The first launch from Aquos Yachts has been honoured by leading Yachting Media in London & Hong Kong. Private explorer motor yacht Big Fish, the world’s first true luxury expedition yacht, was honoured last week on successive nights in Hong Kong and London for its unique design, construction and approach to luxury expedition yachting.

Explorer Yacht Big Fish on charter in Antartica

The first award, as the Most Innovative Motor Yacht launched in 2010, was presented at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show at the Gold Coast Marina. The awards, which have been awarded annually since 2005, honor the best yachts and yacht industry companies in the Asian Pacific region. Yacht Big Fish, a steel hull-aluminium superstructure 45M yacht, was delivered last June by Aquos Yachts in Auckland, New Zealand from its birth yard McMullen & Wing Shipyard. The award was presented to Richard Beattie of Hong Kong, yacht Big Fish’s owner and chairman of Aquos Yachts, who was accompanied by his son, Ken, also of Hong Kong. Ryan Swift, editor of Asian-Pacific Boating, organizer of the Asia Pacific Awards program, presented the award.

The Yacht BIG FISH in Tahiti

The following evening, Richard Beattie and members of the Aquos Yachts team, were gathered at the famous Guildhall in London for the annual presentation of the World Superyacht Awards by Boat International magazine. Attending with Beattie were Greg Marshall and Gordon Galbraith of Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects of Victoria, BC, and Rob Chappelhow, Aquos Yachts creative director, of London. The Big Fish yacht was presented with a Special Judges Commendation award in her category of Best Motor Yacht under 500 gross registered tons.

Yacht Big Fish in the South Pacific

“We were thrilled to receive both these awards in less than the space of 24 hours,” Beattie said.  “They demonstrate a keen awareness and appreciation within the luxury yacht industry for the quality and approach to the market taken by Aquos Yachts, as exemplified by our first creation, Big Fish.” Beattie added, “We are especially appreciative of the recognition by the Boat International judging panel given the intense competition in our judging category. Just to be considered in the same ranks as a company like Picchiotti Perini Navi Group, among the most respected and recognized brands in the yachting world, is a distinct honour. We heartily congratulate them on the naming of Exuma as the winner of the Neptune Award.”

These awards are added to previous recognition of superyacht Big Fish by YACHTS France, which honoured the vessel last fall at the magazine’s annual awards ceremony in Cannes during the Cannes Yacht Show.

The Yacht Big fish Flybridge

Beattie said the three awards – coupled with the extraordinary reception given Big Fish by the world yachting media since its launch 10 months ago – is especially heartening. “M/Y Big Fish and Aquos Yachts are being recognized for the qualities we have strived most to achieve the highest possible level of design and construction quality, coupled with a truly contemporary vision for luxury expedition yachting, which we believe is what the next generation of major yacht owners are demanding from the yacht industry. In less than a year, Aquos Yachts has come from nowhere to become one of the most highly visible and appreciated names in luxury yacht design and construction. We couldn’t be more thrilled and proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time.”

Tender Launching on the bow of motor yacht Big Fish