A voyage through the 2025 boat season: Dazzling innovations, tugboat chic, and the rise of sociable cruising

The 2025 boating season was nothing short of an adventure, with engineers, designers, and boat enthusiasts travelling the globe, striving to sea trial the latest yacht launches and innovations. The motor yacht industry was abuzz as the international show circuit displayed a range of engaging, static yacht tours.

A particular type of anticipation filled the air during boat show premieres, introducing designs that either made waves or quietly sank. This year, the industry was split into two distinct camps: the maestros, who were champions of sociable, manageable efficiency, and the daring innovators, who sought to redefine the boundaries of custom engineering.

This commitment to volume was further illustrated at the Cannes Yachting Festival with the Absolute Navetta 62. The festival attendees hailed it as the epitome of modern grandeur, injected into a classic trawler style. Its distinct design - from cutaway bulwarks and glass balustrades in the cockpit, to the generous headroom and vertical windows of the open-plan saloon - was classically Absolute: voluminous, cruising-centric, yet refreshingly far from formulaic.

Meanwhile, some designers sought to push boundaries in other areas, turning their attention to innovative, efficient use of materials. The Delta 72 embodied this trend, utilising carbon fibre to shed significant weight. Weighing in at a mere 31 tonnes, this lightweight wonder cruised at an impressive 30 knots with a fuel burn of a measly 6.1 litres per nautical mile. This is an example of embracing lightness to foster speed and efficiency in ways traditional GRP cannot match.

In the multihull sector, Aquila 46 Yacht showcased the continuing reign of power catamarans. With the masterful use of its wide 23’ 3’’ beam, this nautical marvel offered an intermediate deck level for the owner’s cabin—preserving precious sea views while providing luxurious cabinetry and double sinks. Configurable with three to five cabins, it remained a highly competitive contender.

All in all, the 2025 boating season was a testament to the ongoing evolution of the industry, defining cutting-edge designs, recognising the value of sociable spaces, and embracing intelligent materials to foster efficiency. Marvelling at this year’s achievements, we excitedly anticipate what the forthcoming boating seasons will bring.