Photos: Klaus Jordan Vive la Vie Lürssen’s cruise-anywhere private yacht that is also a home-from-home Paul Ashton

Superyacht report Vive la Vie is a personal yacht. Everywhere there is a surprising gentleness and subtlety 34

T he joy of commissioning a yacht that is totally for private use rather than for charter is that you can follow your nose completely, indulging your design passions and creating a layout that works for you, your family and your friends, rather than for the scores of charter guests who might be sharing your yacht over the season. If this doesn’t quite mean you can tear up the rulebook, it means you can rearrange the pages, and perhaps leave some of them out. That’s certainly the case with Vive la Vie, the 59.4-metre Lürssen launched last year. But there’s much more to her than mere personal quirks...

Superyacht report Left: The staircase is the breathtaking centrepiece of Vive la Vie. Above, top left: The beautiful light sculpture in the lift was created in the Art-Line studio. Far right: The finely wrought steel walkways to the lift on each decks add an industrial edge to the veneer and leather finished walls and the carpeted staircase. Top right: The personalised children’s cabin is a touch that marks Vive la Vie out as a private yacht. This is not merely a mini-sized space, but a perfectly specced cabin for a child. Above right: The lobby to the owner’s office has a stunning observation...

The curtains open with the push of a button to reveal the sunshine. “It’s the morning view!” says Frank

Superyacht report Vive la Vie is a yacht that has been allowed not just to breathe, but to relax and kick off her sandals 38

by a motion-sensitive beam at foot level. It means a stewardess laden with empty plates need only surreptitiously flick an ankle at the sensor for the door to open. Another rather wonderful feature of the saloon is the raised area to starboard. There are two recliners to choose from, offering a great nightcap area if you don’t fancy taking the air on deck. The half-moon sofa in front of the TV amidships and related crescents of voluptuous seating by the aft saloon windows make the saloon as a whole a thoroughly relaxed area. You’d be happy here with guests; happy on your own. On the main deck,...

Superyacht report The VIP cabin’s vast window area creates an intimate connection with the world outside Above, the sundeck bar is an island of glass and wood between the open fore and aft areas, with a ceiling decorated in teak, to reflect the decking outside. The lighting in the bar changes colour to suit the time of day or just the ambience of the moment. Forward are the hot-tub and sunbathing areas, and aft a ten-place table and recliners under a canopy. From outside, the bar seems a chunky structure, though it cleverly continues the exterior styling themes of the decks below. Inside, it...

Far left: The big windows in the VIP cabin offer a great connection with the sea. Above left: The recliner in the VIP cabin is in a good position for taking in the views. Left: The walk-in VIP cabin shower/bath with a spectacular marble floor. Above right: Behind the wheelhouse are areas for the navigator and a purser’s office with access to the yacht’s electronic and AV systems. Right: Twin CAT 3512s give Vive la Vie a range of 7,000 nautical miles. Below: The Boesch 620 tender and the Kawasaki 800 SX-R PWC.

Superyacht report The specs Vive la Vie Length overall 59.40m (195ft 2in) Beam 11.10m (36ft 4in) Draught 3.50m (11ft 5in) Displacement 1,070 tonnes Engines Twin 1,455kW (1,950hp) CAT 3512 B DITA Berths Owner: 2 (+1). Guests: 10. Crew: 15 Fuel capacity (135 ton Fresh water capacity (43 ton Hull/superstructure Steel/aluminium children’s cabin: Complete with cuddly toys and a Wendy House. Exterior Lürssen Yachts Interior Art-Line Interiors www.artline-design.com Classification LLRoS ✠100 A1 SSC MONO YACHT G6 ✠LMS UMS, full MCA compliance, The Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) Flag: Cayman Island...

foredeck access: Steps lead from the Portuguese bridge to the foredeck, equipped with seating areas. wheelhouse windows: Forward-raking windows here and in the observation lounge make for a seamanlike profile. name plate: At night, the yacht’s name can be illuminated with different coloured lights. alfresco eating: A hot-plate and barbecue on the sundeck for freshly cooked snacks. observation Lounge: You can host a cocktail party here, a formal meeting, or have a disco. big gym windows: With amazing views of the sea, working out under way is said to be memorable. gel-burning heater: This unusual...