PROJECT THUNDERBALL:
A COLLABORATIVE OWNER’S DREAM |
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| The 70m full-custom superyacht ‘Project Thunderball’—with exterior design, interior space planning and naval architecture by Vripack Yacht Design—is edging closer to its big reveal. Currently under construction at CRN’s Ancona facility and project managed by Y.CO who represent the owner, the sleek aluminium yacht, with its optimised hull and elongated bow, is being shaped into her owner’s dream. |
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| Project Thunderball was conceived as the ultimate motor yacht that could also serve as a support vessel for the owner’s existing sailing yacht. That means 1,100 gross tonnes of steel and aluminium with five decks, an 11m beam and accommodation for 12 guests and 15 crew. As a keen sailor who regularly takes part in regattas, the owner’s mandate also heavily influenced the design itself, shifting away from the bottom-heavy shape of modern motor yachts and leaning into the sharp entry lines akin to a sailing yacht, with curved bilges for a traditional flourish. |
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“The family’s design inspiration very much came from the long and elegant close-to-the-water lines of graceful sailing yachts,” says Vripack’s co-creative director Marnix Hoekstra. “The family are passionate sailors, both competitively and recreationally, and they were hugely invested in this project from the start.”
An added benefit of the yacht’s long and narrow waterline entry point is a hugely efficient hull. Seaworthiness and efficiency were key drivers of the yacht’s naval architecture, to the point that Project Thunderball runs more efficiently without the addition of a bulbous bow.
“The reduction of resistance is so low that it doesn't weigh up to the added resistance of the bulb,” explains Hoekstra. “The tank testing facility said they’d never seen it before but advised us against adding the bulb as the hull is already super-efficient.” |
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Design began in 2018 and has evolved into a “meeting of minds” says Hoekstra, who adds that working on the project with the owner has been “a joy” because he has “a rare keen eye and really pushes for what he wants.”
It’s evident in the yacht’s shear—the one continuous line that dictates the curves of the boat and how it runs on water—which formed the collaborative starting point of the project. The shear was central to achieving Project Thunderball’s classic appeal, as well as her streamlined aesthetic, complemented by a glass-encased winter garden on the top deck. |
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Other custom requests include a supersized swim platform at the stern to give guests easy access to the water, as well as extra footprint, and the regimental use of vertical lines including all window mullions. It’s the reason for the yacht’s “clean” aesthetic but added several layers of complexity to the design. “It dictates the flow of the interior layout, so it was a constant back and forth with the owner,” says Hoekstra.
Vripack is renowned for its owner-centric approach to design, and “truly thrives when families get deeply involved,” adds Hoekstra. As Project Thunderball inches closer to its 2026 delivery, with next phases including the completion of the Nauta Design interior and exterior furniture design, the true extent of this stand-out yacht is finally being revealed.
Donna Green, Head of New Build Projects at Y.CO, comments “It’s exciting to see the project move through the milestones. The collaboration between the teams at Vripack, CRN and Nauta has been instrumental in the efficient progress of the project up to this point. We are focused on the next phases of the project to bring the extraordinary and innovative yacht to the water.” |
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Vripack is a Dutch design studio renowned for doing things differently.
With a portfolio comprising more than 8,000 designs, the team represents a melting pot of originality governed by a playful interaction between beauty and function. Since opening its doors in 1961, Vripack has sought to challenge accepted convention enabled by its extensive naval architecture and engineering knowledge. It’s this holistic approach, considering design in partnership with naval architecture, that allows the team to draw inspiration and ideas from an eclectic variety of sources. The studio’s warm and energetic embrace for their clients’ helps uncover the genuine needs and expectations for each design. With Vripack’s promise of transparency and down-to-earth sharing of knowledge, strong working relationships are forged.
“Every design Vripack put their name on is an opportunity to do something extraordinary.”
Captain Sean Meagher, Latitude |
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