making waves

New Zealand builder McMullen & Wing recently released the renderings and layouts for the partially completed steel expedition yacht Big Star. The custom 164-foot (50-meter) yacht has strong lines reminiscent of her predecessor, Big Fish, but the yard drew on the experience of the first build to improve upon the concepts and design.

Articles from the November-December 2013 issue of Making Waves

Members of the superyacht industry fraternity gathered in Newport, Rhode Island, in August to liaise in a casual atmosphere outside the pressurized environment of boat shows.

The new flagship of the Sessa line will soon be the C68 Sport Fly. Though it manages to maintain the sporty lines of the previous C68, the Sport Fly model offers the bonus of a spacious flybridge including a second helm and plenty of lounging space.

From Team for Design’s Enrico Gobbi comes the latest design for Oceanco, the 285-foot (87-meter) Pantheon. Although it is common to have a private or semi-private owner’s area on one of the upper decks aboard a yacht this size, Pantheon includes a suite that stretches over two decks and includes a panoramic viewing area from the “glasshouse” on the top deck.

In summer 2014, Sunrise Yachts will deliver its newest 148-foot (45-meter) build: Project Sunrise. When a North American owner signed with the yard, the yacht was already under construction with only interior outfitting to be completed, which allowed a shorter-than-usual completion time.

Admiral Tecnomar has released plans for a new family of yachts developed with Vripack. The Tecnomar Envy series will begin with three dynamic designs, all featuring a beach club that opens on three sides, a central atrium and full-height windows.

Delta’s latest delivery, Invictus, will be a striking addition to the charter market. Named after the spirit of a 19th-century poem by William Ernest Henley, this 217-foot (66-meter) yacht features numerous windows and an extra-wide beam—43 feet (13.1 meters).

The 11-month refit by Lürssen on Ronin, a yacht that originally launched from the German yard in 1993, is now complete. During the refit, the 192-foot (58.5-meter) yacht underwent a serious facelift.

Especially for those who spend a lot of time on the water, the danger of losing your phone or mobile device to the deep is very real. Waterproof bags and cases have been developed in recent years, but what’s on the horizon is more than that.

Therapy, the eighth in Sanlorenzo’s SD122 series, was recently launched in Viareggio. Built for a Turkish entrepreneur, this four-deck, 122-foot (37.2-meter) yacht is meant to evoke the image of the 1930s trans-Atlantic liners.

At 138 feet (42 meters), the recently launched Sofia is Moonen’s largest build to date. Ordered by a repeat client, Sofia is also notable because she was designed to accommodate a three-passenger C-Quester 3 submersible from U-Boat Worx.

Conceived by an all-Austrian team of designers, naval architects and engineers, Frauscher’s new 858 Fantom brings yacht and automotive features together in a single project.

When the FAA approved the creation of a Light Sport Aircraft category, as well as the Sport Pilot License, it opened up a world of consumer-available aircraft. Icon Aircraft, a Southern California-based company, offers an attractive option.

It was, with a nod to Red Sox fans, the sports comeback of all time. Emirates Team New Zealand, the clear leader early in the America’s Cup, was unable to stave off a late charge by Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team USA that suddenly found legs to sweep the final eight races and win the Auld Mug. In each race, the Kiwis were on match point and, for eight races, they lost to a steadily improving Oracle.

Mondo Marine’s 134-foot (40.8-meter) Nameless splashed this past summer. The builder handled the naval architecture in-house, with exterior styling by Cor D. Rover and interior design by Luca Dini. Rover’s inspiration was the owner’s sports cars.

South African builder Southern Wind is hard at work on the third hull of the SW102, a raised-salon version of this sailing-yacht line. This yacht will have a slightly longer hull (it is expected to finish at 104 feet/31.7 meters), in part to make room for a garage capable of holding a 13-foot (4-meter) tender.

See the articles in this issue of Making Waves

The International SeaKeeper Society (ISKS) will hold its annual Bal de la Mer gala event in San Francisco this year, the first in 15 years hosted outside of Monaco. In another first, the ISKS has chosen to honor a group instead of an individual. The Sargasso Sea Alliance (SSA) will be recognized for its work preserving the oceans.

One watcher called it “Iron Chef on the water.” There’s no doubt competition was fierce during the Newport Charter Yacht Show’s Culinary Competition. Chefs were split into two classes—Grande, for yachts 100 feet and larger, and Premier, for yachts smaller than 100 feet. Participating yachts could also enter the show’s first tablescaping competition.