yachtstyle2020, Author at Yacht Style

Motoryacht, superyacht, megayacht, shipyard, yacht builder, Gulf Craft Group, Majesty, Nomad, Oryx, SilverCat, powercats, Erwin Bamps

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s brand focus

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s brand focus

December 11, 2025
6:56 am

In the second and final part of an interview with the returning Gulf Craft Group CEO, the Belgian outlines the importance of raising the profiles of the Majesty, Nomad, Oryx and SilverCat brands.
Interview: John Higginson; Photos: Gulf Craft Group

Note: To read part one of the interview, click here

Erwin Bamps, CEO, Gulf Craft Group

With the Majesty brand of models ranging from the 60 to the 175, how would you describe the Nomad series, which spans the 65 to the 101 tri-deck?
Nomad has a different take on yachting. The exteriors have more classic lines, a more timeless design than Majesty, which is more contemporary on the outside.

With its Superyacht series, Majesty needs to compete with the top Italian and British motoryacht brands, the likes of Benetti, Ferretti Group and others building contemporary-style yachts and superyachts. Majesty then has different competition in the 60-100ft range. Nomad is competing with the likes of Horizon, Numarine, Sirena and so on. Honestly, Nomad has fewer competitors than Majesty.

The Nomad 101 is the flagship of the Nomad fleet of exploration-focused motoryachts

For the people who want to prove themselves to others, owning a Majesty is a great statement, to make people turn their heads when you cruise by. Owners of Nomad yachts care less about people think of them. It’s more about the connection to nature, the mothership that brings you to that distant cove, distant marina, and you worry less about being seen.

Is Nomad more affordable than Majesty?
Nomad focuses less on the bells and whistles, but the level of fit and finish in the interior is very similar. Nomad is the equivalent of an offroad car. It’s pitched as a long-range, explorer-style yacht.

This reminds me of a Majesty yacht owner, who told me he didn’t want to go too far out at sea. I explained that Majesty yachts are oceangoing and can cruise long distances, but he said: “Yeah, but then people can’t see me anymore!” So, Majesty is a bit about ‘see and be seen’, while Nomad is about heading off to remote, secluded islands. Nomad yachts have explorer-style looks and are about exploring, although not in the sense of heading to Antarctica and ice regions.

The Nomad 70; other Nomad models include the 65, 75, 95 and 101

It’s a bit like buying a Porsche four-wheel drive; if you take it off road, you’re worried about stones hitting the outside and damaging the paint. With a Range Rover, that’s the fun. They have a different soul. You could say they’re in competition, but it’s not the same customer focus. It’s more the look and feel.

When you enter a Majesty, it’s like you enter a Porsche Cayenne and the focus on the finish, the stitching, while in the Nomad, it’s about where you put the toys. Of course, it’s important to have toys in a Majesty; it’s just not the first consideration.

Oryx has had a rebirth in 2025 with the world premieres of the 32FX and 37FX open models and the enclosed 47LX. What’s your hope for this cruiser series?
I see tremendous potential in Oryx. That segment in the market has been growing. When we launched Oryx, it was catering mostly to younger people who wanted to have it as a family boat, maybe even a fishing boat. It had to have air-conditioning, a cabin, with people able to go downstairs for some AC then go back on deck.

The enclosed 47LX led Oryx world premieres in 2025

It was mostly a day boat, a weekend boat at most. It was designed with the specific needs of Asia and the Middle East in mind. It became very popular in the inner Gulf, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. It was never very strong in Europe because it didn’t cater fully to how people in the Mediterranean or Florida viewed boating.

Oryx is now trying to become a more globally oriented product range that suits a lot of people, not only in the Middle East and Asia but also in the likes of Croatia, Turkey, Florida or Australia.

We’re developing a range with open versions and closed versions offering protection against the rain or the cold or the heat. The open versions are for those people who like fishing, centre console or the pilot cabin with a three-sided windscreen, which helps you against the elements. The options work in different climates. Also, there’s now a bit more focus on the fit and finish, the looks and creating that emotion that helps younger people fall in love with a product like that.

How are the new Oryx models being received?
We’ve invited captains, brokers and potential new dealers to come and test the boats. I’ve invited people from Thailand, from Croatia and other parts of Europe, from the US to have a closer look at the boats and say what they like and don’t like.

The open Oryx 37FX (above) also debuted in 2025 along with the 37LX and 32FX

We had people fly in from Puerto Rico, so we could ask how it could be more suitable for their market, for the Bahamas, for Central America. We’re looking to see how we can set Oryx apart from Axopar, Saxdor and what everybody else is doing.

What are your thoughts on the potential of the SilverCat series, which launched in 2020?

Powercats are still new in the Middle East. Even in Europe, the sector is still up and coming. Clients are getting their head around how to make maximum use of two hulls.

Is it because you want a stable boat to go fishing or flyfishing or do some trawling? Or do you want the double hull for more deck space? Or can it be, like we did at Prestige, to also offer more room downstairs?

There are a lot of people looking at powercat design from different angles, to find out how clients really want to use a catamaran design to optimise the type of boating they want to do. Likewise, Gulf Craft is trying to find how powercats can serve the markets we’re feeding today.

SilverCat’s 35CX debuted at the 2025 Dubai International Boat Show

SilverCat models include centre consoles, like the new 35CC and the 40CC, which are good for the sport fishing market. Then we have the enclosed Lux versions for family boating, where people want to have some fishing capability but can sit indoors in air-conditioning if they want to have lunch. It could be used for some island hopping around Thailand or Malaysia.

Now we’re expanding into even bigger sizes and there are new models on the table that explore other ways of using a powercat. Ultimately, powercat clients want to benefit from space, stability and fuel efficiency, so we can maintain those principles and build completely different platforms based on that. Gulf Craft has the advantage of being able to build small ranges, experiment a little with different layouts, try a couple of concepts, put them to market and see how people respond.

So far, one of the most active client bases is sportfishing, so we’re promoting those strongly. With the enclosed versions, we’re trying to find if people want fully enclosed or not, or if they want a flybridge. We’re testing the waters a little bit.

Do you see SilverCat as potentially having global appeal?
Of all the brands, I’m most bullish about SilverCat. Of our brands, I think it has the highest growth potential, if not necessarily the highest turnover. I think the powercat platform has probably the biggest potential to bring newcomers to the boating market and new owners to Gulf Craft. I believe SilverCat has the power to bring more people to boating than the Majesty brand.

SilverCat’s 35CC also boosted the powercat brand’s growing portfolio

Of the four Gulf Craft brands, do you view any as only being appealing to certain regions or markets?

In production terms, there are brands that make more sense to sell close by than on the other side of the planet purely based on the cost of freight and logistics, which accounts for a much higher percentage of a small product than of a big product.

So, it makes more sense to focus on the smaller models in nearby markets, although potentially for international markets if we’re able to ship 10 or 20 at a time. Again, that means you need to have a strong distribution network in more distant markets.

Do you see Asia as a key market for all the brands?
Is it the type of boating people want to do? Yes. Does Asia have lots of islands? Yes. Does it have a client base that would like to do that? Yes. Can we bring the product cost effectively into the market? Yes.

Among the four brands, how much of the annual turnover does Majesty account for?
Majesty is still the defining factor in the success of Gulf Craft, and we still want to increase its turnover because we want to grow the whole pie. Denison’s representation will boost Majesty as a whole, but relatively we would like to reduce its percentage of our total turnover as we better develop and grow the other brands.

The 120 by Majesty, the Gulf Craft Group’s flagship brand

That’s why we’re building new plants and facilities in both the UAE and the Maldives. I’m signing more orders for machinery than I am for materials for new boats. We’re investing heavily in travel lifts, gantries, equipment for the factories, and we’ve done a lot of piling in Umm Al Quwain, where we’re expanding.

However, your primary focus remains on developing the dealer network?
Yes, using my network to bring the right partners to the table and connect more dots. The market has changed, so we need to help develop some existing partners as well as find new partners.

The dealerships might no longer be Gulf Craft dealerships but a Nomad representative in a market where other dealers are representing Oryx and Silvercat, or Majesty and SilverCat. The dealer who brings in superyacht clients might not know how to sell a SilverCat product. As the client is different, so maybe the salesman should be different.

And if a group represents all the brands, they may have different sales teams for different brands. On a Majesty, you don’t necessarily give a prospect the keys and say ‘try it’, but on a SilverCat, you do.

gulfcraftgroup.com

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s dealer focus

Leave a Comment / Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s dealer focus

December 10, 2025
2:36 pm

In part one of an interview with the returning Gulf Craft Group CEO, Bamps explains the growth of the UAE shipyard and his current focus on expanding and fine-tuning a global network of dealers for Majesty and its other motoryacht brands.
Interview: John Higginson; Photos: Gulf Craft Group

Erwin Bamps, CEO, Gulf Craft Group

Starting his career in his native Belgium, Erwin Bamps worked for Japanese automation specialist Omron before joining Belgian technology company Barco as Sales Manager for Southeast Asia and the Far East. Bamps was then based in the Philippines and UAE as Hutchison Whampoa’s General Manager – Pan-Asian Systems.

The Belgian’s time in Dubai led to him joining Gulf Craft in January 2002 as Executive Manager, working under Chairman Mohammed Alshaali, who co-founded the shipyard in 1982 in Ajman.

Bamps rose to COO in late 2009 and then CEO in 2014. In November 2018, he joined Groupe Beneteau as Prestige Vice President, overseeing the launches of the X-Line of motoryachts and M-Line of multihulls. In April 2025, Bamps returned to the UAE as CEO of Gulf Craft Group.

The Middle East’s leading yacht builder, Gulf Craft Group has its main shipyard in Umm Al Quwain (43,000sqm) and a new Superyacht Service Centre (10,000sqm) in Ajman. Since 2002, it has also had facilities in the Maldives, where it produces its Touring Passenger Vessels and is currently developing the Gulf Lagoon maritime zone. To date, the company has produced over 10,000 boats including the Majesty 175, the world’s largest composite superyacht.

Looking back at your first 17 years with Gulf Craft, what were you and the company focused on following your arrival in January 2002?

When the Chairman (Mohammed Alshaali) invited me to be part of their adventure, Gulf Craft was a 20-year-old startup – and the only brand. It built a variety of products – yachts, flybridges, fishing boats, family boats.

Bamps beside Mohammed Alshaali, Gulf Craft Group’s co-founder and Chairman

However, there was no international focus on how best to export products. People from overseas heard about the story, came from Malaysia, Australia and so on, saw some product and bought a boat. That’s not distribution; that’s people finding a ‘jewel in the Nile’, a best-kept secret.

When I joined, the company was on an adventure, building the shipyard in Umm Al Quwain, which started in 2001 and became Gulf Craft’s main facility to build the larger yachts and superyachts.

Unlike in Italy, which has many subcontractors, we needed a completely vertical integration to deliver what we were hoping to deliver: a complex product with a high level of fit and finish. It had to compete with established brands in the market, so we needed to develop the expertise in each of the 20-plus professions it takes to put large yachts together.

As such, we built a furniture company, a stainless steel company, a marble company and so on. We had to pioneer fibreglass and vacuum infusion, every aspect it takes to build luxury motoryachts.

To help get all this to work, I became a carpenter, a steel worker, a logistics expert and more. Day to day, we were working in the factories with our sleeves rolled up, alongside the Chairman, which is his style. As of today, he walks the floor every day. I’ve seen the Chairman more often with pieces of wood in his hand than a pen.

Majesty 112 Terrace

We built in the Middle East because of two reasons. Firstly, that’s where the Chairman and the Alshaali family living lived, and they had the financing, the brain power and the ambition. Secondly, there was a local client base, a market. However, there was nothing else. There was no skill set available in the region, no local labour pool, no local expertise. Yet there was a labour pool in South Asia, just across the water from us.

It was a startup scenario where you make use of the assets you have, then try and work around those to be able to bring this company to market and build a sustainable growth model. And it’s still there today. Gulf Craft is one of the very few major yacht builders that’s still under the same ownership as when it was created. So, what was initially an obligation became an asset, because that vertical integration allows you to control cost, quality and delivery.

How did the company change in size from 2002 to when you left in October 2018?

When I joined, we produced about 400 boats a year; when I left, we produced about 400 boats per year. However, the range, size and value of the yachts was very, very different and the average transaction value soared.

We went through exponential growth and the turnover figure when I left was about 10 times bigger than when I arrived. When I joined, 50-footers were rolling out of the Ajman factory. When I left, they were building a 175-footer.

When you rejoined in April 2025, how had things changed at Gulf Craft during your time with Prestige?

I rejoined in the same position as I left it, as CEO, this time of Gulf Craft Group. The brands created before I left – Majesty (2004), Oryx (2005), Nomad (2015) and the Touring Passenger Vessels – are still there. The only brand that has been added is SilverCat, which succeeded Silvercraft.

Majesty 112 Terrace

There’s also more ambition today. The company now includes the Superyacht Services Centre in Ajman, which is no longer just a support function for our own yachts but an independent business taking on work for all local and visiting yachts. It will now act as a profit centre rather than a cost centre. Gulf Craft Group is developing into a marine enterprise and won’t solely be defined by its core business of boat building. The company now has more of a 360-degree approach.

What are your priorities now as CEO?
Even though it’s the same position as before, it’s a whole different challenge. Back then, it was about building a model that would allow the company to establish itself on a global platform, building all the expertise required to build these complex products, so the company could rub shoulders with all the established players, even in the likes of Monaco.

Today it’s about bringing all the brands to markets where they can be distributed. In Europe, Gulf Craft is still identified mostly with Majesty – or Majesty Superyachts – because that’s the only product brand we’ve really brought to that market.

My ambition is to bring Nomad to Europe in 2026 and later bring Oryx and SilverCat. Gulf Craft is a ‘house of brands’, which each display the company’s different facets. The Chairman wants to show the world that we’re constructing these yachts in the Middle East, but we sell them worldwide. Our mission is to bring people to the water.

Majesty 100 Terrace

In this sense, I find myself in familiar territory because Groupe Beneteau was also using that as a main driver for its business. Whether it’s a sailing cat, monohull, motorboat or a powercat, it really doesn’t matter. Neither Gulf Craft Group nor Groupe Beneteau restricts itself to one niche.

So, when I spoke to the Chairman about this opportunity, my first ambition was to see whether he agreed on my approach of focusing more on the other brands and not just on profiling ourselves internationally as a superyacht builder.

He said he really wants to explore the potential behind each one of the brands. If some are only going to be competitive in the Middle East or Asia, so be it. But even then, there’s room for improved distribution. We haven’t developed the real potential behind all the brands, even for Majesty superyachts.

What led to the appointment of Denison Yachting to represent Majesty’s Superyacht Collection in the US?
My time at Groupe Beneteau helped me understand what makes a great distribution network. Once I joined Gulf Craft again, I immediately spoke with Denison Yachting (which has merged with OneWater Yacht Group) and realised they would be a key partner for the US market, where they have trust and credibility.

Majesty 100 Terrace

They have the feet on the ground, after-sales, maintenance service and so on. Denison also has a brokerage division, so they can deal with trade-ins, bring product back from the clients, sell them in with Denison having followed the story of Gulf Craft, this partnership is a combination made in heaven.

At this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, there were 20-30 brokers from Denison telling the Majesty story. We also tied up with More Yachts in Croatia, so they had 10 people telling the story. That’s 40 more people than before.

For Gulf Craft, we now need to consolidate the brand image and focus more on the customer experience. Enhancing the customer experience will make every client an ambassador and create more opportunities. If you have long-term partners – not just salesmen – who believe that their growth is aligned with our growth, then they tell the brand’s story like it’s theirs.

Where else are you looking to establish dealerships?
Following the US, I looked east, so we’re talking to people in Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia and so on. I’m looking for the right partners to help us tell the story, project our image, bring people to our brand.

Majesty 65

A lot of people are enthusiastic about the brand and see the potential, but you need people who are masters of local market connections. Then you can start building a consistent presence that grows not only in the number of boats in the water but also the service that goes with it, including crew, charter management, maintenance, helping resale value … it doesn’t stop.

It’s about the entire 360 degrees of opportunities you have to offer a client. And then you need to guide the owners into their next project because our clients are not one-time customers; they’re customers for life. Today we are underrepresented, undersold. We’re still, to some extent, a best-kept secret. And I think that the shipyard deserves more credit for what it’s able to do. This is what I can bring to Gulf Craft Group.

And Majesty is also more than superyachts.
We start with the 60, 65 and 72, but when we exhibit at Cannes or Monaco, we generally only bring the Superyacht Collection from 100ft upwards.

Majesty 65

If we bring models from the Yacht Collection, it’s a different distribution model and the yachts won’t be at the Super Yachts Extension in Cannes but with similar-sized yachts [from other brands] in Vieux Port. The SilverCat powercats will be in the Power Cat Village and Oryx may be in Port Canto. These all need a different set of dealers. There’s a lot of work to be done to find the right partners for each series in different markets.

gulfcraftgroup.com

Team Hollywood edges THA 72 Vayu at Phuket King’s Cup

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Team Hollywood edges THA 72 Vayu at Phuket King’s Cup

December 9, 2025
10:03 am

Ray Roberts’ boat narrowly won IRC Zero on a countback, as Queen Suthida sailed on THA 72 Vayu for third year.

With a range of nationalities competing – including crews from as far away as Armenia, Australia, Belgium, China, Cyprus, Estonia, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and the UK – it came down to the last race on the last day to decide the winner in four of the classes at the 37^th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in Thailand.

Even though THA 72 Vayu won the eighth and final race in their series – both on corrected and elapsed time – and had the same number of points as Team Hollywood, Ray Roberts’ boat took home the coveted IRC Zero class based on one more first-place finish in the series as they won four races while THA 72 Vayu won three.

THA 72 Vayu, and the regatta, were again blessed to have Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana on board for three days of racing ahead of her participation in the SEA Games Thailand 2025.

Heading into the final morning, Team Hollywood and THA 72 Vayu were tied with eight points each, factoring in a drop race, as the class readied for two final windward-leeward races. Aftershock, the other yacht in the class, finished seven points back when sailing wrapped up.

In IRC 1, Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor had a great final day with a second and a first, and won the seven-boat class. Nick Burns’ Blitz had two third-place finishes on the final day, helping them secure second overall and ahead of Craig Nicholls’s Alright and J. Masuda and S. Kida’s Grand Turtle (Char Chan).

Simon James, the Principal Race Officer, had given IRC Zero and IRC 1 two windward-leewards, while giving every other class just one.

In the seven-boat IRC 2, Sergei Muskhin’s Madame Butterfly edged Match Racing star Mati Sepp and his Estonian crew on RTS-Baltic by one point overall, even though RTS-Baltic won both races on the final day. Igor Puzanov’s Jolt placed third in this class.

Ithinai Yingsiri’s Pine Pacific of Thailand had already won the Premier class after an unfortunate incident during the penultimate day’s first race, when it was bumped by Hans Rahmann’s Yasooda on the start line. Neither boat could race on the final day, while Shahtoosh also didn’t compete as it couldn’t improve on its second place.

In the four-boat Bareboat Charter A, Andrei Novikov’s Gloria won the last three races in the series to defeat Feng Chen’s Isabella and Aleksei Brunov’s Moonshine by four points overall.

Bareboat Charter B was also tight, with one point separating the top three finishers in the four-boat class. Hideyuki Miyachi’s Amigo II claimed the title based on one more first-place finish than Takashi Ito’s Team Miyakomuru (Sariya), after both boats finished tied on points. Maximillian Soh’s Piccolo was third, just one point back, after winning the final race on corrected and elapsed time.

The eight-boat Monohull Cruising class was also close. Even though Igor Ginzberg’s Wind of Change and Oleksly Borysov’s Ronin finished tied on points – both had one win in the class – the tie-breaker went to Wind of Change who had one more second-place finish than Ronin. Philippe Dallee’s Swan II was next, three points back.

Ryan Merrill’s Compass Rose was the only boat in the Multihulls class, although it was unable to race on the final day following a minor collision with the start boat.

DINGHY CLASSES

Earlier in the regatta, 81 dinghy sailors battled it out in Optimist, ILCA4 (U18), ILCA 7, ILCA 6, International 420, Open Skiff (U18) and Inclusive S\V14. YRAT’s Surapa Muangngam topped the Optimist class after winning four times and finishing second three times in eight races, as she finished 17 points ahead of China’s Youjia Xu.

In ILCA 4, Pinchanok Klaysomboon of Samut Prakan Provincial Sports Authority (SPPSA) won five of the eight races and twice finished second to finish 12 points ahead of YRAT’s Kitchakhun Somkhanngoen and 15 points ahead of Karit Phramanee.

ILCA 6 Open, ILCA 7 and International 420 were scored together. By winning four races, Voravong Rachrattanak of the RTNA edged Gass Anton of Kazakhstan by two points to capture the class, with Thorfun Boonnak third.

In the nine-boat Open Skiff, Punthita Werotjanakul won six of the eight races to finish eight points ahead of Andries Kosuge and 14 clear of Owen Wong-Forhart in a clean sweep of podium places by UWC, with all three coached by Seahorse Sailing School’s Scott Duncanson and Garfield Meeyusamsen.

Disabled Sailing Thailand finished on the east coast of the island, just off Ao Po Grand Marina. After four days of racing, last year’s winners’ Suraphong Chitkhong (helm) and Mak Sarawat (crew), retained their title by finishing two points ahead of Tanat Upatising (helm) and Tatiana Kaurova (crew), with Thitapa Saelime (helm) and Martin Holmes (crew) taking third.

After racing was finished, King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana presided over the royal awards ceremony, held at the Kanda Ballroom in the Beyond Kata hotel.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was again organised by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.

Sponsors for the 2025 edition included the Kata Group of Hotels (host), Amazing Thailand, Centara Hotel & Resorts, RMA Group, Coca Cola HaadThip PCL, Bangkok Airways, Garmin Thailand, Ford Thailand, RICOH (Thailand), National Telecom Public Company Limited, Primus Marine, Ao Po Grand Marina, B&G Marine Electronics, Bangkok Hospital and Singha.

kingscup.com

Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul’s Best Address

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle / yachtstyle2020

Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul’s Best Address

December 4, 2025
2:27 pm

On the Bosphorus in Beşiktaş, Four Seasons Hotel, offers unmatched waterfront luxury steps from Istanbul’s major attractions.

By Lucas Raven

On the Edge of the Bosphorus, at the Heart of Istanbul

The Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus occupies one of the most enviable positions in Istanbul—right along the European shore of the strait, where the city’s energy blends seamlessly with the calm of the water. Set in Beşiktaş, a historic neighborhood known for its culture, dining, and proximity to major landmarks, the hotel offers immediate access to the best of the city.

From here, it’s an easy walk to Dolmabahçe Palace, the refined shopping avenues of Nişantaşı, and the greenery of Yıldız Park. Ferries, taxis, and trams make navigating the city effortless, but the waterfront terrace has a way of convincing guests to linger longer than planned.

A Palace Restored to Modern Luxury

Housed in a meticulously restored 19th-century Ottoman palace, the hotel pairs imperial architecture with contemporary design. The interiors lean warm and elegant: soft off-whites, terracotta tones, patterned rugs, mahogany furniture, and subtle Ottoman references that never overpower.

Rooms and suites feel generous and serene, many with sweeping Bosphorus views that set the tone from the moment you wake. Bathrooms are spacious, marble-clad, and stocked with Diptyque amenities.

Outside, manicured gardens, a striking waterfront pool, and curated art and fashion displays create an atmosphere that is both refined and distinctly Istanbul.

Calm, Considered, and Complete

For travelers who spend much of their lives in transit, the hotel’s spa offers a welcome reset. The traditional hammam is beautifully executed, while massages—Swedish, Ayurvedic, or deep tissue—are delivered with consistency and precision. The MLX i3Dome infrared treatment adds a modern, performance-driven element for guests seeking recovery and wellbeing.

A sky-lit indoor pool, a well-equipped gym, and personal training sessions support both relaxation and routine. Whether you’re unwinding after a day in the city or recalibrating after long-haul travel, the wellness offering is impressively complete.

Refined, Fresh, and Thoughtfully Local

Breakfast sets a high standard, with traditional Turkish options—most notably the excellent çilbir—alongside continental and American classics.

Throughout the day, Yali Lounge serves Mediterranean dishes ranging from light, bright salads to comforting pastas and Turkish favorites.Aqua focuses on seafood and executes it with finesse: Mersin prawn tartare, delicate sea bass with razor clams, and a standout pistachio dessert that leans into local flavors.

For a more traditional experience, Ocakbaşi offers expertly grilled kebabs and meze. The bar’s cocktails, particularly the signature “Girl with the Pear Earring,” are well balanced and memorable.

Landmark Hotel With Lasting Appeal

As someone who travels frequently and stays in top-tier hotels around the world, what stands out here is the combination of setting, service, and sense of place. The property captures the essence of Istanbul—its history, its elegance, and its constant movement—while providing a calm, beautifully managed base. It’s a hotel that suits travelers seeking culture, comfort, or simply the rare pleasure of watching the Bosphorus drift by. A reliable, refined choice—and one that’s easy to return to again and again.

For more on the latest in lifestyle, culture and travel reads, click here.

Benetti integrating AI into production

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Benetti integrating AI into production

December 4, 2025
2:06 pm

Developed with Quinn University Consortium, the Italian superyacht builder’s AI integration project will improve production processes.

Benetti’s Livorno shipyard

Benetti is working with the Quinn University Consortium to introduce Artificial Intelligence into the shipyard’s production processes, with an initial focus on four areas of the Custom Operations division.

The Logistics, Planning, Production Engineering and Safety divisions will see the integration of AI-based technologies in the first phase of the project, which aims to upgrade the effectiveness of procedures, raise the level of automation, and increase the quality and reliability of products and services. The new project will get under way at the company’s Livorno site by the end of the year.

Massimo Casoni, Benetti’s General Manager, said: “Investing in innovation is the strategy that ensures we can always offer our clients the best possible product. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence is a significant step forward in the history of yacht building.

“On one side, excellence and attention to detail remain core to the brand. On the other, the adoption of cutting-edge digital solutions will open the way to make processes faster, more efficient and more sustainable, putting us in the best possible position to face future challenges.

“We’re proud of this collaboration with the Consortium, with which we share a sense of belonging to the local area and the vision of a future in which technology adds value to a unique product.”

Quinn has been supporting businesses since 1989 through advanced training and research initiatives, and with which the shipyard has already undertaken a successful project (2022-2024) to synchronise logistics by focusing on horizontal integration in the supply chain.

This work enabled the Consortium to gather and analyse inputs from all corporate functions, with a view to intercepting opportunities for improvement and defining a series of AI-based solutions that will be implemented in the shipyard in the coming months.

They include the integration of automatic controls on the Incoming Material Booking Portal – which will align materials deliveries with the yacht schedule and warehouse availability – and the introduction of the Three-Year Plan Simulator Prototype, which will automatically process complex scenarios and facilitate continuous improvement in key business performance indicators.

The application of AI to the Custom Operations area will bring multiple benefits, including the reduction of errors in manual activities that can be automated, upgrading data-based decision-making capabilities, and cutting manual processing times for semi-finished products in favour of in-house skills developed to address value-added activities.

Ilaria Campana, Quinn’s General Manager, added: “We’re extremely honoured to share this journey with a company like Benetti, which for us means sharing a strategic vision in which technological innovation, people and processes come together to create sustainable value over time.

“Today, Artificial Intelligence is a fundamental lever for driving companies into the future, on the condition that we think of it not only as a tool to improve efficiency but also and most importantly as a force for transformation that can generate concrete, positive impacts on the entire production system.

“That’s why we need an integrated, process-focused approach to deliver excellent performance, protect investments in technology, and foster new ways of working.”

benettiyachts.com

New builds with Fraser: From vision to voyage

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

New builds with Fraser: From vision to voyage

December 4, 2025
1:29 pm

Fraser Asia Manager Laura Verbrugge asks Monaco-based colleagues Harald Van Exem, Jan Jaap Minnema and Laurent Bredy how the superyacht brokerage house guides owners through the new build journey.
Words: Laura Verbrugge; Photos: Fraser

Imagine starting your mornings on a private terrace overlooking the sea, working from your onboard office as the sun rises over calm waters, exercising in your own gym designed to your every need, or even teeing off from the aft deck with the horizon as your backdrop.

Whatever you dream of, a yacht can be shaped entirely around your vision, designed for your way of living and built to stand as a lasting reflection of your taste, your values and the legacy you wish to leave at sea. Building a superyacht is one of the most exciting and complex journeys a yacht owner can embark on. Beyond the dream and design lies a process requiring technical precision, vision and trust.

With more clients in Asia now looking to create something truly their own, often exploring whether to stay below or exceed the 500GT threshold, I sat down with Monaco-based Harald Van Exem (Executive VP & Director Yacht Services), Jan Jaap Minnema (Sales Broker) and Laurent Bredy (Head of Refit and New Build Project Management) to uncover how Fraser helps transform vision into reality.

Harald Van Exem, Executive VP & Director Yacht Services, Fraser

Harald and Jan Jaap, what makes building a yacht such a unique experience compared to buying one on the brokerage market?
Harald: Every yacht has its own identity. Some layout and functionalities will be essential for one owner but aren’t relevant to another. There are always some compromises to be made to achieve the best fit, balancing the practical operational needs with the physical limitations of a seaworthy yacht, allowing an owner to travel those regions they wish to explore with family and friends in comfort.

Jan Jaap: Building a yacht is a personal adventure. You shape every detail and watch your vision come to life. It’s a creative process filled with anticipation, pride and the thrill of seeing your ideas take shape on the water. For those who want something unique but with a faster turnaround, many shipyards offer semi-custom builds – proven platforms that can be tailored in layout, design and finish. This option shortens delivery time, reduces technical complexity and keeps costs under control.

Buying on the brokerage market offers a different kind of joy – the instant satisfaction of stepping aboard and setting sail right away. It’s practical, efficient and a great way to enjoy yachting without the wait. Whether you build from scratch, go semi-custom or find your dream yacht on the brokerage market, the reward is the same: the freedom, comfort and pure pleasure of life at sea.

Jan Jaap Minnema, Sales Broker, Fraser

Laurent, at what stage should an owner contact Fraser if they’re considering a new build?
Laurent: The earlier, the better. Ideally, the owner should contact Fraser right at the outset, when the project is still just an idea. This allows our Project Management team to play a key role from day one to assist the owner in defining the concept, shape the brief for the builder, and translate their vision into a coherent technical and operational project.

We help guide the selection of the most suitable designer, naval architect and shipyard, ensuring they’re aligned with the owner’s expectations in terms of style, performance and budget. Importantly, we’re also there to support the pre-contract stage. Before any shipyard agreement is signed, our team ensures that the technical specification, general arrangement and key terms truly reflect the owner’s needs and leave no grey areas. That’s how we safeguard the owner’s interest throughout the build.

Many first-time builders ask about yacht size and the 500GT threshold. Why is that such an important decision?
Laurent: The 500GT threshold is a key regulatory cutoff. Once a yacht reaches 500 gross tonnes, it triggers more stringent requirements structurally, mechanically and in terms of safety systems. That includes additional fire protection, escape routes, life-saving appliances and class oversight.

Laurent Bredy, Head of Refit and New Build Project Management, Fraser

It also impacts manning, flag compliance and survey regimes. It’s not just a matter of size; it defines the entire technical framework the yacht must comply with. This has a significant impact on building schedule, cost and operational costs.

Jan Jaap: The 500GT threshold is a major factor in yacht design. It defines internal volume, not weight, and determines how the yacht is regulated. Staying under 500GT allows greater freedom in layout and styling, simpler systems, and smaller crews, often resulting in a more relaxed, private feel.

Above 500GT, regulations tighten, requiring certified officers, more safety equipment, and structured operations. The payoff is more interior space and amenities, but also higher complexity and cost. In short, it’s a balance between design freedom, comfort and operational demands.

Below 500 GT: Simpler operations, smaller crew (often 9-12), more relaxed private use, lower running costs.
Above 500 GT: More space, higher ceilings, bigger beach clubs, extra guest cabins, but also higher operating expenses and stricter manning standards (sometimes up to 15-18 crew).

Fraser managed the build of the 47m ArtExplorer

As a broker accompanying clients through this journey, what’s your role once the build begins?
Jan Jaap: Once the construction contract is signed, the yacht broker’s job shifts from dealmaker to coordinator. Throughout the build, the broker acts as the link between the client, the shipyard, the project manager, designers and other specialists.

Regular visits to the yard and design offices keep the broker close to the action, ensuring progress stays true to the client’s vision, budget and schedule. With a helicopter view of the entire project, the broker translates technical updates into clear information and helps keep communication smooth and efficient. In short, the broker makes sure everyone stays aligned and the experience remains as enjoyable as the moment the yacht first touches the water.

Fraser has been involved in some remarkable projects. Could you share one that stands out? Laurent: It’s difficult to name just one. Every project is a bit like a child. We grow with it from concept to delivery, and there’s always pride in seeing it take to sea, whatever its size.

The world’s largest sailing catamaran, ArtExplorer doubles as a floating art gallery

That said, ArtExplorer was a recent standout. Not because of her size but because of her complexity and originality. She’s a yacht but also a floating exhibition space. Blending the luxury and technical standards of a large sailing yacht with the spatial and environmental demands of a gallery was a unique challenge.

Installing such a massive rig and mast system on a catamaran of this scale added yet another layer of complexity. It pushed us to innovate, coordinate across disciplines, and approach problem-solving with fresh eyes. Demanding, yes, but profoundly rewarding, and a project that taught us a great deal.

Harald: We have been blessed to work with visionary clients who dare to challenge the designers and builders to achieve their dreams. Being part of this development – from initial thought into designer discussions, yard selection, build process, all the way into delivery followed by achieving the purpose – is the most rewarding.

As well as the exterior and interior design, owners should consider the level of crew service required

We converted an offshore support vessel into a unique exploration platform that included submarines, an ROV, a helicopter, dry labs, wet labs, media room and so on. This process was followed by seeing the vessel operate in exceptional environments and perform groundbreaking research – this is very rewarding. This all started from a dream of one person.

Jan Jaap: One of the true milestones in my career was being involved in the creation of the largest yacht ever built in China, an 89m project that started from a blank sheet of paper. It was a pioneering effort, not just in size but in proving that world-class quality can be achieved in Asia when managed with the same precision and standards as the finest European shipyards.

Jan Jaap Minnema sold the 89m Illusion and oversaw the build process in northern China with the client

It was also a true pleasure to work in Asia, collaborating closely with the shipyard and a group of dedicated, talented professionals who shared the same passion for excellence. The project became a benchmark for what’s possible in the region and marked a real shift in how Asian yacht construction is viewed globally.

The yacht was sold twice during her build, a clear sign of the confidence and excitement she inspired. For me, it was more than just a project; it was proof that innovation, teamwork and high standards know no geographical boundaries.

What advice would you give to a client in Asia considering their first new build?
Harald: Don’t rush the process. Careful planning, preparation and fine-tuning of the specifications all take time, but this is time well spent and will give returns both in a smoother build process as well as cost optimisation. Have an expert on your side to avoid pain points and ensure the process is enjoyable.

Formerly Illusion and Illusion Plus, the 89m China-built motoryacht is now named Eternal Tsingshan

Jan Jaap: For a first-time new build client in Asia, my advice is to take your time and build the right team around you. A trusted broker and project manager will guide you through the process and protect your interests. If you’ve spent time chartering and know what you like, you’re already ahead. But even then, an in-depth understanding of the build process is key. A new build is an amazing journey. The more prepared and well-advised you are, the smoother and more rewarding it will be.

If someone is considering building their first yacht, at what budget level does it make sense to start?
Laurent: It’s not only a question of budget, although of course, that plays its part. The real deciding factors are experience, involvement and the type of yachting lifestyle one wishes to pursue. For a first-time owner, starting with a semi-custom or production yacht, typically below the 499GT threshold, is often the most rewarding approach.

These vessels are generally based on proven platforms and pre-engineered configurations, which greatly simplify the decision-making process and reduce build time. This allows the owner to focus on the enjoyable part such as selecting layouts, materials and design features, without being overwhelmed by the complexity of a full custom project.

Eternal Tsingshan

A larger, fully custom yacht is an entirely different journey. It offers absolute freedom of design, but also demands significant owner input, time and technical understanding. Without guidance, even experienced owners can find themselves adrift in a sea of decisions. And that’s when a good project management team becomes not just useful, but indispensable!

Ultimately, it’s less about the number on the budget line and more about how one wants to experience the process of building and owning a yacht.

Are you seeing any specific design trends or cultural preferences from Asian clients when it comes to new builds?
Jan Jaap: From a broker’s perspective, Asian clients are becoming more confident and refined in their approach to yacht ownership. They want designs that blend international style with subtle cultural influences – elegant, modern but with a personal touch.

Eternal Tsingshan

There’s strong demand for flexible layouts suited to family life and entertaining, whether cruising in Asia, the Mediterranean or the Bahamas. Efficiency, low noise and sustainable technology are also high on the list, along with wellness areas and smart onboard systems. Overall, Asian clients are seeking yachts that reflect their lifestyle – sophisticated, versatile and comfortable wherever in the world they choose to cruise.

Once the yacht is delivered, how does Fraser continue supporting the owner through management, crew and charter?
Laurent: Fraser provides ongoing support well beyond delivery through an integrated Project Management and Yacht Management approach, ensuring the vessel’s smooth transition from construction to operational life.

This continuity is a key strength. The Project Manager who oversaw the build works hand-in-hand with the Technical and Safety Superintendent within Fraser’s management team. This ensures that all technical knowledge, documentation and operational insights gathered during construction are transferred directly into the yacht’s management phase.

Such a handover guarantees traceability and consistency in the technical oversight of the vessel, an undeniable advantage for warranty tracking, planned maintenance and long-term operational optimisation.

ArtExplorer

Furthermore, a newly delivered yacht is rarely ‘turnkey’. At delivery, many elements – such as final decorative outfitting, loose equipment, operational procedures, crew familiarisation, and certification – still require careful coordination.

Having the management team involved prior to and during delivery allows Fraser to anticipate and prepare these operational aspects early. The result is a far more efficient and seamless entry into service, minimising post-delivery delays and ensuring the yacht is ready for cruising, charter and owner use on schedule.

Through this combined structure, Fraser provides owners with a single, cohesive point of contact from shipyard to sea, covering every aspect of technical continuity, crew support and commercial operation.

Any final words for Yacht Style readers?
Harald: Building a yacht to your own personal criteria, capable of giving you those unique and precious enjoyment with friends and family, should be one of the best experiences in your life. It will take significant commitment, both in time and financial investment, but surrounded by the right team, it can be extremely rewarding.

Laura Verbrugge, Fraser Asia Manager

Laura: At Fraser, each new build is more than a project. It’s a personal creation, crafted for one owner and destined to carry their name, their spirit and their story across the seas.

Whether it’s a 45m displacement yacht or a 90m explorer, every remarkable build begins the same way: with a vision. But what turns that vision into a masterpiece is the collaboration, precision and passion behind it.

New build projects are more than technical achievements: they’re stories of trust, collaboration, and craftsmanship. From first sketch to maiden voyage, our experts ensure each stage is handled with precision and respect of the owner’s visions.

For owners in Asia, the message is clear: with the right guidance, building your own yacht isn’t just achievable, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences in yachting.

fraseryachts.com

Sunreef launches first 100 Power Eco

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Sunreef launches first 100 Power Eco

December 4, 2025
12:22 pm

The Polish shipyard has released the first Eco version of its 100 Power, currently the brand’s flagship powercat

Sunreef Yachts has released its first 100 Sunreef Power Eco, Double Happiness, whose entire hull and superstructure are painted in a dark shade described by the Polish shipyard as ‘Lava Stone’.

Featuring integrated solar panels on the flybridge hardtop and forward overhang, the powercat offers silent, fume-free cruising through four 180kW electric motors and a 990kWh battery bank, with onboard technology including two range extenders.

Including Petite Belle delivered earlier in the year, the Polish shipyard had previously launched three hulls of the classic version of the 100 Power, which is 94ft long and has a beam of over 44ft. However, Double Happiness is the first to include the shipyard’s renowned Eco technology.

“The combination of eco-conscious power solutions, expansive spaces and bespoke craftsmanship cements Double Happiness as one of the standout yachts in the 100 Sunreef Power series,” Sunreef stated.

Double Happiness features two large fold-down platforms that create a walk-around waterside beach club, ideal as a base for lounging, swimming and watersports, with the aft garage accommodating two jet-skis and water toys.

Nine steps on each side lead up to the full-beam cockpit, which offers covered alfresco dining for 10. Sliding glass doors lead into the vast saloon, where the dark palette continues throughout the interior.

The saloon has a fixed, lengthways dining table for 10 to starboard, alongside a carpeted lounge to port featuring a huge L-shaped sofa, coffee table and armchair. A pop-up TV is discreetly integrated into the forward bulkhead.

Forward on the main deck is the master suite, offering “sweeping panoramic views seldom found in vessels of this size”, according to Sunreef. The suite includes a king-size bed, extensive storage, a luxurious en-suite bathroom, and direct access to the enormous bow terrace, which has two L-shaped sofas, tables and six sunpads side by side. The hulls accommodate four en-suite guest cabins.

The expansive flybridge can serve as the yacht’s social epicentre, with a C-shaped sofa and a fully equipped bar making it “an elevated retreat for meals, sunset cocktails or gatherings in the open air”, as Sunreef describes.

“The layout of Double Happiness ensures both sociability and privacy,” the shipyard continued. “Carefully separated guest and crew zones, along with generous outdoor living areas, make the yacht exceptionally versatile.”

sunreef-yachts.com

Fountaine Pajot sells two ODSea+ catamarans to Korea

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Fountaine Pajot sells two ODSea+ catamarans to Korea

December 4, 2025
10:43 am

The French catamaran builder has sold two hybrid electric versions of the new FP44, which had its world premiere at Cannes in September.

Fountaine Pajot has announced the sales of two ODSea+ hybrid electric versions of its new FP44 through Korean dealer HBS Marine. The FP44 sailing cat was among the French brand’s world premieres at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, along with the entry-level FP41 and the Power 80 flagship powercat.

Kevin Corfa, Fountaine Pajot’s Head of Asia, stated that the two FP44 sailing cats ordered for Korea would arrive in mid-2026 and would be the brand’s first electric models in Asia. “There’s strong interest in Korea, where our dealer HBS Marine has been working closely with the Marine Department over the last year,” Corfa said.

One of the buyers attended this year’s Fountaine Pajot Open Days in July, a three-day event held in La Rochelle’s Vieux Port (Old Port) that attracted 400 visitors including 55 dealers, with highlights including over 40 sea trials.

“It was while sailing with us that he really made his decision to buy,” Corfa said. “It’s a statement that the Open Days event works, even for Asian clients who traditionally only go to bigger boat shows like the Cannes Yachting Festival.

“This year’s Open Days was a really great edition and in 2026, we will have an even greater number of Asia-based clients and prospects flying to France for this.”

fountaine-pajot.com

hbsyachts.com

Oryx adds 37LX to new-look range

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Oryx adds 37LX to new-look range

December 4, 2025
10:05 am

The Gulf Craft Group brand has expanded its line of sport cruisers with the enclosed 37LX, which adds to three new models launched earlier in the year.

Oryx has released the 37LX, the enclosed version of the open 37FX that was among the brand’s three world premieres at the 2025 Dubai International Boat Show.

The 32FX and 47LX were also among the new models that launched a new generation for the Gulf Craft Group brand, which focuses on sport cruisers from 10-14m “that combine sleek styling with robust functionality for fun and family cruising”, according to the shipyard.

The 37LX walkaround, which debuted at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show in November, has an overall length of 37ft 9in, a beam of 11ft 9in and a draft of 2ft 3in. Built on a fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) hull, the yacht can be fitted with three Mercury outboard engines and has a fuel tank of 1,135 litres and fresh water capacity of 113 litres, allowing for extended outings.

The aft deck includes a wet bar forward of the engines and an aft-facing sofa sheltered by an overhang. Symmetrical side passages lead up to a foredeck with an integrated sunpad accompanied by fitted drinks holders.

Like the 47LX, the 37LX features an enclosed, fully glazed pilothouse, where an aft sofa faces forward to a table and an impressive triple-seat helm station with a reverse-angled windscreen. Port stairs lead down to a lobby with access to a double cabin midships, a bathroom with separate shower, galley to port, storage and a forward V-shaped dinette that can be converted to a sleeping area.

The flooring throughout the lower deck and cockpit is optionally finished in high-quality synthetic teak, which offers durability, grip and easy maintenance. The seating across in the pilothouse and cockpit features premium upholstery, accented with contrast stitching and trims that help deliver a bold, sporty look in keeping with the series’ performance-focused DNA.

“Built to serve as a dynamic day boat or a comfortable weekender, the 37LX provides both safety and comfort with its excellent seakeeping, high bulwarks and ergonomic handrails,” Oryx stated. “Meanwhile, the interior offers protection from the elements and extended usability – whether anchored at dusk, cruising in warm climates or navigating changeable weather.”

oryx-cruisers.com

gulfcraftgroup.com

Yacht Style Awards 2026 announced – save the date!

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Yacht Style Awards 2026 announced – save the date!

December 4, 2025
7:43 am

The 2026 Yacht Style Awards will be held at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove on April 22, on the eve of the Singapore Yachting Festival.

Get ready for Asia’s biggest, grandest and most relevant yachting awards presentation of 2026. The Yacht Style Awards and gala dinner, an established and essential event in the yachting calendar, is set to return on the evening of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, on the eve of the fourth Singapore Yachting Festival (April 23-26).

The lavish gala dinner in the Constellation Ballroom will be home to an invitation-only audience of more than 350 VIPs, yacht owners and prospects, and major personalities and representatives within the region’s yachting industry.

The Awards and gala dinner night offer an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to network, engage with current yacht builders and distributors, learn of new and historical models, and hear about trends and innovative solutions that are shaping the future of the industry.

Recognising the best of the yachting industry in the extended Asia region and internationally, this year presents more than 30 Award categories, selected to showcase excellence and creative flair in the industry, both regionally and globally.

Criteria for the yacht categories include innovation, style and build quality across yacht types and sizes, as well as owner and charter-client experiences, with a focus on the Asia market.

To watch highlights of the 2025 Yacht Style Awards, click here

For further information, ticketing and sponsorship opportunities, email awards@lux-inc.com

yachtstyle.co

Why Gulf clients are widening their charter ambitions

Leave a Comment / Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Why Gulf clients are widening their charter ambitions

December 4, 2025
1:27 am

A Master Scuba Diver, sailor and superyacht charterer, Yousuf Al Hashimi of Phoenix Yacht Management explains in his Issue 86 Column why Middle East clients are increasingly looking beyond the world’s traditional charter hubs to Asia and beyond.

Over the past decade, charter activity among Gulf clients has evolved from a seasonal indulgence into a more deliberate and globally mobile form of travel. Privacy, comfort and impeccable service remain the foundation of every decision, but expectations have matured.

As Managing Director and Partner of Phoenix Yacht Management, I have observed that today’s clients are no longer content with predictable routes or standard itineraries. They seek experiences that combine precision, authenticity and a sense of purpose, whether in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean or the farthest reaches of the Indo-Pacific.

The financial profile of this market remains significant. The number of active charterers from the Middle East may be limited, but their contribution in value terms is substantial. Many charter the largest yachts available – typically in the 60m-plus range – and they expect absolute flexibility, privacy and bespoke arrangements as part of the service.

Crew quality remains critical. Multilingual capability, cultural awareness and the ability to anticipate preferences are valued as much as technical skill. Many clients request wellness professionals, dive instructors or chefs able to interpret regional cuisines.

Environmental responsibility is another area gaining traction. Sustainability is viewed less as ideology and more as evidence of professionalism. Clients are increasingly aware of hybrid propulsion, efficient energy systems and responsible waste management. A yacht that operates cleanly and intelligently reflects the same values that guests apply to other areas of their lifestyle.

For clients based in the Middle East, the Gulf itself remains primarily a base for ownership rather than a cruising destination. Oman is the consistent exception, with its dramatic, secluded coastline now attracting those seeking something different without travelling far. Government initiatives across the region are gradually expanding marina infrastructure and support services, signalling steady progress for the future.

DISRUPTING THE RHYTHM

For a long time, charter patterns among Middle Eastern clients followed a predictable rhythm: Mediterranean itineraries during the summer and the Caribbean over the winter season. That framework still applies, but within it, new dynamics are emerging.

The Caribbean remains the preferred winter destination, largely because of its established infrastructure, reliable weather and concentration of leading international yachts. However, we now see a gradual diversification of winter itineraries as clients increasingly look east. The Indo-Pacific – particularly Thailand, the Seychelles and Indonesia – now attracts growing interest, with a steady rise in requests for expedition-style programmes and extended voyages.

In recent seasons, there has been notable demand for Indonesia’s phinisi yachts, the iconic handcrafted wooden vessels that blend traditional Indonesian design with modern superyacht comfort. Guests experience diving in Raja Ampat, swimming with manta rays and whale sharks in Komodo, and beach landings on volcanic islands.

In the Indian Ocean, fishing itineraries in the Seychelles and Madagascar remain established favourites, combining sportfishing with the privacy and comfort of a superyacht. In the Seychelles, marlin, sailfish and giant trevally dominate seasonal pursuits, while Madagascar offers a more untamed, frontier experience, with deep-sea and reef fishing interwoven with snorkelling and island exploration.

Further east, long-range voyages across French Polynesia and Papua New Guinea are gaining attention, often built around wellness, photography and quiet immersion in pristine environments.

This year, we organised a long-range superyacht expedition to Alaska. It was a journey of ice fjords, wildlife and extraordinary biodiversity, delivered with the same comfort and refinement expected aboard a modern yacht.

Interest in Antarctica, which entered the charter scene a few years ago when several explorer yachts spent a season there, has yet to attract significant interest among Middle Eastern clients. Nevertheless, we aim to introduce it to the regional market, as these expeditions represent the next frontier in experiential luxury.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I am myself an example of a Middle Eastern charterer embracing this category. Each year, I explore some of the most remote corners of the planet to experience life from a different perspective.

Among the most memorable journeys was a week-long charter in the Philippines aboard a Japanese fishing vessel converted into a dive ship. We explored the Tubbataha Reefs, about 90nm from any land, diving with hammerhead sharks and drifting along untouched coral walls.

Sperm whales in Dominica

I also spent five days aboard a converted oil platform near Sipadan, an extraordinary base for some of the world’s most exceptional diving. I’ve swum with sperm whales in Dominica and blue whales off Sri Lanka, and visited Socotra, an extraordinary Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean. True luxury today lies not in comfort alone but in the ability to reach what few have seen – safely and with purpose.

The evolution of Middle Eastern charter clients marks a decisive step in the global maturity of the yachting sector. As they look beyond established cruising grounds, they set a new operational benchmark for luxury yachting – driven not by scale but technical performance and competence, cultural awareness and the ability to deliver flawless service in any environment.

For professionals within the sector, this progression demands the same qualities valued by the clients themselves – discretion, discipline and the confidence to perform to the highest standard wherever the voyage may lead.

phoenix-yachts.com

YOUSUF AL HASHIMI

Al Hashimi has been Managing Director and Partner of Phoenix Yacht Management since 2023. He studied Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, before returning to the UAE. As well as working in the Vice President’s Office for Political Affairs, he established his first business in 2008, since when his entrepreneurial journey has involved his passions for sports, events and the maritime world. As the co-founder and owner of Ahdaaf Sports, he has made significant contributions to UAE’s sports and events industry. A Master Scuba Diver and a participant in international regattas like Cowes Week, Al Hashimi draws on his passion for yachting and his father’s shipyard background in his management role at Phoenix Yacht Management.

info@phoenix-yachts.com

Asia bound: Azimut’s first Grande 30M

Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Asia bound: Azimut’s first Grande 30M

December 3, 2025
1:05 pm

The Grande 30M is the first all-new Azimut yacht with an m2atelier interior. The first fitted with Rolls-Royce’s new mtu pod propulsion. And the first to feature both the Deck2Deck™ and ‘Infinity Skydeck’ concepts. Best of all, hull one is coming to Hong Kong.
Words: John Higginson; Photos: Azimut

Azimut’s first Grande 30M is owned by a Hong Kong customer

It’s always exciting to tour a new model making its world premiere. Doing it at the Cannes Yachting Festival makes it even more special. And knowing that the first hull is headed to Asia adds an extra layer of excitement. Add in being guided on the tour by the dealership that sold the yacht, and it felt like the stars were aligning.

The Grande 30M was one of Azimut’s two world premieres at the 48th Cannes Yachting Festival. However, unlike the Fly 82, which was only confirmed just ahead of the show, the Grande 30M had been announced as a 2025 debutant two years earlier, along with the news that the first hull had been sold into to Hong Kong by Marine Italia Asia.

Adding to the anticipation, the Grande 30M was the first all-new model by Azimut to feature an interior by m2atelier. The studio co-founded by Italian Marco Bonelli and Serbian Marijana Radovic is based in Milan, just two hours’ drive north of where the yacht made its Italy debut, at the 2025 Genoa International Boat Show, just days after its Cannes showing.

The long flybridge stretches as far aft as the main deck and reaches forward almost to the bow

The m2atelier studio worked in tandem with exterior designer Alberto Mancini, who was designing his fourth Grande superyacht for Azimut, after the 38m flagship Grande Trideck that debuted at Cannes in 2021 and the Grande 36M and 26M models that followed a year later.

For the Grande 30M, the Monaco-based Italian – who also works on Azimut’s Fly, S and Seadeck lines – has continued the look and feel of his earlier Grande designs, which are more forward-heavy than the versions developed by the late Stefano Righini.

Only a touch over 94ft, the Grande 30M makes the most of its LOA with an almost full-length flybridge that stretches as far aft as the main deck, a design also seen on the Grande 36M and 26M.

Furthermore, the Grande 30M also features the key innovation from both yachts: the Deck2Deck™ cockpit extension introduced on the Grande 26M, and the Grande 36M’s ‘Infinity Skydeck’, reimagined on the Grande 30M as the ‘Rooftop Lounge’ on an a fully walkaround flybridge.

The cockpit is shown with the Deck2Deck™ aft extension, while the ‘Infinity Deck’ skylounge is openable aft and on both sides

“It has tremendous volume and deck space for a 30m yacht, more akin to the previous and larger Azimut Grande 32M,” says Paul Grange, COO of Marine Italia Asia. “The yacht’s owner is a very experienced and repeat Azimut client who also owns an S model and plans to keep the Grande 30M in Sai Kung.”

STRONG PLATFORM

Azimut again teamed up with Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture (PLANA) to develop the yacht’s double-chine, D2P (displacement to planing) hull with a wave-piercing bow, a platform that has proven so successful on other Grande models.

However, the aft section was slightly different as the Grande 30M is the series’ first to feature Rolls-Royce’s new propulsion system featuring two mtu engines and pod drives. The 1,800hp engines deliver a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 20, while the pod drives help improve manoeuvrability and create more space on the lower deck.

The cockpit includes longitudinal sofas and an adjustable table

This includes space for an aft garage to store a RIB lengthways. Forward of the garage, there’s also a horizontal room that can house a jetski athwartships, although the owner of hull one has chosen to use this space for storage.

The swim platform spans most of the yacht’s 24ft-beam and has a central high-low section to help deploy the tender. Another moving part in the stern is the garage door, which folds upwards to a horizontal level to create the Deck2Deck™ feature and extend the aft cockpit on the main deck by several feet. Aside from this extension, the entire cockpit is covered by the flybridge.

When the Deck2Deck™ is deployed, it allows for loose furniture to be placed there, potentially facing out to sea. Alternatively, the space can be used for extra seats at the end of the long table, which can be electrically raised and folded out to create a formal alfresco dining area for up to 10 guests.

The m2atelier interior design includes a saloon with full-height glazing and see-through connectivity to the cockpit

“The Deck2Deck™ extension and longitudinal sofas instead of an aft sofa transforms the connectivity between the cockpit and interior, while also improving the visage for all guests,” Grange says.

M2ATELIER ERA

The Grande 30M wasn’t the first completed Azimut to feature an m2atelier interior. Selected to succeed Achille Salvagni for interiors of Grande superyachts, the studio also redesigned the Grande Trideck and Grande 36M, with the first examples – hulls 30 and 23 respectively – shown at Cannes and now offered on all current orders.

However, the Grande 30M was the first Azimut yacht that the studio worked on from inception, in tandem with Mancini. As revealed in an interview with the studio’s co-founders and Federico Lantero, Azimut’s Head of Product Design, m2atelier is not solely working on interiors but also internal architecture as well as outdoor furniture and features.

Forward view of the saloon, featuring seating on either side of the central walkway to the dining area

As the yacht used for the model’s world premiere, the first hull is very much a showcase unit for m2atelier, without the level of customisation available to owners of subsequent hulls. According to Grange, the owner of hull one liked the proposed design and embraced it. The studio’s emphasis on what has been described as ‘barefoot luxury’ is evident in a relaxed décor focused on light woods, creams, greys and whites.

The architectural influence is evident in the saloon, where there’s a clear flow within a generally symmetrical arrangement. Azimut typically offers inlaid carpets, but on hull one it features long, hexagonal overlaid carpets on each side of a central walkway to an ingenious triangular table whose shape has been better described by Azimut as a guitar pick or plectrum.

Between the hexagonal carpets and triangular table, m2atelier’s emphasis on geometry and angles provide an immediate distinction to Salvagni’s focus on circles, curves and freestyle shaping.

Shaped like a guitar pick, the triangular dining table allows for direct flow to hallways on both sides of the feature wall

The table’s triangular shape naturally creates diagonal walkways to either side of the ‘feature wall’, providing port access to the upper deck stairs and galley, while to starboard is the day head, lower-deck stairs and master suite. Not only does the table take up less space but it works superbly for guest and crew flow.

FURTHER FEATURES

The feature wall is a common feature of m2atelier’s designs for Azimut. On the Grande 30M, the forward wall has a slatted appearance, with vertical grey, suede-covered strips fronting the mirrored surface on the middle and right panels.

Stairs up to the skylounge are partially hidden by the ‘feature wall’

However, on the left third of the ‘feature wall’, the glass is see-through, allowing more natural light to illuminate the ‘floating’ steps – attached only on the forward end – to the upper deck. The staircase acts as an atrium-style feature that helps illuminate the lower-deck stairs underneath. Although hull one represents m2atelier’s showcase version, Azimut proposes customisable options for décor and furniture on subsequent orders.

On the first hull, one notable customisation is the day head, which has been cleverly designed to double as a shower room for ease of access and convenience for day guests. It’s almost unnoticeable. Talking of unnoticeable, I had to ask if there was a television in the saloon. There is. It’s a drop-down version hidden in the ceiling on the starboard side.

Forward view from the master-suite entrance (above); starboard view of the full-beam bedroom with forward bathroom (below)

Forward, the entrance to the master suite is flanked by wardrobes. The full-beam bedroom has a central double bed facing forward to a mirrored TV on the aft side of the shower in the centre of the full-width bathroom.

TOP AND BOTTOM

On the lower deck, the four en-suite guest cabins comprise two VIPs midships, both with inward-facing beds, while forward of them are two smaller guest cabins with the option of sliding twin beds. The forward crew quarters, accessible from the galley, include a dinette, washer-drier, two cabins with bunks, a shared bathroom, and an en-suite captain’s cabin.

Forward view of the skylounge, which includes an elegant bar area

The Grande 30M’s crowning glory is the flybridge. At the centre is an enclosable skylounge, with sliding doors on both sides and aft, a feature introduced on the Grande 36M, which had a semi-walkaround upper deck.

On the Grande 30M, the skylounge includes facing sofas aft and a bar forward, while the open aft deck has space for loose furniture. In Cannes, the space was shown with an island sunpad with moveable backrests plus three sunloungers at the aft end.

The flybridge has a full walkaround design, but instead of ‘side decks’, the extra-wide walkways to the forward area feel more like promenades and are almost social spaces in themselves. When all the skylounge doors are opened, the overall effect on the top deck is simply remarkable. And there’s more to see.

Aft and port view of the skylounge, which can be opened to the aft deck and both extra-wide side decks

Forward of the pilothouse is the foredeck, which has a low hexagonal bar/drinks unit aft of an intricately shaped sofa and a large sofa-cum-sunpad area with moveable backrests. There’s also the option of a spa pool on the top deck, which would typically be proposed in the foredeck, where guests enjoy a clear sightline to sea, over a sunken technical area in the forepeak. Biminis and removeable poles can provide shade at both ends of the flybridge.

“One of the biggest challenges of having an enclosed flybridge is that it can be too enclosed,” Grange says. “This yacht has a spectacular upper lounge that opens on all three sides and offers a unique, vast feeling of space when you move around the top deck.”

A triumphant first collaboration between Mancini and m2atelier, the Azimut Grande 30M showed off its assets during its world premiere. And for Yacht Style readers who missed it in Cannes and Genoa, the Asia premiere is up next.
azimutyachts.com

marineitalia.asia

Asia's leading yachting lifestyle media

yachtstyle2020

SHARE

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s brand focus

SHARE

Editor's Picks

Erwin Bamps on Gulf Craft’s dealer focus

SHARE

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Team Hollywood edges THA 72 Vayu at Phuket King’s Cup

SHARE

Editor's Picks

Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul’s Best Address

SHARE

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Benetti integrating AI into production

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

New builds with Fraser: From vision to voyage

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Sunreef launches first 100 Power Eco

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Fountaine Pajot sells two ODSea+ catamarans to Korea

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Oryx adds 37LX to new-look range

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Yacht Style Awards 2026 announced – save the date!

SHARE

Editor's Picks

Why Gulf clients are widening their charter ambitions

SHARE

SHARE

Editor's Picks

SHARE

Asia bound: Azimut’s first Grande 30M

SHARE

Editor's Picks