Japanese philosophy and Dutch wit make a dream team

"The yacht’s namesake Miyamoto Musashi is one of the most renowned samurais in Japanese history. Musashi (1584-1645) received the title ‘kensei’ (sword saint) and was never beaten in the approximately 60 duels he fought during his lifetime. The sword master however also had a more peaceful side. Believing that a good samurai should not only excel in the art of combat, Musashi also developed his skills as a sculptor, calligrapher and painter, in addition to authoring several books on the art of combat and strategy.

No name could have been more fitting for the new yacht that was created by Sinot Yacht Design in close cooperation with De Voogt Naval Architects and Feadship: subtle but unconquerable, with clear lines but many concealed elements, with an open structure, but closed where necessary; entirely inspired by Musashi’s character.

 

 

Sander J. Sinot

A good design is always the result of close cooperation between the designer and his client. In the case of the Musashi, those involved formed a dream team, according to Sander Sinot:

“I consider it an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity of creating a yacht as special as Musashi. A project like this one can only be successful if you work with the best team and everyone gives it their all. This is why I want to express my appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this challenging project. It was a real pleasure to work in close cooperation with the owner who has a wide experience in the field of yachting and a sharp eye for detail and esthetics.

We had access to the very best professionals out there and were thus able to create the exceptional results which are reflected in the Musashi’s final design. I would especially like to thank the building captain Robin Barnes and Henk de Vries, CEO of Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw. During our close cooperation we always aimed to achieve the best results. Sinot Yacht Design had the privilege of being involved in the interior and exterior design process. Sinot and De Voogt Naval Architects designed the elegant exterior. Besides the Musashi resulted in an esthetic masterpiece, De Voogt also created one of the highest-performing yachts imaginable. Throughout the design process we drew inspiration from Japanese design and Art Deco, which resulted in a refreshing style with strong cultural-historical references.  This has resulted in clear surface divisions, rigorous geometrical forms, combined with an abundance of light and large, open-plan spaces. 

Here each space has been conceived with optimum efficiency in mind, while at the same time making air, light and space key design themes. In addition, we designed all the built-in and loose furniture and managed to integrate these beautifully crafted masterpieces in all the spaces. The Musashi is characterized by a remarkable sense of unity, both inside and out.”

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior design

One of the key challenges in the design of a super yacht is to conceive the structure in such a way that there is an ultimate experience of light and spaciousness inside, while at the same time offering guests the possibility to retire and enjoy a moment of privacy. Sander Sinot explains how the Musashi’s exterior was designed:

“The Musashi is designed and built to provide ultimate user-friendliness, luxury and privacy to the owner, his family and guests. Each of the yacht’s components – both inside and out – is built with this goal in mind. Take the exquisite grand windows, which were designed in an exceptionally large format thanks to the yacht’s special reinforced web structure. These windows also create a unique ‘inside out’ feeling, allowing interior and exterior spaces to merge into a single light and spacious ensemble. Depending on the owner’s wishes, the windows can create a perfect sense of harmony with the outside, or be adapted to create a more sheltered, intimate setting when there is a need for greater privacy.

The yacht’s large decks and spectacular long passages will allow its users to experience the same feeling of luxury and openness anywhere on the Musashi – a feeling which is reinforced by the seamless transition between the exterior and interior, and the great sense of freedom and tranquility that this creates.”

Exterior Details

Every element of the Musashi has been executed with a keen eye for detail and finishing, using only the finest and most enduring materials. Our designers constantly strove for perfect use of materials, simplicity in form, and a sense of unity and harmony between the different elements.

“Besides the many windows, a number of elements stand out in the yacht’s stunning design, including the spacious geometric teak-inlaid decks, the top-deck pool, the basketball court, the custom-designed guardrail which blends organic and geometric forms, and the state-of-the-art lounge and dining room in which 18 people can spend, relaxed afternoons and evenings. The balanced design of the various exterior spaces allows the owner, his family and guests to choose whether they want to enjoy the yacht and the surroundings together, or retire to one of the decks for more privacy.

Our designers not only selected the finest materials; they also paid special attention to the balance, relationship and transition between the different materials: stainless steel with different types of exclusive wood, but also a wide use of glass surfaces, leather and built-in furniture.”

 

 

 

 

 

Interior Design

Every owner loves his yacht for some particular reason.  It is therefore the designer’s task to ensure that the owner, his family and his guests can fully enjoy this. Sander Sinot: “The large windows flood the Musashi’s interior spaces with abundant natural light. Every space is designed with optimum user-friendliness and comfort in mind. To achieve this, we selected the finest and most luxurious materials, applying the clear lines of Japanese design in combination with Art Deco elements.

All of the yacht’s furniture are custom designed by Sinot and produced by the prominent atelier of Frank Pollaro in New York, as well as the well-known German company Metrica. The balanced application of stainless steel creates a strong unity between the different elements. Other remarkable features include the use of fine woods and other natural materials, such as the high-quality, specially selected Jerusalem Gold marble that was used in all the bathrooms, and the fine, leather-clad doors featured throughout the yacht’s interior.

 

 

 

Owner Stateroom Bridge Deck

Every space on the yacht receives special attention. However, the designer does pay extra attention to the owner’s quarters, as Sander Sinot testifies:

“Throughout the design and construction process, the team paid special attention to the owner’s private quarters. Both the exterior and interior of this area distinguish themselves through their extreme luxury, stunning design and refined detailing, while at the same time reflecting the tranquility and equilibrium that characterize the yacht as a whole. Through a sophisticated use of materials, we strove to create an intimate, homely atmosphere where the owner could retreat. First of all, the floor in this area is made of specially selected high-quality teak, covered with a comfortable Dull Silk Custom rug.

The feeling of luxuriousness is reinforced by the positioning of custom-made furniture such as two sofas, the wenge coffee table inlaid with silver, the bedside table with white alabaster back lighting inlay and the desk with stainless steel details.

Stainless steel is also widely applied in the outdoor furniture, which is made of the very best teak and elaborately finished off with stainless steel detailing. As all of the furniture in the owner’s private area has been custom designed, it is in perfect unison with the rest of the interior.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper-deck lounge

“The spacious upper-deck lounge can accommodate up to 18 people, who can spend time here and relax, socialize or dine together in the greatest comfort. The upper-deck lounge’s central feature is the long dining table that has been crafted from book matched macassar ebony with a blond wood splint in the middle. The macassar wall cabinet with its alabaster back light top matches the dining table. Combined with the macassar-clad walls and the other walls covered in anigre, these elements lend the upper deck a rich, warm character.

This exclusive feeling is underscored by the custom-made lighting for a piece of artwork by Hiroshi Senju in the upper-deck lounge. In addition, the smart poker table and its cabinet have a very detailed sunburst of macassar. All seating elements are designed with comfort in mind and despite their rigid geometrical shape they offer a great seating comfort. The low seats are richly detailed with a 360 SS frame with a wooden macassar inlay.”

 

Cinema Lounge

“For ultimate relaxation, the Musashi features a Cinema Lounge, which is equipped with a six-meter-wide retractable cinema screen that can be stored in the ceiling. The custom-made lounge sofas are equipped with an interactive system. Together with the state-of-the-art sound system, this offers the viewer an optimal cinematographic experience. Naturally, the floors are covered in fine teak flooring and dull silk carpeting, creating a perfect sense of unity between the Cinema Lounge and the rest of the yacht. The Cinema Lounge’s two-seater sofas can also be used as daybeds.

 

Guest staterooms

“The guest staterooms are retreat, rest and sleep. It’s all about comfort and all staterooms – especially the VIP space – are spacious, with large vertical windows that not only provide abundant daylight, but also allow guests to enjoy the scenery.

All bathrooms are equipped with large bathtubs and rain showers. Each stateroom features its own walk-in dressing, while the spacious bathrooms offer guests luxury and comfort. The staterooms’ layout also allowed us to integrate 65-inch television screens into the space, offering a high-quality movie experience. As in the rest of the yacht, the guests can lower the stainless steel sheers or leave them open to create the right atmosphere. The LED lighting can be also configured to create the desired mood. Every stateroom also features a custom-designed desk.”

 

Owner Stateroom Upper Deck

“All the Musashi’s design elements are brought together in the owner’s state room. This features floors made of specially selected teak, custom-made dull-silk rugs and custom-made macassar-and-alabaster bedside tables, a large desk and an elaborate seating arrangement. The spacious stateroom’s broad glazed façade forms one of the Musashi’s central design features. The stateroom’s stainless steel sheers can either be adjusted to create the desired mood. The owner’s stateroom has two bathrooms decorated in Jerusalem Gold marble, each with its own freestanding bathtub, and beautifully finished with macassar and anigre. The owner’s stateroom features two dressing rooms: one for him with a white backlit alabaster plateau and macassar wardrobes, and one for her, almost identical in design but with different material choices like lacewood finer. The Shoji Japanese ceiling lights mimic incoming daylight in his and her dressing.

 

 

Specifications

Length overall

87,78 m 288’0 “

Beam overall

14,10 m 46’3 “

Draft (loaded)

4,10 m 13’5 “

Fuel capacity

250 000 l 66 040 galones de los EEUU

Water tank

80.000 l 21.135 galones de los EEUU

Range

6.000 millas náuticas a una 

Cruising Speed

12,5 nudos

Maximum speed

19,7 nudos

 

Text: Musashi ± Photo: ©Feadship