It took more than a year, and tremendous prior planning, for Coral Ocean to come out looking like she does right now. Her owner, the head of the peer-to-peer yacht-charter company Ahoy Club, envisioned ways to augment her already-storied status. Coral Ocean’s €35-million refit ($36.4 million) keeps the nearly 30-year-old yacht current in a competitive class of large yachts.
The 238-footer (72.55-meter) initially saw delivery from Lürssen back in 1994. She was astonishingly large for the time. Styling and interior design were from the late Jon Bannenberg. Few people other than those in the owner’s inner circle, however, saw the inside. Coral Island (her name then) was strictly private for more than two decades. Lürssen and Bannenberg & Rowell had her undergo a significant refit from 2015 to 2016 in preparation for charter. Ian Malouf, the head of Ahoy Club, acquired her in late 2019, and essentially immediately began compiling his makeover wishlist.
With Malouf’s team overseeing the refit at Astilleros de Mallorca, Coral Ocean’s €35-million refit involved major modifications of the two uppermost decks. Specifically, an entirely new skylounge welcomes families or groups of friends. The sundeck, meanwhile, is elongated thanks to the removal of the original satcom domes. Among the deck’s highlights: a hot tub fully forward with a glass bottom, plus an indoor-outdoor bar with retractable glass windows. All of these modifications added about 150 gross tons to the superyacht’s already healthy volume.
Yet a further notable change involves the master suite. It’s double its former size, plus brighter thanks to two skylights. Encouraging charter clients to indulge in relaxation, the his and her bath has an infrared sauna.
Despite Coral Ocean’s €35-million refit, not everything is different, though. She still has the original 16-foot-long (5-meter-long) fold-down hatch in her saloon. (Remember, she saw delivery in 1994. Folding balconies came into fashion years later.) Yet another opening hatch right above the waterline opens up the gym, to inspire workouts. Toys are aplenty, too. Take note of the FunAir inflatable pool just off the swim platform in the video.
Coral Ocean is part of Ahoy Club’s charter offerings. Her weekly rate starts at €650,000 (about $677,200 at press time).
Ahoy Club ahoyclub.com
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