NAVIS Feb/Mar'24

With an almost regal bearing, Alunya’s sweeping silhouette and gleaming white facade create an instant, unforgettable impression. The design team at Benetti has once again demonstrated their exceptionally high standards and quintessential refined taste in this newest model with extraordinary innovations such as the lavish Oasis Deck and commanding presence. 

With her striking vertical bow and custom design elements that span across almost 50 palatial meters, Alunya displays an abundance of custom details and design flourishes. The collaboration between Benetti and British firm RWD defines ultimate comfort aboard this luxury yacht and defines prestige as Alunya beckons you to indulge in her sumptuous and innovative interiors that bring about an immersive and exemplary sailing experience. 

Alunya conceals immense power beneath her beautiful exterior with over 8,600 horsepower generated by twin MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines that stand ready to propel this stylish and eye-catching vessel across ocean waters at speeds over 17 knots. From stern to bow, this exquisite mega yacht embodies Benetti’s and the new owner’s vision through the inclusion of quality appointments and meticulous details that are molded into every surface and component of this vessel. However, Alunya is not given to unnecessary details or frivolous adornments; rather, her sleek and functional design has been created around an aesthetic of harmony and order to create generous spaces for living and enjoyment.  

The Majestic Transformation of Carinthia VII

In luxury yachting, few events stir as much excitement as unveiling a newly refitted superyacht. The 97-meter Carinthia VII, a icon of luxury and engineering prowess, has been redelivered from the esteemed Lürssen shipyard in Hamburg, marking a significant milestone in the yacht’s illustrious history. This transformation reaffirms Carinthia VII’s status at the pinnacle of luxury yachting and introduces her to the charter market, a move eagerly anticipated by enthusiasts and connoisseurs worldwide.

Acquired by a visionary owner in 2022, Carinthia VII’s refit was orchestrated to surpass the conventional boundaries of luxury and performance. Initially shrouded in exclusivity, with only a select few having glimpsed its interior, the yacht embarked on a comprehensive journey of rejuvenation under the guidance of the parent shipyard Lürssen.

“A refit is not just about necessary maintenance, it can also be a way to completely transform a yacht,” says Alberto Perrone, Refit Sales Director at Lürssen. “Whilst the shipyard is known globally for its many new build superyachts, the refit side of the business is just as exciting and challenging for the skilled workforce.”

Royal Huisman’s Luxurious Supersailer Nilaya Poised to Break Records

How long does it take to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a sailing yacht? For Royal Huisman’s 47-meter Nilaya, that would be ten days, give or take an hour or two. Tenerife in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua, Nilaya covered 2,775 nautical miles. In late November, sailing in mostly Beaufort 3-4 seas, this distinctive Panamax sloop averaged 11.6 knots with a top speed of more than 20 knots. That is fast, with a capital “F.”

The owner sailed dinghies as a child, graduating to a series of Swans. For the past dozen years, he sailed and raced a 34-meter Nauta Design and Reichel/Pugh yacht built by Baltic Yachts. That predecessor, also named Nilaya, accumulated an impressive collection of awards and race hardware. Sanskrit for “blissful home,” the owner and his wife always enjoyed time on board the yacht, but over the years the couple compiled a wish of improvements they felt would make their time on board even more pleasant.

With thousands of sea miles aboard everything from dinghies to elite custom racing yachts, the owners came to Royal Huisman with a reasonable list of requirements for a new yacht. They again requested Nauta Design and Reichel/Pugh for the new build. Joined by the owner’s seasoned project manager Nigel Ingram, MCM Newport, they set out to define the parameters of the next Nilaya.

Tankoa’s Kinda a Placid Paradise

From its boutique shipyard headquarters in Genoa, Italy, Tankoa launches innovative custom and short series yachts of 47 meters or more. The Tankoa motor yacht Kinda was the fourth 50-meter hull in the S501 all-aluminum series, and the second in that series to use hybrid propulsion. Delivered in June of 2022, the yacht debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in September of the same year.

Like her hybrid predecessor Bintador, Kinda’s low rise, graceful profile is defined by a vertical bow, large windows, generous beach club and swim platform, and a majestic main staircase. New highlights on Kinda show off a stunning 5,000-liter foredeck pool, and attractive main staircase featuring polished stainless steel banister and pillar, with wooden steps. Of note are the deeply raked bridge windows, as well as the chamfered edges and climbing chine that contribute to both form and function, giving Kinda a distinctive look.

The owner’s first tri-deck yacht, the design was tailored to family cruising in comfortable, quiet quarters. Clever exterior styling connects the oversized windows, creating the appearance of a streamlined, uninterrupted stretch of glazing wrapping the main and upper decks.

Alive and LawConnect Triumph in the 2023

The 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race etched new chapters in its storied history in a thrilling display of skill and endurance. Organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, this year’s race, held under Rolex’s partnership since 2002, showcased the competing crews’ incredible tenacity and tactical understanding. Among the fleet, the spotlight shone brightly on two remarkable yachts – Alive, a Tasmanian vessel claiming a historic overall victory, and LawConnect, the line honors victor.

The 78th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, a grueling 628-nautical mile journey from Sydney to Hobart, lived up to its reputation as a demanding test of sailing prowess and strategic ingenuity. The race commenced under sunny skies, with a fleet of 103 diverse yachts, but soon encountered rapidly changing weather conditions. The sailors faced thunderstorms, heavy rain, and erratic winds in the initial 24 hours, followed by challenging upwind conditions across the Bass Strait and along Tasmania’s coast, leading to the retirement of 16 crews.

Through its challenging conditions and intense competition, the race showcased the essence of offshore racing - a blend of endurance, strategic thinking, and the unyielding spirit of the crews. It exemplified why this race is a revered event in the yachting world, demanding skill, determination, and teamwork.

Nestled within the solitude of an expansive Miami office garage, amidst the silence and the shadows, the Rolls-Royce Ghost announces its presence not with a roar, but with a whisper of sophistication. As the garage door ascends, a beam of light unveils a masterpiece of automotive luxury, its two-tone paintwork of light blue and silver reflecting a blend of sky and metal—a vision of elegance and engineering excellence. This is the beginning of a journey into a realm where luxury transcends opulence, where design meets purity, and where driving becomes an art form. The Rolls-Royce Ghost, with its commanding yet serene demeanor, invites us to explore the depths of its craftsmanship and the heights of its innovation.

Design and Craftsmanship

The Ghost, in its latest iteration, embodies a design philosophy that Rolls-Royce terms as “Post Opulence,” a proof of minimalism’s power and the beauty of understatement. This approach, already finding resonance in architecture, fashion, and jewelry, is brought to life in the Ghost with an authenticity of materials that speaks louder than words. The car’s exterior, with its increased width and sharp bow lines, conveys a subtle assertiveness. Its ethereal front-end character, achieved through the delicate illumination of its grille, showcases Rolls-Royce’s mastery in blending technology with aesthetics.

Refinement, Romance, and Inventive Repasts in Newport

There’s something quite special about Newport, Rhode Island. A tiny city in an even tinier state, boasting a rich history dating to the 1600s, a robust nautical legacy, and exceptional architecture. Just 74 miles (119 km) south of Boston and 180 miles (290 km) northeast of New York City, the city’s ideal location between the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay lured millionaires of the Gilded Age to build their summer “cottage” mansions. It was here they escaped the stuffy cities to take advantage of the ocean breezes, create a lasting social scene and, of course, sail their yachts. It was for that very reason that the New York Yacht Club chose Newport to host the America’s Cup back in 1930. And while it has decades since Newport has hosted these races, June 2024 sees another epic yacht race – the 635 nm biennial Newport-Bermuda Race – return to the destination we briefly touched on in our multi-day autumn road trip via Ferrari 296 GTS in Issue 75 of NAVIS Magazine.

Sharks have navigated the earth’s oceans for hundreds of millions of years, long before dinosaurs roamed the lands. With a lineage that traces back 400 million years, these creatures have withstood five mass extinctions, evolving into over 400 species that inhabit our waters today. Despite their ancient origins and evolutionary success, sharks often bear the burden of misconceptions, feared as primitive and ferocious predators. Yet, their true nature is far more complex and deserving of admiration rather than fear.

Sensationalist media and folklore have perpetuated the perception of sharks as mindless killing machines, painting them as the villains of the sea. However, this narrative overlooks the essential role sharks play in marine ecosystems and the remarkable adaptations they have developed over millennia. Sharks are not the indiscriminate killers they are often made out to be; they are, in fact, highly efficient predators that only kill to feed themselves, and more often than not, their hunts are unsuccessful.