Made to Order: Megayachts

Tribù

An environmentally friendly yacht. While it may sound like an oxymoron, Luciano Benetton’s custom built yacht made headlines for being green when it launched in September 2007. The 164-foot yacht is outfitted with engine filters, materials that cut down on the need for air conditioning, and other measures designed to soften its gargantuan carbon footprint. The baby grand piano and wine cellar, however, are purely for the enjoyment of Benetton’s family, the “tribe” for which the boat is named. For the founder of a company that has a long-standing affiliation with social causes, Tribù is a fitting blend of style and statement.

Wedge Too

When designer Philippe Starck embarked on his first superyacht project, he left no element of its design unaddressed. From the Dutch builder Feadship, the interior and deck are covered in polished teak as an homage to the yachts of the 1930s and the furniture is a painstaking mix of antiques and modern pieces, whose surprising juxtapositions make it clear that this is no ordinary yacht. Take for example the Louis XVI writing desk in the stateroom, into which the ever-innovative Starck integrated a 52-inch plasma screen TV. Wedge Too is currently owned by a Middle Eastern politician who has asked that his name not be published.