High Seas

For the design of their new boat—the first FD102 superyacht delivered to the United States—a Fort Myers couple chose to go big and go home.

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When it comes to anything other than a golf score, bigger is usually better—and that goes double for yachts. So when Cheryl and Dave Copham of Fort Myers decided to replace their beloved 101-foot-and-6-inch Cor D. Rover-designed Burger, named TÒ-KALÒN, they turned to Horizon yacht builder. They asked the team to go up by three inches—the biggest they possibly could go, since their dock at the 186-slip Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club marina measures precisely 101 feet, 10 inches.

Even though the size difference may not seem all that significant, the couple’s new motor yacht feels a whole lot larger than the one it replaced. Recent design trends in the yachting industry have expanded interior space by widening beams (a boat’s width) and creating more usable square footage above the waterline with added decks or by enclosing more of the top decks. Those changes are allowing boats to feel more like second homes rather than indulgent toys with tiny kitchens, cramped guest quarters and limited storage. The Cophams again named their yacht, TÓ-KALÒN, which means highest beauty in Greek and is also the name of a Napa Valley vineyard . In addition to five bedrooms, it has 11 heads with large showers, loads of closet space, ample storage and two laundry rooms.

What makes the Horizon FD (Fast Displacement) series of yachts particularly attractive to buyers is that they don’t just offer cookie-cutter interior layouts. The Cophams took two trips to Taiwan during construction to meet with designers to address their every want and need. While their previous boat had three staterooms (a primary and two guest rooms), all below deck, the couple wanted a more user-friendly layout for the new model. “One of our main requirements was to have a main-floor [primary] bedroom, so that we didn’t have to go up and down the stairs,” Dave says. The clean-lined primary bedroom, located in the bow, has glass running the full length of the room’s walls. His-and-hers bathrooms—with a large shared shower between—are tucked fully forward.

(Courtesy Horizon Yacht)

(Photo by Brian Tietz)

Spanning a spacious 101 feet and 9 inches, the yacht is the largest the couple could fit in their Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club slip. (Courtesy Horizon Yacht)

Down below, the Cophams made room for four additional ensuite staterooms. The rooms allow the entire extended family to stay aboard during excursions, rather than having to draw straws to see who has to stay in a hotel. “That’s how this whole thing got started,” Cheryl says. “We wanted everyone in the family to be able to stay on board together.”

The star of the main deck is the grand salon. Open concept by boating standards, it embraces neutral tones with oak flooring and beech walls. Contrasting zebra wood and dark wenge add definition, while counters are topped with Cambria quartz. The kitchen can be closed off from the rest of the living space with the touch of a button—a privacy wall of carved, mirrored glass slides down if kitchen activity interrupts conversation in the salon. “When we travel we take a fourth—and sometimes a fifth—crew [member], and they absolutely love the galley,” Cheryl says. “We have two refrigerators and two freezers. It’s laid out very well.” A breakfast bar sits adjacent to the galley for a casual dining space.

Every space of the Horizon FD is customized, including the five ensuite bedrooms. (Courtesy Horizon Yacht)

(Photo by Brian Tietz)

Guests can also gather for meals at the other end of the salon, where an expandable round dining table is nestled by a semicircle of smoked-glass sliding doors and matching ceiling detail, which adds glamour, balancing the clean, transitional lines. Just through the doors is an outdoor lounge area with access to the swim deck, which was shortened to keep the size in check. There’s also access to an upper deck, which is a veritable entertainment mecca, with more lounge space, a dining table for 12, a full bar, grilling station and more refrigeration. The Cophams even added a hot tub up there—a gorgeous spot to soak in the sights via the approximately 280-degree views. “We love it [on the upper deck],” Cheryl adds. “When we are underway, that’s where we are.”

Unlike the old-fashioned, traditional aesthetic that prevailed from the 1950s all the way through the early 2000s, TÒ-KALÒN is wrapped in large swaths of smoked glass, and the technological strides are just as evolved. The yacht holds 4,500 gallons of fuel, is outfitted with wastewater treatment equipment and makes its own water. All that means the Cophams can be at sea for as long as the wine holds out. Last we checked, the two wine refrigerators, which hold approximately 100 bottles, were fully stocked and ready to go.