The 67th edition opens Wednesday, October 28, with seven venues, more than 1,300 boats, and 50-plus debuts. Nobody is seeing all of it in five days. The better move? Find the boats that tell you something.
This year, that means a British motoryacht builder getting into outboards, power catamarans pushing further into traditional flybridge territory, and hybrid propulsion moving into the 100-foot flagship conversation. There’s a Lexus in the mix, too.
Then there’s Superyacht Village, where some of the most interesting boats aren’t new at all. Here’s what we’re watching — and why.
The center-console shift: Princess C48 One of the most talked-about boats at FLIBS could be a center console from a builder best known for British flybridge yachts. The C48 is Princess’s first-ever outboard-powered boat and the launch model for its new C Class range. It pairs a Michael Peters SVVT stepped hull with Olesinski styling and a flagship engine package of triple 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados. The projected top speed is 53 knots. If it delivers, that would make it the fastest Princess ever built. Buyers can choose between Open and Deck Saloon versions, giving the platform two distinct personalities: open-air day boat or more protected weekender. The bigger story is the badge. Princess entering this category says plenty about the pull of the premium outboard market. This isn’t a familiar model with a new layout. It’s a different direction for the brand. We’ll be aboard on day one.
Viking and sister brand Valhalla are expanding from the other side of that market, with four premieres across their fishing and cruising lineups. Hull No. 1 of the Viking 70 Convertible Gen 2 leads the group, with a new hull, a larger cockpit, and three bridge configurations. The new 64 Sport Coupe and 50 Sport Coupe bring the helm down to a protected, three-sided command deck with direct cockpit access. The 50 Sport Coupe adds an optional tuna tower, a roughly 131-square-foot cockpit with in-deck fish boxes, and twin MAN V8-1200 engines. Valhalla’s 46 Sport Yacht takes a more cruising-focused approach than the brand’s fishing-first center consoles, with open or enclosed pilothouse configurations, two staterooms, and triple or quad Mercury V12 Verados. Different boats, same underlying idea: give buyers more ways to stay within the family.
The crossover: Lexus LY680
The Lexus LY680 makes its first public appearance outside Japan at FLIBS — and it may be the debut your non-boating friends ask about. Built by Taiwan’s Horizon Group, the 67.7-footer builds on the LY650 formula with an extended flybridge, a lounge and barbecue area, and a larger swim platform. Twin Volvo Penta IPS power delivers up to 2,000 hp combined, and the yacht accommodates up to 15 people. Lexus opened overseas orders in September. The badge will get the attention. The more interesting question is whether the boat gives Lexus buyers a reason to follow the brand from the driveway to the dock. Either way, it’s a crossover worth stepping aboard.
Hybrid goes flagship: Pearl 100 Hybrid
Pearl’s new flagship is both its largest yacht yet and its first hybrid. The 100-footer pairs twin 2,000-hp MAN V12 diesels with radial-flux electric motors in an e-Motion twin-shaft system. The setup allows electric cruising, while a battery pack can power onboard hotel loads without running a generator. The first hull has already completed sea trials, moving the conversation beyond renderings and future promises. Inside are five en-suite cabins, including a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck with a private foredeck terrace. Kelly Hoppen’s new Monochrome interior scheme makes its appearance here, too. The headline is hybrid propulsion. The practical story is how owners might use it: quieter time aboard, less generator use, and another option for moving the boat. That’s what we’ll be looking to understand on board.
Power cats are claiming more of the dock
The power-catamaran lineup is getting harder to treat as a side category. Prestige’s 65-foot M8 EVO arrives for its U.S. debut after its world premiere at Cannes in September. Its layout makes the case for two hulls through usable space: a full-beam flybridge and an owner’s suite entered directly from the main deck, without stairs. The smaller M6 EVO debuts alongside it, while the new F6.7 flybridge flagship represents the monohull side of the lineup. Horizon’s PC68A takes the conversation somewhere more specific: accessibility. The world debut features an internal elevator connecting the master cabin in the starboard hull with the main deck and flybridge. A rotating platform assists wheelchair transfers, while a retractable boarding ramp, wider gates, and level flooring address movement elsewhere aboard. There’s also a battery package rated for up to 20 hours of generator-free “Silent Living.” It’s a useful reminder that innovation isn’t always another screen or a higher top speed. Sometimes it’s making a boat easier to board, move through, and enjoy. Aquila rounds out the category with the Americas debut of its 35 Sport. Taken together, these boats show how broadly builders are applying the power-cat platform — from compact day boating to larger-scale cruising and accessibility-focused design.
The dockside crowd-pleaser: Galeon 570 SKY
Some boats need a walkthrough to explain the appeal. This one probably needs a photo. Galeon’s 570 SKY brings the builder’s Beach Mode concept — fold-down side balconies that expand the usable deck — to its sports-yacht lineup. At anchor, the 57-footer opens from a beam of 15.8 feet to 22.5 feet. Above, a coupé-style upper helm incorporates a folding console and an opening sunroof. Below are three cabins sleeping six, with twin Volvo Penta engines delivering up to 1,800 hp combined. It’s a world debut, and the transformation should make it one of the show’s most shareable boats. The real test is whether those moving parts make an already good day aboard noticeably better. Expect plenty of phones pointed at this one.
Superyacht Village: The boats with backstories
The debuts get the headlines. Some of the biggest stories at Superyacht Village have been years in the making.
Start with Draak, Oceanco’s 305-foot explorer. Launched as Equanimity, the yacht became part of the Jho Low and 1MDB scandal before being sold and renamed Tranquility. Now rebuilt by Oceanco for Valve co-founder Gabe Newell, she serves as a research companion to his 111-metre Leviathan. The changes go well beyond a new name. The former beach club is now a dive centre with a decompression chamber. There’s a hospital suite, and the former helipad area has become a tender deck. The draw isn’t just the size or the ownership history. It’s seeing how a yacht built for one life has been reworked for another. Draak won’t be the only stop with a story.
The 223-foot Feadship Lady Christine, delivered in 2010, was built for Scottish billionaire Lord Irvine Laidlaw and named for his wife. With approximately 7,600 nautical miles of range, she brings long-distance capability alongside the pedigree. She is also on the market at an asking price of around €49.9 million.
Hakvoort’s 209-foot Scout, delivered in 2019, pairs an ice-class hull and helideck with interiors inspired by Jules Verne’s Nautilus. Then there’s the detail everyone remembers: a dedicated “puppy park” terrace off the master suite. Owner James Berwind named the yacht after his rescue dog. Scout is listed with Fraser at €95 million.
Also worth watching for is the 198-foot Feadship Rock.It, built for Jimmy John’s founder Jimmy John Liautaud. He sold the yacht in 2023, so the celebrity connection is historical — but the mahogany interior inspired by his favorite Chicago restaurant remains part of the boat’s identity.
The rest of the must-watch list:
Beyond the headline boats, there’s plenty competing for a slot in the schedule. Ocean Alexander completes its three-model Puro range with two world debuts: the entry-point 30P and flagship 40P. Both feature Cassetta styling, main-deck stern pools, and five cabins. The 40P offers up to twin 2,600-hp MAN V16 engines. Princess also brings the X90 for its U.S. debut.
Elsewhere on the docks: • Absolute shows the Navetta 58 and Navetta 66. • Sunseeker brings the Manhattan 56. • Maritimo introduces the S50 to the Americas. • Riviera leads a 14-yacht display with the Americas premieres of its 6200 and 5600 Sport Yacht Platinum editions. • Bluegame’s BGX83 makes its American debut. • Williams brings its compact TurboJet MX range to North America for the first time, alongside sister brand Evene’s Origin 57. • Chris-Craft revives a familiar name with the all-new Corsair 27. • Hanover’s Brazilian-built 327 makes its public debut. • The 115-foot Cantiere delle Marche explorer STELLAMAR makes its FLIBS debut, bringing a stated range of 5,500 nautical miles. The Delta 72 deserves a place on the list, too. The Mannerfelt Design launch puts lightweight carbon-fiber construction at the center of its performance and efficiency story. While much of the show sells more space, this one makes the case for less weight. The debut checklist
For anyone building a dock-by-dock plan, here’s the working list. The distinctions matter: a world premiere isn’t the same as a first U.S. appearance, and a FLIBS debut doesn’t necessarily mean a new boat.
World premieres and public debuts: • Princess C48 • Viking 70 Convertible Gen 2 • Viking 64 Sport Coupe • Viking 50 Sport Coupe • Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht • Ocean Alexander 30P • Ocean Alexander 40P • Horizon PC68A • Pearl 100 Hybrid • Galeon 570 SKY • Cruisers 45 VTR • Cruisers 45 VTR EC • Hanover 327
U.S., North American, and Americas debuts: • Princess X90 • Prestige M8 EVO • Prestige M6 EVO • Prestige F6.7 • Absolute Navetta 58 • Absolute Navetta 66 • Sunseeker Manhattan 56 • Aquila 35 Sport • Maritimo S50 • Riviera 6200 Sport Yacht Platinum • Riviera 5600 Sport Yacht Platinum • Bluegame BGX83 • Williams TurboJet MX • Evene Origin 57
Other first showings and launches to watch: • Lexus LY680 — first public appearance outside Japan • Cantiere delle Marche STELLAMAR — FLIBS debut • Chris-Craft Corsair 27 — fall show debut • MJM 38V — series launch • Delta 72 — show launch
FLIBS runs October 28–November 1. We’ll be on the docks with first-look walkthroughs, starting with the Princess C48, and giving Superyacht Village a closer look of its own. Follow @boatupdates for daily coverage — and tell us which boat you want us to walk first.
The boats are the main event, but this year we’re also checking out the Windward VIP experience — and we’ll be back afterward with an honest review. We want to know what it adds to a day at FLIBS, how it holds up when the show gets busy, and whether we’d recommend spending the extra money. We’ll cover what we liked, what fell short, and who we think it makes sense for. If you’re considering Windward for a future visit, we’ll give you our firsthand take once we’ve experienced it ourselves.
As always, thanks for reading. See you on the docks!