Completed on spec by Mengi-Yay in Turkey, 43.6-metre Tatiana V (formerly Virtus) was launched in 2019 and sold in February 2020. The family-owned Mengi-Yay shipyard began producing wooden boats and gulets in the 1960s and still builds in epoxy laminated wood, but over the past 15 years its production has shifted to steel and aluminium and Tatiana V sets a new benchmark for the brand.Photo: Pozitif Studio
ADVERTISEMENTDuring a recent visit to the yard in Tuzla, Istanbul, I was given a tour of the yacht and was impressed by the quality workmanship and finish throughout. It is no surprise that the yacht has been shortlisted for multiple awards. The naval architecture is by long-term partner Ginton Naval Architects in the Netherlands, but the exterior and interior design is by the emerging VYD Studio in Italy.Photo: Pozitif Studio“Our first meeting with Mengi-Yay was back in 2014 when they were doing their own design in-house,” says Paolo Dose, founder of the Trieste-based design studio.
“We were contacted again when they decided to launch the Virtus line on the market that was substantially different from what they had done before. The shipyard wanted something contemporary and eye-catching, but we were given a free rein creatively.”Photo: Pozitif Studio“Our initial concept was for a 40-metre yacht with quite angular exterior lines, but as the project grew to increase the available volume the styling softened somewhat and became a touch more rounded and feminine,” adds co-founder Mauro Giamboi. “There were a few changes to the GA – the tender garage next to the beach club was a later addition, for example – but we had the time to finesse the overall design without the pressure of an owner who wanted his yacht as soon as possible.”
When it came to the interior design, however, the lack of an owner created more of a challenge. Clearly, Mengi-Yay wanted a style with broad appeal that could be easily personalised by prospective clients. From a designer’s perspective, trying to please all the people all the time can easily lead to banality taking precedence over creativity.
