Project Fox: Further details of 35m Pendennis explorer revealed

Designed as a compact explorer to take adventurous owners off the beaten path, 35 metre Project Fox is on track to meet her slated delivery of spring 2023.

The next stage of construction, which is due to kick off imminently, will be the installation of bulkheads and technical equipment. Fairing and other exterior work will begin shortly and will be completed by the end of summer 2022.

Project Fox will have impressive capacity for tenders and toys

With interior and exterior styling from Q London, Project Fox will “represent the very best of British engineering and interior design,” according to Falmouth’s Pendennis.

Key features of the 295-GT motor yacht include an expansive 103.5 square metre open aft deck capable of storing a pair of 7.5-metre tenders, plus the option of submersibles, Jet Skis and any other gadgets and toys the owners fancy. The yacht does not have an ice-class hull but as Burgess broker Ian Sherwood pointed out “it’ll take you on some pretty wild and wacky adventures.”

The yacht's interior is cool and calm

“You don’t have to spend an 80 metre budget to have a yacht that will take you interesting places.” said Sherwood. “[Project Fox] is not only a platform that’s going to take you to those destinations, it’s the platform that’s going to facilitate your enjoyment when you get there. Whether you want to carry a sub or two big tenders, whether you’re into diving - the boat can be configured to suit the passion and the sense of adventure that the client has.”

The lower deck master suite cabin on Project Fox

Q London has focused on creating a pared back and neutral interior that will appeal to a range of potential owners.  The plan is to focus on “clean lines on the outside of the boat to run through the interior, which then allows any client to come on board with any artwork, soft furnishings, light fittings and ultimately create a personal stamp themselves,” explained James Ratcliffe, managing partner of Q London.

Underfoot, the yacht will have Chevron oak flooring on the interior and a unique teak substitute on the exterior decks. The brand is Tesumo, and it has almost all of the same properties as real teak without the environmental footprint.

The skylounge can function as an office, games room or additional saloon.

Accommodation is offered for eight guests in four en suite cabins, with two double-twin convertibles and two full-beam master suites. The team discussed the option to split the lower master deck into two cabins to take advantage of the yacht’s 7.7 metre beam but they believe the chosen layout will maximise the yacht’s charter potential.

Other crowd-pleasing features include a DJ station, glass-walled sky lounge and a dedicated wine fridge.

Construction continues at Pendennis

The construction of Project Fox comes at a busy time for the Cornish yard, which is best known for its work on refits, rebuilds and conversions. There are currently seven other projects taking place in Falmouth, and two of those are on fellow explorers.

The hull of Project Fox arrived in Falmouth for outfitting after the hot works were already completed, a process that the Pendennis team is no stranger to. Pendennis-built Hemisphere, the world’s largest catamaran, also started life elsewhere and the yard’s Hoek-designed hulls are built by specialists in Holland and shipped over to Falmouth as shells.

“That’s actually exactly what happened with this boat,” said Pendennis project manager Dave Williams. “There was nothing but a steel hull and […] we’ve made quite significant changes in the way it looks and the build, the quality, the systems are considerably different.”

The master suite on Project Fox

While Pendennis is acquainted with inherited projects, the yard isn’t typically one to build on speculation. However, the current owner of Project Fox hasn’t parted ways with his project entirely.

“If the yacht is not sold, it will be lovingly built to delivery and the owner will be on it in 54 weeks from now.” Noted Sherwood. “It’s not a boat that’s going to be built to a point and paused, it’s being built to be delivered, we’d just like it to be with a new owner.”

Project Fox will be exploring new horizons soon

The various applications of the yacht are being carefully considered by the design team. Project Fox might one day be a charter fleet favourite, a loyal support vessel or a diligent scientific research boat. Ultimately though, her team thinks she’ll suit a younger buyer with a family looking to take their first leap into yachting.

Sources:boatinternational.com

Photo:Katia Damborsky