New Zealand

McMullen & Wing Ltd

Refitting Oceanco's 93m Draak

 A look inside the refit journey of Draak, and how the project has changed what 'refit' can mean

Behind the refit of Oceanco's 93m superyacht Draak

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385835/image/large-b4f9dd83e95d4d87f9a2cbeda3d42df9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385835">Observed last month docked here in Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, was the 45-metre explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1649" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Fish45.0m (147'8&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2010">Big Fish</a>, delivered in 2010 by New Zealand shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="McMullen & Wing Ltd (Company)">McMullen &amp; Wing</a>. The rugged expedition yacht was designed inside and out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. (Company)">Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect</a>, who also developed her naval architecture, giving her the capability and efficiency required for serious long-range cruising. Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1649" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Fish45.0m (147'8&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2010">Big Fish</a> was conceived as a true go-anywhere platform, with generous deck spaces for tenders and equipment alongside comfortable interior volumes for extended time on board. Accommodation is arranged for up to 10 guests across five staterooms, supported by dedicated crew quarters. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> diesel engines, she comfortably cruises at 10 knots and can reach a top speed of 14 knots.&nbsp;If you would like to see your photo featured each day, then send your submissions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:news@superyachttimes.com" target="_blank">news@superyachttimes.com</a>. &nbsp;

45m explorer yacht Big Fish docked in Tenerife

The 45m explorer yacht Big Fish, built by McMullen & Wing in 2010, was seen docked here in Tenerife, Spain.

With a history spanning back over 12 decades, the 54.34-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1285" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Townsend & Downey (Company)">Townsend &amp; Downey</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> is an iconic piece of maritime heritage. Currently on the market with Bobby McDougall of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4658" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mediterranean Yachts (Company)">Mediterranean Yachts</a>, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/shenandoah-of-sark/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Shenandoah of Sark, for sale</a>, offers the opportunity to own a timeless vessel that combines classic elegance, with modern amenities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312962/image/large-f8eeb639d5321c6084175a9d06aafbda.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312962">Commissioned under the name Shenandoah by one of the richest bankers in America, Charles Fahnestock, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/sailing/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">sailing yacht for sale</a> was built by US-builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1285" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Townsend & Downey (Company)">Townsend &amp; Downey</a> in 1902. Alongside maritime designer Theodore Ferris, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> was inspired by a similar yacht Meteor III, which was owned by the German Emperor and King of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm II.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312968/image/large-00200cd01c691f1b44dcdc4a7994f335.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312968"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> has continued to turn heads over the years, as she has played host to many glamorous parties along France’s Cote D’Azur and the Amalfi coast in Italy. She has been well-maintained by her owners, with a restoration by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="McMullen & Wing Ltd (Company)">McMullen &amp; Wing</a> of New Zealand taking place from 1994 to 1996 and further refits in 2004, 2009, 2016 and 2019.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229366/image/large-3d0675fba9e1a1015d9209dad7a13b18.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229366">The majestic schooner <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> currency boasts an interior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Terence Disdale Design (Company)">Terence Disdale</a>, while still capturing the allure of the Golden Age of Yachting. Her interior design evokes the opulence and elegance of classical yachts, to create an ambiance of refinement and sophistication onboard.Read: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55310" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The history of the elegant 120-year old schooner Shenandoah of Sark (2022-06-08 12:30:00 +0200)">The history of the elegant 120-year old schooner Shenandoah of Sark</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229330/image/large-e91e743e760b3b8ebb12201709857b74.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229330">The full-beam main saloon of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> includes timeless bookshelves with railings, which span the length of her walls, with portholes windows and classical painting providing a traditional nautical charm. However, the star of the space is her classic mini Steinway piano, which is illuminated by the natural flow of light from her overhead skylights. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229329/image/large-1b541e2a772e8cbfcd68d377d421fa4f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229329">An L-shaped cream sofa stretches across the room, with state-of-the-art loudspeakers, a TV, and communications systems ensuring guests are able to enjoy present-day amenities. A versatile gimbal dining table with seating for up to eight also allows guests onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> to fully relax and unwind for formal meals, with the ability to compensate for the waves with moving slats.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229333/image/large-c8da9815848441d7701d8fd7c93276f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229333"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229331/image/large-de94aca851bffaac02e6c6bad74de5e1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229331"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> is adorned with beautiful Oregon pine hardwood flooring and Padauk African wood borders, which complement her wood ceilings and brass features. The overall feeling of class, taste and the fineries of life is portrayed throughout the vessel, creating a sense of unparalleled luxury.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/313236/image/large-89156281061c52030bbea511a9db8c91.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/313236"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/313233/image/large-5804280c638e018f017e1771f46bf36d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/313233"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 11 guests across a five stateroom configuration, with her full-beam master stateroom showcases a double bed and a single bed, three large wardrobes, and a large ensuite bathroom, with his-and-her sinks. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/313237/image/large-32b3566124a779bd4d50168d31fbf299.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/313237"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229338/image/large-9afc65aa7c0ebfdcdbe75d5861b7865e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229338">Her second/aft mast, or mizzenmast, uniquely flows through the hallway in her master stateroom, running all the way down to her keel and providing the room with a lot of character. The space also has a secret door behind the bookshelves, which leads to her captain’s quarters and navigation station. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229356/image/large-abccb2815b71cf22a645a2ce9a36b960.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229356"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229345/image/large-1b3a75fbeb3bb4e873b20c574e6836c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229345">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/townsend-downey/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Townsend &amp; Downey yacht for sale</a>’s additional staterooms include three double staterooms, with one of the staterooms having a detachable single bunk. Each of these staterooms has a private ensuite bathroom and music system installed.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229384/image/large-3f8765ea11c0871aea4c27ae5b269c47.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229384"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/229382/image/large-6ebe076ddb6a82e9b204e7c803df9b49.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/229382">For meals, guests onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> have the option of dining at the formal interior dining table or alfresco in the cockpit. The cockpit not only provides panoramic views of the ocean, but includes a foldable table and walls of glass and awnings, which can be put down to provide more ventilation. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312952/image/large-81bad8f186ab469dc220a5fc1d9292fa.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312952">Her exterior teak decks complement her brass features, with three points of access to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a>'s interior. In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> is equipped with twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1633" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lugger (Company)">Lugger</a> 500 horsepower engines, providing her with a cruising speed of nine knots and a top speed of 12 knots. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312969/image/large-f848fcdea2624117c9fb502b76595c3e.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312969"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shenandoah of Sark55.34m (181'7&quot;)Townsend & Downey1902">Shenandoah of Sark</a> is currently in Valencia, Spain.&nbsp;

54m Townsend-Downey superyacht Shenandoah of Sark back on the market 

Currently on the market with Bobby McDougall of Mediterranean Yachts, we take a look onboard the 122-year old sailing yacht Shenandoah of Sark.

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/302075/image/large-37c34f964a4788e3b3e30e82e3e9ce67.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/302075">Spotted a few weeks ago docked here in the Seychelles enjoying the bright winter season, are the superyachts <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6204" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady S93.0m (305'1&quot;)Feadship2019">Lady S</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daloob71.5m (234'7&quot;)Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd.2018">Daloob</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4947" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Um Alhoul71.5m (234'7&quot;)Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd.2018">Um Alhoul</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10947" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="No Stress Two49.9m (163'9&quot;)Rossinavi2023">No Stress Two</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1649" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Fish45.0m (147'8&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2010">Big Fish</a>. The 93-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6204" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady S93.0m (305'1&quot;)Feadship2019">Lady S</a>, built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> in 2019 for an experienced owner, features an exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/25" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Michael Leach Design Ltd. (Company)">Michael Leach</a> and an interior penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/56" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Reymond Langton Design Ltd. (Company)">Reymond Langton</a>. The 2,999 GT superyacht showcases notable amenities such as chandeliers crafted from white and crystal elements, a spacious pool and a helicopter landing platform rated for commercial use, that can also be used as an entertainment area.&nbsp;Next to her, the two 71.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2999" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd. (Company)">Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar</a> dive support yachts can be seen. Built under the name Al Jassasiya I, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4947" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Um Alhoul71.5m (234'7&quot;)Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd.2018">Um Alhoul</a> was delivered in 2018 and designed specifically for diving and exploring the seas. With a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she boasts a volume of 1,306 GT. Both her exterior and interior design were created by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1805" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pastrovich Studio (Company)">Pastrovich Studio</a>, in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> for her external profile. In the same year, her sistership <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daloob71.5m (234'7&quot;)Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd.2018">Daloob</a> also incorporated the Damen 6711/6911 series design, aligning with other sisterships including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6050" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Intrepid69.15m (226'10&quot;)Damen Yachting2016">Intrepid</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5955" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Game Changer72.15m (236'9&quot;)Damen Yachting2017">Game Changer</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3660" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Garçon67.15m (220'4&quot;)Damen Yachting2012">Garçon</a>. Equipped with four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daloob71.5m (234'7&quot;)Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Ltd.2018">Daloob</a> is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 20 knots.&nbsp;Among the vessels, the newly launched 49.9-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10947" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="No Stress Two49.9m (163'9&quot;)Rossinavi2023">No Stress Two</a>, delivered by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1080" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rossinavi (Company)">Rossinavi</a> last year, and the 45-metre expedition yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1649" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Fish45.0m (147'8&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2010">Big Fish</a> constructed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="McMullen & Wing Ltd (Company)">McMullen &amp; Wing</a> in 2010, are also visible.&nbsp;

Superyachts docked in the Seychelles

Superyachts Lady S, Big Fish, No Stress Two, Daloob and Um Alhoul  are seen here docked in the Seychelles.

History of the 120 year old schooner Shenandoah of Sark

Shenandoah of Sark is not only a luxurious three masted world adventurer, she is also a precious piece of history.

The history of the elegant 120-year old schooner Shenandoah of Sark

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="McMullen & Wing Ltd (Company)">McMullen &amp; Wing</a>’s 25.48-metre motor <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/virginia-sea/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Virginia Sea is for sale</a>. She was launched in 2005 and has undergone two refits throughout her life: the first in 2012 and the second only last year.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220386/image/large-2e57dbb700a881328e7c99ebf9a4fbc0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220386">This New Zealand pedigree yacht has an impressive charter history with multiple cruises to the Bahamas and New England on her scorecard. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Michael Peters Yacht Design (Company)">Michael Peters Yacht Design</a>, who designed both her exterior styling and naval architecture, penned her with a shallow draft to give the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> “go-anywhere” capabilities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220392/image/large-325aa1d7c04337bd61dc3dd1fe29646c.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220392"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220398/image/large-154bea0cf89a860e8da0ea8aa7c81558.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220398"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220396/image/large-727e832449919270f87fb5ae335529ea.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220396"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/323" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espinosa Yacht Design (Company)">Espinosa Yacht Design</a> was the creative mind behind her interior design, opting for classic rich, varnished mahogany throughout which are balanced by large white panel cushioning. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> has been configured with a split-level saloon, so that guests can either whittle away the hours on the well-lit upper area that benefits from wrap-around windows and sunroof that can all be opened, to transform the space into a semi-alfresco saloon. A second saloon area is situated below deck and acts as a cosy nook, filled with plush seating and imbued with a calming ambiance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220397/image/large-6f76c6b77ec89b6e4ce0b069696a7c52.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220397"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220404/image/large-1d7e190a4827708e0535d65676b4baca.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220404">Up to six guests can be accommodated onboard this 120 GT <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/mcmullen-wing/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">McMullen &amp; Wing yacht for sale</a>. She has three staterooms: one master suite and two twin staterooms, each of which is decked out in the same classic decor as the rest of the yacht and equipped with a private ensuite.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220390/image/large-ba03922fdb9e4e68abd5b704e7dcfe8f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220390"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220389/image/large-8a14c50c3ba6928baba3040c954d9357.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220389"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Virginia Sea25.48m (83'7&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2005">Virginia Sea</a> also provides plenty of outdoor living for her guests. To aft, she features a large C-shaped settee and multiple loungers, while forward are two sunpads. In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Virginia Sea25.48m (83'7&quot;)McMullen & Wing Ltd2005">Virginia Sea</a> is highly able and boasts a top speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220401/image/large-3af3941071290792ab447c1a030c147e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220401">

McMullen and Wing’s 25m yacht Virginia Sea for sale

McMullen and Wing’s 25m yacht Virginia Sea is for sale. She was launched in 2005 and has undergone two refits throughout her life.

McMullen & Wing’s 25m motor yacht Virginia Sea on the market

The world's largest sportfisher yachts

SYT presents a list of some of the largest sportfisher yachts in the fleet today.

15 of the world's fastest yachts

We present a selection of 10 of the world’s fastest yachts. Find out how a 42m superyacht manages to top out at 70 knots on SYT:

Y.CO has announced the sale of the 34.15-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nephele34.15m (112'0&quot;)">Nephele</a>&nbsp;after she was on the market for only three months, with Ben Barlett from Y.CO representing the seller. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/35371/image/large-ff55d5d42d13f27d172f43a1d018bb7f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/35371">Built in New Zealand by McMullen &amp; Wing in 2003, this 34.15-metre aluminium sailing yacht was previously called Ipanema&nbsp;and features naval architecture and exterior design by German Frers.On board, this modern sloop accommodates up to six guests across three staterooms in style and comfort, comprising one owner's stateroom, one double stateroom and one twin, with a crew of five also accommodated for on board.&nbsp;With one 425 HP Lugger Diesel engine found on board, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nephele34.15m (112'0&quot;)">Nephele</a>&nbsp;can reach a maximum speed of 12.5 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots.At the time of sale, she was listed at an asking price of €3,450,000.

Sailing yacht Nephele sold after three months on the market 

“When I was in architecture school and spent summers on the coast of Maine, I walked into a yacht company and asked them, ‘how do you do this, this and this?’ They explained it all to me, and I told them, I’ll be back.”&nbsp;These are the words of Ward Setzer, founder of the Florida-based design studio, Setzer Yacht Architects which has been in operation since 1991. The Setzer studio has had a highly successful run over its 27-year-long career so far, with a portfolio encompassing over 800 designs for 60 yards all around the world, including Trinity Yachts, Delta Marine, McMullen &amp; Wing and Christensen. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/32315/image/large-a82b30a5d30fc02ce48f5e9c5df81048.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32315">Setzer is a truly American designer and astute businessman who, through his New American Motor Yachts Collection launched in 2013 has offered his own corrective to what it means to have an ‘American style’ superyacht. Speaking with the designer at a typically hectic Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, we discovered why ‘less is more’ is more than just a saying, the importance of living the superyacht experience as a designer, and how Setzer Design Group survived the implosion of the US market during the recession. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/32312/image/large-0e8efb2199c94e99bdde7e079d013116.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32312">With arguably one of the best introductions to the industry, Setzer started his career in Palm Beach in 1984 under the tutelage of the American naval architecture legend J.B. Hargrave. Indeed, this was a somewhat precocious start to Setzer’s career: as he explained, “on my first day of work, I was given a 44-metre vessel to design - right out of design school!&nbsp;”From there, it was moving on to found and manage the Custom Yachts Division at Hatteras Yachts in 1986 until Setzer went his own way and opened his own studio in 1991. A big step for any designer, for Setzer, the decision was driven by one urge above all: curiosity. As Setzer says, “I was driven to learn more from builders around the world and to do that you have to get out there and learn. Curiosity drives you towards solving problems for clients: that’s all design is in the end, creative problem-solving. After so many years in one facility, your choice is either to jump ship and go into construction somewhere else or to hang out your own shingle as a designer and naval architect.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/32316/image/large-39762c10bb3d4da677087625d60b9b30.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32316">And hang out his shingle he did. An 88-foot aluminium and fibreglass sportfisher was Setzer’s first commission from Broward Marine in 1991, with another one of his most notable designs found in his work on the 43.2-metre Namoh (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4249" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Bee43.28m (141'12&quot;)">Lady Bee</a>) for Christensen. The studio also collaborated with some of the US’ top shipyards at the time, including Trinity, Trident Shipworks, Richmond Yachts, Intermarine USA and Lyman Morse.&nbsp;As Setzer sees it, the early part of his studio’s success was a case of being at the right place at the right time as the superyacht industry was developing in the US. “The timing was good for us. By 1995, we had started as the design firm for Trinity, Intermarine USA, Trident Shipworks, and they all happened within a month of each other.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/32314/image/large-df7f22605e6bc3d9f1303ab6f913879c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32314">Setzer’s early collaborations with American yards also came at an exciting time of innovation for the industry internationally, not just in the States. Between the late 1980s and the early 2000s, designers and yards in the US created what we now know as the modern raised pilothouse yacht, as well as the design of shorter tri-deck vessels, which, as Setzer explained, established the market desire in the minds of buyers for these products. “This afforded a place for international brands to eventually mimic and latch on to and build their own followings [...] US quality and innovation lead the way until adjustments within the global economy made us share the fun while labour issues and mismanagement took things in other directions." It is these vital years of US yachting innovation which are often overlooked in representations of the American yacht industry. As Setzer says, “everyone loves to paint a bad picture of the state of the American yacht industry but they speak from a position of not knowing its history, how it came to be after World War II, what drove its phenomenal growth and eventual decline.” And, despite the subsequent decline faced by shipyards such as Trinity, Intermarine, Trident and Richmond, the Setzer studio continued to thrive. As Setzer told us, “They imploded as companies, and yet through diversification we carried on. The whole industry kind of hobbled on together in the US.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/32313/image/large-ffd47a6e64847ad78cfc2ceda437d0f9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32313" style="background-color: initial; font-size: 0.95rem;">The Vestal 6200 in development for the Italian Sea Group Looking at it 27 years later, Setzer’s design career has certainly been more of a marathon than a hobble. He has an impressive portfolio of international collaborations beyond the US, including the 62-metre Vestal 6200 four deck motor yacht which is currently under development for the Italian Sea Group.&nbsp;One of the biggest developments for Setzer Design Group in recent years was the aforementioned New American Motor Yachts Collection, revealed in 2013. As for the inspiration for these new designs, it came from a two year design sabbatical Setzer spent on the Caribbean island of Antigua. “I&nbsp;wanted to see if I could connect deeper with the superyacht feel. I had a brand new studio right above the water. It was just me and my wife and a clean slate, and therefore resulted in some of the cleanest and most productive design work I’ve ever done.”Moving from the hectic life of his US-based design studio to the relative tranquility of the Caribbean resulted in the designer’s return to the US with a portfolio of 22 designs ranging from 28 to 70 metres, 16 of which were sold after he returned - a successful sabbatical indeed. But for Setzer, his time in Antigua represented something deeper than a chance to relax and enabled him to connect, on a personal level, with how owners use their boats: “It’s about being in tune with how boats are really used. In Antigua, we interfaced with captains and crew and started to really understand that these third and fourth homes, as I like to call them, can feel like long lost children sometimes. You’ve got to really understand how this crew manages and runs the yacht, deploys the toys, entertains the guests, stocks the vessel, and you can’t always get a grip on that unless you see how owners use their yachts both for charter and for personal use.”Vitally too, informing Setzer’s most contemporary designs, too, is a shift in tastes he has noticed from his American clients who are moving towards a more minimalistic - and, arguably, a more European - aesthetic. “All these classic designs with numerous details and expensive trappings are too much. Instead of all this bling everywhere, ‘less is more’ is my mantra. Clean lines are key to the way I draw today, from pencil to paper and computer to ‘as built’ dreams.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/32311/image/large-7a9fb5d04716f13685685ecbeaf98522.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/32311">For Setzer, this change in American stylistic tastes is connected to the move towards a younger demographic of superyacht owners who expect to use their vessels differently from their predecessors. As Setzer told us, “The average age of the American superyacht owner is coming down…. they’ve got a more modern taste in architecture and they’re more travelled than they have been in the past. They want more open-plan interiors; we’ve almost gone to the minimalistic bean-bag chair world with lots of glass. You also increasingly have a very changeable need of the space; let’s set it up for a party, let’s set it up for lounging around, and so on.”&nbsp;Doubtless to say, however this alteration in American tastes will be born out in the future with the next generation of superyacht owners, Setzer Design Studio will be there, paying careful attention to what Americans and international clientele want and designing boats to both suit, and perhaps even shape, the style which we will see on the water in the upcoming years. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title=""><img src="/uploads/store/photo/23641/image/large-5807815e2703721ae6618b7a54d59cdb.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/23641"></a> This article was featured in the latest edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Subscribe now&nbsp;</a>to recieve your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.&nbsp;

Insight: Restyling the States with Ward Setzer

Though the superyacht business is a relatively small industry, it is packed with international professionals from all walks of life, and it can certainly be easy to get lost in the sea of faces we're presented with at boat shows, yachting events and beyond. In this series of articles, we take a step back from rushed business meetings and hurried networking and sit down with professionals from across the wide spectrum of the superyacht business to learn more about who they are and what they do for the industry. In this week’s episode, we get to know Mike Sanderson, a two time Volvo Ocean Race winner, a veteran of three America's Cup campaigns, and a name familiar to anyone with a penchant for all things sailing. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/26076/image/large-0a6214e7503ee2995fde453b4d813426.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26076">You’ve recently taken over as CEO of Doyle Sails from founder Robbie Doyle - tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to get into the sail making industry.&nbsp;I left school to become a sailmaker in 1988 so I have been involved in the sailmaking industry all my working life. For me sailmaking as a teenager was the road into professional sailing and, in fact, I still think it’s a great avenue for those who aspire to become a professional sailor.Tell us about your journey to Doyle Sails.I have only been involved in Doyle Sails for the last six years, so for sure I’m still a bit of a newbie in the world of Doyle as some of the people involved have been here since Robbie and Janet Doyle started the company in the early 80s… Over the years the company has had so many milestones, but one of the biggest was when Richard Bouzaid and Chris McMaster launched the STRATIS membrane plant back in 2003. The sailmaking industry has changed so much, from lots of small companies buying the same fabric as the big boys to really being dominated by the big players now who are manufacturing their own ‘bespoke’ sail membranes. For Doyle Sails to have a well-known market-leading product such as Stratis is pivotal to our growth. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/26073/image/large-3d5fd802b40ccc238edb38a3e0661cac.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26073"> 2018 New Zealand Millennium Cup winner Ammonite, featuring Doyle sails A number of the New Zealand builders have shut their doors over the past few years... can the industry in New Zealand ever recover?&nbsp;Yes, New Zealand has lost two of the biggest builders with Alloy Yachts and Fitzroy closing, but we still have very strong players such as Yachting Developments and McMullen &amp; Wing, who are world leaders in their respective markets. New Zealand has also adapted their priorities very quickly from building superyachts to servicing superyachts. Auckland, in particular, is very lucky with the powers that be were switched onto that and built additional berths where required to allow for growth in superyacht service. The Westhaven area, for example, is full of superyachts all the way from Silo Park through to Orams Marina. On top of that, you have Whangarei and Tauranga that are now well set up to cater for the big boats. So even though the new builds have slowed down the whole market is busy from refits which is great.I would be lying if I said that we didn’t miss as many new builds, but like everyone else we have adapted and with sails they don’t last forever so luckily for the sailmakers often people are scheduling their refits in New Zealand about the time their sails need replacing. &nbsp; In our recent interview with Neville Crichton for the Innovation issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, he noted that the sailing yacht sector is technically the most innovative in yachting. What do you see as some of the most important innovations in sailing over the past 10 years?For me that’s easy, it has to be how we deal with foils and foiling and which will also affect the superyacht world. There’s already a superyacht in production with a “DSS” system, so a foil to generate Dynamic Stability…so stability from speed. Then there’s the big 100ft Tri’s already launched who are looking to foil around the world non-stop…I have no doubt this will be a big part of sailing’s evolution over the next ten years. What's next for Doyle Sails?&nbsp;Our industry demands that innovation is constant, and we already have sails and concepts out there in the real-life test lab always looking for better, faster, but durable and long lasting ways of building sails. The last 12 months we have seen the launch of our ‘Cable-less Code 0’ which really has taken off as the only way to do a Code Zero in 2018, but we still have an awful lot more that we can do with that technology. Not only for the Code Zero but the whole inventory.

 5 Questions with… Mike Sanderson, Doyle Sails

In this new weekly series of articles, we take you back in time as we open the SuperYachtTimes.com archives to reveal some of the most exciting moments in yachting that took place each week over the last decade.6 February 200850m Wally Better Place under construction in Italy<img src="/uploads/store/photo/24725/image/large-db6f47c5931be8acb640b7d6acb73325.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24725">Known as the world’s largest carbon fibre sloop at the time of her build, the 50-metre Wally sailing yacht Better Place was taking shape on this day exactly a decade ago in Ancona, Italy. She was delivered four years later in 2012 to her owner and remains the largest project undertaken by the Monegasque yachting brand.7 February 2011Keel laid of 65m Heesen superyacht&nbsp;Galactica Star<img src="/uploads/store/photo/24726/image/large-63f204ca69cb0e907f8a93e64f285024.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24726">What was their largest superyacht project at the time, in early 2011 Heesen Yachts laid the keel of the 65-metre hull YN 16465 that would go on to be launched two years later as Galactica&nbsp;Star.8 February 2011Superyacht&nbsp;Big Fish reaches polar circumnavigation half waypoint <img src="/uploads/store/photo/24727/image/large-79d5281180ecc7e37f68801515bda41e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24727">In a time where few luxury yachts braved to venture too far out of the Mediterranean and Caribbean comfort zones, the 45-metre superyacht Big Fish was pushing the limits by having set a polar circumnavigation course shortly after her launch in 2010. On this day in 2011, she was spotted in the waters of the Antarctic and reached the halfway point of this daunting challenge.6 February 2013Feadship launches largest yacht to date<img src="/uploads/store/photo/24728/image/large-fbf06b69f5ef58f7270dab37219005ad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24728">On this day in 2013, Feadship floated their largest superyacht project to date, the 99-metre Dream, out of her build shed for the first time to reveal a bright blue superyacht far surpassing any other yacht built in the Netherlands at the time in overall size. Project Dream later became Madame Gu and remains one of the Dutch shipyard’s most iconic vessels today.

On this day: SYT archive stories from this week

Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects is one of few internationally renowned design and naval architecture studios that call Canada their home. Headed by founder Gregory Marshall and his business partner Gord Galbraith, the team are impassioned by personal projects, and their portfolio is littered with exciting vessels that suit their owner’s needs to a T. We visited Marshall and his team of 16 employees at their base in Victoria at the end of last year, where he gave us an insight into two such projects, the VVS1 and Big Fish.

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Most designers note that an indispensable element of superyacht design is the owner - his or her personality, routine and, of course, his demands of the vessel. Marshall states, “Private yachting is a personal thing that is really tied to personal dreams of what you’re going to do and how you’ll go adventuring.” This, however, is not as black and white as it may seem.

Realistically, to really get to know a client and to be able to translate his personality into metres of metal takes time - and time, unfortunately, is not a commodity that can be bought. Time is sparse for both designer and owner, meaning that the realisation of an owner’s dream superyacht is, in part, left to speculation. Calculated and educated speculation, but speculation nonetheless. The majority of the time, designers utilise their talent to successfully achieve the desired end product but, sometimes, this can get lost in translation.

This is something Marshall knows only too well, as not honing in on this philosophy nearly cost the brand one of their most high profile jobs; the the 34.18 metre all aluminium VVS1. In this case the owner requested a traditional yacht, inspired by a 27 metre project the team at Gregory C. Marshall had previously worked on. They were three months into the design before Marshall spent time with the clients in their home and really observed their lifestyle. He soon realised that they were headed in the complete wrong direction… and boldly suggested they rethink the whole design. The owners were not traditional people, so why were they designing a traditional yacht?

Marshall explains further: “I took a chance and I said to them, ‘I think we’re on the wrong track.’ It was a little risky to say when you’re already three or four months into the job! When I proposed the idea, he said, ‘Thank god. I thought we were going to have to fire you.’” The near fatal misjudgement of the clients needs and the subsequent ideal realisation of the project had a profound impact on Marshall, and he comments, “It changed the way we design boats.”

The success of VVS1 certainly opened doors for the company, and based on the success of the vessel, they were subsequently commissioned to work on the 45 metre McMullen &amp; Wing superyacht Big Fish, which has since become one of their most renowned projects. The owner of Big Fish liked what he saw with VVS1, and for six months, corresponded with Marshall in discussion for a brand new project. Marshall finally - albeit briefly - met with the client to discuss further in Monaco and the rest, they say, is history.

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Before the client’s flight had touched down in his next destination, Marshall had already sent his preliminary ideas. Learning from his experience with VVS1, Marshall proceeded to spend a lot of time on the owner’s previous boat before finalising Big Fish. The sketches changed, though the concept stayed largely the same, testament to the development of Marshall’s creative conceptual talents.

Being a big fish in a small Canadian pond doesn’t seem to matter when the pond has an airport, and, of course, thanks to the powers of the internet, a point Marshall demonstrates as he continues, “We’ve got projects in pretty much every corner of the world right now. If things are lean in Europe, we can go to Asia. If things are lean in Asia, we can go to New Zealand. Up until a few years ago, we had no local work at all. We knew nothing about what was going on in our own backyard because everything was overseas.”

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A driven and solid team with plenty of work to keep them busy, Marshall seems very content with the state of the brand right now, though the future may hold some expansion in order for the team to be able to work on projects exceeding 65 metres. He concludes, “We have a couple of big jobs that we’re looking at scheduling right now, and we may need three or four more people. I don’t see wanting to run a 70 person firm. I enjoy the hands on side of it too much to want to have somebody running the office. It still has to be fun.” Constant projects, an exciting client base, and an enthusiasm for design which is yet to be extinguished, Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect’s future looks set to remain bright.

The full article is featured in the 6th edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe now</a> and never miss another issue! 
	 
	 

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Big Fish, small pond: Gregory C. Marshall

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Superyacht Big Fish in Papua New Guinea

A rare photograph taken last week of the ever elusive word-cruising superyacht Big Fish shows the yacht currently spending time around the South Pacific island of Papua New Guinea. Conceived by Aquos Yachts and built in New Zealand by McMullen &amp; Wing to a design of Gregory C. Marshall, the 45 metre Big Fish accommodates her guests in five staterooms along with a crew of 10 members. A unique feature on board are the opening port and starboard stern bulwarks that create the widest swim platform area of any yacht under 65 metres. Read our full on board report about Big Fish <a href="http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-of-the-week-the-45-metre-superyacht-big-fish/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Photo by Hilary Herscher

The 45m superyacht Big Fish in Papua New Guinea

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Superyacht Koi in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Launched in 2001 by New Zealand shipyard McMullen &amp; Wing as Surprise, the 35 metre Setzer Designed Yacht changed hands in 2009 and is today known as Koi. Her current owner purchased the yacht with the intention of offering the vessel as a charter yacht and has since the acquisition spent a considerable amount of time and money in the refitting of Koi. Her most recent refit in 2014 cost an estimated €1.3 million and was a complete refit. The work included; another complete interior refit; brand new generators; IT upgrades including a 4G router; AV upgrades of the entertainment systems and a major main engine service, amongst many other improvements. She was recently captured by SYT’s Tom van Oossanen in Palma de Mallorca with the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria in the background.