Cool – Dynamic – Fresh: Inspiration for Superyacht design excellence by Pandora Mather-Lees

‘External Perspectives’ was the concept behind the years’ superyacht design forum held at Chelsea Harbour during the last week of June.

Welcoming 240 Guests, Superyacht Group Chairman Martin Redmayne explained the conference mission, to attract visionary speakers so stimulating a new approach to yacht design that is cool, dynamic and fresh.  

Keynote speakers, futurist Matthew Griffin and Arthur Mamou-Mani, gave examples of how new technology such as artificial intelligence and biotech is changing the world we live in, enabling efficiency across all industries and how giving away ideas, sharing and collaborating reaps unexpected rewards. 

Group sessions explored sustainability through the lens of social media having an influence on procurement for better resourcing. Teak decking predictably cropped up and exhibitor and exhibition sponsor, Lignia Yacht demonstrated their biotech teak alternative, enabling manufacturing of a new type of wood which barely differed from the original. Sustainability discussions often focus on managing plastic waste; something stakeholders in yachting are toiling to eliminate. One resourceful response from luxury design is Brodie Neill’s artfully designed GYRO table, made entirely from oceanic plastic flotsam.

Picking up on the theme of collaboration, designer Andrew Winch has put alliance into practice, partnering with interior retailers Summit, based in the Design Centre. Together they have brought a radical, in production terms, furniture range to market. In a session moderated by journalist Georgia Boscawen at the Summit showroom, designer Selena McCabe applauded the retailer’s courage in giving her team at Winch complete design freedom.

The Summit’s MD, Hilary Gustafsson, had expressed doubt as to whether the range could be first realised and second be sufficiently durable for the deck. Pertinent then, that the key to success for this joint venture was pinned on a relationship of many years between the two principals, founded on mutual respect, trust and integrity. Frequent and honest communication was particularly important to the project’s success. 

Good communication played out in a subsequent panel comprising Oceanco’s Alan Coleman, designer Tim Gosling and Steve Keeling of DKT Artworks who discussed how vital this is throughout the supply chain.

Maintaining good relationships and the need to adapt to ever-changing demands by owners is a major challenge in keeping costs down. According to Steve Keeling of DKT Artworks, a company formed of multiskilled artists, specialised in the design and production of bespoke finishes and artworks explained that the company overcame some of these difficulties by strengthening their relationships with designers, yards and outfitters, making sure all parties could work to an “as much defined as possible” brief, as well as keeping the liaison open and consistent throughout the process.

Design and build are of course, highly complex tasks given the many disparate divisions internally and the plethora of third-party providers externally. The perceived need to extend beyond and surpass standard design complicates production to the point that deliveries become delayed. The Superyacht Group statistics showed that out of 181 yachts in build pending delivery in 2019, only a portion has been delivered with many more unlikely to meet the target. This has a knock-on effects for the legal profession. John Leonida, a superyacht lawyer with Clyde and Co, spoke about how his work has transitioned over the last few years from transactional to litigation matters, many of the latter being a result of overpromising on delivery by the yards. Timeframes and margins are squeezed as yards compete to win projects. They employ high levels of skilled labour, which means that sometimes the builder would rather accept a project at little above cost than lay off staff and lose their in-house expertise.

In conclusion, family offices involved in yacht management need to adopt an interconnected approach, be open to new ways of doing things and realise that sustainability is being enforced across the industry. Unless responsible sourcing is adopted, the new, younger owners will be alienated. Managing waste, fuel and materials needs a radical reappraisal - all stakeholders must be open to a new future embracing the opportunities provided by innovations in tech. Futurist Matt Griffin proposed the shocking statistic that we might eliminate 80% of waste on a yacht through the application of technology.

Summing up the conference, Ashley Hurrell, representing sponsor naval architect Laurent Giles commented:

 “This year’s superyacht design forum was exceptionally well organised as always with some very interesting speakers. Our emphasis is always looking to the future, new technologies, materials and so on, which this forum was about, along with exploring the unknown which can get a little controversial. For us though, it’s about catching up with new and existing colleagues and friends, fantastic company and likeminded individuals from which you learn so much.”

The Superyacht Group industry report and other market intelligence can be commissioned from William Mathieson: william@thesuperyachtgroup.com The group’s flagship conference, The Superyacht Forum takes place in Amsterdam with this year’s conference falling on 18-20 November.