Review: Oceanco 248' Superyacht "Anastasia"

Oceanco 248’/75m "Anastasia"​

Yachting's New Grand Duchess!​

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy​

The Netherlands builder adds to its reputation for outstanding design with a sparkling new
entry dedicated to family cruising, entertainment elegance and a dedicated plunge into water sports.​

She’s laden with intriguing beauty: For families who love the sea, and its many, varied offerings, Oceanco has launched the “perfect getaway yacht”. With tasteful discretion, her European owners brought together their team of worldwide talent: from Fremantle, Australia naval architect/designer – Sam Sorgiovanni; with the Netherlands premiere builder – Oceanco; and chose a title recalling that hallowed Duchess - "Anastasia". On the world’s oceans, this lovely, new grand dame presents the total scope of adventure in voyaging; boasting every sea-going hallmark – except, perhaps, the ability to submerge.

Attention to extras is a mantra of Oceanco, whose other recent, prize-winning yachts – all in the 200’ range – include Lady Lola, Alfa Four, Lady Christine, Dilbar, Amevi. Perhaps upstaging the formidable, prize-winning predecessor Alfa Nero, Oceanco’s newest generation of yachts progress ever farther and faster. Now in the mammoth construction arena, its latest design reaches 86 meters – 282’. Organized in 1992, Oceanco has managed to create a lofty image among top builders in the yachting community. Its team of experienced naval architects, marine engineers, and superbly qualified craftsmen are second to none, worldwide. Its inside prototype team collaborates with renowned yacht designers such as Sam Sorgiovanni, the naval architect whose fertile design sense created this outstanding vessel.

The company’s stellar reputation also serves as a fine inducement for new customers as well. Anastasia’s owners were captivated by their love for sea-sports, after chartering the 230’ Aussie Rules, once owned by golfing great Greg Norman, an avid diver who outfitted his yacht for sea adventuring. That fine charter experience in the yacht by Sorgiovanni, induced the family to choose him as designer; and eventually led to the build by Oceanco.

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Taking a closer look at Anastasia's talents: She sports six decks of stupendous beauty. Sleek, museum-level modern design. Elegance in spacious living-dining-entertainment; her accouterments of disco lights with lasers and a smoke machine also accommodate a live dance band. Her exquisite interior furnishings display unusual and attractive elements such as eucalyptus, bamboo, and rotan woods, crocodile woven leather, with Cesar stone, bronze, and copper. Then, too, there’s the full-scope cinema. That’s only a start...

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Large enough to gracefully mount ocean expeditions, yes; built of steel and aluminum. Spanning 248’ – 75.5m – her comfort levels surpass many yachts a degree larger. Yet, even those crowning elements are embellished by her level of on-deck-basking comfort; lounges for the entire crowd. Plus, stowed below, her singular endowment; a bevy of ocean-going water sports equipment surpassing all others, offering a full arsenal of gear and goodies that surpass even the largest charter yachts.

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Her massive nav/radar/com/globes/wings demonstrate complete competence in world-wide communications, not only for ship’s performance, but every single detail of marine engineering. She boasts the latest electronics equipment, adding up-to-date entertainment options in each stateroom. Built to Lloyd’s classification standards and all MCA rules.

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Anastasia’s massive sun strand – bleached teak planking – can easily entertain several times more than her normal one dozen cruising guests. Her parties are no doubt destined to become legends in their time. Overshadowing the one mere card table and a few chairs, her multiple tanning couches become irresistible. This placid expanse, and the entire interior design, caters to the owner’s wish for a “beach house” effect.

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Atop the very highest deck, her radar-dome superstructure gives flight to a massive antenna array, while providing shade for a queen-size lounge, up and away from it all.

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Also up and away from high above, a stealthy pair of enticingly padded leather chairs provides an I-spy overlook to the pool and its sumptuous circle of overstuffed, padded lounges.

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An unusually beautiful shot of her creatively fashioned, sparkling swim pool; it accents the fresh design sense that pervades this yacht. Not just a square or oval in the usual theme, but intense thoughtfulness and artistry in planning and execution.

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Two of Anastasia’s four tenders are shown here on the foredeck; a feisty 21’Malibu ski-tow to starboard and the crew-project Zodiac to port; while two others, including a limousine, are stowed below in the tender garage.

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Keeping fit is a given for today’s yachtsmen and women, so this fully equipped gym awaits, weights and machines ready on its teak floor and eucalyptus walls to entertain. Harboring a well thought out gear selection, the gym keeps sea-going bodies lithe, for a traveling health/fitness experience.

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Not to be upstaged by formal dining rituals, the aft deck offers nonchalant dining grandeur; twelve casual, airy place settings encircle the ovoid, light eucalyptus table. Slatted, padded armchairs make each guest comfortable while dining with glistening stemware and polished utensils. The serving array includes a full bar.

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Anastasia's spiral staircase transcends the ages, magically suspended around a gleaming pillar of stainless, it spins off teak-stripped steps, artfully reminiscent of DaVinci’s airscrew.

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High in the Command station, Anastasia’s Captain and crew face an enlarged, beam-wide, 7-screen set of instruments, comprising the most advanced apparatus available in today’s technology. These encompass 30” full color versions for navigation and communication paraphernalia. Attended by twin captain’s chairs. There’s a glass-topped, full-size chart table.

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Anastasia’s game room features this handsome, octagon-shaped, Vegas-magnitude gaming table, green felt-topped; outfitted for 8 daring players to beat the house, or each other. Also makes a fine bridge platform.

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Her Upper Salon is as commodious as many another yacht’s prime gathering place; quite casual, it also caters to the game-room fascination, as well as pure comfort and relaxation. Its floors are carpet over bamboo, with a ceiling of bamboo and rotan; walls are light eucalyptus. The bar features copper tiles and Cesar stone.

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Her six guest rooms are laid out sumptuously. This Upper Deck VIP, located aft of the bridge, is fashioned with a gold patterned queen size berth, raised with storage beneath. Walls feature eucalyptus and fine fabrics, while each guest room is decorated with hand painted original artwork.

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Her Main Salon is sedately refined in its approach to decor; a simple, genteel setting sans the extravagance it could easily command. Varying shades of eucalyptus on the walls. Ceiling and flooring noiseless, bamboo, rotan and oak woods. Fastidious. Sweet. However, Anastasia’s mood swings can also throw a party. A blast. Furniture rolled back; she outs a disco/dance floor; laser/lights/smoke machine; roaring, thumping, recessed speakers. Outdoor furniture on the upper deck is transformed into a live bandstand. She metamorphoses into a sizzling nightclub! Even the teens will Get Down.

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At the forward reach of the main salon, this magnificent Aquarium presents a see-through visage to the dining room; while displaying crisp design sense in bronze, copper and faux crocodile leather embellishments.

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On the opposite side of the aquarium, Anastasia’s formal dining room extends a lengthy, eucalyptus dining table seating 12, also dedicated to simplicity rather than lavishness. Yet she celebrates with hand-blown tallow candles gracing the candelabra, and exalts a spectacular wall of art – a beach theme of ceramic hand-made clay. Flooring is bamboo with a creme carpet overlay.

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Anastasia’s Galley, certainly, utilizes all the most current trappings for accomplished chefs, including burnished stainless steel on her central counter and trim on her eucalyptus-paneled cabinetry. Her galley easily accommodates double door refrigerator/freezers; Sub-Zero, Electrolux, Herzog Hopman appliances and twin sinks, plus copious arrangements for storage. Overhead lighting is fluorescent. The centralized prep area allows for several chefs at one time.

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