World Superyacht Awards 2024 revealed

World Superyacht Awards 2024, established by Boat International, is dubbed the “Oscars of the yachting industry”

This year it has taken place for the 19th time in association with Acquera Club. The venue chosen for the event is the Venetian Arsenal, which is an amazing complex of shipyards built in 12th century. Numerous warships used to be built here once to ensure the naval power of the Venetian Republic. And on 3-4 May 2024 the most important players of the superyacht market got together here to recognize the most impressive and innovative yachts in terms of engineering, design, original ideas and craftsmanship, which hit water last year. By the way, as opposed to many other yachting industry awards, the World Superyacht Awards jury includes not only professionals, but superyacht owners, too. 

Motor Yacht of the Year

Alchemy

Length: 65.7m

Shipyard: Rossinavi

Naval architecture: Vitruvius Yachts / Rossinavi

Exterior: Vitruvius Yachts

Interior: Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi

Why her? Although the prestigious title normally goes to the largest superyachts, this time the winner is in the second-largest category. The judges based their choice on the Alchemy’s stunning exterior, original layouts and impressive interior, featuring a suspended glass staircase in the main saloon. 

Sailing Yacht of the Year

Sarissa

Length: 59.7m

Shipyard: Royal Huisman

Naval architecture: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Exterior: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Interior: Liaigre

Why her? Sarissa boasts an innovative propulsion system, state-of-the-art sails and rig and, what is rare for performance sailing yachts meant mainly for races, exquisite interiors by Liaigre.

Refitted Yachts

Carinthia VII

Length: 97m

Original shipyard, year: Lürssen, 2002

Refit shipyard / management: Lürssen / RYacht Management Monaco

Naval architecture: Lürssen

Exterior: Tim Heywood

Interior: Bizzozero Cassina Architects

Why her? In just 10 months the ambitious refit project turned a private yacht into a charter one. To meet the commercial needs Carinthia VII had to undergo a lot of structural and technical changes. Despite the new attributes like the 11-metre swimming pool with a transparent front or a huge gym, the yacht maintained a lot of the original design elements of this iconic boat.

Sailing Yachts, 30m to 39.9m

Zemi

Length: 33.5m

Shipyard: Baltic Yachts

Naval architecture: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Exterior: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Interior: Andreas Martin-Löf Arkitekter

Why her? The yacht belongs to experienced owners passionate about exploring sustainable sources of energy. Even her name, Zemi, comes from the contraction of “zero emission”. In addition to a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and 120 sq.m of solar panels, there is also a hydrogeneration system on board. The energy is generated with the help of a propeller working when the yacht is under sail, so she is almost self-sufficient at a speed of 12 knots. 

Judges' Special Award 

Raven

Length: 34m

Shipyard: Baltic Yachts

Naval architecture: Botin Partners Naval Architecture

Exterior: Jarkko Jämsén

Interior: Jarkko Jämsén

Why her? According to Baltic Yachts, which built the Raven, she is “the most extreme yacht” it has ever built. The judges agreed with this opinion and decided to give it a Judges’ Special Award – to avoid comparing this stunning high-performance “machine” with other nominees in the category of Sailing Yachts of 30-39.9 m, as it would have been almost unfair. 

Sailing Yachts, 40m and above 

Sarissa

Length: 59.7m

Shipyard: Royal Huisman

Naval architecture: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Exterior: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design

Interior: Liaigre

Why her? Sarissa became number one in many technical aspects. For instance, she features the largest square-top sail in the world, and she is the first to have a forward-facing retractable electric propulsion named azipod. 

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts, 30m to 34.9m

Pesa II

Length: 34.9m

Shipyard: Maiora - Next Yacht Group

Naval architecture: Maiora Engineering Department - Next Yacht Group

Exterior: Maiora Centro Stile - Next Yacht Group

Interior: Maiora Centro Stile - Next Yacht Group / Owner

Why her? Pesa II is the second hull in the Maiora 35 Exuma series. She preserves the original exterior design of the series, which has been supplemented by extremely unusual interiors, created in close collaboration with the owner.

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts, 35m to 39.9m

 Seaflower

Length: 36m

Shipyard: Mulder

Naval architecture: Van Oossanen Naval Architects

Exterior: Claydon Reeves Design / Mulder

Interior: Vickers Studio / Mulder

Why her? The Seaflower, which started on spec, had all the chances of becoming just another unit – the sixth one – in a popular semi-custom Mulder Thirty Six series. However, quite an experienced owner appeared in the process, who made numerous changes to the project, making the yacht unique – at least in terms of her interiors. 

Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts, 40m and above

 Milele

Length: 45.2m

Shipyard: Royal Hakvoort

Naval architecture: Van Oossanen Naval Architects

Exterior: Omega Architects

Interior: Martin Hanff 

Why her? An elegant explorer boasting “incredible build quality” and lots of surprising spaces on board, one of which is an innovative foredeck garage, storing a two-person U-Boat Worx submarine and a crane.

Displacement Motor Yachts 499GT and below, 30m to 39.9m

Stellamar

Length: 35m

Shipyard: Cantiere delle Marche

Naval architecture: Hydro Tec

Exterior: Francesco Paszkowski Design

Interior: Francesco Paszkowski Design

Why her? Just like all the yachts built by Cantiere delle Marche, the Stellamar is a reliable and seaworthy explorer with a range of 5500 nautical miles (about 10000 km). But in contrast to most other brutal-looking expedition yachts, she features a light “Mediterranean” look, expansive glazing and an open aft.

Displacement Motor Yachts 499GT and below, 40m to 44.9m

Oreos

Length: 40.8m 

Shipyard: Benetti

Naval architecture: Benetti

Exterior: RWD

Interior: Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture

Why her? Oreos is the 11th hull in Benetti’s popular Oasis 40M series. However, this semi-custom model offers such a variety of customization options, that she turned out to be a masterpiece in terms of layouts and interior style. 

Displacement Motor Yachts 499GT and below, 45m and above 

Baglietto T52

Length: 52m

Shipyard: Baglietto

Naval architecture: Baglietto

Exterior: Francesco Paszkowski Design

Interior: Francesco Paszkowski / Margherita Casprini

Why her? The first hull in Italian Baglietto’s T52 series can boast a sundeck of 135 sq.m, a three-level beach club and a pool with a retractable floor, which can extend the deck area aft, when the pool is not in use. 

Displacement Motor Yachts 500GT to 999GT

Entourage

Length: 60m

Shipyard: Amels

Naval architecture: Damen Yachting

Exterior: Espen Øino

Interior: Burdifilek

Why her? Although the Entourage belongs to Amels 60 series, her exterior has been changed considerably: compared to the original project, the windows have become elongated, the sundeck and the bridge deck have been extended. As a result, she is more of a custom yacht than a semi-custom one. Another advantage of hers is a cleverly arranged storage space for large tenders and water toys on the foredeck.

Displacement Motor Yachts 1,000GT to 1,499GT

Alchemy

Length: 65.7m

Shipyard: Rossinavi

Naval architecture: Vitruvius Yachts / Rossinavi

Exterior: Vitruvius Yachts

Interior: Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi

Why her? One of the Alchemy’s indisputable benefits is a huge amount of space allocated for storing water toys, which are really fast and easy to launch and retrieve.

Displacement Motor Yachts, 1,500GT and above

Infinite Jest

Length: 74.9m

Shipyard: Turquoise Yachts

Naval architecture: Turquoise Yachts

Exterior: A. Vallicelli & C. Yacht Design

Interior: Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design / Julie Hillman Design

Why her? The Infinite Jest was meant for long travels and headed for Antarctica right after her delivery. Destinations like this require the most advanced onboard systems. Besides, the Infinite Jest can boast an incredibly low level of noise and is almost vibration free.