The majority of, if not all, sub-contractors and consultants within the industry will insist on being involved in a project as early as possible. When it comes to light fitting and design, the situation is no different. With regular updates in technology and regulations, being on top of current trends and products is key to achieving a successful outcome. However, what is the secret behind creating a great signature? What needs to be considered during the design process and who should be involved? Lighting specialist Aqualuce has worked on 30 boats over the past 25 years, with 76m M/Y Pegaso being its most recent project. Managing director of Aqualuce John Roberts sheds some light on the topic.

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73-метровая Pegaso от Freire Shipyard — самая большая суперъяхта, построенная в Испании. Прежде со стапелей Freire сходили океанографические суда, коммерческий и военный флот. Pegaso — частная яхта ледового класса с субмариной на борту, собственной лабораторией для исследования океана и дальностью хода 10 тысяч миль. Мечта владельца — пойти по стопам легендарного Кусто

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At Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, which routinely builds offshore research vessels, a yacht is nearing completion that, once unveiled, will surely be the 21st-century version of Jacques Cousteau’s famous Calypso. Don Hoyt Gorman was invited to see this oceanographic vessel in build and meet the team behind the secretive project Pegaso. He reports on the ideas behind her concept, the decision to build a white boat in a commercial yard, and some of the innovative features that make this technological powerhouse truly a go-anywhere superyacht.

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Dr Frank Paladino has been working with the Costa Rican Sea Turtles for 15 years. Costa Rica is exotic but tame: The people are friendly, the water is warm, and there is plenty to see and do. The leatherbacks are remarkable. Watching one of these huge animals haul onto the beach and lay its eggs is a fantastic experience. The scientists and staff are highly trained, motivated, and experienced in field biology and look forward to working with you. See you in Playa Grande!

Las Baulas National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica — The world population of leatherback sea turtles has fallen by more than two-thirds in the last 20 years. Emerging during the Cretaceous period, these majestic and gentle animals have survived for more than 100 million years but now face extinction—within one human lifetime. Imperiled by egg poaching, hunting, the lights of coastal development, and long line fishing practices, leatherbacks are also under threat from climate change and ocean pollution. 

One of the most important remaining nesting areas in the Pacific Ocean, the three scalloped beaches of Las Baulas National Park have won national protection thanks to the dedication of Drs. Frank Paladino and James Spotila,  and countless volunteers who’ve worked tirelessly to stop poaching of turtle eggs. For more than 15 years, Earthwatch teams have supplied nesting data to conservation officials to guide turtle management and have established conservation partnerships with local groups. The local community is now invested in the success of nesting efforts, making it a model for sustainable coastal communities around the world. 

In 2008-2010 a reconstruction of a Phoenician / Mediterranean trading vessel, built at the ancient Phoenician port of Arwad, embarked upon a journey to re-trace the Phoenicians' route around Africa.  Re-creating this historical voyage was the major objective of the Phoenician Ship Expedition and was completed by Captain Philip Beale and his crew in October 2010 after 2 years and 20,000 miles at sea.      

The last phase of the Phoenicia project is being planned at present and will involve sailing the ship to the UK in spring 2012. This voyage will retrace the ancient Phoenician trading route with the Cornish. The vessel will make an exciting visit to London during the summer Olympics of 2012.  

Please visit www.phoenicia.org.uk for the latest updates.

The original Sunseeker used in 'The World is Not Enough' 007 film is up for grabs. The 1998-built boat was pursued by the MI-6 agent in his Q-boat down the Thames from Vauxhall in a typical high speed Bond chase. 
However, the chase ended with the Sunseeker smashing into the river bank outside the Millenium Dome in a huge explosion. Luckily a stripped-out stunt boat was used for the scene, not this one. 

Aqualuce is an independent marine lighting design company specialising in private motor yachts and sailing yachts.

Our name has been synonymous with many famous names since the early 1990’s and we are widely recognised as one of the most innovative and technically competent lighting design consultancies in the world. 

We are based in London but our Team can be found in many Yards all over the World.  Our sister Company Lightplan is available for land based lighting projects.

Aqualuce is dedicated to taking the dreams of our clients and turning them into reality.  

Our team shares a deep commitment and passion to each project with an underpinning philosophy of quality,  attention to detail,  and excellence. 

Each project is unique and a one off experience whether a New Build or Refit.

We work to harness our client’s imagination and create the ideal yacht in conjunction with the owner’s representative, shipyard, naval architect and interior designer. There are many people and specialists involved in creating a unique product. The better the harmony between this Team the better the final product.

Aqualuce  changes the environment and the way we feel about the environment.  We combine a creative and intelligent approach with an understanding of complex technical requirements.  We provide advanced precise design data such as light level calculations,  circuitry  and power usage together with automated systems and control. We bridge the gap between the naval architect and or interior designer,  the electrical engineers and shipyard.  

As lighting designers, our sole focus is achieving the best lighting scheme and specification,  whilst ensuring that not only aesthetics are key,  but maintenance,  cost and energy efficient solutions are achieved whilst complying with International MCA standards.

From concept through to completion,  commissioning and project management,  our list of completed projects over the last 20 years give us an enormous sense of pride to be associated with and a benchmark for all future works.

Principle

"I think light is a fascinating subject. After nearly 30 years in the business I still get excited about the next project. There are no boundaries to one’s thought pattern; only solutions that have to be coordinated in a technical manner. We have no repetitive blueprint as each project brings it’s own unique challenge. We cross the boundaries between art and technology. We create memories of time spent either at sea, at anchor or within the confines of a harbour.

We look forward to meeting up with you and trust that we can help you bring your dreams to reality”.

Senior Designer & Senior Project Manager

"Being presented the opportunity to collaborate and meet different people from all over the world, sharing in the experience from design concepts, detailing and engineering of creating something special and unique. 

Coming away with lasting friendships.Each boat has a certain character and life which when treated properly deserves its own signature.  It should be instantly recognisable competing in a busy harbour or resting at a tranquil anchor.

There’s a certain personal satisfaction (and relief) after having given so much care and time into the design, management and late night commissioning sessions she is finally handed over and sets sail.  Like an old friend, somewhere, sometime, till we meet again!" 

Designer & Project Manager

"I have always thought that light is like ‘materia prima’, a beautiful material that reveals the space, modifying and molding its shape and character. It has always been fascinating to think how actually the light and space become what they are in true essence only in relation and reflection to each other. They just need each other to be able - to be.

Working with Aqualuce has given me the opportunity to see and be part of some of the most wonderful projects. Discovering the dimensions of movement available within a given structure, has brought a new challenge and indeed lots to learn. However,  the most amazing experience is seeing how each individual boat project becomes reflections of passion, ideas, designs, communication, technology, handcraft, hard work…a sum of some ordinary and extraordinary people thinking, working and moving together in order to make something beautiful to happen.

I like to think that even when everything is over and the boat leaves, somewhere, when the Sun goes down and the lights come on all these reflections come alive again, together through different shapes of a boat, always in movement, still challenging Gravity." 

Design Consultant

“John in an artist,  his skill and love for what he does,  is that he paints with light as if they are effortless brush strokes,  and yet they are always softly moving, changing and updating.  

The effect is breath-taking,  in particular within and around a travelling moving yacht,  whose environment is also constantly shifting from dawn to dusk."

Automated & Control Systems

"When John is working on a lighting design for a specific project, I instinctively start programming the project in my head. Having worked for Aqualuce for over 10 years, I now can anticipate how John thinks. I am a like the ghost writer, but I am there to work logically and carefully so that the control of John’s lighting can create the magic of his lighting designs. If he wants a little more peach colour temperature or less, there hundreds of variables that have to be adjusted and balanced, all in the end so that they function to one or two preset keypad buttons, or indeed even at the slide of touch.

It’s the infinitely variable possibilities of control producing infinitely variable lighting moods

This is what is required when working on an Aqualuce project. 

It is a challenge to control what is always a moving target, whether it be natural daylight or moonlight that moves and changes with the boat, or artificial light within the particular boat by night or day."