NFTs and Web3 are slowly but surely encroaching into the world of yachting. Cryptocurrencies have been pretty much accepted across the board, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55532" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="More brokers accept BitPay amid crypto market uncertainty (2022-07-13 12:15:00 +0200)">even the most steeped-in-tradition brokerage houses facilitating wallet-to-wallet payments</a>. But NFTs have been a little slower to take off - and it’s likely to do with utility.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240086/image/large-ff14fc7f35ac78b330075073b1a6f9b1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240086">Jad Comair, Founder and CEO of Melanion Capital and owner of the motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Amanda29.68m (97'5&quot;)Couach Yachts2006">Lady Amanda</a>, in collaboration with a team of Web3 experts, is about to launch an all-new NFT collection that is looking to change this. The Bored Yachts Club collection will give its users access to yachting experiences and events.&nbsp;Drawing inspiration from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) ecosystem, which combines Web3 and real-life utility, Comair plans to replicate the model but in the context of yachting. Simply, he’s looking to create a global decentralised yacht club that provides access to yachting for those that might not otherwise have the opportunity. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/78255/image/large-a97d0c03f08d14cc9ba9469451b46e9a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/78255">“I have no doubt that NFTs and Web3 are the future, and I wanted to find a way to incorporate this into my yacht charter business. This was the genesis of the idea, really. Yachting is the ultimate luxurious experience, and by building an ecosystem where instead of paying for the experience in monetary terms you can incentivise users, in a similar way to how air miles work, to trade and earn coins for time on board,” Comair explained.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/235693/image/large-412d9e8525811922a7f838aa287aab1f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/235693">This initially translates to time onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Amanda29.68m (97'5&quot;)Couach Yachts2006">Lady Amanda</a>, but as the ecosystem expands Comair anticipates a large number of yacht owners getting involved. “We’re not only building an NFT collection, we’re building a community – and we want as many people involved as possible. There are many privately owned yachts that are available to charter but struggle to find charterers.&nbsp;If you visit any marina you will always see lines of yachts moored, waiting for their next excursion with an owner or charterer. We can tap into this and bring these owners into the folds of the ecosystem.”There will be a coin-based system within the Bored Yachts Club collection that will preserve and facilitate growth for the ecosystem (I’ll explain later), and will be the basis in which to incentivise yacht owners to join the community and get them “bored”. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240085/image/large-c6b379994aafb95051ea1dab14c7fcc8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240085">“The coins raised and earned through the buying and exchanging of NFTs will be payment for time onboard the yachts,” Comair explained. “These coins can be spent, donated to the YachtCoin foundation, or to any other foundation of the yacht owner’s choosing.The majority of owner’s already donate to foundations and charities, and this is an opportunity for them to swap time onboard for their donations – meaning they can support their organisations through chartering their yachts and not through monetary donations.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/78248/image/large-0de4f4f09adac0a78a80777f0a2b68e4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/78248">For those savvy with the BAYC ecosystem this may all make sense, but for those unfamiliar I’ll explain. The Bored Ape Yacht Club is an exclusive member’s only group of art collectors – the art being digital JPEGs of apes, which you may or may not have seen as social media profile photos.Firstly, BAYC has created great prestige and its well-known that amongst its members are a number of which are A-list celebrities. What’s unique about the art collection though is that they have royalties attached, so that every time one is sold or exchanged the designers receive commission. Basically, BAYC has created a loop system where its clients (users) generate revenue for the artists and foundation of the group, while simultaneously self-promoting the brand.&nbsp;The rewards are exclusive access to events through what’s called “drop outs” – free gifts and invitations organised by its members.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/78275/image/large-7000fc111f83aef44594fdfac5abae99.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/78275">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht NFTs: Making the “exclusive more inclusive” with Oceanco (2022-04-06 12:15:00 +0200)">Superyacht NFTs: Making the “exclusive more inclusive” with Oceanco</a>BAYC has been so successful that it's just received around $500,000,000 from venture capitalists to develop a metaverse that replicates the cult classic novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, and film of the same name. To put this into perspective, leading games such as Fortnight are estimated to cost around $100-150,000,000 to produce. BAYC’s metaverse smashes that record. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/78284/image/large-04338dac30944fef819b2f599b51a499.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/78284">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54776" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="From blockchain to in-build: Tactical 110, the first NFT yacht sale on ETH blockchain (2022-03-16 10:15:00 +0100)">From blockchain to in-build: Tactical 110, the first NFT yacht sale on ETH blockchain</a>Comair is not pushing to create a metaverse – not yet, anyway! – but he is replicating the essence of what BAYC has created. It’s the ecosystem, and its disruptive attitude that we’ll see in yachting. Comair will replace this loop system model as a coin-based system where users can earn and spend coins to use as time onboard yachts.&nbsp;As the Founder and CEO of Melanion Capital, an asset management company that specialises in digital assets, and issuer of the first Bitcoin thematic ETF in Europe, Comair is well-versed in Web3 and the world of crypto and NFTs. He’s also the owner of the John Blackeye NFT, making him a member of the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Interestingly, it’s John Blackeye who’s the legal custodian of the 29.68-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Amanda29.68m (97'5&quot;)Couach Yachts2006">Lady Amanda</a> – making her the world’s first “tokenised” yacht. It therefore offers a unique premier spot for Web3 networking. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/78260/image/large-a41782162fba0903c9db91ea8b0c6e1c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/78260">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54008" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht brokerage & bitcoin: Is the trend here to stay? (2021-11-03 16:45:00 +0100)">Superyacht brokerage &amp; bitcoin: Is the trend here to stay?</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Amanda29.68m (97'5&quot;)Couach Yachts2006">Lady Amanda</a>, the first yacht available for charter through the scheme, is one of the most popular charter yachts in the Mediterranean. She has a brimming toybox, which includes an inflatable slide – unusual for a 30-metre motor yacht. With four staterooms, she can accommodate as many as ten guests.

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 The Bored Yachts Club collection will give its users access to yachting experiences and events.

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Bored Yachts Club: An NFT collection with real life yachting utility

After attempting to meet up during a very busy boot Dusseldorf, we finally had the chance to sit down with Nick Gelevert, Founder and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boatsters Black (Company)">Boatsters Black</a> over Teams in early February. Nick comes from a long line of yacht brokers, his grandfather Hans Lengers founding the Netherlands’ first brokerage. Today Nick is both the CEO of the ‘first Dutch superyacht charter company’ <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boatsters Black (Company)">Boatsters Black</a> with seven international offices and an impressive portfolio of pedigree yachts, and the Sales Director of brokerage firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lengers Yachts (Company)">Lengers</a>. With expansion always on his mind, Nick has much in store for the boutique charter firm. SYT found out more. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262239/image/large-028247e85db04278e4d7d6c2adfec517.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262239">With a legacy of brokerage in your family, was it always your plan to become a broker?I was born and raised in the midst of the yachting industry, and of course it came to my mind from a young age that I might work in the industry as well. My grandfather started selling yachts in the 1970s and there was also a boat building business within the family, so yachting is truly part of my family heritage. When the time came for me to start my first business however, I decided to break from the family tradition and I founded a company within the real estate industry. I think it was partly a youthful rebellion – I was only 23 – but I quickly realised that I’d made a mistake not following my passion for the yachting industry.I had been an active and competitive sailor from the age of eight, racing every week, and of course having grown up within my family, yachting was truly where my heart lay. So I &nbsp;decided to pivot the concept I’d created within the real estate industry, and do something similar within yachting. The business became <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boatsters Black (Company)">Boatsters</a>; the first AirBnB for boats. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69988/image/large-e5de394c61cf3a6b29fbcc9408e9bf14.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69988">So how did an AirBnB for boats transform into a superyacht charter brokerage house?In 2015 we launched the platform and were the first in the world to do so. There were some other early adopters but we grew very quickly, operating in 63 countries with 12,000 boats available for rent. It was a successful beginning but we quickly realised that in order to become a truly profitable business, we would need a huge operational network. Boats are nothing like houses; they need work, maintenance and expansive shoreside support.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/50182/image/large-00c42362b1bed144ada7b119cd9afc4f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/50182">Why do you think that the company has done so well – how do you stand out from the crowd?At the same time as I was having these thoughts, clients from Lengers were generating leads and asking questions about Boatsters and enquiring if I could assist them with yacht charter. From these leads came a very organic transition into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boatsters Black (Company)">Boatsters Black</a>, where we began to work with crewed yachts above 20-metres. Not long after this transition, we took Boatsters offline and I focused my energies on the development of the superyacht charter business. Since that decision we’ve opened international offices, are managing some very exciting yachts and expect to double our fleet in 2023. The company is positive and profitable and with the direction we’re currently going, we will be one of the top players in the charter industry within a few years.&nbsp;I believe that our approach is what makes us stand out. We are a boutique charter company, and we don't have aspirations to be the biggest, we want to provide the best service to a limited number of clients. We have regular contact with owners, we offer a personal concierge service for onshore support, we are incredibly active and make our clients really feel how much we value them. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/216778/image/large-e3b74dc8cf7cf04994e4b19dd6e7c678.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/216778">What has it been like breaking into an industry that has been dominated by long standing and large companies, such as&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>?When we set out we knew it would be like David and Goliath, but I have always enjoyed a challenge. My aspiration when we set out was to establish <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boatsters Black (Company)">Boatsters Black</a> as the industry’s first Dutch charter house, just as my grandfather was the first Dutch broker. I am happy to say we’ve achieved that goal and now we are looking to the next challenge.&nbsp;The yachting industry has an obsession with being the biggest, with companies claiming ‘the biggest charter fleet’ or the most charters completed, but what does that actually mean for the client? Very likely it means an impersonal approach, with yachts being managed by a conglomerate rather than a person &nbsp;– we do not aspire to become that kind of business!&nbsp;What are your plans for the future for the business?The next stage is expansion. We’ve built a base from which the company can grow exponentially and my attention first will be to make sure that our services are the best they can be. We aren’t going to be accepting any and all boats to the fleet, but really making sure that the yacht is able to offer clients the best services, with a stable crew and good knowledge base.&nbsp;In 2022 we had a revenue of over €12 million and with an expansion into the full spectrum of services including crewing and management, I expect that to see a stable increase this year. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/216755/image/large-6c1f9a59bba24e5170d83edfc3039cf0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/216755">Finally, what advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?Firstly, focus on an aspect of this industry and be the best at that aspect. There are so many generalists within yachting and what there needs to be is more specialists. Secondly, know your product better than your client, there are too many brokers out there who don't truly understand superyachts and that does a disservice to clients and dissuades people from remaining in yachting.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262241/image/large-7cb830fd8f9d3ab3775a8b19035afdb5.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262241">Nick GelevertAge: 32Nationality: DutchSales revenue last 36 months: €200 million&nbsp;Company founded: 2014This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-44" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Issue 44 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>.&nbsp;To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Interview with Nick Gelevert of Boatsters Black

We interviewed Nick Gelevert, CEO of Boatsters Black, for the latest edition of our Entrepreneur in Yachting series.

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Building the first Dutch superyacht charter brokerage: Nick Gelevert of Boatsters Black

As the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a> sailing regatta comes to a close,&nbsp;SuperYacht Times&nbsp;spoke with Graham Newton, Captain of two-time St Barths Bucket overall winner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a>, about <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a> glory, the legacy of the regatta, and sailing in the island’s waters.&nbsp;Widely regarded as one of the finest cruising grounds in the Caribbean, if not the world, sailing in St Barths is a thing of beauty. Situated in the French Antilles, St Barths is one of a collection of islands famed for exemplary sailing conditions against a magnificent backdrop of bold, blue-green waters and pristine coastlines.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/28959/image/large-45b45ded11729e2ad9bb0299ca040bbf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/28959">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a>, one of the world’s most prestigious invitational sailing regattas that welcomes the finest sailors and vessels to the island’s waters, is the pinnacle event. First held in March 1995 and returning year after year, this year’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">Bucket</a> marks nearly thirty years of the legendary regatta.Read: <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/st-barths-bucket-2023-results" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">St Barths Bucket 2023: Nakupenda winner, with Red Dragon and Prana awarded special prizes</a>The 66.7-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> took home the win in the two most recent editions of the regatta. She was victorious in her class — Les Gazelles des Mers — and won the Overall Bucket Winner title in 2019. After Covid19 put the event on hold for three years, Hetairos returned to St Barths to repeat history in 2022, also winning an additional title of Best Starter, awarded in recognition of the yacht that executes the closest start over the course of the regatta.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/71811/image/large-69584f9a0dd3a99d386cb49ba0467feb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/71811">Captain Graham Newton has been with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> since 2014 and captained her in her two-time Bucket wins. “The first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a> I competed in was in 2002, and I have since done more on various different boats,” Captain Graham Newton recalled. He continued, “I have been with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> since 2014, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a> is a highlight of our programme.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262012/image/large-8ca2c0bde90e6d6fc9b15d7397d9c7fe.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262012">The 66.7-metre ketch-rigged sailing yacht was brought to life by heavyweight <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a>, designed by the Amsterdam-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a> in cooperation with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/521" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Reichel / Pugh Yacht Design (Company)">Reichel Pugh</a> across the pond in San Diego. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a> built a super lightweight vessel that gives <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> her great performance and generates so much power,” Captain Graham Newton explained. Shortly into Newton’s time onboard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> underwent a rectification period at the Dutch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>. “A lot of her systems and her hydraulics were changed. That time in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> really transformed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> into the reliable machine that she is today.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/56544/image/large-0ad7a6e288a9bad34d5cc67f7464f33c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/56544">According to her captain and her track record, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> is a weapon on the water. “She is a powerful beast, and you have to treat her with a lot of respect. If you get it wrong, it catches you out pretty quickly, that’s for sure.” Her emerald green hull stands out against the water, both for its distinctive colour and long, regal waterline.&nbsp;“She is a big, powerful boat, with a long waterline,” Captain Graham Newton explained. “I’ve sailed a lot of miles on her now — probably about 120,000 — and she’s a fantastic boat to sail. She effortlessly eats up the miles, especially out on the ocean.” Indeed, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> is the largest carbon composite ketch in the world and a force to be reckoned with out on open water. Her ketch rig and lightweight design allow her to cruise powerfully with an air of effortlessness. “She’s a wolf in wolf’s clothing,” laughed Captain Newton.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220440/image/large-0ba37b7249d9bcf1aad6899073675e2a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220440">A native to open water cruising, preparing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> for a regatta takes effort and expertise. “We put a lot of effort into preparing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetarios</a> for the racecourse,” explained Captain Newton. “It takes us about three or four weeks to transform her from a proper cruising vessel to being race ready. This is a long process, we change the sails and remove a lot from the vessel and set up different systems.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/80402/image/large-467ee25945d9b0cae92db14063587e0d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/80402">Indeed, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> is often almost double the size of her competitors and when she races must undergo intensive preparation to shift her compatibility from open-water cruising to regattas. “There is a huge amount of workup, training and time and effort put into trying to take home a win,” Captain Newton explained.But when put against more typical purpose-designed performance style vessels, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> is victorious. “In our class, we race alongside other high performance boats. It is a really challenging class to win, and to then win the overall title is not easy. To do it twice in a row, is an incredible achievement,” Captain Newton reminisced. “Her owner had been chasing a grand victory with the boat for a while, so to be able to deliver that to them back in 2019 was fantastic, and then to follow that up with a win last year was pretty special.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220437/image/large-3bf65e9b112b8897a9d3e97ee517a9f0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220437">Hetairos</a> has 11 permanent crew members, and welcomes an extra 24 bodies exclusively for racing. “The core of the racing team have been with us for many years,” Captain Newton explained. “Having the core crew the same again and again makes such a massive difference. The race crew that we have are a really nice bunch of people who have a lot of respect for the permanent crew. There are no egos there, everyone is there on merit, and there is a fantastic camaraderie.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220435/image/large-dfacd9d3d71d43c5a89f1866662c0563.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220435">Camaraderie is the life force of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">St Barths Bucket</a>. Looking back to August 1986, one can observe the humble beginnings of the Bucket Regattas, the very first of which was a hastily thrown-together affair in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The originary seeds of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">Bucket Regattas</a> were sown in a spirited discussion that took place at a high-society birthday celebration between several yacht owners concerning optimal yacht design and individual sailing prowess.With undisputed bragging rights to last an annum hailed as the grand prize, the following day seven sailing yachts raced on a make-shift 15 nautical mile course around Nantucket Sound. However, participants soon learned that camaraderie formed at sea between like-minded individuals was the greatest prize of all. After a nearby bucket was deemed the perfect commemoration, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">Bucket Regatta</a> was born, and the spirit of camaraderie remains the beating heart of the regatta.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/29460/image/large-0ec115066e113aada7f13d410a0a338b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29460">The course itself is demanding, spanning just over 23 nautical miles. “It is a challenging place to sail at times, especially when you go around the island on day one and three in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">Bucket</a>. Particularly last year, when it was very windy,” said Captain Newton. “Out on the eastern side of the island you get big seas and it is pretty breezy.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/29482/image/large-bedbc7adaa16fcaec8401eb16f2b4713.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29482">For casual sailing, Captain Newton recommended, “The group of islands off the north coast of the St Barths make it brilliant for sailing, as there are some pretty interesting routes.” Here, sailors can find a rugged sailing ground home to a wealth of secluded bays and uninhabited islands and islets. “It is a pretty spectacular place to sail,” Captain Newton continued, “You get a mix of the flat water on the Leeside and big waves out to the east.”St Barths is a charming and flirty Caribbean island with a reputation for its luxurious feel and glitz-studded, lively atmosphere. “St Barths is particularly busy during the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St. Barths Bucket Regatta - 2023">Bucket</a>,” Captain Newton laughed. “It feels like the Caribbean French Riviera. The island is home to spectacular beaches and beach clubs, making it good fun.”

Hetairos yacht captain's interview

SYT spoke with Graham Newton, Captain of two-time St Barths Bucket overall winner Hetairos, about St Barths Bucket glory and sailing in St Barths

St Barths Bucket: Two-time winner Captain Graham Newton on the glory and the legacy of the regatta

Francois Zuretti is one of the elder statesmen of yacht design. In a rare interview opportunity, SuperYacht Times was invited to visit his home and studio in the south of France.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251947/image/large-a36ab6a395be1d60a171671d61215df0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251947">Modest, unassuming and a little shy, Francois Zuretti may be one the most prolific and distinguished names in the world of superyacht design, but he likes to keep a low profile. In fact, our recent video profile of the French interior designer was the first of its kind, period. Not that he is in need of the publicity, having worked with all the top shipyards on some of the largest superyachts afloat.Zuretti began his design career in the mid-‘70s with&nbsp;Triad Condas, a Paris-based company specialising in the interior design of Middle Eastern palaces, which led to him working for the King of Morocco. He set up his own studio in 1987, first in Geneva before moving to Nice to be closer to his yachting clients on the French Riviera. Interestingly, he chose not to relocate to Monaco, not least because he wanted his company to retain its distinctly French identity.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/207091/image/large-d9a7f07880c0f54ee7b05372ceeb1db7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/207091"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/13573/image/large-0c51f21446e9cbaee949065f50e04469.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/13573">Zuretti’s first yacht interior was for Eco (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/901" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zeus74.5m (244'5&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1991">Zeus</a>), the iconic 75-metre motor yacht designed by Martin Francis and delivered by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm + Voss</a> in 1991. While Eco was in build, he was also working on 46-metre Shamwari (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/532" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mistress46.0m (150'11&quot;)Benetti SpA1991">Mistress</a>), the first project in a string of collaborations with the Italian builder that culminated in 65-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/607" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ambrosia65.0m (213'3&quot;)Benetti SpA2006">Ambrosia</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s first diesel-electric superyacht in 2006.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/607" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ambrosia65.0m (213'3&quot;)Benetti SpA2006">Ambrosia</a>’s sumptuous Art Deco interior for a client in Hong Kong may be lavish by today’s standards, but at the time it was considered the height of luxury for its rare and expensive materials and exquisite craftsmanship. Zuretti’s personal tastes could not be more different and are best reflected in his own home, which he designed himself. Decidedly modernist and rational, the stunning building is set into the hills between Cap-d'Ail and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/174091/image/large-ad1b7760b6be3a55da0ed04ceb3dfb13.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/174091">“Tastes have changed over the past 20 years, but the market has changed more,” says Zuretti from a sitting room with stunning views of the coast through floor-to-ceiling windows. “New clients have brought new developments. Before my clients had a stronger relationship with the sea, the boats were smaller and people were closer to the water. Life aboard a 45-metre yacht is centred around the sea, but on a 150-metre superyacht you need other activities like spas and cinemas. We’re working on a project at the moment that has a full-size tennis court, for example. I’m not sure it’s all good for the yachting business, but it has certainly helped to develop new materials and concepts.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/223388/image/large-074e023730e2605abe0ba60d1240f0b7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/223388">Zuretti started out with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> but quickly moved on to work with the leading north European shipyards, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lurssen</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>. Sadly, most of these yachts are strictly private and the designer is unable to discuss them, but his studio has been involved in multiple projects over 100 metres. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> is a more recent client and Zuretti devised the interior of its 78-metre custom project <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6826" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Energy77.8m (255'3&quot;)Amels2022">Energy</a> with exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino</a>that left the shipyard last July. The studio describes the project as “the perfect combination of good production processes and bespoke design.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/174094/image/large-41a16e4a10044301f253ba0c6f1e6eff.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/174094">Watch:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Video: At the studio with Francois Zuretti of Zuretti Interior Design (2022-09-12 14:00:00 +0200)">Video: At the studio with Francois Zuretti of Zuretti Interior Design</a>Zuretti is still the creative heart of the company that bears his name, but the daily operations are overseen by his general manager, Sebastien Gey, who is responsible for a 50-strong multinational staff that occupies an entire floor of a stately building in the Belle Epoque style close to the seafront in Nice. A civil architect and designer, but also a naval architect and passionate sailor, it is Sebastien’s job to manage a team that has up to a dozen superyacht and residential projects on the go at any one time.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/261469/image/large-f07ee8303e98a7c24f4cbff8ad5e5c31.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/261469">“To offer the best quality you need the best team,” says Sebastien. “We have very talented designers, architects and project managers. We create all our own renderings in-house, and we have the best people for that as well. Managing all these people and bringing them together to realise projects for our clients is challenging, but a talent we need to have as a company is to find the right people and build a good team.”The residential and yacht design teams worked in separate offices, but a few years ago it was decided to bring them together to encourage the exchange of skills and ideas (Zuretti explains, only half-jokingly, that the move also avoided petty in-house rivalries as the yacht designers were prone to think of themselves as a cut above their residential design colleagues). Since the beginning, however, the company has remained true to its name and avoided the temptation to expand into designing yacht exteriors. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/261468/image/large-0a0c6af22bd2981b49240226df114d60.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/261468">“The temptation is always there, of course,” says Sebastien, “but we are most successful when we work with the best exterior designers. We try to be the best for the interiors, so the combination means we can create the best project for our clients.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/261467/image/large-9cc7a2078af026e6b7d4c7378fbbf676.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/261467">A custom interior is the result of an owner’s personal taste and the designer’s creative vision, but whatever a client’s preferred style, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Interior Design</a>aims to bring to each project what Sebastien calls ‘veracity’, or a thorough understanding of the chosen style.“We’ve worked on very classic and very contemporary, even minimalist, interior designs,” he says. “In each case, you have to approach the project firstly with passion, but also with knowledge. So we thoroughly study a particular style to capture its reality. Of course, it may have to be adapted to suit the spaces and dimensions, but we’re always looking for veracity – this is very important.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/261465/image/large-92fbebb785ce71627038cd6797c9d0b3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/261465">One of Zuretti’s sons, Matthieu, works in the company as procurement director &amp; quality manager. His job was made especially difficult when Covid precautions made it more difficult to meet in person with suppliers, and the challenges continue post-pandemic at a time when supply chains are so unpredictable.“Two thirds of our meetings need to be face-to-face, because you have to see the materials and see how something works.,” he explains. “Pictures or videos can never give you the same feeling you get by opening the door of a cabinet, when you can feel if it works smoothly or there is something rattling inside. You need to be on site to control the quality.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/261466/image/large-92717969b1d93f562038b141e8b30e38.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/261466">After more than 30 years in the business and now aged 70, Zuretti is looking to take a step back and prepare Matthieu and Sebastien to take over the running of the business – by no means a straightforward task for someone addicted to design that finds it hard to delegate. A new office in Dubai has been tasked with developing the Middle Eastern market and the firm is growing its superyacht clientele in the Americas. Having designed so many custom furniture pieces over the years, the studio is also pondering its own branded line of high-end furniture. &nbsp;“I have so many stamps in my passport from around the world, but each of those represent a day or two spent with a client,” he says. “I was always too busy to explore the countries I’ve been to, so now I’d like to enjoy life a little more. I think I still have a lot to offer my team, but I have to learn to leave them alone to create the Zuretti of tomorrow. I’m already surprised sometimes at what a great job they do without me!”This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-43-newspaper-launched" target="_blank">Issue 43 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>.&nbsp;To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Interview with Francois Zuretti

In a rare interview opportunity, SYT was invited to visit his home and studio in the south of France.

At the studio with Francois Zuretti of Zuretti Interior Design

Valentina Zannier has spent the last 21 years at the Italian design studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>, working her way up from junior assistant to her current position as Chief Interior Designer. Today Valentina works on some of the most coveted superyachts in the world – we met during the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2022">Monaco Yacht Show</a> where the recently delivered 115-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a> was demonstrating to the world exactly what the designer has to offer. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260405/image/large-656894b2bf2925e80648de81532b4bdb.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260405">Having originally studied architecture at the Università Iuav di Venezia, her flair for interior design may be something of a surprise, but Valentina explains that art and design was always her passion. However, at 18 she followed her parents advice, shying away from art school at the last minute to take on a ‘more serious’ path through academia. Six years into a role at an architectural firm, one or her colleagues mentioned that their neighbour (a designer) was looking for someone who was talented at sketching by hand. The design studio turned out to be <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>, and despite never having seen a superyacht, and suffering from interminable seasickness, she took the role, never looking back. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/204398/image/large-37dac33c78cf5e7d480b0d005876bd51.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/204398">In her two decades, Valentina has worked on some of the industries most recognisable yachts, and as the negotiations for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a> began, Valentina and the team were in the final stages of delivering <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6426" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nord141.63m (464'8&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Nord</a>, the military-esque 141.63-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> which was launched in June 2020. Valentina explains, “The design and completion of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6426" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nord141.63m (464'8&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Nord</a> was an intense period for the studio, the owner’s had a singular vision for how they wanted their vessel to be completed and I worked closely with them for many years. It's a project we are all very proud of, and I hope we will be able to share with the industry one day!” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257545/image/large-d758009f3b2febb498ff2d214d9c7953.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257545">Like many designers of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>’s calibre, it is a rare thing when owners allow the interiors of their yacht to be shared, with many of these larger superyachts remaining with a single owner for decades and operating privately. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a>, therefore, offers Valentina a unique opportunity to showcase her style and the work of her team. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257551/image/large-46df41a62f9211255742c9f6d882c1e5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257551">“I had worked with the owners of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a> on their previous superyacht, the 86-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quattroelle86.11m (282'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2013">Quattroelle</a>, which they sold shortly after her launch in 2013. At the time of her sale the owner’s reached out to us and said they would return to the yachting industry and when they entered negotiations for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a>, we were involved from the start. Her interiors [which were first unveiled earlier this year when she joined the charter market with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/227" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moran Yacht & Ship (Company)">Moran Yacht &amp; Ship</a>] are bright, open and romantic and truly encapsulate my personal style.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257540/image/large-3b1bb9fecfe467d82a7c80480481151b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257540">Organic forms and open spaces decked with opulent materials and furnished in a rich yet comfortable style define <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a>’s expansive interiors, which become more formal the higher you go. Each deck is home to a distinct aesthetic, with sometimes surprising material choices that were really embraced by the owners. A perfect example of this is the winter garden on the upper deck which is home to a full rattan dining and lounge set by Italian designer Bonacina. Traditionally associated with English kitchen gardens, rattan is perhaps a surprising choice for a superyacht, but one which finds a harmonious place aboard this extravagant superyacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257534/image/large-abe47563960f322611788d24d50dc10a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257534">As Chief Interior Designer, there is always one project that dominates the studio’s attention, but fortunately for Valentina, creativity has always flowed freely. “Once I am comfortable with a project, I find that the creative elements come very easily to me. Of course we are occasionally asked to do things we don't agree with, but after 20 years at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> and with many repeat owners, our clients truly trust in us and our advice, which is a wonderful thing.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257527/image/large-58da62133418348a423e0cd3908cf44c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257527">Projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6426" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nord141.63m (464'8&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Nord</a> and the 106.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.7m (350'1&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a>, which was delivered in 2018, redefine the concept of custom. Not only are the yacht exteriors new and innovative, but every iota of the interiors are custom designed and created, from the furniture, to the carpet threads. With many projects in the pipeline and a number currently under negotiation, Valentina and her team are busy despite the finalisation of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a>, but any spare time is spent researching and developing new materials and design motifs to be employed in future projects. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/103519/image/large-a565345fb3ac5d428369ec0a4127b345.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/103519">When it comes to impressive portfolios, that of Valentina and of the entire <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> team really takes the biscuit. Valentina has built her career aboard some of the most impressive superyachts in the global fleet, and she is currently working on the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> Sportiva 66-metre which is due for delivery in 2025, a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a> project and two vessels under construction in Turkey. We certainly look forward to what comes next and make sure to view the entire interior shoot of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ahpo115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Ahpo</a> on SuperYacht Times.&nbsp;This article was originally published in <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-43-newspaper-launched" target="_blank">Issue 43 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>. To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Interview with Valentina Zannier of Nuvolari Lenard

Francesca Webster interviewed Valentina Zannier, Chief Interior Designer at  Nuvolari Lenard about how she built her impressive career. 

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Interview: Two decades of design with Valentina Zannier of Nuvolari Lenard

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> is an Italian shipyard with a dynasty that spans the best part of a century. Despite being founded in 1945 in Limite sull’Arno to build and repair smaller yachts, by 1956 the yard was moved to Darsena Pisana as it had started signing projects too large for its facility.&nbsp;The shipyard has had an illustrious history, delivering more than 700 yachts &nbsp;– the largest of which being the 43.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1655" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cap de Quers43.6m (143'1&quot;)Cantieri di Pisa2006">Cap de Quers</a>. The 27.43-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nasima 27.43m (89'12&quot;)Cantieri di Pisa2012">Nasima</a> was the yard’s last build, and following her delivery in 2012 the yard closed and was finally sold.&nbsp;The shipyard was bought 18 months ago and is back in business, with a fleet of new projects under its new leadership. SuperYacht Times sat down with CEO Marco Massabò to hear all about it.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260833/image/large-8899422b8b6ae0ea4429c0654f8f493f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260833">What is your background prior to&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>?&nbsp;Yachts have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father was a wood master and started working at a shipyard in Imperia, Italy, 70 years ago. I love boats and have professionally sailed for many years, competing from the Optimist to the Maxi yacht regattas – I’ve had a long collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/758" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="North Sails (Company)">North Sails</a>.&nbsp;In 1992 I met Luca Bassani, founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a>, and worked alongside him for 20 years. The brand was missing a refit yard in Italy, so I bought and founded one (WS Shipyard) in Savona. It's been very successful. I then moved into consultancy around 2010, working with clients both in yachting and shipping.&nbsp;I was working with some major players – it was a nice life. But around a year and a half ago, Enrico Gennasio (president and owner of the Alfagomma group) told me he was going to buy <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>, asking if I wanted to work with him.&nbsp;A great opportunity. I immediately got to work, spending time with naval architects and exterior designers, dreaming up the best yachts we can bring to market. The shipyard had great energy, and a number of great international designers came to visit us. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259110/image/large-dc2f2a0d48808d14b563a945716e4215.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259110"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>&nbsp;is back building yachts. Do these new models reflect a new vision?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> is an iconic brand. We’re not here to change the rules, we want to rewrite them. The yachts that we’ve started to build are different from what <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> traditionally did. But we also want to be different from our competitors.&nbsp;Rather than starting from aesthetics, our primary interest is weight. We want to save as much weight as possible, to build and deliver some of the lightest yachts on the market. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> yachts are fast, agile, and incredibly sleek and all have shallow drafts. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258737/image/large-8913f6c24d1edd5383a600b3c775dbbb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258737">The 25m 80 Veloce – the first&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>&nbsp;yacht since 2012 – is scheduled for delivery this year. Can you say a few words about her?&nbsp;The 80 Veloce is our first yacht. We wanted to build something that embodies our new philosophy – and she’s crazy fast! She’ll be equipped with three 2,000 horsepower V12 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> engines that deliver a top speed in excess of 60 knots. The series has been well received and we already have clients signed for the second and third hull.&nbsp;She’s not for everyone though – which is why we’re about to present a Gran Turismo edition to the market. The 80 GT is based on the same lightweight hull yet with a more family-focused design. She’ll also be equipped with two engines, not three. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258738/image/large-72d27a22a4c507d152fcab6398958f5e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258738"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>&nbsp;also presented the new Akhir series. Has this model line been well received and are you considering building on speculation?&nbsp;The Akhir series is a new design for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> which is offered in three sizes: a 31-metre, a 37-metre and a 42-metre flagship. Much like the 80 Veloce the idea is to keep the weight down as much as possible. The series has a contemporary design and we’re in talks about whether to build the first unit on speculation – it might happen, but I can’t confirm either way at this moment in time. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259105/image/large-50b2769c2995a007591094d39d092014.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259105">Why is weight such an important topic for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>?Any sailor will tell you the importance of weight – they just will. I’ve personally sailed around the world on some of the world’s most important and fastest boats, and every time their core attribute was weight. However, shipyards and designers rarely consider weight early on when they’re planning a new project. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> does things differently, it’s my absolute credo. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259106/image/large-848f31e2855eb67f5df5c8156f48eba3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259106">Choosing to build light implies a commitment to delivering yachts with shallow drafts. How else are you trying to maximise this across all your series?&nbsp;We’ll equip both the 80 Veloce and Gran Turismo series with waterjets. Waterjets are the safest way to arrive at high speeds and they can go in really shallow waters. And to overcome issues of sucking up sand (a particular issue in Miami), we’ve added a special sea chest. It's a simple, not crazy innovation.&nbsp;Coming from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a>, I of course have taken inspiration from their model lines and I especially like what they’ve done with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a> 118 Power – the James Bond yacht. But I’ve also listened closely to my friend and naval architect, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1206" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Marco Arnaboldi (Company)">Marco Arnaboldi</a>, who designed many fast boats, including the CDP80 veloce. He’s one of the best in the world when it comes to waterjet technology. We decided to follow him on our design – there isn’t anyone better! <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259100/image/large-e738a900d681e7e9b00f4677cfafd4fd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259100">An automotive designer and America’s Cup engineer collaborating on your designs. How did this come about?It’s simple. We want speed and performance, so why not bring in the best? A typical motor yacht goes around 18 to 20 knots, yet a high-performance America’s Cup sailing yacht reaches speeds of up to 40 knots – it’s a big difference, even if you factor out the foils. At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> we want to use this knowledge to study the possibilities of reducing as much drag as possible with our yachts. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260834/image/large-1241be498043c5a2ee330d299e207c7c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260834">For the past 18 months,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>&nbsp;has focused exclusively on refits. Why?&nbsp;We weren’t ready for new builds until now, we needed to establish ourselves. When we took over <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a>, it hadn’t been operating for 10 years. We invested around €1.5 million to renovate the facilities and in the past 18 months, we have worked on 27 yachts, which brings a good level of return for the business: building capital and our reputation.&nbsp;Working as a refit yard has also put us in direct communication with many captains, which is great for our Research &amp; Development. For the past 18 months, we’ve been learning the trouble points and how to build a perfect yacht, designed for the captain.&nbsp;We’ve continued to invest and we’ll soon announce a new facility.&nbsp;

CEO Marco Massabò on the return of Cantieri di Pisa

Cantieri di Pisa is back – and it's back with a number of new projects. SYT sat down with CEO Marco Massabò to hear all about it. 

Bigger, better, faster: The return of Cantieri di Pisa with CEO Marco Massabò

Today (8 March 2023) marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality in all industries.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227489/image/large-17c5e1deaf6f19225da98b84465e4c31.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227489">A 2021 report conducted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a> into diversity within the yachting industry found that of 1,800 crew members employed by contributing management companies, only 28.7 percent of them were women. Even more shocking is that only 1.9 percent of these female crew members were captains.&nbsp;Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Day for Women in Maritime 2022: How the tides are turning for women in yachting (2022-05-18 15:45:00 +0200)">International Day for Women in Maritime 2022: How the tides are turning for women in yachting<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260776/image/large-54de2a551f40fdfba32775b819bcfdd2.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260776"></a>Across the industry there are women thriving on the challenge of changing these statistics. One of those is world-renowned captain and star of Bravo TV’s reality hit show Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandy Yawn. “Looking back, I was never offered any career advice, I actually answered an advertisement in the newspaper under the jobs section. I didn't even know that there was a maritime school for people like me who did not graduate high school, until I heard about Maritime Professional Training in Fort Lauderdale.”&nbsp;Over the years, Captain Sandy Yawn has worked hard to prove her worth in a male-dominated industry. “In the past I was turned down for a new-build because the owner was from another country and didn't think a woman could be in command. That one made me laugh out loud! I would love to see more women take the helm and show the world that we are capable of taking command.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260781/image/large-a78356721ca8e8be38b32146d70c8cfe.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260781">Captain Sandy Yawn has built a name for herself and is well-known in both the maritime industry and from the American reality television series, Below Deck Mediterranean. The Below Deck franchise has grown in popularity and is currently on season seven, with Captain Sandy Yawn at the helm of the 49.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5959" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Home49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2017">Home</a> in the pristine waters of Malta.The show continues to highlight the job roles for women in the industry and is finding new ways to inspire them to want to learn more. “They are reaching millions of people and I am so happy to be on the show,” commented Captain Sandy Yawn. “It shows little girls and women all over the country and the world that they can have a life at sea!”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/48219" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Women's Day 2018: Inspiring women in yachting (2018-03-08 14:30:00 +0100)">International Women's Day 2018: Inspiring women in yachting<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260762/image/large-443c3e685ed41251fb4979bd56bfdf5a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260762"></a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop and Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> Sales Broker, Annie Avery took up sailing from a young age with her family and brother-in-law Fred. “After a year of private sailboat cruising with my family in the Caribbean I decided I wanted to be a captain to really learn about responsibility,” reminisced Annie Avery. “I confided in Fred that I was uneasy about putting myself out there as a captain as I was worried about the machinery on a charter boat. He put his arm around me, swooped his other across the harbour in St. Thomas and said, ‘Annie, do you think all those guys on that boat went to Detroit Diesel School? No, I said. ‘That’s right and you’re going to learn just like they did,’ he reassured me.”Annie eventually traded her sea legs to become one of a handful of female yacht sales brokers in the world working with powerhouse Northrop &amp; Johnson. “As a yacht broker, my experience as a yacht captain prior gave me a good foundation for knowing the product I was selling and I have had wonderful advisors and cheerleaders along the way– which have been mostly men!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219126/image/large-206b550a22422538d353d3e1d1b64044.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219126">Over the years, Annie has seen the industry start to evolve with more women involved. “Progress is definitely being made, more women are now brokers, naval architects, captains, and managers than when I first started,” explained Annie Avery.“The first company that did hire me confided one of the reasons they did, was because they passed over a woman, one of the very first, who became a very successful yacht broker. I have also been in situations where assumptions were made about me as a woman. I considered it a good opportunity to intentionally stand in my own authentic power. I always remember Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: “Nobody can make you feel inferior except by your own consent.”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Super yachting females on International Women’s Day 2019 (2019-03-08 10:30:00 +0100)">Super yachting females on International Women’s Day 2019</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260758/image/large-d114845098d9a706f89986d98c42100b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260758">The yachting industry is constantly changing with more women stepping up to the plate to take on managerial positions. One of those is Giovanna Vitelli, former Vice President of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut-Benetti Group (Company)">Azimut|Benetti Group</a> who was recently appointed Chairwoman of the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/azimut-benetti-group" target="_blank">Group</a>.Commenting on the appointment, Giovanna Vitelli said, “I would like to thank my father infinitely for his trust and the teachings of a lifetime, as well as all the people who have made and will continue to make the history of our Group”. &nbsp;The shipyard stated, “The path forward of continuity in the family, strongly desired by the founder Paolo Vitelli, guarantees the stability necessary to seize all the opportunities of the future.”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57093" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giovanna Vitelli named Chairwoman of Azimut|Benetti Group (2023-03-07 15:15:00 +0100)">Giovanna Vitelli named Chairwoman of Azimut|Benetti Group</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260756/image/large-7a29c7bb12f0ed57baa2fd9404a7187a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260756">Based in Fort-Lauderdale, Florida, interior designer Destry Darr Pethtel of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2524" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Destry Darr Designs (Company)">Destry Darr Designs</a> draws on her family legacy to provide a comprehensive menu of yacht interior design services. “I always had an artistic and creative eye but was also very analytical as a child,” commented Destry Darr Pethtel. “In school, I was always drawing – anything from Barbie dolls, to crazy hybrid fantasy creatures, to stylised renditions of yacht exteriors and very technical drawings of lighthouses and building facades. At a very young age, I thought I wanted to be an architect.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260775/image/large-7170215367ea40988422bb9882dee971.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260775">Prior to founding her firm in April 2004, Destry refined her skills as an interior designer for several world class, well-known yacht interior design firms. “LIke so many women, I juggled the responsibilities of raising a family and growing a business at the same time, but I have been blessed with tremendous help and support along the way - from my parents, grandmother and aunt, to my husband, Rodney, who left his own career to join me as our business took off.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260773/image/large-b67a6fdceedb6234a1757379417985d0.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260773">“My philosophy is work hard, hone your skills, pursue what you love and figure out how to be the best at it. I’ve always operated with a vision of what I want for my business in the future and have seized the opportunities and taken the risks necessary to achieve these goals,” added Destry Darr Pethtel. “Building a strong reputation through this journey has been instrumental in our success as well. Taking a risk might be scary but it can come with a big payoff.” Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry (2021-04-29 15:00:00 +0200)">Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry (2021-04-29 15:00:00 +0200)"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260760/image/large-b38f4461d79d96020f16ef126adc1226.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260760"></a>Like Destry Darr Pethtel, many women choose to pave their own path in the industry and a great example of that is business owner and Development Consultant of Onboard Monaco, Marcela de Kern Royer. “I faced many hurdles on my journey as I am an immigrant to Europe, so I needed visas and work permits to get started. On top of that English was not my first language so I worked hard as both a woman and a Latina to set up my business.”&nbsp;Monaco-based resident Marcela de Kern Royer combines a passion for yachting with a strong international academic background, along with her past experiences in asset management. She has gained excellent exposure to all facets of the industry, starting as a supplier and having experience in new-build, refit, brokerage, and yacht management.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260761/image/large-822c6f306d21c5327096e1c7bed8f814.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260761">“I was inspired by the role models of my parents as both of them were entrepreneurs and very successful business people. I combined what I love doing, with my inspiration from other powerful women from not just this industry, but all walks of life.”Marcela started in the industry at the age of 18 and has seen a shift in the roles of women since she began. “There are a lot more women in higher positions now than when I first started. I had to work through the career ladder to get to where I am today. Being a woman in this industry turned out to not only be my strength, but my superpower and because of that I am grateful to all my previous bosses, who were men. They all helped me get to the position I am in today, as they believed in me every step of the way.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260783/image/large-000e3ba5928e5d4613b24f1e7ae7ff58.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260783">As an influential person in yachting, Marcela de Kern Royer has created a powerful online community for yacht owners and professionals and operates a very impressive platform, but it has not been without its challenges. “As both a mother and a businesswoman, I have had my fair share of struggles to balance this lifestyle. But it is important to not give up and to remain resilient and persistent in everything you do.”"As Franklin D. Roosevelt said "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor," so cast off the lines and let your adventure begin,” concluded Annie Avery.

International Women’s Day 2023: Women in yachting

Today (8 March 2023) marks International Women’s Day, SYT takes a look at the inspirational women at the helm of change in the yachting industry.

International Women’s Day 2023: Women at the helm of change

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>, founded in 1866, is Florida’s oldest and most established shipyard. But perhaps also one of its most innovative, thanks to a heavy investment in its facilities on either side of the Miami River.&nbsp;In 2020, the completely rebuilt North Yard reopened as Miami Superyacht Center and was complete with a 2,700-tonne synchrolift. The South Yard was also renovated and is dedicated for the smaller refit works that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a> takes on. The shipyard is about to undergo even more change as Marco Santoro has recently been appointed CEO, and he’s ambitious to turn <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a> into the go-to destination for yacht service and refit. SuperYacht Times found out more. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260708/image/large-669635a454180279c8f962ed47086b2a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260708">When did your relationship start with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>, were you working directly with the shipyard during your tenure as After Sales &amp; Service Director – Americas for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a>?&nbsp;I was approached by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>' top management, and what started off as a casual business conversation led to more detailed discussions regarding the opportunities and capabilities of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a> yard. After numerous meetings, we certainly bonded and realised how well we worked together. At the end of the day, these discussions led to creating a refreshed vision and elevated goals for the yard, and I am very pleased to be leading the company on our new journey.I’m extremely proud to have been appointed as CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>, this company has an incredible heritage being one of the most historical shipyards in the USA, but also one of the most technologically advanced and modern shipyards. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260711/image/large-08c7c6528a64a7bd6ef2b2eca9ef32f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260711">How was your experience at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a>&nbsp;and how has it prepared you for this role?&nbsp;I will always be grateful for the opportunities <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> gave me, which ultimately made me who I am today. My most recent tenure at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> was very special to me: it was an incredible experience for me to start a new venture from scratch.&nbsp;We developed a strategy and plan for a new shipyard for the Group, focused on retail service. After bringing this vision to life and successfully running and growing the yard for a number of years, I felt I had accomplished my mission and was ready to take on a new challenge.At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>, my bosses were the best mentors. I grew professionally into executive roles while working to build networks of clients, professionals, and teams globally. I have worked in a variety of capacities, always focused on providing exceptional yacht service. My professional experience together with my education in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering as well as my passion to build strong teams and workplaces, has prepared me for this new role.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260710/image/large-a78bb34f7c4f4bccb8c62904bd2bb306.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260710">What is your vision for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>?&nbsp;My main goal is to enhance our client's journey, starting from the moment they get in contact with us till the moment the client leaves our yard. This means being able to listen to our clients’ needs and expectations, and deliver to them the highest quality experience. If we are capable of doing so, we will retain our customers who will also be our best ambassadors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/239428/image/large-554dec5a443285dd488858e42e61dccf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/239428"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>&nbsp;currently operates out of two facilities, can we expect further expansions?&nbsp;Our current focus is to become the preferred shipyard in Florida. Our current facilities are next door to each other and enable us to provide services for yachts ranging from 6-76 metres in length. We are also growing our new yacht and brokerage sales operations, representing new brands as their exclusive dealer.&nbsp;For the time being though, we’re focusing on our current market, as we are in the yachting capital of the world. But we have every intention to build our brand and reputation further; we plan to serve our customers in new markets as well.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260712/image/large-db3707bd4ed6c38e0b6164bab1c2aed4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260712">With a lacking inventory of good yachts on the market, have demands for refits been at a high these past years? And how do you expect 2023 to play out?&nbsp;For sure the demand for refit will continue as the supply of new yachts is backlogged and the needs of the clientele continue to evolve. We anticipate a higher number of refits this year and are preparing internally for any project we are approached for. Refitting involves many moving parts, in our geographical area there are only a handful of shipyards capable of hosting these projects. We’re ready!<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/239416/image/large-993378b890d6d6d1a47e09f039023d88.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/239416">Have supply chain issues now subsided, or are there still many challenges to contend with?Whether it is the backorder of parts or the sparse technical support for unique components, I have found that supply chain issues are a constant occurrence in the yacht industry. Mainly there are a limited number of suppliers and a limited number of qualified technicians for installation and repairs.&nbsp;Having navigated the industry for more than 20 years, I understand where there may be issues and can plan ahead to avoid delays. In addition, I have built strong relationships with suppliers and vendors. It is a small industry and having strong relationships is a big advantage. One day you help a supplier and the next day they help you. That’s how we are able to offer expedited turn-around times and exceptional quality.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260709/image/large-acba50c3bed8958672c2cbf05e65c312.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260709">Where would you like to see&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a>&nbsp;in five years’ time?&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RMK Merrill-Stevens (Company)">RMK Merrill-Stevens</a> will be the premier destination for yacht service and refit in Florida. I see new and repeat clients coming and going from the yard exceptionally pleased with their experience, and these happy clients become our invaluable marketing testimonials that drive our reputation.&nbsp;I envision a team like no other, a workload peaking at max capacity, so that we are ready to expand our operations and serve our clients in new markets and capacities.

Marco Santoro CEO of RMK Merrill-Stevens interview

SYT joined Marco Santoro, new CEO of RMK Merrill-Stevens, to hear his vision for the shipyard. 

Marco Santoro CEO of RMK Merrill-Stevens: “We will be the premier destination for yacht service and refit in Florida”

Carinthia VII superyacht history and refit 

SYT investigates Carinthia VII's refit and looks into her full history. 

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An art collector's heirloom: The redesign of iconic Carinthia VII 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">Tillberg Design of Sweden</a>, the titan of maritime design, is weighing into the superyacht sector with a newly formed yacht division – and it’s nothing short of exciting.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">Tillberg Design of Sweden</a> – aka TDoS – is a formidable force. Its prowess is well respected in the cruise industry, with a portfolio exceeding 300 major luxury projects. The studio has been steadily fortifying its presence in the superyacht sector in recent years – and it’s here to stay.&nbsp;Following the release of a number of astounding superyacht designs, and news of a merger with the Italian design studio, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a>, we thought it high time to catch up with Daniel Nerhagen, Yacht Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>, to learn more about this powerhouse from the cruise sector.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260362/image/large-9eb51267dae054d3bf8152d199ce214c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260362">What is&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>’ origin story?&nbsp;We were founded in 1964 by a true pioneer in the cruise industry: Robert Tillberg. The studio was initially eponymously named but quickly blossomed with a growing team, it was only apt for the name of the studio to encompass this change; hence, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a> was born.&nbsp;I’m lucky enough as a designer to have worked with Robert for a few years in the late 90s, but my experience isn’t unique in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a> studio. We have at least six or seven designers that have been working at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a> for more than 20 years now, and we’ve also seen a number of second generation designers join the studio. It is remarkable.&nbsp;This longevity of our studio is not only found in the team, but also with the principles that we stand behind. Sustainability is one such principle, and we’ve kept it as a lodestar since at least the early 2000s, as such I was slightly taken aback when I first came into yachting and I kept hearing that we need to change, when the commercial sector has been on this train of thought for many, many years now. Our in-house design team has spent years, if not decades, researching and developing green solutions.&nbsp;Even though cruise ships have predominantly been our forte, we have built a portfolio of exterior and interior designs of yachts over the years. Some of our first sailing yacht designs hit the water as early as the 1970s and we’ve had our yacht designs (exterior and interior) launched well into the 2000s.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260365/image/large-4b4011da67beba38853bfcc7b587f3d1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260365"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>&nbsp;now has a strong presence in yachting, what drove this decision? A few years ago we designed a line of boutique “yachts” for The Ritz-Carlton with the level of luxury synonymous with its brand. The series of small cruise vessels each accommodates up to 298 guests across 149 well-appointed suites, brimming with state-of-the-art and top tier amenities. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was successful in its own right – but it also garnered a lot of attention from other companies. It opened the door, if you will, and led to a lot of round-table discussions in-house. We decided yachting may be a good move for us; and in 2018 we opened a dedicated yacht division at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>. A few years later when COVID-19 hit, the commercial sector pretty much ground to a halt, and we used this period to ramp up activities in this newly founded division. It was a busy period for us. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/253660/image/large-38b63f56e9041d7bf538b99c991b9acd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/253660">Does bridging the game between the commercial and luxury sector give&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>&nbsp;an edge? &nbsp;We’re experienced in designing vessels that may have around 5,000 guests onboard. We have mastered the logistics of embarking, disembarking and ensuring that the vessel is operational for that many people, which is extremely complex. Superyachts, on the other hand, have the luxury of time and can take a few days to prepare. Our experience and our designs will help streamline this whole process in new and novel ways.&nbsp;The commercial space also requires a keen eye for designing in the most cost effective way. Now, and this is important, we’re not talking about materials or the aesthetic here. We’re talking about the design and general arrangement itself. When you're building bigger boats everything that is expensive, exponentially explodes because you're building 100 suites instead of four suites. We then look at design in a different way.&nbsp;We’re a big studio with deep resources and we’re used to turning projects around quickly. We have a degree of versatility that small design houses can’t compete with. If a client approaches us for a new design we can always deliver, quickly. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/253657/image/large-112cb977ff4a705d79ecb2bdc1e22803.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/253657">Are there any new and exciting shipyards or suppliers that&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TDoS</a>&nbsp;can bring to yachting?&nbsp;This is an interesting topic because many of our longtime suppliers have two divisions in their company: one that focuses on high-end luxury and another that’s more commercial. We, naturally, work more closely with the commercial departments, but their colleagues are responsible for furnishing hotels, residentials and yachts. We have a strong network of suppliers built from the commercial space, but with access to top tier vendors.&nbsp;With the rate that yachts are growing in size, we’re moving into SOLAS territory – something that we’re very used to working with. The suppliers we use and the materials we source are SOLAS compliant and certified to meet these more stringent regulations.&nbsp;The commercial shipbuilders that we work with produce to the same standard as most yacht builders, if not a higher standard, as the vessels they produce need to be able to handle the wear and tear of 24 hours, 365 days of use – something unheard of in yachting. The quality of the materials aren’t to the same standard as what you’d find on a superyacht, naturally, but commercial shipyards have finessed the process to keep costs down. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/224824/image/large-6b5bba40e3c9e3e7c47b5d72f45aaeb6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/224824">What motivated&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6755" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Viken Group AB (Company)">Viken Group</a>’s acquisition of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a>&nbsp;and how will it be integrated into your business?After watching the market and looking at our core skills, we realised that we were lacking a key area if we wanted to deliver everything to our clients; the know-how about the 60-metre and below segment. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a> is extremely successful in this segment and the studio designs both custom and production yachts – the latter is something we have never done before. Hot Lab is also based in Italy and has a strong presence in Turkey – two markets which we haven’t yet entered.&nbsp;Joining the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6755" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Viken Group AB (Company)">Viken Group</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a> has access to different markets, different clients and are given an opportunity to expand and add larger yachts to its portfolio. It was a win-win situation for both Hot Lab and us. With <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a> in its folds, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6755" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Viken Group AB (Company)">Viken Group</a> now offers yacht designs from 60-foot to 60,000 GT, and thanks to the recent acquisition of Thalia Marine it also offers naval architecture for this whole spectrum. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/224823/image/large-798b566c622e2ca838de96e5adf73239.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/224823">One of the first yacht concepts unveiled by your Yacht Division was Aegir 2.0 – can you tell us a little bit about this design?&nbsp;We champion sustainability and carbon neutral sailing – and with Aegir 2.0 we placed our best foot forward. The nucleus of the design came from the 106.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.7m (350'1&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl </a>– which is one of the most efficient yachts on the market – and we wanted to not only meet, but surpass its commitment. We invited Derek Munro, one of the Product Managers of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.7m (350'1&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a>, to deliver a lecture series at our studios, and we learnt a great deal.Aegir 2.0 was born out of this commitment, and also from the realisation that if we were to really push for carbon neutral sailing then designers need to pen sailing yachts. We stepped up to the plinth and designed a wind-powered trimaran with hydrolics and a hybrid wind-electric propulsion system that recharges all batteries when under sail. While sustainability is at its core, Aegir 2.0 doesn’t skimp luxury. For one, it’s incredibly beamy so it offers more living space than that of a monohull from its category. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260364/image/large-22e3f619757645832b859a4a3b856c91.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260364">Since Aegir 2.0,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">TSoD</a>&nbsp;has released a number of unique concepts, can you share some of the inspiration behind these designs?&nbsp;Our conversations are fluid and our designs have come from the dialogues we’ve had in-house, and with our clients. The designs we’ve launched are pretty versatile, and to name but three, we designed the 60-metre explorer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56716" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Introducing the 60m explorer yacht concept Mimer (2023-01-10 15:00:00 +0100)">Mimer</a> a few years ago, the 120-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Desert Pearl: An impressive 120m Custom Built new-build superyacht concept for sale (2022-04-25 09:30:00 +0200)">Desert Pearl</a>, earlier this year and also <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54850" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Introducing Lycka: The 77m “happiness” superyacht by Nobiskrug & Tillberg Design of Sweden (2022-03-28 11:30:00 +0200)">the 77-metre superyacht Lycka</a> in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nobiskrug (Company)">Nobiskrug</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison Yachting</a>.&nbsp;As is the nature of the industry, most of our projects are wrapped in strict NDAs so I have to keep pretty guarded. But <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54850" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Introducing Lycka: The 77m “happiness” superyacht by Nobiskrug & Tillberg Design of Sweden (2022-03-28 11:30:00 +0200)">Lycka</a> I can divulge a little more about. An opportunity arose with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nobiskrug (Company)">Nobiskrug</a> to do a design around one of its platforms. We took one of their technical platforms, which is already developed, and reimagined the general arrangement and added our flair to both the exterior and interior design. This project is being marketed by both ourselves and Nobiskrug, so we’re pretty excited about this one. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221363/image/large-1ddd2c7dc4335ad8ddcd49b053d204eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221363"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221365/image/large-d8074dfb2569abced922475fe7fea3cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221365">How has the reception been so far about your concepts and have you had many serious conversations? I’ve spoken with many serious builders and it was pleasing to hear that they know our company and our work. But, it’s true, we’re a fledgling company in the yachting community, a community that is very protected. That being said, we’ve had a great reception so far and have cleared the first hurdles. Many new design studios have tried and failed to get into yachting – but we’re here to stay.&nbsp;This article was originally published in <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-43-newspaper-launched" target="_blank">Issue 43 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>. To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Interview with Tillberg Design of Sweden

Interview with Daniel Nerhagen of Tillberg Design of Sweden.

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Tillberg Design of Sweden: A new heavy weight in superyacht design 

Jim Evans, founder and Managing Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>, has more than two decades of experience in the industry and is an expert in new-build construction, with a penchant for explorer yachts. His company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>, has grown from strength to strength and boasts a very impressive portfolio of superyachts both for sale and charter.SuperYacht Times sat down with Jim Evans to hear more about his journey, his thoughts on the market and what the future holds for the industry. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259987/image/large-f1f91c0757cd49e3e386a09e5011b8cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259987"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>&nbsp;is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year – how has this journey been?The journey has been hugely rewarding although not without challenges. We started the business in the darkest of times during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 yet by a combination of persistence and keeping overheads low we survived and began to grow organically.&nbsp;We wouldn’t wish to be hubristic but it has been somewhat satisfying to prove doubters and detractors wrong in their predictions of an early demise for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>! Instead of falling by the wayside, I think we have become well-established and respected in the yachting industry with a loyal clientele and impressive year-on-year growth. Obviously we faced the same hiatus as others during the Covid19 lockdown periods of recent years but we have also enjoyed the boom that followed it too. We have built a highly experienced team working in a positive and cooperative corporate culture which is very much to the benefit of our clients.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/259988/image/large-4fbe93c563dd7338db6fb50f3dc847e4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/259988">What is your vision for the next five, or even fifteen years for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>?The vision that James, Alex and I have for the next five years is to maintain our high standards of customer service and to continue to grow the company in the same organic manner. We have never been about quantity in terms of the size of our team but rather we build up on the basis of quality.&nbsp;The company’s DNA is something we have always taken great care of – and that won’t change. We can definitely see certain areas in which we can bolster our offerings and do better. The challenge that all established companies and reputable brokers have today is in dealing with a much more crowded brokerage space and therefore how to differentiate. We have various strategic plans for how to tackle the changing market and naturally those include a smart approach to data management and a closer embrace of the rapidly evolving digital environment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/8481/image/large-2351a77d3ba34948bceaf51e87c082ae.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/8481">Consultancy is a major part of brokerage – but how do you actually steer buyers to their perfect yacht? And is the process different for first-time buyers?Consultancy is indeed an integral part of the process and the quality of that consultancy is a huge differentiator amongst brokers. It is a statement of the obvious to say that it is vital to listen carefully to a client’s stated requirements at the outset of any inquiry. The skill is in our interpretation of that requirement and the resulting guidance we bring to it. “Steer” is not a word I would readily apply to our approach at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>. Our objective is always for the client to arrive at his or her final decision independently following our provision of accurate information and of balanced and logical opinions based on our deep knowledge of the market.First-time Buyers present a slightly different challenge but it is rare for anyone to purchase a yacht without any prior knowledge or experience, perhaps of chartering. We might find ourselves needing to explain in more detail the various aspects of ownership such as OpEx, regulatory issues and crewing etc. but fundamentally it is the same process.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258825/image/large-f12611b3b5c9ff29fcbfa5bdeab4cfdb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258825">2021 and 2022 have both been banner years with yacht sales. What do you anticipate for 2023, especially given such a lacking inventory of quality yachts on the market?The lack of inventory is certainly an issue at the moment although it is arguably a better problem to have than oversupply and a dearth of buyers. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the recession will bite in 2023 and if there will be reduced demand in the market.&nbsp;Sitting here in February it is a tough one to call. Governments make their various adjustments to rates and stave off immediate economic pain but we wonder if these measures are only a band-aid. Arguably there are early signs that demand has slowed both in the sales and charter arenas but when Spring is just around the corner we remain hopeful for a positive year.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/58347/image/large-aff93d258e58d91574859959f1a7b4be.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/58347">And how has this impacted pricing – are yachts selling above market value?Over the last 18 months the data shows that some yachts have sold above market value and if not actually selling above market value then at a minimum we can say that asking prices have held pretty firm and sellers have been achieving close to their objectives. We are experiencing some cooling now, yet we are of the mind that barring global economic disaster the lack of inventory will offset a reduction in demand and the market will remain fundamentally buoyant.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/213165/image/large-63f2109c57501d0d15da5336e6ac5876.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/213165">Has there been a growing interest in the new-build, refit and conversion markets?Based on the figures you have at SuperYacht Times and the wider data it is clear that the new build order book is very strong. That order book is influenced by various factors but importantly the number of UHNWI worldwide is increasing year on year which ultimately means more superyacht buyers in the market. When that pool of buyers is faced with a limited inventory the natural progression is for shipyards to see more orders for new build yachts. Similarly with conversions as a means to achieve an accelerated delivery.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/253008/image/large-a4c128affcc6081a788d2312a9fe6f39.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/253008">Many brokerage houses have consolidated in recent years. Is this something&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>&nbsp;is considering?Yes it is something we have considered and will continue to consider as sensible business owners. With the right alignment of stars, we would not rule it out. We have observed from the sidelines and see some consolidations which we view as successful and others that don’t make sense to us….. so, we take a very pragmatic approach to it.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/207882/image/large-877ca095a575c77bb3aaefe87b8cb681.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/207882">In light of the seizure of Russian-owned yachts, should yacht brokers play a role to improve the external perception of yachting?Yacht brokers should indeed play an important role in influencing the external perception of yachting. There is a great deal of misinformation about yachts and the yachting industry in the mainstream media and an absence of fact-checking in publications like the Daily Mail which can create a negative public perception that tars us all with the same brush.&nbsp;Everyone involved in this industry ought to be very active in counteracting this by offering a narrative that tells of ethical behaviour in the business, strict adherence to KYC requirements and zero tolerance for anything that might contravene international sanctions. By the same token, we also are also careful to guard against blanket Russophobia and hysteria.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/96020/image/large-bcc9b52037ed721131ea7422606adaa8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96020">Any closing thoughts on the direction yachting is heading?We believe the yachting industry will continue to show impressive growth although the processes will evolve and become more digital. The industry as a whole is resistant to change but it is inevitable that clients will come to expect the same efficiencies and cost savings offered by increasingly sophisticated software and digital applications that impact other industries. So, legacy businesses will need to adapt and be nimble in keeping abreast of developments in AI and SaaS as they may relate to the yachting industry.

Broker's insight: Jim Evans SuperYachtsMonaco

SYT sat down with Jim Evans of SuperYachtsMonaco to hear what the future holds for the industry. 

market-insights#0

business-interviews-large-articles#1

market-insight-hero#0

Broker's insight: Jim Evans of SuperYachtsMonaco on why he remains cautiously optimistic about the market in 2023

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a>, part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyachts</a> network, has announced the sale of a new bespoke 66-metre project to be built in Ancona. The superyacht has been sold to a European customer.&nbsp;The sold superyacht features naval engineering by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyachts</a>, exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/289" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vallicelli Design (Company)">Vallicelli studio</a>, and interior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/19" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Pinto (Company)">Pinto</a>, who worked collaboratively on this unique project. This design partnership has worked together on other yacht designs in the past, including the 66-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA&nbsp;</a>timeless icon <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Okto66.4m (217'10&quot;)ISA Yachts2014">Okto</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262990/image/large-b85df92631b335000a68d63f10b11d72.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262990">With a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> Custom 66-metre superyachts will be characterised by a dynamic profile with the typical <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> hallmark of the three arches connecting the decks. Additionally, the beach club will have the ability to be an open platform to transform the aft deck lower-level space into an expansive living area equipped with a gym, lounge, and spa meeting all the needs of those onboard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262989/image/large-916b188f2fa3d77576898637ab701c33.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262989">“This new construction is the result of the constant work that our shipyard has undertaken since 2016 when we acquired the Ancona facility together with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> brand. Excellence is our ultimate goal in everything we do and I would like to thank all the clients who have placed their trust in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyach</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">ts&nbsp;</a>and all the commercial and production teams who work alongside me daily. We have many exciting challenges ahead of us and we will face them with the concreteness that has guided and distinguished us up to now,” commented Giuseppe Palumbo, founder and Sole Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyachts.</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/54846/image/large-ebbed71972f89409498ba2ed51f8aada.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/54846">The sold superyacht is currently under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumb</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">o Superyachts</a> shipyards, where there are several other superyachts being built.

66m ISA custom build superyacht sold

A custom ISA 66-metre superyacht has been sold to a European customer and is set to be built in the Palumbo Superyachts shipyard.

New custom 66m ISA superyacht sold 

Istanbul-based builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a> has announced the sale of the 49.9-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> 163 yacht Eternal Spark. The motor yacht was sold last year with Matija Longin from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6710" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyachts Croatia (Company)">SuperYachts Croatia</a> and Berkay Yilmaz, Commercial Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a> facilitating the sale.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262967/image/large-b22c065174b3c554fc08e2d07fb59379.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262967">Eternal Spark features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4305" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unique Yacht Design (Company)">Unique Yacht Design</a> with interiors by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a> team, which used precious materials to create a modern, rich and warm interior design.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262970/image/large-32fdaa6f3643d5e5b826bf9b4d8e4665.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262970">“We foresee a further enhancement in the distinctive signature of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a>. The new 163 series is one of our most ambitious projects and a perfect example of what we can offer to our clients,” commented <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a>’ CEO, İsmail Şengün.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262968/image/large-68f292e4e9ece62a68d5574594ba7395.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262968">Eternal Spark can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests across six staterooms with a balanced harmony created in the living areas, thanks to her natural colours, large windows and high-gloss materials.Read: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56490" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin 163: A first look at the interiors of the second 50m superyacht (2022-12-02 10:30:00 +0100)">Bilgin 163: A first look at the interiors of the second 50m superyacht<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262969/image/large-32ae019d191f1bfa93eb2db356eb2a88.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262969"></a>Some of the standout interior features of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> 163 yacht include the full-height round glass wall that separates the lobby from the main living room, her floating staircase, the skylight on the sundeck floor and a luxurious chandelier in the main lobby.“Bilgin 163 follows the studio’s new philosophy ‘Architecture for Voyagers’ and focuses on the cleanliness of architectural volumes, and a renewed sense for a softness of lines. A plastic minimalism, sober, but rich in details,” added Enrico Lumini, Partner and Head of Design at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262966/image/large-37b0b45a9911c628d3a7693b9feef027.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262966">Eternal Spark is able to accommodate the needs of all her guests onboard with gymnasium equipment, a full indoor cinema, an outdoor cinema and a custom-built chase boat. Another particular highlight of Eternal Spark is her sunken-level beach club, the pinnacle of bespoke yacht design, incorporating a sauna, an ice fountain, and a lounge area with a wet bar.&nbsp;Eternal Spark has an expected delivery date of 2023 and will make her world debut at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/182" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2023">Monaco Yacht Show</a>.

50m Bilgin 163 yacht Eternal Spark sold

Bilgin Yachts has announced the sale of the 50m Bilgin 163 yacht Eternal Spark. She has an expected delivery date of 2023.

50m Bilgin superyacht Eternal Spark sold and on schedule for 2023 delivery

Delivered in 2002 from France, the 31.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/416" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocea (Company)">Ocea</a> <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/espiritu-santo/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Espiritu Santo for sale</a> has entered the market in great condition. She was originally built for a highly experienced owner and has been well maintained over the years.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/176465/image/large-b9548812bfa5c05fbfbe5b7e719919bc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/176465"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> was designed by the renowned and highly regarded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/417" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Joubert Nivelt Design (Company)">Joubert-Nivelt</a> who penned her exterior design, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Flahault Design & Associes (Company)">Olivier Flahault</a> took care of her interior design. The aluminium <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> is a proven transatlantic cruiser with multiple voyages completed in Alaska.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262845/image/large-1342f9c97d9d6a5508b8ead4658bb24d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262845"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262844/image/large-07e48f2c967c1840cc50e8f27a7f6ae3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262844"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262846/image/large-ed01851ae07f45d2ccbc6320f1f8bbec.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262846">The 210 GT <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> features a classical interior design with an abundance of wood and a natural colour palette. Her spacious main saloon leads to her dining room with a large table and seating for up to eight guests for formal meals.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262850/image/large-6da26272175bb296f8143dfa8832af7c.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262850"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262851/image/large-09be86fa37d2e47623273a5392d4ce84.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262851"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262848/image/large-c711e36895a691f8c63dd07e5a951008.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262848"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests across four sumptuous staterooms, consisting of a full-beam master suite on the main deck with a king-sized bed, desk area and his-and-hers ensuite bathrooms.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262858/image/large-e1178186f1df4a23f2f685633f396ac3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262858"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262859/image/large-9f7f75f80d05f3b74721d9caf4cca9b4.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262859"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262857/image/large-3433fbab6b75e901536b3956d5ff5481.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262857">The remaining staterooms of the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/ocea/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Ocea yacht for sale</a> include a VIP, a double and a twin stateroom, all with ensuite bathrooms. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> is also able to sleep a crew of four across two cabins.The main saloon of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> flows outside to the aft deck and has adjustable tables for alfresco dining or enjoying cocktail hour. A forward deck has benches for sitting in the sun with a view over the bow of the yacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262853/image/large-b59b11149f602ceaffa63716b4f85557.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262853"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262854/image/large-1eb8328a2ae9119c0250a4f7987ee8db.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262854">Above the main saloon of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> is the pilothouse, with comfortable seating arrangements for guests to enjoy. She also has a small skylounge and a bridge deck to the aft, as well as another alfresco dining area. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262843/image/large-057d3265a9d9e35dea0cba3df056cd88.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262843"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262842/image/large-82c868e06c8fa4cd6162095705e80641.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262842"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espiritu Santo31.7m (104'0&quot;)Ocea2002">Espiritu Santo</a> is equipped with dual <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1883" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baudouin (Company)">Baudouin</a> engines which propel her to a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top speed of 13 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262836/image/large-243077c4b00480da0856e1adefa5931e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262836">

Ocea’s 32m yacht Espiritu Santo for sale

Ocea’s 32m yacht Espiritu Santo for sale was delivered in 2002 from France and has been well maintained over the years.

32m Ocea motor yacht Espiritu Santo for sale

With an unrelenting focus on quality, craftsmanship and innovation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> has created some of the most impressive superyachts in the world. Delivered in 2011 as Ice Angel, from the Netherlands-based powerhouse, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> underwent a refit in 2021 and now boasts a highly desirable and indulgently luxurious interior. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/9794/image/large-acaa7aeb536e285d109938ac803a6123.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/9794">Measuring in at an impressive 49.8-metres, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> forms part of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s successful 5000 Semi-Displacement series. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/55" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Omega Architects (Company)">Omega Architects</a> with sophisticated naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen Naval Architects</a>, combined with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s weight reduction expertise.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262264/image/large-3b95f8ad824152fef1042cca51ccb65a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262264"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262267/image/large-ecdfd446377ff521d7e2bae38fac7143.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262267"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> features interior design from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cristiano Gatto Design (Company)">Cristiano Gatto Design</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2384" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Domus Nova (Company)">Domusnova</a> and is characterised by dark leathers and contrasting woods, with bright and colourful accents. She is adorned with luxury products including Lalique figurines, Pinetti accessories, and Hermès tableware. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262269/image/large-0215b76b42722d7da42564e5c91dfc01.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262269">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> superyacht benefits from a circular lounge on her bridge deck which offers guests 270-degree views across the horizon. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> also has a large television screen and a sumptuous half-moon sofa, perfect for movie nights.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262268/image/large-968ecf1e0c4005476d316846379819fc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262268">Every inch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a>’s 514 GT interior space has been utilised by her designers. Her decks are connected by a unique staircase that mimics the waves she travels upon and also doubles as eye-catching sculpture. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262270/image/large-8ea5b02bf234b9bd83fe9da818279ce4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262270"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262272/image/large-bb9b4718518917f78279a6fa25b8cbbd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262272"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262271/image/large-e4d0b4440dac4c1c2d5c5a53865c5f99.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262271"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> has a six stateroom configuration for up to 12 guests with her full-beam master suite located on the main deck. The suite features a king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe, study and seating area, as well as a his-and-hers en suite bathroom. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262274/image/large-8669bddf28d0c3e9b1f0e9b7803aa679.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262274"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262277/image/large-161d1b635e5a6f66a6dca4a8211db345.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262277"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262280/image/large-b1c6ca1803219e6d339caaf4b8ae42c3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262280">The remaining guest staterooms are located on the lower deck and are configured as a full-beam VIP suite, two doubles and two twins. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> is also able to carry a crew of 10 across six cabins. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262177/image/large-ec5c79ff1f9808563d26641b8f4bc59f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262177"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262282/image/large-f3c38fa7109e5632a075957678bc2411.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262282">The sun deck of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> is designed with entertainment and relaxation in mind. She is equipped with a Jacuzzi surrounded by sunpads, a wet bar and an alfresco dining area. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> also has a stylish exterior lounge to aft on the main deck, and cushioned sun pads on the bow.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262175/image/large-06c8e953e458311ea66fb173153b46b9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262175"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> is able to carry a seven metre tender and is also available for charter with the addition of a 10-metre chase boat. She is an accredited RYA water sports centre and her collection of water toys includes two Jet Skis, SeaBobs, water skis, a wakeboard and various towable inflatables. There are also three bikes for exploring on shore.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/96125/image/large-77c4708f82f5ea4267b11f204bda22f9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96125"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> boasts a shallow draft which allows her access to a wide variety of anchorages. She is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines that provide her with a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 3,200 nautical miles at her 11 knot cruising speed.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocket49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2011">Rocket</a> is currently available for charter with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hill Robinson (Company)">Hill Robinson</a>.

Onboard Heesen's 50m yacht Rocket

The 50m Heesen superyacht Rocket is currently available for charter with Hill Robinson, offering accommodation for up to 12 guests.

Onboard Heesen’s 50m superyacht Rocket

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Allied Marine (Company)">Allied Marine</a> has announced the sale of a brand-new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> 8X yacht by broker Amilcar Martin. The 25.55-metre carbon-fibre motor yacht is characterised by her lightweight design with fast performance results.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62033/image/large-7b17babaf9289784ce67df9c152fd06a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62033">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> 8X yacht has been designed in full by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/585" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design (Company)">Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design</a> which were responsible for her interior and exterior design, as well as her naval architecture. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> describes the model as a "true evolution" of the slightly smaller 24.98-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> 82 and explains that it features "lines that are even sleeker and sportier".Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49510" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group unveils Pershing 8X (2019-01-25 11:00:00 +0100)">Ferretti Group unveils Pershing 8X<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62049/image/large-f4b01d89871e6a81a598b4e9b46f3a10.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62049"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62048/image/large-453867bbdcd1b5968de5b2afdf279c07.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62048"></a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62054/image/large-f0508444cbcbcb07eebb0ff645487a67.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62054"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62056/image/large-9ce42cde26abeaf4111467d14b655857.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62056">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> 8X yacht can accommodate up to eight guests in four staterooms on the lower deck. These comprise a full-beam master suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom, a VIP stateroom on the foredeck with a dedicated port-side bathroom, and two double guest staterooms.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62050/image/large-9798da21731fac017ee8d444a4031086.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62050"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62051/image/large-b9fec5f166ac07e62a1c3a6f337aea3d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62051"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62047/image/large-8748b9093dd029fe454e588be804eac4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62047">In terms of performance, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> 8X is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> 16V 2000 M96 2,435 horsepower engines which take her to a top speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 38 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/62043/image/large-7e7326838489024138d80a1115dc3bd6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/62043">

25m Pershing 8X yacht sold

Allied Marine has announced the sale of a brand-new Pershing 8X yacht.

Brand-new 25m Pershing 8X yacht sold

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a> has unveiled the renderings for his 57-metre superyacht concept Starwave. The Spain-based designer describes the new yacht as “effortless with a hint of classical elegance” and boasts uncompromised living spaces.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262924/image/large-c7b5821a05610bc41d46d2480c0386b2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262924">Starwave features a minimalist streamlined design with a fully enclosed stern and low bulwarks. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a> is no stranger to the world of yacht design and released three concepts last year ranging from 72 to 83-metres.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55933" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Prelude: The 80m New York penthouse inspired superyacht concept by Jay Aberdoni (2022-09-20 10:00:00 +0200)">Prelude: The 80m New York penthouse inspired superyacht concept by Jay Aberdoni <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262928/image/large-5833fa218f043eea99c7e48e00bbdb8f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262928"></a>Starwave has been designed as part of a range of contemporary yachts and has a smaller sister of 38-metres. She is characterised by geometrical shapes and flowing lines that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a> describes as “portraying serenity on the outside.”Starwave benefits from floor-to-ceiling windows that flood her interior with plenty of natural light. She also bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor spaces with glass railings that give the illusion she is connected with the horizon.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55405" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Exclusive first look at the 83m superyacht concept Dust by Jay Aberdoni (2022-06-23 10:00:00 +0200)">Exclusive first look at the 83m superyacht concept Dust by Jay Aberdoni<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262933/image/large-cab2ff6944b989a601f98f38dcebda41.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262933"></a>“To me, Starwave represents the definition of timelessness. A yacht that is back to the basics, minimalistic and not at all overdesigned,” explained <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a>. Her interior mirrors this aesthetic with clean and contemporary furnishings and a neutral colour palette.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262926/image/large-ae172becb61275a19a23892b99e27e10.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262926">Starwave can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 staterooms, with a spacious owner’s suite acting as an oasis for relaxation. She is also able to house a 10-metre limousine tender, as well as some Jet Skis.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54750" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Posterity: The 72m ground-breaking new concept from Jay Aberdoni (2022-03-11 10:45:00 +0100)">Posterity: The 72m ground-breaking new concept from Jay Aberdoni<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262929/image/large-15733adb795bc2060e2b2508d10667e0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262929"></a>The outdoor areas of Starwave have been adapted to offer the highest quality of luxury for those onboard. By covering the mooring equipment, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a> has provided a larger space for guests to enjoy. Lounge sofas, a large pool and sunbeds also provide the perfect opportunity to relax, while being protected from the wind with the high glass rails.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262932/image/large-5f42b0afc1ef5b4cd4b5c63afc1aef5e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262932"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262930/image/large-1f220d3eacb07bb9f67a04604fdff476.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262930">The beach club of Starwave provides direct access to the ocean and is also used as a health club with the addition of gym equipment and a sauna.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262927/image/large-eda25079389622d5020d5b0a489c92ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262927">Like all of<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Jay Aberdoni</a>’s designs, Starwave proudly displays a pirate flag at her stern, a key characteristic that defines a yacht designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jay Aberdoni Yacht Design (Company)">Aberdoni</a>. “I adopted it a long time ago as a subtle signature that is always present in my work! That will always be one way to know a yacht is designed by me!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262925/image/large-18f87b266b87d073ec2dc8144156cf2d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262925">

57m Jay Aberdoni yacht concept Starwave

Jay Aberdoni has unveiled the renderings for his 57m superyacht concept Starwave. 

Introducing Starwave: The 57m superyacht concept from Jay Aberdoni

German builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5961" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alva Yachts (Company)">ALVA Yachts</a> has unveiled the first renderings for a new 23.7-metre Ocean Eco 78 multihull yacht. The advanced electric yacht will join the shipyard’s growing fleet, which includes the flagship 27.5-metre Ocean Eco 90.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262793/image/large-ef2c87a0179b87414e8e15bf59833033.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262793">Designed with luxury and performance in mind, the Ocean Eco 78 catamaran boasts the latest technology developments with integrated solar panels and a fully-electric drive. Her solar panels take energy from the sun and store it in the battery packs that power the electric engines, giving her a transatlantic range and virtually unlimited autonomy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262794/image/large-67d6dc2d87ad8ea7ac122e41fda954a0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262794">“The new Ocean Eco 78 was created as the perfect addition to our existing range, and sits between the Ocean Eco 60 and 90 models providing owners with a generous increase in size from the 60 but removing the need for crew on the 90. This new model offers everything the 60 does but on a larger scale.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262790/image/large-c904cccc0f2d6e2f1891fd6c737c006c.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262790">The Ocean Eco 78 features a penthouse-style saloon and benefits from a generous master suite, complete with ensuite and separate walk-in wardrobe on the lower deck. Her remaining accommodation consists of two double staterooms and a twin, all with ensuite bathrooms.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262795/image/large-d31642d6f9767ec37b694e4c9f584d44.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262795">As with all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5961" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alva Yachts (Company)">ALVA</a> models, the owner can choose one of five different moods for the interior of their yacht; Mountain, Forest, Desert, Dune, and Sea. These choices determine the colours, fabrics and materials that will be used onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262792/image/large-54d443395e3295ec4504582d3da424bd.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262792">The lower deck of the Ocean Eco 78 is complete with twin drop down terraces providing sunbathing options on both sides of the yacht. The fore deck provides another social space with two separate seating arrangements plus oversized sunbeds, complete with ample storage.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262791/image/large-a4811e6d3aa7bcbf757f3e023d8d4657.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262791">The full-electric variant of the Ocean Eco 78 yacht is equipped with twin 217 kilowatt electric motors connected to a battery pack which is powered by the sun and generators.Just like the other models in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5961" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alva Yachts (Company)">ALVA</a> range, the 78 is designed for adventures and as a true ocean-going cruising yacht. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5961" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alva Yachts (Company)">ALVA Yachts</a> currently has two <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52233" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alva Yachts building eco-friendly Ocean Eco 90 Explorer yacht (2021-01-05 13:45:00 +0100)">Ocean Eco 90 yachts in build</a> following the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Second 28m ALVA Ocean Eco 90 Open multihull yacht sold (2022-11-23 13:15:00 +0100)">sale of the second hull in November 2022</a>.

ALVA Yachts presents 24m Ocean Eco 78 yacht

ALVA Yachts has unveiled the first renderings for a new 23.7-metre Ocean Eco 78 multihull yacht.

ALVA Yachts presents new 24m Ocean Eco 78 electric yacht

Construction of the fifth Moonen Martinique (YN203) is well underway with the hull and superstructure now securely joined. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen Yachts</a> expects to complete and deliver her next year. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262684/image/large-26e337acc1d75a497dba6a82800b961e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262684">The 37.8-metre series design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/241" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="René van der Velden Yacht Design (Company)">René van der Velden Yacht Design</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design B.V. (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a>, has continually evolved with new features. This latest unit is the largest of the series, benefitting from not only an extended sun deck, but an additional 1.5-metres added to her swim platform. To ensure a smooth entry into the water for scuba diving and other activities, YN203 has been equipped with a fully integrated hydraulic swim platform, the “seascape”. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262687/image/large-fbefb99e6e4feccbab6300e94c00aab2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262687">London-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4664" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Indigo (Company)">Studio Indigo</a> has designed her interior and as the owners have joined the project early, they’ll be heavily involved in the whole design process. The 345 GT Moonen Martinique offers accommodation for 12 guests and seven crew. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262685/image/large-b28c15a57191bb91f5c3b0ff5b4ecc54.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262685">“As a Real Estate Developer I am acutely aware of the time delays and cost escalations being experienced as a direct result of Covid, the Ukraine war and other economic factors. It is highly commendable that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4664" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Indigo (Company)">Studio Indigo</a> have been able to deliver our new yacht without any of the before-mentioned negative time or cost implications in this very difficult operating environment,” her owner commented.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262688/image/large-924c7a9fdd12e1439110535389cad0b7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262688"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262689/image/large-3e86317b88f50cb961b47006457e2a2c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262689">Equipped with twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, YN203 will have a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. Her top speed will be 14.5 knots. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262686/image/large-c980ec37d0a272f5f3e4017027aa9401.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262686">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fourth 38m Moonen Martinique motor yacht Cocoon delivered (2023-03-16 11:45:00 +0100)">Fourth 38m Moonen Martinique motor yacht Cocoon delivered</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen Yachts</a> has two other yachts in-build: another Moonen Martinique scheduled for delivery next year, and the 34.04-metre Moonen 110 which will be launched at the end of the month. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262690/image/large-8a48c9f200465df59cae3195ff0c3fba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262690">

Construction update for fifth 38m Moonen Martinique YN203 

Moonen Yachts joins the hull and superstructure of fifth Moonen Martinique (YN203). Delivery scheduled for 2024. 

Moonen Yachts joins hull and superstructure of fifth 38m Martinique YN203 

Turkey-based superyacht designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2705" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aras Kazar Yacht Design (Company)">Aras Kazar&nbsp;</a>is disrupting the market with his new innovative and somewhat futuristic yacht designs. His newest concept is the 130-metre Wakíŋyaŋ, translating in Lakota to mean “thunder”. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262893/image/large-70593dbaa6ff94c8c6c075449d884a45.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262893">Described by the designer as a “floating bird on the water”, this expansive yacht concept exhibits the sleek lines and robotic style often employed by the distinctive design.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/262888/image/large-5a950e8d54dc5f542c4b446e94f681fa.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20230323%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20230323T085743Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=84f83a1db8374006e050929dd948b7bbe566946e8b3c35367ab9b073a9c07b47" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262888">Equipped with an entire glass deck to provide panoramic views from all angles, this superyacht concept is a beacon of light, flooding the interior with natural daylight and allowing guests onboard to enjoy the night sky with almost 360-degree sight.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/262886/image/large-e27db10e6ff480499473aeb0fa057e1a.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20230323%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20230323T085742Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=88f0f13c34ae5f713cb141ba4935e7af09df49facf231bb4347b4392718a33d8" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262886">With equal design assertion, the Wakíŋyaŋ yacht concept’s interior design showcases a juxtaposed style to that of the exterior. Soft-hued furnishings and airy and spacious formulations encourage guests to feel relaxed and calm onboard.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/262887/image/large-0d9d7cf4ae8cbaf0148eb55fd329eb5e.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20230323%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20230323T085742Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=10b7196e46b057c66d1911f07553d5a75329f85f6577f5b5321203b7457cb7c9" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262887">The yacht concept is equipped with five staterooms and one master suite alongside comfortable cabins for the crew and captain. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262894/image/large-4b7d41617b5428ca517d31c921d5287d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262894">Highlights of this <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2705" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aras Kazar Yacht Design (Company)">Aras Kazar</a> design include a tranquil swimming pool on the aft deck with a fully equipped spa. <img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/262892/image/large-4fb8a7eb2aef4ad3bde29ad027634bba.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20230323%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20230323T085742Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=d9e85cb8f16e7ce8300bf4af63de5655306384cd8939cfa51402488d15d736cb" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262892">Performance-wise, the Wakinyan concept is equipped with all-electric and hydrofoil technology enabling her to reach a maximum speed of 32 knots.

130m Wakíŋyaŋ superyacht concept

Turkey-based superyacht designer Aras Kazar unveils renders for 130m Wakíŋyaŋ yacht concept known as “thunder”.

Aras Kazar unveils renders for 130m Wakíŋyaŋ superyacht concept

Robert Lama has joined the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> team as a Sales Consultant based out of the Fort Lauderdale office.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/49166/image/large-e22efe6e2a46f17cc0ded2f7ce0609ea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/49166"> Lama began his career in the commercial insurance industry, purchasing a small firm and transforming it into Lama Insurance, which became one of New York’s largest brokerages. After selling the firm to First Niagara Financial Group, Rob was appointed as the company’s Senior Vice President, where he guided the Insurance Division with over $600,000,000 in annual sales. He also founded Lama Commercial Real Estate, where he negotiated site acquisitions for a number of large American retailers, including Walmart, CVS, and Rite Aid. During this time, Lama owned a yacht in Miami for his entire family to enjoy.&nbsp;After moving to Miami, Lama combined his love of yachting with his business acumen, establishing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5135" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Miami International Yacht Sales LLC. (Company)">Miami International Yacht Sale</a>. Lama’s business and negotiation experience enabled him to find his niche in the sale of vessels over 30-metres. He now joins <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> in 2023 after many years of successfully running his own yacht brokerage firm. Lama takes pleasure in finding the perfect yacht for his clients, and supporting them throughout the process.&nbsp;

Robert Lama joins the IYC team

Robert Lama has joined the IYC team as a Sales Consultant based out of the Fort Lauderdale office.

Cryptocurrencies have become even more present in the yachting world, with a number of leading brokerage houses accepting these types of payments to buy and charter yachts. While the uptake has been gradual, the recent surge highlights that this hesitancy hasn’t come from resistance. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/208212/image/large-391ca1c70a6822b2c89fe2ca519bf6b3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/208212">Even amidst the great crypto crash, many brokerage firms are adding these payment types to their portfolios – this trend highlights an expectation that crypto will bounce back. The most recent being the Monaco-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1317" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachtzoo (Company)">Yachtzoo</a>, which, like many others, has partnered up with the global bitcoin service provider BitPay. BitPay enables instantaneous borderless payments with many leading cryptocoins. The blockchain payment processing that it employs is said to “eliminate transaction fraud”.Darrell Hall, Founding Partner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1317" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachtzoo (Company)">Yachtzoo</a>, spoke out about this partnership: “As a leading yacht brokerage, we are always looking at innovative solutions to enhance our customers’ experience. Our job as a luxury yacht brokerage is to make chartering, selling, or acquiring a yacht as flawless as possible. Our partnership with BitPay is another way we make it as easy as possible for our customers.”&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>, a brokerage house synonymous with tradition, made the plunge early last month. The move is a strategic one for the 240-year-old company, as it’s looking to attract new clientele by tapping into the “massive crypto marketplace”. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/208208/image/large-f4020197b94aa67adf3951f1a4742d12.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/208208"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">“Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> realises the potential for crypto to transform the yachting industry, making payments faster, more secure, and less expensive on a global scale,” said Merrick Theobald, Vice President of Marketing at BitPay. “With the total market cap of crypto approaching $2 trillion, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> is also now well-positioned to take advantage of this wealth by helping those crypto holders who are looking to purchase luxury items like yacht sales and yacht charters.”&nbsp;Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54180" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crypto-mania: Superyacht Vianne offered in Crypto and NFTs (2021-11-30 12:30:00 +0100)">Crypto-mania: Superyacht Vianne offered in Crypto and NFTs</a>The US-based brokerage firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison Yachting</a> was the first to test the waters, pioneering cryptocurrencies as a payment method in 2014. I spoke with Bob Denison last November and he shared that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison</a> has sold 17 yachts through bitcoin, and is expected to round the figure to 20 sales by the end of 2021. Rather than just accepting wallet-to-wallet payments as most brokerage houses do now, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison</a> also has eight bitcoin miners in-house. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210670/image/large-a4ecddde47d5c68d605bd010a4321db8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210670">“We need to be present and available to all potential clients in all marketplaces, and if a client wants to pay with Bitcoin, we are positioned to handle the transaction,” Bob Denison said.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54008" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht brokerage & bitcoin: Is the trend here to stay? (2021-11-03 16:45:00 +0100)">Superyacht brokerage &amp; bitcoin: Is the trend here to stay?</a>Another firm that recently raised the crypto flag is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>. BitPay has once again been the choice partnership, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a> has capitalised on this venture by selling the 40.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4627" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oryx40.2m (131'11&quot;)Benetti SpA2013">Oryx</a> using BitPay.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54551" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="40m Benetti Oryx sold for €9.9m with cryptocurrency (2022-02-07 12:45:00 +0100)">40m Benetti Oryx sold for €9.9m with cryptocurrency</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/191625/image/large-a0fa175d2911c86c56888bca91d42424.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/191625">At the time of her sale, Juan Andrade, Broker at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a> commented, “The ability to accept cryptocurrency enables <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a> to attract new customers and sales by tapping the massive crypto marketplace. BitPay manages the entire process and makes it easy to receive crypto from the customer and adapt their approach to each client’s personal situation.”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54098" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="72m superyacht Azteca, listed for sale in cryptocurrency, has been sold (2021-11-16 15:30:00 +0100)">72m superyacht Azteca, listed for sale in cryptocurrency, has been sold</a>What makes the crypto market so interesting is not its volatility – which is undoubtedly making many sweat profusely at the moment &nbsp;– but how it’s created a great deal of “new money”. This is interesting for our industry as this is a new demographic with money to spend and, as this swathe of partnerships with BitPay attests, has an interest in yachting. It’s too early to tell whether we'll see a major impact like we did around the turn of the millennium and the great US tech boom. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> subtly paid tribute to this great age as they announced its partnership with BitPay; heading its statement with a photograph of one of the legends from that age: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>’s 126m superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/270" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus126.2m (414'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2003">Octopus</a>, which was formerly owned by the late Microsoft co-owner, Paul Allen. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/224946/image/large-2fbf251fbfdd0a35dc3ee70a043bb663.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/224946">The crypto market is yet to filter to new-builds like the first tech boom did. I spoke with Albert Hakvoort of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort Shipyard</a> last week to check whether this demographic has started placing orders for full-custom yachts yet. “Not yet,” Hakvoort said. “In a few years once they become a little more experienced they may start looking to develop a custom yacht.”&nbsp;

 yacht brokers selling superyachts through BitPay

Even amidst the great crypto crash, many brokerage firms are adding these payment types to their portfolios. 

More brokers accept BitPay amid crypto market uncertainty

Non-fungible tokens – AKA NFTs – have now unquestionably made their entry into the world of yachting and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> is one of the pioneers charting these waters. The Dutch yacht builder announced earlier this month that it’s about to launch into a new digital realm under the brand Superyacht NFTs, which will be “anchored in the Ethereum blockchain”.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219622/image/large-4f169e306c8ff0aa176bd5a4357b163a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219622">The collection of Superyacht NFTs are based on the 105-metre explorer concept Esquel that Timur Bozca of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bozca Design Ltd (Company)">Bozca Design</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> drew up together in 2019. We caught up with Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, to hear about Superyacht NFTs and to learn about the benefits of joining this community that is aimed to “make the exclusive more inclusive”.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54738" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco launches series of Superyacht NFTs (2022-03-09 15:15:00 +0100)">Oceanco launches series of Superyacht NFTs</a>“It’s important to us as a company that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> pushes the industry’s boundaries and that we challenge ourselves to continuously grow,” Baloumis said. “The world is changing, and we believe that the transition to Web3 will touch every part of our lives in some way. Which is why we were motivated to jump in sooner rather than later and be a frontrunner in the industry’s evolution. NFTs felt like a natural progression and we wanted to make sure what we offered would be unique and exciting.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219623/image/large-b4c8ef64e1f566183dd9f943a8478ba5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219623">The Superyacht NFTs will be based on the builder’s 105-metre remarkable expedition design for Esquel that was conceived with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bozca Design Ltd (Company)">Bozca</a>, who won the Young Designer of the Year Award in 2015, although each will display a unique combination of design elements, themes and settings, including some rare features to make them even more desirable.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49625" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DIBS 2019: Oceanco reveals new 105m Esquel explorer yacht concept (2019-02-26 15:30:00 +0100)">DIBS 2019: Oceanco reveals new 105m Esquel explorer yacht concept</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/65527/image/large-0650e4d796a63d71b7ee53746a334aea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/65527">“You could say that the central driver of our strategy is experience and engagement – both in real life and virtually – rather than to simply explore a design in 3D. It’s all about community,” added Baloumis.Community is where the potential of NFTs truly lies – it’s also the value that's driving Web3 – and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> gets it. “We have definitely entered the NFT space for the long run,” Baloumis continued. “The success of these kinds of projects is evaluated not only in the uptake of the initial drop, but in the long-term engagement with the holder community to maintain interest and value. With our first collection dropping soon, marking the foundation of our Superyacht NFT community, we are excited to invite people to join.”Superyacht NFTs will grant holders special access to ongoing benefits that are experienced both virtually and in the real world, working alongside likeminded partner brands to bring engaging rewards and activations to its holder community. Over time, Superyacht NFT holders will be given the opportunity to boost their tokens through airdrops of collectible add-ons including super toys and accessories. These will convey additional “money-can’t-buy” benefits to the NFT holders, according to the team behind the project. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219624/image/large-75fd82b19d3a22becf613e27a2733a76.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219624">Baloumis let on about some other partnerships for the project as well: “We are working with some highly respected and experienced parties to offer reassurance to buyers. And in terms of activation partners, this will continue to evolve over time as we develop the program, but you can expect to see a wide range of lifestyle, luxury and tech partners coming onboard with Superyacht NFTs; we wouldn’t want to let our secrets slip quite yet but there will be more to follow soon.”It is clear then that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> is entering this field with intention to make the exclusive nature of physical superyachts more inclusive in a new digital realm. Superyacht NFTs are its answer. It's also evident that NFTs have a lot of potential in what they can offer – and hopefully develop for – our yachting community.&nbsp;

Superyacht NFTs: Making the “exclusive more inclusive” with Oceanco

NFTs have now unquestionably made their entry into the world of yachting and Oceanco is one of the pioneers charting these waters. 

Cloud Yachts has confirmed the sale of the 33-metre Tactical 110 superyacht NFT for a US owner. The NFT was minted on Opeansea last week and is believed to be the first NFT yacht sale on the Ethereum blockchain. SYT spoke to some of the minds behind this unique deal to get a greater insight into the world of NFTs, and the possible role they have in superyacht construction.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220036/image/large-3c836cfc2548b1816f0a7e5c7ef50984.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220036"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220025/image/large-2dc8c6e05b06c65140728940373bb979.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220025">Once the NFT has been delivered, Tactical 110 will go into build, and the physical yacht is expected to be delivered in three years with a cost of close to $12,000,000. Tactical 110 sports design 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</a> and will be built in Canada at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tactical Custom Boats (Company)">Tactical Custom Boats</a>’ facilities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220028/image/large-80a11d7878cf085fb505f0bbc38680ee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220028">"We are constantly looking for new ways to improve the build experience for our clients. We teamed up with Cloud Yachts to see if we could use NFTs to simplify a complex build process. The first client we presented the opportunity to loved the idea. We are excited to work with the owner, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. (Company)">Greg Marshall</a> and Cloud Yachts on this NFT new build project," says Tim Charles, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tactical Custom Boats (Company)">Tactical Custom Boats</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220031/image/large-d8af4794b59b18336462aedaab5d61eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220031"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220030/image/large-45625d26158c2f7c50bc53bba4dde6ec.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220030">Upon completion of this hull, Cloud Yachts and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tactical Custom Boats (Company)">Tactical Custom Boats</a> will mint a second NFT for a potential owner, offering a yacht as well as all the metadata from the build. After a quick call with Zach Mandelstein, founder of Cloud Yachts, SYT&nbsp;got an exclusive scoop that for the second hull of the Tactical 110, the NFT and physical yacht will be built simultaneously."We see a unique opportunity to use this new technology while building our custom yacht. We like the idea of pioneering a new process and were happy to explore the best use of NFTs for the owners. The NFT I bought this week seems to be useful in ways I had never imagined; like having all the data from my vessel at my fingertips. It's fascinating to watch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tactical Custom Boats (Company)">Tactical Custom Boats</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. (Company)">Greg Marshall</a>, and Cloud Yachts apply this technology to the build process. It will be a real adventure, Just like traveling the world in an expedition yacht like the Tactical 110," said the owner Tactical 110&nbsp;- hull #1.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220040/image/large-c7e755c60412dbc1fa84dd48d4182953.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220040"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220041/image/large-55b453d8c86e0ee08d30491a8b296b31.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220041">The second hull will be available through Alex G Clarke of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison Yachting</a> at the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palm Beach International Boat Show - 2022">Palm Beach International Boat Show</a>."I've worked extensively with Tim over the years, and he is extremely creative so it's no surprise one of his clients wanted to pioneer the use of NFTs on a new construction yacht. The owner of hull #1 is a team player and without judgment is allowing us to develop and streamline a process that we will be able to apply to future builds. Our end goal is to make a complex 2-3 year build period a better, more efficient experience for him. We all understand that this process will develop and become more complex as the project takes shape. Every day we learn a little more and seem to find a new application for this technology, and it's clear this is just the beginning," says Clarke.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220033/image/large-481e5f8597319c2f25dca7060f7f1c47.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220033"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220034/image/large-32feffa9f67e7d4dedfd1f0efada856e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220034">Cloud Yachts will also use Palm Beach as the setting to launch a new collection of NFTs, this time with a design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/17" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bannenberg & Rowell Design (Company)">Dickie Bannenberg</a>. The NFT collection comprises just five hulls, and the owner of the first from the series will receive five years’ access to the Windwood VIP section at the Palm Beach Boat Show.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220023/image/large-e1c08ee9159c643ae2dcc9bb0b0d76c1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220023">So why NFTs?&nbsp;Zach Mandelstein is driven to provide utility and to harness the digital space in a productive and inclusive way. “We’re creating access to a community and a very difficult industry,” Mandelstein explained. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220026/image/large-b0bbfb241a22d00069e7b55b2e4adc26.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220026">Cloud Yachts has sold NFT yachts for 2 ETH (equivalent to around $5,000 at the time of sale) which is, of course, much cheaper than an actual yacht. The NFT yachts in Cloud Yachts’ fleet are designed by some of the leading superyacht designers, giving owners access to a world that they may not have access to otherwise.In a previous statement, Mandelstein said: "Our team is honored to represent the world's best superyacht designers. We are months away from having the ability to meet our clients in the metaverse to design their dream yacht using proprietary augmented reality technology." <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220016/image/large-1ebfef779bfbeb3c4ba992f719370a49.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220016"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220017/image/large-e10d110d01a4c2df2c78859f10d36388.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220017">While during our call he kept his cards close to his chest and held back from revealing too much, it was clear that there is a lot of excitement for something on the horizon (metaverse, or not). The long and short of NFTs is that we’re learning what’s possible as we go along – it’s a realm that none of us are too certain about and one that we’re tentatively dipping our toes in.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220022/image/large-45eae9cfed61c80c09231463b14d9e18.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220022">"We're aware of the short-term NFT craze so we've set our sights on the long-term utility that this blockchain technology offers,” Mandelstein said previously. “Whether it's by facilitating transactions, revolutionising the new-build experience or something we haven't yet imagined, we're enthusiastic to participate in this virtual economy."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220019/image/large-aeaf11df888740e303bd56a3c1ca317e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220019">

Tactical 110, the first NFT yacht sale on ETH blockchain 

Tactical 110 NFT yacht has been sold, the first of her kind. SYT got the inside scoop on this unusual story. 

From blockchain to in-build: Tactical 110, the first NFT yacht sale on ETH blockchain 

Will bitcoin supersede more traditional payments methods in the near future? Is a question gurgling away at the back of a lot of industry leaders’ minds. How quickly it will gain traction, if at all, in the superyacht industry is another question.&nbsp;As rags-to-riches stories continue to circulate of those investing in cryptocurrency, skeptical interest remains relatively high. The narrative is pretty constant as digital traders flirt between coin to coin, reaping rewards or cashing out too early. The stories no longer have that semblance of a naughty little secret, or the undertones of being a passing fad. Cryptocurrencies are proving time and time again that they’re here to stay – and, perhaps, are the future. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203386/image/large-008879dc2970c1ecf257e8564ab5a289.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203386">This year has been one for the records with El Salvador declaring bitcoin as legal tender, sparking celebrations and outrage throughout the country, the reverberations of which have been felt around the world and shocked the exchange. We are on the cusp of another big motion too, as Mastercard has just announced that any one of its million users can start integrating cryptocurrency into their products very soon. This could potentially be huge and cause a cascade of new users. At the very least it may instill trust for some edging on the side of caution.The gunslinging days of the digital wild west have eclipsed and many safeguards have been put in place to ensure transactions are not only secure but, importantly, legal. Brokers and realtors are one such safeguard and conduct what is known as a KYC (Know Your Client), to ensure that a client has procured the cash for their property through legal channels. The burden of blame is heavy on the brokers’ shoulders, so every background check is thoroughly investigated. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203384/image/large-9728c4b9d246a138790b2909efb72871.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203384">In our industry, there has been a steady crypto-beat pulsing through &nbsp;brokerages for some time now. It’s gentle, but it’s definitely there. As of yet, most brokers haven’t got the infrastructure, or the willingness, to accept the currency; however, many are happy to facilitate wallet-to-wallet payments between seller and buyer when a yacht passes hands. The list is pretty extensive, in fact and includes some very special boats. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203381/image/large-349ba76368acd87f9a06a74fb16e6e32.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203381">The largest yacht to be available for purchase through cryptocurrency is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN Spa (Company)">CRN</a>’s 72-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/337" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azteca72.0m (236'3&quot;)CRN Spa2010">Azteca</a>, which has become somewhat of a media sensation. It’s not surprising either, as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/337" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azteca72.0m (236'3&quot;)CRN Spa2010">Azteca</a> is a superyacht valued at over $70 million – when this sale is confirmed it will be a milestone event in both the marine sector and in the crypto community. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/206933/image/large-798516cd9b05364adad485e2ad709d51.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/206933">Cryptocurrency is rearing its head in the world of new builds too – well, gently surfacing could be more appropriate, so as not to sound too hyperbolic! The yacht in question is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/119" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Horizon Yachts (Company)">Horizon Yachts</a>’ FD80 Skyline which pays tribute to her owner’s success and passion trading bitcoin. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11007" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Parabolic24.54m (80'6&quot;)Horizon Yachts2021">Parabolic</a>, as she’s named, hasn’t been purchased using the currency, but is an ode to the multiple sale waves that the owner’s capitalised on. To really stamp his love of bitcoin, the emblem takes pride and place at the heart of her name, nestled between the “a” and “o” of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11007" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Parabolic24.54m (80'6&quot;)Horizon Yachts2021">Parabolic</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/206923/image/large-c7b8cf7a171af6cb5423997a51c521c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/206923">There is one brokerage that has had its finger firmly on this crypto-pulse though: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison Yachting</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison</a> is a pioneer in the industry and has been accepting bitcoin as payment for seven years now. To date, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison</a> has sold 17 yachts through bitcoin and expects to bring this to a round figure of 20 sales before the year is through. This lineup includes several in the above 30-metre category, exceeding $10 million in value. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison</a> also has eight bitcoin miners in-house, to further centralise its position within the crypto community.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210670/image/large-a4ecddde47d5c68d605bd010a4321db8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210670">If we widen the lens and consider other luxury sectors, we can see a similar trend of dealerships tentatively welcoming cryptocurrency. Tilman Fertitta, a prominent leader in luxury auto sales, told CNBC earlier this year that his firm has sold 17 cars with bitcoin. The lineup of sales include those for Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Teslas. The latter of which has been wreaking havoc with crypto rates, as Elon Musk has announced, redacted and announced again plans to accept cryptocurrency directly for the sale of Teslas.By and large in the realms of real estate the trajectory is, again, much the same. This could change soon though as the digital infrastructure is not only fully capable to facilitate some big proposals in the pipeline, but is proving unparalleled in speed – both in terms of transfer and in establishing “smart contracts” that allow parties to secure all information without the intervention of third parties.&nbsp;Residents of Miami may soon start seeing the bitcoin emblem on their property tax bills, as the Mayor of the area has proposed a plan to allow people to pay property taxes or city fees with cryptocurrency. Forbes reported the story, and pegged the announcement to the $28 million sale of a Miami penthouse that was sold entirely in cryptocurrency – the most most expensive cryptocurrency real estate transaction in the US to date. Forbes asked a similar question: is crypto the future? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/178717/image/large-295390de6304c9730e6c213483f48429.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/178717">If we consider that 55.8 percent of the 2,604 billionaires in the world are self made – as reported by Wealth-X –, and that in today’s market the tech sectors are ripe for profiteering, then the answer is probably yes. The golden age of data and digital innovations has lined the pockets of many and provided opportunities for new skills to thrive and new faces to reap great capital rewards.A brief conversation with most yacht brokers will testify this too, as reports of anywhere up to 20 percent of sales are from new owners buying for the first time. Of course, it’s a jump to correlate a growing interest in yachting exclusively to new money, as this is certainly not the case. New money has just allowed more people access to the industry.&nbsp;So, are we heading for a crypto future? It seems we are on that track, and with the likes of Mastercard, El Salvador and some momentous bitcoin milestones, its incorporation is likely to go through a period of acceleration.&nbsp;

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