The owner of UV II loves music so much that the yacht has a soundproofed room where he can turn up the volume without disturbing anyone. We step aboard at Cannes.
Whether it’s P Diddy in Ibiza, Roberto Cavalli in Cannes, or Ernesto Bertarelli at Christmas in St Barts, hosting star-studded yacht parties has become a guaranteed way for owners and their guests to let their collective hair down. So much so that the music-loving Australian owner of UV II went all out by installing a $1.1 million sound system by Videoworks aboard his 145-footer to throw the mother of all shindigs, anytime, anywhere.
The custom audio system aboard the ISA-built yacht is comparable to those fitted in professional recording studios, says Eugenio Cannarsa of Fraser Yachts, who took me for a tour during the Cannes Yachting Festival. The sound system runs throughout the yacht, inside and out, to deliver an uninterrupted cruising soundtrack.
“The owner’s really into his music and likes to listen at the highest possible definition,” said Cannarsa. “The sound system is so powerful it’s typically only used at 40 percent of the volume.”
Nestled in the space between the master suite and the main salon is the coolest area on board—a self-contained multimedia room that accommodates private retreats into a world of music. With the extra-thick, sound-proofed doors open, the room serves as a corridor. Closed, it becomes a melomaniac’s bolt hole equipped with a two high-definition speaker sound system with sub woofers and a large television screen.
“It’s more sound-proofed than any other area on board, so even when it’s late and his wife is sleeping, he can use this media room without disturbing anyone,” says Cannarsa.
The name UV II references the yacht’s ultraviolet name plate that glows neon pink at night and the 20 underwater hull lights that light up the surrounding waters. The interior, designed by Luca Dini, features backlit wall panels, televisions camouflaged as mirrors, and textured paneled ceilings. “The owner looked at other Dini-designed interiors and was drawn to his paired-back style, but it was UV II’s connection with the outdoors that truly won him over,” says Cannarsa.
The yacht’s sporty exterior has lines penned by Enrico Gobbi and is mated to a sturdy plumb bow. Outdoor spaces for the family include a spacious sundeck with a partially shaded hardtop, raised seating area, a glass-encased plunge pool aft and large alfresco dining area. When the y