German and Italian shipyards were the big winners at this year’s World Superyacht Design Awards in London.
The 162.5 m superyacht »Eclipse«, delivered late last year by Blohm + Voss, jointly won the Best Motor Yacht of the Year[ds_preview] Award within the World Superyacht Design Awards (WSDA) scheme run by Boat International. The WSDAs winners, announced in London in May, are recognised as the »Oscars« of the super yacht industry. »Eclipse« is now the world’s largest super yacht having taken over the lead position from the »Dubai« which is just half a metre shorter. This category is sponsored by Camper & Nicholsons International. The other joint winner was the 50 m yacht »Exuma« built by Picchiotti / Perini Navi.
As an integral part of the Motor Yacht of the Year Awards there are six associated prizes of yacht type and tonnage size. Four of these relate to displacement yachts and two to planning yachts.
»Eclipse« won the category of Best Displacement Motor Yacht of the Year of 3,000 GT and above. »Eclipse« is owned by the Russian entrepreneur Roman Abramovich and both her exterior and interior were designed by Terence Disdale Design. The true cost of the yacht is unknown but is reported to be at least 500 million € and possibly much higher. Of some 13,000 GT, »Eclipse« has space onboard for some 30 guests in a mix of staterooms and VIP suites and the number of crew is more than 60. The yacht is equipped with two helipads and her range of toys includes a submarine. Her full speed is 25 knots and cruising speed 22 knots.
Tribute to Blohm + Voss
From the time of ordering to delivery was some four years which is somewhat longer than originally anticipated but building the world’s largest superyacht cannot expected to be without a few problems. Final delivery took place in early December 2010. While the building of the »Eclipse« posed several challenges for Blohm + Voss, it has also confirmed the shipyard’s position as one of the world’s leading larger superyacht builders. A second bonus for Blohm + Voss was the fact that the 96 m motor yacht »Palladium«, previously named »Project Orca«, was given a special award by the judges within this category.
The tonnage range down is from 1,300 GT to 2,999 GT equating to yachts of 60–84 m. The winner here was another German success with the 68.12 m »Sycara V« built by Nobiskrug. In addition to building her, Nobiskrug also provided the exterior styling and the naval architecture. Within this category a Judges Special Award was given to the Dutch built 68 m yacht »Lady Christine« and in a further German success, the 87.10 m yacht »Pacific« gained a Judges Commendation. »Pacific« was built by Lürssen and they also handled the naval architecture of the build.
In the 500 GT to 1299 GT tonnage range (50–59.9 m) the winner was the 60.50 m yacht »Mary-Jean II«. She was built by the Italian yacht yard ISA which is also responsible for her exterior design and naval architecture.
An Italian built yacht, the 50 m »Exuma«, the overall category joint winner, also took the award in the below 500 GT category (30–49.9 m). She was built by the Picchiotti Division of the Perini Navi Group and was the first in the new generation of the Picchiotti Vitruvius series. This offers owners a very distinctive hull and superstructure profile designed by Philippe Briand. Within this category the New Zealand built 45 m motor yacht »Big Fish« was awarded a Judges’ Commendation.
Of the two Planning Motor Yacht awards the three deck one went to the 42.28 m yacht »Calliope« built by Holland Jachtbouw. The two deck prize was won by the 45 m »Framura 2« which was built by the Italian yard Codecasa.
»Zefira« best sailing yacht
Switching to sail, the Sailing Yacht of the Year Award was achieved by the 47.9 m »Zefira« which was constructed in New Zealand at the Fitzroy yacht yard. »Zefira« also won the prize for best sailing Yacht in the 45 m+ range.
Also within this category three Judges’ awards were given. Special Awards were won by the 64.5 m »Atlantic«, built by the Dutch Van De Graaf Holland company, and the 58.4 m »Kokomo« constructed by Alloy Yachts in New Zealand. A Judges’ Commendation went to the 57.49 m »Twizzle«, built in the Netherlands by Royal Huisman.
The Best Sailing Yacht in the 30 m to 44.99 m size range was the 44.18 m »Imagine«, also built by Alloy in New Zealand. A Judges’ Commendation went to the 44.7 m »Lady B« which was constructed by Vitters Shipyard in the Netherlands.
The UK based designer Ed Dubois has amazingly been involved with the two category winner »Zefira« and »Imagine« as well as the »Kokomo« and »Lady B«.
Another price for Lürssen
In the third General Awards part of the WSYA scheme four awards were made. Within these there was another German success with Lürssen having refitted the 39 m »Angel’s Share«. This yacht won the Best Refitted Yacht Award . Of these the one for Best Rebuilt Yacht Winner went to the 101.19 m »Attessa IV« with the work carried out by the Washington Refit Group.
The Voyagers Award went to the 46 m sailing expedition yacht »Dione Sky« which won the prize for its circumnavigation of the Americas taking in the Northwest Passage and Antarctica. The Legacy Award was won by the American Elizabeth E. Meyer for her yacht restoration on the J Class yacht »Endeavour«. Meyer is also a founder of the International Yacht Restoration School which has so far taught 400 students in yacht building and restoration skills.
For the winners the actual awards take the shape of silver Neptunes, Chihuly artworks designed especially for the occasion and Judges’ Commendation prizes by Baccarat.
David Robinson
