The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2018

The introduction of this new Support Vessel category reflects a change in the world of superyachts that is increasing in momentum. Modern yacht usage is more adventurous than in the past, with many vessels roaming the entire globe from ice cap to ice cap. At the same time there is an understandable reluctance among owners to build yachts of a size that could properly carry the range of support equipment, such as a helicopter and a larger number of specialist tenders that this modern usage demands, because it would limit their access to many charming ports and anchorages. The solution, it seems, is to restrict the size of a mother ship, while offloading all the necessary expedition equipment to a support vessel.

Three such vessels were nominated for this year’s Awards and, whilst examining the capabilities that each added to their mother ship, the judges’ attention soon focused on Game Changer. In their opinion, the ability of this vessel to provide excellent helicopter landing, support and hangar facilities, as well as the deck space to carry and launch four specialist tenders, three PWCs, four trail bikes, and a submarine, in addition to the provision of excellent crew areas and a hospital facility, made her the winner.

This yacht was not only judged to be extremely well designed and constructed, but was considered to be a yacht that could ably fulfill the specific superyacht racing and fast cruising roles that her highly experienced owners had requested. The judges admired many aspects of this dual-role yacht, but her well-planned general arrangement plan, equitably divided between the aft crew area and forward guest area with no noticeable intrusion from technical aspects such as her lifting centerboard, and her futuristic glass-topped saloon that fills the yacht with light, were the prime examples.

Following in close succession were the excellent quality of her construction and her admirably modern style of interior decoration while, last, but in no way least, the judges noted her excellent sailing qualities that were ably demonstrated by her class victory in the Rolex Cup last September.

Judges' Commendation: Svea

During the judges’ discussions on this class, it became clear that Svea, built to the J-Class Rule, one of the most elegant yacht in this year’s awards, while her racing performance in her class has also been outstanding. It was, therefore, unanimously agreed that Judges’ Commendation should be awarded.

Having thoroughly reviewed all the yachts in this class, the judges unanimously selected the 34.7 metre Letani, built by Feadship’s De Vries yard in Aalsmeer, as the winner. The owner’s outline brief was for a yacht that would give his family the capability to undertake local cruising as well as longer voyages, while preserving the ability to access shallow waters and small ports.

The judges were first attracted to Letani by the high quality of her build that was evident in all areas, from hull construction to her outfitting and detail of finish. Many other facets also received praise including her modern, masculine appearance, a well-considered general arrangement plan that meets the needs of guests and crew alike, and an efficient fuel burn throughout the yachts speed range. This was a yacht whose owner was highly involved in the design and construction, and this fact became particularly apparent in the interior where his desire for a floating home in which his family would be comfortable, led to an original layout with informal spaces, such as a ‘bistro’ dining area, a television ‘nook’, and children’s cabins laid out to optimise play areas.

Once again it was modern lines, bright and tranquil interior spaces, and impressive performance that attracted the judges’ attention to the winner of this class, the 33 metre Custom Line Navetta 33, Telli. Her sleek contemporary exterior lines incorporate excellent deck spaces on three levels with optimum sunbathing, dining and lounging areas, while the builders’ desire to create a seamless join between deck and interior has meant that the volume of both appears to be greatly enhanced.

The judges admired much of the detail that added to this effect, including the manner in which the aft deck’s teak planking continues without interruption into the main deck saloon through floor-to-deckhead sliding windows. Among other design features appreciated by the judges were the interior’s contemporary yet classic decorative style, the sense of calm induced by the high level of insulation against sound and vibration, and the volume of the owner’s cabin. Additionally, the ingenious ‘dual movement’ design of the stern door made it possible to combine a splendid beach club with a simple to operate ‘drive-in’ tender garage. The judges considered that this compact but extremely well designed yacht, which completely meets the needs of her experienced owner, is a worthy winner in this class.

There were some excellent entries in this competitive class but, while the result was close, the judges were almost of one mind in selecting the winner as Seven Sins, the newest addition to the Sanlorenzo stable.

The owner declared an immediate love for the elegant, sculpted lines of this yacht when he first saw a model at a show and, like the judges, he was not disappointed when he first saw the vessel in reality. But elegance of line was not the only attribute that drew the judges’ attention. Huge outdoor spaces provide choices for relaxing and dining in both shade and sun, while the main deck aft is put to excellent use with a huge pool, whose innovative glass bottom transmits light to the superb beach club beneath. This lower deck area spans the yacht’s full-beam, opening to the sea on three sides, while the central floor lowers to allow the tender to enter through the stern. Adjacent are a sauna and hammam.

The judges also admired the yacht’s contemporary interior that, lit through huge windows, provides incredible exterior views. In the opinion of the judges, the way in which Sanlorenzo have packed so many modern and desirable features into a 52 metre package has created one of the best semi-custom vessels of this size in today’s marketplace.

The 73.4 metre Feadship Hasna claimed the highest position on the podium in this next category. With hull design by Feadship’s De Voogt Naval Architects, Hasna was built by Royal Van Lent in Feadship’s Kaag Island facility, while both exterior and interior design were undertaken by RWD, whose brief was to create a fully-featured family yacht.

The judges admired her exterior lines as well as the practical layout of her decks, which offer convivial seating, dining and relaxation areas as well as a large Jacuzzi on the sun deck and an 8-metre swimming pool on the main deck. Her interior is distinguished by well-proportioned public spaces, including a beach club and cinema, while good provision is also made for crew and service areas. The judges were particularly impressed with the high quality of the yacht’s construction and finish throughout, from the fairness of the hull and the perfection of the interior build right through to the technical installation.

Built as a ‘sail-assisted motor yacht’, it seemed inappropriate to most judges that Sailing Yacht A should be judged in either the Motor or Sailing Yacht categories because of her attributes in both fields. The judges debated this yacht at great length before coming to the conclusion that a new Sail-Assisted Motor Yacht category should be established for this and any future occasion when such a yacht is entered, particularly as further examples of this hybrid seem likely as we move towards a more environmentally-friendly future.

This decision made her the sole competitor in this class and, as such, there is previous judging precedent to be followed. In the past, the presentation of a Neptune in classes had been decided by the judges on the basis of whether the yacht in question was of ‘sufficient merit’ to receive such an accolade. It was clear from the discussion that followed that this was a yacht that either found strong favour or disapproval but it was clearly acknowledged, particularly by those judges who had visited the yacht, that the technical and environmental aspects of the vessel were truly admirable, as was the scale and quality of her construction and high level of owner satisfaction. It was therefore decided that a Neptune would be appropriate recognition of her achievement.

All three entries submitted for this year’s award plotted routes that all took them long distances while providing out-of-the-ordinary experiences, but one stood out as being truly educational and life changing. This was the Caribbean and Pacific cruise undertaken by the owners of the 61 metre CRN, Constance and their four young children, supported by two teachers, two nannies, a naturalist and 16 crew members. The four children were taken out of school for the eight-month long voyage, continuing their regular studies on board, while gaining memories that will always remain. Leaving from Florida, the cruise visited the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Galapagos, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, and Tonga.

During this voyage they not only met and interacted with local children, but they individually discovered new lifetime hobbies in scuba diving, fishing, photography and nature, both on land and beneath the waves. Additionally, the eldest daughter compiled a charming log of their experiences that formed part of the submission for this enlightening cruise.

The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2018 were announced at a glittering ceremony held at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in May 2018. Click through to see all the winners.

This year, eight motor yachts – the winners of each of the motor yacht classes – competed for the coveted title of Motor Yacht of the Year. When deciding this award, the difficulty of comparing such diverse yachts is always a hard task for the judges, but they are always aware that they are seeking the ‘very best of the best’ – a vessel that is truly extraordinary by any measure. As such, it was clear that Faith had to take the title.

Not only did her owner expect new standards in design and construction to create an aesthetically pleasing vessel, but also in novel glass technology. The nine-metre long and 2.5-metre deep swimming pool on the main deck aft, for example, has a 68mm curved glass bottom, constructed by laminating five layers of glass interspersed by a clear foil. More obviously, the cap rail is supported by glass to avoid the ‘fussy’ appearance of multiple stanchions. Many other features also attracted the judges’ eyes, including the three-metre high skylight dome in the master stateroom, and a wood-burning pizza oven on the top deck – a seemingly simple installation but one that required advanced design to clean soot and other particles from its smoke. A combination of elegance, style, and the highest quality of design and construction, this yacht is a worthy winner of this prized trophy.