1. Hareide Design, 108m
The 108-metre concept features a main deck with double-height floor-to-ceiling window, creating what the design house calls “a grand hall” for guests to enjoy. Above the main deck is an elevated dining and viewing area, plus a 20-metre pool surrounded by a tranquil garden with climbing plants, as well as a grassed area. Three-hundred square metres of solar panelling provide the charge for the bank of lithium-ion batteries, delivering enough sustainable power for low-speed cruising in sensitive areas, the designers say. The yacht’s main engines will be diesel-electric.
2. Epiphany, Andy Waugh Design, 130m
Andy Waugh Design says that the Epiphany concept was inspired by “a simplification of the yacht form, with a minimum of styling lines and structures creating a dramatic, elegant effect that belies the practicality and large volumes of accommodation”. On the owner’s deck, the stateroom extends forward with views towards a private foredeck with seating areas and a hot-tub. Aft, there is a private cinema, and an office with cabin space for a PA or other staff. Below the owner’s deck is a dedicated VIP deck, with four huge VIP cabins each with private balconies. Other features on this deck include a cinema, gaming area, gym and spa, and there is alfresco dining aft.
3. Moonstone, Oceanco, 90m
Based on Oceanco’s existing 90-metre platform, Moonstone has been styled by Van Geest Design with a striking multi-faceted hull that makes a continuous play of light and reflections from the water. The visual play starts with custom hull panel lights that are triggered by 300 individually dimmable white triangles each side to create unlimited lighting possibilities. At night, these lights generate a shimmering and twinkling effect. This is supplemented by an overhead panel with a backlit surface linked to fish-eye cameras that can capture the magic of a night sky, a sunset or a sunrise. In the signature pool aft, and in the sundeck hot-tub, dimmable lights have also been employed. Further external lights play with the waterline of the yacht.
4. Dynasty Yachts, 128m
Arthur Barbeito Design has come up with this 128-metre for Dynasty Yachts with a striking axe-bow and bold exterior styling. The decks are packed with features, including an upper deck cinema, six main-deck VIP suites with private folding terraces and a 200 square metre owner’s suite. The sundeck is split between a fully-compliant helideck aft and a comfortable entertaining space with large seating areas. A sky lounge and hi-tech bridge are placed forward.
5. Sundance, Fincantieri, 89.9m
The 89.9-metre concept, designed by Gresham Yacht Design, has a host of features that makes the most of the available light. From the ten-metre pool and panoramic gym on the sundeck, to the dedicated owner’s deck, and the strengthened glass area set into the sundeck that serves as a skylight, the Fincantieri Sundance concept is designed to blur the distinctions between inside and outside: the main deck aft, which features a hot-tub and waterfall feature, has a series of sliding panels that enclose the open areas, allowing guests to stay out a little longer. With an aft-facing owner’s cabin on the dedicated owner’s deck, two VIP suites and four other guest cabins, there is room for 14 guests, looked after by 30 crew and staff.
6. Time, Henry Ward / BMT Nigel Gee, 66m
One of the radical features of the yacht is the 18-metre ‘floating lodge’ aft, designed to blend in with the superstructure. In shallow waters the ‘lodge’ is launched as an independent platform for expeditions in harder to reach environments. Used for transporting both people and provisions, a drone housed in a hangar in the bow of Time can transport up to four guests at the touch of a button, with all piloting and navigation taken care of. A large viewing platform accessed via the sundeck stands 15 metres above sea level for unparalleled views. For the daredevils, on the inner face of the Skydeck is an inverted climbing wall, which stands over the 8-metre swimming pool. On the wellness deck there is a gym, a massage room and a sauna. A bar area leads out to a terrace with a Jacuzzi and views forward over the bow.
7. Echo Yachts, 120m
Echo Yachts have partnered up with Sorgiovanni Design and One2Three Naval Architects on their latest project, a sleek 120-metre trimaran. The large interior volumes include a rotating master stateroom section, dining for 26 guests and a large cinema. There is also a private owner’s entertainment space with swimming pool, a fully-appointed gym and spa and one helipad on the sundeck and a second touch-and-go helipad on the bow.The yacht will top out at 20 knots, and be able to cover 5,000 nautical miles at cruising speed.
8. Choice, Feadship, 74.5m
Choice offers the owners of this Feadship concept options in how to cruise their yacht. The platform consists of a 74.5-metre mothership with two 24.5-metre tenders, Freedom Won and Freedom Too, incorporated onto either side, providing fast propulsion as a whole package or autonomous cruising vessels. If guests are in a hurry to reach a destination, they can cruise at speed to the location and the mothership can follow along behind at a more leisurely pace. The platform also includes a two person drone on the upper deck and an amphibious beach house which detaches.
9. Solaris, Duffy London, 44m
The 44-metre Solaris superyacht concept from Duffy London promises silent running and a 45-knot top speed, with ethanol power, solar panels and waterjets. The Solaris Global Cruiser project, designed by Duffy London, boasts a composite planing hull and six electric motors driving waterjets to harness the solar power. The 8.7-metre-beam yacht, covered in photovoltaic panels, will be able to gather and store power at anchor and in port. The ten guests will be accommodated in five cabins, serviced by seven crew, with open areas aft on the main deck and on the sundeck. With battery technology progressing in leaps and bounds, the designers say this could be a feasible project by 2020. An ethanol-powered turbine provides short bursts of extra power.
