Yachting March 2017

PAUL HAD A DREAM. He wanted to convert his beloved 34-foot 1967 Hatteras, Stolen Moments, to diesel power. He enjoyed fishing and cruising, but his vessel’s range was limiting, as was her 15-knot speed. He could have bought a newer, faster boat, but he had the one he wanted in every other respect. Her allfiberglass, 12-ton body could demolish snotty seas too. And she did over the years, including 8-footers during a voyage to Montauk, New York. She just needed some modernizing. The plan was to repower, retire and enjoy quality time on board Stolen Moments, preferably in a 12-month-a-year boating climate. I first met Paul when I was in my late 20s. He kept Stolen Moments in the same marina in Freeport, New York, where my dad kept his…

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE YACHTING WORLD FLEDGLINGS LEAVING the nest and learning to fly. More sunlight hours each day. Snowbirds cruising back home from Fort Lauderdale to Newport. All of these things are certain signs that summer has once again arrived, but perhaps nothing more mightily marks the occasion than the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix — the annual kickoff events to the summer yacht charter season in the Mediterranean. Cannes is scheduled this year for May 17-28, with Monaco overlapping May 25-28. Charter yachts are still accepting bookings for slips in the heart of the action, with some yachts able to welcome 100 or more of your closest friends aboard for a party at the quay. We hope you rested well this winter. It’s time…

EVERYBODY HAS A STORY. IF YOU TALK to people in the marine community long enough, you’ll hear about the time a builder or broker, hapless or full of guile, bumped into a guy who seemed like he wouldn’t own a boat, but who happened to be quite the opposite. As I stepped out the door into the cold, dark flank of an early December night in Manhattan, I had no idea that this would be one of those times. I had been invited to try the Bowmore 50, a Scotch whose final 50 bottles recently hit the market. And Bowmore was doing it up: a vintage 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II awaited to whisk me away to my private tasting. The driver was a short and exceedingly gracious man of…

MY EYES GOT WIDE. Tucked along the quay at Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club were 21 classic yachts. It was an eclectic collection of freshly varnished wood and historic interiors that, according to Ocean Reef Club’s Vintage Weekend founder Vicki Goldstein, was the “hero” of the show. “The collection this year was very strong,” she says. Even better, the yacht owners were happy to let enthusiasts step aboard. Lou Jezdimir brought Aurora II, his 1947 61-foot Trumpy. “This isn’t the biggest antique boat show, but it’s the best,” Jezdimir says. “The quality of the yachts are exceptional and, unlike some other shows, there aren’t ‘Do Not Touch’ signs on the boats. The owners want you to see their boats.” Jezdimir, who lives aboard Aurora II, says she was John Trumpy’s…

A LOT OF BOATS AIM TO be do-it-all cruisers, but many end up falling just a bit short. But the sporty, well-rounded 35z from Downeast builder MJM Yachts looks like she might just live up to that billing. The first thing everybody’s going to be talking about is the vessel’s numbers: in particular, her speed and range. MJM says the 35z, when Hull No. 1 launches in June, will be a true 50-plus mph vessel (that translates to 44 knots for those of you playing along at home). That is some serious giddyap, and speed might not even be her most impressive number. At a 33-knot cruise, the boat has an estimated range of 304 nautical miles, or about the distance between Palm Beach, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, should you…

MOST YACHT enthusiasts know the famous mega-yacht Christina O. But did you know her tender was a Hacker-Craft? How about Talitha G? Or Odessa II? Yep, both had Hacker-Craft tenders too. And there are many more. WHOM IT’S FOR: The yachtsman searching for more than a ride to and from a vessel. This is for the guy who wants to make a statement about his passion for the pastime — someone who appreciates classic design wrapped in a modern build. PICTURE THIS: Your crew powers up the twin 260 hp VW diesels on this 32-foot floating limo, and you and 10 friends whisk away from the big boat at 35 knots for a day of exploring a new port of call. The excitement of a first visit is palpable. Maybe…