The horns blasted and the party started on Thursday night as the 2025 Newport Charter Yacht Show came to an end. The closing party served as the awards ceremony for the competitions that took place during the four-day show. Competition was fierce, organizers and judges said, and skill level was high.
Competition winners included:
For the chef competition, each chef selected a different themed celebration and concocted a meal based on that theme. Chefs were given provisions marketplace-style and did not all have to work with the same foods — although Rhode Island striped bass still proved a go-to. The winner was Gabriela Piotto of M/Y In the Zone: Her theme was “anniversary dish,” and she prepared Rhode Island striped bass with forbidden black rice, beurre blanc and red watercress-dandelion emulsion, with watercress and finger lime tempura nest.
In second place was Garrett Hamilton of M/Y Acta. Tasked with creating a New Year’s dish, he delivered striped bass with potato crust on top of a roasted potato and leek soubise topped with crispy striped bass skin and radish, pickled red onion and a side of confit carrots with asparagus. In third came Katie Provenza from M/Y Temptation. For a bachelorette party theme, she prepared Rhode Island striped bass, crudo, compressed watermelon, pickled shallots, radish, tomato water and chili oil.
The designer water contest encourages yachts to think eco-friendly while creating a guest-pleasing water utilizing onboard water sources. S/Y TYCHE finished third with cucumber, celery, lemon and serrano pepper water. M/Y Temptation came in second with strawberry, kiwi and lemon water. M/Y Invictus won with a kiwi, pomegranate, dragon fruit, mint, peppercorns and hibiscus water.
M/Y Lexington won the cocktail competition thanks Chef Ranada Riley’s Tequila Mockingbird. M/Y Acta won the mocktail competition thanks to second stew Annie Perland’s Blush Float.
In tablescaping, M/Y Island Cowboy won the professionally judged category with a design of shells and silver accessories created by chief stew Evy Chlebowicz. In the fan favorite category, M/Y Temptation won with a Rhode Island lobster-themed design from chief stew Jennifer Fallon and deck/stew Emery Wallerich.
The Captain and Deck Challenge featured three fun — but also quite competitive — challenges, a drinks-carrying obstacle course, fender-inflating and a floral design challenge. Carla VanZyl of M/Y Invictus won the floral design. M/Y Temptation was declared the overall winner as first mate Richard Laqueur and deck/stew Emery Wallerich made the fastest times in fender-inflating and the obstacle course respectively.
On Wednesday night, guests had made their way to yachts that had come up with creative concepts for entertainment and drinks in the show’s annual Yacht Hop. M/Y Freedom was declared best Yacht Hop yacht for a party that included a photo booth, tastings and Captain Brendan Emmons personally greeting every guest.