
SUPERYACHT #7 Winter 2006
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
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Article by Franca Urbani
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FOUR WISHES
"Four Wishes" is a charter yacht whose ethnic interiors are full of
oriental charm, but life on board is characterised by a touch of
French chic.
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INFORMATION
Company: Interpac Yachts. Inc.
Skipper: Aaron Clark
Length: 43.89metres
Beam: 8.51 metres
Hull: aluminium
Shipyard: Palmer Johnson
Interior Decoration: Patricia Andrews
Year: 2004
Cruising speed: 14 knots
Base: South of France
Cruising Area: Caribbean and Mediterranean.
Guests: 10
Crew: 8
Tenders: 23 ft/7 metre Novurania w/260 HP stern drive; 14 ft/4.26 metre Novurania w/50 HP.
Toys: 2 waverunners, parasail, 4 underwater scooters, water trampoline, assorted fishing gear, water skis, 4 bikes, golf clubs & driving mat w/floating balls.
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The extremely relaxing and elegant atmosphere is made up of many well
chosen details which range from the interior design to the galley, to
music and reading and golf. Let's visit this yacht with the reader,
imagining we're going to choose it for a dream cruise. Going onto the
stern deck we enter the living area, equipped with a bar at the sides
of the entrance, and we proceed, perhaps with a fine drink in our
hand. We immediately see the broadened and pleasant view of the
saloon, furnished in ethnic style, tending to an Afro-Japanese fusion
with Indian influences.
Daytime Area
On the left going in, the relaxation and conversation area opens up,
formed by four sofas. Two of these are corner sofas with structure in
carved wood complete with upholstery, covered with a golden fabric and
with patterned cushions in gold and black. A fur stole folded like a
blanket accentuates the welcoming atmosphere. The other two sofas are
fully upholstered and are set facing each other. The one with
backrests and armrests is covered in black fabric with golden motifs
and has matching cushions edged with lots of tiny strasses. The one
without a backrest is covered with a light-beige maculated design
fabric. Two low linear tables in glass and metal, set at the sides of
the sofas, bear several precious objects. In the centre, a large low
table in glass and metal, of typically Indian design, bears a vase of
flowers and offers plenty of space. Light metal structures are spread
around on the furniture with a lot of lighted candles.
Dining Area
The dining area is opposite the entrance, in front of the forward
bulkhead. It communicates directly with the galley pantry to which
access is gained by means of an electrically operated sliding door.
The wooden dining table seats 12 on upholstered bamboo chairs covered
in black fabric with small golden patterns.
At the time of our visit the table was set for a refined lunch which
would begin in less than a couple of hours. The tablecloth was made up
of artistically overlaid lace and the napkin holders were in light and
dark striated ivory. Plates, cutlery and glasses were laid out
artistically and bottles of rare wines were already in place with a
carefully rolled serviette. There was a miniature individual cruet set
for each diner. Lastly, an extraordinary flower composition in the
centre of the table captured our attention as we tried to grasp every
detail of the set table on which, in intentional disorder, flower
petals had been scattered.
Atmosphere
Every detail of the furnishings contributes to creating an evocative
environment, full of taste, and the whole is extremely relaxing. Quite
another story in the galley where stainless steel and wood dominate
and where we were struck by the perfect organisation and highly modern
equipment. We found the cook at full steam ahead as, aided by a
hostess, he manoeuvred with incredible speed and precision between the
oven, where he slipped in a tray of skewered fish, the cooker where no
less than three aluminium pans emitted curls of steam from boiling
liquids, and a chopping board where he personally sliced washed
potatoes and vegetables and prepared dessert moulds where freshly made
muffins seemed to explode, showing the dark raisins as if they were
sweet little projectiles that would at once strike the senses of
taste, sight and smell. I paused to think that this boat is a dream
and that the charter will be a spicy, strong and inebriating sensorial
experience, such as only exotic atmospheres can give.
Japanese Ideograms
Leaving the galley we come to the access area where there is a spiral
staircase, a day-bathroom and the owner's cabin and study. In this
area, on a low piece of furniture, there are four great Japanese
ideograms in steel, the same ones that are found on the wall behind
the chart table on the bridge, this time painted in gold on a dark
background of four rectangular ceramic tiles. These signs,
incomprehensible to us and vaguely mysterious, have a precise meaning,
since they are the "Four Wishes" for which the yacht is named: Joy",
"Prosperity", "Long life" and "Good Luck". In "Four Wishes" there's a
subtle thread of meanings and suggestions that link the furnishings
with a certain relaxed spirituality which slows down the frenetic
rhythm of life and gives the yacht's guests a calm and propitiatory
atmosphere which will always remain in their memory.
Night-time Area
In the owner's cabin there is a fine oriental wooden frieze bedhead
and a great round glass plate of a thousand colours on a low piece of
furniture. The dominant colours are white and the colours of wood. In
the night-time area on the lower deck the shades are more muted, with
beige and wood-colours dominating in the four cabins, two VIP and two
doubles, with strictly high-tech bathrooms
On the upper deck, external to the bridge, there is a relaxation area
with table and sofas set in the bow structure of the vessel. Wholly
suspended between sea and sky you can fully enjoy a holiday in the
open air. When you've had enough of the sun you can go inside where
you'll find, aft, a study and a second spacious saloon. The study has
a wall-bookcase full of art and travel books, a desk with PC and a
spacious sofa. In the access area there are curved glass shelves with
floral decorations and, entering the saloon on the left, there is a
long bar with a great lacquered counter and high stools covered in
apricot coloured satin. In the relaxation area there are two sofas and
two armchairs set around a large flat screen TV. The style here is
more casual, with twisted woollen fabrics in colours ranging from
orange to brown with touches of red and violet and with matching
cushions and travel rugs. Whereas leaving the second deck aft we find
absolute minimalism where a small table and four armchairs in
basketwork stand out for their naked cubism.
Conclusion
We leave "Four Wishes" while a pleasant aroma spreads through the air
and two ladies, musicians, are preparing their music stands and sheet
music in a corner to accompany the upcoming meal with their violins.
The guests are about to arrive so it seems more than appropriate to
add a fifth wish to the four we have already seen: "enjoy your lunch".
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