Features Editor Leona Caanen sits down with Chris Blackwell, Sales and Marketing Manager of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a>, taking a deep dive into the Australian yard, their new-build and refit-capabilities, and the yard’s future plans.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390905/image/large-bc14761562445b9d81496cda51145775.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390905"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a>, the luxury arm of Echo Marine Group, holds a unique position as Australia’s only dedicated superyacht shipbuilder. With more than eleven years of experience spanning full-custom new-builds, refit and maintenance, alongside commercial shipbuilding and naval support services, the Western Australian yard has quietly established itself as a serious global player.Based at purpose-built facilities in Henderson, just south of Perth, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> has built iconic multi-hull superyachts while completing an extensive portfolio of superyacht refit and maintenance projects ranging from 40 – 88 metres. According to Sales and Marketing Manager Chris Blackwell, the yard’s strength lies in its experience and versatility.“Our primary focus is full-custom new-builds, followed closely by extensive full-service refit and maintenance,” he explains. “Being able to offer both capabilities with the extensive experience of our in-house team a great position to be in.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/282242/image/large-51aa8cef166cbe49043691768e59a672.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/282242">Fully customised, luxury without compromiseEvery <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> project is full-custom without compromise. Among the yard’s most recognisable deliveries are the 84-metre trimaran motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5636" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="White Rabbit84.04m (275'9&quot;)Echo Yachts2018">White Rabbit</a>, the 50-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5637" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charley46.0m (150'11&quot;)Echo Yachts2017">Charley</a>, and her successor, the 56-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10088" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charley 256.0m (183'9&quot;)Echo Yachts2023">Charley 2</a>. Currently under construction is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13716" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charley 358.63m (192'4&quot;)Echo Yachts2028">ASC58</a>, a 58-metre sailing catamaran that will feature a twin-masted DynaRig sailing system by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2447" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Spars (Company)">Southern Spars</a>. Once delivered, she is set to become the largest sailing catamaran ever built.“The automated mast and sail configuration is comparable to sailing yachts <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 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Maltese Falcon88.0m (288'9&quot;)Perini Navi2006">Maltese Falcon</a>,” Chris explains. “Under sail, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13716" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charley 358.63m (192'4&quot;)Echo Yachts2028">ASC58</a> will offer exceptionally smooth and stable cruising with zero emissions. Its propellers and shaft generators function as turbines, producing electricity for onboard systems and battery charging.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/333393/image/large-cf567790eb3886c817066708183bf3eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/333393">Despite <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a>’ reputation for large technologically advanced multihulls, Chris is quick to dispel the idea that the yard is defined by a single format. “We never really set out to build only multihulls, it’s simply what we’ve been requested to build so far. In fact, we have built monohull commercial vessels. Importantly, our facilities, skills and experience allow us to construct monohulls, catamarans and trimarans, which is quite unusual on a global scale.”The same flexibility applies to materials. “We build in both aluminium and steel, and have also previously built a 50-metre vacuum-infused composite catamaran in motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5637" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charley46.0m (150'11&quot;)Echo Yachts2017">Charley</a>” he adds. “A client can confidently approach us with any concept, regardless of hull type, and we can design and build it all in-house.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a>’ luxury division focuses on yachts between 50 and 100 metres. “Anything under 50 metres is well covered by series builders and speculative projects in Europe and America,” Chris notes. “Within our segment, and for the types of vessels we produce, I think we punch well above our weight considering our broad capability, focus on technology and innovation, quality, and value for money.”Describing the company as a boutique builder, he adds: “We typically aim to have two new-build projects at a time, as well as refit and maintenance work as this smooths workload and ensures we keep our great team highly engaged and efficient.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/333392/image/large-7b5099e87e450a138101371fe02b7767.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/333392">Refit as a global industryRefit has become a cornerstone of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> business model. “Custom new-build is a major part of what we do, but refit and maintenance is a significant and growing industry globally,” Chris says.As the global superyacht fleet continues to expand, with fewer yachts retiring, demand for refit capacity has increased sharply. Shipyards are under pressure to support upgrades, maintenance and compliance work while still delivering new builds. “We see ourselves as playing an important role in the refit space, particularly as the only superyacht shipbuilding facility and company in Australia,” Chris explains.Most refit work is carried out entirely in-house, with planning beginning long before a yacht arrives. “Our teams ask a lot of questions upfront at an early stage, which means once the yacht is on site, we can start work immediately.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/46617/image/large-70fce757ed8f01ee366541893f0dd53d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/46617">The Henderson facility, formerly operated by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/215" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanfast (Company)">Oceanfast</a> and located in the Australian Marine Complex offers extensive infrastructure: a 12,000-tonne floating dock capable of accommodating vessels up to 110-metres, a fully-enclosed 105-metre shipbuilding halls, additional 800 tonne slipway and extensive hardstand areas.“It’s a very professional setup,” says Chris. “Echo Marine Group also carry out custom-new-build, refit and maintenance work for commercial vessel operators, and support Defence primes with their naval ship maintenance programs, so we have all three sectors are covered to some degree.”Western Australia’s climate is another advantage. “We have ideal painting conditions year-round, which is quite rare globally.”Although refit was an addition to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo</a>’s strategy around 10 years ago, it has proven invaluable. “Diversification has served us well. We’re not reliant on the next new-build alone, which ensures we can focus on great clients and projects that align with our unique technical capabilities and flexibility.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/173367/image/large-1fb4ea4ac19156f39802075efca9fbfa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/173367">Experience in-houseLocated within the Australian Marine Complex and minutes from Perth Airport, the waterfront shipyard benefits from a highly experienced workforce. While <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> is relatively young compared to some long-established European yards, the collective knowledge runs deep.“We were fortunate to inherit some of our highly skilled team from previous West Australian superyacht builders including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/215" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanfast (Company)">Oceanfast</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">SilverYachts</a>, as well as various overseas superyacht builders” Chris explains. “The average experience level of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo</a>’s senior management, design and production team is around 20 years or more, with some of our people having worked at this site for a similar amount of time.”Unlike many European yards that rely heavily on project managers running external contractors, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> keeps almost everything under one roof. “From hull construction and engineering to electrical and outfitting, it’s all in-house as a one-stop-shop,” says Chris. “The only elements we tend to outsource are specialist exterior fairing and paintwork, and air-conditioning.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/46619/image/large-1a56443b3c84059ed389b3d19422f35b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/46619">This approach offers greater control over quality, timelines, and budget. “We know when to scale resources up or down to optimise project outcomes, and we’re not at the mercy of third parties so it’s all upside for our customers.”Another distinctive element is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo</a>’s apprenticeship programme, which accounts for roughly 20 percent of the workforce. “Australia has a very strong apprenticeship system, particularly in shipbuilding,” Chris says. “We have apprentices across fabrication, engineering, electrical and outfitting trades.”The results speak for themselves. “For the last three years our apprentices have won the West Australian Marine Apprentice of the Year, and two of those progressed on to win the Australian Marine Apprentice of the Year award. It shows the strength of our training and it’s an achievement we are very proud of.”Working on superyachts sets a high benchmark early on. “They gain exposure to premium new-build projects and a wide range of refit experience,” Chris adds. Winners of Australia’s national award are invited to attend <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade (Company)">METSTRADE</a> in Amsterdam and a tour of a leading Dutch shipyard, offering valuable global industry insight.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/282243/image/large-d7eae79498fcccca0e5eed0be48a4101.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/282243">Looking ahead<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Echo Yachts (Company)">Echo Yachts</a> positions itself as a specialist builder of full-custom long-range Hybrid and Explorer Superyachts (50–90m+) featuring uniquely advanced efficient hull forms. As well as a highly capable and flexible shipyard for large and complex refit and maintenance projects — not only for private clients, but also for international builders with their own client’s yachts cruising the Australasian region.“There’s a real opportunity for B2B shipyard partnerships with us here in Australia,” Chris explains. “We are open to supporting European and US builders with refit, maintenance and warranty work for their yachts visiting or operating in Oceania.”Looking to the future, Chris emphasises the yard’s open-minded philosophy. “We’re not bound by preconceived ideas of what a yacht should be. We combine the best proven materials and technologies in clever practical ways, we encourage our clients to take full advantage of the luxury that full-customisation provides, and we deliver genuinely innovative, extremely fuel-efficient and robust superyachts that achieve award-winning results.”Chris Blackwell will be speaking about "The Australia playbook for yacht building in Asia-Pacific" at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit taking place in Kobe, Japan on May 7 &amp; 8. For more information on the APSS programme, see <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/events/asia-pacific-superyacht-summit-2026-3rd-edition/programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/117844/image/large-276626e8444dd4e67e67c23eaaf2407a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/117844">This article was first published in <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-56" target="_blank">issue 56</a> of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, available for download <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-56" target="_blank">here</a>.

Echo Yachts: Making waves in Australia’s superyacht industry

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White Rabbit Yacht under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

White Rabbit launch in Henderson, Australia

A deep dive into the Australian yard, their new-build and refit-capabilities, and the yard’s future plans.

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Leona Caanen sat down with Richard Hadida, long-time sailor, owner and chairman of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yachts</a>, who is currently on a 16-month journey to circumnavigate the globe with fellow&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yacht</a>&nbsp;owners.&nbsp;Sailing around the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama is Richard Hadida, a life-long sailor and, since 2018 the owner of the UK-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yachts</a>. Joining Richard in the azure blue waters of Panama are another 23 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> sailing yachts, preparing to cross the Panama Canal and head towards French Polynesia. The reason? The 2026-27 Oyster World Rally.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378811/image/large-09e42b8e3770ce85e64a241b12171e1d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378811">The rally around the worldWhat started in 2013, has turned into a well-loved tradition for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yacht</a> owners. Every two years, a group of owners set out to circumnavigate the globe together over the course of 16 months. The only requirement is owning an <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yacht</a>. When Richard took over ownership of the shipyard, the rally was well underway: “They were all in New Zealand and didn't know what was happening; they were nervous it was all going to be over.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393554/image/large-a46b63aab5a0e574b8b0b04078059147.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393554">Almost immediately, Richard sent someone out there and said, “Look, you know, we've picked it up. We'll look after you guys. Don't worry. Everything's good.” He kept true to his promise, and, minus a pandemic-related hiccup, the rally has happened every other year. Richard notes that, throughout the past eight years “There's been lots and lots of ups along the way, but my highlight is this rally.”The route is the same each rally, starting in the Antigua harbour, heading south and through the Panama Canal before sailing towards French Polynesia, Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, followed by island hopping in Indonesia, around the Cape of Good Hope, before returning to the starting point. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378813/image/large-f6e264dfd96b0c95a19266c04a03c9e9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378813">An important distinction is that the rally is not a race. Rather, it is a shared passage around the world that blends exploration with the reassurance of a structured support network. Richard emphasises that the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oysters</a> are well-cared for, “we fly out our best engineers and they fix all the little teething, little snagging issues. We know our own boats, right? We have the designs. We know every single detail.” It’s a sense of service that provides comfort for everyone involved, as well as those at home.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393558/image/large-f6540711463b84f7c7f3daf1d2f48eb0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393558">Partaking in tradition“It’s always been in my mind's eye, partaking in the rally, as something I'd love to do.” Discussing the ideal timeline with his wife, they were considering either 2028 or 2030, “suddenly we were like, why wouldn't we do it now?” Richard shares, “it was like a revelation.” Thus began the preparations for the 2026 rally onboard his <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> 885, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6352" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lush27.08m (88'10&quot;)Oyster Yachts2012">Lush</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yachts</a> are built for what Richard describes as ‘blue water’ capability: yachts designed for long distance ocean passage. Construction quality, redundancy in systems and a focus on safety all play a role in enabling owners to undertake global voyages with confidence. Richard’s yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6352" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lush27.08m (88'10&quot;)Oyster Yachts2012">Lush</a>, has crossed the Atlantic twenty times, “she’s twelve years old and she’s already circumnavigated once before. You feel the strength and the security when you’re sailing.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393555/image/large-0abb38e810c7944d433ff5b80a391cf3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393555">Yet despite this capability and the trust in the build, each participating yacht and its crew need to undergo a certain level of training. Participants spend up to a year attending seminars and training sessions covering everything from offshore navigation to safety procedures. Survival courses, fire training and life raft drills form part of the preparation, ensuring that every sailor understands how to respond in an emergency.Additionally, weather routing specialists monitor conditions throughout the voyage, advising the fleet and each vessel carries satellite tracking equipment so that the rally organisers can follow the fleet’s progress in real time.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396105/image/large-8b5d727cc491eebd0fb5df4f2d7b05e6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396105">Slow sailingCircumnavigation can be completed far faster than 16 months. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> World Rally intentionally chooses a slower rhythm. The aim is not simply to cross oceans but to absorb the places along the way. “There’s something about travelling slowly,” Richard notes. “You cover every mile and you feel the world changing around you. The temperature shifts, the time zones change, and you understand exactly where you are.”Weeks have been spent among the San Blas Islands, an archipelago of more than 300 islands, where instead of rushing onward, the fleet lingered for days, exploring remote anchorages and travelling inland to jungle waterfalls between sailing passages.The ability to enjoy such slow travel is thanks to certain luxuries the likes of Starlink, which keep Richard and fellow sailors connected to life back home. While the bulk of time is spent sailing and adventuring with his wife, sons and crew, there’s also the opportunity to take work calls. “It’s extraordinary,” Richard notes, “you can go on an adventure in the middle of the day, come back to the boat, and carry on with work.” True to his word, Richard ends our call to go crocodile-spotting with his youngest son.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393556/image/large-6feb41da1249d7e2cef2c14e05ea49e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393556">Travelling with purposeA newer dimension of the rally is the concept of regenerative tourism, an approach that encourages sailors to leave a positive impact on the destinations they visit. Unlike traditional sustainability initiatives that focus primarily on reducing harm, regenerative tourism seeks to actively improve the environments and communities encountered along the way.&nbsp;Activities range from environmental awareness projects to supporting local conservation initiatives. “It could be awareness, it could be picking up plastic, it could be supporting conservation,” Richard explains. “The idea is that we leave a place slightly better than we found it.”One upcoming stop highlights that ambition. In the Galápagos Islands, the fleet will host a series of discussions led by Sarah Darwin, the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, who is involved in ecological restoration projects in the archipelago. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396091/image/large-94301c4c375b86a2cd7253c448878fd6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396091">A family voyagePerhaps the most striking element of Richard’s participation is that he gets to share it with his wife and youngest son, who are also onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6352" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lush27.08m (88'10&quot;)Oyster Yachts2012">Lush</a>. “My two older sons are now 21 or 19, but when they were like 10, I was watching them jump off the side, and now I've got my two-year-old growing up on the same boat; I love that.”“I’m not someone who likes disposable things,” he says. “This boat has memories in it. My children have grown up on board.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396104/image/large-e045835f24ba5410d34358ef61375d82.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396104">A year of sailingHaving started the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> World Rally this January in Antigua, the sailors are, at time of writing, well underway towards the Galápagos islands and tend to be very happy there is still so much sailing to go.For many sailors, the end of the journey arrives with mixed emotions: some find it difficult to return to land after spending all this time out at sea. Richard understands the sentiment, “once you begin to experience the world at the pace of a sailing yacht, the idea of rushing through it again feels strangely unfamiliar. You realise the world is vast, and you’re seeing it properly.”&nbsp;The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> World Rally may follow a charted route around the globe. Yet for those onboard, the real voyage lies in discovering how large, and yet how connected, that world can be. “There’s something magical about it,” Richard notes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393550/image/large-3d80ac007ca3f58263d6eac9af835c80.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393550">

Richard Hadida Oyster World Rally 2026

Richard Hadida, long-time sailor and owner & chairman of Oyster Yachts joins the 2026 Oyster World Rally onboard 27m Lush.

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Richard Hadida: A 16-month circumnavigation onboard his 27m yacht Lush

With a loyal client base,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crew Ã  la Mode (Company)">Crew à la Mode</a>&nbsp;has outfitted the crew of more than 800 superyachts. Leona Caanen sits down with Lottie Lyne, CEO and founder of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crew Ã  la Mode (Company)">Crew à la Mode</a>&nbsp;to chat about the company’s course over the past 15 years and what her plans are for the near future.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394656/image/large-9943be508c3b8ace840e465e2d14993d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394656">How did&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crew Ã  la Mode (Company)">Crew à la Mode</a>&nbsp;come about?I was a stewardess for a season, about 15 years ago, and I loved it, but when I needed to get my uniform, there was just nothing around. I had to wear really inappropriate things; these little mini shorts, a plain, old white t-shirt handed down from a previous stewardess. It felt misaligned serving guests from the fashion world in a basic t-shirt, but at the time there were no other options.When I left that, I thought, okay, there's a real need here; and I had the desire to do it. I started working with some old clients and it grew from there. It was really about trying to create something more modern to reflect the industry, because I was working with such elite people in these amazing environments, and what I was wearing was just not.How has the company evolved over the last 15 years?&nbsp;Fundamentally, we've always been a really creative-centred business, and I like to think that’s often why clients like to work with us as it is at the heart of what we do. We’ve evolved to offer more than just the uniform itself, we offer design and styling as well as providing creative solutions. It’s not just about the product we’re making, it’s about the entire package, but we did start off making our own production in the UK from small runs.Gradually, we’ve grown into having our own factories in Europe, and now worldwide. As we expand, we’ve continuously improved the quality of our production, which is an area I’m passionate about. We aim to ensure there is balance with a premium product at a fair price point so that our uniform is accessible for all clients and every size of vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394662/image/large-8d5002bd261d469ba3da0980258df44a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394662">15 years gives you a lot of experience, we’ve learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, figured out what does and doesn’t work. Now we know all of those trap doors, all the things that didn’t work or fabrics which should work in theory, but don’t; or what a factory really means when they say we can meet your deadline! This insight allows us to be more honest when meeting client expectations.Lots of different people have contributed to where we are today, which I'm ever thankful for. Now we're bigger, we have more specialist roles: we have a garment technologist and talented designers, which enables growth, but fundamentally we still carry that same mentality that we’re a small brand who are passionate about delivering service excellence and feel accountable for our client’s projects. Our focus now is delivering those values to our clients on a larger scale.Delivering such a wide range of services isn’t always easy. We’re aware we could simplify business by only offering our ready-to-wear range and produce in higher volumes at lower prices - but that’s not where our passion lies. Our expertise drive lies in ensuring each client’s requirements are considered and translating their briefs into a full uniform concept.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394654/image/large-92c269f0e510b6de9d20eb2e125f9e10.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394654">Your approach is centred around transparency, what does this mean and how is this incorporated in your workflow?Transparency isn’t easy, and we don’t always get it right, either - our industry is notoriously difficult regarding transparency, but we aim to be and we’re improving year after year.It starts with looking at what a client is hoping to achieve and whether that is actually achievable. It’s challenging to say ‘no, you can’t have what you want within the budget you want’. It’s our job to be realistic about what is possible and that starts at the brief. We’re optimistic as a business, but we have to be realistic about whether you can deliver 50 uniforms with a personalised design in eight weeks, and sometimes the answer is no.It’s important for me to also be transparent and honest about when things haven’t gone right, because they never can 100 percent of the time. In our industry, it can feel like you’re swimming against the current, because information in a high pressure environment like ours is always challenging, and not everyone is well-equipped to receive that news. Yet if we receive fabric and it has a fault in it, then we have to say it’s faulty, we can’t use that. Or there is an issue with the courier, causing a delay, which isn’t always well-received.We are very communicative about where things are made and what fabrics we use; that whole supply chain is very clear. We’re very open about (potential) delays and timelines: when we say ‘yes, we can deliver that in a month’, then the client can trust that we really can.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394661/image/large-120cf7582c49369cecdf00fba0ed3c39.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394661">How do you ensure sustainability is a part of your production rather than an afterthought?Sustainability is part of the entire process, and it starts in the design stage. We make sure we are sustainable by ensuring the right products are picked, the right testing is done and the whole process is followed very carefully. The most unsustainable thing you can do is make the wrong choice, then, ultimately, a lot of wastage is created and there’s very little you can do with that.&nbsp;A product can be organic cotton, but if nobody likes wearing it or it doesn’t fit well, it won’t have longevity and will end up in the recycling landfill. The approach we take is to follow the entire production process really diligently and make sure everyone loves their uniform and that what we’re producing is 100 percent what the owner wants. Then we’re just doing top-ups and avoiding wastage - that’s our primary focus.&nbsp;When it comes to what we make, we source brands and have our trusted suppliers. We’re transparent with what we don’t supply, even if the order would be for thousands of items, we won’t accept it if it doesn’t meet our standards.&nbsp;Our production is predominantly in Europe and in low volumes, meaning we don’t have much wastage within each collection the way you do in lifestyle or fast fashion. For us it’s all about the longevity of a product onboard; lots of clients prefer organic cottons, but if you choose dark colours, they fade quickly and uniforms will have to be updated more frequently, in turn making it less sustainable.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394653/image/large-08bd04899cab4b8fc6d969106a4b83c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394653">What is your CREW Renew initiative?&nbsp;When you’re replacing a product or changing your style, there tends to be leftover product, especially in footwear. The whole concept behind CREW Renew is that we collaborate with our clients to repurpose the left over products. They can send us items, whether supplied by us or not with our REcycle, REpurpose, REpair or REwear offering to try which aims to reduce uniform waste. So whether the uniform is donated to charities, or repurposed into gifting items, we are extending the life-cycle of those garments and fabrics.The program ensures a sense of responsibility: if you’ve bought it, you’ve created the waste and you have to commit to do something with it.&nbsp;What are some key elements of designing crew-wear?&nbsp;When we’re designing, it’s a combination of technical gym wear for the movement and breathability, and something which is suitable for the luxury element of the yachting environment.&nbsp;We have a really great feedback loop, too. We have about three or four sample orders going out to clients every day, and we’re constantly collecting feedback, and we listen to it all: what fabrics are preferred, the ideal length, whether a pocket is in the right place. Part of our team are ex-stewardesses and they bring industry insight that is incredibly valuable in the design process. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394660/image/large-7f3232b7392d0863690db46bc240bbde.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394660">What makes&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crew Ã  la Mode (Company)">Crew À La Mode</a>&nbsp;unique?The big thing for me is that we are female led. When I started 15 years ago, nearly everything was male-led, as well as it being heavily supplier-based. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crew Ã  la Mode (Company)">Crew à la Mode</a> is a future focussed creative agency - we have our own design team and that’s the starting point of every project.&nbsp;All-in-all, it’s not just about the brand, it’s about everything we offer as an agency; that everything we offer in terms of concept design, project management, sustainability, onboard experience and insight - the all-round package. It makes the business model more challenging, but it allows us to keep close to our fundamental values.&nbsp;What ambitions do you have for the coming years?In the immediate future we are setting up our Amsterdam showroom. It’s an important step for us, as we’ve always been based in London, which is slightly disconnected from the industry. Until now that has been great; we’ve focused on what we’re doing and relying on good word-of-mouth. The new showroom is a step forward, to provide a space where crew can come see everything we have on offer and organise their uniforms in one day. It’s exciting to showcase our entire collection in a different way than we’ve previously done, creating an inspiring space. The plan is to eventually expand with multiple showrooms globally in Europe, the US and Middle East.

Crew a la mode founder interview

Outfitting crew of over 800 superyachts, SuperYacht Times speaks to Crew à la Mode founder Lottie Lyne

Crew à la Mode: "It can feel like you're swimming against the current"

Born not from market demand but from a visionary’s insistence that nothing afloat quite matched an owner’s ambition of circumnavigating the globe, is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a>, a 44.2-metre sailing catamaran. Her captain, Gavin Bladen, who has been with the superyacht since her birth, shares the story of how a search turned into a choice to build, eventually allowing the captain, the yacht’s owner as well as charter guests to circumnavigate the globe and experience some of the world’s most spectacular sights along the way.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258035/image/large-831af2adae2c1c19c203ed188fb6fc4a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258035">From searching to buildingFollowing a three-month pursuit of finding the right naval architect, the search led to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/39" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VPLP Design (Company)">VPLP</a> in Paris and architects Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost. For a year and a half, Gavin relocated from the Caribbean to sit shoulder to shoulder with the design team in Paris, refining a yacht that would be a purpose-built platform for tropical cruising and global exploration.The initial project began in 2004, yet <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a>, built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pendennis Shipyard Ltd (Company)">Pendennis</a>, wasn’t launched until 2011, when she made her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show. She entered the market as the largest sailing catamaran in the world by length, a title she held for over a decade. Measuring 44.2-metres with a beam of 16.6-metres and a gross tonnage of 499 GT, she remains one of the most voluminous sailing catamarans afloat. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258054/image/large-26f3f8c149deecb32e98452e17976759.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258054"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> is designed to accommodate up to 12 guests across five staterooms, two of which are luxurious VIPs which can be joined. A crew of 10, including the captain, ensures smooth sailing across the seven seas while guests can enjoy uninterrupted 360-degree views from the main saloon. Her expansive aft deck and generous flybridge challenge long-held misconceptions about catamaran proportions, and across the entire yacht there is the feeling of spaciousness.The interior, realised by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/25" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Michael Leach Design Ltd. (Company)">Michael Leach Design</a>, is textured, contemporary and, perhaps most importantly, enduring. 14 years on, the original flooring remains in place, having been selected for both aesthetic depth and durability. High-wear materials were specified throughout, with indoor-outdoor fabrics chosen for their high-rub characteristics to be able to endure heavy charter use without compromise. The approach reflects an understanding that true longevity lies not in ornament but in thoughtful selection.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258057/image/large-d7aa3f89215803385e9eb6e75f4e5420.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258057">Globe trotter<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> was built for circumnavigation, and has done so three separate times, visiting over 75 countries along the way. From Columbia to the Mediterranean and from India all the way to the Caribbean, there isn’t an ocean <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> hasn’t crossed.For Captain Gavin, who has had the joy of navigating the sailing catamaran and her crew of 10 along on all these adventures, French Polynesia remains the ultimate cruising ground. “If I could only charter in one country for the rest of my life, it would be French Polynesia.”With over four years of experience cruising French Polynesia, Captain Gavin and his crew know the archipelago like the back of their hand. “It’s stunning, the water wildlife is amazing and the diving is phenomenal.” It’s the type of place that leaves a lasting impression on charter guests and crew alike. “There are spots where we can put our guests in the water with 500 to 700 grey reef sharks during a single dive in South Fakarava in the Tuamotus.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394790/image/large-e498eca3b04e1a3bcfa3d7e89794c902.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394790">Such immersion into wildlife is central to the yacht’s ethos. In Papua New Guinea, guests have ventured into rainforest villages to witness fire dancers, while in Australia, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> supported filming ‘Welcome to Earth’ for National Geographic. The episode featuring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a>, titled ‘Power of Scent’, highlights the relationship of tiger sharks and the critical nesting site for green turtles at Raine Island on the Great Barrier Reef. She became the first foreign-flagged superyacht to legally charter in Australia under the relevant regulations, a milestone that underscores her operational ambition.Captain Gavin has navigated the sailing catamaran to the Norwegian fjords, where guests outfitted with crampons traversed ice and dined next to waterfalls. In New Zealand, charter itineraries combined time cruising through Milford Sound and diving expeditions off Stewart Island with time ashore in varying wine regions. No matter where <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> sails to, the agenda is set to highlight each location’s unique qualities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258055/image/large-bd341c48a82ba01379ccaa0fcd0f018b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258055"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a>&nbsp;for charterWhat makes chartering <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> so special isn’t just that she’s one of the most iconic sailing catamarans to ever be built, nor her incredible chartering route, but also her crew, who feel closer to family than colleagues. Half of Gavin’s current crew has been with him and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> for over eight years, and one crew member has been onboard for 12 years.&nbsp;In today’s industry, the retention of crew is much rarer than when Gavin joined: “When I started in the industry, it was about travelling, about adventure and getting the experience.” Considering the remote destinations the superyacht travels, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a>’s crew remains eager not only to adventure, but to share the experience with both the owner and charter guests too.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> usually sees about 10 to 11 weeks of charter per year, with guests that are as adventurous as her crew, often returning for new voyages across varying regions. Plans for the coming day are discussed between dinner courses, and largely centre around diving and fishing excursions. However, she is also a phenomenal platform for more conventional trips around the Mediterranean; and is outfitted with comprehensive equipment”. The yacht has comprehensive equipment and expertise onboard with the entire crew being well-versed in various water activities. The captain himself comes from a diving background, “I used to be on the great on the Great Barrier Reef”; a place Gavin still loves to take travellers to.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394789/image/large-4f08bf2a54885a2811a70ed54fd56e57.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394789">Sailing towards new horizonsCaptain Gavin and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> are inseparable, having been part of her every bolt placed and kilometre travelled, yet the iconic superyacht is now looking for a new owner, and is for sale with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a>. Ideally the new owner would be someone who is aligned with the yacht’s original vision, someone who is willing to maintain her properly, invest in her crew and continue chartering her across the globe.&nbsp;The captain highlights that it’s about “finding the right person. There's no rush.” The current owner is looking to tidy up certain elements of his life, yet he is still actively travelling with the yacht and has always been active onboard, diving and fishing &nbsp;around the world alongside his friends and family.The bond that exists between the captain, the owner and the yacht is the result of 22 years of working together and seeing some of the most beautiful places in the world; something the captain hopes to share with whomever will come to own <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hemisphere44.2m (145'0&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2011">Hemisphere</a> next.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/258061/image/large-7da029ca8bbaa54455d5cd21ee70d634.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/258061">

A look at the birth, build and charter of Hemisphere

Step inside the birth, build and circumnavigation of world's most iconic sailing catamaran

The birth, build and charter of 44m sailing catamaran Hemisphere

Leona Caanen speaks with Valentina Zannier, part of the larger design team behind the 107-metre&nbsp;<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>, who shares what it was like to work on the iconic sailing yacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394278/image/large-7ac75a1829a01933061ed8f1ad68dc07.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394278">The entire construction of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.7m (350'1&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a> lasted eight years. Not only was she the largest yacht built to date for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, she was also one of the most technologically advanced sailing yachts of her time. With her iconic DynaRig sails, she has the ability to hoist the 2,900 square metres of sail in seven minutes, all at the push of a button.Valentina Zannier, who designed much of the interior of the world-famous 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>. At the time, Zannier was a part of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lennard</a>, and worked closely together with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7958" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gerard P. Villate Yachts (Company)">Gerard P. Villate</a> and his company of the same name. As we showcase the timeless interiors of the Black Pearl, Valentina shares memories of the four years she worked closely with the late owner Oleg Burlakov.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394282/image/large-a85d905ee43b92c2b08e190afcb2590f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394282">“The owner was a very special person. He was extremely demanding, but a very, very captivating person.” For months, Valentina would walk over to his apartment in Monaco and for the next 12 hours or more they would look at every minute detail of the yacht. “He was so involved during the construction of this boat; checking the drawings and every detail. There was nothing he didn’t check; his knowledge about style and how he envisioned his yacht was a true life lesson.”Oleg would come by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lennard</a> office, where he and Valentina hung up the designs of main mullions meant for the main deck salon along the big staircase in the office, and putting tape and creating templates on the floor. “You needed to be extremely focused on the meaning of each decorative element; there was symbolism in every decoration that we worked on throughout the entire project.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394281/image/large-74ca430e110b94d6881118c6c9b0ae35.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394281">Much of the interior, especially the lower deck and main deck, has an air of 16th century France: an era defined by symmetry, corinthian columns, pediments, natural light and golden finishes. “He was a collector of all these beautiful pieces from Louis XVI,” Valentina recalls, “he was really in love with that age.”Yet in the upstairs saloon, Oleg desired a more art deco vibe - a very different style compared to the more neoclassic feel of the main deck. “I worked hard to bring something from upstairs to downstairs, and vice versa”, Valentina shares. “I don’t like it when one deck looks completely different than the other.” Wood from the main deck was brought to the upper, and some extra technological details were brought down in order to connect the spaces; the staircase and glass elevator also played a defining role in connecting the spaces. “The gym and beach club were another challenge, integrating different wood and modern equipment,” Valentina shares. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394276/image/large-4e8d11977d4dbdd62d63b87e034100e3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394276">Stepping inside the main deck of the <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>, one can see all the way from bow to aft, and that is on purpose. “Many days we spent, until the morning, moving the doors slightly to the left or right to ensure the line of vision was perfect,” Valentina recalls, “it had to reflect big palaces where you could see straight through the 20-something rooms.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394277/image/large-0bf6f443730a08348bd64873b3724337.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394277">Many of the furnishings on the main deck were personally chosen by Oleg and often came from auctions. “Most of the loose pieces that weren’t part of the in-build outfitting, came from his personal collection, which was incredibly large and precious.”<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxXSaZQ58WA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Watch: Black Pearl with IYC | First Ever Full Walkthrough of the 107m (350'0") Sailing Yacht</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394283/image/large-74b091e331cee96e2b3ed88037064f3f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394283">The office is one of the places that has been very carefully curated and is home to Oleg’s very own desk, which was brought onboard. The materials across the space and the entire deck were very carefully chosen and made by the same company that designs textiles for the French prime minister’s Élysée Palace in Paris.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394280/image/large-152fa939760edbb225df6255ffd06e98.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394280">The owner’s suite, located on the lower deck, stretches full beam and includes a separate lounging area and an ensuite bathroom that is decorated in various marbles and onyx. The bathroom also includes a bath, his-and-her sinks and a bidet. All staterooms sit on the lower deck and, including the owner’s suite, <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> can accommodate 12 guests across her seven staterooms.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394275/image/large-99c836251ece6d902fac3103425925ee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394275">Thinking back on the four-and-a-half year experience Valentina shared with the yacht, she looks back at it with a full heart. “Everyday was a discovery,” Valentina notes on the overall process of working on <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>, together with the team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7958" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gerard P. Villate Yachts (Company)">Gerard P. Villate</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/148" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ken Freivokh Design (Company)">Ken Freivokh Design</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>. Sixteen years after the start of the project, with her solar panels, three 70-metre tall masts outfitted with DynaRigs, and a hybrid propulsion system, <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> remains one of the most iconic yachts to date.<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 exclusively for charter with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>.

Inside the design journey of the iconic Black Pearl

SuperYacht Times sits down with Valentina Zannier, part of the interior design team of the 107-metre Black Pearl

Known for its traditional charm and as the birthplace of the cheese of the same name, the Dutch village of Edam is also home to the studio of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design Naval Architects</a>. As I settled down into the Regentenkamer (Regent’s Room) of the beautifully restored 16th-century orphanage which now acts as their studio, handpainted walls and a plethora of yacht models offered a glimpse into their forty year history, setting the stage for the conversations ahead.&nbsp;Founded in 1986 by Andre Hoek, with Ruurt Meulemans joining in 1999, before becoming partner in 2011, the studio specialises in naval architecture, exterior and interior design, as well as performance optimisation and the structural engineering of custom sailing and motor yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394086/image/large-b0a927e2d7997fae575f0756ee38d56a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394086">SuperYacht Times Sophie Spicknell speaks with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design Naval Architects Partners</a>, Andre Hoek and Ruurt Meulemans to find out more about the studio’s 40-year design legacy.“We wanted to create yachts that are not only high-performing, but visually timeless and most of all beautiful,” explained Hoek. From the early days of tank testing in 1987 to today’s sophisticated in-house developed performance software, hydrodynamic analyses and structural engineering, &nbsp;the studio has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, whether for racing or cruising yachts. The styling of their yachts has become highly recognisable, with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> name becoming a trademark, alongside their Truly Classic yacht designs.&nbsp;Over the years, the studio has grown into a multidisciplinary team of around 10 specialists, spanning naval architecture, hydrodynamics, structural engineering and interior design. “We are experienced in all fields,” added Meulemans. “That makes it easier to communicate and to find solutions together as a team.”Both Hoek and Meulemans share a long-standing creative alignment when it comes to yacht design, with this shared philosophy shaping the studio into what it is today. “We have a similar eye,” laughed Hoek. “Nine out of ten times, we say the same thing when we look at a design.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394104/image/large-77be71a61399b1223b5c619862f0f303.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394104">A recognisable signature<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design’</a>s portfolio has long been defined by its “modern Truly Classic” sailing yachts, with the balance of traditional proportions and contemporary engineering remaining as the foundation of every project. “The signature of our work is to design yachts that perform well, are safe in ocean going conditions, that are absolutely beautiful and keep their value due to their timeless styling. We innovate and incorporate the things we learn from each yacht that is built into new designs.”One of the studio’s most notable creations is the 43.4-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1221" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Claasen Shipyards (Company)">Claasen</a> J-Class <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2079" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lionheart43.4m (142'5&quot;)Claasen Shipyards2010">Lionheart</a>, developed through extensive research into J-class performance and inspired by the philosophy of other large classic yachts. “With <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2079" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lionheart43.4m (142'5&quot;)Claasen Shipyards2010">Lionheart</a>, we analysed eight different hulls in-house, looking at tank-test data and wind performance,” said Meulemans. “She still wins races and cruises beautifully today, a combination that defines what we want in every yacht.”Other award-winning yachts in their portfolio include the 51.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> ketch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4240" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elfje51.8m (169'11&quot;)Royal Huisman2014">Elfje</a>, the 54.64-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> ketches <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adele54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2005">Adele</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2411" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marie54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2010">Marie</a>, the 47.65-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4241" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wisp47.65m (156'4&quot;)Royal Huisman2014">Wisp</a>, the 49.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> ketch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6791" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meraki49.7m (163'1&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2020">Meraki</a> and five multi-award winning Truly Classic 128 yachts, among many others. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17017/image/large-00cfafd3e22b2754bd00bf1b964c2639.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17017">Some notable sailing projects include the 42.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Holland Jachtbouw (Company)">Holland Jachtbouw</a> J-Class yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Topaz42.62m (139'10&quot;)Holland Jachtbouw2015">Topaz</a>, which was inspired and optimised from the design of the legendary Frank C. Paine’s 930 J-class yacht Yankee, as well as the 43.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> J-Class yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5761" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Svea43.6m (143'1&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2017">Svea</a>, which was built to a very preliminary linesplan made by Thore Holm in 1937. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> redeveloped and optimised the design as far as possible and she is now often regarded as one of the most beautiful J-Class, as well as one of the fastest. “Most of our clients like to enjoy the yacht both on the racecourse and with family,” added Hoek. “That’s what gives a yacht longevity, not just on the water, but in its value over time.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394125/image/large-2c88ca0a17d5118ffa10528b8b8a65f5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394125">Even one-off commissions demonstrate the studio’s consistent philosophy, with the 64-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Holland Jachtbouw (Company)">Holland Jachtbouw</a> schooner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/21" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Athos64.0m (209'12&quot;)Holland Jachtbouw2010">Athos</a> featuring a 3.5-metre draft, a Panamax rig and a keel centreboard, which was a first for a schooner yacht of her size when she was launched in 2011, while the 55-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adele54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2005">Adele</a> which combines modern construction techniques with classic styling has gone on to win multiple awards and accolades since her launch in 2005. More recent designs include the 69-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> ketch, which is currently under construction, with an expected delivery date of 2027.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/361902/image/large-9e7033479b8f29a8f39b3e0c7734db8b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/361902">From custom to conceptWhile full-custom yachts remain a core part of the business, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a>’s long-term success has also been built on its semi-series Truly Classic range. Developed in the 1990s, the concept combines the elegance of the 1930s with modern hull configurations and was designed to lower the barrier to entry for clients hesitant to commission a one-off yacht.“There is quite a threshold for clients to walk into a design office and start a completely custom project,” said Hoek. “So we developed designs that were easier to step into.” The result is a portfolio of proven platforms, ranging from 15 to nearly 40-metres, that can be customised, while retaining a consistent design DNA.&nbsp;Some of the yachts in this portfolio include the 24.7-metre TC80 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4078" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmyre24.75m (81'2&quot;)Holland Jachtbouw2000">Palmyre</a> which showed what was possible for customisation in 2000, as well as the first 27.5-metre TC90 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3638" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kealoha27.5m (90'3&quot;)Claasen Shipyards2008">Kealoha</a>, which was launched in 2008, and the first 38.8-metre TC128 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6756" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atalante I 27.5m (90'3&quot;)Claasen Shipyards2009">Atalante</a>, which was launched in 2015. More than 40 yachts have been built in the Truly Classic semi-custom range, with a new TC143 model currently in development at the studio.The series has also fostered long-term client relationships, with many owners returning to the studio to scale up in size or transition into new yacht types. “We have clients who have built multiple yachts with us,” added Meulemans. “That’s always very rewarding.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394053/image/large-25030737a651d0d2f3ecdd6254685201.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394053">Expanding Into motor yachtsDespite sailing yachts remaining central to their output, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> continues to apply the same design language to its portfolio of motor yachts, particularly within the classic segment. “We were the first to start developing these kinds of classic motor yachts,” stated Hoek. “And at the time, you would hardly see anyone doing this.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372710/image/large-57a42879c3ce416305fce24b6e0ec5ca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372710">In 2020, the multi-award winning 56-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> yacht <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>was launched marking the first expedition motor yacht designed by the studio to hit the water. With a pronounced sheer, canoe stern and deep V icebreaking bow, <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>incorporates many modern features, while remaining classic in her design.&nbsp;“<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</a> was a really exciting challenge for us,” explained Meulemans. “We wanted her to perform like a modern expedition yacht, but you should still be able to recognise her as a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek design</a> at first glance.”Since then, the studio has developed smaller and mid-sized motor yachts that carry the same classic design DNA. “Whether it’s a 33-metre cruising yacht, or something closer to 75-metres, the principles remain the same,” said Hoek. “You can innovate in terms of propulsion or hull design, but the yacht still needs to be elegant, practical and enjoyable to live onboard.” With innovation at the forefront, various new designs measuring 27, 33, 35, 66 and 70-metres are also in development.The non-hierarchical structure of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> also allows the studio to extend beyond to external collaborations with shipyards and specialist designers, while retaining overall design control. Their team is involved in all aspects of design, including complete interior designs by a specialised team at the studio, which ensures that decisions are both structurally and technically feasible. “When you understand the construction behind an interior, you can do so much more,” added Meulemans. “When interior designers work next to structural engineers, decisions can be made to optimise space.”For <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design,</a> the transition from sailing yachts to motor yachts is a simple one. “What we have achieved with styling and performance for sailing yachts can also be done for motor yachts,” noted Meulemans.A striking new design that fits this bill is a 45-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort</a> motor yacht, which is due for delivery in 2027, as well as similar 33 and 66-metre designs which are also in development. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/339560/image/large-85b9c9c6c5118d4df7b63033ceada249.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/339560">Looking aheadFrom the cobbled streets of Edam to the open seas, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a>’s track record is firmly established, thanks to a large client base and approximately 170 yachts delivered. But the studio shows no sign of standing still just yet. Their current projects include new iterations of the Truly Classic range, as well as larger custom sailing yachts and an expanding profile of classic-inspired motor yachts.&nbsp;When asked what message they would give to the next generation of designers and naval architects, their answer was clear. “Be patient, it doesn’t happen overnight. Our passion comes from knowing that each boat we design will be sailed, raced and enjoyed for generations to come.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394112/image/large-e580a256f43fcf501e98bda17ce30580.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394112">

Hoek Design at 40: why timeless yacht design still endures

Hoek Design reflects on 40 years of timeless yacht design, from Truly Classic sailing yachts to an expanding motor yacht portfolio.

Inside Hoek Design’s 40-year legacy in superyacht design

Marking ten years as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Director / CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8781" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Van Lent Shipyard (Company)">Royal Van Lent Shipyard,</a> Jan-Bart Verkuyl sits down with Francesca Webster to reflect on a decade defined by bigger yachts, bolder ideas and an unshakeable belief that the future of custom yachting rests on people as much as propulsion.Verkuyl discusses why the owner remains the ‘heart’ of every <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, how the yard is preparing for a post-fossil-fuel era and why ‘barefoot luxury’ has reshaped the way clients live onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393423/image/large-ac7849d21e042a9a4c3a107bcc994890.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393423">How has your vision for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>&nbsp;changed since becoming CEO ten years ago?When I took over ten years ago, we were building the 101.5-metre yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3765" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Symphony101.5m (333'0&quot;)Feadship2015">Symphony</a>, which was then our biggest yacht. At that time, we only had this yard. Since then, a lot has changed. The yachts have grown in size, the features have become more complex and our clients have continued to push and push for new ideas.As an organisation, we had to adapt. We built the yard in Amsterdam because there were projects we simply couldn’t accommodate here at Kaag anymore. That growth has been significant, but at the same time we have stayed true to what we believe in – strong craftsmanship, educating our own people and organising our processes so we can build efficiently. It has been an interesting and exciting ten years.Full custom means every yacht is different. What defines the heart of a&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>&nbsp;for you?For me, the heart of a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> is the owner. The first phase of a project, when you start exploring and dreaming together, is one of the nicest parts of the whole build. The owner brings ideas, the designer brings ideas and we bring technological knowledge and experience from previous projects. When you mix that all together, something unique comes out of it. That creative collaboration is very special.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/64739/image/large-70131e0ab6a4a49a7d29bc2f695a3729.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/64739">You have a technical background and you are a sailor. How has that influenced your leadership?I studied naval architecture because I love being on the water. Sailing was my starting point. Having that technical background gives me deep knowledge of the product itself. Understanding how, even one aspect of the build works, is extremely important to me.For a company like this, you need to love the product and understand what an owner is looking for. That helps me explain internally and externally what we are doing and why we are doing it.You also took over as President of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2589" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) (Company)">SYBAss</a>&nbsp;in November, how do you see the role of the association today in supporting and representing the yards?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2589" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) (Company)">SYBAss</a> creates a platform for members to stimulate professionalism. We are stronger together, especially when we speak to governmental bodies, classification societies and regulatory organisations such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyd’s Register</a> and the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Maritime Organization (Company)">IMO</a>.It is also about knowledge sharing and innovation. When we talk about reducing the footprint of our yachts, there is real openness between the yards. We are competitors, of course, but some topics are non-competitive. If we can improve the product as a whole, that benefits the entire industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/358575/image/large-b372d7e9c85730e2eac28ad466627782.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/358575">Talking about innovation, where do you see the most meaningful advances in the coming years?The biggest change is on the propulsion side, moving from fossil fuels to non-fossil alternatives. As <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> we are on the forefront there, together with a few other shipyards, as you know we have worked with hydrogen propulsion with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8907" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Breakthrough118.8m (389'9&quot;)Feadship2025">Breakthrough</a> and we are looking at methanol.The challenge is that the infrastructure is not yet in place. In some ways, we are further ahead than the market can currently handle, there is also no single solution at the moment. Methanol seems promising for yachts, but we are also part of a working group looking into nuclear energy. We do not rule out anything.At the same time, real innovation also comes from our people. We have craftsmen and engineers in-house across all disciplines. You are only as good as your people and that will never change and your real innovation comes from them.Talent acquisition and development has been a real challenge across the industry, how are you sourcing and developing that expertise?At every <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> yard location, both at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8781" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Van Lent Shipyard (Company)">Van Lent</a> and De Vries, we have our own schools, with young people joining us at around fifteen years old. They are good with their hands and want to create something beautiful. We educate them and train them up through our fields of craftsmanship.We also continue to train people who join later in their careers. We believe strongly in having every discipline in-house, which I believe is one of our success factors. Another is that we share success with our supply chain. When we learn something, our partners learn it as well and that strengthens the entire collective.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/183843/image/large-8584c2370c97d18a287d4696e51f7326.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/183843">Turning to sustainability, to what extent is it the responsibility of the yard versus the owner?I believe we owe it to ourselves to push forward. If we do not, at some point we risk becoming extinct. Fortunately, many of our owners are passionate yachtsmen and they are knowledgeable, often building their second or third yacht with us. Increasingly I hear from our clients that they are not prepared to invest in old technology and that drives us forward to find the next solution for their projects.At the moment, diesel-electric is becoming the norm, often requested by our clients. How far owners want to stretch beyond that depends on the individual, but we try to encourage progress. Of course, we are still building for customers who pay the bills, so there must be a balance.How does&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>’s net-zero strategy translate into decisions?We try to demonstrate the merits of technological advances that reduce a yacht’s footprint. As a minimum, we aim for diesel-electric. We also try to incorporate the backbone for future fuels, such as methanol storage in the tanks, so yachts are prepared for what comes next.In addition, we invest in research and development that is not tied to a specific project. Within our naval architecture team, we have people dedicated to R&amp;D. We look at propulsion, materials, reducing energy use at the yard and reusing steel and aluminium. We also consider the footprint of the yard itself.Looking to design, have you seen changes in how owners use their yachts?Very much so. Outdoor spaces have become significantly more important. There is now a much stronger connection between inside and outside. In the past, stepping inside could feel like entering a chateau, today it is more about what we sometimes call ‘barefoot luxury’ – a relaxed platform to enjoy time with friends and family.Beach clubs have become central to that lifestyle. Projects such as the 80-metre yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Thalassa80.0m (262'6&quot;)Feadship2026">Thalassa</a> show how far that concept can go, with increasingly open and connected spaces. She is set to change the way that entire area is conceived when she is delivered later this year.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393447/image/large-514aa433f0972fffd042579497fabe05.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393447">Is there a limit to how far bespoke design can go before it undermines the efficiency of the build?It is a delicate balance. We often say, give us time and money and we can create anything, but it must function properly. The back of house is just as important as the front of house. Crew need to operate and maintain these yachts and there are only so many skilled engineers available.We listen carefully to owners and designers, but we also try to reduce unnecessary complexity. If systems become so complex that they cannot be properly maintained, then no one benefits.How important is aftersales and refit to the business today?Aftercare has grown significantly over the past ten years. When a yacht is cruising and something happens, we want to be there. We can fly people out to assist and, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> facilities in Amsterdam and Makkum, it is relatively easy for yachts to return to the Netherlands.Once owners experience the value of having the original builders work on their yacht, they often return. Refit and rebuild will continue to grow and from an environmental perspective, reusing an existing hull can make sense. Regulations are tightening and technology is advancing, so there will be increasing demand to upgrade systems and reduce footprints.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393448/image/large-35aa58d1876c3f8f1cd622b849457c66.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393448">How would you describe the relationship between&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8781" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Van Lent Shipyard (Company)">Van Lent</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;De Vries?It is a healthy collaborative rivalry. Both yards strongly believe we build the best yachts in the world, and that creates a positive competitive spirit. We share what we are proud of and learn from each other.&nbsp;<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/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt Naval Architects</a> plays a central role in transferring knowledge. If one yard learns something, it flows back through <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt</a> and benefits the other. When it comes to assigning projects, repeat clients often return to the yard they built with previously. For new clients, it can depend on availability. If we cannot accommodate a project, we will support our colleagues and vice versa. Across both our yards, whatever the journey, what leaves our sheds is always a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>.Looking back over the past decade, what makes you most proud?Teamwork. Projects such as the 118.8-metre hydrogen fuel-cell yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8907" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Breakthrough118.8m (389'9&quot;)Feadship2025">Breakthrough</a> were extremely complex, not only in terms of propulsion, but also in the level of technical detail. Achieving results like that requires a collective effort.I am also proud of the relationships we have built with repeat clients. Ultimately, achieving something together – yard, owner, designer and supply chain – is what defines this journey.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/387292/image/large-adfe769e9032b19ceaf12c4b11cac15f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/387292">And finally, looking forward, what would you like to see in the coming years?Propulsion technology will continue to evolve and I hope clients keep surprising us with requests that make people enthusiastic. I want <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> to remain an employer where people want to stay and develop.We do not necessarily need to build bigger. Perhaps one day we will build a large sailing yacht, or perhaps our seventy-foot New Classic will come to life. Above all, I want to keep building yachts that put a smile on people’s faces.

Feadship’s next chapter: Jan-Bart Verkuyl on 10 years at the helm

Feadship Director and CEO of Royal Van Lent Shipyard  Jan-Bart Verkuyl reflects on 10 years, future fuels and how owners are reshaping life onboard.

At 85 metres in length and around 2,680GT, Project Life is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s largest ever platform-based yacht and occupies one of the strongest segments of the superyacht market – yet it does so without leaning on recognisable heritage cues. Instead, it proposes a new way of thinking about how a yacht is arranged, experienced, and lived on. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353191/image/large-f18746f0152629e2708994c889792809.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353191">When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> unveiled new details of Project Life last year – and announced it was prepared to build the yacht on spec – it didn’t feel like a rehash of a concept first presented in 2023 at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/182" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2023">Monaco Yacht Show</a>. It was more a statement about how life on board is constantly evolving, and one of the historic and highly established Italian shipyards intends to evolve with it.&nbsp;Project Life is not a trendy explorer, nor is it a nostalgic throwback or a neutral compromise,” says Giovanna Vitelli, Chair of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut-Benetti Group (Company)">Azimut | Benetti</a>. “Instead, it is an evolving proposal that has been engineered to maximise lifestyle potential on board by balancing private ownership enjoyment with outstanding commercial viability.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> deliberately chose to start afresh with Project Life by creating a new identity grounded in design, function, lifestyle and operational reality – one that could credibly form the basis of a future series. Behind that objective sits a remarkably close collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a>, interior studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Design</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino</a> – the first collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> and the Norwegian designer.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353194/image/large-8df6961df50a9f25f09acd69374554e8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353194">Designing without an owner&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Design</a>’s involvement began almost by coincidence. The studio had originally been working on the interior of a different <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> project. Although the concept was well resolved, it felt limiting for the Nice-based studio. Then Francois Zuretti received a call while on holiday in August 2023: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> wanted to move the studio onto another project under development with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino</a>. Officially, the request was to adapt their existing work, but the opportunity was obvious.“With only weeks before the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/182" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2023">Monaco Yacht Show</a>, we understood that this was a moment to start again properly,” recalls the French designer. “Everything was stripped back to zero. The pressure of the deadline became a creative advantage: we had to go straight to the point – and that’s where clarity comes from.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353198/image/large-a06664914e6c9afde30007b869a532cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353198">With no client attached, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Design</a> had to invent one. The studio imagined how the new visionary owners lives on board: less formality, fewer barriers, lighter, and better connection to the sea. The interior architecture that emerged is intentionally calm and restrained with muted tones and clean lines forming a flexible base.“We fixed around 70 to 80 percent,” says <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti</a> CEO Sebastien GEY. “The rest can change completely once an owner arrives. You can shift the mood without breaking the design concept, allowing the yacht to evolve with its owner rather than becoming dated by aesthetic decisions.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251947/image/large-5a4c262dd39357ac1eb7796bdbb06608.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251947">The most radical decision lies at the centre of the yacht: the main saloon. Rather than a conventional interior lounge and dining room, it is conceived as a single continuum that blends smoothly into the exterior decks. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a>’s long-standing collaboration made it possible to blur the boundary almost entirely. Flooring and decking flow in and out, exterior ceiling finishes push into the interior, while interior materials extend outside. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> describes the saloon as an outdoor living area that can be enclosed when required, rather than an interior that merely connects to the outside. Teak decking, low bulwarks and extensive glazing reinforce that effect throughout the yacht.“When the doors are open, there is no psychological step,” he says. “It’s just one space, breathing in the sea.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353200/image/large-1b6b253154d326ebda513a8c5c1e546a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353200">The backbone&nbsp;Underlying the entire project is a sophisticated general arrangement. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> stresses that no amount of styling can compensate for a flawed GA, and significant time was spent developing crew circulation, storage and service routes. Burgess played a key role in that process by bringing its operational and management experience to the table, helping to optimise crew working conditions and service efficiency, both for private use and charter.&nbsp;“Our involvement was about ensuring the yacht works as well as it looks,” says Rory Boyle, Head of New Build Sales at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a>. “Project Life balances guest flow, crew wellbeing and technical practicality in a way that makes it genuinely buildable and commercially credible.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393285/image/large-5d0db4e0b4b0d6990c62ea36d9b09e9b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393285">Accessibility is prioritised. A guest lift connects from tender landing points – both stern and side – all the way to the sun deck, allowing barrier-free movement for guests with reduced mobility. Every aspect of the spatial planning has been carefully orchestrated. The result, according to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>, is that Project Life has approximately 25 percent more interior and exterior space than its nearest competitors in the 80-metre segment.The service areas have also been comprehensively developed, with extensive dry and cold stores, freezer rooms, laundry facilities, a crew gym and dedicated engineering corridors. Waste handling and provisioning are carefully considered, with hull access points for loading and offloading supplies.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353188/image/large-dbafbe983177ea5cef2937f4b44749f1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353188">Engineering-driven design&nbsp;From the outset, the concept was shaped by technical decisions intended to support better layouts. One of the most significant was the adoption of HVO-compatible, diesel-electric propulsion and azimuthing pods, as well as integrated hybrid solar panels that collect both solar and thermal energy to power tenders and toys. This solution means technical spaces can be positioned with more flexibility, reducing the footprint of the engine room and freeing up valuable lower-deck volume.“It’s not about novelty,” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> explains. “It’s about freedom – in layout, in shaping the aft sections, and in improving manoeuvrability, particularly with dynamic positioning.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393284/image/large-dc4c352c41724607dc8bccaf2001eb28.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393284">Those gains are most visible in the beach club, which became a central design driver. Spanning a total of 270 square metres, it is one of the largest in her class. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> notes that a key decision was to maintain sufficient freeboard, so the space remains usable in real operating conditions at anchor when folding platforms are subject to wave slapping. Two 14-metre side terraces combined with the stern platform create a true walk-around beach club, with tenders and toys stored along the sides rather than directly aft. This frees up the stern area for watersports and leisure, creating what the designer describes as “a private marina at the heart of the yacht.”The stern platform is intentionally oversized – and for good reason: “Aft platforms are almost never big enough for real-life use,” says <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a>. “On Project Life, it can accommodate dining tables and social set-ups that replicate the feeling of sitting on a dock in St Barths or the Bahamas.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353187/image/large-6e375054858e5d388619d66331a98789.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353187">Within the beach club, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Design</a> faced a technical requirement for access to air-conditioning equipment and other equipment. Rather than conceal it, the designers transformed it into a signature feature: two sculptural, cocoon-like alcoves lining the space.“Remove the cushions and an engineer can crawl through,” Zuretti explains. “Put them back, and they become some of the most desirable lounging spots on board.”It is a recurring theme throughout Project Life: engineering constraints are not hidden, but absorbed into the architecture and used to shape the experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353201/image/large-c4ff763597c2dd9b801b93769909f63e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353201">Precision luxury<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti</a>’s interior design is based on understated elegance. Pale woods, organic window mullions and integrated lighting create a sense of calm rather than spectacle. There is no overt display of luxury – and that, Zuretti notes, is precisely what makes it difficult to execute.“The simpler it looks, the more unforgiving it becomes,” he says. “The luxury is in the precision.”Richer materials appear in the twin bathrooms on the owner’s deck, including a sculpted stone bathtub in Her bathroom, anchoring the space in something unmistakably luxurious. Full-height glazing, part of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a>’s exterior architecture but unusual in a bathroom, gives the space a cinematic quality.The 98-square-metre owner’s suite overlooks a private foredeck and Jacuzzi. With direct access to the side decks, it benefits from natural cross-ventilation and the option to sleep without air conditioning – a small but telling detail in a project focused on quality of life.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353196/image/large-ad514258eab05b1101230648d253ff0e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353196">In fact, outdoor living is prioritised at every level. Above the beach club, the main deck aft is designed as a social space with a 6-metre, glass-bottomed pool at its centre surrounded by a wet bar, sun loungers and plush, oversized sofas. Seating and benches are built into the pool, reflecting &nbsp;how guests actually use pools onboard yachts – sitting, chatting, relaxing. The area is large enough to host live music or events, reinforcing its role as a social hub.Dining is deliberately decentralised. On the bridge deck there is an open-air dining space equipped with a live-cooking setup – more commonly seen on much larger yachts. Practical work surfaces and a large pantry ensure good crew ergonomics, while guest-facing counters align with table height, allowing everyone to interact at the same level.“People rarely dine as a full group for every meal,” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> explains. “You need flexibility, protection from sun and wind, and proximity to service areas – especially for charter.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353199/image/large-596dde38ea72d2da9101741a27c5d7af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353199">A new direction&nbsp;"What's exciting about this collaboration is that it's already coming to life - <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> have started engineering the first in the Life series ready for a new owner to step in," concludes <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a> partner, Crispin Baynes.For <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>, it establishes a new benchmark, while for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Øino</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti</a> it demonstrates the power of creative collaboration across disciplines. And for the market, it represents a product conceived for today’s more mellow lifestyle afloat: open, fluid, light-filled, and discreetly sophisticated.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353192/image/large-4f911dd625db005fe2c447b8b2210528.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353192">

Benetti Project Life

Inside Benetti's 85m Project Life with designers Espen Øino and Zuretti

With the Mediterranean charter season just around the corner, features writer, Enrico Chhibber, speaks with industry experts to gain insight into how the 2026 charter market is taking shape.Expectations for the 2026 superyacht charter season remain broadly positive, but the market is showing clear signs of change. Enrico Chhibber spoke with brokers, executives and fiscal representatives, taking a look at shifting booking behaviour, evolving destination preferences and a more nuanced outlook of the season ahead. As a result, the market appears resilient, though increasingly shaped by a wider range of variables than in previous seasons.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/384289/image/large-2927a582f9db6de1b2a797943e6c0224.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/384289">Demand patterns and booking behaviourLooking at charter market performance across the 2024 to 2025 season, several industry participants described activity as resilient, with some reporting year-on-year growth. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> Chief Executive Officer Anders Kurtén said the company saw a strong charter season and no sign of weakening demand. “I can only speak for us. We actually had a really good charter season last year,” he said. “If we look beyond euros and dollars and just focus on charter days, we tend to be somewhere just shy of 7,000 days of charter, and that is exactly where we were last season as well. We didn’t feel any softening of the market last season.”Josh Cripps, a charter broker at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5532" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Roccabella Yachts (Company)">Rocabella</a> specialising in the 30 to 50-metre segment, offered a similarly positive assessment, noting that “the amount of weeks booked has increased”. While he acknowledged that ongoing geopolitical turbulence could influence market conditions, he suggested its effect may be more visible in booking behaviour, adding that “it might change the timeline of which yachts will be booked”, as clients wait longer before confirming or shift plans in response to external developments.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/283808/image/large-4de1576c9ef0d3a728b5f9e0bce9396b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/283808">Kurtén also pointed to what he described as a “bifurcation in client behaviour”, a trend he said has become more pronounced over the past two to three years. “On the one hand we have more last-minute charters,” he notes, including bookings for large yachts made only days before embarkation. “On the other hand, we have more bookings now for summer 2027, which is essentially a year and a half in advance.” He added that, while there is no clear explanation for the divide, the contrast between short-notice bookings and long-range planning is becoming increasingly evident.A similar shift was observed by Alex von Stein, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4921" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SOS Yachting (Company)">SOS Yachting</a>. Drawing on the company’s activities across Spain, France and Monaco, Italy, Croatia and Greece, he said the 2025 charter season started later than in previous years, with “a noticeable increase in last-minute charter bookings compared with previous years”.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391737/image/large-1934aeb30d38004f8504f7102ac6af24.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391737">Destination trends and regional divergenceWhile the Mediterranean continues to dominate the global charter market, contributors indicated that demand is becoming more regionally varied within that broader picture. Kurtén said that, in a “normalised 12-month cycle”, around 65 percent of charter activity would typically take place in the Mediterranean, with that figure split roughly “60 percent in the Western Mediterranean and 40 percent Eastern Mediterranean”. He added that just under 30 percent of activity would usually fall in the Caribbean, with the remainder spread across South East Asia and other, more exotic destinations.Within the Mediterranean itself, however, the Western basin continues to account for the strongest concentration of demand. Cripps said that “44 percent of all my bookings in 2025 were for Italy”, while “35 percent of the total bookings were in France”. In his view, this underlines the continued appeal of established charter hotspots, with the Amalfi Coast and the Côte d’Azur remaining “two of the most popular charter destinations in the world”. This broadly aligns with the view of von Stein, who said the Western Mediterranean “remains the preferred charter destination”, continuing to attract the majority of charter activity within European waters.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391738/image/large-86c0c18a8f3c964a054ce6d428034a12.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391738">At the same time, both Cripps and von Stein pointed to rising momentum in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. Cripps said that “Eastern Med has increased”, adding that “Turkey, specifically, has increased a lot”.Von Stein, meanwhile, identified Greece as a particularly strong-performing market, attributing this to the continued implementation of the 28-day charter licence framework and the broader acceptance of the Yacht Engaged in Trade programme. In his view, these developments have improved regulatory clarity and made charter operations in Greek waters more accessible. “Greece is a clear example of how regulatory clarity combined with operational flexibility can directly stimulate charter activity,” he said.Even so, Kurtén urged caution when interpreting growth in less established destinations. While acknowledging increased interest in more unusual cruising grounds, he noted that percentage gains can sound more dramatic than they are when measured from a very small base. As he put it, “I always urge caution when you report percentage increases, if the initial in-going numbers are really small.” For that reason, rising visibility in more niche markets may point to broadening client interest, but not necessarily to a major rebalancing of the wider charter market.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391741/image/large-500a3029b51096bb6d1e3b808c845778.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391741">Outlook for 2026: resilience amid uncertaintyLooking ahead, expectations for the 2026 charter season remain positive, with several contributors pointing to encouraging early signals and forward bookings already in place. Cripps acknowledged that “most charter brokers in the business are always optimistic”, but added that broader instability remains impossible to ignore. Even so, he suggested that charter retains a degree of resilience, noting that “the 2026 season will be a good year for everyone; there are already some great bookings on the horizon”.A similarly measured tone came from Kurtén, who said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the 2026 season, based in part on bookings already secured. His view reflects a wider sense that, while confidence remains intact, forecasting is becoming more difficult in an increasingly volatile external environment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/288400/image/large-8a6ff6fb290af834b159d62a0fb21559.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/288400">That caution was also reflected in feedback shared by von Stein, who said initial indications from clients were positive, with “early indications suggesting continued market strength”. At the same time, he noted that the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East had introduced uncertainty into the market. In his view, previous geopolitical events suggest there is a risk of reduced charter activity if North American owners and charter clients choose to postpone or redirect travel plans.Ultimately, the charter market is entering 2026 from a position of resilience, though not without clear sensitivities. Demand appears to remain in place, yet the season ahead is likely to depend as much on external developments and client confidence as on the strength of the market itself.

what is shaping the 2026 charter market

Enrico Chhibber speaks with industry experts and dives into how the 2026 superyacht charter market is taking shape.

How is the superyacht charter market taking shape in 2026?

SuperYacht Times editors Leona Caanen and Francesca Webster take a deep dive into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>’ brand-new, 62-metre flagship,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a>, sitting down with the yard and the designers behind this modern classic sailing yacht.With her sails hoisted, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> seems to be floating as she makes her way across the blue waters of the Mediterranean. The 62-metre ketch is the brand new flagship of the Turkish shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>, featuring exterior lines by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/703" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Taka Yacht Design (Company)">Taka Yacht Design</a>, with interiors having been brought to life by the British studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/329" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Design Unlimited (Company)">Design Unlimited</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391447/image/large-c5a855b29feae2e53cf099654b9d55c5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391447">Designed with family in mind, the classically styled sailing yacht is structured around entertainment, with a spacious main saloon and accommodations for as many as 12 guests under her current configuration. Built on speculation by the Turkish yard, with supervision and guidance provided by experienced sailor and broker Sean McCarter of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a>, the superyacht just recently left the yard and made her way to the Mediterranean where she will make her official debut this May at the Palma International Boat Show. SYT’s Francesca Webster had the chance to visit the yacht in Monaco where the yacht was nominated for an award at the YCM’s Explorer Awards.&nbsp;Reflecting on the project, Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun, Yacht Projects Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>, comments: “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> represents a defining step for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a> as we expand our capabilities into the sailing segment. From the outset, our ambition was to create a yacht that balances performance with refinement, while remaining true to the traditions of classic sailing yachts.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391441/image/large-4d4317e3ffb8d3fe14934db1f7c93092.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391441">Designing a modern classicFor <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/329" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Design Unlimited (Company)">Design Unlimited</a>, a studio long associated with bold interior concepts across the marine and residential sectors, working on the interiors of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> offered an opportunity to expand its portfolio and venture into a different kind of design. The project marks an important milestone as the largest sailing yacht the team has designed to date, and has been as much about pushing creative boundaries as it was about honouring the traditions of a classic sailing yacht.&nbsp;At the heart of the brief was a careful balance: an interior that would remain faithful to the yacht’s traditional exterior while introducing a fresh and elevated aesthetic inside. Striving to reinterpret the design of a conventional classic sailing yacht, the result is an interior defined by warm materials, considered detailing and a subtle layering of textures that together create what the studio describes as a ‘modern-classic’ environment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391445/image/large-6b8167e093b51e7a81dab9e41fe60f05.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391445">A defining element of the design philosophy lies in its emphasis on sociability. From the earliest concept discussions, it was made clear that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> should function first and foremost as a family yacht. Spaces have been designed to encourage interaction, with open seating plans, whether indoors or out, that invite conversation. Her main saloon, for example, is spacious and inviting, accessed by twin sliding doors that lead off from the covered cockpit. With a lounge to port and dining area to starboard, the saloon is multifunctional and welcoming. Utmost care has also been made to ensure a discrete definition between crew and guest access, with crew access to all areas of the yacht separated from the owner and guests.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a>’s interiors reflect a broader ambition to showcase the yard’s in-house capabilities across metalwork, carpentry and leather craftsmanship. This spirit is evident in many bespoke elements integrated throughout the yacht’s interior: feature bulkheads, custom joinery and intricately detailed headboards were developed specifically for the project, each contributing to a layered visual narrative. The yard’s capability &nbsp;to produce many of these elements internally provided the designers with unusual freedom, allowing ideas to be explored in close dialogue with the craftsmen responsible for their execution.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391449/image/large-6916abe10149e539a5d1f0812422d5cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391449">Kerem Kalafatoğlu, board member at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>, adds: “Our in-house production capabilities were fundamental to achieving the level of detail seen on board <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a>. It allowed us to work in close coordination with the designers and ensure that every element, from joinery to finishes, met the highest standards expected in this segment.”Material selection played an equally important role in shaping the yacht’s atmosphere. Rather than relying on stark contrasts or high gloss finishes, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/329" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Design Unlimited (Company)">Design Unlimited</a> team opted for a palette of warm tones, enhanced by copper accents, brass detailing and rich timbers that introduce depth and subtle luminosity, while carefully chosen fabrics such as woven leather add a softness to the spaces.“We were very particular about the fabrics, choosing materials perfectly suited to their setting. As this is a sociable boat, durability was essential, so everything was specified to handle demanding use and stand the test of time,” notes Associate Designer John Everett.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390342/image/large-5ceb322d7ec697cf9257255789deaccf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390342">Designing for a large sailing yacht inevitably introduces practical considerations beyond aesthetics. The interior needed to account for movement at sea, leading to thoughtful adjustments such as rounded furniture edges, discreet handholds and non-slip flooring surfaces. Seating arrangements were also carefully considered to remain comfortable regardless of the yacht’s angle of heel while under sail. Throughout the vessel handrails are elegantly integrated into the design, with ergonomic curved forms leading up through the various stairwells, accentuated by brass finishes.The project illustrates how a collaborative process between owner, designer and shipyard can produce an environment that feels both timeless and distinctly personal.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390345/image/large-d846c844f5689c21e3c2b9be84792c73.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390345">Curated for cruisingOne of the more unique features of the yacht is her centralised stairwell leading down to the lower decks. Situated between the saloon and the wheelhouse, the stairwell is accessed from both sides of the yacht, improving flow through the interiors. Featuring a custom designed chandelier in its central atrium, designed as an echo of the ebb and flow of the Mediterranean sea, the stairs, like the rest of the interior, are clad in engineered oak and lead down to the five main staterooms; three doubles, a twin and the master all featuring ensuite bathrooms. The master suite is located to the fore and is a spacious full-beam stateroom inclusive of dressing room, ensuite and large forward facing bed. The star of the stateroom is the standalone bath located opposite the bed with an elegant floor-to-ceiling marble splashback. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391446/image/large-d34a10f13305bd0e6dbc05977ab44982.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391446">To the aft of the yacht is a sixth stateroom, originally designed as an additional crew cabin but converted during the build into guest accommodation. For a future owner this offers unusual flexibility, allowing them to add additional crew, a supernumerary cabin for additional staff, or to convert it for another use, such as a gym. For all guests, the lower deck also offers access to the boarding platform which doubles as a swim platform and is located amidships on the starboard side.Four crew cabins, with an additional two in the bow, the galley, engine room and storage are located to the aft of the yacht, with the transom holding the various toys. The yacht’s foredeck is home to a two-tonne crane that lifts her custom limousine tender, also built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares</a>, as well as her rescue tender, with optionality for further toy storage on deck.&nbsp;Elsewhere on deck, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> offers an abundance of areas for her guests to enjoy the views as she cruises through the blue. To aft guests are welcomed aboard from the passerelle where large sunpads are located to port and starboard, offering the ideal location to enjoy sundowners in the evening. Like her main saloon, the cockpit is a multifunctional space sunken into the deck at the level of the interior with tables on either side surrounded by a curved sofa. The table can be joined to create a large dining area for her guests, or left separate for a more relaxed configuration. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391442/image/large-37cb7509717fd90127f05a85f6c65b48.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391442">Unlike traditional sailing yachts, the helm stations are not located on the main deck, instead they are situated above the saloon on a flybridge between the masts. Here there are twin helm stations directly connected to the wheelhouse and this is where her captain will most usually be found. Though excellent from this vantage point, full visibility over the bow is limited due to her deckhouses, so cameras on the bow are fed into the helm monitors to ensure full visibility for her captain. This area is also home to tables and a seating area, with a large sun pad to the back.Finally, there is a fourth exterior lounge area in front of the wheelhouse on the foredeck for guests that want to relax while underway or enjoy the uninterrupted views while at anchor. In terms of her performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a>’s delivery to Monaco was a demonstration of her capabilities. RINA certified and offering hybrid engine functionality, the yacht performs well under motor and sail with a 16 knot top sailing speed and a 14 knot top speed and 4,000 nautical mile range at 9 knots under diesel engine power. On electric-motor alone, Simena reached a top speed of 8 knots with a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 7 knots, making her a true trans-oceanic cruiser. As Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun, Yacht Projects Director explained, “This is a truly proud moment for our entire team,” says Piraye. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a> exceeded our expectations during the trials, showing remarkable speed, maneuverability, and silence under hybrid and sail propulsion. She embodies everything we set out to achieve – performance, comfort, and timeless elegance."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/387968/image/large-f6263cfe195cb44bae9dec003367a442.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/387968">

onboard 62m simena ares yachts flagship

Step onboard the 62-metre Ares Yachts' flagship Simena

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Onboard Simena: Designing the 62m Ares Yachts' flagship

Summer is just around the corner and <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-57" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Issue 57</a> of our newspaper makes sure you are up to date on all things charter and sailing. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390842/image/large-eb124bc9c17a15d46154559a45d4df25.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390842">In this issue, our team travels all over the globe, from the depths of Sydney Harbour for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7545" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Australia (Company)">Superyacht Australia</a>'s inaugural Sydney Charter Show, to the sheds of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a> in Turkey, as well as a quick visit to nearby <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design Studio</a> in Edam.We take a look inside <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>, step onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Raja²55.3m (181'5&quot;)Admiral2025">Raja2</a> and feature <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ARES Yachts (Company)">Ares Yachts</a>' brand new flagship and our cover star, the 62-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12790" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simena62.0m (203'5&quot;)ARES Yachts2026">Simena</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390841/image/large-74787263c99554e993c9a7ee575faf96.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390841">If a circumnavigation wasn't yet in your summer plans, it might be time to rethink. Need inspiration? Flip to page 44, where Richard Hadida, owner and chairman of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster Yachts</a> talks everything Oyster World Rally, or head to page 46 where owner Jim Offield shares tales of his recent journey around the world onboard the 34-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390839/image/large-7d66b8982fa82274df93c7feb0c54f74.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390839">Also in this issue, a deep dive into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>'s brand new Project Life,&nbsp;which proposes a new way of thinking about how a yacht is arranged, experienced, and lived on. We cover the most recent design news, like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a>'s ARuby, as well as deliveries and launches, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11483" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MY Deep Blue134.22m (440'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2026">MY Deep Blue</a> and the third <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> 80, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12881" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zurich79.8m (261'10&quot;)Amels2026">Project Zurich</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390838/image/large-75bcbef01fb2228b8f2582c6a31882be.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390838">All that and more you can find inside <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-57" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Issue 57</a>, which is available now in print and digital formats. For subscription details or to read the issue online, visit <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-57" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper.</a>

SuperYacht Times newspaper Issue 57 is here!

The summer issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper is here!

The Chinese State Council has approved new measures that will reduce administrative and financial barriers for Hong Kong and Macau yacht owners travelling within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/284352/image/large-ecd218fffb9bcb7bafecade7dd2c5004.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/284352">Announced on 30 May 2026, the new policies will remove the requirement for a financial guarantee and introduce a temporary Chinese registration when bringing their yacht into mainland China.Under the new framework, Hong Kong and Macau-registered yachts will be able to obtain temporary ship nationality certificates issued by mainland Chinese authorities without affecting their existing registrations.&nbsp;This will allow yachts to navigate within the waters of nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area after completing the necessary entry procedures. “Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have been committed to promoting individual yacht travel,” explained a spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau.“Under the new policy, the exemption for the requirement for a guarantee will significantly reduce the financial burden on owners of Hong Kong and Macao yachts when handling cross-border procedures.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380444/image/large-c47ce0baf12facf7f4f5bd21055eb53c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380444">To support these efforts, the Hong Kong Marine Department, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration and the Macau Marine and Water Bureau established a tripartite working group focused on developing measures to facilitate private yacht movements across the region.The Marine Department is also actively co-ordinating with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration on creating southbound measures for yachts travelling from the Chinese Mainland, with details due to be announced soon following finalisation.&nbsp;In March 2025, lawmakers in Hong Kong urged the government to enhance yacht tourism in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and further develop the necessary infrastructure to support maritime activities.A motion was proposed by Kenneth Lau Ip-keung advocating for improved infrastructure to facilitate island-hopping tourism ventures along Hong Kong’s 1,180-kilometre coastline and its 263 islands.&nbsp;Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/62956" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lawmakers urge Hong Kong government to boost yacht tourism (2025-03-26 12:30:00 +0100)">Lawmakers urge Hong Kong government to boost yacht tourism</a> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395562/image/large-12835460c889137d51c1912c58b38d42.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395562">Asia-Pacific Superyacht SummitAs the region continues to grow, SuperYacht Times has hosted several editions of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit Japan 2026 in 60 seconds (2026-06-02 15:00:00 +0200)">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> in Hong Kong. This year’s edition took place in Kobe, Japan, bringing together industry leaders, yachting clients, and key stakeholders with the shared goal of positioning the Asia-Pacific as a leading superyacht market and cruising destination.You can find out more about the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit Japan 2026 in 60 seconds (2026-06-02 15:00:00 +0200)">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> and how to get involved with the 2027 edition <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit Japan 2026 in 60 seconds (2026-06-02 15:00:00 +0200)">here</a>.&nbsp;

China eases cross-border yacht owner travel rules

China has approved new measures that will reduce administrative and financial barriers for Hong Kong and Macau yacht owners. 

China eases cross-border travel rules for Hong Kong and Macau yacht owners

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>&nbsp;is both a leader in the field of waterjet technology and a point of reference for serial production tenders. Active across the military, commercial, and superyacht sectors, the Italian brand is now applying its propulsion and manufacturing know-how to the specialist market for limousine tenders.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396631/image/large-062ebf001bce4c2cc3c7a9d7b4ad2e91.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396631">The small town of Albairate in landlocked Lombardy might seem a strange place for a boatbuilder to set up shop, but it is closely linked to the brand’s origins in one of Italy’s richest agricultural regions. Luigi Castoldi was a pioneering engineer in the agricultural machinery sector through his company BCS, which is still extant today. He began exploring waterjet propulsion – still a novelty in the early 1960s – because boats were damaging their propellers on the shallow bottom of the nearby River Ticino.&nbsp;After importing a waterjet drive, he set about re-engineering it to create a more durable and effective design. His first mass-produced <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjet, model Jet 05, made its debut at the 1969 Genoa Boat Show. Since then, over 40,000 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjets have been delivered around the world, from the compact 224 unit up to the mighty 600 HCT drive that can support installed power of up to 2,700 horsepower.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396632/image/large-4d83f3db58d65cf02a38baa8d387c061.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396632">Today, the company is still family-owned under the directorship of Giacomo Castoldi, Luigi’s grandson, who with his father Franco spearheaded the company’s diversification into the tender market with its own range of diesel-powered jet tenders. The first model, the JT 18 Pro in 1998, served as the blueprint for the current range, from the entry-level Jet Tender 14 up to the 10.5-metre Jet Tender 34. The latter also provides the technical platform for the Jet Tender 34 Limo, the company’s first venture into the limousine market.Why waterjetsWaterjet propulsion for superyacht tenders offers several advantages over traditional propeller-based systems. These include enhanced manoeuvrability, higher efficiency and durability, lower noise and vibration, and the reversing bucket can ‘crash stop’ a boat in less than twice its own length. But arguably the most critical feature – as Luigi Castoldi was quick to realise – is shallow draft.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396635/image/large-accb3204fb1c42a0f2bfa16fdfac9f5c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396635">“Jet tenders can drive right up to a beach, and most of our models are equipped with bow ramps as standard,” says Giacomo Castoldi. “Combined with a folding console, low draft also means they occupy less vertical space inside the tender garage, while the lack of exposed propeller blades reduces the potential for injury to swimmers, divers, or marine life.”Over the years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has finessed its waterjet technology. Unlike other systems requiring external gearboxes, all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjets except the entry-level Turbodrive 224 DD have integrated gearboxes. This results in a more compact overall footprint, which means more space for passengers and luggage storage, and simplifies the installation process while reducing the potential for errors or rework. They are also equipped with a patented anti-clogging system that enhances the waterjet’s reliability in challenging conditions. The Clear-Duct unclogging system works by reversing the direction of the impeller and simultaneously opening the protective intake grid to flush out any debris that may have accumulated.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396660/image/large-44d8926e35b1304d60e5cdbcb14c3137.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396660"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s latest waterjet drives that carry the HCT acronym have been redesigned to offer a 12% increase in performance compared to previous iterations. Advancements in impeller design, a pre-stator vane system, and an updated post-impeller stator work together to improve the flow of water through the system, reduce cavitation, and ultimately deliver more thrust combined with lower fuel consumption.&nbsp;“These enhancements are largely thanks to investment in CFD analysis,” says Giacomo, “Combining fluid dynamics with our own practical engineering know-how has generated a lot of new ideas."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396615/image/large-28e2be0f5dedca48b4f2f92405172d02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396615">Total control<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> also produces its own control systems, from simple mechanical options to the sophisticated ACES system developed in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Xenta (Company)">Xenta</a>. Powered by a 32-bit embedded processor and utilising a proprietary CAN bus network protocol, the ACES system delivers precision control of engine RPM, waterjet steering nozzles and reversing buckets when transitioning between docking and cruising modes. Additional functions include dynamic positioning and smart anchoring, which simulates mechanical anchoring by swinging around a virtual GPS point. Adaptive steering logic can even provide ‘propeller mode,’ which recognises when the vessel is in reverse to simulate conventional propeller behaviour – a useful feature for operators transitioning to waterjets.To maintain quality control, most of the waterjet components are machined in-house, an exception being the Duplex stainless-steel impellers that rely on precision investment casting technology. With regard to tender production, the whole process – from the 3D design, hull lamination and tube fabrication to the hydraulic and electrical systems – is carried out internally before final testing in its own water basin in front of the factory.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396658/image/large-b3c15147d7d49ce31a9b749e8a305ff2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396658">When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> began production of jet tenders in the mid-90s, it decided from the start to take a platform-based approach with fixed hull forms designed around its own propulsion system. By standardising the production process, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> ensures consistent quality while reducing unit costs through repeated tooling and manufacturing processes. Additionally, serial production provides opportunities for continuous optimisation, further enhancing the performance and quality of each new upgraded model. As the range evolved, customised interior materials, finishes and layouts have become the norm to meet the specific needs of individual clients without having to build costly and time-consuming one-offs.&nbsp;The company has applied exactly the same production philosophy to its new Jet Tender 34 Limo designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/153" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nauta Yachts S.r.l. (Company)">Nauta Design</a>. Conceived initially for a fleet of luxury cruise ships currently under construction, each ship will carry four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> Jet Tender 34 Limo tenders to deliver a sophisticated ship-to-shore guest experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396657/image/large-a20e0e70cb5a086260c495f6e811d4a1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396657">Limo luxury&nbsp;Historically, the limousine tender segment has been defined by high levels of customisation, where each unit is tailored specifically to the design and needs of a particular superyacht. While this approach allows for alignment with the mothership’s aesthetic, it often results in longer lead times, higher costs, and compromises in terms of performance and systems integration. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396633/image/large-bb3ca9a1c828124e6a74dc5b67525448.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396633"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s entry into this market introduces a shift toward standardised, platform-based design, which allows for quicker production times and greater system optimisation, while still providing owners with a high degree of personalisation, particularly in the interior architecture. Two primary interior layouts are offered: one with all-seated configurations for maximum comfort, and another combining seating with a pantry and bathroom for longer transfers. Material finishes can also be tailored to suit individual preferences."This project represents a new chapter for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> that expands our offerings to new markets, while maintaining the commitment to innovation, quality, and luxury we are known for,” says Giacomo. “The opportunity arose to enter the limousine tender market with a semi-serial product that embodies our construction philosophy of creating optimised vessels rather than one-offs.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396625/image/large-24bbf67840c4bba049f3423e568ddbaa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396625">“In practical terms, we estimate that our serial-produced limousine tenders are priced at least 35% lower than equivalent full-custom examples,” adds <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s commercial director Luca Taccani, “without sacrificing the luxurious finish or technical sophistication that clients expect.”In addition to the four limo tenders, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> is also supplying the cruise ships with two customised Jet Tender 28 SV units. The ‘SV’ stands for ‘Support Vessel,’ and the model is specifically designed to work in tandem with the limousine tenders, with an enhanced bow sun-pad, extensive storage, pantry, and premium features like a T-top.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396622/image/large-6c33afd5ceeb462bb96cd2592a9fa250.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396622">The flywheel effect&nbsp;As <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has expanded its offerings and capabilities, its workforce has grown accordingly and is now nearing 100 direct employees. In terms of business performance, the company has seen consistent growth, especially over the past two years since Luca Taccani joined the company. Annual turnover is currently distributed fairly equally across the waterjet and tender markets (50% and 40% respectively) with the remainder from spare parts and commissioning activities.&nbsp;Although <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> builds its tenders in series, each sale is essentially a one-off transaction with an end client. Its propulsion products, on the other hand, can generate recurring clients that expect reliable and ongoing service. Naval procurement involving multiple waterjet units is an expanding sector for the company, for example. To meet this demand, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has made a deliberate effort to ensure the availability of components, stocking spare parts for older models well beyond customary timelines – often for more than ten years.“We’ve focused strongly on spare parts and after-sales support with dedicated back-office staff for service management,” says Luca Taccani. “This long-term outlook not only boosts customer loyalty but has also proven financially advantageous. As raw material costs have risen sharply, having a ready stock of components means we’ve been able to avoid significant cost increases.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s trajectory over the past few years reflects a competitive company that is expanding its product range while also refining its operational efficiency and service capabilities. By focusing on technical innovation and long-term service, it has effectively created a “flywheel” effect, whereby small but consistent wins build momentum over time in a self-sustaining cycle of growth. Moreover, the brand’s entry into the limo tender market aims to demonstrate how serial production methodologies, when combined with proprietary propulsion and rigorous quality control, can challenge the prevailing bespoke approach.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396659/image/large-9f4ecad812d4f5c94c3664909275b1d8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396659">

The landlocked yard building limousine tenders

Castoldi is entering the limousine tender market with the Jet Tender 34 Limo, combining waterjet technology with a serial-production approach.

The 28.72-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">D Five</a> is currently on the market with Christopher Mosley of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a> and Maël Fiolet of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275737/image/large-bfdd94504b5a0ff1ba8b21536e797bab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275737">Delivered in 2021 by the Italian shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">D Five</a> is the flagship model of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a>'s S-series. 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> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3025" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mancini Yacht Design (Company)">Alberto Mancini Yacht Design</a>, with interiors penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4541" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Francesco Guida Design (Company)">Francesco Guida Design</a>. Her naval architecture was developed in-house by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a>.Constructed with a GRP hull and carbon fibre superstructure, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/built-by=azimut" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Azimut yacht for sale</a> has been used exclusively for private cruising since her delivery.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275795/image/large-fb7dc69216e8915da0a60d6362a11af3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275795">From the outside, the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">D Five yacht for sale</a> presents a sleek and sporty profile, defined by a dark metallic hull contrasting her white superstructure. Her generous deck spaces include a foredeck lounge, flybridge retreat and an inviting fold-down beach club creating a direct access to the sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275800/image/large-d2c413371399c0d655949d6bc63b72ef.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275800">Her aft cockpit and flybridge offer guests several spots for dining, entertaining, and relaxing in the sun, making the yacht equally suited to short day trips and longer stays onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275798/image/large-51b0d3027870bc108a02afee12d0c5fb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275798" 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;">Stepping inside, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">D Five&nbsp;yacht for sale</a> features a split-level main saloon, creating a fluid indoor-outdoor living. Warm timber finishes, glossy surfaces and large windows that bathe the interiors in natural light all contribute to her bright and modern ambience. According to the broker, extensive storage and room for supplies support longer periods at sea without needing to resupply.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275801/image/large-2f2956eeae26da8b87f51d5acc83b0a3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275801">With a beam of 6.34-metres and a volume spanning 155 GT, accommodation onboard the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">yacht D Five for sale</a> is arranged for up to 11 guests across four staterooms. Dedicated quarters are also provided for a crew of four, including her captain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275805/image/large-9598d5bfb8222552d1a8ad9f3035afde.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275805">In terms of performance, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11591" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="D Five 28.72m (94'3&quot;)Azimut Yachts2021">yacht D Five for sale</a> 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, delivering a cruising speed of 28 knots and a top speed of 36 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275793/image/large-8a524678608acbbb13c67c4c0568d8de.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275793">All images provided courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>.

29m Azimut motor yacht D Five for sale

The 28.72-metre Azimut yacht D Five is currently for sale. The flagship S10 motor yacht reaches 36 knots with spacious onboard living.


<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/313" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nautor Swan (Company)">Nautor Swan</a> has announced the launch of the first new 23.99-metre Swan 80 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> series from its shipyard in Pietarsaari, Finland. The Swan 80 yacht is the opening model in the Swan Maxi range and an evolution of the highly successful Swan 78 platform. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396571/image/large-443eccad33fbc877c7ada335794a362d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396571">First unveiled during the 2023 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/172" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival - 2023">Cannes Yachting Festival</a>, the new Swan 80 also draws on the historic Swan 80 lineage. Designed under 24 metres, she aims to deliver the volume, presence and offshore capability of a significantly larger yacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396572/image/large-5724f283d5a36c50398957a6f43875b5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396572"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396573/image/large-eccfe9faf109deffa8fc30b242c08bdd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396573"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> features the signature style of naval architect <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="German Frers (Company)">Germán Frers</a>, with exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4626" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Micheletti + Partners (Company)">Micheletti + Partners</a> and interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1144" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Misa Poggi (Company)">Misa Poggi</a>. She displays a clean and low profile, with long uninterrupted deck spaces to create an agile sailing silhouette.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396575/image/large-32ff2a9d2b6588e5cbf577159ae0d874.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396575"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396574/image/large-1e422fa3e22f640e8f48864e0523d2e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396574"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> showcases a sophisticated interior design, which can be transformed into a versatile space. Her lounging area with a TV and daybed complements her spacious dining area, allowing for guests to relax. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396576/image/large-c6e5f3d80c21f5feb13f572a3e0c8f13.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396576">Her technical areas have been integrated beneath her saloon sole, allowing for her to maximise volume while preserving a calm and uncluttered environment for all guests onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396585/image/large-e61f21af40f45cae451be7fccabbbc20.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396585"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> features a forward master suite, a forward VIP stateroom and two aft guest staterooms, with one of her guest rooms able to be converted into a media lounge or an additional dining area. Her crew cabins are situated aft and have independent access, ensuring privacy and seamless service for guests. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396579/image/large-817c8b74465a36a0c2e4f144fe78853d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396579"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> combines foam-cored glass fibre reinforced epoxy with carbon fibre reinforcements, alongside sacrificial rudder tips, sealed structural compartments and multiple keel options, including deep fixed, shallow and telescopic lifting configurations. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396580/image/large-90cb4c3341bdbdba2fe85bbd680d1e1f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396580">She pairs a near flush teak deck which flows from her cockpit to stern, with her winches and controls positioned for handling in both short-handed and fully crewed configurations. Her cockpit can also be configured as a protected cruising lounge, an open racing space or a social terrace.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396583/image/large-8b3cbb1b7fe6813ad11ed89a8dd537f4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396583">Her transform provides guests with a direct connection to the water by opening into a beach platform with integrated access to the swimming area and tender garage. &nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elvi25.55m (83'10&quot;)Nautor Swan2026">Elvi</a> will make her world premiere at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival - 2026">Cannes Yachting Festival 2026</a> and her sailing debut during the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo in September 2026, marking the 60th anniversary of the yard with the rest of the fleet.&nbsp;

Elvi: First Swan 80 Maxi yacht launched

Nautor Swan has announced the launch of the first new 23.99-metre Swan 80 yacht Elvi series from its shipyard in Pietarsaari, Finland.

First 24m Nautor Swan 80 Maxi yacht Elvi launched

The 109-metre <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lurssen" target="_blank">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6431" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O3109.0m (357'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2026">O3</a>, ex. Project Icecap/Project Shackleton, has been delivered to her owner from the shipyard's facility in Hamburg. The superyacht is now cruising the Danish coast, having briefly stopped in Kristiansand in Norway on route, and is currently anchored in Flenburg on the south west coast. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385756/image/large-55d770ba67f165c3682a05d06f089bca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385756">Originally announced in 2017, the superyacht was then resold in-build in 2022 and underwent significant changes under the supervision of the team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6940" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Occam Marine (Company)">Occam Marine</a> who oversaw her construction of behalf of her new owner. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/384315/image/large-c656645bce219c33e33273c7a4090898.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/384315">Originally the superyachts exterior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4827" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Salt Ship Design (Company)">Salt Ship Design</a>, however since the resale the team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino Design</a> have dramatically redesigned her, adding an additional deck to the aft of the yacht that features a helipad ontop. The superyacht's interiors are the work of Parisian studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4421" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="CG Design (Company)">CG Design</a> and have been kept tightly underwraps.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/384314/image/large-9b4b8c9cd9bf8c33f745e7f938cdf2ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/384314">Construction began at the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lurssen" target="_blank">Lürssen</a> Peene-Werft shipyard in Wolgast, Germany, before she was transferred to the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/lurssen" target="_blank">Lürssen</a> Hamburg facility for outfitting in 2022, where she was completed in a floating drydock. &nbsp; &nbsp;Designed and built for expedition, the superyacht has an ice-class hull, expansive tender, toy and equipment storage, in addition to the commercial helipad on her aft upper deck. &nbsp;

Lürssen yacht O3 delivered

The Lurssen superyacht O3 has been delivered to her owner.

109m Lürssen superyacht O3, ex.Shackleton, delivered

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> has announced that the 49.98-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia49.98m (163'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts2026">Sophia</a> is preparing for her sea trials.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396522/image/large-f97599b52b7c3e4adb33a5e23df0ca8b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396522">The yacht was launched from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen's</a> facility in Oss, the Netherlands, on 14 March and marks the fourth hull in the Dutch shipyard's 5000 Aluminium series. Construction commenced in 2023, with her aluminium hull and superstructure united in July 2024.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396523/image/large-9314ce312161350642ebea29231c6ef3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396523">Penned entirely in-house, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia49.98m (163'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts2026">Sophia's</a> naval architecture is based on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen's</a> hard-chine, shallow-draught Fast Displacement Hull Form. Her exterior design was crafted by Frank Laupman of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/55" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Omega Architects (Company)">Omega Architects</a> and is finished in a distinctive Whisper Grey <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1485" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awlgrip (Company)">Awlgrip</a> paint scheme.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396651/image/large-a603ef8da832512f7f449be519a433b4.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396651"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396649/image/large-205f426ce70968959dc26de7e55d1248.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396649">Inside, the semi-custom yacht features interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cristiano Gatto Design (Company)">Cristiano Gatto Design</a>, where a sophisticated palette of sage green tones, mustard accents and warm bronze details creates an inviting atmosphere throughout. Drawing inspiration from her name, which derives from the Greek word for wisdom, the interior concept aims to evoke a sense of refinement and understated elegance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396652/image/large-546c42eb9478bab7a3c65d2890fd6cd3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396652"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396521/image/large-94b3294045e1a5ec9b8051e43a93085a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396521">Moreover, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia49.98m (163'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts2026">Sophia</a> accommodates up to 12 guests across five staterooms at a volume of 499 GT. The arrangement is centred around a spacious owner's suite on the forward main deck, while the remaining guest accommodation is located on the lower deck.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396654/image/large-02734840dc2a01b6adc255a522411d83.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396654"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396648/image/large-4000c45f762e6e39242191239693e51b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396648">Outdoor living is a key feature of the yacht's design. A generous beach club provides direct access to the water, while the main deck aft terrace offers ample space for lounging and relaxation. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining on the bridge deck aft, with additional entertaining and sunbathing areas available on the expansive sundeck.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396653/image/large-ab0cf674fd5eaebcc711944e0736c3cf.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396653"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396520/image/large-bc3e170199cfcab010ffbf2bec2571f3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396520">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, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia49.98m (163'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts2026">Sophia</a> is expected to reach a top speed of 23 knots and offers a transatlantic range of 3,100 nautical miles when cruising at 11 knots.Built on speculation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia49.98m (163'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts2026">Sophia</a> is currently listed for sale and is scheduled for delivery on 15 July 2026.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396647/image/large-318a3cc36ef6d0d7e0136af4f2acdb03.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396647">Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>.

Heesen yacht Sophia sea trials

Heesen has announced that the 49.98-metre Heesen motor yacht Sophia is preparing for her sea trials. 

50m Heesen superyacht Sophia prepares for sea trials

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/375" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baglietto S.p.A. (Company)">Baglietto</a> has announced the sale of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17173" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baglietto DOM 155/0146.9m (153'10&quot;)Baglietto S.p.A.2029">first hull in its new DOM155 series</a>. Measuring 46.9 metres in length, the yacht is scheduled for delivery in 2029 and was designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/76" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vafiadis (Company)">Stefano Vafiadis</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/382594/image/large-8e21c024562bf809d3fe206fd62c8a70.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/382594">The project was commissioned by a highly experienced owner, with Building Captain Simon Mackay overseeing construction. The sale marks Mackay's second collaboration with the La Spezia-based shipyard. Interior designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6293" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leonardo Santi Design (Company)">Leonardo Santi</a> has been appointed to develop the yacht's bespoke interiors."We are very pleased with this sale, which comes just a few months after the project was first unveiled to the market earlier this year," said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/375" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baglietto S.p.A. (Company)">Baglietto</a> Chief Commercial Officer Fabio Ermetto.The DOM155 builds upon <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/375" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baglietto S.p.A. (Company)">Baglietto's</a> ‘Roman domus at sea’ philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on spacious living areas and a seamless connection to the surrounding environment. Positioned below the 500 GT threshold the series is characterised by sculpted exterior lines and an aluminium construction. Moreover, it combines generous volumes with high performance, a shallow draught and extensive opportunities for owner customisation."The fact that the owner is already an enthusiast of our brand further confirms the growth path we are pursuing and the strength and credibility of our offering," added Fabio. "The DOM155 fits perfectly within this vision, embodying a yacht distinguished by a high degree of customisation, exceptional comfort and outstanding volumes. We are fully confident that it will establish itself as a benchmark in the under-500 GT segment."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396529/image/large-974aa645eaef7ef5909aa55ce81817ef.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396529">One of the yacht's defining features is her stern arrangement, which incorporates a multifunctional wellness area complete with an infinity pool and a configurable beach club. Depending on owner requirements, the space can be arranged as a spa, gymnasium or additional tender garage. Elsewhere, full-height glazing and open-plan layouts are designed to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior living spaces.Accommodation is centred around a full-beam owner's suite on the main deck, complemented by four guest cabins below deck, with the option to add a fifth cabin if desired. Crew quarters have been carefully integrated to support efficient onboard operations. Crowning the yacht is a 130-square-metre sundeck offering uninterrupted panoramic views, alongside multiple lounge spaces and an additional swimming pool.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, the DOM155 is expected to reach a top speed of 16 knots.

First Baglietto DOM155 yacht sold

Baglietto has announced the sale of the first hull in its new DOM155 series.

First 47m Baglietto DOM155 superyacht sold

SuperYacht Times steps onboard the 49.9-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a>, currently available for charter with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Y.CO (Company)">Y.CO</a>. With final availability remaining this summer from 1 to 30 September, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a> will cruise the South of France, Monaco and Corsica, with Greece also a possibility under the YET scheme. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396536/image/large-4257306e7ff1b305b461d14458fe4331.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396536">Delivered in 2024 as part of the Italian shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s B.Now 50M series, she offers a refined sanctuary at sea designed around wellness and elevated living for the 2026 Mediterranean charter season.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396546/image/large-7fddf15923c2049f4813079836d7813d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396546" 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;"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396541/image/large-874e5aa35be08cfb38204726932545df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396541" 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/60803" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti B.Now 50m superyacht Dyna® delivered (2024-06-20 14:00:00 +0200)">Read: Benetti B.Now 50m superyacht Dyna® delivered</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/60803" href="https://sya.superyachttimes.com/news/50m-benetti-superyacht-dyna-r#managed-by-system" target="_blank"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396549/image/large-3c556360c9cef4349494d51d0405bbdc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396549"></a>Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, while her interiors and naval architecture were designed in-house by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>. &nbsp;Her Oasis Deck concept boasts amenities that are uncommon for a vessel this size, most notably her large main deck aft pool, which serves as a central entertainment area for guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396543/image/large-e3daca00b25eb3026106d0532ca616e0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396543" 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396550/image/large-088e9cc3768fc25179e16fb17ab91843.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396550" 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Reinforcing an onboard experience anchored in rejuvenation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a> guests can enjoy a spacious and serene spa, a massage room on the lower deck, with a sauna, a treatment area and steam shower, alongside dedicated gym equipment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396545/image/large-96124345e40d38781c6c2d1262291218.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396545"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396548/image/large-b1057713234562ec3d92e161c3ca7213.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396548" 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The 499 GT yacht also boasts an outdoor cinema and a firepit forward on the upper deck for evenings under the stars. A selection of state-of-the-art water toys is complemented by a stylish <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5598" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Novamarine (Company)">Novamarine</a> Black Shiver chase boat, extending her exploration and entertainment capabilities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396544/image/large-4e2be92e62159d20b5d3b832b065d4a2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396544"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396569/image/large-739fd9d6ddca9db4200faf972a5c65f6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396569">Inside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a> presents a light and airy aesthetic attributed by sand-toned hues and curated Italian artworks. Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate the open-plan main saloon, where the lounge seamlessly flows to the formal dining, emulating the ambience of a gallery. Her sophisticated yet inviting layout is curated to ensure intuitive movement and comfort throughout.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396567/image/large-11f9f696b645b8efaac15b029c28fd1e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396567"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396568/image/large-a80e499200d7c6a08dd55384c56d55ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396568">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> yacht for charter accommodates up to 12 guests across six staterooms, comprising a master suite, three double staterooms and two twin staterooms, all ensuite. Her sumptuous master suite benefits from a private balcony, as well as a spacious ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396561/image/large-f3c42979e69a343b6274847664c659f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396561"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396565/image/large-219f317e50a87002c14bb78a237423f6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396565">Moreover, she accommodates a crew of 11 across five quarters. The crew provides a highly personalised charter experience, with service that includes tailored health guidance spanning nutrition to movement.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396562/image/large-6f89bf5ec3bbb0a01c34518aefca7f9f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396562"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396564/image/large-99ffe004019afc2cd27f0f686e84d7dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396564">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, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11045" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dyna R49.9m (163'9&quot;)Benetti SpA2024">Dyna®</a> cruises at 12 knots and reaches a top speed of 15 knots, with a range of approximately 4,500 nautical miles at cruising speed.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396547/image/large-d4ae5b757ae1b26b0637ba252b1153a6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396547"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396540/image/large-48d4de799da8b2ad626854ba5f7479b3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396540">All images provided courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Y.CO (Company)">Y.CO</a>.

Onboard the 50m Benetti superyacht Dyna®

The 49.9m Benetti superyacht Dyna R is available for charter with Y.CO in the Mediterranean from May 2026.

Inside Dyna®: The 50m Benetti charter yacht designed as a floating wellness retreat

The 26.77-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scudo26.77m (87'10&quot;)Azimut Yachts2023">Scudo</a> has been sold with Andrea Gallazzi of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> representing the seller. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/358752/image/large-08eac157a11d1569886deed3904ae603.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/358752">Delivered in 2023, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scudo26.77m (87'10&quot;)Azimut Yachts2023">Scudo</a> forms part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a> Grande 27 Metri series and was previously known as Catalina. The yacht features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/254" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Stefano Righini Design (Company)">Stefano Righini Design</a>, interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Salvagni Architetti (Company)">Salvagni Architetti</a> and naval architecture developed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a>.Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scudo26.77m (87'10&quot;)Azimut Yachts2023">Scudo</a> is characterised by sleek exterior lines, expansive glazing and generous outdoor living spaces. Her flybridge configuration provides multiple areas for dining, lounging and entertaining, while maintaining a strong connection to the sea.With a beam of 6.57-metres and an interior volume of 145 GT, accommodation onboard is arranged for up to 10 guests across five well-appointed staterooms. Additional quarters are provided for a crew of three, including her captain.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scudo26.77m (87'10&quot;)Azimut Yachts2023">Scudo</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 24 knots and a top speed of 28 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12834" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scudo26.77m (87'10&quot;)Azimut Yachts2023">Scudo</a> had a last known asking price of €5,900,000. (Image courtesy of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1312" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MarineMax (Company)">Marinemax</a>.)

27m Azimut motor yacht Scudo sold

 The 26.77-metre Azimut motor yacht Scudo has been sold in a deal involving IYC.

The 28.93-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legacy28.93m (94'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Legacy</a> has been sold. Tony Lazzara of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5812" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="FGI Yacht Group (Company)">FGI Yacht Group</a> introduced the buyer, while Ariel Taubas of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4682" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo Americas (Company)">Sanlorenzo Americas</a> represented the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371777/image/large-8d39369ff050e8dc3bd49f13f1565ee1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371777">Delivered in 2022, she features naval architecture penned in-house by her Italian builder. Meanwhile, <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> took charge of the exterior design and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5443" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Patricia Urquiola (Company)">Studio Patricia Urquiola</a> crafted the interiors.At a volume of 180 GT, she can accommodate up to ten guests across five well-appointed staterooms. Guests can also enjoy the Jacuzzi in the foredeck of the yacht.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legacy28.93m (94'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Legacy</a> is built with a GRP hull and superstructure and 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, giving her a top speed of 19 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legacy28.93m (94'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Legacy</a> had a last known asking price of $8,700,000.Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5812" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="FGI Yacht Group (Company)">FGI Yacht Group</a>.

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