A look back at some of the highlights of a brilliant 2014 – the superyachts, the places and the people that made it such a memorable year. Click here for part 2.
January
Sporting a new Bannenberg & Rowell interior after an extensive refit at Derecktor, the iconic 1986 Feadship Highlander was back on the water. “We are very big fans of Feadship,” said the owners. “The Highlander has Feadship’s outstanding quality and Jon Bannenberg’s iconic profile. The Feadship and Bannenberg mix is irresistible.” The yacht now charters through Edmiston.
Also breaking cover in January was the extraordinary Dragonfly concept, an 80-metre multihull designed by McPherson Yacht Design – the first Welsh superyacht.
February
The latest Mangusta 165 – the eighth of this highly successful range of superyachts from Overmarine – was launched in Viareggio. Capable of 40 knots, the 50-metre yacht features a newly configured side window. The yacht was handed over to her owner later that month, and she made her public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
Meanwhile, the family cruising around the world on the 42-metre The Big Blue from Troy Marine have been heading into the Pacific, visiting the Marquesas and Tuamotas, the Society Islands and the Cook Islands. The explorer yacht left Florida in November and headed through the Panama Canal.
March
After a debut winter on the water cruising with her owner in the Caribbean, we featured a stunning gallery of the 85-metre Lürssen Solandge. The Espen Øino-designed yacht is a step up the size range from the owner’s previous 63-metre Lürssen. Solandge’s interior is by Aileen Rodriguez and the build was project managed by Master Yachts, through whom she charters.
Breaking cover this month was the 81.8-metre Abeking & Rasmussen Kibo. The yacht is styled inside and out by Terence Disdale, and the build was managed by Y.CO.
April
Seen on sea trials for the first time after hitting the water earlier in the year, was the Feadship Como. The yacht features large windows in the hull and a wealth of glass in the superstructure of the all-aluminium yacht. Owner Neville Crichton was presented with the 2014 Baccarat SuperYacht World award aboard Como at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
The three-year refit of the 68-metre classic Shemara was completed at the ex-Vosper-Thornycroft yard in Portchester. Burgess Marine provided specialist support and personnel to project, handling structural, fabrication and mechanical works, and pipefitting.
May
SuperYacht World had an access-all-areas pass to the Monaco Grand Prix – a key early season date in the superyacht calendar. Our gallleries of the race weekend took you from on board some of the stunning yachts to the pit lane.
The amazing 90-metre Nero was under new ownership in May, after Burgess and Bluewater completed the deal. Her asking price was €39.95 million.
June
Lürssen launched the 66-metre Ester III, ex-Project Green. Under instruction from the owner, designer Espen Øino gave her a masculine and almost military appearance with eye-catching angular sections. Her interior, designed by Reymond Langton, includes furniture by Silverlining.
The new Yacht Club de Monaco, designed by Lord Foster, opened before a crowd of 3,000, which included many members of the Monegasque royal family, cementing its status in the heart of the principality. Berthed outside was the new flagship Riva, the Mythos 122, in its official premiere.
Also launched was Oceanco‘s 91.5-metre Equanimity.