The 42-metre sailing superyacht wows judges and takes home the 2019 Neptune Award for Best Sailing Yacht by combining a spirit of tradition with outstanding performance features.
Sailing yacht Vijonara was presented with the 2019 World Superyacht Award for Best Sailing Yacht (30m to 59.9m) at a spectacular ceremony in London this weekend. The 42-metre sloop stood out from the other highly regarded nominees in the category due to her being a near perfect example of a Modern Classic, commented the Judges, adding: “Vijonara exuded the charm and character, as well as a sense of luxurious comfort that one might expect in a great classic yacht.” Vijonara was built under the supervision of MCM co-founder Nigel Ingram, who acted as owners’ representative on the project.
Her highly optimised aluminium hull was constructed at Dutch shipyard Bloemsma before completion at Pendennis in the UK. Launched in the spring of 2018, she is the second yacht from Andre Hoek’s Truly Classic 128 series, and her Swiss owners took a keen interest in all aspects of the design, both technical and aesthetic. Having built up knowledge and experience of sailing over many years and vessels, through chartering and ownership, Vijonara’s owners provided numerous specific requirements in order to make her their perfect yacht.
By adding a bowsprit, the owners can enjoy the thrilling sensation of lounging in the netting while underway. This new feature delivers Vijonara with plentiful additional power from carrying larger downwind sails as well as improved ease of handling with a reduced crew.
The yacht’s reconfigured deck layout moved the helm station forward of the aft deckhouse, which creates a social atmosphere close to the centre cockpit and allows easier communication between the helmsman and guests. The aft cockpit space has become a dedicated owners’ cockpit. It is directly accessed from the owners’ suite, which has been moved aft and features an integrated study in the deckhouse. A gym has been added to the guest accommodation per the owners’ request.
Luxury French brand Hermès was engaged to devise the interior décor onboard Vijonara, with its signature tan leather and white stitching visible throughout the yacht. Understated and chic brushed metal hardware allows the tan and cream colour palate to stand out while repeated accents of blue are a nod to classic maritime tradition. The overall interior theme evokes the class and sophistication of a bygone era coupled with the very best in modern comforts and technology.
When announcing her victory, the Judges highlighted the build quality and outstanding craftsmanship of Vijonara – notably her woodwork – as well as her extremely good performance under sail, particularly in lighter breezes. The twin cockpit layout was also a hit with the Judges, though the “welcoming accommodation areas” were named as the most important factor in choosing Vijonara to take home the Neptune Award.
The World Superyacht Awards is a peer-reviewed programme predominantly judged by experienced, passionate superyacht owners who have new-build experience, making it uniquely credible and influential.
MCM co-founder Nigel Ingram, owners’ representative during Vijonara’s construction, commented: “We are very proud to learn that Vijonara won the Best Sailing Yacht 30m to 59.9m at this year’s World Superyacht Awards. These projects are a team effort; our congratulations go to the talented group of naval architects, designers, craftsmen and boat builders that created her – including, of course, Hoek Design and Pendennis. We are absolutely delighted the judges decided in Vijonara’s favour, as we feel that the team created something very special: a timeless and elegant spirit-of-tradition yacht with fine sailing characteristics and a well proven sea-kindly hull form. We would like to take this opportunity to thank her owners for the trust and confidence they placed in MCM to realise their sailing dream.”
