Top 10 most-read stories of 2017

As another interesting 12 months of superyacht news draws to a close, we take a look at some of the headline news that you, our loyal readers, found most interesting in 2017. Breaking news, in-depth features and even historic archive findings, it all seemed to inspire you this year. 

10. New owner for Solandge

With a price tag of €155,000,000, Solandge was one of the most expensive, and prestigious, yachts on the market at the time of her sale in March this year. Now cruising with a new owner under the Maltese flag, the 85-metre Lürssen seems to gather just as much attention than on her launch day.Photo: Aurélien Herman / SuperYacht TimesRead the sale announcement here. 

9. Launch of the 135-metre Project Thunder

Another Lürssen launch that grabbed our reader’s attention this year was the float-out of the black-hulled Project  Thunder. Measuring 135 metres in length and with a dominating Espen Oeino exterior design, it is not difficult to see why.Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht Times

See Thunder on her launch day here.

8. 39-metre Feadship If Only on fire in Nice

Tragedy struck on the French Riviera this summer as the 39-metre Feadship superyacht If Only caught fire outside the town of Nice. SuperYacht Times received material of the event from eye-witness reporters surrounding the vessel. Fortunately, all persons on board were rescued.

See fire crew attempting to save the yacht here.

7. The 98-metre Aviva ready to launch

2017 kicked off on a high when Abeking & Rasmussen launched its flagship superyacht, the 98-metre Aviva, in January. We were on scene to bring you a first look as this exciting project saw daylight for the first time in Lemwerder.Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht Times

Relive the launch procedure here.

6. The story behind Black Pearl

The stories behind some of the world’s largest and most advanced superyachts will for many remain a mystery forever. SuperYacht Times had the opportunity to share the tale behind the conceptualisation of the impressive 106-metre sailing yacht Black Pearl in April this year to much of our readers’ delight. The world’s largest sailing yacht remains in Rotterdam where she is awaiting her imminent delivery.

Read the story here. 

5. Largest Dutch yacht launched

An Oceanco launch will always pique the interest of yachting enthusiasts and professionals, but when it’s the largest yacht ever built in the Netherlands, you know it will be that much more special. The 110-metre Jubilee took to the waters outside Rotterdam in February for the first time this year and SuperYacht Times was there to bring you all the action. Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht Times

See her in detail here.

4. U116 comes out of hiding

When we revealed the long-awaited unveiling of the 116-metre explorer yacht U116 for the first time here on SuperYachtTimes.com, the story caught the attention of many of our readers who were interested in seeing what this mega explorer was looking like after a year under cover. We were not disappointed as U116 glistened in the German sun for the first time as she was being unwrapped from her final outfitting phase in Bremerhaven.Photo: Christian Eckardt

Get a closer look at U116  here.

3. Donald Trump’s 128-metre superyacht

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as America’s 45^th president, we shone the spotlight on one of his more ambitious attempted projects – the build of a 128-metre superyacht back in 1991. Not the first notable superyacht commissioned by Trump, this project was said to become the world’s largest and most beautiful yacht in the world. Plans were soon ceased in when, in 1993, Trump ran into financial trouble forcing him to spend time and money on other areas of his business empire.

See what Trump had to say about the project here.

2. Ulysses sold

On a more positive note, and not far behind the most read story online, is the news of the popular 107-metre Ulysses that found a new owner after the 2017 summer season. SuperYacht Times was the first to break the much-awaited news; an announcement which seemed to gather just as much attention on our social media channels.Photo: Merijn de Waard / SuperYacht Times

Get the news here. 

1. Elsa runs aground

Our most-read story this year is also a very sad event that took place on the blissful Caribbean island of Saba when the 48-metre Elsa ran aground here in March. Over the coming weeks, the yacht was declared unsalvageable and authorities delicately removed the wreck from the area to be scrapped.

 Read the full story here.