January:
New Zealand yard McMullen and Wing launched the 50-metre Chirundos with her striking blue hull and explorer profile. Feadship saw the first of seven yachts hit the water in the
shape of 66-metre Vanish with styling by Eidsgaard Design. Benetti launched their largest yacht to date, the stunning Green & Mingarelli and Stefano Natucci-designed 90-metre Lionheart, and Baglietto introduced the distinctly masculine 54-metre Unicorn.
February:
Heesen showed us that they haven’t lost their touch when it comes to smaller superyachts with the launch of 45-metre pocket rocket Amore Mio. German yard Abeking and Rasmussen launched the secretive 72.5-metre Cloudbreak with distinctive Espen Oeino styling, and Feadship reintroduced platform superyachts with the launch of ‘the triplets,’ Kamino, Moon Sand Too and Avatar.
March:
March was an impressive month for superyacht launches. Italian yard Admiral showed their flagship, the wine-inspired 55-metre Quinta Essentia, and Dutch yard Heesen also launched a flagship, the 70-metre Galactica Super Nova. Vitters and Oceanco delivered the very impressive 85-metre sailing superyacht Aquijo, while Turkish yard Sarp Yachts launched their first yacht, the 46-metre La Passion. Dutch yard Amels meanwhile launched two yachts, the 74-metre Plvs Vltra and the latest Limited Editions 180 Elixir which won the 2016 SuperYacht World Baccarat Award at the Monaco Yacht Show.
April:
April saw Turkish yard Alia Yachts launch their biggest yacht yet, the 60-metre Samurai. Also in Turkey, Bilgin launched the 46.8-metre Giaola-Lu, while Italian yard Benetti introduced the 45-metre Domani. Lurssen seemed on the verge of showing off, as the German yard unveiled two of the most interesting yachts to launch all year, as the 156-metre Dilbar, the biggest superyacht in the world by volume, went on sea trials, and 106-metre Mistral launched. Both feature exterior lines by Espen Oeino, but with her striking edgy superstructure, Mistral is certainly going to be one to watch when she is delivered in 2017.
May:
Feadship once again partnered with a Bannenberg when the 70-metre Joy launched. She is the first yacht to feature exterior styling by Bannenberg and Rowell, and she sports a unique, edgy design. Perini Navi launched their most technical and largest yacht since Maltese Falcon, the 70-metre Sybaris, and she is the largest sailing yacht to ever be built in Italy. One the other side of the world, New Zealand yard Yachting Developments showed they are still very much in business with the launch of the 33-metre composite sailing yacht Cygnus Montanus.
June:
June was a big month for American yard Christensen when they bounced back from a year which saw the yard close and reopen, as they launched two yachts in quick succession: Silverlining and Chasseur. The 50-metre yachts feature distinct styling, the high volume Silver Lining is very classic while the MCA-compliant Chasseur has a sleek and contemporary interior. Italian yard Admiral also showed and impressive launch schedule, as 50-metre Ouranos hit the water not long after Quinta Essentia. Also in Italy, Mondomarine made an impression when they launched the 49.2-metre Ipanema with her striking bright red hull. In the UAE, Gulf Craft unveiled their flagship Majesty 155 in a big ceremony.
July:
Amels launched their biggest ever yacht, the 83-metre Limited Editions 272 called Here Comes the Sun and UAE-based yard Gulf Craft launched their sixth Majesty 135, the 41-metre Nashwan. Back in Holland, Moonen delivered the first of their semi-custom Matica Series, the 30-metre Bijoux while Vitters launched the 33-metre Malcom McKeown-designed Missy. A very hotly anticipated launch came from Latitude Yachts in Latvia, as they launched two identical 53.3-metre trimarans, Galaxy and Galaxy of Happiness.
August:
Turkish yard Tansu Yachts launched the MYS 2015-introduced Project Cutlass, which is now named Sexy Fish. The 39.3-metre superyacht features the edgy Tansu styling we have come to expect from the yard, and naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design. Meanwhile American yard Westport launched the brand new Wesport 125, named Black Gold. The model is the first new design for the busy yard in seven years.
September:
September saw the 92-metre Feadship Aquarius launched for a repeat client, with styling by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design making use of big windows and a unique layout for the owner’s private upper deck with an aft-facing master cabin. Dynamiq launched their debut, the 39-metre Jetsetter which was at the Monaco Yacht Show. Oceanco launched one of the yard’s most hotly anticipated superyachts ever, the 106-metre sailing superyacht Project Solar. The dyna rig system, made famous by Perini Navi 88-metre Maltese Falcon, gives Project Solar, technically the largest sailing yacht in the world, a very distinctive profile, and she will make use of high tech solar panels throughout the yacht. Italian yard Mondomarine meanwhile launched the 60-metre aluminium semi-displacement yacht Sarastar.
October:
October was a month for megayachts, with the launch of 123-metre Lurssen Project Jupiter, with striking design by H2 Yacht Design, and a March+White interior. In Holland, Oceanco launched the 86-metre Sam Sorgiovanni-designed Y715.
November:
Dutch yard Feadship launched their last yacht of the year, the stunning 96.5-metre Redman Whiteley Dixon Vertigo from the De Vries yard in Makkum. Turkish yard Turquoise Yachts launched the 47-metre Razan based on their 47-metre platform. The Kleven 116 was spotted on sea trials, and is set to be handed over to her owner early in 2017. The current yacht, 107-metre Ulysses, is currently for sale through Burgess and Fraser. The 116-metre yacht is slatted to also be called Ulysses.
December:
French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach launched their latest superyacht, the 4400 Fast Fly. The composite planing yacht from Couach Yachts is fully custom and has been built for an owner with a longstanding relationship with the yard.