Superyachtfan

Superyacht White Cloud owned by Graig McCaw

2013-02-26T21:47:00.001+01:00

White Cloud (formerly New Horizon L) is a 67.30m (220.80ft) superyacht, custom built in 1983 by Van Lent in Kaag, the Netherlands. Luxury yacht White Cloud was built for Dutch millionaire Bram van Leeuwen, also known as Prince de Lignac. For long New Horizon L was known as one of the most expensive yachts ever built. With most of the interior fittings in gold and bathtubs made of Lapiz Lazuli. The yacht was Bram van Leeuwen’s fulltime residence. After Van Leeuwen's death White Cloud was purchased by Craig McCaw. McCaw became a billionaire after selling McCaw Cellular to AT&T. McCaw sent White Cloud for a refit in 2004 to Peters Schiffbau in Germany.

Feadship's new 99 meter superyacht Dream

2013-02-24T14:06:00.001+01:00

Superyachtfan's spotter photos of Feadship's new 99 meter luxury yacht Dream. Dream seems to be just a project name as the real name is behind a plastic sheet. Superyacht Dream is built for a - yet - unknown Russian billionaire.

Superyacht Ability owned by Andreas Panayiotou

2013-01-06T09:17:00.004+01:00

The yacht Ability is owned by Andreas Panayiotou, founder of The Ability Group. The Ability Group is active in the UK and European real estate development. The group has developed more than 7,000 properties in the UK. The Ability Group has 800 employees. Andreas Panayiotou was the son of Cypriot immigrants and was raised in London. He wanted to become a professional boxer, but his parents asked him to join their dry cleaning business. His first action in real estate was the development of flats above the dry cleaning shop. The group is now one of the largest real estate developers in the UK. Pictured here is his first yacht, a 54 meter built by CRN. He sold this yacht, she is now called Alouette. His current yacht Ability is a Mangusta 130. Read more about Andreas Panayiotou and other yacht owners at Superyachtfan.com

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Bernard Arnault -superyacht Amadeus

2011-08-06T13:38:00.000+02:00

http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Superyacht Amadeus is owned by French industrialist Bernard Arnault. Bernard Arnault (born 5 March 1949) is a French businessman, known as the chairman and CEO of the French conglomerate LVMH, the largest luxury-products company in the world. According to Forbes Magazine, Arnault is the world's 4th and Europe's richest person, with a 2011 net worth of US$41 billion.

LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A., better known as LVMH, is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris, France formed after the merger between the champagne producer Moët & Chandon and manufacturer of cognac Hennessy in 1971becoming Moët Hennessy which in 1987 merged with fashion house Louis Vuitton creating the current group It controls around 60 subsidiaries that each manage a small number of prestigious brands. The subsidiaries are often managed independently.

Christian Dior, the luxury goods group, is the main holding company of LVMH, owning 42.36% of its shares, and 59.01% of its voting rights. Bernard Arnault, majority shareholder of Dior, is Chairman of both companies and CEO of LVMH.[ His successful integration of various famous aspirational brands into the group has inspired other luxury companies into doing the same. Thus Gucci (now part of the French conglomerate PPR) and Richemont have also created extended portfolios of luxury brands. The oldest of the LVMH brands is wine producer Château d'Yquem, which dates its origins back to 1593

http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Martin Bouygues, superyacht Baton Rouge

2011-06-18T09:12:00.000+02:00

Superyacht Baton Rouge is owned by France industrialist Martin Bouygues.

Together with his brother he controls 19% of Bouygues Group, diversified industrial conglomerate founded by their father in 1952. Martin Bouygues is chairman and chief executive; Olivier Bouygues is deputy chief executive. Company derives 40% of its $40 billion in sales outside of France; has interests in telecom, media, construction. Well-known projects have included the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, Morocco; the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; the English Channel Tunnel; the Kwun Tong viaduct in Hong Kong; motorways in Hungary and the Sydney CityRail airport link. Martin Bouygues is a close confident of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and godfather of the president's son. His net worth is estimated at approx. USD 2 billion.

Superyacht Baton Rouge was built by Dutch superyacht builder Icon Yachts. Her interior styling is done by REDMAN WHITELEY DIXON and her exterior by TIM HEYWOOD. She was delivered to her owner in 2010.

Alisher Usmanov, superyacht Dilbar

2011-06-16T14:50:00.001+02:00

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Superyacht Dilbar is owned by Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov.
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (born 9 September 1953, Chust, Namangan Province, Uzbek SSR, USSR) is a Russian businessman of Uzbek origin. According to the 2011 edition of Forbes magazine, the oligarch is one of Russia's richest men, with a fortune estimated at US$17.7 billion, and the world's 35th richest person.

Usmanov is married and is a graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

He has accrued his wealth from mining, lumber and investment. He is the majority shareholder of Metalloinvest, a Russian industrial conglomerate, which he founded to manage Gazprom's metals interests.

He is also a co-owner of the media holding which comprises 7TV and Muz-TV federal television channels and 33 regional TV broadcasting stations. Besides this, Alisher Usmanov personally owns the Kommersant and Sekret Firmy Publishing Houses, shares in the company SUP, which controls Internet website Livejournal.com and internet newspaper Gazeta.ru.

Mr.Usmanov is a co-owner of Russia's second-largest mobile telephone operator MegaFon and Russian investment fund Digital Sky Technologies (DST), which owns stakes in popular web portals like Mail.ru, Odnoklassniki.ru, Vkontakte.ru, Facebook.com and others.

Usmanov is the president of the FIE, the international governing body of fencing as has since invested in fencing programs and fencing development around the globe.

Usmanov is a major shareholder in London's Arsenal Football Club.

Superyacht Boardwalk, Tilman J Fertitta

2011-06-16T09:35:00.002+02:00

Superyacht BoardwalkSuperyacht BOARDWALK, the 7th hull in Westport Yacht’s 164 flagship yacht series, is a composite yacht of 49.98 metres in length (164 ft). Motor yacht Boardwalk is a tri-deck superyacht which can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 cabins. The full beam master suite is on the main deck. The master suite integrates the finest fabrics, cabinetry, stone and leathers into a stylish design. The innovative interior layout arrangement also includes a top deck VIP suite which leads to its own sun deck. There is also a large formal dining room situated adjacent to the yacht’s commercial grade galley. Superyacht Boardwalk is powered by Twin MTU 16V4000 diesel engines which drive her to an impressive mid 20 knot top speed. The yacht is named after the popular Kemah Boardwalk amusement complex opened by Fertitta on Houston's Clear Lake.

Tilman J. FertittaTilman Joseph Fertitta (born June 25, 1957) is an American businessman and CEO and shareholder of Landry's Restaurants. He is also a member of the board of regents of the University of Houston System.
Fertitta was born and raised in Galveston, Texas.
Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston where he studied business administration and hospitality management. He showed an entrepreneurial streak even in college when he started his own firm focused on marketing and sales and, after college, development and construction. From there, Fertitta began building homes while selling Shaklee vitamins on the side. He moved full-time into foodservice in 1986 working as a real estate specialist for Landry's. It was only a few short months before he bought the chain. Fertitta expanded the chain to include nearly a dozen restaurant chains and individual entities. He is a minor partner in the Houston Texans NFL franchise and owns Houston's Bentley and Rolls Royce dealership, Post Oak Motor Cars, Ltd. Fertitta ownes a large mansion in Houston, Texas. His wealth is estimated at more than USD 200 million, some even suggest he is a billionaire.

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Superyacht Lady K II in Monaco

2011-01-16T12:23:00.000+01:00

Lady K II (ex: Radiant II; Lisboa II; Princess Tanya)

Superyacht Lady K II was built in 1961 als Princess Tanya by UK yacht builder Austin & Pickersgill Ltd.
She is 57,8 meters in length and has a displacment of 810 tonnes.
Last refit was done in Greece in 2007.

Do you know who owns Lady K II? Please sent an email to superyachtfan@hotmail.com

New Super Yacht Site

2010-12-15T23:44:00.000+01:00

Dear visitors,

Please visit my new super yacht site: http://www.superyachtfan.com/
I totally renewed this site and included a Super Yacht Owners Register.
The site is still under construction, but worth visiting!

Roman Abramovich - Eclipse - Blohm Voss- 162 meter - 2010

2010-12-10T20:23:00.000+01:00

After five years of intensive design, development and construction at Germany’s Blohm + Voss, the 162.5m motor yacht Eclipse finally left the yard today for Scandinavia, taking her place as the largest superyacht in the world. Sea trials took place in May 2010 but there were months of delays subsequently.

Superyacht Eclipse features dramatic styling and a stunning interior by London-based Terence Disdale Design. Her accommodation includes a 56m owner’s deck and facilities for up to 92 crew and staff. Her interior boasts many all-custom features, while her deck areas feature a 16m swimming pool, the largest on any yacht, which can also be converted into a dance floor. Superyacht Eclipse has heli-pads for three helicopters.

Abramovich' superyacht Pelorus

2010-11-25T22:02:00.002+01:00

Superyacht Utopia DV and superyacht Wedge Too

2010-11-21T08:09:00.000+01:00

See my Youtube channel for more movies: http://www.youtube.com/superyachtfan

Superyacht Ecstasea carbon offsets her fuel

2010-10-27T20:20:00.000+02:00

M.Y. Ecstasea, the 86m Feadship superyacht, has introduced a policy of carbon offsetting her fuel, effective from 2009. Yacht Carbon Offset has worked through the yacht’s Abu-Dhabi based managers Al Seer Marine to balance Ecstasea’s carbon footprint.

Al Seer’s Managing Director Alexander Drinkwater said “The UAE is a fantastic superyacht destination, with the beauty of the Gulf waters and several excellent marina facilities, together with the luxury lifestyle ashore. Abu Dhabi is rapidly building its sustainable energy capability, and low carbon developments are a high priority for the Emirate. For the Owners of yachts such as Ecstasea that choose the UAE as a home base, a practical response to the vessel’s greenhouse gas emissions makes perfect sense.”

Ecstasea’s Captain Lee Mann commented “Ecstasea takes pride in the highest standards of environmental performance, and a response to the yacht’s greenhouse gas emissions is part of this. It is vital that carbon offsetting is done rigorously with proper audit records and we are pleased to be working with the specialists at Yacht Carbon Offset to put our decision into action.”

Yacht Carbon Offset’s Managing Director Mark Robinson added: “Ecstasea is amongst the most impressive superyachts afloat, and we are delighted that her Owner has decided to balance her carbon footprint. We are honoured to be part of her comprehensive environmental management programme.”

Sjoerd Kooistra - Three Sisters - Ferreti Navetta - 27,45 metres - 2001

2010-09-29T17:00:00.000+02:00

Three Sisters was built by Ferreti in 2001 for the late bar and restaurant tycoon Sjoerd Kooistra.
Sjoerd Kooistra was the biggest bar-owner of the Netherlands. At the age of 14 he had to stop school and started working for his father. When his father died in 1965, Sjoerd took over the business of his father when he was only 21 years old. A few years later he moved to Groningen, where he bought his first own bar.

After a few years he was the owner of a series of popular bars at the central square of Groningen. Rapidly he bought one bar, club or restaurant after another and this made Sjoerd Kooistra the biggest bar-owner of the Netherlands. In 2010 he owned some 85 venues spreaded all over the country.
By the end of 2009 some serious problems with the Heineken Brewery started. Heineken claimed rent hasn't been paid for almost a year. With a court order Heineken closed several clubs.

Later Heineken went to court with the intention to close even more bars. A court sentence for 8 bars was expected on Monday, June 28, 2010.

The court sentence was delayed by one day, but Sjoerd Kooistra would never hear the ruling. As he was found dead by his driver at his residence.

The yacht Three Sisters was named after one of his favorite bars: De Drie Gezusters.

Dutch magazine Quote estimated his wealth at EUR 130 million.

Three Sisters is currently for sale at De Valk yacht brokerage http://www.devalk.nl/

Mangusta 130 - 30 knots - approx EUR 12 million

2010-09-05T12:41:00.000+02:00

No owner information just a short movie of a nice Mangusta!

Update superyacht Nafisa

2010-08-24T21:09:00.000+02:00

Thanks to a superyachtfan visitor I have been able to update the information about super yacht Nafisa

http://superyachtfan.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

She is owned by Mohamed Abdul Latif Jameel of Saudi Arabia and not by Wolf Chitis, from Italy.
Chitis seems to own a similar named yacht, but clearly not the Nafisa built in 1986 by Schweers.

If you have any information about a super yacht owner please send an email to superyachtfan@hotmail.com

Thank you!

Superyachtfan

Niarchos family - Atlantis II - Hellenic - 115 metres - 1981

2010-08-08T15:42:00.000+02:00

Superyacht Atlantis II was built for Stavros Niarchos (3 July 1909 – 16 April 1996) and is still owned by the Niarchos family.
She is a sistership to Issham Al Baher, built in 1973 also for Stavros Niarchos. Superyacht Issham al Baher was later sold to John Latsis who gave her to Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

These are rare interior pictures of superyacht Issham Al Baher.

Stavros Niarchos founded Niarchos Ltd., an international shipping company that at one time operated more than 80 tankers worldwide. In 1952, he built the first supertankers capable of transporting large quantities of oil. His naval rival, Aristotle Onassis, did the same in 1952. In 1956 the Suez Canal Crisis considerably increased the demand for the type of large tonnage ships that Niarchos owned. Business flourished and he became a billionaire. After the oil crisis of 1973, Stavros Niarchos sold off some of his companies and launched into finances and the diamond trade. In the 1980s, he came more and more often to Geneva, from where he managed his business around the globe. The Golden Greek, as his fellow countrymen liked to call him, retired in the nineties to his main residence in Saint-Moritz, in the Swiss canton Graubünden, where he devoted a lot of time to his favorite sport, skiing.

In 1956 Niarchos acquired the important art collection of actor Edward G. Robinson and over the years put together one of the world's most significant collections with more than one hundred Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. In 1989, he purchased Picasso's self-portrait "Yo Picasso" for $47,850,000, plus he acquired works by Van Gogh, Goya, El Greco, and Rubens.
Stavros Niarchos began investing in thoroughbred horse racing in the early 1970s when he put together a highly successful stable of racehorses that competed in France and the United Kingdom. He eventually acquired the Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard horse breeding farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme, France and Oak Tree Farm in Lexington, Kentucky where in 1984 he bred his most successful horse, Miesque. Niarchos was the leading owner in France twice (1983, 1984) and topped the breeders' list three times (1989, 1993, 1994).

After his death in 1996, his daughter Maria Niarchos-Gouazé took charge of the racing operations. She continued to build on his success, and in 2004 her colt Bago won France's most important race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Stavros Niarchos died in 1996, in Zurich. He is buried in the family tomb in Lausanne.

Technical details (http://www.superyachttimes.com/)

Yacht type: Motor Yacht

Length Overall (m): 115.82 Length Overall (ft): 379.99
Length Waterline (m): 104.40 Length Waterline (ft): 342.52
Beam (m): 14.40 Beam (ft): 47.24
Draught Max (m): 4.29 Draught Max (ft): 14.07

Shipyard: Hellenic Shipyards S.A.
Year: 1981
Naval Architect: Maierform Maritime Technology GmbH
Exterior Designer: Caesar Pinnau

Hull Material: Steel
Gross Tonnage: 3243

Engines: 2 x 4800 HP 12V No Stops Pielstick Diesels

Propulsion: Twin Screw

New updates soon

2010-07-31T09:09:00.000+02:00

New updates soon!
Please visit my new site in the meantime http://www.superyachtfan.com/.

Warren E Halle - Martha Ann - new information

2010-07-24T12:18:00.002+02:00

Thanks to Lee, who sent me information about the owner of Martha Ann, superyachtfan made an update of the post.
For all my readers, if you have information about a superyacht owner, please send an e-mail to superyachtfan@hotmail.com

:)

Irvine Laidlaw - Lady Christine - Oceanco - 55,63 metre -2001

2010-07-21T20:43:00.003+02:00

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/.

Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Although a new Lady Christine has just been delivered by Royal van Lent to mr Laidlaw and Superyachtfan just has three pictures (of poor quality....) of the superyacht Lady Christine, still some info on the 2001 yacht Lady Christine.

Lady Christine was deliverd by Oceanco in 2001 to Mr Irvine Laidlaw. With the new Lady Christine just being delivered, this Lady Christine is currently for sale through Edmiston at EUR 26,9 million. In 2008 her asking price was EUR 45 million, so this sounds like a 'real bargain'.
http://www.edmistoncompany.com/luxury-yacht/22/lady-christine

Mr Laidlaw is a well known Scottish businessman.

On Wikipedia you will find:

Irvine Alan Stewart Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw (born 1943 in Keith, Banffshire, Scotland) is Scotland's second richest businessman. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2007 ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK he was placed 100th with an estimated fortune of £730 million.

He ceased to be a member of the House of Lords on 15 April 2010.

Biography
The eldest of three children of a Banffshire family textile business owner. His father, Ray, was a Tory councillor who died when Laidlaw was 22. Laidlaw was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, the University of Leeds and New York City’s Columbia Business School where he did an MBA.

IIR - The Institute of International Research
After graduation in 1967, Laidlaw spent two years touring America before joining the US publisher, Doubleday, as a financial analyst where he learnt his direct marketing skills. He was quickly promoted to chief executive of the Doubleday Book Club before starting on his own at the age of 30, buying a small newsletter operation in 1973. In 1978 IIR - the Institute for International Research - entered the conference business and, in the wake of the success of its first two events, IIR's focus rapidly switched to conferences. In 1979 the first conferences were held in Europe and Singapore, and by 1980 offices had opened in Singapore and Hong Kong, and conference activities had expanded into Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. By 1986 there were 7 conference offices, and continued expansion in Europe, Scandinavia, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia over the last decade led to a total of 46 companies - the broadest international spread of any company of its kind. The company has also recently opened offices in Eastern Europe and Portugal. IIR moved into Exhibitions in 1984 with the opening of an exhibitions company in Singapore, and now owns a large portfolio of high profile exhibitions throughout the world including the Monaco Yacht Show and IPEX.

IIR's complex web of companies had an opaque structure, which meant information was not always transparent. The financial hub was in Amsterdam from where a large team provided well ordered accounts: one of their chief purposes was to minimise the tax exposure of each business and the overall group liability. According to one senior ex employee, Dominic Carman, who worked very closely with him:

'Laidlaw would deliver a polemic on the evils of taxation. He hated tax. And still does. Coveting a peerage for many years, he sometimes joked that his donations to the Conservative Party - currently approaching £7million in total - might secure one.'

For much of the Nineties, he expressed a desire to become a billionaire but fell slightly short. After calling off a £500m flotation in 2001 when the market plunged, IIR was eventually sold in 2005 to Informa plc, with Laidlaw's stake was £713million.

Conservative Party Donations
One of the largest financial backers of the UK's Conservative Party, Laidlaw was made a life peer as Baron Laidlaw, of Rothiemay in Banffshire in June 2004. According to the records of the UK Electoral Commission, on 27 November 2007, Laidlaw gave a donation of £2,990,532.20 to the UK Conservative Party. Laidlaw donated £25,000 to the 2008 London Mayoral election campaign of Boris Johnson.

Tax Exile Status and Laidlaw's Peerage
Lord Laidlaw is described by The Guardian as a "Monaco-based tax exile."

Lord Laidlaw was criticized in April 2007 in the press for failing to become UK tax resident despite being appointed to the House of Lords. The Lords Appointments Commission now enjoys powers to block any non-UK residents becoming Lords in the first place, but it has no powers to force Lord Laidlaw to alter his status as he was granted his peerage prior to this change. The BBC has said that, in a letter seen by them, Laidlaw "cites a variety of personal reasons" for non-compliance.

Laidlaw has attended debates in the House of Lords but, faced with an estimated £50m tax bill, he took a leave of absence in 2007. In an unprecedented move, cited in its the Propriety and Peerages report, the Commission said it would not have approved his peerage had it known he would not return. In an exchange of letters in March with Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, chairman of the Lords appointments commission, Laidlaw said he was “mindful of the commitment that I made to the appointments commission prior to being appointed as a peer”. He said there were reasons why he had not spent as much time as he would have liked in the UK. Letters released under the Freedom of Information Act strike out the reasons. But The Sunday Times discovered that Laidlaw cited serious health problems and the prospect of divorce from his wife Christine, which he did not want, as a reason for not spending much time in the UK.

Following this interchange with Dennis Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Coddenham, chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, regarding the assurances given to the committee by Laidlaw to be a UK tax resident by April 2004, Laidlaw was granted a leave of absence, subject to further investigation. On 15 April 2010, Lord Laidlaw chose not to become domiciled in the United Kingdom for tax purposes, so he is no longer a member of the legislature (although he keeps his title).

Charity donations
In 2004, Laidlaw said that he would over the next 20-30years donate most of his fortune to helping disadvantaged Scots. His main vehicle was the Laidlaw Youth Trust (formerly the Laidlaw Youth Project) which supported charities in Scotland helping vulnerable children and young people. It was reported that the Trust was closing in summer 2009 after having paid out over £6million to support youth work in Scotland. He has also donated:
£2million to The Prince's Trust
After Moray Council earmarked Rothiemay Primary School for closure, Laidlaw donated funds to a parents campaign which successfully kept 21 schools open
£40,000 to Keith Grammar School, to fund a scheme to help senior pupils prepare for the world of work
£1,000,000 was given by Baron Laidlaw to Merchiston Castle School his former school; despite having despised attending it, he eventually relented to persuasion by the headmaster and donated this sum. The new sixth-form house at the school, which his donation went some way to financing will therefore be named Laidlaw House. Moreover, Lord Laidlaw has donated £1,000,000 to Merchiston to fund scholarships for academically or musically gifted pupils from state maintained schools, who would otherwise be unable to attend the school. At present (May 2010), there are seven Laidlaw Scholars at Merchiston.

Academy Sponsorship
In January 2005, Laidlaw expressed an interest along with Newcastle City Council to establish an academy school in the west end of Newcastle to replace two existing schools. Excelsior Academy opened in September 2008 in new premises, leased from Newcastle City Council. Laidlaw doesn't take a main role and leaves this up to his Governing Body and the academy's Executive Principal.

Personal life
Laidlaw and his second wife Christine divide their time between their £4m vineyard on the French Riviera, a £3m apartment in Monte Carlo and a £10m estate near Cape Town, South Africa. They also own a £2m London house, a Scottish mansion and a £14m stately home in Hampshire. At the time of the purchase in 2005, the 23200m² De Goede Hoop Estate in Noordhoek, South Africa (bought for R106-million) was the country's most expensive house. Lady Christine shares Laidlaw's passion for sailing and is also keen on horses: in April 2008, for example, she paid £200,000 at a South African auction for a colt called White Hills. The colt was bred by Mary Slack's Wilgerbosdrift Stud and was named after her former residence. Lady Christine changed his name to Noordhoek Flyer, after her South African home. The colt recently won the Gr.1 Cape Argus Guineas, one of the more important 3-year-old races on the South African calendar.

Hobbies
Laidlaw regularly competes in historic car racing around the world with his Porsche 904GTS, Porsche 904/6, Maserati 250S & Maserati 6CM. Laidlaw also won a medal in the Scottish amateur rally, using a Ford Focus ST. In 2007 Laidlaw added a 1001 hp Bugatti Veyron to his extensive car collection, which is sometimes seen between Noordhoek and Cape Town, on the world-famous coastal road Chapman's Peak Drive.

Laidlaw has won the Key West Regatta twice using his Swan 60 cruiser-racer, Highland Fling. He began a voyage around the world in Oceanco built motor yacht, the Lady Christine, in 2003.

Sex scandal in Monte Carlo
In April 2008, Laidlaw was the target of a sting operation staged by investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood on behalf of the British tabloid The News of the World. He was secretly filmed with four prostitutes and a male gigolo in the £6,000-a-night presidential suite of Monte Carlo's sumptuous Hermitage Hotel, and had paid £27,000 for the pleasure of their company. According to the paper, Laidlaw wined and dined the sex workers with the prostitutes drinking champagne, fine wines and taking cocaine, before cavorting in lesbian, domination and bondage sex acts. Laidlaw did not take any drugs. One of the girls told the The News of the World that it was a “crazy” party but stressed that Laidlaw, who has recovered from prostate cancer and a heart attack, did not do cocaine. But she added: “Irvine was drinking and taking the sex drug Viagra. He f***ed me and another girl. He can still f***. He knew the other girl from an earlier party because she knew exactly what he liked. He liked to watch the male model, called Ben, f***ing with the girls. I think that’s why the guy was there. Every time Ben went away to get a drink, Irvine was pleading ‘Come back!’ We also did a lesbian show for him. I do everything except unnatural acts. I’m very easy-going, you know!” Vignardi added she charges £3000 for a night of sex and revealed that Laidlaw footed the bill for her return air fare from London, plus a chauffeured limo from Nice airport.

Laidlaw submitted a written confession to The News of the World in which he allegedly confessed a life time fighting sex addiction:

“I have been fighting sexual addiction for my whole adult life. Sexual addiction is comparable to the other, better known addictions, such as drugs, alcohol and gambling. Many people suffer different types of this disease. There is no cure for it, and self help is rarely successful. But having an addiction is no excuse for my behaviour. I have been in therapy a number of times, but I have not worked hard enough or continuously enough on this. I should have been stronger in resisting the temptations...I hope that in time people will be able to understand and forgive me as I fight this difficult, personal battle.”

Laidlaw checked himself into a six-week residential sex addict programme in South Africa, not far from Goede Hoop, his retreat outside Cape Town, and donated £1million to help fellow sufferers. The exercise in damage limitation arising from the sex scandal was co-ordinated by Lord Bell, the PR man who helped mastermind three Election triumphs for Margaret Thatcher.

A clinical sexologist, Dr Eve, commented on the case: "It’s unacceptable to equate sex with something like alcohol and drugs and supposedly treat it with a 12-step programme. It’s ridiculous to put sex in that sort of category". She pointed to the currency of “sex addiction” as an excuse for those who had “behaviour management” issues. “They’re all powerful men - politicians, rock stars, businessmen, film stars. It’s the giddiness of entitlement; hence the permissive behaviour.”

Helicopter Accident
On August 3, 2009, Laidlaw was at the controls of a helicopter that made a crash landing at Little Deer Isle, Maine. It had just taken off from Laidlaw's yacht 'Lady Christine'. The four passengers inside got out safely after the crash and waded ashore to the island. One eye-witness said that after seeing the helicopter spin down fast into the water she was amazed that anyone got out alive.

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/
Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Technical details of superyacht Lady Christine (http://www.superyachttimes.com/)

Yacht type: Motor Yacht
Sub type: Displacement
Imo: 1006609
MMSI: 538070436
Call sign: V7NR5
Flag: Marshall Islands

Length Overall (m): 55.63 Length Overall (ft): 182.51
Length Waterline (m): 49.80 Length Waterline (ft): 163.39
Beam (m): 10.50 Beam (ft): 34.45
Draught Max (m): 3.51 Draught Max (ft): 11.52

Shipyard: Oceanco
Year: 2001
Hull: Y561

Naval Architect: Oceanco
Exterior Designer: Oceanco
Interior Designer: The A Group

Hull Material: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminium
Gross Tonnage: 1036
Displacement: 770
Class: Lloyds Register

Guest Cabins: 1 Master, 2 Double, 2 Twin
Guests: 10
Crew: 11

Engine Manufacturer: Caterpillar Inc
Model: 3516B DITA
Number of Engines: 2
Type: Diesel
Total HP: 4,460 Total KW: 3,326

Max Speed: 16
Cruise Speed: 14
Range: 5,000 at 12
Propulsion: Twin screw

Fuel Capacity (Liters): 140,000 Fuel Capacity (Gallons): 36,988
Water Capacity (Liters): 16,000 Water Capacity (Gallons): 4,227

Warren E Halle -Martha Ann - Lurssen - 70,20 meter- 2008

2010-07-20T21:12:00.011+02:00

The yacht Martha Ann was built by Lurssen and delivered to her owners in 2008. She was designed by Espen Oeino, with her interior created by Francois Zuretti.

Superyacht Martha Ann is owned by US real estate developer Warren E Halle. She was the third in a series of three sistership all built for this same owner. He sold the first two, and kept Martha Ann.
Buyer of the first - Apoise- was David Ritchie, one of the founders of Vancouver-based Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers. Ritchie paid EUR 65 million to Halle. However they ended up in legal proceedings in which Ritchie was ordered to pay USD 525.000 for breach of the purchasing agreement.

In May 2010 Warren E Halle also started legal action agains superyacht builder Lurssen. Superyachtfan found the following details, but has no access to any documents.

Halle v. Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG

Plaintiff: Warren E. Halle
Defendant: Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG

Case Number: 8:2010cv01355

Filed: May 27, 2010

Court: Maryland District Court

Office: Greenbelt Office [ Court Info ]

County: Montgomery

Nature of Suit: Contract - Other Contract

Cause: 28:1332

Jurisdiction: Diversity

Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff

If you have any detailed information about this case, please send an e-mail to superyachtfan@hotmail.com

Warren E Halle is founder of 'The Halle Companies' active in real estate development. On their website http://www.hallecompanies.com/ you will find:

In 1985, Warren Halle purchased his most ambitious venture to date; Kingstowne, a 1,300 acre mixed use development in Fairfax County, Virginia, consisting of land for 5,500 residential units and 2.3 million square feet of commercial and retail space. A meticulously planned and designed project, Kingstowne is the second largest "PUD" in Northern Virginia, outside of Reston. Kingstowne has proven to be an exciting and profitable project for The Halle Companies. The creation of value through strategic positioning and the formation of quality environments is the Halle model.

In 1986, the Company developed and built a 24,000 square foot office building to serve as its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. That same year the Company purchased and renovated Willowbrook Apartments, a 590 unit apartment development in Adephi, Maryland. Willowbrook Apartments were sold in 2001.

In 1987, the Company acquired Seven Oaks, an 850 acre mixed use development in Anne Arundel County, Maryland on Route 175 in Odenton across from the main entrance to Fort Meade. Seven Oaks contains approximately 3,500 residential units and a neighborhood shopping center anchored by Weis Supermarket. The Odenton Town Center is approved for 5.5 million square feet of mixed use commercial, retail and residential.

Today, the Company continues to develop Kingstowne and Seven Oaks with the programs geared toward developing retail and commercial sites for their own portfolio.

The Company intends to continue actively pursuing its growth into the commercial real estate arena. The Company owns in excess of 3.2 million square feet of office, flex office, warehouse and retail property.

The organization continues to operate in a "hands on" manner with the principals and staff actively involved in the development and operations of its properties. The Halle Companies' successful growth and development has been spearheaded by Mr. Halle, with the support of a talented and dedicated team of managers and professionals. In addition to the real estate development and construction divisions, the company has a property management firm, Comar Management, and a real estate brokerage firm, Metropolitan Homes.

Technical details (http://www.superyachttimes.com/)

Project Name: Shark
Yacht type: Motor Yacht
Sub type: Displacement
Imo: 1009546
MMSI: 319018000
Call sign: ZCTZ2
Flag: Cayman Islands
Port of Registry: George Town

Length Overall (m): 70.20 Length Overall (ft): 230.31
Length Waterline (m): 63.46 Length Waterline (ft): 208.20
Beam (m): 12.80 Beam (ft): 41.99
Draught Max (m): 3.50 Draught Max (ft): 11.48

Shipyard: Lürssen Yachts
Year: 2008
Hull: 13645

Naval Architect: Lürssen Yachts, Espen Oeino International
Exterior Designer: Espen Oeino International
Interior Designer: Zuretti Interior Design

Hull Material: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminium
Gross Tonnage: 1939
Class: Lloyds Register
MCA: Yes

Guest Cabins: 6 Double, 1 Twin
Guests: 12 Max
Charter Guests: 12
Crew: 18

Engine Manufacturer: Caterpillar Inc
Model: 3512B DITA
Number of Engines: 2
Type: Diesel

Total HP: 4,020 Total KW: 2,998

Max Speed: 15.5
Cruise Speed: 13
Range: 6,000 at 12
Propulsion: Twin Screw

Fuel Capacity (Liters): 160,000 Fuel Capacity (Gallons): 42,272
Water Capacity (Liters): 40,000 Water Capacity (Gallons): 10,568

Sir Donald Gosling - Leander G - Peene Werft - 75 metre - 1992

2010-07-04T07:59:00.007+02:00

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Superyacht Leander G is owned by Sir Donald Gosling. The yacht was built in 2006 by Peenewerft. The yacht is a succesful charter yacht and can often be found in the Cote d'Azur. The has her home berth in Antibes.

Sir Donald Gosling is co-founder of the National Car Parks and is estimated to be worth GBP 500 million.

National Car Parks (NCP) is the United Kingdom’s largest private car park operator, with over 200,000 spaces across more than 700 locations in towns and cities, railway stations and at airports.

NCP also had a growing service business, but this demerged from NCP in 2007. It is called NSL Services Group, and was previously called NCP Services Group. They also operated a bus company in London, called NSL Buses, and this was previously known as NCP-Challenger.

History
NCP was founded in 1931 by Colonel Frederick Lucas. In October 1948, Ronald Hobson founded Central Car Parks, joined by his partner Sir Donald Gosling after the pair invested £200 in a bombsite in Holborn, central London to create a carpark. In 1959 Central Car Parks took over NCP from Anne Lucas, the widow of Colonel Lucas.

Hobson and Gosling expanded the company by recognising the under developed status of many post-World War II British cities and towns. After the purchase of NCP the pair began buying sites in central London, converting them and large garage sites into car parks. NCP then began managing sites on behalf of third parties. National Parking Corporation was formed in 1986 as the holding company for NCP and its subsidiaries, including the roadside assistance firm Green Flag. In the early 1990s NCP was accused of planting spies in rival group Europarks, but Britain's then biggest industrial espionage trial ended with the acquittal of NCP chief executive Gordon Layton.

By the mid-1990s NCP had become one of the most successful private businesses. In 1994 it was a target of a £530million consortium bid of venture capital investors, led by Prudential, which eventually fell through. In 1998, after a late abortion of the flotation of the business on the London Stock Exchange, the company was bought by US-based property and travel services provider Cendant for £801million. Hobson, Gosling, and their family trusts who owned 72.5% of the National Parking Corporation taking £580million.

The new owners re-focused the company’s operations, changing NCP from a mainly property owning company into a more service-focused organisation in the broader transport sector. In 1999, NCP divested itself of Green Flag which was sold to Direct Line. In the same year, the company launched the UK’s first private-public partnership – setting up a joint venture with Manchester City Council to establish NCP Manchester Ltd (NML).

In 2002, UK-based Cinven purchased NCP from Cendant. NCP began to develop business contracts in the provision of enforcement services for local authorities, vehicle removals, awarded two bus route contracts in West London; and debt recovery, where by 2005 it had become market leader in its field.

Current operations
NCP was sold to 3i in July 2005 for £555million, with 3i saying it would continue to grow NCP as a service-oriented and public-outsourcing company. In order to maximise the growth potential of both sides of the business, in 2007 the original parking arm of the company National Car Parks Limited was separated from the newer service-based side of the business (NCP Services Ltd) creating two distinct and diverse companies.

National Car Parks Limited (the original parking operator) was acquired in 2007 by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II.

Read more about superyachts and superyacht owners at http://www.superyachtfan.com/

Including the Superyacht Owners Register, the most comprehensive overview of superyacht owners.

Mohamed Abdul Latif Jameel - Nafisa - Schweers - 49.25 metre - 1986

2010-06-22T22:18:00.005+02:00

The superyacht Nafia is owned by Mohamed Abdul Latif Jameel of Saudi Arabia.

Mohamed Abdul Latif Jameel's self-titled group (ALJ) is the hugely successful proprietor of the world's largest Toyota dealership, with operations in the Middle East, UK, Central Asia and China.

ALJ is also active in the fields of real estate, financing, software solutions, advertising, media, and distribution and sales of electronics and household appliances. It employs more than 10,000 people worldwide with around 2,000 in the UK alone, and the group also operates Saudi Arabia's largest consumer finance company.

On the groups website (http://www.alj.com/ ) you will find the following:

On the 30th of September 2009, Saudi Arabia’s ALJ Group concluded the purchase of Toyotasa shares from Sabancı Holding. ALJ purchased 65 percent of shares in Toyotasa (Toyota Sabancı Pazarlama ve Satış A.Ş.) from Sabancı

ALJ Group President Mohammed Jameel said, “Turkey, with a GDP of about US$ 800 Billion and a population of about 72 million people, is a market nobody can afford to ignore. The passenger car and light commercial vehicle market in Turkey reached to 600,000 units. Toyota’s market share stands at about 6%. The country has traditionally served as the gateway to Europe – a link between the Middle East and the West and is typified, in many respects, by the blend of these two worlds. Turkey has a relatively young population with an average age of 29 years. Turkey enjoys excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. KSA is the 4th largest Foreign Direct Investor in Turkey after UK, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. For ALJ this is a challenge that we look forward to. The opportunity to serve the Toyota customer in Turkey is an honor and we look forward to it.”

ALJ Group is the largest independent distributor of Toyota vehicles in the world. The Group already had a small presence in the Turkish markets for the last decade through the ownership of the Daihatsu distributorship and with this recent acquisition of the Toyota distributorship in Turkey, ALJ is poised to make a mark on the Turkish automotive sector in a significant way.
The ALJ Group is known for its’ focus on putting “Guests First”. “Our aim is to be the market leader in the years to come and we are entering this important and large market with a clear view of bringing the best-in-class service to our Toyota customers in Turkey”, said Mohammed Jameel.

ALJ is also planning to expand its investments with increased Daihatsu distribution and hopes to introduce the Lexus brand to the Turkish market next year.

Even while the Group was preparing for the takeover of the business, Group executives were busy setting the groundwork for a substantial Community Services Program infrastructure in Turkey. “We are in Turkey for the long run and, as a responsible conglomerate, it is our duty to ensure that we contribute to Turkish society and the Turkish people in more ways than one “, said Mohammed Jameel.

Jameel has also funded a gallery showcasing more than 10,000 Islamic artefacts at London's Victoria and Albert Museum
Superyacht Nafisa is a 49.25m (161.58ft) motor yacht, custom built in 1986 by Fr. Schweers Shipyard. She was named Edenforth at her delivery.

Technical Details (www.superyachttimes.com)

Yacht type: Motor Yacht

Length Overall (m): 49.25 Length Overall (ft): 161.58

Beam (m): 9.10 Beam (ft): 29.86
Draught Max (m): 3.10 Draught Max (ft): 10.17

Shipyard: Fr. Schweers Shipyard
Year: 1986

Naval Architect: Fr. Schweers Shipyard
Exterior Designer: Diana Yacht Design B.V.

Hull Material: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminium
Gross Tonnage: 522

Guests: 16

Engines: 2 x 1020 HP Deutz diesels
Max Speed: 15
Cruise Speed: 13
Range: 4,200
Propulsion: Twin Screw

Fuel Capacity (Liters): 70,000 Fuel Capacity (Gallons): 18,494

Abramovich - Luna - Lloyd Werft - 115,0 metre - 2010

2010-06-14T08:20:00.005+02:00

Superyacht Luna was delivered to her owner Roman Abramovich early 2010.
She is the worlds largest expedition yacht. More information to follow.

Ton van Dam - No Escape - Heesen - 45,86 metre-1999

2010-05-05T21:38:00.004+02:00

Superyacht No Escape (now named Sea Dweller) was owned, until 2009, by Dutch real estate developer Ton van Dam.
Ton van Dam is currently owner of the 62 metre yacht Icon, build by Icon Yachts. No coincidence: Ton van Dam is also owner of the yard.

Dutch magazine Quote estimates the wealth of Ton van Dam at approximately EUR 300 million or USD 400 million. He earned his wealth through the Dutch Multi Development Company.

Multi Corporation is the leading commercial developer of inner-city retail space in Europe, comprising complementary companies in property development, investment, asset management and property management.

Multi invests in, develops and manages large-scale mixed-use shopping centres, and inner-city regeneration projects that are innovative, unique, sustainable and appealing. Multi’s “Design & Development” formula focuses on outstanding design and quality. Multi uses its design group, T+T Design, for all urban development and architectural concepts.

Multi’s projects are, since 1982, internationally recognized and awarded for their innovative and original nature, quality of architectural character, sustainability and profound sensitivity to local environments. Multi developments regularly act as the engine for revitalizing a city or region. By respecting the uniqueness of the local culture and market, Multi’s projects captivate people by enhancing their surroundings.

Multi is active in 14 countries, with the head office in The Netherlands and offices in Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Turkey.

Ton van Dam is still owner of United Development Company, active in the US through it's Ft Worth, Texas office.

Technical details of the superyacht No Escape (www.superyachttimes.com)

Project Name: Flying Dutchman
Yacht type: Motor Yacht
Semi-Displacement

Length Overall (m): 45.86 Length Overall (ft): 150.46
Beam (m): 8.50 Beam (ft): 27.89
Draught Max (m): 2.50 Draught Max (ft): 8.20

Shipyard: Heesen Yachts
Year: 1999
Hull: 10446

Naval Architect: Heesen Yachts
Exterior Designer: Heesen Yachts
Interior Designer: Jean Guilhem, Intérieur Sud

Hull Material: Aluminium
Superstructure: Aluminium
Gross Tonnage: 417
Displacement: 286
Class: ABS

Guest Cabins: 1 Master, 2 Double, 2 Twin
Guests: 10
Crew Cabins: 1 Captain, 3 Crew
Crew: 7

Engine Manufacturer: MTU Model: 16V 396 TB94
Number of Engines: 2
Type: Diesel
HP: 3,433 KW: 2,560

Total HP: 6,866 Total KW: 5,120

Max Speed: 27
Cruise Speed: 24
Range: 3,200
Propulsion: Twin Screw

Fuel Capacity (Liters): 68,000 Fuel Capacity (Gallons): 17,966
Water Capacity (Liters): 16,000 Water Capacity (Gallons): 4,227