Victorious didn’t start out the conventional way. The then 77m boat began in 2007 in northern Chile at Marco Yachts near the Atacama Desert. When the shipyard ran out of money, a businessman from New Zealand took over the project, shipping her to Auckland before he too lost interest a couple of years later. The project was left abandoned until 2016 when a serial yachtsman from Turkey entered the frame. And this guy was no quitter.
Vural Ak, founder of Intercity (Turkey’s largest car leasing and rental firm) and an automotive enthusiast with 100-plus supercars in his collection, actually went so far as to establish the Turkish shipyard Akyacht just to see the build through. Delivered in 2021 just ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show, it was there that she was unveiled in order to garner attention in the charter market. Ak’s previous boats included a 30-metre Azimut and a 50-metre CRN (Dr No No). They helped cement what he wanted from the new explorer, including 2,291 GT of interior volume, designated family areas, an extra five metres of length to accommodate an enclosed swimming pool in the lower deck beach club and a two-metre bowsprit to round off her overall length to 85m.
Perhaps one of the most surprising design choices however, is the allocation of space on her main deck. Conventional superyacht layouts see guests boarding the boat on the main deck aft before being ushered into the main deck salon, a formal reception area often paired with a formal dining area. But these days owners have little desire for conventions and spend the majority of their time in the casual outdoor living areas, rendering the main salon a wasted space. Even so, no owner has ever had the courage to do away with it. Until Victorious.
Boarding the yacht via one of two sea terraces port or starboard, guests are welcomed in the main deck central foyer. A large children’s playroom takes up prime space on this level, along with a hotel-sized galley. These two elements are joined by a tiered cinema, and five of the yacht’s twelve guest suites, including a full-beam VIP with a private lounge.
Controversially, the main deck aft is reserved for storage of three of the yacht’s four tenders, and it’s not until these tenders come into view that this decision makes sense. Nowhere else on board would there be room enough to stow a 6.1m Mastercraft Prostar ski boat and an 11.5m sportfishing Fountain 38 centre console with three 300hp outboards, let alone a 12m custom-built aluminium catamaran beach-lander. Stability was key to the design of the catamaran, with full-height ceilings that allow guests to stand up and a level of comfort seldom seen on a limousine.
There’s a lot to catch the eye in the H2 Yacht-designed “holiday villa” interior, from the metal mesh tempered glass flooring at the foot of the central staircase to the 200 sqm lower deck beach club with a wellness centre and drop-down doors at sea level. The pool, spa with hammam and beauty salon add a luxurious finishing touch to an already Nikki Beach-vibe. Also, on the lower deck are double and twin cabins for guests, and access to an elevator serving lower to bridge decks.
Even if you don’t know the owner’s identity – an off-road champion who has competed in the Dakar Rally – it’s hard to miss the car references. Each stateroom was named after a Formula One track, including Intercity Istanbul Park (also owned by Ak) for the aft-facing owner’s suite. Found on the bridge deck, which is dedicated to the owner’s enjoyment, Ak’s suite enjoys an en-suite, walk-in wardrobe and access to an outdoor jacuzzi with sunpads on the aft terrace.
The main social spaces are to be found on the upper deck with a sky lounge featuring a sit-up bar, and an observation lounge complete with wraparound views and a baby grand piano. Moreover, formal dining is catered for on this level, and there's a more intimate lounge. Outdoors, open air dining for 16 guests and a second jacuzzi keeps the party going (and charter guests happy). Walkaround side decks lead forward to the touch-and-go foredeck helipad, which also doubles as an entertainment space or sun lounge when needed.
The most extraordinary treat though is to be found on the top sun deck, in the form of a gentleman’s club. This is a space that's centred around a wood-burning marble fireplace but to allow for such an indulgence, it had to be fitted with separate air conditioning and air cleaning systems, which is just as well given there's also a walk-in humidor. Remarkably, even the upholstery, leathers and decoration here were designed to repel the smell of smoke so, within an hour of putting out a cigar, it'll be fresh as roses. Of course, you could always enjoy your smoke on the open-air terrace where there are built-in heaters, nodding to Ak’s consideration of colder climates. As does the yacht’s impressive 13,000nm range at 13 knots (or 24,000nm range at seven knots) and rugged exterior lines penned by Michael Leach. “The main idea is to use the boat in the summer, but the sun deck is primed for winter months with a gentleman’s lounge that's warm and cosy making it a year-round boat,” says Kivanç Nart, project manager at Akyacht.
Victorious really is ready for anything. One of the cabins is even adapted to be used as an isolation or hospital room in the event of a guest falling ill or needing to quarantine. The junior guest cabins with interconnecting rooms are ideal for children with nannies, or simply as accommodation for extra staff, such as masseurs and personal trainers.
Victorious apparently completed her maiden 1,500-nautical-mile voyage to Monaco without a hitch – with her owner on board. Her successful delivery also signals a bright future for the shipyard, which has the capacity to build two 100m yachts simultaneously. They say good things come to those who wait, and after 14 years Victorious is now living up to her name as an unexpected triumph on the superyacht circuit.
Photography: courtesy of Burgess
