The number of yachts over 80 meters has sharply increased over the past few decades and, with Lurssen launching 3 megayachts over 100 meters in under a week, it seems we have now entered into the golden age of megayachts.
Project Jupiter
In the past week, Germany-based Lurssen has launched the 123-meter Project Jupiter, the 111-meter Project TIS and an unknown 130m+ superyacht which does not seem to be matching any known project at the shipyard. The shipyard's phenomenal growth however does not stop with those 3 projects as the German builder has the 75-meter Thor, 85-meter Sasha, 112-meter Palo Alto and 139-meter Redwood under construction at the moment with the 106-meter Project Mistral having already undergone sea trials earlier this year.
This demand for megayachts is however not specific to only Lurssen. Dutch-based, Oceanco have recently launched a new 88.5-meter superyacht and have completed a 106-meter sailing yacht which are now moored together at their Alblasserdam facility. The shipyard is also working on the 110-meter Project Jubilee, which is scheduled to become the largest yacht built in the Netherlands upon its delivery, and is rumored to be a replacement for Ronald Perelman's C2.
Project Jubilee
Turquoise Yachts, the new brand of Proteksan Turquoise following its acquisition by Oceanco's billionaire owner, Al Barwani back in 2014, is also working on a megayacht of its own with a 77-meter as well as a 66-meter already in construction. Another player in the megayacht space in Turkey has emerged to be Bilgin. Indeed, the shipyard has just announced it had sold a second 80-meter superyacht to a repeat client, having had already sold their first 80-meter hull to a repeat client back in October 2015. Turkey-based, Dunya Yachts are also building 100m Project Blade for the owner of Axioma.
Project Blade
More established players in the yachting industry are also strengthening their position in the expanding market at the same time. LVMH-backed Feadship, has recently delivered Steve Wynn's 92-meter Aquarius, a year after delivering 101-meter Symphony to LVMH CEO, Bernard Arnault. Italy-based Benetti is also working on a new flagship with a 107-meter megayacht currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2019.
Understandably, this growing demand for megayachts has sparked interest amongst shipyards normally specializing in smaller ranges of the market. Heesen, who have just delivered their latest flagship, the 70-meter Galactica Super Nova, are now working on an 85-meter dry dock to be able to expand their flagship size. Amels, who are about to deliver their 83-meter flagship, Here Comes The Sun, have also announced their plans to compete in the 80-110m space through their Full Custom division.
Here Comes The Sun
All of this demand at existent shipyards is also complemented by commercial shipyards, venturing into superyacht construction. Norway-based, Kleven have for example recently delivered Ulysses to New Zealand's richest man, Graeme Hart and are working on a 116-meter yacht for the same owner.
The brokerage side of the megayacht market is also becoming more active with the recent listing for sale of M/Y A by Andrei Melnichenko, the 115-meter Ona (ex. Dilbar), by Alisher Usmanov and the recent reported sale of Pelorus to a Chinese billionaire. Our guess it's therefore just a matter of time before the 200-meter barrier is breached.
Italian leading yacht builder Benetti has delivered the eighth hull in Benetti's Fast 125 Series, Project BF108, or Bangdang.The project has been overseen by Jim Evans, Managing Director of SuperYachtsMonaco. Bangdang features dynamic exterior profile with clean sporty lines by Benetti’s long-term collaborator Stefano Righini.The 38.1-metre yacht’s standout features will comprise a large sun deck with a spa pool surrounded by sunpads, a vast beach club venue with a bar area and multiple outdoor areas for dining and socialising in the sunshine.The interiors of Bangdang were developed from the boards od British design studio RWD, bringing modern minimalistic profile based on their contemporary Air theme, also complimented by light eucalyptus and bay wood throughout.Spacious and open, Bangdang will be able to house up to 11 guests across 4 cabins including and a full-beam master suite on the main deck, along with accommodation for a 7-person crew on the lower deck.One of the model’s trademarks, the state-of-the-art propulsion system with steerable carbon thrusters, was developed in collaboration with Rolls-Royce. The Azipull C65 system improves manoeuvrability whilst reducing fuel consumption for smooth and efficient sailing.Thus, Bangdang is a high-performance yacht, propelled by twin 2636hp MTU 12V2000 M96L engines to a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots under range of 1,750 nautical miles.
July 22, 2019
A renowned tennis player Rafael Nadal ranked 2nd in the men's singles rating, has commissioned an 80 Sunreef Power catamaran with Polish multihull specialist Sunreef Yachts. It has been earlier rumoured in the press, that Nadal has put on sale his 23.5-metre MCY 76 Beethoven asking £2.3million.While Nadal’s fully customised vessel is due for 2020 delivery, the first unit in the range will debut at Cannes Yachting Festival 2019.The model’s distinctive features comprise stainless steel portlights, high bulwarks and subtle ambient lighting. She comes equipped with a garage for a tender and Jet Ski, as well as numerous other water toys.The vessel comes with a number of options for the upper deck, including a waterfall-fed spa pool, upper helm position, bar area and retractable hard-top.The 23.5-metre provides accommodation for up to 12 guests and four crew members. Her power options can be chosen from either twin 575hp engines or twin 1,200 hp engines.Nadal commissioned the yacht after chartering a number of Sunreef catamarans and meeting yard founder and president Francis Lapp at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. Rafael Nadal expressed himself: As someone from an island as I am, the sea is part of our lives and it’s not a secret that I love the sea. Every time I am at home in Mallorca I try to go out and find that time where I can just enjoy my time on a boat. I am very happy to be on board of this Sunreef Yachts family.With 82 titles overall including 18 Grand Slam victories as well as a record 34 ATP Tour Masters 1000 titles, Rafael Nadal is one of the world’s most renowned and highest-paid athletes. The 3rd all-time leading tennis player in terms of earnings, Rafael Nadal earned $35 million in 2019 only, according to Forbes.
July 22, 2019
Turkish builder AvA Yachts has launched the first explorer yacht from Kando 110 series in Antalya. The 34-metre model has been also commissioned by NBA superstar Tony Parker, due for delivery in 2020.The yacht features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, all designed and engineered by the yard’s in-house team. With a volume of 320 GT, Kando 110 spreads over four decks and accommodates up to 10 guests across five double guest suites, including the 27-square-metre owner’s cabin with full height windows forward of the main deck.The 34-metre features a deep swim platform for easy access to the tenders and water toys and for sunbathing close to the water. The upper deck aft hosts an alfresco dining table beneath the shade of the sundeck overhang, while the foredeck holds the tenders, which are launched and retrieved using a Davit crane. Above, the sundeck provides a lavish spa pool and a shaded lounge beneath the hardtop bimini.The modern interiors of Kando 110 have been trademarked with accents of American walnut, wenge and stainless steel.Boasting a range of over 6,000 nautical miles, the yacht will have a max speed of 14 knots.AvA Yachts chairman and founder Atilla Küçükdiker highlighted: We have designed, engineered, and meticulously constructed Kando as a super strong and sturdy ship with a phenomenal commercial equipment level and superyacht interior quality and build.The vessel will now depart for the Côte d’Azur, ahead of her international debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September.Meanwhile, the French-American NBA All-Star Tony Parker commissioned another 35-metre Kando 110 from Ava Yachts in 2018. The yacht, scheduled for delivery in 2020, will become the second hull of the series and is understood to cost nearly €6,650,000.Drafted from Europe into the NBA, Tony Parker had a 17-year run with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, playing 6 All-Star games and being named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. Now 36 years old and playing for the Charlotte Hornets on a $5 million a year salary, Parker is estimated to have earned over $165 million in salary over his 18 years in the league.
July 22, 2019
After successful sea trials, the first Amels 220 superyacht Aurora Borealis has been delivered to the owner. The 67-metre superyacht departed the yard in Vlissingen on 16 July, as the last delivery of a busy 2019 season for Amels.Photo by Maritimephoto.com via Dutch YachtingOverseen by Antoine Larricq of Fraser, the project first known as Project Waka, hit the water for the first time in March 2019 inside the yard's covered dry docks. The yacht remains listed for sale at € 83,500,000 via Fraser.The 67.11-metre vessel features exteriors by Tim Heywood Design and interiors by Winch Design. Spreading over six decks, Aurora Borealis features a 65-square-metre swim platform and beach club area. Special features on-board comprise a guest elevator to all decks, a steam room, spa and a fully-equipped gym, as well as a tender garage spacious enough to house two eight-metre tenders.Photo by Maritimephoto.com via Dutch YachtingAntoine Larricq also represented the owner in terms of interiors. Aurora Borealis' interior volume of 1,500 GT provides for nearly 1,150 square metres of interior space, comprising seven luxury guest suites. Thus, accommodation will be offered for up to 14 guests, along with 15 crew members.Aurora Borealis is now heading to Antibes. Overall, this year’s four new build Limited Editions yachts, plus three AMELS Refit yachts, were all delivered on time and on budget, the yard reports.Photo by Maritimephoto.com via Dutch YachtingRose Damen, Managing Director with Amels, comments: We’re delighted to see our new Amels owners enjoying their yachts delivered as promised. This has been one of our busiest seasons ever at AMELS, and we’re very proud of the high quality of each yacht and the very positive feedback from their new owners.In the meantime, the yard continues work on several yachts under construction inside the drydocks and building bays for 2020 deliveries at both Vlissingen City and Vlissingen East facilities. Photo by Maritimephoto.com via Dutch YachtingOne of the recent projects in hype to be welcomed by the yard for completion, is the 77-metre DAMEN SeaXplorer luxury expedition yacht La Datcha ordered by a Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov.
July 19, 2019
Previously known as Project Fiji, the 95-metre Lürssen superyacht Madsummer, has been delivered to her owner, a repeat client with the Lürssen. The vessel was launched earlier this year at Lürssen’s Rendsburg facility. During her construction period of nearly 2,5 years, the project was supervised by the owner’s captain and brokerage company Moran Yacht & Ship.Featuring a 14-metre beam, the exterior profile of Madsummer comes from a British designer Harrison Eidsgaard maintaining sleek and elegant lines within impressive volumes.Photo: Klaus JordanThe vessel's main trademarks are the 12-metre swimming pool and Jacuzzi laid on the aft deck and protected with glass bulwarks. That contributes to clean and uncluttered appearance of hull surfaces. Other decks are connected through exterior staircases and centreline openings.Spacious beach club and spa zone with a sea terrace on the lower deck also belong on the list of Madsummer’s special features. The bow is equipped with a helipad, while the sun deck aft features hidden crane in the bulwark, aimed to handle an aeroboat. As to the upper deck, it encompasses walkable skylight and an integrated fireplace.Photo: Carl GrollMadsummer’ interiors for 20 guests across 10 suites were designed by Italy-based Studio Laura Sessa represent contemporary modern style. Laura Sessa commented earlier: For this interior design yacht project, I invested inner artistic creativity due to my long relationship with the Owner. I playfully created spaces full of customised details and colours from the sea, emanating harmony and elegance.Photo: Klaus JordanThe latest delivery from the yard will be displayed at the Monaco Yacht Show 2019. She will be spending her first weeks in the Mediterranean before her world debut would highlight the port during the show.The superyacht is the third one in the recent series of the 90-metres plus vessels delivered by Lürssen, along with impressive 136-metre Flying FOX and 111-metre Project TIS. Furthermore, the largest Lürssen’s unveiling of 2019, the 130-metre plus in-build Project Lightning has been revealed recently.
July 19, 2019