By a quiet stretch of coastline in Antalya, in a part of Turkey more often associated with gulets and lateen sails than cutting-edge superyachts, something quietly significant has taken place. ARES Yachts, a name more familiar in defence and commercial circles, has launched a vessel that shifts the tone completely. Her name is SIMENA, and she is no experiment.
Measuring 62 metres, SIMENA is not only the largest yacht ARES has ever produced, but one of the largest sailing superyachts in the world, quietly breaking into the top 25 by length. It is a bold move, and one that will no doubt draw attention when she debuts at the Monaco Yacht Show in September 2025. But it’s not her size that makes her remarkable. It’s her presence.
This is a ketch in the traditional sense, with sweeping lines, rich woodwork, and just enough rigging to stir memories of an earlier era. And yet, she is anything but dated. Beneath the laid teak decks and varnished sipo mahogany lies a yacht built with a steel–carbon composite hull, fitted with a hybrid propulsion system and a suite of modern amenities that are as discreet as they are effective. At cruising speed, she can cross the Atlantic without ever raising her sails.
Inside, SIMENA continues this blend of old and new. The interiors, by Design Unlimited, are richly layered without feeling overwrought. Tactile surfaces in walnut and leather sit comfortably alongside polished brass and marble. There are moments of flourish, patterned tiles in the showers, Calacatta Oro stone underfoot, but they’re measured and never loud. The atmosphere is quiet and considered, more akin to a private residence than a showpiece. There is an owner’s suite forward on the main deck and accommodation for a further eleven guests, plus space for a crew of nine.
Perhaps most telling is how little the yacht shouts about its technology. The hybrid system allows silent cruising under electric power at up to six knots, with a range of 4,000 nautical miles under diesel–electric propulsion at 11. Her performance figures are solid, 14.5 knots at top speed, but there’s no attempt to sell this as a technical achievement. SIMENA feels deliberately unhurried.
For ARES, this marks the beginning of a different journey. Known for its naval and patrol craft, the shipyard has now stepped onto a new stage. Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun, the Yachts Projects Director, speaks of SIMENA as a statement of intent, not a one-off. “We built a yacht for someone who appreciates heritage and innovation in equal measure,” she says. “It’s a reflection of where we’re going.”
It’s easy to be sceptical when a new player enters the world of large sailing yachts. But SIMENA doesn’t come across as a vanity project or a branding exercise. Instead, she feels like a yacht built with purpose, by a team willing to listen to older rhythms while quietly introducing new ones. It will be interesting to see what follows.
