The 56-metre Vitters sailing yacht Alea has been named Sailing Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards.
The coveted Neptune was one of the final awards announced on the night and was chosen by an independent panel of judges from the class winners of the two sailing yacht categories: Sørvind and Alea. Both yachts were conceived as fast cruisers for experienced owners, but it was Alea that came out on top.
Alea was commissioned by an owner looking to circumnavigate the world. To fulfil this ambition, designer German Mani Frers created a powerful and slender hull form with a distinctive reverse bow to increase waterline length and speed, that would sail with comfortably low angles of heel.
A single carbon mast stands 55.32 metres tall with rigging supplied by Southern Spars New Zealand and a 682 square metre mainsail. An extensive engineering study in conjunction with German Mani Frers led to an aluminium-hulled yacht with a lifting keel that reduces her draught from 6.95 metres to 3.5 metres, allowing access to shallower harbours.
Her decks are uncluttered with sheets and halyards led below to captive winches, and her otherwise flush layout is broken only by a low deckhouse and coachroof-shaded cockpit amidships, and a raised entry to the crew and navigation areas aft.
An interior by M2 Atelier features an owner's suite located in the bow and four guest cabins aft.
Kenshō was announced as Motor Yacht of the Year.
Read More/The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2023