The eighth annual World Superyacht Awards will take place on 4 May, 2013 in the magical city of Istanbul, Turkey at the luxurious Çırağan Palace Kempinski.

Combining a glittering awards ceremony with a gala dinner and dance, the Awards – dubbed the “Oscars” of the superyacht world – will be attended by an elite guest list of superyacht owners from around the globe and the most influential players in the superyacht industry.

The image of the coveted Neptune trophy has become synonymous with excellence in superyacht build and design. The concept was simple; the god of the sea in Roman mythology should be centre stage in an event that will reflect the beauty and power of the sea. These prestigious awards are now displayed on magnificent vessels all over the globe, a badge of distinction proudly worn by their owners. Fourteen Neptune Awards, each one individually custom made, will be presented in 2013.

In consultation with yacht builders and naval architects, we have established a number of yacht award categories so that yachts can be judged against other vessels of a similar size and type. There are four awards for displacement motor yachts (those vessels that always displace their own weight of water), and three awards for semi-displacement motor yachts that at higher speeds displace less than their weight of water, operating in ‘planing’ mode. This distinction is made because these two types of yachts call for very different construction philosophies, the latter type being much more lightly-built. Two further awards are reserved for sailing yachts, and one award for yachts that have been given major refits that finished in the qualifying year. Finally, there are two awards for the motor yacht and sailing yacht that are considered by the judges to be the most notable in the qualifying year.