BOAT Briefing

Hosted by BOAT International

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289

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Jun 2026

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BOAT International presents the latest news from the world of superyachts with exclusive interviews, breaking stories and behind-the-scenes access.

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60 recent

July 2, 2026Episode 28841 min

288: “We're not doing something new, but we are doing something better,” Ulyssia CEO Alain Gruber on the world’s first 323-metre residential superyacht

What does it take to build one of the most ambitious maritime projects ever conceived? In this Big BOAT Interview, BOAT’s content director Lucy Dunn talks to Alain Gruber, CEO of Ulyssia Residences AG, about the 322-metre residential yacht Ulyssia. Designed by Espen Øino, it reimagines life at sea by combining private residences with the hyper-personalisation of a superyacht and the amenities of a world-class resort. Gruber explores the vision behind this floating community and how Ulyssia is redefining luxury living, ownership and the future of global travel - and reveals why they are moving the project to China. Read more about Ulyssia here: https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/ulyssia-residences-ag-superyachtFind out more about the decision to move to China: https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/323m-residential-yacht-ulyssia-construction-china-mer…

June 23, 2026Episode 28754 min

287: Inside the BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards: Meet the makers behind the magic

What separates good craftsmanship from truly exceptional craftsmanship? In this episode, BOAT’s head of digital content Holly Margerrison goes behind the scenes of the BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards with judge and Parkway England CEO Jay Rushton, discussing this year's winners, the judging process and the future of artisan-led design in yachting. She also catches up with 2025 Emerging Artisan of the Year winner Poppy Pawsey to hear how the accolade helped shape her career one year on at British design studio Silverlining.This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.Read more:The newly crowned 2026 winners https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/boat-artistry-and-craft-awards-2026-celebrating-the-winnersMore about Poppy's story https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/boat-artistry-craft-awards-winners-celebrating-artworks-yachts-kismet-foxThe BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards will return to the Superyacht Design Festival in 2027, with nominations now open until 21 October 2026.

June 4, 2026Episode 28618 min

286: Big BOAT Interview: Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna on why the car marque is going to sea

BOAT International's editor Caroline White sits down in Milan with Benedetto Vigna, chief executive officer of Ferrari, to discuss why his engineers are designing a sailing yacht and what the carmaker stands gain by doing so. The Ferrari Hypersail project is a 30-metre flying monohull and experimental platform designed to operate at the edge of what's currently possible in energy management, aerodynamics, and control systems. Vigna discusses what the car company is bringing to offshore open ocean racing and a world that’s already defined by specialist naval architects; what Ferrari thinks it can learn from a project like this; and how it plans to translate those lessons back into road cars.This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.Read more: https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/exclusive-interview-ferrari-hypersail-sailing-yachthttps://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/ferrari-hypersail-racing-yacht-in-build

May 22, 2026Episode 28517 min

285: Big BOAT Interview: Cyclades Cup Antiparos founder, Ilia Rigas, on how to create a regatta

The founder of the Cyclades Cup Antiparos, Ilia Rigas, tells Georgia Boscawen about how she created the regatta. Taking place from 10–13 June 2026 on the picturesque Greek island of Antiparos, the regatta is now heading into its third edition and has already established itself as a standout fixture on the superyacht racing calendar. We find out what goes on behind the scenes and what participants can expect from the race in a few weeks’ time.BOAT Pro: https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro?utm_source=audioboom.com&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boatpro_homepage_may26Subscribe: https://www.boatinternational.com/subscriptions?utm_source=audioboom.com&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=subscriptions_homepage_may26Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com

May 15, 2026Episode 28436 min

284: The Big BOAT Interview: What happened when seven-month-pregnant freediver Hanli Prinsloo met a pod of bottlenose dolphins

What does it feel like to be 65-metres below sea level, holding a single breath in complete stillness? In this Big BOAT Interview, 11-time freediving record holder Hanli Prinsloo shares the extraordinary experiences that have shaped her life above and below the sea, reflecting on the transformative power of the ocean and the power of breath can play in boosting our health and wellbeing. She also recounts unforgettable encounters with bottlenose dolphins, including a remarkable moment while seven months pregnant, when the dolphins appeared to sense the life growing inside her.Prinsloo will be special guest speaker at our annual event Ocean Talks, taking place in central London at The Magazine, Serpentine North Gallery, in Hyde Park on 11 June 2026. Register for tickets: https://boatint.com/5b8BOATPro: https://boatint.com/59zSubscribe: https://boatint.com/5a0Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com

May 2, 2026Episode 28330 min

283: World Superyacht Awards 2026: The winners revealed!

The World Superyacht Awards remain the uncontested apex of the big boat world; the Oscars of the genre. Following a spectacular ceremony in Venice, Caroline and Risa unveil all the winners from the night, discussing the stand-out features of each boat and bringing you the judges' comments about what gave them the edge. It’s a worthy pantheon, honouring the vision, craftsmanship and ingenuity that continue to drive yachting forward.BOATPro: https://boatint.com/59z Subscribe: https://boatint.com/5a0 Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com

April 23, 2026Episode 28234 min

282: How sharks have become the money-spinners of the sea: Olivia Swaak-Goldman's fight against wildlife crime

From sharks and sea cucumbers to turtles and seahorses, wildlife crime isn’t just an environmental crisis threatening entire species - it’s a highly lucrative criminal enterprise, worth up to USD 20 billion per year and often seen as lower risk than drug trafficking. Olivia Swaak-Goldman, executive director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, is working to change that. In this episode of the Big BOAT Interview, she explains how her team tracks and targets the kingpins behind vast international smuggling and poaching networks. As this web becomes ever more tangled and traffickers become increasingly sophisticated, the race is on to stay one step ahead before these species are wiped out for good... This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/4yqSubscribe: https://boatint.com/4yr Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.comPhoto credit: Gerald Schombs for Unsplash

April 17, 2026Episode 28150 min

281: On board Big Sky: Inside a French Polynesia charter

What does it take to run and sell a superyacht charter in one of the most remote regions on Earth? In this episode of BOAT Briefing, we go on board the 48-metre Oceanfast yacht Big Sky in French Polynesia, where BOAT’s head of digital content Holly Margerrison speaks directly to the people behind the experience. From charter manager Cam Bray to Captain Brett Woodford and broker Halle Scott, we explore what it takes to operate in the South Pacific – from logistics and provisioning to local relationships and immersive itineraries.Recorded in the Society Islands, this is a behind-the-scenes look at chartering far beyond the Med. Read the full feature in BOAT International’s May issue or online soon.This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/4yq Subscribe: https://boatint.com/4yr Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com

April 2, 2026Episode 28023 min

280: Inside the St Barths Bucket: Exploring the Magic of Superyacht Racing

Join BOAT Group Editorial Director Ed Slack as he sits down with Henry Hawkins, EVP of Baltic Yachts, to uncover the magic of the St Barths Bucket Regatta. This invitation-only superyacht event blends thrilling pursuit racing with a gentlemanly atmosphere, prioritizing camaraderie and social connections over competition. Ed and Henry share their firsthand experiences of this extraordinary gathering, offering a fresh perspective on one of the sailing calendar’s most prestigious events.This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/4yq Subscribe: https://boatint.com/4yr Contact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com

March 27, 2026Episode 27920 min

279: The Big BOAT Interview: John Caudwell on the business of charter

Chartering a yacht is often framed as a way to offset costs. For John Caudwell, it’s a business. With years of experience running his 73m yacht Titania for charter, he tells Caroline White what owners should understand before entering the market. Read more about the charter experience from every angle in BOAT International’s April charter issue.This episode of BOAT Briefing is sponsored by Amico & Co, a Genoa-based, family-owned refit yard with more than 200 years of maritime heritage, renowned for its full-service refit expertise on large yachts, delivered through highly specialised in-house teams.BOAT Pro: https://boatint.com/4ejSubscribe: https://boatint.com/4ekContact us: podcast@boatinternationalmedia.com