MEGAYACHT NEWS

Ave Maria

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:05:00 +0000

How’s this for a view? You’re looking at the sundeck of Maria Vittoria, a yacht in the Floating Life charter fleet. She’s actually a converted ferry boat, originally launched in 1960 at the Glommers Mek yard in Oslo, Norway. But once an Italian yachtsman laid eyes on her, he decided to convert her to a megayacht.

With Floating Life’s oversight, the 110-footer was converted at Lenci Marine, an Italian shipyard that, under the direction of Maela Lenci, welcomes refit projects of this type and scale. Among the work performed on Maria Vittoria: partially dismantling and restyling the aluminum superstructure; relocating the engine room to create two VIP staterooms and two other guest cabins (with Pullman berths); arranging the main deck to contain the saloon, dining area, galley, and owner’s stateroom; and installing the Jacuzzi on the sundeck referenced above. All told, six crew (plus the captain) tend to upwards of 13 guests.

If you’re interested in chartering Maria Vittoria, her rate for July and August (as well as special events) is €45,000, or about $70,640. Contact Floating Life or another reputable charter broker for further details. In the meantime, enjoy the following slide show to get a better idea of what she’s all about.

Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:40:00 +0000

In honor of the national holiday Independence Day here in the USA, Megayacht News is taking the day off. Here's hoping you, no matter what country you live in, enjoy a day filled with freedom and togetherness with the ones you love.

I'll return on Monday with a week packed with news, including a story that underscores something we Americans sometimes take for granted: the right to voice our opinions loud and proud to our politicians. There's a controversial--and, frankly, ridiculous--law that will detrimentally impact megayachts (indeed all boats and yachts, even kayaks) in U.S. waters if our Congress doesn't act soon.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Peninsula Player on the Superyacht Stage

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:07:00 +0000

If you’ve ever cruised the western shores of North America, no doubt you’ve ventured down the Mexican coast. Trouble is, there aren’t any service yards that far south to take care of your charge should something go wrong.

Well, now there is. Gran Peninsula Yacht Center, located about 60 miles south of San Diego in Ensenada, Mexico, has been quietly servicing superyachts well into the 200-foot range for the past two years.

The 13-acre facility has work berths for four 260-footers and several more for yachts from about 120 feet on up. The Fernandez family, which runs the yard, says it’s earned a reputation for good fiberglass work, metal work, and painting, due to the fact that since 1987 they’ve also been running a yard for yachts to 80 feet in Ensenada called Baja Naval. While the Fernandezes either can’t or won’t reveal the names of all of the vessels that have been hauled out so far by Gran Peninsula’s 2,500-ton-capacity Syncrolift, the team says they include a 201-foot Sparkman & Stephens design, Feadships of 170 and 139 feet, and 130-foot Christensen. (That's the 125-foot Bellissimo in the photo below.) But management can point to specific yachts it’s assisted with dockage, fueling, clearance documentation, and small in-the-water jobs: Ronin, Reverie, Helios, Sunrise, and Montigne.

Even with its own craftsmen on site, Gran Peninsula welcomes yacht owners and crew to bring their own experts. “Today’s luxury vessels are too complex for any one yard to claim it can do it all,” says Tomas Fernandez, Gran Peninsula’s director. “We will do everything we can to work with captains and owners to ensure that these specialists can do their work as efficiently as possible.” The yard can arrange for local ABS and Lloyds inspectors, too.

Fernandez says another big plus for the facility is its location. It’s a five-minute walk from great restaurants, shops, and pubs, for example; “This way the crew can come and go as individuals, they don’t have to organize themselves into a unit and hire a rental car every time someone wants to go for ice cream,” he explains. (If you’ve ever been to some of the biggest service facilities currently hauling megayachts, you’ll recall that they’re often in industrial areas and not exactly conducive to going out, particularly at night, to relax.) Besides the immediate local scene, Gran Peninsula is a tender ride away from Islas de Todos Santos, a famous surfing spot, and the waters off Ensenada teem with fish. And there are more than a dozen wineries in the Guadalupe Valley, a short car ride away. Gran Peninsula’s concierge service can arrange tours or transportation to any of these spots—even San Diego.

Just make sure that if you go, you or your crew don’t have too much fun—you’ll have to take your yacht back at some point, after all…

At Your Service

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:56:00 +0000

Anyone with “just” a Wave Runner to his or her name is familiar with West Marine, the boating supplies and retail outlet. Well, now those of you with Wave Runners as just some of the toys onboard your yacht have a division for your particular needs: The new Professional Captain’s Services Division was created to supply megayachts around the world with specialty items.

Wisely, West Marine turned to someone with experience in the megayacht business to serve as the new division’s general manager: Thomas “Charlie” Petosa, who was formerly with Northrop & Johnson. Petosa’s no stranger to West Marine, either; prior to his work in the brokerage world, he was a regional vice president for the retail firm.

The division will be based in Fort Lauderdale, at the superstore at 2300 South Federal Highway. The location makes a lot of sense, given that the general Broward-Dade-Palm Beach region is reportedly home to 1,500 megayachts. Of course, the Professional Captain’s Services team will assist captains, crew, and owners no matter where they’re located. (It’s interesting to note that the announcement of the new division came around the same time that West Marine revealed it was opening its first-ever franchise in Turkey.)

“We have tremendous confidence in the staff and leadership of our new Professional Captain’s Services division, designed to meet the needs of a High-growth segment of the marine industry,” says Christopher Bolling, West Marine’s senior vice president for business development. “This stellar team of Associates is ready to assist and equip the international yacht and megayacht community.”

I, too, have confidence: I had the pleasure of meeting Petosa about a year ago and enjoyed exchanging ideas on what was happening in the megayacht business and how I could convey some of those goings-on to people like you.

For more information about the division and its services, call (954) 527-0874.

Hit-and-Run Driver Update, Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Six months ago today, in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Fort Lauderdale, someone behind the wheel of a car plowed into a pedicab carrying two people and sped off. He/she didn’t even slow down long enough to see that Julie Perry, a former megayacht stewardess and the first video host on TheBoaters.tv, and Suki Finnerty, a photographer and videographer well-known to many in the yacht biz, had been thrown to the pavement so hard, they suffered multiple broken bones and head injuries.

Even though I’ve written about this careless and, frankly, heartless incident before (see here and here as well), I’m reminding you all of it because on this six-month anniversary, the driver has yet to be identified. And not a single tip has been made to Broward County Crime Stoppers.

But I’m also reminding you because, thankfully, there’s some good news. In May I received an e-mail from Peter Meitzler, the founding board member of the New York City Pedicab Operators Association (NYCPOA), who learned of the accident and as a result had been following the developments carefully. Meitzler and his fellow board members were so disturbed by the details—the pedicab business owner didn’t have insurance, for example, and received approval to operate despite a recommendation to the contrary—that they have done a few things.

First, they are matching the $1,000 reward from Broward County Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of the driver. Second, the NYCPOA is working with a lobbyist to ensure that at least in New York City, insurance coverage will be mandatory for all pedicab operators and that there will be standards for vehicle maintenance and operator qualifications as well.

On a related note, Meitzler told me he contacted Fort Lauderdale city officials to find out whether anyone was checking that all pedicab operators had insurance certificates. Nearly a month went by without a response. He inquired once again a few days ago, and thankfully this time he was told the city has a new system in place to verify all certificates.

Given that summer is here and plenty of tourists—including yacht owners and guests—are enjoying our cities and green modes of transportation like pedicabs, it’s as important as ever to keep Perry’s and Finnerty’s plight in mind. I’m not saying avoid pedicabs like the plague; I’ve enjoyed using them and talking with the drivers, and I’m sure there are plenty of responsible operators and business owners. What I am saying is, if you live or work in a city where pedicabs exist, ask the local officials about the policy for licensing and verifying insurance. And if you or anyone you know has information about Perry and Finnerty’s accident, contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. You can also try Fort Lauderdale’s Traffic Homicide Investigator, at (954) 828-5755. All information is kept confidential.

photo: alibaba.com

Vote Early, Vote Often

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Last month when I explained that the International Superyacht Society (ISS) was amending its annual awards for outstanding megayacht projects, I briefly mentioned how two new honors were being added. One is in recognition of innovation by individuals or companies, while the other acknowledges a person or business demonstrating excellence over the past year.

Why am I bringing them up again? Simple: You get to submit nominations.

That’s right, your vote counts. Instead of having submissions come solely from the board of directors and ISS’ members (of which, full disclosure, I’m one), the ISS is opening the floor to anyone and everyone involved in the industry. That means whether you own a yacht, run one as a crewmember, or even run the payroll department of a davit company, you can—and should—speak up.

To me, it’s a sign that the nearly 20-year-old Society recognizes those of you in the trenches, so to speak, could very well have a better handle on what’s going on in this business and can make the broader membership more aware as a result. And what better way for the ISS to continue fulfilling its primary goals: fostering dialog as well as strengthening and growing the industry as a whole.

The specifics of each award are:

Excellence in Innovation
Open to every aspect of the industry—from crew training to technological advances or environmental stewardship—the Excellence in Innovation award will be given to an individual or business that has demonstrated innovation in their endeavours. Nominations will come from the industry, and ISS board members will vote to determine finalists.

ISS Person or Business of the Year
The ISS Person or Business of the Year will be awarded to those demonstrating excellence in their area of superyacht expertise within the previous year; nominations will come from both the industry and the ISS board, with the board making finalists selections.

Nominations are due by September 15, either via fax to (954) 525-4325 or via e-mail.

I urge you to give the nominations serious consideration. There’s easily someone you encounter on a regular basis whose name deserves to be put forth. When you’re ready, make your voice heard, and make sure the unsung heroes of this business get the recognition they rightfully deserve.

Bubbly Breaks on Burger's Biggest

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:56:00 +0000

Five thousand twenty-five square feet. That’s how much space is inside Ingot, the 153-footer that Burger Boat Company christened last weekend. And for the record, there’s 4,150 square feet of exterior deck space.

There are also 104 round pillars made of Honduras mahogany, all inlaid with maple burl. And there are probably more curved, molded, and radiused wood details throughout the yacht than you can shake a stick at.

Intricate details like this, both design-wise and tech-wise, go on and on. As a result, the megayacht is both the biggest and most complicated that Burger has ever built.

It’s partly because the 153-foot trideck started out as Time for Us, for an experienced American owner who held the bar high for Burger. And it’s also because Burger not only pushed itself to meet those demands, it decided to complete the yacht despite the owner parting ways with the team a few months into construction. (Howard Meyers, the yard’s owner, and his wife presently own the yacht. She and yard president Jim Ruffolo are in the great action shot at top, smashing the champagne across Ingot’s bow.) I’m glad Burger went ahead with completing the boat, because judging from my conversation earlier this month with Marnix Hoekstra, sales director/naval architect at Vripack, which collaborated on the naval architecture, she’s an impressive accomplishment.

The design brief called for a yacht capable of world cruising on her own bottom and equipped with commodious, comfortable accommodations for guests and crew alike. There are four king-size (yes, king-size) guest staterooms on the lower deck, each with heated marble soles in their baths, as well as four double crew staterooms on the same deck, all with en suite baths, too. (The captain’s stateroom is aft of the wheelhouse.)

I plan to get a first-hand look at these and more in the coming weeks, before Ingot departs the yard to head to the Med and begin serving as an ambassador for the craftsmen’s capabilities.

By the way, “ingot” means a metal that’s cast into shape for storage or transport so that it can be additionally processed later on. It’s a fitting name for an all-aluminum yacht that will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, where no doubt she’ll attract interested buyers. Asking price: $39.75 million.

Rites and Rituals

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:01:00 +0000

One of the things I love about the megayacht business is that I learn something new practically every day. And I’ve just learned about a truly beautiful Taiwanese custom in which an offering is made to ask for good luck and a deity’s protection when a groundbreaking takes place.

That’s what was going on in the scene above, at Kha Shing Enterprises, the Taiwanese shipyard where Hargrave Custom Yachts are built. Kha Shing recently embarked upon a groundbreaking to expand its facilities, and it invited Hargrave’s executives to attend the rituals.

The sticks the Kha Shing executives as well as Mike DiCondina, Hargrave’s president (black shirt), and Phil McIntosh, Hargrave’s vice president for Asia Pacific construction (white shirt), are holding are called Joss sticks. These are incense sticks that are often burned during religious ceremonies throughout many Asian countries, but they can also be burned, as in this case, during a groundbreaking. The groundbreaking itself is also quite symbolic: It gives notice to the god of the land that you’re the new landlord and that you plan to build something. Once Kha Shing’s team is finished constructing the building, they will carry on the offering by asking the god to safeguard the property.“This was a very joyful occasion…many prayers were spoken invoking God and their ancestors for guidance, approval, protection, and prosperity over the land and the building. It was truly a moving celebration,” DiCondina says.

The Joss sticks continued burning among food offerings set out for both the deity and the ancestors, followed by firecrackers set off in celebration. Then DiCondina and McIntosh were asked as honored guests to break ground alongside Kha Shing’s executives (below).It’s been a busy past few weeks for Hargrave’s team. Just last weekend Pete Colagiovanni, vice president of new boat sales, represented Hargrave at the Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic in Florida. Hargrave was a major sponsor, as it has been in the past. Taylor, a player with the Miami Dolphins (and recent contestant on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars”), and his wife Katina purchased a Hargrave a few years ago, and even though they recently sold the 99-footer, they’re still good friends with the builder’s staff. The event raised more than a quarter million dollars, the proceeds of which went to organizations such as Holtz Children’s Hospital and Taylor’s own Jason Taylor Foundation. The latter offers programs in youth literacy and education, health and wellness, mentorship, and others that aim to end poverty.

Good God-dess

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:59:00 +0000

In Greek mythology, Amphitrite is the goddess of the sea—to be even more specific, the wife of Poseidon. In modern-day history, Amphitrite is a goddess of another sorts—an 84-foot Moonen who will carry her owner and guests on seagoing adventures of their own.

The yacht marks the eight launch in Moonen’s popular semicustom 84 series. In fact, it’s the Dutch yard’s most successful semicustom model, having been introduced just six years ago.Like the series’ other “pocket-size superyachts” (the nickname Moonen gives to its megayachts), Amphitrite features styling by René van der Velden Design and a full-displacement steel hull designed by naval architects Stolk Marimecs. But she also bears some differences compared to her sisterships. The interior, by Art-Line Interiors, icludes loose furnishings in the saloon instead of built-ins and both a walk-in closet and a desk in the owner’s stateroom. The main saloon features doussie (an African hardwood) on the sole, while cherrywood adorns walls and furnishings below decks.Top speed is about 12.5 knots at half load, thanks to Caterpillar power.

Saddam Superyacht Saga Resolved—Not

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:52:00 +0000

Remember last week when I wrote how the saga of Ocean Breeze, with her opulent rooms like the one above, was finally resolved? Not so fast: The lawyers for Sudeley Limited, the Cayman Islands firm partly owned by King Abdullah of Jordan and which presently claims ownership of the megayacht, were granted more time to prove their case.
I should have known something was up: A few times last week after I posted the story, which mentions how a French appeals court upheld the Iraqi government’s contention that the yacht was illegally transferred from Saddam Hussein’s ownership, I visited the Web sites of Burgess as well as Yacht Council and continued to find the 269-footer listed for nearly $35 million. When I saw it on Monday the 16th, I assumed that the listing just hadn’t been taken down yet. But after a few days of continuing to see it online, I began to wonder if more appeals were in the works. (After all, what lawyer do you know who’ll accept “no” for an answer?) My confusion was resolved yesterday when a member of Power & Motoryacht’s Megayachts forum posted a link to an Agence France-Presse story reporting that a French court postponed a hearing until November.

So, the only certainty at this point is uncertainty over who really owns the yacht.

If more news emerges over the summer, I’ll post updates accordingly. Otherwise look for my next story on this subject this fall.

Seeing in 3-D

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:04:00 +0000

Human beings are funny creatures: Some of us are quite good at visualizing concepts when just the briefest of explanations are given, while others need to be presented with in-depth illustrations and pictures to understand an idea.

Imagine, then, what shipyards and designers go through when a new customer comes to the door and says he or she wants a yacht—but can’t interpret a G.A. (general arrangement, a.k.a. accommodations plan) drawing. Unless the yard has a megayacht under construction that reflects the same things the potential owner wants—and construction is far enough along for furniture to be in place—it can be difficult, to say the least, for the client to grasp the spatial relations.

Maybe that’s what inspired Feadship’s Royal De Vries shipyard to create 3-D, scale models of its SL39 series and the various options for the interior layout, so that owners can literally see what the rooms would be like if they commissioned one. The scale models are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle: The client selects four layouts from a total of 16 options for the bridge-deck, the main-saloon layout, the master suite, and the lower deck. How can there be four options for each? Well, for the helm, for example, clients can have the captain’s cabin just aft of the wheelhouse and a completely private skylounge, or they can have an open bridge-deck layout in which the skylounge and helm are open to one another, making for terrific interaction between guests and captain. Some owners might not like this option, however, as it places the captain’s cabin on the lower deck, with the rest of the crew. As for the guest accommodations on the lower deck, clients can have anywhere from two to four cabins, all configured as independent rooms or even ones that can transform into large, full-beam suites.

You’ll get a better sense of it all in this video, which I shot during my visit to the yard earlier this month. The unseen “owner” choosing the layouts is John Mitchell, head of digital media for The Yacht Report, who liked the 3-D models as much as I did and indulged my request to demonstrate the possibilities.

Joy Over Junie

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:09:00 +0000

The launching of a yacht is usually an emotional experience for an owner, and that certainly held true Wednesday morning at International Shipyards Ancona (ISA). That’s when Junie, pictured here, hit the water, prompting her owner (a woman, hooray!) to become visibly moved and then remark, “Thank you so much to all of you, and long life and prosperity to ISA.”

The tender scene was emotionally significant for the shipyard staff, too. Junie is the first member of the new ISA 120 fiberglass series, and the sale was completed a few short weeks ago. Even though the overall megayacht market remains strong, yachts in the 100- to 120-foot size range aren’t selling as quickly. (Consider the “feeder” market for these size ranges: owners of 80-foot-plus yachts, even ones down to 50 feet, none of which are selling well right now, so the owners are therefore slower to commission new yachts.)

There’s nothing slow about the sporty-styled Junie, however. Triple MTUs and waterjets should allow her to hit 35 knots. She’s also equipped with a Quantum Marine Engineering stabilization system, custom-designed for the ISA 120 series. As for creature comforts, Junie has a two-level master suite—unusual for a yacht of this size—and four guest staterooms (two doubles and two twins). Mahogany wall paneling, wenge soles, and plentiful marble in the baths highlight the décor.

ISA will deliver Junie within the next few weeks. Here’s wishing her owner the same that she hoped for the shipyard: long life and prosperity.

Superb Superyacht Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:43:00 +0000

Despite day one starting with downpours, the final day starting with glass-calm water and no wind, and a handful of cancellations due to poor weather in general in Europe for weeks, The Superyacht Cup Palma turned out to be a terrific event. Mother Nature decided to cooperate after all, and the dozen megayachts that did race enjoyed competitive sailing. Participants included Hyperion, Senso One, Ranger, and Scheherezade.

This was also the first Superyacht Cup run with IRC rules, which take various data such as yacht weight and performance into consideration for handicapping purposes. Even though the Cup isn’t a professional race, the change was apparently warmly welcomed. As Martin Redmayne, editor of The Yacht Report, wrote on day two, “The word on the dock is that while it has added to the image and professionalism of the event, it has not changed the atmosphere or spirit of the Cup; you still see children playing on the dock, Owners and Crew having beers together and everyone having a bloody good time.”

Bloody good time indeed. Here are some scenes from the three-day event.

Calling All Captains!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:46:00 +0000

Attention, captains: If you’ll be in the Newport, Rhode Island, area next Monday, the U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA) needs you—both to give you important information about cruising in the Northeast this summer as well as to solicit your input.

Specifically, the USSA is hosting a briefing on regulations regarding the upcoming requisite Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and foreign-flagged megayachts moving from one U.S. Coast Guard sector to another. I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say the quagmire of regulations these days is, sadly, enough to make you want to stay away from American shores. But that’s why it’s important for you to attend this briefing: Representatives from customs and border protection and the Coast Guard will be part of a panel discussion, moderated by The Triton, as will city officials from Newport, other captains, and Waters Edge Yacht Consulting, which assists owners and crew with compliance regulations.

As Tim Davey, the USSA’s chair, says, “We always look forward to meeting with the captains and hearing what’s on their minds. It helps to steer our advocacy committee in the proper direction.”
The meeting will be at Belle’s Restaurant in Newport Shipyard, starting at 4 p.m. For further information, call (800) 208-5801 or send an e-mail.

The Secret’s Out

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:02:00 +0000

One development in the megayacht industry that I’ve noticed in recent years is the increase in first-time owners—meaning individuals who’ve never owned a boat of any kind. It’s a heck of a jump, to say the least, but in the handful of cases I’m familiar with, the owners have done their homework.

One such case is the 61.2-meter (200'9") Secret, delivered by Feadship’s Royal Van Lent last year. Having chartered many times, the owners had a good sense of what made people feel comfortable and what amenities they’d enjoy most. They outfitted their yacht with six guest staterooms—including two VIPs, one of which is on the main deck—all with king- or queen-size beds, perfect for couples. They also mixed classic nautical elements like white-lacquered walls and a canoe stern with furnishings and Art Déco touches straight out of an elegant penthouse.

Rather than write on about Secret’s features (which I certainly could), I decided pictures would do a better job of conveying her luxurious look and feel. Enjoy this slide show. If you’re interested in chartering her (Burgess has the central listing), the high-season weekly rate is €392,000 (about $606,736). But you’ll have to settle for sometime next year: CharterWave reports that she’s booked solid.

Saddam Superyacht Saga Resolved

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:58:00 +0000

It’s official: The former yacht of the late Saddam Hussein belongs to Iraq.

So says a French appeals court, which recently upheld the block of the sale of the 269-footer currently known as Ocean Breeze but launched as Qadissivat Saddam in 1981.

If you’ve been following my reports over the past few months, you’ll recall that a Cayman Islands company named Sudeley, which is partly owned by King Abdullah of Jordan, has been trying to sell the megayacht through Burgess. Lawyers for Sudeley maintained that the king of Saudi Arabia received the yacht from Hussein in the 1980’s and in turn gave her to King Abdullah. However, in March a tribunal in Nice ruled that Sudeley failed to produce documents proving ownership had ever been transferred from Hussein. Sudeley appealed the ruling, but word came last week that the appeals court, in Aix-en-Provence, confirmed the decision and has additionally ordered Sudeley to pay €15,000 (about $25,000) to Iraq.

No report yet on what the lavishly appointed Ocean Breeze, which has been at the dock in Nice, will be used for, though my guess is that she won’t become a presidential yacht for the current Iraqi government. Why? Because in recent years, money and other assets of Hussein’s and his regime have been transferred to the U.N.-administered Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). The DFI was created to safeguard funds for reconstruction. Also, the lawyers in this case have told reporters previously that they were trying to recover assets of the Iraqi people unlawfully transferred abroad.

Should further developments in this saga occur (and when governments and courts are involved, they very well might), I will post updates accordingly. But for now, it seems settled.

Changes in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:02:00 +0000

It’s been nearly a year since I launched this site, and I can hardly believe the time has gone by so fast. The speed at which word spread about Megayacht News and at which the site grew in acceptance has been phenomenal. I’ve also enjoyed the conversations with many of you about keeping the momentum going with new features like more photo contests and even newsletters.

Which is among the reasons why, come July, Megayacht News moves to a new URL. From that point on, you’ll be able to access it at www.megayachtnews.org. (The link is actually live right now, but it points to this page, hosted by Blogger.) The new URL will allow me to share more news, more photos, and more videos—and just as exciting for me, it will showcase a whole new design.

Of course, I’ll update you again with the relaunch date; and in case you forget to bookmark the new URL, I’ll keep this link active for a while. You’ll see a reminder there to click on over to the new site, too.

In the meantime, I couldn’t leave for the weekend without something cool for you to enjoy—operative word being “cool.” If you live along the eastern seaboard of the USA, no doubt you felt like an egg frying on a sidewalk earlier this week, as I did. That’s when I discovered the following video clip, of the heli-skiing adventures offered by the charter yacht Absinthe. You can almost feel the powdery snow kiss your cheeks.

Rainbow Rises Again

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:58:00 +0000

Even if you only have passing familiarity with America’s Cup challengers, no doubt you’ve heard of the famed Rainbow, seen here, which was launched in 1934 for Harold Vanderbilt to defend the Cup against the equally famous Endeavour. At times the battle was tough, but Rainbow won in the end. In 1937 she defended the Cup again, but this time lost to another well-known racer, Ranger. Sadly, she was sold for scrap just three years later.

But Rainbow will rise again, thanks to a savvy sailing enthusiast and Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects. A repeat client of the design studio—the former owner of Windrose of Amsterdam, which set the transatlantic schooner record at 10.5 days in 2005—has commissioned a 40-meter (131-foot) J-Class replica.

The yacht will be built in aluminum and designed in accordance with J-Class Association maximum performance rules. These rules were developed to keep the J-Class fleet alive and to encourage new-build racers, which are often made of aluminum, to enter the field. In fact, Dykstra & Partners as well as the Wolfson Unit, a UK-based consultancy service in ship and yacht design, technology, and industrial aerodynamics, developed the new Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) rule. (In a nutshell, VPP estimates the performance of a sailing yacht, given certain boat and environmental data, and the rule was created to give all designs a chance of winning based on the handicap system.)

There’s yet another reason why the Dykstra & Partners team was the right one to tap for the job. Not only have they raced on all the Js in the current fleet, but they’ve also been instrumental in the rebuilds of classic Js like Shamrock V, Velsheda, Endeavour, and Ranger. They’re also the naval architects for the new Endeavour II that will be delivered by Royal Huisman this fall.

Expect to see the new Rainbow in 2010. Just imagine the possibilities for a rematch of the 1934 Cup.

Icon's Unusual Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:01:00 +0000

One of the many megayacht yards I visited last week was Icon Yachts, a newcomer to the shipbuilding world. Oddly enough, the most interesting part of the visit was not seeing hull number one take shape—which I photographed above—but rather a discussion between managing director Wim Koersvelt and the gathered journalists on whether the yard could indeed claim it’s a custom builder.

The centerpiece of the discussion—which sounded more like a dispute at times—was what Koersvelt called the “optimized technical platform.” In brief, at Icon the hull as well as technical and crew areas have designs that are not open to reconfiguration. The yard welcomes owners and their designers to choose their own exterior styling and arrange interior and exterior living areas however they wish, but when it comes to the engine room, crew accommodations, piping and venting runs, and the wheelhouse, for example, no changes are permitted. Some of the configurations of guest areas, like the en suite heads, are even limited because plumbing pipes are fixed.

A handful of the journalists argued that by setting certain areas in stone, Icon could not claim to be a fully custom builder. Koersvelt replied that the optimized platform was the result of studying what the market wants: high-quality technical components, comfort at sea, good living conditions for crewmembers, and, equally important, efficiency in time and money. By determining ahead of time what the best location is for pipes and what engine package results in the best performance, Koersvelt said, the yard can precut pipes and have them welded into the hull before each section of the hull is attached. The yard can also test and prep engines, gensets, and other components further in advance than its competitors can, he added, helping to reduce the build time and save the owner money.

I worked over both sides of the argument inside my head and even with a few of my fellow journalists, and while I’m leaning towards Icon’s definition, I’m still wrestling with the semantics. There are some well-established custom yards that buy only certain engines, for example, so is Icon’s approach any different than that? Then there’s at least one other yard that insist on starting with crew accommodations and the engine room in every design package, not the owner’s and guest areas, to ensure ample space is devoted to them. Does that mean its yachts can’t be considered custom?

Then there’s yet another argument: Does it really even matter? As long as owners get what they want at the end of the day, do some even care about piping runs welded in advance and potentially limiting options?

So, I’m opening up the floor to you: What do you think? Some of you are captains who’ve overseen build projects and can speak from experience; others are brokers or even builders. And still others are purely enthusiasts but no less entitled to your opinion. I look forward to your comments.

Remembering Nicholas Baker

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0000

In future editions of the dictionary, don’t be surprised if you see the name Nicholas Baker next to the entry for “determination.” The longtime broker from Camper & Nicholsons passed away on May 17 after battling lung cancer since 2001. He was just 49 years old.

But that’s not the main reason Baker’s name should be synonymous with determination. This is a man who, after having part of a lung removed and going into remission, then having the cancer return, decided to sail across the Atlantic—single-handedly, mind you, despite being a novice—to raise money for lung-cancer research. He named the yacht (above) AquaLung, and the foundation he created, The AquaLung Trust, has gone on to help fund many important projects. Money has gone to the genome project at the Institute of Cancer Research, a health clinic in Darfur, and a project promoting tolerance between youth of different faiths and cultures, among other things.

Though I never met Baker, I have long been impressed with his spirit. This is a man who was diagnosed with lung cancer despite never being a smoker. If I had been in his shoes, I can say without doubt that I would have been crushed, for quite some time.

Nicholas Baker is survived by his wife and three children. May they—and all of us—take comfort in knowing that his spirit lives on through all whom he encountered. A memorial service will be held in Winchester Cathedral at 3 o’clock next Monday, June 23. Donations to The AquaLung Trust are, of course, welcome. Send them to: The AquaLung Trust, c/o Clyde & Co., 51 Eastcheap, London EC3M 1JP, England.

Feadship Launches Charter Division

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:56:00 +0000

It was with great surprise last Thursday that I listened to Henk De Vries of Feadship’s Royal De Vries shipyard announce that Feadship has opened its own charter service. I was surprised because several of its yachts are presently available for charter through the top brokers worldwide: Why would the shipyard feel the need to enter the business?

I got my answer after speaking at length that day with D.J. Kiernan, the manager of the new division. (Kiernan previously the marketing manager for Merle Wood & Associates, the American brokerage house that offers sales, charter, and yacht-management services.) According to Kiernan, several Feadship owners have approached both Royal De Vries and Royal Van Lent (the two Feadship yards) in recent years requesting help in offering their yachts to charter clientele, but they either didn’t have experience working with charter brokers or, in some cases, didn’t want to work with them. Regardless of the reason, the owners felt more comfortable working with the Feadship team. Upon further reflection, Kiernan says, Feadship realized it might also successfully introduce some of its yachts to the charter market that might not otherwise participate.

Feadship Charter Division will therefore solely book Feadship yachts. Kiernan says the department will additionally help any of the yards’ clients who are awaiting completion of their projects find other Feadships so that they can enjoy a cruising vacation.

Now, don’t assume Feadship will be circumventing normal charter channels. Kiernan tells me that if a Feadship owner already has his or her yacht available for charter through a broker, the Feadship Charter Division will contact that representative to book her.

The first yacht in the Feadship charter fleet is the 147-foot Harle, pictured here, which launched last October. One of Feadship’s F45 Vantage semicustom series, the yacht has all staterooms on the main deck (purposely for the best views), a sundeck for relaxing and of course sunbathing, and more.

It’s controversial in some circles for a shipyard to enter the charter business—just as it is for a shipyard to enter the brokerage business. The assumption is that the yard will try to steal all of its clients away from the companies currently representing them. Whether or not that assumption has merit, Feadship isn’t the first shipyard to enter the charter business. Perini Navi, for example, is a member of MYBA, one of the most well-respected trade associations for charter, through its Perini Navi USA division. There’s even a designer in MYBA: naval architecture firm Dubois Yachts. And while they’re not MYBA members, Hargrave Custom Yachts and Sunseeker offer their own yachts for charter through separate divisions.

I asked Kiernan if he planned to join MYBA or any of the other trade organizations, such as CYBA or FYBA. For the immediate future, the answer was no, though he says he does plan to attend seminars to further his knowledge.

I hope Feadship Charter Division does end up joining the trade organizations, for these groups strive to hold the bar high on standards, something the entire Feadship team no doubt respects.

Opinions Matter

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:43:00 +0000

In about an hour I'll be touring Amels' shipyard, where among other things four of its 171s and one of its new 212 series yachts are underway. In the meantime, I thought I'd share my thoughts on a recent captains' conference (see photo) the yard held. While the weather then clearly looks pretty miserable, trust me when I say the captains' dispositions were a lot sunnier.

In and of itself, the conference wouldn't normally be a news item I'd write up; after all, plenty of megayacht yards host these meetings, where often the captains are wined and dined. The difference this time is that the captains' opinions were actively solicited for how to ideally design a yacht. The captains sat down with the yard's design and marketing staffs and voiced what they liked and didn't like about everything from engine-room configurations to the locations of helipads; they even debated the merits of diesel-electric versus traditional diesel propulsion. Of course, thy were also asked how crew's quarters should be arranged, something far too few owners take into consideration. (Usually the room left over after spelling out where to put saloons, gyms, and other owner and guest areas gets relegated to crew, when really crew and technical areas should be the first things chosen: Without a happy crew or accessible systems, the ownership experience is guaranteed to be miserable.)

The part I really like about the Amels' captains' conference, however, is that they were given a blank outline of a yacht's decks and to-scale cutouts of rooms so that they could plan out their ideal general arrangement. Imagine being able to improve not only your own ability to do your job (after all, some of these captains will likely run future Amels' launches) but also the yard's ability to delivery high-quality yachts.

As you can imagine, the captains greatly appreciated being asked for their opinions. Here's hoping Amels commits the comments to memory and applies them with future series-builds (no doubt the yard is already planning some). And here's hoping other yards borrow a page from Amels' play book. It's not the first time I've heard of the concept being applied, but it certainly is a rarity.

Heesen Heating Things Up

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:47:00 +0000

I'd like to share another brief video clip with you, this time taken at Heesen. The yard is expanding its capacity by 50 percent, having finally acquired some land adjacent to its long-time facilities. Heesen had been operating in an awkward position, arguably: Its sheds were on opposite sides of the water, separated by a parking-lot-size plot of land that it didn't own. While not the worst situation in the world, it obviously wasn't ideal.

Now that Heesen does own the property, it's prepping the space for three 60-meter-long (a little less than 200-foot-long) sheds. The video here shows how giant poles have been hammered down into the floor of the basin and water is being pumped out so that the drydock floor can eventually be laid.

A Day Aboard Darsea

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:22:00 +0000

Yesterday was an unusually hot day in Holland: temperatures around 80 degrees. So the afternoon sea trial my fellow journalists and I took aboard a new Moonen 97, Darsea, was refreshing.

Darsea is one of five megayachts the yard will be delivering over the next two years. She was docked alongside the new shed the 30-year-old company is constructing in Groot-Ammers, about a 40-minute car ride from its original facility in 's-Hertogenbosch. That new shed will allow Moonen to construct two yachts in the 100-foot-plus range side by side, while its "smaller" yachts from 85 feet up will remain in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Here's a quick look at Darsea and at our cruise along the River Lek, which leads to Rotterdam.

Fine Dining Companion

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Byrne) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:18:00 +0000

How’s this for scenery? If you missed my last Twitter update (see left), then imagine dining in a (neat and clean) yacht-construction shed where this lady is taking shape—and taking up nearly every available inch end to end in that shed. The unusual dining experience is what about two dozen marine journalists and I were treated to yesterday evening, at Holland Jachtbouw.

Athos will be the world’s largest privately owned, modern two-mast schooner. This 62-meter (203-foot), all-aluminum megayacht still has a ways to go before completion late next year, but she’ll accommodate eight guests plus the owner as well as 10 crew. The crew will all be housed forward on the lower deck, and the guests will be aft, with the owner fully aft to enjoy the use of a separate deckhouse and cockpit. The owner is quite involved in the design and build, reportedly visiting the yard nearly every week. Who can blame him for wanting to see every part of his dream yacht come together, especially considering she’ll have the biggest in-boom furling sail on the water, custom-made by Rondal. She’ll have a 1,980-square-meter (about 21,300-square-foot) upwind sail area on carbon spars, while a mast height the same as her length will allow passage under the Bridge of the Americas.

Even though sailing yachts like Athos are what Holland Jachtbouw is known for, it also has a motoryacht on the books under the project name C2, for a repeat client, the owner of Cassiopeia. The new 42-meter (138-foot) yacht will feature classic motoryacht styling, much like her predecessor. The hull is already under construction at a subcontractor’s site and should arrive at Holland Jachtbouw after the summer.

And finally, work was wrapping up on the refit—more like a rebuild—of Life Saga, a 13-year-old motoryacht. We weren’t permitted to take photos, but I can tell you that the interior is pretty eclectic: lacquer surfaces mixed with bamboo soles and traditional wood paneling. The skylounge, previously a tiny space, was also extended several feet and transformed into a bar/games area and gym. Once the formal photo shoot is completed, I’ll upload a slide show.

And speaking of slide shows, I’ll upload one for Athos’ construction in a few days, to give you a better idea of how she’s come together thus far.