The Musashi superyacht’s samurai connection

Ellison is known for his love of ultra-luxurious yachts and he has owned several of them over the years, including the 58-metre Ronin, the 75-metre Katana and the gigantic 138-metre Rising Sun. Astute readers might have noticed that all the luxury vessels mentioned have names directly linked to feudal-era Japan.

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The Musashi superyacht is no different and is named after Miyamoto Musashi – one of the greatest samurai in Japanese history. Born in the 16th century, Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer and ronin. He became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in 61 duels. He even received the title kensei, Japanese for “sword saint”.

Ellison’s passion for Japanese culture and samurai legends is evident from his choice of name.

Designed to reflect minimalist Japanese style

The luxury superyacht was launched in 2011 by Feadship’s Koninklijke De Vries yard in Makkum, the Netherlands. It is estimated to be worth a whopping US$160 million. With a length of 88 metres, Musashi was the largest yacht built by Feadship at the time and was also the second hull from the builder’s XL range.

The vessel’s stunning exterior and interior designs are both by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, created in close collaboration with Feadship and De Voogt Naval Architects.

According to a report by Boat International, Sinot described the vessel’s design as: “Subtle but unconquerable, with clear lines but many concealed elements, with an open structure, but closed where necessary; [she is] entirely inspired by Musashi’s character.” The Japanese influence is visible, especially in the superyacht’s clean exterior lines.

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Musashi can accommodate up to 18 guests and requires a crew of 23 people to operate. The interior design is a combination of elements taken from Japanese design and art deco. Everything from the furniture to the materials used, and even the numerous artworks and sculptures that decorate the vessel’s interior, reflect Japanese aesthetics. There’s a Hiroshi Senju painting of a waterfall in the upper saloon illuminated by custom lighting, while other areas, such as the spa, are also designed in a traditional Japanese fashion.

The five-deck layout of the superyacht is also quite unconventional. The lower deck is taken up by technical spaces and crew areas, with the gym and spa where the tender garage would typically be placed. The tenders, meanwhile, are kept in an area on the main deck that turns into a giant beach club when they are deployed.

Another highlight of the Musashi superyacht is the convertible cinema on the main deck that doubles as a cosy lounge area. The main deck also houses the guest cabins. Half of the entire upper deck is dedicated to one of the master suites. Equally stunning is the central glass lift with a stainless steel and glass staircase that wraps around it and snakes on through every deck of the yacht.

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Ellison’s massive superyacht is powered by four MTU diesel engines that enable it to attain a top speed of 21 knots and have a cruising speed of 18 knots. The vessel has a maximum range of 6,000 nautical miles.