While the United Kingdom may not boast the abundant sunshine and warm seas of France and Italy, there is clearly still a draw for yacht owners, as an increasing number of vessels make their way to the capital city. BOAT explores the latest superyacht sightings in London…
Asteria
Those who spotted Asteria cruising by Tower Bridge this week may not have recognized her as a superyacht – which would have been a missed opportunity. Asteria began her journey in 1970 as a salvage tug at the Greek shipyard Anastassiades & Tsortanides, but she has operated as a globe-trotting explorer yacht since 2002. She received the Voyager’s Award at the 2022 World Superyacht Awards for her expedition from Central America to Alaska and features many superyacht amenities, including a Jacuzzi on the upper deck, a five-ton helipad, and two large teak wet bars. She offers accommodation in seven cabins, including a children’s cabin adjacent to the master suite, which can be transformed into a gym, office, or wellness center. The explorer yacht was listed for sale in 2023 with an asking price of $19,900,000.
The owners of Asteria recently spoke with BOAT International to share their summer cruising plans in Norway.
Samadhi
After just three months on the market, the new owners of the 60.9-meter Samadhi determined it was best to return her to her home shipyard Feadship for a thorough yet sensitive refit. Earlier this week, BOAT International was invited to her mooring at Tower Bridge to see the results. While images remain undisclosed, her new owners are fans of color, which is reflected in the interiors, particularly the vibrant carpets. A unique addition is the aft deck pool, equipped with gym equipment, including resistance bands for a more intense swim. The owner’s suite has also been updated, now featuring a treatment room in place of the wardrobe, complete with an ice bath and massage table. According to BOATPro, the superyacht has since made her way to the Hebrides, an archipelago in Scotland.
Iris Blue
Credit: Adam Geast / BOAT International
Delivered earlier this year, Iris Blue has made her arrival in London after six months spent cruising the fjords of Norway and the Netherlands. The 55-meter yacht is the first of Heesen’s Steel Class series to showcase a revised design by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects (original designer of the Steel Class series). The result is a more “aggressive” and “masculine” appearance, thanks to a larger expanse of floor-to-ceiling tinted glass. Other design features include a sundeck with a bar surrounding a whirlpool Jacuzzi and an owner’s suite with its own veranda and walk-in wardrobes. Iris Blue has been photographed in front of the iconic Gherkin tower, designed by Lord Foster – the same architect behind the Yacht Club de Monaco and the 41-meter Ocean Emerald.
Scout
With her buttercup-yellow awnings and robust exterior, the 63.7-meter Scout was spotted brightening up London’s waterways this week. The flagship of Dutch yard Royal Hakvoort, Scout is named after the owner and his partner’s beloved dog, and the mascot that sometimes graces the bow is a custom-made likeness of it. H2 Yacht Design oversees the interior, which presents a quirky mix of “what the future was once envisioned to look like,” with elements like an LCD skylight that streams various scenes into the main saloon. Scout is no stranger to Butler’s Wharf, having visited the UK capital last year.
Read More/Inside the fantastical 64m Hakvoort explorer Scout
Scintilla Maris
In April, Scintilla Maris was photographed departing from Damen Maaskant’s shipyard in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The 45.6-meter converted fishing trawler then completed her maiden voyage to London, docking in Canary Wharf, according to BOATPro. Scintilla Maris’ ambitious refit has earned her a nomination at this year’s World Superyacht Awards in the ‘Rebuilt Yacht’ category. The works included reducing the yacht’s 570GT to below the 500GT threshold and installing eclectic, loft-style interiors designed by Dutch studio Vripack.
Read More/Trawler to private yacht: the conversion that gave Scintilla Maris a second life
Triton
The 49.7-meter Triton was seen moored near Tower Bridge in April 2024. Launched and designed by Delta Marine in 2004, she was the largest composite yacht built in the United States at the time. Triton is optimized for worldwide cruising, deep-sea fishing, and exotic reef diving, featuring an underwater camera in the bow and a lighting rig at the stern that “provides guests front-row seats for observing the ocean’s mysteries.” A sonar and bottom-mapping system by Simrad can also photograph and 3D map the ocean floor, easily identifying any nearby wreckage. Interior highlights include a full-width master cabin with a sitting area, library, office, and his and hers bathroom.
Bravo Eugenia
Credit: BOAT International
Oceanco’s 109-meter Bravo Eugenia has visited the Big Smoke multiple times, showcasing a striking Nuvolari Lenard exterior and stunning underwater light display. A sharp plumb bow and extended waterline make her one of the most distinctive superyachts on the water, cutting an elegant profile as she arrives in London. With her hybrid propulsion engine, she operates in a quiet electric mode that allows her to consume 30 percent less fuel than other motor yachts in her size class, marking her as one of the more eco-friendly yachts worldwide. She was last seen in November 2023 at Butler’s Wharf Pier, Tower Bridge.
Norn
Credit: Raphael Montigneaux / BOAT International
The 90-meter expedition yacht has been seen anchored in front of Tower Bridge following her delivery from Lürssen’s yard in Germany. Launched in February 2023, Norn has traveled across the Baltic and North Sea, including a skirt around Sweden’s Skåne County and a brief stop at the port of Helsingborg on June 9, according to BOATPro. Key features include an outdoor cinema and a pool floor that can change depth with dance floor illumination.
Australia
Credit: Adam Geast / BOAT International.
Before arriving in Canary Wharf, the 56-meter Benetti yacht enjoyed a cruising expedition in the waters that inspired her name. Australia’s Stefano Ricci lines and navy hull garnered plenty of attention along the Gold Coast, and the 2012 build boasts an impressive interior with three distinct dining salons. Originally launched as Ulysses, she later became known as Bash, and was previously owned by two avid yacht enthusiasts.
Revelry
Fresh off an Atlantic crossing that commenced in early May with a stop in Portsmouth, the 54.3-meter Amels yacht Revelry was spotted docked in Canary Wharf. The yacht features a classic Tim Heywood exterior and interiors designed by Laura Sessa, as part of the Dutch yard’s Limited Editions 177 series. Launched as 4You in 2012, she changed ownership in 2021.
Kaos
Credit: Adam Geast/BOAT International
The 110-meter Kaos (ex Jubilee) is the largest yacht to have visited London in recent years. She cruised up the Thames in May 2023, stopping in front of Butler’s Wharf and Tower Bridge to display her unique blue exterior designed by Lobanov Design. The multi-award-winning yacht boasts an impressive array of amenities, including an 8.5-meter pool, an aquarium, and a multitude of custom-designed features not found on any other yacht. At the time of her last sale in 2018, she was one of the largest sales in yachting history.
Read More/Jubilee: Inside Oceanco’s 110m flagship superyacht
Phoenix
Credit: Adam Geast/BOAT International
The third unit in Benetti’s popular Oasis 40M series, named Phoenix, has spent considerable time cruising the British coastline. Since her delivery in 2021, she has made stops in Southampton and Ireland, in addition to Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge. Notable features include the signature Oasis deck, which has a glass-fronted plunge pool and foldable bulwarks. The design of this model proved so popular that it inspired a smaller 34-meter series, the first unit of which was purchased by Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Reef Chief
Credit: Adam Geast/BOAT International
The 49.1-meter Reef Chief was spotted docked in the heart of Canary Wharf in 2022. Delivered by the American yard Trinity in 2009, this yacht is designed with entertainment as the focus. She’s topped with a large sundeck featuring an outdoor bar, shaded dining area, and TV screen, along with a Jacuzzi. Accommodating ten guests in five cabins styled in classic polished wood and cream tones, she makes for a comfortable yet luxurious getaway.
Blue Jeans
The 33.7-meter Van der Valk superyacht Blue Jeans made her maiden voyage to London after departing from the shipyard in the Netherlands. Her sleek blue hull brightened a gloomy day in London, and she spent her time cruising up and down the river, showcasing her custom Guido De Groot exterior. This all-aluminum yacht stands as one of the builder’s most complex projects to date, featuring a foredeck “chillout lounge” with sun pads integrated into the bow, a U-shaped sofa, and a dining table that pops up from the deck.
Read More/On board Van der Valk’s custom 34m Blue Jeans designed over Zoom
Brazil
Credit: Adam Geast / BOAT International
Fresh from a comprehensive refit and extension, the 44-meter motor yacht Brazil made a visit to the River Thames in December 2022. She was seen moored outside St Katharine Docks Marina, soaking up the winter sunshine in front of Tower Bridge. Originally delivered by Heesen in 1993, she was relaunched in October following an extensive refit by a collaboration of three Dutch firms – Snijders Yachts, Zwijnenburg, and Dutchflows. The work predominantly focused on the stern area, where the yacht received a new beach club. The yacht is currently listed for sale with IYC.
Slipstream
Credit: Katia Damborsky / BOAT International
Slipstream was delivered in 2009 as one of two 60-meter models from the French shipyard CMN. Both the exterior and interior were designed by Winch Design, featuring a smart navy hull with a distinctive gray superstructure. She offers generous living and entertainment spaces, including an outdoor cinema on the sundeck and a hand-carved 4.5-meter totem pole as the centerpiece of a feature staircase. Owned by Canadian businessman Jack Cowin, Slipstream is currently available for charter through Burgess.
Read More/On board Slipstream with owner Jack Cowin
Stardust
Credit: Adam Geast / BOAT International
Having recently completed an extensive circumnavigation that included stops in Norway, the Maldives, and Australia, the 62-meter Stardust was spotted cruising up the Thames and into Canary Wharf in July 2022. This Amels build was delivered to her owners in 2020 and is the first and only hull in the Dutch yard’s Limited Editions 206 series. The interior design comes from Laura Sessa, while Tim Heywood is credited for the yacht’s distinctive exterior, characterized by long lines of circular portholes and a cut-out segment along the hull line.
Boardwalk
Credit: Katia Damborsky / BOAT International
The 75.6-meter Boardwalk represents one of the newer deliveries from prestigious Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, and she created quite a stir when she moored on the Thames against the backdrop of Tower Bridge. Her aft deck helipad, spacious beach club, and large TV screens were on full display for fortunate passersby.
Read More/On board the 77m Feadship superyacht Boardwalk owned by Tilman Fertitta
Bella Vita
Credit: Tom McGhie / BOAT International
Delivered in 2010 by Lürssen, the 60-meter Bella Vita briefly visited London, where she was seen alongside Butler’s Wharf, just in front of Tower Bridge. Originally launched as Katie Sue II, the yacht became one of the top 50 most expensive yachts for sale in the world prior to her sale in January 2021. Her new owner surely enjoys her Glade Johnson interior and well-equipped sundeck.
Moon Sand
The 55.5-meter Moon Sand made headlines as she cruised up the Thames shortly after her delivery from Lürssen. The yacht boasts several innovative features on deck, including a recessed pool that can be drained and raised flush with the deck when not in use. The yacht’s crisp profile and clean, soothing interiors are designed by the renowned yacht design studio Bannenberg & Rowell.
Read More/For charter: On board the 55m Lürssen superyacht Moon Sand
Aviva
With her sky-blue hull and buttercup yellow accents, the 98-meter motor yacht Aviva visited London, adding a splash of color to the city. The yacht features an onboard paddle tennis court – the first of its kind ever installed – which had to be meticulously engineered to ensure the correct level of bounce.
Read More/Aviva: Inside the 98.4m Abeking & Rasmussen flagship yacht
Lusine
Heesen’s largest steel superyacht to date was spotted in London showcasing her new name Lusine. Launched in 2021, the yacht features a masculine exterior by Omega Architects and an interior by Sinot Yacht and Architecture Design. A central glass elevator anchors the design, and a touch-and-go helipad at the bow allows guests to board in complete privacy.
Read More/Exclusive: On board Heesen’s 60m lunar-themed Lusine
Kismet
With her “champagne and caviar” interiors and extensive two-deck video walls in the lobby, the 95-meter Kismet is all about making a statement. Her interiors were designed by Reymond Langton, while her exterior was crafted by Espen Øino, featuring an impressive jaguar statue on the bowsprit. She remains one of the most expensive yachts available for charter in the world, commanding a price of €1,200,000 for a week’s experience.
Read More/The story of Shahid Khan’s 95m superyacht Kismet
Motor Yacht A
One of the most recognizable yachts in the world, Motor Yacht A is sure to have attracted crowds in the UK capital with her unconventional design. The 119-meter yacht built by Blohm + Voss was commissioned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. Following the war in Ukraine, the superyacht was relocated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where she remains today, according to BOATPro.