Design & Build Story
NERO was commissioned by British entrepreneur Neil Taylor. A keen yachtsman and serial boat owner, with NERO Taylor saw an opportunity to combine his love for classic yachting lines with today’s mechanical ability and supreme standards of comfort.
Taylor founded Corsair Yachts specifically for the project’s undertaking, and in doing so thus laid the foundations to pay homage to the vessels owned by the famed American financier J. P. Morgan who had brought four Corsair to life. The fourth Corsair was 350ft long and was built by the Bath Iron Works in Maine. She was launched in 1930.
Whilst NERO is not a literal interpretation or replica of any one yacht, she undoubtedly embodies a classic grandeur and the spirit of each of the Corsairs vessels.
NERO’s design draws inspiration from many sources in many different ways, including Errol Flynn’s 1929 schooner, Zaca, which spurred the styling for the handcrafted teak skylight with integrated sofas on the deck.
Another influence on NERO’s character was the 1912 steamship RMS Niagara, a transpacific ocean liner whose Edwardian staircase prompted the grand swirl of precision marquetry that now unites NERO’s interior decks.
NERO was built in 2007 by Corsair Yachts at the Yantai Raffles Shipyard. A team of 30 international experts, with references from Lurssen, Benetti, and some of the superyacht industry’s most well-known names, was assembled to ensure this construction was nothing short of world leading.
Every aspect of NERO’s build was planned with meticulous care and attention to detail.
NERO underwent an extensive refit in 2021 that included a newly appointed beauty room, dedicated gym with upgraded equipment on the sun deck, an additional 7th cabin with king-sized sofa bed that doubles up as a massage room, an overhaul of the AV/IT systems, and updates to the soft furnishing throughout.
NERO’s interior is all about tasteful opulence. Renowned Italian designer Laura Pomponi has created a joyful, light-filled interior that features cream and neutral tones with blue accents inspired by the hues of the sea, complemented by limed oak and marble. The overall effect is relaxed refinement.
