Once Ngoni has completed her busy summer season in the Mediterranean, the Dutch shipyard has released the details about the sailing yacht built in 2017 to the late Ed Dubois innovative design.
First introduced at the 2014 Monaco Yacht Show as The Beast, the 58-meter Royal Huisman yacht conveys a powerful message once summarized by her owner in the following words:
The yacht’s exotic new name Ngoni, in turn, refers to the people of eastern Africa and their peculiar language, and thus, implies the unique character of the sailboat.
“This is some yacht, inspired by an owner looking for the next new, new thing – a dream project for a designer,” confessed the British naval architect Ed Dubois, who managed to develop the yacht’s concept before he passed away in March 2016, although he never saw his brainchild’s completion.
Accordingly, he created Ngoni’s signature reverse sheer and then finessed the hull profile, so that aft of the superstructure this reversed sheer transformed to concave sheer, adding an attractive styling touch that, on the functional side, enhanced cockpit visibility. What’s more, further tests confirmed that such shape of the sheer held the vital key to the structural stiffness of the hull, delivering 12% more strength and load resistance than conventional sheer made from the same materials.
With her towering carbon fiber Rondal mast – notably one of the world’s largest one-piece spar ever built - carrying a square head mainsail by North Sails, the yacht features a full air-draft of 75 meters. Performance wise, Ngoni reaches a top speed of 17.5 knots.
The dramatic black of the hull interplays with the topsides finished by the owner’s team in a bespoke metallic topcoat named “Claire de Lune”. The construction is punctuated by large rectangular portholes, a sea-level gym door, fold-out side boarding platform, two submarine anchors and retractable thrusters.
An experienced owner, who likes to helm, he insisted on steering that would be light, yet firm and responsive. The wheel had to give him the true feel of the boat under sail. Such a request could only be met by a high aspect-ratio rudder and a manual system without power assistance, which, taking into account the size of the sail area, presented a major challenge for engineers. The ergonomic helm stations are located aft of the cockpit area, ensuring excellent visibility for the helmsman. A carbon fiber bimini can be set up over the helms to provide shade if needed.
The expansive teak foredeck shelters giant flush hatches with continuous, uninterrupted planking to conceal a large tender, a crane, spa pool, sail locker and cooled waste locker.
The sculptured superstructure is constructed from double-curved molded glass. Inside, it features an informal seating to port, a dining to starboard and a navigation station forward. Glass sliding doors open to offer a barrier-less transition from the cockpit to deckhouse salon. Electrically operated sliding glass wind breakers are there to guarantee the perfect environment under any weather conditions.
Owners’ and guest accommodation is accessed via a curving staircase from the deck house to the guest lobby area.
The boat’s interior conceived by London-based designers Rick Baker and Paul Morgan follows the owner’s straightforward brief: “Don’t design a traditional yacht interior.” Her overall scheme challenges the tradition with vibrant colors and flowing curves.
The layout includes two double guest cabins with en-suite bathrooms, both high quality exotic veneers, marbles and resin finishes. Natural light comes through large rectangular ports. The owners’ suite, aft, comprises a full-beam stateroom with built-in furniture, twin doors to an enormous bathroom, a spacious study with its own bathroom and a vast gym with an opening hull port in the topsides.
The comfortable crew quarters were designed in accordance with Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3), providing accommodation for up to nine crew in six cabins with access to the engine control room.
First introduced at the 2014 Monaco Yacht Show as The Beast, the 58-meter Royal Huisman yacht conveys a powerful message once summarized by her owner in the following words:
“Build me a beast. Don’t build me a sheep in wolf’s clothing. This has to be an edgy and innovative weapon, fast and furious.”
The yacht’s exotic new name Ngoni, in turn, refers to the people of eastern Africa and their peculiar language, and thus, implies the unique character of the sailboat.
“This is some yacht, inspired by an owner looking for the next new, new thing – a dream project for a designer,” confessed the British naval architect Ed Dubois, who managed to develop the yacht’s concept before he passed away in March 2016, although he never saw his brainchild’s completion.
Accordingly, he created Ngoni’s signature reverse sheer and then finessed the hull profile, so that aft of the superstructure this reversed sheer transformed to concave sheer, adding an attractive styling touch that, on the functional side, enhanced cockpit visibility. What’s more, further tests confirmed that such shape of the sheer held the vital key to the structural stiffness of the hull, delivering 12% more strength and load resistance than conventional sheer made from the same materials.
With her towering carbon fiber Rondal mast – notably one of the world’s largest one-piece spar ever built - carrying a square head mainsail by North Sails, the yacht features a full air-draft of 75 meters. Performance wise, Ngoni reaches a top speed of 17.5 knots.
The dramatic black of the hull interplays with the topsides finished by the owner’s team in a bespoke metallic topcoat named “Claire de Lune”. The construction is punctuated by large rectangular portholes, a sea-level gym door, fold-out side boarding platform, two submarine anchors and retractable thrusters.
An experienced owner, who likes to helm, he insisted on steering that would be light, yet firm and responsive. The wheel had to give him the true feel of the boat under sail. Such a request could only be met by a high aspect-ratio rudder and a manual system without power assistance, which, taking into account the size of the sail area, presented a major challenge for engineers. The ergonomic helm stations are located aft of the cockpit area, ensuring excellent visibility for the helmsman. A carbon fiber bimini can be set up over the helms to provide shade if needed.
The expansive teak foredeck shelters giant flush hatches with continuous, uninterrupted planking to conceal a large tender, a crane, spa pool, sail locker and cooled waste locker.
The sculptured superstructure is constructed from double-curved molded glass. Inside, it features an informal seating to port, a dining to starboard and a navigation station forward. Glass sliding doors open to offer a barrier-less transition from the cockpit to deckhouse salon. Electrically operated sliding glass wind breakers are there to guarantee the perfect environment under any weather conditions.
Owners’ and guest accommodation is accessed via a curving staircase from the deck house to the guest lobby area.
The boat’s interior conceived by London-based designers Rick Baker and Paul Morgan follows the owner’s straightforward brief: “Don’t design a traditional yacht interior.” Her overall scheme challenges the tradition with vibrant colors and flowing curves.
The layout includes two double guest cabins with en-suite bathrooms, both high quality exotic veneers, marbles and resin finishes. Natural light comes through large rectangular ports. The owners’ suite, aft, comprises a full-beam stateroom with built-in furniture, twin doors to an enormous bathroom, a spacious study with its own bathroom and a vast gym with an opening hull port in the topsides.
The comfortable crew quarters were designed in accordance with Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3), providing accommodation for up to nine crew in six cabins with access to the engine control room.
Azimut has launched the first unit of the Grande 30M at its Viareggio shipyard. The new model is part of the shipyard’s Grande Series and will make its official debut at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.The yacht’s exterior design is by Alberto Mancini, while the interiors have been created by the architecture studio m2atelier. This is the first collaboration between the two design teams. According to Azimut, the interior layout follows a design approach referred to as "Barefoot Luxury", developed by m2atelier for this model.The Grande 30M is also the first yacht to be fitted with the new mtu propulsion system from Rolls-Royce. It includes mtu engines and POD drives, a combination that reportedly provides 15% greater efficiency compared to conventional shaft line systems, with reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.Azimut, founded in 1969 by Paolo Vitelli and part of the Azimut|Benetti Group, builds motor yachts from 42 to 144 feet across seven series. The company maintains production facilities in five Italian locations and one in Brazil, and has a global network of sales and service centres.Credits: Azimut
August 6, 2025
Apreamare has announced the results of the first eight months of activity for its newly launched division, Apreamare Refit. The unit was established to provide restoration and modernization services for the brand’s traditional Sorrentine Gozzo boats.Located in a 3,000-square-meter facility next to the shipyard in Torre Annunziata, the refit division is dedicated exclusively to Apreamare vessels. The yard offers a range of services including the complete replacement of teak decks and swim platforms, hull repainting, upgrades to onboard systems, and interior renovations.According to the company, several refit projects have already been completed since the division’s launch, with additional contracts in negotiation or scheduled for the near future.Apreamare, which reports having over 2,000 boats in operation globally, aims to extend the service life of its vessels through this initiative while maintaining their original characteristics. Cataldo Aprea, President of Apreamare, stated: “The beauty of every Apreamare refit lies in our ability to preserve the original soul of our boats while addressing the evolving desires of those who live them. It's a work of listening, memory, and expert hands: a return to the most authentic essence of our naval art.”Founded in 1849, Apreamare remains one of Italy’s longstanding yachting brands and continues to focus on the traditional design and craftsmanship associated with the Sorrentine gozzo.Credits: Apreamare
August 6, 2025
Italian yacht builder ISA Yachts has unveiled a comprehensive rebranding initiative, including a new website and updated visual identity. The refresh maintains the brand's core values while presenting a more contemporary digital presence at shipyard's website.The redesigned website features minimalist navigation, high-impact imagery, and streamlined content organization. The visual update incorporates refined typography and a restrained color palette intended to reflect ISA's design philosophy. According to company representatives, the changes aim to better communicate the brand's focus on timeless design rather than temporary trends."ISA Yachts chooses to remain true to its vocation: to transcend trends, not follow them," stated the company in its announcement. The rebranding emphasizes continuity with the shipyard's heritage of custom superyacht construction while adapting its digital presentation for current audiences.The new identity extends across all brand communications, including marketing materials and digital platforms. ISA describes the initiative as a "manifesto" rather than simply a visual update, positioning it as an expression of the company's long-term vision for bespoke yacht building.The Ancona-based builder continues production of its current model range while implementing the rebrand across its operations. The website relaunch represents the most visible component of the identity update, with other brand applications to follow in coming months. 45m Unica SteelISA Yachts maintains its focus on fully custom projects, with the rebranding intended to strengthen its positioning in the luxury yacht market. The company's design and construction operations remain unchanged following the identity update.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
August 6, 2025
Prestige Yachts has revealed its new M7 catamaran, a 17.7-meter model offering interior space comparable to larger 21-meter yachts. The French-Italian builder has already sold two units ahead of the model's official debut at September's Cannes Yachting Festival.The M7 fills a gap between Prestige's existing M8 and M48 catamarans, featuring a more manageable 7.5-meter beam compared to the M8's 9.1-meter width. Naval architect Marc Lombard designed the hull, while Garroni Design handled the exterior styling to maintain consistency with Prestige's M-series.The catamaran's layout includes four guest cabins with a forward primary suite featuring residential-style elements like translucent wardrobes and designer lighting. The main salon offers panoramic views through full-height windows, with a secondary helm station discreetly positioned for all-weather navigation. Outdoor spaces focus on the beach club with its transformer swim platform and an expansive flybridge with multiple seating areas.Twin Volvo Penta D8-550 engines power the M7, with various horsepower options available. The design prioritizes comfortable cruising over high-speed performance. Crew accommodations for three staff members allow for reduced operational requirements compared to larger vessels.Jean-François Lair, Groupe Beneteau's Chief Sales Officer, commented: "The M7 is much more human-sized. You feel like you can handle it on your own." The company expects the model to attract both experienced owners downsizing from larger yachts and first-time buyers seeking manageable dimensions.Prestige continues production at its French facilities, maintaining its hybrid French-Italian design and construction approach. The M7 joins the successful M48, which has sold 70 units since its 2022 launch, in Prestige's expanding multihull range.Credits: Prestige Yachts
August 5, 2025
Turkish yacht builder VisionF Yachts has launched the second hull of its 23.97-meter E-Cat 80 solar-electric catamaran series from its Tuzla shipyard. The carbon fiber vessel features design updates including an expanded solar array now producing 24.8 kW per hour through 62 panels, increased from the original configuration.The latest model incorporates several owner-requested modifications, adding a Jacuzzi on the flybridge and converting one of five guest cabins into dedicated children's quarters. The catamaran's 10.92-meter beam provides substantial interior volume, accommodating 12 guests and 4 crew members.Power comes from twin 180 kW Danfoss electric motors with bow and stern thrusters, enabling 6-8 knot cruising speeds under electric propulsion. The hybrid system combines solar charging with backup generators, offering over 1,000 nautical miles of extended range when required.Entertainment areas include multiple flybridge seating zones with cinema capabilities and massage chairs. The 15 square-meter tender garage features hydraulic launch systems for watercraft storage. Owners can select between open or enclosed flybridge configurations during the build process.VisionF's current production lineup includes seven catamaran models ranging from 14 to 36.5 meters, with the E-Cat series representing their fully electric offerings. The shipyard continues construction on additional units at its Istanbul facility, maintaining focus on sustainable marine technologies.VisionF Yachts in Turkey was set up by Coşkun Bayraktar in Istanbul in 2019, but despite the shipyard’s relative youth it is a brand that is going places in the power catamaran world. In November 2020, VisionF Yachts debuted its first vessel, the VisionF 80. Credits: VisionF Yachts
August 5, 2025