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: 106.5m

Original builder: Halic Shipyard

Refit yard: Olympic Yacht Services

Refit naval architect: Olympic Yacht Services

Refit exterior design: Studio Vafiadis/Olympic Yacht Services

Refit interior design: Ciarmoli Queda Studio

This ambitious project, which converted an aging 93-metre cruise ship into a 106.5-metre dream yacht for an owner with world cruising in mind, presented a significant challenge to the owner’s team, who acted as the builders, the project managers and also as naval architects and engineers. But as the Judges discovered from the documentation and the reports of colleagues who had visited the yacht, the task was completed in a highly successful manner.

At the outset, the hull was stripped to bare steel, the complete superstructure and surplus metal works were removed, and the interior gutted and sandblasted. The 320 tonnes of steel that was removed was replaced with 550 tonnes of new fabrications, including the new superstructure and 112 electrically-operated sliding windows each weighing 500kg. New stabilisers and other heavy engine room equipment were installed before the vessel was faired, painted and relaunched. Following her launch, new pipework was installed, she was rewired, and her new interior, all floating on rubber mounts to minimise noise transmission, was inserted. All these works were compliant with SOLAS 36 Passenger requirements.

The Judges concluded that this was an extraordinary conversion that not only changed the whole exterior profile of the vessel, improving it beyond recognition, but also gave her a completely new interior, which has a refreshingly understated and modern appearance that abounds in luxury. This, they felt, was a conversion for which the owner should be justifiably proud.

Length: 42.2m

Builder: Pendennis

Naval architect: Hoek Design

Exterior design: Hoek Design

Interior design: Owner/Hoek Design/Hermès

Admiration for Modern Classics – yachts that borrow their outward appearance from the ‘Golden Age of Yachting’, but are otherwise completely modern in their comfort, performance and technology – remains widespread, and Vijonara, a Truly Classic 127 designed by Andre Hoek, was considered by the Judges to be a near perfect example of her breed.

Not only was she built to the very highest standards, with the quality of her craftsmanship – especially her woodwork – being rated as outstanding by the Judges who visited her, but her polar diagrams also revealed that she possesses extremely good performance under sail, particularly in lighter breezes. The Judges considered that the twin-cockpit deck layout, with a private aft cockpit linked to the master cabin and the helm station located forward, adjacent to the guest cockpit, worked extremely well by providing privacy for the owner and a sense of safety while being at the heart of the sailing action for the guests. But perhaps the most important factor in choosing her as the winner was found inside, where her welcoming accommodation areas are all beautifully paneled in wood and trimmed with fine leather supplied and crafted by Hermès. As such, Vijonara exuded the charm and character, as well as a sense of luxurious comfort that one might expect in a great classic 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: 40m

Builder: Conrad Shipyard

Naval architect: Diana Yacht Design

Exterior design: Reymond Langton Design

Interior design: Conrad Shipyard

This class was made up of five very significant yachts with overall lengths falling between 40m and 47.9m, all of which were most enviable in their appearance and quality of construction. After hearing the views of Judges who had visited individual yachts, attention was turned to the detail of their general arrangement plans, traffic flow, and other technical issues.

A yacht that seemed to attract praise in all these areas was Viatoris, a 40-metre built in Poland by Conrad Shipyard, with naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design and exterior design by Reymond Langton. Following the secret ballot, this yacht was subsequently confirmed as the winner. The Judges had predominantly admired her lines, which were considered to be both timeless and elegant, while her interior layout was praised for its ideal distribution of the yacht’s volume between guest, crew, public and technical spaces.

Viatoris is not a yacht for those who yearn for speed as, powered by a pair of economical Caterpillar 500kW diesels, she has a cruising speed of 12-knots, but the benefits she reaps from this are a huge range of 11,100 nautical miles at her economical delivery speed of 8-knots and, aided by excellent sound insulation, also a supremely quiet interior. The Judges also noted that her four ideally positioned fold-down balconies and adjacent sliding doors create a very airy interior, while her abundance of large windows and portlights provide excellent intimacy with the surrounding scenery and seascapes. The owner requested a yacht in which he could ‘feel at home and not like a guest in a hotel’ and the Judges felt that this long range ocean traveller has successfully provided this – and more.

Length: 49.6m

Builder: Wider

Naval architect: Wider/Sydac

Exterior design: Wider/Fulvio De Simoni

Interior design: Wider/ideaeITALIA

This class contained five yachts built by notable shipyards. Each yacht certainly displayed some enviable attributes, but the voting revealed the winner to be the Wider 165, Cecilia.

This, the Judges considered, was a yacht that points the way to the future with one of her most significant aspects being a propulsion system in which diesel generators drive electric-powered motors fitted to azipods located at the stern of the vessel. While many yachts in the past have employed this propulsion system, few have taken full advantage of its flexibility by positioning the engine room in the bows, thus releasing the prime midships area of the lower deck for accommodation – a purpose for which it is ideally suited. This layout also means that the crew quarters, which are spacious for a yacht of this size, have also been moved further aft where motion is less pronounced.

The system also allows for fuel economy as her pair of 535kW gensets, which supply house load as well as propulsive power, are a third of the output of those found aboard Cecilia’s competitors, leading to both economy and extremely low noise levels. But it was not just her technical aspects that impressed the Judges, who also admired the float-in tender dock at the stern that carries a significant tender as well as a submarine in its own independent bay. When these are launched and the twin side doors opened, this area becomes a most desirable beach club. This was seen by the Judges as a yacht that was rightly rewarded for her advanced, forward-looking design.

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.

Discovering the beauty of the north-eastern coast of Sardinia in the late 1950s, His Highness the Aga Khan had a vision of creating an exclusive destination for elite tourism, while preserving the natural heritage. The Costa Smeralda Consortium was established in 1962 to promote sustainable development of the area and in 1967 His Highness founded the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda together with Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti and Luigi Vietti as a non-profit-making sporting association for fellow sailing enthusiasts.

From its inception, the Club has aimed to organise international regattas, and in 1980 two important world championships were created: the Maxi Yacht World Championship and the Swan World Cup. In addition to a busy sporting calendar, the YCCS also promotes activities relating to the YCCS Sailing School and the One Ocean Foundation, created in March 2018 from an environmental sustainability project launched in 2017 to mark the Club’s 50th anniversary. In 1981 the YCCS laid down the first Italian challenge for America’s Cup. Just two years later the 12-Metre Azzurra came a triumphant third in the qualifying regattas for the finals in Newport. Thanks to her success, the first 12-metre Class World Championship was held in Porto Cervo in 1984. That same year, the Royal Perth Yacht Club chose the YCCS to act as Challenger of Record for the 1987 edition of the America’s Cup. Motor yachts have also been a longstanding passion for His Highness. In 1992, the 67-metre motor yacht Destriero crossed the Atlantic in 58 hours at an average speed of 98.323km/h. This spectacular adventure won Destriero not only the Columbus Atlantic Trophy, the prize instituted by the New York Yacht Club and the YCCS for the fastest return Atlantic crossing, but also the Virgin Atlantic Challenge for the fastest crossing awarded by former record holder Sir Richard Branson.

In 2014, His Highness took delivery of 50-metre Alamshar, the only all-gas-turbine-powered yacht in the world. As well as his many successes in the yachting world, His Highness has been deeply engaged with the work of the Aga Khan Development Network. As the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, from the age of 20, he has dedicated his efforts to improving living conditions and opportunities for the most vulnerable populations in developing countries.