Inside Jonacor Yachts’ Approach to Bespoke Yacht Construction

‘It all starts with endless conversations,’ explained Olga Rehbein, Co-Owner of Jonacor Yachts. ‘Not only about yachts, but about life, dreams, and how the person spends their time. Everything matters.’ This insight allows Jonacor to translate abstract ideas into tangible design solutions, ensuring each yacht reflects not only aesthetic preferences, but the very personality of her owner.

Bespoke, for Jonacor, is a careful weaving of multiple threads. It means connecting the client’s lifestyle, tastes, and expectations with the designer’s expertise and the shipyard’s capabilities. ‘We act as the connecting layer,’ said Alexey Iova, CEO. ‘We smooth sharp corners, translate, guide, and make sure every voice is heard. There will always be challenges, disagreements, and emotions during a build. Our role is to make the journey enjoyable, not stressful.’

The Benetti B.Yond 37M stands as a testament to this philosophy. The yacht’s owner has been working with Jonacor since 2002, a collaboration that has grown alongside both the client and the company. ‘This project became special because we knew him well—not just as an owner, but as a person. His lifestyle, priorities, and habits informed every decision. When the time came to realise his dream of an expedition yacht, everything aligned perfectly.’ The result is a yacht described by Iova as the ‘swan song of an Italian designer,’ unique in both scale and character, combining the functionality of a 45-metre yacht within a 37-metre design.

Collaboration is central to Jonacor’s approach. By guiding the interaction between client, designer, and shipyard, they ensure that each project is coherent, harmonious, and free from unnecessary compromise. ‘Everyone has their own vision, their own ego, their own emotions,’ Rehbein noted. ‘We help them speak the same language, so the yacht becomes a living story, born from many voices.’