New 46m superyacht concept from Young Designer of the Year 2016

The following 46 metre concept comes from the drawings boards of Baoqi Xiao, who was named Young Designer of the Year 2016 at the latest edition of the prestigious annual awards ceremony. Designed for an Italian fashion designer, the project is named Cercio and incorporates elements of high-end fashion into a stunning superyacht inside and out.

On board she accommodates up to six guests over three chic and generous cabins, including a large owner’s suite and two double staterooms. A crew of eight are also accommodated for. In regards to her performance, she is powered by twin CAT C32 engines, which provide her with a cruising speed of 18 knots and a top speed of 25 knots.

We spoke to Xiao recently, who offered SYT an exclusive insight into the winning design.

What was the inspiration behind this design?

The inspiration behind this design is Italian knitwear fabric. Both the space arrangement and styling are influenced by this interlocking feature of knitwear fabric structure. The fabric has a special zig-zag pattern, which has also been enlarged and assigned color to become an iconic design language in the Italian fashion industry.

What are the main characteristics of the project?

Maximising contact between humans and nature, and unique styling created based on this zig-zag pattern and knitwear fabric. The client is an Italian senior fashion designer, and would like to stay outdoors as much as possible while onboard. She also wants this yacht to represent her senior position in the fashion industry.

What are the most interesting/special features?

The most interesting feature is the connected outdoor space near the stern. This space includes a beach club, a large outdoor salon, an indoor salon and a cinema. The owner and her guests can easily relax for most of the day staying in this space without the need to move back and forth through hallways.

Furthermore, the owner's cabin is positioned exclusively on the upper deck where the owner will be able to enjoy ultimate privacy while overlooking the entire yacht on the top deck. This concept is designed to connect the owner between her base and famous tourist attractions within the Mediterranean Sea. She has a top speed of 25 knots.

What are your plans for the future?

My highest priority is to finish my transportation design courses and earn a Bachelor of Science degree from ArtCenter College of Design.