Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

1 6 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T he sixth incarnation of this aptly-named vessel, and the fourth built by German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, Excellence is a masterclass in artistic discipline; a fine balance between creative freedom and owner’s lifestyle which hails from the boards of British studio Winch Design. Flowing spaces are adorned with references from the East Coast Art Deco era, and incorporate details inspired by the owner's outstanding automotive collection. Her American owner, Herb Chambers, is experienced in the art of yachting. Recognising originality when he sees it, he plucked the five-year-old Winch concept off the shelf (albeit a 120m version) and set vabout making it his own. “The client looked at the concept drawings and said that is sexy, different and unique. Let’s make it my boat,” explains AndrewWinch, founder of Winch Design. A patriotic nod to America is evident in both Excellence’s head-turning, rear-inclined American Eagle bow (inspired by the shape of the bird’s beak) and the red and blue stripes on the water line, the latter being a design quirk that Chambers has carried through all of his yachts. A sculpture of the bird also sits in the main deck atrium, one of only two in existence, the second of which resides in the White House. Affording amazing views and sight lines from all six main deck guest cabins, the cohesion between the interior arrangement and the complicated exterior aesthetic is one of the main benefits of undertaking both elements of yacht design, says designer AndrewWinch. “When you look at the exterior, you notice a mirrored glass stripe down the side, but every two panes of glass is a guest cabin; it repeats perfectly,” he says. “To get that to work there is no discord between the exterior and the interior, there is no change of shape because it looks ‘styled’ on the outside without relating to the inside. You walk in and the windows are large. Everything is in harmony.” Stretching an incredible 5m high, and weighing a hefty 1.3 tonnes, the breadth of exterior glass that visually links the main deck, owner’s deck and bridge deck is an engineering first for T he sixth incarnation of this aptly-named vessel, and the fourth built by German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, Excellence is a masterclass in artistic discipline; a fine balance between creative freedom and owner’s lifestyle which hails from the boards of British studio Winch Design. Flo ing spaces are adorned with references from the East Coast Art Deco era, and incorporate details inspired by the owner's outstanding automotive collection. Her American owner, Herb Chambers, is experienced in the art of yachting. Recognising originality when he sees it, he plucked the five-year-old Wi ch concept off the shelf (albeit a 120m version) and set vabout making it his wn. “The client looked at the concept drawings and said that is sexy, different and unique. Let’s make it my boat,” explains AndrewWinch, fou der of Winch Design. A patriotic nod to America is evident in both Excellence’s head-turning, rear-inclined American Eagle bow (inspired by the shape of the bird’s beak) and the red and blue stripes on the water line, the latter being a design quirk that Chambers has carried through all of his yachts. A sculpture of the bird also sits in the main deck atrium, one of only two in existence, the second of which resides in the White House. Affording amazing views and sight lines from all six main deck guest cabins, the cohesion between the interior arrangement and the complicated exterior aesthetic is one of the main benefits of undertaking both elements of yacht design, says designer AndrewWinch. “When you look at the exterior, you notice a mirrored glass stripe down the side, but every two panes of glass is a guest cabin; it repeats perfectly,” he says. “To get that to work there is no discord between the exterior and the interior, there is no change of shape because it looks ‘styled’ on the outside without relating to the inside. You walk in and the windows are large. Everything is in harmony.” Stretching an incredible 5m high, and weighing a hefty 1.3 tonnes, t e breadth of exterior glass that visually links the main deck, owner’s deck and bridge deck is an engineering first for