Superyacht
A superyacht is a large luxury vessel designed primarily for pleasure and leisure, typically measuring at least 100 feet in length. While terms like megayacht and gigayacht differentiate sizes—200 feet and above for megayachts and 300 feet or more for gigayachts—superyachts are distinguished by their opulence and the amenities they offer. These vessels are often equipped with features such as swimming pools, multiple decks for outdoor enjoyment, and accommodations for a crew and guests, with many able to host twelve or more passengers. Superyachts are predominantly built in countries like Italy and the U.S., with a significant number of custom designs created to meet the specific desires of the owners.
Historically, the concept of yachting dates back to the 15th century with the Dutch "jaght," which referred to fast sailing boats. Over time, superyachts became symbols of wealth and status, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. Owning a superyacht involves substantial financial commitment, not only in initial purchase prices—which start around $250,000 but can reach tens of millions—but also ongoing costs related to maintenance, crew salaries, and operational expenses, accruing into millions annually. For those who wish to experience the luxury of a superyacht without the financial burden, charter services are commonly available.
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Superyacht
Superyacht refers to a large marine vessel used exclusively for pleasure and travel. There is no standard definition for this type of watercraft, but they are generally considered to be at least one hundred feet in length and can be considerably larger. They are sometimes called megayachts, particularly in the United States, but this term is usually used for watercraft that are at least two hundred feet in length. Another term, gigayachts, came into use in the 2020s to refer to a luxury vessel that exceeds three hundred feet in length.
In some cases, smaller boats—even those as small as thirty-three feet in length—are also called superyachts. This is because the most significant distinguishing characteristic of these vessels is luxury. Superyachts feature expensive fixtures and décor and include a professional crew and a staff that serves its passengers.
Superyachts exist solely for the pleasure and comfort of the people who own or rent them. They are usually found in or near the warmest and most attractive seaside settings. Larger superyachts feature amenities such as onboard swimming pools, and many also carry smaller pleasure craft such as jet skis. In some cases, superyachts are accompanied by a support or shadow vessel. These carry additional larger watercraft, such as speedboats, or other items, such as helicopters.
Background
The word yacht comes from the Dutch word jaght, which means “hunter.” The original jaghts were small, fast sailing boats used by naval forces to track and capture pirates in the fifteenth century. The word was first applied to pleasure and racing boats, especially those used by the wealthy, after England’s King Charles II returned from exile in Holland aboard a yacht gifted to him by the Dutch.
Superyachts became popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This coincided with the growth of an upper class with enough wealth to pay for a yacht and a desire to travel in luxury and style. Before passenger air flight became available, heads of state, including the President of the United States, often traveled on large, luxurious private or naval vessels. As the twentieth century progressed, building large, luxurious boats became a status symbol for the world’s wealthiest citizens. Some of these included the Jemima F., a 111-foot craft built for American businessman Charles Henry Fletcher and launched in 1908; the MV Savarona, owned by the Turkish government and launched in 1931; and the Honey Fitz, a 92-foot luxury sailing craft built in 1931 and commandeered by the US Navy during World War II. The ship carried presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, who named the ship after his grandfather.
Overview
Into the mid 2020s, there were around 12,000 thousand functional superyachts in the world. They are measured by both their length and their gross tonnage (GT), or the amount of interior volume they have. The average length of these yachts was between 37 and 60 meters.
Most of the world’s superyachts are built in Italy, as about half of the world’s top-ten superyacht manufacturers are located there. Others are built in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The Republic of Türkiye (Turkey) has seen increased growth in its superyacht building industry. For most custom superyachts, the process begins with a specialized designer and a naval architect who will take the future yacht owner’s preferences and create a sailable vessel that includes these features and amenities. These professionals work with the owner or an owner’s representative—who is sometimes the future yacht’s captain—and a project manager to oversee all areas of the project.
Contracts are signed by all parties to protect the interests of those involved. With input from the owner, all the finishes and fixtures will be chosen and ordered or manufactured, much like what happens in the construction of a home or office. The shipyard representatives are also involved, making sure that the superyacht construction team fulfills the plans created by the design team and project manager. Once the build is complete, the new superyacht undergoes sea trials. This ensures all systems are operating as expected before the final step in the manufacturing process, the delivery of the completed superyacht. This is usually accompanied by a traditional launching ceremony to celebrate the new ship.
While superyachts are very customized according to the needs and desires of the original owner, there are some features common to most. There will be an owner’s suite, with sleeping quarters, a study, and a bathroom, along with additional amenities, as desired. Some also have adjoining staterooms for personal assistants or security staff. There may also be VIP suites and other guest accommodations, as most superyachts can accommodate at least twelve or more guests. There will be a variety of entertainment options, such as hot tubs, pools, fitness areas, lounges, dance areas, movie theaters, etc., based on owner preference. Additional recreational equipment, such as diving gear, water skis, and other smaller craft, may also be stored and available. There will be several decks with both exposed and covered space for enjoying the views and outdoor activities, and there may be a larger dining area or other facilities, as the owner prefers.
The superyacht will also have a bridge from which to sail the yacht. The bridge is fully equipped with instrumentation, navigation, and communications equipment. A galley, or ship’s kitchen, and food storage areas will provide the food needs for guests and crew. There will also be a captain’s cabin and accommodations for the rest of the crew and staff. Depending on the size of the superyacht and the desires of the owner, there may be as few as five people in the crew and staff of a superyacht, or the support personnel may number in the dozens.
Superyachts are expensive to own and maintain. Initial purchase costs start around a quarter of a million US dollars and range into the tens of millions, depending on size, amenities, and finishes. In many cases, purchasing the superyacht is the least expensive part of owning it. Insurance, fuel, dock fees, maintenance, supplies, and crew salaries are just some of the costs involved in owning a superyacht. Experts estimate an average 150-foot superyacht could cost nearly $40,000 per week, or more than $2 million per year, to operate and maintain. Salaries for the specialized crew can take up almost half of that. This makes owning a yacht an inefficient way to entertain. As a result, there are many businesses that charter luxury superyachts so people can have the experience without the extreme expense.
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