The Le Ponant

1 February 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Tall ships, Cruise Ships, Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  6 minutes

at São Nicolau, Kap Verde © Christof46/cc-by-sa-4.0

at São Nicolau, Kap Verde © Christof46/cc-by-sa-4.0

Le Ponant is a three-masted, commercially operated French luxury yacht operated by Compagnie du Ponant. The ship has capacity for up to 32 passengers in 16 cabins. It was built 1991 by the Societe Francaise de Construction Navales (SFCN) shipyard in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France. In 2008, the ship was attacked by Somali pirates and was only released after a military intervention. In 2022, the yacht was refitted for increased environmental protection to a design by Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio.   read more…

Alinghi

1 April 2022 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Sport, Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  9 minutes

Alinghi 5 in Valencia 2010 © flickr.com - Yasuhiro Chatani/cc-by-2.0

Alinghi 5 in Valencia 2010 © flickr.com – Yasuhiro Chatani/cc-by-2.0

Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America’s Cup, as well as other competitions. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America’s Cup. Alinghi challenged for and won the 2003 America’s Cup in Auckland New Zealand and successfully defended it at the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain. Alinghi lost the America’s Cup to the Golden Gate Yacht Club and their team BMW Oracle Racing in a Deed of Gift match in Valencia, Spain in February 2010. For the 2003 event, Team New Zealand as the holder of the America’s Cup, in consultation with Prada, the Challenger of Record, removed the nationality rule that stipulated that all of the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate.   read more…

The megayacht Black Pearl

1 October 2019 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Design & Products, Tall ships, Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  11 minutes

© Berthold Neutze

© Berthold Neutze

Black Pearl is a sailing yacht launched in 2016, which is 106.7 meters (350.1 ft) in length. It has three DynaRig masts supporting a sail area of 2,900 square meters (31,215 sq ft). The yacht was known during its build process originally as Oceanco Y712 and thereafter as “Project Solar”. The hull is steel, the superstructure aluminum, and the masts carbon fiber.   read more…

The superyacht Tatoosh

1 November 2016 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  4 minutes

© Seastar357

© Seastar357

Tatoosh is a 303-foot (92 m) private yacht owned by Paul Allen, who also owns the 416-foot (127 m) Octopus. She is now the world’s 43rd largest superyacht. Her homeport is George Town on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.   read more…

The Superyacht Topaz

1 June 2016 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  5 minutes

© Michael011172/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Michael011172/cc-by-sa-3.0

M/Y Topaz is a luxury motor yacht constructed by Lürssen in Bremen. The yacht’s interior was designed by Terence Disdale Design and the exterior designed by Tim Heywood. The boat was launched in May 2012. Topaz ties with Prince Abdulazizis for the title of world’s sixth largest private yacht, both holding a length of 147 metres (482 ft). The vessel beats the world’s sixth largest private yacht, El Horria, in length by 1.28 metres (4 ft 2 in).   read more…

The megayacht Octopus

28 September 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Superyachts Reading Time:  4 minutes

Octopus in Venice © Thorongil

Octopus in Venice © Thorongil

Octopus is a 414 foot (126 m) megayacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. Delivered in 2003, it was believed to be the biggest such yacht at the time of its construction. It is currently the world’s 13th largest superyacht, the fifth largest superyacht not owned by a head of state, and the largest expedition yacht.   read more…

Andrey Melnichenko’s mega yacht “A”

30 July 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  5 minutes

© blog.luxuryproperty.com

© blog.luxuryproperty.com

Whilst not fitting the term “Luxury real estate,” in the traditional sense of the word, i.e. on land, the current crop of giga-yachts or mega-yachts certainly fall under my definition of the word. Massive, spectacularly-outfitted floating mansions in fact. Conspicuous over consumption? Absolutely. Insanely expensive? Oh yes. Most of the final prices are carefully kept secret. Either that, or no one actually knows how much they cost. Introducing “A” – the most recent member of the giga-yacht club, and to put things in perspective, the fuel tank is 757,000 liters. Diesel fuel costs around €1.40 per liter currently, so it would cost just over €1 million to fill the fuel tank. $1.4 million US just to fill the tank. That amount of fuel will last 15.5 days at cruising speed. So the cost of building the ship becomes a little academic when the running costs are taken into consideration. I am exaggerating slightly as I have no doubt they are not paying retail for the fuel, but you get the idea. Seeing as the owner also owns one of the largest coal companies in the world, I very much doubt the cost of fuel is an issue.   read more…

The Royal Yacht Dannebrog

22 April 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Superyachts Reading Time:  6 minutes

Royal Yacht Dannebrog in Sønderborg © Erik Christensen/cc-by-sa-3.0

Royal Yacht Dannebrog in Sønderborg © Erik Christensen/cc-by-sa-3.0

Her Danish Majesty’s Yacht Dannebrog (A540) was launched by Queen Alexandrine at Copenhagen in 1931, and commissioned on 26 May 1932. The yacht now serves as the official and private residence for Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the Prince Consort, and members of the Royal Family when they are on official visits overseas and on summer cruises in Danish waters. When at sea, the Royal Yacht also participates in surveillance and sea-rescue services.   read more…

Big Fish, the green long-range expedition yacht

7 December 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Superyachts, Yacht of the Month Reading Time:  8 minutes

© www.neilrabinowitz.com

© www.neilrabinowitz.com

Superyacht Big Fish is the first in an advanced series of rugged but luxurious long-range world cruisers built for Aquos Yachts by McMullen & Wing Shipyard in New Zealand.This custom design from Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects is a 45m large volume steel and aluminum explorer motor yacht engineered for remote operation throughout the Pacific. With a 10,000 mile range at 9-10 knots and extensive long term storage onboard she is a unique class of vessel capable of sustaining extended trips for up to three months away from refueling facilities. Fuel efficiency is a key element of her cruising capability. Through extensive water-tank testing her hull shape and plum bow make her super-efficient through the water.   read more…

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