The fifth edition of The World Superyacht Awards recognizing the most outstanding superyachts delivered in 2009 took place at London’s Guildhall on May 22, 2010. More than 500 guests – superyacht owners, their families and friends and senior members of the superyacht industry – enjoyed an evening of vintage champagne, a sumptuous four-course dinner and a live performance by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Portsmouth.
The Neptune Awards are the ultimate recognition of superyacht craftsmanship and an internationally acknowledged mark of distinction in superyacht build and design. The World Superyacht Awards judges – a wholly independent panel comprising superyacht owners, respected industry professionals and chaired by Roger Lean-Vercoe – traveled all over the world to visit the nominated yachts and experience firsthand what makes each of these vessels so special in their field.
Eighteen Neptune Awards, two Chihuly artworks designed especially for the occasion and three Judges’ Commendations by Nymphenburg were awarded to the winners. Each finalist received a framed certificate from the Chairman of the Judges and a bottle of vintage champagne. News broadcaster Mishal Hussain presented the Neptunes to the winners.
Photographs from the evening will be available to view in the gallery on the World Superyacht Awards website in the coming days and a full review of the awards will be included in the August issue of Boat International.
For more information on each of the winners, categories and sponsors, go to www.worldsuperyachtawards.com.
Motor Yacht Awards
BEST DISPLACEMENT MOTOR YACHT 1,300GT AND ABOVE
Winner: Northern Star
BEST DISPLACEMENT MOTOR YACHT 500GT – 1,299GT
Joint winner: Candyscape II
Joint winner: Arkley
BEST DISPLACEMENT MOTOR YACHT BELOW 500GT
Winner: Blind Date
BEST SEMI–DISPLACEMENT OR PLANING MOTOR YACHT 40M+
Winner: Celestial Hope
Judges’ Special Commendation: Blind Date
BEST SEMI–DISPLACEMENT OR PLANING MOTOR YACHT 30M – 39M
Winner: FX
MOTOR YACHT OF THE YEAR
Winner: Arkley
Sailing Yacht Awards
BEST SAILING YACHT IN 45M + SIZE RANGE
Winner: Riela
Judges’ Special Commendation: Nazenin V
BEST SAILING YACHT 30M – 44M
Joint winner: Hanuman
Joint winner: Indio
SAILING YACHT OF THE YEAR
Winner: Hanuman
General Awards
BEST REFITTED YACHT
Winner: Pegasus
Judges’ Special Commendation: Necker Belle
VOYAGER’S AWARD
Joint winner: Tenaz
Joint winner: Silver Cloud
JUDGES’ SPECIAL REBUILD AWARD
Winner: Freedom
JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD
Winner: Sycara IV
SUPERYACHT LEGACY AWARD
Noel Lister
YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Adam Voorhees