Ecstasea

• LOA: 85.95 m
• Gross tonnage: 2,107 GT
• Beam: 11.5 m
• Delivered: 2004
• Builder: Feadship (De Voogt Naval Architects)
• Interior design: Terence Disdale
• Propulsion: combined diesel and General Electric gas turbine
• Top speed: about 33 knots, range about 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots

The largest and fastest of her day

Delivered in 2004 at 85.95 metres, Ecstasea was the largest yacht Feadship had built up to that point. She stood out for pace as much as size, with a slender hull engineered for a top speed of around 33 knots. That combination of length and speed was highly unusual for a displacement superyacht of her era. She marked a bold step for the yard into very large fast yachts. Her narrow, knife-like hull set her apart from the broad displacement yachts of her day.

Her place in the yard's story is that of a technical statement. Building a hull to run at more than 30 knots at nearly 86 metres called for a narrow beam and serious propulsion engineering. She proved that Feadship could deliver speed at flagship scale without giving up finish. Two decades on she remains one of the most distinctive fast yachts the yard has produced. Few yachts of her length have matched her pace since.

A slender hull for speed

The exterior and naval architecture are the work of De Voogt, who gave Ecstasea a long and slim hull with a beam of just 11.5 metres to help her reach high speed. The profile is sleek and purposeful, with a low, fast look on the water. The steel hull carries an aluminium superstructure to keep weight down. The proportions read as athletic and lean for her length. Careful weight control ran through the whole build to support her speed.

The exterior hides a clever piece of engineering forward. A helicopter hangar sits beneath the foredeck under sliding deck sections, with a lift platform that raises the aircraft to deck level for landing. Broad decks give owner and guests room to enjoy fast passages and quiet anchorages alike. The layout keeps her equally at home cruising or covering long distances at speed. Her outdoor spaces make the most of the swift, open passages she was built for.

An 85.95 metre Feadship with a gas turbine and a slender hull, built to run at around 33 knots.

Terence Disdale below decks

The interior is the work of Terence Disdale, the designer known for a relaxed and natural style built on texture and light. Ecstasea accommodates 15 guests across eight staterooms, supported by a crew of around 24. The owner's quarters are given a generous private area away from the guest flow. Disdale's approach gives the interior a warm, resort-like calm that offsets the yacht's speed. Natural textures and soft tones run through the guest spaces.

The volume of an 86 metre hull allows generous social and private spaces despite the slim beam. There is room for dining, lounging and wellness areas across the decks. Fine materials and Feadship joinery give the rooms real depth. The interior stays serene while the machinery does the hard work below. Light reaches deep into the yacht through her glazing.

Gas turbine drive

The engineering heart of Ecstasea is a combined propulsion package that adds a General Electric gas turbine to her diesel power for high-speed running. That arrangement drives her to a top speed of around 33 knots and a fast cruise near 25 knots. Her range reaches roughly 5,000 nautical miles at a more economical 15 knots. The setup gives her a rare mix of sprint speed and genuine ocean reach. Her steel hull and aluminium superstructure add up to a gross tonnage of 2,107 GT.

Running a gas turbine on a private yacht is a serious engineering undertaking that few builders attempt. The slender hull and careful weight control were essential to making the speed possible. Systems were built for reliability across long, fast passages. The machinery marks her out as one of the most ambitious fast Feadships of her time. Her turbine boost sits ready for when an owner wants to press on.

A fast yacht for a bold owner

Ecstasea answers the brief of an owner who wanted the length of a flagship with the pace of a much smaller yacht. Her gas turbine and slim hull gave her a character unlike almost anything else afloat when she launched. Yachts with this much technical history hold a lasting fascination well beyond their specification. She remains a landmark fast yacht in the yard's record. Her rarity keeps interest in her strong across the years.

For an owner she offers the ability to cover ground quickly and reach distant anchorages under her own power. The speed suits a buyer who wants to move between cruising grounds at pace. The size gives generous space for family and guests despite the fast hull. Ecstasea stands as one of the boldest engineering statements Feadship has delivered. Her blend of speed and space is still rare at her length.

Who it is for: The owner who wants flagship length with the pace of a much smaller yacht, able to sprint between distant cruising grounds.