Burgess
Planet Nine is built for long-range cruising and epic heli-skiing adventures. As such, the 240-foot yacht, owned by billionaire financier Nathaniel “Nat” Rothschild, began life at commercial shipyard Cantiere San Marco in La Spezia, with the purpose of gaining an all-weather hull. Following a legal dispute, Project Nato, as it was then known, was moved to Admiral Yachts in 2016 where the build was completed.
The yacht’s trademark wing stations and mast structures, penned by Tim Heywood, are balanced by a super-sized helipad on the aft deck, which doubles as a basketball court. A forward jacuzzi and bank of sun pads on the sundeck is where guests gather when cruising into port.
Built for more than just posing however, the yacht’s credentials include a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles when cruising at 14 knots. Planet Nine can carry 340,000 liters of fuel, 9,000 liters of aviation fuel for the helicopter, and 40,000 liters of freshwater with the capability of making an additional 18,000 liters per day. How many liters of wine from the Rothschilds’ top Bordeaux estates are kept on board remains a mystery.
Here are 11 facts you didn’t know about one of the world’s foremost heli-skiing explorer yachts.
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Rockstar Design
Image Credit: Burgess Planet Nine’s explorer exterior was designed by renowned British designer Tim Heywood. The interior is the work of London-based studio Mlinaric, Henry, and Zervudachi (MHZ), which has worked on several of Rothschild’s private residences. Much of the furniture is built by German luxury outfitter Fitz Interior, which built each space at its factory for a walk-through before the whole interior was dismantled and shipped to Italy.
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Ice, Ice Baby
Image Credit: Burgess The yacht’s hull is ice-classified 1D by Lloyd’s (suitable for light ice conditions) and has thick hull plates, strong frames, and bulkheads. Rothschild stipulated a hull that could withstand six-inch thick ice and the frigid temperatures found in high latitudes to facilitate his love of heli-skiing in Greenland and Antarctica. Aptly, it was Heywood’s design of explorer yacht Ice that brought the British designer to Rothschild’s attention.
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Blade Runner
Image Credit: Burgess The upper deck main lounge doubles as a waiting area for air transfers, with views straight onto the aft deck helipad. The full-beam landing area accommodates the yacht’s eight-seater MD600 explorer helicopter—the same model that saved Bond’s life in Die Another Day. In true Bond style, the helipad is linked to a hydraulic lift system that can lower the aircraft to a hangar below the deck. When the primary aircraft is safely stored in the hangar, a second helicopter can be accommodated on deck.
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Condominium at Sea
Image Credit: Burgess Planet Nine accommodates 16 guests (though only 12 on charter) and features an entire owner’s deck. The private, 3,000-square-foot owner’s apartment has a full suite, dressing rooms, lounge, study, and private terrace. The ensuite has a full-sized marble bath. Oh, and there’s even a private owner’s foyer.
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The Bibliophiles
Image Credit: Burgess It’s not surprising that an Eton and Oxford graduate would enjoy an onboard library, though to include one in the owner’s suite is downright lavish. A second, much larger library that wraps around two walls is found in the main deck lounge, while a third mini-library is in the upper deck lounge.
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Triple the Value
Image Credit: Burgess Planet Nine enjoys not one but three VIP guest suites. The main deck VIP suite is separated from the library by a pair of sliding doors, making it the perfect choice for guests who enjoy a bedtime read. The second is on the bridge deck, with access to the large aft deck. The third is on the lower deck with a private lounge that can convert into an additional guest cabin transforming it into a family suite.
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Sweet Dreams
Image Credit: Burgess The lower guest deck includes its own entrance and lobby at the stern of the yacht that leads to five double suites. Guests have free run of this level, largely because the engine room is located on the tank deck below. A mixture of American elm, tropical olive wood, and wacapou is used to differentiate the cabins, while the doors are covered in different shades of Garrett leather to help guests locate their cabin along the long corridor.
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Elevator Pitch
Image Credit: Burgess Two elevators serve all five levels—lower to sun deck—one taking guests from the beach club jet skis to the top deck Jacuzzi at the press of a button, and the second used by the yacht’s 20 crew, allowing for swift service from the galley.
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Glass Onboard
Image Credit: Burgess A forward observation lounge on the upper deck is where guests can soak up panoramic 180-degree views thanks to a bank of floor-to-ceiling glass windows that wrap around three sides. Glass features large across the yacht, including tinted glass paneling in the guest cabin en suites in place of traditional marble.
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Main Deck Movies
Image Credit: Burgess A surround sound cinema lives below the observation room, bringing subterranean glamour to the main deck. Midnight blue crushed velvet flooring is matched with royal purple velvet loungers and cushions for extra comfort. A total of 11 speakers and two subwoofers are contained with great soundproofing so as not to disturb other guests when blockbuster action movies are on screen.
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Beach Life
Image Credit: Burgess The steam room, spa, and beach club lead onto a picture-worthy sea terrace. The open transom has lights set into the teak decking to illuminate the area at night. There is also a boot room for storing guests’ shoes and personal effects when swimming, which also comes in handy for storing wet dive gear and heli-ski equipment.
