The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2019

The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2019 were announced at a glittering ceremony held at historic Old Billingsgate in London on 18 May 2019. Click through or use the links below to see all the winners.

Converted Yachts

Rebuilt Yachts

Refitted Yachts

Sailing Yachts 30m - 59.9m

Sailing Yachts - 60m and Above

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 30m to 32.9m

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 33m to 39.9m

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 40m and Above

Displacement Motor Yachts Below 299GT

Displacement Motor Yachts Between 300GT and 499GT - 30m to 47.9m

Displacement Motor Yachts Between 300GT and 499GT - 48m and Above

Displacement Motor Yachts Between 500GT and 1,999GT

Displacement Motor Yachts 2,000GT and Above

Voyager's Award

The Legacy Award

Sailing Yacht of the Year

Motor Yacht of the Year

Length: 71.1m

Original builder: Krupp Germaniawerft

Refit yard: Pendennis

Refit naval architect: Cox & Stevens

Refit exterior design: Cox & Stevens

Refit interior design: Adam Lay

Of the yachts entered for this class, the standout winner was Haida 1929, a motor yacht that was designed by the American naval architects Cox & Stevens for Max C. Fleischmann, a Santa Barbara businessman. This yacht, one of several of the same name owned by Fleischmann, was launched in 1929 in Kiel by her builders Krupp Germaniawerft. Since then she has sailed under many flags and names, perhaps the most recognisable being Rosenkavalier and the most recent being Doña Amelia.

She was in bad repair in 2017 when purchased by her new owner and was taken to Pendennis Shipyard for refitting, a task that he correctly anticipated would reveal hidden issues. The whole ethos of the work was of respect for the integrity of this historic yacht, a decision that was admired by the Judges, who were aware that while an ill-conceived rebuild would have destroyed this classic vessel, one that did not upgrade her interiors to meet modern standards of comfort might be money wasted. During the very detailed and well executed 17-month refit, 110-tonnes of steel and 90% of the pipework were replaced, the whole interior was tastefully reworked to the design of Adam Lay to create interiors evocative of her era, while a Hammam spa, massage room, and hairdressing room were added.

Early external features, such as stairways, were reinstated and her previous dip-pool was replaced with a larger swimming pool. Perhaps most notably, her original engines – built by Krupp in 1928 and probably the oldest marine diesels in their original installation – were rebuilt to their original specification rather than replaced, despite the inconvenience of having to stop them and restart them in reverse to go astern. The Judges considered this an eminently worthy rebuild that saved a historic yacht.

Length: 31.6m

Builder: Arcadia Yachts

Naval architect: Arcadia Yachts

Exterior design: Arcadia Yachts

Interior design: Hot Lab

All six yachts in this class were of a similar size, and while this made comparison easier for the Judges, the high quality of the entries still made choosing a winner difficult. It soon became apparent that their focus was concentrated upon RJ, an Arcadia 105, that not only impressed them as being very well built but also displayed contemporary good looks while satisfying many of today’s ‘must have’ trends.

Particularly admired was the connectivity with the marine environment through an abundance of large windows, many of which open to provide a cooling breeze without the need to run air conditioning. The combination of sliding doors that open to fold-down balconies on either side of the main saloon with the room’s fully-glazed aft portion makes this whole area open and airy, while offering wide views spanning almost 300-degrees. Forward, there is an observation lounge that once again provides panoramic views forward over the yacht’s bows and through the glazed bulwarks, while the glass deckhead, overlaid by solar panels, adds both light and power. The aft deck, set out as a lounge, and the extensive sun deck were also praised for their design and functionality as social areas.

The Judges are highly aware of a yacht’s environmental impact and took note of RJ’s abundance of solar panels that can feed between 4kW and 4.5kW into the yacht’s power system, as well as her modestly-sized engines that reduce emissions and provide long range, albeit at the expense of high speed. The secret ballot revealed her to be a clear winner.

Length: 36.3m

Builder: Moonen Yachts

Naval architect: René van der Velden/Diana Yacht Design

Exterior design: René van der Velden

Interior design: Nauta Design/Studio Indigo

This class was contended by five yachts built by some of the world’s most distinguished yards – a fact that certainly put pressure on the judging panel. The first detailed examination of the entries seemed to focus the Judges' spotlight on four yachts, but after more discussion, a secret ballot revealed the Judges' preference to be Brigadoon, built by Moonen Shipyards.

The owner, in his statement submitted as part of the Judges’ Dossier, said he was seeking a yacht with a ‘classic timeless look, embracing quality and reliability’, and the Judges who had visited the yacht confirmed that he had received exactly this. These Judges also praised the sense of brightness and external views from an interior that was sophisticated, comfortable and welcoming. They also showed special admiration for the pleasant crew quarters, a highly practical galley, large laundry for a yacht of this size, and the spacious layout of the engine room.

Another plus was that her Fast Displacement Hull Form only requires moderately sized 1,417kW diesels to take her to a top speed of 16.5-knots, but at the same time, these deliver an enviable range of 5,000nm at 10-knots. In the Judges’ view, this is a well-constructed, attractive and sophisticated yacht that deserved to win her class.

Length: 63m

Builder: Rossinavi

Naval architect: Arrabito Naval Architects

Exterior design: Enrico Gobbi – Team For Design

Interior design: Enrico Gobbi – Team For Design

This class contained an enviable selection of six large and fast semi-displacement vessels, some of them very fast indeed. All featured MTU main engines of roughly comparable power, with half the class favouring twin engine installations, while one entry opted for triple units, and the two largest and fastest yachts squeezed in four engines. Needless to say, the Judges scrutinised the power, performance and economy figures very closely, but every other aspect was also examined, from exterior styling to the general arrangement plans, mechanical installation, and the quality of construction for the hull, deck areas and interior furniture. When the secret ballot was counted it became clear that one yacht had almost unanimously attracted the Judges’ interest.

This was the 63-metre, Utopia IV from Rossinavi. She was, by a small margin, the fastest yacht in the class thanks to her four MTUs that deliver a total of 7,756kW to four Kamewa waterjets, but despite their immaculate installation and accessibility, this was by no means the determining factor in the Judges’ eyes while making their decision. They were also impressed by her sleek and modern lines, her understated interior design and the well-conceived general arrangement plan in which almost every facility found on a displacement yacht of this size – from superb beach club to large tender garage, spacious deck areas and excellent crew quarters – was incorporated. If owners of displacement yachts are tempted to commission such a thrilling vessel, they should be aware that at her 33-knot top speed she consumes just over 2,000-litres of fuel per hour.

Length: 69.3m

Builder: Benetti

Naval architect: Mulder Design

Exterior design: Giorgio M. Cassetta

Interior design: Benetti

This was yet another class in which all the competitors are superb vessels, but a winner had to be chosen, and after long deliberation, the Judges homed in on the 69-metre Benetti, Spectre.

Built for an experienced yacht owner with very specific requirements, this was never going to be a ‘standard’ yacht, but in the Judges’ view, Benetti met all of his requests in admirable fashion. Perhaps the most complicated demand for Benetti to solve was the requirement for a top speed of 21-knots, around 5-knots faster than previous builds of this size. This was accomplished by naval architects Mulder Design, who created an easily driven fast displacement hull while reducing hull weight by some 133-tonnes over a similar hull, maintaining structural integrity in critical areas with carbon-fibre reinforcement.

At the same time, engine power was also increased, but Spectre still has an excellent economical cruising range of 6,500nm. The Judges also admired the yacht’s exterior styling by Giorgio Cassetta, whose flowing lines belie her interior volume which, at 1,790GT, is the largest in this class. Also admired was the layout of the yacht, which incorporates a wide range of desirable facilities, including a well-proportioned master cabin with panoramic views forward, a large VIP cabin and a gym with direct access to the water over a fold-down platform. On the technical side, the yacht boasts a large tank deck technical area housing ancillary equipment that would otherwise clutter the engine room, an excellent laundry and a spacious crew mess area. All this added up to the Judges’ view that in Spectre, Benetti has created a highly sophisticated yacht, and this made her a decisive winner.

Length: 90m

Builder: Oceanco

Naval architect: Azure/Oceanco

Exterior design: Luiz de Basto

Interior design: Nuvolari Lenard

This largest and most luxurious class, in which six yachts contended for the title, provided the Judges with their most difficult decision of this event. This spread of views was also reflected in the secret ballot that realised a narrow victory for the 90-metre DAR, built by Oceanco.

Many aspects of this yacht were particularly admired. The first to draw the Judges' attention were her sculptural lines and elegantly shark-like, ‘organic’ exterior styling created by Luiz de Basto of the Florida-based design company De Basto Designs. The Judges felt that one of the most spectacular highlights of this spontaneous and original design is the delightful deck area at the bridge deck aft, where a waterfall cascades into a large swimming pool and the huge umbrellas that shade the casual seating fold into compartments concealed within the curve of the bulwark. The interior also impressed the Judges, the majority of whom visited the yacht in person. Bright and fresh in its palette, it contains visual themes from nature, such as blossom and sea life, all cleverly combined with pale timbers, rich fabrics and luxurious leathers, thus providing an elegant sense of calm and harmony.

Almost 400-square-metres of darkened glass panels form part of her superstructure, allowing dramatic views from the interior while ensuring privacy when viewed from the exterior. The Judges appreciated the complexity of installing the completely flush panels, each 1.8-metres wide and up to 3.0-metres in height, to the superstructure in a way that they are resistant to the inevitable movement of the yacht in a seaway. DAR, they considered, is a great yacht and a deserving winner.

Judges' Commendation: Elandess

This magnificent vessel, built by Abeking & Rasmussen, drew the admiration of the Judges for its extremely attractive exterior design, superb deck facilities, its semi-submerged ‘Neptune Lounge’ and a general arrangement plan incorporating a wide range of amenities that were perfectly tailored to the requirements of the owners’ family.

Judges' Commendation: White Rabbit

White Rabbit, built in Western Australia by Echo Yachts, was admired for her timeless exterior lines which provide an elegant profile, and the huge volume of her interiors, as well as her diesel-electric propulsion package in which three generators located in each outrigger hull drive a pair of electric motors and variable-pitch propellers in the central hull.

Length: 56m

Owner: Joey Kaempfer

Builder: Perini Navi

Three entries were received for the Voyager’s Award: Beluga and Silentworld, which cruised remote islands in the Coral Sea off the Queensland coast of Australia, and the voyage of Rosehearty, which crossed the Drake Passage at the southern tip of South America to Antarctica. The Judges considered all of them adventurous – well beyond the bounds of everyday cruising. After much discussion and a secret ballot it became clear that the Judges favoured the Antarctic cruise that was undertaken by the 56-metre Perini Navi Rosehearty.

This formed one element of a wide-ranging cruise from the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos, Tahiti and Fiji, before returning to Chile to sail south through the Patagonian ‘Canals’ and across the Drake Passage to King George Island, just off the coast of Antarctica. Throughout this initial period the owners and charter parties came and went, making it ineligible for the competition that calls for a single group to be aboard for the duration. The cruise considered by the Judges started when the owner’s party flew into King George Island, just off the Antarctic mainland. From here the first passage was southwest to Deception Island, a volcanic cone emerging from the sea, whose flooded crater can be entered through a narrow passage descriptively named the Devil’s Bellows. A relatively serene anchorage gives access to abundant sea life, thermally warmed beaches and amazing scenery. Onwards, their path took them to Trinity Island, Melchior Islands, Port Lockroy, Palmer Station – a US scientific base on Anvers Island – and, dodging storms, back to Port Lockroy. Then it was a sail to Paradise Bay on the Antarctic mainland before the final leg took Rosehearty south-west along the coast to cross the Antarctic Circle, followed by a stormy crossing of the Drake Passage to Cape Horn and Puerto Williams. A voyage of a lifetime!

Length: 106.7m

Builder: Oceanco

Naval architect: Dykstra Naval Architects/Oceanco

Exterior design: Ken Freivokh/Nuvolari Lenard

Interior design: Gerard P Villate/Nuvolari Lenard/Ken Freivokh Design

The title of Sailing Yacht of the Year is awarded to the yacht that is considered by the Judges to be the most notable of the two class winners in this year’s sailing yacht categories. These winners were the 42.24-metre sloop Vijonara, built in Falmouth, UK by Pendennis Yachts and Black Pearl, the 106.7-metre, three-masted, Dynarig schooner built by Oceanco in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands.

Selecting the winner is not a matter of merely choosing the yacht that won its class by the greatest margin, as the Judges are required to consider how each of these vessels might have advanced the design, construction and appearance of future generations of sailing yachts, whilst also taking into consideration all the other elements that led to their selection as class winners. During discussions, it was clear that although the Judges admired Vijonara as a beautiful and well-built yacht, she could not be given the same credit as Black Pearl for her technological advances, so it was Black Pearl that was selected as the Sailing Yacht of the Year. Perhaps the most notable aspect of this vessel was her capacity to provide all the space, facilities and luxury of a modern motor yacht, yet have the low fuel consumption and, hence, reduced environmental impact of a sailing yacht. The fact that Black Pearl, a yacht of 2,550 tonnes displacement, might cross the Atlantic without using any diesel fuel was central to the Judges’ reasoning. As such, she provides an example to current and future owners of large yachts that it is possible to own such a vessel and, at the same time, also be environmentally responsible. This, the Judges felt, is a message worth broadcasting.

Length: 90m

Builder: Oceanco

Naval architect: Azure/Oceanco

Exterior design: Luiz de Basto

Interior design: Nuvolari Lenard

In selecting the winner of the Motor Yacht of the Year title, the Judges were faced with the task of choosing a single yacht from amongst the eight individual winners of the Semi-Displacement and Displacement Motor Yacht classes. Determining the winner of this highly coveted title is not just a simple matter of choosing the largest yacht, or the yacht that won its class by the greatest margin, as Judges are also required to consider how each of these vessels might have advanced the design, construction and appearance of future generations of yachts. Making this decision was neither easy nor quick. After a lengthy debate the final choice, made by secret ballot, revealed that DAR was the winner by a good margin.

With inspiration for her exterior lines drawn from nature – her build name was Project Shark – she has an attractive profile and excellent deck spaces, including a superb beach club and an enviable owner’s deck incorporating a private pool and lounging area. Her interior reveals spacious facilities for the owner on his private deck, and pleasing public areas and guest staterooms, all well-proportioned and interestingly decorated. The crew are also well provided for, with high-quality recreational and mess facilities, while their cabins are equally well appointed. On a technical level the installation of the huge areas of darkened glass on the superstructure, and the flush-mounted doors that penetrate it, called for totally novel application and fixing techniques. Lastly, this massive project was delivered to her owners on time and budget and they enjoyed their first season’s cruising as planned.