Revealed: The 24 winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2016

The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2016 were announced at a gala dinner at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Please click through to see all winners.

All three Voyager’s Award finalists submitted reports of enviable cruises, attracting the judges’ admiration. However, the judges unanimously leaned towards one in which the owner’s enthusiasm and commitment shone through.

This was the near 11,000-mile cruise of Latitude, submitted by her owner, Anil Thadani. Starting in Fort Lauderdale, Latitude headed up the US East Coast to Maine, Newfoundland and Battle Harbour, Canada, then crossed the Labrador Sea to Greenland before taking the legendary Northwest Passage around the top of Canada to Alaska and the Pacific Ocean.

For Thadani, a self-confessed polar bear enthusiast, seeing 19 of these magnificent creatures was a voyage highlight, along with a visit to Franklin’s base, Northern Lights sightings and encounters with musk oxen, walruses and whales. There were worrying close-calls with ice as well. This adventurous expedition, interestingly described and illustrated by excellent photography, is a worthy winner of the 2016 Voyager’s Award.

LOA: 44.98m

Builder:  Timmerman

Naval Architect/Exterior designer: Vripack

Interior designer: Bannenberg & Rowell

Yachts entered for the Refit/Rebuild/Conversion category are divided into sub-categories by the judges after they have read the yachts’ detailed submissions. The secret ballot revealed that Malahne had won the Rebuild category by a significant margin.

Originally built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1937, this yacht had been ravaged by ill-considered modifications during a refit in the 1980s, and her new owner requested that she be restored as close to her original appearance as possible. The team that undertook this work over a 24-month period at Pendennis Shipyard were responsible for a highly professional and detailed restoration that fully met the owner’s brief and also brought her to LY2 standards.

During the course of the refit, the team displayed a high level of understanding of her era, just one example of which is that her entire hull plating was replaced in its original joggled and riveted form below the waterline. She now has a new lease on life, offering modern yacht comforts set within the aura of a classic.

LOA: 50.3m

Original Builder:  Camper & Nicholsons

Refit Yard:  Pendennis Shipyard Refit

Naval Architect: Pendennis & BMT Nigel Gee

Refit Exterior Design: G.L.Watson & Co.

Refit Interior Design: Oliver Laws/crew areas by G.L.Watson & Co.

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 found this a a highly competitive class with all its entrants originating from experienced yards with long experience in building yachts of this size and specification. After projecting the images and hearing from those judges who had personal experience of the entrants, there was a long discussion during which the merits of each yacht were debated before the secret ballot decided the winner.

As was expected the result was close, but it was Antheya III, a newly designed 35-metre semi-custom yacht from UK builder Princess, that filled the top spot. This vessel, developed in conjunction with her owner, had attracted high scores for every judging criteria. The judges particularly admired her exterior design, which incorporated a variety of functional areas in which to relax and dine, as well as her contemporary yet ageless interior. Additionally, the judges found a high quality of construction and excellent technical, service and crew areas. A well balanced yacht indeed.

Length: 35.2m

Builder:  Princess Yachts International

Naval Architect: Olesinski

Exterior Design: Olesinski/Princess Design Studio

Interior Design: Princess Design Studio

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

This class, which contains the largest of the yachts entered for the World Superyacht Awards, saw just two yachts qualifying as finalists. Both, however, were so extraordinary that the judges initially anticipated that choosing a winner might be difficult. But as each aspect of the two contestants was scrutinised in greater detail, it became clear that the Feadship-built Symphony had edged into the lead. Not only did the judges consider this 101.5-metre motor yacht to have stunningly beautiful exterior lines, but they also admired the division of her interior spaces and the incredible quality and attention to detail that had been invested in all areas.

The builder had also successfully addressed many challenging technical issues that had arisen from both the requirements of her owner, as well as from the new PYC code to which the yacht is built. This yacht is a remarkable story of design, craftsmanship and technological innovation that has been cleverly combined to totally satisfy the owner’s requirements.

Length: 101.5m

Builder: Feadship

Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior Design:  Tim Heywood

Interior Design:  Francois Zuretti/ Peter Marino

We have been privileged to know Jim Clark as a client and a valued friend for over twenty years.

Jim’s intellect, ambition and energy enabled him to overcome serious challenges early in life to earn a master’s Degree in Physics and a PhD in Computer Science. His scientific rigour and entrepreneurial talent led to globally successful businesses, such as Silicon Graphics (the world leader in visual effects and 3-D imaging) and Netscape.

Jim Clark entrusted our yard with the build of three custom superyachts: the 47m sloop Hyperion, the 90-metre three-masted schooner Athena and the 42-metre Super-J Class Hanuman. Each project was bold, individual, and exceptional; each charged with the same intensity of drive for innovation and challenge.

Hyperion demanded the most sophisticated alarm monitoring, control and navigation systems the industry had ever seen. We were fortunate that our client not only knew what he wanted, but how to write the software! The superyacht industry has benefited ever since.

Athena was the yacht that just kept on growing. As it approached 90 metres, my father realised his building hall could be extended no further and even suggested Jim might take the build elsewhere. But Jim had only one builder in mind and his ability to motivate and encourage came to the fore. Athena became the proudest launch of my father’s career.

The Super-J Hanuman appears more straightforward. But Jim’s intellectual curiosity and quest for perfection ensured there was no shortage of constructive challenge. The rig was a particular focus, with five specialist organisations cooperating to achieve regatta success with the most powerful, aerodynamic and fine-tuneable sailplan possible.

And we cannot ignore Comanche. The Sydney-Hobart line honours winner and world’s most advanced 100-foot racing machine is yet another example of how Jim Clark never does anything by halves.

Neither can we ignore Jim’s philanthropy. He has made substantial donations to the academic world as well as to marine conservation. His long-term support for the Oceanic Preservation Society has included making Athena freely available to its scientists and campaigners. He is also a major funder of director Louie Psihoyos’ award-winning eco thrillers The Cove and Racing Extinction. Jim’s boldness and love of innovation, his challenge and motivation mean that every yacht he has created has been a masterpiece of its genre. His impact on our entire industry – inspirationally as well as technologically – is without equal.

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

The judges select the Motor Yacht of the Year from among the winners of all nine motor yacht classes, but despite this wide choice they had little difficulty choosing the 83.5-metre Feadship, Savannah for this accolade.

Not only is this an inspirationally elegant yacht, but its quality of design and construction - right down to the last detail – demonstrated the level of craftsmanship to which many aspire but few achieve. Beyond these attributes was its pioneering propulsion package - the first of its type - blending a single diesel engine driving an oversized propeller, while three gensets power an azimuthing thruster positioned just aft of the diesel-driven propeller. In normal drive mode, the azimuthing thruster faces forward, contra-rotating with the aft-facing propeller to attain a high level of efficiency, while when manoeuvring or in DPS mode the thrusters can be rotated to provide the necessary thrust in whatever direction.

This incredible yacht that excels in all aspects is a worthy winner of the Motor Yacht of the Year Award.

Length: 83.5m

Builder: Feadship

Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior Design: CG Design/Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects

Interior Design: CG Design