Fun is a beautiful Lady

Lady Azul is a 40m displacement motor yacht with unique charter amenities and a yearning for adventure. Since her birth, she has been gradually transforming into a stylish voyager with services and features rarely available on a yacht of her size.

Since her creation in 2001, this lady of the ocean has been praised for the comfort of her inner accommodations and her versatility. She has been carefully maintained and refitted throughout the years to enhance her exploration, capabilities and adventurous spirit. It is no wonder, then, that she is a successful charter choice for lovers of less travelled destinations who seek contact with nature,  whilst still enjoying full comfort and amenities.One of the most appreciated features onboard is the gym connected to the beach club, an option that few yachts of this size can boast. Located at the stern of the hull, this area was originally built as a garage and then converted into a versatile space. We have talked to Laura Pomponi, founder of the renewed design atelier Luxury Projects who collaborated with Heesen’s technical offices to transform this technical area.

“It was a fun challenge – she says – as we had to transform a garage into a comfortable, safe and fancy area. First, we had to think about a special door, in compliance with the register regulations, to separate the gym area from the beach club, so guests can exercise in the air-conditioned gym without being exposed, or interfering with the ones relaxing on the beach club. Together with Heesen’s technical offices, we came out with the idea of a robust folding door with tinted windows moving on a rail. After that, the design was mainly focused on keeping the versatility of the inner space housing all the gym equipment, the huge array of toys and amenities as well as a complete laundry area. The area includes a small wine/soda cellar and ice maker,  all in a total area of 30 square meters. On the ceiling is also a retractable crane for the embarking/disembarking of the water toys, that need room to operate properly and safely. From an aesthetic perspective, we have tried to achieve a visual continuity between the interior and exteriors, so we utilised teak wood for the panelling combined with lacquered panels. But first and foremost, we wanted to enhance the proximity to the ocean. This area is dedicated to fun and nature, our job was to provide the best possible situation to fully enjoy these aspects”.

What do you like most about the work you have done on Lady Azul?
“The technical aspects related to transforming a working area into a leisure room. You have to respect the safety regulations, and make the best use of every inch of space keeping in mind the need to enable the crew to provide the best services. We particularly appreciated, as well, the collaboration with Heesen’s technical staff”.

Today Lady Azul sails the waters of Southeast Asia where charter guests have the opportunity to explore pristine beaches and unmatched marine ecosystems. Onboard, the fully equipped dive centre matched to the large display of water toys allows for uncompromised fun, in full safety and comfort.

Written by Maria Cristina Bernardini