Superyachts are fascinating creations destined to the world's highest net worth individuals, and for that reason alone the space has always drawn interest from the mainstream public. Yet, many surprising events in yachting are often overlooked even by most knowledgeable experts. Yacht Harbour looks at yacht trivia you should really know.
#1 Donald Trump used to own Amels
Back before he became US President, Donald Trump was a prolific billionaire most known in yachting for his 86-meter Trump Princess, which he bought from Adnan Khashoggi in 1988 for $28 million.
"Khashoggi probably spent $200 million building this yacht, probably the best yacht ever built." Trump then commented in the media. "I purchased it for a business. I use it for my hotels. I use it for a lot of different charities."
Following the purchase, Trump spent near $10 million at Amels to refit the yacht according to the LA Times. In June 1989, he announced he would build the world's largest yacht, 'something in excess of 400 feet long', for which he was accepting bids from shipyards. Amels, then owned by a group of 4 British investors, won that bid to build a 128-meter Trump Princess II.
This project, in part, led to financial problems for Amels, a significantly smaller shipyard then. A year later, Trump then acquired Amels, shortly after canceling the construction of Trump Princess II, as was announced in 1990. In September of that year, he sold Amels to American businessman, Peter Kutell due to financial problems according to Dessert News. For nearly half a year, however, Trump essentially Amels.
#2 Business Insider thought a $4.8 billion yacht was sold in Asia
In the summer of 2011, Stuart Hughes, a UK-based designer, claimed he had been commissioned for the world's most expensive yacht, the 100ft History Supreme. Hughes claimed on his website that the yacht was bought by a Malaysian businessman for £3 billion. 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum were supposed to be used for this project in addition to railings and anchor made of precious metals.
With such a reported price, the story spread like wildfire across national media based on Hughes' statement. Italy-based, Baia Yachts however later came forward with a statement saying that the story was fake and that Hughes had taken pictures from their website, which he then tried to pass off as his own concept.
#3 A Broker Pretended He Sold A 222-meter yacht
In October 2014, the yachting community was baffled to read in mainstream media about 222m Triple Deuce, a project supposedly sold by 4Yacht. Not only was the length of the superyacht baffling but the wording of the press release was also off-putting. The project, for which the designers were never announced, was supposed to have an "agressive" delivery schedule and to supposedly be handed over to the client in 2018.
With us now in 2019, it is clear no signs of such a project were never real, as Yacht Harbour first reported in 2016. CNN and many other mainstream media were, however, quick to publish that the world's largest yacht was now Triple Deuce.
#4 An owner's captain asked for a €3 million commission to help broker a deal
In early 2004, the late Boris Berezovsky set out to build a 110-meter yacht at Lurssen to be called Darius, at a price of €148,540,000 plus interior fitting costs. As the economic crisis hit, he was unable to pay the seventh tranche in May 2008 and decided to put the yacht up for sale for €300 million as it was a few months away from delivery.
Eventually, the listing agent, through a second broker found a pathway to a serious potential client via his captain. To bring the deal forward to his employer, the captain asked for a €3 million commission as was later shown in court fillings. Eventually a deal closed directly between the buyer and the seller for €240 million.
#5 The world's largest yacht will be used to carry scientists
Brain child of Norwegian Billionaire Kjell Inge Rokke, the 182.9-meter REV will become the world's largest superyacht. Instead of being simply a luxurious vessel, however, its owner intends to let WWF operate it as a base for scientists to help research and protect the oceans. "The REV will be a platform for gathering knowledge." Rokke explained.
"There may not be any economic rationale for the private construction of such a ship, but the case is compelling from the ocean's point of view." Rokke detailed.
When not used for research, REV will also engage in traditional charter activity for ultra high net worth individuals on a weekly basis, with the ability to carry up to 36 guests and a crew of 54 under that configuration.
#6 All of the top yacht shows are owned by the same conglomerate
Initially founded in the 1990s by Maurice Cohen, the Monaco Yacht Show used to be a much smaller event than it is today. In 1994, the rights to it were acquired by show management company IRR, which organised at the time the much larger Superyacht de Nice show. Ultimately, IRR itself was acquired by Informa, along with the MYS.
With a market cap of near $5 billion, Informa now often highlights the Monaco Yacht Show as one of its most well known events. In 2017, it tightened its grasp on the yacht show market by acquiring the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, the Palm Beach Boat Show and 3 others in the US for $133 million. Now all major yachting shows are owned by Informa.
#7 A Broker Pretended to have sold a 405ft yacht on Ebay
4Yacht, the same brokerage company that claimed years later it had sold a 222-meter yacht, draws its publicity stunt roots much deeper. In 2005, as research by Yacht Harbour, found the company had already announced it had listed a 405ft yacht on Ebay, a novel approach at the time.
A year later, however, the broker claimed the yacht was sold on eBay via the "Buy Now" button with the buyer paying a 50% deposit for $85 million, yielding a total sales price of $170 million. When Forbes looked into whether the sale was real, no information was found. More than a decade later, this yacht still doesn't exist.
Mengi Yay has released interior renderings for its inaugural 52.6-meter NL 50 Plus model, currently under construction in Istanbul with scheduled 2026 delivery. The superyacht, designed in collaboration with Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard, features naval architecture by Dutch firm Van Oossanen.The interior scheme employs a warm palette with minimalist lines and premium wood finishes. The layout includes a 50-square-meter owner's suite featuring a sliding balcony, private office, and spa bathroom. Guest accommodation consists of four VIP cabins on the lower deck, with additional crew quarters for eight staff members.Notable exterior features include an expansive sundeck with heated spa pool and fire pit, along with a beach club incorporating a drop-down platform and integrated swimming pool. The foredeck serves dual purposes as both open-air cinema and storage for a 7-meter tender."We've gained valuable expertise through collaboration with Mengi Yay and Camper & Nicholsons," said Carlo Nuvolari of Nuvolari Lenard. The designer highlighted the owner's balcony mechanism which automatically deploys safety rails when extended.Mengi Yay CEO Hüseyin Mengi noted the Italian design partnership has elevated the yard's product quality. Camper & Nicholsons is handling project coordination and sales representation.The yacht's efficient hull design aims to optimize fuel consumption for extended cruising. Construction continues at Mengi Yay's Istanbul facility.Mengi Yay Yachts was founded in 1964 in Turkey. Now the company owns one of the largest (19,365 sq m) yards that were specifically designed for the refit and refurbishment of existing craft as well as the manufacturing of the new motor and sailing yachts. Credits: Mengi Yay Yachts
May 23, 2025
StellarPM has introduced the ST88, an 26.8m raised pilothouse motoryacht as the newest addition to its StellarONE Series. The steel/aluminum vessel offers a 2,800-nautical-mile range at 10-knot cruising speeds, with twin Caterpillar C18 ACERT 615hp engines meeting IMO Tier III emissions standards.The ST88 features an AH36 carbon steel hull with aluminum superstructure built at StellarPM's Hai Phong shipyard, while pre-engineered interior modules are fabricated at the company's Zhuhai facility. Naval architecture comes from Ginton Naval Architects, with interiors by Unzile Acar. Lloyd's Register certification includes +100A1 SSC, Yacht, Mono, G6 classification."ST88 embodies our focus on engineering integrity and customizable luxury," said Chris Holmes, StellarPM Principal. The yacht is offered in two configurations: a full-displacement version with 14-knot top speed, and a semi-displacement aluminum variant featuring twin 1,800hp C32 engines capable of 22 knots with 2,200nm range. The performance version adds a one-meter hull extension.Designed for owner-operation or crewed service, the ST88 emphasizes system redundancy and global serviceability. The Vietnam-based builder targets experienced owners seeking transoceanic capability, though pricing and delivery timelines remain undisclosed. The model joins StellarPM's growing explorer yacht portfolio focused on long-range cruising.StellarPM is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company offers the expertise of the yachting industry, from design, drafting and time management, to the coordination of refits and new builds.Credits: StellarPM
May 23, 2025
Italian shipbuilder AB Yachts has delivered the inaugural 39.7-meter AB 130 model, named Effe, to its owners. The high-performance motoryacht reaches speeds exceeding 40 knots through waterjet propulsion while maintaining a shallow 1.3-meter draft.Effe's design incorporates an innovative expandable beach club with twin stern wings that create a 100+ square meter seaside terrace when deployed. The main saloon spans 50 square meters with floor-to-ceiling windows providing panoramic views. A convertible swimming pool transitions between covered and uncovered configurations on demand.Storage capacity includes a floodable garage housing a 4.6-meter tender, two jet skis, Seabobs, and inflatable water toys. The yacht offers a 450-nautical-mile range when cruising at 35 knots.The owners, described as experienced yachtsmen, customized the interior layout to their specifications. This delivery follows AB Yachts' AB 125 series, continuing the Viareggio-based builder's focus on high-speed motoryachts between 30-50 meters in length.No price or construction duration was disclosed for this first AB 130 unit. The shipyard currently has additional AB 130 models in production at its Italian facility. The design emphasizes outdoor living spaces while maintaining the brand's signature performance characteristics.Italian shipyard AB Yachts was founded in 1992. In 2001, AB Yachts was acquired by the Fipa Group. Today Next Yacht Group is the owner of the historic Maiora, AB Yachts, and CBI Navi brands. AB Yachts range consists of semi-displacement yachts from 17.70 to 42 meters.Credits: AB Yachts
May 23, 2025
Florida-based MarineMax broker James Corts has facilitated the sale of a new Ocean Alexander 35R to longtime clients, marking their fourth yacht purchase through Corts in two years. The experienced owners, previously operating vessels between 60-88 feet, took delivery of the 35-foot model for private cruising in Florida waters.The buyers selected the 35R for its enclosed skylounge configuration, climate-controlled upper deck, and crew accommodation layout. "The 35R checked all their boxes with its refined design and comfortable living spaces," said Corts, who has represented Ocean Alexander at MarineMax Naples since 2021.Ocean Alexander's Head of Global Operations Dan Mundy acknowledged Corts' role in the transaction: "His continued success reflects deep industry knowledge and dedication to clients." The manufacturer did not disclose the sale price or delivery timeline for the semi-custom motor yacht.The 35R model features a three-stateroom layout with crew quarters, joining Ocean Alexander's Revolution series targeting owners downsizing from larger vessels. MarineMax remains the exclusive Ocean Alexander dealer for Florida's southwest coast, with Corts having closed multiple seven-figure transactions for the brand in 2024.This sale continues a trend of experienced owners transitioning to smaller, more manageable yachts with premium amenities. Ocean Alexander reports strong demand for its 27-42 foot models in the Florida market, particularly from repeat customers. The new owners plan to use the vessel exclusively for private family cruising.With a rich heritage spanning over 45 years, Ocean Alexander stands at theforefront of the yachting industry. Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, innovative design, and dedication to luxury, Ocean Alexander continues to redefine the standards of luxury yachting, offering vessels that are both performance-oriented and comfortable.Credits: Ocean Alexander
May 22, 2025
Columbus Yachts has launched its new 42-meter Crossover model, M/Y Big Naan, at its Savona shipyard in Italy. The steel-hulled explorer with aluminum superstructure was built for an American owner, with construction supervised by owner's representative Trevor van Wyk and brokerage handled by Zarpo Yachts.Designed by Hydro Tec with interiors by Hot Lab, the Crossover 42 features explorer-style exterior lines with a bulbous bow and distinctive angular superstructure. The yacht accommodates 11 guests across four lower deck cabins and a full-beam master suite on the main deck featuring a central bed, walk-in wardrobe, office area and bathroom with separate shower compartment. Crew quarters provide for nine staff members.The aft deck combines leisure and functional spaces with a 17-square-meter swimming pool and tender storage served by a built-in crane. A beach club on the lower deck incorporates a hydraulic door and receives natural light through side windows and a glass-bottom pool. The yacht is powered by twin Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines delivering a maximum speed of 14 knots and transatlantic range exceeding 5,500 nautical miles at 10 knots.Columbus Yachts currently has four additional vessels under construction at Savona, including a Crossover 47 scheduled for 2027 delivery and two ISA Gran Turismo 45 Alloy hulls that will be completed at the company's Ancona facility. The shipyard did not disclose the build time or price for Big Naan, which will undergo sea trials before delivery to its owner.The Crossover 42 model represents Columbus Yachts' approach to compact explorer vessels, combining long-range capabilities with leisure amenities typically found on larger superyachts. The launch follows the 2023 delivery of the first Crossover 42, M/Y Dragon, and expands the Palumbo Group subsidiary's portfolio of explorer-style vessels.Technical features include two watermakers producing 8.6 cubic meters daily, 60 cubic meters of fuel capacity, and dual stabilizer systems for both underway and at-anchor use. The yacht's interior design emphasizes natural materials and functional spaces suited for extended cruising.Columbus Yachts was established in 2008. In early 2019, the shipyard launched the new flagship Columbus Classic 80m M/Y Dragon, which joins in the Columbus star-studded fleet with the award-winning Sport Hybrid 40 Divine, the 57m M/Y Taiba and the 40m M/Y Eleonora III. The Columbus range offers four different lines: Sport, Classic, Crossover and Custom for unique projects. 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), operating under just as many world-renowned brand names: ISA Yachts, Columbus Yachts, Mondomarine, Extra Yachts and Palumbo SY Refit.Credits: Columbus Yachts
May 22, 2025