Predator

A fast Feadship from 2008

Delivered in 2008 at 72.8 metres, Predator was built for an owner who wanted real speed at a serious size. At 1,467 GT she carries four engines and a hull set up for pace well above the norm for a displacement yacht. Her beam of 11.4 metres helps her performance through the water. She joined a small group of fast Feadships that pushed the yard's engineering. She remains one of the quicker large yachts the yard has delivered.

Her significance lies in the balance of speed and reach. Predator was engineered to run fast while still crossing oceans under her own power. She shows that Feadship could deliver pace at flagship scale without giving up finish. For owners who value speed she set a clear reference in her era. Her low, lean profile marks her out against the broad displacement yachts of her time. She was the first Feadship delivered with a reverse bow, a profile that won her a Neptune at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards. At 1,467 GT and 72.8 metres she remains one of the quicker large yachts the yard has delivered, a title she has held since launch.

A hull built for pace

The exterior and naval architecture are the work of De Voogt, who gave Predator a sleek and purposeful profile suited to her speed. The lines are low and fast, with a slim beam that helps her performance through the water. The steel hull carries an aluminium superstructure to keep weight down. The look is athletic and confident on the water. Careful weight control ran through the entire build to support the high speed she was designed to hold.

The exterior is arranged for both pace and leisure. Broad decks give owner and guests room to enjoy fast passages and quiet anchorages alike. Sun and shaded areas offer a range of settings through the day. The layout keeps her equally at home cruising slowly or covering distance at speed. Her outdoor spaces make the most of the swift, open passages she was built for. Her beam of 11.4 metres and draft of 3.7 metres keep the hull slim enough for the speed her four engines were built to deliver.

A 72.8 metre Feadship driven by four MTU engines to around 25.5 knots with a 5,700 mile reach.

Bannenberg and Rowell below decks

The interior is the work of the studio Bannenberg and Rowell, known for characterful and warm interiors with a strong sense of identity. Predator accommodates 10 guests across five staterooms, supported by a crew of around 18. The owner's quarters are given a generous private area away from the guest flow. The interior reads as warm and personal in keeping with the yacht's character. Warm timber and characterful detailing give the rooms a strong identity.

The volume of a 73 metre hull allows generous social and private spaces despite the fast hull form. There is room for dining, lounging and relaxation across the decks. Fine materials and Feadship joinery give the rooms real depth. The interior stays calm while the machinery does the hard work below. Light reaches deep into the yacht through her glazing. Designer Dickie Bannenberg said the brief called for a physically lightweight interior that still had to read as massive and solid, a balance he called the real skill of the job. Bannenberg and Rowell was hired directly by Feadship de Vries and the yacht's captain to complete it.

Four MTU engines and long reach

Predator is powered by four MTU 16V 595 TE90 engines that give her a top speed of around 25.5 knots and a fast cruise near 20 knots. Her range reaches roughly 5,700 nautical miles at a more economical 16 knots. That combination of speed and reach is rare in a yacht of her size. The hull and running gear are set up for comfortable, stable passage-making at pace. Her deep tankage feeds the four engines for both sprint speed and long-distance reach.

Running four engines calls for careful engineering to keep the yacht smooth and reliable at speed. The weight control and hull form were essential to her performance. Systems were built for reliability across long, fast passages. Stabilisation keeps her steady at anchor and under way. A crew of around 18 keeps the yacht running smoothly across fast, long passages. Four MTU 16V 595 TE90 units each deliver 5,789hp, giving a 20 knot cruise, a 25 knot top speed and a range near 5,758 nautical miles at 16 knots on 183,000 litres of fuel.

A fast cruiser for an owner in a hurry

Predator answers the brief of an owner who wanted the space of a flagship with the pace to move quickly between grounds. Her speed and long reach gave her a character few yachts of her size could match. Yachts with this much capability hold steady interest whenever they appear on the market. She is a genuine fast cruiser at flagship scale. Her rare mix of speed and space keeps her memorable.

For an owner she offers quick passages, generous accommodation and the reach to cruise widely under her own power. The speed suits a buyer who wants to cover ground between cruising grounds. The size gives ample space for family and guests. Predator stands among the most capable fast yachts the yard has delivered. Her steel hull and aluminium superstructure keep weight down for the speed she was built to hold. She changed hands around 2019 and her current owner is not publicly listed, unusual for a yacht of her profile and awards history. Ten guests are accommodated across five staterooms, supported by a crew of around 19 who run her engines and long-range systems.

لمين هو: The owner who wants flagship space with genuine speed, able to cover long distances quickly between cruising grounds.