Between a Category 5 hurricane and the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been an arduous return journey for the Bitter End Yacht Club and hear the music without ever stepping ashore.

From the biggest and boldest yachts under construction to record-breaking builds, we take a peek into the sheds to see what the shipyards have in store for 2023.

But as this issue of Yachting went to press, all of the pandemic’s problems seemed poised to turn around. Normalcy may not fully resume during the boating season this summer and early fall, but NYC mayor Bill de Blasio says there is reason to expect and hope that change for the better is coming including the “Great White Way” resuming activity by September.

The latest explorer from Italian shipyard

The Wave Jam is designed for a thrilling ride on the water that requires relatively little balance or skill. This souped-up bodyboard has a top speed of 10mph and almost an hour of run time. A three-speed setting means you can set the pace; to steer you simply lean in the direction you wish to go. It’s light – just 24 kg – and compact so perfect for any superyacht toy box.

• Newport is as much a tourist town as it is a seafarer city
• The park is on the waterfront, which means boats can anchor out
• The most famous harbor on Narragansett Bay is the one Newport

The Feadship superyacht, known only as Project 823, was glimpsed early in 2022 as she made her way through the Dutch canals en route to Kaag in the early hours of the morning. Very little is known about this secretive project - not even the designers have been revealed. It is one of several Feadship builds due for completion next year including hulls 710, 822 and two other unknown projects.