Yachts International Summer 2022

Rarely a month goes by that a friend or family member doesn’t forward me a story about some fantastical superyacht concept: one that doubles as a submarine; one that has a three-hole golf course on deck; one powered by a nuclear reactor; or one flanked by a pair of electric-powered blimps so it can lift off and sail over the water as well as on it. Intrigued and earnest as they may be, my people fail to realize that few of these designs will ever feel the joyous pop of a Champagne bottle breaking on their bows. Such flights of fancy do, however, serve a purpose beyond exposing the fertile imaginations of legitimate designers, or would-be designers on hallucinogens. Like the concept cars at auto shows, they illuminate the possible—worlds…

THERE ARE CONVINCING REASONS WHY THE 262-FOOT (80-METER) NOBISKRUG ARTEFACT IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL SUPERYACHTS OF RECENT YEARS. Her radical exterior design by Gregory C. Marshall with those “crazy paving” windows is one. Another is her hybrid dieselelectric propulsion system with lithium-ion battery banks and azimuthing thrusters. And then there’s her interior styling by Reymond Langton Design that manages to be sumptuous and discreet at the same time. “It was very important that the interior design could coexist with the exterior styling,” says Capt. Aaron C. Clark, who served as the owner’s representative during the design and build. “As a liveaboard vessel, Artefact had to have a comfortable feeling inside, and we selected Reymond Langton because it’s a smaller design studio that is very hands-on and involved every…

Motopanfilo is an evocative word in Italian used to describe the classic motor cruisers of the 1960s, the predecessors of modern superyachts. Models such as the Benetti Delfino, Tirreno and Gabbiano introduced a timeless style and helped popularize yachting at a time when it was still largely the preserve of film stars and royalty. So, when Benetti decided to create a new product that combined the glamorous charm of its early yachts with the needs of today’s owners, it seemed only natural to call it the Motopanfilo. “The story started with the idea to recreate or give new life to the motopanfilo, but with a completely modern take,” says Federico Lantero, Benetti’s product marketing and communication director. “We started to identify the design elements that defined the motopanfilo of the…

Wally yachts, sail or power, have always provoked polar-opposite reactions. Purists deride founder Luca Bassani’s apparent disdain for tradition, and forward-thinkers regard him as a savior put on earth to shake up the “white boat” school of yacht design. Although the brand is now fully owned by the Ferretti Group, Bassani has lost none of his impish delight in challenging convention. His latest creation, the semi-displacement wallywhy200, is one of the most innovative yachts in her class. Wally calls it a “space” ship for good reason. The futuristic styling and high axe bow are certainly out of this world, but the “why” stands for “wally hybrid yacht,” and the numerals reference her interior volume of 200 gross tons. Thanks to her wide-body design and beam of 25 feet, 2 inches…

Jack Brown, the 31-year-old chef aboard the Amels 180 Limited Editions Galene, is as straightforward as his name sounds. “I reckon my name is very English,” he says with a laugh, “easy to pronounce and not hard to spell.” Brown is responsible not only for creating scintillating repasts for 12 charter guests, but also for cooking healthy meals for the yacht’s 13 crewmembers to power them through busy days. “You have to be flexible when working on a yacht,” he says. “Plans are always changing. Guests tell you that they are going to eat ashore for lunch, then at the last minute they change their mind and decide they would rather eat on board.” Brown seems unflappable. Quick on his feet, he thrives on the challenges of being a yacht…

You’ve seen them online: the far-out, wildly futuristic concept designs from carmakers and yacht designers that look more ready to fly than to hit the road or the water. A handful actually get built as prototypes for trade shows, to tantalize the public with ideas about what may be possible. But there is a difference between a truly outlandish cartoon and a viable, buildable concept. Established superyacht builders such as Lürssen, Feadship, Abeking & Rasmussen and Oceanco focus on those—and at the most recent Monaco Yacht Show, Oceanco showcased a particularly eye-catching concept yacht with swirling, sculptural, asymmetrical lines. The 295-foot (90-meter) Project Kairos concept is a first-time collaboration between Oceanco and Italian design firm Pininfarina, with technical design and engineering by U.K.-based Lateral Naval Architects. “The exterior and interior…