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Simena wins the 2026 Blue Wake Award in Monaco

Simena brings the spirit of the great ketches to the Monaco Yacht Show with a hybrid system designed to reduce fuel use and noise without sacrificing sailing

A 62-metre ketch, a 220 kW electric motor and up to 6,000 nautical miles of range make Simena a new interpretation of the large sailing yacht

At first sight, Simena appears to look backwards. Her long bowsprit, ketch rig, teak decking, mahogany detailing and proportions evoke an era of yachting when elegance and sailing were inseparable.

Beneath that deliberately classic appearance, however, lies a distinctly contemporary propulsion system.

The 62-metre yacht built by ARES Yachts uses parallel hybrid propulsion that can operate under conventional diesel power, provide low-noise electric cruising, regenerate energy while sailing and, when conditions allow, disengage the propulsion system entirely.

It is this combination that earned Simena the 2026 Blue Wake Special Prize for a Yacht at the Monaco Yacht Show.

An award based on measurable results

The recognition forms part of the Monaco Yacht Show’s Blue Wake programme, developed with the Water Revolution Foundation to identify products, services and technologies supported by measurable environmental evidence.

Sixty projects were validated in 2026. Simena received the special yacht prize for her combination of hybrid propulsion, electric operation, regeneration under sail and optimised energy efficiency.

According to the Monaco Yacht Show, the yacht achieved an 11% improvement over the fleet average in its YETI assessment based on ISO/TS 23099.

The figure is particularly relevant because it moves the discussion beyond broad sustainability claims towards quantitative environmental assessment.

A hybrid system with six operating modes

At the technical heart of Simena is a parallel propulsion system combining an 882 kW MAN diesel engine, a 220 kW Ramme electric motor, three 86 kW CAT generator sets and a Servogear controllable-pitch propeller.

The installation can operate in six different modes.

Under conventional propulsion, the diesel engine drives the propeller directly. In electric mode, the generators power the electric motor for quieter cruising. The main engine can also simultaneously provide propulsion and generate electrical power for onboard systems.

The most interesting configuration appears when the sails take over.

While sailing, propeller rotation can be used in hydro-regeneration mode to generate electrical energy. In pure sailing mode, both the diesel engine and electric motor are disengaged and the propeller is feathered to reduce drag.

This is therefore more than simply adding an electric motor to a sailing yacht. Propulsion and onboard energy management can change configuration according to actual cruising conditions.

Up to 6,000 nautical miles in optimised electric operation

ARES Yachts quotes a maximum speed of around 14 knots under power and a conventional range of approximately 4,000 nautical miles at 9 knots.

Under optimised conditions, electric operation can extend the range to approximately 6,000 nautical miles.

Her dimensions do not prevent respectable performance under sail. During trials Simena reached around 14 knots, while the design predicts up to 16 knots in 20 knots of wind at an angle of approximately 100 degrees.

The numbers are a useful reminder that despite her size and level of comfort, Simena remains first and foremost a sailing yacht.

62 metres inspired by tradition

Exterior design and naval architecture are by Taka Yacht Design and Tanju Kalaycıoğlu.

The lines draw on wooden ketches and classic clipper ships, reinterpreted for the requirements of a contemporary yacht. The hull is built in AH36 steel, while the superstructure uses advanced composite materials.

Simena measures 62 metres overall, with a beam of 10.70 metres, a draught of 4.72 metres and a gross tonnage of 499 GT.

She accommodates 12 guests and nine crew.

Her name itself has Mediterranean roots. Simena is the ancient Lycian settlement overlooking the coast near Antalya, historically accessible mainly from the sea and used as a natural refuge by sailors.

Outdoor living with protection when required

The deck preserves much of the character of a traditional large sailing yacht while responding to contemporary expectations.

The aft cockpit includes a large sunbed, U-shaped sofas, wet bar, jacuzzi and a convertible dining table for up to 14 guests. A concealed projector and screen can also turn the area into an open-air cinema.

When conditions change, transparent enclosures can protect the entire cockpit and extend its usability.

Forward, a private lounge of approximately 60 m² provides a second major outdoor area, separated from the yacht’s main social spaces.

Classic interiors without nostalgia

The interiors are by Design Unlimited.

Walnut, leather, naturally toned fabrics and antiqued brass details evoke classic yachting without attempting to recreate a historical interior.

In the main saloon, a generous lounge and formal dining area occupy opposite sides of the space, while a traditionally inspired skylight brings natural light deep into the interior.

Guest and crew circulation is also carefully separated, an important consideration on a yacht designed for extended periods at sea.

Sustainability without losing the pleasure of sailing

Simena also holds a four-star SEA Index rating, with a certified value of 138.5 gCO₂/GT.hr assessed by Lloyd’s Register Advisory Services on behalf of the Superyacht Eco Association.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect, however, is that environmental performance is not treated as something separate from the onboard experience.

Electric propulsion reduces noise and vibration. Regeneration uses the energy naturally available while sailing. Multiple operating modes allow the system to adapt energy use to actual conditions.

In this sense, the Blue Wake Award recognises not simply the presence of one technology, but the way several systems have been integrated into the same yacht.

A modern classic born in the Mediterranean

Simena also represents an important step for ARES Yachts. She is the Turkish shipyard’s first superyacht in the 60-metre-plus segment and one of the largest sailing yachts designed and built in Türkiye.

Yet at the dock, the visual language remains deliberately traditional: masts, teak, mahogany and the profile of a large ketch.

Only once underway does the more contemporary side of the project become apparent.

That contrast may be what makes Simena particularly interesting. Rather than presenting the future by rejecting what made large sailing yachts appealing in the first place, she uses technology to allow that same idea of sailing to continue evolving.

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To discover more about Simena, her technical features and interiors:
Simena, classic sailing charm meets hybrid propulsion
Per approfondire il progetto, le caratteristiche tecniche e gli interni di Simena:
Simena, il fascino della vela classica incontra la propulsione ibrida

24 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Simena wins the 2026 Blue Wake Award in Monaco
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.