YachtForums: We Know Big Boats!

Lurssen 66-meter Superyacht "Ester III" Finishes Seatrials​

One of the recent launches from German custom superyacht manufacturer Lurssen finished her seatrials. The 66-meter Project 'Green', now christened "Ester III" went through her paces in the Baltic sea under what has been described as 'perfect conditions' on the 28th and 29th of July, 2014.

Under clear directions from the Owner, Espen Oeino has given superyacht Ester III a very masculine appearance. Her white and grey painting and her vertical bow underline this strong character. With a length of 66-meter and a beam of 11.90-meter she accommodates all of the owner’s requirements including a large pool on the main deck and a helicopter pad on the sun deck...

Fitzroy delivers 37.5-meter sailingyacht "Escapade"​

Super yacht "Escapade" is sleek and striking with a metallic champagne-coloured hull, black carbon mast and rigging and grey sails. “Escapade is a totally custom design; when we were designing her with Ed (Dubois) we started with a blank page,” says the owner...

Benetti launches 58-meter superyacht "Illusion I"​

Italian all-round motoryacht builder Benetti recently launched their latest custom superyacht. She is hull FB257, the 58-meter "Illusion I" with design by Green & Mingarelli. The four-deck superyacht is to accommodate up to thirteen guests with the possibility of the cinema being converted into a cabin if needed.

The interior has been done by the owners interior designer in conjunction with Benetti's in-house design office. They personally chose the style of furnishings and décor coming up with a concept that showcases pink to the forefront. Prized materials have not been left out on the interior with Travertine, beautiful woods, and multiple types of marble. These finishes are then juxtaposed with very upmarket touches like ray-skin, coco and slivers in mother of pearl...

Heesen announces delivery of 47-meter megayacht "Elena"​

The leading Dutch shipyard, Heesen Yachts, is thrilled to announce that the Y/N 16847 motor yacht "Elena" was handed over to her Owners on July 11, 2014. Superyacht Elena was previously known as ‘Project Margarita’. Luxury yacht Elena is one of the newly styled vessels in the award-winning 47-metre class, a breed of Heesens that are icons of classic contemporary yacht design. Intensive sea trials took place on June 4th and 5th in particularly heavy sea conditions in the North Sea and everything went according to plan...

Pride Yachts sell 88-meter superyacht "Illusion"​

Good news from Pride Megayachts is that they have sold the already under construction 88-meter superyacht with build name "Illusion". The existence of this superyacht project was pushed to the forefront at last year's edition of the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) and now she has been sold to an experienced yachtsman. Construction work started on Illusion back in 2011 but the yard went through some changes since then. The rebranding has now taken the yard to its current name, Pride Yachts.

The design of the 88-meter superyacht Illusion is by RMD Marine with Naval Architecture by Azure Naval Architects. The interior is by Sinot Yacht Design. Accommodation is expected to be for as many as fourteen guests. Power will be coming via a Rolls Royce Diesel-Electric package designed to push this big yacht to a maximum speed of 17-knots. Cruising speed should be in the region of 14-knots...

Horizon Yachts launch first V80 motoryacht "The One"​

Horizon Yachts has announced the launch and delivery of the first V80 motor yacht "The One". The One was handed over to a new owner in Taiwan at the end of last month. “The launch of The One marks two milestones – she is not only hull one of the new Horizon V80 model but also the first over 24m large private yacht Horizon had delivered to a Taiwan owner” says Horizon Group CEO John Lu...

ISA delivers 66M Granturismo superyacht, christened "Okto"​

Italian builder ISA Yachts delivered one of their more significant projects for 2014, the 66-meter member of the Granturismo line, "Okto". Head of ISA Yachts, Luciano Bregola, commented. "This gem of a yacht is the result of the perfect collaboration of a well concerted team of experts who designed, engineered, built and delivered a distinctive yacht which will set new standards in the industry. We are all extremely proud of Okto - Bregola continues - and wish her Owners to enjoy extensive world travels aboard such a magnificent yacht". ​​

Okto has been designed by Andrea Vallicelli with an interior taken on by the Alberto Pinto firm. Accommodation onboard Okto is specifically designed to sleep up to twelves guests in six suites. She can sleep up to seventeen crew members as well. Top speed is 18-knots with a cruising speed of 16-knots...

Pershing launches first Pershing 70-foot motoryacht​

Italian builder Pershing has rolled out the first hull of the Pershing 70-foot line. She is expected to make her debut just next month at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9th to the 14th. The yacht shows-off lines penned by Fulvio De Simoni in collaboration with Pershing.

This 70-footer as you would expect, is a performance yacht. She is fitted with a pair of MTU 10V 2000 M94s. They are connected to dual surface drives that will then allow a full-throttled experience at 44-knots! The interior is good to provide accommodation for guests in three cabins, all ensuite! The large windows provided on each side in the midships are of the hull suggests the master suite would be there. The first 70-footer is being quickly prepared for her first close-up with the international public in Cannes next month...

Swan sells fourth Swan 115-foot sailing yacht​

Imagine the first Swan 115-foot sailing yacht was sold at the start of 2014 and now Swan can proudly say that they have just sold the fourth unit in this series. The Swan 115 represents the current top-of-the-line for Swan Yachts. Chief Executive Officer of Swan Yachts Enrico Chieffi is pleased with the progress. "We are successfully selling important boats, and this is the reward of Nautor’s Swan strong strategic plan."

German Frers is the designer of the Swan 115-foot line and it is available in two models, the Flush Deck (FD) and the Semi-Raised Saloon (S) versions. Swan Yachts isn't stopping at the Swan 115 model, they have a confidential concept project in the works and you will only know about it at the big reveal in September, presumably at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS). At the moment, Swan has four 115-foot blue water sailing yachts under construction...

Holland Jachtbouw signs contract for new 51-meter Schooner Yacht​

Holland Jachtbouw announces the signing of a new contract for a schooner-rigged sailing yacht. The yacht is designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and will be built in aluminium. She will also follow the pattern of a previous historic sailing yacht, "Rainbow II". She will be a modern-day replica of her.

She will take lessons instituted on the J-Class yacht "Rainbow" in terms of propulsion and power generation. The new Rainbow II is to be fitted with hybrid drive technology. It will definitely allow her to run silently especially when at anchor in environmentally sensitive coves. Even when running, the drives are expected to produce energy that can then in turn be used to power pretty much all of the systems onboard without utilizing extra fuel to do that specific task. A classic yacht like Rainbow II will be taking a classic interior...

Holland Jachtbouw delivers 45-meter sloop "Heureka"​

Zaandam based Dutch sailyacht manufacturer Holland Jachtbouw has delivered the 45-meter ocean-going sloop named "Heureka" (ex. YIII). The sloop has smooth exterior lines designed by Dixon Yacht Design. The interior is designed to a minimalist design by Rhoades Young Design.

She features a concealed automatic bimini and dodger system and a telescopic lifting keel, engineered by the team at Holland Jachtbouw with the sole purpose of not interfering with the interior accommodation. Heureka has been recently seen in Gibraltar on her way to the Mediterranean to enjoy the rest of the Summer period...

JFA Yachts unveil new 164-foot Explorer Yacht​

French builder JFA Yachts have just unveiled a new 50-meter Explorer Yacht design by Dixon Yacht Design. The contemporary design pervades both the exterior and interior. Speaking of the interior, that is designed by Franck Darnet and has accommodation for as many as ten guests. Five cabins are on hand with four of them on the lower deck and the master can either be forward on the main deck or on the upper aft deck. Eitherway, the master suite would be benefited by large expanse of private deck...

Bering Yachts Unveil New 75-foot Trawler Yacht Design​

Bering Yachts just unveiled their new 75-foot Trawler yacht design. This isn't to be confused with their older and more rugged looking 75-foot design that YF covered a couple years ago... http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/bering-yachts/17916-rugged-design-bering-75-trawler.html

This is a brand new design featuring very modern and angular lines surely to appeal with the younger expedition crowd. The displacement yacht will be able to perform in heavier weather conditions than many other yachts her size. The Bering Yacht pedigree shines through in many aspects. Beyond using a proven hull design, the entire Bering line relies on a 'heavy for size' approach to providing the uncommon sea-kindly motion that very few if any recreational motoryachts are capable of delivering...

Project Solar arrives at OceAnco yards for finishing​

Dutch custom superyacht builder OceAnco just launched the Espen Oeino design superyacht Y710 and not even a week later a very large sailyacht build arrived on their premises. We can only imagine that this is Project "Solar" with design inside and out by Nuvolari and Lenard as well as Naval Architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects...

Lurssen launches 104-meter superyacht "Quantum Blue"​

You are used to it by now, Lurssen builds serious custom-constructed and highly secretive superyachts. Their latest superyacht launch is no exception. The massive 104-meter superyacht under the Project name "Quantum Blue" was launched a couple of days ago at Lurssen in Germany. Due to Lurssen's confidentiality agreements, a lot of information isn't released as yet on this particular project. However, we do know that Quantum Blue has a design by the UK design boards of Tim Heywood with an interior by Alberto Pinto.

Quantum Blue is now the third superyacht launched by this German custom builder, 66-meter "Ester III" being the first and the recently launched "Kismet II". So far, she is also the second largest launch of 2014, behind "Victory" by Fincantieri. She appears to have five decks above the waterline and a plethora of space to play with...

Benetti delivers motoryacht "Cheers 46" ​

Italian yard Benetti recently handed over one of their latest motoryachts, "Cheers 46" to their owners. This one goes to a Brazilian owner who is not a first timer, they have owned an Azimut before with the same name. The new Benetti features Naval Architecture design by Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture Studio in collaboration with Benetti and an interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon (RWD).

The interior is a sophisticated affair characterized by greys and silver lacquer finishes. Cheers 46 is run by a pair of MTU 12V 4000 M93L marine engines that allow her to sprint to 20-knots or slow cruise at around 12-knots to extend the cruising range. Cheers 46 is already cruising around and has been seen in Italian fishing village of Portofino since delivery. This yacht is also expected to make her international debut at the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS)...

OceAnco splashes 88.50-meter superyacht Project 'Y710'​

Dutch superyacht manufacturer OceAnco technically launched their latest superyacht Y710 a couple days ago. That usually involves rolling the yacht out of the shed into the open where the mast and appendages can be installed and then the yacht be prepared for splashing. Now, Y710 has taken to the water where she is floating for the first time as a whole and nearly completed superyacht...

Cheoy Lee unveils 150-foot megayacht design​

Cheoy Lee has unveiled the latest design in collaboration with Overring Yacht Design and elevates the robust appeal that has been generated by yachts like "Mazu" and "Marco Polo". The new Cheoy Lee 150-footer can be built in steel and aluminium or steel and composite depending on what the owner may prefer.

As with Cheoy Lee's larger yachts, range is a significant feature. The 150 isn't cast aside in this regard. She is envisioned to feature one CAT 3512 marine diesel engine connected to a controllable-pitch propeller. Fuel tankage is for 94,625 LT and that coupled with slow cruising speeds should see significant range capabilities. For example, at 9 to10-knots she is expected to have a 10,000 nautical mile range and at 12-knots it reduces to around 6,000 nautical miles. Top speed is estimated to be 15-knots with the CAT3512C engine...

Tankoa Yachts announce 50-meter superyacht project​

Tankoa Yachts is pleased to announce the existence of their latest design, a 50-meter superyacht with lines by Francesco Paszkowski and Naval Architecture by Massimo Visibelli. She is angular, yet sleek, yet refined and rises over three internal decks above the waterline. Tankoa is offering this vessel in two versions, a full displacement and a semi-displacement version. The two variants will have different top speeds granted to the different power packages and the hull forms.

Expect the semi-displacement version to be significantly faster with an anticipated top speed of 27-knots. The full displacement hulled version will make somewhere around 16 to 18-knots. Eitherway, they will be constructed in aluminium, light alloy 5083. The 50-meter project is being called Project S501...basically first hull of 50-meter series...

Palmer Johnson delivers 52.4-meter superyacht "Bliss"​

American shipyard Palmer Johnson has delivered the second PJ170 hull built under project name 'Apollo'. We know now that her final name is "Bliss" and features a design on the interior by Nuvolari & Lenard with construction managed by ***** Yacht & Ship. Bliss is similar to "DB9" with one major difference besides the exterior paint and interior decor. Bliss actually has a semi-enclosed sundeck where is DB9 is open in that area.

She features a large 26-foot counter-current pool on the foredeck, sure to be a hit with guests. Guest accommodation onboard Bliss is for ten in five suites. Now that she is delivered you can expect to see her sailing the global scene...