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.
Silent Yachts is preparing for a busy year in 2025, building on significant achievements in 2024. The company delivered six SY62 models over the past year and plans to increase output by 50% in 2025, including the launch of its new flagship, the SY80. The shipyard in Fano, Italy, is operating at full capacity, with seven yachts in advanced stages of construction and scheduled for delivery in the first half of the year.Under new management since March 2024, Silent Yachts implemented a modular construction system at its shipyard. This approach allows yacht modules to be built simultaneously and assembled in the final production phase, streamlining the process and improving efficiency. The company now achieves a production rate of one yacht per month. According to CEO Fabrizio Iarrera, this restructuring played a pivotal role in the company’s successful year, marked by the delivery of the triple-deck SY62 and its global debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival.Silent Yachts expanded its visibility in 2024 through participation in several prominent boat shows, including its first appearance at the Venice Boat Show and the debut of the SY62 3-Deck Open at Cannes, where it won the "Most Efficient Yacht" award at the World Yachts Trophies. The company also increased its presence in the US, opening a new commercial office at Fort Lauderdale’s Safe Harbor Marine Center to strengthen its sales and after-sales support.The year also saw the establishment of a dedicated Silent Yachts charter network, with operations in the Caribbean and the western Mediterranean, offering potential customers the chance to experience its yachts firsthand. A 10-day sea trial program in the Bahamas highlighted the compatibility of Silent Yachts with environmentally sensitive areas, thanks to their low draft and silent electric propulsion systems.Silent Yachts is set to continue its international outreach in 2025. The SY62 3-Deck Open will be on display at the Palm Beach International Boat Show from March 19–23. The SY62 3-Deck Closed, featuring an enclosed upper deck with panoramic views, will make its debut at the Singapore Yachting Festival from April 10–13. In addition, the SY80 flagship is scheduled for launch later this year.Looking further ahead, Silent Yachts is collaborating with superyacht designers Nuvolari Lenard on a new 70-footer expected to launch in 2026. According to Iarrera, the company remains committed to innovation and is working on new models while expanding its presence in key markets.Credit: Silent Yachts
January 17, 2025
Ferretti Group will mark the start of 2025 with the unveiling of the Riva Iseo Super at boot Düsseldorf, the world’s largest indoor boat show, scheduled from January 18 to 26. The event will feature six yachts from the Group, highlighting its recent developments.Ferretti Yachts 500The Riva Iseo Super will debut as an updated 27-foot runabout, designed to build on the features of its predecessor. This model incorporates new technical elements and design refinements aimed at enhancing the cruising experience.Riva El-IseoThe Ferretti Group’s exhibit will also include the Ferretti Yachts 500, a flybridge model focused on comfort and functionality; the Dolceriva, a 48-foot open yacht with a contemporary design approach; the Riva El-Iseo, the company’s first fully electric powerboat; the Pershing GTX80, introducing a new concept in sport yachts; and the wallytender48, a tender designed with an emphasis on utility and performance, displayed at the Wally stand in Halle 6.Pershing GTX80A press conference is scheduled for January 18 at 11 am at stand 6D28 in Halle 6, where further updates on the Group’s projects and future plans will be shared.Ferretti Group’s presentation will be accompanied by collaborations with brands including Range Rover, providing a ride service for visitors, and Flexjet, representing business aviation. Additional partnerships with Dolce&Gabbana, Lavazza, La Scolca, and Seabob, among others, aim to complement the Group’s presence at the event. These partners will showcase products tailored to the event’s atmosphere, such as custom-designed uniforms, wine selections, and specialty coffee.wallytender48The event offers an opportunity to observe Ferretti Group’s latest offerings and collaborations, presenting a snapshot of its activities within the yachting industry.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
January 17, 2025
The latest Amels 80 superyacht has arrived at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen, Netherlands facility, marking a key milestone in its construction. Following its recent launch at Damen Yachting's Galati, Romania hull building facility, the 80-meter Amels Limited Editions yacht is now ready for the outfitting phase.This arrival signifies the commencement of the next stage of the build process, highlighting the continued popularity and success of the Amels 80 design. The extensive outfitting work will be carried out at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen East shipyard, a state-of-the-art facility located just 3 nautical miles from the Vlissingen City yard. This shipyard plays a vital role in Damen Yachting's new build and refit operations.This specific Amels 80 is the third currently undergoing outfitting and is scheduled for delivery in 2026. Further details about the project remain confidential at this time.Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
January 16, 2025
Dutch Design has unveiled the Sea Rover, a groundbreaking 42.5-meter superyacht concept billed as the world's first wellness-focused vessel. Developed in collaboration with superyacht owner Scott Blum and designer Bernd Weel (renowned for the award-winning Lady Fleur), the Sea Rover represents a limited semi-custom series of just ten yachts. Blum's inspiration stemmed from a lack of superyachts catering to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.This philosophy is evident in the yacht's abundant wellness amenities. Unlike traditional layouts, the spa, gym, and sports court are prominently positioned on the bridge deck. The spa boasts a dual-temperature plunge pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, infrared therapy wall, and massage area. The adaptable sports court caters to pickleball, basketball, paddle tennis, volleyball, or general fitness, doubling as storage for water toys, tenders, and even a car.Accommodation includes five cabins, highlighted by a full-beam owner's suite on the main deck featuring an expansive closet and a luxurious Japanese onsen-style tub and steam room. Nine crew members enjoy quarters finished to the same high standards as the guest cabins, separate from the captain's cabin on the bridge. While interior renderings remain confidential, the design emphasizes a beachy Californian aesthetic with natural wood, stone, and earthen-toned textiles.A central staircase, starting as a sculptural glass table on the sundeck, dramatically illuminates the lower decks. Large glass panels in the dining area provide panoramic views, seamlessly merging with the galley and entertainment space to create a vibrant "grand room" fostering interaction between guests, chef, and crew. A spacious beach club completes the experience, offering a dining table, sunbeds, wet bar, and ample storage.Blum emphasizes the yacht's unique integration of travel and well-being, describing it as an investment that will retain its value. Weel highlights the design's timeless appeal, achieved by prioritizing essential features and creating a classic, clean, and distinctly Dutch aesthetic, effectively condensing the grandeur of much larger yachts into a more intimate yet comprehensively luxurious experience.Credits: Dutch Design
January 16, 2025
Zeelander Yachts, celebrating 22 years of crafting timeless yachts, strengthens its team with the appointment of Floris Koopmans as Business Development Manager. This strategic move reinforces the company’s commitment to exceptional client experiences and global market expansion.In his new role, Koopmans will spearhead efforts to enhance commercial activities worldwide. He will focus on building and nurturing relationships with yacht owners and brokers, ensuring every interaction reflects Zeelander’s renowned quality. Koopmans will also oversee marketing initiatives, ensuring the brand's continued success. His appointment reflects Zeelander's dedication to providing a tailored experience for each client.Floris Koopmans Koopmans brings extensive experience to this position, having served Zeelander Yachts since 2017 in various roles, including marketing, brand management, and sales. His intimate knowledge of the brand and its heritage ensures a seamless integration into the leadership team. This also marks a significant family milestone, as Koopmans will collaborate closely with his father, Sietse Koopmans, the founder and chairman of Zeelander Yachts, furthering the family legacy in the yachting industry.“Zeelander forges objects of desire," says Floris Koopmans. "My goal is to deeply understand our owners' needs so we perfectly tailor each yacht and experience to fulfill those desires." Sietse Koopmans adds, “When I founded Zeelander, I aimed for the best yachts money could buy. Floris embodies that vision, bringing valuable perspective and experience, enriched by his upbringing in the yachting world and Zeelander's legacy."The Koopmans family’s deep maritime roots, spanning four generations of skippers, inform Zeelander's unwavering commitment to quality. This dedication is further reinforced by the shipyard's location in Groot-Ammers, Netherlands, a place of significant personal and professional history for the family. The skilled craftsmen, many with decades of experience, bring unparalleled expertise to each yacht's creation.Zeelander Yachts will be showcasing its yachts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show (March 19-23, 2025), providing an excellent opportunity to meet Floris Koopmans and learn more about the brand's future plans.Zeelander Yachts was founded in 2002 in the Netherlands by Sietse Koopmans. The first model was unveiled to the public in 2008. The launch model Z44 received positive reviews at the Monaco Yacht Show and drew enormous crowds, despite being at an event dominated by much larger yachts. Within three years, the Z44 had been successfully introduced to the US as well as Europe, and it was an obvious direction to add a larger model to the fleet. The first Z55 was delivered in November 2015, and the flagship Z72 was launched in March 2019.Credits: Tom van Oossanen/Zeelander Yachts
January 16, 2025