Welcome to the Sunshine State, home to one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world. From 30 October to 3 November, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is set to showcase yachts never before seen in US waters. This year's edition has already confirmed a one-of-a-kind sportfisher from an Italian yard, several World Superyacht Awards nominees and "the most compact superyacht on the market". BOAT International spotlights a selection...
King Benji
Builder: Dunya Yachts
Length: 46.7m
King Benji is the current frontrunner at this year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. She was designed by Gregory C. Marshall with a brief that emphasised flexibility of space and socialisation to "bring a change of scenery on longer expeditions". Highlights include a private owner's cabin and saloon styled in shades of "botanical green", a secret Jacuzzi underneath the bow sunpads, an inflatable climbing wall and jousting arena alongside an extensive catalogue of toys. She was a nominee at the 2024 World Superyacht Awards and the cover star of the March 2024 issue of BOAT International magazine.
Read More/King Benji: On board Dunya Yachts' second new buildMangusta Oceano 44
Builder: Overmarine Group
Length: 44.5m
The third unit in the Mangusta Oceano 44 series, Half Irish, will make her US debut following her delivery in February 2024. The model is the "spiritual successor" to the Mangusta Oceano 43 and is characterised by expansive glazed surfaces and large sliding doors, designed to promote greater connection to the outdoors. Another highlight is her two infinity pools, which are positioned on the foredeck and the 104-square-metre sundeck. Exterior design is by Alberto Mancini, while naval architecture was completed by Pierluigi Ausonio from P.L.A.N.A. Design. Sagas was a nominee at the 2023 World Superyacht Awards.
Abbentures ²
Builder: Benetti
Length: 44m
The fibreglass flagship of the Italian yard, Abbentures ² is making her debut at FLIBS this year. As the 44.1-metre yacht approaches the Sunshine State, attendees of the show will be able to get a closer look at her four decks and classic, white-paint exterior by Giorgio M.Cassetta. She can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in five suites, with crew quarters located on the lower deck. As well as a large master cabin and saloon, standout features of this yacht include a sundeck and four VIP cabins. Other details noted by Benetti – who also completed interior design – include a focus on soundproofing materials to reduce noise while underway or at anchor.
Canados Oceanic 143
Builder: Canados
Length: 43.5m
The flagship of the Italian yard, the Canados Oceanic 143 already made her rounds in Europe with her debut at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival. Now, the explorer yacht is broaching US waters, where visitors to the show will be able to see up close her private owner's deck, long, open aft deck and full-size Hammam for six people. The words semi-displacement and long-range explorer rarely co-exist in any brief, but Arrabito Naval Architects rose to the challenge and ultimately clinched the Canados Oceanic 143 a win at the 2024 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards.
Ocean Alexander 35 Puro
Builder: Ocean Alexander
Length: 34.6m
Taiwanese yard Ocean Alexander seems to favour a US debut, with the first unit in the Ocean Alexander 35 Puro series making her first appearance at this year's Palm Beach International Boat Show. The second unit is headed to Fort Lauderdale and features design by Giorgio Cassetta, working in collaboration with Andrea Agrusta of Italian engineering firm NavalHEAD. The series has a "tall and powerful look" created with the help of a 11-metre upper deck running from bow to stern, which shades the main deck cockpit completely and creates the illusion of a longer and "slicker" boat.
Read More/Pure joy: on board the Ocean Alexander melding Italian cues and American sensibilityMoonen 110 Mustique
Builder: Moonen Yachts
Length: 33.9m
Dutch yard Moonen Yachts has teamed up once again with René van der Velden and Diana Yacht Design – the trio had previously worked on the successful Martinique series – to create the exterior and naval architecture of the Moonen 110 Mustique. This yacht is the first unit in the series and features light, modern interiors by London-based Studio Indigo, with a sweeping spiral staircase sitting at the heart of the yacht and its design. The model can also store a 7.5-metre tender longitudinally on its 72-square-metre top deck.
Uptight
Builder: Cantiere delle Marche
Length: 32.3m
The only Darwin 106 delivered, Uptight was commissioned by an American who used her as the mothership to a sportfishing fleet. The stern platform has been transformed into an enclosed fishing cockpit and where you might expect a beach club set-up is now a fully-equipped workshop for the preparation of bait, with ice makers and freezers for long-term food conservation. Uptight has been on the water since 2022, but this year marks her first FLIBS as the yacht is now on the market with Denison Yachting.
Ocean Alexander 28L
Builder: Ocean Alexander
Length: 29m
The first unit in the series, the 28L aims to deliver the "signature features" of the shipyard's 32L and 37L models in a more compact package. Large, versatile social spaces are the priority, including a main saloon with a bar, a skylounge in place of a raised pilothouse and an expansive exterior aft deck arranged with al fresco dining, a buffet bar with barbecue and sunloungers. The model is designed inside and out by British studio Evan K. Marshall, which is also responsible for the Taiwanese yard's Revolution and Legend series.
Pearl 82
Builder: Pearl Yachts
Length: 25.3m
The second unit in the Pearl 82 series has opted for American waters following sistership Pearly Spencer's premiere at the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival. The model sits between the shipyard's Pearl 95 and Pearl 72 offerings and features a raised pilothouse design with two aft deck configurations and a semi-walkaround deck with a forward master suite and private forepeak terrace. The yard claims this model is the only yacht in its class to offer this type of configuration, and Pearl Yachts managing director, Iain Smallridge, called the 82 "the most compact superyacht on the market".
Viking 82
Builder:
Length: 25.3m
The Viking 82 series will also be making an appearance at Fort Lauderdale for the first time. The sportfisher has an open bridge configuration, but the US yard has said three different models are on offer: open bridge, enclosed bridge and sky bridge. Building on the success of the Viking 80, the 82 provides more cockpit space – just under 21.4 square metres – and a larger mezzanine that provides greater storage and a new, extended lounge to starboard. The yacht is also equipped with an Advanced Viking Propulsion System (AVPS) for an impressive top speed of 42 knots.