Top Superyachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is colossal, even by yacht show standards. In 2021, a slow year, it welcomed over 100,000 visitors and displayed a mind-boggling 680 yachts from a huge range of builders.

Stretching over an area equivalent to 52 American football fields, the prestigious boat show is spread out over seven locations connected by regular water taxis and buses and this year and over 1,300 boats and yachts are on display. A total of 1,000 brands are exhibiting and the list of attractions is a long one.

It all starts at the Broward County Convention Centre where a huge selection of boats and marine gear is on show. The Aquazone is located in this building and features a 9-metre by 18-metre swimming pool with displays featuring various water sports and innovative products. A lounge on the second floor is the perfect spot to recharge and refresh with food and drink options as well as a bar, all within air-conditioned comfort.

Younger attendees are well taken care of at The Kid’s Corner where they can enjoy face painting and marine crafts. The show is also hosting a range of insightful educational seminars including talks by industry-leading professionals.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show | Source: Shutterstock

If you’re looking for a more refined experience, head to the Superyachts Village overlooking the marina, an excellent place to relax and take a look at the best and most desirable superyachts from top brokers and shipyards.

For those with a penchant for the finer things in life, the Windward VIP experience gives you access to an open bar, gourmet food and luxury sponsorship activations. The Concours is an exposition of rare cars with the expressed intention of bringing together established collectors and igniting a passion for collecting amongst a new generation of enthusiasts. Admire the beautiful automobiles, fine art, fashion and live music while indulging in cocktails and canapés.

Let’s take a look at some of the top superyachts that are being displayed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this year.

Superyachts

White marble bathrooms and space for a grand piano make the Mangusta 50 Oceano a true luxury superyacht. With a cruising range in the region of 5,000 nautical miles, this stunningly gorgeous vessel imparts an omnipresent feeling of freedom. A long list of luxuriant amenities and a host of indulgent features make the 50 Oceano one of the must-see superyachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this year.

A vessel that shows its indelible character from the moment you step on board, whether you’re with a large group of friends, a multi-generational family group or a small group of close colleagues, the 50 Oceano promises to impress at every turn. Italian design and class define a yacht that was made for the luxury yachting lifestyle, the name Mangusta is derived from the Italian word for Mongoose and the company has been making cleverly designed, flawlessly constructed yachts since 1985.

Needless to say, interior and exterior spaces on the 50 Oceano have been utilised very well. It’s a luxury playground with the capability to reach remote, untamed environments. Two enormous swimming pools, a sauna, a massive beach club and a private fold-out owner’s sea terrace are just a few of the features that make the 50 Oceano a stunning piece of Italian yacht design, definitely worth a visit.

Heesen is renowned for creating unique vessels that push the boundaries of just how many luxuriant features can fit onto a superyacht. British designer, Clifford Denn has created a bold exterior that pays homage to the composition of superyachts designed in the 90s. Her proportions are contemporary and cascading aft decks provide a pleasing aesthetic that compliments an aggressive bow line.

Interiors were entrusted to another British firm, Reymond Langton Designs which has produced a thoroughly practical, yet effortlessly elegant Scandinavian style. Fresh and inviting, a colour palette of beach sand white is perfectly accented by splashes of aqua and turquoise while luxe materials onboard include white marble bathrooms and beautifully positioned ambient lighting.

Project Aura’s fast displacement steel hull cuts through the water efficiently and her impressive range expands your cruising options to include more destination hopping and less time spent refuelling in port. Importantly, in today’s superyacht buying and chartering market, Heesen has included both a well-equipped sun deck and a luxurious beach club aft.

Azimut’s Grande series was made for some serious cruising and the 38-metre Trideck delivers on that front as well as offering a futuristic-looking vessel. Interiors make bold use of materials that soften the overall feel of the yacht while screaming chic Italian delineation. Azimut has applied a three-deck plus one philosophy to this vessel, a stunning sea view terrace close to the waterline keeps you in touch with the ocean.

The Azimut Grande Trideck is everything you would expect from a luxury superyacht. Economical use of space and a gorgeous combination of fine Italian furniture designed by Achille Salvagni helps the superyacht retain an understated aesthetic while masses of glass bathe the interiors of the 38-metre superyacht in natural light.

Alberto Mancini is behind the vessel’s cutting-edge exteriors and the internal layout is top-notch. Azimut has gone to great lengths to utilise all of the available space onboard without overcrowding it. A full-beam main deck master suite on the Grande 38 Metri can be complemented by a five or six-deck layout. Offering a slice of authentic Italian luxury yacht design, a sizeable stern beach club and large tender garage fill the long days spent in the company of friends and family enjoying fun water-based activities.

UAE builder Gulf Craft has had an exciting season, debuting its highly anticipated 49-metre Majesty 160 in September at the Monaco Yacht Show. They are displaying a Majesty 120 in Fort Lauderdale this year and attendees will be given an opportunity to discover why the builder is in such high demand.

After receiving much acclaim at the Cannes Yachting Festival, where its impressive 8.5 metre beam left many wondering why other superyacht builders opt for more narrow hulls, the Majesty 120’s roomy interior spaces suit family groups to a tee. Amongst the thoughtfully luxurious design features are a china room adjacent to the formal dining area and an outdoor shower cleverly disguised under the transom at the stern.

That increase in beam and space pays dividends on the upper decks and especially the sun deck, with undercover seating for a massive group of up to sixteen people. A Jacuzzi forward and space for chaise lounges aft complete the space and, of course, there is also a full-service wet bar port side. A full beam master suite is situated on the owner’s deck and is a quality addition. It features a full sized king bed and luxe ensuite.

Guest accommodation is spacious and comfortable and the main deck saloon is drenched in light from huge windows on either side, low bulwarks provide a complete seascape vista.

Horizon’s FD110 is making its US debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and is set to make a splash. The Taiwan-based yacht maker’s fast displacement series brings some serious yachting know-how and experience to the fore. The FD110 is not only one of Horizon’s most exciting new vessels, but one of the must-see superyachts at the show this year.

Designer, Cor D. Rover has delivered functional liveability and economy of space aboard a yacht that displays excellent fuel efficiency and an impressive speed range. Ease of use is high on the FD110’s list of practical benefits, with features such as a forward-slanting windscreen and thrusters at the bow and stern making captaining this boat a breeze.

In the pursuit of usability, Horizon has certainly not forgotten the aesthetic appeal of its previous designs and has come up with a layout that leaves very little to be desired. Five stunning staterooms are a precursor to luxe amenities such as a fully stocked beach club with jet ski storage, a sun deck with a jacuzzi forward and a wet bar in the sun lounge.

Deck space on the CLX96 is utilised very well to provide multiple social areas onboard with excellent flow between them. A spacious main saloon area gives the impression of a chic loft while sea views are possible from much of the main deck area. Located at the heart of the vessel, the modern-style kitchen is the perfect place for the family to converge.

Forward outdoor seating areas and sun pads maximise the feeling of space onboard and a luxurious circular seating area on the foredeck is perfect for afternoon tanning sessions. The sun deck is logically laid out with a fully enclosed wheelhouse, wet bar and seating aft, while the beach club features a hydraulic platform that folds out to provide extra space, perfect for embarking and disembarking from tenders, chase boats and support vessels.

Interior teak flooring is complimented by wooden accents and a pared-back colour palette, affecting a calming, sensible feel. Guest rooms on the lower deck all enjoy maximal light during the daytime while retaining a comforting, modern feel after sundown. CL Yachts has created a true bluewater yacht with the desire to push luxury into uncharted waters.

Sophisticated and stylish, the Sirena 88 is a true yachtsman’s choice of authentic Turkish yacht building. Sirena Yachts has a well-cultivated reputation for creating quality vessels imbued with a uniquely understated design and the quality construction of the Sirena 88 is evidence of the Turkish shipyard’s high-quality production processes.

Pared-back interiors are characterised by a comforting palette of rich wood tones, recessed lighting and chic furniture. A contemporary layout is enhanced with the inclusion of a mosaic infinity pool on the foredeck, a spacious sun deck with a spa and a generously proportioned beach club. Two elegant double rooms and two twin rooms below deck allow eight guests to sleep onboard, and a full-beam master suite on the main deck means the owner is well taken care of.

On the water, the Sirena 88 casts a striking profile with aggressive proportions, walls of glass and a low-resistance hull design. Its maximum speed is a heady 25 knots with a standard engine but trips around the Caribbean are made very easy by an impressive 2,100 nautical mile range at nine knots. This range can be increased to 3,500 nautical miles with optional fuel tanks.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is a massive exposition of the finest yachts and takes out the title of the biggest yacht show by attendance in the world. The Monaco Yacht Show also features the world’s biggest and most expensive yachts in the setting of the beautiful French Riviera principality of Monaco.

The Market Herald Fancy Nautica was on the ground in Monaco in September interviewing the biggest names in luxury yachting and touring the most impressive vessels on show. Watch our coverage of the Monaco Yacht Show 2022 to gain insight into the burgeoning luxury yachting industry.