Jordan, who was recently awarded an honorary OBE for his services to motor racing and charities, dropped into the superyacht hangar in Poole to see the mould for himself on Wednesday 2 May.

Eddie Jordan and Robert Braithwaite at the Sunseeker 155 build

He was so impressed he made an impromptu motivational speech to the Sunseeker employees on the shop floor, thanking them for their hard work and autographed a sign ‘Thanks, Eddie’.

A spokesperson for Sunseeker said that Jordan was ‘very proud’ of the work done on the boat so far.

You can see photos of Eddie Jordan’s visit to Sunseeker in our exclusive gallery below.

The ex-Formula One racing team owner commissioned the yacht, which is the largest ever built by Sunseeker, and hopes to launch in September 2013.

The flagship will have room for 12 guests and 10 crewmembers, and features an innovative beach club at the stern, complete with folding bathing platforms, lower deck dayroom and tender docking.

The Sunseeker 155 superyacht was commisioned by Eddie Jordan

Jordan founded the Formula One team Jordan Grand Prix in 1991, the team that gave Michael Schumacher his Formula One debut, and went on to compete in 250 Grands Prix.

Jordan sold the team to the Midland Group in 2005 and is now the lead analyst for F1 coverage on the BBC.

All pictures courtesy of Sunseeker International

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The yacht itself features a split-level owner’s area forward on the main deck, with either one or two balconies and the possibility of a dedicated salon. The balconies lead to a private deck area forward, while the owner’s suite is forward on the deck below. This shifts most of the crew accommodation amidships (there is also a crew cabin on the main deck), while still allowing for four guests doubles further aft. The decks are dominated by wide-open spaces, with the possibility of a beach club aft, depending on what an owner required.

The interior concept by Jiwon Sung adds a suitably luxurious vibe. The flexible main salon is divided by walnut-framed double wing doors between the living and dining areas, with the opportunity to create a cinema area around the sofas. Grey oak laminate flooring and cream leather walls give the space a brightness that contrasts with some darker elements (in the high-gloss doors and the earth-tone upholstery, for example). The private owner’s salon uses an aluminium laminated cream-white panel ceiling with a recessed black strip snaking across.

For more images click through our gallery here:

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Superyacht Athena is on the market for $95 million

The Netscape and Silicon Graphics founder is selling the fourth largest sailing yacht in the world – the 89.9m Athena – for $95 million, Forbes reports. Athena was built specifically for Clark, launched in 2004 and had a complete refit last year.

Click here to see a gallery of more superyachts for sale.

Clark is also selling Hanuman, a J Class modelled on the classic Endeavour II and completed by Royal Huisman in 2009. In 2010 Hanuman won “Sailing Yacht of the Year” and became joint winner of the “Best Sailing Yacht 30m-44m” at the World Superyacht Awards. She is on sale for $18 million.

Both yachts are listed with Y.CO.

Wendy McCaw, who owns the Californian newspaper the Santa Barbara News-Press, claims that Lew’s yacht Maridome crashed into her 188ft motor yacht Calixe in February while it was moored at the BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville.

Maridome's captain has been accused of careless navigation and failing to maintain a safe speed.

McCaw launched legal action last month after attempts to reach an amicable settlement failed.

Maridrome was seized by the authorities on April 13 and was later released after Lew’s insurers paid a bond of $620,000 to the Florida Middle District Court.

In her lawsuit McCaw alleges that Maridome “tore the mooring float from the seawall and carried it to Calixe”.

“The Maridome violently rammed Calixe’s bow area and released the steel float to strike and scrape the entire length of Calixe’s starboard side,” she claims.

“The Maridome remained pinned to Calixe until it was separated by a tug hours later.”

Calixe’s captain told the court that they expected the repairs to cost almost $500,000.

Lew’s lawyers blamed a failure of a secondary set of controls, used for maneuvering the vessel close to port, for the accident.

CEO of the design studio Eduard Gray said that limousines and chauffer-driven carriages were the inspiration for the low-slung profile, combing space, speed and comfort.

There’s a lot spread over the Sovereign’s three decks, with a top-deck jacuzzi, infinity pool, helipad, and extensive owners suite, 10 guest suites, plus a nightclub, cinema, gym and library along the second deck and a full-beam beach club and bathing platforms on the lower deck.

In keeping with the theme, the Sovereign comes with the optional custom-built limousine that parks in the garage alongside the seaborne tenders and can be lifted onto land using the on-board cranes.

The video below, created by naval architect firm Ned Ship, shows the innovative details of the yacht including unfolding balconies and gangplanks, the helipad and retractable sunshade.

The concept shows a raised pilothouse configuration, with plenty of flybridge space and a forward sunbathing area at the bow. Aft on the main deck is a hot-tub, with a cascading water effect between the hulls. Twin hulls mean more beam and plenty of extra interior space for the designer to play with.

It is, of course, fully customisable but Gianni envisages a ‘double main salon’ offering great views out and a master suite forward. There is room for six guest cabins in one hull leaving the other free for spa, gym, cinema and crew areas. Tenders and toys can be launched straight from the garage between the hulls. Four MTUs driving waterjets should ensure a stellar performance.

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She has six guest cabins below and four crew cabins, and the interior will take its cues from Asian, Polynesian and Maori culture, while the furniture is from Dedon, Minotti and Walter Knoll. Two of the six bathrooms feature Philippe Starck accessories. A Bang & Olufsen audio system and Bega lighting are also on the spec list, while out on the water guests can enjoy the Kawasaki PWCs and Williams jet-tender.

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Recreational Island by Henry Ward Design

It’s all very well having a beach club on board, but they can get a touch crowded when all the guests descend at once, and even when it’s not busy there isn’t much you can do apart from sunbathe and swim. So why not carry a much more adaptable space around with you? That’s the thinking behind Henry Ward Design’s Recreational Island concept, which is being developed in collaboration with BMT Nigel Gee.

It’ll take up some space in the garage, but with a folded length in the example shown of ten metres, you gain a unit that is easy-to-deploy (overhead tender cranes will do that) and which opens to an 80 square metre area that can be configured just how you want it. Early concept drawings show it with sofas and sunbathing areas shaded by umbrellas around a glass floor, though there are myriad variations that can be specced by the client. One sunbed is shown extending over the water, leaving you with the tempting prospect of nodding off to the sound of the lapping waves.

Recreational Island stowed away

You can set up the Recreational Island for more active pursuits, by specifying a dive-station that can store your scuba gear, and there’s even a diving board for a refreshing way of entering the water. There will be, of course, a bar for cocktails throughout the day, and at night a dining table can be erected for eating under the stars. A small console allows a crew member to manoeuvre the island away from the yacht and into shallow bays, although it can also be easily nudged around by some gentle tender work (and it can be towed in folded configuration). Henry Ward Design is also investigating configuring the unit to accept a touch-and-go helicopter once the furniture is stowed away.

The island unfolds

With so many possible variations of use for the Recreational Island, bigger charter yachts and private family yachts will welcome it. Henry Ward Design and BMT Nigel Gee are also looking to develop the concept for the hotel and hospitality sectors.

Siminetti's Mother-of-Pearl tiles

Siminetti’s new Mother-of-Pearl series is a mosaic collection with a conscience. Made in 16 colours including this striking Jade dyed pearl, the production uses mother-of-pearl shells sourced using an eco-friendly process from Poyang lake in China, Asia’s largest freshwater lake.

Available in four shapes and sizes, the tesserae are resistant to sunlight and weather damage, so they’re suitable for spas as well as walls and floors, and are sealed with resin, making them extremely long-lasting.

The collection costs from £225 per sq metre; the company also offers a bespoke service.

See www.siminetti.com for more details.

Photograph: Hans Esveldt

The 55-metre Serenity, delivered in January, is Heesen’s biggest displacement yacht to date and the yard’s fifteenth in all. The owner can be sure he’s getting a fit-for-purpose vessel as the North Sea in midwinter provided a rigorous sea trial, with a Force 6-7 and three- metre swells, through which Serenity cruised without breaking sweat. That’s as good an endorsement of the hull form, designed by Van Oossanen Associates, as you can possibly want. The exterior and interior have been styled by Frank Laupman and Omega Architects.

Inside, there is room for 12 guests, with an owner’s suite on the main deck that boasts balconies either side. Below, there is a full-beam VIP, as well as two doubles and two twins. On the sundeck there is space for a steam bath, sauna and massage room.

Data: Length: 55.00m (180ft 5in).

Beam: 10.10m (33ft 2in).

Engines: Twin 1,320kW (1,770hp) MTUs.

Top speed: 15 knots.

Range @ 10 knots: 6,000nm.

Guests: 12.