YachtForums: We Know Big Boats!

Big Fish Lights Up Auckland With Launch Celebrations​

Auckland, New Zealand - The City of Sails was transformed into the City of Lights for two nights May 21st and 22nd by fantastic laser shows in Auckland's Viaduct in celebration of the completion of "Big Fish". The events included two evening parties complete with fashion shows, dancers, traditional Maori Haka performances and live music, and a day-long party for shipyard workers and their families.

The launch celebrations culminate more than three years of design, engineering and construction of 45 meter Big Fish, the first motor superyacht built in New Zealand. It also represents the largest yacht project yet at New Zealand's McMullen & Wing Shipyard, and the premier launch from Aquos Yachts, which is taking Big Fish and a series of planned sisterships to the global yacht and charter markets...

Lurssen launches 60-meter "Katie Sue II"​

German super yacht builder Lurssen has launched a third yacht in a 60-meter series called "Katie Sue II". This 60-meter yacht has been designed by Espen Oeino and has an interior penned by Glade Johnson. Her near sisters are "Linda Lou" and "Arkley" and she can be easily recognized by her vertical main mast.

Katie Sue II will have the capability to be a globe trotting yacht, with a range of over 7,000 NM at 12 knots and a maximum speed of around 15,5 knots. After final works and sea trials Katie Sue II will be readied for delivery for use by her owner in the Summer of 2010. Lurssen has another 60-meter yacht of this series code-named "Coco" for delivery in 2011.

For more information:

Lurssen,
Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co...

Hakvoort launches 39-meter "Pretty Woman"​

Dutch yacht builder Hakvoort successfully launched their latest yacht at the end of May, 2010. She was represented by the yard number 245 while under construction. "Pretty Woman" features construction in steel and aluminum. Naval Architecture was done by Azure Naval Architects.

Her exterior lines are sinuous and were developed by Cor D Rover. Her lightly flared bow to gentle sweeping curves to the dominance of large squared windows, they all characterize the work by Cor D Rover. On the inside, Michela Reverberi formulated the styling.

Pretty Woman has been designed to serve in the charter business being able to host guests in four double cabins on the lower deck. A full-beam master stateroom is available forward on the main deck. After she is completed she will be delivered to her owner for the Summer period...

ISA launches 60-meter "Mary Jean II"​

Italian luxury yacht builder ISA successfully launched their latest project. She is a 60-meter long displacement yacht christened "Mary Jean II". She features a deep Aristo Blue hull and Oyster White superstructure with black tinted windows. She stretches up to 12-meters overall in beam and has black underwater hull.

Built from steel and aluminum, Mary Jean II will have an expected maximum speed of 17 knots, made possible by 2 X CAT 3512C DITA-SCAC Marine Diesels. She can accommodate guests and crew alike in a comfortable and luxurious atmosphere thanks to a contemporary Mark Berryman styled interior design. Contrasting deep Wenge' pops on the light colored teak, further accented by colorful artwork and throw cushions.

Mary Jean II is scheduled to be delivered to her owner(s) in early July and will be displayed at this year's upcoming Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), 2010...

Ferretti Custom Line launches first 124-footer​

On a sunny, late spring morning Italian yard Custom Line, a member of the Ferretti Group, launched the first unit of their 124’ hull model using the travel-lift system at the Ferretti Group facility in Ancona. The 37.8m Custom Line 124 is the new flagship of the Custom Line planing fleet.

"We are very proud of our 'new arrival' and particularly excited about today, which marks the beginning of renewed, further growth for Custom Line”, commented Marco Segato, Custom Line Brand Manager. “A further two units of the 124’ have already been sold, and are currently being built at the Ancona facility, confirming the market’s positive response to this new model, which we will be presenting, as a world première, at the upcoming Festival de la Plaisance in Cannes...

New Launch: Mulder 92 Flybridge​

Following on the recent deliveries of a Mulder 68 Convertible and a Mulder 68 Wheelhouse, Mulder Shipyard has delivered a brand-new Mulder 92 Flybridge. This lovely all-aluminum superyacht is currently on its way to the Mediterranean, where she will initially be berthed on the Cote d’Azur. The project was commissioned by a client who has spent the last few years sailing a Mulder 76 Flybridge from its home berth in Turkey.

This new flagship of the Mulder fleet is blessed with classic Mulder lines and has a modern interior, finished in premium quality mahogany with a wealth of light tints. The large lounge has a spacious relaxation zone and a dining table for eight. Separated from the lounge, the wheelhouse has comfortable seating for the crew and offers access to the galley, day head and below deck accommodations.

On the lower deck is a spacious owner’s stateroom with walk-in closet and generous bathroom...

Palmer Johnson launches PJ150-foot "Vantage"​

American yacht builder Palmer Johnson launched their latest 150-foot luxury yacht called "Vantage". Vantage represents the seventh yacht in the PJ150 sport series to be launched. She can trace her roots to the highly successful PJ120 sport series which progressed to a larger platform featuring similar styling.

Vantage features a rich light cream hull and deep anthracite accents on the superstructure. On the inside, the interior is eclectic in nature involving a mixture of quality and prized materials. The colour theme is deep in contrast to each other much like the paint scheme. Deep and dark dyes are used in contrast to light and washed materials.

Vantage retains similar statistics like her sisters and features twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 Marine Diesels fed by 40,000 LT capacity fuel tanks. Her construction is welded aluminum with some composite accent pieces...

Heesen launches 37-meter "Willpower"​

Heesen's latest yacht was recently launched and is another member of the successful 3700 series. "Willpower" is hull number 14537 and much like her other sisters in the series features similar statistics. She features twin MTU engines rated at 3,646 HP each. In the process, a maximum speed of 31 knots is expected.

Willpower's 2 × MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines will also give her a range of over 2,000 NM when cruising economically at 12 knots. This 37-meter is 7.50-meters wide overall and has a 2.20-meter draft at half load. Her half load displacement is about 150 tons. Willpower is currently for sale pending completion.

For more information:

Heesen Yachts,
Rijnstraat 2,
5347 KL Oss,
The Netherlands...

Benetti launches 145-foot "My Sisa"​

"My Sisa", the fifteenth model of the Benetti Vision line, a semi-displacement yacht with a length of 45 meters, hit the water at the end of April. The yacht, belonging to the Benetti semi-custom range, was built for private use and is destined to sail Mediterranean waters. My Sisa is characterized by the personality of its owner as well as by the considerable technical-constructive capacity of the Italian brand. Hospitality and conviviality are this yacht's key words, for which the owner requested five guest cabins: three large VIP cabins and two guest cabins, in addition to the master's suite.

Absolute convenience is guaranteed by the modern lift connecting all four decks, including the sun deck...

Launched: 50.09-meter Sea Axe "Oberon"​

The launch of Oberon, the first SEA AXE, points toward an exciting future for Fast Yacht Support vessels. A 50-meter vessel purpose-built to provide round-the-clock service and support for a superyacht, SEA AXE 5009 Oberon is capable of traveling comfortably at high speeds in almost any sea state, thanks to the patented design of her AXE BOW.

With a top speed of 28 knots, this is the first vessel in the Fast Yacht Support market to make use of the AXE BOW, and Oberon is already in active service around the Mediterranean. AMELS' managing director Rob Luijendijk explained the appeal of such a vessel for superyacht owners. "Space on board the mother ship is at a premium," he said...

MCC’s Marco Polo II Morphs into MAZU​

MCC’s MP II, the second yacht in the Marco Polo series being built at the Cheoy Lee Shipyard in China, has received a new build name; MAZU. Literally speaking, in Chinese, the word Mazu (also spelled Matsu) means ‘mother ancestor’. Colloquially speaking, Mazu is the indigenous ‘goddess of the sea’. In ancient China and in Southeast Asia, Mazu was worshiped as the one who protected fishermen and sailors. Many temples were erected to Mazu during the Ming Dynasty in the 14th and 15th centuries. MCC is very clever with naming their yachts. Marco Polo was a 13th century Venetian merchant who made numerous exploratory trips to southern and eastern China.

The Marco Polo series of yachts are designed and built to travel the world, not to sit at the dock. With a metaphorical nod to her birthplace, MY Mazu will shortly follow in her sistership’s footsteps...

Curvelle 33-meter Catamaran​

Fractional Stability from a Curvy Feline​

With the Curvelle 33-meter catamaran, some of the finest naval architects,
consultants and designers came together with one objective in mind: to create
a yacht that challenges the status quo and offers a viable alternative to cruising
aficionados with a fractional yacht that saves dollars and makes sense.​

With an aluminum hull and fiberglass superstructure built by Cheoy Lee, Naval Architecture by Incat Crowther, exterior styling by Luc Vernet and interior design by Alex Isaac of Lila-Lou, this spacious new feline is set to pounce on the yacht market, presenting fractional stability in unsettling times.

Curvelle Director, Luuk V. van Zanten has been working directly with LILA-LOU partner, Alexander Isaac, previously Associate Director of Bannenberg Designs...

Heesen presents 65-meter Fast Displacement Hull Form​

Heesen Yachts is pleased to unveil the revolutionary 65-meter, all-aluminum design based on the Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), whose tank testing has been completed at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton (UK). Developed by Dutch naval architects Van Oossanen & Associates, the Heesen 6500 FDHF is a truly innovative concept that increases the overall performance of the superyacht.

Tank tests have shown that in comparison with traditional hard chine and round bilge hulls, FDHF improves the efficiency of the vessel by around 30%. The slenderness and special form of the hull result in a very low wave profile over the entire speed range, while also improving its sea-keeping and maneuverability. As a consequence, it has a very positive impact on the cost of running the yacht, while also lowering its environmental impact in terms of engine emissions...

Codecasa launches 65-meter "Family Day"​

The latest yacht to come from Italian mega yacht builder Codecasa has been launched. She is the 65-meter, 825 ton (half load) yacht christened "Family Day". Her design is modern featuring a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. According to Codecasa, she has 2 X CAT 3516B marine diesels boasting an expected top speed of just over 17 knots. Upon dialing back on the horsepower, Family Day can attain over 5,000 NM at around 12 knots. On the inside, this 65-meter yacht is able to accommodate 12 guests in a sumptuous atmosphere. 12 guests sleep in 7 staterooms.

The yacht's interior is described as being contemporary modern in design. The interior was formulated by a team of architects in Anna Maria and Franco Della Role with inputs for the yacht's owner. The yacht's 5 decks are served by a dedicated elevator although a series of stairs allows complete access throughout...

Kingship launches second Magellan 110​

On the 14th of April, Kingship launched the second Magellan 110, project KS005. The yacht was rolled out of the shed and hit the water for preliminary trials, she is scheduled to be delivered in summer 2010.

Magellan 110 is the result of Kingship pulling together an all-star cast that includes stylist by Pieter Beeldsnijder of PB Design, Holland’s Vripack engineering and naval architecture, and Luiz de Basto’s interior design. The first Magellan 110 was launched at Kingship in 2007. Due to her success, Kingship has developed this project again with the same team in 2008, the only difference is the 1.5 meters extension of the sky lounge which gives the owner more interior space...

Cheoy Lee Global 103' Pilothouse Motoryacht
Downsizing Without Downgrading​

The reality of the global economic downturn hasn't slowed down Cheoy Lee. Beginning in January of 2010 and through the coming summer, they will have sold 5 or 6 new yachts. Instead of battening down the hatches to weather the economic storm, they've taken the opportunity to develop a number of new vessels including the Bravo 88 - already under construction - as well as the Global 103 shown below.​

The concept of the Global 103 came from Marty Isenberg of Cheoy Lee North America. He approached Mike Burvenich of MG Burvenich Yacht Design, asking him to come up with a concept for Cheoy Lee's next generation of mid-size motoryacht, a vessel that would succeed the very successful 95/100 series of motoryachts...

Proteksan & Turquoise launches 58.20-meter "Baraka"​

Turkish yacht builder Proteksan & Turquoise have launched their latest yacht. She is the new 58.20-meter blue-hulled "Baraka". She was successfully launched and transfered onto a floating drydock on April 15, 2010. Baraka's displacement hull was fashioned from steel and her superstructure from aluminum. With a displacement of 860 tonnes she has a higher end cruising speed of 14 knots powered by twin 3512B CAT marine diesels. She is expected to have a range of over 5,000 NM at 12 knots. Baraka will be delivered in time for summer but not before sea-trials and final outfitting.

For more information:

Proteksan & Turquoise,
Mahir Iz Cad. No:28,
34662 Altunizade,
Istanbul/ Turkey...