The New Year is the time for ringing in the new, and in the spirit, we present a selection of the major superyacht new name changes spotted this year among a full list available on our dedicated page. All year long, you're welcome to contact Raphaël Montigneaux, our Database Content Manager, to report any name changes or specification modifications on a yacht following a sale or a refit.
1 Lone Ranger -> Sea Ranger
Following her sale during the Prestige Yacht Auction at the Antibes Yacht Show, the 77.73m Lone Ranger was spotted in a Romanian yard. She left it under her new name, Sea Ranger. Originally built by Germany’s Schichau Unterwasser in 1973 as a tug, she was converted into a luxurious private yacht by Klaus Kusch for a French owner in 1994.
2 Red Square -> Axioma
The 72.5m Red Square is the first superyacht launched by the Turkish yard Dunya Yachts in February 2013 and designed by Sterling Scott Yacht Design. Her sale was announced during the Monaco Yacht Show, and few days later, her new name was revealed, Axioma.
3 Norna -> Enigma XK
The 71m Norna is originally a Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessel built in 1988. This year she was converted into a superyacht at the Atlantic Refit Center at La Rochelle, France. Relaunched under the name Enigma XK, she has a design by Philippe Briand and Veerle Battiau. The full feature on Enigma XK will be published in a future issue of Boat International magazine and be available on Boat International.com.
4 Kismet -> Global
The famous 68m Lürssen superyacht Kismet was sold this year, one of the biggest sale in 2013, and was renamed Global by her new owners. Now the original owner is waiting for the launch of the new Kismet, a 94m Lürssen superyacht scheduled for a delivery in 2014.
5 Maidelle -> Meridian
The 62.5m ICON superyacht Maidelle was on the market since her delivery in 2012. Sold this year, she's renamed Meridian, successor of a 50m Trinity motor yacht. Meridian's exterior styling is by Redman Whiteley Dixon Design with a tasteful interior design from Cristiano Gatto. A recent rebuild changed the observation lounge into a second master suite.
6 Candyscape II -> Sealyon
This 62m award-winning yacht, built by Viareggio Superyachts with Espen Oeino naval architecture and striking interiors by Candy & Candy, was sold at the beginning of the year. She's now on the charter market under her new name Sealyon.
7 April Fool -> Samadhi
This 61m Feaship superyacht was one of the first main sales in 2013. Built in 2006 by the Van Lent yard, April Fool was a winner at the 2007 World Superyacht Awards. She's now renamed Samadhi.
8 Darlings Danama -> Light Holic
This year saw more than 300 sales, and Darlings Danama marked the 200th sale in 2013. This 60m CRN superyacht was launched in 2011 to a design by Giovanni Zuccon and Cristina & Alexandre Negoescu. She's now renamed Light Holic.
9 Gu -> Lady Gulya
Gu is a 58m Amels sudperyacht launched in 2006. She's supposed to be the predecessor of the already famous superyacht Madame Gu, and was renamed Lady Gulya just before the delivery of the 99m Feadship. Lady Gulya is designed by Andrew Winch. She was recently spotted at the Amels yard in Vlissingen where she's under refit.
10 S Cape -> Meserret II
This 57.2m classic superyacht was launched in 1978 by the defunct Cammenga yard in The Netherlands. She was often refitted, and her exterior design was altered, most notably in 2009. Sold in March 2013, she was renamed Meserret II, successor of a 40m Armon superyacht.