The stories everyone was talking about in 2025 touched on triumph and tragedy. They further touched on pop culture. From an accident involving the crew of one of the highest-profile charter yachts to the unusual ideas an owner has for how his superyacht should operate, these are the five biggest yacht news stories of the…
The engineer who worked aboard the same yacht as Paige Bell was formally indicted this month for her murder in the Bahamas. He has entered a not-guilty plea. Brigido Munoz, a 39-year-old Mexican national and resident, appeared before the Supreme Court of the Bahamas on December 17. He remains in jail, pending another court appearance…
We often associate celebrations in yachting with happy occasions. The launch of a new yacht, for instance, is one of the most popular. The death of shipyard founders, superyacht owners, and other influential figures by contrast can be heartbreaking. The year 2025 was particularly difficult, with more than a dozen significant losses. However, these superyacht…
The death of a superyacht crewmember earlier this month has sent shockwaves through the yachting industry. It’s also led to an outpouring of calls for mandatory crew background checks, from within the industry itself. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, a call around 1 p.m. on July 3 requested they come to a yacht…
Anecdotal evidence has suggested megayachts have high turnover among the greener members of their crew. A survey confirms there’s cause for alarm. Nearly 40 percent of junior superyacht crew are quitting across the size spectrum. What’s more, longtime assumptions like big cash tips making a difference don’t actually do so. “The industry has moved from…
A jury has found three former Utopia IV crewmembers deserve compensation for injuries and lost wages following a 2021 collision. One of the crewmembers is to receive further compensation for injuries resulting from other incidents onboard, too. Eric Ward, Fred Wennberg, and Samuel Parrott alleged the owner failed to provide benefits, medical care, and unearned…
Yes, non-American crew can work on superyachts in U.S. shipyards. This, straight from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in Florida and Washington, D.C. The belief otherwise resulted from statements during a seminar last month at a boat show. Specifically, at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, the Superyacht Pavilion seminar series included an…
For decades in American history, yachts formally served ambassador-like roles on behalf of the President and country. In fact, eight American Presidents starting with Herbert Hoover entertained dignitaries aboard the Presidential yacht Sequoia, the last remaining unrestored private vessel to have that honor. Although protective shrink wrap envelops her, and she’s on the hard in…
UPDATE, APRIL 3, 2026: A fourth crewmember has petitioned a Florida court to become a plaintiff in the case against Paul Clarke, the former captain of Loon. Natalie Rohrs, the former sous chef, says she incurred a spinal fracture and other physical injuries from the crash. She further says she suffered and received treatment for…
Television chefs aren’t the only ones who get handed baskets of mystery ingredients to whip up culinary magic. During the sixth-annual Superyacht Chef Competition in Monaco in a few weeks, nine yacht chefs will have to prepare fine-dining dishes worthy of being served aboard their own vessel. What’s more, a panel of judges ranging from…
