Dutch yacht designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover</a> steps into the spotlight in our freshly released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL2FXlcrIhY&feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">YouTube video</a>, tracing his extraordinary journey from crafting family boats to shaping some of the world’s most iconic motor yachts. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RL2FXlcrIhY?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> Justin Ratcliffe looks at the key milestones in Rover’s career, highlighting his transition from smaller‑scale vessels to designing superyachts exceeding 40 metres. Get an insider’s view of his design philosophy, the evolution of his signature aesthetics and examples of some of his standout superyacht projects.All of our videos can be found on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/superyachttimes" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel and we would love to hear your feedback, so please leave a comment on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/superyachttimes" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/superyachttimes" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SuperYachtTimes/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. You can also reach us by email at <a href="mailto:news@superyachttimes.com" target="_blank">news@superyachttimes.com</a>!

Cor D. Rover’s design journey from family boats to superyacht icons

Discover Cor D. Rover’s journey from family boats to world-renowned superyacht designs in this exclusive new video.

Video: Cor D. Rover’s design journey from family boats to superyacht icons

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At the studio with RWD yacht designers

We visit RWD yacht design studio to sit down with the team and find out about this illusive studio.

Breaking boundaries: At the studio with RWD

While the studio’s name has become synonymous with major Italian motor yacht brands such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/361" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Yachts (Company)">Ferretti</a>, due to the iconic designs of yachts like the 66-metre <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>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/289" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vallicelli Design (Company)">Studio Vallicelli Design</a>’s history is deeply rooted in the high-performance Italian sailing yacht sector. Founded and led in the 1970s by architect and professor Andrea Vallicelli, the studio has completed over 170 projects, around 50 of which are in the plus-24-metre segment and just under 40 of those are motor yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/348672/image/large-d20250b7e7f7e494b366a4b446f4868e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/348672">In 1976, the studio launched its first yachts, the 38-foot sailing yachts Gattone and Ziggurat, designed in collaboration with Carlo Alberto Tiberio. Gattone, the first hull of the V-Cat 38 series, raced in the 1976 One Ton Cup and established the studio as a player within the regatta circuit, a reputation reinforced by Ziggurat’s subsequent success. Over the following years, the studio went on to design consecutive winners, building on their reputation before eventually being chosen to design Italy’s first America’s Cup challenger, Azzurra. Designed for the 1983 Cup, Azzurra&nbsp;was a very fast 12m SI, and her build created a major buzz throughout the Italian and international sailing industries, with the yacht making it to the semi-finals against Britain’s Victory, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/35" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubois Naval Architects Ltd. (Company)">Ed Dubois</a>.Despite not winning the Cup, Azzurra returned to Italy to major acclaim and firmly rooted <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/289" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vallicelli Design (Company)">Vallicelli Design</a> as a household name in the sector. In the following years, the studio continued to design racing yachts, before moving into the cruising segment during the 1980s. The studio’s entrance to the motor yacht segment came a little later, initially working with the Italian military for small patrol vessels in the 1990s, until a lucky introduction to the Italian shipyard ISA opened up an entirely new sector to the studio. After an initial introduction, the studio was tasked with designing a new series for the yard, which became the 36.45- metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> 120.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337647/image/large-30eb5056fdc692805ec745ad1a48a673.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337647">A highly successful model, with 11 hulls launched between 2005 and 2017, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> 120 was the studio’s gateway into the motor yacht sector, and the beginning of a close-knit relationship between the shipyard and the studio that has endured to this day. It was the Italian shipyard, in fact, that built the studio’s first full-custom superyacht, the 63-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1691" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kolaha63.0m (206'8&quot;)ISA Yachts2010">Kolaha</a>, launched in 2010. During this time, the team were also developing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a>’s next-generation series, the 50- metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> 500, amidst a number of custom and semi-custom projects.The most notable collaboration between the two companies undertaken during the 2010s was <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>. The 66-metre superyacht, with her black hull, aft deck pool and dramatic sweeping lines, made a major splash in the industry and remains one of the studio’s most recognisable yachts to date.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/113465/image/large-22c2ddb8d0c83b8426a8d795f1f18b22.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/113465">Speaking on the development of <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>, Andrea Vallicelli explained, “Over the years, we designed a series of steel-hulled motor yachts with aluminium superstructures, between 40 and 70- metres in length, for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> boatyard. The most significant was <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>.” <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>’s success is felt by the studio even today, with the team currently working on a new full-custom 66-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> based on her design, due for delivery in 2026. While the shipyard has been a major supporter of the studio over the years, their portfolio extends well beyond <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a>, and their current fleet of in-build yachts clearly demonstrates this. Not only are there three different <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a> WHY series currently in-build, featuring interiors from the team, but they are also building a custom 80-metre at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a>, Project Bravo, after the successful <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5994" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Roe73.6m (241'6&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2022">ROE</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinite Jest 75.0m (246'1&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2023">Infinite Jest</a>, and an 86- metre, Project 144 at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a>.Alessandro Nazareth, partner and CEO, explains how the relationship began with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a>, “Our collaboration started six or seven years ago while working with a private client who was searching for a shipyard to build a yacht. We approached various shipyards in Italy, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a>, just as they were undergoing a management change. Stefano de Vivo, whom I hadn’t met before, reviewed our portfolio and liked one of our designs, a 70-metre yacht, which evolved into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a> 139, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8096" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Njoy72.26m (237'1&quot;)CRN2024">Njoy</a>, launched last year. Our relationship with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a> has since grown, and we’re now working together on new designs.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/303812/image/large-f57833810268990d5adf7e42d1ae67d6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/303812">Like their relationship with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a>, the studio has developed a close collaboration with the Turkish shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a>, with whom they are currently working on the 79.99-metre Project Bravo. The 73.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5994" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Roe73.6m (241'6&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2022">ROE</a>, launched in 2021, is the first project born from the collaboration, which was swiftly followed by the 75- metre I<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinite Jest 75.0m (246'1&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2023">nfinite Jest</a> in 2023. While <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5994" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Roe73.6m (241'6&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2022">ROE</a> has remained a highly private yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinite Jest 75.0m (246'1&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2023">Infinite Jest</a> has been widely publicised since her launch, with her owners setting out on an incredibly ambitious maiden voyage that took them from Turkey, all the way to Antarctica and beyond. Alessandro adds, “After the quiet launches of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5994" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Roe73.6m (241'6&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2022">ROE</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8096" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Njoy72.26m (237'1&quot;)CRN2024">Njoy</a>, the publicity we received for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinite Jest 75.0m (246'1&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2023">Infinite Jest</a> has been a very welcome change for our team, particularly given the spectacular images of her surrounded by icebergs. She proved to the industry that you don't necessarily need to be ice-class to explore the most remote locations and we’ve had many positive reactions and requests from clients since her delivery.”While the studio has historically been known for its exterior and architectural work, in recent years there has been a significant expansion of its interior design department, headed up by Michelangelo Vallicelli. In fact, around 50 percent of the studio’s activities over the past year have been focused on interiors, a department that has been particularly busy due to the collaboration with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>. Not only has the studio been tasked with the interiors of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a> WHY series, but they have also developed the exterior and interior of the 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> GTX line (with an 80’ launched and a 70’ and 90’ to come in the next years).<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/299759/image/large-9cef78b899cd5f09b077e90083e0c4c8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/299759"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/349148/image/large-3b8a63621de51da5e80f56f87b3b9d7b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/349148">First announced in 2023, the 24-metre model represents the next generation for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> shipyard. Michelangelo explains, “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> sought to introduce more comfort and volume to the traditionally sporty, high-speed design. The GTX line achieves this by providing more space and a range of functional outdoor features, such as balconies and an adaptable aft platform. This transformation required rethinking <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a>’s iconic style to merge the brand’s speed-oriented DNA with a more spacious and luxurious experience.”The GTX has offered the studio the unique opportunity to design both the interior and exterior of the yachts. Michelangelo adds, “We aim for seamless integration between interiors and exteriors, treating the yacht as a cohesive entity rather than separate spaces. Working on the interiors for brands like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a>, our approach involves balancing volume, functionality, and aesthetic. We view yacht design as one unified vision rather than distinct exterior and interior disciplines.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/307736/image/large-b697a64f9db974aa66fc26aba9cff337.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/307736">Without a doubt, the team has done a remarkable job with the GTX80, packing in far more than expected into a 24-metre hull. Unsurprisingly, the expansive experience with sailing boat design has given the team a deep understanding of balance and structure, and how to operate within limited volumes.As the studio’s interior department expands, it surely won’t be long before it realises its dream of taking on a 360-degree superyacht project, designing both the interior and exterior. “We’re dedicated to continuing to expand in the motor yacht market and look forward to seeing our current projects come to life in the next few years. Each launch is a profoundly emotional moment, symbolising years of hard work and dedication,” concludes Alessandro.This article was first published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-52" target="_blank">issue 52 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, available for download here.</a>

At the studio with Studio Vallicelli Design

Discover Studio Vallicelli
Design’s legacy of over 170 projects, from high-performance
sailing yachts to iconic motor yachts.

Inside Studio Vallicelli Design: Redefining a legacy across 170 projects

Francesca Webster joined Mark Tucker aboard&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a>&nbsp;last November to hear about how the studio has evolved following a busy season of launches.Over the past year, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/329" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Design Unlimited (Company)">Design Unlimited</a> has made waves in the superyacht design world, with the studio’s most ambitious project to date, the 58-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pink Shadow58.0m (190'3&quot;)Damen Yachting2023">Pink Shadow</a>, making her debut at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show. Sharing the stage was another of their recent creations, the 46.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/928" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dunya Yachts (Company)">Dunya</a> explorer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a>, first showcased at MYBA in the spring. These distinctive yachts – with their respective dark green and bright blue hulls and vibrant interiors – have drawn significant attention, illustrating the breadth of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/329" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Design Unlimited (Company)">Design Unlimited</a>’s capabilities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/349343/image/large-398e4d887eff41695720ead8fb18240f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/349343">At the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we sat down with studio founder Mark Tucker to discuss the studio’s evolution over the past five years and to gain insight into future projects.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/307905/image/large-bdf34a13d17caf5dbd5e58a4f94ccf58.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/307905">We last sat down with you in 2019; can you give us a bit of an insight into how the studio has evolved over the past five years?Well, the team has grown significantly and we now have 16 designers in the studio, doubling our pre-Covid size. That growth has really been a reaction to the work we are doing, not only the custom projects but also the production work for companies like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a>, with whom we collaborate for the interior design of all new products in their range. A production design role like that demanded an expansion of our FF&amp;E capabilities to handle the increased demand on our interior decoration, furnishings, and materials department, and therefore our FF&amp;E team has doubled in size.As a result, we have also developed our studio facilities to accommodate our expansive international samples, fabrics and material library. We have also created more inviting spaces for our clients to meet and collaborate with us, while bringing all our research materials into one space, which is a significant improvement.Since 2019, we have also gained three other new team members who focus particularly on CAD and computer visualisations. This has been partly driven by our customers' needs, especially in production, to show prospective clients exactly what the end result will look like.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/304103/image/large-d04ac3cf4161528052f5854e845c4324.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/304103">The work you do for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a>&nbsp;is extensive. How much of the studio’s time is devoted to custom projects?We have about a 60/40 split, with 60 percent of our activities dedicated to production yachts, though of course, it varies because custom yachts come in waves; you do a lot of work over a period, then there is a quiet phase while it’s being built, and then supervision at the end. The production work helps smooth that curve and keeps the team engaged. With production, you also get to see your designs realised faster – very often only a year and a half from design to seeing it in the water, which I think is great for the team.We have also now moved into the residential sector for the first time, having recently completed a house on Venetian Islands in Miami and another down in the Florida Keys. Both of those projects came to us through existing yacht clients, so it has been a natural evolution, but we are now receiving an increasing number of requests for residential work, which is an exciting development.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/304100/image/large-cb9cedcbe323aa9be32e0afcd25bbdf0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/304100">This year was obviously huge for the studio, with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pink Shadow58.0m (190'3&quot;)Damen Yachting2023">Pink Shadow</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a>&nbsp;exhibited at Monaco. Has there been a shift in studio perception?Yes, it was fantastic. Our yachts photograph beautifully, but they need to be experienced in person – to touch, feel, and see how the colours work. That’s something you only really get by walking through the space yourself. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a> has also been an open boat at Fort Lauderdale this year, so anyone could take a tour onboard with the crew, which is a very unusual but exciting situation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/307888/image/large-ee0966fbafeee87c781fa6b9ae38c89c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/307888"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pink Shadow58.0m (190'3&quot;)Damen Yachting2023">Pink Shadow</a>&nbsp;was heavily in demand at Monaco Yacht Show and she has been extensively published, which is fantastic for visibility.Regarding the perception of the studio, we’ve had strong inquiries since, but as you know, these are both unique interior design projects. We don’t stereotype ourselves by saying, “This is all we can do.” We work on a wide range of projects for a wide range of clients, and this is reflected in our portfolio. More recently, we are getting requests from clients who want something more relaxed and cosier, with little areas where they can sit and unwind, instead of large vast spaces. It’s great for the team as well, as it keeps the work challenging and interesting.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308761/image/large-e95e2738e3cfb2350ec3c4571fa72e02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308761">With a team of 16, how do you balance such different identities across projects, from explorers to sailing yachts?We have a structured approach that really helps, starting each new project by working closely with the owner to define the direction through mood boards and material samples. Once we’re aligned, the project tends to fall into place. We check back at each stage to make sure we’re on track with the initial concept. This process keeps everything clear and prevents us from veering off course.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/338390/image/large-220d7a2fb0a6cd10072e2a95796b4fb0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/338390">People remember certain statement projects, but not every client wants the same thing. Some like to look at bold designs but wouldn’t necessarily want to own one. We can also cater to those who prefer a more general or timeless style, often considering resale value. If you look at our portfolio, there is a huge range, with the more sedate interiors like that of the 53-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/276" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mirage53.0m (173'11&quot;)Feadship1979">Mirage</a>, or the 54-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ravenger53.9m (176'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2017">Ravenger</a>, which differ greatly from projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/222824/image/large-3c4d4d4f42aeaea4f2120cd0749e4670.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/222824">Can you share a bit more about your relationship with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a>?Our work with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a> is highly collaborative, and we oversee the entire interior design process. We’ve worked with them for specific projects for over 20 years, but two years ago, we were asked to take on the interior work for the brand and help them develop a new look. We’re responsible for the overall material selection, and we recently launched a new collection with all-new timbers, flooring, lacquers, stones and 250 fabrics, all of which are sourced globally.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300692/image/large-1f82a755cd34920bc7a886a85988e91b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300692">We manage the costs, ensuring that we meet budget targets because there is a difference between the cost price and sale price, which has to align. It’s quite challenging but rewarding, and it ensures the interiors resonate with buyers worldwide – from the UK to Asia to America.When we began working with them, they wanted to redefine the ranges – the Predator, Manhattan, Yacht, and Ocean lines. We started from scratch, looking at the DNA of each line and the clients buying them. It was fascinating to see how each model serves different client needs. We helped them redefine each range with a clear identity, and that became the basis for each new design going forward.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/285706/image/large-7fef235c432aa6770f32260f642b5fe3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/285706">We recently launched the all-new Ocean 156 at the Southampton Boat Show, which has been extremely popular. It’s a single-deck design with a flow-through main deck, creating a sense of openness. You can forget you’re on an 80-foot (about 24-metre) yacht; she feels much larger, with three decks, generous cabins, and flexible living areas. Working with a brand like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a>, that pushes boundaries, really makes design exciting.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/296265/image/large-11dce1bd61577128f391c25c71897004.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/296265">You’ve got some significant yachts in-build, including the 61.61-metre&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>&nbsp;ketch&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena61.61m (202'2&quot;)ARES Yachts2025">Simena</a>. Are there any projects you’re especially looking forward to?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena61.61m (202'2&quot;)ARES Yachts2025">Simena</a> is particularly exciting, our first project with Ares and their first superyacht. She is progressing well and with her launch next year, she’ll become the studio’s largest yacht to date. We’ve also signed the third hull of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">CdM</a>’s 49.9-metre Flexplorer series to owners who saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Benji46.7m (153'3&quot;)Dunya Yachts2024">King Benji</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pink Shadow58.0m (190'3&quot;)Damen Yachting2023">Pink Shadow&nbsp;</a>and loved what we’d done, which is always exciting to see. Then we have <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="W Magic44.3m (145'4&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2025">Magic</a> in-build with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> (now delivered at the time of publishing online) 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> exteriors and a completely different project from the big explorers we’ve been working on lately.

Mark Tucker Design Unlimited interview

Francesca Webster joins Mark Tucker aboard King Benji this November to hear about how the studio has evolved following a busy season of launches.

Vivid interiors, bold yachts, unlimited vision: Design Unlimited’s ascent with Mark Tucker

Within the realms of superyacht design, the magic lies in the details. It's an intricate dance of selecting the most exquisite art, hand-picking the softest linens, and ensuring that every facet contributes to an unparalleled guest experience. For those with a keen eye and an affinity for luxury, each decorative element onboard a superyacht isn't a mere object or material; it's part of a larger, artistic vision that seamlessly blends with the yacht's interior and exterior aesthetics, often sparking meaningful dialogue. Yacht interiors are a testament to craftsmanship and a diverse range of skills—from walls adorned with delicate porcelain flowers to eco-conscious, hand-carved leather derived from pineapples—each detail underlines the meticulous effort and artistry required to create such distinguished settings.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312124/image/large-7b5662f34f53619a444bd2aa1b5ad813.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312124">Ginori 1735Step onboard any superyacht, and you'll likely encounter a display cabinet exhibiting Ginori 1735's china, the hallmark of luxury dining at sea. Now, enhancing this grandeur, Ginori 1735 unveils its Oriente Italiano Gold Collection. This new line of hand-decorated porcelain marries traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, showcasing two new patterns: Aurum in pristine white and Rubrum in rich red, both finished with pure gold. These patterns join the ten existing iconic shades of the Oriente Italiano range.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312125/image/large-d4e76cbcd96d2134837902f8ddf9e537.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312125">The collection extends beyond tableware like plates and mugs to include home décor—vases, containers, change trays—and a series of scented gift items: candles, room diffusers, and natural scented stones, emanating fragrances of bergamot, green mandarin, or red grape, among others. Every piece in the Oriente Italiano Gold collection speaks of opulence, blending seamlessly into the superyacht milieu or standing as a bold statement piece.Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is the face of the campaign, promoting a line that represents Ginori 1735's three-century legacy in heritage lifestyle products and symbolises a modern Renaissance in everyday elegance.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1116" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silverlining Ltd (Company)">Silverlining</a>&nbsp;Furniture<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310605/image/large-2f3106691f25be38005863f21bf18d2a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310605">Renowned for its extraordinary craftsmanship in yachting furniture, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1116" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silverlining Ltd (Company)">Silverlining</a>, established over 35 years ago by Mark Boddington, continues to surpass expectations for bespoke furnishings. Their expertise combines meticulous detailing with innovative material use, landing them collaborations with prestigious brands. Iconic pieces include their marble Main Saloon Cabinet in partnership with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/56" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Reymond Langton Design Ltd. (Company)">Reymond Langton Design</a> and the iconic Dom Pérignon champagne table in collaboration with Kravitz Design.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310606/image/large-32f694c308682bf7c535c556d69a0355.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310606">Their Sea + Shore collection, unveiled at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show (Company)">Monaco Yacht Show</a>, marks <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1116" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silverlining Ltd (Company)">Silverlining</a>'s foray into customisable outdoor essentials. Featuring designs inspired by marine life, the collection, especially the Teak Maze Marquetry Rise &amp; Fall Table, highlights their commitment to innovation and bespoke artisanship. Similarly, their collaboration with Katharine Pooley for the Table Tennis Table underscores their mastery in producing not just furniture but timeless pieces for discerning clients worldwide. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310607/image/large-928c4d2e86f310feb039cebe1fb6bc23.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310607">With over seventy specialists based in North Wales, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1116" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silverlining Ltd (Company)">Silverlining</a> transcends traditional craftsmanship, with each creation depicting the journey from vision to reality, embodying what <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1116" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silverlining Ltd (Company)">Silverlining</a> calls “making magic.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310613/image/large-bd2d260551bdc4d8fb27a83ed3f155c7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310613">Nature SquaredNature Squared, co-founded in 2000 by Paul Hoeve and Lay Koon Tan, epitomises sustainable luxury by transforming natural materials into exquisite surfaces for design and living. With a mantra of “Nature’s Waste, Our Value,” they upcycle materials like grass, seeds, and eggshells into innovative artworks without sacrificing beauty or luxury. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310614/image/large-b9be7bd2c2a9f1d19ff746a0d59da915.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310614">Over two decades, their work has graced superyachts, including Azzam and Nirvana. Their commitment to sustainability is foundational. They practice environmental and social responsibility, employing and training 200 personnel in the Philippines, a country vulnerable to climate change. This approach combines heritage artisan skills with advanced European technology, creating groundbreaking products.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310616/image/large-4f0484e3a89786bc5694e5835ba01c4a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310616">From her time at the London School of Economics to consulting for FTSE 100 companies, Lay Koon's expertise has been pivotal in Nature Squared's evolution. Their collaborations extend to luxury brands like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2207" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rolls-Royce Marine (Company)">Rolls Royce</a> and Montblanc, and their work is featured in prestigious venues like Milan Design Week.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312127/image/large-31aa23e712d7c6576939031db3667016.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312127">John Lee FurnishingIrish craftsman John Lee is known for his natural forms and timeless pieces. He has become a prominent name in the superyacht furnishing realm, particularly in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/312126/image/large-1bffa466822966ce220d137439b07970.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/312126">Lee’s work is renowned internationally, including exhibitions at SOFA Chicago and Design Basel. His pieces, such as the Carrigeen Tallboy and Core Low Table, are exhibited in the National Museum of Ireland, and his works are found onboard various yachts.Lee's current designs showcase a unique twist in the furniture plane, combining tactile textures with fluid functionality. His detailed techniques - from the effortless movement of drawers to the subtle integration of leather linings - make each piece a testament to his skill, with his works seamlessly integrating into a yacht's interior design.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foglizzo (Company)"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295273/image/large-97f84557c03b42d0c37ae78011d75ea6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295273">Foglizzo</a>&nbsp;1921 &nbsp;&nbsp;Since 1921, Italy's <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foglizzo (Company)">Foglizzo</a> has been crafting high-quality, customised leather products. Esteemed for exclusive designs, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foglizzo (Company)">Foglizzo</a> is a fixture in yachting, aviation, automotive, and private residences.&nbsp;The brand's craftsmanship shines on distinguished superyachts, such as the 56-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Melek56.01m (183'9&quot;)Perini Navi2010">Melek</a> by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/51" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Perini Navi (Company)">Perini Navi</a>, 63.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> yacht Chocolat (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moca63.5m (208'4&quot;)Benetti SpA2015">Moca</a>), 49.9-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/10537" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line Navetta 5049.9m (163'9&quot;)">Custom Line Navetta 50</a> and the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/57" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariotti Yachts (Company)">Mariotti</a> 53.8-metre Sea Force One (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a>). <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foglizzo (Company)"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/90303/image/large-c06594c4884a27aec7d019717d4d8fa6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/90303">Foglizzo</a>'s innovative full custom service allows designers to personalise products, evident in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Sea&nbsp;Force One</a>’s opulent interiors thanks to the classical leather accents. Their product range, highlighted by the refined Classic Lord and the innovative Evo Leather, showcases an unmatched commitment to quality, sustainability, and artisan skill. Evo Leather, in particular, symbolises a leap in eco-friendly production, using olive leaf extracts for tanning, reducing water use, and avoiding evading chemicals. A family business rooted in Italian tradition, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foglizzo (Company)">Foglizzo</a> offers products that include leather trays, paper bins, picture frames, and bookends available in hues of cognac, black, and water blue.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221602/image/large-4772752b0e691edfabfb6b212f1f688e.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221602">Aiveen DalyAiveen Daly, an Irish artist based in London, is a textile designer for superyachts. Since establishing her studio in 2006, Daly's signature comprises impeccable embroidery, beadwork, and innovative leather techniques. Trained in traditional upholstery, her artistry showcases complex fabric manipulation, especially with luxurious materials like eco-leathers, wool, and silk. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221601/image/large-8c710f474d9db134df539bbcc0ef7cef.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221601">Notably, her textile art has been sought after by renowned interior designers, with select commissions featured on esteemed superyachts such as the 49-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> yacht Candyscape (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/436" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Il Sole44.8m (146'12&quot;)Benetti SpA1994">Il Sole</a>).Prioritising function and form, Aiveen tailors her work for different occasions, from casual family gatherings to sophisticated cocktail evenings. Growing up inspired by textiles, from a sewing machine gift at fourteen to professional courses in London, Daly's global travels further fuel her passion, cementing her status as a leading artisan in weaving yachting textiles.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310604/image/large-5f2bccf14cac3e1374ff0603b7674713.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310604">Cox London Cox London, founded in 2005 by Chris and Nicola Cox, is a remarkable London atelier renowned for transforming natural forms into sculptural furniture and lighting. Their work, characterised by a deep understanding of natural aesthetics translated through form and finish to patina and palette, reflects a commitment to crafting elemental and heirloom pieces. These creations span from awe-inspiring lighting to art installations, all imbued with ancient and modern artisan techniques.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310602/image/large-8792cf09659e6343b9349b3550495548.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310602">Operating from their Tottenham studios and a boutique showroom in Belgravia, London, Cox London caters to a diverse and global clientele, including bespoke pieces onboard superyachts.A highlight of their collection is the Voyager Chair, an artwork practicality born from the fusion of oceanic inspirations and "Gaudiesque" reflections. Sculpted by artists and cast in a London foundry, this bronze chair, with its highly polished ripples, symbolises movement and the passage of time. Its upholstery, inspired by 19th-century "navigation charts" and the ingenious "stick charts" of the Marshall Islands, represents not just seating but a voyage through history and nature's labyrinth.This article is featured in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/issue-48-superyacht-times-newspaper" target="_blank">Issue 48</a>&nbsp;of the SuperYacht Times newspaper.&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe now</a>&nbsp;to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.&nbsp;

Meeting the makers: behind the scenes with interior superyacht designers

We take a look at the extraordinary companies redefining interior design in the superyacht industry.

Meet the makers: Behind the scenes with the artisans of interior yacht design

Immersive interiors with Laura Pomponi of Luxury Projects

Francesca Webster caught up with Laura Pomponi of Luxury Projects to talk about the studio’s extensive portfolio

In conversation with designer Laura Pomponi onboard the 90m Corsair superyacht Nero

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7424" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valentina Zannier Interiors & Architecture (Company)">Valentina Zannier</a>, a seasoned veteran in the world of superyacht design, has carved an illustrious career spanning over two decades. With a background in architecture from the Università Iuav di Venezia, Valentina worked her way up from Junior Assistant to Chief Interior Designer and partner at 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>. Valentina's creativity and dedication have left an indelible mark on some of the industry's most iconic projects such as the 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>, the 106-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> and the 90-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DAR90.13m (295'8&quot;)Oceanco2018">Dar</a>.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57061" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meet superyacht interior designer, Valentina Zannier (2023-03-08 16:30:00 +0100)">Meet superyacht interior designer, Valentina Zannier</a>Now, in an exciting new phase of her career, Valentina has embarked on a venture of her own, establishing a yacht design studio – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7424" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valentina Zannier Interiors & Architecture (Company)">Valentina Zannier Interiors &amp; Architecture</a>. SuperYacht Times sat down with the remarkably talented designer to reflect on her decades of experience, learn more about her new studio, and to find out what plans she has for the future.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/296129/image/large-ae86c1b99d062d0829b467b14a9df942.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/296129">Congratulations on the launch of your own studio, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7424" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valentina Zannier Interiors & Architecture (Company)">Valentina Zannier Interiors &amp; Architecture</a>! What motivated the decision to start your own venture after such a successful tenure at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>?I had the most incredible time working at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>, working with an incredible team and meeting some amazing people along the way. I was very lucky to have been exposed to so many game-changing projects such as <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>, <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>, <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> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DAR90.13m (295'8&quot;)Oceanco2018">Dar</a>. After spending over 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>, I decided that it was time to make this step myself, as it seemed like the most natural evolution of my career. I’m not normally a brave person when it comes to such life-changing decisions as this, but I knew I could still rely on the support of the people around me. I will continue to collaborate with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>, and we are currently engaged on some very exciting projects. But starting my own studio allows me to also branch out and work with other major designers as well. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/73477/image/large-c07b142a956e019b98afd0f162227290.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/73477">Can you share insights into your design philosophy and how it may have evolved over your career?I believe that design is an evolution and that it should be undertaken together with the client. I am a firm believer in the power of sketching and using my hands to tell my story, it is the purest and most immediate way of translating thoughts into visuals. When I first started there was no technology, so you had to create and build every one of your designs with your hands. All the advances in rendering technologies have unfortunately created the tendency to short-cut these essential steps, which is why it is so important to me to still be able to produce these hand-drawn sketches. By creating these sketches by hand, my vision first starts on a page before your eyes, and then it is replicated as a rendering. Our studio still provides the latest generation with renders, but in due time.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/179965/image/large-52b83a5fbee5806dd85815f801d758d8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/179965">How do you approach the balance between aesthetics and functionality in your yacht designs?The functionality of a yacht interior is a given, you can’t have a beautiful yacht without functionality. To be able to do this, you need to understand the way a yacht will be used, not just by the guests, but also by the crew. I like to sit down with the owners and share every moment of my creativity with them to discuss and make sure they are on this journey with you. &nbsp;I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and create something that is both fabulous and functional. By sitting down and talking with the client to see what will work, you begin to understand the compromise that needs to be made and can become flexible with your design to build something beautiful. The interior is the primary touch-point for our clients, aesthetics plays a huge role, and together with a first-class interior outfitter, even the most intricate details can be 100 percent functional.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/56548/image/large-aa4ca76fe18c63473107ea7f2a9b36df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/56548"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/51084/image/large-d5c2dc3ed6d2dd4b509917ee64c9bb24.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/51084">When collaborating with clients, how do you ensure their vision is translated into the final design while maintaining your creative input?As mentioned above, we like to create endless sketching sessions, in order to get closer and closer to the client’s vision. You have to understand that not all clients have owned a yacht before, and younger clients may have only chartered before and are not familiar with how the process works. When building a yacht, you have to go through a build process to not only make sure it moves and floats, but interacts with the technology and environment onboard. You have to be able to make the client's vision become a reality, so it's important that you all work together. My formation in architecture has taught me the principles of creating spaces, which can then be adapted to the client’s taste. There is no better feeling than stepping onboard a nearly completed yacht to see that your joint design has been created and is now a reality – this is priceless!<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257556/image/large-97d94e7e5fa43d471b3c25af4566c89a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257556"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231013/image/large-5d672e35ee85b9433f156b26928c47b9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231013"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257522/image/large-1b4c885fa28cf9709657664a93ffe942.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257522">Looking back at your extensive career, which specific project or projects stand out as ones you are most proud of, and what makes them particularly special to you?I have fond memories of the first projects I was lucky to work on with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> over 20 years ago, and am happy to say that I still stand behind the design decisions I took back then. One of my first projects was a 50-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/121" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmer Johnson Yachts (Company)">Palmer Johnson</a> yacht. It was my first time designing the interior of a yacht and although I was unsure, I knew that the owner’s suite, bathroom and saloon were the most important areas! Thankfully they gave me free reign and they still have pictures of my designs. It also gives me great satisfaction to see that different projects such as, <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/5962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DAR90.13m (295'8&quot;)Oceanco2018">Dar</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8096" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Njoy72.0m (236'3&quot;)CRN2023">Njoy</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8369" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Comfortably Numb60.33m (197'11&quot;)CRN2022">Comfortably Numb</a>, <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>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1537" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Man of Steel86.01m (282'2&quot;)Oceanco2010">Seven Seas</a> and many more, all carry the same DNA that marks my style.&nbsp;I particularly enjoyed the process of designing <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>, as she brought me back to my background knowledge of art. <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> is a celebration of historic French-style and I used books and studies in Paris to create her unique design. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DAR90.13m (295'8&quot;)Oceanco2018">Dar</a> is one of my most beloved designs, as she is exactly what I would choose to do if I was looking to design my own superyacht! She features a very timeless floral and feminine design that is not too overly decorated and fits every style. And of course, <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 the peak of my design career. Her interiors are beautiful and everything has been executed to perfection, thanks to a great effort from the whole team involved. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257557/image/large-d57b1dd69bb45706d173f04eb1e48b1a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257557"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/266648/image/large-441f1005e534e430d688b5ed348cee0b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/266648">When reflecting on your career, are there moments or achievements that bring you a deep sense of pride, not only as a designer, but also as a creative professional in the superyacht industry?The main names in the industry often happen to be men, so it's nice to be able to embrace this role as a female. I grew up in a creative background with the dream at first of wanting to be a ballerina! However, my brother and I were like sponges when it came to anything creative, and we absorbed everything we were taught. When I studied architecture I learnt a lot about understanding spaces and how you have to fill the space, and this has helped me with my designs. I get immense joy from the fact that I have followed my passion and made a good career out of it. I have made mistakes at times, and I have followed roads that have led to nowhere, but I have learnt from them. If I look at the big picture of myself as a designer, I have been very efficient in getting to where I am now – this is what makes me proud.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/257508/image/large-4ac20baaf7c90155b5ee3dc8506c0661.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/257508">With the superyacht industry constantly evolving, what trends or innovations do you foresee influencing the design landscape, and how do you plan to stay at the forefront of these developments?There is a lot of competition nowadays to create unique and innovative yachts, however, every project is different and every project is a new challenge. I was very lucky when I started out, that I worked for such a noble and prestigious brand, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>. There has been a rise in more people wanting open spaces onboard, with additions such as large windows and doors. I think it is important to merge the interior and exterior spaces onboard yachts, to bring back the connection between nature and the sea. Moving forward, yachts will be able to travel further in full safety, and living onboard for extended times is a concept that is embraced, especially by the younger generation. Clients are no longer looking for a holiday home that will be used several times a year, but instead a home to be lived in for longer periods of time. This means that we need to be looking for ways to extend their vision of wellbeing, with the use of open spaces and sustainable materials. They want to feel comfortable onboard and the image of living onboard a palace is something that is not always a priority now. I think we’ll all be amazed by the features that will be integrated into yachts in the not too far future. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/296130/image/large-752fa42fc97c850f37d6b7ecc4074254.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/296130">As you embark on this new chapter with your own yacht design studio, what vision or legacy do you hope to create?Our new studio – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7424" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valentina Zannier Interiors & Architecture (Company)">VZ Interiors &amp; Architecture</a>, is located in the beautiful city of Venice in Italy, which gives me inspiration every time I step out of my studio door. My clients enjoy the same sensation when we spend time here together, which ends up in very fruitful design sessions. As I mentioned before, sustainability is important to me, so I am already implementing more sustainable materials into my designs. Being located in Venice also helps me to build a beautiful relationship with local artisans to source the best materials for the job. We are very proud that we have the opportunity to export this magic worldwide via the projects we are involved in!

Unveiling VZ Interiors & Architecture: the new design studio by Valentina Zannier

SuperYacht Times sat down with Valentina Zannier to learn more about her new studio, and to find out what plans she has for the future.

Unveiling Valentina Zannier Interiors & Architecture: pioneering a new chapter for superyacht interiors

With a career spanning more than two decades, an exceptional line up of yachts to his name and more than 300 metres of yacht launched last year alone, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4540" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vickers Studio (Company)">John Vickers</a> is a man worth speaking to. Starting his career as one of the first designers at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">Redman Whiteley Dixon (now RWD)</a>, John cut his teeth on the myriad of major projects that the studio underwent in its foundling years and by the age of only 27 he was project managing the interior design of the 155-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/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291899/image/large-72c586f3536c174c52b3f2aae0804dc0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291899">Originally destined for a life onboard, John has a deep love of classic yachts but realised quite quickly that he needed an injection of creativity in his life to keep him excited. Having studied design in the UK, he returned to shore and applied for a job at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, becoming the now 60 person strong company’s fifth employee and learning from the three founding partners. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291014/image/large-499e0b3afc4caa64349fca334def7003.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291014">Thrown in at the deep end and eager to learn &nbsp;John quickly began to take on some major design projects, the award winning 55.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Twizzle (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mary A55.5m (182'1&quot;)Feadship2005">Mary A</a>) and 73-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ilona82.0m (269'0&quot;)Amels2004">Ilona</a> and of course the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>, the largest volume yacht in the world at the time. “It was an amazing experience being in my 20s, learning from talented designers and working on projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> involved the full breadth of design processes. I was running creative teams, CAD drawing teams, visualising teams, and building systems to run all of these design elements in tandem, which became formative for later projects.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72312/image/large-e4a7c4f1e57157c00ce106ef28187a9f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72312"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72305/image/large-0cf888e903bbec0fdc91ff6ec83d517d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72305">John worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> for seven years, before joining the London-based architecture firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> which was in the process of setting up a yachting arm to the business. John built the team and together they worked on the design of the 62-metre Candyscape II, now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/418" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sealion62.0m (203'5&quot;)VSY2009">Sealion</a>, completing the interior and exterior design in only four months and going on to win the best superyacht awards for the first build of a brand new Italian shipyard. After leaving <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> in 2007, John was asked to join the studio of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Terence Disdale Design (Company)">Terence Disdale</a>, one of the industry’s most well respected and longest standing firms. Specialising in the design of general arrangements exterior and interior configurations, John worked on a number of major projects, such as 162.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eclipse162.5m (533'2&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH2010">Eclipse</a>, 147.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A+147.25m (483'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2012">Topaz</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a> sisterships 81-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4094" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Grace81.0m (265'9&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2014">Kibo</a>, now Grace, and 81.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4454" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RoMEA81.8m (268'4&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2015">RoMEA</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69575/image/large-9bbec295f2af1f9eb74914cec63c8ed6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69575"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69578/image/large-e721f09de3a6f3f049e105812230477a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69578">Wanting &nbsp;more creative freedom and a clear focus on the client's story John set up his own studio with his wife Gemma in 2015. After several years overlooking the Thames the studio escaped the city to a barn conversion studio near Chichester harbour on the UK’s beautiful south coast. The passion from the studio is obvious with the level of detail and care taken with the owners' dream projects. John loves to listen and create unique designs with creative layers in each pen line and shape. “We love to perfect the exterior in conjunction with the layout, which also gets the best results for the interior design. Having solved so many interior design problems, we find that often the interior designer gets brought in last for a project, in reality they should be involved right from the start helping create a really spectacular layout. We do interiors, exteriors and layout styling of the whole yacht, &nbsp;which gives us the opportunity to really achieve spectacular results from inside it to out.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/186990/image/large-84aa03a7ceee1701fce134d9828c5369.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20260106%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260106T145228Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=1dd2725c6eeee5306c882e4cfa62cc90caf544705c65f00c091999b263030834" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/186990">“We really like to discover the passions and history of a client which we include into a yacht's DNA, creating complete design personalisation.” This John feels has to be the ultimate luxury. It has meant that the majority of his new-builds have won superyacht awards, even when not building at top tier shipyards. “It’s not something you can ever guarantee, but we have seemed to do it fairly regularly’; something that might be of interest to shipyards and clients wanting this level of top industry recognition. In the last eight years, many have been semi custom and refits tailored meticulously to very varied tastes and styles of the client”. However, John’s personal aesthetic direction includes yacht style such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6037" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue II55.99m (183'8&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2020">Blue II&nbsp;</a>or elegant beach house vibes like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6172" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Calypso I36.0m (118'1&quot;)Mulder Shipyard2019">Calypso</a>. His preference would be clean stylish simplicity, however, he is equally at home creating ‘wow factor’ interiors, such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291307/image/large-8fe2db3e479378f4eadf7f3ec59c724a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291307">One of John’s many strengths is to turn around major design projects to a very tight schedule, building the team and putting systems in place in the earliest stages. It is a strength which has been particularly important over recent years with the increase of refit projects and a much higher demand for short new-build completions. In 2022 alone John’s team completed the refit of 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a>, 88.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4794" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinity88.5m (290'4&quot;)Oceanco2015">Cloud 9</a> and 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, as well as the new-build interior design of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> 56.5-metre Alma and they are adept at working on an array of complex projects simultaneously.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291302/image/large-edcda66b5f582287fa165d634a2a5320.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291302">“Because of my 23 years experience we have become specialists in producing a lot of quality design work to a very tight schedule, and also coming into difficult projects late and turning them around under pressure. We recently did a very demanding and detailed refit on the 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, we expanded the team to 15 strong and produced 24 visuals and 50 CAD drawings in less than four weeks, and for the 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a> we completed full layout redesign with complicated interior joinery creation all for a very experienced owner on four-decks in only eight weeks.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/237702/image/large-0ed4b3794019bf9b0d5c2d5d4a5ce007.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/237702">Over the coming year he hopes to further expand the portfolio of projects, with his team of design experts and with two refits and a number of new-builds already underway.

Interview with John Vickers yacht designer

Francesca Webster sits down with designer John Vickers, to discuss an extraordinary portfolio of yachts and his passion for creative customisation.

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Custom creations: In conversation with yacht designer John Vickers

Despite an impressive resumé, designer Alessandro Massari has not always received the media attention he deserves. But his dazzling interior design aboard 88-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project X87.6m (287'5&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2022">Project X</a> that debuted at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2022">2022 Monaco Yacht Show</a> is set to change all that. We travelled to Fano on Italy’s Adriatic coast to discover more about <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/267334/image/large-8974174c5da65d057110295150a9d4d0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/267334">Alessandro Massari trained as an architect and spent his military service as a &nbsp;superintendent of architectural heritage. So it’s not altogether surprising that the first thing he does is take me on a tour of Fano’s Roman wall and the historic Arch of Augustus, the triumphant gateway that marked the entrance to the ancient city. From there it’s a short walk to the elegant 17th century palazzo that houses the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a>, where we settle down to talk under frescoed ceilings. &nbsp;“I basically took over the business set up by my father, who designed his first yacht interior for Canados in 1964 and then worked as a consultant for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a> before it became part of the Ferretti Group,” he begins. “He was the interior project manager on Gianni Agnell’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/726" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="F-10032.9m (107'11&quot;)CRN1983">F-100</a>, the celebrated yacht with exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/172" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gerhard Gilgenast (Company)">Gerhard Gilgenast</a>, and worked on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1062" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azzurra II47.8m (156'10&quot;)CRN1988">Azzurra II</a>, another classic <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a> yacht, together with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paola D. Smith & Associates (Company)">Paola D. Smith</a>. I guess you could say yacht design was in my blood from the start.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/267336/image/large-e3fbc852f73e2bd6d600573cdaa95d55.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/267336">The latter connection proved instrumental in the trajectory of Alessandro’s own career. Starting out as a young interior designer he realised he would need to perfect his English by seeking work experience in the US. His father put him in touch with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paola D. Smith & Associates (Company)">Paola D. Smith &amp; Associates</a> and he ended up spending two years with the Florida-based studio. During that time he contributed to projects such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/149" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christensen Shipyards, LLC. (Company)">Christensen</a>’s 49-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/174" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carte Blanche48.77m (160'0&quot;)Christensen Shipyards, LLC.2008">Primadonna</a> and 39-metre Lady Halima (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Azul39.4m (129'3&quot;)Heesen Yachts2001">Lady Azul</a>) launched by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> in 2001.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/67434/image/large-b13cb93378761bccf1f7afe2f0415f10.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/67434">“Both interiors were very bespoke projects and from Paola I learnt how to tailor the design to the client’s wishes,” he recalls. “That lesson stayed with me and today as a studio we start the creative process by listening with almost maniacal attention to the client. After listening, we study and then propose, &nbsp;always in that order.”Alessandro returned to Italy, but his apprenticeship as a designer was not over: he had the technical knowledge, but not the hand-on experience his father considered an essential ingredient of the job.“So I went to work for a carpentry company designing onboard furniture for shipyards like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>,” he says. “That meant engaging with the tradesmen on the shop floor, where I learned how things were put together and installed.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/16441/image/large-6efab0734257b84b932a5096d6656858.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/16441">That workshop was eventually taken over by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>, which opened another chapter in the designer’s career. Originally called in to help resolve issues with a client and his American interior designer, he ended up overseeing the interior shop drawings and outfitting of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s Classic and Vision series in composite.&nbsp;This led to taking on the interior design of larger steel and aluminium yachts from 59-metre Wind (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/516" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galkynys59.0m (193'7&quot;)Benetti SpA2007">Galkynys</a>) to 62-metre Bistango (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/512" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sorrento62.0m (203'5&quot;)Benetti SpA2010">Sorrento</a>). By 2010 he had contributed to the interior design of some 25 superyachts from half a dozen leading shipyards.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/200434/image/large-9dc6bfedd312d6a0275e9e0bd8350bfb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/200434">An important custom project was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4386" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Forever One54.65m (179'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2014">Forever One</a>, the 54-metre motor yacht with exterior design by Horacio Bozzo that was launched by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> in 2014 for owner Bruce Grossman. An artful demonstration of how an attention-grabbing exterior and a soberly classic interior can be gracefully combined, the owner spent months at a time aboard his yacht.“The owner wanted a very distinctive exterior, but our brief was for a casual and family-oriented interior,” says Massari. ““One of the most challenging aspects was his considerable wardrobe that included a valuable watch collection. He had very precise instructions regarding the dimensions of drawers and hanging space, so much so that he invited me to visit his homes to take measurements, which were reproduced exactly aboard the yacht.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/267337/image/large-4c33ddfa796e8bea414adffbb150fdd7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/267337">By this time <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a> was juggling a growing number of residential commissions with large yacht projects such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nobiskrug (Company)">Nobiskrug</a>’s 76-metre Halo and 101-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4152" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="I Dynasty100.8m (330'9&quot;)Peters Werft GmbH2015">I Dynasty</a> built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/195" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kusch Yachts (Company)">Kusch</a> in Germany, his biggest yacht interior to date.&nbsp;“I‘ve learned to be very precise in the design package we provide, because the more specific you are the less room for interpretation there is,” he says. “Of course, there should always be room for dialogue, but by removing the grey areas the whole design process becomes more fluid. I think the northern Europeans are much more advanced than us Italians in this sense.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/184240/image/large-4dee20403a33c1a3b74d7266df4ad637.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/184240">While working in Germany a chance meeting with Sheldon Adelson, founder of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation that owns a chain of hotels and casinos, led to another fork in the road for Massari. The American entrepreneur hired him to develop the interior concept for The Venetian, a massive resort and casino complex in Macau. Other Sands resorts followed as well as the refitting of 92-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/272" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen Miri91.5m (300'2&quot;)Neorion2004">Queen Miri</a> for Adelson at Amico&amp;Co in Genoa. Moreover, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a> oversaw the interior concepts for various passenger jets in the Sands Corporation fleet and worked closely with Boeing at the Citadel complex in Louisiana, the world’s premier provider of VIP interior completions for large airplanes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251187/image/large-83acb4b82ac1ed5c40d18c4d850a369a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251187">“For several years everything we did was residential, hospitality or aviation with no time for anything else, but I was keen to get back into yacht design,” says Massari. “Then three years ago I got a call from the owner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project X87.6m (287'5&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2022">Project X</a>, who previously owned the 59-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/514" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meamina59.3m (194'7&quot;)Benetti SpA2008">Meamina</a>, which was one of our interior projects for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> years ago.”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Onboard Project X: A first look at the interiors of the 88m Golden Yachts superyacht (2022-12-07 14:00:00 +0100)">Onboard Project X: A first look at the interiors of the 88m Golden Yachts superyacht<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258987/image/large-7134c4bad836931a9d69f6058d9dbdae.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258987"></a>With exterior styling by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/148" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ken Freivokh Design (Company)">Ken Freivokh</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project X87.6m (287'5&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2022">Project X</a> had begun life at shipyard in Chile, but construction stalled for over a decade until she arrived at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/778" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Yachts Ltd. (Company)">Golden Yachts</a> in Athens, where her interior design was completely revamped by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a> (the studio is also developing the interior design for 77-metre O’Rea by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/778" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Yachts Ltd. (Company)">Golden Yachts</a> due to launch this year).&nbsp;At almost 3,000 gross tons, it is difficult to describe the sheer variety and complexity of the interior design. The array of exclusive materials includes more than 40 types of leather, precious woods, marbles and onyx, and sophisticated finishes. Yet despite the rich aesthetic the effect is never ostentatious and each room is endowed with its own identity and personality.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/252015/image/large-40798fc4db1e218fedd6b624eb86e3ec.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/252015">“We set out to create a contemporary, refined and welcoming interior solutions that conferred uniqueness to each individual space, while ensuring perfect harmony with the others,” says Massari.A prime example of how Massari and his 10-strong team (which includes his wife Maurizia) think through every detail of the design process is the bar unit on upper deck. The façade is lined with dozens of undulating glass bottles filled with a special whisky-coloured fluid, but the studio also designed the spring-loaded, rubber-lined mounts so the bottles don’t rattle under way and can be easily removed for cleaning. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/237426/image/large-7115013fadbee633e9a23854046e5dd7.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/237426">At the same time as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project X87.6m (287'5&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2022">Project X</a>, the studio was working on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CRN (Company)">CRN</a>’s 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10294" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="PrivateGG52.0m (170'7&quot;)CRN2022">Ciao</a> with 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>. The interior aesthetic based on natural, earthy tones punctuated by flashes of vibrant red soft furnishings is totally different but equally elegant, consistent and refined.&nbsp;As well as a Darwin 86 and 130-foot Acciaio explorer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere delle Marche</a>, one of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1156" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Massari Design S.r.l. (Company)">Massari Design</a>’s most recent projects is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2504" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wider s.r.l. (Company)">Wider’</a>s new production on Fano’s seafront that is now close to completion. Given his architectural sensibilities, Massari was at pains to make sure the ultra-modern design didn’t clash with what remains of the town’s Roman heritage.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251138/image/large-1ed4082c3a6411930d9c7c9df4de717a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251138">“It’s not easy to design something that is beautiful but also practical from an industrial perspective,” he says. “Our studio is just a few hundred metres from the site of the new shipyard, so like other inhabitants of the town it was very important for me that the building should look good and not be an eyesore.”This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-44" target="_blank">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>.

At the studio with Massari Design

Justin Ratcliffe sits down with designer Alessandro Massari of Massari Design.

Listen, study, propose: At the studio with Massari Design

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

Onboard Numarine's 40MXP video

We stepped aboard Mitan, the latest Numarine 40MXP in Palm Beach.

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Video: Step aboard Numarine's new flagship, the 40MXP Mitan

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/112" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line (Company)">Custom Line</a> has announced the launch of the first 34.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/14712" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line Navetta 35/0134.5m (113'2&quot;)Custom Line2026">Custom Line Navetta 35</a> yacht from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Italy. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396958/image/large-5e7320ad24519c237c36a53098354f77.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396958">Launched as the first hull in the series, her sale was announced in February 2026 and was described as an evolution of the yard’s Navetta series, with a strong emphasis on natural light and onboard comfort.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396965/image/large-f591300f74ebc39eedd4b608a54aafad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396965">Positioned alongside her larger sistership, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/14712" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line Navetta 35/0134.5m (113'2&quot;)Custom Line2026">Navetta 35</a> yacht adopts the same core design language, defined by clean architectural forms. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Filippo Salvetti (Company)">Filippo Salvetti</a>, with interior design courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5082" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (Company)">Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel ACPV Architects</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396962/image/large-617932259e73d86b11853e427c103d6c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396962">According to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>, she features almost transparent naval architecture, which puts the sea at the centre of the onboard experience. The result is a fluid interconnection between her interior and exterior spaces, creating a sense of pleasure, elegance and comfort. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396961/image/large-0a092e8dc97dc3153475abfe97a6c724.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396961">The made-to-measure yacht boasts a beam of 7.7 metres, with her layout spanning over three decks. Defined by a contemporary exterior design and dynamic silhouette, she showcases clean lines and sculptural surfaces.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396969/image/large-fe622ffb38debd908229c092316cd7b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396969">Moving inside, her design language soft volumes, organic geometries and custom-made freestanding furniture designed by Antonio Citterio. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5082" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (Company)">ACPV Architects</a> also developed a Light Mood based on the owner’s wishes, blending ivory, beige and caramel colourways that run throughout to create more depth, luminosity and lightness.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396971/image/large-c650afb8a72cefaf8e5423baa63cb41f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396971">A plethora of materials have been used onboard including vibrant Pietra di Vicenza stone, pale wood floors and sand-coloured leather used for upholstery and detailing to create a warm and refined atmosphere.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396968/image/large-589c2327e3af86ff0ec7f9f12976d9a2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396968">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/14712" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line Navetta 35/0134.5m (113'2&quot;)Custom Line2026">Custom Line Navetta 35</a> yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests across a five stateroom configuration, with her full-beam owner’s suite positioned forward on the main deck. This private suite includes separate his-and-hers bathrooms connected by a shared central shower.On the lower deck, four guest staterooms are accessed via a dedicated lobby, including one suite fitted with a Pullman berth to accommodate additional guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396967/image/large-daf41f6c8e4667a26d0c94a5c2da5280.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396967">A distinct feature in her exterior design is the notch in her gunwale, which aims to reduce the perceived mass of her superstructure, and allow for an increase of natural light to her interior spaces, creating an overall more streamlined profile and a further sense of openness.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396959/image/large-11aefd747e74b0e1b138c75019a77552.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396959">With over 300 square-metres of indoor and outdoor space, her flybridge deck stands out thanks to the removal of her staircases for a wider, more versatile deck arrangement. The deck includes a Jacuzzi and expansive lounging areas, while forward freestanding furniture and a sunset lounge area offer unobstructed panoramic views.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396966/image/large-fd63e11f2451c5ecbd08c2c0bee0bfbb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396966">Her sundeck features an open-air sea view pool, while covered areas provide shade and protection, ensuring usability in a range of conditions. On the main deck aft, a lounge area provides direct access to the beach club.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396970/image/large-51cbdc442951e7cf1dbc94e3b2a79f09.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396970">In terms of performance, the standard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/14712" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line Navetta 35/0134.5m (113'2&quot;)Custom Line2026">Navetta 35</a> yacht is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> V12 1,400 horsepower engines, providing her with a top speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. She can also reach a range of 1,750 nautical miles at an economic cruising speed of 10 knots. There is also an option to install twin Caterpillar C32 1,622 horsepower engines, which would propel the Navetta 35 yacht to a top speed of 16 knots.The second and third hulls are currently sold and already in-build, with a delivery date of 2027.

Custom Line Navetta 35: First yacht launched

Custom Line has announced the launch of the first 34.5-metre Custom Line Navetta 35 yacht from the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Italy. 

First Custom Line Navetta 35 yacht launched

Italian yacht builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> has announced that the KKCG owned shareholder Azúr a.s. has initiated legal proceedings challenging the appointment of the new board of directors at the company's shareholders' meeting on 14 May 2026.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394210/image/large-3bfd53739fbb59d4d9e5f0968bf4da9e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394210">According to a statement released by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> on 11 June, Azúr filed a writ of summons before the Court of Bologna on 9 June 2026 pursuant to Articles 2377 and 2378 of the Italian Civil Code.Azúr a.s. is a wholly owned part of KKCG’s global business, founded by Czech entrepreneur Karel Komárek. They bring together all of KKCG Maritime’s assets into a single entity and currently have a 23.23 percent stake in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>.&nbsp;Azúr is currently seeking nullity and/or annulment of resolutions concerning the appointment of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a>'s new board of directors, the determination of the number of board members and the appointment of the company's board of statutory auditors.They have also requested interim relief from the court to suspend the effectiveness of those resolutions pending the outcome of the proceedings. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> have responded stating that they will take the necessary steps to defend its position.&nbsp;“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a>, having taken note of the service of the writ of summons, will protect its rights and will seek appropriate legal advice to defend and will have the absolute correctness of its conduct ascertained before the competent Court.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> confirmed that its corporate bodies remain fully operational and continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities. They also added that these legal proceedings have no impact on its business operations, customer relationships, commercial activities or strategic projects.The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> officially announced the appointment of Stassi Anastassov as its new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, following the company’s Annual General Meeting held on 15 May 2026.Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66099" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group appoints Stassi Anastassov as CEO amid ownership tensions (2026-05-15 16:30:00 +0200)">Ferretti Group appoints Stassi Anastassov as CEO amid ownership tensions</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/386471/image/large-5864e3d980f30348ec76855095f57666.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/386471">The appointment was confirmed by the Board of Directors, which also reconfirmed Tan Ning as Chairman of the Board and the departure of Alberto Galassi. On 15 May, KKCG Maritime submitted a request to the Italian government to assess whether <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> had breached "golden power" rules designed to shield strategic assets.The matter will now be considered by the Court of Bologna, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> stating that it will keep shareholders informed of any material developments in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

KKCG Maritime challenges Ferretti Group board appointments in court

Ferretti has announced that the KKCG owned shareholder Azúr has initiated legal proceedings challenging the appointment of the new board of directors.

Ferretti shareholder KKCG Maritime challenges board appointments in court

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a> has unveiled the first details of the 60-metre superyacht concept Apex. Designed in-house by the Dutch studio, the motor yacht has been conceived around a performance-oriented brief.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396926/image/large-419221d207de5e8d99df4c3ee8096ce5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396926">Apex features naval architecture and exterior styling by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a>, which have opted for a lightweight aluminium hull and superstructure. She showcases a clean and highly geometric exterior design, with extensive glazing spanning her sleek silhouette.At the core of the design lies the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a> High Speed Cruising hull form, which has been engineered to deliver efficient performance across a wide operational profile. The advanced hull platform of Apex&nbsp;operates comfortably and efficiently from economical transoceanic passages to high-speed cruising.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396927/image/large-c596a59bc5ef08f7d483435fc198b0fa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396927">With a beam of 10.7 metres, Apex can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests, as well as a crew of 14 for a high level of service and comfort. Her interior design can also be fully tailored to suit the wishes of her owner.&nbsp;Apex displays balanced expansive deck volumes, with her aft deck maximised to create a social platform for guests onboard. The first renderings show a large alfresco lounge area at her bow, offering the perfect space for guests to entertain or relax.&nbsp;In terms of performance, Apex 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, providing her with a top speed of 28 knots, a cruising speed of 22 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 13 knots.&nbsp;

Apex: 60m Mulder Design yacht concept unveiled

Mulder Design has unveiled the first details of the 60-metre superyacht concept Apex. 

Mulder Design unveils 60m yacht concept Apex designed for performance 

This article is featured as a guest post by Michel L'Ortye, the second generation of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paul L'Ortye Yacht Insurance (Company)">Paul L'Ortye</a>&nbsp;Superyacht Insurance.In superyacht insurance, ''the difference is rarely found in what is covered, but in how it is worded''. At first glance, two insurance proposals may appear comparable. Similar limits, familiar terminology, and a competitive premium. Yet beneath the surface, the real differences emerge in structure, interpretation, and legal context.We asked ChatGPT to compare two superyacht insurance proposals. The outcome was structured, fast, and seemingly logical. But it also revealed a fundamental limitation: without true contextual understanding, critical differences remain unseen.This article highlights where that gap lies, and why specialist expertise remains essential.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396822/image/large-d04de7387341e559ee1e637ffd910549.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396822">1. Failure to understand layered policy structures and how clauses interact and override one anotherFor example, ChatGPT does not understand layered policy structures or how clauses interact and override one another.Policy wordings are built as layered legal frameworks, where clauses interact, override, or apply conditionally. AI tends to read them as isolated statements rather than as part of a structured system. Each insurer applies its own structure and hierarchy within the wording, often influenced by the applicable jurisdiction and its legal framework.For example, Policy A may state “worldwide navigation,” while Policy B specifies “worldwide excluding war zones.” ChatGPT may conclude that A offers broader coverage. In reality, Policy A may contain a separate war exclusion clause elsewhere in the wording that has the same, or even stricter, effect.2. Comparing apples with orangesOne operates on a Named Perils basis (only explicitly listed risks), the other on an All Risks basis (everything is covered unless excluded). The same term, but a completely different scope. ChatGPT sees “Hull &amp; Machinery” twice and concludes it is comparable, while the difference in coverage for a machinery breakdown or latent defect can amount to hundreds of thousands of euros.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396820/image/large-aa15c287e8791d5230e10db1b947032c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396820">3. Deductibles and sub-limits are overlookedAI tends to focus on the main coverage and premium, while the real differences are often found in the sub-limits. These include maximum payouts per incident for tenders, crew medical limits per person, and differing deductibles for machinery damage versus navigational incidents. Such details are typically scattered throughout the policy and are easily missed.It also struggles to recognise requirements for minimum underlying covers, such as mandatory national healthcare or other primary insurance arrangements. These elements can be critical to the validity and effectiveness of the coverage, yet are rarely identified without expert review.4. What is NOT included remains invisibleChatGPT can only compare what is written. It cannot identify what is missing. No cyber clause? AI will not flag it, because there is nothing to read. A specialist, however, knows what should be there and recognises the gap immediately.It also lacks the ability to properly assess how coverage is structured. Policies may appear comparable, while in reality one is based on an all risks foundation and another on named perils, or where insurers apply their own wording with a tailored definition of “all risks.” These structural differences ultimately determine what is and is not covered, yet remain largely invisible without expert interpretation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396862/image/large-15929412d50cbaf94d80733c90eaecca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396862">5. ConfidentialityOwners upload commercially sensitive documents to a public AI. Vessel values, cruising areas, crew details, claims history, all of this is shared with external servers. For high-profile owners, this represents a serious privacy risk.6. “Cheaper = better” biasAI tends to conclude that the lower-priced option offers “comparable coverage.” In marine insurance, however, a lower premium is almost always a reflection of reduced coverage, higher deductibles, or an insurer with a weaker claims reputation. It also lacks the ability to properly weigh subtle but critical differences in policy wording, such as a depreciation clause on masts and rigging, or to recognise exclusions that carry the same practical meaning but are phrased differently, such as a market value clause applied to running and standing rigging, which in practice can largely have the same effect.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396821/image/large-5911d8a80dbdc0631242e59608f5517a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396821">7. Jurisdiction and applicable lawThe governing law of a yacht policy determines how policy wording is interpreted at claim stage. The same wording can produce a very different outcome depending on the legal system behind it.This becomes particularly relevant in areas such as disclosure duties, warranties and gross negligence. Under some systems, sailing outside marked channels or ignoring a weather warning may already qualify as gross negligence, with a direct impact on the claim payment. Other systems apply a more proportional approach, or require a much higher degree of misconduct before cover can be reduced or declined.One policy may therefore respond very differently from another, despite similar wording and circumstances. These legal differences can have a major impact on the final claim outcome, yet in practice the governing law is often treated as little more than a footnote.Michel L'Ortye is the second generation of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paul L'Ortye Yacht Insurance (Company)">Paul L'Ortye</a>&nbsp;Yacht Insurance, the family business&nbsp;that his father founded in 1978 and which focuses entirely on yacht insurance. Joining the company full-time over ten years ago, Michel has been working alongside his brother Didier, who leads the in-house claims operation. Michel's focus is on the high-end yacht and superyacht segment.

Guest author Michel L'Ortye compares an AI insurance proposal to a handwritten one. 

Can ChatGPT create your yacht insurance proposal?

Delivered in 2004 from Kaag, the Netherlands, the 86-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> was once the largest <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> yacht ever built. Recently photographed in St Tropez, SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at the steel superyacht that was built for speed. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395950/image/large-78d864b2d934f5f50740eb7c6a29e533.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395950">Commissioned for Russian business oligarch and politician Roman Abramovich, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> was inspired by the 49.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sussurro49.5m (162'5&quot;)Feadship1998">Sussurro</a>. Launched in 1998, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sussurro49.5m (162'5&quot;)Feadship1998">Sussurro</a> used aviation-industry specs, allowing her to reach an incredible 46 knots. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395954/image/large-62905994bb01b749a975ff697414f3e9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395954">Much like the owner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sussurro49.5m (162'5&quot;)Feadship1998">Sussurro</a>, Abramovich was a keen diver and wanted to up the ante of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sussurro49.5m (162'5&quot;)Feadship1998">Sussurro</a>. Rather than creating a larger version, he sought to build a yacht that was capable of combining long-range cruising with exceptional top-end performance. However, Abramovich liked&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sussurro49.5m (162'5&quot;)Feadship1998">Sussurro</a> so much, he actually purchased the yacht several years later.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395960/image/large-fefa85fc5dee7d132c3e58941b4d3ace.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395960">Known for their high-speed yachts and crazily complex technical engineering requirements, the contract for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 790 yacht was signed in 2000, with construction beginning shortly thereafter. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395955/image/large-105bb1a107567d475aca711626d08538.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395955">Unlike conventional displacement yachts of her size, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> was equipped with a unique propulsion package, combining four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> 16V 4000 M70 diesel engines of 12,444 horsepower, with a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1992" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="General Electric (Company)">General Electric</a> LM2500 gas turbine which produces 30,843 horsepower.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395953/image/large-e99a5cd6bb7a94017b38d6379e2cf1eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395953">Together, the system generates more than 43,000 horsepower, with her diesel engines powering twin propellers for efficient cruising, while her gas turbine is connected to a large waterjet integrated into the yacht's stern, providing her with an additional boost of power.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395959/image/large-57fa364d6428aed146796b54eec710e1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395959">The result allows <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> to exceed 30 knots and under diesel power alone, the yacht can reportedly reach 25 knots and cruise comfortably at around 22 knots, a remarkable achievement for an 86-metre superyacht at the time of her launch.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395951/image/large-63005575fa834528f357d86247188cf2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395951">Despite her impressive performance credentials, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> was conceived first and foremost as a luxury superyacht, combining a sleek hull form with an unusually ambitious speed requirement for a vessel of her size. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt Naval Architects</a>, with interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Terence Disdale Design (Company)">Terence Disdale Design</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395961/image/large-7227a5562f136cbb3a394c2158974fa5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395961"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> boasts an Asian-inspired interior, which later went on to win several interior design awards. Rich woods are used through in tones of brown and beige, complemented by stone, glass and marble elements. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 14 guests across a seven stateroom configuration, alongside a crew of 24. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395958/image/large-49e6ee1d492528cc251472df2de109ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395958">One of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a>'s most distinctive features is her enormous opening in her stern, which houses the outlet nozzle for the yacht's waterjet propulsion system. As well as this, she is equipped with a helicopter hangar by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> on her bow, with her horizontal sliding hatches completely hidden in terms of both style and technical skill.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395952/image/large-1ddd66b1bacbe1579b97649f705483ad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395952">In 2009, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea86.0m (282'2&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a> was sold with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merle Wood & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Merle Wood &amp; Associates</a> representing the seller, before she was sold to her current owner in June 2014, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merle Wood & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Merle Wood &amp; Associates</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a> representing the seller.

Ecstasea: The Feadship yacht that was built for speed

SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at the 86m Feadship superyacht Ecstasea that was built for speed.

Ecstasea: The 86m Feadship superyacht that was built for speed

The 37.04-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/112" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line (Company)">Custom Line</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">Willpower</a> is currently for sale with Nathan Farrelly of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>. According to AIS, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> is currently moored at Mergellina, Italy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396809/image/large-2e2f72082cb9d6be974658c352b9ff39.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396809">Delivered in 2018 by the Italian shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">Willpower</a> is the fifth hull of the acclaimed Navetta 37 series, and was previously named Singolare. According to <a href="https://sytiq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht IQ</a>, the vessel most recently underwent a refit in 2024.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396799/image/large-cb91eb19376fc79fc128701033e6088b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396799"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396797/image/large-edd16fb224fc895a7b0998f4fbfb1412.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396797" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/of-type=motor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> has a beam of eight metres and a draft of 2.27-metres. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">yacht Willpower&nbsp;for sale</a> features exterior design crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuccon International Project (Company)">Zuccon International Project</a>, with naval architecture developed in-house by her builder.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396798/image/large-02249037d1c2a2989df8b1791e57b7a2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396798">Outside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">Willpower</a> is defined by clean lines and expansive glazing, complemented by outdoor living spaces designed for entertaining and relaxing while soaking in the sun. Highlights on deck include a sundeck complete with a Jacuzzi, sunpads, and plush lounge seating, alongside a dedicated beach club and dining areas to enjoy alfresco meals spread across her decks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396800/image/large-7ed77b76a8538356af449564b4e11aa0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396800">Stepping inside, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/built-by=custom-line" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Custom Line yacht for sale</a> embraces a sophisticated yet welcoming interior characterised by dark timber finishes with soft neutral furnishings and subtle pops of colour. Her main saloon benefits from large windows that flood the space with natural light, while an open-plan layout encourages socialising between guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396801/image/large-a4c2d5688c1105f6d0644b46b2660e84.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396801"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396802/image/large-75b4e4b99b7264611c2111f286a068ab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396802">With a beam of eight-metres and an internal volume of 289 GT, accommodation onboard the<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">&nbsp;yacht Willpower for sale</a> is arranged for up to 11 guests across five well-appointed staterooms, including a full-beam owner's suite on her main deck. Dedicated quarters are also provided for up to seven crew members, including her captain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396815/image/large-76ce398f780d881b0884aac15acb353d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396815">In terms of performance, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6475" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Willpower37.04m (121'6&quot;)Custom Line2018">yacht Willpower for sale</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 15.5 knots. Moreover, she can travel about 2,300 nautical miles at her cruising speed.&nbsp;

 37m Custom Line motor yacht Willpower for sale

 The 37.04-metre Custom Line motor yacht Willpower is currently for sale with Edmiston.

37m Custom Line motor yacht Willpower for sale

The 50.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S. (Company)">Dearsan</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen Yaz50.2m (164'8&quot;)Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S.2026">Queen Yaz</a> has been launched from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S. (Company)">Dearsan</a> shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396859/image/large-66e26da04a7b7aeb2bcef3c2456e5bab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396859">Construction on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen Yaz50.2m (164'8&quot;)Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S.2026">Queen Yaz</a> began in 2022, with interior and exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4720" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Yacht Design (Company)">Red Yacht Design</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8047" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MilimetriQ (Company)">MilimetriQ</a>. As one of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4720" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Yacht Design (Company)">Red Yacht Design</a>’s flagship projects, she collaborated with multiple shipyards, with project management by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8085" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MORE Marine (Company)">More Marine</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/345749/image/large-f493bef8678282c7ba3acb9e015ee416.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/345749">Spanning 488 GT, boasts a warm and inviting interior design, with light tones and natural materials. Every detail has been thoughtfully designed to cater to the owner’s vision, blending contemporary aesthetics with comfort.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/345748/image/large-62d292dbc41853588cfb4bb25e099a9f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/345748">Key features onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen Yaz50.2m (164'8&quot;)Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S.2026">Queen Yaz</a> include an aft lounge, along with an expansive bow lounge located on the main deck, both of which lend themselves to outdoor relaxation or socialising. She is also equipped with a Jacuzzi, sunbeds, lounge sofas, a bar and an alfresco dining area.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396858/image/large-09e90c9bfcadd193dbfec4a24b5dbcab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396858">Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen Yaz50.2m (164'8&quot;)Dearsan Gemi Insaat Sanayii A.S.2026">Queen Yaz</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines.&nbsp;

Queen Yaz: 50m Dearson yacht launched

The 50.2-metre Dearsan superyacht Queen Yaz has been launched from the Dearson shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. 

50m Dearsan superyacht Queen Yaz launched

The 24.38-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/145" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burger Boat Company (Company)">Burger Boat Company</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4654" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Summer Song24.38m (79'12&quot;)Burger Boat Company1974">Summer Song</a> has been sold. Dan Wood of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4755" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crow's Nest Yachts (Company)">Crow's Nest Yachts</a> introduced the buyer, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/145" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burger Boat Company (Company)">Burger Boat Company</a> represented the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/201050/image/large-b33744a281cd0a44ca553674c1cecec5.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/201050">Delivered in 1974, the yacht was previously named Nobility and was designed inside and out by her builder. Moreover, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4654" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Summer Song24.38m (79'12&quot;)Burger Boat Company1974">Summer Song</a> benefitted from a refit in 2025 in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/13" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bradford Marine, Inc. (Company)">Bradford Marine’s</a> facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.She can accommodate guests in her full-beam owner’s suite with queen berth, vanity, bureau and hanging locker. Meanwhile, her guests can sleep in two VIP suites, complete with twin berths and ensuite heads with enclosed showers.In terms of propulsion system, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4654" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Summer Song24.38m (79'12&quot;)Burger Boat Company1974">Summer Song</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1474" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="General Motors (Company)">General Motors</a> engines, giving her a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 14 knots.Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/145" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burger Boat Company (Company)">Burger Boat Company</a>.

burger yacht summer song sold

The 24.38-metre Burger Boat Company motor yacht Summer Song has been sold.

24m Burger motor yacht Summer Song sold

German shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YYachts (Company)">YYachts</a> has announced the appointment of Gregor Bredenbeck, who will take responsibility for sales and international expansion. He will oversee the worldwide sales operations of the shipyard, effective 1 June.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396854/image/large-ef1cbdd6f2dcc9b8b9f7744e6ee5c394.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396854">His role will also focus on advancing the international growth of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YYachts (Company)">YYachts</a> brand, while further developing its brokerage and charter divisions.Gregor commented on his appointment: “I felt it was time for a new challenge in my professional career, and I did not have to think twice when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YYachts (Company)">YYachts</a> approached me. I have worked with several of my new colleagues in the past, and over recent years <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YYachts (Company)">YYachts</a> has built a truly exceptional team.”He brings decades of experience to the role, beginning in 1990 when he started building racing yachts. Gregor then moved into the sales of premium yachts, spending many years working with discerning international clients.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YYachts (Company)">YYachts</a> founder Michael Schmidt concluded: “Gregor and I have successfully completed numerous projects together over the years. I have always admired the professionalism he demonstrated in every role he held. With Gregor onboard, we are entering a new chapter in the development of our global sales activities.”