Unveiled during the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Bilgin Yachts’ new 82-metre flagship, Project BOND, has now been sold, marking a major moment for the Turkish shipyard and one of the most high-profile new-build transactions in the market. The sale was concluded through the joint efforts of Berkay Yılmaz, Commercial Director of Bilgin Yachts, Simon Graham, Sales Broker at FGI Yacht Group and yachting advisor Peter Thompson bringing to life a project that blends American-market practicality with global superyacht ambition.
It also signals the continued strength of the relationship between Bilgin and FGI Yacht Group, with this being the third new-build sale the two have completed together. Conceived as the evolution of Bilgin’s acclaimed 80-metre platform, Project BOND is positioned as the shipyard’s flagship, evolved, an 82-metre yacht defined by volume, light and long-range capability.
As Bilgin’s largest yacht to date, the project reflects the yard’s continued rise in the upper tier of custom superyacht construction, while retaining a clear emphasis on owner-led customization and real-world cruising versatility.
The yacht’s owner John Staluppi explains why Bilgin was selected for the build: “I chose to build my next 82m superyacht with Bilgin because of their exceptional flexibility and genuine willingness to adapt to my vision as the client. They embraced innovative design solutions that perfectly balance cutting-edge performance with uncompromising comfort. This yacht is thoughtfully engineered for the American market with a minimal draft for accessing more harbors and shallow cruising grounds while still delivering true worldwide capability and impressive high speeds that never sacrifice the smooth, luxurious ride I demand.”
At the heart of the project is a design collaboration between Emrecan Özgün of Unique Yacht Design, responsible for the exterior styling and naval architecture, and Jonny Horsfield of H2 Yacht Design, whose studio is shaping the interiors. The result is expected to pair confident, modern exterior lines with a softer, more immersive onboard atmosphere defined by expansive glazing, flowing light and a stronger connection to the sea. Bilgin describes the yacht as one in which architecture is driven by openness, with floor-to-ceiling glass dissolving the boundaries between interior and ocean.
A particularly personal dimension of Project BOND lies in the role of Jeanette Staluppi, whose vision for the interior is expected to have a significant influence on the yacht’s layout and onboard experience. Her contribution is set to shape not only the atmosphere of the yacht, but also the way the spaces are lived in, giving the 82-metre project a distinctive identity within Bilgin’s growing flagship portfolio. The yacht has been engineered with the American market firmly in mind.
According to Bilgin’s published specifications, the 82-metre platform combines a shallow draft for easier access to harbours and cruising grounds with a 5,000-nautical-mile range and a top speed of 17.5 knots. This balance of accessibility, performance and comfort is central to the project’s appeal, particularly for an owner seeking both East Coast and global cruising capability without sacrificing stability or refinement.
For Simon Graham, the sale reflects both the strength of the owner’s vision and Bilgin’s willingness to adapt to it. “I’ve known John and Jeanette for nearly 20 years, and this Bilgin 82m is classic Staluppi bold yet practical. Bilgin’s adaptability made the process seamless, they listened, innovated, and delivered exactly what they envisioned. With its shallow draft for easy access to all their favorite spots, worldwide range, and speed that feels effortless and stable, it’s perfectly suited to the American market while ready for anywhere. Jeanette’s input shines through in the luxurious, her vision and skill in designing the interior is going to set this 82m apart from anything ever built. It’s going to be spectacular.”
For Staluppi, Project BOND also carries an unmistakably personal narrative. Over the course of his life, he has owned 18 yachts, all named after James Bond films, a tradition rooted in a fascination that began in childhood after seeing Goldfinger in a Brooklyn movie theatre. In that context, a yacht arriving under the name BOND feels less like a coincidence than a fitting full circle in one of yachting’s most recognizable owner stories.
Longstanding yachting advisor Peter Thompson also commented on the significance of the project. “Project BOND is a true meeting of minds, bringing that signature Staluppi, sleek, racy line together with the optimized engineering and palatial interiors we have all come to expect from yachting’s most passionate yacht owner.”
With Project BOND, Bilgin Yachts is not simply adding another large yacht to its orderbook; it is reinforcing its position in the global custom superyacht arena with a flagship that speaks directly to owner individuality, design pedigree and transatlantic appeal.