Phocea (Yacht)

Phocea was the largest sailing yacht in the world before the 2004 launching of Athena by Royal Huisman [http://www.royalhuisman.com/p_mi_athena.htm] . She was built at the Toulon Naval Dockyard in 1976 for the well-reputed, single-handed yachtsman Alain Colas. Shortly after competing in the Observer Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race she was converted into the charter yacht "Club Mediteranée" [ [http://webpublic.ac-dijon.fr/nievre/colas/clubm.htm "Club Méditerranée: un géant parmi les monocoques"] (French), with a picture of the boat] . In July 1997, Phocea was purchased by Mouna Ayoub and she began her transformation into a luxury sailing yacht at Lurssen. Whilst retaining her unmistakable identity, she has benefited from major interior and exterior upgrading throughout. The interior boasts fine living and accommodation areas with beautiful wood panelling, tasteful decorations and some exquisite David Linley furniture. The Owner's suite, commanding fine views, is situated on the main deck whilst the VIP guest cabin and four other double cabins, all with full ensuite facilities, are located on the lower deck.

Nasser Al-Rashid, Mouna Ayoub's ex-husband, partly paid for the $17 million refit of the Phocea, by the sale of "The Mouna", a 112 carat (22.4 g) record-breaking diamond as part of their divorce settlement .Fact|date=July 2007

pecification

*Length overall: 246 ft (75.0 m)
*Beam: 31.43 ft (9.58 m)
*Draft: 20.47 ft (6.24 m)
*Number of guests: 12
*Number of crew: 15
*Built: 1976 by Toulon Naval Dockyard (refit at Lurssen in 1999)
*Designer: Michel Bigion
*Engines: 1 x 1056 hp MTU
*Cruising speed: about 12 knots under power, 12-18 knots under sail
*Approximate range: 2,000 NM
*Fuel consumption: 195 litres (51 US gallons) per hour at 11.5 knots cruising

External links

*http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/mounadiamond.html The Mouna diamond

ee also

*List of large sailing yachts
*List of motor yachts by length
*Large Sailing Yachts
**The Maltese Falcon
**Athena
**Eos
**Mirabella V

References

*http://www.yachtchartersdelujo.com/phocea.htm Interiors gallery
*http://www.nigelburgess.com/charter/phocea/

Notes