End-of-year reflections in yachting often recount the largest launches over the prior 12 months. The year 2024 certainly has seen its fair share of big projects making their way to the water. It’s additionally seen many of these same yachts handed over to their owners. What stands out the most, however, is how several deliveries exceed 328 feet (100 meters). It’s a length few predicted would be this prevalent a decade ago. While we’re curious about how many projects will be in the 100-meter megayacht club a decade from now, these five are the exclusive group’s new members for 2024.

Dragonfly: 142.08 meters/466’1”
The 9,500-gross-ton yacht Dragonfly celebrated her delivery 20 days ago. Putting that immense internal volume into better perspective, her beam is 65’6” (20 meters). Not surprisingly, she’s a Lürssen, a builder responsible for multiple prior 100-meter megayacht deliveries. Strictly for private use, not charter, Dragonfly has accommodations for a party of 24. Among her amenities, a spa and a cinema are on the main deck, as is a watersports center and a glass-bottomed pool. At press time, she was in Spain.

Luminance: 138.8 meters/455’4”
While her LOA is remarkable, equally remarkable is Luminance’s reported top speed of 19½ knots. Yet another notable fact is the revelation of the owner’s identity from his own team, a rarity. In 2022, a representative for Rinat Akhmetov, a Ukrainian businessman, confirmed his ownership and the length exceeding 130 meters (426 feet) to The New York Times. Akhmetov, with steel, television, and energy holdings, has not permitted release of information regarding interior design or accommodations. Delivery took place from Lürssen in January. Luminance is in Italy currently.

Kismet: 122 meters/400’3”
This is third custom yacht from Lürssen for Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. But, she’s the only one in the 100-meter megayacht club. Kismet has a few design details related to the team, too. The most noticeable is a leaping jaguar in stainless steel nestled against the bowsprit. Khan clearly wants guests to unwind while aboard, considering Kismet’s vast wellness area. It includes a Thai massage room, a cryotherapy room, a yoga room with a juice bar, a sauna, a hammam, a cold plunge pool, and more. You can charter the yacht Kismet, too. Her weekly rate starts at €3 million ($3.12 million at press time).

Launchpad: 118 meters/387’1’
A rich blue hull calls attention to this Feadship, as do curvy lines along each side. Launchpad additionally has distinctive details inside and on deck. For instance, the floor of her swimming pool can raise. The uppermost deck also has an observation lounge with curved-glass windows forward. The owner has a private alfresco area, of course, with a hot tub as well. Fascinating fact: At the time of launch in 2023, Launchpad was Feadship’s longest project. Fun fact #2: The owner additionally has a shadow yacht, the 223-foot (68-meter) catamaran Wayfinder.

Ulysses: 102.6 meters/336’6”
The final 100-meter megayacht club member for 2024 is yet another Feadship. Not surprisingly, her owner has had several large yachts previously. Most notably, the Ulysses he and his family cruised upon just prior to this one was too big for their tastes in retrospect. She measured 381 feet (116 meters) and had extraordinary volume of 6,000 gross tons. The Feadship yacht Ulysses, a.k.a. Feadship project 1011, therefore has about half the volume yet comparable creature comforts, no easy task. Her owner is Graeme Hart, long New Zealand’s richest person, with major packaging and building supplies holdings.
Feadship feadship.nl
Lürssen lurssen.com
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