Revealed: The 24 winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2016

The old saying that ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ is certainly true of the winner of this five-strong class of sailing yachts – but it was not the overriding factor, as all aspects of each entrant were considered in detail before the results of the secret ballot were analysed.

The winner, Atalante, a 38.8-metre sloop designed by Andre Hoek Naval Architects and built to impeccable standards by Claasen Shipyards in The Netherlands, is certainly a delight for the eyes, with supremely elegant lines and glistening brightwork. But the judges also applauded the well-developed deckplan that, among other notable items, positions the wheel in the aft cockpit adjacent to a navigation station with direct access to the owner’s cabin.

As well as offering convenience when under sail, this entire area becomes a private cockpit when the yacht is at anchor. Atalante is also an excellent performer on the water and embodies a good internal layout with superb guest and crew spaces and a well laid out engine room.

LOA: 38.8m

Builder:  Claasen Shipyards

Naval Architect:  Hoek Design Naval Architects

Exterior/Interior Design: Hoek Design Naval Architects

The runner-up in the secret ballot for this class had been designed and built to quite different parameters than the winner, and the judges felt strongly that it was necessary to acknowledge the design achievement that led to her stunning appearance and excellent on-the-water performance.

Nikata is a 35-metre racer/cruiser designed by Judel/Vrolijk, styled by Nauta Design and built by Baltic Yachts. Her racy looks are apparent from first glance, so it is unsurprising that she hit an impressive speed of 24.8-knots during her first crossing of the Atlantic and won her class in her first RORC Caribbean 600 in which she finished seventh overall.

Precisely built entirely from carbon pre-preg laminate with a Corecell foam core, this 88-tonne vessel is equipped with high-speed winches and an easy-trim jib system, but she does not lack creature comforts that include a 200-bottle wine cellar, six fridges, two freezers and a spectacular sound system, as well as an opening transom that converts to a bathing platform.

LOA: 35m

Builder:  Baltic Yachts

Naval Architect: Judel/Vrolijk & Co

Exterior Design: Nauta Design

Interior Design: Nauta Design

While only three yachts competed in this class, each represented a quite different aspect of the sailing superyacht spectrum extremely well - so the judges were presented with yet another difficult choice. After an interesting discussion, the secret ballot decided the winner to be Unfurled, a 46-metre sloop from the boards of German Frèrs that was constructed by Vitters Shipyard, marking the first collaboration between the builder and designer.

This yacht was not only judged to be extremely well designed and built, but it was considered to be a yacht that could ably fulfil the more specific racing and luxurious cruising roles of the other competitors as well as those of the ‘cruising and occasional racing’ function that her owner had requested. At the same time, Unfurled employed the latest technological advances such as retractable propulsion pods, a sophisticated carbon rig and roller furling system as well as downwind sails stored on special drums under the foredeck that allow easy deployment.

LOA: 46m

Builder:  Vitters Shipyard

Naval Architect: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Exterior Design: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Interior Design: Stirling & Co

During the judges’ discussions on this class, it became clear that Topaz, built to the J-Class Rule, was highly admired by all the jury, who agreed that this yacht was the most elegant in this year’s Awards. Not only were the exterior lines beautiful, but her superb interior, designed in Art Deco fashion to replicate the period in which this class was first introduced, made excellent use of the limited interior volume offered by these yachts.

Topaz also incorporates the latest technology, being equipped with an extremely compact hybrid power and propulsion system that allows it to be propelled electrically from its 80kW battery pack or the 50kW genset as well as its 325kW main engine. J-Class yachts are also huge consumers of power to drive the winches, especially when racing, and the sophisticated system aboard Topaz will deliver 250kW of hydraulic power to allow the simultaneous use of necessary equipment.

LOA: 42.6m

Builder:  Holland Jachtbouw

Naval Architect:  Hoek Design Naval Architects

Exterior Design: Hoek Design Naval Architects

Interior Design: Hoek Design Naval Architects

The judges were immediately drawn to the Mulder 34-metre motor yacht Solis by her attractive and original exterior lines, while excellent reports from the judges that had visited her concerning her quality of build and other aspects that cannot be determined by text and photographs reinforced this interest.

Delving deeper, they discovered the vessel’s transatlantic range, state-of-the-art facilities and the very pleasing level of interior brightness and exterior visibility provided by her large use of glass, much of which has the ability to be opened. This, the judges felt, is a true ‘pocket’ superyacht built on a human scale that not only satisfies the demanding aesthetic requirements of her owners, who tend to shy away from ostentation, but also provide a high level of comfort and convenience.

The judges were so impressed by this yacht that the decision to award her the Neptune for this class was almost unanimous. Solis, the largest Mulder launched to date, was deemed a very worthy winner.

Length: 34m

Builder:  Mulder Shipyard

Naval Architect: Van Oossanen Naval Architecture

Exterior Design:  Claydon Reeves

Interior Design: Claydon Reeves

This class contained many excellent yachts, most of which displayed significant pedigree, but the judges chose a newcomer as the winner. Wider Yachts have been previously known for their innovative tenders and small craft, but in late 2015 they launched their first superyacht. This was the 46-metre Wider 150, a yacht which continued their already established trend of thoughtful design and innovation.

In the judges’ view, this vessel is the epitome of a modern yacht, incorporating the best of today’s design trends and introducing many original ideas, while scaling down desirable features that, so far, have only been seen on much larger yachts. The judges particularly admired her bright interior spaces and the clean exterior lines, together with the superb beach club in the stern that, among other features, combines the functions of tender dock and swimming pool.

In addition, the propulsion system was considered so advanced that it attracted a separate award for Technology and Innovation.

LOA: 46m

Builder:  Wider

Naval Architect: Wider Engineering & Associates

Exterior Design:  Fulvio De Simoni

Interior Design: Ideaeitalia

The 46-metre, Wider 150, was selected for this award on the basis of her beach club as well as her propulsion system. Many yachts have previously been fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system in which diesel generators power electric azimuthal pods, but never before has the system been exploited to the full by positioning the generators and associated equipment in underused areas of a yacht, thus releasing a ‘high value’ midships area - traditionally occupied by the engine room - for owner and guest use.

Without engines running, the Wider 150 can use her 544kWh of Li-Po batteries to cruise for six hours at five knots or, alternatively, switch to ‘quiet ship’ mode for an overnight stop of eight hours. Additionally, the design of the beach club with its two side- opening shell doors and a swimming pool that converts to a ‘float-in’ tender stowage bay, has never before been seen in a yacht of this size.

Length: 46m

Builder: Wider

Naval Architect: Wider Engineering & Associates

Exterior Design: Fulvio De Simoni

Interior Design: Ideaeitalia

This class contained six exceptional yachts that were readily comparable by the judges, but it was clear from the very outset of the judges’ deliberations that one stood out above the crowd. This yacht was Savannah, an 83.5-metre motor yacht built by Feadship, which excelled in so many different areas that her selection as winner was almost unanimous – itself a rarity in a jury comprised of yacht owners with differing tastes and values. Firstly, it was the elegance and harmony of her exterior lines that thrilled the judges, but they soon agreed that her hybrid diesel-electric drive system – which is claimed to offer fuel savings of up to 30 per cent – could be a glimpse into the future of yacht propulsion.

Additionally, the layout of her exterior and interior areas – including the open aft deck and wow-worthy underwater lounge – and the manner in which these areas are intelligently united with each other, together with the detailing and finish of her decorative items, were considered a triumph.

Length: 83.5m

Builder: Feadship

Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior Design: CG Design/Feadship De Voogt Naval

Interior Design: CG Design

Presented to a nominated yacht in any class, the Quality and Value Award recognises a yacht which, in the judges opinion, represents particularly high quality, while avoiding any undue escalation in high cost. Fittingly, the yachts entering for consideration in this award category must declare their cost. This year, the award was presented to Nashwan, a 37.3-metre Majesty 122 motor yacht built by Gulf Craft in the UAE.

Over the last few years, the quality of the yachts emerging from this builder have greatly increased, and this was certainly reflected in Nashwan. Not only is this yacht built to a high standard in all areas, but it displayed a spacious layout that includes a tender garage and a commodious crew area, as well as good on-board facilities for the owner and his guests. In the judges opinion, this yacht is well suited to entry-level Mediterranean and Gulf cruising. In terms of winning this particular prize, she represents extremely good value in respect of her $9.5-million price tag.

Length: 37.3m

Builder:  Gulf Craft

Naval Architect: Gulf Craft

Exterior Design: Gulf Craft Design Studios

Interior Design: Gulf Craft Design Studio

The Sailing Yacht of the Year is selected by the judges from among the winners of the two sailing yacht classes. This was a difficult choice as both contenders were considered to be exceptional sailing yachts, but the final decision was made in Unfurled’s favour.

Although the yacht’s clean flush-deck appearance was admired by the judges, this decision was largely made on technological grounds. In particular, the judges applauded her custom-designed retractable propeller pods, which greatly reduce hydrodynamic drag while retracted in sailing mode, together with the pair of lightweight thrusters, again retractable and custom designed to enhance sailing efficiency.

The Vitters- designed power steering system that provides both lightness of operation and the ‘feedback’ associated with manual systems was also admired by the judges, as was the custom headsail storage, which stows large headsails on two drums positioned below the foredeck, easing sail-changes and reducing damage to the sails.

Length: 46m

Builder: Vitters Shipyard

Naval Architect: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Exterior Design: Frèrs Naval Architecture & Engineering

Interior Design: Stirling & Co