Super Yachts

SuperYachts and Privileged Lifestyles

SuperYachts

and Privileged

Lifestyles

First published in Great Britain in 2009

by Beyond Black London UK

contents

© Beyond Black 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

ISBN 978-1-905904-07-5

6

Preface by Terence Disdale

48

World’s Largest Yachts

8

Foreword

58

Terence Disdale

9

Introduction

66

Alacarter

70

VistaJet

Designed by Bradbury and Williams, London

10

Early SuperYachts

80

Espen Øino

12

Lürssen

84

Jean Pigozzi

16

Christina O

88

Salty Tales

18

YCO

90

YachtPlus

26

SuperYacht Marinas

96

Aeronautic Consultancy

29

Listings

100

Reymond Langton Design

30

Alloy Yachts

102

Flavio Briatore

32

Fowl Cay

106

Grenada Sailing Festival

36

The America’s Cup

108

The Maltese Falcon

38

New York Yacht Club

110

Giancarlo Zema Design Group

40

Royal Yacht Squadron

116

Carfax

42

Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club

118

Azita K

44

Champagne Audoin de Dampierre

120

Sylvia Cordeiro Design

45

Avontuur Estate

122

Liveras Yachts

46

Caffè Florian

124

Le Sirenuse

Printed and bound in China

CONTENTS

4

5

preface

TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

I BEGAN MY CAREER AS AN INDEPENDENT YACHT DESIGNER IN 1973 WHEN I LEFT JON BANNENBERG’S STUDIO TO START ON MY OWN. MY FIRST PROJECT WAS A 36FT MOTOR BOAT, AND THEREIN LIES AN INDICATOR. IF ONE OF MY DESIGNERS LEFT TO BEGIN HIS OWN CAREER TODAY, I EXPECT HIS FIRST JOB WOULD BE AT LEAST 50M: A FAR CRY FROM 36FT! YES INDEED, TIMES HAVE CHANGED A HELL OF A LOT… In the 70s a yacht was considered big if it was 30m or so.

of designers entering a growing industry. However, new designers don’t always bring new ideas. This has given rise to quite a few yachts featuring aspects that were someone else’s innovation. On the other hand, the marketplace includes clients who are prepared to work alongside new designers who do have radical and fresh ideas; which in some cases will result in yachts that are radical at concept, but out of date before they are out of the shed! Such concepts could never have happened twenty years ago when the client base was more discerning.

Nowadays 50-60m is a ‘good size’ and 70-80m is ‘big’. From there on we have to use the new phrase ‘mega yacht’ or ‘SuperYacht’.

Size is not everything and whilst there are several 100m-plus yachts under construction throughout the world we still find clients

Quite simply, yachting has become seriously popular. This has been driven by many factors including expendable wealth and,

who are shocked at the prospect of having 60 or so crew to look after them, and prefer the intimacy of a smaller crew and subsequently

equally importantly, an ease of worldwide communication which means that someone can keep on top of their business whilst topping up

a smaller, compact yacht. We also have clients who might have an unlimited budget but do not want to build a yacht any larger than 60m,

their tan.

which is the maximum size allowed to moor in St. Tropez.

With regard to client requirements, these have grown along with the size of the yachts. Of course it goes without saying that the

My own preference for superstructure styling is more towards elegance and femininity than some paramilitary and aggressive-

larger the yacht, the more facilities it is able to provide. Not all yacht owners want a larger yacht to cater for larger groups of guests.

looking creations – shall we say, an E-type Jaguar versus a Lamborghini Countach. My reasoning for this emanates from a belief, that

More often than not the requirement for a larger vessel is brought about by the need for spacious facilities such as a gymnasium, hair

firstly a yacht is a feminine creature, and secondly that radical styling dates rather more quickly than elegance. One must remember a

and beauty salon, spa area, massage room, swimming pool, indoor garaging for large tenders; plus a desire for a degree of privacy,

yacht has a far greater life-span than a car and, in my opinion, this is an essential part of the designer’s criteria. It can be achieved

whereby the owner might designate a whole deck to his private quarters which would include ‘his’ and ‘hers’ dressing/bathrooms, a

without being mediocre: witness Bannenberg’s Carinthia VI, designed in 1971, and our own Montkaj, designed in 1993. Both, I believe,

personal gym, massage room and an office-study, with a separate lounge and secluded outside Jacuzzi deck zone. We have also had

stand the test of time. A car is created purposely to have a brief life-span because the manufactures want you to buy next year’s model.

requirements where the owners wanted to incorporate their own cooking space, so that they could occasionally enjoy preparing their own

These parameters should not apply to a large motor yacht that might take four years from design to completion.

evening meal in private without being pampered by stewardesses all of the time.

Other advantages of a larger yacht include the capacity to carry larger tenders, often of the ‘Venice Water Taxi’ type, so that guests can be ferried back and forth to the shore in air-conditioned comfort.

The larger yachts may also offer the advantage of incorporating a helicopter hanger and possibly two helipads, which enables flexibility in helicopter operations and the bonus of being able to receive guests who might be arriving in their own helicopter.

Above all, we believe the most important ingredient in the designer’s palette is restraint! We don’t gild the lily or let style overcome substance. We are always conscious of practical considerations when we design a superstructure. These considerations play an essential part of successful yacht design and embrace wheelhouse visibility, helicopter operations, mooring arrangements, tender embarkation, deck furniture stores, window cleaning facilities and discreet crew circulation.

From an interior design aspect we have over the years successfully steered our clients away from ostentatious glitz and more

Some might consider having a large yacht a burden as it limits the harbour ports that you can visit – which of course is perfectly

towards an ambience of laid back, informal style. We believe life onboard should be very relaxed and low key. It might be nice to dress up

true. However, the upside is that you can anchor safely and rely on the tonnage and stabilizers to afford you with a nice, stable platform

for dinner, but the dining room décor should not make you feel underdressed if you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt. If you have an 80m

from which you can visit the most intimate of ports. We have a 160m yacht under construction that carries ten different tenders to

yacht you do not need gold taps to impress!

provide ultimate flexibility for the guests.

On one of our projects the client required a 15m cabin cruiser tender with below-deck accommodation for his wife and children, so that he could self-pilot them on expeditions up river estuaries and be able to fish, picnic, cook, shower, and spend the night on board away from the mother ship. This kind of flexibility would not have been dreamt of 30 years ago, particularly because of safety concerns.

Now, with satellite GPS systems as backup, this type of trip can be undertaken without risk.

With regards to the changes in owners’ requirements, recent years have seen a lot of design developments, with the interplay between indoor and outdoor decks and large windows – which is appealing to most owners – becoming the norm. Access to the sea and tenders is now a major feature, and almost every yacht built today has a substantial built-in swimming platform at the stern with grand

Another major change over the years has been the introduction of numerous specialist magazines. In 1970 only two magazines were available in the UK: Yachting World and Power and Sail. The latter eventually disappeared, presumably through lack of interest.

Hence there was no reference material for budding designers or potential owners to review.

Bannenberg’s style library literally revolutionised yacht design. He was afraid of nothing and had the charisma to persuade the client to venture forward. His ideas were often met with initial scorn by the builder or naval architects but Jon’s talent and persuasive skills always swayed them to his way of thinking. He certainly paved the way for future designers, allowing us to present our ideas to builders whom Jon had already indoctrinated.

When I worked for Jon in 1970 he was the most successful and famous in his field and employed four staff. With today’s workload

stairs leading up to the deck. Twenty or thirty years ago such a design was unheard of, and a large percentage of yachts favoured a

we run at full capacity with a staff of 15, and some of my colleagues in the same industry are employing up to 30. This indicates another

canoe-style stern for aesthetic reasons and comfort. Larger vessels can also provide sufficient structure to incorporate fold-down ‘Beach

clear measure of the ever-expanding world of yacht design.

Terrace’ doors that open up the hull side for bathing or Al Fresco dining.

From a safety point of view recent years have seen the introduction of the MCA rules determining fire zones, damage-stability TERENCE DISDALE 2008 zones, means of escape and water-tight bulkhead locations. These rulings often govern the designer’s creativity in space planning, which would not have been the case 15 years ago; when, for instance, you could have installed an open plan stair directly connecting one lounge

From a stylistic point of view, since Bannenberg broke the mould with the creation of Carinthea VI, there has been a steady stream

6

P R E FA C E

to another, without the necessity of a steel-walled fire zone lobby to prevent flames spreading between the different areas.

7

foreword

THIS BOOK IS NOT A SUPERYACHT MARINE DIRECTORY, NOR IS ITS PURPOSE TO SIMPLY SHOWCASE THE MOST EXPENSIVE VESSELS ROAMING THE OCEANS TODAY. IN ORDER TO DISTINGUISH THIS EDITION FROM THE MYRIAD OF PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO YACHTING, WE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE BUT ABOVE ALL, LOOK AT THE EXTRAORDINARY FLIGHT OF IMAGINATION THAT THE BUILDING OF SUPERYACHTS REPRESENTS TODAY. We have chosen to celebrate the skills and artistic approach of the people who make these floating fantasies a reality.

We are looking at the changing face of the world’s marinas, compelled to develop new facilities for these giants of the seas.

introduction

THIS BOOK STARTED LIFE WITH THE SHORTER TITLE OF SIMPLY SUPERYACHTS. AS WE KEPT EXPLAINING THAT IT WAS NOT ‘JUST ANOTHER YACHT MARKETING RESOURCE’, WE FELT WE SHOULD ARTICULATE IN A SUBTITLE OUR OBJECTIVE TO FOCUS ON A CERTAIN LIFESTYLE. In common with the entire Beyond Black series, the book explores the subject through a compilation of fully illustrated interviews and profiles.

We have tried to avoid looking like a hard cover publication selling yachts, of which there are plenty.

We hope you enjoy perusing the book as much as we enjoyed compiling it.

The entire Beyond Black series can be obtained through www.beyondblack.org — we hope you will agree that they represent a snapshot of all things, places and people fabulous, fascinating, unique, in the world today.

We are looking at the traditional and exclusive yacht clubs that have numbered generations of distinguished and privileged yachtsment as their members.

The world of SuperYachts is, without a doubt, one of extreme privilege, but also a world where man’s imagination and pursuit of beauty can be indulged almost without limits.

Dedicating a proportion of one’s wealth to building the classic boats of tomorrow, encouraging free flow of artistic insipration, pushing the boundaries of invention and creating floating objects of unmatched beauty is surely as worthy an exercise as building a fine architectural folly – for the world to admire and marvel at.

In true Gatsby-esque fashion, the SuperYacht owners (and their lifestyles) exert endless fascination over the rest of the world, yet exist in the confines of their private worlds, away from prying eyes.

We have tried to capture the uniqueness of each of these floating islands in as many images as we have been given by their designers and ship builders, to whom we are very much indebted.

FOREWORD/INTRODUCTION

8

9

early superyachts INTRODUCTION THE TERM ‘SUPERYACHT’ MAY BE RELATIVELY RECENT, AND THE SURGE OF INTEREST IN THEM A PHENOMENON OF THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT THE TRADITION OF COMMISSIONING LARGE, LUXURY VESSELS HAS A LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS PEDIGREE. MORE THAN A CENTURY BEFORE THE WORD WAS COINED, WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS WERE PURCHASING HUGE SHIPS FOR PERSONAL USE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES DATING BACK TO BEFORE THE SECOND AND EVEN FIRST WORLD WAR.

In 1865 the Mahroussa was built for the Khedive of Egypt, Isma’il Pasha. The Mahroussa, constructed by the Samuda Brothers shipbuilding firm on the Thames at the Isle of Dogs, London, was a massive, 145-metre-long ocean-going steamer. It was designed by Oliver Lang, who had also designed Queen Victoria’s first steam yacht, the Victoria and Albert. The Mahroussa was built to the same specification as the the Victoria and Albert’s successor, a 360foot steamer launched in 1855. Whereas the Victoria and Albert II was scrapped in 1904, the Egyptian royal yacht is still afloat – the oldest steamship in use today.

When the Suez canal was first opened in 1869, the Mahroussa was the second ship to pass through it after L’Aigle, Napoleon III of France’s imperial yacht. Isma’il Pasha was removed from power by the British in 1879 after leading his country into heavy debt, but the Mahroussa remained the Egyptian royal yacht until 1951. The ship was lengthened by 40 feet in 1872, and in 1905 her propulsion system was converted from two paddle wheels to triple screws powered by steam turbines. A further 16 feet was also added to her length.

When King Farouk was forced to abdicate in the Egyptian revolution of 1952, the Mahroussa was taken over by the government. Renamed the El-Horriya, she was used as a naval training ship. She made her last transatlantic voyage in 1976, 111 years old, to take part in the International Naval Review to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States of America.

Today, the El-Horriya is still occasionally used as a presidential yacht but goes to sea infrequently, and only for short periods of time. She is nevertheless a source of great pride to the Egyptian navy and service on her is considered a high honour.

The opening years of the 20th century saw the construction of several very large vessels.

MAHROUSSA

One of the oldest still in use is the Kalizma, a 50-metre motor yacht built by Ramage & Ferguson in 1906 and launched under the name Minona. She was used by the Royal Navy in both World Wars and was rechristened the Cortinia and Odysseia. (Another of the most famous Superyachts of all time, the Christina O, began life as a military vessel, HMCS Stormont.)

Purchased by Richard Burton – at one time the highest paid actor in Hollywood – during his marriage to Elizabeth Taylor in 1967, the ship

KALIZMA VELSHEDA

was renamed Kalizma after his three children: Kate, Liza and Maria. In 1991 the Kalizma was

SHAMROCK V

the subject of a $3 million renovation to restore her to her original condition as an Edwardian motor yacht.

Whereas some vessels were built or adapted for the honour of a country’s ruler or for personal prestige, others were made to

later Lipton commissioned Shamrock V, one of only 10 J-Class yachts ever built. Of these, three

secure glory in famous races of the day. The 31-

survive today: aeroplane designer Sopwith’s Endeavour (1934), Woolworths owner W. L.

metre-long sailing yacht Moonbeam of Fife was

Stephenson’s Velsheda (1933), and Shamrock V. Lipton never did win the America’s Cup, but he

built in 1903 for lawyer Charles Plumtree

earned a reputation as the ‘World’s best loser’ in the effort.

Johnson. A century later, after a recent

her kind when launched in 1931. Even today, more than 75 years later, she is one of the longest

Also designed by the famous ship-builder

Super Yachts in the world. The Savarona was built by the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg,

William Fife III was the Shamrock, one of five

Germany for Mrs Emily Roebling Cadwaller, granddaughter of John Roebling, who designed the

vessels of this name built for the Lipton Tea

Brooklyn Bridge. Although constructed for a cost of $4 million, the owner sold it to the Turkish

magnate Sir Thomas Lipton in the hope of

government in 1938 for just $1 million. The legend goes that it was purchased because soot

winning the prestigious America’s Cup race. The

from the funnels of the previous royal yacht, the Ertugrul, had embarrassingly and

first was constructed in 1898 by J. Thorneycroft

unacceptably dirtied Edward VII’s clothes on a visit to Istanbul in 1936. After military service

& Co at Millwall on the Thames. Over 30 years

and long disuse, the Savarona has now been leased and restored by Turkish entrepreneur, Kahraman Sadikoglu – also the chief of International Marine Contractors in Dubai.

E A R LY S U P E R YA C H T S

10

The motor yacht Savarona, named after a variety of African swan, was the largest ship of

extensive refit, she still graces the racing circuit.

11

L ÜR S S E N

THE LÜRSSEN SHIPYARD HAS EARNED AN OUTSTANDING

REPUTATION FOR HIGH-CLASS TAILOR-MADE SUPERYACHTS. BASED IN NORTH GERMANY, THE

<< My firm shall be known as a leader in both quality and performance >> FRIEDRICH LÜRSSEN, 1875.

PELORUS, 2003, 115m/377’, 20 kn.

SHIPYARD ENJOYS FOUR GENERATIONS OF

Design: Tim Heywood.

Four generations later, Friedrich Lürssen’s descendants are still at the helm of the shipyard. ‘That’s what

SHIPBUILDING EXPERIENCE AND IS

Friedrich Lürssen said when he founded our shipyard in 1875,’ say Peter and Friedrich Lürssen. ‘It is still our policy today. We have remained and will continue to remain faithful to his promise. This shipyard is

RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE LARGEST

proud to have built ships, boats and yachts which have won praise throughout the entire world.’ Every yacht built at Lürssen bears the family name: reason enough to ensure that clients receive the very best.

AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS VESSELS IN THE

History Lürssen grew big with little boats, developing from a modest boat-building shed in the late 19th century to become a leading manufacturer of luxury yachts, naval ships and other high-quality special-

WORLD, INCLUDING PAUL ALLEN’S OCTOPUS

purpose vessels by the 21st. Friedrich Lürssen began with manufacturing small

QUEEN K, (ex Queen M), 2004, 72,60m/238’, 18 kn, Design: Espen Øino.

work-boats. Within a few years he was successfully building rowing boats for sports

AND LARRY ELLISON’S RISING SUN.

clubs and by 1890, his firm belonged to the pioneers for motor boats in Germany. In 1912, a Lürssen speedboat, with Otto Lürssen at the helm, won a number of prizes in the prestigious Monaco race.

BREMEN

Over the last 130 years, Lürssen have built more

Alongside these smaller vessels, Lürssen achieved competence and success

than 3,000 boats, ships and yachts to the highest

in building motor yachts. Between 1924 and 1932, a substantial number of yacht

specifications. Today the shipyard works with

tenders and notable motor yachts were exported to the USA, a solid tradition that

cutting-edge designers from all over the world and employs over 200 of its own naval architects and

has been preserved ever since. Today, Lürssen is world-renowned and its client list

engineers to realise the unique requirements of its customers. Clients value the dedicated work force,

includes international navies, industrial leaders and private individuals.

discretion, and the close interaction that Lürssen provides.

The shipyard is divided into three business fields. The first one comprises naval vessels and special ships like fast patrol boats, corvettes and support vessels. The constantly-developing technological skills and processes involved in designing these benefit Lürssen’s whole business, ensuring quality and efficiency across their entire range, and guaranteeing that every vessel they construct will be the finest

SKAT, 2002, 70,70m/232’, 17 kn, Design: Espen Oeino.

that money can buy. The second area is the building of luxury super yachts, typically from 50 metres to over 150 metres and encompassing almost every design imaginable. The third field is called Lürssen Logistic and focuses on all logistical parts of the group: repair and maintenance, yacht management, spare part documentation, crew training centre and training simulators. For vessels in remote locations a specially trained mobile service group can effect a Lürssen quality technical repair anywhere necessary.

Lürssen Contact Lürssen Yachts Zum Alten Speicher 11 28759 BremenGermany Phone:

+49 421 6604 166

Fax:

+49 421 6604 170

Email:

yachts@lurssen.com

URL:

www.lurssen.com

12

LÜRSSEN

POLAR STAR, (ex Northern Star), 2005, 63m/207’, 15 kn, Design: Vripack/Espen Oeino.

13

Creative Yacht Design With more than 100 years of experience, Lürssen’s excellence in the area of ship design is unparalleled. A custom-made three-dimensional CAD system is employed, from which workshop

KISMET, 2007, 68,15m/223’6’’, 15,5 kn.

Design: Espen Øino

drawings for hulls, decks and interiors are implemented with the utmost precision. The Sectional Construction System developed by the shipyard maximises efficiency and flexibility, in contrast to the more traditional, time-intensive ways of shipbuilding. Yachts and ships are divided into self-contained sections, each honed, moulded, and finished to a certain point and then assembled into a single unit. The advantages of this system include a minimum of downtime: should delays occur in one area, work can continue unhindered in others.

Design and engineering staff, as well as a host of master craftsmen, move vessels swiftly, efficiently and safely to completion, with engineers consulting throughout the process. Lürssen’s craftsmen have been trained and qualified to handle the most exacting and complex challenges, encouraging and supporting research and development of new technology in every field from pipe-fitting to electrical and mechanical engineering.

Whilst Lürssen favours the application of state-of-the-art technology to the design, engineering and speed factors of a yacht, they remain equally respectful to the values which must be applied to interior work. Teams of traditional craftsmen, many of whom have followed their fathers and grandfathers into their trade, handcraft the mouldings, polish the wood, and lay the marble in ways that simply cannot be replaced by modern machinery.

The Shipyard Lürssen’s shipyard sets new standards in technology, design, ecology and safety. More than fifty thousand square meters of space have been modernised and converted into an environmentallysensitive working place. Yachts are manufactured in four locations, three near Bremen and the river Weser

SHIPYARD Main shipyard in Lemwerder/Bremen.

and one on the Kiel canal in Rendsburg. Work is carried out in environment-protected sheds on land and in three covered dry docks. More than one nautical mile of deep water quays run along the banks of the River Weser, which serves the international seaport of Bremen,-- and along the Kiel canal.

Operating under the credo that superior quality can only be achieved under the best possible conditions, Lürssen allows no compromise in its work force, working place or work scheduling. Job security, protection of the environment and efficiency are key concerns. The return for this investment is Lürssen’s ability to offer ships of the highest quality at competitive prices.

<< Yachts beyond any imagination >>

OCTOPUS, 2003, 126,20m/414’, 20 kn, Design: Espen Oeino.

14

LÜRSSEN

KISMET The Lürssen shipyard has delivered several major projects in recent months. With a Bill Langan exterior and a Francois Catroux design, Eos, at 93m, is the world’s largest sailing yacht. Apoise is a 67m Espen Øino design and features six decks, offering numerous areas for guests and making her the perfect solution for entertaining. The 59m Oasis has a Glade Johnson exterior and interior design. Glade has given the yacht soft and round features which have been extended throughout the whole yacht. The 60m Linda Lou debuted at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, 2006. Several other vessels from 60 to 150m, are currently under contract.

Kismet is one of the most recent and impressive deliveries. The 67m yacht was designed by Espen Øino with an interior by Reymond Langton to the brief that guests should expect an on-board experience that would exceed that of a five-star hotel. Sleek, masculine and understated, Kismet’s six decks are all fitted out in a uniformly contemporary and classical style with Art Deco elements. The soft furnishings are rich, sumptuous and tactile and throughout the vessel are found large and striking pieces of integrated artwork. More formal on the Lower and Main Decks, a combination of Persian, classical and contemporary elements creates a harmony of elegance and opulence. The ambience lifts on the Bridge Deck and finally gives way to the relaxed and fun feeling of the Upper Deck Saloon, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Beach House’.

Designed to undertake long voyages, with a range of 5,000 miles at 12 knots, Kismet is equipped for on-board living for several months at a time without putting into port. Her clear layout and enormous beam of 12.80m boasts numerous areas for guests and plenty of space for entertainment – making her the perfect solution for private or charter use.

15

christina o

INTRODUCTION THE CHRISTINA O IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST CELEBRATED SUPERYACHTS OF ALL TIME. AT 99 METRES SHE IS ALSO ONE OF THE LONGEST PRIVATELY-OWNED VESSELS IN THE WORLD. The Christina O began life in 1943 as HMCS Stormont, a Canadian River class frigate. She served as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic and supported the D-Day landings. When the Second World War ended the ship was deemed surplus and put up for sale. In 1954 the Stormont was purchased by the famous Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. Onassis bought the vessel for just $34,000 but spent $4 million refitting her and turning her into a luxury yacht. He renamed her the Christina,

<< Jackie [Kennedy]’s first cruise with Ari Onassis was in October 1963. Just for Jackie the Christina’s crew of sixty had been augmented by two hairdressers, a masseuse, and an orchestra for dancing in the evening; just for her the Christina had been stocked with eight varieties of caviare, fresh fruits that had been flown in from Paris, rare vintage wines and buckets of mullet packed in ice. >>

after his daughter.

Having spent millions on the perfect ship, Onassis made the most of it. For the rest of his life

In 1998 the ship’s fortunes turned a corner when she was bought by a Greek shipowner.

Christina was his home from home, his preferred environment above even his private Greek

John Paul Papanicolaou was a friend of the Onassis family and had sailed on the Christina as a

island, Skorpios. Onassis clearly loved her – as his first wife once remarked, the yacht was his

boy. As a tribute to her former owners he renamed her the Christina O and began the enormous

true passion. A crew member is said to have remarked how Onassis’ fondness for the ship went

task of refitting her.

far beyond the millions he had spent refurbishing her. ‘You could smash up a $20,000

The project lasted some 16 months and cost in the region of $50 million. Papanicolaou

speedboat into pieces and not a word would be said, but spit on the Christina’s deck, and you

drew on all of his considerable contacts and resources to restore the ship to her former glory

were out of a job.’

and beyond, both structurally and aesthetically. 560 tons of steel were replaced in the hull, as

The Christina hosted many celebrity guests and parties over the next twenty years.

well as many miles of pipes and wiring. The outmoded 1943 steam engines were replaced by

Onassis’ mistress, the opera singer Maria Callas, could often be seen on board before his

modern MAN diesel engines. This not only dramatically improved efficiency but left a vast

marriage to Jackie Kennedy in 1968. His own wedding reception to ‘Jackie O’, as she became

amount of extra space for new living quarters and a huge dining room.

known, was held there, as was the reception for Prince Rainier of Monaco’s wedding to Grace

In terms of redecoration, Papanicolaou kept many of the original features, including the

Kelly. Other famous visitors include Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Peron,

celebrated Ari’s Bar (the infamous stools have been recovered in fine leather), updating others

Greta Garbo, John Wayne and John Paul Getty. In 1957, Onassis introduced John F. Kennedy to

with the best technology and furnishings he could obtain. The Lapis Lounge, named after its

Winston Churchill at ‘Ari’s Bar’, one of his favourite spots on board and the place he best

stunning lapis lazuli fireplace, has been refurbished, its walls lined with fine art and rare books.

enjoyed entertaining guests. The circular, glass-topped bar was constructed from the timbers of

The mosaic-tiled floor of the swimming pool, restored by an apprentice of the original

a Spanish galleon and recorded the development of shipping through the ages with tiny model

craftsman, now rises above the water level at the touch of a button to become a dance floor.

boats. It was surrounded by footrests and handholds made from whales’ teeth. Onassis loved to

Today, the Christina O is available for charter from between EUR 45,000 and 65,000 per

shock his female guests by informing them that the bar stools were covered in whale foreskin.

day, depending on the number of passengers. Christina O sleeps 36. The Onassis Suite on the

A map on the wall showed the daily position of his fleet of ships.

bridge deck has a jacuzzi bathroom and private lounge. There are an additional 10 guest cabins

Onassis left the Christina to his daughter on his death from pneumonia in 1975. In 1978 she gave the ship to the government to use as a presidential yacht. The Christina was renamed

on the main deck and eight on the sea deck. The sumptuous dining room seats 40 and there is space for up to 250 on the canopied decks.

the Argo, but saw little use and fell into disrepair. In the 1990s she was put on sale for $16

the American Alexander Blastos tried to buy her for $2.2 million. His deposit cheque bounced, the Greek government revoked ownership and Blastos was later convicted of wire fraud.

16

www.christina-o.com

CHRISTINA O

million; no buyers were found and the price gradually dropped over the next few years. In 1996

17

YC O

THE FRENCH RIVIERA HAS LONG BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH GLAMOUR, WEALTH

AND LUXURY, AND EVEN WELL INTO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, THE GLITTERATI STILL FLOCK TO

THE SOUTH OF FRANCE EACH SUMMER TO SEE, BE SEEN AND TO SOCIALISE BEFORE THE

DAZZLING BACKDROP OF THE COTE D’AZUR. Located in the heart of Monaco, the yachting capital of the Riviera, YCO was founded by Gary Wright, John Clark and Charlie Birkett in 2004 as a specialist Yacht Management company. With more than half a century of combined experience onboard some of the world’s most prestigious yachts, the three founding partners created the firm on the basis of providing the organised, efficient and systematic management process which is necessary to successfully run a Super Yacht.

Since then YCO has grown to become one of the yachting industry’s key players and now also

YCO services

specialises in Super Yacht sales, charter, new construction and crew recruitment for both motor and

Yacht charter Most people would agree that chartering a super yacht represents the ultimate luxury,

sailing vessels. 2008 saw YCO join forces with yacht services company Deuxmil Marine and subsequently

and the past decade has seen a significant boom in the yacht charter market across the world.

float on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM Index as YCO Deuxmil PLC, the world’s largest supplier of fuel,

Today’s yachts equal, and indeed often surpass, the world’s finest hotels in their luxury, opulence

provisions and services to luxury yachts. Now a leading Super Yacht specialist and a worldwide luxury

and comfort. Many have interiors by renowned designers, and house art collections to rival any stately

brand, YCO still remains renowned for its boutique attitude and exceptionally high levels of service,

home. The service onboard a yacht is second to none, and each vessel is fully staffed with a professional

professionalism and discretion.

crew entirely dedicated to catering for guests’ every whim.

Ethos ‘Think outside the box.’ YCO has become known for its innovative and consistently pioneering

Breakfast in Monaco’s famed Hotel de Paris, lunch at the Palme d’Or in Cannes, followed by dinner and

approach to every aspect of yachting. The first company to employ adapted corporate techniques to yacht

later dancing in the infamous Caves de Roi in St Tropez; being on a super yacht puts an entire coast in the

management, YCO has also designed and developed its own ground breaking online system, YCO LIVE,

palm of your hand. The added delight is that in addition to all the famous hotspots, a yacht has access to

another world first and the only real-time yacht management program in existence. Constantly striving to

some of the world’s most beautiful hideaways which are unreachable by land, allowing those on board to

bring more to its clients, the firm was also the first to introduce a 24-hour concierge service to yacht

be seen in all the right places, and then to just disappear discreetly.

In addition to the service and surroundings of course, is the sheer freedom of being on the water.

The 73m SILVER provides an elegant combination of luxury, innovation and speed.

owners and charter guests while onboard, and recently opened YCO escape, which is dedicated to providing clients with unrivalled travel experiences which go beyond the sea, anywhere in the world.

of a uniquely close relationship between owner and designer. Silver is a rarity in the world of the super yacht in that she was designed not only with the usual speed and luxury in mind, but also a remarkably

M O N AC O

silver

One of the most exciting yachts available for charter at present is Silver, the revolutionary result

YCO Contact 9, Av. President J.F.K., MC98000, Monaco Phone:

+377 93 50 12 12

Fax:

+377 93 50 12 22

Email:

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www.ycoyacht.com

YCO

URL:

monaco@ycoyacht.com

19

conscientious consideration to the environment. At 73 metres, Silver’s hydrodynamic design and narrow beam result in impressively efficient fuel consumption rates at 18 knots, and her interior offers all the usual luxury and comfort that one can expect on a yacht of her size and quality. Concealed behind the stylish, contemporary décor however, lies an interior constructed entirely in veneered honeycomb aluminium to reduce weight, further increasing speed and efficiency. The reduced beam in no way compromises space as Silver can be chartered for up to twelve guests, many more for day trips. Silver is an outstanding achievement in yacht design, build and finish, and is quite simply one of the most remarkable SuperYachts ever made.

For the more traditionally inclined, the 90 metre schooner Athena is a breathtaking creation from the world renowned Royal Huisman yard and is one of the largest sailing yachts available for charter in the world. Her structural design perfectly combines traditionally classic lines with a clean, contemporary touch, resulting in a yacht

ATHENA at 90m is one of the world’s

with a timelessly elegant appearance, while modern

largest sailing yachts.

technology enables an impressive cruising speed of almost 19 knots. Ideal for charter, ingenious interior and exterior design onboard Athena has created a deck and living space which is comparable to any motor yacht of her size and her

athena

spacious accommodation hosts ten guests.

Finding the perfect yacht is just one aspect of creating the ideal charter experience. YCO also focuses attention elsewhere, appointing each charter client with their own personal representative who can help in making key decisions not only about the yacht, but about the time of year, the destination and structure of the charter. The charter representative will continue to be available to assist in planning at every stage, from the itinerary and menus through to contracts and specific requests and activities along the way.

To compliment the service provided onboard, YCO was the first company to introduce a dedicated concierge service as a complimentary benefit to every charter client. Based on a traditional grand hotel concierge, YCO uses a combination of local knowledge and global connections and aims to fulfil any request at a moment’s notice, ensuring that every charter is unforgettable for its effortless luxury. The concierge team will arrange transport to and from the yacht, be it by limousine, helicopter or private jet, and is often asked to secure theatre, concert or sports tickets, or table reservations at the most exclusive restaurants.

Yacht sales and purchase For some however, constantly changing schedules and business demands preclude the possibility of committing to set charter dates, which for popular yachts must often be fixed months in advance. In this instance there is always the option of purchasing a SuperYacht, and given the ever rising demand for the larger charter yachts this has become an increasingly popular option.

From concept to delivery, for any client undertaking the construction of a super yacht, YCO offers the services of a project management team. YCO is currently managing several new construction projects which are due to be completed over the next five years, which range up to 130m in length, and in addition to the more standard toys include some spectacular features such as quad-skis and even a submarine.

One such project is the 60m yacht known as ‘T40’, where as project managers YCO is ensuring that the owner’s interests are independently represented at the shipyard. Commissioned in 2005, T40 is a heavy displacement yacht constructed in steel and will house six cabins including a full beam master on the main deck and a full beam VIP on the lower deck, hosting up to twelve guests. She will boast a dramatic modernist interior in a palette of natural materials and a mixture of neutral and contrasting tones to create a smart, contemporary but relaxing interior space.

T40

T40 a 60m currently under construction and due to be launched in 2009.

YCO

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OASIS a stunning 60m built by the famous Lürssen shipyard.

If waiting five years for a new toy is simply too much to bear, there are several options on the market at present which are immediately available. From the famous Lürssen yard for example, is the 60 metre Oasis. Just two years old, she is in outstanding condition and, in addition to striking exterior lines and expansive deck and living space, she offers an incomparable number of onboard toys and entertainments. The yacht’s vast deck space includes a wet bar and barbeque, a Jacuzzi and fully equipped gym, which transforms by night into a private beach club, complete with dance floor. Glade Johnson’s spectacular interior creates a succession of sweeping living spaces which cleverly enhance natural light to evoke a sense of the great outdoors, inside.

oasis

YCO

22

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change in the way clients expect to see their yachts managed in recent years. Perhaps this is directly

princess iolanthe

attributable to the shift of wealth in the world. Many of today’s wealthiest individuals have made rather than inherited their fortunes, and thus expect to see the same stringent regimes for the running of their yacht as they would their business. There has been a resultant increase in the amount of effort and personnel required to run these yachts, the logistics of which can accordingly end in intolerable pressures on a Captain. This is where a management company steps in Slightly smaller, the sleek and stylish Princess Iolanthe is one of the most

– to relieve some of this burden and leave the Captain

significant launches from Mondomarine. At 45 metres, her elegant and

free to manage the day to day operation of the vessel

ingenious design results in spacious living areas rarely seen on a yacht of this

itself.

size. Perfect for entertaining, Princess Iolanthe offers four outdoor dining areas, an enormous indoor salon and a beautiful skylounge. All outdoor furniture is

based group of specialists who are on hand 24 hours a

free standing, allowing spaces to be rearranged to suit any occasion. Created by

day, 365 days a year to support owners and Captains.

Jean-Pierre Fantini, the décor on board Princess Iolanthe is both luxurious and

Each yacht under management has access to trained

subtly understated, perfect in its elegance.

accountants and financiers, qualified security personnel,

Whether buying or selling a super yacht, the process involved can be

PRINCESS IOLANTHE, a beautiful 45m, one of the most popular charter yachts on the market.

The management team at YCO provides a shore-

technicians with engineering backgrounds and several

long and complex. Sales brokers provide advice and guidance throughout,

other professionals, each a specialist in their field, as

offering legal and tax advice as well as a knowledge of flag state and regulatory

well as access to the ground-breaking online

bodies to ensure that clients enjoy a smooth, tax efficient and confidential

management system, YCO LIVE. As a result of this

transaction. A good broker will also assist in sourcing innovative financing

pioneering approach to yacht management, YCO is now

solutions for all levels of purchase, as well as using his experience and

responsible for many of the world’s largest, most

connections to offer access to an extensive database of potential buyers,

prominent yachts, leaving owners free to simply relax

combined with a thorough understanding of current market trends.

and enjoy the pleasures of SuperYacht ownership.

Yacht management Even after the sales process, ownership of a luxury yacht is not straightforward however. The yacht industry is changing as rapidly as the number of luxury vessels on the seas is increasing. Each year sees a corresponding increase in regulations covering safety and security, crew employment and substantially more regulated financial management - larger yachts now require the kind

24

YCO

of financial budgeting which is comparable to medium sized businesses. Interestingly, YCO has also seen a

25

superyacht marinas

INTRODUCTION MARINAS CATERING EXCLUSIVELY TO THE SUPERYACHT SET HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR

DIANNE M BYRNE

GRENADA: PORT LOUIS

The $500-million development of Grenada’s Port Louis

Because space can be limited, your captain should contact the Capitainerie du Port de Gustavia

into a mecca for megayachts just got a shot in the arm from Camper & Nicholsons Marina

(the harbourmaster) on VHF channel 16 at least two hours prior to arrival. For further

Investments (CNMI). CNMI, which acquires, develops, and operates both new and existing

information, the Capitainerie is at (590) 590 27 66 97. Also visit www.st-

marinas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, recently obtained the rights to continue developing

barths.com/guidepgs/private_sea.html.

Port Louis and manage its operation.

DECADES. FROM THE MAGNIFICENCE OF MONACO TO THE ‘SEE AND BE SEEN’ ATMOSPHERE OF ST. BARTS, THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOUR CREW TO DROP ANCHOR AND LET YOU EXPLORE LAND FOR A

The plans call for 300 to 350 berths, including space for yachts up to 100 meters (328

ST. KITTS & NEVIS: CHRISTOPHE HARBOUR

Add the twin-island nation

feet), in this corner of the island nicknamed the ‘spice isle.’ Part of the marina is already open

of St. Kitts and Nevis to the growing list of countries looking to welcome SuperYachts into their

and has welcomed yachts such as Maltese Falcon and Reverie. Peter de Savary, Port Louis’

harbors. A 2,500-acre resort is being developed in conjunction with the government of St. Kitts

chairman and founder, is well versed in what Super Yacht owners want, considering he’s a

along the southeast peninsula.

WHILE. But the sudden explosion of the market in the 1990’s through to recent years led to a startling realisation: existing marinas around the world, no matter how well they tended to owners, didn’t have enough capacity to handle the new launches. This was particularly true for yachts in the 200-foot-plus

former owner himself; in fact, he kept the classic cruiser Savvy on location in late 2007, just prior to selling her.

Once completed, Port Louis will also include a waterfront village containing duty-free

range. Some marinas were able to add slips, but many were not. As a result, developers realised they had a

Christophe Harbour, being touted as ‘the most fashionable debut of the young century,’ will feature 40 to 60 berths for yachts from 100 to more than 300 feet. Slips are being offered for sale or rental, depending upon availability. The developers plan to take an eco-friendly

shops, bars and cafes, a spa, hotels, and various residential dwellings. Port Louis Trading will

approach to the marina’s construction, which is in a natural harbour, to preserve the shoreline,

retain responsibility for developing these aspects of the project, though it will jointly market the

water, and nearby coral reefs. Another reason Christophe Harbour is attracting attention is due

marina with CNMI. Both teams believe the facilities outlined above, in combination with the

to a special arrangement with the government of St. Kitts and Nevis: SuperYacht owners will be

SuperYachts and offering amenities ranging from restaurants to retail shops that you and your guests would

beauty of the mountains and rainforests and the attraction of the waterfront capital St. Georges,

exempt from import duties, consumption taxes, and customs duties with respect to their yachts

enjoy.

will draw yacht owners.

docking at the marina. In fact, the government will maintain these exemptions for at least 20

golden opportunity to create new facilities, ones that would be built from the ground up specifically for

‘Port Louis is a complex, comprehensive, and diversified project,’ de Savary says. ‘We have

The following list showcases the best of the old as well as the promise of the new. Whether you’re

created an opportunity which has brought, and will continue to bring, increasing benefits to

interested in visiting a world-famous favorite or wish to be first in line in an emerging destination, there’s a

Grenada.’ The website is www.portlouisgrenada.com.

marina ready to accommodate your special needs.

MONACO: PORT HERCULE

years.

Besides having a place to dock, owners and crew will be able to take advantage of a yacht club and captain’s lounge, provisioning, fueling, maintenance and repair, wi-fi, a heliport, and the services of two outstanding five-star hotels, one a Mandarin Oriental hotel, the other an

PORT LOUIS

Auberge resort. In fact, the hotels are offering over-the-water suites as well as private hillside

principality of Monaco has been associated with glamour. Indeed, the world’s second-smallest

residences for purchase, complete with concierge and butler services and more. Other amenities

independent state (only the Vatican is smaller) is arguably the world’s biggest Super Yacht spot,

of Christophe Harbour will include high-end shops, restaurants, condos, and a golf course designed by the world-famous Tom Fazio.

ANTIGUA: ENGLISH HARBOUR AND JOLLY HARBOUR

your disposal. The 100-foot-wide channel leading into the marina from Nassau Harbour is also

with the best known and yes, biggest vessels around. Yachts like Lady Moura, The One, and

If you’ve ever been to the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, no doubt you’ve been

greatly appreciated, as is the unrestricted mast height for sailing yachts. Both the channel and

Atlantis II berth year-round in Port Hercule, while others come in for the summer high season.

informed that Antigua boasts 365 beaches—one for every day of the year, as the residents are

the marina have deep water, too: a minimum depth of 12 feet at low tide.

That explains why tourists and even yacht owners alike crane their necks to see who’s docked

visiting the island now, as it’s truly one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. The

side by side in the premium spots, and any spot for that matter, as high-profile events like the

website is www.christopheharbour.com.

fond of saying. You probably also know that the world-famous Antigua Sailing Week races are

Whether you visit for a few days or a few weeks, you’ll get to enjoy all the amenities the

You’ll have to wait until 2010 for the marina to open. But nothing should stop you from

held here. Those are certainly among the reasons why Antigua has long been a favored

hotel guests have at their disposal. This includes transportation to and from the airport, a

destination for the SuperYacht set. While the cruise ships pull into the busy capital of St. John in

handful of pools, golf (located offsite), a spa, 21 restaurants and 19 bars/lounges, and even

the northwestern part of the island, yachts venture to the southwestern and southern coasts for

gaming instruction at the casino. If you don’t feel like exploring too far from the docks, the

because it’s a natural bay. In fact, it dates back to Greek and Roman times, when it was used as a

megayacht cruises the warm waters of the Caribbean: Antigua, St. Barts, St. Kitts, you name it.

calmer, quieter dockage.

Marina Village offers five restaurants and 20 shops, the latter including everything from casual

commercial port. Several restructurings and extensions over the last decade have increased

Newspapers, magazines, and websites have been filled with announcements of marinas being

clothing to high-end designers as well as souveniers.

stern-to and side-to spaces, which total more than 500 and accommodate yachts to 135 meters

developed throughout this popular playground. Now there’s word that a 20-year-old destination

LOA, or about 443 feet LOA. Pilot launches, to be found in the harbour, escort you to your berth;

is getting a sprucing up for the superyacht set.

While there are a handful of megayacht marinas to choose from, Jolly Harbour Marina, located in the enclosed lagoon of Jolly Harbour, is perhaps the most intimate. An 11-foot dredged

Of course tying up at the marina comes with several exclusive services too. Among them

Monaco Grand Prix, which rims the port, is booked easily a year in advance.

Besides the glamour and the atmosphere of ‘see and be seen,’ Port Hercule is attractive

channel makes it easy for your captain to pull in, while your chef will appreciate how the largest

are 24-hour security, delivery of faxes and courier packages, private catering for special events,

pilots themselves are available if required, though they’re mandatory for all vessels more than

supermarket on the island, The Epicurean, is adjacent to the marina. And the fact that there are

complimentary daily newspaper delivery, and a crew lounge with TV and vending machines.

30 meters (98 feet) in length.

just six stern-to and side-to berths for yachts to 200 feet LOA means none of you will have to

The website is www.atlantis.com/resources/marina.aspx.

suffer jostling or jockeying for position. Water, electricity, wireless internet, phone, and cable

ST. LUCIA: RODNEY BAY MARINA

Winter is the time of year that many a

Rodney Bay Marina, which opened its doors in 1986 in beautiful St. Lucia, is undergoing a major reconstruction, thanks to Island Global Yachting, the owner/operator since early 2008.

With restaurants, boutiques, and famous designers’ shops all within walking distance and

When completed late in 2009, Rodney Bay Marina will see the addition of 30 megayacht slips

the world-famous casino a short limo ride away (it’s the only way to go, of course), Port Hercule

and a total of 252 reconstructed berths. The renovation also includes refurbished shops and

television are provided at the dock of course, but you’ll also be interested to learn that Jolly

COSTA RICA: ISLA MOIN Yachtsmen from around the world can attest to the

puts the world at your feet. Should you wish to remain onboard and relax in privacy, fresh water,

restaurants, internet cafes, car-rental agencies, and more. Add to that emerald waters and on-

Harbour Marina provides a mobile duty-free fuel service. Step off your yacht, and you’ll find

wonders of the waters of Costa Rica. The nation has particularly attracted sportfishing

electricity, and TV hookups are all available at the docks. But don’t linger too long in your

site customs and immigration offices, and you have an ideal getaway.

restaurants (including a steakhouse and Indian cuisine), bars, and boutiques at your disposal.

enthusiasts for years. But now a new development, the Isla Moin marina and resort, promises to

lounge; there’s the fine spectator sport of yacht-watching to enjoy.

You’ll also be able to enjoy massage and yoga, hairdressing and beauty services, rentals of

pamper SuperYacht owners and their guests.

scooters and bikes, and helicopter tours on site.

For further information, visit the website: www.ports-monaco.com.

The 208-acre property is on the Caribbean coast in the province of Limon, which is Costa

Should your yacht need work done while you’re in port, a 4.5-acre boatyard is at your service. Rodney Bay’s dry-dock facility can handle up to 120 boats and has workshops for wood, fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel, and bronze. Duty-free fuel is available for departing yachts,

Rica’s principal Atlantic port. It’s a narrow island rimmed with beaches and bordered by a canal.

ST. BARTHS: GUSTAVIA

Harbour, along the southern shores, it handily accommodates up to 50 power and sailing craft

Isla Moin is a few minutes from Limon’s international airport, which offers connecting flights

Year’s Eve is arguably one of the busiest in the travel business, it’s definitely prime time for

with drafts to 25 feet. All berths are stern-to, with water, cable, and electricity. Mobile, duty-free

from San Jose International Airport as well as the international airport in Liberia. In addition,

Super Yachts. Owners and charter guests alike plan their itineraries upwards of a year in

location will allow for the megayacht circuit to cruise through the southern islands in the

fueling is also available, as is a duty-free chandlery, a bookstore, boutiques, two cafes and a

the location is within an hour to two hours cruise of a handful of national parks, wildlife refuges,

advance to make sure they can reserve a spot in the best places for this special time. If you want

Caribbean towards Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Trinidad and

restaurant, a bank, a supermarket and liquor store, and even villa rentals. The marina

and a forest reserve.

to escape to an ultra-exclusive spot or offer your yacht for charter in a high-demand locale, then

Tobago. Prior to this redevelopment, there were no first-class marina ports in the southern

go to Gustavia in Saint Barthélemy, better known as St. Barths. While Gustavia Harbour is

Caribbean which catered to the megayacht industry.’

Another facility to consider: the Antigua Yacht Club Marina. Situated in famous Falmouth

additionally hosts the office of the honorary consulate of Italy. If you want to tour the area

Isla Moin will feature two different marinas, each accommodating SuperYachts to 250 feet

While the two-week period of Christmas through New

and a duty-free chandlery is on site, too.

Cuthbert Didier, general manager of Rodney Bay Marina, put it this way: ‘Our strategic

without having to hail a taxi you’ll be pleased to know that historic Nelson’s Dockyard, complete

LOA. The first, Marina Village, will have 200 slips with a maximum draft of 18 feet. Each slip will

with 18th-century buildings, is just a few minutes away by foot. It was once home to Admiral

be walking distance to various offices and shops, including customs, a marine-supply store, a

Horatio Nelson’s fleet, so if the stone walls could talk, imagine the tales they’d tell.

yacht brokerage, a gourmet food market, restaurants, and gift shops. The second marina,

hundreds of yachts in this horseshoe-shape harbour. A few years ago a local newspaper on the

referred to as the Internal Marina, will also accommodate 200 yachts, but up to 120 feet LOA and

island reported that on Christmas alone, there were 200 yachts in port. It’s probably no

a maximum draft of 12 feet. These slips will be walking distance from condos, a spa, a hotel, and

exaggeration: 60 Med-moor berths cater to yachts to 200 feet LOA and with a maximum draft of

TURKS & CAICOS: TURKS & CAICOS SPORTING CLUB, TURKS & CAICOS YACHT CLUB The relatively small nation of the Turks & Caicos is offering

BAHAMAS: ATLANTIS The aptly named Paradise Island in the Bahamas is famous

a convention center. Private clubhouses are being built, too, containing everything from a

15 feet, while an additional 14 smaller vessels (to 80 feet) can drop anchor in the inner harbor.

megayacht owners two big options when it comes to dropping anchor for a while: the Turks &

for the Atlantis resort and casino, with its world-class gambling tables, its luxurious, $25,000-

business center to a movie theater, a pool, and a party room. Captains and crew get their own

Not only that, but 100 more yachts measuring 100 feet and larger can stay in the outer harbor.

Caicos Sporting Club and the Turks & Caicos Yacht Club.

per-night Bridge Suite, and its pulse-quickening waterslides. But for yachtsmen, it’s paradise for

clubhouse as well, complete with a heated pool and whirlpool, a business center, a movie theater,

a whole other reason: the Marina at Atlantis. Part of the Atlantis resort and casino, the marina

gym, and billiards room.

The websites are: www.jolly-harbour-marina.com and www.aycmarina.com.

One of the reasons is because the marina is intimate, providing space for 63 superyachts, yet big enough to handle sail and power vessels up to 220 feet LOA. One-hundred-sixty-footlong finger piers, each with a 35-foot beam, plus side-to berths with no beam restrictions are at

beautiful any time of year, it’s the only place to be when it comes time to ring in the New Year.

Why? Because there’s something special about watching fireworks erupt high above

If you enjoy looking at other yachts while you’re in port—a favorite pastime in Gustavia, in

If your future plans including heading to the marina, don’t despair. It will remain open during the renovation. The website is www.igy-rodneybay.com.

Imagine your private jet landing on an equally private, 5,700-foot-long strip on an

fact—you’re in for a treat. In recent years Rising Sun, Octopus, Limitless, and Gallant Lady have

unspoiled British West Indies island, then within minutes relaxing either aboard your yacht or in

all been here, and Ultima III is a perennial visitor. Yacht-hopping is not only welcome, it’s

your very own home. Exclusivity doesn’t get much better than this, all available at the Turks &

hour concierge and security services as well as wi fi, golf-cart rentals, and other amenities. The

encouraged. With all of this going for the tiny, eight-square-mile island, plus duty-free high-

Caicos Sporting Club, a new development for yachtsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. The 1,100-acre

website is www.islamoin.com.

fashion shopping nearby and even wine delivery to your yacht, it’s no wonder St. Barths is

Ambergris Cay in the Turks & Caicos is being transformed into a members-only club featuring

considered so special.

multiple amenities meant to attract both SuperYacht owners and private-jet owners (one and

Regardless of where you dock or if you purchase a residence, you’ll have access to 24-

S U P E R YA C H T M A R I N A S

has been a hit with owners and crew alike since it opened in the late 1990’s.

26

Ever since Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier, the

27

Available activities will include diving and snorkeling the 7,000-foot diving wall off the island,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: SAN DIEGO MEGAYACHT MARINA AND FORT LAUDERDALE BAHIA MAR YACHTING CENTER Move over Mexico. Sit down Seattle. There's a new megayacht

bonefishing, and naturalist trips. The latter provides the opportunity to see the wide variety of

basin in town.

the same in many cases).

As the name implies, the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club will emphasize outdoor pursuits.

birds that call the island home, such as osprey, plovers, oyster catchers, and sooty and tropic bird terns.

Specific to the SuperYacht set is the Hawkes Nest Harbor Marina and Village, which will be

Bad plays on words aside, a new megayacht marina in San Diego intends to start turning yachtsmen’s attention more toward the Southern California city than its neighbors to the north and south, which have been garnering favor—and publicity—for years. While not a marina in the

able to accommodate 150 yachts measuring more than 200 feet LOA and with a 15-foot draft.

sense of being separate, private property like many others around the world, this spot, along the

On-site customs and immigration services will make things even easier for owners and their

Embarcadero, has four Med-moor slips available for yachts measuring 100 feet and larger. If

crew. Once you clear in, you can take advantage of the dive shop and watersports activity

you're not familiar with San Diego, picture being walking distance from the downtown business

center—where guests can depart on bonefishing trips, for example—as will a grocery and deli.

Hawkes Nest Anchorage, where this nautical center is being created, is reportedly one of the finest sheltered harbours in the Caribbean. It has played an important role in history, too;

working vacations or are interested in exploring someplace new with friends and/or family, this

Christopher Columbus described it as ‘large enough for all the ships of Christendom,’ while the

fits the bill.

Royal Naval Frigates of Horatio Nelson also anchored here.

Besides all this, the club also offers the ability to build a home on the water. A variety of designs are available, and home sites range from $600,000 to $6 million.

One of the other things that sets the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club apart is the fact that it

Major regattas around the world

Top yachtsmen of all time

district, restaurants (boasting some terrific steakhouses), and hotel scene. You’re also minutes

AMERICA’S CUP. Hosted by previous winner; details of next challenge tbc. International

THOMAS LIPTON (May 10, 1848 – October 2, 1931). Tea magnate and America’s Cup

from Lindberg Field, the international airport. Whether you’re an owner who tends to take

Americas Cup Class yachts (since 1992).

challenger.

Things look promising for the future, too. The Port of San Diego is committed to

KIEL WEEK. Annually, last full week of June. Largest sailing event in the world. Large range

SIR PETER BLAKE (Oct 1, 1948 – Dec 6, 2001), two-time America’s Cup winner who was

of classes.

murdered by pirates.

industry is, which currently brings strong economic stimulus.

the sporting club itself intends to protect its well being.

For further details, check out the Web site: www.lifewellplayed.com.

handedly around the world, 1966-67.

Knight & Carver, the SuperYacht industry has made a positive economic impact on other cities around the country and that it could be equally as successful in San Diego as the cruise-ship

naturalist who will educate anyone and everyone about the biodiversity of Ambergris Cay, and

FRANCIS CHICHESTER (Sept 17, 1901 – Aug 26, 1927), first person to sail single-

1,000 vessels in forty classes.

be available. The Port’s Board of Commissioners realised, thanks to the efforts of companies like

developers (both shoreside and inland) are more interested in making money than paying

to be taking a different approach. Its environmental learning center will be home to a staff

COWES WEEK. Hosted by Royal Yacht Squadron. Held at the beginning of August. Over

marketing the city as a megayacht destination, and by 2009 four additional Med-moor spots will

will also include an environmental learning center. Far too often these days, it seems that

attention to what they’re doing to the surrounding area. The Turks & Caicos Sporting Club seems

listings

For berthing availability and rates, contact Mark Taylor, +1 (619) 686-6371. (No Web site

ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK. Late April/early May. Five days of racing with everything

ÉRIC TABARLY (July 24, 1931 – June 14, 1998). Distance sailor, considered the father of

from 24 ft yachts to superyachts.

French yachting.

CORK WEEK. Every two years in July. Six different race courses and more than 20 classes

CHARLIE BARR (1864 – 1911). Accomplished yachtsman and two-time winner of the

competing.

America’s Cup.

available.)

Lest you believe we’ve forgotten the East Coast of the United States, there’s an abundance of berthing space in Florida, a.k.a. the Sunshine State. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is regularly referred to as the Venice of America and even the SuperYacht capital of the world.

Both nicknames are well earned, for the variety of canals and the vast array of marine

PHUKET KING’S CUP REGATTA. Asia’s biggest and most popular regatta. Every

SIR CHAY BLYTH (b. May 14, 1940) – first person to sail non-stop westwards around the

As for the Turks & Caicos Yacht Club, it just opened in summer 2008 and, equally noteworthy,

businesses catering to the high end of the market makes the city a must-stop. And its proximity

December. Thirteen classes.

world in 1971.

it’s the first eco-marina within the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Atlantic Ocean.

to the Bahamas—close enough to head to Bimini for lunch—as well as the Caribbean, makes it the

Island Global Yachting, the same firm behind Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas and similar megayacht developments from St. Lucia to Dubai, is operating the new Turks & Caicos Yacht Club at the 423-acre Nikki Beach Resort & Spa. Even though the 100-room resort itself won’t open until

perfect jumping-off point for the winter cruising season in North America.

With several places in the city accommodating SuperYachts, how do you decide where to

INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA.

St Thomas, Virgin Islands. March, yearly.

SIR ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSTON (b. March 17, 1939), the first person to sail single-

go? Easy: Bahia Mar Yachting Center. Not only does the 40-acre property have more berths than

2009, the 52 berths, suitable for yachts to 200 feet, and facilities like on-site customs and

anyone else, it has more than any marina in the entire state of Florida. Of its 250 slips, 100 are

AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY REGATTA. One of the largest single-day regattas

immigration and a captain and crew lounge are already available. (Naturally residences will be

reserved for megayachts, up to 250 feet LOA. And considering Bahia Mar has been around for

and the largest sporting event in New Zealand. Pre-dates America’s Cup by 11 years. January,

available for purchase, too; visit the website for further details.) Owners and crew of sailing yachts

50 years and annually hosts a large part of the world-famous Fort Lauderdale International Boat

yearly. Range of classes.

will be particularly glad to know the Turks & Caicos Yacht Club has direct entry from the Atlantic

Show, it’s seen its fair share of vessels.

Ocean via the ‘Leeward Cut,’ which has a 12-foot depth at MLW (Mean Low Water) and an average

amenities will keep you indulged. These include a daily newspaper delivered to your slip,

Atlantic Ocean to the marina, permitting 24-hour access to the docks.

concierge services, a resort store and dive shop, and both wired and wi-fi service. There’s also up

Those of you paying particular attention to your carbon footprint will appreciate how the

marina must be designed, built, maintained, and operated to preserve the waterborne ecology

speed diesel and gasoline pumps at the fuel station will come in handy.

Should you wish to step off your yacht for a while, water taxis, charter fishing boats, and sightseeing cruises are all available at Bahia Mar’s docks. Fort Lauderdale’s best restaurants are

vacuum system within the floating docks as well as pump-out connections in each slip. Upon

a short taxi ride away, but there’s also the resort’s own Bahia Mar Bar & Grille.

number of people onboard. Marina personnel enter the information into a computerised system,

TRACY EDWARDS (b. Sept 5, 1962). First woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy and was awarded the OBE.

JOHN BERTRAND (Dec 20, 1946). Skipper of Australia II, the first to break 132 years of

Top ten sailing destinations

American supremacy in the America’s Cup.

to 200-amp single- and three-phase electrical service, and the in-slip pump-outs as well as high-

surrounding it. How? For one, the yacht club has a pressurised central grey and black water

entering the marina, yachts are required to indicate the size of their holding tank(s) and the

handed non-stop round the world in 1968.

Twenty-four-hour uniformed security will keep you and your crew at ease, while other

depth from 14 to 20 feet. The entry channel has a lighted international buoy system from the

marina exceeds all 22 Guidance Notes to the Blue Flag Marina Criteria, which state that an eco-

DAME ELLEN MACARTHUR (b. July 8, 1976) long-distance yachtswoman

Eight classes.

THE FRENCH RIVIERA (Côte d’Azur) includes many popular destinations. Perhaps the

MICHAEL PERHAM (Mar 16, 1992). Youngest person to sail across the Atlantic single-

most famous are St Tropez, Cannes and Monaco.

handed at age 14.

THE BALEARIACS

DENNIS CONNER (Sept 16, 1942). Four-times winner of the America’s Cup.

The Web site is www.bahiamarhotel.com/yachting_center/yachting_center.cfm.

ITALY (including Venice, an increasingly popular destination in recent years).

which notifies both the crew and the marina staff via telephone and electronic messages whenever it perceives that a holding-tank pump-out (provided for free) is needed. (And in case

EAST COAST USA: Newport, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

you’re curious, the waste water goes into a pressurised sewage-collection system, which connects to the Turks & Caicos’ central waste-water and sewage-treatment and disposal facility.)

FLORIDA KEYS AND THE BAHAMAS

Another eco-friendly measure: spill-protection systems for the fuel pumps, for both the superyachts themselves as well as the Water Sports Marina, for boats 25 to 49 feet. Big yachts

THE SEYCHELLES

in a big hurry needn’t fret: the 65-gallons-per-minute fuel-pumping system means a motoryacht with two fueling points can take on 4,000 gallons in half an hour.

SARDINIA AND CORSICA

For full details, the website is www.igy-turksandcaicos.com.

AUSTRALIA, including the Great Barrier Reef, Whitsunday Islands and Kimberley THAILAND

28

LISTINGS

AEGEAN SEA (Greece and Turkey)

29

NEW ZEALAND

A L L OY YA C H T S

IN THE SOUTHERN SUMMER OF

2008, ALLOY YACHTS LAUNCHED ITS LATEST PROJECT, THE 52M SLOOP, RED DRAGON. DESIGNED

BY DUBOIS NAVAL ARCHITECTS, RED DRAGON WAS BUILT

FOR INTERNATIONAL YACHTSMAN, GUY ULLENS AND HIS

WIFE MYRIAM. Mr Ullens, who among other interests is a leading international art collector, expressed delight at the execution

VvS1 The expedition style motoryacht VvS1

of his new yacht. ‘Alloy Yachts has a culture of excellence,

designed by Gregory Marshall for a New Zealand client became the 19th yacht built by the yacht to receive an international award.

which is world class,’ he said. ‘The yard is producing exceptional pieces like this. Red Dragon is a work of art.’

TIARA Tiara, the first sailing Super Yacht able to land a helicopter on the aft deck, makes its way down to the sea after launching.

Red Dragon is the fourth yacht over 50m built by Alloy Yachts. She has a beam of 10.2m (33.5ft), draws 4.9m (16.1ft) and a displacement of 354 tonnes. Work has since commenced on a 58m sloop and there is a strong likelihood of an even larger project in the future.

Before Red Dragon, the yard launched the 34m expedition style motoryacht, VvS1, designed by Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects and delivered to its New Zealand owner in May. In April 2008, VvS1

Alloy Yachts

won the 2008 Boat International World SuperYacht Award for Best Displacement Motoryacht under 500 gross tonnes. This brought the number of international awards won by yachts built by the yard to 19.

Contact Tony Hambrook Managing Director Alloy Yachts Phone:

+64 9 838 7350

Email:

mailbox@alloyyachts.co.nz

Under the leadership of Managing Director Tony Hambrook, Alloy Yachts is now in its 22nd year of operation and will soon commence work on its 40th project. The New Zealand yard builds aluminium custom superyachts (sail and power) from 30m to 68m LOA. With a workforce of more than 400 people, the yard can typically build four projects at a time.

Alloy Yachts continues to enjoy a very strong and growing international reputation, based on world-class quality, outstanding engineering and detailing, with a very strong emphasis on designing and building most components in-house.

Alloy Yachts have pioneered a number of innovations some of which have subsequently become industry standards including the first carbon-fibre mast, the first in-boom furling systems and the first sailing yacht to accommodate a helicopter.

Alloy Yachts enjoys a diverse customer base, with projects more or less evenly split between Europe, the USA and Australasia. A current project is for an Asian-based customer. It is a point of pride that several customers have built repeat projects at Alloy Yachts, some of them running to three or more vessels.

KOKOMO The 52m flybridge sloop Kokomo by Currently under construction are a 40m motoryacht, designed by Dubois Naval Architects and

scheduled for delivery in January 2009; a 58m sloop with twin engines and lifting keel, designed by Dubois Naval Architects and scheduled for delivery in December 2009 and a 52m Dubois ketch, which will

Dubois Naval Architects features the aft cockpit, main saloon and pilothouse all on a single level, creating a tremendous sense of space.

be delivered in October 2008.

To accommodate the ever-increasing size of its projects, Alloy Yachts extended its facility in 2007 with the addition of its eighth construction bay. At the end of 2007 and into early 2008, the yard further extended two of its building bays to accommodate the new 58m sloop due for delivery at the end of 2009, bringing the total floor area to 11,000m2.

With forward orders to 2010 and continuing strong enquiries, the outlook for the award-winning New Zealand yard remains extremely positive.

AD LIB Ad Lib, a 40m Dubois motoryacht, drew much admiration for its elegant lines.

30

ALLOY YACHTS

RED DRAGON Red Dragon's lines by Dubois Naval Architects are clean and contemporary.

The Wilmotte & Associates interior of Red Dragon utilises muted colours, inspired by driftwood collected by the owner's wife.

31

fowl cay

Then, suddenly, the island itself was right in front of us, a simple wooden sign announcing its name and a small welcoming party waiting at the small dock: Julie Huggins, Captain Steve’s wife and assistant in managing the estate, and their twin children, barefoot and tanned, just as one would imagine them to be on a desert island in the Bahamas.

INTRODUCTION SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG EXUMA CHAIN

Our party was given one of the ubiquitous Bahamian golf carts and driven to our island homes for the duration of our stay: Starlight House and Seabreeze House.

OF ISLANDS LIES A HIDDEN JEWEL – A 50-ACRE SANDBANK LUSH WITH GREENERY Starlight House sits at one of the highest points of Fowl Cay, the other being the club house itself.

NAMED FOWL CAY. If you have ever dreamed of losing yourself on a totally private and unexplored island, you would first need to locate Staniel Cay, which provides an airstrip servicing a myriad of small islands in the Exumas. You then need to charter a plane to Staniel Cay, unless of course, you fly your own or go by yacht.

There were no other aircraft in evidence when the Beyond Black team landed, just a solitary golf cart to greet us and pick up our luggage.

Steve Huggins (‘Captain Steve’) appeared within minutes and we boarded the Royal Plantation

Seabreeze House is at a slightly lower level. The two are connected across an open-air courtyard by a living area and kitchen where the Beyond Black troops ate breakfast and made plans for the day.

Our veranda overlooked the Fowl Cay beach, with water sports equipment neatly stored for the use of visitors, hammocks strung between palm trees and a beach bar.

Further afield is a deserted stretch of an island with a tiny sandbar within swimming distance between the two.

We took an exploration trip to the other side of Fowl Cay, using the path Captain

speed boat to Fowl Cay. The captain provided running commentary as we motored past Staniel Cay’s yacht

Steve had cleared the previous day. Driving past lush shrubland and dwarf palm trees, we

club, a favourite of Jimmy Buffett and Sean Connery, who go bone fishing there.

arrived at a cove where the sand bears not a single foot mark. The silence was surreal,

The yacht club itself consists of an American-style club house, decorated with international flags and framed 1960s’ photographs documenting the yachting history of the cay, and serving Bahamian and American dishes. A handful of colour-coded pink, blue and yellow houses dot the harbour. We motored

Later that evening, the Captain presided over cocktails and dinner and entertained us to stories of his seafaring days and his vision for Fowl Cay’s future.

We thought Fowl Cay was exquisite just as it was.

BAHAMAS

past deserted sandbanks that soon became a familiar landscape during our stay at Fowl Cay.

punctuated only by the sound of the sea, and the views were breathtaking.

Royal Plantation Island at Fowl Cay Contact Captain Steve Huggins Phone:

+1242 355 2046

Mobile:

+1242 357 0095

Fax:

+1954 208 8216

Email:

steve@fowlcay.com

Email:

info@fowlcay.com

URL:

www.fowlcay.com

FOWL CAY

32

33

The South African chef, John, appeared in his whites and told us the dinner menu: a starter, a choice of two main courses and desert. It was to be the first meal in a series of culinary excellence all the more astounding as we knew that Fowl Cay, in common with all Bahamian islands, gets food supplies by mail boat.

So outstanding is the food, in fact, mega yacht captains, alongside owners of the neighbouring islands, regularly set anchor at Fowl Cay to experience the 5-star cuisine.

After a late breakfast the following day, we piled into the Royal Plantation speedboat once again, this time for the purpose of a day’s ‘sightseeing’.

If you are staying in one of Fowl Cay’s 6 villas (or are fortunate enough to rent the entire island), you needn’t feel shipwrecked for the duration of your stay. Each villa comes with its own boat in which

Snorkelling amongst them was as surreal for the Beyond Black crew as the rest of our day.

Have you ever dived to explore a sunken plane? It’s all in a day’s sightseeing and part of Captain’s Steve list of ‘interesting things to do’ while at Fowl Cay. Motoring past countless deserted islands, some of the beaches literally petering out into the sea, we took pictures of a landscape we had not suspected still existed in the touristy Bahamas.

You look at the greeny blue translucent water and think, ‘I can touch the bottom’, even though an echo sounder would tell you that you are in very deep waters indeed.

We put in at Compass Cay next. Compass Cay is yet another small island whose owner, Tucker Rolle has the most unusual pets: a school of sharks that feed at the harbour. The bravest of our crew got into the sea and patted a few of them.

you can further explore the vast array of uninhabited islands, putting in for a picnic and a swim here and

Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club and back to Fowl Cay completed the day’s explorations.

there.

We spent the next few days enjoying the island, the delicious food and cocktails, sailing, Our first destination was the island directly opposite Fowl Cay, Big Major Spot, where recycling

swimming and dreaming that we could stay there forever.

takes on a whole new meaning. This is the island of the semi-wild swimming pigs where all food waste is disposed of. Throw the remains of your previous night’s dinner at them and they will swim to catch it as deftly as any fish.

Next we motored to a national reserve with a difference: thousands of multicoloured fish circled around our boat while Captain Steve crumbled bread.

Fowl Cay can be rented in its entirety for the relatively modest sum of US $110,000 a week.

It is the well-kept secret destination of some of the world’s wealthiest players and yachtsmen.

2008 will see the addition of a spa, but hopefully not too much of a further development as the island is absolute perfection just as it is.

<< There is much more than a tropical beach to Fowl Cay... >>

FOWL CAY

34

35

the america’s cup INTRODUCTION THE AMERICA’S CUP IS

The origins of the regatta date back to 1851, a time when Britain was the self-proclaimed ruler of the seas. Ahead of the Industrial World’s Fair in London, an event organised to allow

KNOWN AS THE HOLY GRAIL OF SAILING. THE OLDEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE IN THE HISTORY OF YACHT RACING, IT PREDATES EVERY OTHER

countries to show off their technological progress, the Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron challenged the Americans to a race. Their response was the 31-metre schooner America, built by a syndicate representing the New York Yacht Club, which was launched in June of 1851 and crossed the Atlantic in less than 21 days, a new record.

SIGNIFICANT SPORTING AWARD, BEGINNING SOME 45 YEARS BEFORE THE MODERN OLYMPICS WERE

On August 22, America raced 15 British yachts around the Isle of Wight, winning by 20 minutes. The prize was the Hundred Guinea Cup, later renamed the America’s Cup after the yacht that won the first race. (In sailing circles it is now known simply as the ‘Auld Mug’.) In 1857

ESTABLISHED. Since its inception the Cup has attracted

the syndicate donated the cup to the New York Yacht Club as a ‘Perpetual Challenge Cup for

some of the best sailors and designers in the world. Today,

friendly competition between foreign countries.’ (The NYYC would retain the cup for an incredible 132 years before they were beaten by Australia in 1983.) Over the years the terms of

syndicates spend up to £100 million on building hopeful winners. From a technological point of view, advances

this deed of gift have been revised several times to alter the conditions of the event.

The next race was not until 1870, the first of many British challenges to the Americans.

James Lloyd Ashbury pitted his Cambria against a fleet of 14 American ships in Lower New York

made in the course of developing ships for the America’s

Bay, coming 8th to the winning schooner, Magic. Ashbury unsuccessfully returned with the

Cup have shaped yacht design across all classes.

Livonia the following year. From 1876 the race took the format of a single challenger against a single defender.

SHAMROCK

DEFENDER

NY YACHT CLUB

The end of the 19th century saw the largest and most imposing yachts in the history of the

From 1958 America won a further eight challenges until finally, in 1983, Australia brought an

America’s Cup, great 90-foot waterline ships that dominated the event for a decade until 1903.

end to their 132-year winning streak. The Australia II featured a winged keel, an innovative

All of the defenders were designed by Captain Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and were built at

design that demonstrated that advances in maritime technology were playing an increasingly

the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island. Defender, the 1895 American

important part in the competition. For the first time ever, the next race was held in Australian

entry, was an all-metal design with a steel frame, bronze plating to the waterline and aluminium

waters. The American Stars and Stripes took the trophy back in 1987, piloted by veteran

topsides. Galvanic corrosion began as soon as it touched the seawater, and after winning the

America’s Cup yachtsman Dennis Connor, who had lost in 1983 but won in 1974, 1980, 1987 and

race the ship gradually dissolved and was broken up in 1901. Herreshoff’s era culminated in 1903

1988.

with the Reliance, a massive 44-metre-long boat with a sail area of 1,600 square metres.

The hiatus in challenges caused by the First World War came to an end in 1920. Between

Connor’s last race was a curious one and, due to disagreement between challenger and defender, took place under the Cup’s original rules. The challenger was the enormous 37-metre

1920 and 1937 the Universal Rule was applied, a new formula to determine the eligibility of a

New Zealand, larger even than the J-class yachts of the pre-war period. In response, the

ship based on length, sail area and displacement. (Before and after this period the more

Americans built a cutting-edge catamaran (also called Stars and Stripes), something also not

complex and variable International Rule or Metre Rule was used, which resulted in a wider

expressly forbidden by the rules. The contest took place after a series of legal disputes to

variety of crafts.) Only 10 of these ‘J-Class’ yachts were ever built, three of which survive.

establish the eligibility of both vessels, a process which threatened to bring the Cup into ill-

One of the most tenacious and well-known challengers of this time was Sir Thomas

repute. The catamaran won, but a new rule was introduced to make sure the fiasco could never

Lipton of Lipton Tea. Between 1899 and 1930 he launched five vessels, all named Shamrock,

be repeated. The International America’s Cup Class (IACC) rules have subsequently been used,

with the hope of wresting the cup from the Americans. The first of these was the result of a

and yachts are now typically around 23 metres.

request from the Prince of Wales, although he gained much welcome publicity for his business

In 1995 New Zealand became only the third nation to hold the cup, decisively beating the

in the process. Lipton never won and died before he could mount his sixth challenge. The 36-

defending Young America with their Black Magic. Swiss team Alingi became the fourth in 2003

metre Shamrock V is still afloat and available for charter today.

by defeating New Zealand, winning for the second time in 2007.

competition was not restarted; the huge and expensive J-Class yachts belonged to another age

The 33rd America’s Cup is due to be held in 2010.

and were impractical to build in a post-war world. It was not until 1958 that a change in the rules was suggested and the Cup was fought with the smaller ‘12-metre class’ yachts.

In 1970, several international teams took up the challenge for the first time (although challengers from the same country had previously raced to determine which would vie for the Cup). The Louis Vuitton Cup was inaugurated as a qualifier for the entrants. It is now a major

http://www.americascup.com/

T H E A M E R I C A’ S C U P

The Second World War brought another halt to the challenges. After 1945 the

event in its own right.

36

37

new york yacht club

prove an overmatch for the industry and skill of their aspiring competitors.’

In the event, the new boat was not the fastest in the States, although the competition was somewhat unfair as she lost to a boat designed for flat water, rather than the sea, and one with a much larger sail. Nevertheless, having failed to ‘answer the sanguine expectations of her builder,’ as hoped, Stevens and his syndicate of friends paid just $20,000 for her: two-thirds the agreed price, should the boat prove fastest.

The rest is legend. America crossed the Atlantic and beat the 15 yachts representing the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. The winning yacht gave her name to the trophy, the America’s Cup, which remained in American hands for 132 years, until Australia II finally ended the longest winning streak in sports history in 1983. In the early years of the Cup, legendary yacht designer and honorary NYYC member Captain Nathaniel Herreshoff made great contributions to this success.

The New York Yacht Club also holds the prestigious honour of conducting the first transatlantic race in 1866, as well as the fastest in 1905. On 17 May, 1905, a fleet of 12 yachts, eight from America and two each from England and Germany, set out on a transatlantic race. The record of 12 days, four hours, one minute and 19 seconds was set by the Atlantic, owned by NYYC member Wilson Marshall and skippered by three-time America’s Cup defender Charlie Barr. This record endured for a century until it was beaten in 2005 in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge by Mari-Cha IV. The yacht completed the 2,925mile course from New York to the Lizard in England in nine days, 15 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds.

MEMBERSHIP Buoyed by these events, membership of the NYYC grew to 1,000 within 50 years. By 1903 it had reached 2,000 and now stands at 3,200. Over half of these are yacht-owners. The yachts range from 22 to 289 feet; around 1,100 are sailboats, with roughly half this number of powerboats. Club members include cruising sailors, powerboaters, Corinthian racers, professional sailors, team-racers, match-racers, Olympic medallists, America’s Cup skippers and crews, and sail makers, yacht designers and boat builders. All are united by a passion for yachting. Many of today’s members come from the New York metropolitan area and New England, as well as across America and around the world.

INTRODUCTION FOUNDED IN 1844, THE NEW YORK

HISTORY The NYYC was founded on the afternoon of July 30, 1844, when John Cox Stevens and eight other sailors met aboard Stevens’ yacht Gimcrack. Stevens’ idea was to

YACHT CLUB IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST-KNOWN AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS YACHT CLUBS. It is based in New York City and

form a club for New Yorkers to organise weekend racing and summer cruises.

As the club’s first commodore, Stevens began a tradition that has lasted over 150 years. In 1845 the members of the NYYC met in their new clubhouse to organise their

Newport, Rhode Island. The NYYC currently has over 3,000 members.

Annual Regatta. Nine yachts participated. Today, over 125 yachts compete. The course for

New members are only accepted by invitation.

the regatta has changed over the years, but only major disruptions such as wars (starting with the Civil War in 1861) and the assassination of JFK have led to its cancellation.

In 1851, a friendly rivalry between the NYYC and the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes,

international trophy in sport. The commodore of the NYYC responded to an invitation from

Contact

the RYS and the club sailed their newest yacht, America, over to England to display in the

New York Yacht Club

Great Exhibition, organised by Prince Albert, as an example of American shipbuilding.

America was intended to be the fastest boat in the country, though Commodore

Text and photography © 19911015-H Walter Dufresne

38

37 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036

Stevens showed caution in his letter to the RYS, writing, ‘Should she answer the sanguine

USA

expectations of her builder, we propose to avail ourselves of your friendly bidding, and take

Phone:

with a good grace the sound thrashing we are likely to get by venturing our longshore craft

Fax:

+1 (212) 391-6368

on your rough waters. I fear the energy and experience of your persevering yachtsmen will

URL:

http://nyyc.org/home/

+1 (212) 382-1000

N E W YO R K YA C H T C L U B

England would begin more than 150 years of racing tradition, and found the oldest

39

royal yacht squadron INTRODUCTION FOUNDED ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO, THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND EXCLUSIVE YACHT CLUB IN EUROPE AND ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE UK. The Squadron’s clubhouse is housed in the impressive Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight, originally built by Henry VIII as part of a line of coastal defence.

Since the early 19th century, the RYS has been at the forefront of both sporting events and yachting developments.

In 1833 Lord Yarborough, the First Commodore, told the king that ‘it will ever be our most earnest wish and desire to promote, in every way in our power, naval science and architecture.’ In addition, the Squadron has always been closely associated with the Royal Navy and member yachts fly the White Ensign.

HISTORY

Originally known as the Yacht Club, the Squadron was founded at

the Thatched House Tavern in London on 1 June 1815 (just two weeks before Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo) by 42 gentlemen with an interest in sea-yachting.

Many of these either lived near Cowes or visited regularly; the annual regatta there was a popular

COWES

spectator sport even in those days. The members agreed to meet for dinner twice a year in London and

Royal Yacht Squadron

Cowes to discuss their mutual interest.

In the early days there was an emphasis on sailing together, manoeuvring as a squadron; there

Within a few years, as private races between members became common, the Squadron began to organise larger races for gold cups. The most sought-after prize was the King’s or Queen’s Cup, named

was therefore a keen interest in signalling and the RYS’s first Book of Signals was published by the

after the tradition began by George IV and continued until World War II of the reigning monarch

Admiralty Librarian the same year. Membership was dependent on ownership of a vessel of at least 10

presenting the winner with a cup. In 1851 a race around the island was organised in response to a

tons. Today, this principle is interpreted as a gentleman ‘actively interested in yachting.’ Candidates must

challenge from the US yacht America. Renowned locomotive designer and civil engineer Robert

be proposed and seconded, and have three sponsors. There are four types of membership: Members, Naval

Stephenson also raced against America on a separate occasion with his yacht Titania.

Members, Foreign Members and Lady Associate Members, the first thee having the same election requirements. There are two elections each year, one at the Spring General Meeting and the other during

COWES CASTLE

Cowes Week.

VIII as part of a system of coastal defence to protect the Isle of Wight and the naval dockyard at

The Squadron’s clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle, which was built by Henry

Portsmouth. After Napoleon’s defeat its strategic significance was reduced and it became the home of the Captain of Cowes Castle, Lord Anglesey – also a Squadron member. In 1857 the Squadron leased the castle, employing the eminent architect Anthony Salvin to convert it into a suitable premises for members.

Contact Royal Yacht Squadron

EVENTS

The Castle

Cowes Regatta had been running before the formation of the Royal Yacht Club, as it was known in those

Cowes

days, and centred around local pilots gaining their licences. In 1826, however, the Club started to organise

Isle Of Wight

races as part of the regatta, with cups as prizes for the winners. A notice was placed in the Southampton

PO31 7QT

Town and Country Herald advertising a race for a gold cup with a value of £100. For a £2 entry fee, Club

United Kingdom

yachts of any rig or tonnage could race the course from a cutter in Cowes Roads, off Cowes Castle, west

Phone:

+44 (0) 1983 292191 or +44 (0) 845 873 7759

Fax:

+44 (0) 1983 200253

Email:

mail@rys.org.uk

URL:

www.rys.org.uk

Just two of the events for which the RYS is famous are Cowes Week and the America’s Cup.

around a vessel off Yarmouth and east round the buoy of the Spit off Southsea Castle, round both black buoys on the Middle Bank and finally back round the cutter. The annual Sailing match was also advertised, open to vessels of any port and description. This began the long association of the RYS with what became known as ‘Cowes Week’. Today, over a thousand boats fill the Solent for Cowes Week and the island attracts over 50,000 visitors for one of the most important events of the social calendar. The highly exclusive Royal Squadron ball is the pinnacle of these, with a guest list of A-list celebrity and international royalty – some of whom, such as the Aga Khan, the King of Spain, the King of Norway, the King of Denmark and the Duke of Edinburgh, are or have been active racers. Further balls and receptions are organised by other clubs, including the Royal London Yacht Club, the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, the Island Sailing Club and the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

to showcase the best of British technological progress and talent. America, the schooner after which the Cup became known, won the race against 15 British yachts around the Isle of Wight, accompanied part way by the Queen and Prince Albert. 1870 saw the first of a long series of counter-challenges, but it was not until 1983 that the Cup finally left American hands when Australia II won the race. Squadron members are often amongst the challengers.

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ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON

The America’s Cup arose out of a challenge issued by a syndicate of American yachtsmen, prompted by the Great Exhibition of 1851, an event organised at the request of Prince Albert and designed

41

seawanhaka corinthian yacht club

PURPOSE

The founders of

Seawanhaka’s achievements and innovations include:

Seawanhaka agreed on a statement of

> The first Corinthian yacht club

purpose that they felt best reflected the spirit

> The first open Corinthian race

of their new club. Their objectives were: to

> The first challenge to the concept of sandbagger racing by the passing of racing rules that

become proficient in navigation, the personal

specifically forbid the use of shifting ballast in a race

management, control and handling of their

> Prohibition of professionals on the helm in most local races

yachts and all matters pertaining to

> The first scientific handicap rule

seamanship. This statement still remains valid

> The first spinnakers flown in a race

today, as does the motto the founders

> A design by a member of a yacht on paper (Vindex), as opposed to common the practice at

adopted. ‘Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat’, or ‘Let

that time, which was to build from a model carved by eye

whoever earns the palm bear it’ (‘Honour to the one who deserves it’) was also Nelson’s

In addition, Seawanhaka members have made great leaps forward in studying wind and

motto.

weather patterns, tides and currents. They have contributed to yacht design, new types of Core to Seawanhaka was the spirit of

sail and hull forms, chemicals and materials. They have raised awareness and promoted

Corinthianism, or amateur yachting. The club

competition at a national level. Club members have competed and won medals at the

was formed at a time when relatively few

Olympics and have won many other national and international championships.

people could afford to sail for recreation.

However, the idea of ‘Corinthian’ yachting caught on and the club expanded rapidly. In his last speech as Seawanhaka’s Commodore, Swan instructed his audience: ‘Prosecute vigorously the popularization of Corinthian races with which Seawanhaka is so closely identified, as I feel assured it will not only be to it a tower of strength, but also that it is the only true and enjoyable kind of yachting.’ In 1881 the word ‘Corinthian’ was added to the club’s title to stress this spirit of amateurism.

Contact Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club

CONTRIBUTION

With their strong emphasis on Corinthianism, Seawanhaka’s

314 Yacht Club Rd.

members have transformed yachting and have made many unique contributions to the

Oyster Bay,

sport. Since the club’s inception, members have maintained that the fact that they are

NY 11771

amateur yachtsmen is no excuse for poor performance. Instead, they have ensured that they

Phone:

+1 (516) 922-6200

compete alongside the best and take the sport as seriously as anyone, whilst still retaining

URL:

http://www.seawanhaka.org/

the sense of sportsmanship and devotion that drew them to sailing in the first place.

INTRODUCTION SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB IS ONE OF THE OLDEST YACHT CLUBS IN THE WESTERN

Seawanhaka Yacht Club is based in Oyster Bay, Centre Island, close enough to Manhattan for convenience but far enough away to escape the bustle of the city.

It is one of the hardest clubs to become a member of, and one of the most

HEMISPHERE. Founded in 1871, the club is today a full-service organisation, dedicated to the spirit of Corinthian sailing and with a year-round programme. During the summer months, Seawanhaka’s

ORIGINS

Seawanhaka was founded aboard Glance, the sloop of the famous Mason,

Commodore and Presbyterian Elder William L. Swan, in September 1871. The name of the club derives from the local Indian tribe’s name for Centre Island, the ‘Island of Shells’.

active schedule involves weekly racing, and the club frequently sends teams to compete in prestigious events around the world, from Club to

Twelve founders were recorded at that first meeting on Glance, at which Swan was elected the club’s first Commodore. A model of his ship still takes pride of place in Seawanhaka’s clubhouse. A pillar of the local community, Swan nevertheless found plenty of

World Championship level.

time to enjoy himself by organising sailing contests among the local fishermen and gaming, drinking and singing with friends aboard Glance until the early hours of the morning.

Club meetings were also held aboard Glance which, at 41 feet, was one of the only vessels large enough to accommodate everyone. As membership increased, Swan decided to commission the 77-foot Ariel, which was launched in 1873 and which served for the next

S E AWA N H A K A C O R I N T H I A N YA C H T C L U B

prestigious in the world.

three years until Swan stepped down as Commodore.

Photography by Caroline V. Gerry

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43

CHAMPAGNE

audoin de dampierre

avontuur estate INTRODUCTION THE AVONTUUR ESTATE IN SOUTH AFRICA WAS THE VISION OF TONY

<< It is through its Brut that a grand Champagne house is judged. I made this Champagne for you and am certain you will like it >>

TABERER WHO CAME FROM A FAMILY OF LANDOWNERS AND FARMERS IN ZIMBABWE. IN 1982 HE BOUGHT THE 40 HA WINE PRODUCING AVONTUUR ESTATE WHICH LIES ON THE HELDERBERG WINE ROUTE BETWEEN STELLENBOSCH AND SOMERSET WEST AND ADDED A FURTHER 40 HA IN 1988. The Avontuur Estate is a vineyard and a winery with a difference: it is also an award winning stud farm, breeding pedigree race horses. The Taberer family have established a tradition of excellence in both wine making and horse breeding, appealing to the sophisticated patron who has an appreciation of both.

COUNT AUDOIN DE DAMPIERRE

FINE WINES

INTRODUCTION AN ULTIMATE INDULGENCE AND A BEYOND BLACK CHOICE! FINE, LONG-LASTING MOUSSE. FULL, HARMONIOUS, FAULTLESS

The original grape varieties of the estate were Cinsault and Steen, to

LUNA DE MIEL 2008 Kicks off with lime and

which Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage were added. In the early 90s, Avontuur became a

lemon on the nose and following through with fresh

leading producer of elegant wines designed for immediate drinking rather than cellaring.

ginger, floral and very subtle wooded undertones.

Between 2002 and 2004, the Avontuur wines went on to win a variety of awards, mostly for

Typical mineral palate with well balanced acids and

young wines. In October 2008, a young winemaker, Natalie Nel (25) took over in the cellar,

lingering aftertaste.

COLOUR. FINE BOUQUET, HINTS OF PINOT NOIR, LONG LASTING AROMA. PERFECTLY BALANCED, ROUNDED FLAVOUR, NOT AGGRESSIVE. A CLEAN

assisted by oenological expert, Charl Theron.

SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 Clear with a light

FRESH FINISH. A VERY ELEGANT, DELICATE WINE. This exceptional blend is

Wine cuvees

green tinge. Passion fruit and pineapple with a zesty

composed of great Chardonnay grapes from the Côte des Blancs villages of Avize,

lemon grass aftertaste.

BACCARAT 2005 Elegant blend of cabs s/f &

Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger (50 %), and of noble black Pinots Noirs grapes from Bouzy, Ambonnay and Cumières in the Montagne de Reims(50%). Premier cru.

merlot; 04 deep cab-dominated bouquet with leafy

Tasting Room and Restaurant

hint; concentrated, poised cassis flavours cradled

The Avontuur Estate has a fine Tasting room with an

by new French oak (18 mths). Good maturation

African cheese platter and a restaurant open for

potential.

breakfast, lunch and dinner.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 Classically elegant dry red wine with an attractive cherry red colour. Medium-bodied with opulent cigar box and liquorice aromas.

KLEIN AVONTUUR RED 2006 Upfront Famous clients

red fruit with gutsy, juicy middle palate. Easydrinking, pleasant dry red.

Champagne Dampierre is delivered directly from our cellars:

THE SKETCH RESTAURANT

Moreover, in California, we are served by the glass in all the RITZ CARLTON HOTELS and in many restaurants such as

SHIRAZ 2005 A silky black centre with a youthful pink rim. A forthcoming mocca-chocolate

THE RITZ HOTEL

L'ORANGERIE, as well as hotels of San Francisco and Los

nose with dark berries, cherries, spices and pepper. A well made wine with loads of flavour and

To The PRIME MINISTER (Prime Minister mansion)

NOTTING HILL BRASSERIE

Angeles and the L.A. COUNTRY CLUB, CALIFORNIA CLUB and

fruit concentration and well integrated tannins and oak. The wine has good structure and

JONATHAN CLUB

excellent varietal characteristics.

LAFAYETTE GOURMET in Berlin

VINTNER’S RED 2005 Kicks off with cedar wood and spice on the nose and follows

To The SENATE To The MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS as well as to 42

HOTEL DU VIN Royal Tunbridge Wells

Embassies

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

To The NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

PATRICK GUILBAUD RESTAURANT in Dublin THE SQUARE RESTAURANT

You also find us in:

AUBERGINE RESTAURANT

The ‘Cuvée de Prestige’ vintages of 1988, 1990, 1995, having

Contact Consolidated Wines Limited

ZAFFERANO RESTAURANT

the traditional and authentic way of tying up a cork, are part of

CABERNET-MERLOT 2004 Ripe, red berries on the nose followed by an elegant, soft

Phone:

44(0)123 350 04 93

LA TOUR D'ARGENT, LUCAS CARTON, LASSERRE, the

AURORA IN THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL

the ten prestigious cuvées selected by HARRODS in London.

mouth feel with cherries and strawberry chocolates on the palate. Well-integrated wood. A fresh

URL:

www.consolidatedwines.co.uk

Restaurant GUY SAVOY in Paris, and also the LAFAYETTE

THE PONT DE LA TOUR

GOURMET.

THE MIRABELLE MARCO PIERRE WHITE

lingering finish. Medium-bodied and easy drinking.

Catherine Velge

BOYER à Reims - Restaurant les Crayères

PINOTAGE 2003 Ripe fruit and savoury aromas on the nose. Medium-bodied, structured

Phone:

+44(0)7711414226

and well-balanced. Drinking well now.

Email:

cv@consolidatedwines.co.uk

GEORGES BLANC à Vonnas

The restaurant LE CIRQUE in New York (Named best restaurant

CROCODILE and BUEREHIESEL in Strasbourg.

of New York),

Contact

Restaurant ANDRE'S (the oldest French Restaurant of Las

Catherine Velge

Gavin Murphy

Vegas).

Phone:

+44(0)7711414226

Phone:

+44(0)7919 445 816

Email:

cv@consolidatedwines.co.uk

Email:

gavin.murphy@consolidatedwines.co.uk

Equally, abroad, you will find us in London at:

44

through with cassis and blueberry on the palate. This medium-bodied wine is juicy and lingering with a long finish.

A U D O I N D E D A M P I E R R E /AV O N T U U R E S TAT E

THE GAVROCHE To The PRESIDENCE DE LA REPUBLIQUE (Presidential cellar)

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caffè florian

INTRODUCTION SET UNDER THE ARCADES OF THE PROCURATIE NUOVE IN ST. MARK’S SQUARE, VENICE, CAFFÈ FLORIAN MAY RIGHTFULLY CLAIM TO BE ONE OF THE CITY’S SYMBOLS. Opened on December 29th 1720 by Floriano Francesconi under the name Venezia Trionfante, or Triumphant Venice, it soon became known by its patrons as ‘Florian’s’, the most famous ‘botega da caffè’ (café) of the day.

Since its opening, Caffè Florian has always been frequented by an illustrious clientele. Venetian

true to its historical connections with the Venice Biennale. This concept led to the birth of

noblemen would sit side by side with ambassadors, merchants, fortune hunters, men of letters

‘Temporanea’ an exhibition series where the Florian’s ‘spaces’ are redefined with the help of

and artists, but also the ordinary citizens of La Serenissima. It was also a hunting ground of

installations by artists like Mimmo Rotella, Fabrizio Plessi and Gaetano Pesce.

Casanova in search of female company, since the Florian was the only Caffè to admit women at the time.

Caffè Florian was a crossroads of changing moods and news: from state affairs to local gossip and frivolous chat about the latest fashion. The cosy rooms welcomed such personalities as Silvio Pellico, Nicolò Tommaseo, Lord Byron, Ugo Foscolo,

shopping street Via Tornabuoni, the Florian Abu Dhabi Boutique, the new location at Dubai International Financial Centre and coming soon also in London.

At the new boutiques guests may purchase products from the

Goethe, Madame de Staël, Chateaubriand, Charles Dickens, Marcel

Florian collections while enjoying Caffè Florian’s distinctly elegant

Proust, Gabriele D’annunzio and Eleonora Duse, Rousseau,

atmosphere and time-honoured silver-platter Italian caffè service.The

Rubinstein, Stravinsky, Modigliani and Campigli – to name only a

Florian boutique concept is a contemporary interpretation of the

few.

famous San Marco Caffè. Pastel colours inspired by the original 19th At the end of the 19th century Riccardo Selvatico and his

friends would meet in the Sala del Senato (Senate Room) and discussed the idea of organizing a biennial art exhibition, the future

century frescoes predominate and select Italian materials, including velvets and mosaics, abound.

The Florian world can also be discovered in exclusive

Venice Biennale, as a hommage to King Umberto and Queen

international locations such as on board of Costa Cruise Lines, Marco

Margherita of Italy. The first International Art Exhibition took place

Polo International Airport in Venice, Treviso Airport and unique spaces

in 1895.

such as Corso Como 10 in Milan.

At the turn of the century, Caffè Florian began making the

The emblem of impeccable service and exclusive style, the

Venetian summers even more appealing by adopting the traditional

Florian brand name offers a wide range of uniquely refined products

European ‘café-concert’ with a resident ensemble. And now, on any

with a strong accent on Venetian tradition and all the elegance of the

given day, you may find yourself sitting in one of the caffé’s rooms

celebrated Italian style.

The quality tradition of the Florian products is also reflected in

Contact Johan Tengstrand

the delicacies of the Gourmand range, the elegance of the Lifestyle

Caffe Florian UK/France

line, and the unique design objects and accessories available in the

9 Berkeley Street, 2nd floor

world meet. Although steeped in tradition, the Caffè is actively

boutique corners at the Florians in Venice, Florence, Abu Dhabi, Dubai,

W1J 8DW, London,UK

engaged in present-day city life, organising top-quality cultural

and on the website www.caffeflorian.com.

Phone:

+44(0)7809426985

Email:

jtengstrand@caffeflorian.com

of art, culture, politics and business.

Today, Caffè Florian is still the place where Venice and the

events, with particular emphasis on the field of contemporary art,

CAFFE FLORIAN

next to stage or screen stars, or other luminaries from the worlds

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The commercial development strategy undertaken over the recent years has seen the first openings of Florian Coffee Retail Shops: The Florian Boutique in Florence, just off fashionable

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world’s largest yachts

SAVARONA (408 ft/124m, Blohm & Voss): Turkish government Now a charter yacht in the Mediterranean, Savarona was launched in 1931 and was originally owned by the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

It is owned by the government of Turkey and leased by businessman Kahraman Sadıkoglu, who owns the Istanbul-based Tuzla Shipyard.

INTRODUCTION SOME OF THE LARGEST YACHTS IN THE WORLD TODAY – UNTIL ROMAN ABRAMOVICH

4

AL SALAMAH

TAKES DELIVERY OF ECLIPSE – AND

(456ft/139m, Lürssen): Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz UNTIL THE NEXT MEGAYACHT OWNER TRUMPS HIM.

1

Born in 1928, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz has been Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General since 1963. He was named Second Deputy Prime Minister in 1982, and upon the death of King Fahd in 2005 he also became Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister.

5

2 RISING SUN (452 ft/138m, Lürssen): Larry Ellison

ALEXANDER (400 ft/122m, Luebecker Flender-Werke): Latsis family Yiannis Latsis was a Greek shipping tycoon who began work as a deckhand and built up to a fleet of ships, before diversifying into oil and banking. He was known for his philanthropy and often lent the Alexander to film stars, politicians and members of the royal family.

Larry Ellison is head of the Oracle Corporation. Known for his lavish lifestyle, Ellison is a certified pilot and owns a number of planes, including fighter jets. He also owns several high-performance cars, including a McLaren F1.

3

6 A

OCTOPUS Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen is well-known for holding star-studded parties aboard the Octopus. Allen has an estimated worth of $16 billion and owns two other SuperYachts, Tatoosh and Méduse.

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(390 ft/119m, Blohm & Voss): Andrey Melnichenko Launched in 2008, the A is owned by Russian businessman and billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, who made his money in energy and banking. He is the founder and former President and Chairman of the Board of MDM Bank.

W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T YA C H T S

(414 ft/126m, Lürssen): Paul Allen

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7

TURAMA

LE GRAND BLEU

(382 ft/116m, Rauma): Kenora Investments

(370 ft/113m, Vulkan): Eugene Shvidler

Built in 1990, the Turama is a former cruise ship and converted to charter vessel in 2004. A week’s charter costs in excess of $900,000.

Russian asset-manager and fellow oil billionaire Eugene Shvidler received Le Grand Bleu as a present from Roman Abramovich in 2006. Shvidler is presently the chairman of Millhouse LLC, the investment and asset management company he shares with Abramovich.

11

ATLANTIS II (380 ft/116m, Hellenic Shipyards): Niarchos family Known as the ‘Golden Greek’, Stavros Niarchos made his fortune by building the first oil supertankers in the 1950s. After the oil crisis of 1973 he moved into diamonds and banking, retiring in the nineties to pursue his passion for skiing.

9

LADY MOURA (344 ft/105m, Blohm & Voss): Nasser Al-Rashid The Lady Moura is owned by billionaire Saudi-Arabian businessman Nasser Al-Rashid, chairman of Rashid Engineering and reportedly also a close advisor to the Saudi Royal family.

8 PELORUS

CHRISTINA O

(377 ft/115m, Lürssen): Roman Abramovich

(325 ft/99m, Canadian Vickers): John Paul Papanicolaou

Russian businessman Roman Abramovich started as a market trader but made his billions in oil.

He is best known in the UK as the owner of Chelsea Football Club. The Pelorus pales into insignificance next to the Eclipse, a 160m, $300 million Megayacht scheduled for launch late in 2008.

Purchased in 1998 by Greek shipping businessman John Paul Papanicolaou, who had sailed on her as a child, the Christina O was formerly owned by the legendary Aristotle Onassis and was named after his daughter. Papanicolaou hires the Superyacht out for charter at 45,000 to 65,000 Euros per day.

12 W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T YA C H T S

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10

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CARINTHIA VII (321 ft/98m, Lurssen): Heidi Horten Heidi Horten (née Jelinek) is the Austrian-born owner of the German Horten department store chain. Upon her husband’s death in 1987 she inherited an estimated $1 billion. The Carinthia VII is the largest yacht in the world that is owned solely by a woman.

14

13

16

ATTESSA (302 ft/92m, Hayashikane): Dennis Washington American industrialist Dennis Washington is owner of Washington Companies and made his billions in mining and construction. Attessa – currently under refit and scheduled for its new launch in 2010 – is one of a number of Super Yachts he has bought over the years.

LIMITLESS (316 ft/96m, Lürssen): Leslie Wexner

17

MAYAN QUEEN (302 ft/92m, Blohm & Voss): Alberto Baillères Codenamed Safari, the Mayan Queen is owned by Mexican billionaire Alberto Baillères, who made his fortune in mining, department stores and insurance. Baillères is a keen yachtsman, and formerly owned a 164ft Feadship.

Leslie Wexner is the chairman and CEO of Limited Brands, which owns La Senza and other labels and recorded sales of $10 billion in 2007.

Wexner is well-known as a philanthropist and collector of Picassos and other artwork.

INDIAN EMPRESS (312 ft/95m, Oceanco): Vijay Mallya Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya is the chairman of the United Breweries Group, which owns the Kingfisher label, as well as Kingfisher Airlines. He purchased the Indian Empress in 2006 and also owns the 181 ft (55m) Indian Princess.

15

TATOOSH (302 ft/92m, Nobiskrug): Paul Allen Tatoosh is Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s second Superyacht, on which he is said to have entertained Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and their children. He purchased Tatoosh for around $100 million in 2001.

18 W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T YA C H T S

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53

NAHLIN

LAUREN L

(300 ft/91m, John Brown & Co): private charter

(295 ft/90m, Cassens Werft): Liveras Yachts

19

The 1930 steamship Nahlin was originally commissioned by Lady Annie Henrietta Yule, daughter of the Calcutta businessman Andrew Yule. Lady Yule offered the Nahlin for charter, and Edward VIII cruised the Adriatic with Wallis Simpson on her before he abdicated the throne. The yacht is currently being refitted under strict confidentiality agreements.

23

NERO (296 ft/90m, Yantai Raffles Shipyard): private charter The Nero is rumoured to be owned by a Turkish businessman and is styled after J. P. Morgan’s 1930 Corsair. Charter for 12 guests starts at around $525,000.

20

21

(289ft/ 88m, Schichau-Unterwasser A.G.): James Packer

(295 ft/90m, Lürssen): Suleiman Kerimov

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(289 ft/88m, Yantai Raffles Shipyard): Brian Chang

Australia’s third richest man, James Packer is the Executive Chairman of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL), which owns some of commercial TV network Nine’s channels.

He also inherited Consolidated Press Holdings Limited from his father, media mogul Kerry Packer.

24 W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T YA C H T S

Known as ‘Russia’s richest civil servant’, Suleiman Kerimov is a member of the Federation Council of Russia and an oil billionaire. Although he avoids publicity where possible, it is known that he hired singers Christina Aguilera and Shakira to perform at his 40th birthday aboard Ice, which was launched in 2005.

ASEAN LADY Brian Chang is the CEO and chairman of Yantai Raffles Shipyard Co. Ltd. which built Asean Lady for him in 2003.

The unusual shape of the Super Yacht was his own design, an answer to rough seas. The South African-born Chang is also a keen sailor and diver.

ARCTIC P

ICE

22

Formerly known as Constellation, the Lauren L was purchased in 2007 for refit and charter. The Superyacht can accommodate 48 guests overnight and costs 770,000 Euros per week. The Cyprusborn Liveras also owned the 280 ft (85m) Alysia.

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ECSTASEA

25

(282 ft/86m, Feadship): Roman Abramovich Despite placing high on the list of largest Superyachts, Abramovich’s Ecstasea is only half the length of the forthcoming Eclipse. He also owns the Pelorus.

DELMA (280 ft/85m, Neorion Syros Shipyards): unknown Formerly the known as the Annaliesse, this charter yacht is said to have been sold in 2007 to a sheik from Dubai who initially reserved it for private use but who now also allows it to be hired for charter.

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KINGDOM 5KR (282 ft/86m, M&B Benetti): Prince Alwalid of Saudi Arabia

(271 ft/ 83m, Mitsubishi): charter yacht After a major rebuild and complete refit in 2004, the O’Mega has space for 32 guests at a price of around $59,000 per day.

Prince Alwalid, a member of the Saudi royal family, amassed his $30 billion fortune by investing in the stock market and real estate. He is said to donate around $100 million a year to charitable causes, often education projects. Prince Alwalid also owns a new Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial passenger jet.

ALYSIA (280 ft/85m, Neorion Syros Shipyards): Liveras Yachts Liveras charge up to 696,500 Euros per week (plus expenses) for chartering the Alysia, which was launched in 2005. The Alysia boasts a crew of 34 and room for 36 passengers, ensuring excellent service.

27

O’MEGA

ALFA NERO (269 ft/82m, Oceanco): Theodore Angelopoulos The owner of the Alfa Nero is the chairman of Oceanco, the shipyard which also built the Superyacht. Theodore Angelopoulos is a steel and shipping tycoon, who is married to Gianna Daskalaki, a Greek politician and businesswoman who was the the president of the bidding and organizing committee for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

30 W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T YA C H T S

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TERENCE DISDALE

FACED WITH

LITTLE MORE THAN A DIAGRAM OF AN EMPTY HULL, TERENCE DISDALE’S

TASK IS TO TRANSFORM A BLANK SHEET INTO A FULLY-FURNISHED

FLOATING ISLAND. MUCH OF THIS LENGTHY AND COMPLEX PROCESS

TAKES PLACE IN HIS RICHMOND OFFICE, A PEACEFUL HAVEN AMID

LONDON’S BUSTLE, WHOSE FURNITURE AND DECORATION BEAR ECHOES

OF SOME OF HIS MANY YACHT INTERIORS. Although Disdale’s yachts are all different, there are common themes running through them. Fashions change, and most yacht owners no longer equate luxury with acres of polished marble, gold fittings and highly-finished wooden floors.

RICHMOND

Soft colours, natural materials and textures are typically chosen over brasher

Terence Disdale

schemes and more ostentatious displays of wealth. The result is closer to a

M/Y montkaj

luxury apartment or a comfortable family home than traditional living quarters aboard a yacht.

More valuable than any amount of gold or marble is space: the most precious commodity of all on the sea. Disdale’s creations have an ambience of easy tranquillity and peace about them, a serenity which belies the extensive and detailed work that has to be undertaken to determine the crucial question of how the limited amount of space will be delivered in the final cut – using the available area to maximum visual impact without wasting a single square foot – before the yacht can be furnished.

M/Y sussurro

Contact Terence Disdale Design 6 The Green Richmond Surrey TW9 1PL United Kingdom URL:

www.terencedisdaledesign.co.uk

M/Y tigre d’or TERENCE DISDALE

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M/Y amevi

M/Y pelorus

M/Y la masquerade Counter-intuitively â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least, to the layperson â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the problems of space are not diminished on larger yachts.

There is no economy of scale: quite the opposite. Larger yachts mean larger engine rooms, more guest accommodation, staff and staff quarters, service areas and thoroughfares. The upshot of this is that there is never enough room, however large the initial space appears. Moreover, the complexities involved in drawing up the plans are multiplied in line with the size of the vessel and particularly the number of decks.

Like pushing down bubbles under the wallpaper, taking care of one problem has a habit of creating another elsewhere. Moving the position of an exhaust duct, elevator or dumb waiter to make room for something in one place has consequences for the layout of every other deck, since these run vertically from the top to the bottom of the yacht. Staircases are a little more flexible, but any change still involves shuffling the layout in the immediate vicinity. Fire and naval regulations also mean that certain configurations are not permitted.

The resulting challenge is a puzzle of spatial awareness and complexity to rival the Rubikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cube.

Each set of plans passes through several painstaking iterations to determine first what is possible, then what is aesthetically desirable and to incorporate any additional requirements the owner might have. With

temporarily stored in wooden housings hanging from the ceiling while the rest of the ship was built around them.

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TERENCE DISDALE

Ice, for example, the owner specified limestone bathtubs. Since these could never have been fitted around corridors and stairs they were brought into place before the interior walls were constructed and

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MAIN STAIR LOBBY

Whilst this juggling of space might be one matter on a relatively small boat, it is entirely another for the 160m Eclipse or the 140m Al Salamah, both Disdale yachts. In the latter’s case, matters were complicated not just by the sheer size of the vessel but the time frame within which it had to be finished. Aptly codenamed ‘MiPos’ – short for ‘Mission Impossible’ – construction from start to finish was scheduled to take place within just two years. Because the dry docks where Al Salamah was being built were booked for another project at the end of this period, running over was not an option as the costs could have run into millions for the shipyard.

Only when this complex evolution of space-planning is completed can Disdale begin to enclose it with the superstructure design, thereby positioning windows relative to the layout of each room. He then turns his mind to the furnishings, elevations and colour schemes. Most of his clients come to him because they have seen and liked his earlier work, and an early consultation with the owner confirms the general direction for the style of furnishing. This is crucial because Disdale literally sources everything, from the furniture and artwork right down to the crew’s uniform, the books and even the tissues on the coffee table. His task is to make the boat feel like home the moment the owner steps aboard.

OWNER’S CABIN

OWNER’S STUDY LOBBY

M/Y kogo Tactility comes high on Disdale’s list of priorities. It is not enough for his designs to look good; they must also feel good. This is, in part, a way of anchoring his creations in nature. Yachting intrinsically connects the owner with the elements and this is reflected in the interior design. It is also an intentional rebellion against the schmaltzy, manufactured perfection at one time common. Large yachts are, by their very nature, all the proof of wealth and influence necessary. One of Disdale’s mottoes is that there is no need to gild the lily. This is not to say that more ‘traditional’ materials are never used, but they are often treated differently – open grain wood, sand-blasted or flame-treated marble, burnished or patinated bronze. In some cases, entirely new processes have been developed, giving fresh expressions to old materials. He is

to chance or taken for granted; no detail, no visible surface or object, is created without careful consideration. Everything on board is passed through round after round of consultations and

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M/Y kogo

developmental stages, with articles as apparently functional as bathroom taps or the base of a statue being carefully considered and approved before they are installed.

TERENCE DISDALE

active from start to finish and his work continues right up to the point the boat is delivered. Nothing is left

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safari suite

To achieve this, Disdale collaborates closely with a favourite team of artisans – experts in leather work, wood, metal, lacquer and other disciplines – many of whom work exclusively for him. The length of relationship and ongoing involvement at every stage means that they are familiar with his typical style and requirements. Leatherwork, for example, is carried out by Gavin Rookledge, a master bookbinder known for his ornate and complex creations in leather, vellum and suede. Realising that these skills could equally be employed to create furniture and sculptures, Disdale commissioned him to work on one of his projects.

Rookledge doesn’t make many books any more, but his work is displayed throughout a number of celebrated Superyachts.

When it comes to relaxing, Disdale prefers to get as far away from work as possible, and therefore yachts and the sea don’t feature in his recreation. Instead, he finds that fishing re-energises him and reconnects him with mother nature, as well as instilling him with inspiration for his work.

TERENCE DISDALE

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oriental suite

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alacarter

Twice shortlisted for the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award, David Carter’s editorial credits read like a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the world’s top interior design magazines.

‘I do seem to get rather a lot of press’ he says with a cheeky grin, as the verre eglomise table in front of us quietly groans under the weight of publications that have recently featured his work.

In spite of all the attention he gets, Carter seems a gentle soul, and a passionate advocate of his profession. ‘Good interior design should be a cathartic experience’ he explains, ‘emotionally rich and ultimately lifeenhancing. Like great theatre, music or art. Or..’ he pauses, struggling to find just the right analogy, ‘.. Or like really sexy lingerie. It has to have the power to arouse. I hate bland and boring.’ Carter references fashion a lot, and it comes as no surprise that he worked in the industry for several years before embarking upon interior design. He can still be found rummaging through London’s vintage fashion fairs, but these days his discoveries are more likely to end up reworked into an exquisite lampshade, or a cushion for a well-heeled client, than left to hang on a rail.

Min Hogg, the legendary editor-in-chief of The World Of Interiors, first spotted Carter’s talent for creating elegantly dressed rooms back in 1991, publishing features on his homes both in the UK and France , and it was she who encouraged him to pursue a career in interior design. He set up David Carter Interiors in 1993, and hasn’t looked back since. Carter limits himself to one or two projects a year. ‘Being involved in every aspect of a job is tremendously important to me. I think that’s what clients expect and want.’

Based in London, he specialises in high end residential work, creating stylish and beautiful homes for an affluent and international clientele.

Asked to describe a typical job, he returns once more to fashion for an appropriate metaphor. ‘If you take someone like Galliano or Westwood, they are constantly referring back to the past. But then they mix it all up and reinvent it for a new audience. I’d like to think my work is a bit like that.’ Pictures of his creations reveal that this ‘couturier of the home’ not only captures all the glamour of the catwalk, but has successfully created a signature style that playfully transcends both the classic and the contemporary. Carter’s designs have a bold romantic quality, and his work exudes an elusive, other-worldly sensibility. From the theatrical flamboyance of a Marie Antoinette-inspired boudoir to the muted machismo of a James Bond-esque bachelor pad he has recently completed for a City client, Carter can conjure up the sort of luxurious backdrops against which most of us would be only too happy to live. ‘Homes should always be happy places’ he says, ‘But I do think it is nice to throw in a bit of naughtiness too.’ So if you need someone who can create a seductively inventive interior for you, my advice is simple: Get Carter.. before somebody else does.

EIMEAR NOLAN

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ALACARTER

<< Homes should be happy places.But I do think it’s nice to throw in a bit of naughtiness >>

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Contact

+44 (0) 207790 0259

Fax:

+44(0) 207790 0259

URL:

www.alacarter.com/

<< Good interior design should be a cathartic experience â&#x20AC;&#x201C; emotionally rich and ultimately life-enhancing >>

ALACARTER

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Phone:

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THOMAS FLOHR, C E O O F V I S TA J E T

FOR EVERY

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR, THE DEFINING TRAITS WHICH SET THEM APART FROM OTHERS

THAT DARE TO DREAM BIG ARE THE ABILITY TO SPOT A UNIQUE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND

THE COURAGE TO PURSUE IT WITH PASSION AND CONVICTION. IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION, AND FOR THE SWISS THOMAS FLOHR HIS

‘EUREKA’ MOMENT IN AVIATION WAS UNDOUBTEDLY BORN OF FRUSTRATION.

From an early age it was clear that life in a small Swiss-German town was never going to be completely fulfilling for a young Thomas Flohr. As much as he loved his family and surroundings, he yearned to explore the world, dreaming of bigger and better things and a life less ordinary.

He explains: ‘I was always very competitive and motivated to do something out of the norm. I wanted to challenge the system. I did not want to be told how to do it but instead would look for new ideas and methods. I always wanted to do things better than they had been in the past.’

First stop was the University of Munich and studies in political science. It was there his love affair with aviation first took hold and he applied to be a pilot with Lufthansa, but was told he did not have the skills. This proved to be only a minor set-back and Flohr instead concentrated on his studies and a new career that lay ahead.

Contact Confidence Determined to gain experience abroad, Flohr moved up and moved fast. His first career Phone:

United Kingdom +44 1252 526 630

<< I was always very competitive and motivated to do something out of the norm.

I wanted to challenge the system >>

move was to American IT firm Comdisco and he helped develop the company’s European business.

Austria +43 662 640 200 220 Flying regularly between the US and Switzerland developed an international lifestyle and desire for the

THOMAS FLOHR

Hong Kong +852 2151 3059 best.

Dubai +971 4 2602 919 He adds: ‘It was a great time and I learned a lot. The experience shaped the values and ethos Kuala Lumpur +601 2707 1477 which drive my businesses today. In the end though, I knew my true destiny lay in my own hands and enquiries@vistajet.com

this meant running my own company. It is never an easy step to go it alone but it is one I never regret.

www.vistajet.com

It can be difficult as your dedication, willpower and character are challenged every second of every day but it inspired me to work harder and aim higher.’

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VISTAJET

Email: URL:

71

Challenging Now firmly in place the company is challenging the established order and Flohr says, ‘In every industry, every 10 to 12 years a new company emerges to challenge the existing system and that is what VistaJet has done. I now spend 70% of my time focused on the company that has captured my heart. The opportunities for it are huge. The US and European private jet markets are relatively saturated, whereas in Asia you have billions of people and maybe 200 to 300 private jets. So I’m planning to build VistaJet on what I call the ‘old silk road’ from London to the centre of Europe to Moscow to the Middle East and India then down to South China, Malaysia and Singapore.’

Now the fastest private aviation company outside of the Americas, Flohr still holds true to the values that governed his formative years.

He says: ‘I still have a burning desire to challenge the status quo and to make a difference. I believe I know what people want and the way to deliver it to them. If there is a long established system in place in any field or relationship, it becomes complacent or inefficient. It requires continuous investment and often a challenge to the existing norm is necessary, otherwise you reach a stand still.

After all, there wouldn’t have been a Microsoft if it had not challenged IBM, and there wouldn’t have been a Google if it had not challenged Microsoft. This type of intellectual challenge is a passion and I have this passion.’

<< I still have a burning desire to challenge the status quo and to make a difference.I believe I know what people want and the way to deliver it to them >> THOMAS FLOHR

Flohr created Comprendium, a company focusing on technology and financing. The firm grew and with it so did Flohr’s needs and expectations as well as a love of luxury.

As Comprendium became more and more successful, Flohr became increasingly frustrated with chartering planes due to the inconsistent service he was offered, which often included use of old jets.

So in 2003 he bought his first private jet. Extravagent? Maybe for some but for Flohr it was a necessary purchase which should have allowed him to make the most of his precious time. Instead it was a move that would irrevocably change his life and career path.

He comments: ‘I had chartered jets before but the planes and the service were never consistent. The product was rarely equivalent to its price so my first purchase was out of frustration and I created a beautiful jet catered to my needs and specifications.’

But this worked too well, as after three months the jet was regularly chartered by other people.

The design was immaculate and luxurious and people were keen to be part of it. So much so that Flohr abandoned hope of using it for himself and instead examined the business opportunity which now presented itself.

Luxury Using his acute business sense and long held passion for aviation Flohr swiftly acted to create his own high-end private jet company, VistaJet. Not content with replicating what had gone before, Flohr decided a fresh approach was required. He invented a new concept which gave clients guaranteed

flew. His vision dictated that every plane would be distinctive silver with a red line on the exterior and a luxury two-tone cream and tan leather interior. One look, one standard, one expectation.

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VISTAJET

availability along with the same high standard of service and luxury feel wherever and whenever they

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thomas flohr’s quick questions

The 140 foot Nina J is unprecedented for its cruising speed of 27 knots and maximum speed of 32 knots.

As a world traveller where do you consider home?

St Moritz, Switzerland. When I land there it feels like home.

What are your personal hobbies?

Skiing, boating and reading books on philosophy. It’s important to use your mind on things other than just chasing business goals. My daughter is also my greatest single achievement in life, having

What is your greatest purchase?

In addition to owning VistaJet, I also have a 140 foot yacht called the Nina J. It is moored in Monaco and is a place where I relax but also do business should it be required. In the same style as VistaJet, the Nina J features the distinctive silver with a red line exterior.

Which qualities do you admire in people?

Honesty, integrity, outspokenness and motivation. Being motivated is contagious and it’s a wonderful feeling to be around motivated people.

What are your favourite travel destinations?

I love places that are original, authentic and non-touristic. I have

nina j

brought her up by myself.

been fortunate to visit many places but that hunger to see more and do more has not been sated.

Do you have a motto?

Not as such, but Goethe has influenced me a lot with his saying: ‘Honourable be mankind, helpful and good.’ This phrase summarizes that there are no short cuts in life. If you are honourable, you have nothing to fear. And if you are helpful and good, it always comes back to you.

VISTAJET

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VISTAJET

nina j

The interior was a joint collaboration between Thomas and interior architect Ivana Porfiri.

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vistajet Q and A with thomas flohr How does it work and what makes you different from the competition?

The aviation market has waited over 25 years for a new business model appropriate to today’s world.

Our unique model has been developed and refined so our flight solutions – programs, on demand or a combination of both - meet the needs and requirements of our customers. It’s far superior to any other competitors and based on scale and our operating practices, offers heightened levels of flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Thomas Flohr.

For the first time customers can now take advantage of the largest single program service area in business aviation with regions including the East Coast of North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. As a Program customer you can now fly within, or between any region in our service area with no positioning costs.

New York to London, Geneva to Riyadh or Bahrain to Beijing. Customers only pay for the hours they fly, on the aircraft that meets their requirements.

What are your ambitions for VistaJet? VistaJet is already the fastest growing private aviation company outside of the Americas and its fleet comprises state-of-the-art short, mid range and intercontinental aircraft.

VistaJet is committed to continued growth, to drive industry innovation and to deliver excellence to its customers.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I am committed to VistaJet’s continued growth and to driving innovation in the aviation industry. The next five years hold the most opportunities to grow the business, and we will be focused on building the business across what I call the ‘old silk road’, from London to the centre of Europe to Moscow to the Middle East and India, then down to South China, Malaysia and Singapore.

What are the trends in business jets which are emerging?

People are moving away from owning jets and are now looking for alternative ways to fly privately. There is still a demand for luxury travel with excellent service, but people are more cost sensitive than ever before.

a commercial plane?

Once you fly in a private jet you never go back to commercial!

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VISTAJET

What are the main reasons people charter a private jet? Why don’t they just use

79

ESPEN ØINO

waiting/delivery time is a consideration from the owner’s point of view as is the chemistry that often

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF NAVAL

develops between shipyard and owner.

Cost plays an important role in the decision, obviously, and all of the above components are

ARCHITECTS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERYACHTS AND ONE OF THE NAMES

carefully balanced in the final ‘marriage’ between yacht project and yacht builder.

European shipyards dominate the industry, as Far East shipyards are still trying to catch up where sheer sophistication is concerned – a major component when it comes to finishing leisure vessels of this

THAT TOPS THE LIST IS ESPEN ØINO’S. NORWEGIAN-BORN ØINO HARDLY NEEDS AN

magnitude. Super Yacht owners frequently influence each others’ decisions in choosing a yard. Øino never imposes his ideas, but rather tries to subtly guide them in the right direction and several repeat clients are

INTRODUCTION. HE HAS BUILT SOME OF THE LARGEST VESSELS ROAMING THE SEAS TODAY AND

perhaps the greatest testimony to his talents.

It takes six months to a year to develop a new SuperYacht concept, depending on its complexity.

SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR: SILVER, KISMET, PRINCESS MARIANA, OCTOPUS…

Shipyard contract bidding could take up to a further two months, but the actual building of the vessel a staggering three to four years depending on the size.

His career started, he says, at the age of three. Several years later, he perfected his skills as a naval architecture and offshore engineer student in Glasgow, before joining the office of legendary designer Martin Francis. Øino established his own studio in Antibes in 1994.

SKAT: 70.7m.

He’d fallen in love with the ‘stunning beauty of the sea against the backdrop of the whitecapped mountains’ at his very first visit there as a young man. In 2006 he moved to Monte Carlo, but travels frequently to meet new and existing clients.

Given the vast number of Russian yacht owners, he visits Moscow on a regular basis every three months and says he is fascinated with Russian culture.

The Rise and Rise of the SuperYachts The yacht industry is an amazing industry and it is fair to say that beyond a certain size, yachts seems to be recession-proof.

Most SuperYacht owners are driven to create the ultimate vessel: ultimate in beauty, elegance and functionality, hence the rise and rise of the ever larger, ever more extravagantly built yacht. Øino believes that his success is partly due to his ability to listen and to interpret his clients’ dreams and ideas. His favourite yacht is always his latest. His latest project - a 150 m vessel – has just been delivered.

The commissioning of a yacht starts with establishing the

M O N AC O

profile of the yacht owner and the mission of the future vessel. At the concept stage, Øino tries to establish the ocean lifestyle of the prospective owner: whether the yacht will be used to live aboard, as a business tool or a holiday mega cruiser. This would determine the size of the provisioning rooms and stores, the building materials used and the external appearance.

Some yachts are built for sitting in port in between short cruises around the Mediterranean, others for exploring the Antarctic.

At the extreme end of the scale, there are owners who want to cruise the world (indeed, one such client has circumnavigated the globe no fewer than five times to date).

The choice of a shipyard is both objective and subjective to some extent. A shipyard has to be technically capable of handling the project and financially sound (often, the value of a SuperYacht

Contact exceeds the value of the ship building company). The Espen Øino International Le Castellara 9, Av. du Président JF Kennedy MC 98000 Monaco Phone:

+ 377 97 97 22 90

Fax:

+ 377 97 70 43 44

Email:

yachts@espenoeino.com

SILVER : 73.3m.

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The super sea vagabonds What then compels the vastly wealthy to wait in line? The freedom of being able to travel the world and visit some of the remotest corners of the earth from the comfort of your own floating home, without the constraints of packing, boarding planes and booking hotels.

The ability to explore extraordinary places with little or no modern facilities and infrastructure, yet enjoying all the comforts a SuperYacht offers.

And SuperYachts offer an amazing experience all round, and especially so at service level – they

Once bitten, it is hard to let go of the yacht building bug. SuperYacht owners can’t stop building, hence the ever-expanding fleets of some of the wealthiest and most privileged individuals in the world.

Boat building is highly addictive, says Øino – it’s like having different summer houses with the owners continually jetting between them, travelling with the seasons, friends, parties… experiencing the ultimate freedom.

The super sea vagabonds are here to stay, creating some of the world’s new and spectacular

are better than the best hotel, with crew that is trained to anticipate the wishes of the owner before he or

floating wonders, harnessing extraordinary design talents and captivating the imagination of thousands

she even knows what he or she wants. South American owners, who have huge security issues to contend

of writers.

with at home, particularly enjoy the liberating aspect of ocean cruising.

MOON GODDESS 35m and PRINCESS MARIANA 76.9m.

KISMET: 68.2m.

ESPEN ØINO

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jean pigozzi INTRODUCTION JEAN PIGOZZI IS A HARVARD EDUCATED VENTURE CAPITALIST TURNED INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR, ART COLLECTOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, ECOLOGIST, MEN’S CLOTHING DESIGNER AND PHILANTHROPIST – not necessarily in that order, or any order – and quite simply a man of countless ideas. For all his social and commercial success, however, JP is not affected. He has an easy charm and is an interesting, often provocative conversationalist.

I asked to meet and interview him for a book on yachts because he has a yacht, a marine ecology project and because he has strongly held opinions. When I told him the title of the book, SuperYachts, it led him into the subject of energy conservation because while the world’s sea-going vessels have a massive carbon footprint, the sea is the new frontier of energy conservation.

ON GREEN ENERGY

He posed the following

conundrum: ‘the cost of an ordinary generator in Panama is $12000 – solar panels cost 10 times that. While solar panels save a lot of polluting energy, they do require a lot of polluting energy to make them and they need lots of expensive solar panel batteries, which are extremely toxic.’ His opinion of wind power is not much better than solar: ‘Wind turbines are equally expensive plus they are subject to the vagaries of the wind, and don’t forget how they despoil the landscape.’

‘I started buying land in Panama ten years ago because I

Limoland on a Global Express Plane.

was fascinated with the idea of having land in immediate proximity to the sea. There is something very compelling about having property pieds dans l’eau. And I like being a pioneer.’ ‘Another advantage of Panama is that is in the same time-zone as New York.’

JP tends to cite the bottom line but like a lot of tycoons his motives are rarely just commercial.

There are a lot of urbanites with a social conscience who have become evangelical about carbon

The late Jimmy Goldsmith was a big influence; as was TED (the global think tank that celebrates the power

emissions and global warming but most of the panaceas that they embrace are impractical or will not

of ideas to change attitudes) and the work of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. All of this led him

meet the test of nature and time.

to establishing the Liquid Jungle Lab in partnership with Woods Hole and the Smithsonian Tropical

JP is probably better known for cruising the seven seas than harnessing its energy. He owns a

Research Institute. The Liquid Jungle Lab (www.liquidjunglelab.com) is an ecological marine and tropical

66m converted trawler, with which he fell in love in 1987. In 1993, when it came on the market, he bought it

forest research project on a remote Pacific island near Panama’s Coiba National Park.

and commissioned renowned naval architect Espen Øino to re-fit it. He has cruised all around the world on

‘LJL seeks to merge traditional scientific research with state-of-the-art technology to improve the

the Amazon Express but keeps away from the conventional watering holes, preferring such exotic

understanding of ocean and terrestrial sciences and advance conservation ecology for the future benefit

destinations as Alaska and Greenland. He describes the beauty of Greenland eloquently, comparing it to

of the planet.’

New York, except the skyscrapers are giant icebergs. Taking a tender among the icebergs, he says, is a

Now I understood his promotion of sea power to our energy needs. ‘None of us,’ he explained, ‘are about to relinquish the modern day comforts we have become so accustomed to. That being the case, we have to learn how to build energy-efficient and well insulated houses, and learn how to preserve resources rather than dissipate them and, most of all, learn how to tap into the last unharnessed resource of energy on earth: the power of the sea. ‘

unique and incredibly beautiful experience.

Living part of the year on a large yacht has become more attractive in recent years because of the internet, which has revolutionised the concept of working afloat.

Skype has liberated tele-communications while the newspaper machine most yacht owners use has enabled them to read any publication in the middle of the Atlantic.

Modern technology means that you can do on board of a yacht pretty much anything you can from an office: arrange video conferencing, download an entire book or the latest song from iTunes, all while cruising the remotest corners of the world.

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ECOLOGICAL FOOD PRODUCTION

JP is not, however, an ecological one-trick pony.

He has also taken a hands-on interest in organic farming, the results of which challenge the organic movement. ‘Our experiments in Panama have shown that 100% organic agriculture is not viable either

JEAN PIGOZZI

<< Jean Pigozzi, a contemporary Renaissance Man >>

85

commercially or to feed the world. Instead, controlled use of the right sort of chemicals can lead to a form

On collecting art he says: ‘Personally, I have to fall in love immediately with an artist’s work. I don’t need to

of responsible farming that is as organic as we can have it without compromising the commercial aspect

know about his or her age, education, nationality or religion but I do want to have a coup de foudre. I do

of farming. But we need a global re-education programme to push farmers onto eco-friendly fertilisers and

also need to see work from the previous three or four years, to understand how an artist got to where he

pesticides.’

or she is now. Fascinating work is being created every day, and I want to see (and collect) more and more!’

BUILDING

He is building a house on a remote island off the coast of Panama and this has

HIS CLOTHING DESIGN LABEL

JP describes his latest venture with a mixture of his

stimulated his ingenuity to come up with innovative approaches to construction techniques. ‘Panamanians

own inimitable candour and more than a touch of witty mischief: ‘Men of a certain age like to think of

have traditionally used local timber for their houses, which may sound ecologically fine and romantic to

themselves as ten years younger. They want to look stylish and trendy at the same time, but when they

boot, but doesn’t take into account just what, say, termites can do within a very short period of time with

borrow from their sons’ wardrobes they end up looking like aging rappers. I knew there was a niche for

devastating consequences. I have become interested in using the protective treatment of timber and

older men’s clothing that was trendy but not trying and failing, of course to make you look a lot younger

combining local design traditions with cement foundations for attractive, sound and longer-lasting homes.’

than you are.’

The label Limoland, seems to have established a dashing image across a generation of affluent

ON HIS AFRICAN ART COLLECTION

JP started collecting African art much in the

street style yet insist on quality of cut and fabric. The deluxe street wear label is distributed in France (the

to discover the beauty and originality of something before others do. Today he owns the largest collection

iconic shop Colette stocks it), Russia, England and Japan.

of Contemporary African Art in the world – www.CAACART.com.

I looked at the giant canvasses on his wall (one of which looks like a very large poster dedicated to

<< There is something very compelling about having property pieds dans l’eau. And I like being a pioneer >>

males of a certain age (JP refers to them affectionately as ROMs rich old men) who embrace the informal

same way as he started acquiring land in Panama: he is driven by an ever-present impetus to be the first

www.ALimoland.com keeps wish lists for its regular customers who needn’t leave the comfort of their yacht, jet or home to add to their collection of favourite style cashmeres, T-shirts, anoraks, etc.

fighting AIDS in Africa, by Chéri Samba) and they reminded me of the continent itself with their strong,

Wives, children and mistresses can peruse the lists and make an informed choice when buying presents for

sharply-defined colours, direct messages and raw magnetism. He said that he began collecting African art

the man who has everything.

because no one else was. ‘It was as simple as that.’

JP, a man who has a low threshold of boredom, is happy to develop the brand into a global one – because he can see the fruit of an idea as a tangible product within a relatively short space of time.

Limoland was destined to be a global success: the man behind the brand is, according to Vanity Fair,

Isla Canales de Tierra, Mr. Pigozzi’s Island off the Pacific Coast of Panama.

friends with every single one of the 100 most influential people on the planet. That is some CV… And which aspiring middle-aged male wouldn’t want to emulate the sartorial style of the world’s most successful?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR JP?

I couldn’t help asking the standard

end-of-interview question, even though I already knew enough to guess the answer. He is keen on exploring the last unexploited resource of the planet: the deep ocean. His Liquid Jungle Lab project already sends remotely operated submarines that go to a depth of 100 – 200 meters and record marine life in minute detail. He is not alone in believing that the deep ocean holds many rich secrets that can and will some day make a vast impact on our lives.

He is one of few who can and does put his money where his convictions are: the Liquid Jungle Lab is an entirely philanthropic project and will soon be joined by an artists’ colony where artists would be given free hand in creating film, documentaries, paintings and pursuing their inspirations.

A maverick with a restless mind and a boundless curiosity about the world, JP seems to have enough projects for several lifetimes. If you want to keep abreast of JP’s life and endeavours, watch his website space as he is planning the launch of a photo blog, recording it all for those of us who live more vicariously.

Café Paris.

Contact URL:

http://www.jeanpigozzi.com/ www.alimoland.com http://www.liquidjunglelab.com/ http://www.caacart.com/

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JEAN PIGOZZI

Girls in Limoland clothes.

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salty tales >

THE COAST GUARD CUTTER tuned in to a faint distress signal from a sinking pleasure craft. ‘What is your

Tax evasion

position? Repeat, what is your position?’ shouted the radio operator into the microphone. Finally a faint reply crackled over the static: ‘I'm executive vice-president of First Global Bank - please hurry!’

When the Inland Revenue demanded Property Tax on legendary boat designer Uffa Fox's home - then a converted floating bridge - he simply sailed it up and down the river to a series of different addresses in different parishes until they finally gave up.

> SINCE THEIR BOSS WAS AN AVID YACHTSMAN, everyone in the office chipped in to buy him a sextant for a birthday present. Henderson volunteered to make the purchase, and when he learned the marine supply store was out of stock, he phoned the local sporting goods store. When he burst out laughing and

America’s Cup

hung up, a co-worker asked what was so funny. ‘They transferred my call,’ Henderson explained, ‘and when I asked the woman who answered if they had a sextant, she said they had all kind of tents and what

During the 1992 America's Cup competition, many unusual rumours circulated about the dark significance of the sails

I did in them was my business.’

on New Zealand's yacht, which were bedecked with logos reading ‘ENZA’... In fact the cryptic ‘message’ was merely an acronym - for Eat New Zealand Apples.

>

A GUEST, ON A PRIVATE SAILBOAT on a compass heading to the Bahamas, had to go to the head.

After winning the America's Cup, Bart Conner, euphoric after days at sea, began to pour champagne into the 27" tall

Excusing himself he left the main cabin.

trophy, inadvertently soaking several race committee members standing nearby. One of the officials directed Conners

Shortly after, a sudden squall hit the ship. A giant freak wave rolled over the vessel and, with a

to look inside the trophy - which, upon closer examination, proved to be bottomless!

stress breach in the hull, the boat began taking on water.

Just short of sinking and with his guests and crew in the life boat, the captain realized someone was missing. Working his way towards the aft cabins and fighting the onslaught of water rushing in, he broke open the door to the head.

Motion Sickness

There stood the missing guest. Shaken and confused he looked at the captain and said, ‘I don't While sailing with a number of his fellow Supreme Court justices one day, Benjamin Cardozo, noted for his cool courtroom understand, all I did was pull the handle!’ demeanor, began to feel ill. Another justice, noting his colleague’s discomfort, hurried over to assist, asking whether there was anything he could do. ‘Yes,’ Cardozo replied, ‘overrule the motion.’

>

SAILING FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND in the Bahamas was a dream come true for the Walker family. At one of the many stops five year old Paula asked her mother, ‘What was the name of the last island we visited?’

Precautions

Her mother, busy with stowing a sail said, ‘I'm not sure dear, is it important?’

‘Maybe’ , said Paula, ‘I'm thinking it might be.’

Bishop Potter was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that

‘Why do you think so?’, asked her Mother.

another passenger was to share the cabin with him.

‘Because that's where Daddy got left behind!’

After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe.

He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man

>

WHILE HOSTING A DINNER PARTY ONE EVENING, Lord Thurlow produced a bottle of exquisite Constantia wine, specially imported from the Cape of Good Hope.

Sheridan, having greatly enjoyed the rare treat, endeavored, by various subtle hints and ruses, to convince his host to open another bottle. Thurlow, however, was not to be swayed, and Sheridan at last

Turning to his neighbor, Sheridan then nodded toward another vessel: ‘Pass the decanter,’ he requested. ‘I must return to Madeira since I cannot double the Cape.’

88

The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, ‘It's all right, bishop, I’ll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!’

OERLEMANS S A LT Y TA L E S

gave up.

who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person.

89

YACHTPLUS INTERVIEW WITH ROB HERSOV, MAVERICK AND SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF YACHTPLUS

Q. What are the attractions of of partially owning a luxury

the yachts will depreciate to approximately 60% of their new

asset from the standpoint of someone who can afford to

value over an eight year period.

purchase it in its entirety?

Each YachtPlus vessel will have eight owners and the cost of a

A. The main advantage is financial.

1

Most owners only spend an average of five weeks a year on their

charge of Euro 200.000 which will give owners 5 weeks a year

yachts – the YachtPlus concept enables them to do so at a

onboard, split between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

/8th share is Euro 1.950.000 with an estimated annual service

fraction of the cost of full ownership.

YachtPlus Lifestyle Management team who take care of

Q. Who are the YachtPlus fractional owners?

A. A number of our current owners have owned their own

everything – all transport, onboard requests, maintenance, crew,

yachts in the past and were particularly attracted to the

port charges etc – thereby removing all the hassles and

YachtPlus programme owing to the ever growing expense and

Additionally, the YachtPlus programme is totally managed by the

associated problems of sole ownership and the fact that they

unforeseen financial pitfalls associated with sole ownership.

And with the money you save by buying a fraction, you can buy flying hours on private

rarely used their own boats. Fractional ownership allows one to maintain a prestigious and

jets with companies such as Netjets.

luxurious lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of sole ownership and enables you to entertain friends, family and business associates in style and comfort.

Q. How is YachtPlus different?

A. No other company has built a fractional programme of this size and quality. We have commissioned four identical 41 metre super-yachts, all designed by Norman Foster, one

Q. How and why did you personally develop an interest in this concept?

A. I am closely involved with NetJets, a company which created and perfected the

of the most remarkable architects of all times. The first vessel is about to be floated and

concept of fractional ownership and, over 20 years, built the world’s leading fractional and

will be officially launched early 2009.

private aviation company. My partners and I felt the same business model offering flexibility, exclusivity, privacy and quality of service could be applied to yachts.

Q. How will the vessels be different from other luxury yachts on the market?

A. Our yachts will be the most spectacular and contemporary 41 metre boats on the market offering more space, light, flexibility and volume than any other yacht of

Q. Who are the principals behind YachtPlus?

A. There are five main backers, all of whom are very successful international financial

comparable size.

investors and entrepreneurs– two Italian and three British, one of whom has his own

These four deck yachts will have five suites for up to 12 guests at any one time who will

yacht. All are keen yachtsmen and own fractions in the YachtPlus programme.

be looked after by a permanent, experienced and highly trained crew of seven.

ABOUT ROB HERSOV 47 year old Hersov has had an illustrious career in the

YachtPlus

Q. Would fractional owners be able to enjoy the social aspect of belonging to what

world of big business both as a private investor and entrepreneur. He currently serves on

OF A NEW GENERATION OF YACHTS. Designed by the legendary Lord

private yachts over 132 feet (40 metres). The company, headquartered in London,

effectively is an exclusive investors’ club?

the Advisory Board of NetJets Europe Ltd, having been Vice Chairman of the company

A. When a fractional owner uses the yacht it is theirs exclusively and no-one else has

Foster, the vessel – the first in the 40 ‘Signature Series’ – is absolutely

designs and builds contemporary luxury yachts for the exclusive use of its fractional

since he sold his business Marquis Jet Europe, which he founded in 2001, to NetJets in

access to it. However, like-minded owners could agree to use the boat together at special

2004. Prior to this Hersov founded and, from October 1998 to December 2002, served as

events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix etc.

Chairman of Sportal Ltd, a company that operates an internet site offering sports related

The Team YachtPlus is the concept of Han Verstraete, formerly of Marquis Jet (the

games and videos. From September 1995 to September 1997, he was the CEO of Telepiu

company which pioneered fractional jet ownership in the 1980s) and Goldman Sachs.

Q. What is the anticipated appreciation of the asset and how does it compare with

Pay TV in Milan, a pay TV and digital satellite company. From March 1993 to August 1995

Rob Hersov, is one of Europe’s most influential entrepreneurs and the co-founder of

owning a yacht outright?

he served as Executive Director of Richemont, a listed tobacco, luxury and media

Marquis Jet Europe, which he sold to Warren Buffet’s NetJets. Ruggero Magnoni is the

A. The depreciation will be the same as with any other new yacht. While in the past

conglomerate. In 2005 he became a founder member of YachtPlus where he is currently

vice-president of US investment bank Lehman Brothers.

super-yachts have tended to hold their value due to limited supply, in this challenging

Vice Chairman.

environment it is likely that all yachts will depreciate and to be conservative, we assume

IS A COMPANY OFFERING FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP

A New Concept YachtPlus is about 21st century yachting for the smart money.

Founded in 2005, YachtPlus is the first credible fractional proposition on luxury

program owners, and services the yachts on their behalf.

stunning and unlike anything else you’ve ever seen before.

This high-powered team of founders and initial shareholders brings a significant cachet to the company and gives some indication of YachtPlus’s key strengths: proven entrepreneurship, high-end sales and financial clout.

YA C H T P L U S

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<< 21st century yachting for the smart money >>

Fractional Ownership Program owners gain flexible access to the expanding YachtPlus fleet, which is located in the Mediterranean during summer and in the Caribbean during winter. As a result of its fractional ownership model, YachtPlus allows owners to add a genuine superyacht to their portfolios of lifestyle assets without the hassles of owning a yacht or the unpredictability of charter. The minimum participation is 12.5% (1/8th share), meaning that each participant can be guaranteed five weeks use per year, including two weeks peak-time cruising.

YachtPlus 40 ‘Signature Series’ Designed by Lord Norman Foster, the architect internationally renowned for his ground-breaking residential designs, the 40-metre ‘Signature Series’ offers more deck space and interior comfort than any equivalent yacht of her size, offering owners a genuine extension of the modern spaces where they live, work and travel around the world.

YA C H T P L U S

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Accommodation Guests: Up to 12 in 5 cabins

· ·

Full beam owner’s cabin on main deck with forward facing windows

leading to his and her private balconies Four guest/VIP cabins on lower deck

Crew: Up to 8

Specifications Length: 135 feet (41 meters) Beam: 28 feet (8.4 meters) Draft: 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) Design: Foster and Partners, London Construction: Rodriquez Cantieri Navali, Italy Maximum speed: 17.5 knots Cruising speed: 15 knots Communications: SATCOM, VHF, Wireless Internet throughout

Leisure Two tenders (guests and crew), two jet skis, SCUBA equipment, gym and massage areas on board.

Conclusion Anyone who has ever had to ship a yacht between Sardinia and Lyford Cay or the Hamptons will appreciate the fractional ownership concept.

The quality of design and craftsmanship, the unique look of the vessel and the opportunity to join a community of very discerning yachtsmen and women makes YachtPlus a highly attractive option.

YachtPlus Contact 161 Brompton Road Knightsbridge London SW3 1QP +44 (0)207 824 9945

Fax:

+44 (0)207 295 9115

Email: URL:

94

sales@yachtplus.com

YA C H T P L U S

Phone:

www.yachtplus.com

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AERONAUTIC C O N S U LTA N C Y

AERONAUTIC CONSULTANCY WAS

CREATED TO FILL A SPECIFIC GAP IN THE SUPER YACHT INDUSTRY BY PROVIDING

EXPERT ADVICE ON ALL AREAS OF HELICOPTER OPERATION. AERONAUTIC’S MISSION

IS TO ENSURE A SAFE, PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT INTERFACE BETWEEN HELICOPTER

AND YACHT IN A WAY THAT FULLY SATISFIES THE OWNER’S REQUIREMENTS.

Aeronautic offer consultancy services at every stage of the project, from feasibility studies, initial concept and developed design, through to construction, sea trials and normal operations and including advice on operational and safety training for aircrew, ship’s company and passengers.

Aeronautic’s team boast over 35 years of maritime helicopter experience, as well as programme management, yacht command and aviation engineering at the highest level. As

Expertise Feasibility. Aeronautic’s unique combination of skills and experience provides

a result, the company is excellently placed to deliver solutions to the many problems of integrating the

the basis of detailed feasibility studies for owner, designer and naval architects.

helicopter with the Super Yacht.

Studies can address all aspects of helicopter/ship interface – engineering support, fuel and stores, deck handling, securing of the helicopter and

FRANCE

Aeronautic provides:

Aeronautic Consultancy

hangarage.

> Personally selected, multi-skilled pilots for permanent and temporary positions on Superyachts worldwide.

Design. From the feasibility study, staff can assist designers with the practical application of the owner’s

Aeronautic Consultancy Project Management division offers a

> Helicopter charter packages at competitive rates anywhere in the world with its partners.

requirements. This can include aspects such as flight deck size, strength, positioning and associated

range of technical services. These include:

> Short or long-term finance packages for purchase and/or lease of helicopters to suit its clients’ needs.

airflow patterns, lighting and approach aids, securing and handling systems, and fire, emergency and

> Pre-purchase condition surveys

> Fractional helicopter ownership and management packages.

support systems.

> Condition surveys

Aeronautic can provide full detailed specification for compliance to LYC 2/CAP 437 code

People

requirements as well as provide budget breakdowns for shipyard tender.

> New construction supervision > Refit management and supervision

Paul Wakeford MBIM An extremely experienced and highly-regarded engineer and strategic planner,

> Full Specification writing for tender

highlights of Paul’s career include being the Chief Executive of East Asian Airlines and Vice-President

Construction. With years of experience operating a wide range of helicopters from large and small decks,

> Evaluation of Yard tenders

Engineering and Maintenance, Air Hong Kong. Most recently, he has been chosen to oversee the

Aeronautic’s staff are on hand to provide the naval architects and ship builders with advice on the function

> Crew placement

acceptance and delivery programme of a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft for Kingfisher Airlines. Paul’s

and practicalities of the aviation aspects of the design during build.

> Retro Fit work and supervision

breadth of experience means that he is ideally qualified to provide Aeronautic’s aviation engineering,

Contact

> New construction specification writing and reviews

support and programme management consultancy.

Aeronautic Consultancy Ltd

> Yacht Commissioning/Pre Delivery Inspection/Delivery Training. With a wealth of teaching experience, Aeronautic can provide theoretical and practical assistance to captain, crew and helicopter pilots.

Current 2008 / 2009 projects

La Gratade

Captain Phil Shaw MVO FRAeS Phil is the Royal Navy’s most experienced pilot, with over 1,000 deck

30M

New build retrofit and Project Management

England

Queyssac Les Vignes

landings and more than 13,000 flying hours, 7,000 of which were in helicopters. He is qualified to fly over

Sea Trials. With the increase in size and complexity of both yachts and helicopters, the importance of an

37M

New build full Project Management

Denmark

19120

50 types of helicopter and aeroplane. Having joined the Royal Navy in 1969, Phil rose to the rank of

aviation phase during sea trials has also grown – an area in which Aeronautic’s staff are uniquely qualified.

50M

New build Specification for Yard tender

Australia

France

Commander, leading two squadrons. His impressive credentials attracted HRH The Duke of York, to whom

Phone/Fax: +33 (0) 5 55 91 14 17

he was Personal Flying Instructor. Flight Safety, risk reduction and the efficient operation of the

Operations. The Aeronautic team can provide practical

Mobile:

+33 (0) 6 27 79 05 20

helicopter/ship interface have been ongoing concerns throughout his career, training he has brought with

advice to existing helicopter/yacht operations as well as

+44 (0) 77 202 93 223

him to Aeronautic.

those in development. In all cases, concerns of safety and

Email: URL:

security are paramount.

info@aeronautic.eu.com http://www.aeronautic.eu.com

Captain James Wakeford MRIN An extremely experienced Master Mariner, James began his military career as a helicopter pilot and ended it as a Captain in an elite unit of the Royal Marines. Since leaving the forces, James has moved into the film industry, where he has coordinated complex marine and aerial sequences for film and TV, including Saving Private Ryan and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. He also runs a highly successful global yacht delivery service and continues to work as a civil helicopter pilot.

parallel with flying experience, he has met the challenges of management and company leadership at high level, including the roles of General Manger and Company Chairman of large and highly successful aviation companies. This broad tapestry gives him unique insight into every aspect of the commercial helicopter world, from acquisition, registration and operation, through support and maintenance, flying operations, including commercial maritime operations, to sales, marketing and lease.

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AERONAUTIC CONSULTANCY

James McAlpine James has been flying or managing commercial helicopters and their operation for 30 years. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the industry, from line pilot to company Chairman. In

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the boxter

DESIGNED AS A JOINT PROJECT BY TERENCE DISDALE AND CAPTAIN JAMES WAKEFORD. 98

AERONAUTIC CONSULTANCY

THE BOXTER IS A ‘JAMES BOND-STYLE’ LAUNCH FOR THE SUPERYACHT OWNER WHO LIKES TO TURN HEADS.

99

REYMOND LANGTON DESIGN

WHEN PASCALE REYMOND AND ANDREW LANGTON LEFT

The challenges take on a new significance when it comes to RLD’s recent coup. Known only as Hull #6154, the yacht will feature two helipads, storage for a large submersible capable of reaching depths of 100m, and an enormous seawater pool suitable for tender docking. RLD are charged with the design for this titan’s 2,700 square metres of interior space. Above around 90m, things start to change as the vessel falls under a different set of regulations. There are limits on the amount of flammable material allowed, restricting the traditional wood panelling favoured by many clients. Under these conditions, it becomes

DONALD STARKEY DESIGN IN 2001 TO START THEIR OWN COMPANY, THEY

more like a cruise liner than a yacht; the task for Pascale is to ensure that the feel adheres firmly to the latter.

WERE TAKING A HUGE CHANCE. THEY HAD NO TRACK RECORD UNDER

What hasn’t changed over the years are the reasons for commissioning a yacht. Now, more than ever before, a yacht is a floating home with all the creature comforts and amenities of a fixed base. Few

THEIR OWN NAMES AND, GIVEN THEIR SENIORITY AT DONALD STARKEY,

clients intend to sail the Atlantic; instead, they look forward to enjoying the social life of St Tropez from their personal luxury hotel. This fact is reflected in the numerous queries that RLD receive to design houses and other buildings. With more commissions than they can realistically accept, Reymond Langton

WERE EFFECTIVELY UNEMPLOYABLE ELSEWHERE. THEY BORROWED

Design will always give priority to sea over land.

NOTHING TO SET UP THE BUSINESS – A PROCESS THEY COMPARE TO

SETTING A ROULETTE WHEEL IN MOTION.

It took eight months for the ball to drop but, as Pascale says, ‘We had no choice but to succeed.’ Without any completed projects to attract new clients, it took a creative reference from fellow designer Terence

ENGLAND

Disdale to get them off the mark. From the uncertainty of those early days, the team have never looked

Reymond Langton Design

back, particularly since the classic luxury yacht Kismet came to fruition. The recent and unprecedented demand has meant that the industry has expanded faster than its infrastructure. Today, RLD are busier than ever before and are flooded with enquiries. It is not unusual for a project to be commissioned and then sold to a new client whilst it is still in construction. Buyers typically have resale in mind from the start – if not immediately, then at least as an option later down the line.

The nature of the company, which has three directors, means that several projects can be handled in parallel. It also means three points of view when it comes to developing new designs and the advantages that the extra perspectives bring. This diversity, along with the team of young designers in their Kew office, gives the company a fresh, dynamic feel. Many of the group, including Andrew Langton, have a background in automobile design. The difference is that, while cars are usually designed by committee – a process that frequently tends towards in mediocrity – yacht designers have free reign to try out new ideas without compromise. All design is carried out in-house rather than contracted out, which means that RLD are completely responsible for their own work. They are also one of the only firms flexible enough to undertake interior and exterior design separately, where required.

In the 20 or so years they have been active in the industry – and even in the seven years since

Contact

starting RLD – a lot has changed. In terms of design, of course, CAD packages and 3-D computer modelling

Reymond Langton Design, Ltd

has taken the place of pen and paper, meaning that clients can be shown a project from all angles at the

6 Blake Mews

click of a button. The rise of the internet has made communication with clients and between the design

Kew Gardens

team fast and easy.

Richmond Upon Thames Surrey

The technological revolution has also been reflected in clients’ requirements; demands for sophisticated electronics, AV and DVD systems, wireless internet and unbroken signals are now

TW9 3QA

commonplace. In terms of the yachts themselves, the tendency is for ever-increasing size. Fifteen years

Phone:

+44 (0) 208 332 7789

ago a 40m vessel would have been considered large;

Fax:

+44 (0) 208 332 6890

ten years ago 50m was more of a benchmark, and

Email:

yachtdesign@aol.com

today there are plenty of commissions for 70-80m

URL:

http://www.reymondlangtondesign.com

boats. Large open spaces and social areas are popular – sometimes inside, sometimes outside, depending on the client. Big swimming pools and folding terraces are similarly popular, though not always practical.

The demand for extra space brings its own

60m yacht had a volume more common for an 80m design. This is one instance in which Andrew’s automotive training came into its own as he experimented with different lines, shapes, shading and reflections to break up the volume and make the yacht appear smaller than it actually was to restore the correct proportions.

100

REYMOND LANGTON DESIGN

complications. In the case of Aviva, for example, the

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flavio briatore Q By conventional standards you are one of

Q How much time do you spend each year on

the most successful men in the world. What is

your yacht?

the single most important personal

A It varies but usually 2 weeks in the winter and

characteristic that has made you so?

2-3 weeks in the summer.

A There is no single ingredient for success but rather a series of factors.

Q What is the most enjoyable aspect of living

In my case, since I was very young I felt that my

afloat?

little provincial town in Northern Italy (Cuneo)

A Having a beautiful floating house with all the

was too limiting for me. I wanted to see the

comforts and being able to change the setting

world, meet people, take opportunities and

and the surroundings when you feel like.

expand my horizons. I was hungry for success and that was and has been a big motivation. I

Q Do you have plans to build a new yacht and if

also have a very competitive personality and I

so, which designer and shipyard would you use?

take a great pleasure in winning: in business, in

A No, I have achieved all my desires for a yacht,

sport, in my hobbies, I always try to reach the

studied and realised in every detail, with Force

highest step of the podium. I am aware that

Blue. I am perfectly happy with it.

success is not due to me alone and therefore I carefully choose my collaborators, who have to

Q What does it take to get invited on board the

share my vision and high standards.

Force Blue?

Q Is the qualifying factor for success the

formally on Force Blue. I prefer to have close

A I do not give big parties and I rarely entertain same for men and women?

friends with whom to enjoy my free time, in a

A Absolutely, no difference.

very relaxed and casual atmosphere. There is plenty to do on the boat, between the gyms, the

Q People achieve success based on a

Spa, the water sports.

combination of factors. Do you believe in destiny or luck or a hardwired ‘winning gene’?

Q Is buying a football club a commercial

A I believe that there must be a predisposition

investment or a modern day billionaire’s

to success, determined by your personality and

accessory?

your background, but I think that the number

A Neither. It is a very expensive hobby.

one rule is to be quick to seize an opportunity, even at the cost of taking a (controlled) risk.

Q Is your clothing range a reflection of your

Luck plays a role sometimes, in the sense of

own taste and will it be followed by a women’s

'being in the right place at the right time.’ But

label to complement the men’s?

A Not all the styles and pieces reflect my taste,

again, in the end, it all comes down to your intuition and business sense.

as I prefer a ‘relaxed’ style. But I do give my input in the Billionaire Italian Couture collections. A women's label? Not for the moment, the market is full of women's fashion

Q The name Flavio Briatore has become synonymous with a prestigious and indulgent

brands and competition is too strong.

lifestyle. What gives you most enjoyment? What do you value most?

A What I value most is the freedom and luxury of a ‘normal’ day: simple things like an

Q ‘Fast cars and fast women’ could have been invented for you – is there another, more

evening in with my wife, a walk in the park with my dogs, an intimate dinner with friends...

private Flavio Briatore and how many people in the world know him?

And I value my good health.

A Yes of course! The one who works 10 hours in the office and then goes home, has dinner with the family and sits in front of the TV. But unfortunately, the paparazzi are not interested in him!

F L AV I O B R I ATO R E

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Yacht name:

Force Blue

Owner:

Flavio Briatore

Length:

207.5 ft · 63.23 m

Year:

2002

Builder:

Royal Denship

FORCE BLUE is an ocean going luxury steel yacht designed

by Tom Fexas, with the interior refitted and redesigned in 2006 by Celeste dell’Anna in Arredamenti Porto in Genoa.

The yacht features a superb spa, huge accommodation and space with 6 staterooms, a Jacuzzi on her sundeck and a forward disco area.

FORCE BLUE has elevators to all decks and a cinema room with a large plasma 60" TV and 7 seats.

The yacht has a new limousine tender and an 8.5 m Pascoe tender (same as the Maltese Falcon).

‘I think you will find that Force Blue is a yacht to suit all tastes. She is designed to provide you with luxurious living of the highest quality, embracing elegance, comfort and total relaxation. There is a huge range of on-board facilities, including a fully equipped spa, an elevator serving all decks and water sports equipment to match the expectations of even the most demanding users, offset by exquisite dining in a choice of sophisticated settings.

Above all, I would like you to know that Force Blue is totally free safe and seaworthy. The design of her immensely strong 207foot steel hull conceived by the American naval architect Tom Fexas was inspired by the merchant vessels which ply their trade in the hostile waters of the North Sea. Force Blue meets the stringent construction rules of Lloyd's Register of Shipping; in addition, she complies with all aspects of the rigorous safety requirements laid down by the British Maritime & Coastguard Agency. She was built to such extraordinarily high standards in Denmark - the home of perfection - by the award-winning shipyard Royal Denship.

Force Blue can transport you, your family and guests on a voyage of sheer delight or, equally, take you on an adventure to the most remote corners of the earth - at all times in the greatest degree of comfort and safety. Please enjoy her.’

FLAVIO BRIATORE

www.force-blue.com.

Force Blue is available for charter all year long.

F L AV I O B R I ATO R E

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grenada sailing festival

Two other two sailing events taking place at the same time of the year are the Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta from 19 – 22 February and the Le Phare Bleu Grenada Round Island Race over the week-end of 13-15 March.

PORT LOUIS MARINA, GRENADA

The event has always had a unique combination of world class keelboat racing, with yachts and skippers from the USA UK, Europe and even Australia, as well as local and regional Caribbean racers, plus a racing Regatta of the traditional wooden hulled, bamboo rigged work boats.

There are four days (Saturday - Tuesday) of keelboat racing on a variety of set courses off Grenada’s southern coast, while the Work Boat Regatta runs over two days, set on the island’s famous Grand Anse Beach, with exciting running starts to the boats on the shoreline.

There are also great parties and fun : Skippers’ Briefing & Welcome Party on Friday night and the famous Mount Gay Red Cap Party on Saturday night, fun Themed party evenings on Sunday and Monday and a final Prize Presentation Dinner on Tuesday.

Much of the action and party fun will be at the new Camper and Nicholson Port Louis Marina.

Festival Chairman, Jimmy Bristol says: ‘I see the new Southern Circuit being a great incentive to skippers to keep their boats in the Southern Caribbean longer so they can find out just how much there is on offer – not only some of the best racing, but also some of the best ‘partying’ in the region. I am also very pleased to announce changes this year at the Grenada Sailing Festival – a new look; new people; a new Racing Class; new parties and more fun, and of course, excellent racing as always.’

INTRODUCTION IN ITS 16TH YEAR, THE GRENADA SAILING FESTIVAL IS GATHERING MOMENTUM FOR ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS IN 2009. The regatta is presented by Port Louis, the latest marina to enter the Super Yacht playfield and Camper & Nicholsons who are managing the marina. This will give the sailing festival a fillip and generate massive interest among the international yachting community. The 2009 Festival will now take place between the Carriacou Regatta (14 – 18 January), moved from its traditional pre- Christmas dates, and the new Tobago Carnival Regatta (10 – 14 February), creating for the first time a great threeevent racing schedule in the Southern Caribbean.

G R E N A D A S A I L I N G F E S T I VA L

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T H E M A LT E S E FA L C O N

The overall design resembles a clipper, though Dijkstra claims that the DynaRig design is twice as efficient as a regular square rig. The Maltese Falcon is capable of making 14 knots at 16 knots true wind

AT 88 METRES LONG AND A COST OF AROUND $130 MILLION, THE STATE-OF-THE-ART MALTESE

speed. In addition to this unique arrangement, the Falcon has two 1,800 hp Deutz engines. Turning at just 1,800 rpm, these are so quiet that the air-conditioning system is said to make more noise. The Falcon also

FALCON IS ARGUABLY THE LARGEST, FASTEST AND MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED SAILING

has a Castoldi 14-foot Jet tender, two 32-foot Pascoe RIB Tenders and four Laser sailing boats, as well as a ‘deep flight’ submarine under development.

YACHT IN THE WORLD. OWNED BY BILLIONAIRE SILICON VALLEY VENTURE CAPITALIST TOM

The ship has a permanent crew of 18, which includes staff for the on-board hotel. There is room for 12 guests and four additional staff members. There are six suites: the Master Suite, four guest suites and

PERKINS, THE GROUND-BREAKING SHIP WAS DESIGNED BY ITALIAN FIRM PERINI NAVI AND

<< The Maltese Falcon isn’t a classic yacht,she’s a new class of yacht >>

the ‘Passage Cabin’ on the upper deck. Amenities include plasma screen TV and DVD players in each room, B&O surround sound and wireless internet connection throughout, a full gym, snorkelling equipment, six

CONSTRUCTED IN AT THE YILDIZ GEMI YARD IN TUZLA, TURKEY, OVERSEEN BY ENGLISH FIBRE-

full sets of diving gear and water skis.

The Maltese Falcon is available for charter for between EUR 325,000 to 335,000 per week, plus expenses.

OPTIC SENSING COMPANY INSENSYS. Perkins had previously purchased two other Super Yachts, both sailboats, from Perini Navi. This time, however, he was looking for something different. He contacted naval architect Jerry Dijkstra, who had been involved in several other major sailing yacht projects, including the 90 metre-long Athena and the three-masted schooner Adix.

After conferring with Dijkstra, Perkins chose to run with a revolutionary idea for his new boat.

The DynaRig was the brainchild of Hamburg University’s hydraulics engineer Wilhelm Prolls, who developed the design in the 1960s in response to a predicted fuel crisis. Prolls took some of his inspiration from the Cape Horn clipper ships from the Great Age of Sail, but brought the squarerigger concept into a new generation. DynaRig uses a free-standing mast with fixed yards, from which rectangular sails are flown. However,

<< The Maltese Falcon has written a new page in the history of yachting.The DynaRig is no longer an experimental concept >> TOM PERKINS

adjusting the sails is achieved by rotating the entire mast. Hydraulic motors would align the entire assembly automatically for maximum efficiency.

DynaRig was an interesting idea that came to nothing – partly because the fuel crisis never lasted and partly because, back in the 1960s, the materials that would turn such a neat theory into reality on a

large scale simply didn’t exist. The DynaRig concept was shelved until Carbon fibre, Dijkstra’s expertise and Perkins’ millions brought it to fruition.

Perkins chose Ken Freivokh Design, who had built him two yachts in the past. Creating the Maltese Falcon required an enormous amount of research and development, including creating a 1/30 scale model to test in a wind tunnel. The significant technological advances made in the process will

USA

be of future benefit to the entire large sailing yacht industry.

The Maltese Falcon’s three 57-metre tall, 25 ton masts are made of Carbon fibre – according to Perkins, he has purchased more of this material than anyone except the American Air Force (who use it in the B-1 bomber). Each mast has six yards, from which the 15 sails hang. These sails are stored inside the masts when not in use and can be unfurled automatically in around six minutes – a task that would take an hour on a standard vessel on this scale. The masts and sails are controlled by dozens of computers and over 130,000 feet of cables, wires and fibre-optics – an engineering feat

The Maltese Falcon

that took more than 200,000 man hours to construct.

Although hugely complex, the ship’s rigs are controlled by a central computer, which

Contact Bruce Brakenhoff, Jr PERINI NAVI USA, Inc One Maritime Drive,

continuously monitors conditions such as wind speed and direction and makes automatic adjustments. A software package designed by Perkins himself make piloting the yacht the work of a single person and ‘as easy as playing a computer game.’

Portsmouth, RI 02871 U.S.A. 401-683 5600

Fax:

401-683 5611

Mob:

401-683 8121

Email:

bruce@perininaviusa.com

URL:

www.symaltesefalcon.com

THE MALTESE FALCON

108

Phone:

109

GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP

THE GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN

collaborated with the Underwater Vehicles Inc. (http://www.sub-find.com/), a

NYMPHAEA 15 FLOATING RESTAURANT WITH UNDERWATER VIEW TAHITI, POLYNESIA, 2004

leading Canadian company in the development of underwater vessels.

Consultation with the European Space Agency within the Technology Transfer

PROJECT: GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP CLIENT: UNDERWATER VEHICLES INC. CONSULTANTS: ZLH (PTY) LTD COST: $USD 10.000.000

Programme has brought solutions for adapting space technologies, materials and

GROUP IS A STUDIO WHICH SPECIALISES IN SEMISUBMERGED ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES,

systems to semisubmerged architectural structures and other projects. GZDG also work with Bugatti Yachts Ltd to design innovative super-yachts with hulls in steel

MARINE PARKS, FLOATING HABITATS AND YACHT DESIGN. BASED IN ROME, IT WAS FOUNDED IN

<< the new style of living on and under water >>

and aluminium superstructures using Bugatti Marine technology notably the

THE FLOATING RESTAURANT DRAWS ITS INSPIRATION

Poseidon 180.

FRON FLOATING WATER PLANTS WITH BEATIFUL FLOWERS.

THE CIRCULAR STRUCTURE (FLOWER) OF 18 METRES DIAMETER IS INTERRUPTED BY A DISTRIBUTION OF 15 CIRCULAR ELEMENTS (PETALS) IN LAMINATED WOOD. THE RESTAURANT IS

2001 BY THE ARCHITECT GIANCARLO ZEMA AS A DYNAMIC AND FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATION WHICH Giancarlo Zema Giancarlo Zema was born in Rome in 1973 and graduated in Architecture at the ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome with Professor Giovanni

GUARANTEES THE WHOLE DESIGN PROCESS, FROM THE INITIAL CONCEPT TO THE EXECUTIVE

ARTICULATED ON THREE LEVELS CONNECTED BY A

Zuccon, one of most significant naval designers on the international scene. He

STAIRCASE WHICH GOES UP A CYLINDRICAL

spent a brief but intense period at Giorgio Vafiadis’ studio and a longer period at

STRUCTURE (PISTIL) THAT INCLUDES THE LIFT AND THE AIR DUCT.

THE RESTAURANT’S GROUND-FLOOR 260 SQUARE METRES WITH A KITCHEN, STOREHOUSES, SERVICES AND CAN HOLD 100 PEOPLE. THE FIRST FLOOR IS CHARACTERISED BY A MORE

DETAILS.

Jean Marc Schivo’s studio.

The studio uses advanced technologies and design software, allowing them to project and calculate a wide

and innovative projects in which architecture and design merge to create new forms

variety of planning solutions. Computer-aided design systems are employed to produce 3D models,

of art. He is sensitive to new technologies and integrates sophisticated high-

PRIVATE SPACE COMPOSED OF A SMALL KITCHEN

prospective views and renderings by means of full layout presentation. This offers the client all the

performance technological elements into his organic concepts. The main

WITH A STOREHOUSE FOR THE PREPARATION OF

necessary information on the project before the realisation.

characteristics of his design are soft lines that clearly recall biomorphic forms.

IS COMPOSED OF A FLOATING SPACE OF

Giancarlo’s passion and creativity have prompted him to work on alternative

SIMPLE DISHES AND BY AN INTERNAL GARDEN. LEVEL CAN HOLD

THIS

50 PEOPLE.

THE BRISE-SOLEIL SYSTEM ENABLES TO USE THE

In 2001 he founded his personal architecture studio, the Giancarlo Zema

ROME

EXTERNAL AREA ALSO IN CONDITION OF STRONG

Publicity The studio’s projects are frequently shown in European exhibitions and published in some of the

Design Group. The studio has developed skills in naval architecture and Industrial

INSOLATION.

most important scientific, design, nautical and architecture magazines. In 2002 the famous American

design and has worked on a number of outstanding and ground-breaking projects.

BELOW SEA LEVEL CAN HOLD

magazine Popular Mechanics featured the Trilobis 65, a 20-metre semi-submerged eco-yacht describing it

Since that time he has collaborated as a designer with the Canadian Underwater

as ‘the most innovative project of the last ten years.’

Vehicles Inc. In 2003 he became a partner with the ZLH (Pty) Ltd, a group of consulting engineers in south

Two years later the prestigious English nautical magazine Captain’s Log dedicated their front cover

THE UNDERWATER FLOOR AT 4 MTS 25 PEOPLE.

Africa, to engineer their naval projects, and in 2004 he became part of the design team of the famous

to the Jelly-fish 45, a floating house with levels both above and below water, calling it the project that best

American Bugatti Yachts firm, creating unique SuperYachts with Bugatti Marine’s advanced electric

represented ‘the Italian Marine Scene.’ The Sunday Times and New York Times praised the studio’s

propulsion systems.

conceptual work as ‘design in the brave new waterworld’ and ‘the new design of aquatic life.’ In 2005, along with the well-known architect Daniel Libeskind, designer of the New World Trade Center in New York,

Designs Some of GZDG’s most remarkable projects are the Trilobis 65 (an innovative yacht with

GZDG took part in the international SFT Architecture Convention in Germany, where their work on floating

underwater view and hydrogen fuel cell engines), the Jelly-fish 45 (a floating house with underwater view),

projects was deemed ‘the new style of living on and under the water.’

both designed for UVI, and finally the Poseidon 180 (a Super Yacht with diagonal connecting decks) for

In 2007 in India, together with the famous architect Massimiliano Fuksas, Zema took part in the international AEC architecture convention, where he presented his the luxury semisubmerged hotel resort, called Amphibious 1000.

Bugatti Yachts Ltd. In other fields Giancarlo Zema has created the Ring Collection for Giovannetti S.r.l. and the innovative modular stand in DuPont™ Corian® for the Runtal S.r.l. His projects are frequently shown on TV and presented at European exhibitions and international conventions.

Philosophy GZDG believe that the future of architecture is on the water, and that mankind will increasingly be inclined and required to live on and under the ocean. Consequently they have worked to create innovative architecture that is nevertheless in harmony with nature. With this aim in mind they have partnered with the ZLH (Pty) Ltd, a consulting engineers company in South Africa, and have

poseidon 180

POSEIDON 180 YACHT WITH DIAGONAL DECKS FLORIDA, USA, 2004

PROJECT: GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP CLIENT: BUGATTI YACHTS LTD ENGINEERING: BUGATTI MARINE LTD COST: $USD 50.000.000 THIS 55 METRE MOTORYACHT IS PARTICULARLY INNOVATIVE IN ITS COURAGEOUS AND UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURE. YOU CAN

Giancarlo Zema Design Group

CONFORTABLY ADMIRE THE SEA LANDSCAPE FROM THREE OVERLAPPING DECKS IN THE ALL GLASS PRORA WHERE THE

Contact

COMMANDS ARE USUALLY SITUATED.

Giancarlo Zema Design Group

DECKS FOLLOW THE SHAPE OF THE HULL UNINTERRUPTEDLY

THE THREE EXTERNAL

00195 Rome

CREATING AN ARCHITECTURAL WALK IN THE SEA.

THE FUTURISTIC DESIGN OF THE DECKS WITH DIAGONAL PROFILES ACTUALLY CONCEAL AN ORDINARY

Italy

110

STRAIGHTFORWARD INTERNAL STRUCTURE WITH

Phone:

+39 06 372 47 72

Fax:

+39 06 375 00 625

E-mail:

studio@giancarlozema.com

URL:

www.giancarlozema.com

INTERCONNECTING STAIRWAYS.

DESIGNED TO BE BUILT COMPLETELY IN ALUMINIUM, THE POSEIDON 180 CAN REACH A MAXIMUM 40 KNOTS. THE STREAM-LINED HULL AND THE WIDE USE OF GLASS GIVE THE IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE A LIGHT APPEARANCE. LIGHTNESS IS THE CATCHWORD FOR THE INTERIORS TOO: MODERN SPACES, SOFT SHAPES AND LIGHTING.

GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP

FROM PRORA TO STERN FINALLY BECOMING INTERNAL THUS

Via della Giuliana, 32

111

JELLY-FISH 45 FLOATING HOUSE WITH UNDERWATER VIEW VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2003

PROJECT: GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP CLIENT: UNDERWATER VEHICLES INC. CONSULTANTS: ZLH (PTY) LTD COST: $USD 2.000.000 THE JELLY-FISH 45 IS A FLOATING DWELLING UNIT FOR SIX PEOPLE, 9 METRES HIGH AND 15 METRES IN DIAMETER. IT IS SUITABLE FOR LIVING IN SEA PARKS, ATOLLS, BAYS AND SEAS RICH IN FLORA AND FAUNA. WITH JELLY-FISH 45 PEOPLE MAY LIVE EITHER ABOVE OR BELOW SEA LEVEL. THE STRUCTURE IS COMPOSED WITH THE

Jelly-fish 45

HULL IN STEEL AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE IN ALUMINIUM WHILE THE SUBMARINE GLOBE IS MADE WITH HIGHLY RESISTANT POLYCARBONATE.

IT CONSISTS OF FIVE LEVELS CONNECTED BY A SPIRAL THE TOP LEVEL IS 5.6 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL AND IS INTENDED AS A STUDY ROOM. THE ONE AT 3.5 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL IS THE NIGHT-TIME AREA WITH BATHROOMS WHILE AT 1.4 METRES IS THE DAY-TIME AREA WITH A KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS. THE LEVEL AT 0.8 METRES ABOVE SEA STAIRCASE.

LINE IS SEMISUBMERGED AND IS DESIGNED TO HOUSE THE GUEST ROOMS, BATHROOMS AND TECHNICAL SPACES.

THE

SUBMARINE WORLD BECOME AVAILABLE TO ONE AND ALL IN THE

3.00 MT BELOW SEA LEVEL. THE SHAPE OF JELLY-FISH 45 IS THE RESULT OF

GLOBE AT

OBSERVING JELLYFISHES THAT ANIMATE OUR SEAS WITH THEIR LIGHT FLOATING BODIES.

<< the project that best represents the Italian Marine Scene >>

Amphibious 1000 AMPHIBIOUS 1000 LUXURY SEMISUBMERGED HOTEL RESORT QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, 2006 - 2008

PROJECT: GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP CLIENT: SEAQUEST MARINE TECHNOLOGY PLC ENGINEERING: ZLH (PTY) LTD COST: $USD 500.000.000 THIS INNOVATIVE PROJECT DESIGNED FOR AN ARABIAN COMMISION IS THE FIRST SEMISUBMERGED HOTEL RESORT. CALLED AMPHIBIOUS, LIKE A BIG AQUATIC ANIMAL STRETCHING OUT FROM THE LAND INTO THE SEA, IT EXTENDS HORIZONTALLY FOR 1KM THANKS TO TWO LONG WIDE ARMS. THE PROJECT IS COMPOSED OF A LAND SECTION AND A SEA SECTION. ON THE LAND AREA THEIR ARE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, OFFICE BUILDINGS AND A MARINA WITH A MODERN AND FLEXIBLE HARBOUR. ALL THE STRUCTURES ARE SITUATED IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND THE TOWER WITH THE PANORAMIC RESTAURANT. IN THE SEA SECTION THERE ARE FOUR INNOVATIVE SEMISUBMERGED HOTELS WITH UNDERWATER HALLS THAT GIVE FASCINATING VIEWS. THE FOUR HOTELS REMIND US OF THE SOFT LINES OF THE SUPERYACHTS ANCHORED ON LAND. LARGE DIAGONAL GLASS WINDOWS MAKE THE HOTELS UNIQUE, EACH WITH 75 LUXURY SUITES ARRANGED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING SO THAT EACH HAS A BIG TERRACE THAT OVERLOOKS THE COMPLEX. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HOTEL TAKE PLACE IN THE UNDERWATER AREA THAT IS SURROUNDED BY ACQUARIUMS.

THE HOTELS ARE SITUATED AROUND A CENTRAL PUBLIC WELCOME

AMPHIBIOUS 1000 At the

EXHIBITION GALLERIES, LARGE PERIMETRAL ACQUARIUMS AND A GLASS

2007 international AEG architectural convention in India, Zema, together with Massimiliano Fuksas, presented his luxury semisubmerged hotel resort, Amphibious 1000.

TUNNEL THAT LEADS TO THE UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY IN THE CENTRE OF THE WHOLE MARINE PARK.

CONNECTED TO THE WELCOME

AREA BY THE LONG ARMS ARE FITNESS AREAS, GARDENS AND A SPECIAL OUTDOOR THEATRE WITH A MOVING STAGE THAT OPENS OUT ON THE SEA.

TO THE SMALLER FLOATING PLATFORMS WILL BE ANCHORED 80 JELLY-FISH WITH UNDERWATER VIEWS WITHIN THE ARTIFICIAL REEF. AT THE END OF EACH PLATFORM ARE LIGHTHOUSES. IT IS POSSIBLE TO MOVE EVERYWHERE THANKS TO ELECTRICAL VEHICLES THAT RESPECT THE ECO-SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY. WATER TRANSPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY 20 METRE ALUMINIUM YACHTS CALLED TRILOBIS THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH HYDROGEN ENGINES AND AN UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY GLOBE. THE BRIDGE THAT FLOATING SUITES CALLED

CONNECTS THE LAND AND SEA SECTION IS LINED WITH PLANTS THAT GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF PROJECTING THE LAND FLORA INTO THE SEA. THE MAIN STRUTURE IS IN STEEL COMPLETE WITH ALL THE NECESSARY LIGHTING SYSTEMS, AND THE FLOOR IS IN TEAK.

112

GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP

AREA THAT HAS AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM ON WATER LIFE AND WATER

113

Trilobis 65 << The most innovative project of the last ten years >>

TRILOBIS 65 ECO-YACHT WITH UNDERWATER VIEW VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2001

PROJECT: GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP CLIENT: UNDERWATER VEHICLES INC. ENGINEERING: ZLH (PTY) LTD COST: $USD 4.000.000 THE TRILOBIS 65 IS A 20 MT LONG ECO-YACHT FOR SIX PEOPLE, IDEAL FOR BAYS, ATOLLS AND SEA THE MAIN AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ALLOW ONE AND ALL TO LIVE IN A FANTASTIC, UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENT IN A SELF SUFFICIENT, NON-POLLUTING HABITAT. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR LEVELS CONNECTED BY A SPIRAL STAIRCASE. THE TOP LEVEL (WHERE THE CONTROLS ARE) IS 3.5 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL. FROM HERE, THANKS TO SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY, THE TRILOBIS CAN BE PILOTED BY A JOYSTICK THAT ALLOWS IT TO ROTATE 360째 ON ITS OWN AXEL. THE ONE AT 1.4 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL IS FOR THE DAYTIME AREA WITH ALL SERVICES AND POSSIBILITY TO GO OUTSIDE. THE ONE AT 0.8 METRES BELOW SEA LEVEL, SEMI-SUBMERGED, IS FOR THE NIGHT-TIME AREA. IT HAS BATHROOMS AND THE ENGINES ROOM. AT 3.0 METRES BELOW SEA LEVEL, COMPLETELY SUBMERGED, THERE IS THE UNDERWATER OBSERVATION GLOBE. IN HIGH RESISTANT ACRYLIC, IT HOUSES SIX SEATING PLACES, CONNECTED WITH

PARKS.

LIGHTING AND IN REAL TIME TO GET INFORMATION ON THE SEA-BED AND THE FISH BELOW.

THE HULL OF THE TRILOBIS IS MADE OF STEEL AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE IN ALUMINIUM WHICH 80% RECYCLABLE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW. THE GLASS WINDOWS ARE ELECTROCHEMICAL, IN OTHER WORDS THEY CHANGE THEIR OPACITY THANKS TO A SOPHISTICATED ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM. THIS CAN BE DONE MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACCORDING TO HOW LIGHT IT IS OUTSIDE. THE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ON THE TOP CATCH AND STORE THE SOLAR ENERGY NECESSARY FOR THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE INSIDE. THE ELECTRIC ENGINES ARE DRIVEN BY HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS THAT ONLY PRODUCE DRINKING WATER AS WASTE MATERIAL, THROUGH AN ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY THIS MAKES IT A NON-POLLUTING PROJECT. THANKS TO THE SHAPE OF TRILOBIS 65 IT IS POSSIBLE TO ASSEMBLE MORE MODULAR UNITS IN A RING THUS CREATING FLOATING COLONIES. THE PROJECT WAS NAMED TRILOBIS AFTER TRILOBITI LITTLE CREATURES THAT LIVED IN THE SEA 500 MILION YEARS AGO. MEANS IT IS

114

GIANCARLO ZEMA DESIGN GROUP

COMPUTERS AND SPECIAL SOFTWARE WHICH ALLOWS THE INHABITANTS TO PERSONALIZE THE OUTSIDE

115

carfax INTRODUCTION WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU ARE A GLOBAL

CLIENTS Carfax numbers some of the most prominent families of Russia and the

TRAVELLER, WHETHER ROAMING THE SEAS OR THE SKIES, AND HAVE

former Soviet Union among their clients.

These are people who are naturally ambitious for their children. The consultancy

CHILDREN FOR WHOM YOU WISH TO GUARANTEE THE BEST INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION?

ensures that the children are exposed to the best the British educational system can offer and tailor their service individually.

The ethos of every school is taken into careful consideration and the consultancy

Enter Carfax…

Founded by Alexander

develops a close working relationships with all private establishments.

The educational programmes are also tailored to complement, rather than conflict with the schools’ curricula.

Nikititch, Carfax is an educational consultancy specialised in looking after the

CARFAX TUITION Carfax’s educational base is in Oxford, where a network of experienced, qualified tutors are on hand to meet pupils' academic needs, no matter how special or extensive.

offspring of prominent families from Eastern Europe, in

Subjects covered range from basic English and Mathematics to advanced Economics, Natural Sciences, Fine Art, and even Veterinary Medicine.

There is a choice of long-term courses of intensive, individual tuition for school and

particular Russia and the

university candidates, as well as remedial short courses for children already in full time

former Soviet Union.

education.

Carfax's own tuition centers in Oxford and Moscow provide unrivalled academic

The niche company is staffed by fluent English and Russian speakers,

support to those preparing for entry to schools and universities, as well as those already in

highly qualified tutors, educational consultants and guardians, all of whom are

British education requiring supplementary tuition.

Oxford graduates.

CARFAX GUARDIANS Studying away from home and family is never smooth

Not only do they have an excellent understanding of how the English

sailing. Carfax, who are in the process of joining A.E.G.I.S., act as a highly skilled and professional guardianship organisation in providing both personal and academic support,

educational system works, they are also in tune with the clients mindset and cultural differences.

communicating with the children under their care and visiting them regularly at their schools.

Travel, accommodation, medical, and legal arrangements are taken care of as a matter of course.

Moreover, the consultancy aims to make their charges’ time in England as rich and varied an experience as possible by organising trips and events outside of term time.

Contact Carfax Educational Consultants Russia 127015 Moscow Bolshoy Palashevskiy Lane 5/1.

Phone: Fax: Email:

116

UK 11 Waterloo Place St. James’s London SW1Y 4AU Phone: 020 7863 8871 Fax: 020 7863 8872 Email: enquiries@carfax-consultants.com 38-49 Westgate Centre, Oxford OX1 1NZ Phone: 01865 247 842 Email: enquiries@carfax-consultants.com URL: www.carfax-consultants.com

C A R FA X

<< Each year we help children make their way to a better future by entering them in such well known and respected English schools as Eton and Rugby,and universities such as Oxford,Cambridge and LSE >>

+7 495 927 0126 +7 495 927 0149 enquiries@carfax-consultants.com

117

azita K LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK

BACKGROUND

I sprung from a universe in which the petals of roses,

the colours of wine and the sounds of poetry defined my sense of beauty and need for passion. The pursuit of ideals and ambitions has taken me around the world as a professional in international business, politics, and development — always, however, seeking beauty and passion on my journey. After more than 20 years in the business of global issues, I decided to revert to my roots, deploy my natural sense of beauty fully, and make my small contribution to a more beautiful world.

BEAUTY

I have a natural and very personal sense for beauty. I see and

seek beauty everywhere — in buildings and structures, in words and prose, in voices and sounds, in culture and societies, and in people and their clothing and accessories. I am driven — in my life and my artistic expressions — by beauty that combines the personality of complexity, the charm of sophistication, and the elegance of simplicity. I thrive on differences in people and cultures, and love to apply and adapt my sense of aesthetics to different cultural sensitivities.

MY JEWELLERY

Since 1999, and in partnership with a gifted jewellery maker from

Florence who has worked with many famous houses, I have designed jewellery pieces and sold them in Paris, London, and New York through private and social events.

The azita K signature range is also available in a Paris boutique and well-known to a small circle of Parisian aficionados. There are only a few pieces made at a time, mostly on a bespoke basis.

FINE JEWELLERY BY APPOINTMENT

Beauty and sophistication are central

to every single azita K piece, as my very soul is locked into creating it. Each is skillfully handcrafted in Florence, Italy, using platinum, 18 carat yellow, white and rose gold, brilliant diamonds, emeralds, rubies, deep sapphires and pearls.

CORPORATE GIFTS

The azita K range also includes exclusive high-end corporate gifts,

such as watches, pens, cufflinks, money clips, key chains, bracelets… Crafted in solid sterling silver or gold, each piece is intricately detailed and hand polished.

FAVOURITE HAUNTS

One of my favorite hotels in Europe is Brown’s in London

because it embodies, in my view, this fusion at its most sophisticated. I love having afternoon tea at Brown’s. It has an air of refinement in a warm atmosphere.

Another magical, elegant and utterly exquisite place is le Sirenuse in Positano with my friends Carla and Antonio Sersale. Their spa is another divine treat one can wish for…

Gammel Skagen in Denmark - beach resort nestled in the dunes on the peninsula’s uppermost tip with beyond-postcard-beauty known for its luminosity - inspired an art movement in the early 19th century. July is usually the best month for sailing and dining in a purely Scandinavian civilized, elegant atmosphere.

One of my favourite restaurants in Europe is Apicius in Paris, located in the opulent 18thcentury château in the middle of the 8eme arrondissement. The food, the ambiance and an By appointment

enchanting terrace.

azita K

CONCLUSION

azita K evokes femininity, natural elegance and tastes that are timeless and

118

20 rue Miromesnil 75008, Paris, France Phone:

+44 (0) 7970 529 480

Email:

info@azitak.com

AZITA K

enduring in their simplicity.

119

sylvia cordeiro design

<< Essentially, I want my clients to feel connected with their home and this is one way of achieving it >>

‘I want every project to be relevant to the individual client’s tastes, lifestyle and the architecture of the property or structure of the yacht. For me the priority is having a happy client at the end of the project who is comfortable in their own space’

THE WORK PROCESS

‘In that I get very excited about the

development of materials or new applications of old materials, I would This applies across the board to anything that is being designed especially for them,

<< I explore and develop the concept of interior design as an experience and try to push the traditional boundaries of how we design and use space >>

not just artwork.

‘I treat rugs, for example, very much like artwork.’

The audio-visual

element of her interiors includes softening acoustics through use of soft finishes, such as silk walls, rugs, to create more intimacy and again comfort.

New technology applied to AV (audio-visual) installations means that everything

I also take a very professional, almost corporate, approach to the process of implementing a design. My work begins with the purely administrative before it metamorphoses into the creative. I am meticulous in giving suppliers exact specifications,

TURN-KEY Many clients of course still prefer a complete ‘turn-key’ solution: from

co-ordinating deliveries, etc. I also love the visual representation techniques made possible

working with the architect on remodelling the structure down to purchasing tableware,

by computer software programmes.’

glassware, accessories etc. on their behalf, so that they literally hand over the keys to the designer and are presented with a fully transformed and equipped home/yacht/jet.

‘The beginning of the design process is the same as any other project: that is, I take a detailed brief from the client to ascertain what they would like to achieve and then propose a scheme based on this. Once the client approves the overall design concept, I can

THE SUPER-INTERIOR OF THE FUTURE

describe myself as a modern designer. I love change.

‘Whilst I pride myself on being extremely professional – I used to work in investment banking for five years where customer service is sacrosanct - I take a very personal approach and only work on very few projects at a time, so that I can give my full attention to my clients.’

‘Most projects take anything between 6 months and two years to complete. Quite

execute it without their involvement. The client gives me discretion to select small details on

often one project will roll into another. For example, I finished my client’s house when she

their behalf, which complement the main design. Alternatively, I source a selection of pieces

discovered she was pregnant and then we started designing the nursery! I often become

from different suppliers and present them to the client in one meeting, so that they can

very close to my clients, although of course it depends on the individual. I have become

choose which they would like to keep.

good friends with many clients and continue to see them as friends long after their project

Obviously, even though I focus on making all designs personal and relevant to the

is complete.

client, by definition the design concepts I produce are a reflection of my own personal

works seamlessly while the mechanics remain hidden. Removing unsightly cables etc. from

interpretation of their taste combined with my professional opinion and personal aesthetic

ON THE MUCH ABUSED WORD LUXURY ‘To me luxury is being

view reduces visual ‘noise’ in a space and therefore makes it more relaxing.

of what will work best in the space. Much like the commissioning of artwork, the final result

able to have your space exactly the way you want it, being surrounded by exquisite

Today’s client expects technology to fulfil a very functional need or desire.

is a mix of the two – client and designer.’ Sylvia is anxious not to promote a uniform ‘house

materials in terms of craftsmanship and design, and a home/yacht/jet that is unique to you’.

Music streaming to all rooms is fairly standard but often clients are looking for a

style’ reflective of her own taste.

particular functionality. Sylvia’s job is to make the technology work with and not against the interior design aesthetic – both the look and the feel.

She works with AV companies that provide intelligent interior technology.

‘The super-modern home/yacht/jet has everything designed around the user experience and everything you can imagine is automated. For example, it has been possible for some time now to walk into a room, which recognises that it is you (not your husband, son, sister) who is coming into the room and automatically adjusts the settings to your requirements. You can programme a ‘relax’ setting, so that the blinds come down, the lights dim, the plasma TV is revealed from a concealed location and is switched on. You can even control your home remotely so that these things happen before you arrive home.

I am very lucky that my preferred AV consultant is passionate about all the latest technological innovations and encourages my clients (and me) to think beyond what they

INTRODUCTION SYLVIA CORDEIRO IS NO ORDINARY INTERIOR

already know and to embrace new ideas.’

DESIGNER. SHE PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE ‘FEEL’ ELEMENT OF HER

the interior they create is totally unique.

The super designers of today source out unusual and hand-crafted materials so that

INTERIORS AS MUCH AS ON THE ‘LOOK’. TEXTURES, FINISHES, ACOUSTICS

A major aspect of their work is to spot and cultivate new talent, identify new techniques and rare materials.

ALL COME TO PLAY IN CREATING A ‘SENSORY EXPERIENCE’ OF INTIMACY AND

Sylvia likes to adapt new developments in jewellery and fashion to her interiors to

THE ULTIMATE COMFORT. SHE QUOTES COCO CHANEL: ‘LUXURY IS NOT

create an up to date original look.

LUXURY WITHOUT COMFORT.’ Think of a book you like to return to or a classic

THE CLIENT AS AN ARTIST Superyachts, private jets and fabulous

film you watch again and again…each time you re-visit them, you discover a new

homes share one common feature: they all have one off pieces designed specially for them

detail that enhances your enjoyment.

immediately apparent at first view. Clients and guests notice small details on

Sylvia has evolved an interactive form of interior design that engages the client in the creative process, ‘so that they are involved and feel that the art is personal to them’.

This interactive approach to design can be a very special experience for the creative client

their second, third, fourth visit…. ‘Small details should whisper quality rather

because the end result is a combination of Sylvia’s input (she provides the artist with fabric

than scream it’.

samples of the interior decoration / scheme), the client (who gives a brief as to their likes and dislikes) and the artist’s interpretation of both.

Contact Sylvia Cordeiro Design Ltd 18 Salisbury Gardens London SW19 4HA

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Phone:

+44 (0) 20 8947 7045

URL:

www.sylviacordeiro.com

S Y LV I A C O R D E I R O D E S I G N

Sylvia builds layers of interest into her designs, so that not everything is

from art to all things functional.

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L I V E R A S YA C H T S

FOLLOWING THE

DEATH OF LIVERAS YACHTS FOUNDER, ANDREAS

LIVERAS IN LATE NOVEMBER 2008, THE COMPANY

HAS APPOINTED NEW DIRECTORS, SIMON GROOM

AND JOHN PICKLES TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THE

MONTE CARLO

alysia

COMPANY AND THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE

BUSINESS HAS BEEN REVISED. Dion Liveras and Kyri Kyriacou become full-time

Lauren L includes a Health and Beauty Centre with an aquarium in the relaxation saloon, sauna, steam

consultants and have re-defined their roles within the company. They visit Monte Carlo regularly and

room, a beauty salon and a fully equipped gymnasium; a Conference Centre seating 17 around a

will provide advice on commerce and marketing as well as financial controls. The staff based at the

Mahogany table with a 50 inch plasma flat screen multi media TV System with multi function panel for

Monaco office continue as before, with Anna Maria Hebbenaar returning as Director of Operations.

internet video conferences; a library with computer internet access and a comprehensive selection of

What has not changed is the Liveras Yachts unique approach to yacht charter, luxurious

books. All suites have permanent computer internet access. Separate dining areas, one seating 12

vessels, sound business practices and emphasis on impeccable service. However, it is not content

persons and the other 50 persons. Other facilities include, outside dining area, open bar areas, sun deck

simply to rest on its laurels and is constantly striving to improve.

with Jacuzzi, four large tenders and a helicopter landing pad and charters at a rate of ¤110,000 per day,

Liveras Yachts have been owners and charterers of luxury yachts for almost 25 years. Andreas

¤770,000 per week plus all expenses.

Liveras started the business with one 25-metre yacht and has owned 13 luxury yachts over the years.

This departure into ‘superyachts’ is an example of the creative business flair of the company. The

Currently Liveras Yachts operates p/v Alysia 85.3m (280’), built in 2006 to SOLAS classification and

management team realised that there was a growing need for luxury vessels that could accommodate

accommodating up to 36 guests in sumptuous surroundings and p/v Lauren L 90m (296’), built in 2002

more than 12 – 18 people and set about exploring if a business opportunity existed. They decided there

to SOLAS classification, refitted in 2004 and most recently in 2008 and accommodating up to 40

was and commissioned a new fleet years ahead of any competition.

guests, but most importantly two new builds at 100 metres (326 ft) each have been commissioned and are scheduled to join the fleet in 2011.

Alysia includes; a Health and Beauty Centre with space for relaxation around a marble faced

A business-like approach Of course the business has never lost its personal touch, so critical in this market. Senior members of the management team are always on hand to

Roman bath, saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools, Jacuzzis, a beauty salon with Cleopatra baths,

discuss a client’s requirements or to make themselves available to brokers to discuss

Thalassotherapy beds and massage facilities. A gymnasium that is fully equipped with a treadmill,

specific client needs.

rowing machine, weights and a cycling machine. Other facilities include a cinema, library, crèche, a

Liveras Yachts is not a typical yacht owner; their yachts operate as a business and

Jacuzzi on the Sun deck, four large tenders and a helicopter landing pad. Not only is she one of the

not purely for pleasure. Their yachts are not just private yachts made available for

most luxurious charter yacht in the world, she is one of the most expensive at a rate of ¤99,500 per

occasional charter; they are available 365 days a year. When you consider their multi

day, ¤696,500 per week plus all expenses (food, drinks, fuel etc.).

million-euro annual turnover you begin to understand that their business ethic is unique.

understands this.

Liveras Yachts like to employ experienced crewmembers from Bulgaria, China, England, France, Greece, Italy, India, Romania, Spain, Ukraine and The Philippines. In total they employ over 80 personnel.

The new fleet The projected fleet of two 100 metre yachts is a whole new approach to yachting and the company sees this venture as the future. Their mission is to create a fleet of SOLAS-approved passenger vessels that will have the look and feel, equal to any major charter yacht. This will meet the demand that is evolving in the market place.

Liveras Yachts

What’s on offer? Liveras Yachts offer their clients the finest luxury yachts afloat with hand picked

Contact

crews devoted to satisfy even the most discerning tastes, whether you wish to savour the sophistication

Liveras Yachts

of the Mediterranean, discover the Caribbean or experience the remote and exotic beauty of the Indian

‘Le Shangri-La’

Ocean.

11, Boulevard Albert 1er

Alternatively, there is no better way to conduct that crucial business meeting, team building or corporate scheme than from the decks of a yacht. The experience of a charter offers sumptuous

98000 Monaco

accommodation, the finest cuisine and the most elegant and efficient service imaginable. An experience

Phone:

+377 97 97 45 10

that is unforgettable.

Fax:

+377 97 97 45 13

What makes the Liveras Yacht fleet unique in the charter industry is that it comprises yachts

Email:

info@liverasyachts.com

that are fitted and maintained to private ownership standards. Charterers perceive, quite correctly, that

URL:

www.liverasyachts.com

they are embarking on vessels that are truly ‘private’ in the sense that they are exclusive and maintained by people who look after the vessels individually and not merely as part of a corporate fleet.

122

LIVERAS YACHTS

Monte-Carlo

lauren l

Their principal secret of success has been understanding that the business is service orientated; every member of crew up to the most senior management executive

123

le sirenuse

Today the hotel is directed by Franco Sersale’s son, Antonio, while his wife Carla runs the Emporio Le Sirenuse boutiques. Franco continues to add to the impressive collection of antiques started by his brother Paolo, sourcing out mainly from the elite auction houses in Rome and London.

Paolo was succeeded by two daughters: Giulia, who is responsible for the gardens and flowers, and

LIVING ROOM

INTRODUCTION THE TOWN OF POSITANO IS ON THE AMALFI COAST, SOME 60 KM SOUTH OF NAPLES, ITALY. IN THE LAST GASPS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR,

Marina, who, together with her husband Sebastian Alvarez Murena, developed the signature scent of Le Sirenuse, Eau d’Italie.

The building architecture is Moorish with white-washed walls, vaulted ceilings and hand-made tiles on all floors. Old paintings and prints can be seen hanging on the walls and period furniture decorates all

POSITANO BECAME A REST CAMP FOR BRITISH OFFICERS AND REPORTS OF ITS BREATHTAKING BEAUTY SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD COURTESY OF THEM. WHEN THE

bedrooms and several living rooms.

There is an 18-metre pool on the main terrace, shaded by vines and lemon trees.

Most rooms have a private terrace or a balcony overlooking the bay and marble bathrooms with

WAR WAS WELL AND TRULY OVER MANY ARTISTS AND INTELLECTUALS FLOCKED TO

Jacuzzi bathtubs.

POSITANO AND SOME STAYED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF POSITANO’S RISE AND RISE IN POPULARITY AMONG THE GLOBAL COGNOSCENTI. BATHROOM The village itself is perched on the steep cliffs of a valley and was added to the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997.

Le Sirenuse is in the middle of Positano, within walking distance of all the shops and local restaurants, and facing the sea and the beautiful island of Li Galli.

The spectacular panorama is enhanced by the old Church of Santa Maria Assunta, whose ancient green and yellow tiled cupola is just below the hotel.

The hotel was first opened in 1951. It was once the summer home of the Sersale, a noble family from Naples that still owns and manages the hotel.

ACCOMMODATION

Le Sirenuse has 63 rooms, junior-

suites and suites with all the comforts of a 5-star luxury hotel and the refined atmosphere of a private house.

When John Steinbeck visited in 1953, he wrote the following for a Harpers Bazaar article: ‘We went to the Sirenuse, an old family house converted into a first class hotel, spotless and cool, with grape arbors over its outside dining rooms. Every room has its little balcony and looks out over the blue sea to the islands of the sirens from which those ladies sang so sweetly.’

I TA LY

SUITE

Le Sirenuse Contact Antonio Sersale Manager asersale@sirenuse.it +39 (0)89 875 066

Fax:

+39 (0)89 811 798

Email:

info@sirenuse.it

URL:

www.sirenuse.it

LE SIRENUSE

Phone:

LIVING ROOM

124

SWIMMING POOL

125

RESTAURANT

THE SPA

Le Sirenuse Aveda Spa and Fitness Centre are exclusively reserved to hotel guests and

offer a state-of-the-art gym, a pink granite steam bath, two saunas and two massage cabins for face and body treatments.

DINING BAR

The dinner menu at Le Sirenuse’s main restaurant, La Sponda, designed by well-known chef

Alfonso Iaccarino of the Michelin 2-star restaurant Don Alfonso, focuses on Neapolitan recipes and uses the best ingredients.

In the summer, guests can dine al fresco on a large terrace and during the colder months dinner is a 400-candle-lit extravaganza.

The Champagne and Oyster Bar offers incredible views with music supplied by a resident DJ during the early evening hours, oysters and other sea delicacies, cocktails and a variety of Champagne wines.

THE YACHTS

The Sant’Antonio, a magnificent 15-metre classic wooden yacht carries up to

thirteen people, twice a day on complimentary excursions along the Amalfi coast from June through September weather permitting.

For vintage boat connoisseurs, there is a classic 1973 Riva Aquarama Special, which is the ultimate vessel in which to enjoy a special day out on the sea or just a romantic glass of Champagne at sunset.

CONCLUSION

Le Sirenuse, one of the Leading Small Hotels of the World, is also a favourite of

film stars and very discerning guests who seek privacy in an exquisite setting.

<< one of Italy’s best kept secrets >> RESTAURANT

VIEW

RIVA

LE SIRENUSE

126

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