Sunseeker 95 Yacht Explores Philippines

Douglas Culverwell, Regional Business Manager for Sunseeker International, says the outlook for the Asian market as a whole is very exciting. “We see it centred around Hong Kong, where we are pleased to say we are debuting three brand new models this year. They are the Sunseeker 116 Yacht, 76 Yacht and Manhattan 52.

“The Southeast Asian market is based around Singapore, and it also offers tremendous opportunities, with two new models arriving in the region, the 76 Yacht and the Manhattan 66. In fact we are absolutely delighted with Asia’s response to the 76 Yacht, signing five sales contracts already. It was only launched at Southampton last September.

“Sunseeker Philippines, for example, is showing very encouraging signs of growth and development, and relocation there of the experienced Luke Prince will help to further establish the brand and drive new sales”.

Prince, encountered as he was conducting a photo shoot of the Sunseeker 95 Yacht at Anvaya Cove last month, says there are eight Sunseekers presently in the Philippines, four of which are based in Subic Bay and use Anvaya Cove. This is an ongoing project of the prominent Ayala family, which has about 100 homes and 400 to 500 apartments for both Filipinos and foreigners.

Sunseeker Philippines dealer Luke Prince with colleagues, including Sunseeker Asia Chairman Gordon Hui (right)

Located at Morong in Bataan, Anvaya Cove boasts a championship golf course and an extensive beach club, with a marina in planning stages, so boats presently anchor off and owners and guests commute to shore using tenders. It can also be reached by a road leading south beyond
Subic Bay Airport.

“I’ve taken an apartment at Anvaya myself”, said Prince, “as well as a place in Forbes Park in Manila opposite the Polo Club. Our owners like to play golf early morning, and then return to their boats for a swim and possibly an afternoon cruise. I’m expecting 5-8 sales a year here in future.

“Sunseeker Philippines also has the country’s best service centre run by Mark Pragnell of HYS, the leading Subic Bay big boat yard. He keep sour vessels in great shape, important as they sometimes voyage down to Puerto Galera and then on to stunning Coron and El Nido waters. “Five-star Busuanga Bay Lodge in Coron is a big attraction at present, and Air Juan has sea plane transfers from Manila or Subic Bays, so owners and guests can connect with their boats if not already aboard them.

Well equipped for entertainment by night, and by day on the flybridge

Cebu is another likely base for Sunseekers in the years ahead”. So to the Sunseeker 95 Yacht itself. It was launched in the summer of 2016, and made its debut at Cannes in September that year. A milestone model in Sunseeker’s history, it was the first Yacht to be built under 100 feet with a raised pilothouse. It sits between the 86 Yacht and the 116 Yacht, providing exceptional space and versatile accommodation.

As one steps aboard the 95 Yacht, the sheer size of the vessel immediately becomes apparent. There are twin staircases that lead up into the cockpit, which has a wet bar to port, complete with sink, refrigerator and icemaker, as well as a large seat surrounding an impressive teak table. To starboard the third docking station is hidden beneath a lid.

For boarding a Besenzoni passerelle extends from its hiding place to provide stern-to access, or a side boarding door is used if the boat is moored side-to. An amazing feature of the yacht is the amount of light that enters the saloon and dining area, which is due to huge windows, pretty much residential style. In the dining area a full height glazed door opens up onto a balcony that folds down from the bulwarks when the yacht is at rest.

The yacht is finished in a Gloss Wenge wood with complimentary fabrics and finishes, including a Wenge wooden floor on the main deck. Materials were selected with assistance of the Sunseeker Bespoke Interior Design team.

The cockpit and saloon areas feel as one, as there is no door between the two. There is a large comfortable U-shaped sofa with ottoman plus table and large 55 inch television, which can be raised and lowered from the starboard sideboard unit opposite. The TV is accompanied by a Harmon Kardon 5.1 3D Blu-ray Cinema surround system using Bowers & Wilkins in ceiling speakers and subwoofer. Plus Sonos Connect wireless audio streaming with Apple TV, all of which can be controlled by a tablet.

Moving forward, the dining table has seating for eight and has a stainless steel detailing around the perimeter of a Bianco Carrera Gioa gloss marble centre feature. The marble is also found on the port sideboard unit, which houses the all-important champagne glasses and the rest of the glassware.

A corridor to starboard passes the staircases and day head, and arrives at the jewel in the crown, the on-deck master. This continues the theme from the saloon, with more huge windows. There is even a cut-out in the bulwarks outside the window, to provide a direct view of the water from the bed.

The cabin features its own side-deck door for private access to the foredeck seating. There is indirect and hidden lighting in the ceiling, and an amazing triplex arrangement which takes one down to the ensuite. A large stainless steel handrail snakes down the staircase to the first landing, where there is a suite of wardrobes and a neat vanity table and stool. Then down a couple of steps to the ensuite itself, which has twin sinks, separate shower and toilet rooms, as well as space for towel and toiletry storage. This ensuite, like the rest on the yacht, are finished in Bianco Carrara Gioa marble on both the counter tops and floors. It really is an incredible feature.

Back up on the principal deck, the servery and ultimately the galley is accessed directly from the dining area, as well as from a crew side door. It’s a fully equipped galley, including custom refrigerator-freezer with stainless steel interior and exterior. Two x 250 litres fridge capacity and two x 120 litres freezer capacity, ideal for long distance cruising in the Philippines archipelago.

Lower accommodation is configured in a four cabin layout as opposed to three, which is standard. Two large double cabins are aft, with twin cabins forward. The twin berths can move together to make comfortable doubles. Overnight accommodation is thus for eight guests.

Says Culverwell: “The set-up is ideal for families or owners with a large number of guests. We have flexibility in the lower deck aft cabins, and offer a double berth or twin berth arrangement. We even have the ability to add pullman berths to the lower cabins to allow for an additional four berths if required in a new build”. Cabins are all fully equipped with TVs and sound systems, and like the rest of the yacht, the detail is there to be seen, especially in the large windows with their stainless steel opening portholes.

Back upstairs, the pilothouse provides a commanding view. It’s fully equipped with all the latest navigational equipment in front of the comfortable helm chair. The helm itself is set up around three 19” Simrad multi-touch monitors, which display all the information necessary, including from the yacht management system and Simrad 72 nm radar. One very useful feature for owner and captain is the Simrad GoFree wireless, allowing repeat and control-of-the-navigation-system via iPad.

To the port side is an L-shaped companion seat, where the rest of the crew or the owner can watch or join in with proceedings when at sea. The flybridge deck is an area that the client really focused on to ensure it met all of his personal requirements. Aft of the flybridge helm station and its companion seat opposite, there is a fully equipped bar unit with icemaker, refrigerator and grill.

Guests can utilise three bar stools, or a large U-shaped seat and fold open teak table to starboard. Aft is the sunpad and integrated hot tub. There is even space beyond this for a hydraulic Besenzoni crane with a 480 kg lifting capacity. This allows for a jet ski to be stored on the flybridge as well as a Williams Turbojet tender on the swimming platform, which has a capacity, as standard, up to 650 kg.

The flybridge is finished off with a huge hard top that has an opening central section above the seating and bar. It also has a Bruster canopy to cover the hot tub. It is simply a huge social space, ideal for entertaining. This is the second 95 Yacht in Asia, but the first in the Philippines. The owner and Sunseeker Philippines had to ensure that the yacht, from an engineering perspective, was fully equipped for the market, typically for longer range cruising.

Thus in addition to the usual options of stabilisers and hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, the yacht is also equipped with trailing pumps which provide oil pressure for gearbox lubrication when the propeller is freewheeling in case or by choice the yacht is operating on one engine. A fuel cleaning system and an Atlas power converter provide freedom to cruise outside of the Philippines should the desire arise.

The 95 Yacht is powered by twin the MTU 12V 2000 M96L (1950 HP) engines and has a range of 1,250 nautical miles with a fuel capacity of 12,000 litres. Culverwell comments: “The hull inherits Sunseeker performance attributed to a deep V at the bow, providing a fine entrance angle into the water for a smoother quieter ride. As you move aft, the V becomes modified to allow for a top speed of 26 knots.”

Versatile 95 Yacht is put through her paces during a photo shoot at the exclusive Anvaya Cove Resort south of Subic Bay

The yacht has been fitted with three 20 kW Kohler generators complete with the Kohler 3500 Decision Maker Controller. This allows the three generators to be synchronized and connected in parallel to the same distribution bus. It means that as more power is required, more generators can start to work, and this keeps them running efficiently and quietly, a big advantage for the owner.

Aft of the engine room is the crew quarters accessed from a full-size fold-up door on the transom. There are two cabins with four berths, a bathroom and mess area complete with galley and seating arrangement. Having the crew area linked via a watertight door into the engine room is very convenient for servicing and maintenance.

Overall the yacht has lived up to its billing and has features from yachts well over 100 feet, space and light having been at the forefront of the designers minds. This combined with the level of technology and innovation, as well as Sunseeker performance at sea, makes this a formidable yacht in its segment.

Words Bruce Maxwell | Images courtesy of Sunseeker