As a member of the International Superyacht Society, I have the honor of reviewing the nominees for the annual design awards and casting votes. It’s an interesting, lengthy process, considering there are several megayachts in each category to read up on: Power 23-40 Meters, Power 40-65 Meters, Power 65 Meters+, Sail 24-40 Meters, and Sail 40 Meters+.
Each year it’s a challenge to narrow down my vote-admittedly a good problem to have. The nominees for calendar year 2007 were just released this week, and the field has some tough contenders. Take, for example, the Power 23-40 Meters category. Some of the nominees: Areti I and Areti II, a.k.a. the 126-foot “Russian twins” from Burger (so-nicknamed because they’re identical yachts commissioned by one Russian owner); the 125-foot Perle Bleue from Hakvoort, which features detailing and engineering typically found only in much larger yachts; VvS1 (pictured), the 112-foot intrepid cruiser from Alloy Yachts; and the 128-foot Ocean Mercury from Feadship’s Royal De Vries yard, its first semicustom launch.
On the sail side, in the 40 Meters+ category, contenders include: Royal Huisman’s Meteor, which combines classic Gloucester schooner lines with modern racing performance; Alloy Yachts’ high-performance sloop Red Dragon; and Salute, Selene, and Tamsen, all from Perini Navi and all coveted by sailing enthusiasts for their builder’s pedigree and their owners’ visions of what a sailing yacht can and should be.
The winners will be announced at the International Superyacht Society’s gala during the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. www.showmanagement.com I’ll be there, awaiting the winners with interest. In the meantime, to see the full list of nominees, click here.
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