Top 20 fastest yachts

1 -  World is not Enough 70 knots 

World is not Enough was built by Millenium Super Yachts, a company set up by American businessmen John Staluppi and John Rosatti in 1998 to build the fastest and most beautiful yachts in the world. Designed by Dutch naval architect Frank Mulder, World Is Not Enough is the only yacht to have reached 70 knots. She is propelled by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines, producing a staggering 20600hp. But she is not just about speed - her interior, designed by Evan K. Marshall, can accommodate 10 guests and is as luxurious as any of the yachts featured on this site.

• Builder: Millennium Super Yachts
• Length Overall: 42.4m
• Propulsion: Triple Water jets
• Maximum Horsepower: 20600

  

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2 - Fortuna 68 knots | 2000 

Fortuna was built for King Juan Carlos of Spain who is renowned for his penchant for speed. Javier Arce, head of Izar (the state-owned shipyard where she was built) described her as a "formula one prototype" and she was crowned the fastest yacht in the World in 2000 when she reached 68 knots, beating the previous record of 66.7 knots set by John Staluppi's Moonraker in 1992. She is propelled by three Rolls Royce gas turbines and two MAN diesel engines.

• Builder: Izar
• Length Overall: 41.5m
• Propulsion: Triple Water jets

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3 - Alamshar 65 knots | 2008 

This yacht has been kept a closely guarded secret but we understand that she has been developed to include the very latest gas turbines. This unique propulsion system which so far has not been employed on any other yachts is to give the yacht exceptional performance, providing the capability of speeds up to 65 knots. With no less than 6 gas turbines and 3 water jets she must be one of the most advanced superyachts ever produced. Due to this new technology she has undergone an extended development programme with several sea trials, which is why, despite the secrecy, she has been spotted several times before disappearing into the covered facilities in the yard.

• Builder: Devonport (now managed by Babcock Marine)
• Length Overall: 50m
• Propulsion: Triple Water jets
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4 - Gentry Eagle 64 knots 

Gentry Eagle was built by the late Tom Gentry, who set nearly every powerboat speed record in existence. His passion to win power boating's most coveted honour, the Blue Riband for the fastest passage across the Atlantic, drove him to design and build the 34.1m, 11,500 horsepower Gentry Eagle. In 1989, he and a crew of five including his son, Norman Gentry, set a record time of 62 hours & 7 minutes beating Richard Branson's previous record by an astonishing 23%. Gentry Eagle was relaunched as a yacht in 1992.

* Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
* Length Overall: 34.1m
* Propulsion: Single Surface Drive / Twin Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 11,560

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 5 -118 WallyPower 60 knots 

The 118 WallyPower's sleek design is the result of an extensive R&D program that included water tank testing at the SSPA facility in Goteborg, Sweden, and wind tunnel testing at the Ferrari facility in Maranello, Italy. The yacht is driven by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each driving a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet. The exhaust system is made of titanium that saves weight while being very resistant to the high temperatures generated by the gas turbines.

* Builder: Intermarine
* Length Overall: 36.00m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets / Twin Screws
* Maximum Horsepower: 16,800

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6 - Brave Challenger 60 knots 

Initially called Mercury, this yacht was built by Vosper for the Greek shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos. She was designed by Peter du Cane, with an interior by C?sar Pinnau. Her classic lines have evolved over the years following a number of refits. Her performance is impressive: she has three gas turbines combined with surface drives generating 13,620hp and a maximum speed of 60 knots. She also has two conventional engines for easier manoeuvrability at low speed. Brave Challenger is usually berthed in Southampton.

* Builder: Vosper
* Length Overall: 31.4m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets / Twin Screws
* Maximum Horsepower: 13,620

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7 - Ermis² 57 knots 

Designed by Rob Humphreys, this high speed yacht was constructed in carbon-fibre using the Vacuum Infusion Process to obtain an ultra-lightweight construction able to withstand the extreme loadings of up to 2.2G while travelling at over 55 knots. Indeed every component was critically analysed to save weight. She is powered by three MTU16V 4000 M90 series engines, each rated at 2,720 kW, and KaMeWa jet units, generating 11,000 hp.

* Builder: McMullen & Wing
* Length Overall: 37.56m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 11,000

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8 - Nobody 55 knots 

Nobody is the flagship of the Mangusta 108 series designed by Andrea Bacigalupo and Stefano Righini and built by Overmarine. Launched in 2001, her engines set her apart from others in the series - two Lycoming gas turbines combined with waterjets generate 8,770hp and giver her a top speed of 55 knots. The sound they generate is not dissimilar to plane taking off!

* Builder: Overmarine
* Length Overall: 33.5m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 8,770

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9 - AA Absolute 54 knots 

AA Absolute was built by Heesen Yachts in 1995 for the Sultan of Brunei. She was designed by Frank Mulder. She has a maxiumum speed of 50 knots.

* Builder: Heesen Yachts
* Length Overall: 36.58m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 9,520

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10 - Sun Ark 54 knots 

Sun Ark is another performance yacht from Heesen. Launched in 1995, she was designed by Frank Mulder and can reach a top speed of 54 knots.

* Builder: Heesen Yachts
* Length Overall: 36.7m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 9,520

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11 - Moon Goddess 53 knots 

Moon Goddess was built by Danish Yachts in 2006 and styled by Espen Oeino. Built using carbon-fibre, Kevlar and Epoxy, she is powered by twin MTU 4000 series engines driving twin Hamilton water jets giving speeds up to 53 knots and excellent maneuverability. She is a sistership to the 78.6-metre motor yacht Princess Mariana.

* Builder: Danish Yachts
* Length Overall: 35.05m
* Propulsion: Twin Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 7,400

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12 - Pershing 115 52 knots 

Pershing has so far launched nine hulls in their hugely successful 115 series designed by Fulvio de Simoni. Of these, five are fitted with a Vericor gas turbine combined with a central booster, generating an extra 5,100hp. This allows them to reach 51 knots compared to 40 knots in the standard model. Launched in 2005, Mistral 55 (pictured left) was the third hull in the series and the first to feature the gas turbine.

* Builder: Pershing
* Length Overall: 35.07m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 12,500

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13 - Adler 50 knots 

This yacht has been shrouded in secrecy since her launch in 2005. Built by Vectorworks, her predecessor was a 36m Baglietto built in 1987 which was capable of reaching 40 knots thanks to a central gas turbine. This new Adler is some 5m larger and built in composite. She can reach a top speed of 50 knots thanks to 2 Paxman engines combined with waterjets generating 10,500hp. Highly aerodynamic, her futuristic design is by Gary Grant.

* Builder: Vectorworks
* Length Overall: 41.45m
* Propulsion: Twin Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 10,494

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14 - Mirage 50 knots 

Mirage is the second hull in Baia's One Hundred series and the first to have three MTU engines combined with surface drives generating 7,290hp and a top speed of 50 knots. Launched in 2008, her design by Carlo Galeazzi also differs from others in the series.

* Builder: Baia
* Length Overall: 31m
* Propulsion: Twin Screws
* Maximum Horsepower: 5,436

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15 - Shooting Star 50 knots 

Under the bright blue skies of a glorious Danish spring day in Skagen on the very northern tip of the European mainland, Danish Yachts launched its magnificent 116 on 26 March 2011, now officially christened Shooting Star.

Shooting Star marries blistering performance – she is projected to hit 50 knots when the throttles are fully open – with a contemporary, Scandinavian influenced interior design developed from an original concept by Art-Line which features maple, leather and cream fabrics in a style that is full of unusual curves and shapes. Light plays a key role, from the huge windscreen panels to skylights and a giant opening hardtop above the main saloon which make this yacht something quite special.

* Builder: Danish Yachts
* Length Overall: 38m
* Propulsion: Twin Waterjets
* Naval architecture/Exterior styling: Espen ?ino

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16 - Mirage 48 knots  

Built for an Asian owner in 1991 under the name El Corsario, Mirage is the sister ship of the famous Octopussy - the fastest yacht in the world at the time of her launch in 1988 (after a big gain of weight during a refit she no longer features in the Top 20). Her pedigree is substantial - she was built by Diaship (now Heesen Yachts), to a design by Frank Mulder with exterior styling by Gerhard Gilgenast. Her three MTU diesel engines produce a total power of 10,440hp and give her a top speed of 48 knots. Mirage is currently for sale, and could be an ideal candidate for a refit (her Art-Line interior is no longer in style).

* Builder: Heesen Yachts
* Length Overall: 40.26m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 10,440

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18 - Fortuna 46 knots 

Palmer Johnson made headlines with the launch of Fortuna in 1979. Built for King Juan Carlos of Spain her sleek hull design by Don Shead and cutting-edge gas turbine/waterjet propulsion system raised the bar in terms of performance. Her hull was lengthened by 4.5m in 1981.

* Builder: Palmer Johnson
* Length Overall: 30.48m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 7,800

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19 - G.Whiz 46 knots 

G.Whiz started out as a tender for the 54m yacht Stefaren (now Maridome). She was purchased by Greek shipping tycoon Loucas Haji-Ioannou in 1992, apparently as a birthday present for his son Stelios, founder of easyJet.

She was designed by the late Jon Bannenberg, with naval architecture by Sonny Levi and an interior by Rincklake van Erndt. Built in aluminium, she has a low profile and very efficient hull. Her twin 3,500hp MTU engines propel her to a top speed of 49 knots.

* Builder: Brooke Marine
* Length Overall: 33m
* Propulsion: Twin Surface Drives
* Maximum Horsepower: 7,000

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20 - Sussurro 46 knots 

A collaboration between Don Shead and De Voogt, Sussurro was the first Feadship yacht to be fitted with gas turbines and one of the few they have built with a planing hull. Built in aluminium, she is fitted with two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines. Between them they generate 15,400hp and provide a top speed of 46 knots, an impressive performance for a yacht of her size. Her exterior and interior design is by Terence Disdale. Rumoured to be owned by Roman Abramovich, she is permanently moored at the International Yacht Club in Antibes.

* Builder: Feadship
* Length Overall: 49.5m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Power: 15,384hp

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21 - Tanga II 46 knots 

Tanga II is part of the Mangusta 105 series of yachts designed by Andrea Bacigalupo and Stefano Righini and built by Overmarine. But her special engine configuration sets her apart from the others in the series: as well as the two standard MTU diesel engines, she has a Lycoming gas turbine linked to a central booster. Together they generate 7,700hp to give her a top speed of 46 knots.

* Builder: Overmarine
* Length Overall: 32.6m
* Propulsion: Triple Waterjets
* Maximum Horsepower: 7,700