LA DATCHA Named Blue Ocean Club Charter Yacht of the Year 2026

Delivered by Damen Yachting in 2020, LA DATCHA is a 77-metre — approximately 253-foot — SeaXplorer expedition yacht created to venture far beyond conventional cruising grounds while preserving the comfort, service and refinement of a world-class private yacht. LA DATCHA is managed by NOVA YACHTS Ltd., the specialist in expedition yacht management.

NOVA YACHTS Ltd. is the yacht’s owner’s representative, manager and central agent (www.nova-yachts.com).

Selected from five distinguished finalists in the 70m+ category, LA DATCHA impressed the Blue Ocean Club judging team through the extraordinary breadth and coherence of the experience she offers. Her Ice Class construction, IMO Polar Code engineering, aviation facilities, underwater exploration equipment and extended autonomy make authentic expeditions possible. At the same time, her expansive guest areas, sophisticated interiors and resort-like wellness facilities ensure that exploration never comes at the expense of luxury.

“LA DATCHA widens the horizon of what a yacht charter can be,” said Dr. Christoph Lymbersky, CEO of Blue Ocean Club. “The Mediterranean and Caribbean will always remain among the world’s great yachting destinations, but this yacht invites her guests to look beyond the familiar. She can carry them into polar waters, volcanic landscapes, remote archipelagos and extraordinary stretches of coastline that very few travellers will ever experience. LA DATCHA does not simply offer another way to visit the world’s established superyacht destinations—she opens the door to a much larger world.”

An Owner’s Vision Realised Without Compromise

LA DATCHA was not conceived as a conventional superyacht with expedition styling. She was created as a genuine expedition yacht capable of supporting ambitious, experience-led journeys while offering the warmth and refinement of a private luxury residence.

The owner’s passion for adventure, remote travel and heli-skiing played a defining role in the original brief. The yacht needed to operate in both tropical and polar regions, accommodate two helicopters, support diving and underwater exploration, remain autonomous for extended periods and provide guests with access to places beyond established yacht itineraries.

This was not simply a request for more equipment. It was a carefully considered vision for an entirely different type of charter experience.

That vision is evident throughout LA DATCHA. Her aviation facilities were designed around real helicopter operations rather than visual effect. Her tenders and specialist equipment enable meaningful access to remote coastlines, islands, ice fields and underwater environments. Her interior and guest areas were created to provide comfort and serenity during long-range voyages, including in some of the most isolated regions on Earth.

The result is a yacht in which each major decision supports the same purpose: enabling guests to explore more of the world, experience it more closely and return each day to an exceptionally comfortable home at sea.

“What makes LA DATCHA so remarkable is the depth of thought behind her,” said Dr. Lymbersky. “Her capabilities do not feel like features added to create an impressive specification. They work together because the owner had a clear understanding of the experiences the yacht should make possible. That clarity has transformed an extraordinary Damen Yachting vessel into an outstanding charter yacht—one with a distinct character, a genuine purpose and an identity unlike any other.”

Created for the World Beyond the Familiar

Many luxury yacht charters naturally concentrate on the celebrated cruising grounds of the Mediterranean and Caribbean. LA DATCHA can explore these destinations in exceptional comfort, but her purpose extends far beyond them.

She was created for journeys into regions such as Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, Alaska, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia and the remote islands of the South Pacific.

These are places where the yacht itself becomes the gateway to the experience.

Guests may take off by helicopter to reach a distant ski descent, fly above volcanic landscapes, land in territory inaccessible by road or observe remote coastlines from the air. They may descend beneath the surface in a private three-person submersible, dive in isolated waters, approach wildlife from an expedition tender or step ashore where conventional yacht access would be impossible.

In polar regions, LA DATCHA can bring her guests close to glaciers, ice fields and rarely visited shores. In warmer waters, she can support diving, surfing, fishing and exploration around distant reefs and archipelagos. Her expedition capabilities turn the map into an invitation rather than a limitation.

“True luxury is not only found in beautiful surroundings or exceptional service,” Dr. Lymbersky said. “It is also the freedom to experience something genuinely rare. LA DATCHA gives charter guests the opportunity to encounter parts of the world that lie beyond the usual routes and to do so safely, privately and in extraordinary comfort. She makes the remote accessible without making it ordinary.”

A Purpose-Built Damen Yachting SeaXplorer

LA DATCHA was delivered in 2020 as a highly customised Damen Yachting SeaXplorer 77. Her naval architecture is by Damen Yachting, with exterior design by Azure Yacht Design and interiors by Vasiliy Shprits.

Her expedition credentials include:

• A fully certified primary helicopter deck
• A standby deck for a second helicopter
• An enclosed below-deck hangar capable of accommodating both aircraft
• A private three-person submersible
• A dedicated dive centre
• A decompression chamber
• Multiple expedition tenders and rigid inflatable boats
• A VIP limousine and rescue tender
• A beach-landing tender
• Personal watercraft and snow scooters
• Ice Class construction and IMO Polar Code engineering
• Active stabilisation for enhanced comfort
• Autonomy at sea for up to 40 days

Each of these capabilities has a direct purpose within the guest experience. The helicopters dramatically extend the yacht’s reach beyond the shoreline. The submersible allows guests to explore a world normally hidden beneath the surface. The dive facilities, tenders and beach-landing equipment make it possible to experience remote destinations rather than merely observe them from the deck.

This combination of range, autonomy and specialist equipment gives LA DATCHA the ability to serve as a true private expedition base.

Expedition Capability with Resort-Level Comfort

LA DATCHA accommodates up to 12 guests across six suites, including two master suites and two VIP suites. Her substantial six-deck arrangement provides generous interior and exterior spaces, allowing guests to enjoy extended voyages without sacrificing privacy or comfort.

Full-height windows in the observation lounge, main salon and owner’s suite maintain a strong visual connection with the surrounding landscape. An upper-deck observation area provides uninterrupted views of coastlines, wildlife, oceans and ice fields.

Her wellness facilities include an indoor and an outdoor hot-water Jacuzzi, a sauna, steam bath, massage room and fully equipped gym. Together, they create the atmosphere of a private resort—even when the nearest conventional resort may be hundreds of miles away.

After a day of heli-skiing, diving, kayaking or exploring ashore, guests can return to warmth, attentive service and beautifully considered surroundings. This ability to move effortlessly between adventure and restoration is one of LA DATCHA’s defining qualities.

She does not ask guests to choose between exploration and luxury. She was designed to make both inseparable parts of the same journey.

Why LA DATCHA Won

LA DATCHA achieved an exceptional result across the complete Blue Ocean Club evaluation framework.

Her guest spaces and resort-like facilities make her highly suitable for extended private charters. Her aviation, diving and underwater equipment provide access to experiences unavailable aboard most yachts. Her Ice Class engineering and extended autonomy create extraordinary destination flexibility. Her layout allows families and groups to share a profound journey while retaining space, comfort and privacy.

Most importantly, these qualities form a coherent whole.

LA DATCHA is technically formidable without feeling industrial. She is luxurious without being disconnected from her purpose. She is adventurous without requiring guests to compromise on comfort. Every part of the yacht contributes to an experience that is broader, richer and more ambitious than a conventional charter.

“LA DATCHA stood out because she changes the possibilities available to her guests,” said Dr. Lymbersky. “She can be a private resort, an expedition base, an aviation platform, a dive centre and a welcoming home at sea—all within the same journey. She was created to explore rather than simply to impress, and that authenticity is ultimately what made her our Charter Yacht of the Year.”

A Transparent Award Based on the Charter Experience

The Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards are an annual editorial assessment of the world’s charter fleet. They recognise yachts not only for their appearance or technical specifications, but for the quality, relevance and versatility of the experience they can offer charter guests.

The awards carry no entry fee. Yachts cannot purchase a nomination, finalist position or winner status, and no paid placement is accepted within the selection process. An owner is not required to submit or nominate a yacht for consideration. Advertising expenditure and commercial relationships do not form part of the judging criteria.

For the 2026 edition, eligible yachts were organised into five comparable size categories:

• 20–29.9 metres
• 30–39.9 metres
• 40–49.9 metres
• 50–69.9 metres
• 70 metres and above

The process began with a snapshot of the current charter fleet, followed by the verification of principal specifications, charter status, imagery and available yacht information. Each yacht was assessed against comparable vessels within its size class.

Five finalists were selected in each category, creating a field of 25 finalists. The category winners were subsequently considered for the overall title of Blue Ocean Club Charter Yacht of the Year 2026.

The assessment was based on six principal criteria:

• Charter experience and service proposition — 25%
• Guest space and layout — 20%
• Amenities and access to the water — 20%
• Design, condition and contemporary relevance — 15%
• Destination capability — 10%
• Value within the yacht’s size class — 10%

The evaluation concluded with a final factual review before publication. Blue Ocean Club publishes its criteria and reasoning but deliberately avoids artificial decimal scores. The final decision reflects informed comparative judgment focused on the experience a yacht can genuinely provide.

LA DATCHA Available for Charter through Blue Ocean Club

LA DATCHA is managed by NOVA YACHTS Ltd., which acts as the yacht’s owner’s representative and central agent, and is available for private charter through Blue Ocean Club.

Blue Ocean Club’s charter specialists can advise clients on availability, cruising regions and the creation of a personalised expedition aboard LA DATCHA. Each enquiry is handled individually, taking into account the preferred destinations, travel dates, guest requirements and specialist experiences the journey is intended to include.

To enquire about chartering LA DATCHA, visit www.blueoceanclub.com or contact Blue Ocean Club directly.

About Blue Ocean Club

Blue Ocean Club is an international yacht charter advisory and discovery platform connecting clients with exceptional charter yachts and carefully selected cruising experiences worldwide.

Its yacht collection, destination intelligence and editorial resources help clients compare possibilities and identify the yacht best suited to the journey they wish to create. Blue Ocean Club combines digital discovery with personal charter guidance, supporting clients from their initial search through itinerary planning and booking.

The Blue Ocean Club Yacht Awards are published annually to recognise charter yachts that deliver exceptional guest experiences within their respective size classes.

About Nova Yachts

NOVA YACHTS Ltd. is the specialist in expedition yacht management and acts as owner’s representative, manager and central agent for LA DATCHA. Further information is available at www.nova-yachts.com.

Press Contact

Sabine Klug
Blue Ocean Club
Email: press@blueoceanclub.com
Telephone: +1 505 520 3553
Website: www.blueoceanclub.com

North American Office
Blue Ocean Club LLC
8206 Louisiana Blvd NE
Suite A #9579
Albuquerque, NM 87113
United States

European Office
Blue Ocean Club LLC
Camí Sant Carles, 51
Office 1
07157 Port d’Andratx, Mallorca
Spain