The yachting year in review: 12 key news stories from 2016

With 2016 drawing to a close, we’ve been taking a look back at the most notable superyacht stories to break this year, from devastating disasters to major launches that made the world sit up and take notice.

Our month-by-month breakdown starts in January with the terrible news that two superyachts were badly damaged by a fire in Marmaris. The blaze started on board the 70.68 metre Lürssen yacht The One at around 2am local time on January 4 before spreading to the 52 metre Al Jadaf superyacht Barbie, which was moored alongside. Insurers Hiscox later paid out $20 million to the owner of Barbie, but the status of The One is still unknown.

There were so many tantalising stories about the development of Sailing Yacht A this year that it’s hard to pick just one, but the most revealing came in October when this 142.81 metre Nobiskrug creation hoisted her mainsail for the first time during her second round of sea trials. With official delivery just a few months away, she is likely to keep generating headlines well into 2017.