May/June 2012

BMT Nigel in collaboration with Henry Ward (a recent design graduate who came up with the concept) has designed a 33-by-26-foot (10-by-8-meter) supplemental beach you can take anywhere. Not only does it float wherever you want it to (you can tow it with a tender), it folds into its own purpose-made crate, which fits in the garage.

Feadship has launched the 220-foot-8-inch (67.27-meter) Drizzle. The inspiration for this classic yacht was the 2005 Feadship Twizzle, renamed Drizzle by her second owners.

The newest Oceanco, Y707 now known as Nirvana, is undergoing sea trials. Australian designer Sam Sorgiovanni, who designed Anastasia (featured in Yachts International in March 2009), styled the yacht and created the interior.

A modern 216-foot (66-meter) yacht (the ISA 66 Granturismo) is the largest of four new models that ISA (International Shipyards Ancona) has sold recently. A full-displacement yacht in steel and aluminum, she has graceful lines courtesy of designer Andrea Vallicelli. Delivery is slated for 2014.

Among a flurry of activity, which includes several launches and a big step in the construction of its 213-foot (65-meter) so-called FDHF, Heesen Yachts has delivered its largest displacement vessel to date. At 180 feet, 5 inches (55 meters), Serenity represents another milestone for the Dutch shipyard, which in the past few years has built its reputation on all-aluminum fast semi-displacement yachts.

Fuel costs are on the rise again and while this may not be the biggest ticket item in a yacht’s operation, fuel efficiency still is a big deal for both private and charter yachts. In addition to economy, the yachting industry is also looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly and is experimenting with solutions like alternate fuels, hybrid engines and new types of propulsion.

Horizon has launched a 148-footer in its expedition series. The steel and aluminum yacht—designed in collaboration with Florida-based J.C. Espinosa, St. Petersburg-based Marine Technology Development for naval architecture and interior consultant Birgit Schannse—is being built to ice class.

Flagship Marine Group’s founder and president Rafael Barca, who has ample experience representing European shipyards on this side of the Atlantic, sees Astondoa’s diverse production as perfectly suited for the experienced American market. He was very impressed with Astondoa’s facilities, production capability and other virtues.

Irwin Jacobs and Jean-Paul Dejoria, who invested heavily into Marquis and Carver and created J&D Acquisitions announced a new joint venture with a large multifaceted government-run Chinese group called Poly Technologies, Inc.

Italian shipyard Benetti Sail Division has developed a motoryacht line with a strong family look. Just recently, the shipyard launched the first BSD 98 in its Logica series. This new range breaks away from the shipyard’s more traditional models, including graceful canoe-stern yachts that had become their trademark.

Wisconsin-based Burger Boat Company is always looking toward new design inspiration. In fact, in recent years, the company has collaborated with a number of design firms to develop projects and build yachts of both traditional and contemporary feel.

Tuscany-based Austin Parker was among the first Italian shipyards to build a so-called “lobster boat,” a range of classical, elegant midsize boats based on the traditional Maine fishing boats, with high bow, sturdy hull and straightforward layout and accommodations.

After a busy 2011, Trinity is still on a roll. Tsumat, the first launch of 2012, is a custom 164-foot (49.9-meter) tri-deck aluminum yacht. Built for a repeat customer, the yacht includes six staterooms and a tender garage, which allows the oversized sun deck, equipped with fitness equipment, to be dedicated to fun and relaxation.

Argos Yachts is about to deliver its new custom Argos 70 to her owners. This sturdy composite yacht is the latest born in the yard’s limited-edition series, designed by the shipyard and naval architect Howard Appollonio.

Traveling far and wide is quite appealing, but what to do in case of a medical emergency? A number of superyachts have onboard hospitals and a full-time physician traveling with guests and crew. Realistically, most people do not have these kinds of resources available aboard their yachts.

You may have heard the name Majilite mentioned. While we toured the new Monte Carlo Yachts 76 with designer Dan Lenard, we heard it repeatedly. Lenard, as in Nuvolari-Lenard, the innovative Venice-based design firm responsible for the looks and styling of many memorable yachts, extolled the virtues of this amazing man-made material that looks and feels astonishingly like suede or leather.

Well known as a boat dealer and brokerage firm, MarineMax is taking a leap into the charter market with its MarineMax Vacations. With a fleet of custom-built power and sailing yachts and a base of operations in the heart of the British Virgin Islands, MarineMax invites charter guests to explore the deserted shores of the Caribbean from the comfort of a private yacht.

At the Yacht & Brokerage Show, the non-profit organization held its soiree in a private Miami Beach home. Hostess Norma Quintero graciously opened her doors to a few hundred guests that included new members and long-time supporters, many of whom donated wonderful prizes for a classic silent auction—everything from original works of art from Guy Harvey to golf and wine cruises, to a test drive in a brand-new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport.

Hatteras unveiled an alluring design for a 95-foot motoryacht, part of a custom series that combines Italian flair with North Carolina tradition. Hatteras’ in-house design department worked closely with Enrico Gobbi of Team 4 Design. The resulting 95 Raised Pilothouse is not a compromise of two distinctive styles, but a successful blend of influences, yielding a very attractive result in terms of styling.

Writer Herman Melville once called it “an elbow of sand” and the native Wampanoag Indians named it “the Faraway land” (or Nantucket). Both names fit this 14-mile-long and 3.5-mile-wide island 30 miles off the Massachusetts coast. A recent addition to the island’s genteel way of life is the family-friendly Westmoor Club and its flagship Belle.

What is the secret formula that makes one charter yacht more successful than another? The 157-foot Christensen Lady Joy seems to have all the right ingredients.

Azimut Benetti Group started as Azimut srl, a sailing-boat charter company, in 1969. It wasn’t until the 1980s that it became a boatbuilding brand with its own production. From there, it experienced phenomenal growth. At all of the world’s major boat shows, the group has a large presence with island-style displays and multiple booths, presenting a vast array of boats and yachts, addressing just about any type of motorboat enthusiast’s needs or desires.