For The Love of a Woman: For centuries yachtsmen
came to Savannah and found romance

By Diane M. Byrne
Photography by Robert Holland

The tradition continues with Intermarine's Mia Elise.

As often happens in port cities, countless seamen visiting Savannah, Georgia, have fallen in love with young ladies residing there.. One notable woman was Florence Martus, born in 1869 into the family of the lighthouse keeper. A young sailor promised to take her hand in marriage upon returning from one last trip, and Martus in turn promised to wait for him outside the lighthouse. For many years whenever a ship would pass, Martus would stand outside, waving her apron in welcome and anticipation. Years passed, but the sailor never returned. While he might have forgotten about Martus, no one else did: A statue known as the waving Girl was erected in her honor on the waterfront, and many vessels still sound their horns in greeting on passing the old lighthouse, as her ghost reportedly stands outside on occasion.

While he hasn't seen Martus yet, the American who owns the 136-foot Mia Elise can certainly attest to Savannah's powerful influence. An avid yachtsman, he was a newlywed when he teamed up with Intermarine Yachting in the famous Georgia city for his next project. The result is a yacht that reflects his fondness for both the cruising lifestyle and his wife, a newcomer to yachting, as well as the yard's commitment to building for the private sector.

Intermarine USA was established 13 years ago to design and construct high-tech, fiberglass-reinforced mine hunters for the U.S. Navy. (A division of the $25-billion Italian conglomerate Compart, Intermarine also has three facilities in Italy.) In 1994 the 21 -acre yard began diversifying into new yacht construction as well as refit and repair work, reasoning that the market was ripe for its expertise-and especially for its climate-controlled paint and repair shed and five-axis router. Today about 90 percent of its projects are yachts. It has several on-site shops for constructing hulls (which typically have solid bottoms and coring above the waterline), fabricating metal components, performing electrical work, and crafting woodwork (although the yard does subcontract some joinery).

Mia Elise showcases a handful of examples of this expertise. According to Thom Conboy, vice president of sales and new yacht construction, the yard used little fairing compound on the hull and superstructure, which, thanks to Luiz deBasto of Paragon Design, beautifully combines straight and curved lines. While the metal shop mostly constructs components for military projects, it also created Mia Elise's three-tier aluminum radar mast. Craftsmen ensured all machinery in the engine room would be easy to reach for monitoring and servicing by constructing an enormous
area more customary of larger megayachts. And Intermarine worked to keep vibration and noise to a minimum, consulting with the Dutch firm Van Cappellen and applying its own experience from building mine hunters. The heads are used as buffers along the forward engine-room bulkhead, and all tanks are integral with the hull (which also reduces chances of corrosion).

This technical acumen provides the perfect framework for Mia Elise's exquisite interior. Marc Michaels Interior Design, which conceived beautiful decors for the owner's previous yacht, the 112-foot Bellisima, had one primary directive: Use dark wood. The team used dark-stained Honduras mahogany as both a backdrop for and element in a sophisticated overall arrangement ideal for husband-and-wife getaways or large-scale entertaining. Eucalyptus burl, Honduras crotch mahogany, and brushed stainless steel accents, as well as silk upholstery and, in some areas, silk headliners complete the atmosphere.

Not only is the tonal contrast between the woods and metal striking, the way the wood curves is as well. Large sections are fluted, twisting and bending in ways you've likely never seen onboard a yacht. The most dramatic example is in the foyer to starboard on the main deck. A spiral stairway with curved railing made of both brushed and polished stainless steel flows up to the flying bridge and down to the accommodations level. Its fluted mahogany and a mirrored panel alongside it essentially turn the stairway into a work of art-fitting, since the foyer doubles as an art gallery.

Another curved mahogany wall lies between the saloon and dining area; while not a full-beam partition (it extends a little more than halfway along Mia Elise's 28-foot beam), the wall separates the two rooms. Tapered mahogany columns that feature criss-cross stainless steel accents stand alongside it, and drawn-back curtains in the entryway as well as a circular table for 10 create drama in the dining area. The other main indoor gathering space, the sky lounge, continues the wood theme, especially noticeable on the wetbar. But it also introduces a fun element to the mix: animal prints employed tastefully in the upholstery and carpeting. It's easy to imagine the couple holding court with friends and family here.

Speaking of holding court, the full-beam master suite, fully forward on the main deck, certainly treats the couple as the lord and lady of this floating manor. An entryway has abundant closet space to port and windows to starboard that give it a roomier feel. The eye-catcher in the bedroom area is a three-tier, radiused crown above the bed. Beautiful marble (one of five kinds used) as well as a fluted, silver-leafed, barrel-vaulted overhead treatment are among the highlights in the bath.

Guests are well treated, too, with various marbles and mahogany furnishings with stainless steel accents in their staterooms amidship on the lower deck; stainless steel hardware created by famous modernist designer Philippe Stark adorns the doors. Guests can choose among a VIP stateroom and two full bed staterooms, while one twin-bed stateroom is reserved for the kids. In each, the bed wall is comprised of mahogany and set away from the hull, silk covers bulkheads and overheads, and marble adorns the en suite baths. Should the entertainment systems not provide enough diversion, guests need only walk a few paces down the hallway to the gym, equipped with a steam room. The door to the gym incorporates a plasma screen that, when electrically activated, becomes opaque to provide privacy; left alone, it's clear, adding depth to the hallway.

The diversions continue topside, as the flying bridge of Mia Elise is reserved purely for outdoor entertainment. Instead of a second helm forward, there's a C-shape settee and table arrangement that the owners plan to put to good use in the coming months. More settees line the starboard side, and the lack of tender stowage aft Gocated instead on the main deck, along with gantry cranes) permit large sunpads to occupy the space. Amidship, there's the perennial "must" of megayachts, a hot tub, along with a barbecue and wetbar with three barstools. A dumbwaiter ensures no one has to leave the relaxing waters of the hot tub to enjoy snacks whipped up below deck.

With a new yacht, a world of cruising opportunities to introduce to his wife, and a new family-twins were born last year the owner has challenges ahead, but he's more than happy to rise to them. Intermarine is as well, though its tasks are -considerably more complex: completing the 1,000 feet or so of yachts under construction, an on-site marina to encourage more vessels to come for refit and repair, and a 250-foot cover for its graving dock to offer yachts protection from tropical storms.

Happiness. Attraction. Protection. Sounds an awful lot like love.

Intermarine Yachting 9 (954) 764-4600. Fax: (954) 7644619.