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The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World

By Alex Holmes

Updated on August 14, 2023

Yachts were always associated with leisure, comfort, and luxury, floating gently in a gorgeous location or cruising unhurried to the next, but somewhere along the way, something changed. Yachts started becoming faster and more powerful, and their owners more obsessed with these characteristics than anything else. But that’s the way with every kind of vehicle these days, isn’t it?

Mankind is obsessed with speed. That’s a given. And it applies to everything, including superyachts, which, despite their size, can achieve impressive speeds over water.

Whether that speed is actually needed is debatable, but one can’t ignore that there are quite a few capable yachts out there and that the competition for the fastest superyacht in the world is a fierce one, as in everything that involves the man’s thirst for speed.

The following superyachts manage to blend both the need for speed and the craving for luxury. But these are above everything else, the fastest yachts in the world right now.

Let’s have a look.

• 20. Cara Montana – 45 knots

Cara Montana is a smaller yacht, manufactured in 2019 by a shipyard based in Genoa, called Otam. It’s a gorgeous maritime vehicle which spans only 25.9 meters in length, but is beautiful and powerful enough to impress.

Powered by twin MTU engines, outputting a total of 5,200 hp together, and equipped with twin surface drives, Cara Montana is able to reach a top speed of 45 knots, or just under 52 mph.

• 19. Alamshar – 45 knots

Completed in 2014 after a waiting time of 13 years spent in the manufacturing process, the Alamshar yacht can reach 45 knots, thanks to its twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets.

The naval architecture of the vessel was made by Donald L. Blount & Associates, the exterior design by Pininfarina, and the interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The whole project was put together by the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom.

The Alamshar is 50 meter long, and costed a jaw dropping $200 million, paid by Aga Khan IV, for whom the custom yacht was made.

• 18. Moon Goddess – 45 knots

Another lovely vessel from the superyacht world is the Moon Goddess. It’s on the smaller size, being only 35 meter long, but it’s capable of reaching 45 knots. The ship was built by Danish Yachts, with the naval architecture and exterior designs made by Espen Øino, a superyacht design icon.

The Moon Goddess can take up to six guests in three posh cabins, two twins and one for the owner, plus a crew of five. It’s propelled to a cruise speed of 25 knots, or the maximum of 45, by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

• 17. Shergar – 45 knots

The acclaimed German shipyard Lürssen built Shergar in 1983 to be among the fastest yachts in the world. Decades later, it still holds its own among better and more technological advanced vessels.

Equipped with two MTU 12V 396 TB83 diesel power plants, and two Allison 571-KF gas turbines, the Shergar is capable of cruising at 40 knots and reaching a top speed of 45 knots.

• 16. Seafire – 46 knots

Seafire is a super yacht manufactured by AB Yachts, an Italian shipyard known for some impressive vessels. This one is among their fastest, able to reach a top speed of 46 knots.

The 42 meter super yacht is powered by a setup of three MTU 16V M94 units and three waterjets, giving it the possibility to cruise at an impressive speed of 43 knots, only 3 below its top speed.

• 15. Octopussy 007 – 53.2 knots

Built back in 1988 by the renowned Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts and carrying a little of James Bond in its name, the Octopussy 007 is a 43.5 meter super yacht that can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members.

The vessel is powered by three MTU diesel engines that deliver 10,440 hp together, propelling the Octopussy forward at a cruising speed of 25 knots and a top speed of 53.2 knots.

It was on display at multiple boat shows around the world, and it changed owners for the last time in 2021. The naval architecture was done by Mulder Design, the exterior by Gerhard Gilgenast, and the interior by Art Line and Joachim Kinder Yacht Design.

Inside, it comes with 5 posh and extremely comfortable guest cabins, 1 master, 1 twin, and 3 double.

• 14. Daloli – 54 knots

The Daloli, also known as Pandion, built by Heesen Yachts, is a 36.5 vessel that enters the category of super yachts and impresses with a top speed of 54 knots, the equivalent of just over 62 mph.

The ship has a crew capacity of 6 and can host up to 8 passengers. There’s four cabins in total on its three decks, and the sheer beauty of its design can be seen both inside and on the outside.

It’s a real beauty, and a fast one as well.

• 13. Why Not U – 55 knots

Originally named Nobody, the Why Not U was designed in 2001 by Overmarine as a deluxe super yacht that’s capable of getting his 9 guests and 3 crew to their next dream destination with a top speed of 55 knots. The power comes from a setup of Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines.

When it comes to living on it, it offers an impressive range of amenities on its teak decks. There’s several dining spots, entertainment and lounge rooms, sun bathing areas, and plenty more to be had on board of this stunning super yacht.

• 12. Ermis² – 57 knots

The 37.5 meter super yacht Ermis², manufactured from special materials by the New Zealand shipyard McMullen & Wing, is among the fastest vessels out there, capable of a top speed of 57 knots, which is just a little over 65 mph.

The ship came out in 2007, but is still among the most innovative yachts in the world given the mix of composite materials, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium for its lightweight body.

That low weight, combined with the 10,944 hp outputted by the three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines, allow this stunning yacht to reach that max speed of 57 knots.

• 11. Chato – 57 knots

Chato is another small sized and powerful super yacht. It was built in 1986 by Baglietto from aluminium and was equipped with twin MTU 16V 396 TB94 diesel engines, which push it to a cruise speed of 35 knots and a max speed of 57 knots.

Chato is only 25.79 meters long, and that helps with a lower weight and a smaller profile under the surface of the water.

• 10. Azimut Atlantic Challenger – 60 knots

The Azimut Atlantic Challenger strays away from the usual design of luxury yachts, but that only because it was built for a very different purpose, which was to win the Blue Riband award, an unofficial accolade given to a ship for making the fastest transatlantic crossing.

Unfortunately, the Azimut Atlantic Challenger failed to win, but it remained one of the fastest super yachts in the world, currently holding the 10th position, with a top speed of 60 knots.

It was built in 1988 by the Italian shipyard Benetti, with the exterior designed by Pininfarina. It’s a 26.82 meter aluminum monohull vessel and is powered by four CRM diesel engines, capable of outputting a combined 7,400 hp.

• 9. Jet Ruban Bleu – 60 knots

The French built Jet Ruban Bleu is on par with the Azimut Atlantic Challenger and two other super yachts, at least when it comes to the top speed. They can all do 60 knots.

Jet Ruban Bleu is 25 meter long, was designed by Gilles Ollier and Coste Design & Partners and created by Multiplast. It was outfitted with a single MTU engine capable of 3,500 hp alone.

• 8. Oci Ciornie – 60 Knots

Oci Ciornie was a super yacht project that was realized by American shipyard Palmer Johnson, the Dutch Vripack, and the well known naval architect Don Shead in 1998.

The vessel features an aluminum hull, and uses two 1,800 hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine, plus Arneson surface drives. This combination propels the Oci Ciornie with a top speed of 60 knots.

The ship is able to carry up to eight guests in a master suite, a double cabin, and a twin room. There’s a nice and streamlined deck that features a superb saloon and outside areas for relaxation, while the interior takes inspiration from aircraft designs.

• 7. Brave Challenger – 60 Knots

With the same 60 knot top speed of the above ships, the Brave Challenger is to be lauded, since it’s much older, being built back in 1960. The project was completed by Vosper Ltd in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, with the intention of becoming a Brave Class fast patrol boat. It was only later that the ship was converted for private use.

The Brave Challenger is powered by three Rolls-Royce Proteus gas turbines, which output a total of 13,500 hp, which combined with the only 31 meter length and lower weight, can push the boat to the top speed of 60 knots.

• 6. Kereon – 62.3 Knots

The Italian yard AB Yachts, the one behind Seafire above at number 16, built in 2004 one of the fastest super yachts in the world, the Kereon. It’s capable of hitting a top speed of 62.3 knots, and that thanks to the three CRM diesel engines that produce a good 6,300 hp.

Since the total power is so low in comparison to others on this list, it makes sense that a shorter length of 27 meters and a performant hull design are at play to aid in reaching those speeds.

The ship has a very sporty aesthetic, all metallic silver, and can cruise at 50 knots for about 900 miles.

• 5. Gentry Eagle – 63.5 knots

Gentry Eagle was a special project done by Vosper Thornycroft in 1988 for the legendary Tom Gentry, who achieved almost everything he could achieve in terms of powerboat speed records during his lifetime, including the coveted Blue Riband. The vessel, capable of 63.5 knots, helped him win the Blue Riband in 1989, with a record time of 62 hours and 7 minutes.

Gentry Eagle’s design was done by Grant Robinson and Peter Birkett, with the interior by Robin Rose. In 1992, the ship became a private super yacht.

• 4. Galeocerdo – 65 Knots

Galeocerdo is a very futuristic looking ship, with sleek lines and a hull designed to maintain high speeds in rough sea conditions. It measures 36 meters in length, and is capable of hitting 65 knots.

The vessel was built in 2003 in Italy, by Rodriguez Yachts and is powered by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each tied to a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet. The total power output rises to a whooping 16,800 hp.

• 3. Destriero – 66 knots

Destriero was launched back in 1991 by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. It has a length of 68.18 meters and features a design made by Pininfarina and Donald Blount. This ship was again built with the sole purpose of winning the Blue Riband by breaking the old record of crossing the Atlantic.

She did it in 1992, after it crossed the ocean twice without refueling, setting a new record of 58 hours, 34 minutes, and 5 seconds. but the Blue Riband award was denied for her, since it’s awarded only to passenger vessels and not private yachts.

What allowed Destriero to set a new record was the power of 54,000 hp, given by the Codag engine and the three GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines, pushing the ship to a max speed of 66 knots, or 76 mph.

• 2. World Is Not Enough – 67 Knots

The Dutch superyacht World Is Not Enough, built in 2004 by Millenium Super Yachts, comes second place with a top speed of 67 knots. The vessel is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines, which give an output of 20,600 hp, and a good 3800 nautical miles cruising range at a cruising speed of 10 knots.

With its 42.4 meters of luxury and beauty, World Is Not Enough can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members in five extravagant cabins, offering plenty of comfort and areas for relaxation. The vessel features formal dining spaces, indoor bar, and al fresco dining and lounge areas on all decks, for the ultimate pleasure away from civilization.

• 1. Foners – 70.1 knots

The Foners is currently the fastest super yacht in the world, with a 70.1 knots top speed, keeping the first spot since its delivery back in 2000. The power behind its top speed comes from two MAN engines and three Rolls Royce gas turbines, combining together to output a whooping 21,380 hp.

Her cruising speed is 12 knots, and allows her to reach a range of 1,800 nautical miles.

But of course speed isn’t everything here, as the eye is impressed a lot when stepping on board. Built by the Spanish shipyard Izar, Foners comes with splendid interiors, formal dining rooms, and plenty of space on the decks for al fresco dining. Its 6 crew and up to 8 guests can be accommodated on board, in luxurious cabins.

These are the fastest super yachts in the world, a competition that keeps on going, dominated for the last two decades by the Spanish vessel Foners.

As technology progresses, it will be interesting to see how it holds up against newer yachts.

About Alex Holmes

With over 10 years of experience in media and publishing, Alex is Luxatic's director of content, overlooking everything related to reviews, special features, buying guides, news briefs and pretty much all the other content that can be found on our website. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

2 thoughts on “The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World”

Bolide by VICTORY DESIGN is now by far the fastest yacht; speeds up to 76 knots have been recorded by this 80ft full carbon pleasure Yacht, powered by three MAN V12 2000 diesel engines.

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Yachting World

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Fastest yacht: The giant record breakers

• Toby Heppell
• October 29, 2021

Skorpios is the latest in a long list of giant monohulls designed with a view to becoming the fastest yacht on the planet. We take a look at some of her predecessors

Every so often the yacht racing world sees an ambitious owner with pockets deep enough to want to step things up a gear and produce a new record-smashing fastest yacht.

The latest of these to hit the water is the jaw-dropping ClubSwan 125 Skorpios built for its Russian owner, Dmitry Rybolovlev. Almost everything about this new monster yacht is bigger, stronger, faster and higher tech than any boat which came before it.

Pretty much any metric you care to look at on Skorpios is mind-boggling. The five-spreader Southern Spars mast stands at 175 feet tall, and she can carry 11,324 square feet of sail upwind, and 21,108 square feet downwind.

Enough sail? Skorpios off the Dorset coast. The ClubSwan 125 is named after owner Rybolovlev’s famous Greek island, where Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

Skorpios has been built with the express brief to break offshore records as the world’s fastest yacht. Her recent win in the 2021 Fastnet Race – only weeks after hitting the water for the first time – shows she certainly has what it takes to take line honours in big races.

And the numbers Skorpios has shown while racing initially seem to indicate that it is really only a matter of time until she starts claiming some of the biggest records on offer in the sailing world.

But Skorpios is only the latest in a long line of new yachts built with the express purpose of winning line honours and taking records, each bigger, faster and more technologically advanced than that which came before.

The current transatlantic record holder, Comanche , is probably the yacht that most readily springs to mind when we’re looking at the development path for Skorpios .

Before Skorpios , Comanche was the most recent, highly ambitious racing yacht on the planet. She was built with one thing in mind and one thing only, to break ocean records and win line honours in some of the world’s most famous races.

Comanche showing off her considerable beam. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

“The design office were told specifically by me that if this boat wasn’t the worst rated boat in history they have failed,” stated the owner Jim Clark on Maxi, Comanche ’s launch, reaffirming the aim of the boat to break records and win line honours without any consideration for handicap wins.

Comanche was something of a revelation when she was first launched. Over the years boats had been carrying more beam (width) towards the transom to create more power – at the expense of outright light weather, upwind and VMG running performance.

Comanche took this line of thought to the extreme with what seemed an impossibly wide stern, which led to the boat being nicknamed the aircraft carrier.

Although Skorpios is technically beamier than Comanche (8.75m vs 7.85m) the ClubSwan’s hull shape has a more modest beam-to-length ratio, and far greater internal volume and higher freeboard, all products of the project starting out with some focus on cruising in addition to outright performance.

But despite a slightly less powerful hull shape compared to Comanche , when you look at the rig, you see that this will likely be overcome by sheer grunt in terms of sail area. Skorpios ’ mainsail alone is 7,093 square feet, compared to Comanche ’s 4,413 square feet.

Comanche was, indeed is, a yacht that pushed technology to the absolute limit and when she was launched her extreme design caused quite a stir.

She is still considered one of the fastest yachts on the face of the earth and, in addition to her transatlantic record, Comanche also holds the monohull 24 hour sailing record at an impressive 618.01nm (averaging 25.75 knots) in a 24 hour period.

These two records will almost certainly be two of the key prize scalps Skorpios will be hoping to take.

Mari Cha IV

Although for many Comanche is the most obvious boat to which Skorpios can be compared, arguably a closer comparison could be that of Mari Cha IV , particularly when you consider length and ambition to break oceanic records.

The 140ft Mari Cha IV was launched in 2003, at this size both Mari Cha IV and (140ft) Skorpios face a similar problem, there are several top races that have an upper LOA limit of 100ft – neither could take part in the Sydney Hobart race for example.

Mari-Cha IV held the Atlantic record for 12 years. Photo: Thierry Martinez

In 2003, Mari-Cha IV set a new west-east transatlantic record with a total time of 6 days, 17 hours. During the run, she also set a new 24 hour monohull distance record of 525.5 nautical miles . This record stood until Comanche snatched the crown in 2016.

Due to her size and the sail area needed to power the giant, Mari Cha IV was built as a two-masted schooner. This meant that each mast could be smaller – within the bounds of the technology available at the time.

The twin rig on Mari Cha IV also meant each of the sails could be smaller than would be needed on a single masted yacht, reducing loads and enabling the boat to be sailed without resorting to powered winches.

That Skorpios is a single masted 140 footer demonstrates two things. The ClubSwan 125 shows the advances in technology with a single 175ft mast now being much more easily managed and understood – thanks, in no small part to advancements in load sensing technology which have filtered down from the America’s Cup and high tech offshore yachts such as the Ultime trimaran and IMOCA 60 fleets.

However, sail handling for sails of the size needed on Skorpios is still an issue and the ClubSwan 125 still needs powered winches, which will put her out of contention for a number of records that require exclusively human power.

In 2008, Speedboat was launched . The Juan Kouyoumdjian -designed 100ft Maxi was a yacht designed to produce blistering speeds and was built with the express purpose of ocean record breaking.

Speedboat , Newport Bermuda Race 2010

The yacht was built by Mick Cookson at Cookson Boats in New Zealand and her radical underwater features, including an incredibly flat run aft were all features that would later be included in the design of Comanche – features that demonstrate a yacht built for record breaking as they offer serious compromises in lighter winds.

In many respects Speedboat was the first to take the wide flat hull concept and transplant it wholesale into a 100ft Maxi.

Speedboat was also the first Maxi to have a deck-stepped rig, which was produced by Southern Spars, and she has plenty of other radical features.

To an extent Speedboat was built as a scaled up version of the Volvo 70 ’s which had been impressing in the Volvo Ocean Race . As such it is hardly a surprise the boat was the product of Kouyoumdjian’s design house, as he had created several of the fastest Volvo 70s then racing.

Unfortunately Speedboat arrived at the very start of the financial crisis and she only sailed in a number of events before she was mothballed and eventually sold.

She went through a couple of incarnations before being purchased by George David and was sailed as Rambler 100 during which time she dramatically lost her keel and capsized while competing in the Fastnet Race .

For his part David would go on to commission Kouyoumdjian to draw Rambler 88 , an impressive bit of kit in its own right and aimed at winning line honours and races outright in an 88ft package.

Wild Oats XI

No list of record breakers and record holders would be complete without a mention of Wild Oats XI , the 100 ft Maxi belonging to the Oatley family, which has won the Sydney Hobart no less than seven times.

Wild Oats XI ( WOXI for short) was actually launched back in 2005 and is a prime example of what can be done to a yacht to keep her on pace with current trends and developments.

In 2009 she was lengthened at bow and stern from 98ft to 100ft. In 2011 her forward balanced spade canard was removed and twin daggerboards were added amidships. In 2012 she received a bow centreboard as well as caudal fin winglets on her torpedo bulb.

Wild Oats XI . Photo: Kurt Arigo / Rolex

In 2013 she was equipped with a Dynamic Stability System (DSS) foil, which is a retractable horizontal foil deployed on the leeward side of the boat.

In 2015 her stern was shortened by 2m and her 12m forward sections were replaced by a 14m longer, sleeker bow, keeping her midship sections unmodified and in effect moving her entire existing sailplan aft by 2m, a trend which had been seen in many of the newer maxis to be produced since.

The various appendages which have been added and removed over the years have lent the yacht the affectionate nickname the ‘Swiss army knife’.

By today’s standards WOXI remains a very skinny boat in the Maxi world – she and almost-sistership at the time of launch, Alfa Romeo II both had a max beam of a little over 5m.

Wild Oats XI remains a potent race boat and particularly for races like the Sydney Hobart, her relatively narrow beam gives her an edge in light winds, VMG running and beating, all of which mean she is still very hard to beat over a race with mixed conditions – if ultimately working against her should she ever look to set oceanic records.

Leopard 3 ( ICAP Leopard as she was launched) hit the water in 2007 for serial Maxi owner, Mike Slade. The Farr design had a number of unique features at the time of launch, which made her one of the most impressive superyachts on the circuit.

ICAP Round Britain and Ireland Race 2010

Leopard ’s mast was a towering 154ft and she could set a total downwind sail area of 17,265 sq ft. At the time this was a vast amount of sail – though Skorpios ’ 21,108 sq ft is something of a stark comparison.

Leopard is capable of speeds of over 35 knots. But her similarities to Skorpios actually centre around the plans the British boat had from the start to enable cruising and racing in a little more comfort.

Leopard featured a luxurious removable interior, which could be removed for racing and refitted for cruising or for charter – for which she had also been specifically designed and built.

Although Skorpios does not go quite as far as a fully removable interior, there is, at least, a nod to comfort in her design when compared to the out and out racer that is Comanche .

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6 of the fastest boats you can buy right now

• Top stories

Serial boat owner and adrenaline junkie Elliott Maurice picks out 6 of the fastest boats available on the market…

A rarefied segment of the boating industry is dedicated to creating some of the fastest boats in the world. They’re the Bugatti Chirons and Koenigseggs of the seas. Builders of these boats work to extreme tolerances, using exotic materials and construction methods usually found in the aviation industry.

Of course, at this level, low volume production and the aforementioned construction methods combine to create an exclusive product with an even more exclusive price tag. These super high-performance boats will be hugely impractical for most purposes, when compared to a typical leisure vessel, and the skipper will need significant ability to get the most out of it.

In reality any boat capable of speeds more than 60 knots (69mph) is very fast indeed. Given the hugely changeable nature of water compared to tarmac, this is akin to driving a car at around 120mph.

Most of the fastest boats use race-derived hulls with roots dating back to the 1980s when the ‘Go-Fast boat’ became synonymous with the glamor and excesses of the time. TV shows like Miami Vice , with Don Johnson catching drug dealers in his iconic Wellcraft 39 Scarab , helped make these boats extremely popular.

In reality, high performance offshore boats of this type were extensively used by cartels to run drugs into Miami, with the DEA commissioning a fleet of Blue Thunder powercats to help combat the problem.

Fast forward to today, some of the fastest boats are capable of exceeding 180mph with specialist engines and are in fact faster than the boats in Class 1 Offshore racing, where horsepower is limited to twin 1,100hp.

This list is by no means exhaustive – there are also a number of phenomenal offerings out there from legendary builders like Nortech, Sunsation, Donzi and Fountain.

6 of the fastest boats you can buy

Goldfish 46 Bullet

World’s fastest RIB

Top speed: 85 knots (99 mph) Price: $1.2million

Starting with one of the most revered names in the world of performance RIBs, Norwegian yard Goldfish Boats build exceptionally capable open water powerboats. They are also the fastest Ridged Inflatable Boats on the market today.

The 46 Bullet is the fastest of them all – with triple 500hp V10 Mercury outboards 85 knots is achievable. Around $1.2 million will put you in the driving seat of this exquisitely built boat with a carbon superstructure, state of the art electronics and custom racing seating for six.

Perfectly capable of cruising for hours in excess of 60 knots in challenging conditions, the Goldfish is capable of holding its own in rough water against almost any offshore powerboat challenger.

Article continues below…

Fastest boat: The current holder and contenders for the world water-speed record

Mystic M5200 yacht tour: On board the 70-knot, 2,400hp Bentley GT of the seas

Outerlimits SV50

World’s fastest production monohull

Top speed: 156 knots (180 mph) Price: $900,000

At 50ft 1in LOA and only 9ft in the beam, this rocket ship is a pure raceboat in design, with five steps in the hull and staggered engines to keep the driver as close to the centerline as possible.

At the 2023 Lake of the Ozarks shootout an SV50 with enclosed cockpit and twin 2,000hp engines ran 180.47 mph on a 1km run making it the fastest production monohull on the water.

More impressive is that a standard boat with twin Mercury Racing 1,350/1,550hp can easily top 140mph. However, this is a boat requiring an exceptional skill to drive, with handling characteristics as aggressive as its outright speed suggests. Starting at around $900,000 the SV50 is the ultimate in its class.

MTI Pleasure 52

Top speed: 156 knots (180mph) Price: $2 million

Another brand known for its offshore race winning boats, MTI produces nothing but high-performance boats. From its V series center consoles to its outboard -powered cats, this semi-custom builder doesn’t make a boat that does less than 80mph.

The 52 Pleasure is the fastest of the breed, with a full race version available using the same hull. With twin 1,750hp Mercury racing engines, this boat can achieve over 180mph.

With full custom options, MTI have even built a Lamborghini-inspired 48 footer to match the owner’s Lamborghini Aventador. Fitted with Aventador style tail lights and dashboard, the boat even had a matching covered starter button.

Needless to say, all this glamour doesn’t come cheap. You can expect a starting price of around $2 million for this level of exotica.

Cigarette 515

The most legendary go-fast boat

Top speed: 113 knots (130mph) Price: $2.2 million

No go-fast boat comes with as much pedigree as the Cigarette. Founded by the legendary Don Aronow, Cigarette Boats dominated offshore racing worldwide for over a decade, so much so that the brand name has become synonymous with offshore racers.

Still built in Florida, the brand has development ties with Mercedes AMG and Mercury Racing alike. As the largest high-performance boat in the range, the 515 offers peerless attention to detail and quality alike.

It is not the fastest production monohull, with a top speed of just over 130mph achievable with twin staggered 1,350/1,550hp Mercury Racing engines. It is, however, the best riding and one of the most capable offshore powerboats for handling rough water.

Its carbon fiber, vacuum bagged construction helps to justify its $2.2 million starting price and above all, it is the ultimate Cigarette boat.

Photo: Tom Leigh

Mystic C4000

Top speed: 108 knots (125mph) Price: $699,000

Mystics founder John Cosker is responsible for some of the fastest offshore raceboats in the world. Throttling his American Ethanol 50ft Catamaran, he hit 204mph this year setting the record on the Lake of the Ozarks sprint course.

Mystic will custom build a race winning boat for you on request, however Mystic now has a range of three high performance center consoles, with the C4000 outboard cat being the fastest production boat in the range, equipped with twin 500hp Mercury Racing outboards.

The C4000 will top 125mph and cruise in the upper 80s. With a bias on cruising comfort, the C4000 is a tuned down version of the Mystic race boat, with the tunnel compression reduced to hold the boat down rather than create the less controllable lift of the 180mph capable race hull.

The engines are also mounted on hydraulic jack plates to further trim the hull and keep the boat glued down in rough water. At just under 44ft the luxuriously appointed Mystic C4000 can offer performance akin to a light aircraft over distance – think Miami to Bimini in under an hour in the right conditions.

The Mystic is designed to run at speed confidently by most owners without the extreme characteristics of boats at this performance level. Options like a full cockpit sunshade, premium stereo and open transom make the C4000 as comfortable for lounging at a sandbar as it is running at blistering speed in open ocean.

Midnight Express 43 Open

The fastest center console boat

Top speed: 78 knots (90mph) Price: $1million

The center console market has exploded over the past few years, with a ceneter console now available for almost any boating application. The high-performance end of the spectrum has a handful of sublime builders.

However, the fastest arguably goes to Midnight Express 43, when running 5x 500hp V10 outboards. Capable of over 90mph, the 43 can also accommodate up to 20 people in comfort and 9 people at speed in luxurious quilted ultra leather bolster seats.

So good is the hull on the Midnight Express that Miami-Dade County DEA used the 39ft version as its high speed response boats. With its all-carbon superstructure and air-conditioned helm, the 43 is an extremely desirable boat, and over 100 units of this $1 million dollar boat have been sold to date.

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Boat of the Week: This Insane Jet-Powered Superyacht Has an Interior So Ornate It Would Make Liberace Blush

The owner had a simple four-word directive for the designers on redoing the interior: "just go for it." they did., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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What happens when you commission flamboyant Italian designer Roberto Cavalli to do a spare-no-expense refit of your 164-foot superyacht ? Especially with the simple, open-to-any-interpretation instructions: “Just go for it.”

Thunder happens. The jet-powered superyacht once packed 10,500 hp and could hit close to 50 mph. When Cavalli Visionnaire added a new interior, the go-fast yacht took on another persona.

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The Cavalli team created an Alice in Wonderland effect, where every room teeters on the edge of fantasy. Walls and handrails are covered in dimpled stingray skin, toilets are wrapped in crocodile and alligator hides, and drawers are decorated with the epidermis of venomous cobras. Coverings that give new meaning to the word bespoke. There are dozens of less gruesome materials, stones, metals, ceramics and woods, used in what is one of the most richly detailed interiors in superyacht history.

Welcome to Wonderland: The bespoke interior is a wild collection of materials, shapes and patterns.  Courtesy IYC

Custom built in 1998 by the Australian yard Oceanfast, this sleek, rakish go-fast speed demon came from the drawing board of the godfather of modern yacht design, Jon Bannenberg.

“The original owner asked for only one thing; that was to make the boat fast enough to leave San Tropez after breakfast, anchor off Monaco for a leisurely lunch, and be in Portofino, Italy in time for dinner,” Thunder’s former captain, Maksym “Max” Burgazli told Robb Report during a recent tour of the superyacht.

That meant constructing the hull and superstructure out of lightweight, super-stiff carbon fiber, and installing a pair of thundering 2,950-horsepower MTU V16 diesels that channeled their combined 5,900-hp through KaMeWa water jets.

From an Australian builder specializing in military vessels, hyper-fast “Thunder” has anti-torpedo and missile-launching capabilities.  Courtesy IYC

While 5,900 horses might sound plenty powerful, it wasn’t quite enough. So, the yacht was given a little extra thrust, courtesy of a 4600-hp Textron Lycoming gas turbine, to bring the tally up to a staggering 10,500 horsepower.

The result? During sea trials Thunder A , as the yacht was originally named, hit a sensational top speed of 49.4. mph.

To ensure it looked as fast as it went, Bannenberg designed a pair of humongous, military-style top-deck air intakes with huge rear-facing grilles. Plus, a pair of fighter-jet-style circular exhausts poking out of the stern.

The boat sported a jet turbine and cool exhaust on the stern in its quest to reach hyper speed. The turbine and five-ton gearbox were removed by the new owner since they were rarely used.  Courtesy IYC

After a few years of speedy cruising around the Mediterranean, Thunder A was acquired by controversial Russian oligarch and politician, Boris Berezovsky, who renamed it Thunder B . After he reportedly fell out with Russian president, Vladimir Putin following accusations of bank fraud, the yacht was seized in 2011 by French authorities at the request of the Russian government. The following year it was listed for sale at €5 million—roughly $7 million—and sold in 2013 to a Croatian buyer.

Three years later, it was in the dry-dock at the Lusben Shipyard in Viareggio, Italy getting that massive, hugely expensive refit.

You won’t see a landing like this on any other superyacht.  Courtesy IYC

How expensive? In addition to getting that polarizing Cavalli interior, the yacht’s hull was repainted with a top coat containing a reported $800,000 worth of genuine gold leaf, and edged with silver paint containing, you guessed it, real silver flakes.

“Everything about the refit was done with absolutely no concern for cost. Yes, some people might say the interior is overdone. But it is truly unique,” said Captain Burgazli.

Even before the refit, Thunder B had cruised through huge amounts of money. With Oceanfast’s parent company Austal being long-time specialists in building high-tech military vessels, many of the yacht’s original features were military grade. Like the torpedo-avoidance system.

The funkadelic main suite.  Courtesy IYC

Here, when Thunder is cruising at high speed, twin, stick-like levers by the helm can throw the yacht to full port or starboard in just three seconds, by redirecting the trio of water jets.

“One feature that is especially impressive, is the multi-fin stabilization system,” explained Captain Burgazli. “It was designed for military vessels to keep the deck perfectly level for launching missiles. Even in big seas, the boat will not roll. It means no one spills their drinks.”

During the tour, Captain Burgazli took us through the five, wildly decorated en-suite staterooms, including the full-beam main suite. He pointed out the acres of mirror-varnished inlaid rare woods, along with fixtures crafted from polished pewter and shiny chrome, and the funky-shaped, over-stuffed furniture in buttoned velour and silk.

The main suite head.  Courtesy IYC

Up on the forward deck, he showed-off the 21-foot long swimming pool that’s shaped like a boat. Before getting under way, the pool gets emptied and a hidden, foredeck-mounted crane drops the ship’s tender inside it.

For the latest chapter in the yacht’s colorful history, fast forward to earlier this year. After it was sold to a new buyer in 2019—and renamed Thunder , minus the B—it went into the Rybovich Shipyard in West Palm Beach, Florida for yet another makeover.

The Cavalli interior was largely left untouched, but the yacht’s exterior was completely repainted, replacing the pricy gold leaf and silver with bright, refrigerator white. Sadly, the trademark gas-turbine and its accompanying five-ton gearbox were jettisoned through lack of use, and those stern-mounted jet exhausts sealed.

The pilothouse and engine room have the most conventional yacht designs.  Courtesy IYC

“She’s now in amazing condition and ready for her next adventures,” says Mark Elliott, broker with IYC which has just listed Thunder for sale at $8.8 million.

Whether the new owner keeps the wonderland interior is anyone’s guess, but they will be buying a truly outside-the-box definition of bespoke.

More Thunder .

Courtesy IYC

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SilverYachts’ 85m luxury expedition mega yacht GLOBALFAST sold ahead of delivery

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Written by Rachael Steele

Australian shipyard  SilverYachts has sold its 85m/278.10ft luxury expedition mega yacht GLOBALFAST ahead of her delivery scheduled for later in 2022.

Aerial view of BOLD – sistership to GLOBALFAST superyacht

E/Y GLOBALFAST has an exterior profile penned by Espen Oeino and is one of the most anticipated yachts of 2022, featuring an iconic military appearance, geometric windows on the main deck and full-height windows on the Owner’s deck, creating bands of black contrast within the pristine white hull and superstructure. Sistership explorer yacht BOLD was launched in 2019 and GLOBALFAST benefits from enhancements and improvements to the design, as well as the implementation of the latest technology.

Outdoor features include an abundance of space on the main deck aft for the storage of tenders and larger water toys, a certified helipad if desired, and fold-down bulwarks to create terraces over the water. The Owner’s deck has an alfresco dining area, outdoor lounge and bar, while the sundeck boasts a Jacuzzi, plenty of sunbeds and a shaded dining and lounging area.

aerial view of the yacht with toys and helicopter aboard motor yacht BOLD – a similar ‘selection’ is expected to be found on GLOBALFAST

The Owner has a private apartment using the full 11m/36ft beam on the Owner’s deck complete with a winter garden furnished with a lounge and dining area, and there is a dedicated Owner’s area on the lower deck. The accommodation sleeps up to 18 guests across 7 en-suite cabins, the majority located on the main deck.

Twin MTU engines provide a top speed of 23 knots and a transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles at an above-average cruising speed of 18 knots.

The quality expedition yacht GLOBALFAST is sure to provide her Owner with comfort and entertainment in luxury while cruising across the world to some of the remotest and most spectacular sights.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "SilverYachts' 85m luxury expedition mega yacht GLOBALFAST sold ahead of delivery".

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Faster Forward

This Sydney 38, Faster Forward, was recently purchased from Peter Taylor by Matt Fahey, and relocated to her new home in Melbourne at the RYCV in Williamstown. She was originally John Winning’s Yandoo before being bought by Getaway Sailing which chartered the yacht to Jackie Moores who renamed it Lexar for the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart and finished 33 rd overall. As Getaway Sailing 2, she was 59 th in 2007 and 21 st PHS in 2008. As Deloitte as One, the boat was 31 st in 2011. The Faster Forward team is looking to build a solid, reliable crew for local and offshore races over the next few years. Faster Forward finished PHS 11 th in the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster.

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Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!

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Superyacht design trends to look out for in 2022

There’s a new wave of design trends shaping the fleet this year. Ahead of the Superyacht Design Festival, BOAT rounds up some of the stand-out features to look out for in 2022.

The future of yacht design will be a hot topic at the upcoming Superyacht Design Festival, with leading designers taking to the stage to discuss everything from flying yachts to immersive artwork. In order to predict some of the trends we might expect to see in 2022, BOAT takes a moment to reflect on the hottest design elements of the past year . 

New pool settings

Exterior decks will always be prime real estate for superyacht pools. Whether they’re within toe-dipping distance of a sunpad spread or stretching out invitingly as you step onto the main deck, a swimming pool in a sun-soaked spot is hard to beat.

But recently we’ve seen designers look for more inventive ways to give their clients poolfront fun in a different setting. The beach club seems to be the spot of choice.

The 73 metre Yalla was one of the yachts to start this trend, with a roomy rectangle of swimming pool only visible when her transom is opened up. Delivered in 2014 by Italian yard CRN , the yacht’s Droulers -designed interior was miles ahead of the game.

Fast forward to the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show, where we saw two yachts sporting a similar beach club arrangement. These were 80 metre Bilgin flagship Tatiana and AK Yachts ’ pride and joy, the 85 metre Victorious .

Both of these yachts buck the trend for pools being the stand-alone showpiece on board, and instead integrate the swimming pool as part of a social hub. Victorious ’ pool is flanked by a sofa and a drop-down TV screen, while Tatiana's is bordered by a glass bar and unfolding swim platforms that practically invite a party.

These two yachts feature design from Jonny Horsfield at H2 . “It’s a reaction to the fact that a lot of these clients are really focusing on their lifestyles now,” says Horsfield. “The layouts of yachts aren’t as predictable as they used to be, because people are being more specific about they how use their yachts."

“The danger with beach clubs is that they become a bit of a dead space. I think people like the idea of swimming inside,” adds Horsfield. “Obviously you can get a deeper pool, and it’s also more private.”

The trend continues in Benetti’s 108 metre Luminosity , where the pool takes centre stage in the 250 square metre beach club. Zaniz Studio created the yacht’s light-filled interior, and the interior pool is a key focal point on board.

If the popularity of interior pools over the past year is anything to go by, we can expect to see more pools cropping up in unexpected onboard places.

Curve appeal

Curving shapes and soft lines are invariably on-trend in both interior and exterior design, but 2021 saw certain designers take things up a notch. We can expect to see those themes continue into 2022. “I do see that clients tend to prefer lines that are closer to nature,” comments Karel Nguyen, yacht designer at Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture .

One of Azure’s latest project is the 75 metre Admiral flagship Kensho . The yacht is a wealth of gently curving lines and shapes, with the most notable example being her elegant deck arrangement, which is best observed from above. “The idea is that in the lines, you see the layers of the earth,” explains Nguyen. “It looks like it’s really shaped by the forces of nature.”

Meanwhile, Benetti’s 36.8 metre Koju features curves on the interior. The yacht was delivered in 2021 as the first unit of the Italian yard’s Motopanfilo series and was immediately acclaimed for her retro, yet fresh-feeling design. By using curving beams on the overheads, Italian studio Lazzarini Pickering Architetti has added depth and dimension to the space.

New ways to dip

The foredeck is a superb place to position a dip pool, particularly on smaller models if the aft deck is reserved for dining. Models like the 26 metre Sirena 88, the brand new 26 metre Azimut Grande 26 Metri, or the larger, but sportier 43 metre Overmarine Mangusta Oceano 43 all take advantage of their foredecks for the use of petite pools. The 50 metre K2 , the latest Sport 50 MT from Columbus , also makes use of the foredeck for a dip pool. The key benefit is uninterrupted vistas, but this position also holds appeal for owners in search of increased privacy and smoother access from their cabin.

Recently we’ve seen a few larger superyachts have been getting in on the trend, too. The new Cloud 9 , a 61 metre Sanlorenzo delivered in 2021, volunteers a generous dip pool in a prime spot on the foredeck.

Feadship ’s 94 metre Viva , delivered in 2021, has a similar arrangement. Azure is also responsible for Viva’s design. “I think a large number of people have been inspired by this feature,” says Nguyen. “But it’s very personal as well. You have to think about how you’re going to use your foredeck. We have a client right now who likes sunset sailing, so they want to sit on the foredeck and make use of it. I think it’s a really cool place to have a Jacuzzi.”

Sterns worth shouting about

Yacht layouts are constantly evolving in line with market demands. In 2022 we might expect to see more of a focus on the stern area, following clients’ desires to reconnect with nature and spend more time closer to the water. Sanlorenzo’s 34 metre SX112 , first unveiled in 2020, is a prime example of a reimagined stern that prioritises waterfront living over an enclosed beach club or tender garage.

Benetti’s Oasis deck, a feature that was first unveiled on the 40 metre Oasis 40M , takes the trend a step further. Conceived by exterior designers RWD and interior designers bonetti/kozerski architecture , this wide-open deck space features unfolding bulwarks, sofa seating and a low-slung rectangular dip pool.

In 2020, Admiral’s 55 metre metre Geco took to the seas sporting another take on a stern ‘lounge.’ The design evolved from a simple set of steps and a swim platform into a spacious protected seating area complete with bulwarks, submersible stairs and a teak deck that wraps over the edge of the platform to meet the sea.

Retro returns

On shore, a vintage revival means bold colours, loud patterns and all-out maximalism. At sea, the trend manifests itself more subtly, but the retro revival is still there in the lines of certain boats.

The most obvious example is the 37 metre Motopanfilo, which is one of Benetti’s newest and oldest series. It takes its design cues from the yard’s classic Italian motor yachts of the 1960s. The style was historically such a hit that Benetti decided to breathe fresh back into it, and the new series was born at the tail end of 2020. A few key changes were made to appeal to the tastes of the contemporary yacht owner, but she retains the overarching essence of a vintage boat.

The Moonen 110 is another model which leans into the retro aesthetic. Described as a “gentleman’s yacht,” the 34 metre yacht boasts a low profile, geometric shapes, and foredeck steps that all carry echoes of classic models like the Moonen 84 and 97.

“Classic design might be on its way back to some extent, but not as we know it. I think lines are becoming ‘cleaner’ with less ‘multi angle’ windows,” says Rene van der Velden, the designer behind the Moonen 110. “The new 110 became a mix of the old and the new, with classic overall proportions and modern detailing.”

Clear vision

Glass was, and continues to be, one of the biggest design trends in yachting right now. We’ve seen it wrapped around Oceanco’s 90 metre Dar , stretched up high in the atrium of 80 metre Excellence and used to make geometric cut-out shapes on 80 metre Artefact .

As glass technology continues to evolve, so too do the various applications that designers can play with. One trend we might expect to see more of could be long lines of glazing with an absence of mullions. This design creates a sleek, almost futuristic profile from the outside and offers unparalleled views from the interior that let the yacht’s surroundings remain front and centre. “It’s all about the experience from the inside out,” confirms Nguyen. “What do you see when you’re on board, the overall view.”

Feadship’s 77 metre Pi , which debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019, is penned by Jarkko Jamsen of Aivan . Glass is so instrumental to the design of the yacht that it plays a structural role as well as an aesthetic one, with glass making up around 97 per cent of the material in the superstructure on the owner’s cabin.

A similar design can be seen on Moon Sand . A more recent delivery from the drawing boards of Bannenberg & Rowell , Moon Sand features a long, linear profile with long lines of black glazing defining her silhouette.

All of these trends and more will be discussed during the upcoming Superyacht Design Festival, which will take place from June 22-24, 2022 in Milan, Italy.

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