Superyacht next gen: Millennial owners, designers and builders on the future of yachting

Yachting needs to be more out there in terms of propulsion, energy usage and new materials.

In order to boost new builds in the future maybe we could have something inspired by the sharing economy where one entity would handle the whole thing – sell shares before they start building, save the owners from the hassle of the build and then manage every aspect; for those who want the ownership experience without the capital investment, a bit like NetJets.

Our generation want a boat to use in many situations and that is easy to maintain. We need to rethink construction and materials so there’s less that can break.

Dark washed denim suit, £730, tods.com; shirt, £145, dunhill.com; Radiomir 1940 3 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio 45mm watch (PAM00627), £9,900, panerai.com

My father’s love of maritime heritage, and how he brought Columbia back to life, really changed my understanding of what yachting can be.

The industry needs to incorporate more advanced, functional technology in yacht design.

Technology is integral to everyday life and increasingly integral to luxury. Millennials want yachts to be more than beautiful things. We want more technologically stellar, functional and sustainable machines that can take us anywhere.

Dress, £255, bodyfrock.co.uk; shoes, POA, dolcegabbana.com

I started my career in the financial sector, but shipbuilding is in my DNA and it drew me back to the family business that my grandfather established in 1927. I’m a people person, so I enjoy working with our clients.

Yachts in the future will have to be much more autonomous. Owners will be jetting in and out, expecting perfectly organised activities anywhere in the world. So life will get even tougher for the crew. We have to support them with capable designs that show a deep understanding of logistics and routing as well as aesthetics.

Ownership is less of a goal for future generations. It’s a means to an experience. As a yacht builder, it means we have to offer fast delivery with great service, but also demonstrate how investing your own tastes into a design can enhance the overall experience.

Cape, £1200, nadyashah.com; cashmere jumper, £690, ralphlauren.co.uk

Hair and make-up by Maria Comparetto at Emma Davies Agency. Special thanks to the Hotel Kitzhof Mountain Design Resort, Kitzbühel.