The results have been announced for the World Superyacht Awards 2018 at the stately Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, where builders, naval architects and designers from across the globe have been recognised in a showcase of some of the most ground-breaking designs to date.
Motor Yacht of the Year: FAITH
Another Feadship superyacht earning accolades, 96.6m/197ft mega yacht FAITH is contemporary and timeless with an intimate evening atmosphere and a nautical theme. Of note is her engineering and technical areas, when are designed for optimal performance while crew and guest areas also impressed judges with the high quality of the construction.
FAITH in sea trials
Light plays an important part in the interior spaces: The 9-metre swimming pool on the main deck has a 68mm curved glass bottom to illuminate the beach club below, and this technical achievement was constructed by laminating five layers of glass with a clear foil. There is also a three-metre high skylight dome in the Master stateroom, while the beach club has three sides that open up to the natural environment to form a spectacular indoor/outdoor lounge.
The wood-burning pizza oven on the sundeck appears deceptively simple, requiring a design that cleans soot and other particles from its smoke. The attention to detail in all facilities and living areas ensured that M/Y FAITH won Motor Yacht of the Year.
Sailing Yacht of the Year: PINK GIN VI
Taking awards in two categories, 53.7m/176.2ft sailing yacht PINK GIN VI from Baltic Yachts was designed by Judel/Vrolijk with interior design from Design Unlimited. Her carbon fibre hull and her 300 tonne 68m/223ft carbon mast produce a fore and aft deflection of only 76mm, with a displacement of only 250 tonnes – a prime example of what modern structural engineering can achieve.
Superyacht PINK GIN VI – Pink sails
A port boarding platform and a Master suite balcony increase the engineering complexity, and for this reason S/Y PINK GIN beat five other competitors for the Sailing Yacht of the Year award. Her ‘force feedback steering’ power-assisted system is another technological innovation that provides the helmsman information over a wireless link for accurate information on the yacht’s trim and balance.
Semi-Displacement or Planing Two Deck Motor Yachts 30m to 34.9m: LETANI
Letani anchored. Photo credit Feadship
34.7m/114ft superyacht LETANI was built by Feadship and received unanimous selection from the judges for her high quality, from the sturdy hull designed for family cruises and long-distance journeys to the interior detailing from Bannenberg & Rowell. The shallow draft allows M/Y LETANI to access smaller ports and anchor closer to beaches, while her engineering provides for efficient fuel usage regardless of distance travelled.
The layout is designed for ease of use by crew as well as guests, and the interiors include a bistro dining area, a cosy television den and a children’s cabin efficiently designed to maximise space for play.
Semi-Displacement or Planing Two Deck Motor Yachts 35m and Above: MR. OH
MR OH. Azimut Benetti 35m Grande Metri
The judges chose 35m/115ft motor yacht MR. OH from Azimut-Benetti for this award due to its high performance and the extensive guest areas, providing excellent value: On board, there are two beach clubs, a tender garage, a generously sized saloon and a Master suite as well as five other guest cabins to sleep up to 12 guests. Crew areas are also well-considered and the expansive outdoor areas are ideal for parties together or for separating out and enjoying some privacy while lounging and sunbathing.
Semi-Displacement or Planing Three Deck Motor Yachts: TELLI
Custom Line luxury yacht TELLI is a semi-displacement Navetta 33 series yacht with a sundeck whirlpool, fold-down terraces and sound dampening technology incorporated into the design. The result is a tranquil interior that blends out into the alfresco living spaces to form large guest areas perfect for parties.
TELLI
Judges were particularly impressed by the use of teak decking which extended into the interiors, and the numerous sunbathing and seating areas across all three decks. Among the other innovative features is the stern door, which has a ‘dual movement’ design to act both as a swim platform to extend the beach club and as a way to create a drive-in tender garage.
Displacement Motor Yachts Below 500GT – 30m to 39.9m: DELTA ONE
Superyacht DELTA ONE from Mulder Shipyard came out ahead of the competition due to her balanced design, taking into account interior and exterior recreational spaces and adding features such as a large Jacuzzi tub and a choice of alfresco dining areas.
Superyacht DELTA ONE
Designed by Claydon Reeves with naval architecture from Van Oossanen Naval Architects, her fuel consumption of 73 litres-per-hour at 10 knots was an outstanding feature for a yacht of her size.
Judges Commendation: SOPRANO
The judges were also impressed by 38.3m/126ft motor yacht SOPRANO from Hakvoort for her interiors by Felix Buytendijk, modernising the classic motor yacht for 21st Century owners and guests.
Hakvoort Motor Yacht Soprano
Displacement Motor Yachts Below 500GT – 40m and Above: SEVEN SINS
The Owner fell in love with 52m/171ft Sanlorenzo luxury yacht SEVEN SINS and so did the judges: Her sleek exterior showcases modern lines and large deck spaces filled with exterior lounges and alfresco dining areas placed in the shade and the sun. On the main deck aft, a glass-bottomed swimming pool lights the beach club below, which has a bulwark on each side that becomes a terrace beside the water while increasing the guest space. A sauna and hammam are also placed on the lower deck, and the tender garage can be flooded by to drive in a tender of up to 8m/26ft.
Motor yacht SEVEN SINS – Beachclub
Displacement Motor Yachts Between 500GT and 1,999 GT: HASNA
73.4/141ft motor yacht HASNA from Feadship is another family-oriented yacht packed packed with impressive design features and amenities. De Voogt Naval Architects and RWD produced her exterior styling, while the latter also produced her sophisticated interiors that feature a large beach club, a cinema, six cabins for 12 guests and a crew of 21.
Hasna. Photo by christo303
The outdoor areas have an 8-metre swimming pool on the main deck aft and lounges, sunbathing spots and alfresco dining areas ensure that everyone on board has plenty of place for guests to spread out and spend time on personal pursuits.
Displacement Motor Yachts 2,000GT and Above: FAITH
Faith Copyright Feadship
Refitted yachts: BROADWATER
Built in 2000 and refitted in 2007 and 2017, superyacht BROADWATER has been carefully maintained throughout her time as a charter yacht, when she earned a stellar reputation on the market thanks to her incredible facilities and professional crew.
Broadwater at anchor
The interiors from Adam Voorhees changed the layout to include an additional lounge and dining area behind the bridge, a sixth stateroom, a spa and a newly installed beach clubs as well as updates to technical systems. The exteriors also received an outdoor gym while guests also have new tenders and toys for adventures in the sun. The extensive refit was completed within eight months and the change of hull from white to navy has provided a cleaner more cohesive look by disguising the windows in the hull.
Judge’s Commendation: WHITE STAR
Trinity Yachts motor yacht WHITE STAR received a Special Commendation for her own refit, which updated her interior from her 2004 appearance to a contemporary beauty.
Rebuilt Yachts: GENESIA
Originally a commercial tug, 40m/131ft motor yacht GENESIA was rebuilt by Cantieri Navali Chioggia after being stripped back to her metal hull. This ‘go-anywhere’ expedition yacht now boasts a gunmetal grey hull, with an orange waterline and white superstructure, while inside the convertible interior can sleep 10-12 guests over five-six cabins.
GENESIA
Support Vessels: GAME CHANGER
Support vessels are gaining in popularity as expedition yachts explore farther than ever before for research and pleasure, taking with the an array of water toys and equipment to make the most of each destination. Living up to her name, support vessel GAME CHANGER from Damen Yachts came top of her category due to her impressive helipad, hangar and support facilities as well as an extensive area for storing water toys and large vehicles including a submarine.
GAME CHANGER with helicopter aboard
Sailing Yachts 30m to 49.9m: RIBELLE
Equally capable as a fast-cruising sailing yacht and a regatta participant, RIBELLE from Vitters dazzled with powerful lines, impressive technical performance and design features incorporating large crew areas and forward guest areas naturally lit through a glass skylight.
RIBELLE – Jeff-Brown
Judge’s Commendation: SVEA
Sailing yacht SVEA was built to J-Class rules and her high-quality construction coupled with her proven performance in regattas earned her a Judge’s Commendation.
Sailing Yachts 50m and Above: PINK GIN VI
Superyacht PINK GIN VI – Cruising
Sail-Assisted Motor Yachts: Sailing Yacht A
As a hybrid yacht of motor and sailing technology, it was decided by the judges to create a separate category to judge the merits of ‘Sailing Yacht’ A, and as technology becomes more environmentally friendly there are likely to be more hybrid yachts entering this category in the future.
Sailing Yacht A. Photo credit Superyachts Gibraltar
S/Y A from Nobiskrug won her Neptune award on the basis of her technical systems and environmental aspects: Across eight decks there is an underwater observation pod, a sizeable swimming pool, a touch-and-go helipad and crew accommodation for up to 54.
Voyager’s Award: CONSTANCE
Three entries were submitted to the Voyager’s Award, and 61m/200ft M/Y CONSTANCE from CRN was chosen as the winner: The eight-month cruise was undertaken by the Owners and their four children, who were taken out of school and educated on board by two teachers. Two nannies, a naturalist and 16 crew also accompanied the family as they embarked from Florida and cruised to destinations in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, and Tonga.
M:Y Constance
While on board, the children learned to Scuba dive and fish while also discovering more about photography and the world’s natural environments.
Judges’ Special Award:AVIVA
Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht AVIVA designed by Reymond Langton Design proved an exceptional example of the shipyard’s dedication to providing owners with custom-built interiors catering to their needs – which in this case meant incorporating an indoor padel tennis court. Two tons of sand were used to create the bounce and soundproofing and health and safety regulations needed to be carefully considered.
AVIVA. Photo credit Guillaume Plisson
The sophisticated interiors provide the perfect home for her permanent live-aboard owner, and the exteriors have an abundance of large and comfortable lounging and dining spaces that light up at night for ambiance.
The Legacy Award: Lang Walker
Australian property magnate and philanthropist Lang Walker has owned several superyachts throughout his lifetime and worked closely with shipyards throughout their construction.
Sailing Yacht Kokomo III – Underway at Sea
His KOKOMO sailing yachts are one example of his love of the sea and creating personalised spaces, with each yacht increasing in size as he gained greater regatta experience.
Innovation has always been an important aspect in his builds and he has made history by being the first to use 3DL sails on a superyacht, commissioning the world’s largest spinnaker and building a 58.4m/192ft sloop with a 130-tonne lifting keel.
Lang was awarded the Order of Australia Officer (AO) in 2015 for his continued philanthropic endeavours: He has supported the Australian sailing team and the youth sailing academy as well as advocating for apprenticeship programmes within the yachting industry to ensure that skills are passed down to the next generation.
Credit: Boat International Media’s World Superyacht Awards 2018
