SuperYacht Miami, a short ferry ride from the Miami Yacht Show in downtown Miami, was a refuge. Compared to the busier, motoryacht-intensive show on Herald Plaza, the superyacht display at Island Gardens Marina had a dozen large yachts, either for charter or sale, and a handful of brokers and crew ready to show them to visitors. We had a chance to tour six of the best at the show, both new launches and older yachts that have undergone refits, ranging from a 280-foot SilverYacht that resembles a sci-fi battleship to a 248-foot Lürssen with a classic exterior and interior. The range of types, considering the number at the show, was impressive. Here were our six favorites.
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SilverYachts’ ‘Bold’—280 Feet
Image Credit: Guillaume Plisson Owners, brokers and other protectors of any superyacht collection tend to cringe when visitors pick a favorite, but my favorite superyacht among the ones we visited at Superyacht Miami was, far and above, Bold. We have written about the 280-footer built at the Silver yard in Australia several times, but there’s an extra thrill to stepping aboard and seeing the contrast between its gray battleship exterior and the interior’s vibrant colors and open spaces.
Launched last May, the Espen Oeino design is for charter but her owner, who also owns the shipyard, plans to spend much more time aboard her this year, as she travels around the world. The owner’s rep warned that any potential charterer will have to be “flexible” when trying to charter Bold, probably having to book closer to the requested dates, rather than months ahead, because the owner may himself want to use her.
This is the owner’s second SilverYacht, the first being Silver Fast. Bold couldn’t be more different. The explorer look includes a long, open aft deck with a helicopter landing pad, deck space for the yacht’s tenders and toys, and a hangar to protect the chopper on long voyages. The hangar doubles as a nightclub when the helicopter is away.
Bold’s interior is a colorful contrast to the gray exterior. The main interior salon is bright and open, defined by its media wall and lounges and other décor that are the owner’s favorite royal blue. That blue is the common thread across other areas of the yacht. The salon opens into the award-winning winter garden, a large space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open or close with the push of a button. The design offers climate control and exceptional views of the water. It also seats 18 people for dinner.
The owner has a separate deck, with a master suite, private terraces and office and salon. Seven other en-suite staterooms provide accommodations for 14 more guests. On the top sundeck is a Jacuzzi with lounges and exceptional views of the water. The yacht’s minimal 9-foot draft allows it to get into waters that would be forbidden to other vessels that large.
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Delta’s ‘Usher’—146 Feet
Image Credit: Delta Marine The owner of Usher, launched by Delta Marine in 2007 and refitted in 2017, is a serial yachtsman. He owns eight other vessels that keeps in mint condition since purchasing them. One includes the 146-foot Feadship Harle, while the rest of the fleet is comprised of a Grand Banks trawler, Azimut S 72, 42-foot custom catamaran and others.
Usher’s current owner purchased her from a gentleman with a casino empire. The 154-foot yacht was so eclectic that he decided to buy her on the spot. She has five cabins for up to 12 guests, with a charter crew of 11. There’s an elevator, gym, WiFi and multiple lounges, both in the main salon as well as the sun and bridge decks, but the true charm is the interior.
In the wrong hands, the Polynesian theme could’ve been a disaster, but Delta did a masterful job blending seven hardwoods, the patterned carpeting, vibrant, colored tiles and dozens of other materials. The inlays in the wood are intricate and the color schemes, sometimes matching bright red and dark browns, work.
With so many materials, Usher could’ve been a hot mess, but she is attractive in her own inimitable way. Probably the best example is the master suite, which has a rich wood interior and stained-glass skylight above the bed. Dual wooden sinks in the his-and-hers bathrooms, along with a hand-hammered copper bathtub, give a sense of the yacht’s obsession with details.
Among the eclectic details: The original owner also set up Usher so he could fish from a fighting chair on the transom, but these days, fishing takes place aboard the 35-foot Scout tender.
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Lürssen’s ‘Bella Vita’—248 Feet
Image Credit: Moran Yacht & Ship The 248-foot Bella Vita (ex. Northern Star) by Lürssen Yachts has a navy hull and white superstructure, with spacious outdoor areas on five decks, including the upper sky deck, as well as a touch-and-go helipad. The yacht’s interior is as traditional as the exterior, with beige and off-white finishes on the wainscoting and furniture, along with surprises like a piano, jukebox and fireplace in the salons.
The impression is that of orderly, wide-open space, with an overriding sense of calm. The master suite, on the owner’s deck, has a semicircle of windows in front of the bed, providing an exceptional view of the water. Just out front is a private Jacuzzi. During our visit, it was raining, so the interior proved to be a sanctuary of sorts. The yacht’s gym, sauna, spa and common-area salons make a relaxing contrast to the exterior of the boat, which is devoted to water sports, with two tenders, diving equipment and other water toys. Bella Vita is a classy, sophisticated charter yacht.
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Overmarine’s ‘Miss Moneypenny V’—164 Feet
Image Credit: Overmarine Miss Moneypenny V, built in 2012 and refitted in 2019, was named by John Staluppi. An owner who always names his yachts after Bond movies or characters, Miss Moneypenny’s subsequent owner decided that the name did indeed fit the superyacht.
This 164-foot Overmarine is not only sleek but lightning fast for her size. Her top end of 38 knots is light speed for a yacht of her size, and even the cruise speed of 28 knots is impressive. The boat has four staterooms for nine guests, which sounds a bit small, but the owner-mandated gym and cinema could be turned into staterooms to push it to 12 guests.
Designer Stefano Righini’s exterior is sleek and fast, while interior designer Valentina Balducci used lots of wood in the open spaces. The bleached teak floors and limed-oak paneling provide nice contrast against the off-white furniture and décor. Its open layout on the main deck, from the rear doors to the sci-helm station, creates a large, spacious environment.
The boat’s exterior is where the Bond-worthy fun transpires, either forward on the long, massive foredeck with its sunbeds and wraparound lounges and tables, or up on the sky bridge, where the owner can drive the boat at the second helm. A go-fast superyacht is a rarity in today’s world of multi-deck, high-volume slowpokes, but it was refreshing to see Miss Moneypenny V in the superyacht section, looking like she was just ready to break out and race for the Bahamas. The boat isn’t for charter but is listed for sale at $15.5 million.
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Turquoise’s ‘Quantum of Solace’—238 Feet
Image Credit: Turquoise Yachts The other Bond-themed boat in this group, Quantum of Solace, is a 238-foot motoryacht (previously named Honor), the largest private yacht ever built in Turkey. Launched in May 2012 by Turquoise Yachts, H2 Yacht Design’s interior includes six cabins on the main deck, a full-beam master suite in the center of the bridge deck, with two balconies on either side. The main salon has a double-height atrium, that adds to the yacht’s spacious feeling. On the lower deck is a full-beamed spa, with gym, steam room and Jacuzzi. The yacht’s sundeck features a 15-foot-long pool with contra-flow swimming system. The yacht has a crew of 18.
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Benetti’s ‘Mag III’—145 Feet
Image Credit: Benetti Mag III, one of the earliest Benetti Vision launches, has two major differentiators from other yachts in the Vision series. Its zero-speed stabilizers limit rolling at anchor for a more pleasant experience, and the elevator, which runs from the lower to upper deck, are nice amenities on the 145-foot yacht. The owner had Mag III refitted in 2015, giving the interior fresh wood on the walls, furniture and other small details to restore the Bannenberg & Rowell appeal. The yacht will accommodate up to 12 guests in five staterooms, while the forward-facing master suite has its own private deck. The look is contemporary but classic, with many subtle browns in the woodwork and flooring, along with matching furniture and white, Italian marble. Like Miss Moneypenny V, Mag III is not for charter but is listed for sale at $10.7 million.
