Revealed: The 24 winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2016

Among the superyachts judged to be the best of the Refitted Yachts, the judges’ secret ballot revealed the winner as the classic 53-metre Feadship, Mirage (ex-Elizabeth F).

A refit under her previous ownership in 2007 had only partially updated the yacht, so the untouched areas seriously mismatched the new work, and the new owner was keen to address this, as well as other technical issues. The subsequent refit was cleverly carried out over three winters, thus allowing the owner to still make use of the yacht during the summer months, and the entirety of the work was completed in early 2015.

During these refit periods in STP in Palma, Spain all aspects and areas of the yacht were redecorated or restored while a new gymnasium and spa pool were installed as well. The quality and scope of the work exceeded the owner’s expectations and now Mirage is not only used for his family holidays, and as a crew ship while racing his sailboat, but she is also proving to be a successful charter yacht.

LOA: 53m

Original Builder:  Feadship

Refit Yard: STP Palma

Refit Naval Architect:  De Voogt Naval Architects

Refit Exterior/Interior Design:  Design Unlimited

During the judges’ discussions on this class, it became clear that Topaz, built to the J-Class Rule, was highly admired by all the jury, who agreed that this yacht was the most elegant in this year’s Awards. Not only were the exterior lines beautiful, but her superb interior, designed in Art Deco fashion to replicate the period in which this class was first introduced, made excellent use of the limited interior volume offered by these yachts.

Topaz also incorporates the latest technology, being equipped with an extremely compact hybrid power and propulsion system that allows it to be propelled electrically from its 80kW battery pack or the 50kW genset as well as its 325kW main engine. J-Class yachts are also huge consumers of power to drive the winches, especially when racing, and the sophisticated system aboard Topaz will deliver 250kW of hydraulic power to allow the simultaneous use of necessary equipment.

LOA: 42.6m

Builder:  Holland Jachtbouw

Naval Architect:  Hoek Design Naval Architects

Exterior Design: Hoek Design Naval Architects

Interior Design: Hoek Design Naval Architects

The judges found this a a highly competitive class with all its entrants originating from experienced yards with long experience in building yachts of this size and specification. After projecting the images and hearing from those judges who had personal experience of the entrants, there was a long discussion during which the merits of each yacht were debated before the secret ballot decided the winner.

As was expected the result was close, but it was Antheya III, a newly designed 35-metre semi-custom yacht from UK builder Princess, that filled the top spot. This vessel, developed in conjunction with her owner, had attracted high scores for every judging criteria. The judges particularly admired her exterior design, which incorporated a variety of functional areas in which to relax and dine, as well as her contemporary yet ageless interior. Additionally, the judges found a high quality of construction and excellent technical, service and crew areas. A well balanced yacht indeed.

Length: 35.2m

Builder:  Princess Yachts International

Naval Architect: Olesinski

Exterior Design: Olesinski/Princess Design Studio

Interior Design: Princess Design Studio

Having reviewed all the yachts in this class in some detail, the judges selected the 42.3-metre Mondomarine Serenity, with exterior design by Luca Vallebona and SFL Design, as the winner.

Well-built, and displaying modern yet extremely harmonious exterior lines that perfectly match her interior, the judges considered this to be a well-balanced motor yacht whose interior layout offers the owner the privacy that he requested in his brief. In order to achieve this, the designers created an unusual general arrangement that assigns both the interior and exterior areas of the complete upper deck for the owner’s use, linking this to the forward part of the main deck where the owner’s bathroom is located.

Despite the relatively modest size of the yacht, guests enjoy four spacious cabins on the lower deck and a main-deck lounge with wide openings to balconies on either side. The crew are provided with generous accommodations on the lower deck as well as a crew mess on the main deck, which is adjacent to the galley.

Length: 42.3m

Builder:  Mondomarine

Naval Architect: Mondomarine

Exterior Design: Luca Vallebona/SFL Design

Interior Design: Fatema Almaidan/SFL Design

The judges were immediately drawn to the Mulder 34-metre motor yacht Solis by her attractive and original exterior lines, while excellent reports from the judges that had visited her concerning her quality of build and other aspects that cannot be determined by text and photographs reinforced this interest.

Delving deeper, they discovered the vessel’s transatlantic range, state-of-the-art facilities and the very pleasing level of interior brightness and exterior visibility provided by her large use of glass, much of which has the ability to be opened. This, the judges felt, is a true ‘pocket’ superyacht built on a human scale that not only satisfies the demanding aesthetic requirements of her owners, who tend to shy away from ostentation, but also provide a high level of comfort and convenience.

The judges were so impressed by this yacht that the decision to award her the Neptune for this class was almost unanimous. Solis, the largest Mulder launched to date, was deemed a very worthy winner.

Length: 34m

Builder:  Mulder Shipyard

Naval Architect: Van Oossanen Naval Architecture

Exterior Design:  Claydon Reeves

Interior Design: Claydon Reeves

It is unusual for World Superyacht Award judges to give a specific Commendation prizes for interior design as, being created to the specific taste of her owner, this aspect of a yacht does not contribute to the overall marks awarded by individual judges.

In the case of Rüya, however, the judges were so enthusiastic about the interior design created by Sam Sorgiovanni, which combines the rich tones of the Australian Outback and other uniquely Australian textures, that they unanimously decided to break with tradition and award a Judges’ Special Commendation. In particular, the judges were impressed with the modern, highly sophisticated atmosphere that was created by the use of architecturally clean lines together with the harmonius colours, textures and timbers that are found throughout, which thoroughly complement the yacht’s open and bright atmosphere.

Length: 41.3m

Builder:  Alia Yachts

Naval Architect: Van Oossanen Naval Architects

Exterior Design: Sorgiovanni Designs

Interior Design: Sorgiovanni Designs

Many modern yachts are labelled as ‘explorers’ merely on the basis of their commercial appearance and the stowage position of their tenders, but few actually fulfil all the necessities of a true explorer, especially exceptional seaworthiness, long range and lengthy autonomy.

The judges felt that the new steel-hulled Sanlorenzo 460Exp Moka was an exception to this general rule, combining all these functions with high internal volume and a layout that provides excellent comfort for owner and guests, while reducing environmental impact sufficiently to receive RINA’s Green Plus Gold designation.

On top of this, Sanlorenzo have created a purposeful and attractive yacht, ideally suited to her owner’s long-range cruising plans, with good safety features as well as the ability to carry a wide range of watercraft and provide impressive lifestyle amenities, such as a swimming pool with current generator.

Length: 42.2m

Builder:  Sanlorenzo

Naval Architect: Sanlorenzo

Exterior Design:  Francesco Paszkowski Design

Interior Design: Sanlorenzo

This class contained six exceptional yachts that were readily comparable by the judges, but it was clear from the very outset of the judges’ deliberations that one stood out above the crowd. This yacht was Savannah, an 83.5-metre motor yacht built by Feadship, which excelled in so many different areas that her selection as winner was almost unanimous – itself a rarity in a jury comprised of yacht owners with differing tastes and values. Firstly, it was the elegance and harmony of her exterior lines that thrilled the judges, but they soon agreed that her hybrid diesel-electric drive system – which is claimed to offer fuel savings of up to 30 per cent – could be a glimpse into the future of yacht propulsion.

Additionally, the layout of her exterior and interior areas – including the open aft deck and wow-worthy underwater lounge – and the manner in which these areas are intelligently united with each other, together with the detailing and finish of her decorative items, were considered a triumph.

Length: 83.5m

Builder: Feadship

Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior Design: CG Design/Feadship De Voogt Naval

Interior Design: CG Design

We have been privileged to know Jim Clark as a client and a valued friend for over twenty years.

Jim’s intellect, ambition and energy enabled him to overcome serious challenges early in life to earn a master’s Degree in Physics and a PhD in Computer Science. His scientific rigour and entrepreneurial talent led to globally successful businesses, such as Silicon Graphics (the world leader in visual effects and 3-D imaging) and Netscape.

Jim Clark entrusted our yard with the build of three custom superyachts: the 47m sloop Hyperion, the 90-metre three-masted schooner Athena and the 42-metre Super-J Class Hanuman. Each project was bold, individual, and exceptional; each charged with the same intensity of drive for innovation and challenge.

Hyperion demanded the most sophisticated alarm monitoring, control and navigation systems the industry had ever seen. We were fortunate that our client not only knew what he wanted, but how to write the software! The superyacht industry has benefited ever since.

Athena was the yacht that just kept on growing. As it approached 90 metres, my father realised his building hall could be extended no further and even suggested Jim might take the build elsewhere. But Jim had only one builder in mind and his ability to motivate and encourage came to the fore. Athena became the proudest launch of my father’s career.

The Super-J Hanuman appears more straightforward. But Jim’s intellectual curiosity and quest for perfection ensured there was no shortage of constructive challenge. The rig was a particular focus, with five specialist organisations cooperating to achieve regatta success with the most powerful, aerodynamic and fine-tuneable sailplan possible.

And we cannot ignore Comanche. The Sydney-Hobart line honours winner and world’s most advanced 100-foot racing machine is yet another example of how Jim Clark never does anything by halves.

Neither can we ignore Jim’s philanthropy. He has made substantial donations to the academic world as well as to marine conservation. His long-term support for the Oceanic Preservation Society has included making Athena freely available to its scientists and campaigners. He is also a major funder of director Louie Psihoyos’ award-winning eco thrillers The Cove and Racing Extinction. Jim’s boldness and love of innovation, his challenge and motivation mean that every yacht he has created has been a masterpiece of its genre. His impact on our entire industry – inspirationally as well as technologically – is without equal.

The judges select the Motor Yacht of the Year from among the winners of all nine motor yacht classes, but despite this wide choice they had little difficulty choosing the 83.5-metre Feadship, Savannah for this accolade.

Not only is this an inspirationally elegant yacht, but its quality of design and construction - right down to the last detail – demonstrated the level of craftsmanship to which many aspire but few achieve. Beyond these attributes was its pioneering propulsion package - the first of its type - blending a single diesel engine driving an oversized propeller, while three gensets power an azimuthing thruster positioned just aft of the diesel-driven propeller. In normal drive mode, the azimuthing thruster faces forward, contra-rotating with the aft-facing propeller to attain a high level of efficiency, while when manoeuvring or in DPS mode the thrusters can be rotated to provide the necessary thrust in whatever direction.

This incredible yacht that excels in all aspects is a worthy winner of the Motor Yacht of the Year Award.

Length: 83.5m

Builder: Feadship

Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior Design: CG Design/Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Interior Design: CG Design