Cecil Wright News 4

INSPIRATION Windsurfing is one of the most challenging sports there is, it takes passion, determination and the perfect instructor.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME The Balearic Islands are turning into one of the hottest yacht destinations in the world.

Issue 4

www.cecilwright.com

A good barometer on the future of the yachting market is how busy designers are today, and I’m happy to say that there are plenty of projects on the drawing board. The market is on the move: the volume of sales transactions is now back at a normal level and order books for large yachts are getting full at the established shipyards.

In this newsletter you will hear from Feadship’s CEO Henk de Vries about how the number of shipyards reduced dramatically during the recent crisis (featured on our Facts and Figures page). Only the most efficient shipyards – and those offering the highest quality – have survived. Feadship is working at close to capacity.

Designers are back in demand. Redman Whiteley Dixon is one of the country’s premier yacht design businesses; in this issue, Toby Ecuyer, the creative director, explains what it takes to express a client’s imagination on paper. Essentially, the client needs to be understood and the designer needs to inspire confidence. It’s about the relationship.

This is very much our attitude at Cecil Wright. For us, this is not a high volume, cookie-cutter business. We believe in fewer clients, serviced better. It’s a simple philosophy that allows important relationships to thrive.

CONTENTS

12 INSPIRATION Guy Cribb

16 INTERVIEW Henk de Vries

20 TRIP OF A LIFETIME The Balearic Islands

2 – 5 CHARTER NEWS Planning your perfect charter 6 – 7 REDMAN WHITELEY DIXON The secret behind their enduring appeal 8 – 9 BROKER NEWS An overview of the current time 12 – 13 COMMON GROUND Inspiration from Guy Cribb 14 – 15 DAVID LINLEY An insight into his exceptional career 16 – 17 INTERVIEW We talk to Henk de Vries 20 – 21 TRIP OF A LIFETIME The Balearic Islands 24 MARKET UPDATE Overview of the market 25 MEET THE TEAM Get to know Maria Botwright

PRODUCTION Publisher: Cecil Wright & Partners Ltd Editor: Stephanie Plentl Design & Production: Strattons Email: chris@cecilwright.com Front Cover: Guy Cribb Full feature on page 12-13

1

2

5

4

With owners becoming increasingly involved in the design process, and shipyards becoming ever more creative, this means endless variety for the charterer. Whatever your priorities, our team will find you a perfect match.

1 AXIOMA LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

72m / 236ft 12.2m / 40ft Dunya Yachts 2013 Mediterranean & Caribbean From ¤525,000 per week

AXIOMA’s aft deck infinity pool is a crowd pleaser in every port – you can see people wondering what’s beyond the passerelle.

There are many notable features – a double height saloon, huge volume (3,000m2 over 5 decks) and a colourful Alberto Pinto interior. With an exceptional crew AXIOMA is in high demand.

2

2 O’PARI 3

3 REGINA

LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

71.85m / 236ft 12.6m / 41ft Golden Yachts 2015 East Mediterranean From ¤495,000 per week

Everything about O’PARI 3 is immense: even the swim platform is more than 4 metres long.

Unusually, there are 9 guest cabins, providing great flexibility. The charterer need not feel guilty for taking the best room in the house because there are 3 master cabins in total, each with their own private terrace.

56m / 184ft 9.5m / 31ft Pruva 2010 East Mediterranean From ¤75,000 per week

Features in the Bond movie Skyfall, this modern-classic schooner now has year round availability, cruising the Caribbean and the East Mediterranean. She has a loyal charter following with the food gaining particular recognition – the galley turns out delicious international fare as well as the “Meze” you’d expect on a super sized Gulet.

3

6

4 SOLANDGE

5 POLAR STAR

6 DUNIA BARU

LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

LENGTH BEAM BUILDER YEAR CRUISING AREA SUMMER RATE

85m / 279ft 13.8m / 45ft Lürssen 2013 Mediterranean & Caribbean ¤1,000,000 per week

SOLANDGE’s owners had to wait 3 years for a build slot, giving their concept time to evolve. Emerging from the shipyard 20m longer than planned, she exceeds expectations in many ways, with advanced sound and vibration technology, a lavishly detailed interior, Nikki Beach-style sun deck complete with outdoor cinema, DJ system and spa pool that converts to a dance floor. This yacht allows you to indulge friends and family on a whole new level.

63.4m / 208ft 12.8m / 42ft Lürssen 2005 / 2011 Mediterranean From ¤380,000 per week

This incredibly stable Lürssen has “go anywhere” looks on the outside and a cosy interior where you just want to curl up by the fire. Her crew are multifaceted too; their smart uniforms and flawless service disguise the fact that they are mostly sport fanatics, keen for guests enjoy the water toys – especially the custom hydrofoil tender that can whip up a 2m wake big enough to surf on.

51m / 167ft 11m / 36ft Konjo Boat Builders 2014 Indonesia From $77,000 per week

Built in the traditional Phinisi style to super yacht standards, this is the new way to explore the remote Indonesian Archipelago. Dive some of the most pristine reefs in the world with Ozzie scuba instructor Leah. There are two chefs – one Indonesian and one Western to cater for every palate, and the cruise director will ensure each day is as adventurous or laid back as you like.

7 SANTA MARIA

9 SALPERTON IV

LENGTH 33m / 108ft BEAM 6.71m / 22ft BUILDER Feadship YEAR 1963 / 2015 CRUISING AREA West Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤40,000 per week

LENGTH 45m / 148ft BEAM 9.34m / 31ft BUILDER Fitzroy Yachts YEAR 2009 CRUISING AREA Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤145,000 per week

Originally the regatta support vessel “BYSTANDER” built for Henry Ford II, SANTA MARIA is currently undergoing a bow to stern refit back at Feadship. Naturally stable, she epitomises the heyday of gentlemen’s yachting. Ready from June onwards in the Mediterranean.

This magnificent high performance sloop offers charterers a unique sailing experience.

The interior combines natural materials – cotton, granite, oak and leather to beautiful effect. Unusually for a sailing yacht she has a Jacuzzi on deck and a gym. She can be chartered in the Montenegro area this summer.

7

9

10

8

4

8 NAJADE

10 TROYANDA

LENGTH 28.1m / 92ft BEAM 6.1m / 20ft BUILDER Feadship YEAR 1965 / 2014 CRUISING AREA West Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤26,000 per week

LENGTH 50m / 164ft BEAM 9.3m / 31ft BUILDER Feadship YEAR 2004 / 2010 CRUISING AREA Mediterranean & Caribbean SUMMER RATE ¤250,000 per week

The owner spent more than 10 years bringing NAJADE back to pristine condition whilst keeping as many authentic features as possible. A perfect family yacht for gentle cruising along the French Riviera, Corsica and Sardinia.

One of our favourite 50 metre yachts for her superb build quality, exquisite interior and most importantly, her long standing crew.

One of last summer’s charterers had booked the next trip before the week was even over, there can be no better testimonial than that.

14

11 NEYINA

13 ENCHANTRESS

LENGTH 23.16m / 76ft BEAM 6.1m / 20ft BUILDER CNB Bordeaux YEAR 2015 CRUISING AREA Mediterranean & Caribbean SUMMER RATE From ¤23,000 per week

LENGTH 35m / 115ft BEAM 7.62m / 25ft BUILDER Benetti YEAR 2002 / 2009 CRUISING AREA West Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤85,000 per week

This brand new CNB 76 has an air of modest refinement, combining racy performance with a super yacht feel. The cockpit is superbly comfortable with a large Bimini for shade.

Below deck the interior is contemporary and light with splashes of colour.

ENCHANTRESS has become perennially popular with a loyal following – we always know our clients will have the most fabulous time. Based around Cannes she is ideal for Riviera cruising, where her shallow draft lets her tuck into the best anchorages.

11 13

12

14

12 THE MERCY BOYS

14 LA MASCARADE

LENGTH 49m / 161ft BEAM 9.2m / 30ft BUILDER Fr. Schweers Shipyard YEAR 1985 / 2013 CRUISING AREA East Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤99,000 per week

LENGTH 30m / 98ft BEAM 7.10m / 23ft BUILDER Feadship YEAR 1997 / 2014 CRUISING AREA Mediterranean SUMMER RATE From ¤50,000 per week

This distinctive classic is the epitome of old school yachting with a hidden surprise: a cinema-come-disco club which opens onto the water. One of our all-time favourites, THE MERCY BOYS has heart and soul and a top crew. Heading to Greece and Turkey this summer.

One of our favourite yachts for her great crew, superb build quality and – unusually for a 30m yacht – she has a "beach club" set up. The sun deck is beautifully laid out with separate areas to dine and lounge and plenty of optional shading. Following a full paint job and an interior refit she looks like new.

5

Redman Whiteley Dixon, one of the UK’s premier yacht design consultancies, remained robust during the recession and now their phone is ringing off the hook. Creative Director and Partner Toby Ecuyer reveals the secret behind their enduring appeal.

PRIME NUMBERS Last year, RWD launched seven yachts, the Feadship COMO among them. This year, it’s back to the drawing board with another seven to design, three of which are over 100m and all of which are with respected Northern European shipbuilders.

‘There’s confidence on all sides,’ says Toby Ecuyer of the healthy market, ‘Old clients have come back and over the last year it’s gone crazy with serious enquiries.’ Since launching in 1993, the RWD team has grown rapidly and their portfolio has widened to include projects as diverse as a ski chalet and car interior, a chess set, binocular cases and luggage. Everything is designed with the rules, principles and integrity of their yacht interiors and exteriors: ‘We never repeat what we have done before and we’re ruthless about our detailing,’ says Toby, ‘No two clients are the same, and so no two boats are the same.’

UNIQUE COLLABORATION Clients expect a highly personalized experience from RWD. ‘If you buy a Ferrari, you like the design – but that’s the design coming before the owner. We’re designing your boat for you, not our boat for you,’ Toby explains. His relationship with the client is key, ‘An owner has to have confidence in the designer’ he says, and the nurturing of that client’s creative impulse is crucial. Toby picks up nuances of their personality from their lifestyle, home, clothes and watch, even their favourite restaurant. Clients, meanwhile, have found inspiration in all corners – one owner famously bringing RWD a much adored Hermès handbag as the brief for BATON ROUGE. A DEFT TOUCH Having first worked with Toby on HAMPSHIRE II, Chris was impressed by his extraordinary sketching ability. ‘He can translate your desire on paper in front of you, with perfect proportion,’ says Chris, ‘the sketches are emotive and evocative, suggestive rather than definitive.’ Toby believes that good sketching at the initial stage of a project is vital, and RWD has gained a reputation for it, ‘Time with the client is precious and they need to see the boat come alive,’ he says, ‘they can then sketch on top, engage more and have ownership of it.’ Having gauged the owner’s particularities, Toby will collate the appropriate fabrics, marble, materials and metal. An aspect of his role that he particularly enjoys is working with a host of skilled artisans on the detail.

It can take three or four years to complete a build, and Toby endeavours to make the experience entertaining. The success of the annual RWD Auto Tour – a 20-strong supercar rally from London to the Monaco Boat Show – is an indication of how convivial the relationships between client, designer, broker and shipbuilder become. ‘At RWD we’re the conduit for the client’s designs, we steer and guide them but it’s very much theirs,’ Toby says with characteristic modesty, ‘If they say to their friends that it’s a yacht they designed, then I’m pleased.’

6

7

THE MARKET On the strength of the last six months, we can now confidently say that the market is the healthiest it’s been since 2007. The North American market is back with a vengeance: the increasing strength of the US dollar and the recovery of the US markets has resulted in a surge of American buying power. The USD gained even more traction after the rather surprising move by the Swiss National Bank to scrap their peg to the euro on 15th January 2015.

About an hour before the central bank’s announcement, the asking price of the 75.3m Oceanco ANASTASIA (then asking EUR 125 million) was reduced by approximately 22.5% and was changed into USD. Had a Swiss franc buyer come forward that day they would have seen an effective price reduction of almost 45%!

The retained value of the yachts being sold is on the increase and achieved sales prices are becoming closer to that of the initial asking.

There were two sales at the end of last year that had asking prices of over EUR 100 million – the 85.60m, Derecktor Shipyards, CAKEWALK (now AQUILA) was asking USD 119 million and the 75.75m Feadship OCEAN VICTORY (now EBONY SHINE) was asking EUR 120 million.

Sales last year exceeded my conservative prediction of 400 – there were 481. The key sales area has been in the top Northern European yards, in accordance with our theory of a flight to quality.

There are simply not enough top quality yachts coming onto the market to satisfy demand. There are only five Northern European built yachts over 60m and less than five years old currently on the market.

Two of those are less than three years old, including the optimistically priced 88.50m NIRVANA which is asking EUR 199 million.

In my opinion, the most noteworthy yachts to have recently come to market are the following:

For more information contact Henry Smith on henry@cecilwright.com or call +33 6 40 62 01 51

ANASTASIA

8

1 2

3

4

TV – 78.40m, 2008, Lürssen – asking EUR 130,000,000 SIREN – 73.15m, 2008 (refit 2013), Nobiskrug – asking EUR 59,950,000 AURORA – 60.97m, 2004 (refit 2010), Lürssen – asking EUR 49,750,000 STEP ONE – 55m, 2012, Amels – asking EUR 37,000,000

AQUILA (CAKEWALK)

IS BIGGER BETTER? The global press has been circulating a rumour about a project called TRIPPLE DEUCE, a 222m yacht that is supposedly to eclipse the recently launched 180m Lürssen AZZAM. An enormous build like this is possible, but begs the question: how practical would it be?

There are currently 23 yachts on order that are in excess of 100m. When we consider that there are only 30 yachts in existence over 100m this is a definitive sign that the trend for bigger is on the up. Somewhat surprisingly, four of these 23 yachts are sailing yachts – the 147m Nobiskrug project WHITE PEARL is scheduled for launch this year.

The largest launch of 2014 was the 140m Fincantieri OCEAN VICTORY. With a volume of circa 8,000 gross tons, it has almost four times the volume of the 75.75m Feadship of the same name that the owner had moved on from. In turn, that Feadship was five times the volume of the 47.50m ISA that the owner had previously. This is clearly an owner who equates biggest with best.

As many large yacht owners will attest, extremely large yacht ownership has its pitfalls – limited access to certain ports and anchorages being a major one. Indeed, there are some well-known 100m+ yacht owners who have since elected to downsize their yachts to the more ‘manageable’ 70m-90m bracket.

Perhaps this is an early sign of a search for an optimum yacht size.

There is no question that there are individuals in the world who could afford to build a 222m yacht, possibly even bigger, and I don’t doubt that the 200m barrier will be breached in the years to come. The question is, other than having the title of the ‘Largest Yacht in the World’, is there any practical reason to do so?

THE FEADSHIP MARKET Two of the most notable open market sales of 2014 were Feadships – the 85.95m ECSTASEA with the memorable asking price of EUR 77,777,777 and the spectacular 75.75m OCEAN VICTORY which was asking EUR 120,000,000.

Those that we considered to be the eight best of the ten Feadships on the market have now sold, and only one Feadship has newly come onto the market – the 55m HUNTRESS built in 1997 (refitted 2013) with an asking price of USD 29,950,000.

Since the last newsletter in which I wrote about the top Feadships on the market launched from 2000 onwards, only two remain. Clearly I’m going to have to extend my parameters into the past and future!

for charter or as a private vessel.

PRINCESS TOO, built in 1999, underwent an extensive refit in 2014 and looks like new. She has an expansive sundeck and a generous full beam master with his & hers bathrooms. Enormous windows throughout allow natural light to penetrate each guest area and provide almost uninterrupted viewing of the surrounding area.

Other Feadships of particular note include: • PROJECT # 809 66.25m, December 2015 Asking EUR 80,000,000 • GALLANT LADY 51.20m, 2007 Asking USD 39,000,000 • DÉJÀ VU 50.28m, 2000 (Refit 2012) Asking USD 31,900,000 • PRINCESS TOO 47.55m, 1999 (Refit 2014) Asking EUR 15,000,000 Also, a number of Feadships of varying sizes are exclusively available off market through Cecil Wright & Partners – do not hesitate to get in touch.

Project #809 promises to be one of the top launches of 2015 and represents an extremely rare opportunity to buy a Feadship without the 3 years+ waiting time. Having inspected her, I was impressed by how well proportioned her general arrangement is – perfect

HUNTRESS

EBONY SHINE (OCEAN VICTORY)

GALLANT LADY

9

SIREN 73.5m Siren seduces with streamlined contours, ample space and versatile decks. Built by Nobiskrug, Germany in 2008, she won ‘Yacht of the Year’ at the World Superyacht Awards the following year.

Type Length Beam Draft Gross Tonnage Builder Engines Exterior Designer Interior Designer Year Built Max Speed Cruising Speed Guests Cabins Crew Flag Classification Hull Hull Colour Sales Price

Motor 73.5m / 241ft 12m / 41ft 3.65m 1585 Nobiskrug GmbH MTU Newcruise Newcruise 2008 17 knots 14.5 knots 12 6/7 17 Cayman Islands Lloyds Register Steel White / Grey ¤59,950,000

Also available to charter

“ Windsurfing is freedom.

It’s limitless. You leave the beach and you leave it all behind.”

Guy Cribb

Windsurfing is one of the most challenging sports there is, and as Chris Cecil-Wright has found, it takes passion, determination, and the perfect instructor. Step forward, Guy Cribb.

13x British Champion, 5x Vice World Champion and an induction into the UK Windsurfing Association Hall of Fame in 2014: Guy Cribb has come a long way since he first windsurfed in Poole Harbour aged 13. Instantly hooked on the sport, he began competing in his teens and turned to coaching amateurs in 1999.

‘With entrepreneurialism and optimism, he’s taken his passion and turned it into a viable lifestyle’ says Chris, who has found Guy’s ‘INtuition’ coaching extremely effective.

12

THE GREAT ESCAPE Guy’s intensive windsurfing clinics involve taking 14 clients to wherever in the world the best conditions are. In 2015, that’s Australia, Hawaii, Brazil, Greece, Fuerteventura, Ireland and the USA. Guy’s clinics are only for those with at least one year’s windsurfing experience and the clinics are always fully booked.

‘Because of the complex equipment, the weather and the water changing every second, windsurfing is difficult to progress in,’ Guy explains, ‘it takes perseverance and only the strongest survive. That’s probably why windsurfers tend to be successful in business too.’

ANALYTICAL APPROACH Make no mistake, the clinics are not a holiday – and Guy is results-driven. ‘I want people to do, not to stand and listen,’ says Guy emphatically, ‘There’s such chaos at sea, but I break down the technique and highlight what will make a difference.

And I’ll share the more intricate details when we’re socializing in the evening.’ Of course, Guy ensures his clients experience the local culture in their downtime, from being cooked for by friendly villagers in Morocco, to camping by a remote lagoon in Egypt.

The guests – of all ages and nationalities – are bonded together as they pendulum from emotional stress to success. As Guy admits, it takes time and courage, even at his level: ‘Windsurfing on waves takes timing, positioning, tactics and knowledge. When I make a good move, it feels like 30 years of experience has arrived to get me to that point.’

www.guycribb.com

13

David Linley has carved out an exceptional career in bespoke design since the establishment of his eponymous studio 30 years ago. An honorary appointment at Christies, the renowned auction house, allows his skilled eye to witness the comings and goings of the world’s greatest masterpieces.

‘It’s like being in a theatre,’ says David, Viscount Linley, of his role as Honorary Chairman of Christies Europe, Middle East, Russia and India from the headquarters in London, ‘Productions come and go. Right now, it’s chandeliers, mirrors, commodes and clocks dripping in gold; next week its antiquities from a thousand years ago.’ It’s a drama that delights him: ‘The pleasure of working with extraordinary art that inspires you and tickles the eye, skills and artistry you won’t believe humankind is capable of – I get to experience this on a daily basis.’

A WORLD OF SPLENDOUR David’s responsibility is to ensure that Christies’ top collectors are well looked after, and that the experience of buying art is as exceptional as the work itself. David will begin the relationship with any new collector by listening: ‘I’m always careful to ask what they have in their collection, what they hold dear. Do they want to add to it, sell it, restore it? Those answers help me build the story.’ David then introduces the client to the appropriate Christies expert – essential to understanding the provenance of each piece – and subsequently guides that client through the sale and delivery of their desired work. Of course, Christies’ auctions span 80 categories that go beyond art and antiques; clients might buy across categories that include Hermès handbags and watches, jewellery and wine.

LEAD BY DESIGN David has a unique understanding of furnishing a yacht, having worked closely with top interior designers such as Andrew Winch. ‘At Linley, we’ve been making pieces specifically for yachts for 25 years. Not just furniture; watch boxes, binocular cases, yacht-shaped or flag decorated humidors – our bespoke accessories inspire great affection but are also practical.

Their quality is always appropriate to the yacht.’ And does the designer enjoy boating himself? ‘I’ve read magazines and dreamt like most people! I love the look of sailing yachts in particular. It’s a great honour and pleasure to go on the classic yachts belonging to good friends.’

PRIVATE VIEW David and Chris – who have been friends for 15 years – often communicate on how they can offer their clients a more personalised service, and they look for synergies between them to better benefit those clients. In that spirit, should a Cecil Wright client like to attend a private view at Christies then Chris would be delighted to make the introduction to David.

Feadship – a highly respected co-operation between shipyards Royal De Vries and Royal Van Lent and De Voogt Naval Architects – continues to prove the magic rule of three.

Feadship CEO Henk de Vries – also the fourth generation CEO of the De Vries Group – tells us about his love of British cars and why it is that Dutch yachts spellbind us.

With increasing competition in the shipbuilding industry, why do you believe your clients select Feadship over others?

Henk de Vries (HdV): The competition is actually lessening (see Facts and Figures). The number of clients is substantially smaller than in 2008 and they are looking for established shipyards of high quality. The market is kind to companies of the calibre of Feadship. Yes, we have to work with the image that ‘big is best’ – which is a problem considering all these enormous yards coming out – but we’re still top of the heap.

Can you tell us about your car collection – when did your fascination with classic British cars begin?

HdV: It was 1998 and it was my wife’s fault! We went to a romantic movie and there was a Morris Minor in it. I found out it had very little horsepower so I got myself a 1974 Jaguar instead. I was bitten by the bug. I now own a Jaguar E type, an XJS, an XJ and a Lynx Eventer among others, but of all the cars I own the Aston Martin is my favourite. It’s the romance, the noise, the smell, the appearance – James Bond is in there somewhere!

What are your thoughts on the demand for larger yachts?

HdV: Chris and I are on the same page about this. Clients might think that companies that are able to handle big boats are going to do a good job, but the complexities are enormous. The notion that ‘big is beautiful’ is like saying a Hummer is better than a Ferrari, or that a Cadillac is better than a Rolls Royce because it’s longer. It’s totally irrelevant.

I have a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 – it’s not my longest car, but it is my favourite. There’s a natural limit to the size one can build at the highest quality possible. A ship of 150m built in a reasonable time would never be the quality of a smaller custom-built yacht.

Can you explain the enduring appeal of classic British cars?

HdV: While the Germans correct things with electronics, the British approach is mechanically orientated and I find that fascinating. I appreciate the sophistication of the 1950s and 60s models especially. It’s more than nostalgia – that’s when you throw rationality out the window – the drive is exciting.

Where do you drive your cars?

HdV: Rummaging around the countryside in the Netherlands and the Redman Whiteley Dixon annual car rally from Beaulieu to Monaco.

A gentleman’s rally of elegant comfort – we stop for champagne and have lunch in Burgundy.

What parallels can you draw between classic British cars and Dutch superyachts?

HdV: Many of my clients have an interest in classic cars, not just as an investment but also for pleasure. Similarly, the boats that we build at Feadship are a solid investment and, contrary to stocks and bonds, you can enjoy it while you own it. We started the Feadship Heritage Fleet 3 years ago, inspired by the classic brands of cars that actively support their heritage. We welcome Feadship old bangers back at the shipyard for restoration.

“ I much admire Henk. He’s a passionate and optimistic man who could rest on the glory of Feadship, but doesn’t. He’s a hard worker who continues to improve and innovate.”

Chris Cecil-Wright

In terms of your modern work, which yacht from de Vries yard has represented the biggest leap forward in terms of technology and innovation?

HdV: In recent past, MADAME GU was innovative in size, power and intricacy of detail. Back in time, it was VENUS: all aluminium with complete removal of detail. It’s a naked boat, with really no place to hide. We are the only yard in the world that has the capability to make something like that.

A competitor of ours built an owner’s 400ft boat. In the department of fit and finish, of meticulousness of execution and fetishism of how it’s done, it was lacking. My guys really shine. One out of five of our boats is like a leap forward. We move the goal posts and it leaves our competition behind.

What are the future trends of yachting, as you see them?

HdV: Definitely more intimate spaces. There’s a return to a more human size. It’s telling when you put a figure on a drawing in relation to the object you’ve just drawn – the human is tiny and the object becomes vast. Most people feel at home in a certain size ratio, not too cramped or feeling lost. Big is here to stay, but there’s a trend for smaller boats with more potential for customisation. Our challenge is to come up with these future concepts. It keeps my people sharp and hones the skills of the craftsmen.

What’s your order book looking like?

HDV: Feadship currently has two positions available for 2018 for up to 65m. For bigger boats we’d now have to wait until 2018 and later.

17

AMARYLLIS Timeless elegance, with an atmosphere and ambience which are both breathtaking and calming.

Type Length Beam Draft Gross Tonnage Builder

Engines Naval Architect Exterior Designer Interior Designer Built Max Speed Cruising Speed Guests Cabins Crew Flag Classification Hull Hull Colour

Motor 78.4m / 257ft 12.4m / 41ft 3.4m / 11ft 2075 Abeking & Rasmussen Caterpillar Reymond Langton Reymond Langton Reymond Langton 2011 16.5 knots 14 knots 12 7 23 Cayman Islands Lloyds Register Steel Blue

Sales Price

造99,000,000

THE BALEARIC ISLANDS For more information contact the Charter Team on charter@cecilwright.com or call +44 20 7408 1001 +377 97 98 76 60

MENORCA

MALLORCA

MEDITERRANEAN IBIZA

FORMENTERA

20

Ibiza has long been the star attraction of Spain’s Balearic Islands, but the spotlight might be shifting. Developers have turned their attention to marinas, beach clubs and restaurants on some of the lesser-known islands, turning the Balearics into one of the hottest yacht destinations in the world.

MENORCA For years Menorca has been the mellow but unsophisticated sibling in the Balearic family. General Franco held a grudge against Menorca’s people and denied them funds for development. Ironically, this has preserved the rolling landscape of Menorca that we find today, devoid of big motorways and highrise hotels. The tempo here is slow, so don’t expect Ibiza’s epic club scene. Club Cova d’en Xoro for example, is set in a series of caves half way up a cliff and the vibe is more Spanish guitar than Café del Mar – a soothing place for a sundowner. Ibiza has ‘Sublimotion’, a restaurant where cinema screens complement each dish and set lunch costs

£1,200 per head. In contrast Menorca has places like Es Pla in Fornells, and King Juan Carlos has been known to make a detour for the lobster stew. At Torralbenc, one of Spain’s most celebrated young chefs Paco Morales is causing a stir with his take on simple dishes such as potato and truffle omelette.

The old capital of Ciutadella has a quaint, almost Italian feel, with shuttered buildings and cobbled streets that tumble into a tiny harbour. The beaches in the north are wild and rugged and the coves in the south – Cala Mitjana, Macarella and Cala en Turqueta – are as pretty as anything you’ll find in the Caribbean. Unique to Menorca are the annual

summer fiestas held from June to September. Sleepy towns spring to life with the clattering of drums and hooves, as local riders show off their skills on the famous Menorquín horses.

Boys lunge from the crowd to touch the horses’ chests for luck, locals throw hazelnuts for love and sip on gin and bitter lemon.

This is as racy as things get on Menorca – a chic place to do very little indeed.

MALLORCA Long associated with glamour and celebrity, Mallorca has much to offer as a yachting destination. It boasts great food and wine, spectacular scenery and many isolated beaches that are still tricky to reach by foot. The wild peninsula of Cap de Formentor is one of the most picturesque places on the island, followed closely by the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. The Idyllic fishing village of Soller is now home to an architectural feat – the Jumeirah Spa Resort. The hotel snakes along a cliff, appearing to float between sea and sky.

Mallorca is a magnet for cyclists and the Puig Major climb behind Soller is the most challenging on the island. For the gourmands among you, the Michelin-starred restaurant Es Raco d’es Teix is perched on a hillside in the village of Deià. Further south, Sa Foradada is a great anchorage beneath dramatic rock formations, and at Sa Calobra you can walk through caves to a lagoon at the base of the mountains. Andratx is home to the vineyard La Bodega Santa Catarina where visitors can taste excellent Blanc de Blanc and sit in the shade with a picnic basket of bread, cheese and sobrasada – a skinless chorizo.

galleries and restaurants. The opening of Purobeach Club in 2005 was big news, and Philippe Stark gave the Port Adriano marina an impressive makeover in 2012. Stroll through the medieval quarter of La Calatrava and stop for coffee on the tree-lined shopping promenade of Passeig del Born to watch the world go by. Ten nautical miles south of Mallorca lies the uninhabited islet of Cabrera, a nature reserve. You can anchor in the bay and walk to the 17th Century castle, and later visit the spectacular Blue Cave grotto by tender.

FORMENTERA This low-lying island of heathery scrub, stone walls and boardwalks is a favourite for hippies and naturists, and the vibe is still free spirited and easy going. At only an hour’s cruise from Ibiza, it didn’t take long for the yacht crowd to catch on when Formentera restaurateurs first pitched their white parasols in the sand and started cracking open the lobster and the rosé.

Restaurants Es Molí De Sal and Juan y Andrea are destinations in themselves, where guests settle in for an afternoon of gazpacho and paella served by waiters in crew-like uniforms.

Formentera is the perfect place to escape to after Ibiza gets too much, but be warned: in spite of its new sophistication, most of Formentera’s beaches remain unofficially nudist, so the dress code in some places is still ‘zero’.

And Palma has come into its own in recent years thanks to the conversion of so many old palacios into trendy boutiques, art

21

ICON 250 The Icon 250 represents a unique opportunity to customise and own a top Northern European built yacht in less than half the time it would take to begin the project from scratch.

Type Length Beam Draft Gross Tonnage Builder Engines Naval Architect

Exterior Designer Interior Designer Max Speed Cruising Speed Guests Cabins Crew Flag Classification Hull Hull Colour

Motor 78.8m / 259ft 13.5m / 44ft 3.75m / 12ft 2015 Icon Yachts 2 x Caterpillar 3512 B Van Oossanen Naval Architects Tim Heywood Studio Massari 16 knots 14 knots approx 12 (Max 19) 7 28 TBC Lloyd’s Register Steel TBD

Sales Price

POA

THE MARKET There’s a misapprehension that there’s plenty of space at the top Northern European shipyards.

I refer to the figures that Henk de Vries mentioned in this issue’s interview, that we’ve listed here.

Numbers have been squeezed over the last seven years and availability is tight for big new builds that are the best in quality.

IN 2008 THERE WERE

160

SHIPYARDS BUILDING YACHTS OVER 40M

OF THE REMAINING 120 SHIPYARDS

60

ARE NOW PRODUCING YACHTS We’ve recently been appointed the central agent for SIREN. She’s 73.5m and a fine example of a Northern European build (Nobiskrug in Germany, 2008). She has particularly large deck space and is one of the first boats to feature a fold down door into the cabin to create a viewing balcony. She’s in great condition – you can step onboard her tomorrow – and at 59,95m euros she’s one of the few large quality yachts that’s on the market and is priced to sell.

50%

HAVE MORE THAN ONE YACHT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THE TOP TEN OF THESE BUILD

40-50m BOATS AND UP

ONLY

3 or 4 CAN BUILD REALLY LARGE YACHTS TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

Figures are as of the 13/03/15

24

As a highly valued assistant and coordinator for the Cecil Wright team, Maria Botwright is the cornerstone of the company.

When Maria applied to be Chris’s assistant in 2006, she was surprised to be offered the job during the interview. Maria – who comes from Finland but is based in Monaco – speaks several languages, including fluent Finnish, Swedish, French and English. She loved yachting as a child, and having previously worked in television programme sales she was familiar with international markets. Chris was easily convinced and asked her to start the very next day.

EXACTING STANDARDS ‘She’s the backbone for the whole business,’ explains Chris, ‘and she looks after the entire team when we’re rushing around. She’s extremely reliable and accurate, remembers everything and is the essential continuity between us all.’ Much more than just a PA, Maria keeps both the London and Monaco offices organised, helps Chris with sales and marketing, she coordinates the company’s attendance at yacht shows and juggles diaries to set up meetings with clients, shipyards and designers around the world. ‘People are always telling me they’ve been charmed by her,’ Chris says.

HALCYON DAYS Maria has fond memories of her early yachting experiences. ‘My family had several boats when I growing up (the last one was a 10m sailing boat) and we spent our summers negotiating the Finnish archipelago,’ she says, adding: ‘Its 80,000 islands make it a wonderful place to learn.’ She finds the yachting industry an equally exciting environment, ‘There are so many talented people, it’s a privilege to be part of it,’ says Maria, ‘Our team shares a common goal and thoroughly enjoys creating exceptional bespoke experiences for our clients.’

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Alastair Shove to the team. He will be featured in a future issue of Cecil Wright news.

25

THE TEAM London Cecil Wright & Partners Ltd 73 St James’s Street London SW1A 1PH UK Tel: +44 20 7408 1001 Chris Cecil-Wright Mobile: +44 7920 557 837 chris@cecilwright.com Claire Van Der Vorm Mobile: +44 7747 586 642 claire@cecilwright.com Sarah Fraser Mobile: +44 7973 796 467 sarah@cecilwright.com Alastair Shove Mobile: +44 7476 888 639 alastair@cecilwright.com

Monaco Cecil Wright & Partners Sarl Le Mirabel 4 avenue des Citronniers MC 98000 Monaco Tel: +377 97 98 76 60 Maria Botwright Mobile: +377 6 40 62 01 50 maria@cecilwright.com Eugenia Fomicheva Mobile: +33 6 21 66 61 20 eugenia@cecilwright.com Henry Smith Mobile: +33 6 40 62 01 51 henry@cecilwright.com Liz Cox Mobile: +33 6 72 54 36 82 liz@cecilwright.com www.cecilwright.com

If you’d like to receive regular updates and information from us, please sign up at www.cecilwright.com/contact

Cecil Wright accepts no responsibility for the opinions or information contained in this publication. While the information in this publication is intended to be accurate no representation or accuracy or completeness is made.