Throughout December, it was big new builds and exciting refits that caught the eye of BOAT's readers as 2025 came to a close. At the top of the list was the launch of Boardwalk, the latest mammoth project from German shipyard Lürssen, closely followed by the news that the historic 109.5-metre 1931 sailing yacht Sea Cloud had begun a multi-million-euro rebuild.
Other breaking yacht news that spent time in the spotlight during the month included the technical launch of Feadship's smallest current build, the rechristening of an iconic McConaghy sailing yacht and an exclusive first look inside two newly-delivered vessels.
BOAT crunches the numbers and brings you the stories that generated the most clicks in the final month of 2025...
1. Lürssen launches 117m superyacht Boardwalk
Lürssen launched the 117-metre superyacht Project 13797, now officially known as Boardwalk, from its facilities in Lemwerder, Germany.
The new build was commissioned in 2022 by an American owner who, according to the yard, has been "deeply involved throughout the design process, contributing to everything from the general arrangement and onboard flow to the interior and exterior styling". Frank Woll and Amy Halffman are behind the project, which is scheduled for delivery this year.
Read More/In pictures: Further details of 117m Lürssen superyacht Boardwalk released2. Historic 110m sailing yacht Sea Cloud undergoes major rebuild
Sea Cloud, the historic four-masted sailing yacht built at Krupp Germaniawerft in 1931 for American cereal heiress and businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather Post, began a multi-million-euro rebuild.
The 109.5-metre yacht arrived in Malta in November 2025 for a top-to-bottom renewal, Daniel Kũpfer, founder of Yanova and the owner’s representative, announced. The refit aims to turn back time, with works including the installation of a new figurehead that replicates the original, award-winning sculpture.
Read More/Exclusive: Historic 110m sailing yacht Sea Cloud undergoes major rebuild3. 46m Feadship superyacht Project 718 completes technical launch
The 45.7-metre Feadship superyacht Project 718 was technically launched from the Gouwerok Shipyard in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands.
The all-aluminium hull was transported to Feadship's nearby facility for outfitting. According to BOATPro, delivery of the highly secretive new build is scheduled for 2027.
Read More/46m Feadship superyacht Project 718 launched4. 114m Lürssen fuel-cell superyacht Project Cosmos completes sea trials
The 114.2-metre Lürssen superyacht Project Cosmos – one of the first yachts in the world to be fitted with fuel-cell technology – completed a series of sea trials near Kiel, Germany, ahead of her expected 2026 handover date.
Commissioned for a Japanese owner, the yacht stands out for her unusual, explorer-style profile by Australian industrial designer Marc Newson (known best for his work on the 139.7-metre Solaris) and her two 500kW methanol fuel cells, which means she can cruise up to seven knots for a range of 1,000 nautical miles.
Read More/114m Lürssen fuel-cell superyacht Project Cosmos approaches delivery following sea trials5. 80m Oceanco yacht Project Y729 moves to outfitting
Oceanco's 80-metre superyacht Project Y729 was moved to outfitting at the yard's facilities in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands.
Commissioned by first-time owners, Y729 marks the first from the yard's Simply Custom platform, with Espen Øino International selected for the exterior design and Zuretti Design for the interiors, while Arrow Monaco will provide technical representation.
Read More/80m Oceanco yacht Project Y729 moves to outfitting6. Iconic regatta winner Wild Oats XI rechristened as five-month rebuild nears completion
Malaysian yacht builder Palm Beach Motor Yachts announced that the rebuild of the former Wild Oats XI, an iconic, 30.5-metre McConaghy sailing yacht, was almost complete following five months of extensive refit works.
At a ceremony attended by more than 300 guests in Sydney, Australia, the yacht was officially rechristened Palm Beach XI.
Read More/Iconic regatta winner Wild Oats XI rechristened as five-month rebuild nears completion7. 72m Giorgio Armani-designed Admiral superyacht sold off-market
The first 72-metre Giorgio Armani-designed Admiral superyacht, the Admiral Armani 72m, was sold in an off-market deal with IYC and Royal Yacht International and renamed No Rush.
Following her sale, the brokerage firms offered a first look inside the new build, which was launched in May 2025 and made her official world debut at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show.
Read More/72m Giorgio Armani-designed Admiral superyacht sold off-market8. Feadship unveils 76m yacht concept Etherea in collaboration with FM Architettura
Feadship unveiled a new 75.5-metre yacht concept known as Etherea.
The ready-to-build superyacht features an in-house design by Studio de Voogt and Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, while Italian design studio FM Architettura is behind the interior styling - previously collaborating with the yard on several builds, including Somnium, Zen and the recently delivered Stella M.
Read More/Feadship unveils 76m yacht concept in collaboration with FM Architettura9. First look inside UK-built 29m sailing yacht High Five
The 29.1-metre Fibre Mechanics sailing yacht High Five was delivered to her owner. Following her delivery, Winch Design, the interior design studio behind the new build, offered a first look inside.
An all-British design team is responsible for the performance cruising sloop, which has remained relatively under the radar throughout her construction, with her owner – a passionate design enthusiast with a longstanding love of the sea – choosing the British interior design studio to create a yacht that "feels, above all, like home".
Read More/First look inside UK-built 29m sailing yacht High Five10. Captain and crew face charges over fatal collision involving Mazu Yachts co-founder Halit Yukay
Turkish prosecutors issued an indictment seeking up to nine years in prison for the captain and crew of the 92-metre cargo ship Arel 7, which was allegedly involved in the fatal collision with yacht designer and Mazu Yachts co-founder Halit Yukay in August 2025.
According to Turkish news outlet Haberler, a 14-page indictment prepared by the Bandırma Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested that Arel 7's captain, Cemal Tokatlıoğlu, face a prison sentence of three to nine years for the charge of "causing death by negligence".
Read More/Captain and crew face charges over fatal collision involving Mazu Yachts co-founder Halit Yukay