Yachts International Winter 2025

We all have boating origin stories—moments that morphed into something that took root and never withered. My obsession with the sport goes back to the rivers and lakes of my native Kentucky. Like many of us, I had a grandfather who planted the seed. I’d go sleepless the nights before Buck and I would head down to the lake for a weekend of fishing. My anticipation focused not so much on the fishing, but on bolting the small outboard he owned to the transom of a rented aluminum boat. I’d back it out of the marina slip, and then turn and burn across the shinywaters of the lake. Buck would drive the car to the cabin and leave me to deliver the boat solo to the cove we kept it…

Every so often a boat comes along that rocks the yachting narrative. Royal Huisman’s 171-foot (52-meter) Special One does exactly that. She blends the unmistakable characteristics of an all-American sportfisher—30-knot top speed, nimble maneuverability and a 45-degree flared bow—with the sleek, spacious and uncompromising design of a world-class superyacht. “Our initial sketches outlined the proportions of an authentic sportfisher, yet it was only when we set the sketch against the owner’s existing 88-foot Viking 92 that the sheer scale of Special One became apparent,” says Bart Bouwhuis, co-creative director at Vripack Yacht Design, which handled the vessel’s interior, exterior and naval architecture. Special One measures 56 feet (17 meters) from top to bottom and displaces 499 gross tons. The tuna tower, or “observation deck,” sits 39 feet (12 meters) above…

Avessel bathed in light and water” is how Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi describes Asante, the first Custom Line 50. It’s a reference to the yacht’s upper-deck master suite with full-height windows and reflective mirrored surfaces that bounce natural light. It’s also a nod to the beach club’s infinity pool and waterside lounge seating. Perhaps most important, though, it’s a response to the growing desire among yacht owners to feel connected to their surroundings, making Asante an example of the yachting industry’s design trend toward increased livability that enhances guest experiences. The upper-deck owner’s suite is a departure from the main-deck placement on previous Custom Line models. On Asante, the master is forward with direct access to a private terrace and an alfresco “solarium” at the bow—a first for Custom…

You can usually spot a Sanlorenzo. The builder has certain signatures—high flared hulls, forward-sloping pilothouses and, on certain models, asymmetrical decks. The latest model from the Italian builder is instantly recognizable as part of the Sanlorenzo family, but with evolutions that make her a considerably matured version of her sisterships. The 133-foot, 6-inch (40.7-meter) SD132 is the new flagship of the yard’s all-GRP semi-displacement range, and is the largest GRP model in the Sanlorenzo fleet. The 420-gross-ton model was developed to “prioritize the pleasure of sailing over speed,” according to Tommaso Vincenzi, Sanlorenzo’s executive director. “Also, the yacht reflects the outcome of extensive research into asymmetry, a theme first introduced in the SL line and further developed in the SD range.” On previous models, the asymmetrical layout looked like a…

Lison de Caunes has devoted her life to the delicate art of straw marquetry. For 30 years, the French artist has exclusively specialized in the ancient craft, creating tailor-made furniture, decorative objects and wall panels for private residences, high-end hospitality and superyachts. She has exhibited her work, authored books and participated in international events to promote the material, which is humble yet luxurious. “My mentor and guardian angel is definitely my grandfather André Groult, who was a famous designer during the Art Deco period and who worked in straw marquetry,” she says. “I owe my passion for straw marquetry to him.” Groult was known in the 1920s for his classic lines and sunburst designs. De Caunes studied at the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, specializing in straw marquetry…

When exceptional people claim their success boils down to luck, it’s usually modesty, false or otherwise. In Andrew Winch’s case, it might actually be true. He is undoubtedly exceptional as one of the most recognized faces in global superyachting, but his big breaks as a young designer came in such a roundabout way that there doesn’t seem to be any other plausible explanation. Most people in the yachting community know that Winch served his design apprenticeship in Jon Bannenberg’s yacht design studio, but not many people know how Winch came to be there. At Kingston School of Art, Winch wanted to submit a yacht design project for his final year exhibition. “They said, ‘We can’t teach you that, you need to find a tutor,’” he recalls. Winch didn’t know anyone…