Story Jamie Welch Photos Klaus Jordan

Although it happens on a regular basis, excitement still reverberates through the city of Fort Lauderdale whenever a new world-class superyacht enters Port Everglades. Launched last winter, the 223’ Kismet arrived in April in Fort Lauderdale, where the clear blue sky reflected off the her hull paint, a custom metallic color the owners asked Awlgrip to create based on BMW’s latest 7-series.

In my biased opinion this is the best Lürssen ever,” said Kismet Captain Kyle Fultz. “And there are a lot of unbiased people out there who would agree with me.” Add to that list one awestruck editor. The yacht’s producers were certainly world-class: The highly experienced owners, Lürssen Sales Manager Michael Breman and the multitude of talent at their Rendsburg, Germany, yard, which cut its teeth on Pelorus and ever since has been an ever-evolving part of the Lürssen brand.

“The Rendsburg yard is fully focused on a product in that specific size bracket,” Michael Breman said. “With more orders in build they are becoming true specialists in this field, and as a Lürssen facility, they continue to herald the spirit of bespoke yacht building and, most importantly, to listen to the client. Obviously Pelorus helped their skills, but it is more the continuity of yachts such as Polar Star, Apoise, St Nicholas, etc., which have honed their skills.”

The owner was guided through the custom yacht construction process by the well-tenured broker (and former Feadship captain) Rob Moran and his associate Kevin Callahan; and Project Manager/Captain Kyle Fultz, who remained on-site project in Rendsburg throughout the build.

“During the two-year build Rob Moran was my 911 call,” Captain Fultz said. “He planned, managed and then followed through for the owners. He orchestrated everything and was priceless in meetings, where he proved to be a great negotiator on behalf of the owners. When the yard said ‘no’ to a request, Rob said, ‘wait a minute, let’s talk.’ This is the forth Lürssen contracted through Moran, so Rob knows exactly what is and isn’t possible.”

Espen Oeino Naval Architects of Antibes and the owners designed Kismet, whose gestalt design stems primarily from the owners’ brief of providing for themselves and their guests an exciting, youthful experience, with amenities such as a helicopter pad, twin side-deck terraces off the master suite, a disco, cinema, blown glass sculptures, a Jacuzzi skylight, glass elevator, full gym and a spa.

“Espen is not only an extremely talented designer,” Fultz said, “he’s also very thorough and was there every step of the way for the owner. On top of that he’s just a great guy who has a superb outlook on life and is great to work with.” One challenge was designing four hatches in the superstructure that hide all four life rafts, a complicated design that was based purely on aesthetics—always important in yachting.

Reymond Langton’s design team of London combined contemporary and classical elements with an Art Deco influence for the interior, which features satin mahogany panels detailed with deep square grooves, delicate marquetry and integrated artwork combining Persian, classical and contemporary elements.

When entering the interior on the main deck foyer guests walk on a black marble sole in front of a cylindrical glass elevator and sweeping staircase, above which is a clear glass skylight. Integrated artwork can be found between the main saloon and cinema where the adjoining wall houses a ‘floating’ glass panel with organic design. The main saloon comprises comfortable seating, grand piano and a large cocktail bar. On the portside wall is a hand-embroidered panel with glass beads and fresh water pearls, and wool and cashmere drapery with appliqué embroidery. The cinema comprises illuminated alabaster urns, a glass artwork panel and an electrically operated curved sofa that transforms from two to three settees.

Forward of the entry foyer is the owners’ private library, where a bronze door opens to the full-beam suite with three dressing rooms and ‘his and hers’ private balconies to port and starboard. The king bed headboard accommodates a large stucco relief sculpture. The wall opposite has a pair of antique bronze artwork panels, one of which conceals a plasma TV. Double doors lead to the dramatic honey onyx master bathroom with sunburst floor pattern. The backdrop to the tub is an impressive curved-glass artwork panel and solid onyx columns.

Guests can get to their five cabins—one on the bridge deck and four below decks—via an elevator or the grand staircase. The back wall of the staircase features an enormous bas relief carving that extends from the bridge deck to the lower deck guest foyer. The carving, flanked by leather panels, has been finished with bronze, which is cool to the touch and—according to the designers—will patinate over time. The lower five guest staterooms—all ensuite with marble Jacuzzi baths—include a double suite and three double cabins that are convertible to twin cabins. Each features an extensive audio and visual entertainment system, all with access to the Kaleidoscope DVD server.

Going up the stairs to the bridge deck lobby, guests arrive at a vestibule with oversized alabaster urns atop silver leaf plinths. Here the Art Deco influence is most pronounced, especially in the dining room and disco that are located in the space that typically would comprise the skylounge. Directly opposite the staircase is an ensuite VIP cabin, the seventh stateroom, while a day head is off the vestibule. The dining room seats 18 and is bathed in natural light due to the large floor-to-ceiling windows port and starboard. The disco is complete with colored lighting and features a generous dance floor and an illuminated onyx cocktail bar.

Affectionately called the “Beach House” by the owners because of its relaxed, Balinese feel, the small room just forward on the upper deck has a skylight and splashes of bright colorful glass jellyfish artwork. An eclectic collection of artwork in this room ranges from an ancient Indian sculpture and Brazilian bark bowls to African tribal shields. The glass-bottomed Jacuzzi on the sun deck creates the skylight with blown-glass sculptures.

Twin 1500kW Caterpillar 3512B diesels produce 16-knot speeds, and Captain Fultz was extremely happy with the owner’s decision to add Quantum’s stabilization system and the control system on the integrated bridge designed by Tom Bardwell with Imtech Holland.

“The Hi-Lift Rudder has a hinged flap for excellent maneuverability,” Fultz said. “That negated the need for a stern thruster, yet the joystic controls really work well.” On the glass bridge there are twin Nera Fleet77 satellite communication systems and twin Nera Mini-M Broad band. Other communication equipment includes a GMDSS and VSAT High Speed Data Wi-Fi. The security system includes a CCTV system, security lighting and intrusion detection in compliance with International Ship & Port Security Code. There is also Satcom-C, DSV VHF, SSB Navtex, a Panasonic telephone exchange with fixed and Wi-Fi wireless phones.

Crew procedures were well planned by the owners and designers. The Cramm passerelle is operated with wireless remote, and MarQuipt side-boarding ladders are located on port and starboard side decks. Wave toys in the garage include a 25’ Chris Craft with 425 hp stern drive and a 25’ Nautica RIB with twin 150 hp outboards. There are twin 160 hp Yamaha WaveRunners, and diving equipment including tanks and Brownies compressors are also on hand.

Crew accommodations for up to 22 in 10 cabins include a double captain’s cabin on the bridge deck. In the bow are double cabins with additional Pullman berth and bathroom en suite, six twin cabins each with bathroom en suite, a nanny/security detail twin cabin with bathroom en suite, and a massive lounge with a six-foot gold relief sculpture over the dining table. “This is the nicest crew lounge I’ve ever seen,” I commented to Captain Fultz as my tour ended, and one of the mates remarked that there are a lot of “nicest-evers” on Kismet. Everyone on board seemed to agree with Captain Fultz on that.

Contact Lürssen:
Tel: +49 421 6604 166
Fax: +49 421 6604 170
Web: www.lurssen.com • www.yachtshui.com

LOA: 223’1”
LWL: 199’2”
Beam (max): 42’8”
Draft (loaded): 11’10”
Displacement: 1796 tons
Fuel capacity: 52,836 gallons
Freshwater capacity: 7397 gallons
Main engines: 2 x 2011 hp Caterpillar 3512B diesels
Generators: 3 x 301kW Caterpillar C18 • 1 x 162kW Caterpillar C9
Speed (max/cruise): 16 knots/14 knots
Range at 14 knots: 7000nm