January
To start off the superyacht year with a bang, the brand new Sunseeker 131 Zozo made an entrance as she shut down London’s City Airport while she passed through the
lock nearby, en route to the London Boat Show.
The 2016 Millennium Cup proved itself to be a regatta well worth attending, when on the final day of racing the top four yachts were still all in with a chance of claiming first place. Cecil Wright and Partners announced the sale of 70-metre Amadeus and the stunning 90-metre Lionheart was launched by Italian yard Benetti.
February
February saw CCN sell their fast 50m sportsyacht concept. From the Fuoriserie range, the all aluminium, custom yacht will have a top speed of 28 knots.
Feadship saw one of the more intriguing launches of 2016, as they launched ‘the triplets’: three yachts built on the same platform. Now named Kamino, Moon Sand Too and Avatar, Kamino made a real impact in this year’s MYS. Benetti closed the deal for a 70-metre, known as Project 169 or FB270.
March
In March Atlantic Refit Centre unveiled Enigma XK, which was previously the 1998-built Fisheries Patrol Vessel Norna. The owner loved the lines and will the help of Vitruvius Yachts and McFarlane Ship Design was able to transform her into a comfortable and modern cruising vessel.
Turquoise Yachts completed the €6.4 million refit of Indian Empress at their Pendik yard, and Dutch yards Vitters and Oceanco delivered to her owner the 85-metre Aquijo which was a collaboration between the two. She is one of the largest sailing yachts in the world, with her 90m+ masts two of the tallest in the world. Also in Holland we saw the launch of Elixir, the latest Amels Limited Edition 180 and the winner of the 2016 SuperYacht World Baccarat Award.
25th March will be remembered as a very sad day for the industry, when we heard of the passing of Ed Dubois. One of the yachting’s most admired designers, he is sorely missed by everyone who knew him and had the pleasure of working with him.
April
April was a big month for German yard Lurssen, with the launch of 156-metre Dilbar, the largest volume superyacht in the world. Exterior lines are by Espen Oeino, while the inside has been created by the team at Winch Design.
But that wasn’t all for the yard, with the technical launch of the 106-metre Mistral. The yacht’s edgy superstructure will surely become iconic once she is delivered. Also in the news was the launch of Samuraiby Turkish yard Alia Yachts, and the build started on the first Numarine 32XP.
May
May saw the launch of the first yacht with an exterior designed by Bannenberg and Rowell, Joy. Built by Feadship, the 70-metre superyacht has been seen cruising around the Med since being handed over to her owners.
Another Feadship exchanged hands, with the iconicLionwind being sold by Denison Yacht Sales. Two sailing yachts also launched, the amazing 70-metre Perini Navi Sybaris and the 33-metre Frers-designed beauty Cygnus Montanus, built by Yachting Developments in New Zealand.
June
After a difficult year, American yard Christensen bounced back bigger than before and launched two 50-metre yachts, the high volume Silver Lining and the MCA-compliant Chasseur. Both yachts were on show at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and attracted lots of interest, their starkly different looks and interiors proving a real talking-point.
It was also the month that MYBA announced that they would be relocating the charter show to Barcelona’s One Ocean Port Vell, making the most of the Spanish marina’s new facilities and Mediterranean access. Cantiere Delle Marche sold the fifth hull of their Darwin 102 series, proving the popularity of the pocket explorer, and it was the month that we inaugurated our SuperYacht World Hall of Fame to celebrate our 50th issue, inducting ten yachts that have inspired the industry since their launch.