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AQUILA Yacht – Stunning $150M Superyacht

AQUILA yacht is a beautiful 85.6-meter (280.11 ft) yacht built by Derecktor and launched in 2010.

She can welcome up to twelve guests in seven cabins as well as an additional twenty-six crew members.  

AQUILA yacht interior

The American design firm Dalton Design worked on the original interior of AQUILA (then CAKEWALK yacht) before she was launched in 2010.

After being sold in 2014, the new owner of AQUILA chose to have the yacht refitted, completely gutting the interior and replacing it with new furnishings. 

The new interior design of AQUILA was developed by Redman Whiteley Dixon (RWD) and Susan Young Interiors, perfectly marrying the concepts of naval and interior design.

The refit took more than twelve months, and a total of 1,000 workers were involved in the process.

Her interior perfectly combines luxury with style by including dark, wooden elements as well as light marble and silver details.

A contrast is created between the classic design of the common spaces with dark features and the more neutral, black-and-white staterooms.

Strategic pops of color complement this luxurious interior design and make her stand out.

The yacht has space for twelve guests in seven staterooms, including a spacious owner’s suite, four VIP cabins, a twin cabin as well as an additional bunk cabin. Twenty-six crew members find space below the deck in staff accommodation. 

AQUILA has a beautiful spa area with a massage room and a dedicated hair salon, as well as a fully equipped gym.

There is also a cinema room with an 85-inch screen (2.15 meters) and plenty of indoor dining or entertaining space for hosting events.

One of the most notable features of AQUILA is her 11.2-meter (36.7 ft) chandelier that stretches across all four levels of the yacht’s interior. 

The owner’s suite includes a 60 square meter (645 square foot) private deck with beautiful views over the bow of the yacht.

There are separate his and hers ensuite bathrooms and a connected study that allows for work to be completed even when the yacht is underway.

Specifications

At a length of 85.6 meters (280.11 ft), AQUILA has a 14.3-meter (46.11 ft) beam and a 4.2-meter (13.10 ft) draft.

She weighs a total of 2998 tons and is powered by Diesel MTU engines allowing her to reach top speeds of 18 knots and an average cruising speed of 15 knots.

The AQUILA yacht has been nominated for numerous awards and has won several, including The ShowBoats Design Awards 2010 for tender design, The World Superyacht Awards 2017 for best-refitted yacht, and the International Superyacht Society Awards 2017 for best refit.

AQUILA was constructed by Derecktor shipyards in 2010, making her the largest private superyacht built in the United States since the 1900s.

The exterior of the AQUILA yacht (then CAKEWALK) was initially designed by the award-winning superyacht designer Tim Heywood in 2010.

After the yacht was sold to the owner in 2014, AQUILA underwent an extensive refit that targeted both her interior and exterior. 

She was sent to the British shipyard Pendennis for renovation and repairs, including an upgrade of the communications system and an overhaul of the yacht’s superstructure.

A large jacuzzi was added to the forward sundeck, and several new tenders were purchased. 

The AQUILA yacht now features an infinity-style swimming pool, four spacious decks, a day bar, and even a dedicated party space complete with a DJ booth and a light show.

The yacht carries an array of water toys and equipment, making her perfect for extended charter trips. 

Her large beach club and below-deck storage areas have space for diving equipment, kayaks, sea bobs, waterskis, wakeboards, jet skis, and inflatable water toys.

For land excursions she carries mountain bikes and even scooters, allowing her guests to be flexible when exploring new places.

Her three tenders can comfortably carry passengers from and to land and make up for the lack of a helipad on board ALQUILA. 

The largest onboard tender measures 11.7 meters (37.1 ft) and has an impressive maximum speed of 50 knots.

Having been awarded The ShowBoats Design Awards for tender design in 2010, this is one of ALQUILA’s most prominent features.

The AQUILA yacht is worth US $150 million, with annual running costs lying around US $10 to 15 million annually.

The yacht was originally named CAKEWALK but was renamed AQUILA by her current owner. She appears to be available for charter for US $1 million per week, excluding expenses.

The couple has four children and regularly takes the AQUILA yacht on extended trips around the world. 

The family owns the NBA team Denver Nuggets, and Kroenke is a major shareholder in the London football club Arsenal.

Stan Kroenke is rumored to be the owner of the 2011 yacht Seanna, which measures 65 meters (213 ft).

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Superyacht AQUILA

• Length: 85.6m (280.8ft)
• Guests: 12 guests in 7 cabins
• Built: 2010
• Derecktor Shipyard

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85.6m, (281') - Sleeps 12 Guests

Home › All Yachts › Aquila

At 281ft (85.6m) and comprising six spacious decks, superyacht AQUILA is an imposing and impressive sight on water. The magnificent motor yacht AQUILA is equipped with all the luxury amenities required for 5-star charter vacations for up to 12 guests, cruising the Mediterranean, or Caribbean.

This award-winning  private crewed charter yacht, with exterior design by Tim Heywood, was praised for her technical innovation and design when she launched in 2010 as the largest US-built motor yacht for a century. In 2016, AQUILA underwent a major refit to incorporate state of the art facilities and the latest in navigational and recreational gear.

This included redesigning the sun deck with DJ booth, AV system, smoke machine and lights for all night dancing. The finely tuned speakers at 3m intervals to ensure sound consistency.

The beach club was also expanded and now boasts a fully equipped gym, along with an array of watertoys. For family movie nights, the acoustically perfect cinema screens the latest releases, or for complete indulgence to unwind during your charter, the on board masseuse in one of the two spa areas can provide therapeutic and aesthetic treatments.

Each of the deck spaces have been reconfigured to allow for an al fresco lifestyle, with multiple dining options, sunbathing and socialising: the bridge deck with its sunbathing areas forward, sundeck with lounge areas and the main aft deck is devoted to relaxation with a jacuzzi, sun beds and two dining spaces. 

AQUILA’S beautiful interior design is by Florida-based interior designer Liz Dalton. Some of the highlights include a spiral wrought iron staircase with cherry wood handrail linking every floor from the lobby to the sun deck (there is also an elevator), a magnificent library with fireplace and grand piano, and on the main deck, the superb nearly 170m² saloon with separate private dining room, designed as a rotunda.

Much of the beautiful glass work throughout AQUILA was created by Preciosa of the Czech Republic including the 11.2m waterfall chandelier, with over 800 hand blown glass pieces and 500 polished stainless fittings, which cascades down four levels from the sun deck down to the lower deck creating shards of light across the white marble floor. 

The “London bar” has a real gentleman’s club feel, and its bespoke bar is covered in compressed and glazed Tabaco leaves trimmed with cracked duck egg.

For guests keen on keeping fit, AQUILA boasts a well-equipped gym with the latest machines and workout gear. There’s a cinema on the main deck with state-of-the-art projection and music and movies on demand, plus a massage/beauty salon on the owners’ deck and a separate spa room for guests.

ACCOMMODATION

Mega yacht AQUILA offers accommodation in eight lavish suites for up to 12 guests, comprising five double, three twin and one convertible.

There is an entire deck dedicated to the owner’s stateroom and additional facilities – a seven-room suite including generous lounge areas aft deck and dining for up to 14 guests.

The gym is opposite a yoga studio that doubles as a beauty salon and massage room. Forward of the two bathrooms and dressing rooms is a full-beam sitting room and study while all the way forward, facing windows that sweep 180 degrees, is the owners’ bedroom with a canopied king-size bed. There is also a private sundeck area which folds out from the master cabin for intimate moments hovering above the water.

The six spacious guest rooms are located on the main deck. Each guest room has been designed in classic style with its own colour scheme, but they all feature plenty of storage and abundant natural light through oversized windows. 

WATERTOYS & TENDERS

Guests aboard AQUILA will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the incredible array of toys housed in AQUILA’S massive garage, nicknamed “The Boathouse”.

For support craft, there’s a 10m Limited Edition AquaRiva Centos, an 11.3m custom-built Vikal Limousine for jaunts to shore, arriving in style, and for towing and watersports there are a 10.4m Scorpion RIB and 5.5m Nautica RIB.

AQUILA is an approved RYA water sports training centre for personal watercraft, and these include three Yamaha FX Cruiser HO Waverunners, two Jetsurfs, sea kayaks, two SeaBobs, waterskis, kneeboards, wakeboards, tows and snorkelling gear.

For pleasant beach barbecues, the crew can set up the complete marquee and chairs, grill and games for special occasions or just to watch the sun set on a picturesque stretch of sand.

This exceptional charter yacht is helmed by two Captains who lead a crew of 28, all well known for their skill, professionalism and knowledge of secret anchorages that will make every charter aboard AQUILA a monumental, memorable experience.

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Full Specifications

Charter Season & Rates

Rates above are for the Mediterranean

Caribbean winter rates: High season USD 1,000,000 Low season USD 945,000

Rates are weekly, plus expenses, MYBA terms. Local taxes may apply.

Please ask us for your personal quote

Charter Destinations

Mediterranean , Corsica , French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) , Italy , Sardinia , Sicily & Aeolian Islands , Gulf of Naples & Amalfi , Caribbean , Bahamas , British Virgin Islands , US Virgin Islands , Windward Islands , Leeward Islands

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O’PTASIA - 85m (279') / 12 Guests

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• A look inside the 12-month refit of 85.6 m superyacht Aquila
• Yacht Harbour

Aquila  is a 85.6 m luxury motor yacht. Launched by Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2010, she has recently undergone an extensive 12-month refit program. Aquila is designed by Tim Heywood with the traditional interior by Elizabeth Dalton of Dalton Designs. 

Now her original interiors were replaced by a new design courtesy of Redman Whitely Dixon. Tony Dixon, director at Redman Whitely Dixon, commented: 

We selected a mix of dark wood finishes, pale leather panels with nickel trim and many new special surface materials all interplaying together to offer subtle style variations throughout the interior.

The interior was remodeled to ensure a smooth flow between each area, the installation has been carried out by German interior specialists Metrica.

She is currently the largest private yacht ever constructed in the United States by volume and in 2016 she became the largest yacht ever refitted in the UK. The refit consisted of a complete revitalization of all five deck levels. Aquila was definitely reborn after such massive recondition at Falmouth-based shipyard Pendennis. The project team refurbished all of the social spaces, overhauling the technical systems, and renewing the interior of over 750 square  metres .

The yacht, owned by Charles and Diane Gallagher, has a beam of 14.3 m and a draft of 4.2 m. has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 2998 tons. She is powered by MTU engines of 3306 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots. During the refit, her four generators were completely rebuilt and other upgrades included new radar equipment, AV and IT systems, air conditioning, fresh air handling systems.

The motor yacht, which can accommodate 14 guests in 7 cabins, how has got a brand new glass chandelier by Susan Young. With more than 850 pieces of hand-blown glass, this masterpiece centerpieces cascades 11.2 metres through four of Aquila’s five decks.

Other improvements include a reconfiguration of the owner's suite together with a 60m2 private deck area and repositioning of the Jacuzzi to the forward deck. Their guests can also enjoy a movie on a 98-inch widescreen cinema store into a floating box to prevent sound and vibration emissions.

For this expensive refit, Aquila has already won the Neptune for Best Refit at the World Superyacht Awards in 2017.

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Largest Private USA-Built Yacht Dazzles After Impressive Refit

VESSEL SPECIFICATIONS

Toys and tenders.

11.3 meter Vikal custom limousine limo tender 10.6 meter Intrepid custom open tender with 2 x 370 horsepower engines 10.1 meter Riva tender with 2 x 370 horsepower engines Zodiac RIB 420 rescue tender 4 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO 1812cc 4-stroke waverunners Custom Nitrox Solutions compressor with cascade dive tank fill system and storage bottles SCUBA dive gear sets (complete) for certified divers Wetsuits Snorkel gear 2 SeaBob water scooters Sea kayaks Waterskis Kneeboards Wakeboards Inflatable water toys Beach party equipment (beach tent, beach chairs, beach tables, beach barbeque) Custom mountain bikes Certified Jet Ski Training CenterApproved RYA water sports centre Deck jacuzzi hot tub Wifi Elevator lift Baby Grand Piano Recreation salon with theatre Spa

PRESENTING YACHT AQUILA

Derecktor motor yacht AQUILA is one of the world’s largest yachts. She ranked 63rd. She is one of the 20 largest private luxury yacht charter vessels.   To date, she is the largest private yacht. In specific, built in the United States.  As one of the world’s largest yachts, she was first named CAKEWALK.  Her new owner decided being “big” wasn’t enough.  She completed a year-long major refit at the British refit shipyard Pendennis.  The 85.6-meter Motoryacht AQUILA (ex yacht Cakewalk ) is back. Furthermore, in the Mediterranean. Repositioning to the Caribbean for winter charters is in the plans.

Much of the refit work on Derecktor yacht AQUILA centered around her interior.  The well-known designers at Redman Whiteley Dixon and Susan Young Interiors created the new design, with the team from Metrica handling the actual interior installation.  About 750 square meters of blank space created the new interior.  Work included a new cinema room added to the main deck, a reconfiguration of the master suite, and new materials and finishing surfaces throughout the yacht. The designers introduced a  selection of dark wood finishes, as well as pale leather panels with nickel trim.  The result is a blending of subtle styles throughout the interior.

German Builder Holds Record For World’s Largest Yachts

THAT CHANDELIER

Worthy of note is the installation of a custom-made chandelier, designed by the team at Susan Young Interiors, that stretches 11.2 meters over the height of four interior decks.  The work of art features 850 individual hand-blown glass pieces and is absolutely stunning.

EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS

There were some exterior renovations as well.  The sundeck Jacuzzi is now forward in of the deck. This frees 60 square meters. In specific, space converted into a private deck area for the master stateroom.  Technology upgrades include new radar, as well as new audiovisual and IT equipment.

Motoryacht AQUILA also received a complete paint job.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Up to a maximum of 12 guests can enjoy the remodeled cabins.  Most yachts relegate guest quarters to lower decks.  All guest accommodations on Aquila are on the main deck.  There are an astounding 8 cabins available during a charter.  To demonstrate, a master and 4 staterooms with king-sized beds.  Further, 2 staterooms with two double beds. Lastly, 1 staff/supernumerary cabin with twin bunk beds. Every stateroom is spacious and extremely comfortable, with large windows that offer stunning views and allow natural light to pour in.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR YACHT CHARTER

In conclusion, book motor yacht AQUILA ( x- Cakewalk ) for your own private luxury yacht charter vacation today. Contact your yacht charter brokers at 1-800 Yacht Charters at 305-720-7245. If you prefer, complete our online inquiry form at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now/ .

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Aquila 70 Reviewed

• By Michael Verson
• Updated: July 28, 2021

Between 50 and 70 feet length overall, everything changes. That’s especially true of multihull designs, where volume increases dramatically because of the vessel’s wider beam. Engines, onboard systems, space for the tender and more get upsized, creating a higher caliber of yacht.

The Aquila 70 is an example of this principle and shows how the builder transitioned from the production mindset to a semicustom mentality.

“The aesthetics and speed are what really drove the 70′s design,” says Lex Raas, president of Aquila product development. “The majority of powercats don’t perform; they have very wide beams, and with the wrong length-to-width ratio, you’re challenged on speed. We made our yacht perform.”

The 70′s design allows for a top-end speed north of 27 knots, also thanks to Aquila saving weight by using a higher ratio of carbon fiber on the 70′s construction than on its other boats. The builder worked on the running-surface design using computational fluid dynamics. “We did extensive CFD and tank-testing on the hull and running gear, even down to the rudder shape, to get those numbers,” Raas says. Stability was also a primary goal.

J&J Design, which has penned all of Aquila’s models, was tasked with creating a profile that didn’t look boxy. J&J used tinted glass, curves and a raked superstructure to achieve that goal. In profile, the yacht could pass as a 70-foot monohull.

The ride, as I discovered on a jaunt into the Gulf of Mexico from Clearwater, Florida, is pleasant but different than it would be aboard a similar-size monohull. There’s no rolling thanks to the twin-hull form; high up, it almost felt like the 70 was gliding over the water, rather than punching through it. The yacht reached a 27.3-knot top hop at 2,470 rpm, and the cruise speed at 2,000 rpm was 21.3 knots, with fuel consumption of 62 gallons per hour. The 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels, paired with ZF 500-1 A gears, felt like the right power choice.

The forward section of the flybridge is enclosed, and the helm console is laid out well. There are three Stidd pilot seats, and there are lounges abaft for guests to enjoy the view underway. The open aft deck has a Kenyon grill, an Isotherm fridge and freezer, and a stainless-steel sink, making this place ideal for a barbecue on the hook.

The Portuguese bridge, which has joystick controls outboard to port and starboard, makes it easy to access the bow through centerline steps. There are also passageways along the side decks to move fore and aft on the main deck. Aft, stairs on both sides of the cockpit offer access to the water, while a custom tender is stowed in the transom, flush with the yacht.

Inside, Raas says, “the interior needed yachtlike DNA, so we incorporated the highest-end appliances, a proper dining table and Italian furniture.” Just forward of the cockpit is the 70′s main social area, measuring 300 square feet with 9-foot headroom, it has a galley with top-drawer appliances (see “Spacious Salon”) to starboard and a salon with a separate dining area to port. Fit-and-finish is excellent. Calming, light-colored Alpi wood covers the walls and ceiling, while details such as leather-wrapped, stainless-steel rails and a touchless faucet add a sense of subtle luxury.

The four-stateroom, five-head layout of Hull No. 1 (buyers can choose different layouts) includes a full-beam master stateroom, VIP staterooms aft that stretch along both sides, and a captain’s cabin that connects to the engine room. Thanks to windows everywhere, natural light permeates the spaces.

Looking at the yacht from the dock, the Aquila 70 is most certainly a catamaran. But step inside, and the yacht’s look and layout feel like a sizable monohull wrapped in luxury, speed and the comforts of home.

The King Treatment

The full-beam master stateroom forward has a table and lounge as well as a king-size berth occupying the central area, which is lit by windows along the sides. To starboard is an en suite with a private head, two sinks and a glass-enclosed shower. To port is stowage with pullout drawers, overhead cabinets, and a walk-in closet big enough for liveaboards.

Who Needs a Garage?

One of the highlights of the Aquila 70 is the custom-made Aquila tender, a 13-foot cat designed to be hoisted and secured between the yacht’s twin hulls. Designed by Morrelli & Melvin, the tender offers better stability than a similar-size monohull, with more carrying capacity. Aquila says the tender makes it easier to ferry people and gear to and from the dock, and that securing the tender flush against the deck is more efficient than hanging a tender off the stern. When the tender’s in the water, the platform can be used as a beach club.

Spacious Salon

The 300 sq. ft. salon/galley is populated with top brands for preparing meals (including a Gaggenau cooktop, oven, microwave, espresso machine and wine chiller) and for relaxing (the Natuzzi Italia decor includes a coffee table, bar chairs, a lounge and dining furniture). Other features such as electric blinds, Denon HEOS surround sound and controllable LED lighting deliver a high-end feel.

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

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Aquila: America’s largest superyacht reborn in the UK

Hulking in Pendennis ’s 150 metre dry dock, 85.6 metre Aquila is an imposing refit project. When launched as Cakewalk in 2010 she was the largest yacht built in the US since the 1930s, and here she has become the biggest vessel yet refitted in the UK.

But gazing up at her hull, and knowing how quickly she’s been transformed, it is the speed as much as the scope of this superyacht refit project that seems Herculean. “No single job was that tricky,” says Stephen Hills, project director at Pendennis, who managed the Aquila refit programme, somewhat surprisingly. “The challenge of this project has been the volume of the changes in the timeframe that was set.”

Indeed, one year was all the Cornish yard had in which to transform the elaborate, traditional design of Derecktor ’s 2010 Cakewalk into

a clean, elegant yacht that could pass as freshly launched. That’s 85.6 metres — in one year.

“Nine hundred people between England and Germany have been involved in this project,” says Tony Dixon, design director at the studio responsible for the refit, Redman Whiteley Dixon . Not to mention craftsmen all across the US. “Something like 750 square metres of floor area has been gutted and rebuilt, similar to the total area of a 55 or 60 metre motor yacht.”

With an ambitious brief, the Aquila project would involve major structural changes and gutting the interior. There was also a transformative design by Redman Whiteley Dixon and Susan Young Interiors, making this the second yacht project on which the two studios have collaborated for this client.

Layer upon layer of complex alterations had to be seamlessly choreographed to prevent a carpenter installing a cabinet before the electrician had finished wiring behind it, or a designer placing a panel of silk while a chippy could still get a dusty fingerprint on it.

Pendennis took a military approach to the Aquila project. “The way we’ve gone about it is to treat it as three distinct projects,” says Hills. “So the interior is one and is run by its own dedicated project manager. The exterior paint programme and modifications are the second project, with a project manager on it.

“And the technical changes and upgrades, again with a separate project manager. So by being very clear from the outset that it’s split, with clear leads in each area, you start to break the whole Aquila project down into more manageable amounts.”

And then, of course, there’s the unexpected, which had to be expected. Crucially Aquila ’s owners trusted the yard to take decisions. As Hills puts it: “They bought into the idea that it’s better to take a decision, move ahead and achieve the programme, with the risks that involves.”

One of the most substantial elements of that programme was totally reordering Aquila ’s superyacht sundeck . It had always been sequestered into fore and aft sections by a trunk of interior areas — the central staircase, lift, dayhead and various technical and service spaces — which have remained mostly intact. On Cakewalk the aft portion of deck space was sliced up by a central spa pool, along with a step down to an aft row of sunloungers.

The new configuration has removed the pool and placed it on the forward section of the deck. The now larger aft deck has a light-up bar, central seating area and loungers further back. It’s a sign of the uncompromising nature of the Aquila project that the old step was removed and a new one added, just a couple of feet further aft, to give the upper space a little more sweep.

This update involved re-teaking the whole area. The forward portion of the sundeck, meanwhile, places a large superyacht spa pool surrounded by sunpads at the more private forward end (they had to strengthen the bulkheads below), and there’s still room for a bar and sofa. A pantry has been converted to a massage and spa room inside, too.

While there is an improved superyacht beach club on the lower deck, Cakewalk ’s design precluded the sort of spectacular on-water area that you might find on an 85 metre launched today. Therefore, says Toby Allies, sales and marketing director of Pendennis, “the whole idea of this deck is to create that kind of beach club scene, but on the higher sundeck area”.

On the aft bridge deck below, outdoor lifestyle has also been enhanced. Teak pillars were refreshed and the deck has been sparingly furnished with modern, low-slung furniture, the pièce de résistance of which is circular seating with a fire pit in the middle. Forward, at the entrance to the bridge deck saloon, large wooden cabinets have been removed. Now the broad glass flank floods Aquila ’s new interior with light.

The décor throughout is the polar opposite of Cakewalk ’s honey tones — cool off-whites and dark smoked eucalyptus woods, taupe suedes, blue and grey velvets and nickel highlights. It was installed by German superyacht stalwarts Metrica, whose precise methods fit well with the exacting nature of the Aquila project.

“The brief was to transform it into a really elegant, modern yacht, within the existing framework,” says Dixon. “He likes a traditional style, with panelling, and she prefers the more modern treatment. By using flat panels and a lot of fabric on the walls, it doesn’t look like a study anywhere that it’s not supposed to. Dark panelled interiors with white look really crisp and sharp.”

The owner’s deck saloon, one level below, has a gentlemen’s club feel with a spectacular bar that Redman Whiteley Dixon and Susan Young Interiors coated with tobacco leaf to give it a rust brown patina, backed with ripple-faced mirrors and metalised fabric wall surfaces by Silverlining, which also made the dining table and bubble-glass doors in Aquila ’s bridge saloon.

Sliding glass panels backed with a mirror-like coating were installed behind the bar to create a dramatic foil-like feature. They

slide to reveal two TVs, transforming the use of the space. These panels were designed by Susan Young Interiors and fabricated by Peter David Studio.

Forward, in the owner’s cabin , the design was also fundamentally reimagined. An exterior ladder ran from the bridge deck to the foredeck, cutting down the centre of the owner’s cabin’s forward windows. That has been removed and a proper floating staircase has been created, set apart from Aquila ’s superstructure, allowing much more light into the large master suite.

Inside, things changed substantially, too. “The whole owner’s deck was reconfigured,” says Dixon. “We moved the cabin bulkhead aft, opening the whole boat up at the front.” The cabin now takes in part of what was a broad lobby-cum-sitting room that covered nearly as much space as the cabin itself, but offered far less functionality.

And there’s still room for a grand entrance hall in grey veined marble and leather panels, two spectacular bathrooms to either side, his-and-hers dressing rooms, a hairdressing and massage room, pantry and large study.

With the enlarged cabin and the bed moved to port — “having a bed on the centreline, you waste a lot of space because you end up with essentially passageways on either side,” says Dixon — there was space for a sitting room to starboard. There is also now direct access from the cabin to Aquila ’s foredeck, which has been enlarged from a technical access walkway to a 60 square metre Portuguese bridge-style deck that provides a neat private enclave for fresh air.

If the owner’s deck got the biggest dose of glamour, then Aquila ’s main saloon one level below has become a family haven. “There was a dining room, all enclosed with sliding doors, and these massive wide walkways down either side,” says Dixon. “Then you had this fireplace at the back with a couple of armchairs — a funny little lounge that no-one would have used.”

A new dining table replaced the seating area aft and the semi-enclosed dining saloon forward was demolished and a high-tech cinema was put in its place. The 98-inch widescreen has a professional grade 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos surround system of seven in-wall Genelec speakers and four overhead speakers, plus two Artcoustic subwoofers with powerful 1kW amplification, with a Crestron control system.

“The inside of the cinema has its own false floor,” says Hills, “with a resiliently mounted deck, so that it’s independent from the steel structure underneath it and you reduce structural-borne vibration into the cinema. And when the cinema is in full blast, there is as little as possible transmission of the noise out of the cinema.” On top of this there are heavy doors with acoustic seals and special insulation in the bulkheads.

Forward on the main deck, new flooring, hardware and en-suite bathrooms have been upgraded throughout the guest cabins on Aquila . Even where there are remnants of the older boat, the way they have been used is impressive. “The main staircase is probably one of the most striking changes,” says Hills. “There’s much more of a wow factor to it now — you would not have thought that just changing wall claddings and colours and finishes could have such an effect.”

The floral carpet has gone for a silky grey, and curling wrought ironwork replaced with stainless steel bars, but the wooden base and handrail remain, albeit stained darker. And the central chandelier by Czech company Preciosa is, as Hills puts it, “quite a piece of engineering in its own right”.

On her lower deck Cakewalk already had a spectacular tender garage that opened on both sides — with a Riva Aquariva and a Vikal Limousine tender, both fully serviced in the refit. This area has remained largely unchanged but the beach club aft has been reconfigured and a skylight built in.

Access has also been improved, with a stairwell added to starboard and the watertight door from the tender garage moved to that same stairwell, so the beach club won’t be used as a corridor to the stern platform. There’s also a top-notch superyacht gym on board Aquila .

The crew mess has a new layout, with better seating and counter space, there’s new AV and showers in crew cabins, and functional improvements were made in Aquila ’s galley. The factory-sized engine room had a five-year survey and gained a new Hug exhaust filter system. Air-conditioning has been replaced throughout, as has the lighting/blind control system, now by Lutron. She’s also been rewired for LEDs and tech upgraded to UHDTV, high-end audio and state-of-the-art WiFi.

Outside, the finished article was given a suitably cool-toned repaint by Pinmar with a midnight blue hull and ice white superstructure, electrostatic paint guns ensuring a super-even finish. It’s one of a mass of jobs undertaken with a thoroughness that has resulted in a superyacht that feels every bit as fresh as a brand new boat.

First published in the January 2017 edition of Boat International

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AQUILA yacht NOT for charter*

36m  /  118'1 | cantieri navali di termoli | 2003 / 2022.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Recent refit in 2022
• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) ✠ 100A1.1.1A, Notation PNVCXY classification
• Sleeps 10 overnight

The 36m/118'1" motor yacht 'Aquila' (ex. Sea Wish) was built by Cantieri Navali di Termoli . Her interior is styled by design house Dondi dall'Orologio and she was completed in 2003. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Dondi dall'Orologio and she was last refitted in 2022.

Guest Accommodation

Aquila has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 suites comprising one VIP cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Range & Performance

Aquila is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (16V 2000 M 90) 16-cylinder 1,826hp engines, she comfortably cruises at 12 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 15 knots with a range of up to 1,200 nautical miles from her 28,000 litre fuel tanks. Her water tanks store around 8,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) ✠ 100A1.1.1A, Notation PNVCXY classification society rules.

*Charter Aquila Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Aquila is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Aquila Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

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Specification

M/Y Aquila

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Inside the $1.2 Million-a-Week Superyacht Magic Johnson Chartered for His Summer Vacation

The nba legend and friends samuel l. jackson and ll cool j are enjoying the mediterranean in style..

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When you’re Magic Johnson, a simple European getaway just won’t do. You have to take in the continent by boat.

The NBA legend and entrepreneur is currently enjoying some time cruising around the Mediterranean onboard the Aquila , a 281-foot superyacht . And the Lakers great and his wife Cookie have invited along a star-studded group of pals, including Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J, to join in on the experience.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samuel L Jackson (@samuelljackson)

Magic, who TMZ says likes to spend a month across the Atlantic each summer, has gone all out for his latest vacation. The Aquila is the largest boat built in the US since the 1930s, according to its Burgess charter listing . Originally developed by Derektor in 2010, the vessel sailed under the name Cakewalk until it was sold and completely refitted in 2016. The renewed, four-deck yacht has even more space from which its passengers can gaze upon cities like Corfu, Capri and Cervo, and is perfect for entertaining a one very large man and his family and friends.

The yacht has a massive owner’s suite with a massage room, salon and private deck that overlooks the bow, along with six other spacious guest suites. There’s also a cinema room, gym, two more massage rooms. When it comes time for entertaining, there’s a saloon called the London Bar, a beach club at sea level and a dedicated party deck with its own DJ booth, AV system and smoke machine. The interior’s pièce de résistance, though, is a 36-foot “waterfall” chandelier that stretches from the sun deck to the lower deck.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Earvin "Magic" Johnson (@magicjohnson)

Other amenities on the Aquila include a limousine tender, a deck jacuzzi, aquapark, trampoline and all the water toys you could ever want (think: jet skis, kayaks and wakeboards). The yacht, which has a 50-foot beam, is also manned by a crew of 28. It’s powered by two 3,306 hp MTU engine and has a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots.

As you may have guessed, a boat like this doesn’t come cheap. The superyacht is reportedly worth over $150 million . Johnson is only chartering the vessel, but even that will set him back nearly €1 million (or about $1.2 million) a week, according to the listing. One thing is clear: No. 32 loves spending time on the Aquila . In fact, this isn’t his first time he’s rented the vessel. He also took it out on vacation back in 2019, according to TMZ . And honestly, who can blame him?

Bryan Hood is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Before joining the magazine, he worked for the New York Post, Artinfo and New York magazine, where he covered everything from celebrity gossip to…

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