Superyacht designers have begun to navigate the cultural preferences of their clientele by redefining yacht interiors in subtle but significant ways. Twenty years ago, European shipyards thought a mah-jongg room was the only accommodation needed to satisfy Chinese buyers. These days, designs targeting the Asian market—where yacht ownership has grown 30 percent in five years—require more sophistication and understanding. “They tend to use their boats for family gatherings and social or corporate events, so service is at the highest level with extensive crew,” says François Zuretti, who designed several of Benetti’s largest super yachts for a Hong Kong client. “Privacy must be respected.” As do the customer’s needs: There have been yachts delivered to China without engines because the owners had no intention of ever leaving the dock. Italian shipyard Rossinavi recently launched its semi-custom Nolimits brand with performance and seaworthiness as primary goals, while also focusing on location-specific styling. Yacht designer Fulvio de Simoni and the Shanghai..
