Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i Boat International US Edition

Few boats embody their potential quite like Ragnar, this month’s cover star. She’s got a great look for an explorer, and a great story. After delivery, she didn’t head to the Med, as so many boats do – she set course for Iceland. And she won’t stop there. I expect to see her AIS signature popping up in many more unusual places over the next few years, and why not? If this roller-coaster year has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what’s around the corner. So if you have the opportunity to make that passage you always wanted to make, or start planning a circumnavigation, or visit the island you’ve been dreaming about, my advice is: do it. Our annual Adventure Issue lands at a good time to…

BERILDA $7.5 MILLION The venerable 126ft motor yacht has been listed for sale at Fraser in Florida. She was built by Feadship with delivery in 1978 and has undergone extensive refits since 2016. DREAM $6.195 MILLION The 124ft motor yacht has been listed for sale by RJC Yacht Sales. Built in aluminum by Broward Marine to ABS class, she was delivered in 2008 as a Broward 120' model. BLUE MAGIC €3.3 MILLION The 105ft motor yacht has been listed for sale at Ocean Independence. Built in aluminum and steel by Italian yard Baglietto, she was delivered in 2001. SEA AXIS $6.9 MILLION The 125ft motor yacht has been listed for sale by Denison Yachting. Built in aluminum by Heesen Yachts to ABS…

The original dune buggy, the Meyers Manx, was invented in 1964 by Bruce F Meyers in California’s Newport Beach, to ride in search of surf spots. Volkswagen introduced a new electric model at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2019 A top-notch Scotch If you’ve been searching for the perfect gift for the whisky lover in your life (that person perhaps being yourself), you are in luck. Diageo has launched a new series of collectable single malt Scotch whisky sets called Prima & Ultima. Each set will include eight rare liquids drawn from vintage casks selected by superstar master blender Dr Jim Beveridge. The first release includes, among other gems, a bottle of 48-year-old Cragganmore 1971, drawn from the very last cask made on coal-fired stills at the Scottish distillery.…

Brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer are best known as the owners of Chanel, but their portfolio also includes prestigious wine estates in Bordeaux (including Château Berliquet in Saint-Émilion) and St Supéry in Napa Valley. The latest addition, Domaine de l’Ile, is an organic vineyard on the island of Porquerolles in the Côte d’Azur. It was purchased from winemaker (and keen sailor) Sébastien Le Ber, a grandson of François-Joseph Fournier, who bought the island in 1920 as a wedding gift to his wife Sylvia. Try the 2019 vintages, a rosé and a white (100 percent) Rolle – two summer wines perfect to sip on deck. domainedelile.com…

I am from Switzerland and love the mountains. My wife, Maria, is from Malta and loves the sea. I always said I would never buy a boat, but when your wife wants to charter one for her birthday, you do it! We chartered a 131ft yacht, and we loved it. At the time a friend who had a Perini Navi showed me a yachting website – it may have been boatinternational.com – and I noticed the 131ft Heesen Lady Azul. While I was negotiating the price, someone stepped in and offered the asking price, but luckily the deal fell through. With one look from my wife, I knew there would be no discussion this time. Before launching into an expensive refit we were able to enjoy time aboard. Our captain…

THE TREASURE OF LIMA British Captain William Thompson went rogue in 1820 after he was hired to carry the Peruvian capital’s riches to safety on board the Mary Dear. Instead, he and his crew headed for Cocos Island, 270nm off the coast of Costa Rica, where they buried the treasure, including gold statues of Madonna and child – or so the stories tell us. Pirates were also said to regularly stash their loot on the island. Yet more than 500 expeditions have failed to turn up much more than a few coins. Among interested parties over the years were Lord Fitzwilliam, who arrived on Cocos on board the yacht Veronique. Sir Malcolm Campbell built Blue Bird to sail to the island but died before he could set sail. Tara Getty,…

Construction of the 600ft REV Ocean began in 2018 in Tulcea, Romania, before the completed hull and superstructure were moved to Norway for the final construction phases in 2019. When it’s delivered in 2022, the vessel will become the world’s largest superyacht. It will be able to accommodate 90 people for 114 days to the polar regions – for longer trips, extra stores can be provided in reefer containers on deck at 20 additional days per fully loaded container. The ratio of scientists and crew will differ depending on the mode she is traveling in, and she will be available for charter up to one third of the ship time per year. Here are some of REV Ocean’s standout numbers: LOA: 600FT BEAM: 72FT GROSS TONNAGE: 17,440GT DRAUGHT: 18FT MAX…

Simon de Burton Simon is a journalist, author and lifelong fan of adventure travel. He prefers to avoid flying, so for this issue he picks out the best alternative modes of transport for thrill seekers (page 26). Which was your favorite of the vehicles you researched? The Mercedes van with all-wheel-drive conversion – it really opens up the possibilities for adventures into the wilderness. And with all that storage space, you’ve always got a warm and dry place to sleep Your most remarkable adventure to date? It wasn’t my biggest adventure, but a 10-day walk across the Eastern Desert in 2018 was one of my most memorable. I have always wanted to take part in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge – and in 2022 I finally will, driving a…

FINCANTIERI Fincantieri Yachts worked with young Italian designer Gabriele Teruzzi on this 230ft superyacht concept named Blanche. The styling steers clear of obstructions and maximizes spaces and views for an “immersive” experience. The master suite is a remarkable 2,045 sq ft, while the wellness area is 1,529 sq ft. fincantieri.com BURGER Burger has tapped Vripack to come up with the look for a 63ft aluminum sportfishing motor yacht, based on Vripack’s slide hull. Powered by three Volvo Penta D13-IPS 1350 engines, it has a top speed is 35 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots. The layout is customizable but Burger has come up with a practicable three-guest, one-crew-cabin layout, perfect for families who love to fish. burgerboat.com…

The brief was to create a very “peculiar” interior. It had to reflect the owner’s personality: he favors objects and furniture that tell a story and have a flavor. He’s an expert owner who understands the difference between what a drawing shows and what real life on board is. The Flexplorer’s interior design has an industrial inspiration reminiscent of a sophisticated New York loft. Explorer yachts epitomize a specific philosophy, a different approach to life on board. They combine aesthetics with function and require maximum versatility. We used brushed-oak floor slats of mixed widths for a vintage feel, combined with slate, concrete, iron, glass, metal and aluminum. Brown and charcoal-gray hues were used for fabrics and furniture, vintage leather for sofas and chairs, doors with glass framed in iron and…

When talk turns to diving watches, Rolex and Blancpain are often cited as spearheading development during the 1950s before makers such as Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breitling and Doxa took the baton and moved things forward in the following decades. It’s usually only committed horophiles, however, who remember Seiko’s considerable contribution to dive-watch design following its first foray into the market 55 years ago. The first serious underwater watch to be produced by Seiko – indeed, by any Japanese dial name – was the 150M Diver’s of 1965, a relatively conventional-looking 38mm model. That was followed three years later by a version water resistant to 980ft, this time with the distinctive feature of a four o’clock winding crown. But the real turning point arrived during the early 1970s when the firm received…

She has the name of a Viking warrior, the strength of a tug, an ice-breaking hull and a fantasy-filled interior. Truth be told, there is nothing conventional about Ragnar – from her diesel-electric propulsion with ice-breaking propellers, to the robust onboard equipment. Her certified helideck can handle an Airbus EC145 helicopter. An industrial crane extends several feet and supports a load of up to 10 tonnes. Her steel hull is really two in one: an outer shell and an inner one separated by an air gap, making it virtually indestructible. And while not unprecedented, her fleet of tenders and toys is certainly impressive, including a BigBo amphibious ATV, heli-skiing equipment, four See-Doos, four ski scooters, six Seabobs, a multipurpose island and a giant slide. Unlike most new yachts emerging from…

The first Spanish ships to cross the Atlantic were small, usually less than 100 tonnes, and some, like the Niña, only 30 to 40 tonnes. In 1545, the Spanish colonizers discovered the silver mines of Potosí, Bolivia; 10 years later, a mercury amalgamation process improved silver extraction from ore. Spain was teetering on the brink economically and the crown needed bigger boats to ensure the reliable transfer of the precious metals it was extracting from the New World to prop up its economy. Enter Don Álvaro de Bazán: the Spanish naval commander invented the larger-capacity galleon by combining the features of carracks and galleys with the sails and rigging of caravels. Their average size was between 250 to 550 tonnes, but by the late 16th century they could be as…

“We built Hasna to go virtually anywhere in the world, and she stood up to that. In the first two and a half years, we traveled the equivalent of twice around the globe. “We [imagined] how we were going to live in each space. We wanted to have everything a family could need, from the big swimming pool to the cinema room to a beautiful spa on the sundeck – and a great galley,” Symond says. As soon as Hasna was launched in 2017, John and his wife, Amber, set out on a voyage, traveling through the Mediterranean, South Pacific, Caribbean and up the east coast of America. Hasna became a home away from home, and they found they were on the yacht more than at their houses in Australia…

Love many, trust few and always paddle your own canoe – or so the saying goes. While that spirit of self-reliance may have worked well for some, it doesn’t translate so readily to the modern world of superyachts. Very few owners run their own yachts, but there are some intrepid souls out there who swear by it. Ron Gibbs, who now owns a 131ft Sunseeker, has driven every one of his boats himself, starting with a 56-footer 20 years ago. “If one is fortunate enough to be able to acquire one of these magnificent machines, bristling with innovation and electronic toys, why would you not only allow, but also pay someone else to drive it for you?” he says in wonder. “Ask yourself, would you buy a new Aston Martin…

CHARTERING Yachting is still a gray area – yachts are treated as commercial vessels, and cabotage permission is required to pick up and drop off a charter within the country. Another option is to enter the country with charter guests already on board, collecting them in Taiwan or South Korea’s Busan then cruising to Japan, where guests may depart by plane. (Or arrive by plane and depart by yacht.) CLEARANCE Paperwork is required seven days prior to a vessel’s arrival. Expect about three hours for clearance, although this can vary port to port. Japan is made up of Open Ports and Closed Ports. A Blanket Closed Port Permit – with a one-off fee – is now in place to allow vessels to enter Closed Ports with less than seven days’…

THE WORLD SUPERYACHT AWARDS The 15th annual edition of the World Superyacht Awards will take place on November 13, 2020 in Monaco. With significant disruption to event schedules this year, BOAT International is combining a number of its leading events into one “Festival of Yachting” that will bring together the Life Under Sail conference, Explorer Yachts Summit and the World Superyacht Awards between November 11 to 13, 2020. For tickets, visit boatint.com/ festival-of-yachting OCEAN AWARDS Now in its sixth year, the Ocean Awards 2021, held in partnership with Blue Marine Foundation, rewards those committed to fixing the crisis in our oceans. Nominations are now open at theoceanawards.com…

BIG SKY $11.9 MILLION The 157ft motor yacht, listed for sale at Northrop & Johnson, has had a price reduction of $1,000,000. A spec build by Oceanfast, she was launched in 2010. VENTURA €18 MILLION The 164ft motor yacht, listed for sale by Melitas Marine with Yachtzoo, has had a further price reduction of €2,000,000. She was built by Heesen and delivered in 2013. NASSIMA €13.9 MILLION The 161ft motor yacht, listed for sale at Fraser, has had another €2,000,000 price reduction. Built by Acico Yachts, she was launched in 2012. BLUE $7.9 MILLION The 102ft classic motor yacht, listed for sale by Ocean Independence with Merle Wood & Associates, has had a price reduction of $8,600,000. She was built by Feadship…

Aston Martin Volante Vision Concept Not content with exploring beneath the sea, Aston Martin has teamed up with the UK’s Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Cranfield University and Rolls-Royce to create this “near-future” concept aircraft. The design gives it hybrid-electric power, vertical take-off and landing capability and room for three adults. How much it will cost is anyone’s guess – but the sky will undoubtedly be the limit. astonmartin.com BMW R 1250 GS BMW Motorrad’s GS models have consistently set the benchmark in adventure touring motorcycles since the launch of the R80GS in 1980. Its 797cc engine and physical size made it a comfortable long-distance tourer, and its high mudguards, pliant suspension and raised exhausts were tailor-made to tempt riders away from the beaten track. The latest GS brings the formula up…

The transition from the coast to the urban jungle is all about practicality. This season’s message is that your clothes are stylish only if they are functional. Think cargo pants, tool vests and plenty of pockets. One thing is certain: you will have more than enough room to carry your billfold, phone and face mask. Utilitarian chic is very much embodied in the DNA of Italian label Stone Island, whose garments are made from hard-wearing materials inspired by adventure. Ghost piece overshirt, $483, and cargo pants, $410, stoneisland.com…

Speaking to Greek-born yacht owner Evi Lazou, it’s almost impossible not to want to fly to her homeland immediately. “As long as I can remember, summers have had the smell of sea breeze, suntan oil and grilled octopus,” she recalls evocatively, “and the taste of salt, sweet tomatoes and cold watermelon.” Growing up in a country with more than 6,000 beautiful islands to explore – and the longest coastline in the Mediterranean – makes it hard not to develop a deep connection to its waters, she explains. “In the winter, it’s even traditional to determine our overall health by the number of days spent by the sea, or by the number of swims we’ve taken, so strong is the belief in its healing properties.” Thankfully for Lazou, there are two…

When 251ft Yersin hit the water back in 2015, it marked a momentous shift in the world of expedition yachts. Not only had the boat, named after 19th-century physician and bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin, been designed to explore the globe, she had also been created to protect it as one of the world’s only sustainable, clean and green vessels. Her vast autonomous range, Ice Class hull and sustainable credentials were well documented at the time but last year she finally got to flex her muscles on her debut adventure to the Arctic Circle. “I wanted to test the vessel,” says François Fiat, who devised and owns Yersin. “She was conceived specifically for these regions.” As tests go it was fairly extreme, with the yacht visiting Iceland and Greenland before crossing Baffin…

One of Ragnar’s missions as she explores the world’s oceans will be to collect atmospheric and oceanographic data that can help sharpen meteorological forecasts and climate science. The equipment is minimal in terms of its footprint, but it is as precise as any found on oceanographic vessels, says Yvan Griboval of OceanoScientific, and it’s able to collect temperatures at the critical interface between ocean and open air. Transmitted hourly via satellite, the validated data will be made available to the worldwide scientific community via the World Meteorological Organization. Griboval, an explorer and sailor with a keen interest in science, founded OceanoScientific and developed the OSC system originally for sailing boats. In 2016 he embarked on a six-month solo expedition on board a 52ft sailing yacht to collect and send data…

The 62-gun galleon San José sank in June 1708, taking with it 600 people and a treasure of gold, silver and emeralds. Located off the coast of Colombia, its treasure has been valued at $22 billion, which would make it the most valuable shipwreck discovery of all time.…

TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have inspired a young Mel Fisher to explore the deep for sunken wrecks. PIRATE HUNTERS: TREASURE, OBSESSION, AND THE SEARCH FOR A LEGENDARY PIRATE SHIP by Robert Kurson is a real page-turner that brings alive the search for legendary pirate Joseph Bannister and his ship, the Golden Fleece. SHIPWRECKS IN THE AMERICAS by Robert F Marx contains meticulously researched history of the Spanish treasure fleet, as well as the details of shipwrecks in the western hemisphere from the time of Columbus to about 1825. AN INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY , edited by Carol V. Ruppe and Jane F. Barstad, is a comprehensive reference book complete with glossary.…

If ever there was a yacht fit for our Adventure Issue, it has to be REV Ocean. To describe the 600ft behemoth, conceived in 2016 by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, as a “superyacht” doesn’t feel right. It is, quite simply, a different beast entirely – as these amazing pictures reveal. When BOAT International first previewed her back in 2018, work on this extraordinary expedition vessel – with its state-of-the-art scientific equipment and onboard labs, moon pool, research hangar, and room for 90 people on board at any one time – was just beginning. Today, she’s on the water, and not too far from setting off on her maiden voyage. “No one has ever attempted to make a vessel like this before, so the whole process of construction is a…

An undeniable showstopper on board is a custom-made mural created by Based Upon of London. The full-height, blue-tinted resin artwork weaves a story as guests step from one deck to another. “It is made up of snippets of [the owner’s] life, from his mother’s birthplace of Lebanon to the coastline of Australia,” says Charlie Baker of RWD. The mural documents milestones – even part of the certificate from when he won “Father of the Year” in Australia is sealed within the resin, along with myriad other details that guests can discover each time they move between decks.…

BEST BY BOAT KEMPINSKI HOTEL MUSCAT, OMAN Not every yachting destination can juxtapose the open ocean with a backdrop of majestic mountains. This Middle Eastern outpost of European brand Kempinski, however, boasts stunning views of both from its sweeping infinity pool. The magnificence continues as you enter the cubic hotel; the vast marbled lobby is decorated with pillars that echo the architecture of the Sultan’s Palace. The beachside retreat, located 15 minutes from Muscat International Airport and a stroll from Al Mouj Marina, is the perfect base for exploring Oman’s adventure-packed coastline. Within a couple hours you can find yourself kayaking through a craggy canyon or trekking across the terrain towards an unspoiled oasis such as Wadi Tiwi. Once you return, dine like royalty in one of the hotel’s eight…

THE DATAI LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA Where is it? The recently refurbished Datai occupies a prime position on the lush island of Langkawi, on the edge of the Andaman Sea What’s the hype? If you’re looking for a resort that perfectly embodies a castaway aesthetic without forfeiting a five-star experience, then look no further. Bamboo carpentry and rustic thatched roofs allow the property to blend in to the nature reserve that surrounds it: frequent sightings of long-tailed macaques and collared kingfishers remind guests that this eco-conscious resort is very much part of the wilderness. What to have? Make your way down a winding jungle walkway and you’ll discover the spa, where treatments take place in open-air rooms complemented by the scents and sounds of the ancient mangroves. Try the signature Tungku Batu…

The Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race ends in the beautiful Hawaiian town of Lahaina, where I have a home. One year I decided to take part, so I gathered together some friends and we chartered my brother’s beautiful wooden sailing yacht. We knew that racing a hand-built wooden schooner – one with a wine cellar and wood-burning fireplace on board – was a bit of a mad idea, so we never really anticipated coming away with any prizes. This was just as well, because on the third day we were hit by a huge storm that ripped our mainsail in half! Game over... or so we thought. After a day and a half of bobbing up and down in very rough seas, we were able to continue onwards, and…