While she’s classified as a research vessel, Pegaso is still a luxury megayacht through and through.

Sofia, the largest superyacht in Moonen’s history, is still on pace for completion by the end of the year. Moonen signed Sofia in 2010. Initially, she was expected to be christened Sofia III , since her owner previously owned a Moonen 84 megayacht known as Sofia and a Moonen 97 named Sofia II.

Adriel Rollins, principal of Adriel Design , has worked with a number of notable builders over the years both along his home waters of the Pacific Northwest and in Europe. To the latter point, a chance to work with Oceanco on the completion of Sunrays a few years ago, after the sudden passing of Björn Johansson of Björn Johansson Design, led to this current collaboration on a concept project called Lumen. Presented publicly for the first time at the Dubai International Boat Show a few weeks ago, Lumen is based on Oceanco’s new 90-meter-plus (295-foot-plus) Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) platform.

Good news and bad news on the J Class Regatta front. Bad news first: Hanuman and Endeavour have pulled out of the Falmouth event this June, and Hanuman has additionally withdrawn from the subsequent Solent race

Wider Yachts announced its second project, the Wider 150, just last autumn, and we’re giving you the first peek at her. Thanks to virtual-reality technology, here’s a good look at her seemingly traditional profile, which quickly transforms into anything but traditional once her side platforms start to unfold. The 148-foot (45.12-meter) megayacht gains great sunning and lounging space when they’re deployed.

Boasting more than 3,700 square feet (344 square meters) of alfresco space, a 142-footer (43-meter) is the newest new megayacht to be signed by Christensen Shipyards .

Monaco and the South of France have long attracted megayachts. While they’re perennial summer-charter destinations, the best action is arguably in springtime, during the famed Monaco Grand Prix. This May marks the 70th anniversary of the race, which takes place just steps away from Port Hercule

While the largest Vitruvius under construction won’t be delivered until 2013, her tender will be ready well before that. The 31-footer (9.5-meter) owner’s tender depicted here is being built at Cockwells in the UK. Cockwells is better known in its own country and in Europe than it is in the USA.

This year marks the debut of the first-ever full-displacement megayacht from Mangusta : the Mangusta Oceano 148.

PHOTO: iStock/Wolfgang Steiner If seclusion and serenity are priorities for you while cruising or chartering a megayacht, the Maldives should suit you well. With 1,190 individual islands—only 200 of which are inhabited—spread over 26 atolls, the Maldives offer abundant opportunities to explore sandy beaches, underwater flora and fauna, and some of the best coral reefs around the world.