living space.”
Meanwhile, a master stateroom is located on the upper deck forward and has direct access to a 9.5-metre long “Flying Pool”.
Tankoa says: “The pool has a glass bottom so not only do you feel like you’re swimming suspended in space, but dappled light can also trickle down into the semi-open lounge and gym on the deck below. Such a foredeck feature has never been attempted before on a super yacht.”
What other features does Apache have?
Modern architecture
Inspired by modern architecture, Apache’s clean exterior lines are based on crisp horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. Resembling the fletching or feathers of an arrow, they offer dynamic good looks as well as minimised bulwarks for uninterrupted views outboard and intimate contact with the sea.
“The layered decks had to offer multiple areas for relaxation and social activities, but the balance between the interior and exterior spaces had to be instinctive, bright and blissful,” says Mancini.
Social hub
The main deck salon and dining room cover a light-filled area of 118 sqm. This is the yacht at its most convivial, a hub for socialising with direct access to the large outdoor terrace or down to the beach area.
There are four guest cabins on main deck that enjoy much larger windows than conventional cabins on the lower deck, as well as a semi-open foredeck lounge and gym, as well a luxurious VIP suite in the bow.
Quiet luxury
The interior styling combines a “discreetly sophisticated melange” of Loro Piana soft fabrics and silk upholstery, warm oak parquet flooring and nubuck suede to create a “luxurious but welcoming and understated ambience”.
Dark blue ash wood panels and a walkable glass corridor through the owner’s suite create a pleasing balance between warm and cool materials.
Room with a view
The bridge deck features a spacious wheelhouse with separate radio room and a very comfortable captain’s cabin, as well as an additional lounge for more intimate socialising or as a cosy nook to escape to with a good book.
On the open aft deck there is a second pool. On the very top deck there is even a cosy observation lounge or crow’s nest with panoramic views high above the water, ideal for enjoying the last rays at sunset.
Smooth service
Apart from the beach club, the lower deck is devoted to the crew and service areas with a pro spec galley and crew mess, laundry, cold and dry stores, and hull openings for fast, efficient provisioning and servicing of the vessel. There is also a dedicated cinema room for guest use adjacent to the lobby and elevator.
Apache is projected to have a displacement of 1,350 tons and a gross tonnage of 1,515GT. There are two propulsion options: twin CAT C3512E (2 x 1901 kW @ 1,800 rpm) or twin MTU V4000M73 (2 x 1920 kW @ 1,970 rpm) engines for a top speed of 16.5 knots, cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 5,000nm.