The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2017

There were three entries in this year’s Voyager’s Award and as the judges considered them all to be of high merit, the task of selecting a winner was not easy. But a winner had to be selected and the judges homed in upon a particularly well-planned cruise by the 49 metre Glaze, which is currently engaged on a circumnavigation with the owners and their young family. The element of this cruise submitted to the jury was in North West Australia, between Wyndham and Broome, where they visited the remote, spectacular and extremely rugged coastline known as The Kimberleys.

This adventure-packed cruise explored the region’s many inlets and rivers, mostly poorly or totally uncharted, and included many sightings of crocodiles and sharks, as well as experiences such as dipping their yacht’s bows in waterfalls tumbling down the vertical red cliffs, whirlpools, tidal rapids, and visits to Aboriginal cave art, and even the well-preserved remains of a DC3 aircraft downed in WWII. This voyage will surely be an inspiration to all who follow.

This year’s event saw eight yachts enter the Refit Class. The judges noted that while all had been subjected to worthy ‘end of season’ maintenance, repair and improvement, they were seeking a winner from among those who had either completed visionary upgrades, or whose endeavours had resulted in significant improvements.

The entry that stood out from the crowd was that carried out to the 85 metre Aquila, formerly Cakewalk, whose owners chose to refit an existing yacht to suit their anticipated use and decorative taste, rather than wait five years for a new-build to be delivered. At the same time the yacht’s five-year survey and significant technical upgrades were also undertaken. This extensive work, undertaken by Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth, England, with interior design and decoration by RWD and Susan Young Interiors over a twelve month period was, in the judges opinion carried out to exemplary standards, with the result fully meeting the owners brief. Today, unrecognisable from her former self, Aquila is the pride of her new owners.

Legend, one of the three yachts entered for this year’s Rebuilt category stood out from the others. When an owner’s objective is to create a world-roaming expedition yacht with Lloyds A1 Ice Class, and Polar classification, an ex-Russian tug is a pretty good starting point, despite the vessel being 34 years old. This vessel had already been converted into a superyacht but the new owner’s additional requirement for full SOLAS and MCA 13-36 passenger status meant that only the hull, which was extended by 3.6 metres with a remodelled stern to incorporate a bathing platform and 16-person swimming pool, and her main engines could remain intact.

The superstructure was modified to soften her lines but perhaps the most difficult aspects of the rebuild, which was carried out by ICON Yachts, was the installation of a fully classified helipad with refuelling facilities while bringing her into SOLAS compliance. In the view of the judges, this was a highly successful rebuild that readied her for operations in high-latitudes, where she has already cruised.

Judges’ Commendation: RH3

This top-to-toe rethinking of a proven explorer into a comfortable, intimate family yacht that will soon embark on a circumnavigation brought RH3 a worthy commendation from the judges.

Six yachts entered this class, all of which were suitable for either superyacht racing or blue water cruising. The judges were therefore faced with a difficult choice in selecting a victor, but after lengthy discussion and careful consideration the secret ballot revealed the winner to be the 39.62 metre, My Song built by Baltic Yachts. Packed with cutting-edge design and technology this yacht was conceived by Nauta, who drew both her eye-catching exterior and her interior, while naval architecture and structural engineering was tackled by Reichel Pugh assisted by Gurit.

In view of this legendary team, the judges were unsurprised that this yacht performs so well on the race track, regularly reaching 20+ knots and boasting a top-speed in excess of 30-knots in optimum conditions. But perhaps more surprising to the judges was that she is also a comfortable, feature-filled cruising yacht with excellent facilities for on-deck and below-deck dining and relaxing, as well as three well-sized ensuite guest cabins, and an admirable crew area for six in the stern.

This class, which contains the largest vessels of the sub-500 gross ton displacement yachts, is always hotly contested and the judges spent a good deal of time examining all aspects of each entrant before completing their secret-ballot sheets. The results showed La Passion, the first vessel to be launched from the Turkish-based SARP Yachts, to be the narrow winner. This is not only a particularly noteworthy achievement for a new yard, but one that rewarded their dedication to ‘getting everything right’ before exhibiting their product.

In the judges’ view, La Passion has steered a well-considered course through the minefield of decisions that lie in the route to a successful yacht. The judges admired almost every aspect of this well-considered vessel, from the world-roaming seaworthiness and efficiency of the hull, to the quality of construction of its steel hull and GRP superstructure and the clean simplicity of its appearance. The layout of the deck areas, and the elegantly modern interior design were also strong points. This new yard has announced its arrival in grand style.

Judges’ Commendation: Domani

The fifth yacht to be built by Benetti for this knowledgeable owner, Domani is an excellent example of good craftsmanship and the yard’s ability to satisfy the owner’s exact wishes. The judges considered her to be worthy of a Commendation.

It was not easy for the judges to select a winner in this class, but the combination of dynamic looks, forward-thinking design and excellence of construction eventually focused their attention on Joy. This yacht’s exterior styling, incorporating many scalloped surfaces and spacious decks, could not have been easy to construct, while the huge expanses of glass would also have tested the builder. But both elements have added to the appeal of this strikingly modern yacht.

The Judges were particularly impressed with the manner in which all three aft decks could be enclosed with full-height sliding glass panels, thus increasing the interior volume in times of inclement weather. The judges also felt that the interior designer, responding to the owner’s request for a home rather than hotel, created an enviable blend of comfortable modernism and striking design. Technical innovation – in the form of an active noise attenuation system for the gearboxes that keeps internal noise levels much lower than usual when underway - was also praised by the judges.

Today, most yachts are similar in their layout so it is quite unusual to come across a yacht specifically designed for a task that reaches beyond this norm. The judges immediately identified Cloudbreak as such a yacht and she became the focus of their attention.

This yacht was created for, and by, an owner who knew exactly what he wanted – to be an explorer-styled vessel tailored to his wish to practice adventure sports on land and sea at both low and high latitudes – and this unique yacht is specifically designed to support mountaineering and hiking, as well as snow sports of all disciplines. Operating in remote areas calls for fully certified helicopter facilities as well as a wide range of tenders and toys, and a fully equipped ski-room that would not be out of place in Zermatt. Combine this with exterior design and interior layout by Espen Oeino, and interior design by Christian Liaigre and add the legendary build quality of Abeking & Rasmussen and the resulting yacht is very special.

The judges were impressed by the design, build quality and price of Narvalo, which they felt was a perfect example of a ‘pocket explorer yacht’ that combines sought-after characteristics with excellent value for money. Built by Cantiere delle Marche to a design by Nauta and naval architecture by Hydrotec, Narvalo offers all the essential elements of an explorer, including long range, good autonomy in respect of supplies that allows her to remain at sea for extended periods, high internal volume, a sturdy and well equipped 5.5 metre tender and good seaworthiness.

On top of this, she can also fill the role of a traditional motor yacht, with well-sized cabins, an internal dining saloon and two lounges, as well as spacious well considered deck areas. Importantly for a vessel that will remain at sea for long periods, the volume and facilities of the crew spaces provided in a yacht of this size, were also admired by the judges. Finishing second in her class to a much more costly vessel, she is a worthy winner of this award.

Chasseur is the first yacht to be launched from Christensen following the reopening of the yard, and while this vessel did not top its class, the judges felt her worthy of a Special Award for Achievement in view of her wide ranging virtues and the admirable quality of her build that was carried out in difficult circumstances. Considering her one of the best vessels ever to leave the Christensen yard, they took note of her robust and seaworthy GRP hull which, powered by twin 1,650hp Caterpillars, achieves a top speed of 16-knots and a 4,000nm range at her 10-knot cruising speed. They also praised her sleekly modern exterior lines and her vibrant, light and bright three-deck interior that is linked by an intriguingly lit, cantilevered glass staircase. The well-sized crew quarters incorporate a sizeable walk-in freezer/refrigerator room, whose volume complements her long range capabilities. The road to Chasseur’s launch might have been a rocky one, but the owner now has the elegant, modernist yacht that he sought.

Alex Dreyfoos has been a yacht owner throughout his life, first owning a Rybovich sport-fisherman in 1963, followed by a Burger and a 43.6 metre Feadship. So that his wife Renate could share his ambitions for far-ranging exploration, he investigated a variety of hull-forms that might reduce her suffering from motion sickness and he discovered the SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull) concept and he approached Abeking & Rasmussen, who were not only builders of superb yachts but were also experts in commercial SWATH vessels. Tests confirmed the benefits of this design, and he commissioned A&R to build his current 40.8 metre SWATH superyacht, Silver Cloud. This vessel, in which the owners have enjoyed many adventurous cruises, has proved most successful.

Dreyfoos, an MIT and Harvard graduate has earned an Oscar for his technical contribution to the world of motion pictures, holds many patents for innovations in electronics and photography. He is also an arts philanthropist, a scuba diver, an exceptional photographer, and has aided oceanic research by carrying scientific equipment aboard Silver Cloud.