Aptly named Dunes, the vessel evokes the desert landscape of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
It appears Dune mania has even reached the marine industry.
Touch Studio just unveiled a new superyacht concept that looks as if it has come straight from Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic. Part of Oceanco’s Simply Custom series, the 262-foot Dunes was actually inspired by the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Maranhão, Brazil. This protected area is known for its vast desert landscape of soaring, white dunes and contrasting rainwater lagoons. (Sounds like a prime spot for the Fremen.
“The yacht’s design harmonizes the sleek and precise lines of the water’s surface with the sinuous contours of the sand dunes,” designers Timothy Baldacci and Veronica Vergari said in a statement. “These curvatures, where the wind has etched its distinctive shapes, find their expression in the yacht’s form, embodying the enchanting force of nature.”
In addition to an elegant, streamlined silhouette, Dunes features a white hull and a sandy-colored superstructure. Her stern is the standout, with a pair of expandable aft terraces creating a large beach area that is directly connected to the sea. (The space is also equipped with an elevated swimming pool and four sun pads, naturally.) Another pair of fold-out platforms positioned slightly further forward connect the interior lounge to the ocean.
“Dunes becomes one with the marine environment, and everyone onboard will feel this dual sense of freedom and connection,” the designers add.
The rest of the cascading aft decks are dotted with lounges and alfresco dining areas, while the lengthy foredeck is home to a touch-and-go helipad that can facilitate comings and goings on the high seas. To top it off, the upper deck is equipped with a Jacuzzi and curved seating.
As for the living quarters, Simply Custom yachts offer an interior volume of between 2,500 to 2,700 GT. The vessels typically have an owner’s suite on the upper deck and six guest cabins on the main deck, but the layout can be tailored to the owner.
In terms of performance, Simply Customs sport highly efficient hulls by Lateral Naval Architects and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems that are capable of running on low-carbon biofuels.
Announced at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last October, the Simply Custom series includes 17 vessels that have been customized by different designers. Oceanco has revealed yachts designed by Espen Øino, H2 Yacht Design, Hot Lab, Nuvolari Lenard, and Enrico Gobbi to date. More concepts will be released over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
