Onboard Mazu 92DS motor yacht

SuperYacht Times team stepped onboard Waterlily, the first Mazu 92DS motor yacht, during the Cannes Yachting Festival 2023. 

Video: Onboard the first Mazu 92DS motor yacht Waterlily

Written for the 3rd Issue of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">How to Build It</a>&nbsp;magazine by Ralph Dazert and Justin Ratcliffe.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts</a> has gone from strength to strength since Frans <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> acquired the local yard Striker Boats in 1978. According to our own market intelligence, over the last 10 years the shipyard has delivered an average of three to four yachts per year with an annual turnover of around €200 million.A small industrial town in the southern Netherlands about 90 minutes by car from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and far from the sea, is not the most likely place to find one of the world’s top superyacht shipyards. Nevertheless, the municipality of Oss is home to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts</a>, one of the area’s biggest employers with approximately 500 staff on its payroll and up to 500 more engaged as external contractors.Following the war in Ukraine and the sanctioning of one of its UBOs, last year <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> announced that the company ownership “is once again 100 percent Dutch” and controlled by a Dutch foundation presided over by former <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> CEO Arthur Brouwer, now Niels Vaessen and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Anjo Joldersma. Coming in the wake of the Covid crisis, the shipyard handled a tricky situation speedily and transparently with no effect on production or sales.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/187162/image/large-2a66a2332500b5f0ebf24d96a5d4a8a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/187162">“The transition to a Dutch foundation has not impacted <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>'s day-to-day operations,” says Mark Cavendish, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s CCO, who returned as a board member after Friso Visser stepped down from the role earlier this year. “The change in ownership structure was primarily aimed at ensuring long-term stability. And yes, we do expect this structure to remain in place in the foreseeable future.”While the yard’s original shed is still in operation and currently houses the 50-metre full aluminium, semi-displacement Project Jade, there are no fewer than seven other construction halls, of which six contain covered drydocks. During our visit, there were nine new-build projects in various stages of construction at the shipyard. Another four projects were in earlier stages of construction elsewhere in the Netherlands and two further yachts were undergoing sea trials.While <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> outsources the construction of its steel hulls in the north of the country, it builds its aluminium hulls in-house in Oss (the aluminium superstructures are made close to the yard by a local subcontractor). In 2000 the shipyard established its own furniture factory, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts Interiors</a>, when it acquired the Oortgiese company close to the Dutch-German border, but it also works with external contractors for the interiors.The science of speculation<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts</a> is a leading exponent of building superyachts on speculation, but the practice requires deep pockets and brings inherent risks. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> CCO Mark Cavendish explains: &nbsp;“The decision-making process for starting a new spec build involves many factors, such as – but not limited to – the level of inquiries for certain yacht models or sizes, the availability of capacity in our sheds, financial considerations, the capacity of our workforce – you name it. Our management team will make the final decision, but all departments give their input in order to have full buy-in when we make the choice for a new speculation yacht to start. However, in the end, the choice always remains somewhat of a calculated risk. At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>, we’re well prepared to take this risk, as we have shown over and over across several decades that we are very good at selling yachts.”The fact that even its series yachts have custom interiors by established international designers would seem to add an extra dimension to speculation projects in terms of costing. Series yachts are sold at fixed prices, but presumably some designers cost more than others?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/294877/image/large-307f5ade526df2ad8caa0e1bc2c05b02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/294877">“The choice of a certain designer over another for a new speculation project does not really have a significant impact on the price of a yacht,” continues Cavendish. “We set a budget for the designer and some parameters for them to work with. However, if the designer has a particularly good idea, but it would stretch the budget, then we can be flexible if we think it will make for a more attractive yacht commercially.”The power of threeOver the years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>'s product strategy has evolved to suit market needs but has generally aimed at combining series, semi-custom and full custom production. The current business model is centred on three distinct product lines: Series, Smart Custom, and Full Custom, which offer varying degrees of personalisation and speed of delivery. At first glance, this is confirmation of the way the company was already operating, but the difference lies in the messaging: “The aim was to bring more clarity to our product offering by refining our terminology,” explains Cavendish. “In a competitive market, a clear proposition is vital for success.”There is a lot of fudging when it comes to defining what terms like ‘series’, ‘semi-‘ and ‘full-custom’ actually mean in the superyacht world and the lack of clarity can sometimes be misleading. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> likes to keep the record straight, not least as an aid to managing its own clients’ expectations.“For instance, if a client arrives late in the build cycle and wants all kinds of changes, we have to gently explain what we can and cannot do,” says former CEO Arthur Brouwer. “We have to be very careful that these instances don’t start a snowball effect in our production that takes up too many resources. If there is a significant delay in the build cycle of one project, it can affect others and that can be very risky for the shipyard. We have managed significant changes without issues, but there have been others where we felt we couldn’t accommodate all the changes requested and had to let the customer go.”Series production has traditionally been <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s bread and butter, accounting for up to half of its production. It is important to note, however, that the interiors are always customised and only six to 12 units in each series are built. Moreover, as in the automotive world, a life-cycle change is introduced after every fourth to sixth hull (the latest in these periodic changes is the new 50-metre Steel series designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/168" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Harrison Eidsgaard (Company)">Harrison Eidsgaard</a> announced at FLIBS last year). This allows products to be adapted to the market and technological developments, while avoiding over-supply of the same yachts down the line when they enter the pre-owned market.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> has the in-house engineering capacity for one or two full-custom project like Project Skyfall (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8982" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ultra G60.0m (196'10&quot;)Heesen Yachts2023">Ultra G</a>) and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9081" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sparta67.0m (219'10&quot;)Heesen Yachts2023">Project Sparta</a> per year. Any more and it has to start in-sourcing some expertise as the lead times for the engineering are that much longer. Alongside that it can handle a Smart Custom project and two or three series yachts.&nbsp;“We can adapt our workflow, but the stretch starts when we have two Smart Custom projects that begin close together, for example, because we have to scramble all our resources at the pre-production stage,” says Brouwer.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/294878/image/large-134a4ef8a5985318779ba1a4b4302e50.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/294878">Bright ideasEver since Frans <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> agreed to build <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> that broke the 50-knot barrier and was the fastest yacht in the world when delivered in 1988, technical innovation has figured strongly in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s make-up. Nowadays that innovation is focused less on raw speed and more on combining performance with fuel economy. In 2013 it launched 65-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3676" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Illusion65.0m (213'3&quot;)Heesen Yachts2013">Illusion</a> (previously Galactica Star), the first yacht with a Fast Displacment Hull Form (FDHF) devised by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen Naval Architects</a>, which offers resistance values that are typically 20 per cent lower than a well-designed hard chine hull form at semi-displacement speeds. In 2014 it was the turn of 42-metre Alive (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ares42.4m (139'1&quot;)Heesen Yachts2014">Ares</a>), the first yacht with a Hull Vane, a patented foil also by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen</a> that is fitted below the transom to reduce water resistance and pitching motions. Model tests at the towing tank of Wolfson Unit in Southampton showed fuel savings of 20 per cent at 12 knots and up to 23 per cent at 14.5 knots. In 2017 the yard delivered 50-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5959" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Home49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2017">Home</a>, the first hybrid-powered Fast Displacement yacht (the entire <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> range is now offered with hybrid propulsion). Last but not least, 80-metre all-aluminium <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Genesis80.07m (262'8&quot;)Heesen Yachts2023">Genesis</a> (previously Galactica), its largest yacht to date, features a patented ‘Backbone’ structure for additional rigidity with zero weight penalty.Upcoming deliveries&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> has sold 37 yachts in total since 1 January 2013 for an average of 3.7 sales per year. These comprise 10 projects started for the client (Full Custom or Smart Custom) and 27 on speculation. 20 of the total number of sales were for yachts between 40 and 50 metres, 12 between 50 and 60 metres, and five over 60 metres LOA. At the time of writing, the company had 14 projects in build.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/256089/image/large-cb8b97e5eae6f99bd6b763a450a7df8e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/256089">Starting on specWithin its three product lines, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> builds fast displacement and semi-displacement motor yachts in steel or aluminium between 49 metres (up from 37 metres not so long ago) and 80 metres, with a sweet spot somewhere in the middle. But the business strategy that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> excels at is building yachts on speculation, a potentially risky practice that it has honed to perfection.These are the projects that the shipyard finances and starts building itself with the aim of selling them at a later point during construction (half of the projects currently in build were started on spec). The advantage is that owners don’t have to wait for so long for delivery and means the yard can guarantee availability to the market in the future. This proved especially true in the immediate aftermath of the Covid pandemic when demand exceeded supply. “Yacht building has changed insofar as you used to be able to plan a year or two in advance,” Brouwer notes. “Now you have to look four or five years ahead.”Key to the success of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s on-spec build program is the close relationship it enjoys with the brokerage community. The annual <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> Ski Cup in the Italian Dolomites, for example, is a coveted trip among brokers. The event is all about having fun, but has a serious side too as a ‘thank you’ to their hard work during the course of the year. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> has good reason to be thankful as the vast majority of sales, whether new-builds or pre-owned yachts, are concluded through brokerage houses. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/274630/image/large-1811b8f522d4b7b1daec47c955e8b180.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/274630">Bigger is not always bestThe current facilities in Oss, as well as the surrounding bridges and waterways, mean the shipyard cannot build much over 80 metres, but this is not seen as a drawback. The market for 90-metre plus superyachts is smaller and driven by a handful of yards like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lurssen</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>. Attempting to break into a new category would also risk impacting the yard’s margins: “We are content with our current facilities in Oss and have no plans for a second facility,” says Cavedish. “We are committed to optimising our operations and delivering exceptional yachts from our existing premises.”Although no longer a family company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> retains a familiar design DNA and a strong brand identity. This may be one reason why it has avoided joining the trend for building catamaran and explorer yachts. Its XV67 concept, for example, began life as the Xventure, a 57-metre expedition yacht, but has been restyled as a bluewater voyager that will inspire owners to venture into new terrain in 7-star comfort.“The XV67 designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a> is not a rugged explorer with a utilitarian look as we’ve come to expect from explorer yachts,” says Cavendish. “On the contrary, it’s a concept design that belongs to our Full Custom yacht proposition, and is a refined luxury yacht with exploring capabilities.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/294879/image/large-f713b89adbd0ef6e231956b39a08b3cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/294879">It is well known that superyacht sales are hard-wired into the global economy. With an ongoing war in Europe, shifting inflation and widespread recession on the cards, the economic outlook is far from rosy and SYT iQ registered a drop in new motoryacht sales over 40 metres of about 40 per cent during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>’s CCO, however, is confident that the company is better prepared than most to weather these market fluctuations and is not unduly perturbed by the uncertainty.&nbsp;This article was originally published in Issue 3 of How To Build It, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-3" target="_blank">download the magazine for free here</a>.

Heesen Yachts business brief

By changing its ownership structure and refining its product offering, Heesen Yachts has put out a very clear message to the market.

Resilience, growth & customisation: Exploring Heesen's business approach

With nearly 18 years at the yacht brokerage firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>, an impressive record with the completion of over 70 yachts sales up to 100 metres in length and 40 years in the yachting sector, Antoine Larricq has an abundance of experience under his belt. The past 12 months have set records for his career, with the sale of the iconic 97.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carinthia VII97.2m (318'11&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2002">Carinthia VII</a> last year, and the recent sale of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> 89-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5732" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Here Comes The Sun89.0m (291'12&quot;)Amels2016">Here Comes The Sun</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/284673/image/large-c8531bb62ee1661fc0a9b655caa4c195.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/284673">Reflecting on 40 years in yachting and nearly 20 at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>, what do you think are the keys to succeeding in brokerage?I never began my career with the idea or ambition to become a yacht broker. For me my focus was on the enjoyment and adventure of being at sea, the opportunity to travel and the freedom to explore. I worked on sailing yachts in my 20’s, later managing charter yacht fleets, and those experiences taught me the skills that I have continuously utilised throughout my career as a broker.&nbsp;So many of the young brokers today have come directly from university or college and are attracted to the industry for the perception of luxury that it emits, but they are missing the deeper knowledge that can only be gained by spending time onboard. In my view, you have to go through the whole spectrum of life at sea; spending time with crew, understanding the complexities of life onboard, repairing and cleaning a vessel, working in a shipyard – it is this that gives you a depth of understanding and teaches you that yachting is a human industry.&nbsp;The most successful brokers have an intimate knowledge of the way a yacht operates, and understand the value and importance of the crew. When a yacht is sold, crew contracts are discussed, renegotiated or terminated and that can be a very significant moment when it comes to the future operations of the vessel. Brokers need to know how to communicate with crew in order to properly evaluate and respect their needs, because this makes the biggest difference to the happiness of a yacht owner in the long term. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265036/image/large-5987e39369b02d2bbc936cbfcf1007e8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265036">Congratulations for the closure of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5732" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Here Comes The Sun89.0m (291'12&quot;)Amels2016">Here Comes the Sun</a>&nbsp;in only five months, marking another major milestone in your career. Can you share an insight into this sale?We closed this sale in only 49 days from the moment my client stepped onboard – that is quite extraordinary. Part of the motivation for such a quick negotiation is that there are very few yachts of that calibre available on the market at this time and the buyer understood that we didn’t have time to wait.&nbsp;It is also a milestone for my career, because I have been working with this client for 25 years and that is a relationship that began with me managing his 27-foot cigarette boat. I am extremely proud of the relationship I have built over the decades with that client, who understands the value of a loyal long term relationship with a broker.&nbsp;You have a reputation for retaining clients and working with owners for decades, what do you think is the key to building close relationships and delivering exceptional service?Long term clients are a key element for the success of all major brokers, particularly those operating in the 50-metre plus sector and generally we are aware of which broker represents which owners. Collaboration is a cornerstone of success and there is definitely an etiquette when it comes to superyacht brokerage; for example not approaching represented owners directly, but doing so through their broker.&nbsp;Healthy relationships and respect between brokers and brokerage houses is absolutely essential for the success of the industry because we want owners to come away from a deal feeling like they got the best deal, and that it was a smooth experience. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260705/image/large-8cb0f63902fad2db3f49c7b299e751c2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260705">You exhibited&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carinthia VII97.2m (318'11&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2002">Carinthia VII</a>&nbsp;at the Monaco Yacht Show, unveiling her much anticipated refit. Can you share any insight into the exciting project you’ve been working on?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carinthia VII97.2m (318'11&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2002">Carinthia VII</a> truly offers something totally unique. The yacht has undergone a thoughtful and respectful refit at Lürssen, with a refreshed interior, redesigned decks and modernised mechanics and she has completed her 20 year class survey.I had the pleasure to sail with her from Marseille to Nice following her recent survey and she is without a doubt one of the most spectacular yachts I've ever been onboard. We built a great relationship with her crew, and this intense refit period has been a challenge for them but we have carefully supported them through the process of preparing the yacht for showmode.&nbsp;Her new owner has been ambitious with the work but has done a fantastic job and we were very excited to present the vessel to the charter market in September.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/284675/image/large-072657f5074243423c8eb1413962e1dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/284675">Despite some very good sales this year, there are indications of a market slowdown. How do you expect the coming show season to unfold - are you optimistic?I remember speaking with shipyards in 2021 and they couldn’t believe the strength of the market, because they had been expecting a serious slowdown. Since then it has continued to strengthen and while things might be flattening, I think this show season will be very enlightening in regards to the state of the industry, but the reality is we cannot exist in a permanent boom. We have had a very good few years, far better than predicted and if the market begins to settle it will still be a busy and prosperous industry.&nbsp;However, as an industry we have only scratched the surface of the potential of clients who could own a yacht. We touch a very small percentage of the people who can afford to own a yacht and that offers an opportunity to the industry even in a time of market slowdown.After 40 years in the industry, what do you see as the most important developments in the sector?Sustainability is the most important conversation that we are having today. I don't mean that with regards to the propulsion alone, I'm talking about the crew, the management, the construction, design – the entire life cycle and management of vessels. There has been a huge amount of wasted energy in the way yachts are built and run and there is a lot of progress being made, but I believe this will define the way the industry evolves over coming years – brokerage included.&nbsp;We are also seeing a new generation of owners, with a different perspective on yachting and a different way of using their yachts. Even in the last few years we have seen owners spending more time onboard, which has led to an increased focus on noise pollution, security and connectivity.&nbsp;I think we are at the beginning of the change towards a more sustainable future. Five years ago we heard nothing about sustainability, hydrogen or the individual developments that shipyards are making. This week alone we have seen L<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">ürssen</a>’s first superyacht Cosmos move to outfitting, the first vessel of her size to be fitted with fuel cells, and F<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">eadship</a> is making strides with its first hydrogen powered yacht. The change will be gradual but this will make the biggest change in our industry over the coming decades.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/284674/image/large-82a4c380520eec50119df50a28dfe7fe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/284674">Do you have any final words of wisdom for younger brokers?I would say it all starts with experience but intuition and education is incredibly important. Learning in this industry never ends, and as innovation and technology is changing every day, yacht brokers need to keep up to speed with all the latest developments in order to offer their clients the best service and advice.&nbsp;I would also say that at the heart of the industry is the experience of yachting itself. There is a preoccupation with luxury in the sector today, but at its core, people buy yachts to enjoy the raw experience of yachting and an obsession with luxury will not help you build relationships. &nbsp;

Interview with yacht broker Antoine Larricq

We sit down with Antoine Larricq, on his 40 years in the yachting industry.

Antoine Larricq on 40 years in yachting, Carinthia VII and his views on brokerage today

This October, the 82-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a> was launched, unveiling the new superyacht to the industry for the very first time. A highly secretive project, the superyacht, Hull 13775 is the first superyacht designed by the yard’s Lead Exterior Designer Jim Robert Sluijter. British studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> has designed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>’s interiors, and in another milestone, she is the first collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> and the studio since the launch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> in 2008.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292976/image/large-c300998f43ab6d20e25045b0653b12a0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292976">Despite <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a> being his first design project to hit the water since joining <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, Jim was attending the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/183" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - 2023">Fort Lauderdale Boat Show</a> during her splash. Fortunately, that gave SuperYacht Times the opportunity to sit down with him to find out more about the project, as well as talk about his own path, from working alongside of the industry's top studios, to becoming <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>’s Lead Designer. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291965/image/large-a594dabd47cba9af9a44df3b54d7e71f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291965">How did your career at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>&nbsp;begin – what were you doing beforehand?Well, let's start at the beginning. As a young boy I’d had the amazing opportunity to tour the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> shipyard with Jan Van Lent and having never seen a superyacht before, I was absolutely amazed by the visit. When it came to deciding on my first internship during my Industrial Design course at TU Delft, it felt natural for me to reach back out to the yard that so inspired me as a child and thankfully they took me on.My responsibilities during that time were fairly basic, but it gave me an incredible insight into the superyacht construction industry and showed me how superyacht builders operated from the inside. <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> had a wall in one of the buildings with all of the in-build projects so when it came to choosing a company to guide my final year project, I stood back, reviewed all of the projects and decided that the Andrew Winch design yacht was the most exciting for me. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/7330/image/large-34cf424c69fef88fba28c515709a84a3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/7330">I reached out to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a> and asked if I could do my final year project with them, an offer to which they said no. However, they did offer me a six month internship. So I moved to London and joined the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a> team, and following my internship they assisted me with the finalisation of my degree before I joined the studio’s exterior design team. I was at Winch for six years, during which time we signed three contracts with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>; <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5624" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aurora74.0m (242'9&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Aurora</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gigia85.0m (278'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Areti</a> (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gigia85.0m (278'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Gigia</a>) and Tis&nbsp;(now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.5m (365'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a>), so I became familiar with the Rendsburg facility and many of the team. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/45215/image/large-51b9018786f8673d3c7d489cee428dc1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/45215">When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.5m (365'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Tis</a> was delivered, I decided it was time to do something different, so came back to the Netherlands and joined the team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure Yacht Design &amp; Naval Architecture</a> inHaarlem. During that time, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure</a> was working on the naval architecture of Moon Sand, the 55-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, and the studio was closely aligned with the yard for any 50-60-metre proposals. Because I had worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a>, many of these proposals fell to me and so my relationship with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> and particularly Michael Breman, became very strong.&nbsp;After I left <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure</a>, I received a call from Michael asking me to meet him and Peter Lürssen at Schiphol for a meeting, and that turned out to be the job interview for the role I have today.&nbsp;That must have felt like the golden ticket! What was the proposed role?The yard had been looking for an in-house designer to focus on the smaller yacht sector (50-70-metre), to quickly create proposals that could assist the sales team and build on the existing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> portfolio. While the yard is committed to its relationship with external studios, an in-house designer could create a variety of potential designs, to be shown during client meetings at very short notice. Having worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> in both my previous roles, I had come to know the yard and its processes very well and Peter and Michael thought I would make a great fit for the role.&nbsp;I joined 4.5 years ago, initially in Rendsburg and then later from home in Amsterdam. During my first year I was creating proposals in that 50-70-metre range, but as the role progressed, it became clear that there was more interest from clients in the slightly larger range of 70-90-metres. The yard has an extraordinary level of expertise and the team is accustomed to working on very large projects. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292972/image/large-4d0445e96017bc8decc73609440e5db2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292972">Tell us about&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, how did the project begin and is it not unusual for an owner to go with a relatively unknown designer?Absolutely and I think that is part of the reason that it is only now that she is launched that we have announced her as an in-house design. In the case of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, she actually began as a 73-metre proposal sketch and it so happened that the owner in question loved the original exterior design and style, with the only major change being the length. I think for this owner, the fact that I was an in-house designer was less important than the fact that he loved her lines and that Lürssen’s reputation for excellence guaranteed a wonderful end result.&nbsp;The client had a very clear vision of what he wanted. He wanted his next yacht to feature some of the elements he felt his current yacht was missing, namely a beach club and an even larger sundeck with wind protection. He wanted four staterooms on the lower deck, as well as two VIPs on the main deck alongside the owner's stateroom. Unlike many yachts of her size today, the owner opted not to have an owner’s deck, instead having an enlarged sundeck and a sleeker exterior design. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292977/image/large-87daf37dbe9b3a11abeefcdaf5a977a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292977">When it comes to your proposals, are you given creative licence, or do you draw inspiration from the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>&nbsp;fleet?One of the best things about working as a designer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> is the unequalled access to the yards portfolio of yachts, which enables me to draw inspiration from what has come before and also to match my designs to the capabilities of the yard. For example, when it comes to design intricacies, such as the pool on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, I was able to call the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> specialist and have a discussion there and then about potential design features or limitations. I am however given freedom to interpret the owner's wishes and I think that is something really unique to both the role and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291962/image/large-1a60c0a4f219b247435b74a38e4d234f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291962">How has the process been for you, launching your first own-design&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>?It has been a fantastic experience. Working alongside the brilliant team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> on the interiors and Kees de Keizer who has represented the owner throughout the process, has been great. In my experience, it has been one of the most seamless build projects, despite the interruption of Covid in the middle. &nbsp;We had a very tight schedule for the build, and often when it comes to the big decision phases, projects sometimes become delayed because owners change their focus during the project and change priorities. This was not the case for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, her owner was so clear on his ambition with the boat, he was incredibly responsive and we had a fantastic collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, RWD and the owner’s team.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291963/image/large-2070c3703f5c4d0047a6af6e4c2219da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291963">Can you share a few of your favourite features of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>?There are many things that I love about this project, but in particular the shapes of the exterior. Not having an owner’s deck allowed us to play with the lines and create a very sleek exterior and then that massive sundeck that could only have happened without an upper deck, is really special. The sundeck has 2.5 metres ceiling height and it is completely open aside from windbreak panels.&nbsp;She has a huge swim platform to accommodate the tenders, a floating dock for the Jet Skis and all other water sports activities. In combination with the pool on the main deck aft this will be the main area for day time &nbsp;activities onboard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292975/image/large-9c05ff8d14ed240e801a4dec0c627d68.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292975">Finally, your first yacht is out there now, can we expect to see more&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>-designed yachts hitting the water?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> is famed for its incredible collaborations with the best designers in the superyacht industry, and this will never change. The work we have done over the past 4.5 years, I believe, has been very successful, but it will only be one string in the shipyard’s bow, though we currently have a few irons in the fire for a next project. I think it is a great addition to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> offering to have an in-house designer that can work alongside the sales team and show owners what is possible on the smaller scale of things.&nbsp;Peter and Michael have been extraordinary mentors, I truly see them as the most respected professionals in the industry and it is amazing to work alongside them. I look forward to whatever it is we do next! &nbsp;

Interview with yacht designer Jim Sluijter

Last month Lürssen launched its first yacht from a smaller superyacht segment, the 82m Cali. We interviewed her designer.

In conversation: Lürssen's in-house designer Jim Sluijter on 82m superyacht Cali

Founded in 2015 by Paolo Dose, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a>, based in Trieste, Italy specialises in the interior and exterior design of superyachts. The firm has collaborated with numerous shipyards worldwide, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean King (Company)">Ocean King</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2561" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heysea Yachts (Company)">Heysea</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a>. Notably, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD</a> has penned the exterior designs for the entire <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a> 47m Virtus series, with the latest addition being the 47.3-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10910" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ancora47.3m (155'2&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2023">Ancora</a>.&nbsp;Throughout his extensive career and before the inception of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a>, Paolo Dose has collaborated on projects with international designers such as <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/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tim Heywood Design Ltd. (Company)">Tim Heywood</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a>, as well as shipyards such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">Isa Yacht</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/511" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tecnomar (Company)">Tecnomar</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Alexander (Company)">Ocean Alexander</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/375" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baglietto S.p.A. (Company)">Baglietto</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Superyacht Times</a> had the opportunity to interview <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a> founder Paolo Dose to explore his background, his approach to working with clients from diverse geographical backgrounds, and insights into the latest trends and ongoing projects. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/293786/image/large-ed9fb8e9bbbfb9781786dd713aae3150.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/293786">Could you tell me about your background and what led to your entry into the yachting industry?I've always had a passion for yacht design, which initially led me to consider pursuing a career as a naval architect when I studied engineering in Trieste. After a year of studying, I had the privilege of meeting <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luciano Di Pilla Design (Company)">Luciano Di Pilla</a>, a prominent figure in the world of interior yacht design, known for his work on some of the largest yachts of his era. His portfolio included refit projects on the 86-metre <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/Yacht/297" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kingdom 5KR86.0m (282'2&quot;)Benetti SpA1980">Kingdom 5KR</a> (previously called Nabila) and the 114-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Moura104.85m (343'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1990">Lady Moura</a>, as well as the interior design of the 112.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/268" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bremer Vulkan (Company)">Bremer Vulkan</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/299" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Le Grand Bleu112.8m (370'1&quot;)Bremer Vulkan2000">Le Grand Bleu</a>.I was presented with the opportunity to work alongside him, which led me to leave university and join his team. I believed that gaining hands-on experience with the best in the industry was more valuable than completing my education. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luciano Di Pilla Design (Company)">Di Pilla</a> had great faith in me and our first joint project involved the refitting of the guest area on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Moura104.85m (343'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1990">Lady Moura</a> in 2001.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/114470/image/large-ea6407487ecddf9bfa63408b5effca4d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/114470">You are involved in both interior and exterior yacht design. Did you initially start with interior design and then expand your expertise to include exterior design?In the early stages of my career I was primarily focused on interior design and my expansion into exterior design happened somewhat by chance. In 1999, I was skilled at creating virtual renderings. It was during this time that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luciano Di Pilla Design (Company)">Di Pilla</a> expressed the need for someone to develop renderings that represent his ideas. As our collaboration evolved, he noticed that I had an eye for colours and materials, and suggested I venture into interior design on my own. Driven by my interest, I started creating interior renderings independently. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luciano Di Pilla Design (Company)">Di Pilla</a> then started to encourage me to expand in exterior design renderings, even though he himself was not involved in that aspect. Around 2001, my skills in exterior design further developed when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tim Heywood Design Ltd. (Company)">Tim Heywood</a> came to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luciano Di Pilla Design (Company)">Di Pilla</a> to provide consulting on a 70-metre project. I spent some time with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tim Heywood Design Ltd. (Company)">Tim</a> and enjoyed learning from him and working in exterior design.&nbsp;Could you share the story of founding&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a>&nbsp;and how the firm has evolved over the years?I established <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a> in 2015 with the primary aim of forming partnerships with shipyards to bring our design projects to life. Our journey began with refits on smaller yachts, including a 25-metre sailing yacht. Then in 2016, we collaborated with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a> on a concept, and by 2017 were initiated our first full-project, the interior and exterior design of the 43.69-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6838" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tatiana V43.69m (143'4&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2019">Tatiana V</a>, delivered in 2019. Subsequently, we penned the exterior of the 35.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7873" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Star35.5m (116'6&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2020">Sea Star</a>, delivered in 2020.In 2017, we started to work with the Chinese shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heysea</a>. Our first project encompassed both interior and exterior design for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2561" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heysea Yachts (Company)">Heysea</a> Asteria 142 series. The project's first unit was the 42.27-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6625" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Song of Songs42.27m (138'8&quot;)Heysea Yachts2022">Song of Songs</a>, delivered in 2022. Currently, we remain actively involved in the design of the second and third units, each measuring 43.27-metres in length, in addition to overseeing the production of two lines of catamarans and a 35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2561" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heysea Yachts (Company)">Heysea</a> yacht.In 2019, we then partnered with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean King (Company)">Ocean King</a> for the exterior and interior design of the 36.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean King (Company)">Ocean King</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8690" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vãyus36.8m (120'9&quot;)Ocean King2023">Vãyus</a>, which saw its launch this year. 2023 stands as our most successful year to date, with six yachts ranging from 37 to 47-metres and originating from three different continents and tailored to unique and discerning owners.&nbsp;For a designer, one pivotal moment holds paramount importance, the first launch. The outcome of this inaugural project can make or break a career. A successful launch, indicating the creation of a high-quality product, paves the way for career progression. A less favourable outcome can pose significant challenges.In the case of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD Studio</a>, we have substantially developed and grown since 2017, following our successful first launch, which subsequently has led to our involvement in a total of 12 projects.&nbsp;Could you please share the origins of your collaboration with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a>&nbsp;and any upcoming projects you have in partnership with them?&nbsp;Our collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a> was facilitated by a mutual acquaintance, Lorenzo Cappugi. The collaborative synergy between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a> has consistently delivered successful superyacht projects, with the VIRTUS line being a notable example. This year along with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10910" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ancora47.3m (155'2&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2023">Ancora</a>, we have launched the 39.43-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10783" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Reverie39.43m (129'4&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2023">Reverie</a>, the 43.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10784" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gisa43.5m (142'9&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2023">Gisa</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292138/image/large-84050ed1045df7af367e2c1edcdb4f39.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292138">Currently, we are expanding the Virtus series with the luxury explorer XP series, which was unveiled during <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2022">Monaco 2022</a>. Two 53-metre units are currently under construction, with scheduled delivery in 2025.To transform the design of the luxury explorer XP series into reality, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VYD Studio (Company)">VYD</a> starts from the inside, perfecting and optimising the general arrangement (GA) to ensure a balanced and enjoyable yacht. Once the interior spaces are interconnected and well-conceptualised, we extend our design process to the exterior, creating a shell that not only contains but also enhances the interior innovations. The result is a vessel that combines the sturdiness and safety of an explorer yacht with the modernity and style of the Virtus Line, offering a "Luxury Explorer" experience.&nbsp;Key design features of this under 500 GT project include an owner's cabin on the upper deck with access to a private open deck with a pool, a permanent helideck, a spacious beach club with a pool directly connected to the sea through unfolding sea terraces, guest cabins on the main deck for optimised crew space on the lower deck, exterior areas that can be either open or enclosed through windshield glass and a substantial elevator connecting all decks.My most recent design with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a>, involves the construction of the 34.5-metre explorer yacht named Atlante Classic, with a scheduled delivery in 2025.Could you provide insights into recent emerging trends within the yacht industry?In the 1990s, many yacht owners had a limited understanding of the technical nuances, such as the differences between composite, steel, and aluminium as well as distinctions between displacement and semi-displacement hulls. However, the landscape has evolved significantly. Today, yacht owners tend to be more knowledgeable and proactive in their enquiries, thanks to factors like globalisation and easy access to information. Moreover, seasoned owners with four, five, or six vessels under their belts, now have a clearer vision of what they seek in the market. As a designer, my role now often extends beyond aesthetics. I frequently find myself engaged in discussions covering a range of topics, from generator engines and stabilisers to hull forms. While my primary focus is on design, I also delve into engineering discussions to address the intricate demands of modern yacht owners.The shift in preferences has been notable with speed no longer the exclusive focus. Instead, there is a growing emphasis on comfort, insulation, reduced noise, and the efficient utilisation of interior space.If you could purchase your own yacht or advise a client, is there one design feature you feel has the most impact on a luxurious experience onboard?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/293785/image/large-e7f435a76ce10f5c1257686c9863647d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/293785">The ideal onboard experience lies in the versatility of spaces. Specifically, areas like the sky lounge and saloon should be designed with a sense of adaptability. For instance, these spaces should be convertible so that, in the spring, you can enclose and control the internal climate, while in the summer, they can be fully open to the elements. This means that you can choose to keep them open during the day and, if needed, close them at night. The idea is to create flexibility in these spaces, avoiding rigidity.&nbsp;Moreover, I also appreciate the concept of neutral fixed furniture, walls, ceilings, and floors. This neutrality allows for the ease of updating and modernising the interior over the years by making changes to specific elements. This way, you can maintain a contemporary interior with minimal adjustments.Finally, any exciting projects or developments you would like to unveil? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/293789/image/large-8eb136347b2ab818302ddabefe2031dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/293789">Besides our ongoing collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/752" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mengi Yay Yachts (Company)">Mengi Yay</a>, we are also engaged in a venture with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7053" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri Navali Tureddi (Company)">Tureddi Shipyard</a>. Furthermore, In recent months, we have been involved in another &nbsp;project: a spacious and truly sustainable catamaran. We view this vessel as a platform to explore innovative solutions and challenge the limits traditionally associated with multi-hull designs, particularly in terms of space and luxury.

Meet designer Paolo Dose: Founder of VYD Studio

Superyacht Times had the opportunity to interview VYD Studio founder Paolo Dose

Refitting Carinthia VII yacht with Lürssen

We sat down with the team behind Carinthia VII to find out more about Lürssen's refit capabilities. 

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Video: “We’ve always had a refit mentality” Alberto Perrone da Zara on refitting Carinthia VII at Lürssen

With the media full of doom-laden prophecies about what AI means for creatives from writers to photographers, how will it affect the role of the yacht designer?About a year ago, New York-based industrial designer, artist and curator Scott Henderson took out a standard subscription for Midjourney, a generative text-to-image AI program created by an independent research lab of the same name in San Francisco. Using prompts such as ‘large sun deck’, ‘helipad’, ‘pool deck’ and ‘charter friendly’, the program churned out a series of four superyacht concepts. From there the designer was able to regenerate the ones he thought were tracking in the right direction and refine the ideas.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292208/image/large-b7dab055e68e70440ca0e9562f39b989.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292208">“Midjourney is now up to version 5.2 and you can go in there and use the settings to go to version one,” says Henderson. “And if you look at what it was capable of nine months ago or so, it was so crude, and now it's so amazing – it's improving so rapidly. I saw the artist community using it first and I was like, I’ve got to get on to this or else I'm going to miss the boat.”J. David Weiss, another American designer with international experience of the yachting world, has also been toying with Midjourney, initially for much the same reasons as Scott Henderson.“As a design professional I think you ignore advances in digital creative technology at your peril, so it was sort of a case of keeping my enemies closer,” he begins. “I played with it months ago and it was entertaining, but there weren’t really any usable visuals coming out that made sense as a yacht designer. I just had another go and the results were far better, so the progress has been considerable.”&nbsp;Just as artists use Midjourney for rapid prototyping of creative concepts to show to clients before starting work themselves, Henderson is primarily using the program to produce custom mood boards as sources of inspiration. He eventually came up with a finished yacht concept, a futuristic design with outriggers called Strider, based on three AI-generated images in particular. It’s important to note, however, that although the concept was in part inspired by details produced by Midjourney, the final design was created in the conventional manner by plugging sketches into a 3D CAD program and then rendering the results. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292212/image/large-0116ca1bdc9f25e80ac1d737b4e19f06.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292212">“I was allowing the AI to influence me rather than direct me,” he says. “I can even use an image dumper to feed the program images of my own work and now it’s starting to build things that look my stuff. Other text prompts can yield useful design elements, such as ‘shot in dramatic early morning light with a 35mm lens’. This will generate dramatic rendering effects, all of which can help to inspire the end result.”Generative AI tools like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion and DALL-E are referential and rely on existent material to create new content. In other words, Generative AI models use neural networks to identify the patterns and structures within existing data to generate ‘original’ text, images, music, audio and video. Weiss agrees such programs are potentially useful for quickly and easily creating unique mood boards, but believes the technology’s derivative nature is both its strength and its weakness.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292211/image/large-0c4b893fe39a47548193dc244e67b2a8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292211">“If you take an artist or writer, or any sort of prolific public sphere creator, who has a significant body of work that can be referenced, it’s shocking how close it can get,” he points out. “Some of the highest volume output I see is from people going after, you know, the Wes Anderson style or, in my sphere, the Syd Mead style. And my god, is it good! But that’s why most of the top-shelf creatives I know find AI so unthreatening, whereas the middle of the field finds it very threatening.”Henderson, on the other hand, is less convinced by the premise that value is only to be found in originality, arguing that “reconfiguring prompts from the manufactured and natural world, consciously or subconsciously, is what designers do all the time.” Any thought or idea, he says, is an extension of something we've gathered from some place at some time, but there is value in taking an idea and figuring out how to make it your own. AI is one route to doing that. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292209/image/large-8c0ed487fe3093c936b659d0cf9f8775.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292209">Both designers agree that where AI does fall down, at least with regard to yacht design, is practicality. Midjourney has no inkling whether an aesthetic solution is functional, feasible or even legal. This is one reason why Weiss believes the program, and others like it, are better suited to creating more fungible environments like yacht interiors rather than exteriors.“What we’re doing when we design yachts, and boats in general, is we're creating a machine that's meant to go up against the other 70 per cent of the Earth's surface and not lose,” says Weiss. “That requires a lot of knowledge and understanding, and then to add innovation and beauty on top of that is a tall order, which is why I haven't yet seen an AI-generated yacht exterior that has relevance to the real world. But that may well change very quickly based on what I’ve seen in the last six months.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292210/image/large-e1136a338f20efdcfd32ef683dd8acb0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292210">Maintaining creative authenticity is hard, but in an age of click, copy and paste you could ask whether true originality is even possible. AI will surely have an increasing influence on the yacht design process – we just don’t know the extent of that influence. Henderson believes it’s “going to the stars”; Weiss is more cautious but admits to keeping “a very weather eye on developments.” Whatever the case, designers will likely need to develop another skill set as AI evolves and matures in the coming years: the ability to curate ever more sophisticated prompts and questions.This article is featured in&nbsp;the SuperYacht Times newspaper.&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe now</a>&nbsp;to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.

AI and the future of yacht design 

With the media full of doom-laden prophecies about what AI means for creatives, how will it affect the role of the yacht designer?

Spirit of the Machine: AI's role in the future of yacht design

Not every superyacht adventure involves sipping cold beverages under palm trees and feeling golden sand between your toes. For some, superyachts are the perfect vessels from which to explore the unchartered waters of the earth’s most remote and undisturbed corners.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291843/image/large-ff274b3b59a379eb4938d9b30b315202.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291843">Home to grand and gargantuan glaciers, a raw and rugged coastline and wildlife as diverse as its landscapes, Alaska is a wild and wonderful superyacht destination where guests can immerse themselves in exploration and escapism.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291844/image/large-68c641a9ae4ea64f85a4a14446301167.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291844">The 40-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/217" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Westport Yachts (Company)">Westport</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> is a fish in Alaska’s waters. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> has nearly ten years of yachting in Alaska under her belt,” Captain Zack Hurowitz explained. “She is no stranger to the waters of the Pacific Northwest, cruising here immediately following her launch in 2002 and in the years to follow.”The flybridge superyacht features modifications which allow her to cruise seamlessly in Alaska, including an enclosed flybridge and main deck aft and zero speed stabilisers to adapt to the region’s unique conditions. “These various adaptations mean we can navigate through icebergs to view glaciers, fish for salmon and halibut off the swim platform, soak our bow in the waterfalls with great manoeuvrability and spend time with the whales at rest on the open seas in comfort.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291845/image/large-51e19a2c124580c43d28a797e4699bea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291845">Known as The Last Frontier, Alaska draws in a hardy and adventure-craving crowd to explore its remote wilderness and untamed terrain. The largest and least densely populated state in the USA, Alaska is where the wild things are. “Raw, wild and boundless is how I would describe Alaska,” Captain Zack Hurowitz told SuperYacht Times.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291960/image/large-41a7a5fa2d1919a5cde89f3698842f64.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291960">A place where things operate on an incomprehensible scale, the state is characterised by its endless and unexplored expanses where nature runs the score. Painting this picture, Hurowitz explained, “Alaska has a rugged coastline that has the tendency to make you feel quite small in the best way possible.” He continued, “The nature here is as raw and wild as it gets, with a bountiful summertime food chain and feeding frenzies of every level happening at every turn. It is truly a land like no other.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291840/image/large-1fb8dcb3596fce240f57898fbd488fc5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291840">Serengeti</a> is well-matched to her stomping ground; she is a strong, fast and adaptable vessel, equipped with a toolbox of features to accommodate the desires of her varied clientele. "<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a>’s Alaska programme operates in the summer months between June and September, basing out of Juneau, the state’s capital city.” At this time of year, guests can enjoy up to 18 hours of sunlight each day, allowing ample time for excursions. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/30828/image/large-e994fac4714cc80f3f9ffcd4415877c7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30828">Guests onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> in Alaska are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. Thrill-seekers can participate in guided hikes surrounded by panoramic views, kayak up cobalt-blue rivers and rushy streams, explore glaciers and observe Alaska’s Big Five. The state’s treasure chest of wildlife offers guests the opportunity to witness incredible creatures from both land and sea, such as whales, bears, sea lions, moose and bald eagles.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291841/image/large-d582121424a0e66933eab670701e6b76.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291841">“Fishing tends to be the biggest attraction among our guests. This can be bottom fishing for halibut and lingcod, trolling for salmon, fly fishing for native trout, working pots for Dungeness crab and spot prawns, and even spearfishing!” highlighted Hurowitz. “In the words of the vessel’s owner, we do not fish on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a>, we catch!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291959/image/large-8fef9c1a52f1729f095a166e36d0a60f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291959">The American-built motor yacht is complemented by her ACI-built aluminium tender, well-suited to Alaska’s waters and landscapes. From admiring the impressive, 182-metre tall tidewater Dawes Glacier, to world-class halibut and salmon fishing and observing bears and humpback whales in their natural habitat, tendering enables guests to immerse themselves into the wonders of Alaska.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291961/image/large-fafd51a93637fe5d1545a8a658125646.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291961">“We get guests up close and personal to Alaska’s wildlife. A big hit is the coastal brown bears which can be seen in their natural environment feeding — or rather feasting — on salmon as they run up the streams to spawn.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291839/image/large-d8b87191127e8cc369b202171d8dc2af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291839">Blending in among nature is the key to unlocking Alaska’s out-of-this-world adventures. “I have had many otherworldly experiences in my time onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a>,” said Hurowitz. “We were once in the tender observing humpback whales that were feeding in a remote location. Our engines shut off, adrift and patient, we waited, not knowing where the pod of whales might resurface next. Bubbles suddenly began to encircle the tender in geometric inward spirals. Herring began to scatter on the surface all around in a frenzy."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/30822/image/large-6e2dea2479aa79bb7ad4fbc5eb3c23e3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30822">"Seconds later the gaping mouths of nearly 30 humpbacks surged up through the chaos engulfing the bait all around us. We found ourselves inside a Humpback pod’s bubble net, which is a communal feeding tactic they use here in Alaska. It left myself and our guests laughing in absolute and utter joy for minutes to come, with the whales remaining beside us singing their hymns, rolling around and looking at us inquisitively,” he recalled.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/178730/image/large-7528690c72ca395836470309606c875f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/178730"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> is well-equipped for winding down after a day of unparalleled adventure, and the magic doesn’t stop when the sun sets. “As well as working with locally sourced foods such as fresh berries, oysters and reindeer sausage, our chef enjoys incorporating our daily catch into the dinner menu, allowing guests to get a true taste of the region’s fresh and local bounties. Our crew can set up a bonfire on shore for guests to gather around and recount anecdotes from the day’s activities with a warm beverage in hand.” Upon returning onboard, the yacht’s Jacuzzi and temperature-controlled outdoor decks offer luxurious refuge for rest and recovery, where guests can enjoy craft cocktails surrounded by snow capped peaks and eagles overhead.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/30829/image/large-682bac55f65b23c2372e9657d35a33af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30829">Aside from her physical compatibility with Alaska, it is the crew’s knowledge and understanding of the cruising ground which marry <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> with Alaska so seamlessly. “The previous two captains, Mike Finnegan and Chris Fagan, whom I had the pleasure to work under, passed down a wealth of knowledge that can only be acquired with years of local cruising. This is what sets <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> apart from the crowd. I can guide guests through waterfall walks, fly fishing the riverbanks alongside bears, hot springs and glaciers. This is all part of a week’s adventure onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serenget</a>i.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/30824/image/large-b192c31d171084f952c15136f3d3fe5b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30824">With local expertise and proficiency comes respect for the region. Non-traditional cruising grounds are welcoming more yachts each year, and while Alaska is no exception, it can take years for both yacht and crew to build up trust and acceptance within local communities. “Alaska is without hesitation my favourite yachting destination, and it is an honour to captain <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> here in The Last Frontier,” said Hurowitz.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291836/image/large-5f04459f7b003bdb51008a76278bdc13.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291836">“Yachts are not always accepted with open arms in our cruising destinations, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serengeti39.62m (129'12&quot;)Westport Yachts2002">Serengeti</a> has built a strong reputation and established valued local connections over the years here in Juneau. Our program would not be able to operate as it does without the support and communication we receive from our friends here in Southeast Alaska. It is not often you have a crossover of yacht crew, fisherman, and naturalists alike, all working cohesively in common cruising grounds. The mentality of respect and appreciation for the sea and its bounty is shared by all those who live and work on the water here in Alaska. The community and this mentality bring me back year after year.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/289289/image/large-c27d2a108d1eefc7f32816a646c469f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/289289">Hurowitz recommends spending between one and two weeks cruising around Alaska. “It gives me the opportunity to take guests outside the reach of civilization and show them the true wild side of Alaska, ensuring experiences and memories to last a lifetime. Alaska is unpredictable and full of surprises, she will keep you on your toes and equally in awe!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249576/image/large-eadb3300c443da5aaa1153aa499fc67d.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249576">A shorter version of this article was originally published in Issue 46 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe now</a>&nbsp;to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.

40m motor yacht Serengeti in Alaska

Jessamie Rattray sat down with Captain Zack Hurowitz of Serengeti to discover more about the adventurous waters of Alaska. 

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Captain Zack Hurowitz talks exploring Alaska on 40m motor yacht Serengeti

With a career spanning more than two decades, an exceptional line up of yachts to his name and more than 300 metres of yacht launched last year alone, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4540" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vickers Studio (Company)">John Vickers</a> is a man worth speaking to. Starting his career as one of the first designers at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">Redman Whiteley Dixon (now RWD)</a>, John cut his teeth on the myriad of major projects that the studio underwent in its foundling years and by the age of only 27 he was project managing the interior design of the 155-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291899/image/large-83211a262a6c8863d1ef91e856500bc0.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291899">Originally destined for a life onboard, John has a deep love of classic yachts but realised quite quickly that he needed an injection of creativity in his life to keep him excited. Having studied design in the UK, he returned to shore and applied for a job at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, becoming the now 60 person strong company’s fifth employee and learning from the three founding partners. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291014/image/large-499e0b3afc4caa64349fca334def7003.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291014">Thrown in at the deep end and eager to learn &nbsp;John quickly began to take on some major design projects, the award winning 55.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Twizzle (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mary A55.5m (182'1&quot;)Feadship2005">Mary A</a>) and 73-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ilona82.0m (269'0&quot;)Amels2004">Ilona</a> and of course the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>, the largest volume yacht in the world at the time. “It was an amazing experience being in my 20s, learning from talented designers and working on projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> involved the full breadth of design processes. I was running creative teams, CAD drawing teams, visualising teams, and building systems to run all of these design elements in tandem, which became formative for later projects.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72312/image/large-e4a7c4f1e57157c00ce106ef28187a9f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72312"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72305/image/large-0cf888e903bbec0fdc91ff6ec83d517d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72305">John worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> for seven years, before joining the London-based architecture firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> which was in the process of setting up a yachting arm to the business. John built the team and together they worked on the design of the 62-metre Candyscape II, now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/418" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sealion62.0m (203'5&quot;)VSY2009">Sealion</a>, completing the interior and exterior design in only four months and going on to win the best superyacht awards for the first build of a brand new Italian shipyard. After leaving <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> in 2007, John was asked to join the studio of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Terence Disdale Design (Company)">Terence Disdale</a>, one of the industry’s most well respected and longest standing firms. Specialising in the design of general arrangements exterior and interior configurations, John worked on a number of major projects, such as 162.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eclipse162.5m (533'2&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH2010">Eclipse</a>, 147.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A+147.25m (483'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2012">Topaz</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a> sisterships 81-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4094" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Grace81.0m (265'9&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2014">Kibo</a>, now Grace, and 81.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4454" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RoMEA81.8m (268'4&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2015">RoMEA</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69575/image/large-9bbec295f2af1f9eb74914cec63c8ed6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69575"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69578/image/large-e721f09de3a6f3f049e105812230477a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69578">Wanting &nbsp;more creative freedom and a clear focus on the client's story John set up his own studio with his wife Gemma in 2015. After several years overlooking the Thames the studio escaped the city to a barn conversion studio near Chichester harbour on the UK’s beautiful south coast. The passion from the studio is obvious with the level of detail and care taken with the owners' dream projects. John loves to listen and create unique designs with creative layers in each pen line and shape. “We love to perfect the exterior in conjunction with the layout, which also gets the best results for the interior design. Having solved so many interior design problems, we find that often the interior designer gets brought in last for a project, in reality they should be involved right from the start helping create a really spectacular layout. We do interiors, exteriors and layout styling of the whole yacht, &nbsp;which gives us the opportunity to really achieve spectacular results from inside it to out.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/186990/image/large-84aa03a7ceee1701fce134d9828c5369.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/186990">“We really like to discover the passions and history of a client which we include into a yacht's DNA, creating complete design personalisation.” This John feels has to be the ultimate luxury. It has meant that the majority of his new-builds have won superyacht awards, even when not building at top tier shipyards. “It’s not something you can ever guarantee, but we have seemed to do it fairly regularly’; something that might be of interest to shipyards and clients wanting this level of top industry recognition. In the last eight years, many have been semi custom and refits tailored meticulously to very varied tastes and styles of the client”. However, John’s personal aesthetic direction includes yacht style such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6037" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue II55.99m (183'8&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2020">Blue II&nbsp;</a>or elegant beach house vibes like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6172" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Calypso I36.0m (118'1&quot;)Mulder Shipyard2019">Calypso</a>. His preference would be clean stylish simplicity, however, he is equally at home creating ‘wow factor’ interiors, such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291307/image/large-8fe2db3e479378f4eadf7f3ec59c724a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291307">One of John’s many strengths is to turn around major design projects to a very tight schedule, building the team and putting systems in place in the earliest stages. It is a strength which has been particularly important over recent years with the increase of refit projects and a much higher demand for short new-build completions. In 2022 alone John’s team completed the refit of 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a>, 88.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4794" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinity88.5m (290'4&quot;)Oceanco2015">Cloud 9</a> and 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, as well as the new-build interior design of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> 56.5-metre Alma and they are adept at working on an array of complex projects simultaneously.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291302/image/large-edcda66b5f582287fa165d634a2a5320.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291302">“Because of my 23 years experience we have become specialists in producing a lot of quality design work to a very tight schedule, and also coming into difficult projects late and turning them around under pressure. We recently did a very demanding and detailed refit on the 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, we expanded the team to 15 strong and produced 24 visuals and 50 CAD drawings in less than four weeks, and for the 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a> we completed full layout redesign with complicated interior joinery creation all for a very experienced owner on four-decks in only eight weeks.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/237702/image/large-0ed4b3794019bf9b0d5c2d5d4a5ce007.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/237702">Over the coming year he hopes to further expand the portfolio of projects, with his team of design experts and with two refits and a number of new-builds already underway.

Interview with John Vickers yacht designer

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

Custom creations: In conversation with yacht designer John Vickers

Henry Smith is a founding Partner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">Cecil Wright</a>, the boutique superyacht brokerage house specialising at the top end of the yachting market, to assist clients who wish to build, buy, sell, and charter large yachts. &nbsp;The company has a particular focus on Northern European yachts over 60-metres, and as such, has developed a close working relationship with some of the most prestigious shipyards in the world, including <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/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>.Henry has played a pivotal role in the sale and purchase of numerous brokerage vessels, including the 95.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Whisper95.2m (312'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2014">Whisper</a> (previously called Kismet), the 81.20-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4094" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Grace81.0m (265'9&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2014">Grace</a> (previously called Kibo), and the 66.25-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5517" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hampshire66.25m (217'4&quot;)Feadship2016">Hampshire</a> (previously called Vanish).<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/55188/image/large-60c2623bb50753210e6124dabd98a9f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/55188"><a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht Times</a> sat down with him to discuss his journey, the influence his non-yachting background has had, and his thoughts on the market and what the future holds for the industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291386/image/large-ac331a8b50c81093cc6299941f2642f9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291386">Could you share the inspiration behind your career choice in the yachting industry? Additionally, could you provide some insights into your background and journey?I have sailed my entire life, starting around the age of two in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, then sailing alongside my brother on various sailboats, including Hobie Cats, 420s and Lasers.I was initially destined for a career in the British Army having been awarded a top scholarship in my intake to Sandhurst. Unfortunately, my rugby career was also running parallel to this and I had to have eight knee operations which resulted in a medical discharge from military service. The obvious next move was to go into banking, something my family has been involved with since the 1650s. That said it was 2010 and the recession was still hitting the banking sector hard, and it look thoroughly unappealing! &nbsp;Through a rather tenuous link a potential job opening was presented to me at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>. With my childhood love of sailing, I thought that the yachting industry could be an interesting path so I applied and underwent a rigorous interview process, competing with 63 or so other applicants for a single position. I ended up being selected as Chris Cecil-Wright’s junior, starting out in the listings department. Shortly after accepting the role, I relocated to Monaco and that marked the beginning of my career at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>.&nbsp;Eventually, Chris and I decided to leave and establish <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">Cecil Wright &amp; Partners</a>, officially opening the business on 4th June 2013. The idea of working within a smaller, tightly knit team had always appealed to me. Having Chris, one of the prolific yacht brokers in the world, as my mentor was instrumental in my development, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had that opportunity.Interestingly, if you had asked me during my university days what I envisioned for my post-army career, becoming a yacht broker would never have crossed my mind. The yachting industry seemed like a distant and exclusive world that I never considered.Yacht brokers typically come from backgrounds which are already in some way affiliated with yachting; sons of other brokers, captains who go land based and, on occasion, transitions from associated fields such as yachting journalism. Bringing a fresh perspective and new insight to the industry has been quite intriguing. It is worth highlighting that banking and finance, my familial background, is known for its forward-thinking approach and use of innovative technologies, which stood in stark contrast to the antiquated practices I found in the yachting sector.Reflecting on the impact we have made on the industry, particularly in terms of innovations like 3D scanning, we introduced this technology back in 2015, I would like to think that we have brought the industry a pace or two forward. Surprisingly, many have not adopted it, which I find fairly astonishing. We have successfully sold several yachts without the need for potential buyers to physically visit them. For instance, I facilitated the sales of the 62-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/186" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Prediction62.0m (203'5&quot;)Feadship2005">Prediction</a> (previously called New Hampshire) during Covid, the 56.50-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/280" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ambition56.5m (185'4&quot;)Feadship2001">Ambition</a> (previously called Hampshire I) and the 22.34-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/166" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wally (Company)">Wally</a> motor yacht Jabberwocky, the latter to a gentleman in California who had never set foot in Europe. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/88486/image/large-59f1f461708afcb79da38f374df77461.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/88486">Could you delve deeper into the client approach and business ethos at the firm?At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">Cecil Wright &amp; Partners</a>, we maintain the principle of 'fewer clients serviced better' as a core aspect of our brokerage philosophy. This approach has played a crucial role in shaping our interactions with clients and building enduring relationships in the industry. When Chris and I founded our company, we deeply analysed the market to determine which segments of the industry offered the most potential for success. We focused on identifying what sells quickly, retains value, and the type of clientele associated with very large pedigree vessels. Our findings pointed out that the large pedigree vessel segment is not only secure and more liquid but the people who owned them were less susceptible to market fluctuations.&nbsp;Our goal is not to sell a multitude of yachts to a vast number of clients but to ensure that we offer the right yacht to the right client from the outset. This requires us to prioritise our clients' interests over short-term gains. We do not engage in practices that might encourage clients to overpay or provide them with inaccurate information about a yacht's value. In the world of yacht brokerage, it is an interesting paradox, doing better for our clients often means making less on a deal.We firmly believe that the long-term benefits of fostering trust and credibility with our clients far outweigh any short-term financial gains. Our business thrives on referrals and networks, and we understand that by consistently acting in the best interests of our clients, they are more likely to introduce us to their peers.One distinctive aspect of our approach is our collaborative nature. Unlike many other companies where a single broker is exclusively responsible for a client and their yacht, we encourage internal collaboration within the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">CWP</a> team. We leverage the expertise of various team members to provide the best possible service. For example, in the sale of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Whisper95.2m (312'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2014">Whisper</a>, there were three of us working on it: myself, Chris, and Henry Goulding. And we're not ashamed or abashed by that. And I think the quite interesting thing is whilst we are a boutique company, as a client you get more broker attention than you do at larger outfits. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275534/image/large-79daee2d3ed2fd80e22941eff4eb2868.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275534">Why does&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">Cecil Wright &amp; Partners</a>&nbsp;tend to choose yachts with a northern European pedigree as their brokerage's focus? What specific qualities or attributes of these yachts appeal to you and your clients? Choosing yachts with a Northern European pedigree as our brokerage's focus has been a strategic decision driven by several key factors. What you tend to find is that, by and large, the consistency of quality produced by these Northern European yards is more reliable. However, it's essential to note that, like any business, some yards may cut corners to maximise profits especially if not overseen by an independent build manager.&nbsp;They tend to retain their value better over time because they are generally built to a higher standard. When it comes to warranty work, these yachts typically require very minimal repairs, and most issues can be addressed in the field.For instance, if a yacht, such as a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, undergoes maintenance at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/97" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MB92 Barcelona (Company)">MB92</a> in Barcelona, you'll notice that the need for extensive repairs is rare. Comparatively, some other brands have been known to experience delays and extensive post-delivery work. This raises concerns about getting what you are paying for.Our sales data reflects this, with an average of just four months on the market for yachts in our portfolio, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadships</a> often selling within three months of listing. These numbers speak to the quality and market appeal of these vessels. We recently sold the 95.2-metre&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Whisper95.2m (312'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2014">Whisper</a>, in just three months, even with a two-month wait for viewings due to its high demand for charter.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/275531/image/large-265b3c9589f66c3eaa9a18ea090d0bb3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/275531">As someone with extensive international experience, what are some key trends or changes you have observed in the yachting industry in the past six months, and how do you see it evolving in the future? When it comes to trends in the yachting industry, it's important to understand that changes often unfold gradually. One noteworthy trend we're currently witnessing is the rising interest in explorer yachts. This trend encompasses both chartering and ownership, with many clients seeking out more adventurous destinations.Furthermore, regulatory factors are exerting a significant influence. For instance, in the South of France and Corsica, issues like seagrass and the associated anchoring restrictions are driving people to explore different locations. Spain, on the other hand, presents an interesting scenario due to its stringent VAT policies. Chartering in Spain now entails a 45% VAT for non-EU flagged vessels. However, there are creative ways to navigate these challenges. With the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, how does <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2989" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cecil Wright (Company)">Cecil Wright and Partners</a> navigate this shift, and what unique advantages do sailing yachts offer in terms of eco-friendliness?In the context of environmental sustainability, the perception that sailing yachts are more environmentally friendly than motor yachts while underway is true, but when a sailing yacht is at anchor and using a generator, the environmental advantage diminishes. Additionally, it is a complex issue because, in terms of construction, the environmental impact of sailing yachts and motor yachts of the same tonnage is not significantly different either.&nbsp;We acknowledge the importance of green credentials. Carbon offsetting is a concept we support and promote. Personally, I believe it should be a standard practice in the industry, especially concerning charters.Carbon offsetting can be introduced as an opt-out option rather than opt-in. When presented with an opt-in option, most people tend not to choose it, whereas with an opt-out option, fewer opt-out. For instance, if you include a special condition in a charter contract, stating that carbon offsetting is applied, with the option to opt-out, you would be surprised how many clients choose to offset. The cost of offsetting a charter is relatively small, considering the overall value of the charter.Finally, personally, if you could invest in a yacht, what would you choose and why?I am a sailor at heart, so I would go for a sailing yacht. The optimal yacht I have been on in terms of design and performance is the 57.50-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/796" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Twizzle57.5m (188'8&quot;)Royal Huisman2010">Twizzle</a>. She has a timeless appearance with 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 interior was carried out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Todhunter Earle (Company)">Todhunter Earle</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/35" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubois Naval Architects Ltd. (Company)">Dubois Naval Architects</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/234043/image/large-dfe2ff99314d4f73afe975bbbf0fa272.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/234043">

Broker's Insight: Henry Smith, founding Partner of Cecil Wright

Henry Smith is a founding Partner of Cecil Wright, the boutique superyacht brokerage house specialising at the top end of the yachting market.

Broker Insights: Henry Smith, founding Partner of Cecil Wright

Established in 2021 by Sardinian-born Nicolò Piredda, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a> is a prominent superyacht design firm that offers a comprehensive approach to yacht design. Their expertise extends from exterior to interior design, interior architecture and custom furniture.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a> is currently involved in several projects. Notably, the collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/570" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Admiral (Company)">Admiral</a> on Project&nbsp;Panorama, a series of semi-custom hybrid model yachts, so far with three yachts under construction: two steel-hulled 50-metre and one aluminium 53-metre yacht. In addition, they are involved in the interior design of the 79.5-meter <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> superyacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Edge79.5m (260'10&quot;)">Silver Edge</a>, in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espein Øino</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Superyacht Times</a> had the opportunity to interview Founder &amp; Creative Director, Nicolò Piredda to explore his background, the establishment of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a>, the firm's design philosophy and ongoing projects.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290333/image/large-fdfc29c1d424e80800ee42c16a9a0933.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290333">Tell me a little about yourself, including your background, education, and what ignited your passion for the yachting industry.Growing up in Sardinia, I’ve been a sailor since my childhood. During my time at the Politecnico in Milan, where I completed my bachelors in interior design, I came across the Yacht Design master's projects that I ended up pursuing afterwards. These projects, comprising both sail and motorboats, struck me with their exceptional beauty and innovation. This experience inspired my decision to pursue a career in yacht design.My career started at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3025" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mancini Yacht Design (Company)">AM Yacht Design</a> in Trieste. After winning the Young Designer of the Year Award in 2018, I briefly worked at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> styling department in Monaco. I then joined <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/926" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Company)">Sinot Yachts Architecture &amp; Design</a> in the Netherlands. This was a pivotal experience in my professional journey as it enabled me to develop a unique perspective of the design philosophies and approaches in general, I have always aimed to study and analyse anything with a critical eye in order to objectively weigh the strengths and weaknesses inherent to every aspect of the reality I had to develop.&nbsp;Over the years, I have worked and pushed myself to shape my own vision of yacht design with the goal of setting up my own studio, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a>. We are currently a team of five and are in the process of expansion as the number of projects are increasing. &nbsp;Could you share how the firm has evolved over the years and elaborate on the projects you are involved in?The company's current structure is built upon four key pillars: design, encompassing both exterior and interior aspects; a dedicated department for images and visual representation; and the technical department, responsible for handling technical and architectural details, among other responsibilities. These four pillars serve as the foundation for the structure and processes of all our projects.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240783/image/large-462b908866a5c00273535348730cb6ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240783">When we founded the company we had no projects or prospective projects of any kind, we spent the first year trying to get noticed by the industry and building up our reputation. The main objective for the second year was to ensure our first construction - the first 50-metre of the Panorama series. Venturing into the third year, we transformed from a startup into an affirmed superyacht design firm expanding the team and the number of projects. During this period, we had the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional stakeholders. Notably, we have established a partnership with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/570" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Admiral (Company)">Admiral Yachts</a>, on the aforementioned Panorama series, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> for the interior design of the 79.5-meter <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Edge79.5m (260'10&quot;)">Silver Edge</a>. We still have a lifelong way to go, but I and the team believe we have a good wind in our sails.How did the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a>&nbsp;superyacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Edge79.5m (260'10&quot;)">Silver Edge</a>&nbsp;project with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espein Øino</a>&nbsp;come about? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203130/image/large-041a1c70af32cc12ec0cab9bec648e0b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203130"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>'s decision to partner with us for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Edge79.5m (260'10&quot;)">Silver Edge</a> project was a strategic move to elevate the overall project in terms of marketing, sales, and more. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</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> have had a longstanding collaboration, with all of &nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a>' yachts being externally designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> aimed to extend this collaboration into interior design and saw our emerging design studio as a promising candidate for the project. It was a bit of a gamble, but we were able to convince them all with our design proposals.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290402/image/large-31ad86ec0637e13797ee4d0484791a3b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290402"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290401/image/large-35eeda0350c11591a82aa551e7756340.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290401">The partnership is ongoing, and we hope it will extend to future projects, becoming a long-term collaboration beyond just the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Edge79.5m (260'10&quot;)">Silver Edge</a>. We have confidence in the synergy of this team; it's not just about the interior designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners&nbsp;</a>but a comprehensive collaboration that involves <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> for the commercial vision, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> for construction details and quality, 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> for exteriors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290403/image/large-3dca37529332018963f7662f7202e54b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290403"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290404/image/large-aadbbe3c26046377efc28629e60e49bc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290404">How would you characterise your design philosophy?Our design philosophy can be best characterised by the belief that every project should be underpinned by a reason, a concept, and a guiding philosophy that elucidates the design choices. We steer clear of mere stylistic exercises which are projects, crafted solely for their aesthetic appeal and conformity to contemporary trends. Although we recognise that there is a market demand for such designs. Instead, our focus lies in augmenting each project with a distinctive value, transforming it into an iconic creation with a clear purpose. Our projects must possess inherent beauty, and also resonate with the spirit of the times in which they are conceived.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205671/image/large-cb06e14a1cfe837843874786bdf87e11.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205671"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205677/image/large-547ab86829ebc2c318fba2f658bb8303.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205677">A prime example of this approach is evident in the 71.5-metre Ashera project, where our aim was not to create something eccentric or unconventional, but a design that fit today’s aesthetics while introducing a strong concept. Together with the refined reflections that define a clean hull whose surface softly embraces the deck above, Ashera presents a never-seen colonnade on the forward deck. An engineering challenge that brings the structural skeleton outside, detached from the glass housing, leaving just a transparent wall dividing the grand salon from the outside.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205673/image/large-451d0ab33ab7de0ff36993196a72dffc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205673"> How does&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a>&nbsp;differ from other yacht design houses?One of our key strengths is our unique approach to every project. Our goal is not just to create stylish designs; we aspire to craft projects that become iconic in the world of yachting and stand the test of time. We are constantly seeking new standards and pioneering projects that can become the new classics. This philosophy underpins our entire approach; we're not merely focused on design for design's sake.On a more practical perspective, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a> places significant emphasis on efficient project management. Take, for instance, our work on the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> project. The initial designs you saw at the show were just preliminary proposals; the final design, which will be more detailed, will emerge during the construction phase.&nbsp;Our ability to conceptualise, develop, and deliver this project within a matter of weeks is indicative of our streamlined workflow. We minimise internal processes and this approach allows us to significantly cut project timelines, delivering nearly finalised proposals in a very short time. This efficiency is something our shipyard partners, brokers, and clients highly value.In essence, we're an emerging force in the industry, building our reputation is an ongoing journey. In every project, we invest all of our effort to ensure it becomes a representation of our capabilities. This fusion of innovation and efficiency defines our distinctive approach to yacht design.How do you ensure that the designs&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6288" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piredda & Partners (Company)">Piredda &amp; Partners</a>&nbsp;develop today remain relevant and trendy when the yacht is delivered in the next 4-5 years?Ensuring the designs remain relevant and trendy in the future is one of the biggest challenges for a designer. While it's important to follow current trends, we can't afford to create a yacht that will appear outdated in just five years. As designers, we must anticipate future trends. When I sketch a design on paper, I envision what I believe the best yachts will look like in five or ten years. This involves betting on a vision of the future, not simply replicating the yachts of today.We aim to create designs that stand the test of time, not mere styling exercises. Our focus is on crafting projects that can be appreciated a decade or more down the line. There are numerous examples of yachts from the '90s and 2000s that are still recognised as icons and haven't aged but are acknowledged as great classics.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290373/image/large-20cff3d85d3254e2acc99904601dc4d9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290373">For instance, take our Project Panorama. We aimed to create something that would please everyone, because of course it had to go on the market, but we also had to ensure it would withstand the test of time and become a new classic. The objective wasn't just to design a beautiful yacht; it was to design a yacht that was, in its own way, classic and revolutionary at the same time. From this idea, emerged the radical and futuristic concept of the four-deck under 500 GT, featuring a layout typical of the superyachts while maintaining the best aesthetic. We pursued a "new classic" aesthetic. This meant an obsessive search for perfect proportions and surfaces with soft, well-crafted reflections. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/290367/image/large-b5c3d0dd1e43b3a135e01bd1cf27358b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290367">Are there any upcoming projects, developments, or plans you would like to share?I truly cannot wait to share all the insights that currently have on our desks, but everything comes at the right time. At present, our collaborative efforts extend to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/570" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Admiral (Company)">Admiral</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silver Yachts (Company)">Silver Yachts</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>. Nevertheless, we are more and more engaged with brokerage agencies and private clients, focusing on the custom market. Despite our status as a relatively young firm, our objective is to work with a diverse range of partners. We have received great interest from the market and we are now handling truly fascinating and inspiring new designs.Finally, if you could purchase your own yacht or advise a client, is there one design feature you feel has the most impact on a luxurious experience onboard?When it comes to custom designs, I have a profound appreciation for projects that stand out and become recognisable icons or pioneers in nautical history. These are the designs that have a compelling story to tell. If I were to purchase my own yacht or advise a client on the exterior, I'd prioritise the proportions, ensuring they are both striking and harmonious.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/290369/image/large-6bd48ae01fac7bc821c5b29b1db9e00e.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20231017%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20231017T114429Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=a8a13ba166773232c2c012b42b94a50c46a05f97e4ec1dcac69c790d45228d6e" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/290369">While inside the yacht, the key focus would be on creating a living environment that seamlessly adapts to the changing play of light, defining a unique atmosphere throughout the day. A piece of advice would be to see your yacht as the ultimate expression of your lifestyle and the extension of your own soul, she does not have to please everyone. The time spent onboard has to make you feel like on cloud nine. So, do not just follow the trends and think about creating your little piece of paradise.

 Meet superyacht designer Nicolò Piredda: Founder and Creative Director of Piredda & Partners

Superyacht Times had the opportunity to interview Piredda & Partners Founder & Creative Director, Nicolò Piredda.

 Meet designer Nicolò Piredda: Founder and Creative Director of Piredda & Partners

The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/185" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2023">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> commenced on Wednesday 22 November at the Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island. Held under the patronage of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>, the two-day event seeks to inform, assist and advise yachting clients and related interested stakeholders, with the goal of developing the Gulf as a leading winter superyacht destination.You can <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/59163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A complete summary of the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2023 (2023-11-27 18:00:00 +0100)">catch up on the full summary here</a>.&nbsp; <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bsBGajdz36g?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The programme focused on individual talks from key players in the superyacht industry, alongside panels moderated by the SuperYacht Times team.<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/197014663@N05/albums/72177720312964466" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">View all the photos from the event here</a>.

Video: Everything you might have missed from the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2023

Catch up on everything you might have missed from this year's Gulf Superyacht Summit 2023.

The 34.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1318" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Logos Marine Ltd (Company)">Logos</a> motor yacht Quaranta sold and was renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shu U Rite34.1m (111'11&quot;)Logos Marine Ltd2013">Shu U Rite</a>. The yacht was sold in an in-house deal represented by Emma Karanova and Cornelius Kistler of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4901" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="breezeYachting.Swiss (Company)">breezeYachting.swiss</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17678/image/large-84d3aa7a8dcb80c141294fb423f78fc4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17678">Delivered in 2013, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1318" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Logos Marine Ltd (Company)">Logos</a> yacht was last refitted in 2021, leaving her in excellent condition. Previously named Quaranta, the motor yacht features both exterior and interior design crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1196" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lila-Lou London (Company)">Lila-Lou London</a>, while her naval architecture stemmed from the drawing boards of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Incat Crowther (Company)">Incat Crowther</a>. Up to 12 guests can be accommodated across her five sumptuous staterooms, with space for a crew of six, including the yacht’s captain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17697/image/large-78c38d1e9a2a23539eab2619b3a91c22.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17697"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/107642/image/large-83907f8219823f2a412b522459cdd19a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/107642"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shu U Rite34.1m (111'11&quot;)Logos Marine Ltd2013">Shu U Rite</a> displays a large main saloon, complete with an extensive cream L-shaped sofa and adjacent armchairs. Lined with expansive windows, plenty of natural light can flood the saloon throughout the day. A neutral colour palette extends across the yacht’s staterooms, complete with opulent ensuites, enhancing the inviting ambiance onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17695/image/large-64da2f1eb37abce3e85b72a803b421ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17695">Showcasing both a grp hull and superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shu U Rite34.1m (111'11&quot;)Logos Marine Ltd2013">Shu U Rite</a> is currently the third largest yacht built by the Turkey-based shipyard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17650/image/large-f7f438e1eac3e26b42e09801b55eadbb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17650"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/17651/image/large-4a1b3b6955a93daff43b98b3661c566c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/17651">Regarding performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shu U Rite34.1m (111'11&quot;)Logos Marine Ltd2013">Shu U Rite</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, providing her with a top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. At the time of her sale <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shu U Rite34.1m (111'11&quot;)Logos Marine Ltd2013">Shu U Rite</a> had a last known asking price of €6,950,000.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/107662/image/large-2461540a22927d56a963114fff2cb6f9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/107662"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/107655/image/large-582a7c80b8be9a85d1dace13f0fd446a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/107655">

Logos motor yacht Shu U Rite sold 

The 34m Logos motor yacht Shu U Rite sold in an in-house deal, at the time of her sale she had a last known asking price of €6,950,000.

34m Logos motor yacht Quaranta sold and renamed Shu U Rite 

The 40.92-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/612" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Envy40.92m (134'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts1995">Envy</a> was spotted travelling from Ijmuiden to Amsterdam past the SuperYacht Times office this afternoon.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295339/image/large-a37f4bb4bd256e97de77ee4155c9408f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295339">Delivered in 1995 from Germany, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/612" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Envy40.92m (134'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts1995">Envy</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/164" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Beiderbeck Designs (Company)">Beiderbeck Designs</a>, with naval architecture from her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen Yachts</a>. She has received numerous refits over the years, and showcases a classical and timeless interior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/110" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Patrick Knowles Designs (Company)">Patrick Knowles Designs</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295343/image/large-00c29408fa599e3f48576fb4bc3cb4a5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295343">The 361 GT yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests across a five stateroom configuration, comprising a master suite, a VIP stateroom, and a further two twin staterooms. She can also sleep a crew of seven.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295338/image/large-d24586f4e0f5f8ad7b752a681d89adb8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295338"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/612" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Envy40.92m (134'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts1995">Envy</a> boasts expansive outdoor spaces, including an outdoor bar area, sun lounging zones, and alfresco dining opportunities. In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/612" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Envy40.92m (134'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts1995">Envy</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 providing her with a cruising speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 22 knots.

41m Lürssen yacht Envy passes through Amsterdam 

The 40.92-metre Lürssen superyacht Envy was spotted passing the SuperYacht Times Office this afternoon.

41m Lürssen superyacht Envy passes through Amsterdam 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams Jet Tenders</a> has announced the approval of HVO100 fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil) for use on all its <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a> 4JH engine-powered tenders, including the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Tender/10598" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Dieseljet 4154.12m (13'6&quot;)Williams Performance Tenders2021 Tender">DieselJet 415</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Tender/9404" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Dieseljet 4454.45m (14'7&quot;)Williams Performance Tenders Tender">445</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Tender/9405" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Dieseljet 5055.03m (16'6&quot;)Williams Performance Tenders Tender">505</a>, and SOLAS 505. The announcement follows the successful first stage testing on selected DieselJet engines.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295335/image/large-4f50e309262999e57cf068471cffdd89.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295335">In this strategic move towards eco-responsibility, the UK-based company shared that all new product developments powered by these diesel engines will utilise HVO100. Looking to the future, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams</a>’ vehicles, such as delivery vans in addition to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a> 4LV powered models are considering a shift to HVO100 once more testing has been completed.Sarah Moore, Sustainability Specialist at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams Jet Tenders</a>, reflected on the news: “We are committed to finding innovative sustainable solutions that reduce the direct emissions impact from our factory and our vehicles. By using UCO HVO, a renewable fuel made from waste cooking oil, we will accelerate our efforts to decarbonise. We hope that by using HVO in our fleet and in our approved test boats, we will raise awareness of the benefits of switching to alternative fuels. As we carry out exploratory testing on our products, it will allow us to confirm HVO use in more of our tenders, enabling us to achieve a greater reduction in our carbon footprint as more <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams Jet Tender</a> engines are approved for use.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295336/image/large-a6cf245ac1ac99d6e9cbde3232faa97e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295336">UCO HVO fuels have a range of sustainability benefits including reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These fuels are made from waste cooking oil, thus decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. In comparison to conventional diesel, UCO HVO also produces fewer particulates, sulphur and nitrogen oxides, in turn reducing pollution.Floris Lettinga, Director of Sales and Marketing at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a> Marine International commented, “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a> Marine International is proud to partner with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams Tenders</a>, a collaboration perfectly aligned to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a>’s commitment to sustainability. At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a> Marine International, we prioritise environmental responsibility, and this partnership highlights our ongoing dedication to our wider Green Challenge 2050. By integrating <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1741" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Company)">Yanmar</a>’s HVO approved engines across the Williams Tenders' range of boats and vehicles, we are not just propelling innovation; we are supporting our customers in propelling a sustainable journey towards a cleaner future. Together, we help our customers navigate the steps towards optimising cutting-edge technology with environmental consciousness.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295337/image/large-92e3053169a10061684f2e51a6b62819.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295337">This announcement is part of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Williams Performance Tenders (Company)">Williams Jet Tenders</a>’ broader commitment to sustainability which has included several initiatives so far, with more set to be revealed in 2024.

Williams Jet Tenders approval of HVO100 fuel 

In a step towards environmental sustainability, Williams Jet Tenders has shared the  approval of HVO100 fuel for use on selected tenders.

Williams Jet Tenders announces the approval of HVO100 fuel 

The 27.31-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5978" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yes27.31m (89'7&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2014">Yes</a> sold in a deal with Nick Hatfield of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6397" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo United Kingdom (Company)">Sanlorenzo Yachts UK</a> introducing the buyer and Mark Seaton from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4236" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht & Villa (Company)">Yacht &amp; Villa</a> and Carlo Aquilanti at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere Delle Marche</a> representing the seller. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/204880/image/large-75395a07cf9968621e89ca40b550055b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/204880">Delivered in 2014 as part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">CdM</a> Nauta Air 90 series, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5978" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yes27.31m (89'7&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2014">Yes</a> features exterior design and naval architecture 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 Yachts</a> and interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2090" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luxury Projects (Company)">Luxury Projects.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205539/image/large-9f9fc16f2fb5f24e874516142c087d85.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205539"></a> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205538/image/large-d63ef6e63ea518dbee806339cb701d3d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205538"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5978" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yes27.31m (89'7&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2014"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/204878/image/large-c205dc41782fc29d55f3282052dc4b83.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/204878">Yes</a> can accommodate as many as eight guests between four staterooms, including a full beam master suite. Her interior has been finished in light woods with cream and grey furnishings throughout. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205533/image/large-70cd8459c633028b6cb11b327b509825.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205533"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205530/image/large-6d04d7b9550566e57263eb1c23125918.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205530"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/205524/image/large-c91fa373653e8e1396f165f5fa9d4ec4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/205524">Constructed entirely from aluminium, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5978" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yes27.31m (89'7&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2014">Yes</a> has a cruising speed of 13.5 knots and a top speed of 16 knots, thanks to twin Caterpillar engines. At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5978" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yes27.31m (89'7&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2014">Yes</a> had a last known asking price of €3,299,000.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/111740/image/large-3695d236171983dfab3064bd804ae01c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/111740">

27m CdM yacht Yes sold

The 27m Cantiere delle Marche motor yacht Yes sold, with a last known asking price of €3,299,000.

27m CdM motor yacht Yes sold

2023 has been a truly exciting year for Turkish shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a>. Alongside the hotly-anticipated double debut of its two latest superyacht projects at this year’s <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> – the striking red-hulled 80-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> 263 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leona80.0m (262'6&quot;)Bilgin Yachts2023">Leona</a> and the 42-metre explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kasif41.95m (137'8&quot;)Bilgin Yachts2023">Kaşif</a> – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> also boasts a grand total of eleven new-build projects underway which are slated for completion by 2026, ranging from 49.95 metres up to 86 metres.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295316/image/large-34a3f7ec857c6e5f067f6655e4bd71f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295316">Here, we catch up with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a>’ commercial director, Berkay Yılmaz, to discover more about the shipyard’s latest milestones, the benefits of semi-custom superyachts and details of its latest in-build projects.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295314/image/large-2edacae143a0aabad53f83b4349bd9e2.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295314">What have been your major milestones in 2023?A standout moment in 2023 was the unveiling of Leona, the second hull of our prestigious 80-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> 263 series. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leona80.0m (262'6&quot;)Bilgin Yachts2023">Leona</a>, with its dynamic design, eco-friendly features, and meticulous attention to detail, has garnered acclaim within the industry and among yacht enthusiasts.Another milestone that stands out prominently is the launch of our explorer yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kasif41.95m (137'8&quot;)Bilgin Yachts2023">Kaşif</a>. This vessel not only symbolizes the epitome of exploration but also marks a significant achievement for our shipyard, particularly in the context of our newest Antalya facility. Throughout 2023, our shipyard has maintained an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. Every yacht leaving our facilities is a testament to the precision, dedication, and passion of our skilled team.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295322/image/large-1fbc2293788b908bc6dc4487d8a9e0db.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295322">You offer semi custom platforms which build confidence for end users and which also offer flexibility on design. Tell me more.We can describe the concept of ‘semi-custom’ in our yachts as follows: Our vessels are crafted with precision, considering specific design parameters that have been optimised by design and engineering offices. &nbsp;The layout offers a plethora of features catering to various lifestyles, providing a truly customisable experience for owners.&nbsp;The technical compartments have been optimised for efficiency, making operation and maintenance a seamless experience. Additionally, our commitment to sustainability is reflected in the incorporation of eco-friendly technologies into our builds, minimising their environmental impact.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295317/image/large-8257933e0c38e08140f742d04295251b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295317">What are the advantages of choosing semi-custom yachts?There are four main advantages: proven engineering and design, quick delivery, minimal operational risks, and tailored layouts. End users, including captains, engineering teams, and owners, benefit from the assurance of proven engineering and design, instilling confidence in the vessel's performance. Semi-custom yachts also offer a shorter timeline for delivery, providing a swift and efficient process for owners eager to set sail.&nbsp;Both shipyards and owners experience fewer operational risks, ensuring a smoother and more predictable yacht-building process. Last but not least, despite the standardised approach, owners still enjoy customisation options for layout, interior design, and deck layouts, allowing for a personalised touchYou have in-build projects up until 2026. What are the distinctive features of each of the following yachts that you’d like to draw our attention to? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/218042/image/large-26e303488855afa7f8644bef92fd7252.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/218042"> Bilgin 263 III&nbsp;Al Reem (80-metre, 2024)As the third hull of 263 series, this yacht boasts distinctive features designed for enhanced comfort and autonomy at sea. With a 20% increase in volume compared to its predecessors, notable highlights include an owner's deck on the glass elevator connecting all decks for convenience.Project Silence stands out with its 'light and modern' interior, utilising textured and warm materials to create a welcoming and sophisticated atmosphere.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295323/image/large-853c31b7c23d0710689adb2ce30a673e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295323">Eternal Spark&nbsp;(49.95-metre, 2024)Crafted from insights gathered in continuous dialogue with industry leaders, professionals, and travel enthusiasts, Eternal Spark is designed as a 'guidebook of onboard memorable experiences.' With six cabins for twelve guests, the yacht offers ample space for relaxation.Noteworthy are the four decks, five separate bars, and seven distinct socialising areas, providing abundant entertainment options. Eternal Spark promises endless possibilities for enjoyment, making it a standout choice for those seeking a truly immersive and entertaining yachting experience. This yacht, as a great example of 499 GT models, has become one of the best options in the charter industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/185324/image/large-4c56121ca42fa6ba657177f69a3687b9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/185324"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a>&nbsp;243 (73.6-metre, 2026) With a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, this yacht stands out for its exterior lines and naval architecture crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4305" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unique Yacht Design (Company)">Unique Yacht Design</a>. Described as 'aerodynamic,' the design showcases clean shapes and large, vertical windows.The thoughtful design of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a> 243 harmonizes elegant aesthetics with functional living spaces, ensuring a sophisticated and comfortable yachting experience. This is an investment project for the shipyard, as Bilgin is building this model on spec.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/282993/image/large-f9374ffa2cacf43993df54a62fc8340b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/282993"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a>&nbsp;163 II Ame (49.95m, 2024)This showcases a six-cabin layout, achieving a remarkable harmony in living areas with its natural colours, expansive windows, and high-gloss materials. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/282999/image/large-70ce823d350c02ab102e586f008eb5ee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/282999">Setting itself apart, it boasts the largest exterior spaces among contemporaries, featuring a 21-metre long sundeck and a 12-metre long bridge-deck aft. This yacht is a testament to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a>'s commitment to luxurious design, providing a perfect blend of comfort, aesthetics and spacious outdoor areas for an unparalleled yachting experience.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a>&nbsp;282 (86-metre, 2026)As an upgraded version of the Bilgin 263 series, this is an 86-metre marvel. Bearing a resemblance to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tatiana80.0m (262'6&quot;)Bilgin Yachts2020">Tatiana</a>, it boasts sophisticated exterior details, including additional glass on forward bulwarks. Notable enhancements include larger windows on each deck, flooding the interior living spaces with abundant natural light. It is 40% larger than the 80 metre series and the 2,200 GT vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295329/image/large-5deffdaeb4af090f7ccbd005f178b472.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295329"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin</a>&nbsp;170s (3 in build, 52-metre, 2025) These represent a showcase of elegance and functionality. Their spacious open decks, coupled with expansive storage, and a sleek traditional bow shape, define a vessel designed for both style and practicality. The elongated bridge deck aft enhances the overall living space, while the beach club serves as a haven for relaxation and various sporting activities.53M Project (2026)<a href="#managed-by-system" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)" data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)"></a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1414" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bilgin Yachts (Company)">Bilgin Yachts</a> is thrilled to announce an upcoming project: three 53-metre units scheduled for completion in 2026 which will be an enhanced version of our existing 499 GT model.&nbsp;

Bilgin Yachts’ latest in-build projects

We catch up with Bilgin Yachts’ commercial director, Berkay Yılmaz, to discover more about the shipyard’s latest milestones, and in-build yachts.

Behind shed doors: Exploring Bilgin Yachts’ latest in-build projects

The 102.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a> has been spotted on her sea trials following her recent launch.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295309/image/large-d12805d44a0c29c3c5eb38b9776afa32.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295309">Also known as Project 1011, the superyacht features both exterior and interior design crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/926" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Company)">Sinot Yacht Architecture &amp; Design</a>, while her naval architecture derived from the drawing boards of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure Yacht Design &amp; Naval Architecture</a>. Up to 20 guests can be accommodated across the superyacht’s 10 sumptuous staterooms, with space for a crew of up to 30 onboard.Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/feadship-superyacht-project-1011" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Build Report: The story behind Feadship's superyacht Project 1011</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295308/image/large-2d82e12d8d33eb329e6212441099e847.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295308">Beginning construction in 2020 at the Zwijnenburg Shipyard, the yacht was then transported to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Makkum facility for outfitting and completion. Showcasing a generous volume of 2,999 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a> displays an abundance of space across her extensive decks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295311/image/large-acbd5ee1e6adfdcf53932bf60c8eb0de.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295311">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht features large wrap-around windows, ensuring the yacht’s interior remains bathed in sunlight throughout the day. Featuring 1,100 square-metres of exterior glass, consisting of 20 sliding doors and 12 glass windbreaks, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a> has been designed with luxury in mind.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295312/image/large-d7669bd2607e8be59a3c3823938d7597.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295312">The superyacht houses a variety of notable features onboard, including a winter garden situated on her main deck aft. In addition to this, the superyacht features four opulent Jacuzzis, a large swimming pool and an extensive touch-and-go helipad, providing seamless access to and from the superyacht. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a> is also equipped with eight hull doors, including the largest tender garage door ever installed on a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>.Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/feadship-project-1011-in-amsterdam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">In pictures: 103m Feadship superyacht Project 1011 moves from Makkum to Amsterdam</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295310/image/large-f0c7740f01b74971529f62f05a646f5d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295310">Displaying a sleek exterior profile and vertical bow, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht showcases a distinctive silhouette. Regarding performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</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, providing her with a top speed of 17.5 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Feadship superyacht Ulysses on sea trials 

 The 103m Feadship superyacht Ulysses has been spotted on her sea trials following her recent launch.

103m Feadship superyacht Ulysses on sea trials 

The 53.4-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/57" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariotti Yachts (Company)">Mariotti</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a> has entered the market. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> is represented by Bart Kimman of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295265/image/large-7dabfd1242adf6d26e4fa66df1c75507.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295265">Delivered in 2008, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> was recently refitted, leaving her in excellent condition. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a> showcases exterior and interior design imagined by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/58" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luca Dini Design & Architecture (Company)">Luca Dini Design &amp; Architecture</a>, while her naval architecture stemmed from the drawing boards of her Italy-based builder, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/57" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariotti Yachts (Company)">Mariotti Yachts</a>. Featuring a configuration of five sumptuous staterooms, up to 10 guests can be accommodated onboard, in addition to a crew of 12.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295298/image/large-5fa7db05dc128f2ccda21678f6e45cf9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295298"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295301/image/large-70ef4cc37336be53d0da57325c3569f8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295301"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295300/image/large-6e18876ea70d89bb1f0a2e59b89fdda7.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295300"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295299/image/large-d2d4375d719eead689de25a158739c1d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295299"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295272/image/large-340aeefcab77397146f893c2c33eb7c8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295272">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/nonni-ii/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Nonni II for sale</a> displays a uniquely designed and vibrant interior aesthetic, characterised by bright LED lighting and high quality audiovisual systems. Displaying a futuristic design across her interiors, the main saloon is no exception. Modern art wall hangings, dazzling overhead lighting fixtures and bold purple and blue tones define the space. A large formal dining area, complete with an abundance of seating and white furnishings, provides guests with the ideal spot to host dinner parties onboard. A bright white sofa surrounds three vibrant and reflective coffee tables, while an adjacent lounge area is characterised by muted tones.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295273/image/large-97f84557c03b42d0c37ae78011d75ea6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295273"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295293/image/large-f3b1aa82c472e5bc80fcb2aa26d3a86a.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295293"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295267/image/large-f5617502e42fae8de96fbabdfeb0d65c.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295267"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295281/image/large-66351db4e283dd58eb8a0c90e8ccac31.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295281"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295280/image/large-23f77258954ed77a31e6c3047aebae07.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295280">Entertainment is at the core of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a>’s interior design. The superyacht boasts a large gym, extensive cinema room and a vivid nightclub, complete with a DJ booth, bar and iridescent lights. For guests seeking relaxation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a> also houses an opulent Jacuzzi, oversized sunpads and a night-lit bar on her exterior decks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295268/image/large-528932823862d6d00ce4c5e9cfca11c8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295268"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295296/image/large-1f5804684f777ac1ebf60d6307b3010d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295296"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295271/image/large-7d0ef7a0b61af5032a02ce482107205d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295271"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295302/image/large-1b16576231bd8a72fd0d08f02f8f18e6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295302">Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, a plethora of light can flood the already brightly illuminated yacht throughout the day. The master suite showcases a surreal interior design, displaying a textured, aquatic wall, showcasing marine-inspired structures, while a deep blue, brightly lit wall is situated opposite. Red neon lights frame the base of the king-sized bed, while the opulent reflective ceiling and cloud-like rug enhance the fantastical design.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295285/image/large-3e034bb4659edec006201f80b93e4529.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295285"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295284/image/large-e9d4ba64fe7b4e1c7e9726f353afb2ea.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295284"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295270/image/large-22535e89254361c8a592c9e5132abeb2.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295270"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295269/image/large-bca7b9ccb6c344ae0f084140c31cb354.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295269">The remaining staterooms each showcase an individual colour scheme, while still maintaining vibrant LED lighting and unique design elements. The staterooms are equipped with an ensuite and situated on the lower deck. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/mariotti/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Mariotti yacht for sale</a> is also characterised by luxurious skylights and exclusive balconies.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295276/image/large-ca9c5ecc163a1a0f78d7d1f40c85e910.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295276"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295278/image/large-22a6c624880d21caeec0d079d076e2e0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295278"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295291/image/large-347c1630eb4020be75930f987ce26caf.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295291"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295274/image/large-746ad30c76f0cda898a8a52403e4119a.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295274">In addition to her imaginative interior design, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/62" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nonni II53.4m (175'2&quot;)Mariotti Yachts2008">Nonni II</a> displays a striking profile. Strong, bold lines stretch across her exterior. Regarding performance, the motor yacht is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, providing her with a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 13 knots.

Mariotti superyacht Nonni II for sale 

New to market: The 53m Mariotti superyacht Nonni II is for sale, she is characterised by her vibrant interior aesthetic.

53m Mariotti superyacht Nonni II enters the market

The 28.96-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/119" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Horizon Yachts (Company)">Horizon</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fantasea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Horizon Yachts2007">Fantasea</a> is for sale with David Johnson of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/833" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Denison Yachting (Company)">Denison Yachting</a>. Delivered in 2007, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> features exterior, interior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/119" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Horizon Yachts (Company)">Horizon Yachts</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295231/image/large-bd08aa54a3c0b566ed73e5e1320da024.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295231"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fantasea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Horizon Yachts2007">Fantasea</a> can accommodate up to six guests onboard across three staterooms, as well as four crew members, including the captain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295227/image/large-2bcd3aa24ae7bd29e3b348a49a2136f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295227">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> features a contemporary saloon design with a large sofa and a substantial rectangular leather-covered coffee table. The interplay of light-toned furnishings, neutrally toned flooring, and ceiling collectively enhance the sophisticated atmosphere of the room.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295226/image/large-332723c54118771a34109d033f5533bc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295226">The dining area, situated adjacent to the seating area, features a large oval-shaped wooden table comfortably seating eight guests. The close proximity of the dining and seating areas adds versatility to the saloon, allowing guests to seamlessly transition from dining to the seating area for a digestif.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295224/image/large-6e7b9e0c39aa9e79d3398d38b7daecc7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295224"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295223/image/large-a00893f7477d60c447fd27517b3dc899.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295223"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fantasea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Horizon Yachts2007">Fantasea</a>'s master suite is designed with a refined aesthetic, mirroring the saloon's use of wooden furnishings, neutrally toned ceiling, and flooring. The inclusion of a reading nook provides any potential owner with a private space to relax in privacy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295220/image/large-e518ed254dcbce0711e7f8cdf7f129e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295220"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295218/image/large-e0341cab538e4e624e2165c875afc5b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295218">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/fantasea-29m/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht Fantasea for sale</a> presents unique features, particularly on the sundeck where ample lounging space invites guests to bask in the sun. The thoughtful addition of an outdoor grill allows guests to enjoy a delightful barbecue together. Completing the scene, a Jacuzzi makes the sundeck an ideal spot for guests to unwind, soaking in the views with comfort. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295217/image/large-9d67136961b90f680532547b46ebf52e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295217">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/horizon-yachts/motor/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Horizon yacht for sale</a> has a GRP hull and superstructure. Performance-wise, she is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, which give her a cruising speed of 19 knots and a top speed of 21 knots.

29m Horizon motor yacht Fantasea for sale

The 28.96-metre Horizon motor yacht Fantasea is for sale with David Johnson of Denison Yachting.

The 65-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 711 superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10650" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capri65.0m (213'3&quot;)Feadship2024">Capri</a> has been transported to Rotterdam in preparation for her sea trials. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10650" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capri65.0m (213'3&quot;)Feadship2024">Capri</a> was seen travelling from Aalsmeer, the Netherlands following her launch in November from the Koninklijke De Vries facility.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295237/image/large-047441380a601d62d42589b141fbac63.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295237">Featuring a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 711 yacht was first seen in 2022. Many details surrounding <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10650" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capri65.0m (213'3&quot;)Feadship2024">Capri</a> have still been kept tightly under wraps, but new images show a high, slightly flared bow and her main deck and wheelhouse positioned at the same height.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295246/image/large-3a74aed148eb543a53e800d445d1ff93.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295246"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295243/image/large-24f6ce9b6e3be3116cdc5504a761d209.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295243">The hull of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 711 was launched in August 2022 from the SLOB Shipyard in Papendrecht, Rotterdam before being transported to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> shipyard in Aalsmeer for outfitting.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/58840" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="65m Feadship 711 superyacht launched in Aalsmeer (2023-10-16 17:30:00 +0200)">65m Feadship 711 superyacht launched in Aalsmeer</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10650" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capri65.0m (213'3&quot;)Feadship2024"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295245/image/large-f0c5068251eda32b4902293e84d97b02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295245"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295241/image/large-96069cd9760b2e7f92fb56625bd3932b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295241">Capri</a> boasts a large helipad on her upper deck, and a fold-down beach club balcony and spacious deck space for guests to enjoy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295233/image/large-71c8ebeb1f041db50cdeb61f25d118dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295233"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295239/image/large-e61bad922d0e4d19738656267c307f5f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295239">According to SYT iQ, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> currently has several yachts in-build including, the 102.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 1011 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a>, which was launched in November, the 100-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> 824, which prepared for outfitting in September and the 75.7-metre superyacht Alvia. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295235/image/large-1134abc8d8fd6ad8f8c89654368590c0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295235">

65m Feadship 711 yacht Capri transported to Rotterdam 

The 65-metre Feadship 711 superyacht Capri has been transported to Rotterdam in preparation for her sea trials.

Interviews

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