mega yacht concept

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These extreme sailing superyacht concepts prove that the sky’s the limit

• October 26, 2020

Feast your eyes on these sailing superyacht concepts. The future looks far-out, and it just might have sails, finds Sam Fortescue

For decades the superyacht world has undeniably been dominated by vast, fuel-guzzling motor boats. And, despite the elaborate marketing spiel of their designers and builders, many of them look remarkably similar from the outside: there’s a pointy end, a wedding cake in the middle, and pool and beach club at the back.

Refreshing, then, to see that many superyacht designers have neither given up on sail, nor on experimenting with form and function. When we spoke to some of the best-known names in yacht design, we received a very enthusiastic response.

First up, get ready to see a lot more catamaran designs. “Multihulls are the future of yachting concepts, simply because of sustainability,” says Espen Oeino, fêted designer of yachts such as 182m/600ft REV and 136m/446ft Flying Fox .

Phoenicia has an articulated helipad that deploys once the curved boom is raised up against the aft mast

“To make something sustainable, you have to look at what you can do to reduce resistance and therefore power requirements. There the length-to-beam ratio is very important because slender hulls have a much better angle of entry at the bow, displacing water more efficiently.”

Following this logic, the first of his new 35m/115ft SpaceCat design is nearing completion in China, offering 300m2 of interior space and nearly 600m2 on deck – all balanced on lightweight, low-resistance aluminium hulls.

“People’s concept of what is beautiful is changing but it will need a bit of time,” he adds. “There’s an automotive parallel – it was the same thing with the first SUVs. In the end, though, a cat gives you a much better platform for coming up with interesting layouts.”

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British designer Andrew Winch agrees on the point about sustainability. “The main focus of future sailing yachts will be minimising their environmental footprint to zero, to leave no negativity on the planet whatsoever,” he tells me. “The faster and lighter construction of catamarans and multihulls is a huge benefit to the integration of hybrid and electric propulsion, something that will continue to see extended growth for the foreseeable future.”

The right image

Many designers believe the green agenda will ultimately bring wealthy owners back to sailing yachts. French designer Mathis Rühl puts it like this: “In a world more and more threatened by climate change, debauchery and energy waste is negatively perceived. Wealthy people who care about their image and their impact have to deal with this paradox: how to enjoy the luxuriousness of the world without destroying it. Burning petrol must be avoided when the wind can be used!”

He also sees great advantages to the slim hulls of a catamaran or trimaran. It led him to design a 70m/230ft yacht with a radical semicircular superstructure balanced across three hulls. A 20m beam gives Wave Motion plenty of living space, including a sky deck and open deck space.

Mathis Rühl’s striking-looking Wave Motion trimaran features his own design of WM2 wing-sail

Perhaps most strikingly, he would power the boat with a 20m/65ft dual wing-sail of his own devising, called the WM2. He has compared rig types including traditional flexible sails and the odd-looking Flettner Rotor for drag and efficiency and concluded that his design is the best performer upwind. Rühl reports that it is more than three times more efficient than a standard non-rigid sail.

A number of concept boats have looked in detail at the rig and concluded that the best option is one that’s already available. The Falcon or DynaRig is only really suitable for yachts over 60m/200ft, but its ease of handling makes it exceedingly attractive. Just one person is able to set sail, reef, tack or furl the sails thanks to the modular design, which breaks huge sail areas down into smaller chunks, and total computerisation of the unstayed rig. “It’s easier to start and stop,” explains Dykstra’s Thys Nikkels. “The percentage of time that you sail is much higher with this rig.”

Philippe Briand chose it for his mould-breaking 152m/499ft trireme design, originally penned for a Russian client. So did Bill Dixon for his 70m/230ft New Dawn. “Unlike a conventional rig which requires a small army of crew, this vessel can be commanded and operated single-handedly,” Dixon says. “The twin rigs offer a healthy sail area to displacement ratio and will assure an exhilarating sailing experience.”

Bill Dixon’s New Dawn combines the features of a motoryacht with sailboat performance

New Dawn is billed as a game changer, and not just because of her regeneration potential of 75kW under sail, 60m2 of solar panels, ballasted centreboard and ability to motor at 9 knots under purely electric power. Dixon says the real novelty is to combine motoryacht features with sailboat performance.

“It’s clear that customers expect the comforts and space planning of motoryachts,” he explains. “They want ample entertainment spaces, a pool and large tenders. We have created this design on this premise rather from a traditional sailing yacht design approach. This does not mean she is not an efficient sailing yacht, in that department there is no compromise. This is a project that appeases the environmental consciousness of a potential owner.”

Roman galley roots

Briand’s design is on another scale altogether. A key plank in the client’s brief was to ensure there was a vast central gallery whose volume exceeded that of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles – something he has achieved with room to spare. An astonishing 725m2 of glass and openings surround the gallery, while no fewer than three owner’s suites offer the choice between 180° views from the glass bow; the full 20m beam amidships; or an aft suite perched 14m above the water.

The brief for Philippe Briand’s trireme-inspired superyacht was to have a vast central gallery bigger than the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

Lower deck beach clubs amount to more than 750m2 of real estate, plus room for pools, a helipad and more. Echoing the design of the Roman galley which inspired it, the yacht features dozens of hydraulically-operated ‘oars’ amidships, designed to move in time to the music on board.

“It is possible to imagine very different boats tomorrow,” Briand explains. “I foresee that boats will evolve towards even more efficiency, for sustainability’s sake. Also hybrid boats. We will assemble different energy sources, and wind energy should be the first. Wind by sails, motor by engines today. Tomorrow it will be motor by electric or by hydrogen.”

Interestingly, another designer has also drawn inspiration from the galley. Igor Lobanov’s design is called Phoenicia and features the same reverse bow, sloping down to a rostrum-like point at the waterline; it also picks up the motif of the raised ‘bowsprit’ and ‘bumpkin’ and recreates the effect of two decks of oars by aiming 33 ‘laser lights’ into the water at night.

Pronounced reverse bow and exaggerated ‘bowsprit’ give an unmistakably trireme look to Phoenicia

Her four masts drop down through a great glass-walled gallery that dominates the main deck. She also employs something akin to a traditional staysail rig , complete with gigantic fishermen sails. Used by schooners and ketches, these sails resemble inverted jibs strung between the masts.

Despite the veneer of antiquity, both yachts feature ample shell doors to enlarge deck and living spaces. Phoenicia even has an articulated helipad, which unfolds from the roof of the raised owner’s suite when the curved boom is pinned up to the mast.

This is designed, “with the intention of creating the feel of ‘a house on the cliff’, with a balcony and panoramic windows that surround the space, leaving the views completely open to the vast open sea,” Lobanov explains.

He thinks the yachts of the future will be more automatic. “Probably there will be less crew on board, which may have a trickle-down effect on all the spaces, including water and food storage.”

A key design concept in Phoenicia is the long gallery with its all-round glass walls. Special Venetian blinds allow a game of light and shadows to create an arresting pattern inside

Inspired by nature

Even now, most yachts – whether sail or motor – are built using a linear arrangement of ribs, stringers, beams and plates, with the result that the space inside is often divided up into regular-shaped boxes. Some designers find this strange. “It’s not a hotel!” exclaims Ken Freivokh. “We’re very retrograde in terms of the structure. The bigger [yachts] get, the more they rely on one of post and beam: just columns and beams, like buildings were built.”

Freivokh, whose projects include everything from production sailing boats to the much-praised 107m Black Pearl , is desperate to get more organic forms and creative design into superyacht building. Taking an example from nature, he thinks that yachts could rely on the strength of a kind of ‘exoskeleton’, which would free up the interior to create more curved and open spaces without littering them with columns. Couple that with the emergence of structural glass, and you have a blueprint for a very different type of yacht.

But the problem is not just due to conservative shipyards and cautious classification bodies, according to Freivokh. Part of it is the owners themselves.

“It is quite typical that most owners when they’re briefing you make reference to existing projects,” he says. “If you ask an owner ‘why do you need a saloon on each deck? Why don’t you have a single saloon with double heights, and totally unique?’ Then the shipyard says how much they love the plans, but if we just did it like this… In the end, they point out it is £2m cheaper to use an existing technical platform, and that’s hard to resist.”

Briand says that every one of his superyacht clients starts from an existing yacht, not a blank piece of paper. “Sometimes those boats have been designed ten years ago,” he says. “Of course, this is not very positive for pushing us towards new technology. You have to make a long and difficult speech in order to convince them that progress in terms of technology is possible.”

Dykstra’s Exo concept borrows the idea of exoskeletons from nature to create wide open space below decks

Dutch J-Class maestros Dykstra published an ambitious design a few years back which made use of another exoskeleton design in a 46m/150ft concept called Exo. Produced as a collaboration with Claydon Reeves, it takes the root structures of a tree as its inspiration.

“Not only does the long vertical trunk represent the mast, but the root ball forms the hull, providing strength and the support for the vertical structure,” explains James Claydon. “We also considered the skeletal structure of small but strong creatures. In nature it is the exoskeleton, which provides the ‘chassis’ for these organisms.

“These exoskeletons do not employ straight lines but instead have twisting and turning curves which imbue the creature with optimal strength – their forms defined by millions of years of evolution. By setting aside some of the established thinking of past projects, we strived for a new aesthetic that was both attractive and buildable.”

Exo’s composite lattice enabled the interior to be completely opened up, with curved glass panels amidships to create a unique sensation of sitting on the waves. I asked Dykstra’s Thys Nikkels why he thought the concept wasn’t picked up, despite a positive reaction at the Monaco Yacht Show .

“Maybe we haven’t pushed the concept hard enough,” he shrugs. “It’s probably a piece of art in itself. That opened our eyes to what is possible in structures. I think the owners are ready for it, but are we as a market ready for it in a way the owner can contemplate it: ie cost?”

Squares and polygons

There is another design school which prefers brutally straight lines. Aspiring yacht designer George Lucian has garnered more column inches than many veterans with a series of increasingly radical designs, none of which have yet been built. The aptly named Origami is a sailing boat that is entirely composed of triangular and trapezoid shapes connected with hard angles, like the folds in a piece of paper.

Folded paper is the inspiration for George Lucian’s Origami

This is a concept, so there is no attempt to work out how this craft would actually function, but it involves acres of glass and huge fold-out wings to offer a helipad close to water level. “I think the necessary technology and materials already exist, but all my projects would be very challenging to build, that is for sure,” he admits. “I really think that if one is going to put so much money into a project, it has to be recognisable, different, iconic.”

More recently, Lucian published a design for a motoryacht partly resembling a jumble of ice blocks, and making use of a kite to assist propulsion. Another headline-grabber put a 100m/330ft airship at the heart of the design for a yacht shaped like a wedge, her lines angling out of the sea like arrows.

Beiderbeck designs in Germany has put more intense studies into its design for a gigantic 200m+/660ft+ catamaran, named Galileo2. Capable of berthing an 80m/260ft yacht alongside her beach club, the boxy cat includes a host of innovative features such as marine thermal energy generation, which exploits the lower temperatures far below the surface of the sea, and methanol propulsion.

Galileo2 is so large that it would have to be built in parts and assembled afloat. It has a 500m2 swimming pool, can carry 25 tenders, toys or submarines and can still do 22 knots

“This was a study to figure out what was possible; to figure out the step ahead of the next one,” says partner Immo Lüdeling. “It is a catamaran in a size that isn’t built yet; its own shadow vessel.”

Galileo2 is buildable now, but there were still unexpected design challenges. “Just the routes to walk get quite long – from the beach club up to the upper-deck saloon, for instance. Galileo2 has lifts to the bathing platforms.”

The bridge was another problem area on a boat with an 80m/260ft beam. “Our bridge can fly from one side to another, like on a very large crane where you have the crane house moving from one side to the other.” The boat is already sparking interest, including a serious enquiry about a smaller 120m/394ft version. “It’s half the size of Galileo2, but that means eight times less space.”

Another of Lucian’s concepts involving trapezoid shapes

Limited only by imagination

Electric propulsion is one of the great hopes of the yachting world, but the question is how to get the power on board. In principle, methanol offers carbon-free electricity, although it is usually manufactured using fossil fuels. Stellar Dutch design house Sinot made waves last year when it published a design for 112m/368ft Aqua , using the technology.

Andrew Winch, designer of monster yachts like 156m/512ft Dilbar and 99m/325ft Madame Gu , has taken a different approach in work with Royal Huisman for a super-efficient 30.5m/100ft sailing monohull, where he favours using renewable energy. “The widened stern deck allows for increased underdeck storage in the stern-wings, allowing for the placement of fan-extending solar panels,” he explains. “The concept also has twin rudders and a canting keel for maximum efficiency, as well as twin electrical propulsion that can be used for the regeneration of power at anchor or while sailing.”

There are as many different concepts as there are designers, and while they all have their own take on the yachts of the future , they agree on one point. It will take daring owners to push the boundaries and help these concepts off the drawing board and into the water. Or, as Andrew Winch puts it: “The only limitation is the imagination of the client.”

First published in the October 2020 issue of Yachting World.

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Meet Project Sonata, a Rule-Breaking 351-Foot Sailing Yacht That Cruises Like a Luxury Liner

If ever built, sonata would be a first for sailing superyachts. it would have high-tech sails, but would ride more like a motoryacht., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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What do you call a superyacht concept that takes the progressive learnings from the world’s leading new builds and packs them together in one visionary design? You call it Project Sonata. With three DynaRig systems inspired by the legendary sailing yacht Black Pearl , an inverted bow to slice through waves and enough space on board to compete with a motoryacht, could the 351-foot hybrid sailing yacht have it all?

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Project Sonata is the work of emerging Swiss studio Valentin Design. Headed up by industrial designer Valentin Weigand, winner of Young Designer of the Year 2020, and naval architect Romain Acquaviva, the duo have their eyes set on a more sustainable, smarter, and buildable yacht.

“Our aim is to create a sailing superyacht that is more accessible to clients than the ones currently in the water,” Weigand told Robb Report . “Many clients are scared off by how complicated they perceive sailing yachts to be, requiring large numbers of crew and complicated rigs. We want to offer something that combines the joy of sailing with the ease and comfort of a motoryacht.”

The master stateroom, encased in a glass bubble, offers immediate access to the outdoors.  Courtesy Valentin Design

Sustainability is also key to the concept. Two diesel electric engines generate recuperative energy through the yacht’s propellers while sailing, supplying enough power for the hotel load and to charge its Lithium-Sulfur battery pack. The 4MW batteries, developed by Oxys Energy, are free of heavy metals, such as cobalt, and are considered safer than Li-ion batteries.

The pair have strengthened their proposition by drawing on the expertise of Derek Munro, director at Divergent Yachting, who was instrumental in the construction of Oceanco ’s groundbreaking build Black Pearl .

“Derek has first-hand experience on what can be optimized or simply didn’t work with Black Pearl ,” said Weigand, “and we’ve worked that into the design of Project Sonata to eliminate those points.”

The beamy exterior looks more like a motoryacht than a sailing vessel, with access to the outdoors and water.  Courtesy Valentin Design

What works includes a 16-foot retractable keel that saves 6.5-feet of draft when required. The considerable DynaRig is low in maintenance yet highly durable, meaning a smaller crew is required. And, like Black Pearl , the tips of the masts can be unmounted to give enough clearance to sail under the Bridge of the Americas, and access the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal.

“ Black Pearl’s masts underwent three years of engineering and are proven to be highly efficient,” said Weigand. “By using the same molds on Project Sonata, we save time and money. In the same vein, the seating arrangement aboard Black Pearl is not ideal for heeling. We’ve ensured all exterior decks have been designed with heeling in mind.”

That said, Project Sonata has also undergone computational fluid dynamics studies to ensure it performs when sailing without heeling too much. “Most sailing superyachts’ main functions are regattas, which means they are super-fast, super light and heel a lot,” Acquaviva told Robb Report . “This can be really scary for owners who are used to stability and comfort, so our design prioritizes the guest experience. Our inverted hull extends the waterline length and cuts through waves.”

Courtesy Valentin Design

At 2,992 gross tonnes, the interior volume is sizable, complemented by features that follow the current trend for a connection to the outdoors. “The only thing our design lacks is a large swimming pool, which requires too much space on a sailing yacht,” said Weigand. “We’ve mitigated that with multiple exterior platforms to access the sea itself.”

A large sun deck affords alfresco dining. On the interior, glass is king, creating a design without visual borders. The master stateroom, spread across two decks, is virtually encased in a glass bubble. The VIP cabin enjoys direct access to its own private beach club, making a novel charter proposition. A double height atrium in the formal dining area speaks of elaborate guest entertainment. This also supports the studio’s intention to make the forward areas formal, so as guests move aft the more causal the design becomes.

Project Sonata, presented to the world by Ocean Independence, is a bold proposal from a studio made up of keen sailors, but whose sailing yacht designs to date have been limited to the 50-foot range. But that hasn’t deterred the dynamic pair.

Sonata’s inverted bow is as distinctive as its masts.  Courtesy Valentin Design

“I’ve been sailing on boats since I was kid and worked in refit and construction for over 12 years,” said Acquaviva. “I understand what an owner wants from a sailing yacht, but equally what the crew need. When combined with visionary design and fully engineered naval architecture, we believe that’s a winning formula.”

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Blue-sky superyacht concepts range from pure fantasy to easily buildable. Here are our 10 favorites in the last year.

To stand out from the crowd, more and more superyacht buyers—many new to the market—are challenging designers to break molds, go extreme, and think way outside of the traditional box. And they’re doing it with head-spinning bow designs, huge windows, and much larger interior and exterior spaces.

They’re also trading traditional monohulls for big-volume catamarans and trimarans, taking inspiration from oddball places—an aircraft carrier or 1930s Hollywood-style automobile—and, at the same time, future-proofing them with new propulsion systems, including hydrogen fuel cells, solar power, and advanced battery power.

These 10 concepts, from a range of designers and studios, show that the future of superyacht design has never been more exciting—if at times a little bizarre.

Sinot, ‘Aware’

Not all superyachts need to look like multi-tiered wedding cakes. That’s according to Dutch studio Sinot Yacht, which has just penned conceptual renderings for a sleek, almost-minimalist cruiser called  Aware . Yes, the 262-footer does have the look of some super-stylish European river boat from the likes of Viking or Uniworld. But the aim here is to optimize the spaces experienced owners tend to use the most. Like the owner’s suite on the main deck, which in  Aware  spans the full beam and totals over 860 square feet. Then there’s the super-size beach club with its twin fold-out terraces, gym, bar, cinema, 36-foot-long pool, and glass-sided dining area. As for power, Sinot envisions a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system good for a 21 mph max, and a 4,000 nautical mile range at 14 mph.

Icon Yachts, ‘Mission’

Ice-breaking, globe-trotting expedition yachts are nothing new for Holland’s Icon Yachts. Its rugged, 224-foot, converted ice-breaker  Ragnar  literally wrote the rule-book on building high-latitude-friendly luxury superyachts. But Icon’s concept for a brand-new, ultimate explorer it’s calling  Mission  adds Indiana Jones–levels of off-the-grid exploration. Designed by Dutch explorer-yacht specialist Bernd Weel,  Mission  is all towering, ice-crushing bow, trademark geometric hull sides, and endless space for all that adventure-seeking gear. Here we’re talking six tenders of all sizes, a three-person submersible, an Airbus H130 helicopter, and space midships for a multitude of shipping containers for when you want to become the next Jacques Cousteau. As for range, Icon would target over 6,000 nautical miles.

Andy Waugh Yacht Design, ‘Decadence’

Flick through the pages of any automotive history book and you’ll notice that 1930s design is dominated by the outrageous, teardrop-fendered creations of the French duo of Figoni et Falaschi. Their designs look to be the inspiration behind London-based designer Andy Waugh’s jaw-dropping concept for a 264-foot catamaran he quite aptly calls  Decadence . Featuring a central hull flanked by four teardrop-like pods, the concept evolves the idea of so-called SWATH catamaran hull design used in a number of oil-platform support, research vessels, and even some superyachts. Providing immense stability through reduced roll and pitch, the design makes perfect sense for a superyacht. One drawback: the yacht’s massive, marina-unfriendly 98-foot beam. Though that becomes a positive when you consider  Decadence ‘s vast owner’s suite measures 66 feet wide and almost 100 feet long.

Oceanco, ‘Aeolus’

When the Dutch superyacht maestros at Oceanco release a blue-sky design, the concept is likely just a few steps away from reality. Fresh from delivering the 410-foot  Koru , the world’s largest sailing yacht, to new owner Jeff Bezos, and the 357-foot  Seven Seas  to Steven Spielberg, Oceanco has unveiled  Aeolus , a concept for a highly sustainable 430-foot gigayacht. Drawn by former Rolls-Royce head of design Giles Taylor, this curvaceous, quad-deck world cruiser looks to the future by incorporating Oceanco’s Energy Transition Platform (ETP) philosophy. The propulsion could start with diesel-electric power, with battery banks charged by twin MTU V16 diesel generators. Then, as technologies advance, it could more to more advanced fuel types such as methanol or other, even wilder technologies like nuclear power.

Anthony Glasson, ‘Star Trek’

Designed to boldly go across oceans, this concept for a massive 275-foot trimaran is said to have been inspired by Hong Kong–based designer Anthony Glasson’s love of the TV show “Star Trek”—especially the Starship  Enterprise . Viewed bow-on, you can see why: The slender, wave-piercing bow, the twin side hulls, and rounded glass upper observation deck have USS  Enterprise  written all over it. But the trimaran form definitely adds to its function, with the wide beam creating an expansive “courtyard” that’s part enclosed and part open, housing a hot tub—one of three aboard—a gym, a bar, sunpads galore and even a helipad-turned-dancefloor. Glasson envisions the trimaran to be built of lightweight aluminum, with a 5,000-nautical-mile range. Captain Kirk would be impressed.

Jozeph Forakis, ‘Pegasus’

Until now, arguably the ultimate stealth boat was the one in the 1997 James Bond romp  Tomorrow Never Dies , owned by tyrannical media mogul Elliot Carver. That would change if the 289-foot concept  Pegasus , from the computer screen of N.Y.C.-born and now Milan-based designer Jozeph Forakis, gets a production go-ahead. It features a superstructure comprising three over-lapping “wings” with metallic surfaces designed to reflect the sky and the clouds, rendering the superyacht near-invisible. The “wings” also do double duty as solar panels generating energy that would be used to convert sea water to hydrogen. Fuel cells would then turn the hydrogen into electricity that would be then stored in banks of lithium-ion batteries, making Pegasus essentially emissions-free with a virtually infinite cruising range.

Lazzarini, ‘Plectrum’

Why fly through the water when you can fly on top? That’s the thinking behind Rome-based Lazzarini Design’s radical 243-foot hydrofoiling superyacht concept named  Plectrum . Massive foils deploy from the sides of the yacht’s rounded carbon-fiber hull, while a trio of 5,000 hp engines would elevate the yacht out of the water and punch it to a top speed of over 80 mph. It’s a similar concept used in the latest America’s Cup AC75 foiling monohull sailboats, along with a crop of electric powerboats and surfboards. Applying the technology to a 243-foot superyacht is what’s new and possibly technically impossible, at least for now. Other stand-out features of this bright-orange flyer include a helicopter garage beneath the mile-long foredeck and a garage for your supercar at the stern.

Phantom and Golden Yachts, ‘Vesper’

When it comes to next-generation superyacht design, it seems glass is fast becoming the new steel. Take the collaboration between the design team at Holland’s Phantom Studios and Athens-based superyacht builder Golden Yachts. The 213-foot concept they’re calling  Vesper  features five levels of floor-to-ceiling structural glass, a glass floor in the yacht’s upper deck lounge, and a glass-sided swimming pool. Connecting the beach club to the pool is a huge, high-lifting hatch that’s, what else, all glass. Now head to the owner’s “suite”—it’s more like a two-level penthouse in a Miami skyscraper—and it features floor-to-very-high-ceiling glass that floods the space with light. To catch some real rays, the full-deck suite features not one, but two outdoor terraces.

DeBasto Design, MED

Think of this as a 301-foot dayboat with the emphasis on outdoor, alfresco, lounge-in-the-sun, Mediterranean living. From the drawing board of Miami-based designer Luiz de Basto, Project MED features uninterrupted, bow-to-stern open teak decks topped with a huge upper superstructure supported by just four columns. And to ensure the superstructure doesn’t dominate the superyacht’s sleek lines, de Basto covered it in reflective glass so that it almost disappears from view by mirroring its surroundings. The designer says his inspiration came from the idea of “Agora,” named after the squares in Ancient Greek villages where everyone congregated. Aboard Project MED, that could be on the main deck, around the oversized pool at the stern, or on the vast open foredeck.

Enzo Manca, ‘UAE One’

There are superyachts designed to look like military warships. Some even are shaped to look like navy submarines. But here’s a first; a superyacht inspired by the lines of an aircraft carrier. The 459-foot  UAE One  is from the fertile mind of Milan-based designer Enzo Manca who created the concept for an unnamed United Arab Emirates sheikh looking to create an official UAE flagship. Without a doubt, the design highlight is the yacht’s runway-like main deck. It features not one, but three helipads, a conning tower-like, four-level structure on the starboard side, a geometric-shaped pool and a huge circular “conversation pit” right on the bow, complete with cozy sofas and a firepit. Accommodations over nine decks include five “super suites”, eight master cabins, 14 mini apartments, and 35 cabins for the crew of 65. 

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This $1 billion megayacht is so big that it dwarfs Jeff Bezos’ Koru and comes with its detachable airship. Not only can the aircraft take the passengers on scenic tours it can even assist the vessel in sailing with its eight electric engines

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German investigators have confiscated rare paintings worth $5 million from art-loving Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s seized $600 million megayacht Dilbar.

25 of these humungous towers are envisioned to dominate the Dubai skyline. They will save the city from dust storms and even clear the air

Perfect for the modern touring nomad this Whale Trailer Cabin concept opens up into a full-blown residence. It is extremely spacious, has a fold-out kitchen and a living room.

An absolutely impressive and awe-inspiring superyacht

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Walmart heiress Nancy Walton is keeping her $300 million megayacht Kaos on the move to avoid getting vandalized and spray painted again. After cruising aimlessly on the high seas for more than a week, the vessel docked at the $4000-a-night port of Monaco.

Having a family net worth of $275 billion for the Qatari royal Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani bidding billions on Manchester United is like splurging on a luxury yacht claims rival billionaire bidder Thomas Zilliacus

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Ocean Independence reveals 72m superyacht concept Vast 72

Ocean Independence has teamed up with superyacht designers Christopher Seymour and Carl Esch to present a 72m yacht concept named Vast 72.

Designed in collaboration by Seymour and Esch, the concept will be constructed in steel with an estimated 48 month build time at a Northern European yard.

• Grand designs: The most extreme superyacht concepts in the world

Key features include an “efficient, low-profile design” with a “reverse bow” to increase the efficiency of the hull.

Accommodation on board is for a total of 12 guests in six cabins comprising a full beam owner’s suite on the main deck, complete with a private office and balconies to both port and starboard.

Elsewhere, another guest cabin sits on the main deck while another four are found on the lower deck. Crew accommodation is for a total of 15 staff. The “comfortable” interior has been designed by T. Fotiadis Design.

Other facilities include a gym, three pools, helipad, and enough storage for two tenders, two RIBs, four jet skis and additional water toys.

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Lazzarini’s Swan-Shaped Mega Yacht Concept

The exciting new megayacht concept from  Lazzarini Design Studio  will turn some heads as the swan-like body sails across the water.

The 137m superyacht is shaped like a swan and boasts a detachable head that can be used as a separate boat. 

The enormous bird-shaped yacht is named AVANGAURDIA, which means ‘vanguard’ in English.

As the name suggests, the vessel leads the way in cutting-edge marine design.

Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini penned the ambitious design.  

The design company, based in Rome, has delivered on several innovative beings in the past few years, including flying cars, an amphibious catamaran named  PAGARUS , and much more.

However, the waterbird-inspired mega yacht may be the most outlandish and innovative of the company’s designs.

The massive yacht is split into five decks and can accommodate up to 60 sea goers.

There is potential for even more guests when the yacht is dockside.

As for sleeping arrangements, the yacht can sleep up to 24 guests, 12 staff, and ten crew members. 

There are many toys on board the ship.

There are two helicopters, which can be found on the top level, with two helicopter hangars.

Lazzarini’s innovative design, the jet capsules, is located aft. 

An entire haul of supercars is also found on the superyacht, thanks to an expansive garage.

The yacht boasts many areas for socializing and sunbathing for the 60 guests, including a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. 

The exterior of the yacht features flowing lines and curves that reflect the silhouette of a swan on the water.

The head of the swan is a control tower and acts like a brain for the vessel. 

The inspiration for the head comes from 1970s Japanese manga.

It also doubles as a 16m cruiser that is perfect for daytime trips around the water.

A second control point on board will operate the boat while the head is used for a daytime jaunt across the water. 

Like a real-life swan in the water, the head of the yacht that houses the control tower is perched on a flexible neck.

The neck uses a fulcrum to give it a full range of movement and lower the head into the water from its crow’s neck perch. 

The head floating in the air while the vessel is at anchor cuts an impressive image.

When the ship is underway, the head lowers to the middle of the megayacht to help steer the vessel in the right direction.

The lowered head is exactly like a swan nestling its head into its feathers.

Specifications

The jet capsules that are located at the vessel’s rear can be used for increased propulsion.

Lazzarini has developed several innovative water transportation, and the jet capsules are just one amongst many.  

The watercraft is fully customizable to the smallest detail and can serve as a private vessel for up to 20 passengers.

The egg-shaped mini-jet cruiser can be connected to the rear deck for extra auxiliary propulsion or disconnected and work independently to cruise people around the waters.

The swan’s power comes from the twin electric side engine and a central MTU Roll’s Royce engine.

This setup has the potential to push the yacht to a cruising speed of about 18 knots.

It remains just a concept at this stage, but the design studio says it could become a reality as soon as an investor is ready to commit to the concept.

The design company is confident that the yacht can be built and would require a $500 million investment from a potential buyer.

Lazzarini’s motto is ‘Think about the future but never forget the past,’ which can clearly be seen throughout his work.

Lazzarini’s unique and visionary concepts include automotive, aerospace, architecture, and yacht design.

His team of designers, engineers, and dreamers is creating some of the most innovative prototypes in the world.

With his Wally yachts, Lazzarini pioneered using carbon fiber as a building material, revolutionizing the yacht-building world.

He entered the yachting scene in the 1990s with his futuristic ideas, innovating in the relatively stagnated yachting industry.

The jet capsule is one of Lazzarini’s most highly awarded and praised designs.

The egg-shaped fiberglass yacht was the beginning of the designer’s most innovative concepts. 

When Lazzarini was asked why he chose the concept of a Swan for AVANGUARDIA, he answered that he finds nature to be a source of inspiration because of its innate perfection and that the swan is the very definition of elegance and grace. 

The swan-shaped yacht is the first of six animal-shaped watercraft concept yachts that Lazzarini has presented.

The  PRODIGIUM  is a monolith-inspired vessel that looks like a shark rising out of the water.

The yacht supersedes the AVANGUARDIA in size, measuring in at an enormous 153m.

The vessel will be the largest superyacht on the water if ever built.

The PAGARUS is another innovative design from the studio company.

The catamaran will have the ability to scuttle out of the water like a crab.

Lazzarini noticed a growing space in the industry for luxury off-the-grid vessels and designed a vessel to meet that need.

The PAGARUS, the Latin word for crab, was initially designed for military applications.

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Inside AQUA: The 112m hydrogen-powered superyacht concept which emits only water

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By Katia Damborsky   10 February 2020

Computer-generated images give us a look inside the 112m/ 372ft superyacht AQUA , an eco-friendly concept developed by Sinot Yacht Architecture that is powered by liquid hydrogen and emits only water. 

Breaking new ground in form and function, AQUA is a yacht concept that’s at the cutting-edge of what is possible in superyacht design and engineering today. 

The yacht concept was presented at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show by Sinot, the esteemed Dutch design studio. They have collaborated with Lateral Naval Architects for the yacht’s naval architecture. 

AQUA will be powered by liquid hydrogen stored in two on-board tanks at -423F, meaning the yacht’s only emission is water. This innovative technology nods to her namesake.

She comes with an incredible selection of amenities, including a waterfall pool and fully-equipped spa.

Speaking about the concept, designer Sander Sinot said: “For the development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology to combine this in a 112-metre superyacht with truly innovative features.

“Our challenge was to implement fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cells in a true superyacht that is not only groundbreaking in technology, but also in design and aesthetics."

Alfresco areas

According to Sinot, AQUA has been designed to provide her guests with a constant connection to the ocean.

Renderings show an exterior inspired by the ocean, with sweeping lines and a futuristic profile that looks similar to a spaceship. Large portions of glass and bubble-hood wheelhouse add to the contemporary look.

The yacht’s alfresco areas are centred around the aft decks, which have been designed to provide maximum volume and space. The main deck aft is dominated by a huge pool flanked by steps, with a cascading water feature that offers a show-stopping entrance to anyone stepping on board. 

A variety of seating options are scattered across the deck, before the space merges seamlessly with the yacht’s main salon via sliding, floor-to-ceiling glass doors. This creates a versatile winter garden that allows the deck to be enjoyed by the entire party.

The circular seating area also allows the space to function as a home cinema. 

Open space continues on the upper deck aft, where guests will find more seating arranged around fire pits. Formal dining can be found forward, in an open setting that offers panoramic views over the surroundings. This deck can offer privacy or open entertainment space dependent on the needs of the guests, thanks to Japanese shoji grid screens.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided for a total of 12 guests in seven cabins. 

Occupying the forward area of the upper deck, the vast owner’s deck is a vast, interlinked space divided by finely crafted wooden screens that allow for complete privacy. On the starboard and port sides, floor-to-ceiling windows offer incredible views and influxes of light.

The ceiling in the owner’s deck varies between 280cm to 380cm, with the tallest point at the central skylight. A wooden structure extends from the skylight, with a raised platform at the base that creates a stage or display area.

The en suite facilities in the owner’s apartment are one of the focal points on board. High gloss black marble floors complement the incredible panoramic views, with a freestanding geometric tub in the centre.

His and hers vanities, basins and crescent-shaped mirrors flank the space. Large walk-in wardrobes and an office area add a level of convenience.

The remaining cabins are similarly styled, with Japanese themes, wide windows and individual en suite bathrooms. Textured silk carpets, wooden furniture and mixed textures on the walls and ceilings contribute to the holistic ambience.

Central Staircase

Situated at AQUA’s core, the spectacular circular staircase winds down from the top deck to the lower deck, floating around a  cylindrical void.

A skylight is located at the top, and an art piece can be found at the base, which mirrors the skylight and reflects an ocean theme. On the lowest level, a panel of glass allows guests to see the two liquified hydrogen tanks which power the yacht. 

The staircase itself features a finely crafted wooden balustrade that seems to defy gravity and catches the light created by the wave structure of the artwork. Backlit glass inserts in the steps accentuate the motif of flowing water, trickling down from the bridge deck.

Spa and Gym Area

Accessed via a circular tunnel, the health and wellness centre boasts an exclusive hydrotherapy suite and a water-level gym. The gym area opens out, giving guests the feeling of working out while being connected to the water. 

There is a yoga space and workout floor, with plenty of the latest exercise equipment to ensure guests can keep up their fitness regimes. 

The Aqua Room

Situated at the very bow of the yacht, the AQUA room adjoins the owner’s apartment and offers an incredible observatory area with some of the best views on board. It can remain the owner’s secret, or be enjoyed by the entire party. 

While underway, guests will love getting comfortable and enjoy the feeling of being totally at one with the ocean thanks to full-height windows that eliminate the borders between the outside and the inside. A stainless steel structural support adds a polished finish to the room. 

The yacht’s interiors are a fine balance of elegance and understated, with an overarching contemporary theme. There is a large main salon with sumptuous sofa seating, a stone-paneled wall and bronze-finished sculptures.

The skylounge is primed for daytime relaxing, with huge expanses of glass and recessed seating.

How does the hydrogen technology work?

The hydrogen is pumped through a special type of fuel cell which converts it into electricity while emitting only water which can be safely pumped into the ocean.

Despite its novel fuel source, the vessel is able to reach 17 knots and travel 3,750 miles before it needs to refuel, enough to cover an Atlantic crossing from New York to Southampton.

What’s the price of AQUA?

The yacht is reported to cost around $645 million.

Media reports stated the yacht was being built by Feadship and had been purchased by Bill Gates. These claims have been denied by Sinot. The Dutch designers have said that any links between Aqua and Mr. Gates are "factually incorrect."

To learn about chartering an eco-friendly superyacht, please get in touch with your preferred yacht charter broker . 

Stand-out superyachts for charter:

62m Icon Yachts 2013 / 2019

73m Picchiotti 2014

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84m Feadship 2015 / 2020

50m Heesen 2017

50m Tankoa Yachts 2017

72m Tankoa Yachts 2018 / 2023

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Mallorca, the destination chosen by Mark Zuckerberg to debut his $300 million megayacht

T he group of megayachts that have been sailing the waters of Spain’s Balearic Islands since the arrival of good weather has welcomed a new member. While last year it was Amazon founder Jeff Bezos who debuted his $500-million toy called Koru, this year, it was tech entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg who is sailing the Mediterranean with his latest acquisition: a megayacht called Launchpad. The 118-meter-long vessel, made by Feadship from the Netherlands, is valued at $300 million. The luxury yacht was completed last March and was delivered to Zuckerberg on May 14, the same day that the Meta founder and owner turned 40 .

The ship flies the flag of the Marshall Islands, in the region of Micronesia, and, according to its technical specifications, it is 118 meters (387 feet) long, 17 meters (55 feet) wide and has a capacity for 24 guests, to which up to 48 crew members can be added. It can reach a speed of 20 knots with a range of 3,000 nautical miles, and the cost of its annual maintenance costs is more than $30 million.

The luxury yacht was designed by experts from Monaco-based Espen Øino International, which has a long track record in designing large vessels. Little is known about its interiors, beyond the fact that they were designed by Zuretti Interior Design, a French company dedicated to yacht interior design. The Launchpad has three decks, in white and navy blue, the bow has a tennis court, while on the aft deck, there is a helicopter to bring in guests from the mainland. On one side of the hull there is a glazed terrace for sunbathing or dining in front of the sea. During the time that is has been moored in the Bay of Palma, in Mallorca , slides and inflatable water toys have been seen in the sea.

Last week, the crew tested the yacht and the ship’s helicopter, signalling Zuckerberg’s imminent arrival. The social media guru landed in the private area of Palma airport on Friday night, June 14. The businessman and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were snapped leaving the terminal, with their three daughters: Max, August and Aurelia. The family was picked up by a vehicle that took them directly to the port of Palma, where the Launchpad was located. In recent weeks, the megayacht has been moored in the luxurious Club de Mar-Mallorca, fitting in beside the vessels of wealthy sheikhs and businessmen. Over the weekend, the Launchpad sailed to the south of the island, to spots such as Santa Ponça. So far, no photos have been taken of the Zuckerberg family or their guests on dry land.

Last weekend, Zuckerberg himself posted a photo on his Instagram profile, which has almost 14 million followers. In the image, he appears with his entire family as they celebrate his father’s 70th birthday. The group is seen wearing identical T-shirts that read “Ed’s Kids” after his father. Around 20 family members have come together on the megayacht to celebrate the milestone birthday. Zuckerberg’s three siblings also appear smiling in the images, joined by their partners and children.

“Happy Father’s Day to the man who started and continues to inspire our whole family,” Zuckerberg posted. “We’re also celebrating his 70th birthday and it was really something to hear the grandkids (at least the ones old enough) take turns telling papa all the ways he is meaningful in their lives last night at dinner. Here’s to many more.”

Megayacht debuts

The Launchpad , which also has a support vessel called the Wingman , is the latest megayacht to make its debut in Mallorca. Last year, Bezos launched Koru, the largest sailing yacht in the world, measuring 127 meters (416 feet). The Amazon founder and his fiancée, news anchor Lauren Sánchez , sailed the Mediterranean last summer on the $500-million vessel. Both arrived to the yacht directly by helicopter from a private plane that landed in Palma and were also photographed with a group of friends in Ibiza.

The Koru was also docked at the luxurious Club de Mar-Mallorca in Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, where producer David Geffen often moors his yacht Rising Sun . Just a couple of weeks ago, this gigantic 138-meter boat welcomed Kendall and Kylie Jenner , who spent a few days off with their mother, Kris Jenner, on the coast of Mallorca. In recent summers, Geffen has regularly sailed across the Balearic Islands with famous friends such as Bezos himself, actor Tom Hanks and singer Paul McCartney.

Chinese tycoon Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba group , also debuted his megayacht Zen in Mallorca. The ship made its debut in 2021 after its construction was completed in a shipyard in the Netherlands. At the time, Jack Ma had largely out of the public view for two years after publicly criticizing China’s regulatory system. He was spotted on the Balearic island that summer playing golf in the municipality of Calvià, where his yacht was anchored. He liked the island, and he returned in 2022 the following summer.

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Advertising and media elite return to cannes lions, as mega-yachts pull up to french riviera.

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Mega-yachts are dropping anchor in the deep-blue waters of the Mediterranean as media, advertising and tech industry elite prepare to talk shop, broker deals and schmooze over copious amounts of rosé at the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival . 

The boozy week-long event, known as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity , is roaring back this week for its 71st year — and despite an uncertain economic landscape — it’s sure to be a spirited time.

“We are feeling that there’s an intensified amount of interest in this year’s festival overall,” said Christopher Vollmer, managing director of MediaLink and partner at UTA. “But I think there’s a lot of uncertainty about the economy in some sectors. Overall, it’s relatively good in a lot of sectors and there’s questions about how sustainable it is.”

Headlining speakers for the five-day fest, which starts Monday, include Mattel chairman and chief executive officer Ynon Kreiz, who will grab the Entertainment Person of the Year Award.

Havas chief creative officer and former co-vice chairman Jacques Séguéla — a French advertising legend — at 90 years old will be honored with a lifetime achievement award.

Other buzzy speakers include Deepak Chopra, Queen Latifah and Jay Shetty.

But most of the action will take place outside of the Palais, the festival’s main hub, and spill over to La Croissette, the beachside main drag where companies will hold talks on the hottest topics plaguing marketers. 

Medialink’s Vollmer — whose media and advertising advisory firm is hosting a series of panels on creativity, commerce and culture, as well as co-hosting one of the buzziest, exclusive bash’s at the famed Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc — cited a fragmented landscape.

With budgets tightening in the tech, media and advertising industries, not to mention geopolitical concerns, and the presidential elections coming in the fall, Vollmer said brands are evaluating how they can get the biggest bang for their buck. 

“There’s a continued push for brands to find ways that connect and pop with consumers,” he said, explaining that chief marketing officers are increasingly being asked to do more with less due in part, to the “lower growth” economic environment.

“It’s becoming harder to break through the noise so developing, harnessing and speaking directly to your community while attentively listening is more important than ever,” echoed Josh Rosenberg, CEO of creative communications firm, Day One Agency.

Both men pointed to artificial intelligence and how the technology’s use is evolving and being incorporated into workflow as opposed to last year, when much of the talk of AI took a more fearful tone about how it could replace jobs.

“Over the past year, it has become more clear on where AI will be able to help the industry become more efficient while also helping with inspiration,” Rosenberg said, noting the tech is limited.

“It has also made us realize that while AI can offer support, AI cannot determine taste. Even in this age of AI, we’re still investing in creativity — because we believe creativity and connection to the consumer will always win over any machine,” he added. 

Another topic on marketers’ minds is how to reach younger generations. 

With the fate of TikTok hanging in the balance — after President Biden signed a bill into law in April mandating the platform’s parent Byte Dance sell TikTok in six months or have it banned in the US — brands and creatives are wondering how that could impact their reach with millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers.

TikTok has waged a legal war over the law, which was driven by widespread worries among US lawmakers that China could access Americans’ data or surveil them with the app. 

But TikTok also is a robust money-maker for over 7 million businesses, not to mention the 170 million American users on the platform, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently said . 

Rosenberg said he’s “watching the news closely,” adding, “It is an important channel for our clients and for us as an agency. What I do know is that we will always go where the consumer goes. If there is no TikTok, we will look closely where the consumers are. Our philosophy has always been to work with clients to build brand strategies and campaigns in the place and spaces where their consumers live.”

Aside from TikTok — which will once again take over the courtyard at the Carlton Hotel where it will host panels on how to maximize content on the platform — athletes will be in the spotlight in a big way. 

Sports stars will take center stage at events held by Axios, Medialink and Stagwell, addressing a variety of topics from the creator economy and technology and the rise of women’s sports and mental health. 

Stagwell is back with its popular Sport Beach this year, which includes a basketball court, bleachers, sand pit and climbing wall. It’ll have the biggest sports-centric programming at Cannes, hosting over 30 athletes, including Travis and Jason Kelce , Carmelo Anthony, Megan Rapinoe and Blake Griffin.

According to Stagwell chief brand and communications officer Beth Sidhu, the concept came from the COVID era, when people were unable to attend live events like sports games. Post-pandemic, consumers came roaring back to concerts and sporting events. The Stagwell team noticed that although there was great demand for sports, there wasn’t much representation of athletes at Cannes Lions. 

“There are lots of audience passion points and sports is absolutely a passion point for a lot of people,” Sidhu said. 

The exec added that it isn’t just fans and advertisers that want to get in on the sports craze, but also athletes themselves, many of whom have become serious content creators and mini-media moguls. 

The issue athletes and marketers face is connecting in a meaningful way, as well as having conversations about how they can work together, she said. 

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“We are passionate about putting world class athletes with world class marketers,” she told us.

More broadly, Cannes Lions’ top brass has also noticed the heightened interest in creators.

For the first time, the event will host the Cannes Lions Creators Festival from June 18-20, where creators can mingle and share ideas with marketers and creatives.

“Creators are getting followed on social media. They intersect with sports and music and are some of the first people taking advantage of new technologies like AI,” Medialink’s Vollmer said. “There will be more and more of this as video production continues to democratize the landscape.”

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