Known as the ‘Oscars of the yachting industry’, the Coronavirus pandemic meant the awards this year took place in a 90-minute virtual ceremony that was streamed live to all guests.
In total, 57 nominated yachts fought it out across 16 categories and a representative from each yacht joined a video call to give live audience reaction throughout the show.
The annual event celebrates the finest superyachts of the year, recognising and rewarding ingenuity and innovation in the design, engineering and construction of luxury yachts.
Hosted by newsreader and journalist Natasha Kaplinsky, the World Superyacht Awards are the only peer-reviewed yachting awards in the world with the judging panel made up of current or former superyacht owners.
Here YachtBuyer takes a look at some of the more notable winning yachts:
PI
Winner: Motor Yacht of the Year and Displacement Motor Yachts Between 1,500GT and 1,999GT
The 77.3m superyacht PI took home the most highly coveted title of the evening, Motor Yacht of the Year, as well as winning the Displacement Motor Yachts Between 1,500GT and 1,999GT category.
Delivered in 2019, judges cited the harmonious exterior lines, the work of Jarkko Jamsen and her sophisticated Zen-like interior, courtesy of Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design, as being of a particularly high standard in this Feadship superyacht. She also drew praise for the deft engineering to bring her interior and exterior seamlessly together and the ‘overall perfection of her construction’.
PI’s success was the highlight of a fruitful night for the Dutch shipyard, with Feadship winning four of the 16 categories.
Oasis
Winner: Refitted Yachts
This 59.4m (195') superyacht built by Lurssen in 2006 was the near unanimous winner of this category.
The refit project took place in two relatively short phases and was designed and project managed by Italian-based FM Architettura d’Interni.
Phase one saw the sundeck, master suite and public saloons remodelled and redecorated. For the second phase attention was turned to the cabins and remaining areas.
OASIS was chosen as the winner both for the quality of the refit, but also for the detailed planning and execution of the refit in such a short time. A tired interior was completely transformed and the sundeck redesigned to suit the requirements of new owners, with the judging panel calling it a 'remarkable achievement'.
IV Dreams
Winner: Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts Below 500GT, 30m to 34.9m
The first of the Custom Line 106 series, IV Dreams impressed judges with its modern exterior styling, large outdoor areas and spacious well-lit interior.
The 32.8m yacht features interior and exterior design by Francesco Paszkowski Design and boasts a sleek and powerful profile, which was also noted.
Custom Line, who are a member of the Ferretti Group, also received accolades from the panel four the quality of the four en-suite cabins and the beach club that doubles up as a tender garage.
With a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 400nm at 22 knots or 1,050m at 12 knots, judges concluded IV dreams ‘provides a well balanced blend of good design, quality built and desirable facilities’.
Mangusta GranSport 45
Winner: Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts Below 500GT, 35m and Above
Unveiled by Overmarine in 2018, the 45.3m Mangusta GranSport 45 won this category by a narrow margin.
One area that judges identified as giving it an edge over its competition was its remarkable fuel economy, with it having a range of 4,200nm at its 11-knot speed, burning just 10.9 litres of fuel per mile.
Other aspects that caught the panel's eye were the extensive deck areas, beach club stern and light, airy and comfortable main saloon and cabins.
Judges felt it successfully met the demands of an owner with a ‘need for speed’, whilst still prioritising good range.
Bintador
Winner: Displacement Motor Yachts Below 499GT, 40m and Above
Tankoa’s all-aluminium S501 series has proved popular since her first hull, VERTIGE, hit the water in 2017, and it proved a hit with the panel with the 49.9m BINTADOR being named as the clear winner in this category.
Highlighted by the judges was her modern exterior styling, the practical layout of decks and interior and her fuel economy that comes as a result of a refined hull shape.
Judges felt BINTADOR had achieved its owner’s aim of a technologically advanced bessel, that could also give guests a high standard of comfort and services, and as such she took home the Neptune award for this class.
The remaining winners on the night were:
- Sailing Yacht of the Year - Canova
- Refitted Yachts - Oasis
- Rebuilt Yachts - Vagrant
- Support Vessels - Hodor
- Sailing Yachts - Canova
- Displacement Motor Yachts Below 499GT, 30m to 39.9m - The Beast
- Displacement Motor Yachts Between 500GT and 999GT - Najiba
- Displacement Motor Yachts Between 1,000GT and 1,499GT - Metis
- Displacement Motor Yachts Between 2,000GT and 4,999GT - Lady S
- Displacement Motor Yachts 5,000GT and Above - Flying Fox
- Voyager’s Award - Dorothea III
The ceremony also included video messages from Prince Albert II of Monaco and Sir Ben Ainslie, who updated views on the progress of the UK’s America’s Cup team INEOS Team UK.
The awards will return in 2021 to recognise the finest superyachts of the year.
If reading about the winners of the World Superyachts Awards 2020 has piqued your interest and you’d like to buy an award winning superyacht you can view all new and pre-owned yachts for sale.