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SIMENA and ARES Yachts: From shipyard to sea trial reality
A shipyard with far more behind it than first meets the eye
ARES Yachts is based in Antalya, in the trade free zone, and while the brand may still be relatively new to many in the yachting world, the wider business behind it is anything but inexperienced.
The yard is owned by the Karaoglu family, a multi-generational boatbuilding family whose history in the industry goes back much further than the founding of ARES itself. In 2006, the family moved their business from the Black Sea to Antalya with the intention of building yachts. They did in fact collaborate on the construction of a 46-metre yacht called Queen Anne, but the timing could hardly have been more difficult. The global financial crisis hit, markets collapsed, and the yachting sector was thrown into turmoil.
That moment might have broken a less resilient business. Instead, it seems to have revealed exactly what kind of entrepreneurial character sat at the heart of the company.
Rather than persisting stubbornly with yacht plans in a market that had suddenly become deeply unstable, the family pivoted toward commercial and military craft. It was a move of real significance, and it proved extraordinarily successful. ARES went on to build fast patrol vessels, unmanned surface vessels, wind farm support craft, and training vessels, establishing itself in international commercial and defence circles as a highly respected builder of robust, technologically sophisticated boats.
The numbers alone are impressive. Their fast patrol vessels were sold to countries around the world. Their production capability grew rapidly. Between 2012 and 2016, ARES was recognised by the Turkish Ministry of Economy as the fastest-growing company in the country, not simply the fastest-growing shipyard. Along the way, the yard also became the first in the world to test a missile-launching system from an unmanned surface vessel.
All of this matters because when a buyer commissions or purchases a yacht of this size, they are not simply buying a design. They are buying into the competence, discipline, and long-term reliability of the shipyard behind it. In that sense, SIMENA is in very interesting hands indeed.
A shipyard with far more behind it than first meets the eye
ARES Yachts is based in Antalya, in the trade free zone, and while the brand may still be relatively new to many in the yachting world, the wider business behind it is anything but inexperienced.
The yard is owned by the Karaoglu family, a multi-generational boatbuilding family whose history in the industry goes back much further than the founding of ARES itself. In 2006, the family moved their business from the Black Sea to Antalya with the intention of building yachts. They did in fact collaborate on the construction of a 46-metre yacht called Queen Anne, but the timing could hardly have been more difficult. The global financial crisis hit, markets collapsed, and the yachting sector was thrown into turmoil.
That moment might have broken a less resilient business. Instead, it seems to have revealed exactly what kind of entrepreneurial character sat at the heart of the company.
Rather than persisting stubbornly with yacht plans in a market that had suddenly become deeply unstable, the family pivoted toward commercial and military craft. It was a move of real significance, and it proved extraordinarily successful. ARES went on to build fast patrol vessels, unmanned surface vessels, wind farm support craft, and training vessels, establishing itself in international commercial and defence circles as a highly respected builder of robust, technologically sophisticated boats.
The numbers alone are impressive. Their fast patrol vessels were sold to countries around the world. Their production capability grew rapidly. Between 2012 and 2016, ARES was recognised by the Turkish Ministry of Economy as the fastest-growing company in the country, not simply the fastest-growing shipyard. Along the way, the yard also became the first in the world to test a missile-launching system from an unmanned surface vessel.
All of this matters because when a buyer commissions or purchases a yacht of this size, they are not simply buying a design. They are buying into the competence, discipline, and long-term reliability of the shipyard behind it. In that sense, SIMENA is in very interesting hands indeed.
A shipyard with far more behind it than first meets the eye
ARES Yachts is based in Antalya, in the trade free zone, and while the brand may still be relatively new to many in the yachting world, the wider business behind it is anything but inexperienced.
The yard is owned by the Karaoglu family, a multi-generational boatbuilding family whose history in the industry goes back much further than the founding of ARES itself. In 2006, the family moved their business from the Black Sea to Antalya with the intention of building yachts. They did in fact collaborate on the construction of a 46-metre yacht called Queen Anne, but the timing could hardly have been more difficult. The global financial crisis hit, markets collapsed, and the yachting sector was thrown into turmoil.
That moment might have broken a less resilient business. Instead, it seems to have revealed exactly what kind of entrepreneurial character sat at the heart of the company.
Rather than persisting stubbornly with yacht plans in a market that had suddenly become deeply unstable, the family pivoted toward commercial and military craft. It was a move of real significance, and it proved extraordinarily successful. ARES went on to build fast patrol vessels, unmanned surface vessels, wind farm support craft, and training vessels, establishing itself in international commercial and defence circles as a highly respected builder of robust, technologically sophisticated boats.
The numbers alone are impressive. Their fast patrol vessels were sold to countries around the world. Their production capability grew rapidly. Between 2012 and 2016, ARES was recognised by the Turkish Ministry of Economy as the fastest-growing company in the country, not simply the fastest-growing shipyard. Along the way, the yard also became the first in the world to test a missile-launching system from an unmanned surface vessel.
All of this matters because when a buyer commissions or purchases a yacht of this size, they are not simply buying a design. They are buying into the competence, discipline, and long-term reliability of the shipyard behind it. In that sense, SIMENA is in very interesting hands indeed.
Why SIMENA matters
SIMENA is not a tentative experiment.
Nothing about the project gives the impression that ARES is merely dipping a toe into the superyacht sector to see how it goes. On the contrary, the whole approach suggests a yard going all in.
The yacht herself tells much of that story. At 62 metres in length, with a 10.8-metre beam and 499 gross tons, she is a substantial vessel, designed as a performance cruising ketch with a top speed of 15 knots and a range under power of 4,000 nautical miles. Her exterior design is by Taka Yacht Design, while the interiors come from Design Unlimited. She is being built to RINA class for unrestricted cruising.
That is a serious specification, but it is the build philosophy that makes her especially interesting. SIMENA combines a steel hull, built entirely on site by ARES, with a composite superstructure. For a large sailing yacht, that is a highly logical approach. Steel brings strength, durability, and reassuring solidity; composite helps keep weight out of the upper structure, which is exactly where a sailing yacht least wants to carry excess mass.
And ARES clearly has strong credentials in composites. One of the most striking things at the yard is the way they handle composite construction. Instead of simply working in a generic shed, they create individual tented environments for each project, allowing temperature, humidity, dust control, and extraction to be managed with real precision. It is a thoughtful, highly controlled way of working.
More than that, their confidence in composite construction is backed up by the brutal testing they carry out on military craft. Watching those tests, one comes away with very little doubt that this is a yard that knows exactly what it is doing with advanced materials.
Why SIMENA matters
SIMENA is not a tentative experiment.
Nothing about the project gives the impression that ARES is merely dipping a toe into the superyacht sector to see how it goes. On the contrary, the whole approach suggests a yard going all in.
The yacht herself tells much of that story. At 62 metres in length, with a 10.8-metre beam and 499 gross tons, she is a substantial vessel, designed as a performance cruising ketch with a top speed of 15 knots and a range under power of 4,000 nautical miles. Her exterior design is by Taka Yacht Design, while the interiors come from Design Unlimited. She is being built to RINA class for unrestricted cruising.
That is a serious specification, but it is the build philosophy that makes her especially interesting. SIMENA combines a steel hull, built entirely on site by ARES, with a composite superstructure. For a large sailing yacht, that is a highly logical approach. Steel brings strength, durability, and reassuring solidity; composite helps keep weight out of the upper structure, which is exactly where a sailing yacht least wants to carry excess mass.
And ARES clearly has strong credentials in composites. One of the most striking things at the yard is the way they handle composite construction. Instead of simply working in a generic shed, they create individual tented environments for each project, allowing temperature, humidity, dust control, and extraction to be managed with real precision. It is a thoughtful, highly controlled way of working.
More than that, their confidence in composite construction is backed up by the brutal testing they carry out on military craft. Watching those tests, one comes away with very little doubt that this is a yard that knows exactly what it is doing with advanced materials.
Why SIMENA matters
SIMENA is not a tentative experiment.
Nothing about the project gives the impression that ARES is merely dipping a toe into the superyacht sector to see how it goes. On the contrary, the whole approach suggests a yard going all in.
The yacht herself tells much of that story. At 62 metres in length, with a 10.8-metre beam and 499 gross tons, she is a substantial vessel, designed as a performance cruising ketch with a top speed of 15 knots and a range under power of 4,000 nautical miles. Her exterior design is by Taka Yacht Design, while the interiors come from Design Unlimited. She is being built to RINA class for unrestricted cruising.
That is a serious specification, but it is the build philosophy that makes her especially interesting. SIMENA combines a steel hull, built entirely on site by ARES, with a composite superstructure. For a large sailing yacht, that is a highly logical approach. Steel brings strength, durability, and reassuring solidity; composite helps keep weight out of the upper structure, which is exactly where a sailing yacht least wants to carry excess mass.
And ARES clearly has strong credentials in composites. One of the most striking things at the yard is the way they handle composite construction. Instead of simply working in a generic shed, they create individual tented environments for each project, allowing temperature, humidity, dust control, and extraction to be managed with real precision. It is a thoughtful, highly controlled way of working.
More than that, their confidence in composite construction is backed up by the brutal testing they carry out on military craft. Watching those tests, one comes away with very little doubt that this is a yard that knows exactly what it is doing with advanced materials.
Practical design, intelligent layout
SIMENA’s layout feels classic, elegant, and, above all, practical.
The aft deck is generous, with a hot tub and a large dining area leading into a welcoming main-deck lounge. Forward, the foredeck offers around 60 square metres of usable space, not only for seating and sunbathing but also for the storage of two sizable tenders, one custom-built and the other semi-custom.
A central staircase divides the interior layout in an intelligent way. Forward are four guest staterooms with en suite bathrooms, and beyond them a notably spacious owner’s suite. Aft of the stairwell, the arrangement becomes even more interesting, with staff accommodation, laundry facilities, crew areas, and one particularly smart feature: a side-opening shell door. That allows guests arriving by tender to access their cabins directly, while also giving crew a practical route for bringing luggage and supplies on board.
It is the sort of idea that sounds simple when described, but which betrays a great deal of careful thought about how a yacht actually functions in use.
The crew spaces are also substantial, with accommodation for nine, a large galley, and a proper crew mess. Up above, the sundeck includes twin helm stations and further lounging space, giving SIMENA the sort of outdoor arrangement that feels entirely appropriate for a yacht designed to deliver both serious cruising and refined relaxation.
Practical design, intelligent layout
SIMENA’s layout feels classic, elegant, and, above all, practical.
The aft deck is generous, with a hot tub and a large dining area leading into a welcoming main-deck lounge. Forward, the foredeck offers around 60 square metres of usable space, not only for seating and sunbathing but also for the storage of two sizable tenders, one custom-built and the other semi-custom.
A central staircase divides the interior layout in an intelligent way. Forward are four guest staterooms with en suite bathrooms, and beyond them a notably spacious owner’s suite. Aft of the stairwell, the arrangement becomes even more interesting, with staff accommodation, laundry facilities, crew areas, and one particularly smart feature: a side-opening shell door. That allows guests arriving by tender to access their cabins directly, while also giving crew a practical route for bringing luggage and supplies on board.
It is the sort of idea that sounds simple when described, but which betrays a great deal of careful thought about how a yacht actually functions in use.
The crew spaces are also substantial, with accommodation for nine, a large galley, and a proper crew mess. Up above, the sundeck includes twin helm stations and further lounging space, giving SIMENA the sort of outdoor arrangement that feels entirely appropriate for a yacht designed to deliver both serious cruising and refined relaxation.
Practical design, intelligent layout
SIMENA’s layout feels classic, elegant, and, above all, practical.
The aft deck is generous, with a hot tub and a large dining area leading into a welcoming main-deck lounge. Forward, the foredeck offers around 60 square metres of usable space, not only for seating and sunbathing but also for the storage of two sizable tenders, one custom-built and the other semi-custom.
A central staircase divides the interior layout in an intelligent way. Forward are four guest staterooms with en suite bathrooms, and beyond them a notably spacious owner’s suite. Aft of the stairwell, the arrangement becomes even more interesting, with staff accommodation, laundry facilities, crew areas, and one particularly smart feature: a side-opening shell door. That allows guests arriving by tender to access their cabins directly, while also giving crew a practical route for bringing luggage and supplies on board.
It is the sort of idea that sounds simple when described, but which betrays a great deal of careful thought about how a yacht actually functions in use.
The crew spaces are also substantial, with accommodation for nine, a large galley, and a proper crew mess. Up above, the sundeck includes twin helm stations and further lounging space, giving SIMENA the sort of outdoor arrangement that feels entirely appropriate for a yacht designed to deliver both serious cruising and refined relaxation.
A launch that showed the scale of the undertaking
A launch that showed the scale of the undertaking
A launch that showed the scale of the undertaking
What happens after launch
For those outside the industry, it is easy to imagine launch day as the finish line. In reality, it is more like the start of the final phase.
There was still an immense amount to do.
Most obviously, the masts had yet to be stepped. Before that could happen, as much equipment as possible had to be added while the masts lay on the ground: stays, stainless rods, wiring runs, lights, and associated components. The rig then had to be dressed, aligned, connected, checked, and tuned. The masts themselves would later be fitted, followed by booms, rods, rigging, and then eventually the sails, supplied by Doyle, whose team would come in to bend them on.
At the same time, the propulsion system needed to be commissioned, alignment checked, and all possible onboard systems tested. Any remaining cabinetry had to be completed and installed. This is precisely where ARES’s in-house capabilities become such an advantage. By producing so much themselves, including the cabinetry, they reduce reliance on outside suppliers and the delays that can so easily derail a schedule.
The production team made it clear that supply chain control is one of the greatest challenges in yacht building. One supplier slipping by a week can affect the entire project. ARES’s determination to control as much of that process as possible clearly comes from long experience of understanding where projects succeed or fail.
What happens after launch
For those outside the industry, it is easy to imagine launch day as the finish line. In reality, it is more like the start of the final phase.
There was still an immense amount to do.
Most obviously, the masts had yet to be stepped. Before that could happen, as much equipment as possible had to be added while the masts lay on the ground: stays, stainless rods, wiring runs, lights, and associated components. The rig then had to be dressed, aligned, connected, checked, and tuned. The masts themselves would later be fitted, followed by booms, rods, rigging, and then eventually the sails, supplied by Doyle, whose team would come in to bend them on.
At the same time, the propulsion system needed to be commissioned, alignment checked, and all possible onboard systems tested. Any remaining cabinetry had to be completed and installed. This is precisely where ARES’s in-house capabilities become such an advantage. By producing so much themselves, including the cabinetry, they reduce reliance on outside suppliers and the delays that can so easily derail a schedule.
The production team made it clear that supply chain control is one of the greatest challenges in yacht building. One supplier slipping by a week can affect the entire project. ARES’s determination to control as much of that process as possible clearly comes from long experience of understanding where projects succeed or fail.
What happens after launch
For those outside the industry, it is easy to imagine launch day as the finish line. In reality, it is more like the start of the final phase.
There was still an immense amount to do.
Most obviously, the masts had yet to be stepped. Before that could happen, as much equipment as possible had to be added while the masts lay on the ground: stays, stainless rods, wiring runs, lights, and associated components. The rig then had to be dressed, aligned, connected, checked, and tuned. The masts themselves would later be fitted, followed by booms, rods, rigging, and then eventually the sails, supplied by Doyle, whose team would come in to bend them on.
At the same time, the propulsion system needed to be commissioned, alignment checked, and all possible onboard systems tested. Any remaining cabinetry had to be completed and installed. This is precisely where ARES’s in-house capabilities become such an advantage. By producing so much themselves, including the cabinetry, they reduce reliance on outside suppliers and the delays that can so easily derail a schedule.
The production team made it clear that supply chain control is one of the greatest challenges in yacht building. One supplier slipping by a week can affect the entire project. ARES’s determination to control as much of that process as possible clearly comes from long experience of understanding where projects succeed or fail.
Sea trials: when the yacht finally came alive
Sea trials: when the yacht finally came alive
Sea trials: when the yacht finally came alive
A hybrid yacht built with unusual diligence
SIMENA is also notable for her hybrid propulsion package. A single MAN diesel engine is paired with three diesel generators, allowing a variety of operating modes, including diesel, electric, combined, regeneration, and pure sailing. For a large motor sailer, the choice of a single engine is especially sensible, reducing both weight and drag compared with twin-engine alternatives.
But perhaps more impressive than the propulsion concept itself is the diligence with which ARES has approached the final stages of approval. In addition to class and flag requirements, third-party oversight has been brought in to inspect and assess the yacht independently. That is not something every shipyard chooses to do at this level, but ARES clearly wants this landmark project to leave nothing to chance.
That attitude says a lot.
Every shipyard knows a new build will have details to refine. The difference here is that ARES appears determined to identify and resolve those issues before they ever become surprises for the buyer.
A hybrid yacht built with unusual diligence
SIMENA is also notable for her hybrid propulsion package. A single MAN diesel engine is paired with three diesel generators, allowing a variety of operating modes, including diesel, electric, combined, regeneration, and pure sailing. For a large motor sailer, the choice of a single engine is especially sensible, reducing both weight and drag compared with twin-engine alternatives.
But perhaps more impressive than the propulsion concept itself is the diligence with which ARES has approached the final stages of approval. In addition to class and flag requirements, third-party oversight has been brought in to inspect and assess the yacht independently. That is not something every shipyard chooses to do at this level, but ARES clearly wants this landmark project to leave nothing to chance.
That attitude says a lot.
Every shipyard knows a new build will have details to refine. The difference here is that ARES appears determined to identify and resolve those issues before they ever become surprises for the buyer.
A hybrid yacht built with unusual diligence
SIMENA is also notable for her hybrid propulsion package. A single MAN diesel engine is paired with three diesel generators, allowing a variety of operating modes, including diesel, electric, combined, regeneration, and pure sailing. For a large motor sailer, the choice of a single engine is especially sensible, reducing both weight and drag compared with twin-engine alternatives.
But perhaps more impressive than the propulsion concept itself is the diligence with which ARES has approached the final stages of approval. In addition to class and flag requirements, third-party oversight has been brought in to inspect and assess the yacht independently. That is not something every shipyard chooses to do at this level, but ARES clearly wants this landmark project to leave nothing to chance.
That attitude says a lot.
Every shipyard knows a new build will have details to refine. The difference here is that ARES appears determined to identify and resolve those issues before they ever become surprises for the buyer.
Final thoughts
SIMENA is an impressive yacht in her own right: elegant, voluminous, technically fascinating, and already highly encouraging under sail. But spending time following her journey from construction shed to launch to sea trials makes one thing especially clear: she is also a statement of intent.
ARES Yachts is not arriving in this sector as an unknown gamble. It is arriving with decades of shipbuilding heritage, hard-earned technical credibility, financial stability, and the kind of disciplined mindset more often associated with military and commercial programmes than with glamorous yacht launches.
And yet here that discipline has been channelled into something rather beautiful.
SIMENA has the looks, the pedigree of design, the practical intelligence, and the sailing promise to stand on her own merits. But she also feels like the beginning of something. If this project is any indication, ARES is not merely building a yacht. It is building a reputation in superyachting that may well prove very difficult to ignore.
For that reason alone, SIMENA is worth watching.
And after seeing her story unfold from build shed to open water, I very much suspect she will not be the last remarkable yacht to emerge from Antalya.
Final thoughts
SIMENA is an impressive yacht in her own right: elegant, voluminous, technically fascinating, and already highly encouraging under sail. But spending time following her journey from construction shed to launch to sea trials makes one thing especially clear: she is also a statement of intent.
ARES Yachts is not arriving in this sector as an unknown gamble. It is arriving with decades of shipbuilding heritage, hard-earned technical credibility, financial stability, and the kind of disciplined mindset more often associated with military and commercial programmes than with glamorous yacht launches.
And yet here that discipline has been channelled into something rather beautiful.
SIMENA has the looks, the pedigree of design, the practical intelligence, and the sailing promise to stand on her own merits. But she also feels like the beginning of something. If this project is any indication, ARES is not merely building a yacht. It is building a reputation in superyachting that may well prove very difficult to ignore.
For that reason alone, SIMENA is worth watching.
And after seeing her story unfold from build shed to open water, I very much suspect she will not be the last remarkable yacht to emerge from Antalya.
Final thoughts
SIMENA is an impressive yacht in her own right: elegant, voluminous, technically fascinating, and already highly encouraging under sail. But spending time following her journey from construction shed to launch to sea trials makes one thing especially clear: she is also a statement of intent.
ARES Yachts is not arriving in this sector as an unknown gamble. It is arriving with decades of shipbuilding heritage, hard-earned technical credibility, financial stability, and the kind of disciplined mindset more often associated with military and commercial programmes than with glamorous yacht launches.
And yet here that discipline has been channelled into something rather beautiful.
SIMENA has the looks, the pedigree of design, the practical intelligence, and the sailing promise to stand on her own merits. But she also feels like the beginning of something. If this project is any indication, ARES is not merely building a yacht. It is building a reputation in superyachting that may well prove very difficult to ignore.
For that reason alone, SIMENA is worth watching.
And after seeing her story unfold from build shed to open water, I very much suspect she will not be the last remarkable yacht to emerge from Antalya.
