ONBOARD Magazine winter 2019

With its masculine exterior lines
Vripack’s latest voyage into semiexplorer
vessels hides an above
average interior volume
Words: Frances and Michael Howorth
When Ali Sayakci, the Turkish businessman,
set out to build his new yacht Rock, his
primary concern was how to ensure that
she would be both sturdy and rugged, yet would
also ooze sex appeal. He turned to Vripack a Dutch
based team of naval architects who have designed
an extensive portfolio of explorer yachts.
Robin de Vries who works there gave him both form
and function in what he wanted from a design from
good engineering, high performance and sea going
capability coupled with an outstanding, design flair.
Rock’s foundation stone is her Fast Displacement
hull shape and her high, straight bow cuts through
rough seas and yet her low aft section allows a
close connection with the water for those on board.
At 24m in length, Rock is only just officially a
superyacht, but walking up the passerelle feels like
you’re boarding a yacht of 35m plus. The space
standards are incredible, the internal accommodation
is generous and the deck areas are truly vast.
Owner Ali Sayakci observed that: “Many of the explorer
concepts I looked at did not meet the aesthetic
and technical criteria I was looking for. Then Vripack
introduced us to the concept of a SUV yacht and
it was love at first sight.” He went on, “I loved
her high straight bow that intercepts rough seas
incredibly well and I really enjoy her low after end
for its closeness to sea.”
The yacht’s asymmetrical contemporary interiors is,
at first, strange but this open plan layout with its
routing and furniture placement ensures that guests
are always facing the sea, more like a modern loft
than a traditional yacht. Angular 3D shapes from
the off white lacquered walls are contrasted with
soft tactile couches while extensive use of marble
creates a juxtaposition between the masculinity of
the stone and the feminine shapes of the yacht.
When you’re actually on board the yacht at sea it
all makes sense.”
Built in Turkey by Evadne Yachts the project
management for Rock was provided by Tufan and
Brothers.The yacht’s Fast Displacement hull allows
for speeds up to 16 knots using twin CAT C12 engines
at 1000hp and even at the more modest cruising
speed of 12 knots she still boasts a Transatlantic
range of 3000 Nm.
18 | WINTER 2019 | ONBOARD