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How the Spectacular Superyacht Scout is Making Waves

Named for one of her owners’ dogs, Scout is a base from which they can explore the world.

By Ellie Brade

In 2019, over 150 brand-new superyachts were delivered; one of the standout designs of the year was the 209-ft yacht Scout , built for owner James Berwind and his partner, Kevin Clark. Named for one of her owners’ beloved dogs, she is set to be a semi-permanent base from which they can explore the world — canine companions  and all.

The story of Scout begins with a simple napkin. “We started with a sketch on a napkin before interviewing any designers,” say Berwind and Clark. “Our wish list was to have a capable, comfortable explorer to travel the world, and we got a long-range ice-classed yacht with ample crew and guest areas, advanced systems for fuel efficiency, telecommunications and responsible waste management.” From the moment of that very first sketch, the couple was extremely hands on throughout every stage of the build, resulting in an incredibly personal yacht. “During the build we were involved 110%, in every aspect of the project,” they say.

Once they’d developed an initial concept for the yacht, a range of designers were approached, with UK-based H2 Yacht Design eventually being commissioned for both the exterior and interior design. “Jonny Horsfield was a fantastic collaborator; he and his team executed our vision impeccably,” say Berwind and Clark. The decision was made to build at Hakvoort Shipyard in the Netherlands; Scout is now the biggest yacht that the 100-year-old yard has built to date.

Scout ’s fun detailing and a quirky design approach, paired with a contemporary and practical layout, make the yacht eminently usable while still bursting with personality. “ Scout ’s design was influenced by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis , the interiors of Jules Verne’s Nautilus submarine, every James Bond villain’s lair, with a touch of Looney Tunes ,” say Berwind and Clark. “Everything about the interior focuses on the outside views with abundant windows and sliding glass walls.”

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Her distinct exterior design pairs hardy explorer capabilities, striking lines and a hint of trawler influence. While this sounds slightly odd on paper, in real life it works in a stunning way. This is a yacht with her own style — inside and out — that turns heads wherever she goes. Distinctive design elements include a high freeboard, exposed tenders in the bow with cut-down bulwarks and integrated forward-sloping windows.

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Her gray hull and white superstructure are complemented by playful pops of yellow. “She is a very unique vessel that really captures the owners’ passion for being on the water and their fun outlook on yachting,” says Captain Kynan McDonald. “It’s been an exciting project to be a part of.”

On board the yacht, in addition to her owners, Scout is able to welcome up to eight guests in four cabins, each with its own nautical-inspired theme. The main deck is a focal guest space, with a beautiful main saloon that includes an LCD ceiling that mirrors the outside scenes. Complementing the main saloon is a large winter garden — a social hub that is perfect for year-round use, thanks to frameless glass panels that provide shelter when needed and retract when not in use, plus full air conditioning.

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The winter garden space features a cocktail bar for sharing fresh beverages and a dining table for 14; it’s no surprise that this is a favorite spot for hosting. Aft of the winter garden is an intimate C-shaped fire pit that’s ideal for gathering around as the sun sets, with atmospheric flames flickering in front of the horizon.

A beautiful private owner’s apartment is accessed via a library studded with nautical-themed artifacts. The apartment is a stylish retreat with multiple spaces including an observation lounge forward — this characterful space includes a hidden bar area within a globe structure, seating around stone-topped tables inset with constellations and a carbon fiber squid sculpture by British artist Alistair Gibson hanging from the ceiling. The owners’ full-beam bedroom suite has two large bathrooms, walk-in closets and frosted full-length windows to port and starboard.

The master suite leads out to what the owners affectionately call “Puppy Park,” a custom-designed garden area for their two dogs, Scout and Brio, to enjoy. With their pets set to be on board for long stretches of time, it was very important to design the boat with this specialist usage in mind. “The dogs have their own ‘yard,’ all materials on board are pet-friendly, and all access points, such as the gates, scuppers and door sensors, are ‘puppy proofed,’” say Berwind and Clark. This passion for animals also extended to the construction of the yacht itself. “As animal rights activists, we used no animal-based materials — no fur, no hide, no bone, etc. — on board.”

Above the main deck, the bridge deck is home to the modern bridge, which has sophisticated operating systems and comfortable seating for those wanting to watch the captain at work. This deck also features another very personal space — dubbed the ‘greenhouse’ — which has been designed around the owners’ passion for gardening, and includes its own potting shed, sink and gardening equipment.

Outdoors, a favorite spot has proved to be the vast, multipurpose sundeck. “We live up there with our guests and dogs, and we also love the open fore to aft space,” say Berwind and Clark. The sundeck is an impressive open space, even by superyacht standards, with features including an inviting Jacuzzi and sweeping views across the ocean.

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A helipad on the foredeck allows guests to arrive and depart in style by chopper, while an impressive crane ensures easy deployment of the vessel’s two 26-ft tenders. A packed lineup of toys and water equipment ensures that Scout ’s guests can enjoy their ocean playground no matter where they cruise. The yacht’s custom limousine tender, built by Cockwells, has been finished in the same color scheme as Scout and can carry up to 10 guests while reaching a thrilling top speed of 37 knots.

While the average superyacht is used for just six weeks a year, Scout will buck the trend, with her owners hoping to spend up to seven months of the year on board: It will be a true home away from home. “We plan to use Scout as our primary home for the next several years and hope to travel extensively wherever, whenever, with safety as a primary concern,” say Berwind and Clark.

“Bucket list locations include the British Isles, the Far East and Hawaii .” With her ice-classed hull, very little of the world will be off limits, and there is no doubt that her owners are set to enjoy cruising on board just as much as they enjoyed the build process. Scout truly embodies the endless possibilities of custom yacht building where, if you can dream it, it can be made a reality.

Images: Jeff Brown — Breed Media

[See also: The Best Luxury Yacht Builders in the World]

Ellie Brade

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US billionaire sails lavish $85m superyacht into small Irish town

James Berwind's family was one of the largest producers of coal in the US at the turn of the twentieth century

• 11:52, 12 JUN 2024
• Updated 11:53, 12 JUN 2024

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A $85million superyacht quietly sailed into a small seaside town in Co Cork on Wednesday morning, bringing about whispers over who might be inside.

Some locals recognized the ship, however, as its American billionaire owner also paid the town of Kinsale a visit last year. James Berwind, 60, is an heir to the Berwind family fortune and a well known philanthropist based in Florida .

The Berwind Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia , was one of the largest producers of coal in the US at the turn of the twentieth century. Now described as an investment management company, it's still family-run and its fifth-generation heirs are reaping the rewards.

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James Berwind is thought to be worth anywhere from $500million to over $1billion dollars. He's known for his love of yachting and dogs, tying his love of the two together with his $85million ship Scout.

Scout was seen docked in various parts of Ireland last summer, but it seems as though Kinsale particularly stole Berwind's heart.

According to local sources, Berwind was so enchanted by the sailing town that he decided to purchase a waterfront property there during his trip. He's since been tied to a $4.8million Georgian mansion overlooking Kinsale Harbor.

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Scout was seen arriving back into Kinsale early on Wednesday morning, docking near a small beach in the town. The 210-ft yacht was named after Berwind's dog and features a statue of the animal at the bough.

Built in the Netherlands in 2019, Scout can carry 12 guests in its six suites as well as 14 crew members and a number of dogs, who can enjoy the onboard 'puppy park'.

There's also a helipad, a sauna, elevator, gym and underwater lights, according to Yacht Charter Fleet. Berwin is believed to primarily live aboard the yacht with his partner Kevin Clark - and their dogs, of course.

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Who is James Berwind and why is his $85m superyacht in Belfast?

Visitors to Belfast’s docks and Titanic Quarter may have been struck by the sight of a superyacht cruising up the Lagan this week.

The Scout is a 63 metre vessel valued at around $85 million (£67m), and has been popping up all around the island of Ireland in recent days.

It arrived in Belfast Lough on Wednesday and raised eyebrows as it sailed into Belfast Lough and docked next to the Odyssey.

The vessel has also been spotted in Cork and Dublin, just days after US Walmart heiress, Nancy Walton Laurie’s $300m superyacht took a similar tour up the east coast of the island.

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The boat belongs to James Berwind, a member of the US-based family-owned Berwind Corporation.

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A member of the fifth generation of Berwinds involved in the business, the 59-year-old Florida resident is estimated to be worth around $500m.

His yacht, reportedly named after his dog, is estimated to cost between $5m and $8m per year to run.

The yacht was built by Hakvoort Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2018, with interior and exterior design work carried out by H2 Yacht Design in London.

The Berwind business, which dates back to 1886, was built on coal in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Almost 140 years on, the Berwind Corporation spans a multitude of business interests from pharmaceuticals and chemicals to plastics and resource management.

It also owns the TASI Group, which controls two dozen businesses worldwide, including Dundonald’s Sepha.

Set up in 1980, Sepha specialise in non-destructive leak test solutions, laboratory scale packaging solutions and deblistering machines for recovery of high value product.

It’s unclear whether James Berwind’s Irish coastal tour included a stop off in Dundonald.

It's understood the millionaire is currently on holiday in Ireland. His vessel remained moored in Belfast on Thursday evening.

Outside his business interests, the Florida resident’s interests include animal welfare and social causes.

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C. Graham Berwind, III 

C. Graham Berwind, III, operates at the intersection of arts, business and social impact at the multinational, multi-sector Berwind Group of Companies. In 2017, he joined his siblings in conceptualizing and leading the establishment of Spring Point Partners, a growing Philadelphia-based social impact organization that invests in the transformative leaders, networks, and solutions that power community change. Through Spring Point, the Berwinds are advancing their family’s entrepreneurial legacy to center equity and achieve justice. As a director of the organization, Graham focuses on improving equity in the performing arts, primarily in theater and opera. His arts support extends beyond SPP to his service as Vice President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Opera’s board, as well as being on the board of the Dramatists Guild Foundation. Graham is also the chairman and co-founder of Creative Partners Productions , a values-driven, Tony Award-winning production company that furthers the art of storytelling and nurtures the artists behind it.

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