Bill Duker chats to The Superyacht Owner about his long-awaited 70m Perini Navi build.

How is S/Y Sybaris progressing?

I expect that the boat will be delivered sometime in early to mid August. In the meantime, engineering and interior work are coming to completion and sea trials should begin in April. I am pleased with the high quality of the work, notwithstanding the fact that when delivered, the boat will be almost 15 months late.

How involved have you been along the way?

I’ve just returned from a visit to La Spezia, where the boat is being constructed, and Pisa, where the interior is being manufactured. The captain and first engineer are busy ensuring that the boat is completed according to all specifications, and the purser is making preparations for receiving all owner-supplied materials, including crew uniforms. I expect to visit the boat regularly over the next six months, as will my son, who has been working with me on the boat, along with the interior designers.

Have you recruited the rest of the crew yet?

The captain, engineer, and purser are interviewing additional crew. We expect a second first engineer to be hired by the end of February and a full-time second engineer will be on staff shortly thereafter. I would expect that the full crew will be identified by May, in time for sea trials. 

What aspects of the build process have you most enjoyed?

I have enjoyed the total process of orchestrating what I expect will be an amazing sailboat, working with a design team, a build captain, and staff that are first class. 

You were collecting art for the boat last time we spoke, is the collection finished now – can you tell us more about it?

The collection is not finished and I will not make final decisions about what art goes on the boat until much closer to the interior installment. So far, I have selected a Jean Dubuffet, a Henry Moore, a Lynn Chadwick, a Renoir, and two pieces by contemporary artist, Jacob Hashimoto.

Where will be your first stop once she is launched?

The boat will spend the remainder of the summer of 2016 around Italy and the South of France, followed by a Caribbean season, before embarking upon a circumnavigation sometime in 2017. 

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