CAKEWALK

Possibly the highlight of 2010, in the US and internationally, was the launch of Cakewalk from Derecktor Shipyards, located in Connecticut. The 281ft superyacht is the largest luxury yacht built in the US since the 1930s, and at 2,950 tons possibly the biggest ever built in the US when measured by volume. Cakewalk is the result of collaboration between Derecktor, Azure Naval Architects of Holland, exterior designer Tim Heywood and interior designer Liz Dalton. She features a total of six decks, with the owners' and guests' accommodations representing half of that space, and swimming platform aft. What differentiates this yacht is the unique placement of the guest and owner quarters – all located above deck and crowned with stately picture windows for glorious views of sea and sky. Derecktor was selected for the CAKEWALK project due to the shipyard's more than 60 years of experience in both recreational and commercial shipbuilding. "For an owner that earned his money in America, this project is as much an assertion of his belief in his country as it is a call for others to build here," said CAKEWALK's Captain Bill Zinser. "The owner believes in American ingenuity and its ability to overcome whatever challenges we face. His faith in America and the yard's determination to live up to that belief are proving that it can be done." Tim Heywood, principle yacht designer for the CAKEWALK project, says, "I am really pleased with the work Derecktor have produced – it is as good as any other yacht builder in the world."

The scope of the Cakewalk project inspired an exciting new concept for a yacht of similar majestic size: the Derecktor 86M (282ft), incorporating elegant exterior styling and an innovative general arrangement by Rainsford Mann Design Ltd.

www.derecktor.com