Celebrating Women in Yachting: 2025 Achievements by Yacht Femme Members

In 2025, we shattered barriers and reached new heights! The achievements of women in yachting have been truly inspiring, and this is just the beginning.

Please enjoy a glimpse of what our members accomplished last year.

Alma Taveras Gratereaux: Abordo Media Group expanded globally, secured key partnerships, launched Yacht Femme Magazine, and developed client publications and events, strengthening its presence in the nautical industry.

Andrea Tagliaferro: Expanded my public speaking presence at Metstrade, Marine Money, Booking Management Summit. Launched the Yacht Femme membership and magazine, hosted the 2nd Yacht Femme Awards, served as an ambassador for WBD, and joined Navier.

Angelica Bernal: Returned to yachting with renewed energy, joining Premium Nautical in Singapore, reconnecting with the global yachting community, and strengthening relationships across the Asia-Pacific region.

Barrett Wright: I completed two major yacht sales, gained new management clients, joined the ISS Education Committee as Co-Chair, hosted the Newport Boat Show Leadership Series, moderated the ISS Risk Mitigation panel at MYS, spoke with Rob Hodgetts, participated in my first Yacht Femme panel, and delivered the keynote at the Women’s Yachting Awards.

Camilla Paggini: Our firm completed multiple yacht sale and purchase closings, expanded our client base, and strengthened relationships with leading P&I Clubs while managing shipping disputes. I also advanced in my Italian bar qualification.

Camille Lopez: Worked on a commercial fuel project with Total Energies Marine subdivision and partnered with Mike Horn on energy transition initiatives for Ports de Monaco infrastructure.

Carla Bellieni: Appointed Italy’s representative in the MYBA EU Legal Consortium (MEULC), bringing expertise in customs, tax, and ESG matters with a strategic, collaborative approach to international yachting law.

Charlotte van de Kerk: Built Feadsu’s ESG data foundation and procurement frameworks, standardizing baselines, launching supplier ESG tools, and embedding sustainability into design and buying. Co-created Supplier Checklists and Code of Conduct, and was a Yacht Femme Awards 2025 finalist.

Christelle Holler: Volunteered with Yacht Aid Global in French Polynesia—improved education on remote islands, led scientific expeditions studying shark migration, helped designate a protected atoll, and completed CYBA charter broker certification.

Christelle Niamke: Founded Ubora Property Solutions in Fall 2025 to provide AML and compliance support for maritime professionals. Developed risk assessment frameworks, client processes, and initial industry partnerships.

Deborah Fry: Launched Yacht Trace to design in-house hardware and software, introduced the TM01 Tender Monitoring System, secured an electric tender charging partnership, and published in Dockwalk (Aug, p.54).

Dilara Ayse Dayioglugil: Our all-female law firm led high-value yachting and luxury asset deals, launched a MARE LEGAL book, published key industry articles, gained international media recognition, and supported women-focused initiatives.

Evgenia Vatutina: Rejoined Sinata Yachts as Director, revitalized Daymark Marine as an active yacht charter agency, and represented Croatia on a destination panel at the Booking Manager Summit.

Francesca Ragnetti: Appointed New Build Sales Manager at Camper & Nicholsons’ new Viareggio office and sold my first yacht—a 52m Mangusta Oceano—within my first year.

Georgia Agu: Arranged the Benetti Legal Symposium (ICC-endorsed), negotiated three 70m+ yacht construction contracts, strengthened compliance procedures, and featured in Legalcommunity Italy Inspiralaw 2025 and Top Legal Magazine (Sept 2025).

Giulia Grassi: Designed the VIP Lounge at the Genoa Boat Show to great success. Won the ISS Award for Best Refit with Solafide, also a finalist at the Boat International Superyacht Awards and the International Yacht & Aviation Awards, and was interviewed by Superyacht Times.

Haiying Xu: Founded Sagantara Co., Ltd. in Phuket, customized branded items for upcoming retreats, and featured in Female Entrepreneur Magazine (March 2025).

Harriet Parker: Secondment in Dubai and promotion to Senior Paralegal.

Jessica Galea: Appointed Partner at Dingli & Dingli Law Firm (Jan 2025) and launched a maritime legal podcast on YIR. Supported clients in key deals, including the purchase of m.y. Stella del Nord (Nov 2025), and featured in interviews on Yachting USA and Maltese TV.

Jill Bobrow: Received the Yacht Femme Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2025 and published articles in Yachts International, MegayachtNews.com, Heesen Magazine, Frank, and Denison Yachting.

Joanna Mucka Rubio: Opened a new operational office and warehouse, welcomed 144 new clients in 2025, and launched new ladies’ tops and dresses—tested and approved on a 110m yacht.

Julia Kari: Successfully completed an MBA with a specialization in Marketing.

Julie Dunham: Closed major international yacht transactions, including a 60m Benetti, a 55m Lürssen, and a $45M Tankoa T560 Apache construction loan. Recognized on Instagram and LinkedIn for these high-profile deals.

Karina Svitlana Sushynska: Expanded Dani Yachting’s brokerage, management, and concierge services, strengthened networks with captains and marinas, delivered yacht-support projects, and advanced ASSYSTEW to foster training and wellbeing in yacht interiors. Featured in SuperYacht 24.

Kimberly Pucci: Expanded Atelier Collections, launched Luxury In Motion, completed major commissions on two 40m Italian yachts, grew global visibility, and received design requests from Europe and the Middle East.

Laetitia Contat Desfontaines: Led Silverlining Furniture through its 40th anniversary, launched the first limited-edition collection, strengthened global yachting presence, and championed women in craftsmanship, earning multiple awards.

Lauren Cotton: Welcomed my third baby 💙

Lucy Goff: Launched Ocean Legal in January 2025, offering fixed-fee, client-focused marine legal services. Exceeded expectations in our first year and strengthened industry connections, laying the groundwork for growth in 2026.

Marina Jarniat: Presented the Skippers Magazine & Cannes Yachting Festival broadcast for their superyacht category.

Marli Schoonraad: Expanded Pull North into a full ecosystem—launching Compass Collective, The Pantry, Senior Interior courses, and a Leadership program—built a crew placement platform and CV app, trained new yacht professionals, and gained media coverage on TV, radio, and FUTURE SA.

Michelle Van der Merwe: Promoted to Superyacht Group Manager, Mediterranean, at Pantaenius.

Miryam Fossatti: Expanded Premier Cellars with bespoke wine experiences, provisioned an 118m Feadship, became a Certified Wine Educator, and strengthened global yacht connections—all championing sustainability.

Monica Fonseca: Attended Cannes, Monaco, and Metstrade, stepped into my role as Director of Sales at Behnemar Yachting, earned a Yacht Femme nomination, and spoke on the WIN panel at Metstrade 2025.

Nadia Warshavskaya: Launched Spinnaker Bureau with offices in Aspen and Fort Lauderdale, joined TJB Superyachts as Sales & Charter Broker, and built a professional podcast studio for Spinnaker Magazine, now reaching 200,000+ subscribers.

Natalie McCollum: Launched EMBARK Magazine’s first Fort Lauderdale Edition and began production of the 2026 Palm Beach Edition, debuting at the Palm Beach International Boat Show.

Oriana Schneps: Opened our first Fort Lauderdale office with an open podcast studio and launched The Yacht Edit Shop, offering custom merchandise for yachting brands—featured in The New York Post, Ocean Drive, Triton, and The Vue.

Raquel Hernández Grijota: Spoke on panels in Torino and Marbella, showcasing new yacht models and our first full custom project, Majesty 100 Terrace, which won multiple awards including IFDM Yachting Award 2025 and Best Superyacht (30–40m) at Yacht Style Awards.

Rebecca Gabbi: Launched The Ultimate Experience, The Collection at Bentley Monaco and appointed Vice Chair of Smart Interiors Horizon under The Water Revolution Foundation.

Rebecca Taranto: Elected to a third term on the ISS Executive Committee as Secretary, presented the first Motor Yacht Award at the 2025 ISS Gala, celebrated 10 years of Superyacht Creative, and contributed featured articles and interviews to leading yachting publications.

Samantha Sottile: Expanded our Footprint and reached Record Sales. Opened a larger Fort Lauderdale showroom at Sunrise Marina, closed over $1M in sales, and began collaborating with overseas manufacturers to launch a new cabin essentials line.

Serap Sargın: Developed expertise in international yacht taxation, sale contracts, and trademark law, gaining hands-on experience in yacht S&P processes, deal workflows, and legal structuring to support secure, sustainable yacht sales.

Sophie Bentham-Wood: REV Ocean’s submersible Aurelia, engineered by Triton, achieved DNV certification for safe dives to 2,300m—the deepest‑diving acrylic pressure hull in the world—unlocking new capabilities for deep-sea research, filming, and exploration.

Sophie Spicknell: Moderated all four Yacht Femme forums, a panel at PBIBS with Destry Darr and Dasha Moranova, and three panels at Monaco Yacht Show—boosting public speaking confidence. Honored as Rising Star of the Year!

Susanna Corsagni: Seamotion expanded to manage refits for 5 Perini Navi yachts.

Vanja Pedisic-Svraka: Launched FREY’s web shop, delivered bespoke superyacht projects, and implemented CNC digitalisation. Completed a Mini MBA, led international collaborations, and gained media recognition for innovative craftsmanship.

Viola Slaviero: Delivered bespoke leather solutions for 50m+ superyachts with leading shipyards and launched Vespucci, a high-performance outdoor leather. Invited to lecture on leather sustainability to Yacht Design students at Politecnico di Milano.

We can't to see what our members accomplish this year. 💙💙💙