The house that Ak built

Vural Ak clearly lives for speed – he has raced in GT3 across Europe, has competed in the Dakar Rally, and owns the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey which plays host to Formula 1. That the story of his latest yacht – an 85 metre explorer called Victorious – spans some 14 years therefore seems a little incongruous, although it is testament not only to Ak’s vision but also his determination. Indeed, he is a perfect example of how the decision to buy a yacht can have a lasting positive impact – he didn’t just build the yacht, he built the shipyard that built it.

“The first boat I owned was an Azimut 103S 15 years ago,” Ak begins, “and I spent the entire first summer on it, enjoying it immensely – it was one of the most unique and exciting times of that summer.” After learning from that experience, Ak moved up to a 50 metre yacht which, he says, was a larger, more luxurious and vastly upgraded experience. “It appealed to my wife and children,” he explains, “and allowed me to host my special guests and friends. Whatever type of boat you may be looking for, there is always a good reason to do that; but for me, privacy and exclusivity are some of the most sought-after privileges in the yachting world.”

The journey of his latest yacht, Victorious, has been long and eventful, even before she was launched in all her glory from the nascent Akyacht yard in 2021. She began life as a 77m hull that was under construction at the Marco Yachts shipyard in Chile, but was bought by serial yacht owner Graeme Hart and taken to New Zealand after the original build hit financial difficulties. In 2016 she was bought by Ak, who struggled to find a yard capable of completing the build so decided to apply his boat-owning experience and set up his own yard in Turkey. That yard, called Akyacht, employs a 400-strong team of engineers, designers, technicians, skilled yachtbuilders and other trades, alongside making opportunities for subcontractors from many varied sectors.

Even so, the Victorious project was somewhat unconventional. “Neither the Akyacht team nor I are new in the yachting industry,” he offers, “so after establishing the yard, starting a build from scratch would have been easiest for us. However, as a contrarian investor I have always been passionate about different projects and ideas. When I first reviewed the project, it instantly felt like love at first sight – she was a gorgeous princess waiting for her prince to come. It took me a minute to decide to take over the project, and I brought the yacht to Turkey without physically seeing her.

“Turkey’s shipbuilding industry has over 40 years of knowledge and expertise, delivering excellence,” Ak continues proudly. “Our craftsmen have a wealth of experience and talent, and as a niche sector yacht manufacturing can find many advantages in our country. Victorious is the result of all these great factors coming together nicely. It was for many involved an invaluable learning experience,” he adds, “and contributed immensely to their professional development.”

The resulting yacht, reconfigured and extended from the original hull Ak bought, is fit for purpose with a host of features that make her perfect for long-distance cruising, from a 200-square-metre beach club in the stern with pool and hammam to 12 suites that accommodate up to 24 guests. Moreover, she boasts an astonishing range of 24,000 miles at seven knots – or 14,000 miles at a more sprightly 13 knots – which is enough to carry guests or charterers pretty much anywhere they desire. And she has certainly been built with serious autonomy in mind – she features refrigerated food storage and freezers to allow for six months at sea even with larger groups or families on board. “In emergencies, larger groups and families can easily live on the open sea without setting foot on land,” Ak says. “And learning from the pandemic, we upgraded one of the cabins to function as an isolation or hospital room, if needed, with added medical equipment – and we built an independent HVAC system for this room and we can easily keep anyone under quarantine in a very comfortable environment.”

Ak says he is looking forward to exploring Chile’s wild southern coasts with its fjords, snow-capped mountains, crystal clear waters and “the freshest of fresh air”.