Lürssen Yachts KISMET: A Masterclass In Shipbuilding Excellence
On 24 April 2024, Lürssen delivered Project JAG, now renamed KISMET, to her delighted Owners. The yacht is the third for this experienced and long-standing Lürssen client, and with their previous becoming an immediate fan favourite, the launch of Project JAG was eagerly anticipated.
Following in the footsteps of such an iconic yacht was always going to be a challenge, but with the technical expertise of the Lürssen shipyard and the distinguished design mastery from Nuvolari Lenard on the exterior and Reymond Langton Design on the interior, the yacht has exceeded all expectations and has embarked on her long-awaited maiden voyage.
“To execute such a comprehensive project, an excellent team is necessary,” says Managing Partner, Peter Lürssen. “We are very proud of KISMET as yet another statement of Lürssen’s ability and desire to build yachts that meet all of our exacting Owners’ requirements, guided by our core focus of expert engineering, beautiful design and being at the forefront in developing sustainable technologies.”
KISMET has a length of 122 metres and just squeezes in under 5,000 GT at 4,918 GT. She represents the pinnacle of engineering with many pioneering features, including an innovative propulsion system that allows for 15 minutes cruising on electrical power alone. She also features a 4.9 x 1.3 metre single pane of glass – by far the largest single piece of structural glazing ever fitted on a yacht’s transom.
Given that this area is an integral part of the hull, regulations typically restrict such windows to a maximum of 60 x 40 centimetres. To overcome this limitation, Lürssen invested a year and a half in rigorous stress and pressure tests with the classification society and manufacturers. This process included dropping steel weights onto the glass to assess its residual strength.
This newly engineered glass plays a significant role in her design, as a great deal of the exterior is either glass windows or the structural steel hull and aluminium superstructure is clad in glass, allowing the design to seamlessly flow from window to structure and back again. In certain areas of the bulwark, particularly the Nemo lounge, the glass has an impressive thickness of 13 centimetre, yet maintains excellent clarity. Another distinctive feature on board is the incorporation of numerous jaguar elements, paying homage to the NFL team based in Jacksonville.
“KISMET sports a striking Art Deco silver jaguar figurehead underneath her bowsprit, as well as an American football on top of the flag mast and on the bow jackstaff. These are indicative of both the interior and exterior design on board, with many features, some
hidden, some in plain sight, coming together to create a totally unique and personal yacht, inspired by the Owners’ favourite people and places,” says Thorsten Göckes, Lürssen Project Manager.
“KISMET was a lovely project for us because it was made for an Owner with considerable technical knowledge and a great passion,” says Carlo Nuvolari of Nuvolari Lenard. “This was important because it allowed us to make proposals knowing that they would be understood from all points of view: functional, stylistic and technical. In all its external details – the stairs, the details, the furnishings – KISMET is a boat rich in shapes and choice of materials.”
An example of this brief to create something exceptional is in the pattern featured on the aft decks and mast. Vertical grooves are made from welded steel and then faired and painted, requiring meticulously precise engineering bordering on artwork.
“The Owner wanted an exceptional design that makes you travel through time and space,” says Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design. “KISMET is not just a yacht or a home, she is a journey where all your passion and senses are challenged. The main idea is that, as the vessel is very large, the Owners and guests should find their way and recognise each area by the design, and they should experience many different journeys. KISMET is a time capsule, from the glorious parties of Versailles under Le Roi Soleil, Louis XIV, in the Gallery des Glasses, to the matinee theatre of the roaring twenties Art Deco Hollywood area.”
Top deck
The multi-purpose top deck, nestled below the mast, is the perfect getaway. There is a large Jacuzzi forward, with a special shallow area, making it safe and accessible for young children. The largest sunbeds on the boat surround the Jacuzzi and double as an outside bed and star-gazing spot on warm nights.
Directly under the mast is a stone-topped dining table which seats 14 guests. Three television screens, a bar, beer fridge, and gas-fired pizza oven ensure this is a social and casual place to relax. There is also an ornate day head in keeping with the rest of the yacht.
At the top of the staircase that leads down to the bridge deck aft is a round overhang, which is set up as a DJ station during parties on the deck below. The large party space is multifunctional and can be turned into a helipad, an outdoor cinema with a projector screen, or another relaxation area with six hammocks and various sunbeds. Shade is provided via removable sun awnings on carbon fibre posts, which have LED lights with inductive power, reducing the need to run cables.
Bridge deck
The bridge deck houses the large, dark leather-clad bridge, equipped with state-of-the- art navigation equipment and paperless technology. The ship’s office and a guest-quality captain’s cabin are located aft of the bridge.
Whilst there is no notable interior guest space on this deck, to service the outside area, there is another large day head. This deck also marks the highest stop for the guest elevator, which features a white leather sofa and a bespoke églomisé artwork by Miriam Ellner on the feature wall.
The guest staircase begins its long, elegant curve down to the lower deck from here. Complementing the staircase's descent is a feature wall and art installation, made up of bronze-coloured pipe light fixtures of varying heights, with Venetian fabric panels behind them, shifting from sky blue to dark green as you descend. In the ceiling above the staircase, there is an infinity mirror with an illuminated crystal display.
Pool deck
This deck is home to an 11-metre mosaic-lined swimming pool. The inside of the pool glitters in a kaleidoscope of blues, with miniature tiles surrounding an artistically styled grey ‘K’. The exterior of the pool has its own mosaic, this time in cream and greys. A large waterfall feature cascades into the pool from the deck above, and there is a fixed reclining section with massage jets and a swim-up bar facing the dining area.
This deck hosts most of the onboard dining and features a Teppanyaki station as well as a barbeque grill. An unusual choice, the main dining table on this deck is at bar height, with fixed barstools, and seats up to 14 guests. LED lights throughout the space ensure everything twinkles, while elegant recessed lighting above the table, along with an embossed curved ceiling design, ties the outdoor guest areas together. Two bars and two big televisions complete the space, creating a relaxed and multifunctional area suitable for anything from fine dining to sports days.
Behind the large curved glass doors is the pool deck lounge, all in white and designed to resemble an Ibiza beach club. Rope-tasselled curtains, ivory limestone floors, walls finished in white leather and ivory rock, and low round sofas create a chic bohemian atmosphere by day that transforms into a multicolour disco at night, thanks to thousands of LED lights and an interactive LED panel dancefloor revealed beneath the white carpet. A large Calacatta marble bar in the centre and a bespoke chandelier ensure the most luxurious beach party vibes.
At the centre of this deck is one of the yacht’s standout features: a large gold and crystal chandelier. Spanning 4.5 metres and suspended through a 3-deck atrium, it ties the guest lobby spaces on each deck together. “This was one of the challenges imposed on us,” explains Pascale Reymond, “how to reproduce the chandeliers from La Galerie des Glaces in Versailles, without having a forest of chandeliers and in a smaller space? The way we executed the main staircase chandelier is the answer: one single, large, elaborate chandelier in a very contemporary space surrounded by mirrors.”
Owner’s office
Forward of the pool deck is the Owner’s office, with private access down to the master suite below. Another unique space on board is the master pantry, a chic room with black
Nero Marquina marble floors and dark Atelier Meriguet embossed leather walls. It includes everything from crystal glasses and champagne in the fridge to a full-service coffee machine and snack cupboard, allowing guests to grab refreshments at their leisure without needing crew assistance.
The office has been designed to be dual-purpose, with convertible sofas that can also be used as an extra guest cabin. It features a full-service bathroom, complete with dual sinks, a bespoke Crystal Caviar Art Deco mirror, and a large shower, all decked out once again in Nero Marquina marble and platinum-coloured leather embossed walls.
The office offers perhaps the best view from the interior, with 180-degree views over the bow and expansive side decks for taking a break outside. There is also a large skylight in the ceiling, which adds even more natural light to the space, reflecting off the many mirror features. The space is masculine and modern, with black and silver tones and high-gloss Dark Macassar Ebony wood features. A custom Silverlining desk on the port side complements the room, and the focal point is the large red L-shaped sofa, from which to enjoy both the scenery and the large TV that drops down from the ceiling.
“This is the core and the brains behind this fabulous yacht,” says Pascale Reymond. “All directed and orchestrated by the Owner from his black, silver, and touch of lipstick-red office. He is very much the director and producer — a Chicago 1930s film director — and his office is the heart of it all.”
Master cabin
The master cabin, located on the deck below, occupies more than half of the interior guest space on this deck. The cabin is opulent and ornate, featuring cream merino wool carpet, high-gloss walnut marquetry, and multiple embroidered Sabina Fay Braxton feature walls. Gold tones are prevalent, seen in everything from furniture hardware to the ornate gilded television surround.
Red and gold curtains provide a signature pop of colour, while a large gas fireplace beneath the television enhances the ambiance. Above the bed, a large skylight serves as one of the room's focal points. It is framed by gold decorative 3D panels with an Art Deco motif, perfect for both natural light and stargazing at night.
Adjacent to the master cabin is a recessed exterior space featuring a Jacuzzi pool, along with ample private sunbathing and dining areas. A TV that folds out to face the Jacuzzi adds to the luxury. Forward on the bow is the touch-and-go helipad, certified for a Eurocopter 155. This area can also be converted into an NBA-certified basketball court and a pickleball court, thanks to removable nets and hoops.
Aft of the master cabin are his-and-hers bathrooms and dressing rooms, both designed in a similar style. Dark Oriental elements, bespoke Crystal Caviar mirrors with floral details, and Silverlining bespoke marquetry walls and sliding door panels create a luxurious sanctuary. Her bathroom features a large bath, with bespoke marble mosaic motifs in ivory onyx, clad in champagne-coloured glass rods from Crystal Caviar, and a bespoke glass wall panel artwork from DKT.
The his-and-hers dressing rooms use many of the same materials to maintain a cohesive environment, including merino wool carpets, antique gold embossed leather wallpaper, and black and gold Oriental Silverlining marquetry.
Main lobby
The master lobby and its adjoining rooms continue the Chanel-meets-Japan design language, exuding a chic, dark, maximalist aesthetic. The three additional rooms in the master suite are a beauty room, a boudoir, and a second guest pantry.
The private beauty room is designed to handle hair, nail, and skincare routines, maintaining the gold and black theme. Sahara Noir polished marble, gold Celine Alexandré ginkgo leaf bespoke wall panels, and champagne gold leaf ceilings create a warm and opulent environment. The boudoir is a feminine and luxurious space, featuring a black shagreen and ebony Macassar vanity table, bespoke embroidered silk wall panels with birds and cherry blossoms, and a massage table next to a floor-to-ceiling window. There is also direct access to the side deck, where another massage table can be set up, allowing relaxation in various settings.
Moving aft returns guests to the main lobby, where they can view the chandelier from a different level as it spans the atrium. The side decks mirror the interior with an exterior atrium effect, featuring three levels of void alongside the windows, flooding the lobby and staircase with natural light. This lobby also boasts a particularly ornate day head, with bronze marble and bronze fluted glass walls, a Crystal Caviar sink, and a Bronze Tramasite door by Based Upon, featuring carved crystal inserts.
KISMET features two double-height video walls, made possible by two atriums and glass floors, spanning from this deck to the main deck below. These video walls, positioned at opposite sides of the saloon entrance, can be individually controlled to display television stations or reflect the outside environment. Centre stage in the saloon is a grand piano designed by Boganyi, a futuristic self-playing piece that draws on automotive design cues. The saloon also includes a large bar with a gold glass and black marble finish, and a convivial sofa arrangement with low tables for intimate evenings among friends and family. An impressively large mirror and glass ceiling feature reflect the soft curves in the design throughout this space.
The lobby and grand entrance make a grandiose first impression, befitting the rest of the yacht. On the other side of the lobby is a custom games table next to a double-height cascading ginkgo leaf sculptural artwork on the wall. The two large video walls start on this level and are even more impressive up close. The formal dining table on the starboard side seats up to 18 guests comfortably and can also serve as a boardroom for business meetings. On the port side is a sculptural gold-coloured bar designed by Based Upon, with the space brought together by polished French limestone floors set in an intricate parquet pattern running throughout the deck.
Perhaps two of the most arresting sights on board are the large floor-to-ceiling ethanol- fuelled fireplaces. Also, in polished French limestone with impressively complex
sculptural details, they flank the entrance to the saloon, creating distinct areas without the need for closed doors. In contrast to the curves elsewhere on board, this area features comfortable sofas and armchairs arranged in a rectangular formation to maximise conviviality and accommodate many guests at once. Above the seating, the ceiling features a Renaissance-style De Gournay fresco, complete with historical and mythical heroes. The ceiling height is an impressive 2.35 metres and is suspended to dampen noise and vibration.
Next to the floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the room are modern display cabinets housing some of the Owner’s favourite wines. The area is flooded with natural light, thanks to additional windows cut into the bulwarks, providing an unobstructed view even when seated. Another bar, dedicated to champagne and matching the larger bar amidships, is also available. Outside on this deck is a circular arrangement of sofas centred around a waterfall fire pit, identical to the one on the deck above, as well as an 85-inch television.
The aft deck dining area is configured for up to 24 guests and can be enclosed by glass sliding panels, with HVAC hot and cold climate control. Two large Crystal Caviar chandeliers contain 15,000 LED lights each, which can be individually controlled to set any mood and interact with the environment by reacting to music. Above one of the chandeliers is a skylight into the pool, creating even more possibilities for light and shapes.
Further aft is a gas-driven fire pit with a waterfall effect, where the fire appears to dance on the water’s surface, surrounded by circular sofas and two Cabana beds that can swivel to face in or out. Two matching bars and two buffets complete the service on this deck, and frameless glass railings help guests enjoy the view of the outside world.
Guest accommodation
The guest accommodation starts on the main deck below, with four stunning guest cabins amidships, each featuring its own unique theme. Drawing inspiration from nature to the Owners’ favourite fashion brands, the suites differ in style but are equal in size.
One cabin boasts bespoke wallpaper with Lalique crystal dahlias and swallows, complemented by a matching Lalique headboard and door handles. Each cabin features a chaise longue tucked in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, along with Avodire Curl high-gloss wood elements. The dressing rooms are spacious for guest cabins, and the ensuite bathrooms all include his-and-hers sinks. Intricate and ornate vanities, along with bold marbles, ensure each room is completely unique. In both cabins and bathrooms, televisions are cleverly hidden behind mirrors, preserving the aesthetic of the design.
The lower deck houses two additional permanent guest cabins, with a third cabin that doubles as a grand massage room when not in use for overnight guests. In total, KISMET has seven cabins, including the master suite, as well as the third flexible cabin on the lower deck and the Owner’s study, which can also convert into guest accommodation, allowing the yacht to sleep up to 18 guests in total.
Lower deck
The lower deck’s primary purpose is as a full-service wellness centre. It features a complete Technogym, a dive store, a yoga lounge and juice bar, a relaxation room with lounging chairs and a waterfall shower, a bathtub for mud baths, a massage and reflexology area, a firepit, a dry ice room, a plunge pool with a waterfall, a sauna, a hammam, a shaving station, an ice and snow room, and a cryogenic chamber with a temperature that drops to -85 degrees Celsius.
The spa is themed around a Balinese sanctuary, with elements such as a gold Buddha statue, decorative glass with green reeds, and stone walls featuring recessed planters and faux plants that resemble a tropical forest. The guest beauty salon is a feminine, bijou room set within the natural, earthy ambiance of the spa. Stunning embroidered wisteria wallpaper, purple crystal borders around the large mirror, and backlit white onyx and bronze finishes make the room resemble a jewellery box.
The equally aesthetically pleasing gym features teak floors and walls, built-in LED screens, and top-of-the-range Technogym equipment. It is located in front of the starboard opening balcony door, allowing guests to exercise in the open air if they choose or close it off to enjoy the AC.
Proceeding forward takes you through the “Tron” corridor—a futuristic guest passage through the engine room via a glass walkway. Guests can observe the yacht’s inner workings as they pass through blue and white LED strips displaying technical data against a backdrop of black leather and marble.
At the end of the corridor is the Nemo lobby, the final guest area on board, which leads to the Nemo room—a dual-purpose observation and cinema room. Art Deco in style, with peacock blue and gold accents, the room features generous cinema lounge chairs facing three large windows that descend about one metre below the waterline. These 2.85-meter-long windows allow guests to view the sea life below, with bench seating up against the window for a closer look. From the ceiling, a 160-inch TV screen descends, transforming the space into a luxurious private cinema, complete with a bespoke popcorn station in the lobby outside.
“KISMET is our third yacht for the Owner and has so far been our greatest challenge and achievement, as we were not allowed to rest on our past design successes. The Owner wanted something entirely different and more avant-garde, yet still timeless,” says Pascale Reymond. “KISMET is truly a masterpiece, a cathedral of design where many concepts, ideas, and a sense of history come together beautifully in harmony. This is the way to summarise KISMET: a floating land of contrast.”
Crew, tenders and performance
In terms of crew spaces, KISMET is generously appointed with a class-leading crew mess and galley, along with well-thought-out cabins for a crew of up to 37. Tender storage is located forward on the main deck and houses an 11.2-meter Hodgson limo
tender, an 11.8-meter Naiad for 16 guests, an 8.24-meter Riva, and a 6.3-meter Fassmer. Toys stored here include Jet Skis, Seabobs, e-foils, a slide, and a large floating platform. Additionally, there is a full dive storage room located aft of the spa.
“KISMET has a sporty and fluid character that conceals a very voluminous interior and abundant natural light, thanks to hull windows among the largest ever built,” says Carlo Nuvolari. “The mast, with its unmistakable and sporty lines, is a design element on which we have spent a lot of time. It makes the yacht recognizable even from a great distance. Now that we see the completed yacht, we at Nuvolari Lenard, who are familiar with every detail, are still impressed by the result.”
KISMET can cruise at speeds of up to 18 knots thanks to her diesel engines, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots. The yacht features a Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion Concept developed by Lürssen’s own engineering specialists. This concept combines diesel propulsion technology with modern electric propulsion systems. KISMET’s system includes two diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers through individual gearboxes. These gearboxes are equipped with PTI/PTO units, allowing for either diesel-electric propulsion at slow speeds or generating electrical energy to operate the vessel at higher speeds.
Additionally, KISMET can cruise for up to 15 minutes on electrical power alone. “During discussions with the Owner, the initial plan for the propulsion evolved from merely having a state-of-the-art engine room to the desire for the yacht to operate solely on batteries,” says Thorsten Göckes. “None of our previous yachts had this fully electric propulsion capability. It’s a completely new arrangement.” The yacht also utilises the shipyard’s proven heat recovery system, though integrating everything into this new setup was another first for the shipyard.