lorenzo joseph fertitta yacht

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Billionaire Anchors Two Super-Yachts Off Santa Barbara Coast

Former UFC Owner Brings 285-Foot Ship and ‘Garage’ Ship with Helicopter Pad to Santa Barbara

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Two massive super-yachts appeared in the Santa Barbara Channel last Thursday, drawing awe and questions from beachgoers and residents.

According to Harbormaster Mike Wiltshire, the two offshore vessels are the Lonian — a 285-foot super-yacht built by Feadship of Florida and the Netherlands — and the Hodor , its 216-foot companion ship. Both are owned by billionaire Lorenzo Fertitta, former CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The Lonian was purchased for $160 million in 2018 and can hold up to 12 guests and 27 crew members, including the captain. According to superyachttimes.com , the ship is ranked as the 117th largest super-yacht in the world, and its sister ship, the Hodor serves as a trailing garage, housing the “toys,” which include ATVs, motorcycles, and a helicopter; the ship has its very own helicopter pad.

The ships have led to a number of calls to the Harbor Patrol from Santa Barbara residents, some of whom wondered if the Hodor ’s helipad indicated a military ship.

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Wiltshire said the ships’ captains and crew contacted the Waterfront Department on the evening of Thursday, August 26.

“We provided them with anchor coordinates at that time,” he said. “They have not indicated how long they will be here.”

The two ships were anchored off of Newport Beach a couple of days before their trip to Santa Barbara. Wiltshire said that boats anchoring off the Santa Barbara coast is not unusual, as the department frequently sees large ships requesting to stop by the channel.

“Nothing overly out of the ordinary as we occasionally provide anchor coordinates for vessels too large to moor in the harbor, and they typically shuttle into port using tender boats,” Wiltshire said.

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VIVA: The $250 Million Superyacht Of UFC Owner Frank Fertitta III

From his current position as CEO of Station Casinos to how he – alongside brother Lorenzo and childhood friend Dana White – transformed the UFC into a multi-billion-dollar promotion , there’s virtually endless information about how Frank Fertitta III made his fortune. How he chooses to spend said fortune, however, is a little more mysterious (at least for the fun stuff). One such indulgence we know the elder Fertitta brother has treated himself to is the ultra-luxurious Feadship-built superyacht known as Viva, which comes with an eye-watering price tag of US$175 million / AU$252 million.

Conceptualised by Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture in collaboration with De Voogt Naval Architects, while also showcasing interiors accomplished by Peter Marino, Viva was only completed in the Netherlands last year and delivered shortly thereafter.

RELATED: Inside Lawrence Stroll’s $282 Million Superyacht ‘Faith’

Back to the matter of Viva, it boasts an overall length of 308 feet / 94 metres with a 13.6-metre beam and gross tonnage of 2,999 – making it the 85th largest superyacht in the entire world; seventh largest ever constructed by Feadship – and can comfortably accommodate 14 guests across seven cabins alongside a capable crew of 18.

Viva has been called the “most environmentally-friendly luxury vessel of its kind” due to it featuring a hybrid propulsion system that allows the boat to cruise using diesel-electric power, as well as a waste treatment plant and heat recovering systems.

RELATED: Inside Aussie Rich Lister Ian Malouf’s Stunning €35 Million Superyacht Rebuild

• Formal dining area
• Beauty salon
• Helipad w/ helicopter registered as N702FF (believed to have been chosen for Frank’s initials)

Viva has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure.

The annual running cost of this enviable billionaire’s toy? Over US$17.5 million / AU$25 million. 

Viva was last sighted en route to Martha’s Vineyard by way of Nantucket — but you can check it out for yourself via the Superyacht Times’ video below.

NOTE : As interior photos have yet to be released, the shots embedded are just samples.

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This 285-Foot Feadship Superyacht Has a Glass-Bottomed Pool That Overlooks Its Beach Club

Because why not, rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

This new superyacht line wants you to feel like you’re cruising in a sports car.

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It’s not easy to keep a 285-foot superyacht under wraps for a whole year, but Feadship has managed to do exactly that. The Dutch yard has kept showstopper Lonian hidden since her launch in 2019, but now it’s finally ready to show her off.

The vessel was kept secret at the request of the owners, who wanted to enjoy a full year of private cruising without any publicity. That feat was relatively easy to achieve since the superyacht is packed with everything you could ever want or need, and has been specifically designed for life at sea.

In fact, Lonian spends little time moored in marinas and instead cruises the world with a “flotilla” of toys and tenders, plus a 217-foot support vessel that carries additional equipment and a crew of 22.

Clint Jenkins

With exteriors penned by Sinot , Lonian sports a deep blue hull and dramatic bow, and is surprisingly slimline given her size. She features extensive glass and stainless steel for a decidedly modern feel.

“She has the presence and stance of a beefy motoryacht while retaining an elegant and slender air,” the yard said.

But let’s talk about life onboard. Her knockout feature is an utterly unique glass swimming pool located aft. It has a translucent bottom that doubles as the ceiling of the beach club below and a built-in movie screen integrated into the edge of the pool, because why not?

The pool  Clint Jenkins

Not to be outdone, her automated swim platform on the transom hatch opens and closes like the roof of a convertible car. The teak hatch opens first, and the aft door descends before the hatch closes again, leaving no visible sign of a threshold or door.

Elsewhere, the expansive foredeck on the owner’s deck has a jacuzzi with bespoke cooling and heating functionality. This was specifically requested by the exacting owners, who like relaxing in the chilled plunge pool after a sweat sesh at the bridge deck gym.

Lonian features 22 different openings—platforms, hatches and doors—which creates a seamless outdoor-indoor flow and allows guests to easily access the surrounding waters. If further exploration is required, there’s also an Airbus ACH145 helicopter on board.

The interiors, penned by Sinot and Richard Hallberg Interior Design , remain private, but Feadship did reveal there is a glass elevator to serve all five decks and an epic lounge with full-beam panoramic views. The vessel can sleep a total of 14 guests across seven cabins, including an owner’s stateroom, four generous guest staterooms and two VIP suites. There are also 15 crew cabins and one captain’s cabin.

Check out more photos of the spectacular superyacht below:

The jacuzzi  Clint Jenkins

The Airbus ACH145 helicopter  Clint Jenkins

The swim platform    Clint Jenkins

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Lonian Yacht: An Insider’s Guide

The Lonian Yacht, with an “L”, is a one-of-a-kind luxury yacht built by world-renowned Dutch shipyard Feadship in 2018 with naval architecture by De Voogt Naval Architects. The Lonian features exterior design handled by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, who handled all the interior design alongside Richard Hallberg Interior Design, and they succeeded in making something very unique. 

Arguably the most unique thing you’ll notice about the Lonian if you ever see it docked anywhere is that it’s not alone. It has a support vessel called the Hodor, which measures a staggering 217 feet and features a crew of 22. That’s just the support ship. 

As for Lonian itself, it features a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. The exterior is a deep navy blue, and the entire yacht features liberal use of stainless steel and glass in its design elements. The yacht was also designed with unusual passages and openings that go from the inside to the outside and a dramatic bow. There are 22 openings across the ship to give the vessel a feeling of openness that’s not present on most yachts.

Who is the Lonian Yacht Owner?

Lonian was commissioned by American businessman Lorenzo Fertitta who you might recognize as the former CEO of the UFC. He’s also the former CEO of Station Casinos and a man that likes to have fun if both his work life and his yacht preferences are any indication.

How Big is the Lonian Yacht?

The Lonian is a decent-sized superyacht at a solid 285’4″ in length. Considering her support vessel is also over 200 feet, it’s safe to say a lot of space is being used for fun on board, but we’ll get to some of those details shortly. The Lonian also boasts a volume of 2,691 GT and a beam of just over 45 feet.

How Much Did the Lonian Yacht Cost?

The Lonian came with a $160 million price tag in 2018. It’s believed that the yearly operating costs for the Lonian are between $15 million and $20 million. However, because the Lonian also has the Hodor as a support vessel, that cost will likely be even higher since they’re paying double fuel, extra crew, extra taxes, fees, etc. 

Is the Lonian Available for Yacht Charter?

The Lonian has not been made available for charter. The owner has been very strict about what information he shares and doesn’t share regarding the yacht, including interior details. At the same time, some features have been very public, including a video of the entire construction process. However, the owner requested that the media allow him a year of privacy without people trying to take photos and ask questions.

The result is that we do know a lot about the vessel now, but there are other factors, as we’ll see, that remain secret. Since no one has ever been able to charter the yacht, the whole experience is only known to the owner and his guests. 

How Fast is the Lonian and What Engines Does It Use?

The Lonian is powered by Feadship’s first hybrid diesel and electric propulsion thanks to a pair of MTU 16V4000M73 2560kW engines. This gives the Lonian a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 18 knots. The yacht carries 160,000 liters of fuel on board and has a range of about 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.

What’s the Interior of the Lonian Like?

Several exciting design elements are on board the Lonian, but the swimming pool is one of the most visible and incredible. The pool is positioned 50 cm above deck height and surrounded by a relaxation area and deck with lounge space. But the bottom of the pool is entirely translucent and serves as the ceiling of the beach club on the deck below. The vessel’s cinema is also integrated, as the screen is part of the end of the pool. 

A fully integrated sound system is also part of the cinema and the rest of the yacht’s design. The complex system was a custom job, and designers built a lifesize mockup of the pool section to ensure it would work properly and the pool could work without flooding the vessel.

Guests can arrive via tender when the yacht is at sea and board, thanks to a boom that serves as a gangway to the guest quarters. The telescoping boom attaches from the starboard side to a tender, and guests can hop on and off as they please. Of course, as you can see in the photos, there’s also a helipad on the skydeck for guests who fly in while the boat is at sea.

The boom gangway leads to a pair of VIP staterooms that both have balconies with exterior sliding doors. Elsewhere in the yacht, there are eight more staterooms plus the owner’s deck.

The owner’s deck has a private jacuzzi with a custom heating and cooling system that can turn up the heat to 38 degrees Celsius or even cool it down to a brisk 10 degrees for those extra hot days. A flush foredeck and a skylight allow those inside to enjoy the sun without leaving the comfort of their private suite.

There is room for 12 guests in 4 sizeable double-sized staterooms and the two VIP suites. There are also 15 crew cabins and one captain’s cabin on board to handle 27 crew in total.

The Lonian features the first-ever design from Feadship as well. A transom hatch features a flush swim platform that opens and closes like a convertible car. When the teak hatch opens, the door can drop down to close, and the hatch may close again. 

Tenders can be loaded and unloaded with a crane on the helideck capable of lifting nearly 4 tons. 

Features and Amenities

We’ve already covered several of the vessel’s features, but let’s break down what’s available. The support ship Hodor is where the Lonian stores most of its toys, so we can also include what we know here.

• The large, glass bottom pool with an integrated movie screen is a one of a kind
• Temperature-controlled jacuzzi on the owner’s deck
• A fully equipped bridge deck gym. The chilly jacuzzi temperatures were included with this gym in mind so it could be used as a plunge pool after a workout
• An AW169 helicopter. The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol got calls from concerned citizens when the yachts came into port with the aircraft on deck, as people were afraid it was a military vessel
• Panoramic full-beam views are available from the full-beam main deck lounge
• A glass elevator traverses all five decks for guests to move about the vessel

The list of amenities on the Hodor, which has been described as a floating toy box, is remarkable.

• A submarine garage for a Seamagine Aurora-3 submersible
• A helicopter hangar
• A scuba diving platform with onboard air compressors
• A hospital with decompression chambers
• A 7.3-meter Novurania catamaran RIB
• A nine-meter Metal Shark landing craft
• A 16-meter Hydra-Sports 53 center console sports boat with quad Seven Marine 627 engines
• A Ski Nautique
• A 388 Skater race boat capable of a 150 mph
• Nine jet skis
• Four Yamaha quad bikes
• Two Yamaha side-by-side ATVs
• Four Yamaha TW200 trail motorcycles
• Two Laser dinghies
• One Hobie Cat

The Bottom Line

The motor yacht Lonian is a unique yacht owned by the former owner of the UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta. It was built by Feadship in 2018 and features a Sinot-exclusive yacht design and exterior styling. The vessel measures nearly 286 feet in length. The yacht costs $160 million and likely has a higher upkeep cost than most yachts since it is always accompanied by a massive support vessel called the Hodor. The Hodor acts as the tender garage and toy box for the Lonian and features a more excellent array of toys than any other yacht possibly could because of the space it provides. The Hodor alone requires a crew of 22 to maintain it. 

While many details are known about the Lonian, the owner has never allowed anyone on board to take interior photos, and Feadship has only provided scant interior design details. As a result, while we do know a lot about yachts, we have no idea what it looks like inside.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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Watch: newly refitted 87m Lonian leaves Feadship yard after successful sea trials

Feadship 's 87-metre superyacht Lonian has completed sea trials following a refit period in the Netherlands. Delivered in 2018, the yacht recently left the Dutch yard's facility to enjoy the summer cruising season. 

In a social media post, the yard stated: "She returned to the Netherlands for her five-year warranty check, an extensive repaint and some minor enhancements."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Feadship (@feadship)

At the wishes of her owners, who stipulated the desire for a full year's private cruising without publicity, the shipyard kept the yacht under wraps for more than a year after her launch.

Interest in the yacht had been strong however, evident in a time-lapse video of Lonian 's construction, which received more than five million views on Feadship's YouTube channel. In 2020, the yard released the first images of the yacht. 

On her adventures around the world, in which  Lonian spends as much time away from marinas as possible, the yacht travels with a "flotilla" of toys and tenders, as well as a 66-metre support vessel, which transports more equipment and an additional crew of 22.

Lonian's exterior design, which is characterised by a deep blue hull, plentiful stainless steel and extensive glass, was penned by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design . 

“The result is a Feadship with the presence and stance of a beefy motor yacht which simultaneously retains an elegant and slender air," the yard said.

A total of 22 openings from interior to exterior create an "unrivalled open feel on board," according to Feadship.

One particularly dramatic feature is the swimming pool, the translucent bottom of which doubles as the ceiling of the beach club below. A cinema screen is also integrated into the edge of the pool.

Meanwhile, the transom hatch features a swim platform that opens and closes like the roof of a convertible car, with the teak hatch opening and aft door descending before the hatch closes again.

The large flush foredeck on the dedicated owner's deck features a Jacuzzi which can be heated and cooled to a range of temperatures between 10 and 38 degrees. This feature was specifically requested by the owners, who enjoy using the chilled plunge pool after working out in the bridge deck gym.

Lonian' s helideck accommodates an AW169 helicopter and also features a crane capable of lifting 3.5 tonnes.

The interior of the yacht, which remains private, was created by Sinot in collaboration with Richard Hallberg Interior Design . Accommodation on board is for a total of 14 guests in seven cabins, including the owner's stateroom, four large guest staterooms and two VIPs. The crew quarters consist of 15 crew cabins and one captain's cabin.

While the interior has not been shown, Feadship revealed that it contains a glass elevator serving all five decks and a main deck lounge with panoramic full-beam views.

More about this yacht

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