About six months from now, the expedition yacht you see here will hit the water, from a new company that promises to "appeal to people who want unique experiences . . . to explore the world."
Those are the words of Jim Gilbert, a familiar name in yachting circles. The founding editor of ShowBoats International, he's currently a consultant and among the team members of Aquos Yachts which aims to change attitudes about expedition yachts.
Now, you might be thinking, "What's wrong with the current attitudes?" Nothing – except for the fact that few owners of these types of megayachts have truly pushed their vessels to the far reaches of the world. In Gilbert's opinion, there's been a focus on making massive vessels with luxury spaces, rather than emphasizing the overall yachting experience. Aquos Yachts wants to put the emphasis back on the voyage, not volume. It also wants to do so in a more environmentally responsible way.