She was the largest sailing yacht on display at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, and she's spent her debut Mediterranean season doing what she was built for: Sailing. Hard.
Simena, the 62-metre flagship ketch from Turkish shipyard Ares Yachts, has logged thousands of nautical miles across 2026, from a remarkable 1,200-nautical-mile non-stop passage from Fethiye to Monaco to open-water crossings between Kythira and the Messina Strait. With no owner yet on board, her crew have had the rare opportunity to put her through her paces, testing her hybrid propulsion, fine-tuning her sail plan and discovering what she's truly capable of when the wind picks up and the horizon opens wide.
At the helm for this journey has been Captain Paolo Martinuzzi, a veteran of 30 years sailing large yachts, who describes the experience as both a privilege and an education.
A yacht built to move
Simena ranks among the 25 longest sailing superyachts in the world, with the RINA Rig Certification. Her ketch rig carries a total upwind sail area of 1,588.3 square metres, with sails supplied by Doyle Sails.
This summer, cruising off Saint-Tropez in 13 to 16 knots of wind, she was making a steady 8.5 to 9.5 knots, heeling gracefully with canvas full and hull cutting cleanly through the water. "We reached an excellent sailing speed of 14 knots in conditions close to ideal," Captain Martinuzzi told BOAT International. "I was impressed by how Simena kept accelerating.”
But it wasn't just the calm days that proved her worth. "Simena has also been sailed in very severe conditions, with 35 to 40 knots of wind, heavy seas and the sail plan reduced to a minimum - two reefs on the main and mizzen, plus the staysail. Even in those conditions, Simena remained stable, predictable and reassuring, responding exactly as we expected and giving us complete confidence in her ability to handle demanding conditions at sea."
Offshore in her element
After her six-day non-stop passage from Fethiye to Monaco in early March, Simena called at Genoa, Palma de Mallorca, Saint-Tropez and Imperia, before heading south to Sardinia for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and her arrival in Monaco for the show.
Among the many passages this season, one stands out in Captain Martinuzzi's memory. "As we were leaving the port of Genoa, in a surreal flat calm while heading out towards the Balearic Islands, the sea was full of dolphins, whales and birds everywhere. The Ligurian Sea area is indeed a sanctuary for cetaceans. Wherever we looked, there was life and activity on the surface. We also had the honour of hosting a large owl on the tip of the bowsprit, keeping us company for about an hour. It was a truly memorable moment."
Along the way, she completed an offshore crossing of roughly 400 nautical miles between the Strait of Messina and Cap Corse, and an open-water leg of approximately 380 nautical miles between Kythira and Messina.
For Captain Martinuzzi, those long passages revealed something essential about the yacht's character. "For me, Simena feels most in her element offshore. Her size, stability and sailing characteristics really come into their own once there is open water around her. In open sea, you adjust the navigation, speed and angle to the waves, to ensure enough comfort on board and to manage the weather if it becomes severe. When approaching the coast, traffic increases and so do general hazards. You naturally have to tighten the reins. But offshore, Simena is completely at ease."
He adds: "After 30 years of sailing large yachts, I always consider it an honour to experience situations and sensations for which an owner would have to spend millions. All of this blends with a sense of responsibility and respect for the conditions I create, even though I am supported by the confidence of knowing how to handle the boat and never pushing beyond what makes sense. In one word: it is an emotion."
Hybrid propulsion, thoughtfully applied
Simena's parallel hybrid propulsion system enables electric-only propulsion at speeds of up to 7.5 knots, while PTO shaft generation and hydro-generation under sail provide additional flexibility in onboard energy management. Her MAN diesel engine provides a maximum speed of 14 knots, with a range of approximately 4,800 nautical miles at 10 knots and up to approximately 6,800 nautical miles at an economical speed of 7.5 knots.
But Captain Martinuzzi is careful to frame the system not as a gimmick, but as a tool that expands operational flexibility. "The electric propulsion system has been fully tested, calibrated and verified in its different operating modes. Since then, we have deliberately kept its use to a minimum, as Simena is still awaiting her first owner and we want to deliver her with as few operating hours as possible on all systems."
He continues: "From the helm, the difference between electric and conventional propulsion is actually less noticeable than you might expect. Simena is extremely well insulated acoustically, so even when the main engine is running, very little engine noise reaches the bridge. For me, the most interesting part of the hybrid system will be seen during long passages. Under sail, the rotation of the propeller can be used to generate electricity, contributing to the yacht's onboard energy requirements without running the main engine. In favourable sailing conditions, this gives the captain much greater flexibility in deciding when engine power is actually necessary. That is where I see the real value of the system."
All of this won her the Blue Wake Special Jury Award at the Monaco Yacht Show and the four-star SEA Index rating, a certification developed by the Yacht Club de Monaco and UBS Group and verified by Lloyd's Register. She has also received two nominations at the La Belle Classe Superyachts Explorer Awards.
Design that balances tradition and function
With exterior design and naval architecture by Istanbul-based Taka Yacht Design and interiors by Design Unlimited, Simena combines the classical character of a clipper bow, teak decks and varnished sipo mahogany with contemporary proportions and refined interior materials, including marble in the guest bathrooms.
Accommodation is provided for up to 12 guests in six cabins, including a full-beam owner's suite positioned forward. Her exterior spaces include a cockpit with dining for up to 14 guests, a six-square-metre fold-out swim platform and a discreet sunken flybridge.
Captain Martinuzzi highlights the flybridge as one of the yacht's most compelling spaces. "I believe [it] is the most intimate area on board, because its height offers a wider view of everything happening around us while at the same time providing greater privacy. The presence of the control consoles, the captain and the sunpads creates an environment that naturally attracts an owner who is interested in following the navigation. It is equally comfortable as a quiet place for conversation or simply to spend time away from the more social areas of the yacht."
Simena is currently offered for sale exclusively through Northrop & Johnson. To find out more information, contact Ares Yachts or Northrop & Johnson directly.
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