Astilleros de Mallorca and Langan Design Partners complete refit of 74m Cocoa Bean
by Barby MacGowan 24 Sep 2020 20:23 NZST
M/Y Cocoa Bean after her three-phase refit © Sean Barber
While marking its 75th anniversary in 2017, Astilleros de Mallorca Shipyard was selected as the shipyard of choice for the refit of the 74m superyacht Cocoa Bean. Chosen for the architecture and design aspect of this ambitious challenge was internationally recognized Langan Design Partners.
"Each element of Cocoa Bean's refit is the result of the close collaboration between Langan Design, the yacht's captain and owner's representative Sean Barber (Hydrodynamics), Astilleros de Mallorca, and the yacht's owners," said Langan Design's Thomas Degrémont. "This close collaboration played an essential role in guiding the design towards the final configuration."
Degrémont added that once Astilleros de Mallorca was awarded the contract for the refit, it leveraged its experience to propose original ideas and approaches to make the refit a success. "Thanks to Langan's high-quality drawings, we have been able to produce construction and development plans and mapped the concerned areas," said Paul-F. Grünig, Project Manager from Astilleros de Mallorca.
Commissioned by her current owner, Cocoa Bean was launched in 2012 at the now closed Trinity Yachts shipyard and was the largest yacht the shipyard had ever built.
Details of the Refit
Cocoa Bean was hauled out in the Astilleros de Mallorca facilities for the first time in 2017. During this initial project phase, the yard installed a new waste treatment plant, built and installed a new custom- designed composite jacuzzi. It also installed an updated crew mess and performed some additional maintenance work.
Phase two of the refit phase, from 2018-2019, saw the installation of a completely redesigned, modern, and functional galley, along with a new extraction system.
The third and most crucial phase of the refit, undertaken from 2019-2020, focused primarily on improving the exterior styling of the yacht.
Driven by the owner's desire to make the profile of the yacht more homogeneous, this latest refit gathered more than 150 professionals who have worked towards the common goal of making the principal's vision a reality. The perfect synergy between all involved parties ensured the essential ingredients for reaching the desired quality and bespoke delivery times.
Cocoa Bean gives an impression of power: she is a large yacht, with a relatively low profile for her length and an impressive 12-meter beam. The changes made during this refit were substantial: the brows on the top and bridge decks were extended, the fashion plates and engine room grills redesigned, the aft bulwark lowered, a new larger flagstaff installed, and trim details added or enhanced.
For each of these changes, the goal was the same: to make the overall design feel more consistent, natural, and in keeping with the impression of power and grace the yacht conveys. These changes were also an opportunity to provide a better experience while on the yacht. The lowered bulwark affords guests on the main deck seating area aft a clearer view of the yacht's surroundings. The service counters integrated into the new air plenums mean less clutter on the aft bridge deck and allow the crew to lay out a buffet while not intruding on the guests socializing and enjoyment of the view.
To further complete the new look, the yacht was entirely re-painted, and the paint scheme updated: the superstructure is a different shade of white, some paint details have changed, and Cocoa Bean now has a new, more modern-looking boot-stripe.
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