The Tankoa S501 EVO Rilassata is a 50-metre (164ft) superyacht, delivered in July 2024, and it was the largest yacht attending the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival. Plenty of superyachts claim to have unique, inventive interiors, but this one has a serious surprise waiting inside, and it’s not what you’d expect.
She has an upper deck owner's suite with four more guest cabins on the lower deck, the sundeck has been extended for a bit more outdoor space and she's powered by twin CAT engines.
Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo Key Facts
- LOA 49.9m
- Model Year 2024
- Cabins 5
- Crew 9
- Max Speed 17 knots
- Status In Production
- Generations 2
- Yacht Type Superyacht
- Use Type Cruising
- Vessel M/Y Rilassata
Review Video
Hull No.1 in the S501 series, Vertige, launched back in 2017, and in 2022, Tankoa gave the range a big update. The design was restyled for the launch of the EVO version, first seen with Grey at the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show. Next in line is Rilassata. Construction kicked off in late 2021, under the project name Evolution, and this yacht stays true to the S501 DNA while bringing in some new updates.
The key enhancements are a more open-plan saloon and dining area, larger windows, and an extended fly deck, all designed to create a greater sense of connection to the sea. The extra deck space and expansive glazing make for brighter, more inviting social areas.
But Rilassata hasn't just followed in Grey’s footsteps - it has its own unique layout as Tankoa can be very flexible with the interior layout. The owner's stateroom has been moved up to the upper deck, while the captain’s cabin is down on the main deck. There’s also a gym and games room forward on the main deck with an opening balcony - that will bring in the fresh air and ocean views while working out. Down below, four en suite guest cabins provide comfortable accommodation, all finished with an interior by Paszkowski, in collaboration with Margherita Casprini.
The plumb bow gives the S501 EVO a modern stance, while the aluminium hull and superstructure strike the right balance between strength and weight. But what is quite unique about Rilassata is her beach-beige hull, something quite different from the usual whites and greys. The contrast with the black detailing along the waterline and the red stripe on the superstructure gives it a sharp, distinctive look.
As you step into the main saloon, there's a retro arcade machine which is just a teaser for what’s to come. But it's surrounded by an inlaid wood mural depicting birds, scenes from a Greek tragedy, foliage, and the sea.
The saloon has TVs at both ends, and it’s just a huge, open area that is very inviting. The inlaid wood mural carries through as a motif and more wood panelling. The layout is split between a formal dining space forward, positioned beneath a massive TV, and a spacious, relaxed seating area aft.
Tankoa prides itself on creating highly personalised yachts, shaping spaces around an owner's passions, and this is a perfect example. Normally, you might find forward of the saloon an extra galley for an owner who loves to cook or the owner's cabin, or a lounge. But this is something else.
Instead, there is a full-blown gaming den, with two bespoke gaming rigs, built to an incredible standard, each with triple screens in front of them for total immersion. Then there’s a card table, set beneath a huge movie screen, ready for late-night poker sessions or a cinema experience when the consoles are off. There’s a full bar setup plus a digital gaming table on the far side of the room. It’s completely unique.
Owner's Cabin
Immediately, there’s a lobby area for the owner's suite and, in the centre, there’s a very stylish office area, with a proper desk, chair and a spectacular view. If you need to get some work done, you won’t find many better places to do it. There’s plenty of storage in this area as well.
Over to port, the bathroom is seriously impressive. A huge double vanity with plenty of storage, a pair of sinks, and a massive marble shower cubicle that feels more like a spa than a bathroom. And even here, you’re not cut off - there’s a stunning view over the water, so even the morning shower will be scenic.
Heading back through the office, you step into the sleeping area. The king-size bed sits at an angle, perfectly positioned to take in the expansive sea views. To port, there’s a sleek bureau, while behind the bed, a walk-in wardrobe offers plenty of storage on both sides. It’s spacious, private, and has been carefully designed to make the most of its surroundings.
But the greatest feature is a private deck garden just outside full-height double doors. Not only does it frame the seating area, but it also lines up perfectly with the view from the bed. There’s a pop-up TV, an outdoor dining table, and a sweeping sofa with the deck garden running around that. It’s a unique touch, bringing a natural element to the space, and the way it’s aligned with the bedroom means you can appreciate it even before getting out of bed. This yacht is breaking new ground in all sorts of ways, and this private outdoor retreat is just another example of that.
Normally, the Tankoa S501 EVO comes with six cabins, but in this layout, one has been swapped out for a game room. Even so, you still get four guest cabins: identical twin suites and two doubles. Alongside the twin beds, there’s also a Pullman berth, so each cabin is able to sleep an extra guest. There are TVs behind the doors and lots of cupboard space. The bathrooms are particularly impressive - spacious, finished in beautiful marble, and complete with a separate shower cubicle. Properly luxurious.
In the forward double suites, both are, again, identical in layout. There's some extra space compared to the twins, with a large double bed and high-end fixtures and fittings. The bedside tables are smartly designed, with controls for lighting, AV, and climate settings all within easy reach. Each cabin is fitted with its own iPad, giving guests full control over their environment. The bathrooms follow the same premium style as the twins with separate shower cubicles. The ensuite doors are pocket, if you move one side the other moves as well - and the sound they make is wonderful.
Crew Accommodation
The captain's cabin is on the main deck of Rilassata, but in front of that cabin is a crew pantry area which is surprisingly substantial. It extends quite far back, with cooling storage and a coffee service ready to keep drinks flowing to guests on the main deck.
The captain’s private quarters are a self-contained space with a double bed, ensuite bathroom, and a dedicated work area, giving the captain a private area away from the rest of the crew while being closer to the bridge.
On the lower deck, the crew mess is a functional space where the team dines and unwinds. The mess area has a small galley, separate from the main professional galley, where the chef prepares meals for both crew and guests.
Up on the wall, there’s a set of screens displaying live feeds from around the yacht, including navigation data and onboard systems, so the crew can monitor everything even when they’re off duty.
The bridge onboard the S501 Evo is packed with screens - almost as many as the games room. It’s a great way to see just how much tech is on board. There's a forward-facing camera, charting, radar, FLIR, and night vision all laid out across the displays, giving the crew a full picture of what’s happening, day and night.
The throttles are ZF controls, the same ones you’ll find in high-end production yachts, linked up to a pair of 1,200hp Caterpillar engines. Steering is handled by a compact wheel positioned below the main screens. You’re in full command up here, everything from navigation to engine performance and onboard systems is displayed digitally, so the skipper and crew have total oversight of the yacht’s operations.
Over to the side, there’s a day head for the crew, and deck access is available from both sides, making movement around the bridge smooth and efficient.
The beach club door is a fold-down section of the transom; when it’s up, it's a flush part of the transom, but drop it down, and you’ve got a big platform right over the water. There’s also a passerelle that extends up to the quayside or down into the water.
One of the best additions here is the gym - a pretty spectacular spot for a morning workout. There’s also a coffee machine down here, so you can grab an espresso to motivate you. On this side, you’ve got a day head, and behind the glass door, a shower and hammam, turning this whole space into a mini wellness centre by the waterline.
The tender garage sits just through a door in the beach club. Overhead, there's a crane for launching and retrieving the tender, and there’s a hatch for easy access in and out of the side of the S501 EVO. On Rilassata, there’s no tender inside, as it’s been used as a chase boat, but what you do get is huge storage space.
The cockpit is a huge space, split into two sections - an aft sunbathing area with a retractable canopy, and a dining space under the solid overhang. The layout gives you the best of both: open-air lounging when the sun’s out and a more sheltered spot for dining.
The tables have angled legs, are height-adjustable and foldable so you can switch between one big dining area or smaller coffee tables. It’s a very flexible space. The lighting is another great feature, integrated into the pillars and dotted across the overhead structure. It really adds to the atmosphere, making this a really nice social space.
Side Decks & Foredeck
Moving forward along the starboard side, the passageway is wide and easy to navigate. Guests have a big staircase leading up, and there are doors on both sides into the bridge deck.
For the crew, wing stations on either side provide full control for manoeuvring. These provide much better visibility than from inside the bridge when handling close-quarters docking manoeuvres.
The foredeck itself is a fantastic spot for relaxing. It stretches out with plenty of sunbathing space and twin adjustable tables, which can be set to coffee table height or raised for dining. This is where you’ll want to be when the sun’s out, with uninterrupted views and a proper outdoor living feel.
Forward of this area, is the working area of the foredeck. There’s a rescue tender, a pair of jet skis, and a crane for launching them. Right at the bow, there are the anchor winches and mooring gear.
Up on the sundeck, and as the name suggests, this is the place to be to soak up the sun. Aft, you’ve got a generous sunbathing area, positioned perfectly clear of the hardtop to maximise the rays.
Forward is a more sheltered, protected dinette, with twin tables, which are both beautifully designed. The mechanism is a clever bit of engineering - just like on the foredeck, the tables drop down to adjust the height, and they can also open out and join together to create one large dining space.
It’s all served by a big, well-equipped bar, giving the crew plenty of space to mix drinks and serve guests without feeling cramped. And then, of course, one of the best spots on any yacht - the hot tub. Perfect for sinking into the bubbles while taking in the view.
Engine room access is through a door on the port side deck, leading through a second door into the machinery space. The engineer’s control room is where all the switching and monitoring for the yacht’s technical systems is housed.
Into the engine room itself, this is a big yacht, so as you’d expect, it’s a busy space - generators up here, engines down below, and room to move around. The headroom is excellent, which makes getting to key systems (air conditioning, water makers, fin stabilisers, etc.) for maintenance easy. The engines sit on either side, with clear access points, and despite the sheer scale of everything, access is very good.
Our Verdict
What the S501 EVO by Tankoa proves is that when it comes to speccing a superyacht of this size and scale, you have the freedom to make it your own. The level of personalisation available means you can put your stamp on every detail, shaping it into something that truly is your own. From the gold colour scheme, to the owner's private deck and, of course, that fantastic games room, Rilassata is a true one-off.
Reasons to Buy
- Private owner's suite & terrace
- Excellent interior detailing
- Its own games room
- Hot tub and beach club
Things to Consider
- Games room sacrifices a cabin
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Rivals to Consider
The Tankoa S501 Evo features a 5-cabin layout accommodating up to 12 guests, including a master suite with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. Each guest cabin also has its own en-suite bathroom. In comparison, the Gulf Craft Majesty 160 offers a 7-cabin arrangement for up to 14 guests, including an owner's cabin and six guest cabins, each with en-suite bathrooms. The Majesty 160 also features a sky lounge with panoramic views.
The Heesen 50m Aluminium Semi-Displacement yacht places speed and performance front and centre. It cruises at 21 knots, aided by Heesen’s Fast Displacement Hull Form, which reduces drag and improves efficiency. It also benefits from a shallow draft, expanding its cruising options.
The Wider Yachts W165 takes a different approach, cruising at 11 knots and prioritising quiet operation and comfort underway. It’s designed for guests who enjoy slow cruising and long, uninterrupted passages. Like the Heesen and Majesty, it features a shallow draft, giving it the ability to explore tucked-away anchorages that might be out of reach for deeper vessels.
The Bilgin Yachts 163 I is best known for its range (up to 5,000 nautical miles) making it ideal for long-distance cruising without the need for frequent fuel stops. It maintains a high level of onboard luxury while delivering the capability expected from an ocean-going yacht in this size bracket.
The Mangusta Oceano 52 makes a statement with its gross tonnage of 499GT, translating to a more spacious feel onboard. One of its standout features is the beach club area, which can be extended into a sunbathing terrace with fold-out platforms. This setup creates a strong connection to the water and a relaxed social space just above the sea.
Considering a new yacht? Explore Tankoa's entire current range to find the model that best suits your needs, and compare it with alternatives from competitors to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Specifications
- Builder Tankoa Yachts
- Model S501 Evo
- Length Overall 49.9m
- Beam 9.4m
- Draft(full load) 2.4m
- Hull Aluminum 5083
- Cabins 5
- Berths 10
- Crew 9
- Yacht Type (Primary) Superyacht
- Use Type (Primary) Cruising
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Fuel Capacity 65,000 Litres
- Fresh Water Capacity 16,600 Litres
- Engine Model 2x Caterpillar C32 C ACERT B02 - IMO Tier II/IMO Tier III
- Engine HP 1217
Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo Layout
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Sun Deck
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![Sun Deck Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo]()
The Sun Deck, complete with hot tubs and bar
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Bridge Deck
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![Bridge Deck Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo]()
The aft end of the bridge deck is the private owner's deck
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Main Deck
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![Main Deck Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo]()
The games room is in place of the usual owner's cabin on the main deck
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Lower Deck
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![Lower Deck Tankoa Yachts S501 Evo]()
There are four further guest cabins on the lower deck, with crew accommodation forward
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