Va Bene
Yard Pendennis Fitout Struik & Hamerslag UK Year 2008 LOA 47.80m Beam 9.20m Guests 12
Superyacht refits have been the core of H2’s business since completing our first major refit in 1995. Since then we have completed dozens of refit projects and we brought this experience to the remodelling of 47.8m Va Bene completed in 2008 in the famous UK based Pendennis shipyard.
A strict time schedule was set by the owner as well as a ‘realistic’ budget. This meant that the revised design proposals had to be not only financially realistic, but also sympathetic to the existing decor.
Being a former design student himself, Eric Clapton and his wife were keen to be involved in the design process and, having cruised on the yacht extensively during charter, they knew exactly what they wanted to change and improve on-board.
The owner loved the yacht but realised that the interior was now a little tired and was in need of a sympathetic internal and external refurbishment. One of his main requirements, however, was for a completely new owner’s suite on main deck which was to be fresh and contemporary but which also fitted in with the remaining décor of the yacht. This involved the complete strip-out and re-planning of the forward main deck area, to provide a full width bedroom, an en-suite bathroom and create a walk in dressing room, together with an owner’s study. The study would need to double up as a bedroom for his three young children so they could be close by during their family holidays.
Ingeniously the double glass doors to the office, which open up into the suite during the day, convert into an opaque glass screen at night at the flick of a switch to maintain privacy for the owners.
The revised look and feel of the main saloon was achieved through new fabrics, loose furniture etc but working with the existing limed oak and cabinet work. Pride of place for the client’s guitar!
The lower deck full-width VIP bathroom was also stripped out and transformed into a luxury facility with separate shower, bath and vanity areas, with free standing rough limestone basins, all tied in beautifully with the revamped oriental theme of the existing suite.
The other guest suites and lounges were given a substantial makeover with new carpets, deckheads, furniture, fabrics and lighting. All the gold trimmings were replaced with chrome, new AV equipment was installed and the owner’s excellent selection of artwork from his private collection provided the ‘icing on the cake’.