Charter yachts triumph at the World Superyacht Awards 2022

By Nina Done 22 May 2022

The 17th edition of the World Superyacht Awards took place in the heart of London over the weekend and saw an impressive selection of charter yachts win a coveted Neptune trophy during the exclusive prize-giving ceremony.

The annual black-tie gala dinner event celebrates the world’s finest superyachts of the year, recognising and rewarding ‘ingenuity and craftsmanship’ in the design, engineering and construction of the luxury yachts.

With an independent judging panel made up of experienced superyacht owners, the World Superyacht Awards are the only peer-reviewed yachting awards in the world, earning the industry-recognised ceremony with an ‘unmatched level of credibility and gravitas’, not to mention increasing brand awareness and exposure for the winning yachts and their teams.

Hosted at the Guildhall Art Gallery in the centre of London's Square Mile, the elite of the superyacht world, owners and industry leaders gathered to celebrate this year’s event where 15 Neptunes were up for grabs, including the coveted Motor Yacht of the Year and Sailing Yacht of the Year awards.

The beautiful Victorian Guildhall Art Gallery in London

In an event that saw 59 nominees fight it out across 15 categories, charter yachts were awarded trophies in 5 of the categories. Here are the charter yachts that picked up a trophy at this year’s World Superyacht Awards;

KALIZMA

Winner: Best Rebuilt Yacht

This graceful iconic vessel is the oldest charter yacht in the fleet, renowned as the beloved yacht of Hollywood’s golden couple Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who hosted a raft of luminaries on board during the height of their fame.

Rebuilt in 2021, the 50m (161ft) classic yacht KALIZMA has been transformed and modernized whilst still retaining the classic elements of her original build. The yacht provides ample opportunity to relax and unwind with an array of convivial social and dining areas, including her elegant upper deck, where guests can relax on sumptuous loungers or enjoy a cocktail at the bar. There is a further bank of sun pads on her bow, as well as an alfresco dining set up with yet more loungers on her aft deck. All her cabins are generously proportioned with an en suite, while her interior living areas pay homage to her fascinatingly rich storied history.

Guests area on board charter yacht KALIZMA

Master cabin on board charter yacht KALIZMA

Originally built in 1906, her extensive rebuild has clearly impressed the judges, who will have appreciated the unique history of the yacht, having survived wars and plagues, has not been obliterated; rather celebrated and elevated into the elegant classic yacht we see today.

Kalizma from €120,000 per week + expenses

KOJU

Winner: Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts - 35m to 39.9m

Already boasting the accolade as the winner of the Best Innovation trophy in her category at the World Superyacht Awards in 2021, the striking 37m (121ft) Motopanfilo yacht KOJU from Benetti made her grand debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival later that year. And she clearly made an impression.

Benetti revealed their design brief was a reinterpretation of their classic builds, which has culminated in an elegantly, retro-styled modern yacht that features all of the luxe amenities you would expect of a superyacht. These include a forward pool lounge replete with plush sunpads, a unique top deck observation area offering incredible 380-degree views and a delightful Hamptons-style beach club – shaded by an innovative retractable canopy – providing a waterside haven to relax, as well as offering direct access to the sea.

She left a strong impression on the judges with her unique build that includes bright living spaces and spacious sundeck for her size.

Forward pool and loungers on board charter yacht KOJU

With design elements that echo the classic Benetti builds of the 1960s, she left a strong impression on the judges with her unique build that includes bright living spaces and spacious sundeck for her size.

Koju from $160,000 per week + expenses

EMOCEAN

Winner: Displacement Motor Yachts below 499GT - 30m to 44.9m

Delivered in 2021 by the Italian yard Rosetti as part of their EXP series, the 38m (125ft) yacht EMOCEAN is their first foray into explorer-type superyachts. Billed by the yard as “not your typical explorer yacht”, they worked in close collaboration with an experienced owner to produce the final custom yacht that debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2021.

Showcasing a range of innovative features, her layout has been ingeniously designed to create a harmonious connection between her indoor and outdoor spaces.

Beach club on board charter yacht EMOCEAN

The judging panel will undoubtedly have been swayed by this clever use of space, while never feeling cluttered. Indeed, EMOCEAN’s neutral interiors enhance this overall sense of openness. They will have also been impressed by the number of social areas on board, in particular her sun deck sporting a Jacuzzi pool with a waterfall feature. There is also a custom-designed wine cellar boasting a 150-bottle capacity that neatly divides the Owner’s stateroom and the main guest area.

Emocean from $160,000 per week + expenses

TRIUMPH

Winner: Displacement Motor Yachts Between 1000GT and 1499GT

Heralding one of Benetti's largest custom yachts to date, the six-deck 65.4m (214.7ft) superyacht TRIUMPH is truly something to behold, and clearly caught the attention of the judges.

Showcasing elegant ocean-inspired interiors penned by Green & Mingarelli Design in collaboration with Benetti's in-house design team, she offers a wealth of crowd-pleasing features from bow to stern, including a sprawling top deck and range of wellness facilities, from a well-equipped gymnasium and sauna to a indulgent massage treatment room. She also boasts a vast beach club that ticks all the boxes as a supreme waterside haven.

The judges concluded that this superbly proportioned yacht offers the ultimate in lounging and dining over four levels

The judges concluded that this superbly proportioned yacht offers the ultimate in lounging and dining over four levels. Showcasing the winning formula of a classic Benetti profile that continues to impress and vast spread of luxurious living spaces, she’s also engineered for a range of 4,700 nm for the perfect combination of luxury and adventurous cruising.

Triumph from $650,000 per week + expenses

PERSEVERANCE I

Winner: Sailing Yacht of the Year

The coveted Sailing Yacht of the Year award has gone to the stunning sloop PERSEVERANCE I, who recently joined the charter fleet after the sucessful delivery to her owner last year by the shipyard Baltic Yachts.

The 40m yacht boasts a raft of eco-credentials which made her stand out from the crowd, including an electric propulsion system that draws on a lithium-ion battery bank, perfect not only for silent overnight passages, but also for protecting precious marine environments.

She also managed to scoop up the trophy in her category: Sailing Yachts 30m to 39.99m – making it a remarkably successful night all round.