Fortuna Awarded As Innovative Yacht

The gas-turbine-powered yacht, Fortuna, was selected for the award, most innovative motor yacht for 2000, during the Eleventh Annual Showboats Awards in Monaco. The yacht, for the Spanish Head of State, was purpose-built from the naval architectural and marine engineering design and specifications developed by Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc., (DLBA) with offices in Chesapeake, Va. Blount accepted the award in Monaco for the design. Fortuna, with a length of 136 ft., has a top speed exceeding 65 knots, giving it the title as the fastest private yacht in the world. The half-load displacement is 140 tons with a draft of approximately 4 ft., 11 in. The vessel's main propulsion system uses three Rolls-Royce Allison gas turbines along with KaMeWa waterjets. Fortuna is the most recent yacht to be delivered which was designed by DLBA.