Gallery: Beauties of the Sea: Behold the World's Finest Superyachts
01tango
Even among the most luxurious of pleasure boats, some yachts are finer than others. And the finest of them all win the coveted Neptune Trophy, given out at the [World Superyacht Awards](http://www.boatinternational.com/). The ceremony recognizes the ultimate achievements in superyacht design. To qualify in any of the various award categories, yachts must be over 30 meters in length and must have been delivered to their owners in the past 12 months. Despite worldwide economic uncertainty, 2011 was a good year for superyachts. A total of 64 were nominated, most of which cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Every one of them is privately owned, though they're often chartered for tens of thousands of dollars per week. Although the owners of these massive pleasure boats tend to prefer the cloak of anonymity, nothing else about the award ceremony was subtle. The festivities took place at the luxurious Ciragan Palace Kempinski hotel in Istanbul, and the winners received Baccarat trophies. So without further ado.... Tango ----- Dutch yachtbuilder Feadship took home the Motor Yacht of the Year award for *Tango*. The 252.8-foot yacht was launched in April of last year and features accommodations for 12 guests, an owner's deck, beauty salon, massage parlor and an outdoor movie theater. Despite all that weight, four engines propel the *Tango* to a top speed of 22 knots. Image: Feadship
02serene
Serene ------ The largest yacht to win an award, the Fincantieri-built *Serene* is 439.3 feet long, sleeps 24 guests and cost $330 million to build. On board is a helipad, movie theater, corporate boardroom and even a playroom for kids. The crew of 52 have their own separate quarters, so there's no need for the help to mingle with the sea-going royalty. It's rumored to belong to Yuri Shefler, the owner of the Russian liquor company that controls Stolichnaya vodka, and it's available for charter.
03antares-iii
Antares III ----------- At 100 feet, the *Antares III* is dwarfed by some of the other superyachts that won awards. But that doesn't mean it isn't a sophisticated design. Built at New Zealand's Yachting Developments shipyard in May of 2011, the sloop makes extensive use of composite structures and the hull is coated in Kevlar for impact resistance. String quartet sold separately.
04aurelia
Aurelia ------- Named after the Lancia Aurelia, the first production car to feature a V6 engine, the automotive-inspired *Aurelia* took home the award for a high-speed planing yacht. Though the Heesen Yachts-built ship is painted in the bright color scheme of Gulf Racing, her owner prefers to remain anonymous.
05helix
Helix ----- If all these yachts have got you reaching for your checkbook, you're in luck. The *Helix*, a 146.5-foot diesel-powered superyacht built by Feadship, is for sale. It's got five staterooms, each with its own full bathroom, and it could be yours for a mere $42 million.
06kaiser
Kaiser ------ According to [Superyacht Times](http://www.superyachttimes.com/editorial/3/article/id/6868), *Kaiser* was designed to fulfill her owner's request that it be "German styled." We're not sure how elaborate marble floors or West African Ovangkol hardwood paneling evoke Germany, but it sure is fancy.
07numptia
Numptia ------- Well before winning a Neptune Trophy, the 229-foot *Numptia* grabbed attention. Built for an ["Italian-born American businessman,"](http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/2028/numptia-super-yacht) every single item on board was designed and crafted specifically for use on the yacht, down to the Tibetan silk carpets and solid marble steam bath.
Jeff Brown - Superyacht Media08satori
Satori ------ Most yacht owners shy away from the spotlight, but not Eric Benson. The founder of Pacific Coast Steel has been featured in [numerous publications](http://www.yachtsmagazine.com/life-aboard-satori/), extolling the virtues of yachting life. He's taken his 163-foot yacht all over the Mediterranean and Caribbean – which is exactly what we'd do if we were wearing his Top-Siders. Photo: Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media
09vertigo2
Vertigo ------- While 2011 wasn't a great year for Rupert Murdoch, he at least had one consolation: He got to take delivery of the 220-foot *Vertigo*, the world's seventh-largest sailing yacht. It's his second yacht styled by celebrity yacht decorator Christian Liaigre, and features a gym in addition to five luxury staterooms. Should you find yourself with $300,000 to spare – say, from a settlement regarding a certain phone-tapping scandal – it can be [yours for a week.](http://luxedb.com/rupert-murdoch’s-newest-sailing-yacht-vertigo/)
