Tango and Vertigo take top honours at 2012 World Superyacht Awards

Ç?ra?an Palace Kempinski in Istanbul was the venue for the 2012 World Superyacht Awards

Last night in the magnificent surroundings of the Ç?ra?an Palace Kempinski, overlooking Istanbul’s historic Bosphorus waterway, the superyacht industry’s finest gathered for the most anticipated event in the yachting calendar – the seventh annual World Superyacht Awards.

View the picture gallery of the 2012 World Superyacht Awards gala evening

During a gala evening attended by a distinguished guest list of superyacht owners, their families, friends and members of the superyacht industry, news broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky presented the prized silver Neptune awards to the owners of the finest sail and motor yachts delivered in 2011.

Sixteen Neptunes and five Judges’ Commendation prizes, custom-made for the occasion by Baccarat, were awarded to the winners on the night.

The winners of the 2012 World Superyachts Awards are as follows:

Motor yacht of the year sponsored by Camper & Nicholsons International

TANGO

Tango: 77.7m built by Feadship and styled by Eidsgaard Design | courtesy of Feadship

‘Tango has taken the styling of large superyachts a step forward, combining this new and elegant appearance with supreme engineering and construction from Feadship, and a well-considered layout both on her exterior decks and in her distinguished yet comfortable interior that was created by Eidsgaard Design.’ – The Judging Panel

Sailing yacht of the year sponsored by Proteksan Turquoise

VERTIGO

Vertigo: 67.2m sailing yacht built by Alloy Yachts, styled by Philippe Briand, interior by Christian Liaigre | photo by Chris Lewis

Vertigo was selected on the basis of her ‘extremely stylish exterior lines, combined with the extremely high build quality and the solutions to the engineering questions which this complex design from Philippe Briand had posed. Vertigo provides the optimum balance between performance sailing and world cruising, with neither compromising the other.’ – The Judging Panel

Displacement motor yacht 3000GT and above sponsored by Advanced New Technologies

SERENE

Serene: 133.9m motor yacht, build by Fincantieri, styled by Espen Oeino, interior by Reymond Langton Design

There was only one entry in this class, but it was not amalgamated with the next one down because comparisons would not have been fair to the yachts in the smaller class, such was the size disparity. Nevertheless the award was not presented to Serene lightly. Her high quality of construction combined with a stylish exterior from Espen Oeino and detailed interior design from Reymond Langton was deemed truly worthy of recognition.

Displacement motor yacht 1300GT to 2999GT sponsored by RMK Marine

TANGO

‘A bold new exterior style…superb quality of construction, a well-conceived layout, and stylish yet highly comfortable interior spaces.’ – The Judging Panel

Judges Special Award: Interior design with the widest appeal sponsored by Baccarat

NUMPTIA

Numptia: upper saloon in interior designed by Salvagni Architects

Displacement motor yacht 500GT to 1299GT sponsored by RMK Marine

KAISER

Kaiser: 60m motor yacht built by Abeking & Rasmussen, styling by Don Starkey, interior by Bannenberg & Rowell

An ‘all-rounder’ who did well in every aspect, Kaiser was built for a foreign admirer of German quality and technology with ‘an interior with presence and solidity that made liberal use of panelling, but also exhibiting a bold use of colour and tasteful references to German decorative art’, a ‘most harmonious’ exterior and highly rated engineering and technical aspects.

Judges’ Commendation: Prima – ‘ for the high quality achieved for an extremely competitive price in the first superyacht to be launched from Italian yard Palumbo.’

Displacement motor yacht below 500GT sponsored by Porto Montenegro

HELIX

Helix: 44.65m motor yacht built by Feadship, styled by De Voogt Naval Architects and Sinot Design, who also did the interior

In a tightly contested class, Helix ‘represented a particularly well-constructed vessel with a wide range of facilities and an interior that appealed to a wide range of tastes’.

Judges’ Commendation: E&E – ‘a particularly high quality of design, interior layout and construction’ from first-time superyacht builders CIZGI Yacht.

Judges’ Commendation: Karia – ‘honoured for her conception, attractive design and quality construction’.

Two-deck and open semi-displacement or planing motor yacht sponsored by Clyde & Co

SHOOTING STAR

Shooting Star: 38m motor yacht built by Danish Yachts, styled by Espen Oeino, interior by Art-Line | photo by Bugsy Gedlek

‘Her interior offers excellent exterior visibility and is particularly bright, especially when the deckhead of the main deck saloon is open to the sky. The yacht was also considered to be equitably divided between technical areas, crew spaces and living areas for the owner and his guests, to make a well-rounded performance craft with an attractive interior and high quality construction.’ – The Judging Panel

Raised pilothouse semi-displacement or planing motor yacht sponsored by Tansu

AURELIA

Aurelia: 37m motor yacht built by Heesen, styled by Omega Architects, interior by Bannenberg & Rowell | photo by Emilio Bianchi

‘A winner does not necessarily have to be a new, cutting-edge design as long as it is well-conceived and superbly built. Aurelia fulfilled that description. Her unusual paint scheme gives a clue to her owner’s love of automobile racing, while her name celebrates the very first Gran Turismo – the Lancia Aurelia. A highly detailed design from Bannenberg & Rowell carries this theme forward with custom design details from successive ages of motoring history.’ – The Judging Panel

Three-deck semi-displacement or planing motor yacht

SATORI

Satori: 50m motor yacht, built by Heesen, styled by Omega Architects, interior by Rémi Tessier | photo by Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media

‘A clear winner in this class…Satori is an attractive sub 500GT yacht built to very high standards in all areas, from mechanical, through technical to her space planning and interior decoration.’ – The Judging Panel

Sailing yacht 40m+ size range sponsored by Proteksan Turquoise

VERTIGO

Considered the ‘most rounded’ sailing yacht in her class, Vertigo combines an elegant exterior style with a highly practical interior layout, novel engineering solutions and an excellent quality of build’.

Judges’ Commendation: Hemisphere ‘honoured for her highly commendable interior layout and interior design for this type of vessel.’

Judges’ Special Award: Notable contribution to the technical advancement of sailing superyachts sponsored by Terra Moretti

HETAIROS

Hetairos: 66.7m, built by Baltic Yachts, styled by Dykstra & Partners, interior by Rhoades Young | photo by Panamax/YPS Peter Neumann

Sailing yacht 30m to 40m size range sponsored by Dream Ship Victory Limited

ANTARES III

Antares III: 30m sailing yacht built by Yachting Developments, styled by Dixon Yacht Design, interior by Rhoades Young

‘Antares III provided everything that made cruising a pleasure for her owner, including good sailing performance, a calm, understated interior, an ability to manage the yacht with just three crew, and good interconnectivity between helm station, cockpit and pilothouse.’ – The Judging Panel

Judges’ Commendation: Sarafin – ‘deemed worthy for its design, wide appeal and high quality of build.’

Refitted yacht

DESTINATION

Destination: 41m sailing yacht, built by Alloy Yachts, styled by the owner, interior by Reymond Langton | photo by Janie Cowham

‘Her cleverly conceived refit…not only brought her up to date but changed the whole aura of the yacht to create a relaxed, sophisticated and comfortable interior suited to the lifestyle of her new owners.’ – The Judging Panel

Voyager’s Award sponsored by Alloy Yachts

GOLDEN COMPASS

Golden Compass yacht

The Voyager’s Award was presented to the owners of the 46m motor yacht Golden Compass, whose inspirational 30,000nm world cruise began in the USA and concluded in Papua New Guinea visiting over 45 countries along the way.

Legacy Award sponsored by Perini Navi

Winner: NEVILLE CRICHTON

Neville Crichton

The Legacy Award was presented to Neville Crichton, for his instrumental role in the establishment and growth of the New Zealand superyacht building industry, for his leading position in the world of sailboat racing, his generosity of spirit, and his inspiration to others in these fields.

‘Without Neville Crichton the enormous growth in the superyacht industry in New Zealand…would simply not have happened’ – Ed Dubois

For more information visit www.worldsuperyachtawards.com