At first glance, you probably think that the alien invasion finally began. But, this is Tetrahedron – the new creation from designer Jonathan Schwinge, who’s hell-bent on reinventing the superyacht. London-based architect and designer has conceived the this yacht by the rethinking the usual structure and propulsion of modern water craft as a radically simple sequence of planes, which form an enclosed unit.
Tetrahedron Superyacht
Taking its name from the geometric shape, the Tetrahedron Super Yacht is a floating pyramid that appears to have landed from outer space, merging the aviation and maritime worlds. The futuristic vessel ‘levitates’ thanks to a vertical strut attached to a submerged torpedo-shaped hull, but it retains all of the luxuries one would expect on a multimillion-pound ship, such as spacious sun decks, an outdoor dining area, water toys and a set of retractable stairs into the sea.
Made from carbon fibre and duplex stainless steel, Tetrahedron Superyacht can accommodate six passengers and four crew members in a 70.8-ft long pyramid that has four faces and six leading edges. It has a ‘flying speed’ of 38 knots (43.7mph) above the water line and a take-off speed of 15 knots (17.2mph), with a range of 3,000 nautical miles.
Tetrahedron Superyacht
Thanks to a unique design that controls roll forces, pitch and heave, the yacht would travel smoothly through rough water, said Schwinge. At low speed the yacht sits gently on three underbelly hulls and at high speed the pyramid rises from the water as the hydrofoils rotate on the submerged HYSWAS (hydrofoil small waterplane area ship) hull.
“The result is futuristic, exciting and totaly unconventional flying superyacht which seems to have captured the imagination,” Schwinge says.
Tetrahedron Superyacht
