.......a clinker dinghy! When John & Nicky Fisher were building a guest house next to their home on Queen Charlotte Sound in New Zealand's South Island, Nicky noted that it lacked a porch roof. 
Without a blink, the lovely John commandeered an old clinker dinghy c.1930, which he'd restored in 1989, up ended it & voila, problem solved!
I do love a good ocean-going yacht, but let's face it, most of them look fab from the outside, but their interiors are generally palaces of kitsch. Think overstuffed buttoned velvet lounges, heavy brocade curtains, dark wood-grain panelling, swirling hideous coloured carpet, mirrored wet bars, gold faucets in 'overcooked' bathrooms - too much is never enough. So when I discovered the wonderful world of Wally, I wanted to catch the next plane to Italy & give Wally's Founder Luca Bassani the biggest smooch ever. His company has created a range of the sexiest sailing yachts on the water, beautiful yachts with an interiors style that just oozes modern, minimalist style. French designer Odile Decq has waved a light hand over the interiors of all the Wally's & gosh has she got it right. 
The loft concept in the stunning main salon of the Esense works a treat.
The twin double guest cabins are one to port and one to starboard and both feature two single beds that can be joined together to become a queen size bed.
The slick galley.
The Saudade is slightly larger than the Esense, a true ocean-going mega yacht perfect for round-the-world cruising.
The deck is characterised by the low and aggressive pilothouse, that perfectly matches the sleek lines of the yacht.
The central social cockpit features two identical dining areas with fold down tables, seating up to 12 people.
It features a wide glass sliding door that gives access to the main saloon and floods the interiors with natural light along with the large windows of the deckhouse.
The opening transom with swimming platform. One of the two tenders is stored in the stern garage, that opens up laterally; the tender is launched with a small crane.
The raised saloon has a 360 degree view and features the dining area to starboard and the lounge to port side. Both living areas are framed by sofas.
The lounge area to port seating up to 12 people and featuring a 40’ LCD screen that rises from behind the centre sofa.
The dining area seating eight people is to starboard. Bookshelves flank the wide glass doors, which lead aft to the large cockpit only three steps above the saloon level.
The master suite is aft with the bed to port and the lounge area with a desk to starboard, and includes two large dressing rooms and a companionway for direct access to the aft deck.
The owner’s suite lounge area.
The master’s en-suite bathroom with a free-standing bathtub, a large shower room and two basins is to the starboard side of the owner’s suite.
The owners’ office with sofa and another en-suite bathroom can be accessed both from the master suite and from the corridor and can be converted into an additional guest cabin with two bunks if required.
The two double guest cabins with en-suite bathrooms feature twin beds that easily convert into a double. Both have pulman beds above the portholes.
Dark-stained oak floor planks with textured sea grass carpets, are used for the guest cabins.
The guest en-suite bathrooms.
The galley and pantry are fully equipped for long journeys. Either yacht would be the perfect venue for the next Hedgies blogging 'Convention'. I have no doubt, if I asked nicely, dear Luca would be happy to loan us one. After all, think of all the publicity we could give him!
Life in the little village of Stirling in the hills above Adelaide in South Australia is just about as good as it gets! Enjoying a cool climate and 'hill-station' feel, Stirling is well-known for its 19th-century stone villas set on large grounds dense with roses, camellias, rhododendrons and huge old Oaks. With 3 sons, 3 grandchildren & my work in a scientific business dominated by yes, more men, The Laurel Hedge was born out of my sheer desperation for something the boys just don't get & never will!
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