80 metre Feadship: Powerful optics from sailing yacht designer Malcolm McKeon

Project 826 marks a change of style at the Dutch shipyard. The 80 metre long yacht has a flat profile with only two decks above the main deck. Designer Malcolm McKeon has designed more than 200 yachts to date, 55 of which are in the super segment - the vast majority of them with sails. One example: the Baltic 121.

McKeon drew a vertical bow, as is usual for high-performance sailboats. The hull widens towards the stern to reduce drag and stalling. There is a slight bulge towards the centre before the stern ends in a curved teak surface.

Six-metre pool plus conservatory

The shimmering silver structure of the superstructure meets floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Black panels and vertical teak strips create contrasts. 101 metres from Feadship.

The main and upper decks can be completely enclosed. A conservatory transforms from an indoor to an outdoor space thanks to folding glass panels. The main deck offers a 6.37 metre long pool with lounge. Steps lead down below the curved glass floor of the pool to the beach club.

Beach club with 165 square metres of space

The beach club covers 165 square metres, making it the largest that Feadship has ever built. The layout extends over two levels: A sunken lounge with bar forms the centre. A few steps higher up, a wraparound gallery leads to solid teak flaps. These swing outwards and become terraces that hover 70 centimetres above the water. 80 metre leadship with glass dome.

The view to the outside is almost seamless because there are no thick hull structures framing the doors. Feadship developed a new technology for this: the drives for opening and closing the hatches are located in the doors themselves, not in thick hull sections or rear pillars.

Downward-looking dog on starboard

The beach club combines the various areas for water sports, fitness and massage. The training areas with cardio and strength equipment are located on the port and starboard sides. On the starboard side, everything is ready for yoga exercises, while on the port side there are pulleys and free weights. Air flows into the sports arena via hinged hull doors that open up into terraces.

The Italian studio m2atelier from Milan designed the interiors in warm colours.

Where the helicopter lands, the ball is also played

The bridge, the captain's cabin and the office are located at the very front of the main deck. From there you can see the helideck, which also serves as a pickleball court with a removable net. Flat Starlink receivers make large satellite communication domes on the mast superfluous.

The sun deck has a small hardtop that follows the straight, horizontal roof lines of the lower decks. Instead of pillars, wide, silver-coloured painted walls support the structure. They shield a round bar with a seating area.

Two large tenders in the garage

The diesel drive is powered directly via shafts and propellers. Three Scania generators in a soundproofed room provide electrical power. Two large tenders are stored in a bow garage for transporting guests to and from the ship.

Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director, explains: "This yacht represents a new design chapter in our history. Achieving such a clear profile while accommodating the technical complexity of the stern architecture and the size of the beach club openings required a high degree of technical innovation."

Technical data Feadship Project 826:

• Length: 80 metres
• Decks above main deck: 2
• Pool: 6.37 metres
• Beach club: 165 square metres
• Terrace height above water: 700 millimetres
• Drive: Diesel
• Generators: 3 x Scania
• Designer: Malcolm McKeon
• Interior: m2atelier, Milan