11 Fascinating Facts About Tankoa’s Library-Quiet 169-Foot Project Secret

Tankoa Yachts is having a moment. The 169-footer, currently under construction, is listed through Edmiston for $42 million. That includes an unusually fast delivery time of 2025, even more noteworthy considering the option to fully customize is included.

Project Secret was originally commissioned by a private owner who has since walked away from the build. Before he pulled out, he made several design stipulations, including enlisting FM Architettura for the interior and mandating a beach-house aesthetic. The exterior design is spearheaded by Philippe Briand and hails from his Vitruvius collection. Other yachts within the Vitruvius series include 217-foot Alchemy delivered by Rossinavi in 2023 and 180-foot explorer yacht Galileo G.

Tankoa is best known for its semi-custom cruisers, such as the 164-foot Grey, the fifth hull in its S501 series, which Robb Report toured last summer. It also has experience with hybrid yachts that use about 59 per cent less than conventional pure-diesel engine alternatives. Project Secret’s hybrid system powers the hotel load for up to 8.5 hours, with only a 60-minute charging period before it’s ready to go again.

Willem van Cappellen, a specialist in yacht acoustics, was brought into the project to manage the internal acoustics and vibrations to meet the owner’s strict requirements to accentuate the “sounds of the sea”—in other words, nothing above 40 decibels, or the sound of a library. When sailing, noise levels of around 80 decibels require guests to speak loudly. Anything above 90 decibels means shouting. When Project Secret eventually sets sail, according to the builder, the only audible soundtrack will be lapping waves and an ocean sea breeze.

The design plan called for a calming beach house aesthetic. Francesca Muzio and her team at Italian firm FM Architettura answered with an interior where bare woods and soft textured fabrics give a coastal-inspired décor. One of the most striking elements in the main salon is the floating staircase on the main deck that is more artwork than structure, set against a backlit screen.

Project Secret’s beach club is a key feature of the overall design. It includes a wellness area with an infrared sauna, sunbeds and a seaside dipping pool on the swim platform. A pair of fold-down bulwarks extend the waterside relaxation. The large gym is also accessed from here via sliding tinted glass doors.