Tsumat, Trinity Yachts' new all-aluminium 50 metre yacht, utilises a proven hull but is custom designed throughout for her owner's private use. And every detail, from her modern, but relaxed interior to her vast outdoor living areas, speaks to how he plans to use her. The owner's brief can be pared down to three central requests: generous outdoor spaces, ample speed to lessen transit time between destinations and a simple, elegant design with a Mexican flair that reflects his lifestyle and traditions.
"He always travels with a lot of friends and family – 10, 12 people – and they like sitting outside. So it's important to have lots of large, open spaces," says JC Espinosa, president of Florida-based Espinosa Yacht Design.
The aft deck is a prime example: longer than previous Trinity's of this size, it hosts rattan sofas and chairs with deep, comfortable cushions, all facing inwards for a convivial atmosphere. Four high-low tables can be raised for dining, making this one of three areas where owner and guests can take meals outdoors, along with the sundeck and the upper aft deck.
"The furniture layouts were conceived to be flexible to promote relaxation and amusement," says designer Ramon Alonso of Loguer Design, an architectural firm with offices in Mexico and Miami, which collaborated with Espinosa on Tsumat.
The designers also worked with the Trinity team on the exterior styling, suggesting sculpting and adding more bow rake. The owner and Alonso came up with the idea of the eye-catching silver paint job. From the shining hull to the interior, this is without a doubt Trinity's most contemporary styled yacht, yet it is executed in such a way that the modern, masculine interior is intimate and inviting.
"Many Trinitys have distinctively traditional interiors; they are ornate and have Old World charm," says Alonso. "On the contrary, Tsumat is modern and open, and the interiors are very clean and simple, letting the materials themselves take centre stage and making the spaces seem larger than they are."
Espinosa agrees. "Nothing is overdone. [The owner] doesn't like mouldings or princess panelling. He likes a clean, modern look." Alonso quotes Leonardo da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," as the design motto for Tsumat and Loguer's ethos. Yet simple is far from plain; the interior is replete with details such as hand-stitched leather and artisan stonework. All the materials leather, suede, marble, onyx and walnut are seen consistently throughout the interior in different applications.
Window blinds are wrapped in leather, and the upper deck is floored in leather tiles the designers have encouraged the crew not to baby this flooring, but to let it weather and develop a patina. The leather headboards in the two twin guest suites on the lower deck continue around to the side walls; as much functional as design driven, this makes a comfortable place for guests to lean back somewhere other than the headboard. And as a testament to the designers' dedication to detail, even the doors and hinges are wrapped in leather.
Onyx floors are heated for owner and guest comfort, and backlit onyx columns in the passageways, saloon and the master suite are a simple focal point tying the spaces together. It's easy to conclude that stonework is an obsession of the owner's, as it can be seen in every room and in every en suite.
The owner was very hands-on and visited the yard upwards of 20 times during the build. There were design elements he wanted to carry over from his previous yachts, like an open stairwell, and those he wanted to do away with, such as a formal dining saloon. Instead, the dining room is integrated with the seating area in what the designers describe as 'a great room meant for relaxing'.
The same could be said of the upper deck and the sundeck, both of which are multifunctional spaces fine-tuned for entertainment. Setting the spa pool forward on the sundeck gives more privacy and allows room for a sofa, bar and dining table with sunloungers and exercise equipment aft. Stowing the main tender in a garage also freed up space on this deck.
The bar in the upper saloon was purposefully set low to enhance relaxation. 'We made it match the height of the dining table, so when you're sitting here, it's more relaxing and comfortable than a typical bar,' says Alonso. They dropped the floor behind the bar so guests can be eye-to-eye with the bartender. This area is rounded out with a long white couch, leather-clad coffee tables, a games table and a TV that folds down from the ceiling.
In the master suite, a corridor with 3.5 metre high ceilings leads forward past the study, to a luxurious wardrobe and dressing area, which lies to port. Oversized wardrobe doors, and the use of leather and onyx give it a hip, city apartment feel. Following the corridor forward leads up stairs to the cabin, elevated to a mezzanine level for improved views. A low leather-and-suede wall separates the cabin and the dressing area, from which the expansive en suite lies aft.
"We tried to make this all open," says Alonso says of the en suite, "and we just frosted the glass to a certain height so you can see the full height and width [of the space]. Even though this is a large vessel, there's a limit to the use of space, so we tried to take advantage of every single inch."
To comfortably accommodate all his guests, the owner requested a guest suite on the upper deck in addition to the four below. The pilothouse was pushed forward to fit this room and the captain's cabin is opposite. The rest of the crew is accommodated on the lower deck with the engineer aft near the engine room and three cabins and a crew mess far forward.
Though a custom yacht, Tsumat takes advantage of Trinity's proven 50 metre hull and technology platform. Desiring an increase in performance on this platform, the owner opted for larger Caterpillar engines, which Smith says deliver about three knots more at cruise speed. "During a 10-day trip, you can cover more ground and spend less time in transit," he says, "and when you slow down to displacement speed for long runs, at 10 to 12 knots, you're not maxing out either engine, so you're going to burn the same amount of fuel [as the smaller engine package]; you're able to increase speed without sacrificing range."
Delivered in 2012, Tsumat's owner planned to cruise her the first summer either in Europe or head to the US West Coast to catch the America's Cup that was taking place in San Francisco. Wherever he roams, he is sure to enjoy his custom creation in the company of friends, family and fun-filled times.
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