When did you last order a superyacht online? Configuring a luxury car on a computer is second nature — you get to experiment with different exterior colours and interior leathers, select the wheels and add bucket seats, perhaps, then see your creation right away, with 360 degree views, along with the exact price and delivery time. So why can’t ordering a superyacht be just as easy and transparent?
Dynamiq posed exactly this question. The builder unveiled its first yacht, the 39 metre Jetsetter, at the 2016 Monaco Yacht Show and is looking to shake up the superyacht industry, starting with completely reinventing the yacht-buying experience. The Dynamiq Configurator lets an owner choose every detail of their yacht online — from paint job and underwater lights to general arrangement and interior décor options — and see the price and delivery date in real time.
In an industry that is often chastised for being overly traditional, Dynamiq is positioning itself as a disruptor brand. But stirring up superyacht industry stalwarts is far less important to Dynamiq’s founders than appealing to the changing market and attracting a new breed of buyer, such as that oft-elusive Silicon Valley start-up kid for whom ordering a yacht online would make perfect sense.
Dynamiq goes beyond offering a smarter way to buy a yacht — its entire philosophy is to create a “smart yacht”, one that is logically designed to get the most out of the yachting experience, with a focus on ease, efficiency, comfort and luxury. And crammed with the latest “smart” technology.
For a quick build time, all of this is presented on a turn-key technical platform, on which the owner can still put their personal stamp. Just look at the exterior design options on the Dynamiq Configurator. They include a metallic pink hull colour along with 10 others, three superstructure hues and multiple cushion colour combinations.
Dynamiq was founded in Monaco in 2011 by Sergei Dobroserdov, a Moscow-born former maritime lawyer and long-time yacht broker. He brought together a super-group of top designers and naval architects from around Europe to realise his dream of creating a new breed of highly versatile yacht — equally primed for family cruising or lively parties — that’s been dubbed the GTT, or Gran Turismo Transatlantic.
Truly an international affair, the sporty exterior styling of Jetsetter is by Monaco-based Dobroserdov Design, interiors are by London’s Bannenberg & Rowell, while naval architecture comes from Azure and Van Oossanen from the Netherlands and the build takes place in Italy.
The first hull was constructed at the Nuovi Cantieri Apuania shipyard in Carrara, Italy, under Dynamiq management. But Dynamiq has since staked a claim to its own piece of waterfront in Viareggio. It’s here that its second hull, the 35 metre D3 designed by Studio Porsche, is in build, with delivery slated for 2017.
In Dobroserdov’s view, a smarter yacht means a smaller yacht — but without giving up any of the luxury. The idea isn’t to jam everything you’d find in a 60 metre into a smaller package, but to achieve the quality of the big boys in a pared down space, avoiding the costs and headaches that come with running a larger boat.
I do believe the greatest yachting experience, very similar to what you have on board a 60 metre, can be achieved here. It’s all about priorities.
The superyacht sundeck is high on that list of Dynamiq’s priorities, which is obvious to see as Jetsetter’s deck extends far over the length of the superstructure, defining the exterior profile and taking in every last centimetre to create an outdoor space that would rival that of a much larger yacht.
Dobroserdov compares Jetsetter’s sundeck to the one found on the Amels 180 series, and indeed there is a similar feel, with the space divided into two distinct areas. Sunpads and dining table are aft, then a bar and TV bisect the space and a very large spa tub and exercise equipment are forward.
Two sliding glass doors can further separate the two areas and protect the aft sundeck from the wind. If the oversized superyacht spa pool on Jetsetter isn’t your cup of tea, it can be changed or removed completely, perhaps making way for a seating area that takes in the best views in the house.
Forgoing an upper saloon wasn’t a compromise — to the builder at least. “You just need one saloon,” says Dobroserdov, who credits his experience as a broker in helping determine what customers want in a yacht. “We are a strange type of a shipyard; we are not shipyard people, we are brokers. We know exactly what people are doing during charters.”
Jetsetter’s saloon is a welcome venue for gatherings, with a cosy lounge and large dining room. This time dual wine fridges to port and starboard serve as the subtle divider between the two areas. The mid-century inspired dining table is flanked by two large glass windows on either side that, with a click of a button in the Dynamiq Configurator, can be optioned as doors, thus creating a space where the breeze flows through and the sense of being on the water is all the more palpable.
Bannenberg & Rowell designed the interior on Jetsetter and had a hand in the space planning, which is a key factor in the effort to convey quality. “A less expansive interior is not mutually exclusive with quality when done properly, and good space planning in the first place is the key to the perception of the finished article,” says Dickie Bannenberg. “The Dynamiq interior holds its own [in its class] for a considerably more competitive and transparent price.”
The interior brief was for a fresh, sporty feel but flexible enough that it could be customised with Dynamiq’s online system, which has an option for an interior by Trussardi Casa. “We like Dynamiq’s Configurator concept and the ability to specify a new look over pre-determined interior architecture,” says Bannenberg. “It’s been talked about before but not applied in reality on a yacht of this scale.”
The interior of Jetsetter is purposefully adorned in a neutral palette and with loose furnishings so owners can change things whenever they please without too much hassle. “You can take this furniture out in one day and put in something else,” says Dobroserdov.
Jetsetter’s saloon is a calming space, with white leather walls, dark walnut floors and plush velvet sofas. Throw cushions bear the Trussardi logo, a nod to this collaboration. Dynamiq believes in the power of partnerships. Ralph Lauren is a possibility that’s mentioned as well, though its products aren’t yet on the Configurator.
“We signed 36 contracts with world-leading brands,” Dobroserdov adds. “We are creating these collaborations to show off the possibilities. We can provide these options without any effort. Just click and that’s it.”
The Configurator makes it easy to see what you’re getting in each interiors package, with the exact type, brand and number of furnishings and accessories plainly spelled out, down to the Murano cube vases (three) and set of decorative cushions (35) in leather, crocodile leather and fabric.
For an owner who enjoys labouring over the selection of every ornament, this system could be limiting, but for the owner who is time-poor and wants to know quickly what they are getting, it’s a godsend. And, really, there’s no need to fuss over each candlestick when Dynamiq partners with the likes of Sabrina Monte-Carlo.
One of the few things that doesn’t feature in the Dynamiq Configurator is the modern and clean integrated bridge. Indeed, the technical package doesn’t change from yacht to yacht and the options are spelled out in order to maintain a fast delivery time of just 17 months.
Throughout Jetsetter, the lofty headroom of 2.2 metres and expansive windows help to create a sensation of supreme spaciousness. This is felt below decks as well, where picture-box windows are found in every guest suite.
Glass made by the Italian company Isoclima, which supplies the likes of Feadship and Lürssen as well as cars from marques such as Bentley and Ferrari, has been chosen to fend off noise from the generator, but it’s also about the design and styling, creating a flush finish from the outside.
The standard four-cabin layout has an owner's cabin with a sofa to port, desk to starboard, large walk-in closet and bathroom with double sinks. Like the rest of the furniture on Jetsetter, the sofa in the master is loose so it can easily be changed out.
Dobroserdov is constantly looking for new ways to innovate, even with items as seemingly straightforward as beds. “There are these new smart mattresses, which can track how you sleep and the phases of your sleep,” he says. “You can configure the mattress with your iPhone. I am already in touch with these suppliers.”
Walking into the master bathroom, Dobroserdov turns question master and asks: “What is the connection between Azzam and Jetsetter?” referring, of course, to the 180 metre Lürssen, the largest yacht in the world by LOA, and his own 39 metre D4. “We use the same marble supplier,” he says proudly.
Jetsetter’s bathroom is indeed grand, with high-gloss wood walls and white marble countertops juxtaposed with black cabinets. In the cabins, the carpets blending soft silk and durable bamboo are made by a French brand, Edition Bougainville.
The master and three accompanying guest suites, all similarly sized, two with double beds and one with twin beds, are well planned and comfortable. “They’ve resisted the temptation to load it up with five cabins and 10 beds,” says Dynamiq’s technical director Rob Williamson.
A five-cabin layout is, however, available on the Configurator. It splits the master with the dividing bulkhead slightly starboard, so the port cabin is still larger with double sinks and considered the master, and the neighbouring starboard cabin would make very a comfortable guest cabin. The GA options were developed in close collaboration with Azure Naval Architects. “Everything is designed and developed to gain the maximum comfort for the owners,” says Azure director Erik Spek.
Another priority for the all-aluminium Jetsetter is performance, which is delivered in a unique hull design from Azure and Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Vripack is partnering on future builds). Dynamiq’s focus on comfort can be seen in the hull design, which is a hybrid between a displacement and semi-displacement hull.
“We have calculated the ‘seasickness index’ to ensure the hull design was optimised for maximum comfort at sea and at anchor,” says Spek. The long waterline length and limited resistance design delivers the high performance and efficiency that’s promised. Jetsetter will achieve a maximum speed of 21 knots and is also designed to have a 3,000 nautical mile range, putting the “transatlantic” into Gran Turismo Transatlantic.
“There are not many boats of this type that will feasibly go across the Atlantic on their own bottom,” says Williamson. “There’s no need for yacht transport. And, because Jetsetter’s super-efficient, you’re saving tons of money on fuel.”
Jetsetter will put her sea legs to the test when she angles across the Atlantic this winter, calling in at ports from New York to Miami to St Barths. The first yacht is currently available for purchase, but is first being used as a display model to promote the new brand.
“I think it’s a smart concept,” says Bannenberg. “Dynamiq saw how this has taken place for years at the top end of the luxury car business and saw no reason why it couldn’t be applied to yachting. Perhaps more importantly, the transparency of pricing will be reassuring to potential buyers. Something like this tends to be viewed with a bit of suspicion by an established industry, but there’s nothing really to fear.”