Big Change II Yacht News & Events

Big Change II yacht cruising

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Big Change in Antigua Yacht Club marina 

Big Change II

Delivering yachts from 40 to 77 metres in length to an international roster of clients from the USA, UK, Europe and Russia, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a> has international recognition as an industry heavyweight. But what is the history of the Turkish yard? Here, we take a look at its predecessor and unravel the brilliance of the builder's backstory. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/171184/image/large-3ee1a3a45f9aa5b5ba81c9313ca0d2ae.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/171184">The company’s success today has its roots in two companies involved in yacht building: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts Inc</a>., based in Tuzla, Istanbul and Turquoise Yacht Construction, also based in Istanbul. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the shortened version of the company’s full name – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Profilo Teknik Sanayi A.S</a>. These two companies joined forces in 1994 to establish Proteksan-Turquoise Yachts and focused on the construction of large motor yachts to a high standard. In 2014, MB Holding, which was founded in 1982 by Omani businessman Mohammed Al Barwani, became the majority shareholder and the company was renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>, with the head office and shipyard based at Pendik, Istanbul.&nbsp;Turning now to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts</a>, the company commenced building large (for the time) motor yachts in the mid-1970s. In those days, most Turkish-built yachts were wooden gulets built for the charter market in Turkey and Greece.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/172234/image/large-b587da465505431c40b4fa92f00c5cb0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/172234"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the first Turkish yard to build in steel, with its first yacht delivered in 1977 following fitting out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Picchiotti (Company)">Picchiotti</a> at Viareggio. This yacht, the 32-metre Motivator, was sold to a Middle Eastern owner and renamed Dina A. In 1987, the yacht was sold to a costume jewellery manufacturer and was based in Bangkok until 1992. The yacht, now named <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nomad32.0m (104'12&quot;)Proteksan1977">Nomad</a>, has been home-ported in Tunisia in recent years after her sale by auction in 1998.&nbsp;The next yacht completed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in 1977 was the 24-metre Kerim which was designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari</a> and would later become Boggy C and be painted in battleship grey. The later history of this vessel is unknown at present. Also completed in the same year was the 28.5-metre Milasan, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari&nbsp;</a>and also fitted out in Italy. The yacht was sold to a Middle Eastern buyer following its completion.&nbsp;1983 saw the completion of the 24.4-metre Alize followed a year later by the 41-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>, the largest yacht built so far by the shipyard. This yacht would later be extended to 44.6 metres by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/496" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sensation Yachts (Company)">Sensation Yachts</a> in Auckland, New Zealand.Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ugo Costaguta (Company)">Ugo Costaguta</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/858" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mercati (Company)">Alberto Mercati&nbsp;</a>with an interior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arthur M. Barbeito & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Arthur M. Barbieto</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a> spent a few years under the ownership of the Sultan of Selangor, Malaysia as Permaisuri before being acquired by an Australian owner and reverting to her original name.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/158752/image/large-3b3e5b154d555a3623fd71d68fd8cd9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/158752">At around the same time, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> completed the 43.6-metre Galaxy Star for Rene Herzog, the Swiss entrepreneur whose Zurich-based company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/903" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alucraft (Company)">Alucraft</a>, had been instrumental in the promotion and building of both this yacht and the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>. Galaxy Star was equipped with a stern garage that would initially house a Rolls-Royce when in Europe and a Chrysler when stateside.Another, slightly smaller yacht which was completed in 1986 to a similar design (but without the stern garage) was the 38.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Change II38.13m (125'1&quot;)Proteksan1986">Big Change</a>. The last one completed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in the 1980s was the first Vals, a 23.8-metre motoryacht designed by Necdet Saldur.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/184734/image/large-9465a4877dd8ec36c6279f22d140280f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/184734">In the 1990s, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> launched the 33.0-metre Tarabia in 1991 followed by a small series known as the Proteksan 88 model. This sleek design was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vincenzo Ruggiero (Company)">Vincenzo Ruggiero</a> with interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/264" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="J.G. Verges Design (Company)">Jean-Guy Verges.</a>Three vessels were completed in 1993 and 1994, namely Saga, Vals II and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8373" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moontazzam II26.85m (88'1&quot;)Proteksan1994">Dervis III</a> which would be the last yachts to be built under the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> brand name prior to the tie-up with Turquoise in 1997. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/110708/image/large-d641ed417b3f60169eafb37e6fb9fbfa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/110708">This article was first featured in The SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> now to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.&nbsp;

Turquoise Yachts history: 

SYT's historian Malcolm Wood unpacks Turquoise Yachts' history and their Proteskan merger.

History: Proteksan and Turquoise Yachts on how they came to be

Solent Refit informs us they have had a busy few months, assisted by the good weather. Much of the yard's new pontoon development is well underway now, with the installation of low level walkways on the inside berths and a cut down of the main pontoon pillars. This is improving work efficiency for vessels on the outer pontoons. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/137301/image/large-e7f408a197ec5d61250a88a81a6e9291.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/137301">There has been a lot of tidying inside the main sheds with the removal of old equipment. This has enabled Solent Refit to reorganise the positioning of yachts. The rail transfer system is working well and vessel movement is fast and easy. Solent Refit will shortly be establishing a Heli Pad at the base. Already helicopters have been landing on the main pontoon , which is very capable and safe, providing there are no nearby vessels moored. The main Heli Pad will be established at the top of the slipway, just outside the Solent Refit Gates. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/137302/image/large-4f1516856ac90d00529a7dcd199882bc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/133151">A number of new projects have arrived at the yard including four vessels over 38 metres. Two more 100 meter projects are expected shortly. The J Class Association has selected Solent Refit as their base for the planned Solent Regatta. Their fleet of Js and their motherships will be here for the duration of the event, July 18th – 20th, which culminates in the Hundred Guinea Cup, racing around the Isle of Wight on the 21st June. A new regatta dock is being prepared to berth up to six J Class yachts, with a marquee and support services on the main pontoon. More visiting yachts from the Westward Cup entries and the Superyacht Regatta are also expected. Finally, Solent Refit tells us any shipyard can bring their project to Solent Refit and take advantage of its 1500 ton horrizontal lift. The boat lift can accommodate vessels up to 70 m and a purpose built rail transfer system can move superyachts from the slipway to shed locations for longer term periods of work. There is 10,000 square metres of undercover working area available. Yacht Project Associates Allan Foot +44 (0) 1425 672862 <a href="mailto:allan@yachtproject.com?subject=Solent%20Refit%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">allan@yachtproject.com</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.yachtproject.com/">www.yachtproject.com</a>

Changes, improvements and new projects at Solent Refit