An amazing list of finalist yachts has been recently announced for this year’s World Superyacht Awards. To determine the winners of these eminent awards, Austria’s prominent Kitzbühel Country Club played a host to a notable panel of judges to deliberate the shortlist.
The Kitzbühel Country Club hosted the judging process for the 2014 World Superyacht Awards
The venue is the first ever Private Members Club in the Alpine region, providing guests with exclusive use of a wealth of luxurious facilities including spacious accommodation, world-class cuisine, a sumptuous spa and wellness area and extensive outdoor space to capitalise on the fresh mountainous environment.
Ordinarily the Club is exclusively at the service of its Members however, Richard Hauser, the innovator behind the project, opened the doors to the judges to share a taste of warm Austrian hospitality.
The panel, comprised of twenty superyacht owners and led by Chairman Roger Lean-Vercoe, came together in the venue’s superb facilities to consider the inspiring list of 62 superyachts honored as finalists. On arrival at the Country Club, judges and their families were welcomed to stay in one of the luxuriously equipped designer suites available to members.
A selection of superyacht owners engrossed in the judging process
Judges and their partners enjoyed a drinks reception in the club’s stylish bar followed by a 4-course tasting menu with a fine selection of Austrian wines. The following morning, the formal judging process began.
Prior to the meeting all members of the panel were presented with a dossier containing detailed information, images and testimonies for each yacht. In addition, each judge made extraordinary efforts to visit as many of the contending yachts as possible in order to objectively evaluate the finalists. Throughout the day all 62 yachts were discussed at length with much deliberation until a unanimous verdict was reached.
‘Judges were quick to acknowledge that every finalist is a magnificent vessel in its own right, and that merely being singled out as a worthy yacht for them to consider is an accolade for its owner, designers and builder’ highlights Roger Lean-Vercoe, Chairman of the Judges. He notes that in many cases ‘they (the judges) must make very difficult choices between vessels that are often hard to compare. This and other difficulties were resolved and this year’s worthy winners were decided, thanks to an interested, intelligent, well informed and – most importantly – an unbiased jury’.
The partners of the judges enjoy traditional Alpine activities
The weekend in Kitzbühel was complemented by a full social programme encouraging the panel of superyacht owners to extend their stay and explore the picturesque Alpine region. During this time, partners of the judges were occupied with a selection of traditional Austrian activities including an authentic cooking course with Executive Chef of the Kitzbühel Country Club, Reinhard Brander, as well as Tyrolean Curling on a nearby frozen lake.
In the evening, all guests of the event enjoyed a customary Tyrolean dining experience at Schwaigerlehen farmhouse to refuel after the day’s activities. The region of Tyrol and the Kitzbühel area in particular are highly sought-after, and the Club fortifies the potential for continued development and the strengthening of local qualities; an experience truly felt by the judges of the World Superyacht Awards.
The event ran concurrently with the Superyacht Design Symposium which took place at the nearby Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt. This offered judges the opportunity to join informative design discussions with some of the world’s most prominent yacht creatives as well as the chance to attend social events including the Blohm+Voss Ski Cup.
This action-packed weekend in the Alps resulted in the selection of winning yachts in a diverse range of categories across motor and sail, as well as honouring refit/rebuilt yachts and those entered in the exploratory Voyagers category. Winners of these prestigious awards will be presented with a Neptune trophy at the 9th Annual World Superyacht Awards which is to be held at Amsterdam’s National Maritime Museum on 3rd May 2014.
Limited Tickets Remaining to Attend the World Superyacht Awards Gala Evening
The event provides a full programme of glamorous social events, cultural activities and exclusive shipyard tours encouraging attendees to extend their stay in Amsterdam. Boat International Media fully expect a sell-out event so be sure to make your table and ticket applications promptly via the event website to avoid disappointment.
