Call it a coincidence or call it serendipity, not long after our outline of the many marvelous yachts featured in James Bond's movies, one of them is being sold. The Soufriere, on which Daniel Craig and Eva Green were sailing to Venice during Casino Royale, is put on the market for sale. Soufriere is a 54ft wooden sloop built in the UK at Spirit Yachts' Ipswich yard.
The boat has the clean lines synonymous with Spirit design as well as the iconic mahogany topsides, teak decks and modern rig. She has two double cabins and a spacious living area, complete with mahogany dining table and well-equipped galley.
Spirit CEO and head designer Sean McMillan comments, 'Soufriere is not only a stunning, UK built, modern classic yacht, she is also a part of British film history. With her proven racing pedigree and extra space down below, Soufriere is ideal for an owner looking for an elegant performance cruising yacht with true British style.
Displacing just eight tonnes and carrying an awful lot of sail (1140sq ft) it finished second among Class 1 Modern Classics at this years Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge regatta and won the Ladies' Cup.
In 2013 McMillan explained the lengths Spirit was obliged to go to meet the producers' requirements - including taking Soufriere first to Miami, then Barbados and Croatia before finally arriving in Venice. Each change of location required taking down the mast, a two day job. In total the rig went in and out ten times.
"I had to phone them and say we just couldn't afford to do it. The schedule also involved a 1,500 mile upwind voyage from the Bahamas to US Virgin Islands. Very tough. But they said they'd pay. Most people pay them so they must have really wanted it," said McMillan at the time. It was the first sailing boat on that part of the Grand Canal in 300 years.
After filming, Soufriere was sold to a customer, an experienced sailor and racer in southern Ireland with whom she has lived exclusively until now.
During her time in the Spirit yard in Ipswich, Suffolk, Soufriere has been given a fresh coat of paint and had her cap rail repaired where racing wear and tear had taken its toll. The highly skilled finishing team at Spirit has beautifully varnished the restored cap rail, which is now ready for any future racing. To finalize her renovation work, Soufriere will come into the shed for a full re-varnish later in the year.
If you are looking to shake (but not stir) your lifestyle, contact Spirit to discuss how this £600,000 boat can be yours.
Spirit CEO and head designer Sean McMillan comments, 'Soufriere is not only a stunning, UK built, modern classic yacht, she is also a part of British film history. With her proven racing pedigree and extra space down below, Soufriere is ideal for an owner looking for an elegant performance cruising yacht with true British style.
Displacing just eight tonnes and carrying an awful lot of sail (1140sq ft) it finished second among Class 1 Modern Classics at this years Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge regatta and won the Ladies' Cup.
In 2013 McMillan explained the lengths Spirit was obliged to go to meet the producers' requirements - including taking Soufriere first to Miami, then Barbados and Croatia before finally arriving in Venice. Each change of location required taking down the mast, a two day job. In total the rig went in and out ten times.
"I had to phone them and say we just couldn't afford to do it. The schedule also involved a 1,500 mile upwind voyage from the Bahamas to US Virgin Islands. Very tough. But they said they'd pay. Most people pay them so they must have really wanted it," said McMillan at the time. It was the first sailing boat on that part of the Grand Canal in 300 years.
After filming, Soufriere was sold to a customer, an experienced sailor and racer in southern Ireland with whom she has lived exclusively until now.
During her time in the Spirit yard in Ipswich, Suffolk, Soufriere has been given a fresh coat of paint and had her cap rail repaired where racing wear and tear had taken its toll. The highly skilled finishing team at Spirit has beautifully varnished the restored cap rail, which is now ready for any future racing. To finalize her renovation work, Soufriere will come into the shed for a full re-varnish later in the year.
If you are looking to shake (but not stir) your lifestyle, contact Spirit to discuss how this £600,000 boat can be yours.
ISA Yachts, a brand of Palumbo Superyachts, has launched the ISA GT 66-meter model as part of its Gran Turismo yacht series. The exterior design was developed by Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi.The yacht features a metallic blue-grey exterior with a long teak bow designed as a multifunctional lounge area. The design includes floor-to-ceiling windows and wide side decks with glass balustrades. A sky lounge integrated into the profile can be customized as a dining area, gym, or panoramic lounge with a hot tub. The aft main deck features an infinity pool with adjacent lounge areas.The interior incorporates organic furnishings with materials including wood, wenge inserts, marble, and satin-finish brass. The main deck contains a full-beam master stateroom with a walk-in closet, bathroom, and lounge area, along with two guest cabins. The lower deck accommodates four additional double cabins.The wellness area includes a spa and fold-out platforms providing direct access to the sea. The yacht maintains the sport-oriented design characteristics of the Gran Turismo line while emphasizing social areas and natural light throughout interior spaces.Palumbo Superyachts took root in 2008, when the Columbus Yachts brand was established, and in 2011 it launched its first 54m superyacht, emblematically christened Prima (the First). Currently, Palumbo Superyachts comprises a representative office in Monaco and a logistics network of five shipyards in the Mediterranean (Ancona, Malta, Marseille, Naples, and Savona); it also operates the following brands: ISA Yachts, Columbus Yachts, Mondomarine and Palumbo SY Refit.Credits: ISA Yachts
September 18, 2025
Gruppo Antonini S.p.A. has been awarded the IRENA 3 EPC project by EDINA, a joint venture between Edison Gas and Croatian operator INA. The contract value is approximately €23 million. Gruppo Antonini will serve as the agent in a consortium with two other companies.The project involves the engineering, construction, and installation of an offshore platform in the Northern Adriatic. The platform will consist of a jacket, foundation piles, and a topside with a total weight of approximately 800 tons. It will be installed at a depth of 35 meters and connected via pipeline to the existing Izabela North platform.A distinctive feature of the platform is its energy system, which will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. The facility will be fully automated and controlled remotely through a distributed control system (DCS) that allows remote monitoring of process parameters.This project represents the first of eight planned offshore developments in the Northern Adriatic aimed at increasing production from the IVANA gas field. The contract includes supply of materials, engineering, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, marine transport, and offshore hook-up operations.This award follows other major projects secured by Gruppo Antonini in Libya and the northern Adriatic region in 2024.Antonini Navi, the maxi-yacht builder established in 2019 by the storied Gruppo Antonini Spa and managed directly by the same family in close partnership with partner and commercial director Aldo Manna.Credits: Antonini Navi
September 18, 2025
Forte Yachts is in the final stages of construction for its first model, the Forte 47. The 14-meter yacht, which debuted at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, is scheduled for launch in November 2025. The vessel is being built at the company's shipyard in Ameglia, Italy.The aluminum-built yacht features a vertical bow and a hardtop that spans over half its length. Its most distinctive feature consists of two fold-out terraces positioned amidships, which open outward to create sea-level lounge areas. The deck design incorporates a walkway only on the port side to maximize interior volume.The yacht is available in two configurations. The Gran Turismo version uses triple Mercury V12 600hp outboard engines with an estimated top speed of 45 knots. The Lounge Deck version features twin Volvo Penta IPS D8-800 inboard engines and an enclosed saloon with full-height glazing.The interior includes two cabins and two bathrooms with separate showers, with headroom exceeding two meters throughout. The hull design by Umberto Tagliavini of Marine Design emphasizes stability and efficient planing.Technical Manager Livio Franchini stated: "Opening the terraces transforms the yacht entirely. It creates a seamless connection with the sea that feels unprecedented in a 14-meter vessel."Brand co-founder Fernando Moricca stated: "Our clients are not just buying a boat; they are creating a tailored experience. The aluminium build allows us to adapt every element to individual tastes and requirements."Paolo Giordano, Head of Design, stated: "We wanted to ensure that the yacht feels like a true home on the water and challenge what owners expect in this size range. Every detail, from bathroom height to kitchen layout, has been crafted with liveability in mind."Current construction status includes completed hull, superstructure, and deck awaiting pre-paint treatment. Engine installation and interior assembly are underway, with the engine room reported to be 80% complete.Credits: Forte Yachts
September 18, 2025
Royal Huisman has unveiled a 50-meter concept yacht named AERA. The design incorporates a wing sail system and fuel cell technology aimed at reducing emissions. The concept follows the shipyard's 2024 launch of Project Tidal Shift, an environmental initiative focused on ecological preservation.The yacht's wing sail, developed by Artemis Technologies and Rondal, measures 245 square meters and is capable of rotating 360 degrees. The unstayed wing sail system does not require traditional sails, sheets, blocks, or winches. Two electric motors inside the yacht rotate the mast, while hydraulic cylinders control adjustable flaps along its trailing edge.AERA is designed to operate under 500 gross tonnage. The concept results from a collaboration between Royal Huisman, Rondal, designer Cor D. Rover, and Artemis Technologies. The design allows the vessel to function under both sail and power.Royal Huisman previously delivered the world's first hybrid superyacht, Ethereal, in 2009. The shipyard states that AERA represents a continuation of its focus on integrating new technologies to address sustainability in yacht building.Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.Credit: Royal Huisman
September 17, 2025
Tankoa Yachts has completed the acquisition of the business division of Otam. The transaction, finalized in agreement with both companies' founding families, includes the Otam brand and its historic shipyard in Genoa. The dockyard facilities in Santa Margherita Ligure remain under the current ownership.The acquired Genoa facility comprises approximately 4,800 square meters of covered areas, 3,300 square meters of open-air spaces, and a water basin of nearly 10,000 square meters. Tankoa Yachts plans to implement a restructuring program that will include extending concessions, reorganizing the areas, and constructing new production sheds.The operation includes the integration of Otam's workforce into Tankoa Yachts. All employees are being transferred to ensure job continuity and to add new skills and experience to the shipyard.The Otam brand, with its existing heritage and international reputation, becomes part of Tankoa's portfolio. Tankoa Yachts stated it will preserve the brand's legacy while defining a strategy aligned with its long-term vision.This acquisition represents a continuation of the expansion project Tankoa Yachts presented at the beginning of 2025 and strengthens the company's presence in the Genoa region.Credits: Tankoa Yacht
September 17, 2025