Few events have ever affected yachting as much as the sinking of the 60 meter Yogi. The largest yacht to ever sink, its wreck strongly hit the Turkish shipbuilding sector and made owners take a hard look at their insurances and dangers, even though no one was hurt. Despite the accident, Yogi was no less of an exceptional yacht.
Yogi was the largest yacht ever built by up and coming Turkish shipyard, Proteksan Turquoise at the time of her delivery in 2011. Reminiscent of an explorer style yacht through her design by Jean Guy Verges, Yogi featured oversized portholes in her hull that brought in tons of flight into the yacht's cabins.
Built for Stephane Courbit, a French media and TV millionaire valued at €450 million, Yogi was built to be operated as a charter yacht part of its hotel collection. Maximizing space, the yacht had many amenities for her size including a swimming pool, beach club, wellness center and media room.
Yet, on February 17th 2012, just as the yacht was days out of leaving the yard where it was undergoing warrantied maintenance work, it sank in the Aegean sea. The weather was particularly difficult during that day and yet it seems to be an engine failure that, tied to a number of circumstantial events, led to the 60-meter yacht sinking to the bottom of the Mediterranean.
The report did, however, clear Proteksan in the quality of its build, focusing on what was a mixture of human oversight and extreme conditions. A Turkish investigations arrived at similar conclusions. Manned by a skeleton crew of 8 during this voyage, it took an hour to evacuate by helicopter the yacht's crew as seas at their peek featured waves of up to 7 meters.
Virtually new, the sinking of the 60-meter Yogi send shockwaves throughout the yachting space. In addition to engine issues that were believed to have triggered the chain of events that led to Yogi sinking, misuse of watertight doors may have been an issue according to the report. A fact worth noting is that the yacht took over five hours to sink into the Aegean Sea.
The largest yacht to have ever cruised with the French flag, Yogi was part of Courbit's Lov Collection, a holding company that includes the Les Airelles palace in Courchevel as well as the Pan Dei hotel in St Tropez. Built with charter in mind to its existing and new clientele, the yacht commanded prices of up to €378,000 per week and featured 800 square meter of interior space in a particularly luxurious interior.
A key element in Yogi's design was her large pool with overflow that sat aft of the yacht's main deck, directly on top of its beach club. In the middle of the pool was a glass porthole that flooded the area underneath with light. All around the pool were lounging pads for Yogi's guest to take in the sun when the yacht was anchored off in a bay.
To complement the swimming pool aft of the main deck, a Jacuzzi was also placed aft of the sundeck, for guests that wanted to enjoy the sun in a hot tub. Also surrounded by sunpads, these feature a common beige design throughout the yacht with colored pillows. Same can be said for the customizable lounging area aft of the upper deck.
On the inside, Yogi was reminiscent of Courbit's luxurious hotels. Featuring a beige and creme tone throughout the yacht, the 60-meter was fitted with floor to ceiling windows that visually increased the size of its 800 square meters of interior space. Its main salon was structured into a lounging area and a TV sector with a wide screen built into the wall.
Stretching across the full beam of the yacht, Yogi's master bedroom was no less spectacular with both lots of light and space. A king sized bed throned in the middle of the suite with access through a central corridor to a dressing room and his and hers bathrooms.
The yacht's guest accommodation didn't also pale in comparison with the owner's stateroom. Finished in the same style, the double and twin guest cabins could be connected or separated through double sliding doors. In total, Yogi could accommodate a total of 12 guests across 6 cabins.
Tall windows could be found throughout the yacht and were a real differentiating factor from competition on the market for Yogi. 'The idea was to have a yacht that could be chartered and run just like a resort.' detailed its designer, Jean Guy Verges in a later interview. 'She has been designed to the specific request of her owner. I think this jewel offered more than you would expect of a yacht her size.'
Another interesting amenity of Yogi was her observational lounge up on the sun deck. Finished throughout in glass, the area boasted a 180 degree view into the yacht's surroundings through a climate controlled environment. Equipped with custom furniture from the likes of Hermes, this media lounge separated the sun deck into a Jacuzzi and a raised dinning area.
Down on the upper deck, which also featured a covered dinning room, guests would find an extensive lounging pad with tiles that could be raised or flattened to create lounging chairs or sun beds. Connected to iPods and iPhones, which in 2011 was still rare, Yogi featured an advanced system for her time with TVs that slid out even in front of lounging pads.
Viewed by many as a step forward for the Turkish yacht building sector and as an endorsement of their quality, when Yogi sank, the whole country took a hit. By 2011, yacht owners and charters had started outgrowing the stigma of building in Turkey and the market was picking up for local builders. In fact Yogi was the largest yacht ever built by Proteksan.
Yogi's delivery was followed weeks after by their newest flagship, a 70.5-meter reminiscent of a Dutch-build quality, Talisman C. Shortly after it followed the 72-meter Vicky and it looked like Turkey would emerge as a yacht building destination. This all ended when Yogi sank in February 2012 and owners' stigma towards Turkey developed once again.
Although some Turkish shipyards continued to prosper, many faded down their ambitions in a global recession. This ultimately culminated with the acquisition of Proteksan Turquoise by Dutch-based Oceanco. Backed by billionaire investor Mohammed Al Barwani, the Dutch superyacht builder since set out on a mission to make the yard competitive and got an order for a 77-meter yacht now under build.
Having initially started his career in television in the 1990s, Stephane Courbit where he built a reputation, eventually starting his own production company behind hits such as Miss France. Eventually acquired by Dutch holding Endemol, Courbit exited from the company in 2001.
His LOV Group currently includes companies in the audiovisual space with several production companies behind some of France's most popular game shows. Other investments include several betting sites, which he started in acquiring in 2007. One of his fastest growing divisions has now becomes the Airelles collection of hotels.
After investing nearly $200 million into the purchase and renovation of the five star Courchevel palace, Les Airelles, Courbit acquired the Pan Dei Palace in St Tropez. His hotel portfolio then grew with the Bastide de Gordes in 2014. Two more Airelles hotels are set to open in the next two years, one in Versailles and one in Val d'Isiere.
Greek yacht builder Omikron Yachts will return to the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9-14, 2025, to present its OT-60 model. The 18-meter yacht, which received three international awards in 2024, will be displayed at Europe's largest in-water boat show.The OT-60 features a fuel-efficient Eco-Cruise hull designed by Juan-K, with exterior and interior styling by Lorenzo Argento. At a cruising speed of 8 knots, the yacht achieves a range of 1,000 nautical miles with fuel consumption of 1.25 liters per nautical mile. The design combines elements of sailing yachts and motor cruisers, emphasizing onboard space optimization.Following the OT-60's market success, Omikron Yachts has expanded its Mediterranean dealer network and plans to enter the North American market. The company currently has several projects in development, including the larger OT-80 motor yacht and the 54-meter sailing yacht Argo 54 under construction at its Athens-area facility.Between 1969 and the late 90s, the Olympic Yachts shipyard manufactured over 2,000 sailing boats. Starting in 2019, the shipyard underwent a comprehensive renovation, revitalizing its capabilities to design and manufacture contemporary, high-quality boats.Credits: Omikron Yachts
July 30, 2025
Italian shipbuilder MED Group has launched its new Tykun brand, introducing a line of high-performance chase boats designed by architect Tommaso Spadolini. The aluminum-hulled vessels will be available in three sizes: 8.5, 10.5, and 12.5 meters.The first 10.5-meter unit is currently under construction and scheduled to debut at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show. A client has already ordered the largest 12.5-meter model, with delivery expected in 2026. The boats utilize MED Group's three decades of experience building vessels for military and security applications.Constructed from aluminum without requiring molds, the Tykun series allows for extensive customization of layouts, finishes, and configurations. The design incorporates military-derived naval architecture adapted for luxury yacht tender use.Marco Galimberti"We know that owners will appreciate the flexibility of the design and layout," said Spadolini, noting the boats' adaptable interiors. MED Group CEO Marco Galimberti added, "These boats combine the power of military vessels with the elegance of superyacht tenders."The Cervia-based shipyard currently employs 60 workers and plans to expand to a larger facility in 2026. The Tykun line represents MED Group's first foray into the luxury yacht market, applying its defense sector expertise to premium chase boat construction.Credits: MED Group
July 30, 2025
Italian yacht builder Extra Yachts has revealed the updated interior design of its 32.3-meter X110 Fast model, created by designer Giuseppina Arena. The new interior scheme features contemporary styling with vibrant color palettes, combining leather surfaces, lacquered finishes, and specialized glass elements with integrated fabrics.Constructed with carbon-composite materials, the performance-oriented yacht measures 7.6 meters in beam (extendable to 9 meters with fold-down bulwarks) and draws just 1.35 meters. Power comes from three MAN engines rated at 2,000 horsepower each, enabling a top speed of 40 knots and cruising at 30 knots.The main deck centers around an open-plan saloon with convertible seating arrangements and an integrated bar area. Below deck, the full-beam master suite incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows and an oversized skylight, accompanied by three additional guest cabins configured as two twins and one VIP. Crew accommodations for four are positioned separately.Exterior spaces feature an 85-square-meter aft deck divided into three functional zones: a beach club with transforming furniture, central lounge area, and elevated dining space with open kitchen. The 50-square-meter flybridge includes dining facilities, sun pads, and a fixed hardtop, while the foredeck offers a private lounge area.Storage solutions include a side-launch tender garage housing a 4-meter craft. The yacht's technical specifications highlight its spray rail-equipped hull design for improved seakeeping at high speeds.Extra Yachts specializes in the development of yachts with a strong personality. Its distinctive lines are combined in a variety of motor yacht models ranging from 76' to 130' and a 30-meter motor catamaran. Developed thanks to the advanced technical experience of ISA Yachts, Extra offers customers all the advantages of being part of the Palumbo Superyachts network.Credits: Extra Yachts
July 30, 2025
The first 45-meter yacht constructed at Tankoa Yachts' new Civitavecchia production site has completed its transfer to the company's Genoa shipyard. The T450 series vessel arrived via barge after a two-day maritime transport operation, marking a milestone in Tankoa's expansion strategy.Construction of the aluminum hull and superstructure, along with initial machinery installation, was completed at the Civitavecchia facility before the transfer. The logistics operation required transporting the hull by trailer to the quay, loading onto a barge, and final delivery to Tankoa's private docking area in Genoa. The yacht will now undergo final outfitting in preparation for launch.Tankoa has invested approximately €5 million to establish operations at the Civitavecchia site, which obtained its port concession in December 2023. The facility currently employs 120 workers and has five yachts in various construction phases."This transfer demonstrates our long-term commitment to Civitavecchia," stated Tankoa CEO Vincenzo Poerio. "We're now focused on developing the local supply chain to create an efficient production hub that benefits both the region and Italy's yacht-building industry."The Civitavecchia expansion increases Tankoa's production capacity while establishing a new construction hub in the historic port city. The shipyard maintains its Genoa headquarters for final completion work and yacht deliveries.Tankoa was founded in 2007 and began production in 2008. A true “boutique shipyard”, focused on building semi-custom and custom constructions 45-meter and up.Credits: Tankoa
July 29, 2025
The 65-meter motor yacht Regina d'Italia has been listed for sale through Ocean Independence broker Marco Vandoni, marking the first time the vessel has been available since its 2019 delivery from Italian shipyard Codecasa.Constructed with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, Regina d'Italia represents the third iteration of Codecasa's 65-meter platform, offering 1,215 gross tons of interior volume. The yacht's interior design was handled by M2 Atelier in collaboration with an unnamed fashion designer, resulting in minimalist spaces described by brokers as demonstrating "practical elegance."Accommodations include six cabins for up to 11 guests, featuring a 110-square-meter master suite on the main deck. Common areas comprise an open-plan main salon, combined cinema and skylounge, and fully-equipped gymnasium. A central elevator connects all decks.The upper deck aft hosts a formal dining area beneath the mirrored overhang of the sundeck, which itself contains a 7-meter forward-facing pool surrounded by sun loungers and a full-service bar. The yacht carries a complement of water toys including an Xtender tender, two Sea-Doo personal watercraft, and a Seabob underwater scooter.Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, Regina d'Italia achieves a top speed of 18.5 knots with a transatlantic range of 4,300 nautical miles at 13 knots. The RINA-classed vessel is equipped with zero-speed stabilizers for comfort at anchor.Codecasa shipyard was established in Viareggio in 1825 by the shipwright Giovanni Battista Codecasa. Still run by the founder’s heirs, nowadays the Codecasa Shipyards Group is able to offer a wide range of Yachts, featured by top quality, technologic innovation, reliability, design and comfort. The shipyard is known all over the world as builders of steel and light alloy motoryachts, ranging from 30 to 70 meters LOA.Credits: Ocean Independence
July 29, 2025