Innehållsförteckning för September 2023 från Boat International

boatinternational.com/podcasts Mixed with the grief when the OceanGate submersible imploded on its descent to the Titanic in June was rage. Many in the small and tight-knit community of deep-sea explorers had warned that this precise tragedy would unfold, that the Titan submersible was not fit for purpose, that it was built in a cavalier fashion, and “was a monstrosity”, to use the words of Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, who I interviewed recently for our BOAT Briefing podcast (boatint.com/podcast). Those warnings, tragically, went unheeded and we all know what happened next. The incident has cast an unfortunate pall over deep-sea exploration, but it's an unfair one. Responsible players in this sector, like Triton, have an unceasing track record of safety. All their underwater vehicles, unlike OceanGate's, are classed by…

19,541 The distance, in nautical miles, travelled this year by 48m Hanse Explorer, the most travelled boat of 2023 so far Tough toy box Damen's converted 80.1-metre support yacht U-81 has been spotted under way following a brief yard period in the Netherlands. The vessel's rugged look comes from her past life as an offshore oil and gas platform, which was left abandoned midway through construction at one of Damen's commercial sites in Asia. The hull was taken to the UAE to be completed, and she now spends most of her time in the Mediterranean, shadowing 89-metre Here Comes the Sun and carrying a small armada of toys and tenders. damenyachting.com The power of sun Catamaran specialist Sunreef has married its proven multihull platform with explorer capabilities. Like previous Sunreef…

SILVER STAR €34,500,000 The 55.3-metre in build at Admiral has had €1,900,000 taken off her asking price. Liated for sale with TWW Yachta and due for delivery this year, she is the sistership to Geco. NO TIME TO DIE $4,990,000 Delivered in 2020 end listed with the Italian Yacht Group, the 26.7-metre Sanlorenzo has received a price drop of $1,000,000. The sporty SX88 model has undergone recent maintenance work. FOURTH DOWN $14,495,000 The 29.6-metre Ocean Alexander hee seen a price cut of $1,000,000. Delivered to her owner earlier this year, she is in top condition, listed with Northrop & Johnson. ASLAN €6,500,000 The 29-metre Benetti has had a price reduction of €450,000. Edmiston has listed the 2019 build and describes her as “cool, contemporary elegance” with a striking navy hull.…

OCEAN GUARDIAN BOAT02 This powerful system uses a lithium battery and a flexible electrode to pulse electrical signals into the water from a buoy. The field of protection runs eight metres deep, and the battery lasts for 10 hours. Smaller variants exist for surfing and diving. From $3,000, ocean-guardian.com RPELA 2 Rpela creates an electromagnetic field around your board, using a transferable device that you can switch between toys. The battery lasts for three hours and recharges in around the same time. It fits to the underside of the board and has to be professionally recessed for a flush finish. £267, rpela.com SHARKSTOP Stronger than Kevlar pound for pound, Sharkstop's wetsuits prevent a shark's teeth from reaching your skin (and arteries). UV resistant and amazingly lightweight, the material is also…

BOAT LIFE Not so long ago Miami was famous for its popularity among retired snowbirds, who flocked to the South Florida city to escape colder climates. Its other more unfortunate claims to fame were its booming budget holiday market and its organised crime. But this is the past. The cranes lined up along its shoreline are building Miami a new reputation – for ultra-luxury homes. Over the last two decades Miami has emerged as one of the world's branded-residence capitals. There are, according to research by Savills, almost 40 such buildings in South Florida, with another dozen or so in the pipeline, more than anywhere else in the western world. The concept was pioneered by leading hotel chains such as Four Seasons, which teamed up with developers to offer five-star…

“I'm an Arctic addict,” says Mariacristina Rapisardi, with what I can only describe as pure joy in her voice, bubbling up from deep within. She may be a successful patent lawyer, well used to defending clients in court, but get her on the subject of boats and high latitudes and it's as if she's discussing a favourite child. “I don't know how I first got this idea to go to the Northwest Passage,” she says a little dreamily. “It was probably a story I read when I was young. I was fascinated with the stories of the people who went there, and those that were lost. But I never thought that I'd be able to do it myself.” All that changed in August 2004 when she attempted the passage as…

Sir Michael Hill, owner of 39-metre catamaran The Beast The first big yacht I had, VvS1, was great, but I couldn't do what I wanted with it. I was able to dream bigger with The Beast. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a game boat on the back deck? We did just that. I think we hold the record for the smallest superyacht with the largest tender. I love fishing. One of my favourite spots is in northern New Zealand. At the tip is a beautiful beach called Spirits Bay, which is a sacred place offering some of the best fishing I've ever had. Or, on an outgoing tide, Parengarenga Harbour is probably the best for giant snapper. I don't kill fish unless we are going to eat them. I…

If you're looking for an only-by-yach escape, Melanesia need to be at the top of the list. This newly accessible Eden, tucked between Polynesia, Australia <uiu Thailand, is composed of the four sun-drenched nations of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. Fancy volcanic hikes or Second World War wreck dives? Cetacean spotting or meeting indigenous locals? Bring your own boat. Pack a mask and snorkel too. Melanesia's 2,000 islands, which are scattered like coral idylls across more than 3,000 nautical miles of empty sea, offer die greatest marine biodiversity this side of Raja Ampat. In fact, you'd best pack anything you may need, from shorts to submersibles. Infrastructure is near non-existent on the outer islands and those natural freshwater sinkholes (on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu) and slide-down waterfalls…

IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE A SMALL GROUP OF INQUISITIVE NURSE SHARKS GOME TO JOIN THE GROUP Mythical crystal skulls and their alleged magical powers – associated with Maya and Aztec cultures – have intrigued theorists and inspired storytellers for decades. The most famous of them all was reportedly found in the archaeological site of Lubaantun, Belize, in 1924 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges. Legend has it that she discovered the skull, made of quartz, under a collapsed altar while exploring the city of Maya as a child. Even though this is widely disputed, the mystery surrounding the skull continues to fascinate, and was even immortalised in the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull An even bigger Belizean mystery than the legitimacy of a crystal skull, however, is…

Sea Spa Where is it? Occupying a small cove just west of Fethiye, the 16-villa Yazz Collective is only accessible by boat, making it a blissful, traffic-free hideaway with the focus on relaxation, delectable cuisine and well-being. Take part in open-air morning yoga in front of the beach or, if you overdid it on the chilli margheritas the night before, a fitness centre full of Technogym equipment is on hand to blow the cobwebs away. Why the hype? What Yazz lacks in bling it more than makes up for in natural beauty. Two coconut-oil-scented wooden cabanas are nestled between pine trees and the rock face a few metres from the sea, which provides a soothing soundtrack to your treatment. What to have The herbal pouch massage is a relaxing treatment…

Michelle Singer Australia-based Michelle has been a journalist for more than 20 years. When she's not cycling or sailing somewhere exotic, she can be found planning her next global adventure. This month, she speaks to Kiwi supeiyacht owner Mike Mahoney about sailing across the world on page 40 of our Lift Under Sail supplement The most fascinating thing you learned about Mike? His first love, other than his wife, is sailing. He is intimately involved in every aspect of his yachts, whether it's cruising or racing Your own fondest sailing memory? Sailing the Amalfi Coast with my husband and two friends in 2016 was incredible. Positano, Capri, Ischia, the food, the wine… The best anecdote from a favourite adventure? I cycled solo from Paris to Gibraltar in 2010 and spent…

SPARTA €99,000,000 Fallowing her recent leunch, the 67-metre Heesen hes joined the merket with Arcon Yachts. The interior and exterior are by Winch Design, with each deck following themes of nature. PRINCESS ANNA $8,499,000 Burgess has listed the 44.8-metre for sale. She underwent a huge refit in 2021 and has crossed the Atlantic 18 times, proving her to be a highly competent and reliable platform. IRA €9,000,000 The 42.8-metre Beglietto is newly for sale with Edmiston. The 2009 yscht underwent a refit between 2018 to 2020 that saw her overhauled inside and out and included a repaint. HALCYON $11,750,000 TWW Yachts has listed the 34.1-metre Sanlorenzo for sale. Designed to American specs, she features interior design by Marty Lowe and has a shallow draught for Bahamian cruising. AQUAMARINA €11,000,000 The…

BOAT presents Fewer clients, serviced better: such is the promise of boutique yacht brokerage company Cecil Wright. But founder Chris Cecil-Wright (pictured left) doesn't pay significant mind to labels. For him and his team, the Londonbased firm is, put simply, a place where clients can be assured that their needs will be expertly taken care of, whether that concerns the sale, purchase, charter or management of larger superyachts. Being more selective in their business also means that Cecil Wright can devote more time to nurturing its relationship with owners, which Chris says is a critical first step in being awarded not only their trust, but also their confidence in seeing the job through. One major win for Cecil Wright has been the recent addition of the 95-metre Lürssen Kismet to…

Superyachts are beacons of innovation, pushing the boundaries of marine engineering as we know it – from state-of-the-art hull design to underwater viewing lounges and stunning glass atriums. But just as importandy, they're also shining examples of exceptional and meticulous artisanship. This work is often masterminded at small studios and workshops by behindthe-scenes specialists whose mission is to pioneer new techniques or preserve ancient crafts. This talent needs to be celebrated – so this year we are launching an industry-first event: the BOAT Artistry and Craft Awards (BACA). We want to champion these artisans who help bring yacht designers’ visions alive. Their work could be an object such as a picture, sculpture or piece of furniture, or a feature integrated into the yacht such as staircase, lighting or wall panel.…

The Gold Coast is ranked above Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra in its Prime Global Cities Index You will recognise its spectacular beaches from blockbuster movies, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Aquaman, but Australia's Gold Coast is shaping up to be more than just a surfer's paradise. According to Knight Frank's latest Prime Global Cities Index, real estate prices in this Queensland city rose by 4.1 per cent during 2022. This ranked it fourth in the Asia Pacific region. Colliers International rates the “iconic” Gold Coast for its investment potential. It found substantial inward investment front house builders as well as the Australian government, which is upgrading infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. Change is already visible in this linear city, which is spread along 56 kilometres of…

Vanuatu Port Vila The capital of Vanuatu and a charming maritime town with British and French colonial buildings. Shepherd Islands Don't miss Cook Reef, a ring reef 3,200 metres across and boasting diving on its outer walls as well an enclosed blue hole. Luganville One of the world's most famous dive sites, the SS President Coolidge, a converted ocean-liner-cumtroop ship, was beached by her captain after hitting a mine coming into harbour. Banks Islands Tiny dots of land rarely visited by outsiders, offering excellent snorkelling and diving. Espiritu Santo Vanuatu's largest island, and great for activities from diving and snorkelling to canyoning/caving and horseback riding. Solomon Islands Santa Ana (also known as Owaraha) Small coral island with palm-fringed white sand beaches and a bounty of sea life. Honiara The site…

From glaciologists and historians to media teams, an ambitious expedition will draw on experts that go far beyond normal recruiting requirements. Widely regarded to be the world's largest explorer yacht, 126-metre Octopus, with its 50-strong crew, is a good example of this. Finding the right people, recruiting them and slotting them successfully into the existing team aboard can make the difference between memories that last a lifetime and operational chaos. The remoteness of these trips only makes this process more critical, as crew will have to operate in professional mode for weeks or months at a time without leave. Even simple manoeuvres become mission critical. It's no wonder, then, that a whole industry has grown up around finding and placing capable crew members. We spoke to leading captains, brokers and…

“How is it possible for Chile to have lost its oceanic culture?” asks ocean conservationist Francisca Cortés Solari, as if baffled by her own question. Chile has 6,500 kilometres of Pacific Ocean coastline running the entire length of its western side, counts Rapa Nui (better known as Easter Island) at the most southeastern point of the Polynesian Triangle among its territories and once produced frigates to support its navy. It even had a superyacht builder in Iquique. Chile, however, is not where most owners would choose to build a 26-metre motorsailer, but then again, Cortés Solari isn't most owners. The Chilean philanthropist has spent the past 20 years promoting her country's comprehensive and sustainable development through science, education, culture and conservation. And she wanted to build at home. “Modernity has…

Sustainable swimwear Inspired by the natural, laid-back way of life in her native Mauritius, model Alicia Rountree's sustainable new collection of swimwear and cover-ups offers a tailored yet relaxed beach aesthetic. Plus, each design is made on the island, supporting local creativity and artisanship. aliciaswim.com Night of delights From hand-made shot glasses to a silver-plated drinks flask, an impeccably crafted cigar cutter, lighter and ashtray, the Alfred Dunhill Case of Delights contains everything you could possibly need for a night on deck. It's available in an exclusive run of just ten units. From £25,900, dunhill.com Balearic bliss Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay has launched a new place to see and be seen, the Rooftop. Overlooking the sparkling Talamanca Bay, it offers the ideal vantage point to admire the White Island's sunsets…

Scarlet fever Rossinavi has launched its first-ever explorer in a daring shade of crimson, says Katia Damborsky The 59.4-metre Akula has emerged from Italian builder Rossinavi's shed in Pisa. Exterior styling is by Gian Paolo Nari, with the interior penned by Ancona-based FM Architettura, who worked to optimise the layout to support “marine research activities and philanthropic projects”. As well as two custom-built nine-metre tenders and a treasure trove of diving kit, she will host two six-metre containers that will act as science labs. Other deviations from the traditional layout include a “forward manoeuvring station located below deck”, which frees up space to create an open-air observation lounge, rossinavi.it…

ON BOARD Pershing GTX116 Pershing looked to the future to conceive its new GTX series and is betting on elegance, ample deck space and thrilling performance. These are all encapsulated in this silver bullet of a yacht that offers five guest cabins, 150 square metres of outdoor lounge area and the ability to exceed 35 knots. + LOA 35.24m Builder Pershing Naval architecture Ferretti Group Engineering Department Design Fulvio De Simoni STAR FEATURE Her exterior glitters in a new shade, which one owner called “the best silver paintwork of all time”. Anjelif From her aft deck swimming pool to her foredeck helipad/ open-air cinema, this custom aluminium beauty with hybrid propulsion bears the fingerprints of an experienced owner. The interior is decorated with natural, ecologically sensitive materials and includes a gym, sauna and…

Deborah Pocock LVO, CEO of QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Deborah Pocock is passionate about ensuring opportunity and access to craft skills training, regardless of circumstance. QEST champions excellence in British craftsmanship by funding the education of aspiring artisans. Since 1990, it has awarded almost £5.5 million to 700 makers working in a range of craft skills. QEST also provides its alumni with business skills development and opportunities for exhibitions, collaborations and commissions through its extensive network. Adrian Sassoon, art dealer, art collector and writer Adrian Sassoon is the leading UK dealer in contemporary works of art – ceramics, glass, silver, gold, lacquer and hardstone objects. His other field is French 18th-century works of art, primarily in the royal porcelain factory of Vincennes and Sevres, and he has a deep…

From her first Arctic foray back in 2004, climbing has been central to Mariacristina Rapisardi's sailing. During that first unsuccessful Northwest Passage trip, her eyes were drawn to the rock faces and, the following year, she returned to Baffin Island in her Oyster 72 to tackle some. “We opened about 30 new routes for rock climbing,” says Rapisardi. “I went every year with my Alpine guide – the granite rock there is incredible, and you can climb in T-shirts. Also, it's sunny 24 hours a day!” Sometimes they climbed from the shore, sometimes they climbed directly off the tender – a robust black Zodiac Milpro. Either way, it was complex work that required detailed planning. “Nobody had climbed there before us, so we had no information about the routes,” she…

There have been far greater tragedies at sea. There have been shipwrecks where many more lives have been lost. There have even been much more dramatic sinkings. So what is it about the Titanic that is so irresistible to James Cameron? “I think it's about the fact that it sank slowly. There was time for people to face their fate and to make the difficult decisions – fathers saying goodbye to their children, husbands saying goodbye to their wives and stepping back from boats that they felt were too crowded. The point is: what was going through the minds of everyone in those last moments? Who were the heroes? Who saw their duty in self-sacrifice?” This kind of examination is manna to one of the world's greatest storytellers. His 1997…

Scientists A recent Cookson expedition to Antarctica hired Dr Robert Pitman, a leading orca researcher, whose team spent several weeks at Cape Horn. “We were able to organise and support research into an incredibly rare – and likely new — species of killer whale,” says Bateman. A biologist aboard another Cookson trip off southern Italy uncovered an ancient Roman shipwreck and a type of coral thought extinct in the region. Bathymetrists Remote expeditions cross little-travelled and poorly surveyed waters. Working with a bathymetry specialist can return valuable data on the seabed. Glaciologists A recent EYOS expedition shipped three leading glaciologists because guests had a particular interest in studying ice sheets and the glaciers that were spawned from them. Photographers For clients with a passion for photography, an expert National Geographic…

Best by Boat A $200 million restoration leaves The Boca Raton shining in the Florida sun Towering over the yacht-studded Intracoastal Waterway, which stretches like a ribbon all the way to Miami and beyond, The Boca Raton is Florida's answer to supreme waterfront luxury. There are 16 bars and restaurants, a 4,600-square-metre spa, a championship-level golf course and even pickleball courts to keep you busy. Of the $200 million invested in its restoration, $45 million was splashed on the resort's pink Tower, which has now reopened with bright suites that radiate a contemporary coastal feel thanks to neutral tones and warm wooden accents. From your suite's window seat, you'll spot three of the hotel's swimming pools below surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, swaying palm trees and white parasols. For breakfast,…

CHANEL AT THE RITZ, PARIS If you're after some serious luxury, look no further than Chanel at The Ritz. Inspired by the splendour of the Château de Versailles, the Suite Coco Chanel is very much in keeping with the fashion house's monochromatic palate and flawless elegance. ritzparis.com DIOR AT HOTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC, ANTIBES It already has a reputation as one of the grandest hotels on the Côte d'Azur, but Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has elevated its offering once more by joining forces with luxury fashion house Dior. With both parties renowned for their discreet yet polished aesthetic, Dior has created a multi-faceted spa at the property, with decor inspired by the rocks on which the hotel stands. oetkercollection.com RALPH LAUREN AT ROUND HILL, JAMAICA Ralph Lauren is known for effortless style…