It’s all very well having a beach club on board, but they can get a touch crowded when all the guests descend at once, and even when it’s not busy there isn’t much you can do apart from sunbathe and swim. So why not carry a much more adaptable space around with you? That’s the thinking behind Henry Ward Design’s Recreational Island concept, which is being developed in collaboration with BMT Nigel Gee.

It’ll take up some space in the garage, but with a folded length in the example shown of ten metres, you gain a unit that is easy-to-deploy (overhead tender cranes will do that) and which opens to an 80 square metre area that can be configured just how you want it. Early concept drawings show it with sofas and sunbathing areas shaded by umbrellas around a glass floor, though there are myriad variations that can be specced by the client. One sunbed is shown extending over the water, leaving you with the tempting prospect of nodding off to the sound of the lapping waves.



You can set up the Recreational Island for more active pursuits, by specifying a dive-station that can store your scuba gear, and there’s even a diving board for a refreshing way of entering the water. There will be, of course, a bar for cocktails throughout the day, and at night a dining table can be erected for eating under the stars. A small console allows a crew member to manoeuvre the island away from the yacht and into shallow bays, although it can also be easily nudged around by some gentle tender work (and it can be towed in folded configuration). Henry Ward Design is also investigating configuring the unit to accept a touch-and-go helicopter once the furniture is stowed away.



With so many possible variations of use for the Recreational Island, bigger charter yachts and private family yachts will welcome it. Henry Ward Design and BMT Nigel Gee are also looking to develop the concept for the hotel and hospitality sectors.