New Model: Damen Yacht Support 53

 

Damen Yachting presents its new Yacht Support 53, a semi custom series which has already been delivered in three units.  The first Damen Yacht Support 53 launched in mid 2024 was delivered to Bad Company, a new flagship to the fleet of the World largest private sportfishing program, which currently includes eleven boats and yachts upwards of nine meters.  The YS53's expansive exterior deck is designed for action and boundless versatility. From launching tenders and hosting events to supporting scientific discoveries, this large aft platform adapts to your every need.  The YS53 is equipped with a powerful 15-tonne crane and an optional A-frame, providing exceptional lifting capacity for even the heaviest and most delicate loads; from launching tenders, submersibles, or specialised vehicles, these heavy-duty tools ensure precise handling.  The expansive 310 square meters deck space, spread across the Main and Bridge Decks, offers unparalleled versatility.  This area on the Yacht Support is also customable coming as a blank canvas to suit an owner with his vision, whether it is specialized vehicles, tools, machinery, or even entire hangars and laboratories. The YS53's interior offers practical and adaptable layouts, with select configurations to perfectly suit an owners requirements; from space for guests, additional crew, or specialised staff, the cabin can be specified to accommodate six to sixteen guests, and or six to sixteen crew including the Captain and depending on the chosen layout.  The Damen Yacht Support 53 goes beyond functionality, as it is also the first sub-75-meter Yacht Support to completely rethink interior comfort. From the carefully positioned windows to the advanced climate control systems, every detail is designed for onboard well-being.  The Damen Yacht Support 53 is also about speed, efficiency, and adaptability and powered by twin MTU 3003hp reaches speeds up to nineteen knots, and cruise for five thousand nautical miles at twelve knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 53.25 m (175ft)

Beam - 9.20 m

Draft - 3.05 m

Displacement - 499 gt *volume

Fuel Capacity - 155,000 l

Accommodation - from six to sixteen guests, from six to sixteen crew *subject to choice

Engines - 2 x MTU 3003hp

Speed - nineteen knots, twelve knots cruise

Range - 5000 nautical miles at twelve knots cruise

Construction - steel hull and super structure

Design - Damen exterior, interior and naval architecture

www.damenyachting.com

Project: Cormorant COR690

The Polish Cormorant present the COR690 project, a twenty meter explorer yacht as designed by the Gdansk yacht builder, with naval architecture by Grzegorz Władziński. The COR690 presents itself as an explorer yacht made for extended long journey cruises, with a spacious interior providing functionality that is unique in this class. The Cormorant COR690 will offer a spacious interior with four cabins for eight guests, with the choice to have the fourth cabin ordered as a small office space. A crew cabin for two, with an utility room to starboard is also located aft. The living is all located on the main deck, which is offered in an astern galley layout, and lounging and dining C-shaped saloon forward. Further forward is the pilot house and two steps up is also the central located pilot station which also features a forward look dinette to port side. The Cormorant 690 also features a day head on the main deck, this located on the passageway to the pilot station. The flybridge also comes as a spacious covered by the hard-top for about 70% of its area, and accessibile from a stair case on the aft deck, and in internal stair-case to starboard. The COR690 can be powered by twin engines from 750 to 1400hp, with top speeds up to 23 knots for the bigger engine option, with a long distance 5050 nautical miles range possible at seven knots. Another custom detail of the Cormorant COR690 is that it can also be specified with different hull extensions; like an extended keel, or a bulbous bow.

www.cormorantyachts.com

Improve-it = Van der Valk Beach Club 660

Van der Valk has launched a Beach Club 660, the fourth hull in the Beach Club series and third 660. Titled m/y Fabchun this latest BeachClub 660 follows the three previous sistership of installing the engines under the swim platform area, freeing up space for the inside rooms and aft area. Built entirely in aluminium, and powered by twin Volvo Penta 800hp with IPS pod drives this latest Van der Valk Beach Club 660 has a top speed of thirty knots. A thrilling ride is assured, overseen from a wheelhouse that is higher compared to the previous BeachClub models. This arrangement has also increased the size of the cabins and reduced the steps from the saloon going forward. Despite her powerful performance, this latest Beach Club 660 will be whisper quiet underway thanks to the widespread installation of special sound-generating equipment inside the swim platform. This will ensure that the feeling of calm created by Carla Guilhem’s soothing interior is retained at all times. Key design elements include the geometric looking stairs, a kitchen island that doubles as a bar and a day head in a funky black colour. Large windows and sliding doors in the two salons as well the owners’ suite will provide panoramic vistas as the owners and their guests explore the seas in true BeachClub style.

www.vandervalkshipyard.com

Project: Mulder Favorite 2000

Mulder present the project for a Favorite 2000, as a returned customer who sold his Favorite 1700 wanted something larger. This customer chose to build the newest addition to the Favorite Series, the Mulder Favorite 2000. At a length of twenty meters, the Favorite 2000 bridges the gap between the 1700 and 2200, offering spaciousness, comfort, and versatility while maintaining the iconic Mulder lines. Construction is already underway the first Favorite 2000 which is set to sail for the 2025 boating season. Details for the Favorite 2000 are limited to this rendering, to what should be again a Guido de Groot design, as this model looks similar to the larger and smaller Favorites.

www.muldershipyard.nl

New Model: Tullio Abbate Villa D'Este Special 9.98 mt

Tullio Abbate presents the Villa D'Este Special, a nine meter Classic day cruiser.  The Villa D'Este Special is all the same model as the standard Villa D'Este, with the Special meaning for the mahogany finishing.  Tullio Abbate call the Villa D'Este Special the jewel of its boats and of the Classic line family.  Ten meters of gleaming mahogany perfectly integrated with a hull made from composite materials. This model marks Tullio Abbate’s return to the shipyard’s roots, and a tribute to Guido, the founder of the Abbate powerboats name, and a pioneer of Italian and global boating, who, after World War II, won races, set records, and gave mahogany its most sporty and sensual forms. She is also a tribute to the Villa D'Este 5.60 mt runabout build from 1958 up to the end of sixties in double mahogany planking.  The Tullio Abbate Villa D'Este Special is powered by twin Mercruiser 350hp gas petrol on stern drives for speeds over forty knots.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 9.98 m (32.7ft)

Beam - 2.78 m

Displacement - 3.5 t

Fuel Capacity - 680 l

Water Capacity - 60 l

Max Persons - ten

Accommodation - two berths

Engines - 2 x Mercruiser V8 5.7l 350hp petrol gas standard, other engines available

Propulsion - Mercruiser Alpa One stern drive 

Speeds - from forty up to sixty knots

Hull Shape - stepped hull deep Vee

Certification - CE C

www.tullioabbateyachts.com

Project: Benetti 85m Project Life

During the 2025 Palm Beach boat show, Benetti presented in a meeting with yacht brokers and the media Project Life, an 85-metre steel super yacht, as designed Espen Oino for exterior and interior by Francois Zuretti. Project Life is Benetti’s largest ever engineering-platform-based yacht: this approach allows owners to focus on design and lifestyle-related aspects with the trust they can count on the best configuration for the technical aspects, systems and performances. With this project, Benetti brings together its expertise and technological excellence with the most prestigious names in the industry. The renowned architect Espen Øino designs the yacht’s exterior and layout, while François Zuretti, a celebrated interior designer with a long history of collaboration on Benetti’s iconic models, crafts the refined interiors.  Project Life is designed to offer tailor-made experiences that vary from deck to deck, aiming to promote social entertainment through a convivial layout and versatile spaces for socialising that are always surrounded by nature. Sleek, elegant lines merge with iconic Benetti features, crowned by a tall, sharp bow for excellent seakeeping and high efficiency. Expansive windows bring in abundant light and visibility while shielding the interior from direct sun, ensuring optimal energy performance. One of the distinctive features of Project Life is the Beach Area, the result of a deep cooperation between Espen Øino International and Zuretti Design, which sets the stage for a new lifestyle in the yacht’s stern area. This space is open on three sides allowing guests to move freely between the various settings as well as providing greater interconnection between the Beach Platform and the indoor Beach Club. Two fourteen-meter fold-down side doors and a spacious swim platform connect the Beach Club directly to the sea, creating a seamless, immersive experience. The Beach Club is also illuminated from above by sunlight streaming through a glass-bottomed swimming pool, linking the spaces and creating a charming aquatic atmosphere. Spanning a total of 270 square meters, this exclusive Beach Area offers guests an unparalleled connection to the water. Designed for versatility, this area transforms throughout the day, it’s an inviting retreat for relaxation and water sports; by night, it evolves into an intimate, sophisticated space, perfect for entertaining in style. Upon entering the spacious 112-square-meter Main Salon, guests are immediately drawn in by the soft interplay of natural light and carefully chosen décor. Floor-to-ceiling windows define this space, inviting ocean views and establishing a constant dialogue between the yacht and the surrounding environment. Positioned at the front of the Main Deck, the six guest cabins boast expansive windows that flood the interiors with natural light while framing stunning ocean vistas. The upper foredeck serves as a private sanctuary, offering an uninterrupted 270-degree view of the surrounding sea. This breath taking panorama deepens guests connection to the sea, enhancing their experience of nature’s beauty. Complete with a helipad, a secluded Jacuzzi, and plush lounging areas, it provides an exclusive haven for relaxation. The Owner’s cabin is a 98-square-meter haven of tranquillity. Next to the Owner’s Suite, a versatile room adds even more personalization, easily adapting to different needs, whether as a private office or a space dedicated to the owner’s passions. The Owner’s area continues with the Sky-lounge, a glass-enclosed space furnished with comfortable sofas. It creates a unique spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of the sea, offering the owners a truly special retreat. The Bridge Deck aft is designed as a breath taking open-air dining space, delivering an unparalleled al fresco experience. Sheltered from the wind and surrounded by nature, the carefully arranged lounges and dining areas cater to both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. A standout feature of the Bridge Deck is its innovative live-cooking setup, with two dedicated outdoor stations that allow guests to interact directly with the chef. Benetti Project Life also stands out for the use of innovative technological solutions to reduce environmental impact. Taking an integrated approach, the yacht’s high-efficiency, optimised hull is combined with diesel-electric architecture with pod propulsion for the best efficiency, manoeuvrability and comfort. It is also designed to operate on both diesel and non-fossil fuels including HVO, enabling emissions to be drastically reduced. An advanced, direct expansion HVAC system reduces energy consumption by up to 60% compared to conventional chilled water solutions, while latest generation solar panels, perfectly integrated into the yacht’s superstructure generate clean energy and help recharge the electric tenders and water toys.

www.benettiyachts.com

Liveaboard Yacht Aground in Key West Florida

A sixteen meter trawler type aft cabin explorer yacht ended aground and partly sank in Bahia Honda, Key West, Florida on the morning of Saturday twelfth April.  The explorer yacht which is a live aboard for three; one man and his two sisters and a dog, is reported to have hit an object and started to take on water.  Seeing this the captain anchored at the bay, with the boat then ending partly sunk and listing to its starboard side, damaging its central keel, and running gear.  With the tide becoming a bit lower by Tuesday fifteen April, the explorer cruiser was righted by the crew and the people who are helping, with the next aim now to  make a temporary repair so they can take the yacht to a haul out yard for full repairs.  Interestingly and according to Trawler Tom who is sharing the story on social media said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission, US Coast Guard, local police, park rangers were watching the story happen but did not intervene. 

Trawler Tom who has been assisting the trawler since the accident, also opened a fund raiser on GoFundMe of which I will post a link on the comments section.

The explorer yacht in this part sinking is a Gulfstar 53 Trawler as produced from 1975 to 76 in ten units.  The 53 Trawler shared hull with the 53 Motorsailor, with both models being Gulfstar flagships in that time of production, with the model replaced by the full planning hull 48 Motor Yacht in 1981.  Gulfstar Yachts was founded by Vince Lazzara and existed from 1970 to 1990, and produced both sail and power boats, with the company selling some of its assets to Viking.

New Launch: Feadship 76.05m Hull.822

Feadship launched the 76.05 meter hull number 822 titled m/y Alvia.  Called during construction known as Project Hanami, which is an iconic Japanese cherry blossom, and taking five years to build Feadship hull 822 presents itself as a large volume super yacht, with a two thousand two hundred plus of gross tonnage, and features exterior design by the British firm Redman Whitely Dixon, interior by Peter Marino, and naval architecture by Feadship De Voogts.  Some unique details of Feadship Hull.822 are the aft most on main deck partially covered pool deck featuring an oval pool, blending seamlessly into a living space envisioned as the ‘pool lounge’. A spacious spa, gym and toy storage are positioned below the pool. Full height windows and sliding glass doors give it the feeling of lavish veranda. The main deck is also the location for six guest en-suites, including two VIP staterooms with integral balconies. Feadship's Hull 822 is powered by twin MTU 2574hp for a sixteen knots top speed and a fifteen cruise.

Technical Data:

LOA - 76.05 m (249.6ft)

Beam - 13.40 m

Draft - 3.60 m

Displacement - 2265 gt *volume

Fuel Capacity - 213,468 l

Water Capacity - 49,988 l

Accommodation - fourteen guests in seven cabins, 22 crew in eleven cabins

Engines - 2 x MTU 16V4000M63R 2574hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - sixteen knots max, fifteen knots cruise

Range - 5500 nautical miles at best cruise

Construction - steel hull aluminium super structure

Project - Redman Whitely Dixon exterior, Peter Marino interior, De Voogt naval architecture 

www.feadship.nl

Project: Sunseeker 135 Yacht

Sunseeker has during the 2025 Dusseldorf boat show presented project details for an upcoming 135 Yacht model.  The 135 Yacht is a replacement to the 131 Yacht, which was in itself a further evolution of the 40M Yacht, with these two models selling nineteen and thirteen hulls respectively for a production which started in 2010 and lasted till 2022.  This is not the first time Sunseeker present a replacement to the successful 131 Yacht, as in 2019 they announced the 133 Yacht project, a vertical bow volume focused super yacht with round bilge semi displacement hull which was to arrive two years later, and ultimately never materialized, although that project evolved eventually into the still in project Ocean 460.  The first 135 Yacht is scheduled for a delivery in 2027, although it is not advised if Sunseeker has an order, or is building one on speculation.  Sunseeker so far advised that the new forty meter super yacht has the hard chine planning hull form of the previous 131 model extended in length.  This extension will give a beach club area, with retractable bulwarks which become balconies and expand the size of the aft deck.  Another announced novelty in the Sunseeker 135 Yacht will be a sky-lounge in the upper deck.  Interior design for the 135 Yacht will come from long time Sunseeker collaborator Design Unlimited, which presented a five cabins layout, with a main deck master stateroom which will feature an office space and a bath tub en-suite bathroom.  Performance details have not been provided but for guidance the 131 Yacht used to be powered by twin MTU 3181hp engines which give a top speed up to 25 knots and a fast cruise of fourteen knots. 

www.sunseeker.com

Four Yachts Destroyed by Fire in Fethiye Turkey

One sail boat and three super yachts which lengths go from 24 up to forty meters were destroyed by fire in the Port of Fethiye, province of Mugla, to the West of Turkey for a fire which started about 08:30 morning time of Thursday tenth April.  The fire is reported to have started on a sailing boat of about twelve meters in length, and then jumped to a larger 24 meter Ferretti yacht and then onto two larger yachts, of about thirty and forty meters in size respectively.  Four persons were intoxicated with smoke inhalation and were treated on the spot with additional oxygen, for a fire which took two hours to control, and involved Police, Ambulances, Fire Engines, and the Coast Guard which ultimately towed the four yachts off the pier.  The cause of the fire is not reported with the Fethiye authorities investigating how the blaze started.

The 24 meter motor yacht in this fire is a Ferretti 810 as designed by Zuccon and produced from 2002 to 2005 in ten units.  The 810 was also available as the 810 RPH with raised pilot house, and was a replacement and evolution of the 80, and then replaced by the 830.  The two other super yachts, are not identifiable although both of them look to be of Turkish origin.