Discover
BOAT Briefing

265 Episodes
Reverse
As autumn and the boat show season approach, we examine some of the big superyacht stories that have been making headlines this summer, from Oceanco's sale to Gabe Newell and the new America's Cup protocol to Phi's continuing incarceration in London and the US Coast Guard report into the Titan submersible disaster. Georgia also looks ahead to winter season, after interrogating the charter community about the destinations that are popping up on their radars.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/1s5
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/1s6
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
What happens when a seasoned sailor with Parkinson’s, his daughter and a plucky 24-metre yacht set off across the Atlantic? In this Big BOAT Interview, we follow Joe and Amy Leitch aboard On Liberty - the first Outer Reef to cross the Atlantic on its own bottom - as they journey from the U.S. to Sweden via ice fields, open seas and long stretches of remote coastline. But this isn’t just a story of exploration. Partnering with Yachts for Science, the duo welcomed two researchers aboard, turning part of their voyage into a mobile lab for ocean exploration. Their journey proves that groundbreaking science doesn’t require a megayacht or your own private submersible - just commitment, curiosity and a spot on deck.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/1p5
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/1p6
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Laurens Last bought Heesen Yachts with his eyes wide open to the challenges ahead. As the owner of a superyacht built by another Dutch brand, he understands the ins and outs of an industry that can leave many outsiders scratching their heads – for instance, how most shipyards can survive only making a sliver of profit on each build. Last wants to change that and secure Heesen's future by introducing new manufacturing techniques and innovations learned in his hugely successful packaging business. In this interview, Last talks about his personal journey to superyacht ownership and why we all might be a little too obsessed with "price per gross tonne".
BOATPro: https://boatint.com/19q
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/19r
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Two hours from LA, down the legendary Highway 1, there's a place where the mountains kiss the turquoise sea where property developer Owen Perry says “Palm Springs meets the Pacific.” A Rhode Island native turned real estate maven, Perry stumbled onto a piece of huge tract of uninhabited land on the Sea of Cortez during a cruise on his yacht around 16 years ago and saw something no one else did. And now? Villa del Palmar at the Island of Loreto by Danzante Bay is multi-purpose resort with the only TPC course in Mexico, a master-planned community and an all-inclusive resort with fine cuisine, a spa and service with a smile. Today on the Big Boat Interview, you will hear how this yacht owner turned a forgotten coastline near the "magical village" of Loreto into a global destination — and why it might just be the future of luxury travel in Mexico.
BOATPro: https://boatint.com/17r
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/17s
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Heesen Yachts CEO Niels Vaasen and US sales director Thom Conboy share candid stories and behind-the-scenes insights — from the legendary founder Frans Heesen to the company’s exciting new Dutch shareholder.
Thom vividly recalls the electric moment 30 years ago when the 35-meter Tropic Sea (now Sea Axis) stole the spotlight at Bahia Mar — a defining memory for Frans, who felt “like King Kong.” That iconic yacht is still cruising today, part of Heesen’s ever-growing and evolving fleet.
From navigating the sales process (“sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs”) to celebrating with chocolate cake at launches, they dive into how the company has evolved — from sleek interiors to groundbreaking construction. They touch on Ultra G, one of the fastest large yachts in recent history, and why today’s clients increasingly favour steel builds over speed, valuing time as their ultimate luxury.
BOATPro: https://boatint.com/16k
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/16m
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
After four decades, Henk de Vries has stepped down from his day-to-day duties as a director of Feadship and CEO of De Vries. In this interview, he charts his rise to the top of the world of superyachting, and how and why he has decided now to take on a more supporting role at the company. Henk has seen some extreme highs and lows in his 40-year boatbuilding career, many of which he discusses in this interview, delivered with his usual charm and candour. Don't miss this opportunity to sit down with one of the biggest names in the superyacht industry.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In the third of our three-part series celebrating Ocean Talks 2025 on 12 June, Lucy Dunn sits down with speaker Dr Camilla Floros, a marine scientist with over 20 years of experience in marine conservation across the Western Indian Ocean. In a case of her career coming full circle, Floros is now working in the same place she visited as a child - which means she is in the best place to understand the effects of climate change and the need for local people to safeguard and protect marine resources. Floros talks about the importance of mixing generations-old Indigenous knowledge with next-gen methods such as ‘super coral’, a resistant coral which won’t die or bleach in warmer ocean temperatures.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Continuing our three-part series celebrating Ocean Talks 2025 on 12 June, Caroline White sits down with Nicolas Rochat, CEO of Mover, the world’s first one hundred per cent plastic free sportswear brand. The pair discuss the environmental problems caused by synthetic apparel, the company’s high-tech approach to natural fabrics that is changing the game, plus a recent collaboration with Sail GP, as well as Mover’s very own sailing collection.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
To kick off our three-part series celebrating Ocean Talks 2025 on 12 June, Lucy Dunn sits down with keynote speaker, conservationist and producer Colin Butfield to discuss his latest film project, Ocean with David Attenborough and companion book, Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness. The two discuss Attenborough's handwritten archives, octopus gardens and the ocean’s remarkable propensity to bounce back. If the ocean is allowed to recover, Butfield concludes, it will do a huge part of fighting climate change for us.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In this week's episode, we dig into the recently published Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) interim report into the sinking of the 56-metre superyacht Bayesian in August last year, resulting in the loss of seven lives. For the first time, the narrative of what happened that night can be disclosed, and we also review the MAIB's comments on the weather conditions that fateful evening and Bayesian's stability vulnerabilities. Georgia, meanwhile, is newly returned from the Galapagos and tells us why these very special islands should be on every superyacht itinerary.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In this interview, Stewart sits down with Bruce Brakenhoff, executive director at Edmiston, in the cockpit of 56-metre Rosehearty, to talk about his long career in superyachting. After starting out working for his father, Bruce joined Perini Navi and went on to sell some of the best known sailing yachts in the world. He joined Edmiston as few years ago and continues to be involved in some of the biggest sailing deals on the market. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the superyacht business's best known characters.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
After a spectacular ceremony in Venice, let us take you through all the winners from this year's World Superyacht Awards. Caroline and Stewart discuss each winner and bring you the judges' comments about each one.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Jeff Summers, senior designer for Scout Boats in South Carolina, walks us through the story of building the American boat builder’s flagship, the LXS 670 670, a $6.8 million, five-outboard powered, 60mph, 20.35 metre yacht, created with superyacht designers Harrison Eidsgaard. Summers, a graduate of a car design school, interned with Heesen Yachts where he got an understanding for superyacht design and from there, looked for a place with a beach and palm trees and landed his job with Scout, an ambitious and innovative builder that has made a giant splash with its newest launch, in 2016. Debuting this year at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, the first LXS 670, built with carbon fibre and fibreglass, has a sporty design, but lots of interior room - a versatile, fast platform that can do all kinds of things, and could be a support vessel for a larger yacht with a range of about 400 nautical miles with 1,500 gallons of fuel.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
This week, we remember two legends of the superyacht industry – Frans Heesen and Eddie Jordan. Heesen has also been in the news due to a recent change of ownership and the release of some very positive financial results. We dig into both stories in the podcast. Our travel editor, Georgia, meanwhile, tells us why Nova Scotia is one of the most exciting new destinations for food, drink and superyacht lovers and we look at the latest tariff news and examine ways the superyacht industry might be affected if Trump's reciprocal tariffs aren't negotiated down. All this and more in this week's BOAT Briefing.
BBC Top Gear episode, featuring BOAT International: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p04xkhdf/top-gear-series-24-episode-7
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/zg
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/zh
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In his 30 years of cruising the world in his 51-metre Feadship Double Haven, there aren't many places Merle Hinrich hasn't been. He has circled the globe three times in his yacht, which was built as one of the original explorers (complete with bullet proof windows). Double Haven was commissioned for adventure, and Merle and his family have seen plenty of that. Don't miss this rare opportunity to sit down and hear from one of the world's most experienced superyacht owners.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/xp
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/xn
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
This week we catch up with Christian Truter (CT), captain of the groundbreaking 106.7m DynaRig sailing yacht Black Pearl. The yacht was in St Barths for the Bucket, where we caught up with CT to discuss Black Pearl's extraordinarily ornate interiors, why the spirit of her owner lives on, and what the future holds for one of the most technically advanced boats ever built.
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/jj
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/jk
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In this episode of BOAT Briefing, Caroline sits down with BOAT’s business editor Gabrielle Lazaridis to discuss the fate of sanctioned superyacht Amadea, after a US judge dismissed an attempt to halt the vessel’s forfeiture to the US Justice Department. They also touch on Trump’s recently enacted steel and aluminium tariffs, and how this is expected to disrupt the yachting industry, along with a sneak peek at the record number of superyachts attending this year’s Palm Beach show, which could very well become the US's number one showcase for large yachts.
In this episode of BOAT Briefing, Stewart and Caroline discuss the latter’s recent visit to Norway to explore the 194.9-metre research vessel-cum-superyacht REV Ocean. They reveal the latest news and mind-blowing facilities of this historic project, as well as serving up the inside scoop on its mysterious two-year hiatus. The team also dive into the rollicking history of the upcoming St Barths Bucket and exclusively unveil the full-year 20204 brokerage sales figures and trends – as well as unpacking what they mean for the superyacht industry.
First images of world’s largest yacht REV Ocean released: https://boatint.com/jf
The history of the St Barths Bucket: https://boatint.com/jg
2024 brokerage report: https://boatint.com/jh
BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/jj
Subscribe: https://boatint.com/jk
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
In this week’s episode of BOAT Briefing, Charlotte catches up with Tobias Reichmuth, owner of the 45m yacht Prometej. On March 1st, Tobias will embark on a journey around the world, stopping in everywhere from Greece to Costa Rica and Japan, all in a quest to discover the secret to a longer life. Those onboard won’t be charter guests, but people he’s invited specifically because they share his curiosity around longevity and health. They’ll dine on personalised recipes, tailored to results of their own DNA, blood and microbiome tests, follow rigorous workout plans, and share their own academic findings on the subject as part of this unique and unusual cruise. As well as details on the voyage, Tobias also shares his journey to owning and refitting the yacht, and the business background that lead him to where he is today.
Follow the journey:
https://www.instagram.com/bluecruise.world/
www.bluecruise.world
BOAT Pro: https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro
Subscribe: https://www.boatinternational.com/subscriptions
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Charlotte and Cecile announce the winners of the prestigious Design and Innovation Awards, in this episode of BOAT Briefing. They also give the inside scoop on the most hotly contested categories, and share their top tips for those hoping to claim victory next year.
Explore the winners here: https://boatint.com/dy
BOAT Pro: https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro
Subscribe: https://www.boatinternational.com/subscriptions
Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com
Comments