Palm Beach, USA - March 2025 - Unveiled during the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Bilgin Yachts’ new 82-metre flagship, Project BOND, has now been sold, marking a major moment for the Turkish shipyard and one of the most high-profile new-build transactions in the market. The sale was concluded through the joint efforts of Berkay Yılmaz, Commercial Director of Bilgin Yachts, Simon Graham, Sales Broker at FGI Yacht Group and yachting advisor Peter Thompson bringing to life a project that blends American-market practicality with global superyacht ambition.
It also signals the continued strength of the relationship between Bilgin and FGI Yach Group, with this being the third new-build sale the two have completed together.
Conceived as the evolution of Bilgin’s acclaimed 80-metre platform, Project BOND is positioned as the shipyard’s flagship, evolved, an 82-metre yacht defined by volume, light and long-range capability. As Bilgin’s largest yacht to date, the project reflects the yard’s continued rise in the upper tier of custom superyacht construction, while retaining a clear emphasis on owner-led customization and real-world cruising versatility.
The yacht’s owner John Staluppi explains why Bilgin was selected for the build: “I chose to build my next 82m superyacht with Bilgin because of their exceptional flexibility and genuine willingness to adapt to my vision as the client. They embraced innovative design solutions that perfectly balance cutting-edge performance with uncompromising comfort. This yacht is thoughtfully engineered for the American market with a minimal draft for accessing more harbors and shallow cruising grounds while still delivering true worldwide capability and impressive high speeds that never sacrifice the smooth, luxurious ride I demand.”
At the heart of the project is a design collaboration between Emrecan Özgün of Unique Yacht Design, responsible for the exterior styling and naval architecture, and Jonny Horsfield of H2 Yacht Design, whose studio is shaping the interiors. The result is expected to pair confident, modern exterior lines with a softer, more immersive onboard atmosphere defined by expansive glazing, flowing light and a stronger connection to the sea. Bilgin describes the yacht as one in which architecture is driven by openness, with floor-to-ceiling glass dissolving the boundaries between interior and ocean.
