Cantiere delle Marche has launched Darwin 106 named Uptight. The 32m yacht was built for an American client with specific requests. The owner desired to have a reliable and comfortable explorer yacht to enjoy monthslong fishing expeditions in remote and uncontaminated seas. The family, who dreamed about going to Alaska, owns a few fisherman yachts and they wanted to add to their private fleet a slow displacement vessel to enjoy long expeditions from the moment the yacht leaves the quay to the final destination. Fast trips to fishing spots and adrenaline fishing activities will be held by using the yacht’s large ‘tender’, which is a real American Fisherman that will be towed during long trips.
Uptight is based on the naval platform of the Darwin 102, designed, engineered and modified by Sergio Cutolo/Hydro Tec to match her owner's requests. According to her owner’s wishes the yacht features a specifically designed layout with a ‘country kitchen’ which opens onto the main salon giving the whole environment an informal atmosphere and, instead of a sky-lounge, the upper deck hosts a panoramic master stateroom. The most peculiar feature of uptight is undoubtedly the fishing cockpit fitted as a sportfisherman’s.
The stern platform has been transformed into an enclosed cockpit with a bulwark. A ‘battle station’ has been centrally placed in the cockpit, and fishing will be carried in ‘stand up’ position allowing multiple strikes to be managed at the same time, giving more fun to the ‘fishing family’.
A double Eskimo ice maker with both salt and freshwater is in the main cockpit alongside a few freezers located beneath the sofa. In order to increase the range also in terms of food loading capacity, the storage space has been improved and optimized for long term food conservation. An outstanding interior layout makes the most out of the 255GT.
The Uptight’s interior was penned by Francesco Guida. It features a large main saloon with lounging and dining areas in direct connection with the galley located to port side. Three crew cabins are located on the main deck forward alongside a crew mess. Five guest cabins – two doubles, a large VIP and two twins – are on the lower deck.
“We knew that our explorers perfectly fitted with American owners’ requirements as for volumes, spaces, robustness, long range, technical reliability, functionality, no nonsense approach and, last but not least, customer care and after sale service. It has taken us a few years to penetrate the American market but we made it, eventually, as scheduled,” says Vasco Buonpensiere, co-founder and Sales & Marketing Director at CdM. “The Owner of the Darwin 106 has a great deal of experience in yachting and is assisted by a highly experienced team. This means a lot to us. It is proof that we are doing our job properly combining construction and technical qualities with style and elegance.”
To deliver a top speed of 13 knots the displacement hull is fitted with twin Caterpillar C18 Acert 500kW each. The range of 4 700 nautical miles can be reached at around 9.5 knots.
CdM's story begins in 2010. The facilities cover an overall surface of 16˙000 square meters, including 7˙000 sq m of workshops and 1˙000 sq m of docks. Since 2015, the shipyard has been the world’s leading builder of explorer yachts. Based in Ancona, Cantiere delle Marche builds yachts from 26m to 43m in length.
Credits: CdM
The upcoming South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show 2025 at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton will showcase several world and UK premieres from leading marine manufacturers. The event, scheduled for May 9-11, will highlight new models across both power and sail categories with a focus on innovation and sustainable technologies.Among the notable debuts, Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding will present the Hardy 45 European, making its world premiere. The 45-foot vessel combines offshore capabilities with inland waterway navigation, powered by twin Yanmar 440hp engines reaching speeds up to 28 knots. Dave Cockwell, Founder and Sales Director, stated: "Our all-new Hardy 45 European provides an extraordinarily luxurious and secure environment for ocean crossings and long-distance cruising."Hardy 45The show will introduce four models to the UK market for the first time, including the BENTE28 sailing yacht with its distinctive IMOCA-style dodger, the high-speed Delta 33 Coupé from Sweden, the modular Axopar 29 Sun Top adventure boat, and the versatile Saxdor 340 GTWA walkaround cruiser.Hanse 360Additional show debuts will feature the award-winning Hanse 360 sailing yacht, recently named European Yacht of the Year 2025, alongside the FJORD 39 XL powerboat and the Absolute 47 Fly flybridge cruiser. The Hanse 360 offers an optional sustainable sail package using recycled materials.Absolute 47 FlyTim Mayer, Sales and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, commented: "Each year the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show grows in scale and significance." The event will display over 90 boats both in-water and shoreside at the Harbour Hotel Southampton location.Credits: South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show
May 6, 2025
Benetti has launched FB287, a fully customized 67-meter steel yacht from its B.Now series featuring the Oasis Deck® design. The vessel represents Benetti's steel-hulled superyacht expertise, with exterior design by RWD and interiors by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design. Engage Maritime served as owner's representative throughout the project."The launch of FB287 demonstrates the capabilities of the Benetti shipyard and the possibilities for clients to realize their ultimate expression of the yachting lifestyle," said Daniela Petrozzi, Benetti Sales Director.Key customizations include a rectangular elevator, marble guest staircase with glass balustrade, widened corridors, and multiple pool areas - an infinity pool on the Oasis Deck®, a spa pool on the observation deck, and a reflecting pool with waterfall effect on the owner's deck. The yacht features a lower-deck spa complex with sauna and steam room, a main deck saloon with grand piano, and an entire upper deck dedicated to the owner's private use.Originally conceived with light beach house interiors, FB287's owner requested a darker, richer aesthetic inspired by Gatsby-era styling. The final design incorporates woods like sycamore, ebony, and macassar, along with specialty marbles and metal detailing. Despite the dramatic style change from initial concepts, the design maintains seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces through coordinated material selections.Following launch, FB287 will undergo sea trials before scheduled delivery this summer. The project marks Benetti's successful adaptation of its B.Now platform to meet specific owner requirements while maintaining the series' signature indoor-outdoor living philosophy.Founded in 1873, Benetti is the oldest Italian shipyard specializing in luxury yachts. Benetti designs, builds and sells composite vessels from 29 to 44m and steel and aluminum boats from 37 to over 100m. The fleet consists of five categories: Class, Oasis, B.Yond, B.Now and Custom to meet all the needs of the market. Benetti belongs to the Azimut|Benetti Group, the largest privately owned luxury yachting group in the world.Credits: Giuliano Sargentini/Benetti
May 6, 2025
The 35.51-meter sailing yacht Kiboko 4, designed by Nauta and built by Southern Wind, has been named "Sailing Yacht of the Year" at the 2024 World Superyacht Awards. This marks the second accolade for the SW108 series, following the recent regatta victories of sistership Gelliceaux at the St Barths Bucket and Ibiza JoySail events.Developed with naval architecture by Farr Yacht Design, Kiboko 4 was conceived to deliver optimal sailing performance while maintaining comfort for both competitive racing and leisure cruising. The owner's specifications emphasized enhanced speed, superior handling characteristics, and versatile functionality across different sailing conditions.The yacht's exterior showcases Nauta's signature GT styling with clean, modern lines and practical deck arrangements. Notable features include a composite coach roof with distinctive lightning bolt detailing, a color scheme pairing a dark hull with light grey superstructure, and an innovative transom that converts between tender garage and beach club configurations. Sustainable materials were incorporated throughout, including decking sourced from responsibly managed forests.Internally, the design team created a contemporary interior with Mediterranean influences. The layout maximizes natural light through generous hull windows and a saloon skylight, while material selections combine light oak woodwork with walnut accents and custom fabric treatments. Accommodation includes four guest cabins and three crew cabins, with the owner's suite positioned forward for privacy."We wanted to create something that embodies the owner's vision of blending performance with beauty, all while offering the versatility required for both thrilling regatta sailing and serene cruising," said Massimo Gino, CEO of Nauta.The award recognizes Kiboko 4's successful integration of high-performance sailing capabilities with refined living spaces, establishing it as a notable example in the superyacht sailing category.Southern Wind is a boutique bluewater sailing yacht shipyard founded in Cape Town in 1991. Since its foundation, SWS has specialized in the production of semi-custom high-performance superyachts. Credits: Southern Wind
May 6, 2025
Pearl Yachts will debut its new Pearl 63 model in the UK at two May events: the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show (May 9–11, Southampton) and the British Motor Yacht Show (May 15–18, Swanwick Marina). This follows the yacht's global premiere at the 2025 Palma International Boat Show.The Pearl 63 builds on the award-winning Pearl 62 design, offering a 60-foot yacht with family-friendly features. Key specifications include:Aft Cockpit: Opening side balconies and convertible L-shaped sofa seatingSaloon: Family-sized dining table and multifunctional chaise longueFlexible Space: Tender garage (fits Williams MiniJet 280 or SeaDoo Spark) or optional crew cabinAccommodation: Four cabins for eight guests, including a full-beam master suite with private access and panoramic windowsInteriors: Four design themes by Kelly Hoppen InteriorsPerformance: Optional 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines for speeds up to 33 knotsIain Smallridge, Managing Director of Pearl Yachts, stated: “We are delighted to bring the Pearl 63 to British shores for the first time, and to do so at two events that represent the heart of UK yachting. These shows may be more intimate than their international counterparts, but they are no less important.”The Pearl 63 targets owner-operators seeking a balance of luxury and practicality. Both UK events provide opportunities for direct client engagement ahead of the model’s 2025 delivery schedule.Pearl Yachts was founded in 1998 and has now become one of the UK’s most prominent shipyards. Every Pearl motor yacht is designed and built by experienced craftsmen. Pearl’s fleet consists of the new Pearl 62, the Pearl 80 and the Pearl 95. All newly launched Pearl Yachts are covered by a unique, comprehensive five-year warranty program.Credits: Pearl Yachts
May 5, 2025
Winch Design has revealed the interior of the ninth hull in the Amels 60 Limited Editions series, developed in collaboration with Dutch shipyard Amels. Launched in 2019, the Amels 60 offers semi-custom construction with full-custom flexibility, balancing reduced delivery times and personalized design. The exterior was designed by Espen Øino.Winch Design previously handled interiors for Come Together, hull three and hull six 21.12. Come Together received a World Superyacht Award and an ISS Award in 2023.The ninth hull’s interior draws inspiration from the Pacific Islands, with each deck reflecting different natural elements. Materials include wood, stone, plaster, and leather, complemented by marble accents. Carved wood flooring in the beach club reinforces a barefoot-living concept, while curved forms and a soft palette promote relaxed sophistication.The lower deck features warm, earthy tones reminiscent of sand and forests, while the main deck incorporates oceanic blues. A central staircase, inspired by Pacific rainforests, connects the decks and leads to a bridge deck designed to evoke tropical greenery.“We created a refreshing interior derived from the Pacific Islands, with a focus on vegetation, the ocean and the sky,” said Jim Dixon, Managing Partner & Creative Director at Winch Design. “We started with a neutral and natural canvas and created unique features such as a back-lit onyx wall with an internally illuminated sculptural staircase column.”Hull 6009 remains under construction, with delivery scheduled for 2026. The yacht is currently available for purchase, allowing the new owner to finalize select details.Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
May 5, 2025