The must-see new yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2017

There will be around 1,200 boats at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2017 — far too many to visit in five days. Kate Lardy picks out the best of the best...

One of the largest yachts on display at FLIBS 2017, Vanish was delivered by Feadship in May 2016, sporting exterior styling by Harrison Eidsgaard and De Voogt Naval Architects. Key features include a pair of superyacht helipads, situated fore and aft, as well as a globetrotting range of 5,200 nautical miles when cruising at 12 knots.

Length: 66.25 metres
Builder: Feadship
Exterior design: Harrison Eidsgaard / Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
Interior design: Harrison Eidsgaard

Inspired by her little sister the 66 GLX, which made its debut at Yachts Miami Beach last year, the Astondoa 80 GLX inherits the same large side windows. This revamped rendition showing in Fort Lauderdale also boasts a reconfigured flybridge and new interior palette of warm colours and materials. She’s fast, too, topping out at 31 knots.

Length: 24.92 metres
Builder / exterior and interior design: Astondoa

Horizon’s new FD range represents a styling departure for the Taiwanese builder, with a plumb bow and floor to ceiling windows fronted by cut-out bulwarks for even bigger views out. The fast displacement hull gives the Horizon FD85 efficiency over a range of speeds and her wide beam means tremendous interior volume. Hull No 3 will be in the US and it features a main deck master and warm anigre and walnut throughout. The yard is also exhibiting its latest Horizon RP110 yacht at FLIBS 2017.

Length: 26.07 metres
Builder / interior design: Horizon
Exterior design: Cor D Rover

Muchos Mas is much more than a beautiful tri-deck superyacht. As the first new Crescent for more than a decade, she marks the return of the Canadian brand after a troubled period. Key features include a foredeck spa pool, a main saloon bar that extends to the aft deck and four guest cabins in addition to a spacious main deck master.

Length: 44.2 metres
Builder: Crescent Custom Yachts
Exterior and interior design: JQB Design

The newest Damen Yacht Support vessel, New Frontiers has the huge deck space and crane necessary to carry every conceivable tender and toy, but she has something new, too: guest accommodation. For the first time, Damen included an owner’s lounge and guest quarters for six on the main deck. The Dutch yard will also be exhibiting Axis, which was at FLIBS last year under her original name Fast & Furious and has since been refitted to add guest accommodation.

Length: 55.3 metres
Builder / exterior and interior design: Damen

Following in the wake of her big sister, the Riva 88 Florida, the 32-knot 76 Bahamas features the super cool convertible 'C-Top' that transforms her from an open to a coupe. A carbon fibre hardtop lifts out of the forward cowling, revealing a foredeck seating area, and comes to rest between the windshield and roll bar. Inside, Riva style pervades with white veneer, dark leather and stainless steel accents.

Length: 23.24 metres
Builder: Riva
Exterior and interior design: Officina Italiana Design / Ferretti Group

An innovative layout is the hallmark of the Sunseeker 95 Yacht. Thanks to a raised pilothouse that frees up space on the main deck, there is a generous forward master suite configured on three levels. Stairs lead down to a mid-level dressing area then to an en suite below.

Length: 28.96 metres
Builder / exterior and interior design: Sunseeker International

Tankoa’s second launch uses every bit of her 499GT interior for such amenities as a beach club gym, a master and VIP on the main deck, an upper deck home movie theatre and a seven metre tender garage. Constructed in aluminium with a full displacement hull, Vertige has a timeless look and includes floor to ceiling windows with cut-out bulwarks for maximum views from within.

Length: 49.9 metres
Builder: Tankoa
Exterior design: Francesco Paszkowski
Interior design: Francesco Paszkowski / Margherita Casprini