Sirius Joins Yacht Builders Own Charter Fleet

The Royal Van Lent yard of the Dutch Feadship consortium of superyacht builders has launched Sirius, the fourth yacht in its F45 Vantage semi custom series. The F45 concept brings together a proven design, construction, engineering systems and materials to great effect and offers buyers the opportunity to buy a yacht where investment risk has been removed.  They are built by the yard and generally speaking are purchased by an owner before completion.  Given the state of the superyacht market this has not happened on this occasion and the yacht enters service still owned by the yard.

Sirius will be put to work by her builders and join their Charter Division and will make her show debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.

The F45 concept lends itself especially well to chartering as there are five suites on the main deck, allowing up to ten people to reside in this prime real estate location.  As well as having panoramic views through the giant windows, this position adds extra comfort should charter parties wish to make night time sailings.

Those who charter yachts of this type tend to spend the vast majority of their time enjoying the outdoor life, and Sirius caters for every al fresco eventuality.  In addition to a wealth of dining and sunbathing options, the beach platform serves as the ideal base for using the highly impressive variety of watersport facilities.

Her sisterships Space and Harle were both launched in 2007 and the third, TV, was launched in 2008.  Like her predecessors, Feadship has set hull, superstructure, bulkheads and exterior style in advance, with the equipment portfolio also being pre-selected.

Twin MTU 12 Valve 2000M70 engines each delivering 788 kW drive two Wärtsilä fixed pitch 5-bladed propellers to give this yacht a top speed of 14.5 knots but she is more likely to cruise at 12 when her range will be transatlantic.

Sirius has a designer interior, featuring classic art deco styling and a fresh feel. Contrasting woods and horizontal divisions clearly define the spaces, emphasizing the rich and comfortable environment.

Sirius offers the maximum space possible in a yacht of her size thanks to a central air conditioning system that removes the need for separate fan coil units in each room. Her general layout philosophy reflects the way modern owners cruise onboard superyachts, with the emphasis placed on a ‘beach house on the water’ lifestyle.

Superyachts Buy Motorised Sharks

Superyacht Captains are buying high-speed shark shaped speedboats in a bid to make their own yachts stand out in an ever-increasingly competitive superyacht charter yacht market place.

High speed Seabreacher boats shaped as sharks and dolphins that can flip and dive are catching on quickly as the new must have toy to be carried aboard superyachts.

The scary looking craft are beginning to give the humble jet ski a run for its money as they cause quite a stir in anchorages around the world as they leap out of the water and dive back down under the surface.

Seabreachers are described as the ultimate diving machine but the fact is they dive no deeper than five feet or so below the surface.  The company that markets them is Rob Innes and Dan Piazza founded Innespace in 1997.

They began as a design and development company specialising in high performance submersible watercraft.

Rob is a New Zealand boat builder with fifteen years experience in boat design and manufacturing he has a management degree from Auckland University and a composite engineering diploma from Unitech University.  Partner Dan Piazza is a certified machinist with over twenty years of experience in custom fabrication and engineering.

Together they designed and built numerous submersible watercraft for recreational and demonstration use. The company continues to lease their original Dolphin as well as their newer Shark shaped monster for event demonstrations, commercial promotions, and television shows.

Monaco Superyacht Show Gets Five Star Hotel

Just in time for the worlds most prestigious of superyacht shows Hotel Métropole in Monte-Carlo has been awarded a fifth star.

As part of the new classification just applied to the hotel industry in Monaco, the new distinction allows the palace to reinforce its position as a prestigious hotel, by finally offering an easier point of reference for its increasingly international clientele.

“We are delighted that the 5-star classification is now applied in the Principality of Monaco. We are extremely proud to gain this recognition, and it is a particular accolade for the team who has contributed to the success of the hotel since it opened.” comments Jean-Claude Messant, General Manager of Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo.

He adds: “As one of the world’s most prestigious destinations, Monaco has just caught up with the rest of the world in terms of hotel classification. We were looking forward to accessing this new 5-star ranking which confirms our status as a luxury palace hotel and above all highlights the quality of the service we offer”

Opened in August 2004 following a large-scale renovation programme by world-renowned interior design Jacques Garcia, Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, an international network of over 450 prestigious hotels and resorts offering exceptional service. In November 2006, the hotel was named Best Hotel in Europe hotel of over 100 rooms or more during the 2007 annual convention held by The Leading Hotels of the World.

Superyachts and the US Senate

Photo Credit Travel Channel

President Obama and his cohorts are getting somewhat hot under the collar over would-be Senator Jeff Green and the shenanigans aboard the 44 metre superyacht Summerwind.  Now because it is gossip, we here at Superyacht News are not that interested in reporting what may or may not have gone on, but we were flabbergasted to read an item in today’s Sunday Times

No, not because Green hired stewardesses who doubled as massage therapist’s nor were we surprised to read about the drugs on board or the fact that the yacht may or may not have sailed to Cuba.

What caught our eye, was the statement made by writer Christina Lamb, who like most other newspaper journalists has no idea what a superyacht really is. She said that Green is alleged to have gone through three campaign managers as well as 21 Captains of his yacht

Twenty one Captains?  Over what period?  Our first question has to be:  Is that true? And could it be that is a record?

Until now we thought the highest number of Captain changeovers was aboard Lady Joy even though we admit the beautiful Hakvoort My Trust has had its fair share but twenty one!

So how about, we try and find out:

First is it true that Summerwind has had twenty one Captains?

Second:  What is the highest number of Captains a superyacht has had in the shortest period?

Please leave a comment but feel free to send a private e mail to SYN@thehoworths if you prefer

Superyachts Will Fly Across the Water

Cowes Week is the home to the sailing sailing world and again this year, hosted a fringe event with the reappearance of the very exciting Extreme Racing Series.

As invited guests of Oman Sail we were privileged to witness this fast, exhilarating, spectator sport that offers the shoreside viewer the opportunity to witness race sailing without the need to board a boat or charter a helicopter.

A recent addition to the sailing scene, Extreme Sailing is a commercially run sail boat racing series, now in its 4th year.  It uses its own custom designed, 40ft, high-speed, racing catamarans and has written the own rulebook to make it a very user friendly form of racing.  It even allows sponsors to participate carrying a fifth man on top of the boats four man crew.

Instead of spending hours sailing around elongated courses well offshore, Extreme 40's race race laps around a short easy to see course in races that last less than 20 minutes each.  With up to 8 in any one day, they are deliberately run close in shore so spectators can watch and cheer.

Described as a sport, it is both a show, and a VIP experience with the whole event organised as an integrated sports, media and corporate hospitality package.

But why do we, as superyacht journalists, think this is such a good idea?  the reasoning is, we think, rather simple.  Rather like Formula 1 car racing where innovations made for the race track eventually filter their way to the road driven car so to, will these ultra light yachts make an impact on sailing.

One such pointer to this was, the very discreet viewing we, as yachting journalists, were given when we witnessed the demonstration of Daddy Longlegs the prototype of the C-Fly a yacht designed to fly across the water on hydrofoils.

This clever little boat, kept secret until just now, is the brainchild of Chris Edwards and others, who have come up with a working yacht that can rise up onto its fully retractable foils and achieve speeds of 15 knots across the water in just 12 knots of wind.  In rougher water the foils retract and the boat handles conventionally as a displacement yacht.

Transfer that technology to superyachts, as you will be able to in years to come, and you have cracked it.  How to build the ultimate in Green Superyachts!

Superyacht Offices in Mumbai

In their seemingly never ending quest to open offices in every major superyacht centre of the world Ocean Independence have added West Coast Marine Yacht Services Pvt. Ltd (WCMYS) in Mumbai, India, to their network of worldwide offices.

Run by the husband and wife team Aashim & Bharati Mongia, WCMYS is a fully integrated marine company that manages the largest number of pleasure crafts in India and has been handling visiting superyachts since 2000. Bharati has been handling the charter division for several years now, from customised itineraries for superyachts to hourly charters of smaller craft.

Aashim, a keen yachtsman with several World Championship and Asian Games medals to his name, turned his passion for the water into a profession in 1994.  The Government of India has recognized him with several awards including the Arjuna Award, Shivaji Chattrapati Award and Yachtsman of the Year.

The Mumbai team already delivers exceptional yachting experiences to the Indian market and with the expected continued growth of the country’s economy in the coming years India is a strategic market for yachting development.

CNI Superyachting Index published

The third edition of the (super)Yachting Index is now available to view online at www.camperandnicholsons.com/files/superyacht-index/index.htm.  The Index looks at the year 2009, which, even with the economic climate, proved to be overall a good year for the yachting industry, with an unparalleled level of sales and charter activity.

Of course, already the question on everybody’s lips is what 2010 will bring about, and research has already begun for the third edition of the Index, out in 2011. 

Superyacht Chart Agent Swaps Company

Martin Amy who has for the last 14 years worked for Kelvin Hughes assisting Superyacht Captains with their charts and book orders has moved over to join the expanding team at David Store Navigational Management Ltd (DSNM), a Chart Management and Navigational Consultancy.

Martin has a vast amount of experience within the Super Yacht industry will help to drive the company forwards as it continues to expand in the industry.  As a keen yachtsman himself, he has a clear understanding of the requirements of yachts navigation teams and will work to ensure that the high standards set by DSNM will be continued.

The past 12 months has been the company’s most successful year to date, with the client-base more than doubling and turnover reaching an all-time high.

The team of fleet managers now includes 5 members of staff which work closely with their clients to ensure the best possible service is provided to them. Each fleet manager is the first point of contact for their clients providing 24/7 support via email and phone.

Managing Director David Store says: "We have always taken customer care very seriously, talking and listening to our customers and taking their views on board. Martin’s experience will be a huge asset to the company. I am thrilled with his appointment and look forward to working with him to grow the business even further.”

David Store added: "We are in a market in which customers rightly expect an excellent, professional service. At DSNM we know that our service is not only the very best available but also that we listen to our customers. As a result, we will continue to refine our products and services to meet their needs now and in the future."

Social Security Issues for Superyacht Crews

Crews working on superyachts need to be aware of recent changes in the EU social security system, the impact of these changes on the yachting industry.

As of the 1st of May 2010, EU social security legislation has changed due to the implementation of regulation EC 883/2004.

The primary objective of this new legislation is to unify European social security legislation. However, a by product has been the elimination of the majority of EU social security exemptions that have, until now, been extended to EU resident crew members.

The questions that need asking are:


• Do you have crew members who are resident in the EU and are paid or employed from their country of residence? 
• Do you have crew on board an EU registered vessel who are resident in an EU or Reciprocal Agreement (RA) country and who are paid and/or employed from any EU country?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then the employer and / or payer of wages will be required to pay EU Employer's Social Security Contributions in respect of those crew. These liabilities can be as much as 35% of a seafarer's salary.

In the current economic climate, these liabilities pose a very real threat to the yachting industry and the risks will become even greater following the imminent ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention.

Dominion Marine has worked with a major international accounting firm to design a robust employment solution to mitigate these liabilities and create the most cost effective solution on the market, with many advantages over and above the mitigation of EU Employer's Social Security Contributions.

Take a look at their brochure, feel free to distribute it to crew. Alternatively contact Dominion Crew Solutions.

Superyacht Crew Get Cheaper Helicopter Travel

Heli Air Monaco has joined the Professional Yachtsman’s Association as a PYA Corporate member and as part of their new relationship is to offer all PYA members a discounted price of €70 plus tax (Normally €120 plus taxes) on regular flights between Nice and Monaco, a 10% discount on private flights and 10% off their helicopter pilot training.

Members should present their PYA membership card (with photo) when checking in to benefit from these generous discounts.

The helicopter company operates scheduled flights between Nice and Monaco, is IATA approved (IATA-YO747) and was established in 1976.

With flight times of only 7 minutes duration, departures every 15 minutes and a free car service available at your arrival in Monaco, this makes an attractive alternative to taxi or car transfer.

Of particular interest to PYA members, they are also licensed to land directly on yacht heli decks for drop off’s and pick up’s from yachts at anchor.

Heli Air Monaco also specialise in group transportation, charter flights to all destinations.

Visit www.heliairmonaco.com for the latest schedule. Reservations can be made by calling +377 92 050 051.

MAIB Suspends Publication of Safety Digest

Safety Digest issue number 2 of 2010, due to be published on 1 August, has been postponed until further notice.

The Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) blamed the actions of the media for their decisions and issued a statement that said:
"Over the past 8 years, in a spirit of mutual co-operation on safety matters, there has been an understanding by which the media has respected the need not to identify individuals or organisations in the MAIB’s Safety Digest.

Unfortunately, despite entreaties, one newspaper decided to try to identify ships and companies referred to, but not named, in the Chief Inspector’s introduction to the last Safety Digest.  It then ‘named and shamed’ the companies that the paper thought were involved, regardless of the safety consequences of so doing.

The editor justified his actions by stating that “our job as the press is to shed light where public officials are unable or unwilling to do so.  Having put the facts into public record, you cannot in a free society control how the press pursues the exposure of those facts.” 

In these circumstances the MAIB has to assume that anyone written about in a Safety Digest could in future be named in the press.  The MAIB has a legal obligation, laid down in its Regulations, to consult with any “person who, or organisation which, could be adversely affected by the report”, and to take into account any representations made.  Therefore, unless the MAIB can find a novel means of ensuring that the subjects of the Safety Digest remain anonymous, there appears to be no option but to undertake a major consultation exercise on each case in future Safety Digests.  

The increased resource implications and inevitable diminution of the key safety messages this process will cause, may make future publication of the Safety Digest unsustainable."

The MAIB apologised for the loss of an invaluable safety tool, and are attempting to find a way to resolve the predicament.

Superyacht Show Viewing Made Easy

Do you find superyacht shows daunting do you occasional miss out seeing everything you wanted to catch at a show?  Those days may be over.

Yachts XL a targeted media company focusing on superyachts has produced what may prove to be a very useful tool for those navigating their way around superyacht shows in the future.  All you need is a smart phone and an app called Layar

Using technology is called Augmented Reality the Browser shows what is around by displaying real time digital information on top of the real world as seen through the camera of your mobile phone. It augments the real world as seen through a mobile phone, based on the users location.

The simple idea works using a combination of the mobile phone’s camera, compass and GPS data to identify the user’s location and field of view, retrieve data based on those geographical coordinates, and overlay that data over the camera view.

Engage the App, focus your smartphone’s camera onto yachts at boats shows that include Cannes, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and get real-time information of yachts and companies, which are displayed, on demand.

You can also:

• Watch the video’s of the displayed yachts or companies, if video’s are available
• Filter. Select your area of interests and the layer will show you where to find them.
• Bring me there: select your own interests and the layer will guide you to them.
• Call: Call broker or company representative, who is on the show to make an appointment during the show.
• Ask for more information about your selection
• View photographs of the displayed yachts, products or companies
• Get information about the premium restaurants and hotels near to the yacht show.

The app is free and has been tested on devices that include:

• Apple iPhone 3GS and 4G,
• HTC Dream, Magic, Hero, Tatto and Eris,
• Samsung Spica and Galaxy
• Motorola Cliq/Dext and Droid/Milestone
• LG GW 620