29 October 2024
Proudly presented at Monaco Yacht Show 2024, the122-metre Kismet is an exceptional motor yacht, built by Lürssen, with exterior by Nuvolari Lenard and interior design by Reymond Langton Design. Described as “the epitome of uncompromising luxury, redefining the art of yachting and setting a new standard for charter”, Kismet was delivered in April 2024.
The yacht is the third for this experienced and long-standing Lürssen client. Following in the footsteps of such an iconic yacht was always going to be a challenge, but with the technical expertise of the Lürssen shipyard and the distinguished design mastery from Nuvolari Lenard on the exterior and Reymond Langton Design on the interior, the yacht has exceeded all expectations and has embarked on her long-awaited maiden voyage.
Across her six decks she has every conceivable feature a guest could imagine for entertainment, wellness, beauty, leisure, water sports and gastronomy.
“To execute such a comprehensive project, an excellent team is necessary,” says Managing Partner, Peter Lürssen.
“We are very proud of Kismet as yet another statement of Lürssen’s ability and desire to build yachts that meet all of our exacting owners’ requirements, guided by our core focus of expert engineering, beautiful design and being at the forefront in developing sustainable technologies.”
Kismet has a length of 122 metres and just squeezes in under 5,000 GT at 4,918 GT. She represents the pinnacle of engineering with many pioneering features, including an innovative propulsion system that allows for 15 minutes cruising on electrical power alone. She also features a 4.9 x 1.3 metre single pane of glass – by far the largest single piece of structural glazing ever fitted on a yacht’s transom.
Given that this area is an integral part of the hull, regulations typically restrict such windows to a maximum of 60 x 40 centimetres. To overcome this limitation, Lürssen invested a year and a half in rigorous stress and pressure tests with the classification society and manufacturers. This process included dropping steel weights onto the glass to assess its residual strength.
This newly engineered glass plays a significant role in her design, as a great deal of the exterior is either glass windows or the structural steel hull and aluminium superstructure is clad in glass, allowing the design to seamlessly flow from window to structure and back again.
In certain areas of the bulwark, particularly the Nemo lounge, the glass has an impressive thickness of 13 centimetres, yet maintains excellent clarity. Another distinctive feature on board is the incorporation of numerous jaguar elements, paying homage to the NFL team based in Jacksonville.
“Kismet sports a striking Art Deco silver jaguar figurehead underneath her bowsprit, as well as an American football on top of the flag mast and on the bow jackstaff. These are indicative of both the interior and exterior design on board, with many features, some hidden, some in plain sight, coming together to create a totally unique and personal yacht, inspired by the owners’ favourite people and places,” says Thorsten Göckes, Lürssen Project Manager.
“Kismet was a lovely project for us because it was made for an owner with considerable technical knowledge and a great passion,” says Carlo Nuvolari of Nuvolari Lenard.
“This was important because it allowed us to make proposals knowing that they would be understood from all points of view: functional, stylistic and technical. In all its external details – the stairs, the details, the furnishings – Kismet is a boat rich in shapes and choice of materials.”
An example of this brief to create something exceptional is in the pattern featured on the aft decks and mast. Vertical grooves are made from welded steel and then faired and painted, requiring meticulously precise engineering bordering on artwork.
“The owner wanted an exceptional design that makes you travel through time and space,” says Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design.
“Kismet is not just a yacht or a home, she is a journey where all your passion and senses are challenged. The main idea is that, as the vessel is very large, the owners and guests should find their way and recognise each area by the design, and they should experience many different journeys.
“KISMET is a time capsule, from the glorious parties of Versailles under Le Roi Soleil, Louis XIV, in the Gallery des Glasses, to the matinee theatre of the roaring twenties Art Deco Hollywood era.”
KISMET is available for charter exclusively with Cecil Wright.