Belle Brise Returns to Malta | Perini Navi Yacht Rebuild & New Chapter

One of Perini Navi’s most iconic sailing yachts is returning to Malta this month following an extensive rebuild that has given the 48-metre vessel a remarkable new lease of life. More than three decades after her launch, Belle Brise once again cuts an unmistakable silhouette across the Mediterranean, combining the timeless elegance that has long defined the Italian shipyard with carefully considered upgrades that prepare her for many more years at sea.

Her arrival in Malta on 27 July marks another important milestone in a journey that started with a complete rebuild at the prestigious Lusben shipyard, back to the heart of the Mediterranean. Currently under the ownership of St Julian’s Finance, Belle Brise will continue her voyage in search of a new custodian, offering another owner the opportunity to become part of the story of one of Perini Navi’s most enduring sailing yachts.

Originally launched in 1993 under the name Corelia, Belle Brise forms part of Perini Navi’s celebrated 48-metre sailing yacht series, a generation of yachts that helped establish the Italian shipyard as one of the most respected names in luxury sailing. Designed for extended cruising rather than fleeting trends, she combines elegant exterior lines with the capability and comfort required for long periods at sea, qualities that have allowed her to remain just as admired today as when she first left the shipyard more than three decades ago. While many yachts inevitably become products of their era, Belle Brise has endured because she was built with longevity in mind, reflecting a design philosophy centred on craftsmanship, practicality and timeless style rather than fashion.

That enduring quality made the recent restoration about far more than routine maintenance. It was an opportunity to preserve the character that has defined Belle Brise throughout her life while carefully introducing the modern upgrades needed to prepare her for the future.

The recent rebuild at Lusben Shipyard was taken over by St. Julian’s Finance and included the installation of new, environmentally efficient engines, allowing the yacht to embrace more sustainable technology without compromising the timeless elegance for which she is known. Alongside extensive restoration works completed, the project has ensured Belle Brise is once again ready for life at sea.

After the rebuild, Belle Brise became part of the St Julian’s Finance portfolio. While the circumstances surrounding any ownership transition are rarely the story themselves, they occasionally present an opportunity to preserve something genuinely exceptional. In this case, completing the project ensured that one of Perini Navi’s enduring classics could return to the sea exactly as she deserved.

Willem Steenkamer, CEO & Board Member of St.Julian’s Finance said:

“There’s something special about watching a yacht like Belle Brise come back to life. You can restore the engines and the systems, but what really matters is that she still moves the way she was always meant to move through the water. Seeing her back in Malta, ready for her next chapter, is exactly why we do this.”

For St Julian’s Finance, the project reflects a broader philosophy that extends beyond traditional yacht finance. As specialists in asset-backed finance, the company works with clients throughout Europe to structure tailored boat finance and yacht finance solutions, yet projects such as Belle Brise demonstrate another aspect of that expertise. Exceptional assets deserve long-term thinking, particularly when they represent decades of craftsmanship and maritime heritage. Supporting a restoration of this scale is not simply about protecting value; it is about recognising that some yachts deserve the opportunity to continue inspiring future generations of owners.

While Belle Brise’s arrival in Malta marks an important milestone for the project, it also reflects a broader shift within the superyacht industry, where preserving exceptional yachts has become just as important as launching new ones. As some of the world’s most celebrated sailing yachts mature, carefully planned restoration projects are ensuring they continue to meet modern expectations without losing the craftsmanship and character that made them so admired in the first place. Belle Brise is a compelling example of that approach, demonstrating how thoughtful investment and specialist expertise can extend the life of a yacht while respecting the vision of her original builders.

St Julian’s Finance vision for Belle Brise has always been about looking beyond the immediate project. The objective was never simply to complete a rebuild, but to return an exceptional Perini Navi to the Mediterranean in a condition that reflects both her heritage and her future. As Belle Brise leaves Malta and continues the search for her next custodian, she does so as a yacht that has been carefully prepared for the years ahead, ready to begin a new chapter with an owner who will appreciate not only where she has been, but everything that still lies ahead.