Owners, brokers and other protectors of any superyacht collection tend to cringe when visitors pick a favorite, but my favorite superyacht among the ones we visited at Superyacht Miami was, far and above, Bold. We have written about the 280-footer built at the Silver yard in Australia several times, but there’s an extra thrill to stepping aboard and seeing the contrast between its gray battleship exterior and the interior’s vibrant colors and open spaces.

Launched last May, the Espen Oeino design is for charter but her owner, who also owns the shipyard, plans to spend much more time aboard her this year, as she travels around the world. The owner’s rep warned that any potential charterer will have to be “flexible” when trying to charter Bold, probably having to book closer to the requested dates, rather than months ahead, because the owner may himself want to use her.

This is the owner’s second SilverYacht, the first being Silver Fast. Bold couldn’t be more different. The explorer look includes a long, open aft deck with a helicopter landing pad, deck space for the yacht’s tenders and toys, and a hangar to protect the chopper on long voyages. The hangar doubles as a nightclub when the helicopter is away.

Bold’s interior is a colorful contrast to the gray exterior. The main interior salon is bright and open, defined by its media wall and lounges and other décor that are the owner’s favorite royal blue. That blue is the common thread across other areas of the yacht. The salon opens into the award-winning winter garden, a large space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open or close with the push of a button. The design offers climate control and exceptional views of the water. It also seats 18 people for dinner.

The owner has a separate deck, with a master suite, private terraces and office and salon. Seven other en-suite staterooms provide accommodations for 14 more guests. On the top sundeck is a Jacuzzi with lounges and exceptional views of the water. The yacht’s minimal 9-foot draft allows it to get into waters that would be forbidden to other vessels that large.

The owner of Usher, launched by Delta Marine in 2007 and refitted in 2017, is a serial yachtsman. He owns eight other vessels that keeps in mint condition since purchasing them. One includes the 146-foot Feadship Harle, while the rest of the fleet is comprised of a Grand Banks trawler, Azimut S 72, 42-foot custom catamaran and others.

Usher’s current owner purchased her from a gentleman with a casino empire. The 154-foot yacht was so eclectic that he decided to buy her on the spot. She has five cabins for up to 12 guests, with a charter crew of 11. There’s an elevator, gym, WiFi and multiple lounges, both in the main salon as well as the sun and bridge decks, but the true charm is the interior.

In the wrong hands, the Polynesian theme could’ve been a disaster, but Delta did a masterful job blending seven hardwoods, the patterned carpeting, vibrant, colored tiles and dozens of other materials. The inlays in the wood are intricate and the color schemes, sometimes matching bright red and dark browns, work.

With so many materials, Usher could’ve been a hot mess, but she is attractive in her own inimitable way. Probably the best example is the master suite, which has a rich wood interior and stained-glass skylight above the bed. Dual wooden sinks in the his-and-hers bathrooms, along with a hand-hammered copper bathtub, give a sense of the yacht’s obsession with details.

Among the eclectic details: The original owner also set up Usher so he could fish from a fighting chair on the transom, but these days, fishing takes place aboard the 35-foot Scout tender.

The 248-foot Bella Vita (ex. Northern Star) by Lürssen Yachts has a navy hull and white superstructure, with spacious outdoor areas on five decks, including the upper sky deck, as well as a touch-and-go helipad. The yacht’s interior is as traditional as the exterior, with beige and off-white finishes on the wainscoting and furniture, along with surprises like a piano, jukebox and fireplace in the salons.

The impression is that of orderly, wide-open space, with an overriding sense of calm. The master suite, on the owner’s deck, has a semicircle of windows in front of the bed, providing an exceptional view of the water. Just out front is a private Jacuzzi. During our visit, it was raining, so the interior proved to be a sanctuary of sorts. The yacht’s gym, sauna, spa and common-area salons make a relaxing contrast to the exterior of the boat, which is devoted to water sports, with two tenders, diving equipment and other water toys. Bella Vita is a classy, sophisticated charter yacht.

Miss Moneypenny V, built in 2012 and refitted in 2019, was named by John Staluppi. An owner who always names his yachts after Bond movies or characters, Miss Moneypenny’s subsequent owner decided that the name did indeed fit the superyacht.

This 164-foot Overmarine is not only sleek but lightning fast for her size. Her top end of 38 knots is light speed for a yacht of her size, and even the cruise speed of 28 knots is impressive. The boat has four staterooms for nine guests, which sounds a bit small, but the owner-mandated gym and cinema could be turned into staterooms to push it to 12 guests.

Designer Stefano Righini’s exterior is sleek and fast, while interior designer Valentina Balducci used lots of wood in the open spaces. The bleached teak floors and limed-oak paneling provide nice contrast against the off-white furniture and décor. Its open layout on the main deck, from the rear doors to the sci-helm station, creates a large, spacious environment.

The boat’s exterior is where the Bond-worthy fun transpires, either forward on the long, massive foredeck with its sunbeds and wraparound lounges and tables, or up on the sky bridge, where the owner can drive the boat at the second helm. A go-fast superyacht is a rarity in today’s world of multi-deck, high-volume slowpokes, but it was refreshing to see Miss Moneypenny V in the superyacht section, looking like she was just ready to break out and race for the Bahamas. The boat isn’t for charter but is listed for sale at $15.5 million.

The other Bond-themed boat in this group, Quantum of Solace, is a 238-foot motoryacht (previously named Honor), the largest private yacht ever built in Turkey. Launched in May 2012 by Turquoise Yachts, H2 Yacht Design’s interior includes six cabins on the main deck, a full-beam master suite in the center of the bridge deck, with two balconies on either side. The main salon has a double-height atrium, that adds to the yacht’s spacious feeling. On the lower deck is a full-beamed spa, with gym, steam room and Jacuzzi. The yacht’s sundeck features a 15-foot-long pool with contra-flow swimming system. The yacht has a crew of 18.