Upon taking delivery of their first yacht in December 2014, Travis and Tina Fox met their orientation captain on board in preparation for their maiden voyage home. The captain wagered $100 that within two years of that date they would be buying a bigger boat; an idea they thought would never come to fruition.
For two years, the Foxes enjoyed all of the experiences that came with their yacht – cruising hundreds of miles in the U.S. and Bahamas, exploring uninhabited islands and spending quality time together, as well as with family and friends – and felt a great sense of achievement at all they had accomplished. Yet it became clear that the Foxes were outgrowing their 50-foot yacht and needed something larger to suit their family adventures and cruising lifestyle.
On December 20th, 2016 – exactly two years later – the Fox family took the first steps on their next adventure: a new build Horizon Yachts FD87 Skyline, a customized enclosed bridge based on the popular FD85 model with some new features. During their research for a new boat the Foxes were already familiar with the exterior styling of designer and naval architect Cor D. Rover, so when they entered the Horizon Yachts display at the 2016 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show and were greeted with three new Cor designs for Horizon (the FD74, FD85 and FD102), they knew they were in the right place.
In 2017, Skyline will debut a cool blue hull and contrasting white superstructure, calling to mind the pristine Caribbean waters meeting a clear sky. A spacious 23’3” beam, floor-to-ceiling windows in the salon and dining areas, and incredible views from the on-deck master create an aura of peaceful serenity on the ocean for its owners. The five en suite staterooms and two crew cabins, beach club, bow seating and enclosed bridge with Portuguese walk-around complete the design, leaving nothing to be desired in both form and function. A true partnership with the client, architect, and shipyard is evident in the evolution of this enclosed bridge FD87 and the speed in which it all came together.
After gathering and analyzing feedback from the show, including that from the Foxes, the open bridge FD85 morphed into an additional model—an FD87 Skyline enclosed bridge co-developed by Cor and the Horizon Yachts team. CEO John Lu loved the Foxes’ creative Skyline concept so much that he asked if the name could become a permanent part of the Horizon brand, and so the Horizon FD87 Skyline model was officially born. This model offers its own set of unique features; instead of a raised pilothouse like the FD85, she offers a full main deck level and enclosed bridge with Portuguese bridge forward and with a spacious boat deck. Additionally, the aft beach club – a newly popular design for the U.S. market – provides a great spot for relaxing, watersports and other activities, and the large bow area, just forward of the Portuguese bridge, is ideal for entertaining guests or lounging in the sun.
Taiwanese shipyard has recently unveiled models in the revolutionary series: the FD74 and FD102. Hull 1 of the FD85 debuted at the 2016 Taiwan Boat Show and Hull 3 is scheduled to make her appearance in the U.S. in 2017. The FD74 and FD102 models are currently in final design and engineering stages.
Van der Valk has recently delivered 26-metre Forum to her delighted owner. This Raised Pilothouse yacht was designed by Guido de Groot, and boasts an interior devised by the owner’s own interior architect in partnership with our in-house department. Built for sailing principally in the Baltic Sea, she features a mast that lowers hydraulically to keep her clearance below six metres, as well as a very large flybridge designed specially for entertainment. Forum’s king-size flybridge includes an American barbecue & grill, a wet bar & pantry, and two L-shaped settees with two tables that can be merged into a single large one. This level also features an outdoor helm station as well as several delightful alfresco lounge possibilities, including sun pads forward to port and a large sunbathing area far forward on the flybridge level (accessed directly from the main deck).The main deck aft is taken up by a large outdoor dining space and a hydraulic platform for the tender. The lovely saloon includes a spacious conference room for business meetings, which contains lots of communications & entertainment equipment and doubles as an informal dining space. The galley has a practical direct connection to the utility area below, which contains a large storage room and freezer room. And the generous master suite forward on the main deck features a king-sized bed on the centreline as well as a beautiful bathroom forward.Forum’s other accommodation spaces are below deck. They include two identical VIP suites with large beds as well as one guest cabin for up to four people; each of the cabins has its own bathroom. The crew mess forward links to a captain’s cabin and a crew cabin with bunk bed, as well as a bathroom and pantry.Forum sports a V-drive propulsion system with twin MTU 10V 2000 M93 engines of 1502 hp each, which can deploy a substantial maximum and cruising speed of 23 and 18 knots, respectively. She also has twin 26-kilowatt generators and a Najad hydraulic fin stabilization system.Contributing to what has already been a busy 50th jubilee year for the shipyard, the delivery of Forum adds to a series of achievements that has already included the 23-metre Flybridge Valencia and Anemeli.
August 23, 2017
On Saturday, the 18th of February, 49.9m superyacht has been launched at the Rossinavi facility in Pisa. 300 guests were present at the ceremony, turned around the speeches of the owner family thanking the shipyard and the team involved in the boat construction.Christened Endeavour II, the yacht features exterior design by Enrico Gobbi - Team For Design, interior style by Achille Salvagni with the naval architecture by Arrabito Naval Architects. This all-aluminium displacement yacht comprises a total volume of less than 500GT and can sleep up to 10 guests, as well as a crew of 9. Performance wise she is powered by 2 x CGT/Caterpillar C32 Acert engines providing the yacht a maximum speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Inside, a generous full-beam owner’s suite forward to the weather deck enjoys plenty of light and a wonderful panorama thanks to the long windows along the two main sides and an unusual private balcony. The exterior areas of the Endeavour II make various configuration possible, including an exclusive sun area forward, placed over the wide garage.Rossinavi has recently sold 70m motor yacht project King Shark and is currently building 63-meter Project Vector for JR Ridinger.Photos by Emmanuel L
August 23, 2017
Lurssen has launched the 74-meter Aurora at their facility in Rendsburg, Germany, in March 2017, with Moran Yacht & Ship confirming the delivery 2 months ago. Now the yacht has been captured cruising in the South of France.Previously known to the public as Project Thor, the yacht was commissioned back in the first quarter of 2014 through Moran Yacht & Ship. With an interior and an exterior by Winch Design, the 74-meter Aurora, known internally as Project Gatsby, features accommodations for 16 guests in 8 well-appointed staterooms. With an interior volume of 2113 GT, Aurora is larger than most yachts of comparable length.Her interior is based on the early 1900s Art Deco era, taking inspiration from influential artists and designers from the time period. Unique and particular, the interior was heavily influenced by the owner's input. The master suite is based on antique artworks and each guest cabin boasts individual characteristics.Powered by twin MTU engines, Aurora stretches over a beam of 13.2 meters and reaches a top speed of 18 knots and cruise at 16 knots. The last Lurssen yacht to bear the name Aurora was a 61-meter yacht also designed by Winch Design launched in 2004 under the name Phoenix for the late Jan Kulczyk.In 2009, Phoenix was listed for sale asking €65 million and then sold in 2010 at an asking price of €55 million, ahead of the delivery of the 90-meter Lurssen, Phoenix 2. Following the sale, she was renamed to Aurora. In February 2015, she was listed for sale again asking €49,750,000 and then sold a little over a year later at the same asking price. The 61-meter yacht has since been refitted and is now known as Avanti.Photos by @acyachts_monaco
August 23, 2017
First unveiled during press conference in Milan, Sanlorenzo has today launched its new SX88 crossover yacht. Measuring 27m, the yacht features interior by Piero Lissoni, who will collaborate with the yard to develop the rest of the SX range. As for the exterior, it has been penned by Officina Italiana Design.Built from a GRP hull and carbonfibre superstructure, the yacht incorporates the best features of an explorer and a flybridge yacht. A particular attention was given by Sanlorenzo to the environment sustainability, with a specific care and sensibility to the environment where the yacht is operating and the one where is built. SX88’s construction process is based on low environment impact procedures and materials developed and tuned by Sanlorenzo. Thanks to the combination of high power lithium batteries with new lighting technologies, low consumption systems, efficient thermal insulation assured by the special new insulating glass fit on the windows, SX88 can use all the services on board for 4 to 8 hours at “zero emissions”. Because of these features Rina awarded SX88 with the Green Class.SX88 is built and assembled in the traditional Amelia’s (La Spezia) boatyard where Sanlorenzo elected its headquarter. She will be officially introduced to the market and press during Cannes Yachting Festival in September. The international market already welcomed SX88, buying the first six units. Next deliveries will beavailable starting from spring 2018.Sanlorenzo’s Superyacht Division, located in La Spezia, has recently launched the third superyacht in its 460Explorer line: Ocean’s Four.
August 22, 2017
The 110-meter Jubilee has been delivered by Dutch-based Oceanco in July. Now the largest yacht ever built in the Netherlands has been spotted in Gibraltar.With an exterior penned by Russian designer, Igor Lobanov, the yacht can carry a total of 31 guests in 16 cabins catered to by a crew of 45. Key amenities onboard include a swimming pool with a built-in aquarium, a helipad and a large beach club.Known as Project Jubilee throughout her build, the 110-meter was however listed for sale a few months prior to her delivery and is at the moment still on the market. An investigation published by Dutch publication, Quote states that the yacht was ordered by the late, former emir of Qatar.Powered by twin MTU engines of 4,828hp each, Jubilee can reach a maximum speed of 18.5 knots and cruise at 14 knots for up to 5,000 nautical miles. She becomes the latest in a string of impactful projects for Oceanco including the largest sailing yacht in the world, the 106-meter Black Pearl and the 88-meter Barbara.Photos by Superyachts Gibraltar
August 22, 2017