Kensho, a 246 foot Admiral superyacht, was delivered in 2022 and is now listed for sale. It is surprising that the German advertising billionaire who spent years studying a library of yachts, reportedly over 100 of them with Will Christie of Christie Yachts, is parting ways with his beloved creation in less than five years. In fact, the $145 million superyacht has been listed with Christie Yachts, marking her global market debut. Kensho, which is Japanese for “seeing into one’s true nature,” is a masterpiece of modern naval design; she was awarded Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards 2023. In just five years, the superyacht went from a simple 12 line pencil sketch drawn by Udo Mueller in the winter of 2016 to a 2,000 GT villa at sea, with the most distinctive blue “Kenshō metallic” hull, a custom shade inspired by a 1960s Ford Mustang color and developed specifically for the yacht, intended to mimic the shifting reflections of water. Kensho is a norm breaker that never followed the book and paved her own way.
The Zen interior is designed by the Parisian studio Jouin Manku and was their first ever yacht project. It is no coincidence that Kensho looks more like a resort and less like a boat. Moreover, the connoisseur owner’s fascination with fine art and Asian philosophy heavily influenced the “Zen” aesthetic of Kensho. Inside, the space is extraordinarily calming; you will not find many sharp corners. The walls and furniture use organic, flowing curves inspired by Antelope Canyon in Arizona. The doors have custom handles that change as you move between decks. The coral handles of the lower deck change to leather and wood, and finally to stone on the sun deck to represent mountains and sky.
The master suite is a four room haven with a lounge with shoji style doors, a dressing room with embroidered silk panels, and a bathroom with a tub carved from a single block of Carrara marble. The entire boat repeats materials and hues to make it one cohesive design language. Designers Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku say they used “three chords” and changed the rhythm so the whole boat reads as one long symphony. Even if Kensho is going to a new owner, there is a bit of Udo Mueller on every deck of Kensho. For instance, the dining room features floor to ceiling glass Cabinets of Curiosity, cases that display artifacts and rare sea life specimens collected by Mueller during his travels.
The four decker sleeps 14 guests in seven cabins, who enjoy amenities like an 18 foot pool in the beach club with a waterfall, a gym that extends over the water on a platform, a full spa with sauna and steam, a proper dive center, and a lounge with a DJ grade sound system. The sundeck comes packed with dining space and an integrated spa pool with a manta ray shaped sunbed.
Kensho’s armada of toys and tenders is swoon worthy too, with commissioned custom vessels to match Kensho’s unique metallic blue aesthetic. The chase boat Katana is named after the samurai sword. There is also a stealthy 9 meter custom limousine tender replicating Kensho’s aesthetics, complete with elegant proportions, high ceilings, and a silk lined interior. The toys are as Zen as the interiors, with a special emphasis on electric fun to match the Zen theme.
In fact, the tank deck already contains a class approved battery room, so a future owner can add significant battery capacity and operate silently for stretches without ripping the boat apart. The charm and charisma of Kensho can be witnessed at the upcoming Palm Beach International Boat Show, where the vessel will be asking $144 million to call her your own.
About Udo Mueller
“I wanted to do something really new, something better from my point of view, and I knew that would be possible only with a radical and disruptive move.” This applies not only to the creation of the Kensho superyacht but also to life at large for the co founder of Ströer SE & Co. KGaA, one of Germany’s largest advertising companies. Worth almost $1.1 billion today, he is a self made businessman who expanded his local German firm into a public company listed on the SDAX with over 10,000 employees. The father of three resides in Cologne, Germany, and is a stickler for detail, which is represented perfectly in Kensho, a masterclass in detail and dedication, from mother of pearl elevator buttons to forward facing wheelhouse glamour for the best views.
