From style to performance: The coolest yachts marrying design and technology

Stepping into a new era of innovation, luxury yacht brands have upped the ante in 2025 by introducing some of the world’s most cutting-edge, best-looking vessels. Designed as a second home on the water, these yachts balance bold aesthetics with comfort, convenience, and intelligent design.

But what truly defines an innovative vessel? Is it the integration of smart technology and next-generation engineering? A deeper commitment to sustainability and efficiency? Aesthetics shaped by highly personalised, lifestyle-driven design? Or is real innovation found at the intersection of all these elements, working in harmony to elevate the experience at sea?

Today’s most innovative yachts are defined less by individual features, and more about how thoughtfully they support life on the water, from daily comfort to longer stays at sea.

From Oceanco’s ecological sailing yacht with neoclassic-inspired finishes, to Ocean Development’s futuristic-looking vessel with 75-foot Aerforce sailing wings, Boulevard presents the most innovative and coolest-looking yachts of 2025.

Oceanco Black Pearl: Green technology meets neoclassical design

Showcased during the 2025 edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival, Oceanco’s Black Pearl is 105-metre superyacht that blends neoclassical design with pioneering green technology and unparalleled comfort. It is currently the world’s second-largest sailing yacht and has received multiple industry honours, including Best Technical Achievement Overall at the 2019 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards and top recognition in the Sailing Yachts 60m and Above category at the 2019 World Superyacht Awards.

Beyond its accolades, Black Pearl stands out for its DynaRig sail system, which deploys 2,934 square metres of sail, an area comparable to a football field. The system allows the yacht to sail mainly on wind power, reaching speeds of over 20 knots and even crossing the Atlantic without using fossil fuels, something very rare for a yacht of this size.

Black Pearl’s design is equally noteworthy. Its interiors are heavily inspired by Louis XVI’s style, which mostly features ornate wooden details, gold accents and silk carpets. The superyacht also features a Napoleonic desk, a Napoleonic piano and other exquisite finishes across its spacious layout.

Go further with the Oceanco Black Pearl.

VanDutch 75: Open-air cruise

A cool-looking yacht isn’t just defined by its size, but also its striking yet refined silhouette—and that’s what the VanDutch 75 provides. While not as large as a superyacht, this vessel is one of the largest models with an open design.

Measuring 22.33 metres, the VanDutch 75 stands out for its striking yet refined silhouette. Its design highlight includes the innovative hardtop for an open-air shade, allowing the yacht to keep its architectural lines. The yacht also includes a spacious aft sunpad and up-and-down swim platform—which is perfect for lounging or water sports—as well as an alfresco dining area with two large sofas and convertible tables that seats up to ten guests.

While the VanDutch 75 may not offer the liveable comforts of a superyacht, it makes up for it with an emphasis on entertainment, featuring a fully equipped cockpit bar with a wine cooler, ice maker and integrated sink, allowing guests to enjoy drinks on the water during a relaxed cruise.

Go further with the VanDutch 75.

Benetti Class 44M “M/Y Juno’s 7”: A personalised yacht experience

Benetti is known for its semi-custom superyachts, and the M/Y Juno’s 7—the first unit of the new Class 44M family—is a clear expression of the shipyard’s ability to combine refined design, generous volumes and a high level of customisation within a modern fiberglass platform.

The 44-metre yacht made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, where the brand showcased its notable features, including its powerful silhouette and exquisite interior finishes. It is designed by Rome-based studio Cassetta Yacht Designers, known for their work across high-end custom and semi-custom superyachts, in close collaboration with Benetti’s in-house team. One of its standout features is the slender bow and long, clean hull lines, paired with expansive glazing, which floods the interiors with natural light and frames the blue sea.

Inside, the focus is on material quality and atmosphere rather than excess. Antique elm flooring, mineral resin surfaces enriched with stone powder and a restrained palette give the interiors a warm, tactile character. Generous ceiling heights and thoughtful layouts also enhance the sense of space throughout, making the yacht equally suited to short escapes and extended cruising. Of course, owners are invited to fully shape the interiors to their own taste, from the palette to the layout, turning each journey into something distinctly personal and effortlessly comfortable.

Go further with the Benetti Class 44M “M/Y Juno’s 7.”

Majesty 100 Terrace: Alfresco living but at sea

The Majesty 100 Terrace is the perfect match for anyone looking to experience alfresco living at sea. Its aesthetics are not the only appealing feature of the 32-metre yacht, it is also its expansive spaces that create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience and make a perfect atmosphere for social gatherings.

From the name itself, the yacht features a terrace-like upperdeck, featuring a wheelhouse and sky lounge that includes a dining area, jacuzzi and sunpads, where guests can fully relax, sip their wine while enjoying a sun-soaked cruise.

The lower deck then features ensuite-equipped cabins, including the owner’s cabin that has access to a private terrace with glass skylights and 270-degree views of the sea. Meanwhile, at the other end of the yacht is an alfresco entertaining and dining area, framed by floor-to-ceiling patio doors.

Go further with the Majesty 100 Terrace.

Ocean Development MODX 70: A yacht from the future

Last but not the least is Ocean Development’s MODX 70, a 21-metre sailing catamaran. When you step into it, it seems like your typical boat—interiors featuring a neutral palette and includes an open plan living that connects to an alfresco dining area, ensuite cabins, sun deck and sun loungers.

But unlike the aforementioned yachts, this vessel features a pair of 75-foot Aeroforce sailing wings that makes its silhouette seem robotic, almost as if it came from the future. Fully inflatable and mounted on retractable masts, the wings provide stability and propulsion while reducing carbon emissions and reliance on conventional engines, reinforcing the yacht’s forward-thinking approach to performance and efficiency.

Apart from the sailing wings, the yacht is also designed with an electric motor system with variable pitch propellers for hydrogeneration and solar panels measuring 750 sqft. The MODX line is led by the French shipyard Ocean Development, in collaboration with French naval architecture firm VPLP Design and close collaborations with highly specialized technology partners in the fields of bio-composites, energy mix and electric propulsion engines.

Go further with the Ocean Development MODX 70.

Read next:

• These superyachts are pushing luxury cruising to greater depths
• The interview: Azimut | Benetti Group’s Marco Valle on evolving yacht design for Asia and beyond