sailing yacht

Netscape Billionaire Refits $100 Million Superyacht

Netscape Billionaire $100 Million Superyacht

At 295 feet, Netscape billionaire Jim Clark's Royal Huisman yacht Athena is the second largest sailing superyacht in the world. Just behind Barry Diller's 305-ft. Eos and just ahead of the famed Maltese Falcon at 289 feet, the stunning Athena is a sight to behold wherever she sets sail.

Now Clark, who's said to have paid under $100 million for the craft back in 2004, is having her refit in New Zealand – the largest such project ever carried out in the country – at a cost of tens of million of dollars including many high-tech additions.

Upgrades are reportedly being carried out at the behest of Clark's much, much younger new wife, former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model Christy Hinze. He's 67, she's 31. We had dinner with the Aussie stunner once and found her charming.

Hinze apparently wants to freshen up the somewhat stodgy, old-guy interior done up in dark wood and hotel suite-type furniture. The yacht's deckplan features an open air lounge, media center, formal dining salon, library, main salon with wet bar and an alfresco dining area.

The Athena can currently accommodate ten guests in five cabins, with the lower deck comprised of a full-width master cabin with a Jacuzzi, study and walk-in wardrobe. Hinze will want to enlarge that, no doubt.

[via JamesList]

Gallery: Netscape Billionaire Jim Clark's Superyacht

Tags: Athena yacht, billionaire, Christy Hinze, Internet billionaires, Jim Clark, Jim Clarks yacht, Maltese Falcon, models, Netscape, New Zealand, Royal Hiusman, sailing yacht, supermodels, superyacht, worlds largest yachts, yacht

Sen. John Kerry's Sailing Yacht for Charter

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Sen. John Kerry's Sailing Yacht for Charter

Earlier this month we reported that Sen. John Kerry had joined the superyacht set in St. Barth's aboard his 75-ft. sailboat Isabel (above). Now the classic yacht is available for charter with rates beginning at about $45,000 per week. The sleek $7 million craft built by Friendship in New Zealand last year features plenty of luxe touches including a wet bar and wine storage in the pilothouse. The Edwardian-style interior is finished in glossy varnished teak, and the yacht can accommodate four guests in two VIP main staterooms with en-suite baths. Tenders and toys include a 13.5-ft. Zodiac and on board there are all the bells and whistles a busy politico needs, from satellite communications to Wifi. In the past Kerry caught flack for dodging a big tax bill on the yacht by mooring her in Newport, R.I.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: John Kerry's Yacht 'Isabel'

Tags: John Kerry, New Zealand, politician, politics, sailing, sailing yacht, yacht, yacht charter

Perini Navi Founder's Personal Sailing Superyacht for Sale at $3 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The famous Maltese Falcon embodies the elegance married to technical excellence characterizing the sailing superyachts of Italy's Perini Navi. The firm was founded in the early 1980s by dashing yachtsman Fabio Perini who wanted a large sailing yacht that was modern, stylish, fast and relatively easy to sail. He revolutionized the world of sailing superyachts in the process, and one of the very first Perini Navi yachts he built for himself, in 1987. The 80-ft. Elettra (above) is now being offered for sale at $3 million, an important piece of modern sailing history. Still raced every year in the Perini Navi Cup against much larger craft, the yacht has a Kevlar-composite hull and and is capable of a crusing speed of 10 knots. With accommodation for seven guests and three crew members Elettra recently benefited from a total refit of all sailing systems undertaken by Perini Navi and has been the subject of constant upgrades and improvements over the years. The interior remains an icon of classic maritime style with tons of teak and nautical accents.

Gallery: Perini Navi 'Elettra'

Tags: Italy, Maltese Falcon, Perini Navi, Perini Navi Cup, sailing, sailing yacht, superyacht

Tofinou 12 Sailing Yacht by Philippe Starck & Goyard

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Architecture & Design

Don't have $300 million to commission an eye-popping megayacht from freak of nature Philippe Starck? You don't need to be a Russian billionaire to afford his newest ocean-going feat of high design, the 39-ft. Tofinou 12 sailing yacht (above) from France's Latitude 46 boatyard. Starck employed precious woods, leather, steel and bespoke monogrammed canvas storage pouches from the famed house of Goyard to decorate the teak, mahogany, carbon fiber and Kevlar in the boat's construction. Due to be unveiled at next month's Paris Boat Show, the four-berth weekender features twin carbon wheels which Starck has wrapped in luxe leather. A stainless steel-framed rosewood companionway gives onto a saloon decked out in floor to ceiling leather, with wide curved seating, oversized cushions, a varnished painted oval table and mirror polished stainless steel mast support. "A Tofinou doesn't exist," Starck states. "It's just a dream, an evocation, a breeze, a sigh of happiness. So little materiality, so elegant. The perfect quality and timelessness of Tofinou born within the natural intelligence of the relationship between the sea and man."

[via JamesList]

Gallery: Tofinou 12 Yacht by Starck

Tags: carbon fiber, France, Goyard, leather, Philippe Starck, Russian billionaire, sailing, sailing yacht, yacht

New 463-ft. 'Dream Ship' Will Be World's Largest Sailing Superyacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The incredible 289-ft. Maltese Falcon is still the world's largest, best designed, and most expensive sailing yacht - but not for much longer. Turkish yachtbuilder Dream Ship Victory just signed a contract with the same team that designed the Maltese – naval architects Dykstra & Partners and Ken Freivokh Design – on a new 463-ft. sailing superyacht (above) that will literally dwarf the competition and become one of the largest yachts in the world. Unlike the Maltese however the new Dream Ship will be constructed entirely of wood, and will boast four masts to the Falcon's three. An initial concept of the new behemoth, which features an Art Deco-inspired streamlined design, was presented at the Monaco Yacht Show on the Dykstra & Partners stand and construction is slated to begin in 2011.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Art Deco, Maltese Falcon, sailing, sailing yacht, superyacht, yacht, yacht design

Classic Yachts Battle It Out at Panerai Regatta in Antibes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Events, Sports

The first Mediterranean leg of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2010 sponsored by the luxe Italian watch brand is now complete with an impressive showing amongst the elegant craft. The yachts Mariska, an auric cutter from 1908; Rowdy, a Marconi cutter from 1916; and Chaplin, a 16-metre Italian Navy vessel built in 1974, won in the "Big Boats", "Vintage" and "Classic" categories respectively during the race days at the famous French resort of Antibes on the Cote d'Azur. The winners each received a Radiomir Regatta 1/8th Second Titanio - 47 mm watch, specially created by Officine Panerai for this new season of regattas and produced in a limited edition of just 500 pieces. In total 51 boats split into seven categories participated in the event which was organized by the Yacht Club d'Antibes and the Club Nautique d'Antibes. Also present in Antibes, though not participating in the regattas, was Eilean, the classic 1936 yacht built by Scottish boatyard Fife, recently restored by Officine Panerai, which we wrote about in April.

Gallery: Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2010 Antibes

Tags: Antibes, classic yacht, Cote dAzur, France, Mediterranean, Officine Panerai, Panerai, regatta, sailing, sailing yacht, watches, yacht, yacht racing

Perini Navi Building Megayacht to Top Maltese Falcon

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Last summer we reported that hedge fund queen Elena Ambrosiadou had purchased the 289-ft. Maltese Falcon, the world's largest, best designed, and most expensive sailing superyacht, for around $100 million. She might want her money back – Perini Navi, the Italian shipyard that built the incredible yacht, is now hard at work on a new one that will dwarf the Maltese by 46 feet. The 335-ft. megayacht, dubbed the C.2157 (above), also has three enormous self-standing, rotating masts and will be equipped with an even more impressive version of Perini Navi's revolutionary carbon fibrer DynaRig sailing system. Topping the Maltese's 15 sails and 25,791 sq. ft. sail area, the 335 will be capable of a maximum speed of 19.5 knots despite its impressive size.

Look for the 2,700 ton yacht with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure to equal if not better the Maltese Falcon's 10-day Atlantic crossing time as well. Perini Navi has not disclosed which of the world's billionaires commissioned the craft, which is expect to cost several hundred million dollars, but it will no doubt have opulent fittings and finishes galore throughout its five decks, including two contoured sets of stairs wrapping around the buttress of the aft mast descending towards the aft of the main deck. There will also be accommodations for more than the Maltese's 12 guests in the luxurious staterooms in addition to an enormous master suite.

[via JamesList]

Gallery: Perini Navi 355-ft. Sailing Superyacht

Tags: carbon fibrer, Elena Ambrosiadou, hedge fund, Italy, megayacht, Perini Navi, sailing, sailing superyacht, sailing yacht, superyacht

Perini Navi Superyacht by Lord Foster for $1 Million Per Month

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

For a cool $1 million a month you can now charter the world's most stylish sailing superyacht, designed by famed British architect Lord Norman Foster for Perini Navi, builders of the Maltese Falcon. Dubbed the Panthalassa, the 184-ft. yacht (which we first reported on last December) represents the "perfect fusion of contemporary living and the finest nautical heritage". Natural daylight suffuses the interior of the yacht through unique skylights designed by Foster to channel light from the sundeck and oversized portholes. The centerpiece of her luxe interior is a gracefully-flowing stairwell wrapped in a translucent acrylic enclosure allowing light to flow through the main saloon as well. There's room for 12 guests in the airy interior featuring teak flooring, saddle leather wall paneling and granite surfaces. Outside the deck features a variety of places to relax and an informal outdoor eating area. A lounge, bar, library and boardroom all feature glazed screens that can be opened to create a generous central saloon. Inside the cabins, leather wall paneling complements silk rugs and gold and black marble tiled baths.

Gallery: Perini Navi Panthalassa by Lord Foster

[via JamesList]

Tags: Lord Norman Foster, Maltese Falcon, Perini Navi, sailing, sailing yacht, superyacht, yacht, yacht charter

Largest J-Class Yacht Ever Built for Sale at $19 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The J-Class yachts, designed between 1930–1937 for the wealthy sportsmen who raced them in the America's Cup, epitomize sailing's most elegant era. King George V, Harold Vanderbilt and Sir Thomas Lipton all owned and raced beautiful J-Class yachts, but in 1936 renowned naval architects Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens designed one to dwarf them all, which would have been the largest J-Class ever. Sadly, it was never built. Now the 144-ft. yacht, dubbed the Lionheart, has been brought to life with some modern updates by Hoek Design in the Netherlands. The sleek aluminum-hulled craft is now available for sale via Yachting Partners International for about $19 million. Designed for luxurious cruising as well as fast-paced racing, the yacht features two deckhouses and cockpits for maximum versatility.

[via JamesList]

Tags: J-Class, sailing, sailing yacht, yacht

French Chateau Revives Old Shipping Method

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

The urge to be green and save energy is making some old transportation methods new again. Decanter reports that Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte will be exporting some wines by sailing ship as was done many years ago. The 106 year-old British ketch Bessie Ellen will sail from Bordeaux to Montreal leaving on July 21. It will carry 20,000 bottles of Smith Haut Lafitte and bottles from from Château de Cayx (the Cahors domain owned by the Danish royal family) and Borie de Maurel (Languedoc). The 25-day sail-powered crossing will cost around 20 percent more than sending the wine over in the usual container ship. But there may be another benefit, the shippers, Dublin-based, French-run CTMV say that the long ocean voyage could improve the wine, hastening the aging process. They plan to open a regular sail route between Montreal and Bordeaux, and Bordeaux-Plymouth next year.

The Bessie-Ellen was built in 1904 in Plymouth, England and is one of the last remaining sailing ketches. The website for the yacht says that it is for sale for 435,000 euros.

Tags: chateau smith lafitte, ketch, sailing yacht, shipping wine, wine

New Sailing Superyacht with Interiors by Christian Liaigre

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Famed French interior designer Christian Liaigre's services are coveted by some of the world's richest and most talented men – Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld and Rupert Murdoch are among his better-known clients. Most of Liaigre's projects keep him on dry land, but his newest multimillion-dollar commission is a 220-ft. sailing superyacht. Built by New Zealand's Alloy Yachts with naval architecture by Philippe Briand, the AY41 (above) is a high-performance sailing yacht capable of comfortable world cruising, with an aluminum hull and superstructure, with carbon fiber spars and standing rigging. The unnamed owner of the yacht instructed Liaigre to create an "urban at sea" environment for the interior of the sleek craft, set to launch by the end of the year. Accommodations include five staterooms and a convertible gym housing 12 guests along with 11 crew.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Alloy Yachts, Calvin Klein, Christian Liaigre, interior design, Karl Lagerfeld, New Zealand, Rupert Murdoch, sailing, sailing yacht, superyacht, yacht

The Classicist: Royal Ascot, Henley, Cowes & the English Summer Season

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Events, Sports, The Classicist

The English summer season is in full swing with the year's most important and stylish sporting events on the horizon, maintaining the British traditions of horse racing, tennis, rowing, polo and sailing with elegance and ardor. Lord's Test Cricket has passed, but the Royal Ascot races, the Wimbledon tennis championships, Cartier International Polo, the Henley Royal Regatta and the yacht races at Cowes round out a full season's worth of sporting occasions that are as much fun to watch as to participate in. Herewith The Classicist's guide to the best in class (with a tip of the Panama to the London Telegraph); all you need is a pitcher of Pimm's:

Royal Ascot – June 15-19, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire

Since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the annual Royal Ascot races have become the highlight of the English social season. Ostensibly a five-day sporting event, it's also evolved into something of an immense fashion show, marked by the arrival of the Royal Family in ceremonial horse-drawn carriages every day. It has become the style for ladies to sport increasingly outrageous hats, and lately the traditional rules about "formal day dress" in the coveted Royal Enclosure have been rather loosely interpreted.

Gallery: Royal Ascot & the English Summer Season

Tags: Ascot, Cartier, Cowes, England, equestrian, Henley Royal Regatta, horse racing, Isle of Wight, London, polo, Regatta, Royal Ascot, sailing, sailing yacht, sporting, summer, tennis, UK, Wimbledon, yacht, yachting, yachts

Continue reading “The Classicist: Royal Ascot, Henley, Cowes & the English Summer Season”

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta Set for Sardinia

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Events, Sports

On June 8 – 12 Loro Piana, the Italian luxury clothing company known for the world's finest cashmere, will stage its annual Superyacht Regatta in the billionaire's haunt of Sardinia featuring some of the world's fastest sailing yachts. Hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, sponsors include Perini Navi, builder of the famed Maltese Falcon, in partnership with Rolex and Audi. Last year's winner, Royal Huisman's 105-ft. Gliss, will defend her title against several sailing superyachts looking to pluck the prize from her grasp during five intense days of competition. Among the contenders will be Southern Ocean Marine's 105-ft. Liara; Wally's 100-ft. Y3K.; the Ed Dubois-designed, Fitzroy built 148-ft. Salperton IV; Perini Navi's 125-ft. P2; and more yachts measuring 80 feet and up. Apres-sailing there will be an owner's dinner at the yacht club and a beach party at the opulent Hotel Romazzino, part of the Luxury Collection.

[via JamesList]

Gallery: Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta

Tags: Audi, cashmere, Ed Dubois, Hotel Romazzino, Italian fashion, Italy, Loro Piana, Luxury Collection, Maltese Falcon, Perini Navi, regatta, Rolex, Royal Huisman, sailboat, sailing, sailing yacht, Sardinia, superyacht, Wally, yachting

Dennis Conner's New Yacht Has A Long History

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Famous racing skipper Dennis Conner has a new toy. The sailing enthusiast who won the America's Cup four times has bought a beautiful old boat. Classic Boat says that Conner picked up the 40-foot BB Crowninshield-designed gaff schooner Fame. The yacht was the winner of many Great Lakes races but she has seen better days. Conner bought Fame for $17,000 and is hoping to have her sailing this summer, her centenary year. Fame is a 1910 Long Island Sound Schooner that was designed and built by B. B. Crowninshield for his personal use. He wanted to create "the largest and fastest boat he could handle and take care of alone." She was sunk in 1995 but was quickly rescued. She will likely get a new lease on life under Conner's care and may take part in a few races.

Tags: americas cup, classic yacht, dennis conner, sailing yacht

Regatta Revives Golden Age of Millionaire Yacht Races

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Events, Wealth

A new classic yacht regatta launching this summer aims to revive the "Big Class" races of the 1900s when millionaires and royalty pitted their massive sailboats against one another. The invitation-only Westward Cup Regatta, set to take place July 5 – 11 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, is named in honor of the 100th anniversary of the launch of the famed Westward racing yacht, the fastest schooner in the world at the time. Staged by the Royal Yacht Squadron (Cowes), the famed New York Yacht Club, and the Yacht Club de Monaco (Monte Carlo), the Westward Regatta will feature large classic yachts competing for a prestigious prize. Among the contenders will be the 162-ft. Westward replica the Eleonora (above); the Brittania, a replica of King George V's royal yacht of the same name; the perfectly-restored Mariquita, built in 1911; and the Mariette designed in 1915 by the famous Nathaniel Herreshoff. In addition to the regatta itself several posh events are planned including an owner's dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron and a banquet at Queen Victoria's Isle of Wight estate, Osborne House.

Tags: classic yacht, classic yachts, Cowes, Isle of Wight, King George V, Monaco, New York Yacht Club, Queen Victoria, regatta, sailboat, sailing, sailing yacht, schooner, westward cup regatta, yacht

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