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The
special emphasis on safety doesn’t end there. Three generations
of family, some of whom are youngsters, will cruise aboard, so exterior
safety gates were custom-constructed to block access to certain areas.
One such spot is the set of stairs leading from the upper deck to the
main deck, and another is the set of stairs leading down the center of
the foredeck to the anchor-handling area on the bow. If any of the kids
do happen to reach the bow, however, the large freeing ports are fitted
with metal bars, preventing anyone from accidentally slipping through.
As much
as Anson Bell emphasizes safety, so, too, does she emphasize comfort.
She’s fitted with Quantum Marine four-fin stabilizers—impressive
for a yacht this size—for comfort in rough seas as well as at-rest
stabilization. And while you may not think of navigational equipment as
playing a role in providing comfort, it does aboard Anson Bell
in that it sets minds at ease. The units are more sophisticated than those
typically found on yachts; indeed, some are traditionally found mainly
aboard commercial ships. There are two Raytheon X-band radars, which offer
greater resolution and detection of smaller targets, as well as a Raytheon
S-band radar, which has longer range and is less subject to interference
from rain and sea clutter.
Comfort
was key from a decor perspective as well. According to Laura Ramsey Engler,
design principal of the interior-design firm Ramsey Engler & Associates,
the owner was hands-on, eschewing traditional dark-wood paneling and instead
selecting light, warm anigré, even discussing the ergonomics of
the various seating areas. And like the King of England who enjoyed speaking
with an old sailor aboard the HMS Anson, the owner of Anson Bell recognized the importance of attending to the crew’s needs, providing
them with a larger-than-usual crew area.
Engler
also says that the owner and Palmer Johnson wanted the yacht to make a
strong statement about the aesthetics and quality of design that can be
achieved on this side of the Atlantic. That goal is achieved in particular
in the dining area and the upper-deck foyer. A specially commissioned
tryptych lies on the forward athwartship bulkhead in the dining room,
cleverly concealing stemware stowage. Created by artist Tony Berlant,
it’s a low-relief, intricate collage of metal, almost woven in appearance.
While you’d never know it to look at it, the tryptych is a clever
solution to another problem: what to do with the built-out portion of
the bulkhead housing plumbing stacks.
Regarding
the upper-deck foyer, a literal wall of art that’s comprised of
copper conceals a pantry. Contemporary and quite striking, it introduces
tones ranging from warm brown to cool greens and blues, a departure from
the lower decks. According to Engler, the idea arose from the Anson’s
bell—it was a way to incorporate its elements of style and design.
Speaking
of that bell, the niche that was created to showcase it is a resplendent
combination of etched glass and various dark and light woods. The story
of the HMS Anson is inscribed in the glass, and a wood arch that
curves behind and above it, replicating ship “ribs,” houses
lighting to draw more attention to it.
There
are some similarly innovative and functional design solutions elsewhere
onboard. For example, the aft deck is really more of “an outdoor
living room,” to use Engler’s words. Sliding glass panels
can enclose the area, and air-conditioning can be pumped in. At night,
illumination comes courtesy of a virtual constellation of stars created
by fiber-optic lights fitted into high-gloss, automotive-finish, curved
panels overhead. So, too, are the stair rails illuminated—functional
and artistic without being glitzy.
In the
four guest staterooms—two twins, two full, all with seating areas—beds
are athwartships, making the rooms feel bigger. The two twin staterooms
also have Pullmans. All are equipped with plasma-screen televisions, as
are the master stateroom and the saloon, the latter featuring not one
but two of these televisions for the ultimate in enjoyment. Grand total:
nine plasma-screen televisions, fed by a central entertainment system.
The
team effort, which included the owner’s broker/build consultant,
Chuck Irwin, has resulted in one of the safest yachts around. And just
as the story of the HMS Anson played a large role in inspiring
the standards set by Anson Bell, perhaps this 156-footer will serve as
the inspiration for other safety-conscious yacht owners.
Palmer
Johnson Phone: (920) 743-4412. Fax: (920) 743-1190. www.palmerjohnson.com.
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