The 31.1 metre Andreika IV is the first Spritz 102 yacht model by Alpha Custom Yachts. Andreika IV arrived in South Florida in late October 2020 and the owner and brand representative in United States, Merle Wood & Associates, invited BOAT on board for a look around this innovative and appealing yacht complete with a festive cocktail name. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine having a Spritz while soaking in the plunge pool, a central feature in a tiered aft deck that goes from water level to a main deck high above the water.
The yacht’s owners, brothers Jorge and Roberto Aboumrad, have extensive experience using, building and selling boats of all sizes. They are also are partners in the Venture Yachts shipyard that is building Alpha Custom Yachts in Turkey.
The first Spritz 102, the current flagship of Alpha Custom Yachts, is their family yacht. They worked with Italian superyacht designer Giorgio Cassetta and naval architect Laurent Giles to create a platform for family fun; elegant and crafted with care. According to Cassetta, the yacht has the feel of a Miami villa combined with great functionality.
Andreika IV’s design puts priority on comfort with no compromise in terms of personal spaces. As we tour the lower deck’s five cabins, Robert Aboumrad points out the size of bathrooms and the width of beds in the twin cabins – a full one-metre wide. In the VIP cabins, the beds are king size, providing plenty of room to move around. This is made possible by an exceptionally wide beam – the moulded beam is a rare 8.1 metres on a yacht of this length. For comparison, the beam of yachts of comparable length is often at least one metre less. Aside from the obvious implication it has on volume, the hull design (combined with light weight composite construction) has also resulted in a draft of around 1.9 metres on average, which is desirable for cruising in the owners’ favourite areas, from the Bahamas to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
A straight bow facilitates water entry and relatively modest power and is sufficient to bring the yacht up to a 12 to 13 knot cruising speed. Andreika IV is fitted with twin 1,000hp Caterpillar C12.9 (one of three engine power options available), which consume 100 litres per hour on average, yielding a range of up to 3,000 nautical miles.
Outdoor spaces are exceptional, with multiple areas where guests can stretch out in full sun or shade. But even inside guests are never disconnected from the environment. The installation of the windows ensures constant visibility of the water and sky, even from bed. The effect is particularly stunning in the full-beam owner’s cabin where the windows are oversized and less than half a metre over the water. “It gives you the feeling of being on the main deck,” says Cassetta.
Key features of the aft section of the deck include a hydraulically operated platform capable of supporting a tender, a 2,000-litre plunge pool that can be covered up with teak to serve as a dance floor, an outdoor lounge overlooking the pool and a vast and well protected dining area large enough for 12 guests. Another great lounge with plenty of seating is found on the foredeck while the 76 square metre flybridge deck boasts an incredible impression of space and panoramic views.
Although they are also the builders, Roberto, chief executive of Alpha Custom Yachts, and Jorge Aboumrad approached the project from the standpoint of owning and using the yacht. “Our yachts are built by yachtsmen for yachtsmen,” Roberto says. For Cassetta, who has worked on production and custom yachts, it was a project that allowed plenty of innovation.
“The whole vision for the range was addressing the needs of people who own those boats, rather than those of the yard – to ignore compromises that are usually accepted to make yachts cost effective and unnecessarily conservative in style and layout,” he says. Key examples are the 2.2-metre-tall ceilings, extensive sound insulation, floating floors, crew cabins with elevated beds, gentle and wide stairs, wide beds, full-size showers and closets, custom copper paint touches at the waterline and on the radar domes. The list goes on.
“It’s the standard you’d expect on a 45 or 50 metre yacht. And everything is home-sized, which is what I love,” says Cassetta who also designed the interior spaces. Designer Paola Aboumrad added interior finishing touches that emphasise the fun and relaxed atmosphere of a holiday retreat. “Words don’t do it justice,” Aboumrad says, “You have to see and experience it.” Meanwhile, Alpha Custom Yachts is currently building two more Spritz 102s and has two additional lines with options for yachts up to 47 metres.