The role of the superyacht tender has evolved from a once-simple workhorse ferrying guests between shore and yacht into a facilitator of many experiences that define life at sea. Yet, despite this evolution, owners have to grapple with the choice between practicality and comfort when choosing the right tender for them.
There are RIBs - robust, lightweight crafts that can get guests far and fast, handling rough conditions with ease, but rarely match the finish and comfort of their mothership. On the other end of the spectrum are luxury, limousine tenders that, by contrast, are sleek and refined, often outfitted in matching livery to the yacht they support, yet with operational limitations. Caught between the two, owners have often had to compromise one for the other.
That trade-off gave rise to Italian tender builder TYKUN. Rather than asking owners to choose between the rugged practicality of a RIB and the refinement of a luxury tender, the brand set out to bridge the gap between the two. As Benedetta Iovane, head of commercial and brand at TYKUN, explains, the ambition is "to extend the quality and luxury of the mothership" with a chase boat that "fills the market gap between RIBs and luxury tenders, which can be too complex to manage”.
TYKUN channels more than three decades of engineering experience from its parent company, MED Group, which has delivered more than 400 military and patrol vessels over the past decade. This expertise has been brought to the yacht sector through TYKUN. Iovane developed the original concept, working closely with renowned yacht designer Tommaso Spadolini, pairing sophisticated styling with MED Group's commercial-grade engineering.
Its range of semi-custom tenders, built in 5083 aluminium, is lightweight, agile and high-performing, even during adverse conditions. This capability was first demonstrated at the Monaco Yacht Show 2025. When the weather turned and most dayboats sought shelter, the TYKUN X remained out there, displaying 25-knot speeds (she’s capable of 50 knots) for comfortable and dry sea trials. Her deep-V, twin-stepped aluminium hull and pronounced bow are central to that seakeeping ability.
TYKUN has since expanded its fleet, offering its clients these celebrated credentials at 8.5 metres, 11 metres and 12.9 metres - the TYKUN VIII, TYKUN X and TYKUN XII, respectively, the first unit of which has just been completed at the company's yard on Italy's Adriatic coast. The TYKUN XII carries over the X's performance characteristics, but its larger dimensions let it fulfil a broader role. Offered in Low Bow (Walk Around) and High Bow configurations, with adaptable deck layouts and a carbon hardtop, it is built to be a destination in its own right as much as a way of reaching one. Optional fold-down bulwarks turn the cockpit into a generous waterside terrace at anchor, while the seating shifts easily between dining, relaxation and entertaining.
Below deck, a comfortable cabin and separate shower allow owners to spend longer out on their excursions, lending the TYKUN XII dayboat credentials. Outboard propulsion and a shallow draught open up coves, beaches and harbours beyond the reach of larger yachts, while the aluminium construction offers durability. Flexibility is central to the design philosophy, with owners able to personalise almost every aspect of the tender.
That customisation runs through the whole ownership experience. Clients can specify materials, finishes and external layouts through TYKUN Boutique, while the TYKUN Atelier programme goes further still, building a fully bespoke tender from a blank sheet.
"The TYKUN XII takes the same mindset as the TYKUN X and applies it to a vessel that not only offers proven high performance, manoeuvrability, reliability and safety," says Marco Galimberti, CEO of MED S.r.l. "It also enables longer stays on board, greater range and extended cruising seasons."
For all its engineering credentials, however, perhaps the TYKUN XII's greatest luxury is time. When coupled with twin 600hp outboard engines, she’s capable of reaching speeds in excess of 50 knots. This is not merely speed for speed’s sake; it extends the day’s possibilities. With the TYKUN XII, you can just do more. Breakfast in Monte Carlo, a lobster linguini lunch in Calvi, Corsica, a late afternoon aperitif and swim in Îles d'Hyères, before cocktails and a glamorous dinner. It’s all possible: more time spent enjoying the destination, not travelling to it.
TYKUN set out to build a fleet that extends the superyacht experience, mirroring its comfort and amenities without sacrificing performance or capability. This September, the brand will present its flagship TYKUN XII at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026 as the official tender for Royal Yacht International. With lead times of just six months, those who step aboard this September could have their very own ready for the next summer season.
Visit the TYKUN stand at Monaco Yacht Show 2026 this September, or contact the team directly to discuss your bespoke tender project.
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