Bluebird concept takes travelling the globe to the next level
It has become an increasingly frequent phenomenon to see owners embarking on lengthy world excursions with their young children, determined to make the most of this special time in the family’s life. While this has more usually been on board sailing yachts, the innovative designers and naval architects at Diana decided the time was right to offer a motoryacht version in line with this family exploration theme. The Bluebird design reflects the fact that a family grows and evolves over the years, allowing people to be moved around as children become adults while still remaining an integral part of the family.
Private stairway
A key aspect in this philosophy is the inclusion of a dedicated owner’s deck, located between the bridge and main decks. The full-beam master stateroom offers a fine 180-degree panoramic view forward. At the same time, a private staircase with its own door leads down to the forward area of the main deck, where there are two double suites for the children. The doors can be locked on both decks to create a two-floor, three-suite apartment with breathtaking views and a gym on the owner’s deck. If the family has guests on board, and the main salon and the aft decks are being used for a party, the entire foredeck area can remain closed off.
The main deck suites can be converted to accommodate more children if required, and there is also a starboard cabin in the family area for the nanny or, as is more often becoming the case on longer trips today, a school teacher. Thought has also been given to how things might change once the kids grow up and perhaps have relationships of their own: the family can still keep the yacht on which so many irreplaceable memories have been made, transforming this main deck floor into suites with a double bed and bathroom.
The four other roomy guest suites on the lower deck add to the flexibility offered by this smart layout for owners both today and in the future. The main deck suites can be used as VIP areas when there are two families on board, with lots of extra room in the lower deck suites for additional guests or children. This arrangement truly comes into its own with charter bookings, where equality of accommodation is important.
Long-trip comforts
As well as being a super-flexible family-oriented design, this vessel has many features and facilities which make it ideal to embark on some serious voyages. There is a great deal of storage available both for the ship’s inventory and for owners and guests to use in their suites. The entire aft walls of the lounges on the owner’s and main decks open up to large aft decks and provide a true inside-out ambience. All tenders and toys are stored on the foredeck for this purpose. Below is an expansive beach club, which opens up completely to create a great place for kids of all ages to enjoy water sports while landlubbers relax on the swimming platform and enjoy the bar.
The interior of the Bluebird supports the philosophy of extended living on board, including a plush cinema in the main lounge, a broad range of dining options and various comfortable places to relax in privacy. The design reflects the way people spend their time on a modern high-end superyacht, with everything in place for the crew too, including dedicated working areas and a large crew mess. The crew quarters are spacious and accommodate 14 crew including the captain, who will helm the yacht from a wheelhouse with excellent views forward plus folding bridge wings. The tank deck has a dedicated laundry and lots of refrigeration facilities, with all decks being connected by a dumbwaiter.
Beautifully balanced
The Bluebird’s elegant, timeless profile consists of some beautifully balanced lines and large windows. Her superstructure is positioned relatively far forward to enhance the explorer look, while allowing for giant aft decks. A finely flared bow will add to the seagoing performance, dampening slamming motions and substantially enhancing overall comfort.
The blue colour was chosen because of the elegant separation it offers between superstructure and hull, extending the length visually and – in combination with the black mast – giving the vessel an elegant lower look in the water. Of course, clients can choose a different colour scheme should they wish, and could also choose to change the length of the design to anywhere between 50 and 60 metres depending on their requirements.
Explorer pedigree
While the Bluebird may not look like a traditional explorer vessel, Diana Yacht Design has a rich pedigree when it comes to world travellers. The office has been involved in the design and naval architecture of around 70 members of the current global superyacht fleet, including the 50-metre Hadia, which has made three circumnavigations, and Triple 8, which successfully completed a two-year globetrotting expedition.
The team at Diana fully understand the serious requirements in terms of seaworthiness, reliability, redundancy and comfort for such yachts, and these are thoroughly reflected in the Bluebird concept – very much a ship in this respect as well as a beautiful motoryacht.
All in all, the Bluebird is an innovative new concept offering a great deal of flexibility for a wide range of people and uses. Designed based on extensive market research and broker feedback, she occupies the ideal middle ground between a luxurious superyacht and an ultra-reliable expedition vessel.
