Licence to thrill: John Staluppi's James Bond superyachts

9 September 2026 • Written by Lucy Pughe-Morgan

John Staluppi has built a reputation for pushing boundaries in the superyacht world, consistently chasing and breaking records in both speed and length. From his first 36-metre Denison yacht, For Your Eyes Only(later renamed Blue Oceans), through a series of speedy vessels to his most recent commission for Bilgin Yachts, Project Bond, Staluppi has built an impressive portfolio of 007-inspired yachts that capture the essence of the fictional world in both name and design. BOAT has delved into his portfolio, rounding up his impressive collection of James Bond-inspired yachts.

For Your Eyes Only

Credit: Denison

Now renamed Blue Oceans, For Your Eyes Only was John Staluppi’s first superyacht. Built in 1985, the 36-metre Denison was custom-built to satisfy Staluppi’s desire to have something different from the big yachts he had seen while cruising in his earlier smaller fishing vessels. “I wanted to build the first boat over 30.5 metres that would go over 30 knots,” Staluppi said in an interview with Boat International. “The Bond movie-inspired name came because the concept seemed to match the crazy gadgets, planes, boats and high-speed cars of the films.”