Tankoa Yachts has always retained a no-compromise approach to designing and delivering bespoke yachts that reflect their owners’ lifestyles and tastes, while ensuring the fundamentals – naval architecture, engineering, functionality and perfection of form – remain central tenets.

It's a philosophy that’s perfectly represented by M/Y Singolare, recently delivered to an American owner. Singolare captures her owner’s vision within one of the Tankoa models under 500GT, the Tankoa T450 – but she also highlights what makes the model so special.

“The T450 embraces the same boutique approach that defines the shipyard’s larger yachts: generous and flexible volumes, refined detailing, and technical solutions that enhance both functionality and onboard comfort,” begins Vincenzo Poerio, CEO of Tankoa Yachts. This highly versatile model has attracted growing interest, demonstrated by the success of M/Y Singolare and her sister ship, M/Y GO.”

The T450 offers 495 GT of volume in a 45m package, representing flexibility and functionality in a compact form that manages to feel anything but small. That’s partly down to clever design by Giorgio Maria Cassetta, where interior volumes and exterior guest areas seem to defy the overall length. Moreover, the contemporary yet timeless aesthetic of her lines reduces the impression of bulk, further augmenting the sense that space has been warped in the yacht’s creation.

“The exterior styling and layout are, in many ways, the result of years of research aimed at identifying the true essence of what a superyacht can be when trends and passing fashions are removed from the equation,” Cassetta asserts. “Exterior spaces are generous throughout the yacht and are seamlessly connected to the interior living areas through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and the largest possible sliding doors.”

Such attention to inside-outside living marries perfectly with the rhythms of life her owner enjoys. It’s evident in every facet of those deck areas, starting with the aft beach that boasts drop-down terraces on the water and an infinity pool from which the boundary blurs to the sea beyond. The beach and pool area flow directly to the cool, lazy shade of the main aft deck, where sofas and chairs beckon, and from where the boundary between deck and saloon disappears thanks to huge aft glass doors.

There’s a clear nod to the informal, family-focused outdoor lifestyle the Owner enjoys throughout – alfresco dining areas on both the upper and sun decks are each served by their own alfresco barbecue grills.

The design also makes maximum use of the raised, flush foredeck, under which lies the fully enclosed tender garage. The uninterrupted yawn of teak forward can serve equally as a second beach or as an alternative party area. Or it can also be transformed into an open-air cinema. Forward, with a screen set up and seating arranged, the area becomes an informal space for enjoying films under the stars, offering another option for outdoor living on board. Here, a sunken foredeck lounge serves as a private owner terrace or as an alternative space for drinks, dining, socialising, or chilling under the shade of an awning, partially protected from the breeze at anchor.

Up top, there’s a custom glass-sided spa pool aft served by partial wraparound sunpads, with unending views out to the horizon. There are also more sunpads and a forward-facing bar counter, while the area under the hardtop has been conceived as an inside-outside cabana-esque veranda with fully retracting glass screens that can be deployed to keep the breeze at bay or to allow the area to be air-conditioned without compromising the open-air feel.

The space and flexibility of the T450’s architecture is fully revealed when you step from outside to in. Some elements of Singolare’s layout are more traditional – an impossibly inviting main saloon with forward dining area, served by floor-to-ceiling windows, for example; or the full-beam master suite forward on the main deck with its separate office for the owner, huge ensuite in white marble with steam shower, and his-and-hers walk-in wardrobe the size of most 45m yachts’ VIP cabin.

Other areas capitalise on the fluid, boutique build approach to deliver exactly what this owner wanted – in this case, an upper deck split equally between relaxation and wellness. Aft, linked to the generous aft deck with its shaded 10-seater dining table and aft alfresco lounge, there’s an informal upper saloon with drop-down television. Midships, however, Singolare boasts a glass-walled gym complete with outboard sauna that offers views to die for over the bulwark and to the far horizon. What’s more, there’s still room forward not only for the state-of-the-art wheelhouse, but also for a cabin for the captain – a sure sign of serious cruising intent. Every indoor and outdoor area has been conceived as a destination, encouraging owners and guests to move naturally throughout the yacht during the day rather than centring life around a single social space.

“The design concept is centred on fulfilling the owner’s desire for maximum enjoyment of the yacht with family and guests,” enthuses Cassetta. “The result is an environment that combines practicality and comfort with understated elegance – truly, luxury without ostentation.”

That’s reflected in the style of Singolare’s exterior furniture and interior décor, where a warm, light palette dominates, with pops of bright colour in art, artefacts and accents. Singolare’s atmosphere and mood are defined by a contemporary and minimalist aesthetic. Curved forms have been deliberately avoided in favour of clean lines, natural tones, and homogeneous colour palettes. Geometric, architectural shapes replace rounded elements typically found in yacht interiors, from speaker grilles to faucets and fittings.

Overseeing the interior design was Brazilian architect Debora Aguiar, who was perfectly placed to interpret the owner’s desire for an atmosphere that mirrors his personality. “The interior design was strongly influenced by the owner’s personal taste,” Aguiar confirms. “From the outset he granted us complete freedom in every decision, including decoration and the selection of the soft furnishings. After reviewing our initial proposals and recognising that the design concept perfectly aligned with his vision, he entrusted us with the project with total confidence.”

“Every detail was carefully considered, from the lighting concept to the selection of materials and furnishings,” Aguiar explains. “We combined bespoke elements created specifically for the yacht with iconic pieces from leading Italian design houses, creating interiors where each element contributes to a timeless residential atmosphere.”

It's an approach that carried a significant sense of responsibility but, says Aguiar, it also brought immense satisfaction once the final result was achieved. That result spans all four decks, creating a seamless design flow from the four generously proportioned guest suites and guest lobby on the lower deck, where large en suite bathrooms and ample wardrobe space reinforce the sense of comfort on board, through to the sundeck veranda.

“The interiors convey a warm, elegant, and contemporary atmosphere,” Aguiar states. “On the main deck, a bright and welcoming saloon is defined by large sliding glass panels that enhance the perception of space, while floor-to-ceiling wine cellars further elevate the refined atmosphere,” she adds.

Materials anchor the interior language in an authentic, tactile aesthetic, from the rough-hewn stone coffee table on the main aft deck to the use of backlit pale marble as signature elements for the saloon’s forward bulkhead and in the yacht’s dayheads. Oak deckheads run inside to out, reinforcing the connection between areas, while carefully engineered support-free aft overhangs and glass bulwarks further contribute to the yacht’s visual lightness and openness.

Greys, greige and earth tones in the finishes and soft furnishings bring a further natural flavour to the interior. Warm oak flooring extends throughout the yacht and is paired with fluted timber detailing, leather wall panelling, backlit onyx feature walls and marble surfaces that recur throughout the interiors. Indirect lighting has been carefully orchestrated to create a soft, welcoming ambience, while every furniture piece and material has been selected with the same attention normally reserved for works of art. A sophisticated mix of bespoke elements and iconic pieces from Italian design houses including Flexform, B&B Italia and Poltrona Frau creates an atmosphere that feels highly personal yet timeless. Outside, furnishings by Paola Lenti and other leading brands continue the same refined residential approach.

Ensuring the owner and his guests enjoy perfect stays on board, attention has been given to crew and guest circulation – a facet of particular importance on a sub-50m yacht. In addition to the upper deck captain’s cabin, there are four crew cabins on the lower deck along with a professional galley, laundry, and comfortable crew mess. Complementing the forward garage, the aft lazarette has been conceived as a dedicated toy storage area while also accommodating the yacht's technical equipment.

Underpinning Singolare is a displacement hull geared for comfortable cruising, with twin MAN engines delivering a maximum speed of 16.3 knots, and a 5,000-nautical-mile range at economical cruising speed. The yacht’s long-range capability is further supported by an advanced engineering package that includes full IMO Tier III emissions compliance. Electric fin stabilisers further improve comfort onboard.

Since her launch, the yacht has enjoyed extensive cruising with her owner, family and friends – confirming her role as the ideal platform for life at sea and a true expression of Tankoa’s design philosophy.

“Singolare,” concludes Claudio Corvino, Sales Manager Tankoa Yachts, “is a beautiful example of how the T450 series provides a flexible, reliable and highly refined platform for owners seeking the uniqueness of a custom yacht combined with the security of a thoroughly engineered project.”

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