Top 9 yachts on display at the 2017 Palm Beach International Boat Show

The ConceptThe Seataci (view the video) is yacht concept that uses a biomimetic propulsion system resembling the movement of whale’s tail. Its main hull would be lowered underwater, providing passengers with an excellent underwater view of the coral reefs and marine life. It features a dozen villas and two landing pads specially designed for personal flying drones.Origin of the ideaThe idea for the Seataci first came to me while my wife and I were visiting the St. Regis resort in Bora-Bora. We were scuba diving one of the channels, and I started thinking about a new type of cruise ship concept capable of navigating in shallow waters by using an eco-friendly propulsion system. First I had in mind a commercial type of vessel, but it could probably first be developed as an experimental / scientific yacht that would bring together scientists and their benefactors.How it worksThe Seataci would be capable of submerging itself by using a water ballast system to sink its main hull. Two side pods would be used to stabilise the ship, and they would be linked with a hydraulic system that would also double as a dynamic suspension. The ship’s crew and passengers would be able to travel to those pods at any time during the cruise, and passengers could use them as galleries to get a different viewpoint from the ship.The ship’s engines would be housed in each pod. A biomimetic propulsion system similar to the Iruka concept would be designed to propel the Seataci. This system is basically an oscillating foil that pushes the water like the tail of a whale. It might prove more efficient than propellers, would probably generate less noise under water, and it would allow the ship to sail in shallower waters without breaking its propellers or rudders.Each pods would feature enclosed water propeller that would siphon water from side intake grills and push it forward when the vehicle needs to back up, like reverse bow thrusters. Another option would be to integrate a pivot around the pods vertical axis to reverse the ship’s course.As you can see, the boat’s actual hull occupies a lot of volume, so it will be hard to sink.This is our first iteration, only meant to depict the idea. Future version of the Seataci should take into account weight, volume of water displaced, type of material, ballasts size etc. They would look different, but would propose the same features.The lower tail section of the main hull would feature an impressive under water experience for the passengers, with large panoramic windows located on each side of the ship. Some of the ship’s suite could be located in that lower section for the view and for the minimal roll. A dining hall or an observatory lounge could also be installed there. On the main deck, a tropical garden would surround a pool next to landing pads for personal drone. The drones could be used by customers to fly to the shore or visit small ‘motu’ or ‘atolls’ nearby.What It’s Used ForThe Seataci is first and foremost a luxury yacht, but it could also be built and sold as a small scientific or commercial excursion ship. It would be interesting to use it to explore channels or islands located in shallow waters and witness the fascinating underwater life during each cruise. When personal drones become widely available and safe, the Seataci could serve as a landing platform to explore inhabited islands without using boats.Integrating new technologies like the oscillating foil is probably a big risk; however it could provide a good payoff if this technology proves to be more sustainable than what is currently being used.The DesignerI would like to thank Martin Rico, who created the images of the Seataci concept. Martin lives near Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied Design at the University of Buenos Aires and now works as a Freelance Industrial Designer. Martin also created the images of the Mercuri personal jet and the Sandofi urban cart for the homeless.

The group strengthens its presence in the Asian market. Ferretti Group announced the grand opening of its new marvelous showroom in Shanghai at the Bellagio Hotel. This new opening confirms the strategy of international growth of Ferretti Group, and its goal to increase visibility in the Asia-Pacific market.Ferretti Group brand new showroom is located in the shopping section on the first floor of Bellagio Shanghai. It perfectly mirrors the elegant taste, the international excellence and Italian aesthetics of the Group. At this showroom, visitors will see the impressive scale models of the latest yacht models presented from the Group’s portfolio of legendary brands, such as Riva 110’ Dolcevita debuted last month during Cannes Yachting Festival, Pershing 140 to be debuted in year 2019, and 74M mega yacht Cloud 9 from CRN brand which was delivered to her owner last year. These new projects are benchmarks of cutting-edge design and technology innovation in the global nautical world. Showroom visitors can also learn about the history and heritage of all seven brands from the interactive touchscreen totem.“The new grand opening confirms, once again, Ferretti Group’s commitment to further expand in continental China, next to positioning all brands in a selective market, that is definitely strategic in the luxury field” comments Stefano De Vivo, CCO of Ferretti Group.The grand opening saw the participation of distinguished guests such as Mr. Bartolomeo Lamonarca, the Italian Consul Shanghai, Mr. Alain Tsui, the General Manager of Bellagio Shanghai, general managers of yacht clubs from East China, publishers of China’s top lifestyle magazine, partners of Ferretti Group from various sectors in the luxury industry, and successful entrepreneurs and boat owners. Mr. Alessandro Tirelli, Sales Director of Ferretti Group Asia Pacific shared the Ferretti Group’s latest achievements, new fleet, and new vision for the Chinese market, as well as exciting news from the September Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show.

At sea, your gaze and your imagination have no limits. You keep on feeling the vastness of the sea and experience a completely new feeling of exploring or rediscovering the true meaning of life. This ship takes you to a new level of emotionality - right where the sea meets the sky. The Solar Impact is a yacht for people who want to travel further, without sacrificing comfort, elegance and state-of-the-art technology, and for whom the destination is the actual experience of the journey itself. The Flybridge is a welcoming outdoor space. The view is fantastic and as you watch the sea, all your wishes can come true."SolarImpact is synonymous with state-of-the-art in shipbuilding when it comes to fluid mechanics, highly efficient energy technologies, and sustainability. Our yacht concept avoids noise and CO2 emissions and is therefore an important step towards electric mobility in the maritime sector." - comments Werner Vögeli, CEO of SolarImpact Yacht AG.<iframe width="1260" height="709" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wP3Ye1ee70c" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>This new yacht is a game-changer, not just in terms of its solar propulsion and design. Two aspects that have prevented a pleasant stay on board in the past have also been addressed: rough seas and high noise levels. The innovative solar yacht glides almost silently and without swaying - even over waves several metres high. The hull technology is based on the SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) construction principle.This achieves a physical shaft decoupling that reduces the rolling and heeling of the yacht by up to 90 percent. the hull lies calmly in the water even in strong swells, putting an end to the annoying swaying motion of the boat. But SolarImpact has recognised that the principle offers yet another invaluable advantage: it significantly reduces energy consumption. All systems on board can use the sun as their primary energy source. The yacht‘s solar drive is not only environmentally friendly, but also extremely quiet.Not only is the solar yacht almost self-sufficient in terms of energy, but with a top speed of over 20 knots it is also exceptionally fast. This is due to the technical components used, which collectively ensure the yacht‘s high overall efficiency and are optimally controlled using artificial intelligence (AI). All key systems are highly automated, so that a single person can even manoeuvre the yacht."However, the technology is not in the foreground: our customers can expect a product that sets new standards in terms of user-friendliness, comfort and convenience, and individual freedom. For instance, our yacht also caters to people’s increasing desire to move their centre of life permanently onto the water. The yacht concept we‘re presenting takes an important step towards maritime e-mobility by avoiding noise and CO2 emissions. We also see this as a special incentive for investors, who not only invest in a promising emerging technology, but also, by purchasing the yacht, pay into an environmental fund that serves to preserve and rebuild the environment for the future." -comments Werner Vögeli, CEO of SolarImpact Yacht AG.The interiors of the Solaryacht were designed for long stays on board with luxurious living areas and spacious cabins. It is especially dedicated to people who know comfort on long journeys and love sophisticated aesthetics. That excellent balance of shapes and the elegance of design make the SolarImpact Yacht an exceptional residence with a view of the sea. On deck you enjoy your own oasis to the sun and an environment where you can relax and unwind in complete peace. The SolarImpact is a yacht for cruisers who want to travel further without sacrificing comfort, elegance and the latest technology, whose goal is the actual experience of the journey itself. The large windows offer unparalleled views and incredible brightness in every area. The interiors are designed to pamper owner and guests with maximum comfort. Light flows into the large open living room, which combines modern taste with a warm and cosy style. After an day out at sea, the skipper's suite and the guest cabins offer a maximum of comfort and a pleasant peace and quiet. The interior presents only one variant. The equipment is adapted according to the customer's wishes. You can glide the yacht anywhere - without a single drop of fuel! Thanks to absolutely free solar energy, the SolarImpact Yacht has an unlimited range. Just enjoy the quiet and solar-powered journey.The SolarImpact Yacht is a ship with an exceptional feeling of airiness, wide and spacious corridors and a special crew area that promises passengers maximum privacy. It also offers technical extras for further travel and unique comfort for journeys to the horizon and beyond. The flybridge is an inviting open-air living room where you can spend hours in the sun.and spend it in the light. The view is fantastic and while you are watching the sea, all your dreams can come true.To ensure the perfect functioning of all systems, the required energy quantity of the solar system should be up to 500 kilowatt hours per day. How much energy can the solar system generate? This depends primarily on the geographical location of your yacht and the current weather conditions. The number of daylight hours and the intensity of sunlight are the most important factors. However, the solar system could produce more than enough energy in the world's most popular sailing areas. The yacht is equipped with a real-time energy monitoring system so that the owner can monitor and make optimum use of energy consumption at all times. Under optimal environmental conditions, the solar system generates up to 320 kWh of electricity (32KW/h peak => 10h), which charges the energy store or drives the yacht.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 59th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 31- Nov 4, 2018. The show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show program will showcase the latest vessels, technical innovations, and performance reviews, as well as highlight the wide array of lifestyle amenities, likeunparalleled hospitality, dining, and shopping options in the area. Additionally, a Best of Show trophy created by renowned industrial designer, Derek Jenkins, will be presented to the most innovative new model design on display. Top largest yachts attending FLIBS 2018 : 1. Areti (85m)2. Elandess (75m) 3. Party Girl (63m) 4. Utopia IV (62m)5. Excellence V (60m)6. Elysian (60m) 7. Minderella (59m)8. Lady Sheridan (58m)9. Power Play (56m) 10. Lady Michelle (55m)A wide variety of boats will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. This is exactly where you want to be.

Van der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands has delivered the 23-metre Joy to a delighted client in the Mediterranean. As the latest motoryacht in the popular Flybridge range, Joy features timeless design and cutting-edge equipment. She also benefits from the experienced owner’s distinctive taste and considerable experience.First introduced in 2010 and regularly updated, Van der Valk’s Flybridge range remains very popular today. Its elegant appearance, outstanding quality and state-of-the-art technology have stood the test of time, and the yachts are renowned for their excellent value retention. The 23-metre version was launched eight years ago and ten have been built to date. This versatile model is equally suited for families, lone yachtsmen and sailing with a crew.Joy’s owner hails from the shipbuilding industry himself and has a rich understanding of yachts as well as large commercial vessels. As such, he had a very clear idea of what he wanted – the client opted for Van der Valk after considering several other brands and realising that his particular needs and tastes could not be fully met by any of them.“The owner did not have a great deal of time for hands-on monitoring of the construction process,” recalls Van der Valk’s marketing manager Yoeri Bijker. “Once the contract was signed, he trusted us and mostly followed the build via progress photo reports received from the yards production management team. Thanks to careful planning and implementation, this remote approach worked very well and the client found the final result to be entirely in line with the images and his requirements.”Joy has a classic, timeless exterior characterised by Van der Valk’s award-winning semi-displacement hard chine hull in a moderate V design and a distinctive, elegant dark blue hull. The flybridge deck comprises an outdoor helm station with co-pilot seat, a U-shaped sitting area, a mini wet bar and a large inflatable water slide, as well as space for a Williams Turbojet 385 tender and an Opacmare crane with a capacity of 450 kg.The main deck has a contemporary style with a traditional touch, represented by rich Pennsylvanian walnut and Zebrano woods. The lounge centres on a U-shaped settee to port, and there is a dining area to starboard opposite the well-equipped galley. The outside dining space aft is comfortable and spacious, and the separate wheelhouse contains an indoor helm station and the latest navigation technology. The lower deck houses well-appointed accommodations, each with ensuite bathrooms. The full-beam master stateroom amidships is flanked by a VIP cabin forward and two guest cabins, one with a double and one with a bunk bed. There is also a separate full beam crew area with two cabins and a bathroom.Joy is propelled by three Volvo Penta IPS800 engines with full joystick control. A Seakeeper 26 gyroscopic stabiliser keeps her stable both underway and at zero speed. An unusual bonus is the RINA classification for recreational craft. Rarely seen on a 23-metre vessel that will not be used for chartering, this was a special request by the owner to ensure the highest safety standards and enhance her commercial resale value.