Lady in Red

Aptly nicknamed “the red bullet” thanks to a striking red and white exterior and a sharp, steeply raked bow, Leona, the second hull in Bilgin’s 263-foot (80-meter) series, is the largest private yacht to come out of Turkey yet. Just as eye-catching is the highly bespoke interior that showcases the shipyard’s craftsmanship.

Antalya-based Unique Yacht Design handled the naval architecture and exterior design, while British studio H2 Yacht Design penned the interior. As with Leona’s five-deck sistership, Tatiana, the beach club on this yacht plays a starring role. Aphrodite-style statues, water fountains and backlit wall panels line a blue-tiled, 28-foot (8.5-meter) pool. A glittering fiber-optic ceiling creates a starry night sky. With the three shell doors open, the feeling is of a sea terrace in a Grecian-themed palace.

Elsewhere on the lower deck is a shisha smoking room, a wellness area with gold furniture, and a gym with a leather and mirrored ceiling. The gym includes a treatment table for sports massage, a sauna and gold-plated dumbbells. A cinema finished in ruby-red velvet has two lounging sofas. A second private cinema, this one with pink accents, is on the owner’s deck.

“Leona’s design language is all about connecting her five decks to create one whole living area,” says Berkay Yilmaz, Bilgin’s commercial director.

Staircases on either side of the swim platform lead to the main deck aft, with a cocktail bar and another heated, glass-bottom pool that reflects natural light on the area below. Inside the main salon, animal-print furniture sets the theme, with leopard-spot pillows and backlit tiger-stripe window mullions. An onyx remote-controlled bioethanol fireplace, topped by a tropical fish tank, divides the lounge area from the formal dining.

Around 70 percent of Leona’s interior is covered in Foglizzo leather, including the main deck salon walls, the guest stateroom closets, and the gym ceiling. There are five staterooms—one less than aboard Tatiana, so they can be larger. Two Roberto Cavalli-themed VIPs are on the main deck with his-and-her dressing rooms and bathrooms. Two doubles are on the lower deck, and there’s an upper deck master suite. The five-stateroom layout also allows for additional stowage and more amenities space on the lower deck. Quarters are for a crew of 20.

Guest-stateroom doors are fitted with crystal handles by Bréhat and Haute Deco. There are Lalique crystal faucets in the day heads and ensuites.

“The design inspiration was very much client-driven, influenced by his interest in travel, love of rich materials and desire for exciting features,” says Jonny Horsfield of H2 Yacht Design.

That means a liberal use of the color gold, metallic threads and, in the master suite, 18-karat gold leaf that Italian artist Alex Turco applied by hand. The owner’s deck also has an extended superstructure aft to create a private office. It’s accessed via the central staircase, with bubble wall artwork filled with distilled water.

Inside the suite, a canary-yellow, velvet-plaited sofa is twinned with a Boca Do Lobo armchair and coffee table. Commissioned artworks include pieces by Turkish artist Gülay Semercioğlu. A mirror-tiled ceiling, more than 7 feet (2.3 meters) in height, splashes a disco-ball light effect across a black and gold polka dot carpet. Italian and Turkish marble are used in the two ensuites—one with a gold-tiled shower.

The owner has use of two private outdoor areas. A cozy lounge sheltered by sun awnings creates an intimate nook on the upper deck aft. On the forward deck, there is stepped access to a glass-encased plunge pool and seating.

A love of entertainment is evident in the 12 surround-sound systems and 24 custom-made televisions—nine of which are mirror TVs in the guest bathrooms and gym. At the foot of the master bed is a double-sided TV that allows for two programs to be viewed simultaneously, from the bed and sofa. More than 100 iPads operate the entertainment system, lighting, guest showers and night-vision security camera, which is mounted on the mast to record a 1.9-mile (3-kilometer) radius of the yacht.

And, the digital screens are not limited to the walls. The bridge deck’s sky lounge has a circular digital ceiling that can display a cloud-filled sky, an underwater view or abstract art. Its shape is echoed in the circular sofas beneath, and in a games table forward. Glass wraparound doors open to the bridge deck aft, where a circular dining table seats 12 guests under the shade of the deck above.

There is an open galley area for ease of service, and a firepit to gather around on cooler nights. The most elaborate day head on board is dressed in backlit blue agate. In fact, lighting is a key feature throughout the yacht, which has crystal chandeliers and LED strips by Cantalupi in every room.

While Leona’s design could be described as somewhat excessive, the yacht’s fuel consumption is not. The IMO Tier III twin 3,433-horsepower MTU main engines and generator consume around 66 gallons per hour when cruising at 12 knots, according to the shipyard.

The third hull in Bilgin’s 263 series, named Project Silence, is expected to have even more volume. It’s scheduled for delivery later this year. 

For more information: bilginyacht.com

BILGIN LEONA

LOA 263ft. (80m)
Beam 40ft. 2in. (12.25m)
Draft 11ft. 2in. (3.5m)
Construction Steel and aluminum
Engines 2x 3,433-hp MTU
Speed (max./cruise) 19/15 knots
Range 5,000 nm @10 knots
Gross tonnage 1,730
Naval architecture Unique Yacht Design
Exterior design Unique Yacht Design
Interior design H2 Yacht Design
Builder Bilgin Yachts

This article was originally published in the Summer 2024 issue.