MIRAGE: The Design Unlimited Refit
When looking to have your superyacht refitted, there are a variety of design houses from which to choose. Each design house has something different to offer, but Design Unlimited has caught my eye. This company has worked with some of the most thrilling superyachts in the world, but refit design they created for the Feadship superyacht Mirage really stands out. Mirage was built in 1979 and first underwent a refit in 2007, where she received a number of significant structural and technological improvements. The yachting industry took notice of the exceptional outcome. More recently, all guest and crew areas aboard Mirage have undergone a full redesign to create a brand-new, modern interior. A brand-new, state-of-the-art bridge has also been installed and the yacht has received a complete exterior paint job, ensuring that motoryacht Mirage looks her best for years to come.
However, the interior work that Design Unlimited accomplished has my full attention. To find out more, I spoke with Mark Tucker, the Founder and Creative Director, as well as Marcus Rayner, the Design Lead.
Credited: Breed Media
Before I asked Mark about the work he carried out, he shared a little background on Mirage. “Mirage was built by Feadship and originally launched in 1979. She was bought by her current owners in 2012 with the intention of doing a full refit of her interior and making some exterior revisions. The aim was to use her for extended time onboard and to charter her, which she has done incredibly successfully as she has an extra guest cabin, so four full doubles, a VIP, and a large master suite. The owners really wanted to have a classic Feadship from this era and keep the boat for a long time.” Said Mark.
Mark Tucker
Given that Mirage is not your standard superyacht, and given its history, I asked Mark, what made the owners decide to use Design Unlimited, and how much scope did they have on the refit? “We had worked for them previously, and they knew that we would listen to their requirements and get the best out of the space available. We knew the boat well, too, as we had been involved with the previous refit in 2007, when the boat was named Elizabeth F.” Mark continued. “We have a fair amount of scope on the refit, but as with all old ships, you must respect her heritage and existing structure.” Marcus added, “It’s an enjoyable challenge to fulfil a new owner’s vision while respecting existing structures and services. It is amazing what difference can be achieved aboard a yacht even when working around the constraints of an existing structure.”
With Mirage having so much history, I can only imagine how difficult is was to decide where to start. Mark continued, “We started with the development of the General Arrangement (layout). We listened to how the client was intending on using her and also took onboard that she would be offered for charter so had to not only be right for them but also appeal to charter guests. We actually started with the crew accommodation, which was important to the Owner. It was really quite inadequate, and it was a priority to ensure the new crew would be comfortable and happy on board. While this area was being done, we also addressed the main saloon and ‘skylounge’, as these were the main living areas for the client and where they socialise with friends. The second phase of the refit included all the guest cabins and, finally, the last areas to undergo their makeover were the VIP cabin, master suite and wheelhouse. It was three years in total without the boat being out of commission for any of the Mediterranean cruising season.”
And of course, I am sure that the owner had his own thoughts on refit, the question I have is, did the owner take the lead? “The plan was led by the client as they wanted to use the boat in the summer. We first met aboard the boat for a weekend to discuss the process, look, and feel, and then we went away to commence our design work.” Answered Mark. With the client directing how things would unfold, I am sure that they had a vision of the end goal. “The brief was to create an interior that would stand the test of time – this was not about fixing her up to sell or anything like that, it was about their long-term use. Our design had to be timeless and help make Mirage a poplar boat for everyone. You obviously spend a lot of money on an old yacht, sometimes a lot more that she might eventually be worth, so this kind of commitment is huge for anyone - we had to get it right.” Added Mark.
Marcus Rayner
And what about cabins and guest spaces? Mark continued, “When we met with the client, one of our ideas was to create artistic themes for each cabin and as the client was very appreciative of art and the history of art, the process just took off and created something truly remarkable. Nothing was really compromised to achieve this, in fact, it gave us a great amount of design freedom to express ourselves in many ways, which shows the diversity of our amazing team here at Design Unlimited.” and Marcus added, “We aligned details and finishes in each cabin to complement the art theme, even the cabinets had catches that adhered to that cabin’s theme.”
The refit took three years to finish in stages so as not to interfere with the owner’s use of the boat. Is that uncommon? Did it present any new difficulties? “This is quite an unusual approach as it is quite a costly way to do things – it means that each year the boat must be put into refit mode and then recommissioned again for use. The refit work was undertaken in Palma, not at a designated build yard but using subcontracted labour from various parts of Europe and local labour to complete the works. This took a lot of management but with the help of the captain, chief stewardess, and chief engineer we were able to pull everything together successfully.” Mark answered.
Credited: Breed Media
With such an extensive refit, I know that for Mark and Marcus there must surely be some highlights. “Working with the various artisans and crafts people that we did, and their dedication to achieving great results, was fantastic. The boat won an award for the refit, and that was a real highlight – a testament to everyone’s hard work. The clients were super happy, and the yacht has spent every summer fully charted since and used a lot by the owners - which means that we got it right. The owners are still very much in love with her and keep her beautifully maintained year on year.” Shared Mark. Marcus continued, “Working closely with the captain and crew during this time was enjoyable and we were able to work closely together as one team to deliver the best outcome for the owners.”
Marcus, who was the design lead, shared that they used some unique materials on certain sections of the refit. “Parchment was used in varying tones to wrap cabinet doors, giving interest and texture. Attention to detail was key; each artwork-themed cabin, for example, had a name plate in the threshold of the cabin door with the corresponding artist’s name. The bathroom stone was hand selected, and each en suite features its own stone type, giving an extra layer of individuality to each cabin.”
Looking at the stunning interior of Mirage, I can absolutely understand why the owners chose to work with Mark and his team. Finally, I asked Mark if he had any advice for those who are looking to get their own yacht refitted. Mark shared, “Refitting a yacht of any size is a tough project, and the more time that you can spend planning a refit, the better. Try to learn as much as you can about what is going on behind the scenes so you can anticipate potential problems. Use a company that can advise you properly on all fronts and has teams that have done this type of work before. Set a budget but have a contingency in place as there are nearly always extras required, not just for the interior but also structural and engineering work. It is never that simple!”
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