• Pearl Yachts has won the Judges’ Special Award at the Motor Boat Awards, hosted by Motor Boat & Yachting.
• Pearl Yachts debuted the new Pearl 72 at boot Düsseldorf 2023. Guests were impressed by the onboard spaces, featuring four en-suite staterooms including two master cabins plus crew accommodation and a garage for both a tender and jet ski.

British boutique boatbuilder Pearl Yachts has been announced as the winner of the “Judges’ Special Award at the recent Motor Boat Awards, by the editorial team at UK monthly magazine Motor Boat & Yachting (MBY). The awards can be viewed in their entirety at www.mby.com/mby-motor-boat-awards. The announcement of the Judges’ Special Award follows. “This award goes to a person, a group of people or a company that the judges feel deserves special recognition, either for an exceptional one-off achievement or a whole lifetime of dedication. Today’s winner falls somewhere between the two having consistently punched above its weight in a highly competitive market for almost 25 years.”

“From its humble beginnings in 1998 when a former yacht captain teamed up with a local businessman to launch a stylish new range of spacious aft cabin craft, this ambitious company has never shied away from doing things differently. In the face of vastly bigger, better known, more well-resourced competition, it has managed to defy the odds, building spacious, cleverly packaged craft with the style and quality to match.”

“While many of its better-known competitors have been bought, sold or even fallen by the wayside over the years, its founder lain Smallridge and owners Tony and Margaret Whittaker have safely steered tonight’s winner through the rough times, continually investing in new products. Bringing in world class designers like Bill Dixon and Kelly Hoppen have helped to keep its offerings as fresh and innovative as ever. Now in its 25th year and with a range of world class yachts from 62’ to 95’, including a brand new 72-footer being shown here in Dusseldorf for the first time. The winners of our Judges’ Special Award 2023 is Pearl Yachts.”

Pearl Yachts is simultaneously celebrating the overwhelmingly positive reception of its latest model’s European debut at the prestigious boat show boot Dusseldorf 2023. The German nautical industry event was the second introduction of the Pearl 72, building on the success of her recent world premiere in Fort Lauderdale.

As soon as the sales team began their first tours of the show, it became clear that the Pearl 72 offered a unique combination of features, achieved through clever layout design by Dixon Yacht Design. The new model makes the most out of the space available to include two master suites in a 4 en-suite stateroom layout, plus crew cabin for 2, and a garage to accommodate a William 345 tender (or similar) and jet ski. Also appreciated was exclusive interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE’s new style package, “Indulgence”, which joins “Luxury” and “Modern” to offer an elaborated selection of dressings for the yacht.

“Recognition from a body with the prestige of the Motor Boat Awards is a landmark for any brand in the yachting industry, but for us to be standing here, having won the Judges’ Award after 25 years of hard work is a great achievement.” said Pearl Yachts Managing Director Iain Smallridge. “We count ourselves among the profoundly fortunate because we work in an industry that we love, doing a job we love, for a company we love. None of which would have been possible without the support of with our incredible team. For this award and so much else, we must thank our Production Director, Paul Hannah, who has been fundamental in the development of the product for more than 20 years. Cenk Efe of Mallorca Marine Group who has been our longest serving dealer and long term friend, our communications coordinators Corrado Del Fanti and Sculati & Partners, Bill Dixon and his team at Dixon yacht design, Kelly Hoppen CBE and her team of interior designers, and last but by no means the least, our owners Tony and Margaret Whitaker, whom without their unfaltering support, belief and trust we would most certainly never have achieved any of this.”