With exterior styling by Michel Joubert, who died last year, and an interior by Franck Darnet, the 47-metre all-aluminium Ocea X47 is a thoroughly modern, superyachting take on the traditional commuter
yacht, and now the Ocea Yachts yard is partnering with Ocean Independence to build it. “Ocea has proven its ability to design ocean-going yachts and has an excellent reputation, particularly in aluminium construction,” says Ocean Independence broker Éric Trupheme.
Traditional commuter yachts – which transported financiers along the Hudson to their New York offices during the Jazz Age – are a long way from the modern superyacht, but Ocea’s sleek lines and spritely performance (a 20-knot top speed) hark back to those memorable runabouts from Chris-Craft, Hodgdon, and other famous American boatbuilders.
“The narrow hull is efficient. These are boats with low consumption and good seaworthiness,” says Bernard Nivelt, naval architect and associate of Michel Joubert. “He has designed a very elegant, ocean-going yacht, and added his own personal touch, namely the finer, straighter bow. The line is lightened by large windows, and the spacious bow leaves plenty of room for stowing dinghies, freeing up the lazarette and the decks.” The original commuter yachts were designed for sprinting in sheltered waters, so the challenge was to reinvent the commuter as a blue-water cruising vessel.
Franck Darnet’s initial interior is contemporary and informal, with oak the prominent material. “It can, of course, be made darker with walnut or ebony, or brighter with lighter-coloured woods. Starting from the outfitting brief, everything can be modified,” he says. “On any yacht, space is at a premium. It needs to be optimised, made visually larger to be as pleasant as possible.” The yacht sleeps 12 guests and 11 crew.