BY APB Staff on 16 Jul 2021

An array of bars, a booming soundsystem and a hardwood helipad dancefloor can only mean one thing: Admiral’s Geco is 55 metres of good times

Launched in early 2020, Geco is 55.2 metres of unadulterated escapism. Her concept revolves around fun and good times, with the owner asking the design team to create a vessel that is “super cool, eye-catching and unconventional.”

This attention to sleek hedonism, which permeates throughout, is most clearly evident in the unique helipad setup. The touch-and-go fore helipad, which overhangs the hull’s lines and creates a distinctive silhouette, is designed to be used as a “Moroccan-style” lounging area with a fire pit – and also doubles as a killer dancefloor.

The latest superyacht from Admiral is also the newest charter from the Italian yard, which has gone from strength to strength since being acquired by luxury yacht behemoth The Italian Sea Group in 2011.

internally in collaboration with the Italian Sea Group’s art director, Gian Marco Campanino, Geco is part of the Admiral’s S-Force series and has an aluminium hull and superstructure. She sports an innovative layout that sees all the main entertaining areas connected by stainless steel stairs and elevators to every floor, helping to facilitate a seamlessly social experience on board for guests.  

The round ‘Buddha Bar’ lounge area is one of the focal points for dining and socialising, and is said to be among the owner’s favourite spots to spend time on board. Another of Geco‘s standout features is the enticing teak beach club. The unique open-air space features high side walls made from glass that offer protection against the elements without impeding views. A retractable staircase serves the expansive alfresco sunbathing platform to offer access to the sea.

She sports an innovative layout that helps to facilitate a seamlessly social experience on board for guests  

The alfresco lifestyle continues in the expansive exterior decks. Guests can soak up the sun in the open-air gym and Jacuzzi on the sun deck, as well as the terrace with solarium. The oversized heated dip pool and sculptural bar area, which features a long counter that flows seamlessly between outdoor and indoors, are the perfect spots to gather around before sundowners.

There are also two more salons, a dining room on the upper deck and a private dining room decorated with a feature chandelier crafted from hundreds of coloured crystals.

The upper deck’s external and internal areas are connected by a sliding glass door, which is designed to remove a feeling of separation between the dining area and the outer hall.

Superlative dining options on board are designed to enhance Geco‘s appeal further. Chef Panagiotis Flakas has been tasked with creating tasting menus starring seasonal Mediterranean ingredients — and often fresh seafood plucked from the ocean.

“I believe a delicious dish includes a game of the senses, so all five senses live in a party of rhythms,” Flakas told Robb Report after Geco‘s maiden voyage. “The creativity of a tasting menu is also what the owner enjoys.”

Geco is understood to be the second yacht belonging to the young and gregarious owner, who has upgraded from their previous, 112-foot yacht.

The custom interiors are designed throughout with a neutral palette interspersed with bronzed metal tones and splashes of bolder tones such as navy blue and cognac orange. The finishes are suitably luxurious: leather walls, natural oak, golden Calacatta marble and hardwood floors.

Guests can soak up the sun in the open-air gym and jacuzzi, as well as the terrace with solarium

Six contemporarily appointed cabins, including a full-beam master with study, a VIP stateroom, two doubles and two twins that can in total host 12 guests, are all designed to offer a sense of relaxation – which is probably needed after all that socialising. Geco can also accommodate up to 13 crew members on board.

The impressive main foyer, which is the first thing that guests encounter when they step aboard Geco, is set off by an ethereal glass-walled staircase and a backdrop of modern art.

As is de rigueur in modern luxury charters, Geco is packed to the rafters with the latest and most fantastic toys, from JetSurfs to flyboards and transparent kayaks, as well as diving and snorkelling equipment. She also comes equipped with a giant inflatable water slide and climbing wall for guests seeking a thrill. The impressive sound system, which emanates from the beach club, can provide a booming soundtrack to days spent enjoying the water.

And, when guests want to get out and explore away from the mothership, Geco has a dedicated chase boat that features a cabin and bathroom for extended time on the water. Khaleesi is an Evo 43 that packs a top speed of 40 knots, and can also be used by guests for cruising onwards to new destinations, while the crew remains behind to pack up the water toys.

With twin Caterpillar C32 Acert engines, Geco can reach a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 16.5 knots. Geco is currently based in her home berth of Flisvos Marina in Athens. She took her maiden voyage in Greek waters and later took a trip towards the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia’s western coast, to explore the diverse and resilient corals that teem there.

Founded in 1966, Admiral has launched 147 yachts in the last five-and-a-half decades – including spectacular 73-metre explorer Planet Nine, which was built in 2018 and starred in Christopher Nolan’s 2020 thriller Tenet.

Geco arguably cements the leap into a new generation of modern superyachts for the Marina di Carrara-based shipyard. It is a fine example of the innovative styling to be expected from this respected name in years to come. Keep an eye out next for Metamorphosis, which has been sold and is set for a 2024 delivery. Measuring 72 metres and built to ice-class specifications, she is expected to be among the largest vessels ever built by Admiral.

www.admiral-yachts.com

Technical specifications: Geco

Length overall: 55.2 m
Beam max: 8.60 m
Gross Tonnage: GT 499
Hull Material: Aluminum Alloy
Superstructure material: Aluminum Alloy
Owner and Guests: 12 + 2
Crew: 11 + 1
Main Engines: 2x CAT C32 Acert (1418 kW @ 2300 rpm)
Gear Reduction: 2 x ServoGear
Propulsion: 2 x CPP ServoGear Max
Speed: 18 knots
Cruising Speed: 16.5 knots
Max range at 10 knots: 3,500 nautical miles approx