Ringing in 2025: Yachts on the scene in St Barths for New Year's Eve

28 December 2024 • Written by Holly Margerrison

Known for its pristine stretches of sea, plentiful beach clubs and dining hotspots, St Barths has become a popular Caribbean cruising spot for superyachts – especially in the countdown to the New Year. Arguably the most-anticipated delivery of the year, Lürssen's 122-metre Kismet was spotted berthed in St Barths alongside Freire's 112-metre behemoth Renaissance and Oceanco's 110-metre Kaos, according to BOATPro's global fleet tracker.

As of today (28 December), there are 101 yachts docked in or around St Barths for New Year's Eve, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. A regular on the scene, Feadship's 100-metre Moonrise has returned for the festivities, while Oceanco's 81.3-metre Alfa Nero has been sighted following her return to the charter market. Noteworthy absences include the legendary Christina O, which has instead opted for the Galápagos Islands. BOAT takes a closer look at the yachts ringing in 2025 in Caribbean waters...

1. Kismet

Credit: Jarmo Pohjaniemi for Cecil Wright and Lürssen

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 122m

It's fitting that one of the most-talked-about yachts of the year is St Barth's largest attendee. A superyacht not just to be talked about, but to be seen, Kismet spent the Christmas and New Year period perusing Caribbean waters, first navigating St Martin before crossing the Saint-Barthélmy Channel to arrive at Gustavia, the capital of St Barths, in time for Christmas. Built by the German yard and delivered in 2024, the yacht's exterior design is the work of Nuvolari Lenard, while the interior is owed to Reymond Langton. Expect the most unusual of features on board – from a Balinese-inspired spa to a partially underwater, Art Deco cinema and a main saloon inspired by Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors. When yacht spotting, look out for her giveaway – a stainless steel bowsprit in the shape of a jaguar.

2. Renaissance

Credit: Burgess

Builder: Freire
Length: 111.9m

The largest private yacht built in Spain and one of the world's most expensive charter yachts, Renaissance was delivered by Spanish yard Freire, a commercial shipyard that had only built one private yacht prior: the 73.6-metre Naia. British studio Bannenberg & Rowell took the reins on exterior and interior design, presenting a superyacht built to Passenger Yacht Code which can take up to 36 guests on charter. To give an insight into the layout: there are six decks with one entirely catered towards wellness, a "palatial" owner's deck with private terrace and one decked-out beach club. Even the double-height main saloon is carved into two living areas, thanks to a mezzanine level.

3. Kaos

Credit: MichaelYachts

Builder: Oceanco
Length: 110.1m

The brainchild of Barcelona-based designer Igor Lobanov, Kaos once stood as the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands. Built by the Dutch yard with naval architecture by BMT Nigel Gee, the yacht was first delivered in 2017 as Jubilee with design by Sam Sorgiovanni. By 2018, she was sold and a year-long refit kicked off, where existing and new interior spaces were penned by Reymond Langton Design. Today, she can be recognised by her distinctive "floating island" design, whereby a troupe l'oil effect gives the illusion of extra decks. Kaos is also known for being able to cruise far, taking guests on voyages up to 5,000 nautical miles at her cruising speed.

4. Moonrise

Credit: Compass Tenders

Builder: Feadship
Length: 100m

The Dutch yard's 100-metre is a regular on the French Caribbean island around New Year, spotted there in both 2023 and 2022. Although most details have been kept under wraps, Moonrise's strong and attractive masculine exterior design and clean lines hail from Studio De Voogt, while Rémi Tessier created a modern interior. The combination of these details won her a World Superyacht Award in 2021 in the Displacement Motor Yachts 3,000GT and Above category.

5. Sophia

Builder: Feadship
Length: 96.6m

Previously known as Faith until her name change in October 2024, Sophia is one of the biggest Feadship launches to date and was originally commissioned for Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll. Her list of amenities includes a nine-metre glass-bottomed swimming pool, a sundeck gym and two 10-metre custom tenders to whisk guests to shore. Alternatively, evenings on board are best spent on the sundeck, where guests will find a wood-fired pizza oven and wine cellar. Guests can also retreat to a private deck for aperitifs around a firepit, or make use of a basketball court that can be arranged on the foredeck – perfect for enjoying the New Year's Eve festivities.

6. CC-Summer

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 95.3m

CC-Summer is one of the world's most expensive superyachts for charter and recently made her debut at the 2024 Antigua Charter Yacht Show. Previously Madsummer, the yacht was commissioned by an owner in the market for both a new plane and a boat. As a result, the sundeck was reinforced to serve as a seaplane berth with a crane hidden in the bulwark. Other highlights include a helideck on the foredeck, a brightly coloured interior by Laura Sessa, a spa and a 12-metre swimming pool.

7. Barbara

Credit: Rif Spahni

Builder: Oceanco
Length: 88.5m

The client’s brief to designer Sam Sorgiovanni was to create a timeless design, something that had never been seen before. As a result, Barbara has an unusual and interesting layout that the owner devised with Azure Yacht Design and Naval Architecture, which produced the general arrangement. As BOAT reported in 2021, the yacht is "The product of an experienced designer-builder-owner team" and "is a travelling beach house with roots in the wilds of the Asia Pacific region".

8. Project X

Builder: Golden Yachts
Length: 87.6m

Project X was aptly named for her defining triple-X design down the waist of the boat's superstructure, courtesy of exterior designer Ken Freivokh. Onboard highlights include a three-deck atrium connected by a circular glass elevator, an aft deck pool and a private office-conference room spanning the width of the vessel's 14.8-metre beam. She is the Greek shipyard's second largest delivery, following the 95-metre O’Pari in 2020.

9. Lonian

Credit: Clint Jenkins

Builder: Feadship
Length: 87m

Little is known about the 87-metre superyacht Lonian's interior. She completed sea trials in June this year following a refit and survey period at Feadship's facilities in the Netherlands – covering her five-year warranty check, extensive repaint and minor enhancements. Delivered in 2018, the yacht arrived in the Caribbean Sea at St Martin on 23 December.

10. Bold

Credit: Guillaume Plisson

Builder: SilverYachts
Length: 85.3m

The ultimate explorer yacht for charter, Bold is an all-aluminium military-inspired superyacht with all the necessities. Think huge heli deck, extensive toy chest, winter garden and a cinema, and you've summed up the 95-metre. Built by Australian yard Silver Yachts, Espen Øino conceived the knife-edge design with an aft deck spanning over 30 metres for lounging space (but also a party space and a helipad) and an aft bridge deck, which can facilitate a second helicopter or be used as a grand banqueting space. Accommodation on board is for 12 guests across eight guest cabins comprising the owner’s suite, three VIPs and four double guest cabins.

11. Gigia

Gigia pre-refit.

Builder: Lürssen
Length: 85m

Following her 2024 refit, the 85-metre yacht Gigia is a master of the charter fleet with an impressive spa at the heart of its design – think steam room, sauna and 20-square-metre wellness lobby covered in mosaics by Andjelka Radojevic. Delivered in 2017, the yacht's interiors and exteriors are courtesy of Winch Design. Accommodation is for 12 across nine glamorous cabins that echo the classic American style with a grand, but calming feel throughout.