The Blue Ocean Club has published its official winners of the Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards 2026, which celebrate the globe’s best crewed charter yachts.
Unlike awards that assess new-build shipyard launches, this award judges contenders on actual weeks spent on board, focusing on guest comfort, crew service, total charter execution, and itinerary flexibility.
Out of the 25 elite finalists across five distinct class sizes, the Overall Charter Yacht of the Year 2026 was awarded to the 77-meter Damen SeaXplorer LA DATCHA.
To ensure complete editorial integrity, the awards operate on a 100% free-to-enter model. No yacht had to pay any entry fee, marketing fee, or sponsorship charges to get nominated, or even to be selected as a finalist.
Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards 2026 winners
| Size Class/Awards | Winning Yacht | Highlights | |
| Category winner (70m+) | LA DATCHA | 77m Polar-class explorer | |
| Category winner (50-69m) | OKTO | 66m ISA twin-pool superyacht | |
| Category winner (40-49m) | Khalilah | 49.5m Gold Carbon Composite Sport | |
| Category winner (30-39m) | The Beast | 39.2m Custom Expedition Catamaran | |
| Category winner (20-29m) | Baccarat | 29.6m Amer performance charter | |
| Overall Yacht of the Year | LA DATCHA | 77m Damen SeaXplorer | |
Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards 2026 – judging methodology and highlights
- 100% independent editorial – Selections and nominations were editorial, providing equal visibility to luxury motor yachts, high-speed performance yachts and polar-class expedition vessels.
- Guest-first criteria – Judges assessed contenders by evaluating crew-to-guest ratios, real-world charter performance, deck layouts, water sports equipment, and overall hospitality.
- Overall winner – LA DATCHA was declared the overall winner. The vessel is built for tropical cruising as well as high-latitude polar expeditions, featuring an onboard dive center, two certified helipads, a heavy-duty ice-classed steel hull, and a three-person submersible.
The Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards 2027 – voting now open
Following the announcement of the 2026 winners, voting for the Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards 2027 has finally opened. The 2027 edition combines an expert editorial panel with a verified public vote across the 100 shortlisted nominees. Public voting remains open through 14th January 2027.
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