The 'Fifth Season' in Port d'Andratx: A Pool That Looks Down

The 'Fifth Season' in Port d'Andratx: A Pool That Looks Down

A visit that sparks conversation along the harbor promenade

More heads stop than usual at the quay of the yacht club in Port d'Andratx on this August afternoon. The air is warm, café patrons' voices mix with seagull cries and the soft clack of fenders against the jetty. Directly in front of the terraces lies a 39.2-meter vessel in dark tones: black and grey, large panes of glass, angular lines – to many onlookers it looks more like a small spaceship than a classic yacht.

What immediately sets the 'Fifth Season' apart is its bow: an infinity pool with a partially glassed bottom. Those swimming in the pool not only have the horizon in front of them but can also look down through a transparent section at the water below. The idea is simple yet effective: glass is meant to dissolve the boundaries between deck, interior and sea. When anchored, additional technology unfolds at the stern to transform the deck into an open lounge.

The boat comes from the Italian shipyard Overmarine Group and was delivered in 2024. Verme Projects contributed to the design, and Alberto Mancini created the interior. There are five suites and space for up to twelve guests; a seven-person crew handles operations. Underway the 'Fifth Season' cruises at around twelve knots, with up to sixteen knots possible when needed. In 2025 the yacht received an award at the World Superyacht Awards. According to reports, the vessel belongs to an American family and is used privately.

For the people here such a visit is more than just a photo subject. Fishermen at the edge of the harbor proudly show colleagues pictures, bartenders serve an extra glass, and groups with binoculars form on the pier. Children point at the glazed floor as if they had been given a secret view beneath the water's surface. The yacht has set things in motion: small shops, supply companies and service providers around the harbor feel immediate interest – from repeat visits to inquiries with local craftsmen.

The fact that the 'Fifth Season' is used only privately does not mean Mallorca's shores gain nothing from it. Vessels like this display international trends in design and technology and send signals: whoever docks here needs local support, from fuel and provisions to maintenance work. For harbor towns like Port d'Andratx, that's an invitation to present themselves as places combining maritime expertise and hospitality.

Those who are curious, however, must be content with keeping their distance: photo spots can be found along the promenade and on café terraces. Respect and distance from private berths are, of course, a given. An evening walk is worth it: the light on the water, the clatter of fenders and the muted hum of a large ship's diesel create an atmosphere in which conversations about design arise almost casually.

The 'Fifth Season' is a moment of attention for Port d'Andratx, not a permanent state. It is a reminder of how closely craftsmanship, architecture and hospitality are intertwined here. For the island the image lingers: a piece of modern shipbuilding that enlivens the promenade on a summer evening and spins new threads of conversation – about design, maritime life and the craftsmen who make such visits possible.

So: passersby should take a second look. Not just because of the glass pool, but because moments like this show how lively and interconnected Mallorca's coastal towns are.