67m Benetti Motor Yacht Lady Estey Scores Major Victory at the World Superyacht Awards 2026

Extensive customisation within a semi-custom platform

A key factor in Lady Estey’s success was the extent to which the yacht was adapted to suit her owner’s lifestyle. While based on Benetti’s B.Now 67M platform, the finished yacht presents a far more tailored identity, particularly throughout the interiors.

The design team moved away from the lighter aesthetic associated with previous B.Now projects in favour of a more layered and atmospheric look influenced by contemporary Art Deco styling. High-gloss finishes, contrasting textures and darker wood selections create a distinctive visual character throughout the guest spaces.

Judges particularly praised the level of individuality achieved within the series platform, highlighting the project as an example of how semi-custom construction can still deliver a deeply personal yacht.

The motor yacht's exterior design focuses heavily on maximising openness and strengthening the connection between guests and the surrounding environment. Expansive glazing and clean flowing lines help create uninterrupted views across multiple deck spaces.

At the stern, Benetti’s Oasis Deck configuration forms the centre of onboard social life, combining an infinity-edge swimming pool with flexible lounge areas arranged close to the water. The design encourages a more relaxed and informal connection to the sea compared with more traditional aft deck layouts.

Privacy was also central to the owner’s brief. The upper deck is reserved entirely for private use and includes the owner’s suite, office and a secluded aft lounge area. Importantly, the upper aft deck remains separated from the main deck below, helping maintain exclusivity throughout the owner’s spaces.

Inside, the yacht’s layout was carefully developed to create continuity between the major living areas. The main saloon acts as one of the yacht’s principal social spaces and connects directly to the Oasis Deck, allowing interior and exterior entertaining areas to function as one large environment.

Accommodation is arranged for up to 14 guests across seven suites, with guest areas finished to the same high standard as the owner’s private deck. Corridors were widened as part of the custom brief, while upgraded detailing throughout reinforces the consistent design language onboard.

A dedicated wellness area on the lower deck adds another layer to the onboard experience, incorporating a gym, sauna, steam room and treatment space designed for extended cruising comfort.

Beneath the yacht’s styling, significant attention was also given to technical development and cruising performance. Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, Lady Estey benefits from hull optimisation work carried out through extensive CFD analysis by MARIN in collaboration with Benetti’s in-house engineering teams.

The hull geometry was refined to improve efficiency and onboard comfort while maintaining stability across a range of cruising conditions. Twin Caterpillar 3512E diesel engines allow the yacht to achieve a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Combined with fuel capacity of 110,000 litres, the yacht is capable of transoceanic passages with a range of approximately 4,500 nautical miles.

With her combination of bespoke detailing, carefully considered layout and strong technical platform, Lady Estey represents the growing evolution of the semi-custom superyacht market.

Her success at the World Superyacht Awards 2026 highlights both the flexibility of Benetti’s B.Now platform and the increasing demand from owners for yachts that combine proven engineering with highly personalised design.

According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the largest yacht database in the world, the 67m Lady Estey was delivered in 2025 and is the second hull in Benetti’s B.Now 67M Oasis series.

The 57m superyacht Solace, originally delivered by Feadship in 2005, claimed victory in the Refitted Yachts category following a comprehensive rebuild at Pendennis Shipyard. Rather than dramatically altering the yacht’s original identity, the refit focused on carefully modernising and refining her existing design while preserving her classic De Voogt exterior lines and elegant Vickers Studio interiors.

Alongside aesthetic upgrades, the Feadship project included a major technical overhaul designed to prepare the yacht for extended global cruising, including a planned four-year circumnavigation. Key enhancements included a redesigned beach club with sauna facilities, upgraded operational systems and improved functionality for both guests and crew. The judges praised the project for its restraint and execution, recognising Solace as an outstanding example of a sensitive, high-quality superyacht refit.