with the added attraction of the romance and beauty of sailing.

Leading this trend has been the Australian designer Jon Bannenberg who for over 20 years has pioneered new thinking in yacht design from the heart of Chelsea. He combines a creative talent with an ability to communicate his innovative ideas to clients.

With the advent of satellite communication systems the traditional isolation of a yacht at sea is broken. It is at last possible to have 1980s standard communications, including telex, telefax, computer modems and direct dial telephones on a yacht located anywhere in the world. For many yachtsmen this is the opportunity to treat their vessels as more than just a cruising holiday apartment. There is no need to rush back to the city when business can be conducted equally well from the yacht, and there is no restriction on cruising ground when communications are equally good from anywhere in the world.

Comfort goes further than the softness of the cushions or the depth of pile in the carpets. It is a function of the way the whole yacht is laid out. There must be large open spaces so those on board feel unrestrained and unaware of the limited dimensions of the yacht, but there must equally be intimate areas, where privacy can be maintained even in the midst of a large party. The simplest way of achieving this is to ensure that at standing eye level the visual space uses the full width and length available, but when sitting down the occupants are more enclosed, protected and supported. Round edges give a softness to teak, plastic or aluminum. The visual aspect of all joinery is a compromise between looking strong without being massive, light without looking flimsy.

Visual effects such as soft finishes and subtle lighting are important. Our supercruiser designs have more than ten light fittings per foot in length overall,with dimmers catering for any desired activity whether it be dining, reading or just relaxing.