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Motor Yacht A

Motor Yacht

Built by Blohm + Voss in 2008, the 119m superyacht ‘A’ is considered one of the finest yachts on the water. Designed by Philippe Starck, ‘A’ is a truly unconventional superyacht with her upside down hull and unique exterior aesthetics.

The luxury yacht features a whole range of unique features from her innovative engineering and design to her three swimming pools that create currents to swim against. Motor yacht 'A' also features two unique 11m tenders, the Open and the Limo models, also designed by Starck.

Motor yacht ‘A’s interior is a modern and masterfully designed environment, featuring excellent use of space, wood furnishings and numerous other details such as a glass roof looking up into one of the swimming pools.

Powered by twin 6035hp MAN RK280 Diesel engines, superyacht ‘A’ is and is capable of reaching up to 23 knots with a range of 4250nm. ‘A’ features all of the latest navigation and entertainment equipment, prepared and equipped for whatever owner may need aboard his luxury cruise. She offers unparalleled comfort and handling with advanced stabilizers and bow thrusters.

‘A’ can happily accommodate 14 guests in one owner's suite and six guest suites. She can also accommodate up to 37 crew members onboard.

• Yacht Builder Blohm + Voss No profile available
• Exterior Designer Philippe Starck No profile available
• Interior Designer Philippe Starck No profile available

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Motor Yacht A: Everything You Want To Know

Motor Yacht A, sometimes just called MYA or simply “A”, is a superyacht that was designed by Philippe Starck, interior designer and architect, along with naval architect Martin Francis and built by the yacht makers Blohm Voss. The yacht was ordered back in 2004 and it took four years to come through with delivery of the massive vessel. It is famous today for being one of the biggest yachts on earth and also for the controversial look and design of the yacht.

What Did Motor Yacht A Cost?

Although most owners of these massive superyachts play numbers close to the chest, the number most frequently circulated when discussing Motor Yacht A is $300 million. So not only would that make the boat one of the largest in the world , it’s also in the rankings for one of the most expensive as well. 

The actual price has never been confirmed, however, so it’s worth noting that this might not be correct, it’s just that the owner never stated otherwise. There have sometimes been other figures tossed around that are a little higher or a little lower but no one seems to have a source for any of them. Even the widely accepted $300 million seems to mostly be speculation based on educated guesses and a bit of insight into how the ship was designed and what it features. In any event, it’s safe to say it was quite an expensive vessel.

Motor Yacht A Interior

According to Starck, he was not really given a brief for the design of the yacht. Instead, he was told how long it needed to be, more or less, and that the buyer wanted six cabins. Everything else was up to him. Some initial stories said Starck designed the entire vessel in just a couple of minutes. That sounds impossible but also that’s what Stark is known for – producing fully realized designs in just minutes, sort of like a freeform design process where he puts everything on the paper right away. However, he later admitted the entire process was about a month long, so take from that what you will.

The yacht is 394 feet long so clearly there’s a lot more than just six cabins on board.  The interior covers a massive 24,000 square feet of space. It takes a staff of 35 to keep it all running. The master suite alone is 2,500 square feet. To give that perspective, the average square footage of an apartment in New York City is 866 square feet, and it’s been that size since the year 2000.

Starck designed a secret room for the suite as well, hidden behind a mirror. It’s meant for couples to have some privacy, if you follow our meaning. Mirrors and crystals are used everywhere on board, even in the furniture. There’s a hidden cabinet in the living room area that opens up to reveal a massive bar that is nearly all crystal, mirrors and glass.  There are seven guest cabins but there is a modular wall system that allows for them to be merged into four larger rooms.

Where mirrors aren’t being used you can find animal skins. One guest room has walls made entirely from white stingray leather.  There’s even a custom designed chair somewhere made from alligator hide and kudu horns. 

Electronics are included stealthily, like the 60 inch TV that can rise up into the ceiling to be hidden away when not in use. 

Even simple features are more elaborate than you might expect. The walls lining a staircase are made of scalloped silver. The handrail is hand carved and cost $60,000. The shower faucets were custom designed to fit the silver trim and even patented. They cost $40,000.

Like many of the large superyachts, the deck is outfitted with a helipad for transport to and from the yacht at sea. There are also three swimming pools in total including one that has a glass bottom and was built above a disco so you can dance and watch people swim, or vice versa, though the glass bottom is only over a fairly small area so you’d most likely just be looking up at someone treading water. That pool is also a massage pool with his and hers massage chairs. 

The tender garage on Motor Yacht A features three launch boats and a lot of open space. So much space, in fact, that if the launch boats are cleared out, the space doubles as a party room with a large dance floor. 

Most Russian billionaires opt for some serious yacht security and things were no different with Motor Yacht A. Though many of the details were kept under wraps it was rumored that the yacht had been outfitted with 44 mm bomb-proof glass on all the windows. There’s also supposedly an escape pod of some type that can be used to flee the yacht in case of emergencies but details on what that means are pretty hard to come by. In addition to that there are rumored to be dozens of security cameras, motion centers and fingerprint keypads to enter secure spaces.

How Fast is Motor Yacht A?

The ship runs on a pair of MAN RK280 diesel engines. These supply around 9,000 kW (12,000 hp). The top speed is around 23 knots with a cruising speed of 19 knots. With a 750,000 L/200,000 gallon fuel capacity, Super Yacht A has a range of 6,500 nautical miles. 

Who Owns Motor Yacht A?

At the time the yacht was commissioned back in 2004, no one knew who the buyer was. In fact, it took the entire four year construction process before it became public knowledge who owned the vessel, this after much incorrect speculation.

The true owner of the yacht was Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. He made his fortune in coal and chemicals and was one of the richest people in Russia at the time. 

Why is it Called Motor Yacht A?

Most boats have creative names. The naming of any vessel is part of the fun, after all. Even serious vessels like military ships and cargo vessels have names, so why would a billionaire give a luxurious superyacht such a plain, boring name? It’s actually a bit of a sneaky, vanity thing. It’s called “A” so that it always features at the top of boat registries. No matter where it’s listed, it’s going to be first. 

What was the Controversy Over the Luxury Yacht A?

As mentioned in the intro, there was some controversy regarding the look of the yacht when it made its debut, at least in boating and yacht circles. Nothing serious, of course, just among traditionalists and more avant garde boat fans who disagreed about the design. 

There were some boating journalists and yacht owners who thought A was the ugliest boat they had ever seen, in particular because of the axe bow. And it’s true that the exterior design is very unusual for a yacht. It has lines more reminiscent of a submarine that has surfaced as opposed to a traditional yacht. That, combined with the price tag, made critics feel like it was a massive waste or misuse of money. Other people, however, were excited by such an unusual design and innovative engineering shaking up what was otherwise kind of a stagnant design field. Plus, when the unique interior was factored in, it really makes A a standout vessel. 

What is Sailing Yacht A?

Launched in 2015, Sailing Yacht A is the sister yacht to Motor Yacht A. It is also owned by Andrey Melnichenko and it was also designed by Philippe Starck. At 469 feet, it is larger than Motor Yacht A and it’s also the largest sailing yacht in the world. 

The Bottom Line

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko commissioned the A back in 2004 and took possession in 2008. As far as anyone knows, it cost about $300 million. The vessel has an incredibly unique exterior design as well as many luxurious interior features that make it a standout mega yacht. At around 390 to 394 feet (sources differ on the exact length) it’s also one of the largest yachts in the world and currently ranks at about the 29th largest as of 2022.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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The 25 Greatest Superyachts of the Past 100 Years

Yacht design and technology—from steam engines to hydrogen fuel cells—have changed dramatically over the last century. these 25 standout vessels have been at the forefront of that revolution., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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A Century of Sea Change

Yachts have seen remarkable transformations in design and technology in the last 100 years. The lengths and shapes have changed decade by decade, from the mini-ocean liners of the 1920s to a more glamorous, fuller shape by the 1950s, eventually giving way to the layered wedding-cake construction that was so popular until about a decade ago. Now, just about anything goes, judging from the list below, with yachts boasting vertical bows being the most popular.

Technology also changed over the years, from steam engines to diesel to a growing list of hybrid diesel-electric powerplants. In the next five years, expect to see the first generation of superyachts with hydrogen- or methanol-powered fuel cells. What really hasn’t changed in the last century are owners’ desires to create superyachts that are unique, often clashing with the accepted design norms of the time.

Here are the 25 greatest superyachts from the last 100 years.

'Delphine' (257 Feet 9 Inches) 1923, U.S.A.

Delphine is the original 1920s oceangoing queen. American automobile magnate Horace Dodge commissioned the vessel, rumored to have once hosted former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, and Michigan shipbuilding company Great Lakes Engineering Works built it in 1921. At 258 feet, Delphine remains the largest yacht ever built in the U.S. that is still in operation. She is also the largest active steam-driven yacht in existence. The two original 1,500 hp steam engines were re-equipped with two modern water-tube boilers during a 2003 refit, which provide 18 metric tons of steam per hour. Surviving a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, several fires, and multiple owners, Delphine is today fully restored to her 1920s glory, including original teak on the main deck and a revived Tiffany-designed interior.

'Talitha' (247 Feet) 1929, Germany

Talitha is one of the world’s first superyachts with an exceptional pedigree. F. Krupp built the vessel, which was originally penned by naval architects Cox & Stevens (leading designers of their day), in Kiel, Germany. First known as Reveler , Talitha was delivered in 1929 to Russell Algar, chairman of the Packard Car Company. A string of high-profile owners ensued, including John Paul Getty Jr. in the 1930s, son of one of the richest men in the world at the time. Getty commissioned an exterior and interior redesign by late superyacht designer Jon Bannenberg and, in 1993, a full reconstruction was completed at the Devonport shipyard in Plymouth, U.K. Regular refits since, including a 1999 newly installed wheelhouse, has made Talitha successful as a popular charter yacht.

' Malahne' (164 feet) 1937/2015, UK

Originally designed and built for the owner of renowned J-Class yacht Velsheda , classic motor yacht  Malahne enjoys a period interior designed by Scottish designer Guy Oliver (best known for styling London’s 10 Downing Street and Claridge’s). Original Art Deco features include Baccarat crystal, Willer porcelain, Georg Jensen silverware, and a lamp by 1930s designer Edgar Brandt. The yacht was once used as the production headquarters for Lawrence of Arabia and had luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra walking the teak decks. In 2015, it underwent an extensive restoration at British shipyard Pendennis, which focused on maintaining its old-world glamour, including the yacht’s 25-foot custom-built Cockwells varnished Brazilian mahogany high-speed tender.

'Savarona' (446 Feet 9 Inches) 1931, Germany

Launched in 1931, Savarona was built for an heiress, enjoyed by royalty, and starred on the big screen. Built by Blohm & Voss for Emily Roebling Cadwalader, granddaughter of Brooklyn Bridge engineer John Roebling, 446-foot Savarona was featured in the German science-fiction film Gold . The Turkish government bought the vessel in 1938 and leased to Turkish businessman Kahraman Sadıkoğlu in 1989, who spent $45 million refurbishing the yacht. The original steam turbine engines were replaced with modern Caterpillar diesels, but the original 282-foot gold-trimmed staircase remains. Today, Savarona is the official presidential yacht of the Republic of Turkey.

'Shemara' (212 Feet, 2 Inches) 1938, Great Britain

Within a year of being built in 1938, 212-foot Shemara was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used throughout World War II as a training vessel for anti-submarine warfare. Following the end of its service, the superyacht returned to her owner Bernard Docker, who entertained high society aboard its decks. Later in life, Shemara endured long periods of neglect until current owner Charles Dunstone acquired her in 2010, starting the long road back to refurbishment. Alongside much of the original teak and steel exterior features, Shemara is now fitted with a Rolls-Royce diesel-electric system, including two electrically driven azimuthing pods and a bow thruster.

'Christina O' (325 Feet) 1943/1954

Possibly one of the most eminent superyachts of all time, 325-foot Christina O didn’t begin life in the spotlight. Built in 1943 by Canadian Vickers, the vessel served as a frigate in World War II until 1954 when Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis bought it as war surplus for a mere $34,000. He spent $4 million on the refurbishment and then entertained the world’s elite on board, from Maria Callas and Grace Kelly to Jack and Jackie Kennedy, prior to Onassis marrying Jackie. Named after Aristotle’s daughter, Christina O enjoys a bronze-edged swimming pool with a mosaic dance floor that rises at the push of a button. The stools in Ari’s Bar retain the original leather upholstery.

'V2V' (ex-Carinthia VI) (137 feet, 7 inches) 1973, Germany

The first major yacht designed by Jon Bannenberg and a breakthrough build for German shipyard Lürssen, Carinthia VI is a star of the decades, commissioned by supermarket magnate Helmut Horten as the sixth yacht in his Carinthia fleet. However, Carinthia V was in fact the original version but sadly hit an uncharted rock on her maiden cruise in the Mediterranean and sank. Horten ordered an almost identical replacement (this time with extra watertight bulkheads) and used Carinthia VI until his death in 1987. In 2016, the yacht suffered severe damage in a fire. Its new owner then bought the yacht, undergoing an extensive rebuild in Turkey to its original Bannenberg lines that was completed in 2023 when the yacht was renamed V2V.

'La Sultana' (214 Feet 56 Inches) 1962, Bulgaria

A Bulgarian passenger ferry turned Soviet spy vessel, 214.5-foot La Sultana has a checkered past. Built in 1962 for operations in the Black Sea, it was absorbed into the Russian fleet during the Cold War and sent to the North Atlantic for unofficial reconnaissance on the United States and United Kingdom. In 2015, La Sultana  completed a seven-year refit, which saw the addition of a raised bow, seven guest cabins across six decks, and a diesel engine installed to drive the original propeller. Several spying instruments were also discovered, including a radioactivity detector and thick aluminum insulation across the entire boat. The original push button steering controls are still in operation.

'Highlander' (164 Feet) 1986, Netherlands

American media mogul Malcolm Forbes commissioned the 164-foot Highlander , built by Feadship to a Jon Bannenberg design with De Voogt naval architecture, in 1986. The yacht’s historic guest list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood stars, from Elizabeth Taylor to Robert De Niro. Two bathrooms in the master suite are offset by six guest cabins. Those lucky enough to charter this piece of yachting history also have use of Forbes’s original cigarette boat, now re-painted in jet black with a bold red stripe.

'Tatoosh' (303 feet) 2000, Germany

Built by Nobiskrug for cellular pioneer Craig McCaw, the 303-foot Tatoosh was more famously owned by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, who bought the yacht off McCaw in 2001. Penned by German designer Claus Kusch—with input over the years from Jon Bannenberg, Terence Disdale, Martin Francis, and Stefano Pastrovich— Tatoosh is arguably one of the foremost explorer yachts of the modern age. The vessel was conceived to be a world cruiser with all the toys and entertainment that a yacht could carry. Alongside two helicopter landing pads, it has 11 staterooms for 19 guests, a heated swimming pool with a lifting floor, a cinema, and a dive center with a nitrox refilling station for deeper dives.

'Al Salamah' (456 Feet 10 Inches) 1999, Germany

At the time of its construction in 1999, 456-foot Al Salamah was the third largest yacht in the world. The build began at German yard HDW in Kiel but was completed by Lürssen in Bremen, the only yacht builder at the time capable of meeting the owner’s demanding timeline. Al Salamah was commissioned by the late Saudi Arabian crown prince Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Estimated to be worth in the region of $200 million and accommodating 36 guests, the ample amenities include a cinema, a fully equipped onboard hospital, two full-time beauticians, a business center, and a spa.

'H' (ex-NEOM) (311 feet) 2000, Netherlands

Delivered in 2000, the 311-foot  H   remained the largest Oceanco yet built and the largest yacht built in Holland until the delivery of Kaos (ex- Jubilee ) in 2017. Originally named Al Mirqab , the vessel was a highly private yacht under the ownership of the Qatar royal family before ex-politician and co-owner of Formula One Force India team Vijay Vittal Mallya took ownership in 2006. The Maltese government seized the lavishly outfitted yacht, which includes a helipad large enough for a twin-engine helicopter, Elton John’s baby grand piano, a full medical suite, and triple engines each delivering 10,000 hp, in 2017 over unpaid maritime bills. NEOM was auctioned off to her current owner in 2018.

'Rising Sun' (453 Feet) 2004, Germany

Built for Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison in 2004 and currently owned by business mogul David Geffen, Lürssen’s Rising Sun is another Jon Bannenberg success story, completed two years after the designer’s death. Even with her 453-foot length and 7,841-gross tonnes volume, Rising Sun achieves an impressive top speed of 28 knots. The owners were impressed enough with the speed to build a suspended, tube-like walkway so visitors can see the four MTU 20V 8000 M90 diesel engines providing the power. A bank of full-height curved windows run along the entire length of the superstructure, flooding the interior with natural light and giving the yacht a striking exterior profile.

'Motor Yacht A' (390 feet, 4 inches) 2008, Germany

Few yachts divide opinion like M/Y A . Designed by Philippe Starck, engineered by naval architect Martin Francis, and built by Blohm + Voss, the yacht is rumored to have cost in the region of $300 million to bring to life. Characterized by its head-turning reverse bow and vertical superstructure, the vessel is a private floating fortress where guests’ access to the water is restricted to the stern. It boasts a cathedral-like tender garage and three swimming pools; it’s also the predecessor to the even more controversial S/Y A , which emerged nine years later and briefly held the place of world’s largest sailing yacht before being displaced by Koru.

'Dubai' (531 Feet 5 Inches) 2006, Germany

Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei first commissioned Dubai in 1995 to be built in collaboration by German shipyards Blohm + Voss and Lürssen. But the superyacht was not completed until 2001 by Platinum Yachts when current owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took over the project. British studio Winch Design crafted the exterior, and the vessel is reported to have cost in the region of $400 million to build. Dubai  was the largest yacht in the world until 2010, when she was replaced by Roman Abramovich’s 533-foot Eclipse . Dubai ’s amenities, spread across eight decks, include a helipad, two 33-foot chase boats, a squash court, and 20 Jet Skis.

'Savannah' (273 feet, 11 inches) 2015, Netherlands

Savannah is renowned for being the first hybrid yacht on water, with fuel savings of up to 30 percent. It blends a single diesel engine with three gensets, batteries, a propeller, and an azimuting pioneering electro-mechanical propulsion platform. Built by Feadship, the yacht’s 41-foot beam was such a tight fit for the Dutch canals during delivery that the builder wrapped her in protective film and used plywood on the sides to serve as fenders. With its interior and exterior designed by Cristina Gherardi Benardeau, the yacht was also ahead of its time, with a corridor of double-height video walls, a floating superstructure, and an underwater Nemo lounge.

'Maltese Falcon' (289 Feet) 2006, Turkey

The legendary Maltese Falcon broke the mold of yacht design when launched in 2006. Perini Navi’s 289-foot, three-masted schooner was the result of its adventurous owner, the late Tom Perkins, and naval architect Gerard Dykstra’s radical design idea. The show-stopping Dynarig concept, now coined the Falcon Rig, catapulted Maltese Falcon to becoming the world’s most instantly recognized yacht, not to mention one of the most complex and largest sailing vessels ever built. The contemporary, computer-controlled sail system is based on freestanding carbon masts and yard-arms into which the sails furl. This system allows for easy sailing in all sea conditions. Famous charterers include Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, and Google cofounder Larry Page.

'Eclipse' (533 Feet) 2009, Germany

Aside from stealing the title of world’s largest yacht from 531-foot Dubai by a mere 1.5 feet, Eclipse is an exercise in amenities. Delivered to her owner Roman Abramovich in 2009, the vessel features a 52-foot swimming pool within an extensive beach club, two helipads, and a helicopter hangar under the foredeck. The 533-foot yacht is powered by a diesel-electric system driving azimuthing pods, one of the first of its kind. Eclipse retained the title of world’s largest yacht until the arrival of 590.5-foot Azzam in 2013. Designed inside and out by Terence Disdale, Eclipse took five years to build and is reported to have cost in the region of $590 million.

'Chopi Chopi' (262 Feet) 2013, Italy

Tasked with an experienced owner’s brief for a private yacht on which to spend long family holidays, CRN delivered with  Chopi Chopi . The largest yacht built by CRN at the time of her 2013 launch, the 262-foot Chopi Chopi remains the Italian yard’s flagship. A 656-square-foot owner’s suite with private terrace is complemented by a helipad capable of landing a three-ton helicopter. The interior ceiling heights are in excess of seven feet. But the focus of the design is on comfortable outdoor living, realized by a large beach club with an adjoining sauna, hammam, and spa with a treatment room.

'Azzam' (590 Feet) 2013, Germany

At a whopping 590-foot, Azzam has held the title of world’s largest yacht since her launch in 2013. Azzam was built by German yard Lürssen in a record three years for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the current President of the United Arab Emirates. Alongside a 95-foot main saloon, Azzam carries a submarine and its own missile defense system. Two gas turbines and two diesel engines propel the yacht through the water more than 32 knots.

'Black Pearl' (350 Feet) 2018, Netherlands

Delivered by Oceanco in 2018, the 350-foot Black Pearl is only the second yacht in the world to be fitted with Dykstra’s DynaRig carbon masts and sailing system. Its eye-catching black sails span 9,514 square feet and can be set in a record seven minutes with the push of a button. The hybrid propulsion system combines wind power with two electric propulsion motors, and its controllable pitch propellers generate enough energy to support the yacht’s hotel load. A waste heat-recovery system is just one of the onboard features that helps to realize the owner’s vision of a “zero-impact” yacht.

'Excellence' (262 Feet) 2019, Germany

Built for an experienced serial owner, American automobile magnate Herb Chambers, the Winch-designed 262-foot Excellence was delivered in 2019. The vessel takes its design inspiration from Motor Yacht A , which Chambers at first didn’t care for but then began to love. The piercing reverse bow (that mimics the beak of an American eagle) and triple-height glass-fronted atrium give it curb appeal but has also led to the yacht being likened to a spaceship. Driven by the desire to have a connection to the outdoors, the design rests upon a symbiotic relation between the indoors and out and was ultimately successful, partially due to the use hundreds of square feet of curved, mirrored glass panels.

'Koru' (417 feet) 2023, Netherlands

Oceanco’s 417-foot Koru , commissioned by Jeff Bezos, is a three-masted, black-hulled schooner with a bowsprit, classic lines, and white superstructure. Reportedly costing $450 million to build and accompanied by a 246-foot custom Damen support yacht  Wingman , the new vessel is the world’s largest sailing yacht (knocking S/Y A off the top spot). Koru also holds the title of the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands and the tallest sailing yacht in the world, with masts that measure over 230 feet.

'Obsidian' (417 feet) 2023, Netherlands

Feadship’s 2023 delivery Obsidian has the appearance of a spaceship. But the boat’s technically advanced propulsion package, described as having a 90 percent reduction in total CO2 emissions, is what places it on this list, carrying the Dutch builder one step closer to its goal of achieving a zero-emission superyacht by 2030. The hybrid diesel-electric system is designed into a single-floor engine room creating additional interior space for owners, guests, and crew. With no drive shafts or rudders, the steering is done through a pair of electric Veth contrarotating thrusters. The diesel generators will also run on HVO, a second-generation biodiesel that manufacturers describe as a net-zero CO2 fuel. A low profile, horizontal styling features, and clean exterior shapes are a preamble for the yacht’s interior, which includes an underwater observation area—known as the Aqua Lounge.

'Luminance' (417 feet) 2023, Germany

Delivered in late 2023, Lürssen’s eighth largest build, Luminance , ranks as the 12th largest yacht in the world and is the 30th yacht built by the German shipyard with an exterior design by Espen Øino. The six-deck behemoth is one of the most significant yachts to be launched this year, with an internal volume of 9,000 GT, a beam of 66 feet, and an interior by Francois Zuretti. The gigayacht features two helipads, two Jacuzzis, a large swimming pool, and a distinctive stretched bow.

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I Dynasty: Creating one of the most complex yachts in history

I Dynasty had to be big and she had to be spectacular – but she also had to adhere to strict PYC rules that limited everything from layout to wall fabrics. Here's how Richard Hein, naval architect, designer and owner’s representative, pulled off this 101 metre with style and substance...

Building one of the most complex yachts in history was not what Richard Hein, founder of Monaco-based studio The A Group , originally intended, but with I Dynasty , that is exactly what he achieved.

Designing for a client who wanted to cruise regularly with more than 12 in his party, Hein faced a choice: design the 100-metre-plus motor yacht to Solas passenger ship rules or to the new Passenger Yacht Code (PYC), created specifically for yachts with 13 to 36 passengers which, at the time, was still in development.

To build to PYC would grant more design freedom but its regulations for safety and materials were a moving target. Realising this standard would be the wave of the future, Hein and his client took the road less travelled: I Dynasty is the first yacht delivered to full PYC certification without additional restrictions.

A bit of backstory on the project is useful. Besides being a naval architect and designer with The A Group, Hein was also a yacht builder, having served as president and equity partner in the Dutch yard Oceanco from 1992 to 2004. After selling his interest in the yard, Hein travelled extensively and discovered an affinity for Japan and its culture. He was impressed with the quality of Japanese commercial and patrol vessels and invested with a Japanese partner in a new manufacturing facility, opening an office in Tokyo for his project management company, VegaYachts.

Vega’s first contract was for an 86 metre yacht to be built in Japan. Just before construction was due to start, the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck, followed by the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. “Besides the potential radiation contamination issue, Japan’s manufacturing efforts shifted almost overnight to rebuilding its infrastructure,” says Hein. “We had to seriously consider starting over outside Japan.”

The client, however, was not discouraged; quite the contrary. Not only did he ask Hein to engage a European shipyard, he asked him to enlarge the vessel. He was adamant that Hein would serve not only as the naval architect but that he and his team would be the conduit through which I Dynasty was built. In essence, VegaYachts was employed as owner’s representative and general contractor for a turnkey project that included Studio Massari as the interior designer.

“The owner had some clear ideas: creating a multi-generation yacht with high manoeuvrability and heavy displacement for continuous cruising and boarding in all seas, efficient propulsion to minimise carbon emission and lots of pools and direct water access. Other things he left up to us,” says Hein. By the time the design was complete it was clear that I Dynasty was going to have to meet the newer, more comprehensive rules of PYC 2012.

“Starting the project after the adoption of the 2012 rules gave us a higher standard than those yachts that laid keels before 2012,” says Hein. “We had the option of applying for exemptions but the owner felt that if there was a guide for building the safest possible yacht we should adhere to it, and I agreed. We all had to discover the consequences of implementing the new Passenger Yacht Code to the normal design and construction process.”

The last sentence speaks volumes. PYC’s impact was ubiquitous at the Peters Werft yard in Wewelsfleth, Germany, where Kusch Yachts was building I Dynasty . Insulation materials, the all-steel construction, the bridge wing stations’ arrangement and the number of stairway escape routes were all guided by the PYC’s demand for fire containment. In the unlikely event of a fire starting (given the restriction on flammable materials), it must be contained via fire doors, use of low-flame-spread surfaces and fire breaks or areas where non-combustible material such as stone, steel or A60 fire-rated glass separate two combustible materials.

Every interior area has a worst-case combustion heat load, and it’s up to the designer and builder to work out material trade-off to stay below each area’s allowable load. Hein notes that Lloyd’s Register and the Cayman Islands (flag state) worked closely in co-operation with the project team and Kusch to meet the PYC requirements for I Dynasty .

“I do not think it is possible for a designer to create a PYC yacht without involvement of a shipyard; it is just too complex a balancing act. It requires the designers, builder and engineers to be in a constant revision process to achieve the desired goal without compromising the appearance, the luxury or the liveability,” says Hein.

Visually, I Dynasty is a stunner but it is the amount of “hoop jumping” to meet the new code – with materials and finishes that either didn’t exist or were not in use on yachts prior to PYC – that makes her remarkable. Take, for example, a typical yacht design scheme that pairs pale leathers with the dark mahogany in the corridors: an impossibility with fire loading.

Rather than forego the elegance imparted by elaborate mahogany cornices, the project team found a supplier who could articulate the style using non-combustible plaster and faux wood paint. The fabric wall panels that designers typically rely on to cover large areas and/or absorb sound can’t be made fire retardant enough, but leather can, so beautiful stamped or woven leathers are used with abandon.

With 4,437 gross tonnes, I Dynasty offers her family tremendous interior volume and many special areas, such as a cinema, beach club and lower arrival lobby, sauna, hair salon, massage room, hammam, gym, dive centre with changing room, a forward-facing observation lounge, and main and upper saloons connected by a spectacular open staircase. Eleven cabins, including the owner’s suite and two VIPs, are concentrated on the main and upper decks.

Alessandro Massari, who designed the interior of the client’s three previous yachts, had the task of marrying The A Group’s contemporary exterior profile – with its outstanding use of glass – to an interior that honours classic design themes and a leitmotif of decorative floral elements. The owner asked for a cosy family yacht with “wow”.

Studio Massari chose warm honey-coloured woods, primarily anigre and madrone burr veneers, to form the background for stunning handmade marquetry that fronts the cabinets and built-in furniture on I Dynasty . The main saloon sole is patterned parquet because Massari believes it is more formal than carpet.

This saloon on I Dynasty is a multifunctional space aft of the dining saloon with several comfortable seating areas, including one around a fireplace, a games table to starboard and a library with a baby grand piano to port. Flanking the piano, a magnificent open staircase creates a tangible link to the upper saloon. “Together with Richard (Hein), we discussed how to deal with the number of family members cruising; that is why the two main saloons are directly connected,” says Massari.

“Part of the family could be downstairs while the rest is above engaged in a different activity entirely. It really is the heart of the yacht. The stairs minimise the feeling of being in two different spaces.” A custom five metre chandelier from Cenedese of Murano creates a waterfall of light.

The “wow” factor of I Dynasty ’s décor is particularly evident in a fantastic stone foyer where dark Port Laurent marble recreates a design by Michelangelo across a field of white and Calacatta Gold marble. The light marble is the backbone of the staircase that wraps around a large glass elevator leading to the upper deck.

A wrought iron balustrade with gold-plated details takes up the floral motif. “It embraces you while climbing the stairs,” says Massari. Gold leaf appears throughout in accents and tray ceilings. While gold leaf itself is not low flame spread, the sealer is, according to Massari.

Each of the cabins on I Dynasty is a world unto itself with enormous space and rare marbles, some with powerful veining and striations, creating an unusual colour scheme. All of the guest cabins feature a backlit 3D oyster shell headboard with fan patterns mimicking the paving stones in Italian piazzas.

The mix of traditional and contemporary continues outdoors, where multiple dining areas, a covered cinema, pools and sundecks fore and aft, plus a float-in tender garage/salt-water pool, provide plenty of options for living at sea. Equally impressive are the spaces Hein dedicated to machinery, workshops, dry and cold stores, laundry, guest services and quarters for the 32-strong crew.

“From the beginning the stated goal was to design a very robust vessel built completely in steel to prevent dissimilar metal distortion while cruising,” says Hein. “Plate thicknesses in excess of that required by class were used to reduce distortion due to welding, thus minimising the use of expensive filler, while also adding a margin against future corrosion.

“From a technical point of view, our main goal was to maximise all engineering and construction solutions to prevent the unnecessary use of diesel power and related exhaust gas emissions.”

The diesel-electric powerplant on I Dynasty utilises a full package of Rolls-Royce equipment and five engines, with power generation limited strictly to electrical load demand, thus hindering unnecessary fuel consumption and inherent gas emissions. Huge particulate filters occupy an exhaust silo underneath the mast, allowing clean emissions at anchor or in port.

The yacht’s power management system is seamless and offers surge-free power with a clean supply from 690 to 110 volts. I Dynasty does not rely on battery banks for smoothing peak loads but on generators of variable sizes that start or stop automatically. As propulsion and hotel loads vary, the full range of operating scenarios can be covered efficiently. “This is an important achievement,” says Hein. “This isn’t about propulsion any more, it is power management.”

The wheelhouse on I Dynasty is a masterwork designed by Rolls-Royce and the client’s captain after he spent substantial time in the Rolls-Royce bridge simulator. It looks like an updated version of the bridge from Star Trek’s USS Enterprise . Two custom high-tech helm chairs slide back and forth on rails to suit the preferences of the helmsman. Each of the chair arms are fitted with controls and the ability to switch any combination of information displays to the centre LED screen.

There are also full control stations port and starboard on the console and, of course, wing stations outside. A large navigation area is behind the con to port with a monitoring station to starboard. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System station and a night-time working area with night-vision-safe low-level illumination are aft of the bridge proper.

I Dynasty is highly manoeuvrable – she turns in her own length at 16 knots thanks to a pair of Rolls-Royce Azipulls. Used with the bow thruster, they provide I Dynasty with a full dynamic-positioning mode useful in deep water or fragile seabeds, as well as for positioning the tender side-boarding platform away from the wind and waves.

The naval architecture, engineering and exterior design also contribute to the owner’s demand for “wow”. The floodable 10 metre tender garage holds a custom Pascoe limo tender launched via a system engineered in collaboration with Kusch Yachts. When I Dynasty’s tender is deployed, the space becomes a huge pool deck with light and air also flowing from a 12.5 metre starboard-side shell door that opens to launch a Riva.

A brilliant piece of engineering allows the tender to clear the stern opening while maintaining a closed pool for children to swim in. To keep water from sloshing unpleasantly, a teak-planked slope aft dampens motion and allows water to spill back to the sea.

The exterior lines on I Dynasty are slick and fresh and the walkaround side decks are so large they invite placement of steamer chairs. Glass is both a feature and a structural element, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the main and upper decks capped by glass “shark fins”.

A signature attribute, they form a windbreak and a visual transition from the strong horizontal lines of the lower profile to the top of the mast. The A Group and Massari worked closely to design exterior living areas that, thanks to hidden glass doors and windows, are usable in all weather.

Although I Dynasty passed PYC certification with flying colours, Hein admits there are still parts of the code that make it challenging to meet owners’ expectations. For example, rules mandate additional crew and extra escape routes via stairs rather than ladders, which use considerable space in both owner and crew areas.

Hein does not take issue with the extra research and design, build costs, the eight mandated watertight zones on the two lower decks or the continuous double-bottom requirement. It’s that some of the rules demand materials that are yet to be developed to acceptable yacht standards, such as fireproof and waterproof exterior deckheads. It’s also the lack of transparency that leads to different interpretations of some of these rules by surveyors and flag states.

“At The A Group, we don’t just design, we design to build,” says Hein. “Designing to build to previously unknown rules has been a challenge for me as the naval architect and exterior stylist, and also as the owner’s representative and partner in the building process with Mark Dethlefs of Kusch Yachts. To accomplish this in three and a half years’ build time is, as I look back on it, more than we could have imagined possible.”

First featured in the July 2016 edition of BOAT International

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• ON THE HORIZON

GT 65 Carolina

HERITAGE WITH A NEW BEGINNING

When the first Hatteras splashed in 1959 it forever changed what the world could expect from a sportfishing boat. In fact, the Knit Wits was the first fiberglass boat over 40’. From this landmark beginning, innovation and performance have informed every chapter of Hatteras’ storied history.

This legacy—and the pride and craftsmanship upon which it has been built—was central to our purchase of Hatteras. When the White River Marine Group bought the brand in May of 2021, we welcomed one of the finest teams of boat builders in the world. We also welcomed a proud history of innovation—one that matches our own.

We are hard at work charting the next chapter of Hatteras. Full of pride and optimism, it is our commitment that what comes next can influence the industry as profoundly as the first Hatteras once did. This is what we mean by, “Heritage with a new beginning.”

FOR 60 YEARS, THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE ON THE WATER.

A Hatteras Yacht does not aspire to offer a luxury. That is simply where we begin. It is beyond that point – and within the experience each voyage offers – that you begin to understand the true Hatteras difference. That difference, for over half a century, has allowed Hatteras to stand as the benchmark of quality and innovation to which all others aspire.

Willis Slane envisioned a fishing boat strong enough to withstand the waves off Cape Hatteras, where his prey of choice, the marlin, grow as big as the swells.

Building a legend.

Two strong currents collide near Cape Hatteras: pride and perseverance. We’re a product of the storied coastal waters from which we borrow our name. Unforgiving seas where, for hundreds of years, dreams were sacrificed and legends born. So when others say we’re obsessed with over-engineering every detail, we know it is simply the right way to build a yacht. The uncompromising union of inspired design, breakthrough innovation and unmatched craftsmanship. Our commitment began 60 years ago when Hatteras founder, Willis Slane, envisioned a new breed of fishing boat. One strong enough to tame the waves off Cape Hatteras. What followed was the birth of a legend. Beginning with the Knit Wits, the 41-foot fiberglass yacht that revolutionized the industry, Hatteras served notice that our yachts would now be the standard to which all others were judged – above and below the waterline.

From that initial breakthrough vessel to each innovative yacht that has followed through the decades, Hatteras has offered a level of craftsmanship focused on perfecting every detail and over delivering on every expectation. When Hatteras began, some asked why our yachts were made this way. These days, they just want to know how. There is an undaunted spirit in the Hatteras brand. You can see it in the obsessive work of the men and women who pour their talent and heart into building each legendary vessel. You can feel it in the way the Hatteras hull cuts confidently through waters that lesser boats dare not enter. But more than anything, you can witness it inside the ambitious souls who make Hatteras an expression of their own drive for adventure. Those who are unwilling to compromise and determined to push boundaries. So, for all those who celebrate a life without limits, we welcome you aboard.

The sea creates winners and losers every day. Know which side you’re on.

INNOVATION BEYOND IMAGINATION

For 60 years, Hatteras has set the standard to which all other yachts aspire. That began with producing the world’s first fiberglass yacht over 40 feet and pioneering the revolutionary convex and modified-V hull. And while decades of design and engineering have resulted in a long list of patents and accolades, our focus continues to be on everything yet to come. From hull and propulsion breakthroughs to on-board connectivity and interior design, a commitment to innovation fuels every aspect of our business. And in the process we’re creating a legacy for others to chase and an unmatched experience for a fortunate few to enjoy.

Convex and modified-V hulls  for optimal performance under the widest range of conditions.

Double chine and side “step-outs”  offer a dryer ride and more interior space.

In-house designed multi-bladed hybrid propellers  offer improved fuel economy, reduced vibration and a quieter ride.

Deep gear ratio  improves efficiency and thrust capabilities.

Revolutionary deep tunnel design  for enhanced performance and rudder response.

Patented air induction system  reduces noise and vibration by over 200%.

Resin Infusion  for stronger and lighter decks, bulkheads and other parts.

Electrical systems  surpass all NMMA, ABYC and National Electric Code standards.

High-gloss and UV-resistant paint  on every exterior surface. The most durable coat in the industry.

Custom finishing and design  available across every element of the yacht, including luxury materials, furnishings and appliances.

“Our designs reflect who the owner is today – and where they intend to take their yacht tomorrow.” —Cullen Moser, Lead Designer

Design. build. and beyond..

Exceed every expectation. It’s a blueprint that guides the engineering and construction of our legendary yachts. It’s a philosophy that extends to the experience you will discover from our very first consultation. And it’s a commitment that ensures every moment aboard a Hatteras reflects your personal vision and pursuit of a life without limits.

DISCOVER MORE IN THE DESIGN

Hatteras involves owners at every stage of the design-build process. This includes an initial consultation at our headquarters in North Carolina to outline your wish list, including technology integration and choice of several amenity combinations. A dedicated team, led by your personal sales consultant, will guide you through every step of the planning and construction process to ensure your dream is realized.

YOUR VISION IS REALIZED

Our seasoned Hatteras design team will work with you to develop an interior plan that fully realizes your vision and reflects your personality. This includes the ability to personalize several features to your tastes. Everything from appliances and galley tile to furniture upholstery and wall coverings can be impacted by your choice of finishing packages.

A GREATER COMMITMENT

Our relationship with our customers doesn’t end when the keys are handed over. In fact, it’s only the beginning. A multi-day orientation session is offered with each purchase, including the ability to have members of the Hatteras team join you for portions of your maiden voyage. And in the days, weeks and years that follow, you’ll have the added peace of mind of direct access to your Hatteras team whenever you need assistance. That commitment is also backed by an industry-leading 1-Year Warranty on all systems and a 10-Year Structural Warranty.

READY FOR MORE?

110 North Glenburnie Road New Bern, NC 28560

SPORTFISH YACHTS

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Within the boating community, the name Grand Banks has become synonymous with the romance and luxury of long-distance cruising – a far cry from its humble origins on a vacant lot in a far-flung land.

AN UNLIKELY BEGINNING

Our story begins some seventy years ago in what was then the British colony of Hong Kong. Robert Newton, an American expatriate, was the manager of Bireley’s soft-drink bottling plant located on a street called ‘Mok Cheong’ – a somewhat prophetic name, given the initiative that would soon transform his life, Mok Cheong translates as ‘factory that works on wood’!!

Robert had no experience as a marine engineer or designer. But, already in his late 50s and with no desire to retire, he suggested to his two sons – John and Whit – that they establish a boat building yard on the empty lot where his company’s trucks were parked every night.

And so, in the random fashion of so many great ideas, the seeds of Grand Banks were sown!

By 1962, Robert had moved the flourishing enterprise to Junk Bay. Under the name ‘American Marine’, he and his sons were building heavy sailboats and big motor yachts.

THE BIRTH OF AN ICON

As the company’s reputation grew, they attracted some of the world’s most renowned marine architects – Sparkman and Stevens, William Garden, Nat Herreshoff and Ray Hunt.

They reached a seminal moment in their evolution in the early ‘60s with the launch of ‘Chantyman’ – 34’6” in length and diesel-powered, it had a raised pilothouse, high bulwarks and softer hull lines. While bearing scant resemblance to the elegant lines of a contemporary Grand Banks, this boat was certainly the design that introduced the concept of a production style trawler to the world.

Its success led to a fundamental change in the company’s strategy. In 1963, designed by Kenneth Smith, ‘Spray’ was launched and became the prototype of a category that would take the marine world by storm – the finely built, 8 knot trawler.

A BREAKTHROUGH DESIGN

The immediate appeal of this 36-foot, diesel-powered cruiser led the Newtons to abandon their custom yacht building business to concentrate on the production line that would eventually become Grand Banks. Since 1965, when the first models were launched, 1,136 GB36s have been built.

In 1968 the factory was moved from Hong Kong to Singapore and five years later a very progressive decision was made – all hulls thereafter would be made of fiberglass, not wood. Fearing the skepticism of traditional yachtsman, the company didn’t notify dealers, buyers or the general public. But, as history attests, it was a decision that has more than proved its value in terms of strength, weight, durability and ease of maintenance.

The GB42, conceived shortly after the GB36, was retired in 2005 after 1,560 had come off the production line.

Along with the GB32 and GB49, these four boats became the ‘Heritage Series’ that created the trawler category within the recreational boating industry. Forty years later, you’ll find many of them still on the water, cruising gracefully along the coastlines and out on the oceans.

Evolution and reinvention.

Such was the continuing success of the company, it attracted other illustrious names from the world of nautical design. Harvey Halvorsen led the team until he established his own firm in 1975.

And throughout the 1970s, Tony Fleming was our Technical Director and helped introduce the iconic range of raised pilothouse boats before founding his own business.

But perhaps the most significant sea change in the fortunes of Grand Banks occurred in 2014 when our parent company acquired the Australian-based, Palm Beach Motor Yachts. This boutique brand, owned and designed by ocean-racing champion Mark Richards, had built a reputation for producing the most exquisitely styled and crafted boats.

Now, with Mark appointed CEO of Grand Banks, the combined expertise and experience of the extended team has led to a fundamental reinvention of our boats and our brand.

THE PAST MEETS THE FUTURE

The new range of Grand Banks Motor Yachts retains all the virtues of its glorious heritage – style, luxury and the capacity to take families and friends on extended cruises to new and exciting locations.

In 1995 our production facility moved to Malaysia. The expanded and revamped factory now employs the most sophisticated systems and technology in the boat-building industry.

These new models are the fastest, most stable, most comfortable and most fuel-efficient cruisers that you’ll see in any marina today.

This is truly the reinvention of an icon.

OUR RACING DNA

With mark now at the helm of the company, his pioneering spirit and story of ocean racing success have become important themes in both the narrative and the future of grand banks..

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Back in the late 90s, Mark first collaborated with Australian businessman, Bob Oatley, to develop a series of 60ft racing yachts. This teamwork culminated in the sloop ‘Another Duchess’ which proved to be the star performer in the 2003 Race Week at Hamilton Island. With Mark at the helm, she was described by competitors and pundits alike as ‘Unstoppable!’

However, it was the arrival of Wild Oats IX in the same year that cemented Australia’s most successful racing partnership. Named after one of Bob’s vineyards in the country town of Mudgee, she was the first yacht equipped with a hydraulic canting keel and took Mark to victory in the Admiral’s Cup in England.

Her successor, the 66ft Wild Oats X, also enjoyed great success and won line honours in both the 2005 and 2007 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME!

But it is Wild Oats XI that will go down in history. This 100ft maxi yacht was completed only two weeks before the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race and yet went on to win the ‘treble’ – line honours, handicap and race record.

And that was just the start of her story. Since then, Mark has skippered Wild Oats XI to victory a further eight times, winning the Treble a second time and repeatedly breaking all records in this most gruelling of races.

It’s the stuff of legend.

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The Palm Beach brand takes its name not from Florida but from the idyllic peninsular of Sydney’s Northern Beaches where our founder and CEO, Mark Richards, grew up and discovered an all-consuming passion for the sea.

EVOLUTION OF A CLASSIC

Mark started sailing at the age of six, racing with the Manly juniors, and then went on to spend his teenage years at the Royal Motor Yacht Club where he completed his apprenticeship as a shipwright.

By the age of twenty he was competing in the Admiral’s cup as a professional yachtsman and then spent ten exciting and challenging years travelling the world on the match racing Grand Prix circuit.

This experience gave Mark a grounding in every aspect of designing and building boats. From sweeping the floors to helping John McConachy develop cutting edge innovations for America’s Cup yachts, he learned the trade and craft from top to bottom and inside out.

A BREAK WITH TRADITION

And then in 1995, he saw an opportunity.

Inspired by the lines of the lobster boats he’d seen while racing in the US, he decided to design and build what he called a ‘sailor’s power boat’ – a highly efficient, high speed cruising motor yacht.

He studied the competitors and found them to be heavy, unstable and wildly inefficient. So, drawing from his racing experience, he set out to build a lighter boat, one whose hull gave a fine entry into the water, a softer ride and consumed only half the fuel.

Working with basic 2D drawings, he created the concept of the first PB38 and immediately sold four of them off the plan.

This was the launch of our company and it created the mold for our way of working, our standards, our values and ambitions.

CONSTANT EVOLUTION

Since those early days, the PB38 has spawned the nine models in our range, every one of them an evolution of its predecessor.

Twenty-five years on, Mark is still involved in every aspect of the design and manufacture of our boats. They’re born in his imagination. (Seventeen have started their lives in the notebook beside his bed!)

The designs are then rendered under his scrupulous eye before construction is approved. Once in the factory, every boat is subject to his fanatical attention to detail.

It’s fair to say that if you have a problem on board a Palm Beach Motor Yacht, Mark is the only CEO in the world who can pick up a tool kit and come and fix it!

THE WILD OATS YEARS

Wild oats xi and skipper mark richards are an extraordinary success story – winners of the rolex sydney to hobart yacht race an unimaginable nine times.

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP

Back in the late 90s, Mark first collaborated with Bob Oatley to develop a series of 60ft racing yachts. This teamwork culminated in the sloop ‘Another Duchess’ which proved to be the star performer in the 2003 Race Week at Hamilton Island. With Mark at the helm, she was described by competitors and pundits alike as ‘Unstoppable!’

However, it was the arrival of Wild Oats IX in the same year that cemented Australia’s most successful racing partnership. Named after one of Bob’s vineyards in Mudgee, she was the first yacht equipped with a hydraulic canting keel and took Mark to victory in the Admiral’s Cup in England.

Her successor, the 66ft Wild Oats X, also enjoyed great success and won line honours in both the 2005 and 2007 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

IMPOSSIBLE BUT TRUE!

But it is Wild Oats XI that will go down in history. This 100ft maxi yacht was completed only two weeks before the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race and yet went on to win the ‘treble’ – line honours, handicap and race record.

And that was just the start of her story. Since then, Mark has skippered Wild Oats XI to victory a further eight times, winning the Treble a second time and repeatedly breaking all records in this most gruelling of races.

It’s the stuff of legend.

A contemporary legend

In May 2000, Riva became part of Ferretti Group, who restored it to where it is today, at the vanguard of world boating as a recognised icon of fine Italian yachting artistry. This felicitous journey is down to the know-how of the group Engineering department and the sensibility of designer Mauro Micheli, co-founder with Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the studio that exclusively designs the whole Riva fleet.

That year also saw the launch of Aquariva, a 33-foot embodiment of the brand DNA that set the tone for the future output – a triumph of élan, innovation and exclusivity encapsulated in a product of revolutionary engineering, reliability and performance. In 2012, Ferretti Group announced a new majority shareholder: Shandong Heavy Industry Group (Weichai Group) of China, a true industrial giant, one of the world’s most important conglomerates in the automotive, commercial vehicles and construction machinery sectors. Weichai’s strength and strategic vision have enabled Riva to make yet another leap forward, with a flow of projects and resources assured for the long term. In 2014, the brand signalled its return to the megayacht sector, with the new Riva Superyachts division. The dream of creating Riva steel and alluminium displacement superyachts is very much inspired by Carlo Riva. His ambition and restless genius spurred him to reach for new horizons, with the celebrated Caravelle and Atlantic series megayachts in the ’60s and ’70s and, from 1970 to 1978, the six over-20-metre motor yachts in the Marco Polo series plus a 90- and a 100-foot Vespucci.

The Riva yard in Sarnico: the timeless atelier

The production yard in Sarnico near Bergamo opened in 1842 on Lake Iseo deep in the Franciacorta area and remains the heartbeat of the Riva story today. This is where it is all made and always has been – from the legendary wooden hulls of the past to the modern 27- to 68-foot yachts.

This was his personal brainchild, from the design to the functional amenities. Known as La Plancia (the bridge), the office stands in the middle of the work shed, its great 40-metre-wide arch borne on two pillars that also support a pair of bridge cranes, each capable of lifting craft weighing in at 20 tons. This architectural masterpiece makes a fine sight, even from the far side of the lake. A listed building, it is officially protected along with the rest of the yard as an environmental heritage treasure. The shipyard spans 36,000 sqm, about 17,000 sqm of it indoors, and boasts 10 moorings, 2 jib cranes, 4 painting cabs and a 50-ton trolley for transporting the finished yachts to the jetty and for handling shells or bulky items.

The Riva yard in La Spezia: the future is now

The La Spezia production facility is a key strategic and industrial hub. Built to extend Riva’s range and production capacity, it became operational in 2004 and is now the group’s technical, logistical and commercial centre of excellence for the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas.

With 13,000 sqm of indoor facilities. These include industrial work sheds and office blocks as well as piers and jetties with a total length of around 400 metres, serviced by a 300-ton wheeled travel-lift. Conceived to champion state-of-the-art production techniques and to build the largest models in the range – from 76- to 130-footers – it is home to the largest centre for testing, launching and delivering yachts in the whole of the Ferretti Group. Owners of yachts by all the group brands can enjoy customer-care and marina services here.

The Riva yard in Ancona: the home of the new Riva Superyachts division

Spanning almost 80,000 sqm (nearly a third of it indoors), the Ancona yard is one of the largest shipbuilding facilities anywhere in Europe. It’s home to the engineering and design team from the Riva Superyachts division, who work closely with designer Mauro Micheli and his colleagues at Officina Italiana Design.

This is where we build the Riva 50m and Riva 54m, masterpieces of advanced technology and attention to detail suffused with the spirit of the brand.

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Ferretti S.p.A.

Tax code and VAT no. 04485970968 Registered Office Via Irma Bandiera, 62 – 47841 Cattolica (RN) Italy REA no. RN 296608 - Companies Register no. 04485970968 Share capital € 338.482.654,00 fully paid-up PEC: [email protected]

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Viking Yachts History

Viking yacht company celebrates over five decades: a hull of a story.

Not too long ago, though, the picture at Viking was anything but rosy. When the double-whammy of a nationwide recession hit in 1990, followed by the introduction of a federal luxury tax in 1991, the company went from 1,500 employees in two plants to just 80 employees in one plant. In general, the marine industry went into a tailspin that resulted in massive plant shutdowns and a significant rippling effect of related closures as ancillary businesses, such engine manufacturers, equipment producers and other vendors saw their markets dry up.

The Healeys borrowed working capital and invested their own money to keep the company afloat. Bob Healey also was instrumental in organizing a national, grass-roots campaign to fight the tax based on a loss of jobs issue. In taking the industry lead, Bob organized busloads of out-of-work boat builders that converged on Capitol Hill. Other demonstrations took place on a regular basis around the country to plead for support in repealing the tax. In Rhode Island, a boat was set on fire aboard a barge in Narragansett Bay as a symbol of protest. It took better than two years, but by 1993 the luxury tax was history and Viking was poised to flex its muscles as boat buyers returned to the market. It is interesting to note that Viking's decision to remain open, despite dismal sales attributable to the luxury tax allowed the company to tool up for new models. Thus, when the tax was lifted, Viking roared to the front line leapfrogging over its competition firmly establishing Viking as the dominant builder in its class.

In dealing with an owner base that is constantly seeking new and larger models, Viking produced the Custom 105, built in Viareggio, Italy, to Viking's specifications by Versilcraft. The new yacht made its premiere at the 42nd Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2001 and was awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2002.

In February 2002, Viking opened a new service facility in Riviera Beach, Florida, near Palm Beach, to accommodate Viking owners who bring their boats south for the winter. The new facility features slips for in-water work, as well as land storage to handle larger projects and outfitting. A 125-foot by 150-foot shed with 50 feet of clearance will accommodate boats with tuna towers for indoor work.

In December 2002, the Bass River Marina, adjacent to the Viking Yacht plant was bought back by the Healeys and reflagged the Viking Yachting Center. It was at this marina where the Healey brothers started their maritime careers. The brothers sold the property in 1964 when they devoted all of their energies to boat manufacturing.

In early 2003, Viking formed two new companies, Atlantic Marine Electronics (AME) and Palm Beach Towers (PBT). Atlantic Marine Electronics is based at the Viking Yachting Center (with a satellite office in Riviera Beach) and is responsible for the sophisticated electronic navigation packages, which are installed aboard Viking Yachts and Viking Sport Cruisers. Based at the Riviera Beach, Florida, facility (with additional service bays at the Yachting Center), Palm Beach Towers designs and builds tuna towers and fabricates other aluminum and fiberglass components for Vikings and other yacht brands.

At a very special breakfast presentation on October 29, 2003 during the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition & Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, Viking Yachts’ Bill and Bob Healey were recognized by their peers and inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Hall of Fame for their selfless contributions to the recreational marine industry.

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