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MANARI 52, from new project to Revelation of the Year in Cannes

Designed by RED Yacht Design, with hull development by Mulder Design and speeds of around 45 knots, MANARI 52 earns its first major international award in Cannes

MANARI 52 wins Revelation of the Year at the 2026 World Yachts Trophies in Cannes, just months after the new 52-footer made its international debut

The MANARI 52 has been named “Revelation of the Year” at the 2026 World Yachts Trophies, presented in Cannes on Saturday, 12 September, during the closing weekend of the Cannes Yachting Festival.

It is an award that comes remarkably early in the model’s story. The 52-footer made its world debut only a few months earlier, at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March. Since then, the project has moved decisively beyond the concept stage and into the more demanding world of actual production: the first yachts have been launched, further units are following, and MANARI is beginning to establish its own identity in the market.

An award at the beginning of the story

The World Yachts Trophies recognise yachts and motor yachts launched during the latest season. The 2026 edition brought together 69 finalists and presented around 30 awards to yachts ranging from 13 to 140 metres.

For the MANARI 52, being selected as Revelation of the Year therefore carries a particular meaning. It does not celebrate the latest evolution of an established range, but the arrival of a new project and a new brand seeking its place in the performance-yacht segment around 50 feet.

This is also what makes the award particularly interesting from an editorial perspective. In less than a year, MANARI 52 has progressed from its first design images to the water, from its US debut to its European presentation and now to international recognition.

A presence that is difficult to confuse

The exterior design is by RED Yacht Design, the studio founded in 2017 by architect Cana Gökhan and naval architect Fatih Sürekli.

MANARI 52 uses taut surfaces, a near-vertical bow and a low superstructure to create an immediately recognisable profile. The intention is clearly not discreet elegance alone: the yacht is designed to have a strong presence on the water, while retaining controlled proportions and a clear visual relationship between hull, hardtop and outdoor spaces.

Hull design involves Mulder Design, while engineering was developed by Eureka Yachts. The yacht therefore brings together design, naval architecture and technical development from different areas of expertise around a common platform.

52 feet built largely around outdoor living

MANARI 52 measures 15.85 metres overall, with a beam of 4.59 metres. A substantial part of the yacht is devoted to outdoor living, with the cockpit able to expand laterally through a fold-down side balcony.

Aft, a hydraulic swim platform with integrated steps provides easy access to the water, while a sunpad, shaded social area beneath the hardtop and wet bar create several distinct environments without excessively dividing the deck.

Forward, there is a further dedicated lounge area, separate from the aft cockpit. Guests can therefore spread along much of the yacht’s length rather than concentrating all outdoor activity at the stern.

It is an approach particularly well suited to Mediterranean use: days at anchor, fast transfers between destinations and much of the time on board spent outside.

Performance without overlooking comfort

Propulsion comes from two Volvo Penta D8 IPS800 engines producing 600 hp each. Currently available figures indicate a maximum speed of around 45 knots and cruising speeds of approximately 36 knots, supported by a 2,500-litre fuel capacity.

These are significant figures for a 52-footer, although the yacht was not conceived purely as a sports machine. The IPS system adds joystick control and easier low-speed manoeuvring, while gyroscopic stabilisation is also available.

This combination is perhaps the more relevant point. Speed defines part of the MANARI 52’s character, but the project gives just as much attention to what happens once the engines stop.

From cockpit to interior

Below deck, MANARI 52 includes an owner’s cabin, guest accommodation, an interior lounge and bathroom. The yacht can also feature an interior package developed with Loro Piana Interiors, introducing materials and finishes associated with a design language more commonly found aboard considerably larger yachts.

It would nevertheless be misleading to describe the 52 simply as a small superyacht. Its identity remains that of a compact performance yacht with a strong emphasis on outdoor living.

The interior therefore makes it possible to extend use beyond a single day: weekends, transfers and short cruises become a natural part of the yacht’s programme without sacrificing the generous exterior areas.

From first hull to a series

Perhaps the most significant development during 2026 is not a technical feature at all.

MANARI 52 is no longer simply the first yacht from a new brand. RED Yacht Design has confirmed that further units have followed the first hull, marking the transition from prototype and market introduction to genuine series production.

This is a critical stage for any new project. Designing a yacht capable of attracting attention is one challenge; turning it into a repeatable product, building multiple units and finding owners willing to choose it is another.

It is within this context that the Cannes award takes on greater significance.

Cannes as a milestone, not a destination

For RED Yacht Design, the recognition also arrives during a year in which several of the studio’s projects have moved from the drawing board into the water.

Founded by Cana Gökhan and Fatih Sürekli, the studio today operates between London and Istanbul, bringing designers and naval architects together across projects of different dimensions.

MANARI 52 is particularly interesting because its long-term success will depend on what happens after the initial period of novelty.

The title Revelation of the Year describes its 2026 story well: a new brand, a new yacht and a project that has managed to gain international attention within a matter of months.

The next chapter may be even more interesting — seeing whether that first impression develops into a recognisable family of yachts over the years ahead.

ARTICLE

16 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
MANARI 52, from new project to Revelation of the Year in Cannes
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