As 2021 draws to a close, we look back at BOAT International’s most-read yacht reports from the year. From 2021's highly anticipated new launches to the most remarkable refits, there should be plenty of reading material here to keep you occupied over the festive period, whether you’re celebrating at home or at sea…
Eclipse
When Eclipse was launched in 2010 she was the biggest yacht in the world, only to be overtaken by the 180 metre Azzam three years later. But it doesn't stop this 162.5 metre piquing the interest of just about every superyacht enthusiast out there. Designer Terry Disdale talks us through the four and a half years, nine decks and 162.5 metres of this mighty build.
Read More/Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the worldTatiana
Tatiana is a large, svelte yacht and the graceful flagship of Turkish builder Bilgin Yachts. Born from a collaboration between a yacht enthusiast with the goal to build a small superyacht fleet, and the ambitious family-owned shipyard, she made her international debut at the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show, moored stern-to with her unusual beach club swimming pool on show.
Read More/Tatiana: On board the 80m superyacht with a bow shaped like a bulletClub M
Club M is likened to a Swiss Army knife, designed for an experienced owner and packed with plenty of custom features. Delivered in 2020, she is the product of a collaboration between Baglietto, Horacio Bozzo and Achille Salvagni. The owner requested no more than two accommodation decks, which is quite rare on a yacht of this length, but allowed him to achieve a slender profile – with no apparent jet skis, tenders or cranes.
Read More/Club M: On board the 39.75m Baglietto superyachtArtefact
Artefact hasn't stopped picking up silverware since her launch in 2020 - including BOAT International's coveted Motor Yacht of the Year award. It's no surprise really when you consider her radical exterior, 750-square metres of glass and diesel-electric propulsion. Artefact embarked on a mammoth 13,000-nautical mile, nine-month shakedown voyage and eventually pulled into Port Hercules for her international debut at the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show.
Read More/Artefact: On board Nobiskrug's striking 80m hybrid superyachtIJE
The 108 metre IJE is one of three 'mega launches' to come from Italian shipyard Benetti in recent years. Described as an elegant yacht with the soul of an explorer, she was built to cruise far away from ports and marinas with design by British studio RWD.
Read More/IJE: On board the 108m flagship of the Benetti fleetIstros
Built by the De Vries Lentsch shipyard in 1954, Istros lay neglected since 2001, until her new owner decided to completely discard her decayed steel superstructure and strip her to a bare hull and totally rebuild her. Istros checked in at Feadship in 2019 and emerged 11 months later.
Read More/Istros: Inside the award-winning renovation of the historic 42m superyachtBlue II
Blue II was launched to international fanfare in spring 2020. In a marriage of old and new, her 1960s styling takes its cues from classic steamships and captures the essence of the golden age of yachting, with a modern twist. Her exterior belies the modern technical platform on which she was built and she was awarded a World Superyacht Award in 2021 for the boldness of her design and the ambition of her owners.
Read More/Blue II: On board the 56m steamship-style superyachtAtomic
The design of Atomic was guided by the owner's passion for scuba diving and exploring the underwater world. After taking delivery of a 45-metre superyacht, the owner realised he would need something bigger to accommodate a professional set up dive centre and soon commissioned Atomic from Viareggio Superyachts.
Read More/Atomic: On board the 64m superyacht built for an avid diverAurelia
Cantiere delle Marche’s first Flexplorer blends Riviera-style luxury with the ability to go anywhere. The boat was built primarily to carry a larger tender on its aft with an A-frame making launch and recovery a breeze. The A-frame can lift up to 3.5 tonnes, so the 8.5-metre Joker Boat Clubman 28 EFB and Williams Dieseljet 445 can be easily hoisted out and stowed on the aft deck.
Read More/Aurelia: Inside the first Cantiere delle Marche FlexplorerGeco
Geco was built as the first unit of Admiral's S-Force line but, in reality, she is in a class of her own. The yacht started on a 52.9 metre semi-displacement hull platform but was heavily customised for her eventual owner - which is not unusual for the Italian Sea Group.
Read More/Geco: On board the 55m baby-blue Admiral superyacht