11 April 2020

Object of desire: the 41m Rüya by Alia Yachts

The yacht is equipped to go anywhere. Realistically, the only places out of bounds are the poles.

Alia Yachts has now been in the business of building high quality yachts since 2008. The Turkish yacht builder with Rüya - have taken this philosophy to another level. The fully custom 41.30 metre superyacht Rüya, meaning ‘Dream’ in Turkish, is one of the shipyard’s special pride and joy. Design awards winning M/Y Rüya is a high volume tri-deck motor yacht built in composite to Lloyd Register with a Gross Tonnage of 499 GT. The owner’s “dream” was one of simplicity, calling for a functional and timeless design that would allow the family to use their yacht anywhere in the world.

“We are able to offer projects in all materials: steel, aluminium and GRP,” says Gokhan Celik, president of the shipyard. “We have particularly specialized core composites in-house team. Her owner chose to capitalise on that long experience and specify GRP construction because he wanted ultimate durability.”

The Exterior Style

Designer Sam Sorgiovanni achieved this by creating a stylish and well-proportioned exterior while keeping areas fresh and open to be enjoyed through a variety of uses. Once on board it is hard to believe that Rüya is in fact under the 42 metre mark. A fabulous 93 square metre sundeck is space often found only on 50 metre plus vessels, with a 10 person Jacuzzi, full bar and large family dining area rounding off the pleasantries found on the top-most deck. Bridge deck aft offers guests the perfect location for formal sunset dining experiences in a comfortable setting not very unlike found on the interior, with high quality furnishings and fittings aplenty.

A relaxed forward area can be found on the foredeck where guests can escape and enjoy the panoramic views while sipping in a freshly made cocktail served by Rüya’s dedicated crew. Rüya shows off a high freeboard and wide beam that is just shy of nine metres. The full use of GRP in the construction of the vessel means Sorgiovanni’s curved shapes could be executed at the hands of Alia’s skilled craftsmen. This Alia Yacht superyacht offers a splendid beach deck where guests can unwind or embark on an underwater adventure via a large hydraulically operated submergible staircase, which also doubles as the quay-side passarelle when moored stern-to.

The Interiors

Sorgiovanni interiors brief was to create a timeless design that was both practical and functional. It called for tremendous interior spaces along with generous exterior decks, including a beach club and tender store. Achieving this within a constraint of 500GT, and with an exterior profile that was both voluminous and sleek, proved a considerable challenge. The client wanted a tactile, comfortable, resort feel, reflective of the relaxed and casual lifestyle he enjoys in day-to-day life. Alia used bamboo tiles for the ceiling and strips of plain ebony with inset pale rugs for the floor. That ceiling is framed by bamboo louvres that conceal speakers and air-conditioning ducts - every one is hand-made. The solid-looking Tasmanian oak on both floor and ceiling is steel-brushed and then satin-varnished to reveal its natural texture.

The pelmets between the ultra-slim mullions have a smooth stucco finish, while rainforest marble graces countertops and a large low-level table - the latter edged by a thick band of woven leather. Custom furnishings throughout the yacht is just another indicator of the level of uniqueness that is on offer through Alia Yachts’ creations. A large separate owner’s suite is located forward on the main deck. Here, a tasteful mix of design elements come together to create a true domestic-feel about the space where the owner will be able to enjoy his time on board his new home-away-from-home. A full beam walk through en suite bathroom is placed forward of the accommodation area, with large windows on either side enhancing the spacious feeling within the suite. Four further guest cabins can be found downstairs on lower deck, making for a total of 10 guests’ accommodation on board Rüya. Van Oossanen Naval Architects developed the engineering and below-waterline specifications of the vessel. Powered by twin Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines, Rüya is capable of a maximum speed of 14 knots with a range of 4,116 nm while cruising at 10 knots. A genuine globe-straddling ability.

Edited by Lisa Maria River