Karen Nguyen used her thesis, carried out at Delft University of Technology, to study a superyacht concept perfectly adapted to the future Chinese elite, in collaboration with Guido de Groot Design. This catamaran named Rén is a 68 m concept with a remarkable beam of 27 m.
Create a boat specifically adapted to the Chinese clientele of the nouveau riche
In his thesis, Karel Nguyen makes several observations on the world of yachting in China. Here are the main points:
- Chinese yachtsmen do not approach the world of yachting in the same way as Western yachtsmen.
- Leisure is not seen individually, but collectively.
- Modesty is in order, especially in the professional context.
- China's infrastructure is considerably underdeveloped, which hinders the owners and potential owners of superyachts.
- Yachting events are emerging in East and Southeast Asia, but the new elite must get used to this new way of life that is not part of their culture.
To create a boat that is adapted to the Chinese population, Karel Nguyen identified their needs. Thus, the boat will have to have a large galley to emphasize the importance of food in Chinese culture. On board, there should be as many shaded areas as possible and fewer open-air spaces and activities, as the Chinese avoid too much sun exposure. Finally, private and public spaces should be arranged according to the principle of Feng-Shui. However, these characteristics are rarely found in the yachting market.
Karel Nguyen explains that in order to propose a concept adapted to this region, several pieces of information and the climate must also be taken into account. However, there is no particular type of yacht suitable for China.
A catamaran destined to be a real social platform
After studying several types of hulls, Nguyen has positioned himself on a catamaran hull, which offers better stability, very good handling and much more living space on board. Thanks to its 2 diesel-electric propulsion systems and its 4 generators in support, Rén can navigate totally electrically in protected areas and with its diesel-electric propulsion in case of bad weather.
The Rén can accommodate on board 36 people for a dinner and between 70 and 100 people for a reception. On a daily basis, the catamaran will have the capacity for 10 guests and 40 crew members. The "health" deck hosts a relaxation area, a garden and a beach club at the stern. Research areas are installed on the lower deck, with additional cabins, laboratories, offices and a cold room. This space is located close to the tender and nautical equipment. For rescue missions, there is also a drone, helicopter and rescue tenders.
Imagining a fictitious client to design a concept
Rén's fictitious owner would be a married man with two children, aged 34 and named Jasmin (Jiaying). This self-taught billionaire has reached the peak of his career and is now looking to achieve new goals, such as better educating the next generation and helping society. Jasmin believes that yachting can help him achieve his goals. To meet the specifications of "responsible yachting", Rén will be able to enjoy free time with family and friends, organize events, launch maritime research projects to restore local waters and help repair coastal damage during typhoon season.
