La Fenice Yacht for Sale

La Fenice Yacht | 96' Laurent Giles 1962

LA FENICE — 29m Laurent Giles Gentleman’s Motor Yacht (1962 / 2023)

A rare and distinguished example of British naval architecture, LA FENICE brings together Laurent Giles’ celebrated design pedigree with a comprehensive modern technical rebuild, creating one of the finest classic motor yachts presently available.

Built in 1962 by Richard Ironworks as the support vessel to the British 12-Metre America’s Cup challenger Sovereign, she was engineered for demanding offshore missions: long-range passages, exceptional seakeeping and absolute reliability. She later served as a French Navy training vessel before beginning a new life under renowned photographer Peter Lindbergh, who engaged Christian Liaigre to transform her interior into the refined, understated living environment she offers today.

Between 2021 and 2023, LA FENICE underwent one of the most thorough technical and structural refits ever completed on a yacht of her class. Her machinery, systems, electrics, electronics, pipework, thrusters, generators and decks were renovated or replaced, bringing her mechanically to modern standards while preserving the elegance and authenticity of a true gentleman’s yacht.

She is EU VAT exempt, fully documented, and—thanks to her historic Load Line exemption—may be operated under sub-24m MGN280 requirements if maintained under the UK flag, offering significant crewing and operational flexibility.

Key Characteristics

29m steel gentleman’s motor yacht, Laurent Giles design

Extensive 2021–2023 refit, with major mechanical, structural and system renewal

Christian Liaigre interior elements and signature aesthetic

Historic Load Line exemption allowing operation under

Denison Yachting - Annapolis is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Nicolle Associates.

Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but can’t guarantee the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal from that yacht market without notice. She is offered as a convenience by this yacht broker to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a specific yacht for sale.

Design, Heritage & Provenance

LA FENICE’s origins give her a uniquely purposeful elegance: a hull conceived for range, stability and composed performance in open water. Laurent Giles shaped her with the quiet confidence of a designer working at the top of his game, producing a vessel that remains remarkably efficient and soft-footed underway more than six decades later.

Launched in 1962 as Diadem of Dewlish, she was created as the travelling mother ship for financier J.A. Boyden’s America’s Cup campaign with Sovereign in Newport, Rhode Island. The brief demanded stamina, refinement and the ability to cross oceans without hesitation — qualities that still define her. The early drawings, correspondence and technical notes from Giles’ office reveal a yacht engineered not as an accessory, but as an essential part of the racing effort.

Her years as a French Navy training vessel added another layer to her structural credibility, while her later life under photographer Peter Lindbergh ushered in the collaboration with Christian Liaigre. That partnership introduced the understated, sculptural interior language that now runs through the yacht: dark timber floors, precise lines, generous volumes and a quietly flowing arrangement that feels both modern and faithful to the spirit of a classic yacht.

The vessel’s provenance is unusually well preserved. Her documentation spans:
– Photos from yard period in 2001
– Cartagena refit records (2015/16)
– Original 1962 architects’ and shipyard drawings
– The full Studio Liaigre project file, including handwritten annotations
– And even a photograph of Christian Liaigre onboard

Together, these materials form a continuous narrative of care, craftsmanship and thoughtful evolution — all of which accompany the yacht today.

Interior

LA FENICE’s interior captures the warmth and proportion of a classic yacht, balanced with the clean, understated detailing characteristic of Christian Liaigre. Large windows, generous headroom and an unbroken flow between spaces create an unusually open and inviting interior for a yacht of this size and vintage. She was the first Christian Liaaigre boat and onne can see many of her design details mirrored in later vessels that came under the mastery of Studio Liaigre.

Bridge Deck

Wheelhouse with excellent visibility and navigation station
Internal lounge/observation area with table
Large exterior deck with sunpad and substantial bimini and sunshade
Ideal for private dining or charter entertaining

Main Deck

Aft lounge with bar
Day head
Side-deck access via door
Forward saloon with ample seating, dining area, bench seating and dedicated TV snug

Lower Deck

Guest suites (all ensuite):
3 × double staterooms
1 × double with Pullman (sleeps 3; perfect for family use)
Crew area accessed via forward stairway:
Full galley and crew mess
Captain’s double cabin and 2 twin cabins — all ensuite
Crew finish of a standard suitable for occasional guest use

Galley & Service

Commercial-grade 6-zone induction hob
3-phase oven and extractor
Microwave
Two large refrigerators
Freezer
Dishwasher and extractor
Washer/dryer (2022)
Complete galley-ware inventory included

Bar & Upper Deck Service

Slimline dishwasher
Wine fridge
Coffee machine
Upper deck fridge, freezer and ice-maker

Exterior & Decks

During the 2021–2023 refit, all exterior decking was renewed to a very high standard. Original teak was faired, overlaid with Lloyd’s-approved marine ply, epoxy faired and sealed and finished with new Tek-Dek synthetic decking across all exterior areas.

Additional exterior upgrades include:

Custom stainless-steel lazarette hatch
Overhauled windlass with new bearings and transformers
Davit mounting rings, wiring and controls renewed
Complete antifoul rebuild: wet blasting, dry blasting, Hempel primers, Coppercoat Superyacht finish
New splash guards for side decks

Ground tackle:

2 × 80 kg Pool anchors
192 m + 110 m of 16 mm calibrated chain

Machinery & Technical Specification

Main Engines

Twin Gardner 8L3B (230 hp @ 1130 rpm)
~400 hours since complete Gardner Marine overhaul
New bronze raw-water pumps and full spare kits
New exhaust silencers, expansion bellows and high-temperature insulation
Extensive engine room spares

Gearboxes

Gardner 3UC gearboxes — professionally rebuilt by Gardner Marine (documentation available)

Generators

Fischer Panda 25 kW, 415 V 3-phase (~1140 hrs), stainless sound enclosure
Northern Lights 944T 44 kW, 415 V 3-phase (~237 hrs since zero hour rebuild)

Thrusters

Sleipner 550 AC bow thruster
Sleipner 320 DC stern thruster with new tunnel and custom fairings

Stabilisation

Vosper twin-fin stabilisers (underway)
Stabilisers fully rebuilt: bearings, rams, hydraulic hoses, nitrogen vessels
Shafts machined in Inconel 625

Tankage

Fuel: 14,000 L (4 tanks)
Fresh water: 12,000 L
Black/Grey: 1800 L aft, 800 L forward, 350 L sludge

Water Systems

Aquafresh 190 L/hr watermaker (touchscreen control)
Technicomar MARPOL-compliant treatment plant (approx. 3,200 L/day)
Fully renewed freshwater circuits, pumps, filters and heaters

Air Handling

Dometic reverse-cycle air conditioning throughout (new CuNi raw water pipework, new raw water and circulation pumps, safety circuits and control systems 2023)
16 kW Eberspacher heating system (installed; commissioning optional)

Electrical & Connectivity

A complete AC/DC renewal was undertaken during refit, including: