77: Samar

Samar (Ex-Lana)

LENGTH: 252ft. 7in. (77m)
SHIPYARD: Devonport, UK
YEAR: 2006

Samar’s visit to the 2009 Antigua Yacht Charter Show created quite a buzz, and for good reasons: This five-deck yacht is a showstopper. Visitors step from the aft deck into the interior of a grand castle. Amazing height in the main salon, ornate ceilings throughout, huge rooms with oversized antique carpets and rare furniture, an art collection worthy of a museum, a palatial owner’s suite with sweeping view, a grand staircase with ornate banister and an authentic Hammam with intricate mosaic work are all part of the experience. This may not be everyone’s idea of a yacht, but the art and the quality cannot fail to impress. The luxury feels authentic and the art collector who assembled this priceless collection has impeccable taste. Plus while a respectable size, this yacht feels much larger still, as if you will never run out of room. The dining room for up to 24 can easily accommodate grand occasions, and it has done so. More mosaic work is found at the bottom of the large pool with water jets on the private sundeck; next to it is a smaller plunge pool ideal to instantly cool off after prolonged exposure to the sun. Samar, designed by Laurent Giles (naval architecture) and Joe Thorne (interior), has a 36-foot Chris Craft, plus additional tenders and PWCs. A helipad houses a Bell 407 and refueling facilities. The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion system consists of three Wärtsilä 1,53 kW diesel generators and two 2,414-hp drive motors with twin fixed pitch and five-bladed propellers. While these things are never openly discussed on the docks of the charter show, ownership of this spectacular yacht has been attributed to a Kuwaiti businessman. Samar was spotted in Fort Lauderdale before and after a season in the Caribbean.

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