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LIONHEART Yacht – Enchanting $150M Superyacht

LIONHEART yacht is a 90-metre (295 ft) motor yacht built by Benetti in Italy. She was delivered in July of 2016 to the current owner who recently sold his brands Topshop and Selfridges, gaining him a net worth of US $2.4 billion.

LIONHEART features a sleek and modern design with space for up to 12 guests and 30 crew members. Her home berth lies in Monaco, which is where Green and his family spend most of their time.

Lionheart
90 m (295 ft)
12 in 6 cabins
30 in 15 cabins
Benetti 
Benetti Design Team
Green and Mingarelli Design
2016
18 knots
Caterpillar
2,990 ton
US$ 150 million
US$ 10 – 15 million

85760866 1

LIONHEART yacht interior

The LIONHEART yacht features a lot of intricate details in its design that make her stand out from other comparable vessels on the market.

The interior of this yacht had exceptionally high-quality materials used in her construction, which gives her an elegant look and feel throughout all the different spaces on board. 

The design house Green & Mingarelli is responsible for the luxurious interior design of LIONHEART.

The LIONHEART yacht can welcome 12 guests in her six cabins as well as a crew of 30 members of staff. 

The interior of the yacht features a beach club, a beauty salon as well as expansive health and wellness facilities that include a spa, a hairdressing salon, a gym with a personal trainer, and a massage room with a masseur available at all hours.

The different floors of the yacht are connected by an elevator, and of course, the yacht has several pools, two of which are located on the upper decks. 

A grand staircase is situated in the center of the yacht, which gives the vessel the likeness of a luxury hotel. The interior is furnished with exclusive furniture with dark wood and cream upholstery.

The yacht features several sizable chandeliers and other extravagant lighting fixtures. Everything about the interior of LIONHEART is lavish and luxurious, flaunting the US $150 Million price tag that this incredible vessel bears.

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Specifications

The LIONHEART yacht is 90 meters (296 ft) long with a beam of 14.4 meters (47.3 ft) and a draft of 7.5 meters (24.9 ft). She was built by Benetti Yachts in Livorno, Italy, and launched in 2016.

At the time, LIONHEART was Benetti’s flagship and the largest yacht they had ever produced, overtaking NABILA (later TRUMP PRINCESS owned by Donald Trump).

Her gross tonnage lies at 2,990 GT, reaching cruising speeds of 15 knots and maximum speeds of 16 knots.

She is definitely not the fastest yacht in her size category, but her caterpillar engines are reliable and robust.

LIONHEART has an immense aluminum superstructure, and her hull was constructed from premium steel. Her traditional teak decks nicely contrast her white exterior.

The LIONHEART yacht is values at US $150 million and has annual running costs of US $10-$15 Million. She is not currently available for charter or for sale, although Green’s other yachts are.

The exterior of the LIONHEART yacht was designed by Stefano Natucci, who was also responsible for LIONESS V, Green’s previous yacht by Benetti.

Natucci has designed a total of 45 yachts, the LIONHEART yacht being the largest of his past projects.

The yacht is fitted with a sophisticated stabilizer system that ensures a comfortable experience for guests when at anchor or underway. She has a total of four decks featuring generous outdoor spaces. 

The front of the bow has room for a small helipad where aircraft can land to pick up or drop off guests.

The top deck has an outdoor bar and jacuzzi, and behind the flybridge, there is a large pool.

All decks have luxurious outdoor seating with cream upholstery which is also the color of the crew uniforms aboard the LIONHEART yacht. 

At the aft, the yacht has a sizable beach club and extendable swimming platform where water toys can be launched.

She also has several smaller, shaded decks with ample space for dining or parties. On both her port and starboard sides, Lionheart has small balcony decks which are attached to two of the suites.

92435091

Toys and equipment

The LIONHEART yacht carries several tenders, although her most memorable is a VanDutch 55 named Lioncub.

This tender has a black and white photograph of a lion painted on its side, making it stand out from traditional tenders and attracting yacht spotters.

LIONHEART also has a Pascoe Limousine, a Pascoe Beachlande, and a Pascoe Outboard Shuttle giving her passengers a wide selection of transportation options for shore leave or excursions.

Although exact details aren’t known, the yacht carries a large number of water toys, including jet skis and water bobs.

With a large swimming platform at the back of the vessel and an attached beach club with a lounge area, a luxury that might be desired is available to her guests.

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Additional information

Construction for LIONHEART began in 2012 after the owner Green commissioned his third yacht from Benetti .

The two previous vessels were also named LIONHEART but have since been renamed LUMIERE and LIONESS V. 

LUMIERE was built in 1999 and has a length of 49.9 meters (164 ft). Green sold her when he obtained LIONHEART V in 2006, and she is now available for charter.

LIONESS V has a length of 63.5 meters (208 ft) and was replaced by LIONHEART in 2016, 10 years after her launch. 

Interestingly all three vessels can welcome the same number of guests, and only their amenities and length changed over the years.

LIONESS V is still owned by the Green family, more specifically Tina Green. This yacht is available for charter.

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Written by Zuzana Bednarova

Over the weekend, the prestigious Livorno-based Italian shipyard, Benetti , launched their largest superyacht to date – the exciting new 90-metre LIONHEART , previously known as FB 262. This striking displacement vessel bears both naval architecture as well as exterior design by the yard’s in-house team.

90m LIONHEART by Benetti on the water - Image credit to Livorno Daily Photo

90m LIONHEART by Benetti on the water – Image credit to Livorno Daily Photo

Featuring a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the 90m (295’) LIONHEART was designed and built to comfortably reach a top speed of 15,5 knots, and a cruising speed of 15 knots. More details about this breath-taking vessel to follow soon.

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Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Launch of 90M LIONHEART – The Largest Superyacht ever built by BENETTI".

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Lionheart Charter Yacht

NOT FOR CHARTER *

This Yacht is not for Charter*

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Lionheart (ex: FB262)

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LIONHEART yacht NOT for charter*

90m  /  295'3 | benetti | 2016.

Owner & Guests

  • Previous Yacht

Special Features:

  • Elevator for easy access between floors
  • Premium wellness facilities, including spa, beach club and beauty salon
  • Swimming pool
  • Lloyds Register classification
  • Up to 30 crew

The 90m/295'3" motor yacht 'Lionheart' was built by Benetti in Italy at their Livorno shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Green & Mingarelli Design and she was delivered to her owner in July 2016. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Stefano Natucci.

Guest Accommodation

Lionheart has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 30 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a beauty salon, spa, beauty salon, elevator, underwater lights, beach club, gym and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Lionheart is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Lionheart comfortably cruises at 15 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 15 knots. Lionheart features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. She was built to Lloyds Register classification society rules.

Length 90m / 295'3
Beam 14.4m / 47'3
Draft 4.5m / 14'9
Gross Tonnage 2,990 GT
Cruising Speed 15 Knots
Built
Builder Benetti
Model Custom
Exterior Designer Stefano Natucci
Interior Design Green & Mingarelli Design

*Charter Lionheart Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Lionheart is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Lionheart Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Lionheart Photos

Lionheart Yacht

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Lionheart

Length 90m / 295'3
Builder
Exterior Designer Stefano Natucci
Interior Design Green & Mingarelli Design
Built | Refit 2016
Model
Beam 14.4m / 47'3
Gross Tonnage 2,990 GT
Draft 4.5m / 14'9
Cruising Speed 15 Knots
Top Speed 15.5 Knots

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Superyacht Lionheart - Worlds Largest J-Class Launched

By B. Roberts

The stunning super J-Class yacht Lionheart, recently launched by Dutch shipyard Claasen Jachtbouw, has been announced for sale with joint agents YPI Brokerage and Hoek.

Standing at 44m long with an astonishing overhang of 17m, Lionheart is the largest J-Class in the world. YPI Brokerage, the sales and new construction division of the Monaco based Yachting Partners International, have signed Lionheart for sale alongside Hoek Brokerage.

William Bishop, YPI broker and head of the YPI sailing division, said “This is an amazing moment … Lionheart is quite simply stunning. Anyone who loves sailing is already aware of the philosophy, the history, the technology and the passion that has gone into the construction of Lionheart. That’s what makes this the beginning of a whole new era of J-Class yachting.”

Built to compete at the highest level, Lionheart was originally designed for the Ranger Syndicate by Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens in 1936. Her design was then extensively evaluated and optimised by the Hoek Naval Architects to ensure the highest quality of racing.

“And she is just as much designed for cruising as she is racing,” Will points out. “She has been built to MCA Classification and incorporates two small deckhouses and two small cockpits for the owner and his/her guests – that gives extra versatility on how the yacht can be used whether racing or cruising.”

Alongside her expert construction, her racing capabilities benefitted from the wealth of experience added to the project by Hall Spars in the building of her spars as well as utilising Harkens proven Carbon winches.

William Bishop added “Lionheart is very competitively price … She represents a unique opportunity today for an owner looking for performance but with the added versatility of an intelligent cruising configuration. Lionheart is a new breed of J-Class and we are very proud to be representing her for sale alongside Hoek Brokerage.”

Lionheart is for sale through YPI Brokerage at an Asking Price of €14,900,000.

"She represents a unique opportunity today for an owner looking for performance but with the added versatility of an intelligent cruising configuration." William Bishop, YPI Broker

"She represents a unique opportunity today for an owner looking for performance but with the added versatility of an intelligent cruising configuration."

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All about the $40m bayesian yacht that capsized, leaving 6 dead and 1 still missing.

The massive superyacht Bayesian that sank off the coast of Italy on Monday won numerous awards for its sleek interior design — and was sold to its original owner for nearly $40 million.

The luxury sailing ship was carrying 22 people when it capsized and sank during a fierce storm early Monday.

A handout picture, provided by Perini Navi Press Office, shows the ''Bayesian'', the 56-metre sailing unit sunk in a violent storm off Palermo, Italy, 19 August 2024

The bodies of five of six missing passengers, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch , 69, have been recovered. His daughter, 18-year-old Hannah, is the only one of six known killed in the tragedy yet to be found, a source close to the rescue operation told Reuters.

The ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, has also been confirmed dead.

Divers continued searching the wreckage of the 184-foot-long, British-flagged vessel, previously called Salute, on Wednesday after discovering four of the bodies.

When it was built in 2008, the Bayesian had the tallest aluminum mast in the world, standing at 237 feet, earning it the award for best exterior styling at the World Superyacht Awards in 2009, the Telegraph reported.

The sprawling superyacht’s interior, decorated with sleek, minimalist furnishings created by Remi Tessier, has also won numerous awards.

Confirmed fatality from the Bayesian Yacht sinking off the coast of Porticello. Ricardo (Recaldo) Thomas (pictured) the ship's chef has been confirmed dead but 6 others are still listed as missing.Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah ,Jonathan Bloomer the chair of Morgan Stanley international his wife and New Yorker Chris Morvillo and wife photo

The ship, which accommodated 12 guests, had a master bedroom and three double and two twin bedrooms.

It also featured beige sofas, dark wood furnishings, and a teak deck equipped with a large canvas awning to keep guests cool, according to the outlet.

Some of the ship’s styling, including thin brown pillars and miniature terra cotta sculptures, was inspired by Japanese culture.

What to know after a tornado sank the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily:

  • A superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily after a tornado hit the area early Monday, killing seven passengers.
  • British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was identified as one of the bodies pulled from the wreckage. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was the final one to be recovered.
  • Lynch — known as “Britain’s Bill Gates” — had invited guests from Clifford Chance, a legal firm that represented him, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage,  according to the Telegraph . 
  • Security camera footage shot from 650 feet from where the  Bayesian sank Monday  shows it disappearing.
  • A rare and unexpected “black swan” weather event may have led to the  Bayesian’s speedy demise , maritime experts say.

graphic of tragic yacht

The extravagant ship won best interior at the International Superyacht Society Awards in 2008 and was also voted one of the best large sailing yachts at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards, according to the outlet.

The yacht’s original owner, John Groenewoud, a Dutch real estate developer, reportedly bought the ship for £30 million ($39 million) when it was built. In 2014, he sold the ship with an asking price of £27 million ($35 million).

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The Bayesian is currently owned by Revtom, a company that listed Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, as its legal owner.

It was named after the Bayesian statistical model that helps financial investors calculate risk — the subject of Lynch’s PhD that later helped him build his empire.

The vessel, operated by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, had twin 965hp MTU engines, which gave it a range of 3,600 nautical miles at 13 to 15 knots (14 to 17 mph).

An ambulance carries the body of a person which was found at the scene where the luxury yacht sank.

RSB Rigging carried out rig service works on the ship with Astilleros de Mallorca, a shipyard facility in Palma, in November 2016.

The Bayesian returned in September 2020 for scheduled service works, including having its mast removed and reinstalled.

Steve Branagh, managing director of RSB Rigging, told the Telegraph: “At this time, our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and families of all those affected by this dreadful tragedy.”

A handout picture, provided by Perini Navi Press Office, shows the ''Bayesian'', the 56-metre sailing unit sunk in a violent storm off Palermo, Italy, 19 August 2024

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The 5 tragic minutes that sank a superyacht

PORTICELLO, Italy — Survivors of a storm that sank a superyacht off Sicily recounted their ordeal to one of the doctors who rushed to their aid, with some saying it took mere minutes for the 180-foot ship to go down. 

Dr. Fabio Genco, head of the Palermo Emergency Medical Services, told NBC News on the phone Thursday that he arrived in the seaside village of Porticello before dawn Monday, about an hour after the $40 million Bayesian sank in the violent and sudden storm.   

Of the 22 people onboard, 15 survived despite storm conditions and darkness, climbing onto a lifeboat before being rescued by a nearby sailboat. The crew members have made no public statements so far, though some have been interviewed by investigators.

“They told me that it was all dark, that the yacht hoisted itself up and then went down,” Genco said, recounting what the survivors told him. “All the objects were falling on them. That’s why I immediately made sure, by asking them questions, if they had any internal injuries,” he said. 

It appears they had just minutes to abandon the sinking ship, Genco said. 

Divers Retrieve Bodies From Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch Yacht Sunk Off Sicily

“They told me that suddenly they found themselves catapulted into the water without even understanding how they had got there,” he said, “And that the whole thing seems to have lasted from 3 to 5 minutes.”

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi, the Bayesian's shipbuilder, told Sky News that there were no flaws with the design or construction of the yacht. He said their structure and keel made boats like that “unsinkable bodies.”

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he disavowed responsibility, blaming instead the actions of the crew. “Mistakes were made,” he said. 

Genco said one of his colleagues who arrived at the scene before him initially thought that only three people survived, but the coast guard reported there were other survivors and more emergency services were called in. 

When Genco arrived, he found scenes of panic and despair. 

“Unfortunately, we are used to such panic scenes because we are used to the shipwrecks that happen on Lampedusa ,” Genco said, referring to the island southwest of Sicily, where the wreckage of boats carrying migrants on the sea journey from North Africa to Italy are often found . 

Six of the passengers were declared missing Monday, and by Thursday, the bodies of five had been recovered from the wreck , some 160 feet underwater.

Among those who survived is Angela Bacares, wife of the British tech mogul Mike Lynch , whose body was recovered Thursday. 

Divers searching for six missing people following the sinking of a superyacht off Sicily in a storm have found fifth bodies.

Another survivor has been identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35. She told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled into safety.

Dr. Domenico Cipolla at the Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo is also part of a team of medical professionals treating the shipwreck survivors. He told the BBC on Wednesday that Emsley and her daughter, as well as the father of the child, who Cipolla said also survived, are continuing to receive psychological help. 

“Psychological support was constant and is constant even today, because basically it is the wounds of the soul that are the most in need of healing in these cases,” Cipolla said.

Genco also told NBC News that he was especially concerned about the child. “She did not understand anything. She was soaking wet and cold,” he said. 

Karsten Borner, the Dutch captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, a yacht that was anchored near the Bayesian, said by phone Wednesday that he saw a thunderstorm come in at around 4 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) Monday, followed by what looked like a waterspout, a type of tornado that forms over water. 

The International Centre for Waterspout Research noted on X that there was a “waterspout outbreak” off Italy on Monday, the day the Bayesian sank. 

All the men missing after a luxury yacht sank off Sicily -- who included UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch -- have been found, a coastguard official told.

“I turned on the engine and made maneuvers so that we wouldn’t collide with the Bayesian, which was anchored about 100 meters from us,” Borner said. “Then all of a sudden it disappeared. Then the wind calmed down, we looked around and saw a red flare.”

Borner said he got into his boat’s tender and saw a life raft with 15 people on it. Members of the crew were administering first aid. 

“I don’t know why it sank so quickly, but it may have something to do with the mast which was incredibly long,” he said. Questions have been raised about whether the mast was to blame for the accident as tall masts, even with the sails down, have more surface area exposed to the wind, which can contribute to tipping a vessel in a storm.

The CCTV footage that emerged Tuesday showed the yacht’s 250-foot mast, believed to be one of the tallest aluminum sailing masts in the world, lashed by the storm as it appears to tilt to one side before disappearing.

Claudia Rizzo is an Italy based journalist.

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

how much did lionheart yacht cost

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

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J Class yacht: Lionheart

With the launch of the new J Class Lionheart the renaissance of this classic, 1930s racing class continues to deliver outstanding, elegant and powerful yachts. While the use of modern materials and new design technology is permitted with replica J Class yachts and strict rules are applied to the hull shape, each new design is subtly different and Lionheart successfully combines comfort and outstanding looks with breathtaking sailing.

A fundamental tenet of the modern J Class rule is the hull design, which must be based on one of the original 18 1930s J Class designs from the drawing boards of L Francis Herreshoff, Frank C Paine, Charles Nicholson, the American design duo of W Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens, and Swedish designer Tore Holm.

When the owner contacted the Hoek Design office in 2005, five of the 18 designs were already taken. Intensive research indicated that, potentially, the fastest hull design available was one of the five Burgess/Stephens designs submitted to Harold Vanderbilt for the original Ranger, but discarded. Quickly, the designs for Ranger 77F Model were reserved and the J Class Lionheart project moved a further step forward.

Construction of the yacht’s aluminium hull was undertaken at Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw in Makkum, northern Holland, before shipment south via barge to Claasen Jachtbouw for all interior work and system-fitting.

The yacht’s Burgess/Stephens-Ranger design-DNA is immediately apparent in the soft knuckle at the bow, unlike the ‘English’ Charles Nicholson Js with their uninterrupted sweep of the hull forward producing needle-sharp bows.

A second, striking impression is the double cockpit layout with a private owner’s cockpit and deckhouse aft of the wheel and a large guest cockpit leading to the main deckhouse and companionway forward of the wheel. While the J Class Association has strict rules for replica hull designs, the deck layout is a matter of personal choice as long as the overall appearance is in keeping with the original J Class style.

This layout overcomes the problems of an exposed helm position and cramped seating when the small, dayboat-style cockpit is used for sail storage when racing. Its benefits are clear with the exhilaration of standing behind the exquisite binnacle and helming unbounded by a cockpit combing, yet clear of the mainsheet and traveller and in close communication with crew or guests sitting in the large, forward cockpit.

The interior of J Class Lionheart is intentionally simple and practical, based on the owner’s belief that 90 per cent of the time on board is spent on deck. For the crew area forward of the mast additional sail storage space has been sacrificed for extra accommodation on the premise that a cramped crew is more likely to jump ship after the first cruise or regatta.

The guest accommodation consists of three twin cabins and the owner’s full-beam cabin furthest aft, each with an en suite head and shower. J Class rules forbid portholes, so the guest cabins have skylights, while the owner’s cabin is filled with light from the aft deckhouse, which also provides immensely comfortable interior seating or a pilot berth with views to the horizon from the large side windows.

Under sail, the experience is unlike any other breed of yacht. Although stanchions and guardrails can be fitted for cruising or offshore voyages, when removed, the lack of obstruction provides an incredible view along the sweep of the varnished toe rail to the uncluttered foredeck and aft across the enormous stern overhang.

Lionheart is an exceptional addition to the J Class fleet and has brought a new approach to many aspects of replica J Class design. How she will match up to the five existing Js on the race course is yet to be seen.

Photography by Ed Holt

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IMAGES

  1. Lionheart Yacht

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  2. LIONHEART Yacht • Philip Green $150M Superyacht

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  3. 90m superyacht Lionheart in the Seychelles

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  6. LIONHEART Yacht

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COMMENTS

  1. LIONHEART Yacht • Philip Green $150M Superyacht

    With an estimated value of $150 million, the yacht can accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 30. Interior design by Green and Mingarelli reflects the personal touch of the owner's wife, Tina Green. Green's yacht collection also includes the 63-meter Lioness V and the speedy Mangusta 108, named Lion Chase. The yacht often berths in Monaco ...

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    LIONHEART yacht is a 90-metre (295 ft) motor yacht built by Benetti in Italy. She was delivered in July of 2016 to the current owner who recently sold his brands Topshop and Selfridges, gaining him a net worth of US $2.4 billion. LIONHEART features a sleek and modern design with space for up to 12 guests and 30 crew members.

  3. LIONHEART yacht (Benetti, 90m, 2016)

    LIONHEART is a 90.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Italy by Benetti and delivered in 2016. Her top speed is 18.0 kn and her cruising speed is 16.0 kn and her power comes from two Caterpillar diesel engines. She has a gross tonnage of 2990.0 GT and a 14.4 m beam. She was designed by Stefano Natucci, who has designed 42 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro ...

  4. Lionheart (yacht)

    Lionheart in Monaco in 2017 The current 90-metre (300 ft) yacht, Lionheart, is the third yacht commissioned by Philip Green and built by Benetti Yachts (project FB262). [ 1 ] Contracts were signed in 2012, and the yacht features a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure.

  5. Benetti Lionheart Superyacht: Features, Photos & Specifications

    «The four-decked boat » became famous because it was one of the main characters in the "deliberate breakup" of a large British retailer owned by the owner of Lionheart: the public was asking the authorities to find out how much money they had spent on the mega-yacht. By the way, by that time he already had several yachts, one of them, a 63 ...

  6. 90.0m Lionheart Superyacht

    Lionheart is a custom motor yacht launched in 2016 by Benetti in Livorno, Italy. Over one century of history, more than 350 boats built including three giga yachts of 100mt and longer, over 300,000 sq m (3.229.173 sq.ft) of production facilities. ... Lionheart has a top speed of 15.50 knots and a cruising speed of 15.00 knots. She is powered by ...

  7. Claasen Shipyards Lionheart Superyacht: Features, Photos ...

    Lionheart was the first J-Class yacht to receive a two superstructure deck layout. Unlike some of her other class sisters, she received a very simple interior, as the owner is confident she will spend 90% of her time upstairs. Characteristics of the superyacht Lionheart. Main Features. Length, m. 43.4.

  8. Launch of 90M LIONHEART

    90m LIONHEART by Benetti on the water - Image credit to Livorno Daily Photo. Featuring a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the 90m (295') LIONHEART was designed and built to comfortably reach a top speed of 15,5 knots, and a cruising speed of 15 knots. ... SALU is a Benetti Classic 100 motor yacht launched in 2008. SALU is the ...

  9. Superyacht Lionheart: Largest J-Class

    Come July, when Lionheart is completed, she will officially become the largest J-Class in existence. And she can officially be yours, as she's for sale. Nearing completion at Claasen Jachtbouw, Lionheart is a 43.4-meter (142-foot) beauty from the drawing boards of Hoek Design. Not only that, but she is all-aluminum (other Js aren't), and she has 17-meter (56-foot) overhangs, so you realize ...

  10. 63.0m Lionheart Superyacht

    Lionheart is a custom motor yacht launched in 2006 by Benetti. Over one century of history, more than 350 boats built including three giga yachts of 100mt and longer, over 300,000 sq m (3.229.173 sq.ft) of production facilities. These facts and figures unambiguously demonstrate the momentum of Benetti's growth and Clients' unrestrained ...

  11. Lionheart Yacht

    Lionheart is a motor yacht with an overall length of m. The yacht's builder is Benetti SpA from Italy, who launched Lionheart in 2016. The superyacht has a beam of m, a draught of m and a volume of . GT.. Lionheart features exterior design by Benetti SpA and interior design by Green & Mingarelli Design. Lionheart has a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure. She is powered by 2 Caterpillar ...

  12. 90m Benetti superyacht Lionheart delivered to owner

    14 July 2016. Benetti has delivered its largest yacht to date, the 90 metre Lionheart. Built as hull FB262, Lionheart is the third yacht to be ordered from Benetti by the same owner. Lionheart has a displacement steel hull and an aluminium superstructure, but the yacht and its build have been shrouded in secrecy from the outset.

  13. LIONHEART Yacht (ex. FB262)

    Lloyds Register classification. Up to 30 crew. The 90m/295'3" motor yacht 'Lionheart' was built by Benetti in Italy at their Livorno shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Green & Mingarelli Design and she was delivered to her owner in July 2016. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Stefano Natucci.

  14. Lionheart, the new J-Class Yacht

    The owner then informed Hoek he'd like to build a new yacht based on that design. Warm, teak paneling lines the bulkheads, and nothing is fussy or overstuffed. Measuring 43.4 meters (142 feet), Lionheart is the longest J Class in existence. She also has astounding 17-meter (56-foot) overhangs. She's built entirely of aluminum, something the ...

  15. Superyacht Lionheart

    25 Jun 2010. The stunning super J-Class yacht Lionheart, recently launched by Dutch shipyard Claasen Jachtbouw, has been announced for sale with joint agents YPI Brokerage and Hoek. Standing at 44m long with an astonishing overhang of 17m, Lionheart is the largest J-Class in the world. YPI Brokerage, the sales and new construction division of ...

  16. The new J Class sailing yacht Lionheart

    Lionheart was the third new J Class to be launched since Harold S Vanderbilt's successful America's Cup Defender, Ranger, took to the water in 1937.In 2003, a replica of Vanderbilt's Super J Ranger left the Danish Yacht boat yard and immediately began racing, followed six years later by the J Class replica of Endeavour II, renamed Hanuman, leaving the Royal Huisman Shipyard and competing ...

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    The CCTV footage that emerged Tuesday showed the yacht's 250-foot mast, believed to be one of the tallest aluminum sailing masts in the world, lashed by the storm as it appears to tilt to one ...

  19. J Class yacht: Lionheart

    15 January 2015 • Written by Oliver Dewar. With the launch of the new J Class Lionheart the renaissance of this classic, 1930s racing class continues to deliver outstanding, elegant and powerful yachts. While the use of modern materials and new design technology is permitted with replica J Class yachts and strict rules are applied to the hull ...

  20. Bayesian yacht: What we know about the luxury boat sank by a tornado

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    Bayesian was a flybridge sloop designed by Ron Holland [2] and built with a 56 m (184 ft) aluminium hull and a single-masted cutter rig.The 75 m (246 ft) aluminium mast was at the time of construction the world's tallest. The yacht had a lifting keel, allowing its draft to be reduced from 10 m to 4 m. [8] It was one of a number of similar vessels from the same designer and shipyard and was one ...

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    Moored behind their schooner was a luxury yacht that carried tech tycoon Mike Lynch and a group of friends, family and advisers. Built to withstand hurricanes, the Bayesian was 56 meters ...