Yachts are beautiful machines, but they are even more interesting when the people and stories behind them imbue them with life. Sure, looking at the metal structure, piping and insulation can be fascinating, but nothing is better than visiting a boat that feels lived-in and loved.
I had that feeling on board the Feadship Somnium. The owners were on board during the Monaco Yacht Show last year, which can be tricky for touring visitors who don’t want to infringe on their privacy. These owners, however, seemed pleased to show the result of their three long years of work.
“Welcome! Write nice articles, promise?” the owner calls cheerfully as I explore the decks of his home on the water. It will be hard not to say nice things; Somnium is both a complex and a lovely boat. She’s also unique in many respects. She is the first full-custom yacht for these owners, who came from a smaller Italian production yacht and eventually elected Feadship to realise their dream.
What makes unique? For one thing, this full-displacement 55-metre yacht is all aluminium. Not that Feadship hasn’t built in aluminium before, but most of them have been fast boats - for instance, the recently delivered 50-metre . A larger-displacement yacht, meant to cover significant cruising ground ( can go up to 4,000 nautical miles at 12
