art explorer
Frédéric Jusset’s 153 feet art explorer is the world’s largest aluminum sailing catamaran, but that’s not the only thing he’s excited about. A French entrepreneur commissioned a custom Perini navigation to realize his dream of democratizing the arts. This multihull sails through the Mediterranean Sea and the French Antilles, offering free immersive exhibits to thousands of visitors, while straddling the line between charter yacht and floating gallery.
art explorer This is Juse’s first new yacht. His own chartering experience shaped the idea for this boat. “You can’t promote culture by destroying the environment, so it had to be a sailing yacht,” Jusset said. rob report After a tour of the ships at the Monaco Yacht Show. “The fuel consumption is less than 500 GT, and for charters he wanted something very efficient with six cabins, because there is a market for that.”
The 180-foot mast and fully automatic sail plan allows for one-person operation. art explorer Even in light wind conditions, it can reach 10 knots. Jusset also believed that a catamaran was the best platform for several reasons. The shallow draft allows for easy access to small ports. The beam length is 57 feet and the interior space is approximately 7,500 square feet. And the 3-foot-wide staircase means Art can comfortably accommodate the 2,000 visitors he expects to visit his gallery each day.
“I also really like the distance between the hulls,” says Jusset. “The yacht is equipped with zero-speed stabilizers, but the platform is so stable that they are rarely needed.”
The interior and exterior design was by Axel de Beaufort, design and engineering director of Hermès Horizons (a division of the famous fashion house Hermès) and naval architects who worked with Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup on early multihull race boats. By Guillaume Verdier. design.
“The design drew heavily from my offshore experience and close collaboration with Guillaume,” says de Beaufort. “We created a boat that combines performance and functionality.”
Teak wood is used for exterior parts such as decks and exterior walls. Inside, mahogany and white accents combine, with supple leather and soft furnishings contrasting with dark, rich wood tones.
In charter mode, the main salon and dining area provide a large open-plan space for socializing. On one side, hidden behind a mirror, is a library. The other is an open cocktail bar for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Four large skylights fill the area with natural light and are large enough to view the entire 180-foot mast from the comfort of your couch.
All six guest cabins are located on the starboard side, including a compact main deck master forward with en suite bathroom and dressing room. The nine crew members are accommodated on the port side, separating services from the guest area. This includes a yacht chef trained by Michelin-starred Monegasque master Alain Ducasse. There is a small wheelhouse next to the captain, but this area is only used for monitoring the yacht’s systems rather than operating the ship. The main helm is located on the flybridge and is protected by a hardtop.
“Many sailboats don’t sail often because it’s easier to start the engines, but I have instructed my crew to hoist the sails at every opportunity,” says Jusse.
Sustainability was part of Jusset’s vision. The yacht has a ‘Green’ class designation and all exhaust gases are fitted with catalytic filters to reduce emissions and particulate matter. Approximately 700 square feet of solar panels will be installed on the roof of the deckhouse, generating 200 kW of energy each day. The system is backed up by a lithium battery bank and provides 6 hours of quiet driving. All maneuvers in and out of the port and within protected areas are carried out in fully electric mode.
In museum mode, the yacht remains moored and the flybridge is used for virtual exhibits. Blindfolded, visitors listen to his 15-minute soundtrack of iconic Mediterranean sounds. In the main salon (or gallery) there is a 15-minute film “ icon Plays in a continuous loop. Curated by Louvre Abu Dhabi’s curator of archeology, Nomi Doucet, it tells the story of a timeless female artist. All loose furniture will be removed from the main salon to accommodate digital exhibits.
In addition, temporary land-based exhibits will be installed in front of the yacht. They specialize in photography, painting, sculpture, and 3D-generated architecture, from the Pyramids of Egypt to Leptis Magna in Libya.
“Having yachts available for charter creates a revenue stream that helps fund our arts programs,” Jusset says. “Holding an exhibition on a superyacht is also a good thing for the bees. Some visitors come just for that, and then go crazy about the art.”
art explorer Available for charter with Fraser in 2024. Thanks to the charter, admission to art exhibitions at other times of the year is free and guests support the yacht’s philanthropic efforts.
Click here to see more photos Art Explorer.