on 4 Mar 2021
Freshly delivered from Yildiz – the Turkish shipyard famed for producing Perini Navi hulls – 43-metre Sunrise has been shaped from start to finish with the enjoyment of a single ocean-loving family in mind
Photos: Kerem Sanliman
Sunrise is most certainly a yacht to be enjoyed. The owner, an experienced yachtsman with over three decades of boating behind him, knew what he wanted out of this custom build, and conveyed it at every turn.
The result: a 43-metre, steel-hulled superyacht, defined inside and out by a mix of classical design infused with contemporary flair – and a dedication to the art of living well.
Built by the Istanbul-based Yildiz shipyard and delivered in summer 2020, Sunrise features a classic exterior by Haarlem- based Ginton Naval Architects, and a custom interior by award-winning Milanese design studio Hot Lab. Antonio Romano, Hot Lab’s co-founder, recalls how the studio landed the job swiftly.
“I had the pleasure to meet the passionate owner and his wife in Istanbul in the summer of 2017, and in less than an hour we agreed on all the design and contract principles,” Romano says.
The owner was clear about the big picture, so designers were free to concentrate on details
“Sunrise is a beautiful yacht for a wonderful family,” says Enrico Lumini, head designer for Hot Lab. “She reflects the close collaboration relationship established with this extraordinary owner during the construction. He allowed us to express our ideas without any constraint while fully respecting his tastes. [This meant we could] concentrate on details, since the macro- decisions taken jointly at the beginning of the project were never re-discussed.”
Hot Lab’s stylistic philosophy reflected the culture, taste and status of the owners: an extroverted family who are nevertheless used to a sober classicism, but full of details – Enrico Lumini, Hot Lab
Yildiz was founded in 1975, at its current location in the Tulza Bay shipyard area of Istanbul. In 1988, famed Italian designer and builder Fabio Perini initiated a restructuring programme for the yard, after personally recognising the industrial potential in the area. The yard was soon restructured over a 44,000 sqm area, including some 14,250 sqm of enclosed space for building the hulls and superstructures of ships by respected yard Perini Navi.
The three decks are connected by a pop-up lift
To date, the Yildiz shipyard has delivered over 50 vessels in aluminium and steel, including the legendary 88-metre clipper Maltese Falcon, and the 40-metre sailing superyacht State of Grace.
While Sunrise’s owner has previously owned four smaller vessels, including a 34-metre yacht, Sunrise is a marked step-up in size, representing new territory in terms of design considerations.
“The brief was very clear, and one of his essential requests was the master stateroom on the upper deck for private use, along with a pop-up lift serving all the three decks,” continues Lumini. “These elements obviously affected both the style and layout of the yacht, making it truly customised.”
The wheelhouse features state-of-the-art controls
Captain Deniz Ylmazer was also involved in the project from the very beginning. “The owner has several hobbies: swimming, diving and fishing,” explains Ylmazer. “There is a separate room in the lazarette with a compressor and amateur fishing equipment.
Sunrise also accommodates a laser sailboat and a jet ski. The main goal was to build a yacht that [the owner] could enjoy a lot – from design to ability to do his hobbies. He wanted to achieve high quality in all places of the yacht. He specifically wanted to stay in every bay possible, without affecting swells. I believe we succeeded in this in Sunrise”.
The sun-loving owner has a penchant for spending time on his private balcony in the master suite on the upper deck, as well as on the sundeck, where he frequently enjoys lunch and dinner. However, it transpired that the sundeck became one of the most complex areas of the yacht to develop.
The sundeck proved to be one of the more complex design puzzles
“It was important to find the right balance between amenities and atmosphere,” says Lumini. “This sundeck houses both the pop-up lift and an extremely generous bar area with a barbecue, tables and a service area, an ideal place for family gatherings and parties alike.”
The main goal was to build a yacht that [the owner] could enjoy a lot – from design to ability to do his hobbies. He specifically wanted to stay in every bay possible, without affecting swells – Captain Deniz Ylmazer
The zero-speed system on Sunrise allows her to dock in places where other yachts cannot, therefore permitting her to spend the night in more secluded spots. During her first season, spent in the Mediterranean, she sailed along the southern and western Turkish coasts.
The yacht is a family space exclusively but reflects the sophisticated tastes of its owner
“As Covid made it so difficult to go abroad, we stayed in Turkey and normally sailed between 3-6 hours [per day],” says Captain Ylmazer. “We mainly chose diving spots – as we go diving twice per day when the owner is on board – and stayed close to our main marina in Göcek.”
On the inside, Sunrise is sophisticated and sumptuous. Large living spaces framed by expansive windows and discreet lights create an airy mood on board. A multitude of woods are found aboard, including walnut, Macassar ebony and honey-toned afzelia in checkerboard patterns. Other rich materials, such as marbles, woven leather, chrome and lacquered surfaces, elevate the ambience further.
“Hot Lab’s stylistic philosophy reflected the culture, taste and status of the owners: an extroverted family who are nevertheless used to a sober classicism, but full of details,” says Hot Lab’s Lumini. “The research of materials, textures and shades always follows a standard and consolidated process, namely the creation of a mood-board shared with the owner, in parallel with the development of a project that identifies a theme.”
Sunrise accommodates 12 guests and nine crew
Sunrise, which is a strictly private yacht, accommodates 12 guests and nine crew. In addition to the master stateroom – unusually situated overlooking the open aft deck on the upper deck – there are also four lower deck guest suites, configured as two twins and two doubles.
On the portside, the forward main deck houses a large galley and pantry, as well as the captain’s cabin to starboard directly below the wheelhouse. Full dining facilities are found inside and outside on the main deck, as well as under the hardtop on the sundeck, and a spacious seating area in front of the wheelhouse. The tenders and toys are stored explorer-style on the open foredeck, freeing room for a beach club in the stern.
“I’m accustomed to working with Italian designers and found the young, friendly, client-oriented team very easy to work with,” the owner said in a statement made after the yacht was delivered. “They did a great job and worked very hard with myself and my wife.”
Technical specifications: Sunrise
Overall length: 43.06m
Beam: 9.1m
Draught max: 2.6m
Gross tonnage: 419
Hull: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminium
Number of guests: 12
Number of crew: 9
Class: Rina
Fuel capacity: 40,000l
Water capacity: 6,600l
Cruising speed: 13.5 kn
Top speed: 15.5 kn
Engines: 2xMTU