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 BBS : El Jefe
 USA : Tuscan Sun
USA : Polar Star
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 PYF : Tribu
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no reproduction without the permission of the photographer |
| Shipyard : | Blohm & Voss, DEU  | Length : | 244.45 ft / 74.50 m | | Hull ID : | -- | Beam : | 36.70 ft / 11.20 m | | Year : | 1991 | Draught : | 10.50 ft / 3.20 m |
| Refit : | 1999 / 2001 | | Naval Architect : | Blohm & Voss / M. Francis | | Stylist : | Martin Francis | | Decorator : | F. Zuretti / L. Seccombe | | Engine : | 2x 3728kW Deutz MWM BV 16M628 diesels / 1x 13795kW GE LM1600 gas turbine |
| Speed (max.) : | 35 | Range (Nm): | 3,900 | | Speed (cruise) : | 18 | Hull / Superstr. : | steel / composite | | Guests : | 12 | Fuel (Ltr) : | 238,000 | | Crew : | 21 | Water (Ltr) : | 37,000 |
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Comments
By Simon, a French spotter.
Katana is actually one of the most original yachts, designed by Martin Francis and built in 1991 by Blohm & Voss for the Mexican magnate Emilio Azcarraga as ECO. In 1998, she was bought by American Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle. Passionate about Japanese design and life he renamed her Katana - the name of a Samurai?s long curved sword and changed the interior design so that throughout the yacht a traditional Japanese inspired theme prevails. This billionaire had previously owned Sakura (today October Rose) and currently also owns the Norman Foster designed and L?rssen built Ronin (ex. Izanami) and the racing sloop, Sayonnara.
Following the yachts acquisition two upgrades have followed both done at Lürssen and both overseen by Martin Francis. The original aft deck had been designed to accommodate a seaplane and two tenders. In the place of this there is now a half sized basketball court and the main deck was lowered to provide an outside dining area, gym and bathing platform. This aggressive design never ceases to surprise and has many innovative and distinctive features including her convex windows. She was designed for transoceanic cruising at 12knots and has a top speed in excess of 30 knots when her additional gas turbine is engaged.
Access on board is possible by the permanent bathing platform and gangway with a wide staircase, aft on the large stern. When on board, there is a large teak area used to hold both main tenders - Novurania 6.4m Equators with Mercruiser 220 hp engines. When the tenders are launched with the help of two 3t cranes, this area converts to the half sized basketball court. The main deck contains first a glass-walled gymnasium, which is equipped with various sport equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, rowing machine) ; a hall on the starboard side, a store on the port side ; then a guest saloon with piano and flat screen TV ; a VIP suite with his and hers bathrooms and a sitting area, and access for different areas of the yacht (engines room, lower and upper deck...). Forward on this deck, a long corridor leads to the four other guest cabins and to the wheelhouse (plus a radio room and a chart room), designed with a teak floor. On the bow of the deck are stored
two Yamaha GP 760 Waverunners, their crane for launching and storage for the
different toys (fishing and diving equipment, water-skis, 20? water
trampoline, biscuits, 4 sea kayaks, sailboards?).
The upper deck contains a saloon (aft) ; a pantry (microwave, refrigerator, ice maker, toaster, dishwasher, coffee maker...); a 3-person lift from the lower deck galley, to the main deck crew entrance, to upper deck pantry ; a lounge bar ; W.C ; study, which can be used as a staff cabin and the owner?s stateroom. This is composed of two bathrooms, a dressing room and the bedroom which also
contains a sitting area and the bed in front of a 50? Pioneer flat screen TV. From this room, there is a view of 180? and an opening permits access on to the private terrace situated above the wheelhouse. On the aft outside deck, couches and two large tables are covered with a tilt. This dining area can easily accommodate up 16 people.
On the sundeck, we find a large outdoor terrace also covered with a tilt as protection against the sun which comprises a solarium with huge mattress, stairs that descend to the upper deck and a small round table. This area is overlooked by the windows of the first room on this deck, furnished with a long table surrounded by a ?U? shaped bench and a sitting area, then a pantry/hall with staircases opens into the third saloon, the panoramic saloon equipped with benches and easy chairs. From this room, there is access to a long teak balcony which accommodates on the port side a Jacuzzi and on the starboard side, outside seating with a table and a ?U? shaped bench to take breakfast or lunch. The owner can close guest access to
the sun deck at the entrance to his suite, to create a two-level apartment.
Finally, the lower deck contains the engine room (where the temperature is 40?C), the engine control room, the work shop, the cold store, the main galley with a patisserie (amid ships), a bathing platform on the port side, crew galley and mess, laundry, captain?s cabin and study, the nine other crew cabins and the crew lounge.
In 2000, during Cowes Week, Katana was used as tender to Sayonnara, Ellison?s racing sloop, and in 2003, the yacht was in Auckland, New Zealand, for the America?s Cup races as Ellison both sponsored and crewed Oracle. In 2005, the yacht was sold again. Her new owner renamed her Enigma. |
Spotters Log
| REPORT DATE | HARBOUR | LOCATION | ABOUT | | 04/29/2009 | Port du Chateau | Brest, France | -- | | 08/21/2008 | Psarou | Mykonos, Greece  | anchored | | 08/01/2008 | Off Eden Roc | Cap d'Antibes, France | anchored | | 07/28/2008 | Marina di Portofino | Portofino, Italy  | anchored | | 04/27/2008 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca  | -- | | 03/21/2008 | Shipyards in Palma | Palma, Mallorca | at STP | | 02/29/2008 | Shipyards in Palma | Palma, Mallorca | at STP | | 10/18/2007 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 09/06/2007 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 08/17/2007 | Faliro Marina | Athens, Greece | -- | | 06/21/2007 | Venice Yacht Pier | Venice, Italy | -- | | 06/07/2007 | Venice Yacht Pier | Venice, Italy | -- | | 04/20/2007 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 03/26/2007 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 02/22/2007 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 11/11/2006 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 10/05/2006 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 09/09/2006 | Club de Mar | Palma, Mallorca | -- | | 09/04/2006 | Grand Harbour | Valletta, Malta  | -- | | 08/19/2006 | Faliro Marina | Athens, Greece | -- | | 08/14/2006 | Andros Hora Port | Andros, Greece | -- | | 08/12/2006 | Faliro Marina | Athens, Greece | -- | | 08/10/2006 | Grand Harbour | Valletta, Malta | -- | | 08/02/2006 | Port Hercule | Monaco, Monaco  | -- | | 07/15/2006 | Puerto Banus | Marbella, Spain | -- | | 07/12/2006 | Playa de las Isletas | Formentera, Balearic Islands | anchored | | 06/21/2006 | Marina Molo Luise | Naples, Italy | -- | | 05/15/2006 | Port de St. Jean | St. Jean Cap Ferrat, France | anchored | | 03/14/2006 | Marina Port Vell | Barcelona, Spain | at Espanya |
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