The most important annual event in the yachting industry, the Monaco Yacht Show, has just come to an end, gathering some of the world’s most elite super yachts in the Monaco Marine. This year’s edition had over 125 superyachts on display, with their average length around 50 metres and the largest vessel measuring 111 metres (TIS), not to mention the visiting superyachts seen at anchor in the bay.
Yacht Harbour lists some of the most celebrated yachts seen in Monaco during the 2019 edition of the show:
#1. Flying Fox
LOA: 136m
Builder: Lurssen (2019)
The impressive 130-metre Lürssen superyacht Flying Fox was delivered to her owner in March 2019, later sensationally listed for charter with Imperial. The superyacht boasts the most elegant and graceful exterior design by Espen Oeino, maintaining striking looks despite her massive volume of 9,100 GT.
This superyacht’s key features include two helipads, capable of hosting the largest helicopters and a generous swimming pool located aft of the main deck. Flying Fox also boasts vast sea terraces, swim platforms for watersports. She can accommodate up to 22 guests across 11 staterooms, along with a crew of 54.
Noteworthy, Flying Fox has recently caused vast social media buzz, rumouring the vessel belonged to the world’s richest person, Jeff Bezos. According to Business Insider, a representative of Amazon responded to the media, the Amazon CEO did not own the superyacht, and they had no information on who it belonged to.
#2. Kismet
LOA: 95.2m
Builder: Lurssen (2014)
Photo: Dutch Yachting
95-metre superyacht Kismet was built in 2014 by Lurssen and is owned by Shadid Khan, Pakistani-American billionaire and business tycoon, who is also the owner of the Fulham FC and Jacksonville Jaguars. The yacht's interior has been designed by Reymond Langton Design and her exterior styling is by Espen Oeino.
Kismet is stretching over five decks, designed with corporate entertainment and charter in mind, thus suitable for parties of up to 270 guests. As an innovative feature, Kismet boasts video walls, extending up to two decks high, able to show regular television but programmed to display high-definition moving artwork.
A large swimming pool and Jacuzzi area, spa zone, movie theatre, an outdoor fireplace and winter garden can be found among the yacht’s luxury amenities.
In general, Kismet’s entertainment and design characteristics have been attracting top artists and events. For example, Jay-Z and Beyonce were spotted on-board last year, while Netflix filmed Kismet in a party scene from its biggest production so far, "Six Underground", making Kismet one of the largest superyachts appearing on screen.
#3. DreAMBoat
LOA: 90m
Builder: Oceanco (2019)
According to the information from social media, DreAMBoat was built for US billionaire and owner of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team Arthur Blank, who is valued at $4.7 billion by Forbes. Meanwhile, Forbes values the team at $2.6 billion as of September, 2018.
Along with sleek exteriors by Espen Oeino, DreAMBoat's interior features bespoke surfaces and limestone floors, all decorated with sophisticated natural materials including wood, semi-precious stone, leather and mother-of-pearl all designed by Terence Disdale. Her impressive interior volume of 2,950 GT allows accommodation for 23 guests on-board, along with up to 33 crew members.
DreAMBoat is trademarked with generous overhangs from the superstructure and cut outs in the bulwarks lending her classic and strong appearance. The vessel’s exterior features numerous large windows offering panoramic views. Swimming pool aft at the main deck, a partially closed sundeck with Jacuzzi and plenty of seating and entertainment zones and a private Jacuzzi at the Owner’s deck
#4. Octopus
LOA: 126.2m
Builder: Lurssen (2003)
Photo: Dutch Yachting
Until the explorer superyacht REV launches in 2020, Octopus holds the title of the largest expedition yacht in the world, not surpassed in 16 years from her launch. She had belonged to Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, till he passed away in late 2018. Last month, she was finally listed for sale.
Octopus is capable to accommodate 26 guests in total, with up to 57 crew members. Amenities found on-board include a swimming pool and a music studio as well as a courtyard-like set up on the third deck of Octopus occupied by guest space.
She has two helicopter pads and an internal dock that extends through the hull, holding two submarines and a 18-metre tender. The yacht has been involved in multiple exploration discoveries, including a Japanese battleship and the bell from HMS Hood, a World War II battlecruiser.
Despite her expedition nature, the yacht has been much favoured by the world’s top-rate celebrities, with Mick Jagger recording an album in on-board studio in 2011 and Usher, U2 and Johnny Cash listed among other performers.
#5. TIS
Builder: Lurssen (2019)
LOA: 111m
One of the rear vessels of over 100 metres publicly listed for charter, the 111.5-metre Lurssen TIS was made available in July 2019 from € 2,200,000 per week, just a month after delivery.
TIS was commissioned for a long-time charter client of Moran Yacht & Ship. The vessel boasts exterior and interior styling by Andrew Winch Design and features 2 helicopter pads, a 12-metre swimming pool on the main deck aft, a resort inspired spa at beach club level, and opulent palatial staircases.
Photo: Dutch Yachting
TIS comes with the tender storage able to house two 13-metre tenders, two additional 10-metre tenders, a submarine and diverse watersports toys.
With her impressive interior volume within a beam of 18.4 metres, TIS will accommodate up to 16 guests across a massive private owner’s deck and eight guests staterooms, served by the crew of 38. The featured top speed of the vessel makes 18 knots.
#6. Maltese Falcon
LOA: 88m
Builder: Perini Navi (2006)
Iconic Maltese Falcon had held the title of the world’s largest sailing yacht until Oceanco launched the Black Pearl in 2017.
Commissioned in 2000 by Tom Perkins, the late venture capitalist, the Maltese Falcon took nearly six years to complete. Sold to hedge fund manager Elena Ambrosiadou at an asking price of €70 million in 2009, the 88-meter is now one of the largest yachts available for charter with a rate starting from € 480,000 per week.
Maltese Falcon’ most innovative attribute became her sails that could rotate based on the direction of the wind. This was a first for the yachting industry. This innovative system allows the yacht to even sail against the wind.
Maltese Falcon features a cruising speed of 16 knots. Meanwhile, in a storm in the Gulf of Lion, France she demonstrated a speed of 26 knots under sail alone.
Designed by Ken Freivokh, the Maltese Falcon was extensively refurbished in 2015/2016 during a refit. She can accommodate up to 12 guests on-board.
#7. Amadea
LOA: 106.5m
Builder: Lurssen (2006)
Photo: Dutch Yachting
One of the most mysterious super yachts on the market, Amadea was delivered in 2006 by Lurssen. The German shipyard reported that the vessel had been commissioned by Middle East client with a fleet of other yachts. The yacht is officially registered in the Caymans, with her owner still not known.
With an interior design by Francois Zuretti and an exterior design by Espen Oeino, the key feature of Amadea is her ten-metre aft pool. The boat also has a spa, beach club and movie theatre. She offers accommodation to up to 16 guests across 8 cabins.
She is powered by MTU engines of 5766 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 13 knots. Amadea's maximum range is estimated at 8000 nautical miles.
Recently, the vessel has been listed for sale through Imperial, traditionally working with Russian businessmen.
#8. Phoenix 2
LOA: 90.02m
Builder: Lurssen (2010)
Launched in 2010 by German shipbuilder Lurssen and last refitted in 2011, the 90-metre Phoenix2 boasts design by Andrew Winch and offers elegant exterior lines, complemented by beautiful interiors and spacious socialising areas throughout. The most notable feature is definitely the giant sculpted phoenix figurehead that sits proudly on the prow of the vessel.
Built for the late Polish billionaire, Jan Kulczyk as a replacement for his previous 61-meter Lurssen, Phoenix was delivered by the German shipyard in 2010. Designed by Andrew Winch, Phoenix boasts over 100 metres of steel handrails built specially to follow the shape of the hull.
The owner's stateroom located forward of the yacht is styled like a New York duplex from the 1930s with a private staircase linking the two areas together and leading to a private jacuzzi and owner's deck on the yacht's bow. Other features include a spa pool, Jacuzzi and cinema on the sundeck.
#9. Bold
LOA: 85m
Builder: Silver Yachts (2019)
Photo: Dutch Yachting
The largest Australia-built superyacht, Bold has outdone her predecessor Silver Fast by 8 metres. First known under the name Silver Loft, the yacht features exteriors by Silver in-house team in collaboration with Espen Oeino, who also worked on the successful Silver Series of high speed motor yachts.
Described by the yard as ‘a fast world explorer vessel with a genuine, fully-fledged superyacht finish’, Bold features all-aluminium design, along with interiors from the boards of Andreas Hölnburger of Vain Interiors.
The Bold’s low draft and highly optimised hull form provide her owner with remarkably low fuel consumption, fast repositioning and access to shallow cruising grounds unusual for yachts of her size.
The design team has opted for a straight bow, a feature that seems to gain popularity. Benefits of this particular bow shape include an increased interior volume due to the longer waterline length, as well as decreased resistance resulting in a higher speed. Thus, Bold reaches her top speed at 24 knots and cruises comfortably at 18 knots up to 5,000 nautical miles.
#10. Excellence
LOA: 80m
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen (2019)
The vessel is believed to be owned by Herb Chambers, American billionaire and the owner of a network of six dozen dealerships in Massachusetts. He is also famous for his collection of exotic cars. The automotive dealership mogul estimated at $1.5 billion by Forbes.
The sixth largest vessel of Abeking & Rasmussen, Excellence features both exteriors and interiors developed by the UK-based design studio Winch Design. Her framework relies on the same technical platform as the 81-metre Grace (ex. Kibo), featuring a 12.6- metre beam and a maximum draught of 3.5 metres.
Photo: Dutch Yachting
Key exterior trademark of the vessel is her striking and angular reverse bow, offering a silhouette comparable to a spaceship. Her exterior lines draw the eye to the bridge and owner’s decks surrounded by curved floor-to-ceiling mirrored glass, blurring the distinction between the upper deck and the panoramic skylounge.
With accommodation capacity for 14 guests, Excellence offers a swimming pool and platform, as well as Jacuzzi and sprawling beach club and impressive limousine tenders.
Gulf Craft's production is continued at both its facilities in the UAE and the Maldives.Shipyard comments that it is taking all of the precautionary measures necessary in terms of physical distancing and hygiene requirements to ensure the safety of employees, visitors and contractors such as disinfection, tests and daily health checks. Mostly, the majority of administrative staff are working from home.Monaco Marine announced the temporary closure of their shipyards since March 19, 2020. This includes the shutdown of certain subcontractors and suppliers and closure of ports. In spite of this, the management teams will remain operational to answer clients’ concerns.
April 3, 2020
German design studio Beiderbeck Designs relieved the 65-meter explorer superyacht concept.The design studio was founded in the 1990s by its eponym Jörg Beiderbeck. In 2010 Immo Lüdeling and Tim Ulrich took over the studio as owner and the team now includes 8 designers, interior designers and engineers.The five-deck explorer concept is fully SOLAS certified and features a diesel-electric propulsion system. Key features include “outstanding sea-going, stability and manoeuvring characteristics.”Accommodation onboard has the owner's deck (the master cabin with a large saloon and bathroom), two lounges and a private terrace, six double guest cabins, a saloon large enough to accommodate 12 people and an alfresco lounge area also four single cabins and two twins on the main deck, gym, spa, galley and pantry. Crew accommodation comprises nine twin cabins for a staff of 18. The 65m explorer has a helipad and hangar, car garage and storage for three tenders.Other technical details include a 14-metre beam, draught of 4.2 metres and a top speed of 12.8 knots.
April 3, 2020
Turkish yard Mengi Yay shares an update on the 42.5m sailing yacht L'Aquila II, which is approaching to the end of hull construction.The builder says its production capabilities were reduced by 30% due to the safety measures because of COVID-19.Key features of L'Aquila II include a steel hull and aluminium superstructure with naval architecture and an exterior design by Ginton Naval Architects and interiors by BTA Design.Accommodation will be for up to 10 guests in five cabins, with a further three cabins sleeping up to six crew members.Technical characteristics include 911hp Yanmar engine with a maximum speed of 14.6 knots and a cruising speed of 13.5 knots. The sailing yacht will have a beam of nine metres and a four-metre draft.Her construction is set to take 24 months with the delivery planned for 2021.
April 2, 2020
Sixth Amels Limited Edition 242 hull has been recently launched at the Damen facility in Romania. This 74-metre Amels 242 with an exterior design by Tim Heywood will be delivered in autumn 2021.Currently listed as a yacht for sale, she can accomodate up to 12 guests across two main-deck VIP suites and three lower-deck suites. Her interior will be decorated to the custom design of the owner.Since the delivery of the first Amels 242 five years ago, the Amels 242 has quickly become the world’s most successful yacht in the 75-metre segment. The Amels 242 features an entire private 374 square-metre Owners Deck with spectacular forward-facing Stateroom; a large swimming pool; and the award-winning full beam midships wellness and relaxing spa area with a unique 19.5 square metre folding beach platform.
April 2, 2020
The Azimut/Benetti Group has announced some initiatives to distribute PPE to those in need. It comes after Princess Yachts and Sunseeker International had announced about their donations of PPE to workers fighting coronavirus a while ago.The Italian yard Azimut/Benetti Group is donating equipment to different social groups located near the company’s facilities in Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany and Marche: hospitals, police officers and port authorities.The yard has organized a dedicated team that is working to procure, package and deliver the kits, which are usually used by the yard’s production employees.The group chairman Paolo Vitelli:“With this practical contribution we want to express our closeness with and gratitude with local areas that have welcomed us and helped the company to develop. Our ties with them are stronger than they have ever been.”
April 2, 2020