Beam 9.6 m | Builder DCNS | |
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The Phocea was the World's largest sailing yacht before the 2004 launching of Athena by Royal Huisman. She was built at the Toulon Naval Dockyard in 1976 for renowned single-handed yachtsman Alain Colas, who named her Club Méditerranée. She was converted to charter and renamed La Vie Claire with a new Jorg Biederbeck interior design and a new Tim Heywood exterior design. Shortly after competing in the Observer Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race she was converted into the charter yacht Club Méditerranée.
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Refit
In July 1997, Phocea was purchased by Mouna Ayoub and modernized at Lürssen. Whilst retaining her unmistakable identity, she has received major interior and exterior enhancements by British naval architect Butch Dalrymple-Smith. The interiors feature wood panelling and furniture designed by David Linley. The Owner's Suite 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. She won the 1999 ShowBoats award for best refit.
Ayoub's ex-husband Nasser Al-Rashid partly paid for the $17 million refit of the Phocea with the sale of "The Mouna", a 112 carat (22.4 g) record-breaking diamond.
Crash
Phocea crashed into rocks off Sardinia in August 2005 while the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were aboard. Three people were seriously injured. The yacht was damaged below the waterline.
Specification
