We sit down with one of London's most successful property developers, Khalid Affara, to hear all about The Wellesley superyachts. Managing Director of Arab Investments, the Yemeni-born businessman has spent the vast majority of his life in England, with the slight Scottish lilt of his broad London-accent the only indication of a childhood spent in Edinburgh. Entering the property business in the early 90s, today the company’s portfolio spans multiple high end commercial and residential projects, including Regent Park House on one of the most highly sought after streets of London, the Mall of Berlin in Germany’s capital city, and the boutique hotel, The Wellesley.

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His status as superyacht owner comes as a direct result of this success, but not in the way that you would immediately think. Whereas most yacht owners have rewarded themselves and their families for years of hard work with the purchase of their new toy, Affara is well… creating years more hard work, with both The Wellesley yachts (The 32.4-metre Falcon Yachts-built The Wellesley II and the 56-metre Oceanco-built The Wellesley) being very much business-only additions to Affara’s expansive list of assets.

Both yachts are offered for charter as an extension of the luxury brand of The Wellesley hotel and, as Affara told me as we sat on the cigar terrace of his boutique hotel in the heart of London, there was never any other plan: “Always - it was always business,” he says. “That’s one of the things that is a problem in the yachting industry. Chartering is secondary to owning. People buy a boat, some people try to charter, but the owner is always the owner. With us, it’s all about the customer. When we actually set up the idea of what the boat was going to be like, it’s always heavily connected with what we know charter clients want.”

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The idea behind the business model is not rocket science: offer your loyal clients the opportunity to enjoy every element of your brand in beautiful settings around the world and generate even more loyalty and even more custom to your brand. Speaking of the development, Affara says: “The first of The Wellesley yachts did quite well on the charter market, but we realised that with the smaller yachts it’s not enough to sustain a business. So we had an opportunity with the second The Wellesley. Yachting is all opportunity. You need a great price, invest some money on it to make it a great product, then customers will understand the greatness of the product and be willing to spend a substantial amount of money to charter it. There is a business model that actually makes money. If you buy the boat sensibly and add value to it, you can actually make a profit from it.” But it begs to question: why is nobody else doing it?

For a start, it’s not the easiest operation to execute in the world. The risk of damaging a sterling brand reputation with a bad charter experience cannot be underestimated and then of course the vast financial aspects involved with this kind of ownership: the initial hefty investment, the development and execution of the refit project to ensure the standards of the existing brand are more than met, and then, of course, the continuous running costs.

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But as Affara says, these yachts are a business, not a lavish luxury in his personal life, and, with the right business model, are perfectly profitable additions to The Wellesley brand. With this mindset from the very beginning, Affara and his team successfully transformed two vessels into opulent floating palaces reminiscent of the 1920s - a theme that came about from the history of The Wellesley hotel itself and Affara’s personal passion for cigar smoking and the excesses of the period. “The building of The Wellesley hotel was built in 1906 as an old Tube station, then in the 1920s they built the extension upwards. So we thought, 1920s it was built, we smoke cigars, we drink cocktails, we have fine cognacs; all the excesses that everybody says you shouldn’t have. That was the 1920s for me, and that’s what we’ve done here.”

Getting each boat to the same quality and ambiance as the hotel required a complete rebuild of each yacht - as cool and collected as Affara was as he looked back upon this period, the second refit of the larger of the two vessels was certainly no easy feat. “It started off as a refit - it was a pretty extensive refit already - but then it grew. I enjoyed the whole project though,” he continues as he talks of his heavy involvement. “They thought I was crazy, I would fly all the way to Turkey for three or four days so that I could be hands-on with the build. You’re working with so many different skills, you’ve got to get involved. If you don’t you may well end up with a product that you’re not completely happy with. My business is to build things, and I very much enjoy the building process. That’s what we do, and during my time on the boat things were changed which ultimately contribute today to its success and how much people like it, which is satisfying.”

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The business-only philosophy of The Wellesley yachts is also demonstrated by the fact that in addition to the Yacht Manager, David Westwood, Co-Director of Thompson Westwood White, it is Affara himself who attends countless charter shows around the world, meeting yacht agents personally in order to personally establish great relationships that will add to not only the number of bookings in which either yacht receives throughout the year, but to ensure that the yacht agents The Wellesley chooses to work with are worth their time - both in terms of bringing clients to the yachts, and guaranteeing that each and every client’s needs are fully met: “I attend the charter shows for at least two or three days. I’m on the boat, the agents get to know me which I think is important. The agents usually do not meet the owner of the boat, but it’s very important to have that rapport with the agents, and they get some comfort in that the boat is being run as a professional organisation. We try to hammer that home and let people know that we’re willing to accommodate their clients. Simple things like if someone needed a cabin converting from twin to double… We’re willing to rip it out and install a double. That comes from the boat very much being a business. There’s two different directions with charters: one is a business, customer orientated, and the other is that this is my boat and I want to reduce my costs. With us, our priority is the customer.”

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So with two The Wellesley yachts currently enjoying the summer season of the Mediterranean, what’s next for Affara and his business with superyachts? “There’s no set plan. We hadn’t finished the first one before we were looking for the second! You’ve got to find the perfect situation and the best price. I can’t tell you about the one we’re looking at right now… but there is one!” It seems that there will be a fleet of The Wellesley’s in all their art-deco, glory in the foreseeable future.

Hear more about <a href="http://mythewellesley.com/" target="_blank">The Wellesley </a>on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/theyachtguy/" target="_blank"> @TheYachtGuy’s Instagram</a> feed this week. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theyachtguy/" target="_blank">@TheYachtGuy</a> will be hosting a fascinating seminar on Social Media and the SuperYacht Industry on Saturday 3rd June at SuperYacht Gallery London. <a href="https://www.superyachtgallery.com/tickets" target="_blank">Buy your tickets here</a> to avoid disappointment.

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Owner insight: strictly business with The Wellesley

The third edition of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> concluded in Kobe, Japan last month with nearly 200 attendees and 34 speakers attending the two-day conference.&nbsp; <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EThtbaZ_yVs?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> Each year, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> brings together industry leaders, yachting clients and key stakeholders with the shared goal of positioning the Asia-Pacific as a leading superyacht market and cruising destination.This year, visitors were able to take part in 14 and a half hours of networking, alongside nearly nine hours of panels and talks, with topics ranging from developing Japan as a superyacht destination, to how superyacht purchasing patterns are evolving in the Asia-Pacific region.Other topics and talks included Q&amp;As about understanding Japanese superyacht clients and Japanese business culture, as well as how Kobe is becoming a regional gateway for superyacht operations. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395607/image/large-5fd67c82000e823a5f989810b704e62c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395607">In 2024, plans were announced for the construction of Kobe Marina, a purpose-built superyacht marina intended to support Kobe’s wider waterfront regeneration ambitions. The summit allowed key stakeholders to discuss the development of this project, assessing how it could strengthen the city’s role as a gateway for yachts operating in Japanese waters.“When we found out about Kobe being an opportunity, we just jumped at it!” commented Nigel Beatty, Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1317" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachtzoo (Company)">Yachtzoo</a> Japan. “It’s going to be one of the premier marinas, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, if not, marinas in the world.”&nbsp;Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kobe Marina: Progress update on Japan’s first dedicated superyacht marina (2026-01-22 12:45:00 +0100)">Kobe Marina: Progress update on Japan’s first dedicated superyacht marina</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395606/image/large-ce1759bf15132239c1d25b1d84922f3d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395606">The conference also included the return of the highly-successful <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> Dinner on the first evening. Held at the La Suite Le Pan Building, just five minutes from the venue, more than 146 guests arrived for welcome drinks at the Rooftop Bar before sitting down for a full-course dinner in La Terrace Hall.“It is our third time participating in the summit,” explained Ewa Stachurska, Chief Marketing Officer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific (Company)">Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific</a>. “We consider it absolutely crucial for the growth and evolution of our industry here in the region.”The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> also unveiled the third edition of the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report</a>, which was presented during the summit. Using <a href="https://sytiq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a> and proprietary yacht-tracking data, the report examines the region’s fleet, cruising patterns and key areas of activity.&nbsp;The report looks at how many superyachts are currently active in Asia-Pacific, where they are based, whether the regional fleet is growing, and which locations are emerging as important hotspots.<a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Download your copy of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report here.</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395605/image/large-95d679fad04e6a619e09a04b8783fba3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395605">“I want to say a huge thank you to all our event sponsors, including patron <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7687" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="FEMA Marine (Company)">FEMA Marine</a>, event partners <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> and destination partyer Kove, along with Hiroshi Sakamoto and his team at The Inland Sea, Setouchi Tourism Authority,” commented Merijn de Waard, CEO and Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SuperYacht Times</a>.&nbsp;“We’re very grateful for all your support and thank you to all the attendees and panellists for getting behind this year’s event. The response from across the industry has been brilliant, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.”SYT Strategy bespoke consultancyWould you like to increase your footprint in the Asia-Pacific superyacht market but are lacking the right data? The Intelligence team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SuperYacht Times</a> performed extensive research specifically for the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2026</a> and we could do the same for your company too through SYT Strategy. Interested? Get in touch with our Sales team via <a href="mailto:sales@superyachttimes.com" title="">sales@superyachttimes.com</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/384822/image/large-01a206f2bdb72f4c331b95cf173db8a6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/384822">

Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit Japan 2026 in 60 seconds

The 35.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/313" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nautor Swan (Company)">Swan</a> 115 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moat35.2m (115'6&quot;)Nautor Swan2016">Moat</a> and the 31.24-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> 96 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12060" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Liberty31.24m (102'6&quot;)Southern Wind2024">Liberty</a> emerged as the overall class winners at the 2026 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/355" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta - 2026">Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta</a> in Porto Cervo, earning their places on the event's prestigious Silver Jubilee Cup.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395390/image/large-1b9e1e6537c0245b4c595edc22c4e824.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395390">Organised by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2826" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (Company)">Yacht Club Costa Smeralda</a> (YCCS) with title sponsor Giorgio Armani, the regatta welcomed 17 superyachts for four days of racing in the waters off Sardinia. The final day saw competitors tackle a 16.4-nautical-mile course through the La Maddalena channel in north-easterly winds ranging from seven to 12 knots.Read: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66177" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachts attending the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta 2026 (2026-05-26 17:30:00 +0200)">Yachts attending the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta 2026</a>In the Blue Class, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moat35.2m (115'6&quot;)Nautor Swan2016">Moat</a> secured her third consecutive <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/355" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta - 2026">Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta</a> title. Owned by Juan Ball and racing with Cole Parada as tactician, the Swan 115 once again proved dominant throughout the series. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> 108 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11831" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gelliceaux35.51m (116'6&quot;)Southern Wind2023">Gelliceaux</a> finished second overall on 14 points, ahead of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/53" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Briand Yacht Design (Company)">Briand</a> 108 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4020" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Inoui33.4m (109'7&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2013">Inoui</a> in third. The 39-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tripp Design Naval Architects (Company)">Tripp</a>-designed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cervo39.0m (127'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2009">Cervo</a>, competing in the event for the first time, placed fourth.Commenting on the victory, Ball credited the result to the team's continuous efforts to refine the yacht throughout the year and praised the spirit of the regatta and its unique setting in Porto Cervo.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395388/image/large-da55be4e78874035e8aa845a59dc0893.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395388">Meanwhile, in the White Class, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12060" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Liberty31.24m (102'6&quot;)Southern Wind2024">Liberty</a> solidified her lead with another race win on the final day. The Southern Wind 96, racing with Bouwe Bekking on tactics, finished ahead of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2284" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nostromo30.1m (98'9&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2009">Nostromo</a> in second and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10474" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SØRVIND34.59m (113'6&quot;)Southern Wind2022">Sørvind</a> by Giorgio Armani in third.The yacht's owner, Carlo Pirzio Biroli, described the event as a fantastic week of racing, highlighting the close competition on the water and the race committee's management of the fleet across all four race days.Additional honours were awarded during the event. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/577" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubois Yachts (Company)">Dubois</a> 100 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2284" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nostromo30.1m (98'9&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2009">Nostromo</a> claimed victory in the Corinthian Division, ahead of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10474" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SØRVIND34.59m (113'6&quot;)Southern Wind2022">Sørvind</a> by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Armani/Casa (Company)">Giorgio Armani</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6569" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Magic Blue28.64m (93'12&quot;)Southern Wind2010">Magic Blue</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395389/image/large-141d0deb5458162601fb688a8a56fe72.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395389">As the highest-placed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12060" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Liberty31.24m (102'6&quot;)Southern Wind2024">Liberty</a> also secured the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> Trophy, reserved for yachts built by the South African shipyard. Fellow <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> models <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11831" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gelliceaux35.51m (116'6&quot;)Southern Wind2023">Gelliceaux</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/14514" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalantis35.51m (116'6&quot;)Southern Wind2026">Kalantis</a>, both SW108s, completed the podium.The event also coincided with the 20th <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/151" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Wind (Company)">Southern Wind</a> Rendezvous, which saw owners and guests enjoy a more relaxed day of sailing along the same course as the regatta fleet.With the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/355" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta - 2026">Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta</a> now concluded, Porto Cervo shifts its focus to the return of the Range Rover Sardinia Cup. The event will run from 31 May to 7 June, marking its comeback after a 14-year absence from the racing calendar.

Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta 2026 Winners

The Swan 115 Moat and Southern Wind 96 Liberty emerged as the overall class winners at the 2026 Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta.

Moat and Liberty claim top honours at 2026 Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/344" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="World Boating Day - 2026">World Boating Day 2026</a> came to a close last weekend with over 143 events hosted across 28 countries. Organised by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6042" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Superyacht Life Foundation (Company)">The Superyacht Life Foundation</a>, the events took place on 23 May, with both physical and virtual activities. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395202/image/large-47bef4d2540bb1080ebc73b366e0d9e9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395202">This year saw a global celebration of events, from shipyards and marinas to museums and vibrant waterfront destinations, offering industry leaders, families, students and first-time visitors the opportunity to discover, connect and explore on and around the water.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s “Connecting Excellence” event brought emerging yacht design talent together with the creative and technical teams behind its most iconic projects, while, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> supported Social Boat, an Amsterdam-based initiative, enabling guests with limited financial means to experience a memorable day on the water through hosted canal journeys.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395201/image/large-8bfe1bb3fdcfcde117c16e55d94e478b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395201">In Monaco, the Monaco Cluster brought together leading names including <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/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> MED, La Belle Classe Academy and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4337" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Club de Monaco (Company)">Yacht Club de Monaco</a>, for yacht design insights, educational sessions, family activities and celebrations aligned with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4337" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Club de Monaco (Company)">Yacht Club de Monaco</a>’s Fête de la Mer.&nbsp;In Spain, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balearic Marine Cluster (Company)">Balearic Marine Cluster</a> hosted a vibrant programme anchored by the Balearic Boating Festival 2026 at Port Adriano, a lively public celebration featuring workshops, gastronomy and interactive activities for all ages.&nbsp;Across Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, the programme expanded further with guided shipyard visits at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/211" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Astilleros de Mallorca S.A. (Company)">Astilleros de Mallorca</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4473" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="STP Shipyard Palma (Company)">STP Shipyard Palma</a>, a contemporary art exhibition at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Club de Mar (Company)">Club de Mar</a> Mallorca, networking events for women in the nautical sector, sailing experiences including the Galaxie voyage and educational initiatives opening their doors to maritime careers.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395203/image/large-11f91aa214a5d621720fdb80ce62f128.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395203">In the United States, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum partnered with Sail to Shelter to deliver hands-on, creative activities, introducing families and young visitors to boating culture. Meanwhile, at Fort Lauderdale’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4355" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pier Sixty-Six Marina (Company)">Pier Sixty-Six Marina</a>, there was a fun and educational celebration focusing on teaching boating basics.As well as this, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade (Company)">Metstrade</a>, in collaboration with Plastic Whale and The Ocean Conservation Trust, invited exhibitors, visitors and communities worldwide to take part in a collective action for cleaner waters. Meanwhile, E-WERF and Marée Circle opened their shipyard, offering insight into the future of boating. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395200/image/large-f81f16266466a30b5b76761609606da9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395200">“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/344" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="World Boating Day - 2026">World Boating Day</a> is about opening up the world of boating to anyone with a connection to the water, whether through work, lifestyle or curiosity,” concluded Dilan Sarac, Executive Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6042" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Superyacht Life Foundation (Company)">The Superyacht Life Foundation</a>.“Each year we see more communities, partners and individuals come together, and that shared energy is what drives this movement forward.”Preparations are already underway for World Boating Day 2027, with further expansion expected as new regions and partners join the initiative.(All images courtesy of The Superyacht Life Foundation.)

World Boating Day 2026 concludes

World Boating Day 2026 came to a close last weekend with over 143 events hosted across 28 countries.

World Boating Day 2026 concludes with over 143 events hosted worldwide

Yachts attending the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta 2026

Taking place from 26 May to 30 May 2026, the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta returns to Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy.

The largest superyachts at Cannes Film Festival 2026

SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at some of the yachts currently in the region for the 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival 2026 in France. 

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The largest superyachts in the region for the Cannes Film Festival 2026

SuperYacht Times is pleased to announced the release of the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2026</a>, which is now available as a free download. The report was produced for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a>, held in Kobe, Japan, on 7 and 8 May 2026.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391630/image/large-35a5114e3ed8a25c76d38787ba96de16.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391630">Now in its third edition, the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">report</a> provides a data-led overview of the Asia-Pacific superyacht market, drawing on analysis from the SuperYacht Times Intelligence team, with data supplied by <a href="https://sytiq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a>.Using <a href="https://sytiq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a> and proprietary yacht-tracking data, the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">report</a> examines the region’s fleet, cruising patterns and key areas of activity. It looks at how many superyachts are currently active in Asia-Pacific, where they are based, whether the regional fleet is growing, and which locations are emerging as important hotspots. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/25869/image/large-be0ca6ac405b4c42e4bdcf910c97ce4e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/25869">SYT Strategy bespoke consultancyWould you like to increase your footprint in the Asia-Pacific superyacht market but are lacking the right data? The Intelligence team at SuperYacht Times performed extensive research specifically for the <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/asia-pacific_superyacht_summit_report_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2026</a> and we could do the same for your company too through <a href="https://www.sytstrategy.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SYT Strategy</a>. Interested? Get in touch with our Sales team via <a href="mailto:sales@superyachttimes.com" title="">sales@superyachttimes.com</a>

Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2026 available for download

SuperYacht Times is pleased to announced the release of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2026, which is now available as a free download.

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The International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) has announced that the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival (Company)">Cannes Yachting Festival&nbsp;</a>(CYF) has joined its community as a member. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371277/image/large-3c855c030bdd1559da307ebdccf75fe3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371277">Founded in 1964, the IFBSO represents the interests of boat show organisers by fostering international cooperation and promoting excellence in boat show management. As of April 2026, IFBSO represents 41 boat shows across 18 countries.“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival (Company)">Cannes Yachting Festival</a> is one of the great names in our industry, and we’re delighted to welcome them into the IFBSO community,” explained Veda Pretorius, Executive Director of the IFBSO.&nbsp;Through its working groups, annual Congress and the Boat Show Barometer research programme, IFBSO provides members with peer insight and practical tools that they might not be able to develop alone.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/349170/image/large-c969f2bac08471636ca21cfbeb04d130.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/349170">This year’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival - 2026">Cannes Yachting Festival</a> runs from 8 to 13 September and will be the first edition under the leadership of the new Show Director Constance Brément. “Joining IFBSO ahead of the 2026 edition – my first as Show Director of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival (Company)">Cannes Yachting Festival</a> – has special significance,” she explained.&nbsp;“This membership strengthens our international outlook and gives us a valuable opportunity to connect with leading boat show organisers worldwide, share best practices, and continue evolving the Festival for the benefit of our exhibitors, partners and visitors.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371265/image/large-65eeb855cd18b7b0172495f2695045fc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371265">Organised by global events company RX (Reed Exhibitions), the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cannes Yachting Festival (Company)">Cannes Yachting Festival</a>’s value closely aligns with the work of the IFBSO’s Diversity &amp; Inclusion and Sustainability working groups.Held annually across Vieux Port and Port Canto in Cannes, France, the event serves as a major platform for yacht unveilings, premieres and debuts. “Our congratulations go to Constance Brément, who steps up as Show Director for 2026,” concluded Pretorius. “We wish her a brilliant first edition.”

Cannes Yachting Festival joins IFBSO

The International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) has announced that the Cannes Yachting Festival (CYF) has joined its community. 

Cannes Yachting Festival joins IFBSO ahead of 2026 edition

MEDYs largest yachts attending


SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at the largest yachts set to attend MEDYs 2026.

Largest yachts attending the Mediterranean Yacht Show 2026

The highly anticipated <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TYBA Yacht Charter Show 2026 - 7th">Turkish Yacht and Broker Association Charter Show</a> (TYBA) returns for its seventh edition from 7 to 11 May in Marmaris, Turkey. Here’s a preview of a curated selection of high-end gulets, motor yachts and sailing vessels making their way to the stunning Aegean town for an unforgettable showcase at this year’s show.&nbsp;Noyan Mutlugil, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TYBA Yacht Charter Show 2026 - 7th">TYBA</a> Chairman of Show Committee, highlights how this year's show is the celebration of "a 47-year-old legacy of yacht charter shows in Marmaris. The idea for the first charter show in the region was initiated in 1979 by Jim and Jill Anderson, who were living in Marmaris at the time and pioneered the idea of holding a yacht show in the area. Following this initial attempt in 1979, the first official yacht charter show gained international recognition from 1981 onwards."The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TYBA Yacht Charter Show 2026 - 7th">TYBA</a> Association has taken over this legacy and continues to develop it with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TYBA Yacht Charter Show 2026 - 7th">TYBA</a> Yacht Charter Show. Except for a two-year break due to the pandemic, this tradition has continued uninterrupted for almost fifty years. "With this deep-rooted history, the charter show tradition in Turkey is considered the second oldest ongoing organisation in the world (the first being the Antigua Charter Yacht Show)" shares Noyan.The event, held in the shadow of the historic Marmaris Castle, will showcase the most distinguished commercial charter yachts representing Turkish yachting. The fair offers an ideal platform for brokers to inspect yachts, meet crew members, and strengthen professional relationships in the international charter market. This year's show will have 49 yachts attending, more than 35 of which are over 24-metres. Below we highlight some of the largest yachts attending the show in Marmaris.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372258/image/large-99b1a81121f61333e96e22df28abe8f4.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372258"> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8508" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oguz Khan50.5m (165'8&quot;)Bodrum Oguz Marin2025">Oguz Khan</a> | 50.5 m| Bodrum Oguz Marin | 2025<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/91243/image/large-a1b5f68c82d686fc8ca37faf0817fa06.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/91243"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7254" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="All About U 249.9m (163'9&quot;)ADA Yacht Works2019">All About U 2</a> | 49.9 m | ADA Yacht Works | 2019<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/362258/image/large-dc3e81368f0b46bc3a72a1191f5879b2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/362258"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12721" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legasea49.9m (163'9&quot;)ADA Yacht Works2025">Legasea</a> | 49.9 m | &nbsp;ADA Yacht Works | 2025<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4902" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mare Nostrum49.1m (161'1&quot;)Kadir Turhan2008"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/74850/image/large-8bc7af20b9cb01faaa7e41945f6ed733.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/74850">Mare Nostrum</a> | 49.1 m | Kadir Turhan | 2008<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391833/image/large-bbe4edc295863d675e0ee7133a4480c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391833"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orient Star47.0m (154'2&quot;)CMB Yachts2012">Orient Star</a> | 47.0 m | CMB Yachts | 2012 | Exhibited by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Love 47.0m (154'2&quot;)Custom2024"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/353867/image/large-910b98a7f5fa11f327b31e85077dac21.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/353867">De Love</a> | 47.0 m| Custom | 2024<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7204" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Halcon Del Mar 45.0m (147'8&quot;)Tum Tour Yacht2017"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/83965/image/large-d13ce021e2db9ed1b19914879d728af4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/83965">Halcon Del Mar</a> | 45.0 m | Tum Tour Yacht | 2017<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15216" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="North Wind43.99m (144'4&quot;)Sökmen Kardeşler2023"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/354006/image/large-5ad7ae069e6c92226c87682fda4c3656.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/354006">North Wind</a> | 43.99 m| Sökmen Kardeşler | 2023<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3308" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ubi Bene43.89m (143'12&quot;)Valena Yachting2010"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227727/image/large-4e23d5d657af051b8a4abbd3e981b307.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227727">Ubi Bene</a> | 43.89 m | Valena Yachting | 2010<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12958" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Son Of Wind42.3m (138'9&quot;)Unknown2021"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268014/image/large-b45a282828e6b1b5bd098a45fc29e19c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268014">Son of Wind</a> | 42.3 m | Unknown | 2021<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13789" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Double Eagle39.6m (129'11&quot;)Bodrum Shipyard2005"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308658/image/large-b9207365c007f654810a46092c73d23d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308658">Double Eagle</a> | 39.6 m | Bodrum Shipyard | 2005<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1766" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ariela39.6m (129'11&quot;)CRN2004"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265911/image/large-bd88c05f4f2d47222e3fafd821c9412b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265911">Ariela</a> | 39.6 m &nbsp;| CRN | 2004<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12415" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Deep Water39.2m (128'7&quot;)Tum Tour Yacht2022"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/309282/image/large-d1ad70fcd789c47bf8fd9657d271fda9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/309282">Deep Water</a> | 39.2 | Tum Tour Yacht | 2022<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/354035/image/large-88623e1b47738af17ac7fb15efb54adf.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/354035"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15217" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Long Island39.0m (127'11&quot;)Sökmen Kardeşler2019">Long Island</a> | 39.0 m | Sökmen Kardesler | 2019<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Canaria38.2m (125'4&quot;)Cavusoglu Yat Imalathanesi2013"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/82543/image/large-d48474ae029651b935359a715543116b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/82543">Canaria</a> | 38.2 m | Cavusoglu Yat Imalathanesi | 2013<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bella Mare38.0m (124'8&quot;)Bozburun Shipyard2008"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/82353/image/large-af7675db9f7deb6f8e15e3b386142d2d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/82353">Bella Mare</a> | 38.0 m | Bozburun Shipyard | 2008<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11346" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Queen of Makri 37.2m (122'1&quot;)Megri Yachting2020"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/200605/image/large-755b99d0b1c5f839f91437ffaae97b42.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/200605">Queen of Makri&nbsp;</a>| 37.2 m| Megri Yachting | 2020<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3144" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gitane37.0m (121'5&quot;)Evadne Yachts2008"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/297646/image/large-ae71f4ce5f943acefd5103db2f7aaaea.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/297646">Gitane</a> | 37.0 m | Evadne Yachts | 2008<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3467" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Panfeliss36.5m (119'9&quot;)Mengi Yay Yachts2009"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/238371/image/large-138e93c31481b7095088353d9f931041.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/238371">Panfeliss</a> | 36.5 m | Mengi Yay | 2009<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1579" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="White Soul35.84m (117'7&quot;)Bod-Yat A.S.2007"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/201462/image/large-c2efeefc32c4517fe9c430ef9c466ec9.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/201462">White Soul</a> | 35.84 m | Bod-Yat A.S. | 2007<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/2150/image/large-1f7d6b8ba5da2222459551cb1ac747bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/2150"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5882" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Estrella de Mar34.0m (111'7&quot;)Koyunbaba Boat Manufacturing2011">Estrella De Mar</a> | 34.0 m | Koyunbaba Boat Manufacturing | 2011<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/104237/image/large-d1d118fe5215c9567fcb80c4301fb847.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/104237"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9134" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Coral34.0m (111'7&quot;)Türkoglu Shipyard 2008">Coral</a> | 34.0 m | Türkoglu Shipyard| 2008<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/267935/image/large-f68ae32e4a5eb3b16c7dac9a04f669e3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/267935"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1462" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Go33.77m (110'10&quot;)Dragos Yachts2009">Go</a> | 33.77 m | Dragos Yachts | 2009<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/271961/image/large-47b743c3b2e2c84a8afd2da533d41ce7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/271961"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13006" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Questa Vita33.0m (108'3&quot;)Unknown2021">Questa Vita</a> | 33.0 m | Unknown | 2021<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/296940/image/large-36b720092923eb69c9d80c4010ea13f8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/296940"> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4318" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serenity 8630.11m (98'9&quot;)Mural Yachts2007">Serenity 86&nbsp;</a>| 30.11 m | Mural Yachts | 2007For the full list of yachts attending TYBA, visit the official event <a href="https://tybachartershow.com/attending" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">site</a>.

yachts attending TYBA 2026

Discover some of the largest superyachts attending the Turkish Yachts and Brokers Association show in Marmaris, Türkiye.

Largest superyachts attending TYBA 2026

SuperYacht Times is pleased to announce <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> as Event Partner for the third edition of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a>, which will take place in Kobe on 7 and 8 May 2026, hosted at La Suite Kobe Oceans Garden.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/390946/image/large-734b249872100012a6cb4f44a4137db4.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/390946">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65287" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2026 programme (2026-04-10 15:15:00 +0200)">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2026 programme&nbsp;</a>The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit</a> convenes yacht owners, operators and senior industry stakeholders to examine how the region’s superyacht market is evolving, with discussion centred on regulatory frameworks, operational realities and the conditions required for sustainable, long term growth.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/386863/image/large-58c4ccbfb716dce2b59f06ad26c0f064.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/386863">Japan, which has not traditionally been perceived as a core yachting nation, is home to more than 21,000 ultra high net worth individuals. This concentration of private wealth, combined with recent regulatory reform and growing investment in marina and service infrastructure, has brought renewed attention to the country’s potential role within the wider Asia Pacific superyacht ecosystem.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65494" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="What is shaping Japan’s yacht brokerage market? (2026-03-02 13:30:00 +0100)">What is shaping Japan’s yacht brokerage market?</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/370701/image/large-fccdf0ce93277bda47184d5f87855515.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/370701">As Japan continues to open its market to international yacht traffic, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/325" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit - 2026 - 3rd Edition">2026 Summit</a> will explore how the country is positioning itself alongside more established regional destinations, while also examining broader regulatory, operational and investment trends shaping the Asia Pacific market.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/384775/image/large-410054e783a96845b5d4c94c95eff55c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/384775">

Benetti announced as Event Partner for APSS 2026

SuperYacht Times is pleased to announce Benetti as Event Partner for the third edition of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit.

Benetti announced as Event Partner for Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2026 in Japan

The 26.09-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">St Jude</a> is currently for sale with Ed Dickinson of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a>. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht for sale</a> presents an opportunity to acquire a recently delivered and highly specified example of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a> Grande 26 Metri series. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396921/image/large-ff944c89d13eb307ec0217c75a08e8c8.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396921">Delivered in 2025, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/of-type=motor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">motor yacht for sale</a> benefits from a carbon-fibre superstructure designed to reduce weight and improve efficiency when cruising. Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">St Jude</a> has a beam of 6.3-metres and a draft of 2.05-metres. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3025" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mancini Yacht Design (Company)">Alberto Mancini Yacht Design</a>, while her interior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/563" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Salvagni Architetti (Company)">Salvagni Architetti</a>. Her naval architecture was developed by her builder.&nbsp; Outside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">St Jude</a>’s exterior spaces are a highlight onboard. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">yacht St Jude for sale</a> is fitted with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/358" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut Yachts (Company)">Azimut</a>’s optional Deck2Deck folding sea terrace system, which expands the usable aft deck area allowing it to be closer to the water. Meanwhile, her flybridge has been configured for relaxing and entertaining, featuring a dining table that could seat up to 10 guests, an American-style bar, barbeque grill, opening hardtop, and secondary help station. Forward, her bow lounge benefits from additional seating and sunbathing zones, tucked away from the main guest spaces.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396922/image/large-b17c982cd7b5c2ba9113b7864705be5f.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396922">Stepping inside, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/built-by=azimut" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Azimut yacht for sale</a> embraces a contemporary interior defined by soft neutral tones, curved furnishings, and extensive glazing that draws in abundant natural light. Her layout separates the dining area from her main saloon, encouraging gatherings to be more intimate, while her upgraded galley includes a serving window opening directly into the dining space to facilitate guest service. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396923/image/large-22435a62778c5c6762f8010710893939.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396923">At an interior volume of 122 GT, accommodation onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">St Jude</a> is arranged for up to 10 guests across a five-stateroom layout. Her full-beam owner’s suite is situated on the main deck and benefits from enhanced sound insulation, blackout blinds and an oversized bed. Dedicated quarters are also provided for a crew of three, including her captain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397068/image/large-1fcc7af707c5579ae424a83bf3c32c28.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397068">In terms of performance, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13860" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Jude26.09m (85'7&quot;)Azimut Yachts2025">yacht St Jude for sale</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> engines delivering a cruising speed of 23 knots and a top speed of 26 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396920/image/large-a4ddf5b7874a04338f96c6d9608e3bc5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396920">All images provided courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a>.

26m Azimut motor yacht St Jude for sale

The 26.09-metre Azimut motor yacht St Jude is currently for sale with Northrop & Johnson.

The 28.96-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Yachts (Company)">Princess</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11146" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Current $ea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Princess Yachts2011">Current $ea</a> has been sold. Arto Horenyan and Demir Ozgur of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7231" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Purom LLC (Company)">Purom Yacht Sales</a> introduced the buyer, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1693" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Ocean Yacht Management (Company)">Blue Oceans Yachting</a> represented the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/297356/image/large-fb368d723c9b5093a7391e102023de52.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/297356">Delivered in 2011, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Yachts (Company)">Princess</a> 95 yacht benefitted from a refit in 2024. She features interior penned in-house by her builder, with exterior design and naval architecture crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2740" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Olesinski Ltd. (Company)">Olesinski</a>.At a volume of 173 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11146" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Current $ea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Princess Yachts2011">Current $ea</a> can accommodate up to eight guests across four well-appointed staterooms. Her layout comprises a master suite, VIP suite, a double and a twin stateroom. Moreover, the yacht's main saloon is fitted with comfortable seating surrounding a coffee table, while a formal dining area forward can seat eight guests. Aft, guests can enjoy alfresco dining, as well as evenings at the bar and lounge area beneath a custom hardtop in the flybridge.In terms of propulsion system, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11146" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Current $ea28.96m (95'0&quot;)Princess Yachts2011">Current $ea</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, giving her a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top speed of 29 knots.

Princess yacht Current Sea sold

The 28.96-metre Princess motor yacht Current $ea has been sold.

29m Princess motor yacht Current $ea sold

Italian yacht builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> has denied rumours that they had a possible interest in acquiring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">The Italian Sea Group (TISG)</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397066/image/large-cec8e87de7ad8613fc332951b5703d7a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397066">According to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>, press articles had reported that they were in negotiations with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> to acquire the entire share capital or the main assets. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> clarified that at present no negotiations to that effect are underway with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> or its shareholders.“At the same time, as a leading player in the Italian yachting industry and in line with its external growth strategy, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti</a> continuously evaluates and assesses potential opportunities that may arise in the market,” commented <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a>.The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> closed their statement by confirming that if they were to proceed with any transactions, it would inform the market in compliance with terms and conditions required by law.In February 2026, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> announced that Chairman Filippo Menchelli and Vice Chairman Marco Carniani had resigned, with Giovanni Costantino elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors.The following week, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> launched a forensic investigation into internal overspending and financial irregularities. KPMG was appointed to conduct an independent forensic due diligence review, as a result of the actions made possible by a group of individuals within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a>.&nbsp;Since then, the Court of Florence has granted protective measures restricting creditors from initiating or continuing enforcement actions against the company’s assets, including vessels currently under construction. Last week, these measures were partially lifted for five shipowners.Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66308" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Florence court lifts protective measures for five The Italian Sea Group yacht contracts (2026-06-11 10:00:00 +0200)">Florence court lifts protective measures for five The Italian Sea Group yacht contracts</a>The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4876" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferretti Group (Company)">Ferretti Group</a> is not the only company that has denied acquisition rumours for TISG. In March 2026, German yacht builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> told SuperYacht Times that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65574" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen not considering acquiring The Italian Sea Group (2026-03-09 14:00:00 +0100)">the company had not considered acquiring TISG</a>.&nbsp;

Ferretti Group denies The Italian Sea Group acquisition rumours

Italian yacht builder Ferretti Group has denied rumours that they had a possible interest in acquiring The Italian Sea Group (TISG).

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4590" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vard Group AS (Company)">Vard</a> has announced the keel laying for Inkfish's new 100-metre research vessel, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV6000100.0m (328'1&quot;)Vard Group AS2028">RV6000</a> at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4590" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vard Group AS (Company)">Vard</a> Shipyard in Brăila, Romania. Known during construction as NB 999, the vessel will be the first research platform purpose-built for Gabe Newell’s research organisation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397061/image/large-d35a472dcc679e61841c880a2655ea40.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397061">Developed from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4590" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vard Group AS (Company)">Vard</a> 9 33 platform, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV6000100.0m (328'1&quot;)Vard Group AS2028">RV6000</a> represents a contract of more than €200 million. Upon delivery, she will join Inkfish's expanding fleet alongside the 55.75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1643" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Auroux (Company)">Auroux</a> vessel <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hydra55.75m (182'11&quot;)Auroux1974">Hydra</a> and the 68.28-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tacoma Boat Building Co (Company)">Tacoma Boat Building</a> vessel <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10637" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dagon68.28m (224'0&quot;)Tacoma Boat Building Co1985">Dagon</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365665/image/large-908318675f42f6a91544e68f54985a77.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365665">Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/64326" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="From gaming to yachting: Gabe Newell on life at sea and building the future with Oceanco (2025-09-25 13:30:00 +0200)">From gaming to yachting: Gabe Newell on life at sea and building the future with Oceanco</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV6000100.0m (328'1&quot;)Vard Group AS2028">RV6000</a> is designed to support deep-ocean exploration and scientific operations. She will be equipped with a remotely operated vehicle capable of operating at depths of up to 6,000-metres. Like the rest of the Inkfish fleet, she will contribute to global marine research efforts and share collected data through open-access scientific repositories.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397058/image/large-4eb30edccf76f557eef22493215f51d9.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397058">The project is the result of a collaborative design programme initiated in early 2024 between Inkfish and its UK-based technical advisers, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YTMC Limited (Company)">YTMC</a>. With a beam of 20.7-metres, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV6000100.0m (328'1&quot;)Vard Group AS2028">RV6000</a> will be able to accommodate up to 70 people, including scientists and crew. Onboard, she will feature state-of-the-art laboratories, office spaces and workshops, complemented by high-quality accommodation and leisure facilities designed for extended missions at sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397059/image/large-a5ea1a627ba59ada6647e8daad68fc5d.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397059">The vessel will utilise a hybrid power and propulsion arrangement and is expected to reach a top speed of 15 knots. Her hull has been engineered to optimise seafloor mapping performance while delivering enhanced seakeeping capabilities. Anti-roll technology will help reduce vessel motion and accelerations, while dynamic positioning systems will allow her to maintain precise station-keeping during scientific operations.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365663/image/large-c61127683cf23a8c4c8a30a5e12daadd.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365663">Following hull construction, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/15856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV6000100.0m (328'1&quot;)Vard Group AS2028">RV6000</a> will proceed to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4590" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vard Group AS (Company)">Vard</a> Søviknes for final outfitting, commissioning and delivery. Together with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17142" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RV11000162.0m (531'6&quot;)Vard Group AS2030">RV11000</a>, she forms part of Gabe Newell’s expanding research fleet.Read more about RV11000: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66207" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vard signs €700M contract with Gabe Newell’s Inkfish for 162m research vessel (2026-05-29 14:00:00 +0200)">Vard signs €700M contract with Gabe Newell’s Inkfish for 162m research vessel</a>Newell is the co-founder, president and majority owner of the video game company Valve Corporation. He is also the owner of Inkfish and a shareholder in Dutch yacht builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372661/image/large-efbaa1c91bfa6988f938d8e2732895dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372661">Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/63947" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gabe Newell buys Oceanco (2025-08-01 10:15:00 +0200)">Gabe Newell buys Oceanco</a>In September 2025, Newell revealed in an <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/64326" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="From gaming to yachting: Gabe Newell on life at sea and building the future with Oceanco (2025-09-25 13:30:00 +0200)">exclusive interview with SuperYacht Times</a> that he owns the 78.5-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/10" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rocinante78.4m (257'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Rocinante</a>, the 72.15-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5955" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Game Changer72.15m (236'9&quot;)Damen Yachting2017">Game Changer</a>, the 92.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4018" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Draak92.8m (304'6&quot;)Oceanco2014">Draak</a>, and the 111-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leviathan111.0m (364'2&quot;)Oceanco2025">Leviathan</a>.As previously noted, his research platforms include <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10637" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dagon68.28m (224'0&quot;)Tacoma Boat Building Co1985">Dagon</a>, operating as a full-ocean-depth surface support vessel, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hydra55.75m (182'11&quot;)Auroux1974">Hydra</a>, designed for coastal research and scientific studies.

Vard research vessel RV6000 keel laid

Vard has marked a major construction milestone for Inkfish's new 100-metre research vessel, RV6000.

Construction begins on Gabe Newell's 100m Inkfish research vessel RV6000

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397057/image/large-4de87309467dff8f61f6d021318d49d1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397057">The 43-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2405" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hike Metal Works (Company)">Hike Metal Works</a> explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3859" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Friendly Confines43.0m (141'1&quot;)Hike Metal Works2006">Friendly Confines</a> was spotted docked in Dublin, Ireland, late last May. According to AIS data, she is currently in Bergen, Norway, having arrived from Belfast earlier this month.Delivered in 2006 by the Canadian shipyard, the yacht was formerly known as Marcato and Copasetic. More recently, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3859" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Friendly Confines43.0m (141'1&quot;)Hike Metal Works2006">Friendly Confines</a> underwent an extensive refit at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4473" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="STP Shipyard Palma (Company)">STP Shipyard Palma</a> between 2025 and 2026. Among her defining exterior features is a blue hull, which complements her rugged explorer profile.Her interiors were designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/489" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gold Coast Design Studio (Company)">Gold Coast Design Studio</a>, while naval architecture and exterior design were penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Guarino & Cox (Company)">Guarino &amp; Cox</a>. With an internal volume of 491 GT, she can accommodate up to 12 guests across five well-appointed staterooms, attended by a crew of seven.In terms of propulsion, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3859" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Friendly Confines43.0m (141'1&quot;)Hike Metal Works2006">Friendly Confines</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, enabling a cruising speed of 13 knots and a top speed of 14 knots.

43m explorer yacht Friendly Confines in Dublin

The 43-metre Hike Metal Works explorer yacht Friendly Confines was spotted docked in Dublin, Ireland.

The 49.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> sold in a deal with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1550" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marine Marketing (Company)">Marine Marketing</a> introducing the buyer, alongside Nathan Farrelly of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="One Brokerage Australia (Company)">One Brokerage Australia</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397051/image/large-5a5dce9decb30e6d016cb98d7fde34c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397051">Delivered in 2018 as part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> 5000 Semi-Displacement series, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/55" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Omega Architects (Company)">Omega Architects</a>, with interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cristiano Gatto Design (Company)">Cristiano Gatto Design</a> and naval architecture by her Dutch builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests across a six stateroom configuration, with her master suite situated on the main deck forward, while her VIP suite, two doubles and two twin staterooms can be found on the lower deck.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> is equipped with twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, which propel her to a top speed of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. At the time of the sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> had a last known asking price of €28,500,000.&nbsp;

Daisy D: 50m Heesen yacht sold

The 49.8-metre Heesen superyacht Daisy D sold, with a last known asking price of €28,500,000.

50m Heesen superyacht Daisy D sold

The 30.48-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/466" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hatteras Yachts (Company)">Hatteras</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> sold in a deal with Iain Lawrie of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merle Wood & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Merle Wood &amp; Associates</a> introducing the buyer and Michael Zaidan of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5149" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Borden and Associates Yacht Sales (Company)">Borden &amp; Associates Yacht Sales</a> representing the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397019/image/large-1adf3cf22ae9625acf3be275898f7595.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397019">Delivered in 2001, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/326" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jack Hargrave (Company)">Jack Hargrave</a>. Spanning 180 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests across a five stateroom configuration.&nbsp;In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> can reach a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, thanks to twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1497" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Detroit Diesel (Company)">Detroit Diesel</a> engines. At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> had a last known asking price of $1,450,000.(Image courtesy of Merle Wood &amp; Associates.)

Sunday Money: 31m Hatteras yacht sold

The 30.48-metre Hatteras motor yacht Sunday Money sold with a last known asking price of $1,450,000.

31m Hatteras motor yacht Sunday Money sold

Travelling to Sydney, Leona Caanen speaks with Luke Geelan, family man and owner of the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>&nbsp;fleet.Growing up with a passion for boating, and especially fishing, is Luke Geelan, Sydney native and owner of the 35.05-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>. Having spent most of his life around the water, it seems only natural for Luke to have moved into the world of boating. Overtime the yacht has come to resemble not only a connection to his past, but also to his future, getting to enjoy it with his family and friends, as well as sharing it with charter guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388213/image/large-0b83e89d1054e69437b37ff303a35921.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388213">A family passionGrowing up on a river in Sydney, Luke was introduced to the rhythms of tide and weather from an early age. “I’ve grown up with a passion for boating, my father taught me to water ski and sail as a young child” Luke shares. Over time, Luke exchanged sailing for wakeboarding and eventually game-fishing, depending his passion for being out at sea. This passion has remained a constant factor in Luke’s life, deepening even further once he could share it with his own kids.A few years ago, Luke sold his business and decided to step into boating in a more deliberate way by acquiring the 35-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>, built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/554" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyds Ships (Company)">Lloyd Ships</a> in Australia in 1986. Purchasing her in 2024, the yacht allowed for Luke and his family to explore the Australian coast with more comfort, as well as for them to get to share their passion for the sea. “My two boys are especially big on game fishing, and my daughter is very passionate about snorkelling and marine life”, says Luke. By acquiring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>, it allows for the family to share their passions with one another.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396937/image/large-131bb2f788c31defa0822382f533d318.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396937">A three-part refitAs <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> is from the 80s, she was in need of an upgrade when Luke purchased her. The refit has been phased and purposeful, with 2024 seeing the first of the three phases. The yacht spent September to November at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3255" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (Company)">Gold Coast City Marina &amp; Shipyard</a> where the bridge was upgraded, soft furnishings replaced and extensive paintwork completed. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388209/image/large-c74eb7958e3e321e611bea0e2d9fee9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388209">The second phase was centred around remodelling the saloon, with new flooring, carpeting and ceilings, as well as mechanical enhancements. Other upgrades included a beach club installation, complete with an inflatable pool, protective netting and a shaded cabana, which has proved particularly popular with charter guests. Possibly the most meaningful addition during this refit have been the zero-speed stabilisers, “my wife suffers from really severe seasickness, the stabilisers are essential in making the yacht comfortable for my family,” Luke shares.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388210/image/large-06ec6524534531dc1f3ac942dd743803.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388210"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>’s third and final refit will take place in 2027 and will see an upgrade of the crew quarters. Originally, Luke had hoped to finalise the refit this year, but the yacht’s agenda, both in charter and personal use, is almost fully booked for the calendar year, and Luke wants to ensure there is enough time for the refit: “Our crew is so amazing, I'm super lucky to have what I believe is the best crew.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388187/image/large-fde4622fb25e3e416358ace496ed0104.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388187"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>&nbsp;juniorYet the 35-metre motor yacht is only half the story. Six months after acquiring the mothership, Luke secured what he describes as Australia’s leading game fishing platform: a custom-built 17.7-metre (58’0”) Assegai sportfisher. Designed specifically for marlin fishing along the country’s east coast, the yacht is equipped with a gyro stabiliser and, more recently, a Furuno Omni Sonar System capable of scanning 360 degrees around the vessel to significant depths, providing a technological edge in a pursuit that still relies on instinct and patience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396954/image/large-96857bf8151cfcd655d86dc3d061d704.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396954">The reason for acquiring the fishing vessel to cruise alongside the mothership are his sons. Luke shares that “my sons and I have been game fishing together for the last five years or so,” and have even partaken in various competitions in- and around Sydney. “We’ve won a couple of state titles and other competitions,” a hint of pride sits in Luke’s voice. “My children in particular, have a passion for fishing, and I've just shared that passion, and supported it”, he adds.Lukes really enjoys fishing with his family and friends, on a recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Shore Thing 58' landed a 1,223 pound Black Marlin. Yet Luke is quick to note that they’re conscious about the way they fish. “We only catch what we eat; everything else goes right back in the ocean. We’re not hunters, we just fish for the joy of it.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388186/image/large-a98a34adf0095495d9e5f32f36eb458e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388186">The joy of cruisingSome of Luke’s most cherished moments onboard are those with friends and family. “We hosted my 50th birthday onboard,” Luke shares, having chartered the yacht to Whitehaven Beach, located in the Whitsundays, “there were about 40 guests, all friends and family.”&nbsp;Possibly Luke’s favourite memory is the recent Christmas holiday onboard. “Spending time with our family and another family, sitting around and just having deep belly laughs over some beautifully cooked meals by our chef onboard.” Luke describes this as delightful and quite possibly one of the most memorable times onboard. “Your kids grow up so quick, getting to share such a beautiful time together and feeling like, as your kids become young adults, that you can really share laughs and stories. It was just special.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396938/image/large-04bc34860fd9bc9b421321a8d9f42e09.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396938">The beauty of being on a boat is that it ties everyone together, whether that is his own family and friends, or guests who charter the yacht, for Luke, the joy of owning <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> lies in “getting to share the joy with other people.”The yacht and her fishing counterpart offer not just a sense of luxury, but a space for guests to create memories and experience the beauty of the Australian coastline as they cruise <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> between the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays and the Sydney Harbour.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388177/image/large-2991a957e2fdb4ef0038789921600aa2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388177">

Owning the shore thing fleet 

A look inside Luke Geelan's charter fleet: his 35m Shore Thing and the 58' sport fisher chartering around Sydney.

"The joy of owning Shore Thing is getting to share it with others"

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom Yacht Equipment</a>&nbsp;has earned a prominent position in the superyacht supply chain for its bespoke boarding equipment, platforms, cranes, watertight doors and integrated control systems. Yet the engineering philosophy behind its custom-designed solutions is based on a resolutely modular approach.When Mervyn van der Ploeg was appointed managing director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom Yacht Equipment</a> in 2015, the company was going through a bad patch. It routinely redesigned everything from scratch for each new yacht project, leading to prototype-level inefficiencies and financial strain. A small but telling example is that it used to produce 32 different types of locking pins. Today, through a process of standardisation and modularisation, that number has been reduced to just two sizes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396743/image/large-c20dda6c39f046eea94eaa71057b9e2c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396743">“Previously, when designing a platform for a yacht, four different locking pins might have been specified, requiring multiple suppliers,” explains van der Ploeg. “Now, we buy 200 locking pins per year in two sizes from a single supplier at half the cost.”The process began by redesigning a prototype passerelle from scratch using a fully modular approach, which then became a template for other equipment. While remaining a supplier of custom equipment, modular components are now reused across <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s product range, reducing design complexity and streamlining production.“A key technical insight came from looking outside the yachting industry,” continues van der Ploeg. “For example, swivel joints originally designed for excavators have been incorporated into our gangways. These components are proven, industrial-grade and standardised, which means we can build highly reliable systems without reinventing core mechanisms.”In the ten years since van der Ploeg joined the company, turnover has more than doubled from €12 million to €25 million, driven by increased efficiency along with larger yachts and a rising demand for integrated equipment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396739/image/large-d48d0f06ceeb5a00cfda9bafe1c96878.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396739">Make it modularThe spin-off from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s modular way of thinking are innovations designed to maximise open space while eliminating visual clutter. Many of these solutions revolve around relocating drive systems into hinge lines and the platform structures themselves. In one recent project, a large side platform was initially conceived as two separate elements with a manually installed infill piece. While technically feasible, it was operationally awkward. Instead, by introducing an internal hinge drive already proven elsewhere, the entire system was re-engineered as a single monolithic platform. The infill was eliminated, deployment became faster, crew workload was reduced, and the geometry became cleaner.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396744/image/large-4feaec6057dc57f70fe27a2f2a88296b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396744">The Sliding Stairs Access Hatch is another example. Developed in response to a request to optimise the passage from the main deck to the beach platform on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship’s</a> 79.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valor79.5m (260'10&quot;)Feadship2025">Valor</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s engineers merged door, hatch and boarding equipment components to create a completely new solution. Essentially, the staircases on each side of the pool form the hatch itself, with half of each staircase retracting into the deckhead like a gangway to provide access to the beach club.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396742/image/large-bd76338bca2c0e5436acede35e416f93.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396742">“This marked a next step in modular engineering for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>,” says van der Ploeg. “Our approach not only accelerated the development process, but also showed how modularity enables flexible, cross-disciplinary solutions without compromising quality.”As both staircases form part of the watertight boundary of the vessel certified by Class, one of the main challenges was ensuring watertight integrity, given the angle at which the stair hatches are installed, as well as aligning the treads between the hatches and the fixed structures. In fact, sealing has become a central issue as stern structures grow more complex – folding, rotating and closing at compound angles. While inflatable seals are often the go-to solution and offer excellent theoretical performance, they also represent a single point of failure. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> typically prefers D-profile rubber seals, which wear gradually, remain locally manageable, and allow temporary mitigation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396741/image/large-cf52ffb86158af5f4ac7a5922058d9b5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396741">“This approach is especially critical for Lloyd’s-certified watertight items such as split transom doors closing at different angles, where corners and junctions between curved surfaces become critical failure points,” van der Ploeg points out.Such solutions highlight how <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has evolved beyond developing hardware to innovating the onboard experience, a strategy that has resulted in multiple patented solutions, from pop-up gangways embedded in the stern platform to protective cabrio covers engineered to fold, stack or nest completely out of sight when not in use. At the last edition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade (Company)">Metstrade</a>, the company presented five interactive aft deck models through immersive 3D visualisations showcasing how engineering, design and user experience increasingly converge in the early phases of yacht development.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396745/image/large-b406b1bef2a73b0811b05344a273be7e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396745">Under controlAnother defining feature of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s approach is that its control systems and programming are all developed in-house. Precise timing between electronic commands, hydraulic oil flow and mechanical motion is critical, as are programmed delays that account for inertia and mass. Most systems employ frequency-driven power packs rather than simple on/off hydraulics, resulting in smoother movement, lower noise levels and the elimination of hydraulic ‘hammer’ effects. Automated operating cycles manage sequencing, speed and end-of-stroke deceleration automatically, reducing the risk of impact damage and operator error. Before delivery, full functional testing is carried out in-house, often with owner representatives present.Enclosed helicopter lifts represent some of the most complex control systems <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has delivered. On yachts such as the 85.95-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea85.95m (281'12&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a>, the 96.6-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/5936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia96.6m (316'11&quot;)Feadship2017">Sophia</a> (ex-Faith), 99-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/2074" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Madame Gu99.0m (324'10&quot;)Feadship2013">Madame Gu</a> and 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>, these lift assemblies rely on synchronised spindles and highly precise control algorithms to ensure uniform vertical motion. Ironically, real-world usage of helicopter lifts has revealed an interesting pattern:&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396746/image/large-793a08021cda2fc7bab19c3cd8f1a821.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396746">“On some yachts, the heli hangars are no longer actively used and instead function as static storage platforms,” reveals van der Ploeg. “In such cases, owners may even suspend servicing altogether – an illustration of how operational reality can diverge from original design intent.”Developments in control systems are being matched by advances in data intelligence. During the COVID period, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> expanded its remote-support capabilities and identified a recurring issue: when faults occur, crews often cannot describe what happened beyond “pressing the button”. To address this, its latest systems incorporate data logging that records each operating cycle, sequence order, timing, load condition and fault event with precise timestamps.“When an issue arises, engineers can trace it back to the exact operating condition that caused it,” explains van der Ploeg. “While still being rolled out primarily on new-build projects, data logging represents a shift towards evidence-based rather than purely scheduled maintenance.”Across <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s predominantly hydraulic product range, failures rarely originate in the actuators themselves. Instead, the most vulnerable areas are where forces converge – locations where multiple loads are transferred into a single structural interface. Passerelles are a prime example:“Forces are transmitted through long, slender structures back to a limited number of mounting points,” explains van der Ploeg. “When additional functionality is introduced, such as lateral slewing rather than straight-line deployment, those forces increase substantially.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396750/image/large-74a75f9786460908e4bf98d749448420.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396750">Bonding and bolt-inSome <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> passerelles now extend up to 16-metres in length, pushing the limits of lightweight structural engineering while maintaining stiffness, safety margins and regulatory compliance. Designing these interfaces requires careful attention to geometry, material thickness and fatigue behaviour.Marine-grade aluminium remains the primary structural material, selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Steel is used selectively in high-load interfaces where stiffness and wear resistance are critical. Carbon fibre has also been deployed strategically, particularly in the outermost sections of passerelles. Reducing mass at the extremity lowers bending moments throughout the structure, enabling greater reach without adding reinforcements.&nbsp;A more recent addition to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s fabrication methodology is the introduction of structural adhesive bonding. In lightweight aluminium constructions, particularly passerelles, welding thin sections sometimes caused unacceptable deformation due to heat input. To address this, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> now uses a hybrid method: components are positioned with bolts to prevent movement, while the structural adhesive provides the primary load-bearing bond. In this configuration, the bolts act purely as locators and the adhesive carries the load.Another key evolution is the move towards bolt-in housings for boarding equipment such as passerelles and swim ladders. Historically, these housings were built directly into the hull, placing installation and testing squarely on the shipyard’s critical path. This new approach uses self-contained housings that are assembled and factory-tested in-house, accepted by owners or representatives, and installed later as plug-and-play units.“Once delivered, the housing is bolted into place, hydraulics and electrics are connected, and functionality is assured – eliminating the risk of delays, rework and repainting,” says van der Ploeg.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396752/image/large-1ea3884318d73cd6441f8d9cf8801f9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396752">Breaking outSolely owned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4951" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw (Company)">Koninklijke De Vries,</a> until recently <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> worked exclusively within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>. It is now pursuing a more open strategy, with roughly 60% of turnover derived from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> new-build projects, 25% from service and refit work on existing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadships</a>, and the rest from other shipyards – a share that continues to grow as the company expands its marketing network.An early major non-<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> contract was with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4644" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="AKYACHT (Company)">AKYACHT</a> in Turkey for its 120-metre-plus project (NB012) due for delivery in 2030. Another is the new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> Custom 80 currently under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a> in Ancona. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> client, an experienced <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> charterer, specified <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> to supply the boarding systems with which he directly interacts – in total, five independent mechanical systems with fully integrated control logic.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396754/image/large-0eae94a6e941a08764d18f82632bee1f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396754">Across all these developments, a clear evolution emerges. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has progressed from boatbuilder to specialist supplier, system integrator and, ultimately, lifestyle collaborator. Each project begins by asking what experience the owner, designer or shipyard wants to achieve. From there, complexity is carefully analysed and engineered so that systems are notable precisely for their absence – seeming to disappear once installed, leaving spaces that feel more open, intuitive and fully resolved.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396753/image/large-24074ca4b4f597fe6f6d7ba61d16b96a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396753">

Standardising the bespoke: The engineering behind custom superyacht equipment

Akerboom Yacht Equipment explains how modular engineering is reshaping its custom superyacht boarding systems, platforms, cranes and control systems.

The fourth 53.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> YS53 yacht support <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> has been delivered to her owner, following her launch in March 2026 from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> facility in Antalya, Turkey. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397013/image/large-c33b6dbec1e5da99757b484375d47d5b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397013">Designed to operate either alongside a mothership or independently, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> has been crafted in-house by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, which were responsible for her interior, exterior and naval architecture.&nbsp;Created around family experiences, shared moments on the water and operational purpose <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> will now serve as a purposeful extension of her owner's fleet, where she has been developed to provide additional space, support and flexibility.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397012/image/large-e7a8adfa9276e3affbe8d0454cf3c3d4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397012">"From the outset, &nbsp;there was a clear vision for how the owner wanted to use YS53 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> and the role she would play within the fleet," explained Rob Dolling, Owner’s Representative. "Together with Damen Yachting, we were able to translate those wishes into a vessel that is highly functional, personal and closely aligned with the owner’s programme."<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests, as well as 10 crew plus her captain. Her interior reflects the owner’s personal style, combining timeless elegance with Old English influences throughout. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397011/image/large-c5c4c4fd9fd1617d2fa194c1f00b061d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397011"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> boasts the brand’s signature axe bow, while her reinforced deck supports touch-and-go helicopter operations. With a generous open main deck of more than 200 square-metres, this versatile space can be used for large tenders, toys and specialised equipment.This is complemented by a 15-tonne crane, enabling the handling of substantial tenders and heavy loads. With a volume just shy of 500 GT, she can accommodate up to eight guests, along with a crew of eight.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397010/image/large-d904abeb9d80368dab56f223768c6958.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397010">"As the fourth Yacht Support 53 delivered by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, she reflects the versatility of the Yacht Support range within modern superyacht ownership and has been created with a very clear purpose," concluded Jan van Hogerwou, Commercial Executive USA.Crafted with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</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, which provide her with a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 19 knots. Once her sea trials are complete, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> will prepare for delivery to her owner. &nbsp;

Rafter: Fourth Damen Yachting YS53 yacht on sea trials

The fourth 53.25-metre Damen Yachting YS53 yacht support Rafter has been delivered following her launch in Antalya, Turkey in March 2026.

Event News

Owner insight: strictly business with The Wellesley