Revealed: The 24 winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2016

This class contained many excellent yachts, most of which displayed significant pedigree, but the judges chose a newcomer as the winner. Wider Yachts have been previously known for their innovative tenders and small craft, but in late 2015 they launched their first superyacht. This was the 46-metre Wider 150, a yacht which continued their already established trend of thoughtful design and innovation.

In the judges’ view, this vessel is the epitome of a modern yacht, incorporating the best of today’s design trends and introducing many original ideas, while scaling down desirable features that, so far, have only been seen on much larger yachts. The judges particularly admired her bright interior spaces and the clean exterior lines, together with the superb beach club in the stern that, among other features, combines the functions of tender dock and swimming pool.

In addition, the propulsion system was considered so advanced that it attracted a separate award for Technology and Innovation.

LOA: 46m

Builder:  Wider

Naval Architect: Wider Engineering & Associates

Exterior Design:  Fulvio De Simoni

Interior Design: Ideaeitalia

The 46-metre, Wider 150, was selected for this award on the basis of her beach club as well as her propulsion system. Many yachts have previously been fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system in which diesel generators power electric azimuthal pods, but never before has the system been exploited to the full by positioning the generators and associated equipment in underused areas of a yacht, thus releasing a ‘high value’ midships area - traditionally occupied by the engine room - for owner and guest use.

Without engines running, the Wider 150 can use her 544kWh of Li-Po batteries to cruise for six hours at five knots or, alternatively, switch to ‘quiet ship’ mode for an overnight stop of eight hours. Additionally, the design of the beach club with its two side- opening shell doors and a swimming pool that converts to a ‘float-in’ tender stowage bay, has never before been seen in a yacht of this size.

Length: 46m

Builder: Wider

Naval Architect: Wider Engineering & Associates

Exterior Design: Fulvio De Simoni

Interior Design: Ideaeitalia

While the finalists in this class were all within a couple of metres LOA, they were, perhaps, the most diverse of any of the motor yacht classes up for accolades as they displayed a particularly wide range of hull construction materials. These included all-steel, all-aluminium, steel and aluminium, steel and wood, and GRP and aluminium, as well as both solid and cored GRP.

But despite this diversity the judges soon homed in to Sibelle, a 49.9-metre Heesen motor yacht with avant garde exterior lines from Omega Architects. Her Fast Displacement Hull Form, designed by Van Oossanen Naval Architects, is claimed to provide good fuel economy as well as a higher top speed than can be achieved by traditional displacement hulls, while the pair of spray rails that wrap the bow have eased the issue of spray in plumb-bowed yachts.

In the judges’ eyes, these facts, combined with high-quality construction throughout and well-reasoned deck and interior areas, made Sibelle a worthy winner.

Length: 49.9m

Builder:  Heesen Yachts

Naval Architect: Van Oossanen Naval Architects

Exterior Design: AB Studio/ Omega Architects

Interior Design: AB Studio/Omega Architects

The Sailing Yacht of the Year is selected by the judges from among the winners of the two sailing yacht classes. This was a difficult choice as both contenders were considered to be exceptional sailing yachts, but the final decision was made in Unfurled’s favour.

Although the yacht’s clean flush-deck appearance was admired by the judges, this decision was largely made on technological grounds. In particular, the judges applauded her custom-designed retractable propeller pods, which greatly reduce hydrodynamic drag while retracted in sailing mode, together with the pair of lightweight thrusters, again retractable and custom designed to enhance sailing efficiency.

The Vitters- designed power steering system that provides both lightness of operation and the ‘feedback’ associated with manual systems was also admired by the judges, as was the custom headsail storage, which stows large headsails on two drums positioned below the foredeck, easing sail-changes and reducing damage to the sails.

Length: 46m

Builder: Vitters Shipyard

Naval Architect: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Exterior Design: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Interior Design: Stirling & Co