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George Town Yacht Owner Among Elite Billionaire Seafarers: A 2023 Deep Dive

Key takeaways:

• The ownership of luxury yachts continues to be a symbol of wealth among global billionaires.
• George Town yacht owner holds a significant position among these affluent individuals.
• Yachts, apart from being symbols of luxury, are often equipped with cutting-edge technology and bespoke features reflecting the owners’ personal tastes.

Understanding the Billionaire Yacht Landscape

The world of yacht ownership is a pinnacle of luxury. Often reserved for the ultra-wealthy, owning a yacht is a testament to an individual’s financial success and taste for the finer things in life. From the George Town yacht owner to globally recognized billionaires, the allure of owning a private yacht remains unwavering.

The Influence of Wealth and Taste

While vast wealth makes the purchase of such grand vessels possible, the individual taste of the owners is reflected in the design, features, and functionalities of these yachts. From classical to contemporary designs, luxurious amenities, state-of-the-art technology, and personalized details, these floating residences exhibit the distinct persona of their owners.

The George Town Yacht Owner’s Mark in Luxury Yachting

Among these billionaire yacht owners, the George Town yacht owner’s influence cannot be overlooked. Known for their exquisite taste and an eye for detail, they stand as a significant player in the realm of luxury yachting. The level of comfort, sophistication, and technology in their yacht sets a benchmark for luxury sea travel.

The Most Luxurious Yachts and Their Owners

The list of luxury yachts owned by billionaires is impressive. These range from the Musashi owned by Larry Elisson, the Senses owned by Larry Page, the Dragonfly owned by Sergey Brin, to the Symphony owned by Bernard Arnault, among others. Each yacht, uniquely designed and equipped with incredible features, represents the peak of luxury and technology at sea.

The Irresistible Appeal of the Ocean

Owning a yacht goes beyond flaunting wealth; it represents a love for the ocean and the freedom it offers. The ability to explore the world’s waters in absolute luxury is an irresistible prospect for these billionaires. As the global billionaire list expands, so too does the list of opulent yachts.

The Ever-evolving World of Luxury Yachting

The world of luxury yachting continues to evolve, with new yacht designs, sustainable technologies, and bespoke amenities becoming increasingly common. The trend is moving towards eco-friendly designs without compromising on luxury, a trend that the George Town yacht owner and other influential figures are likely to embrace in the future.

Whether it’s the George Town yacht owner or other billionaires, yacht ownership continues to be a defining aspect of their wealth and influence. As they navigate through the high seas in their luxury vessels, they set new standards for what it means to travel in style and luxury. As we move forward, we can expect to see an increasing emphasis on sustainable practices in the creation of these oceanic wonders, merging ultimate luxury with responsibility towards our planet.

Levi Keswick

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Off the Hook Yachts Acquires Georgetown Yacht Basin

Jan 10, 2023

Off the Hook Yachts Acquires 300-Slip Marina in Georgetown Maryland  

The Acquisition 

Off the Hook Yachts is proud to announce the acquisition of Georgetown Yacht Basin (GYB) now rebranding under Georgetown Yacht Haven – a 300-boat slip full-service marina located on the Sassafras River in Georgetown, MD.  Off the Hook plans to restore the yacht basin to its former glory and reconnect with the local community in order to establish it as a household name in the area. 

As our founder is originally from Maryland, this will complement our current presence in the area, along with our MD sales team, which currently operates out of Bay Bridge Marina. The acquisition of the marina will allow us to expand on sales, service, and custom-built Nor-Tech Performance Boat sales in the region. Georgetown Yacht Haven has 300 slips, two paint sheds that can hold up to a 110-foot yacht, a 110-ton travel lift, a fuel dock, a swimming pool, bathhouses, and a complete ship store, along with many other amenities. GYH controls the largest travel lift in Northern Chesapeake Bay.

About Off the Hook Yacht Sales

Off The Hook Yacht Sales NC, LLC, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, was founded in 2012 by Jason Ruegg and has now become the largest marine wholesaler in North America. The company provides wholesale purchasing services for brokerages, new boat dealers, and private individuals, and has become a household name at the largest brokerages and dealerships in the Country. Off the Hook Yachts headquarters is in Wilmington, North Carolina, where it remains today. We have 12 other locations currently in the USA, with expansion plans for 2023. Additionally, OTH is proud to represent Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats from Georgia to Maine and Yellowfin Boats from Miami to the Florida Keys.  

About Georgetown Yacht Haven 

Georgetown Yacht Haven was originally constructed in 1949. The marina is situated on 14.26 acres along the Sassafras River.  This river is known for its very deep brackish to freshwater – making it ideal for boating in the Upper Chesapeake area.  Georgetown Yacht Haven is a full-service marina and shipyard with a restaurant and hotel on site.  For more information contact Tristan Price at (410) 648-5112 / [email protected] .

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Owner of 60m Feadship superyacht ROCK.IT owner explains his design choices

• Superyachts

Feadship's 60-metre beauty ROCK.IT is testament to the custom superyacht experience...

“When the doors slide open on the main deck, every time I come in there it just blows me away!” says Jimmy John Liautaud. Words spoken by a proud owner show just how 60.34-metre ROCK.IT has more than lived up to expectations after her first year on the water.

“ ROCK.IT is very sleek and bold without being pretentious,” says exterior and interior designer Sander Sinot of Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design. “A natural flow of lines and surfaces makes the yacht breathe speed and exude elegance.”

A marriage of cool Dutch design and hot American passion has given the yacht a unique soul, and, after her first year of cruising , ROCK.IT has taken on a personality of her own.

“The owner wanted to have a yacht that was fast from the outside and cosy from the inside,” says Sipke Halbertsma, sales manager at Feadship. “ ROCK.IT has a classic Feadship hull from the front, but if you look at her profile you’ll see the exterior lines work to make her look fast.”

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However, the aggressive, forward movement of the exterior is softened by the interior, also by Sinot: a marriage of old Americana mahogany and modern Dutch minimalism. A surprising pairing, perhaps, but one that works hard to earn its keep as both a cosy family retreat and a raring-to-go party space.

Nothing is out of place, and the rooms don’t feel busy, but there is a warmth that pervades above all. It manages to be both contemporary and comfortable.

However, this is not just any mahogany. The highest quality crotched mahogany was sourced and then ‘folded’ out, so that the panels all match symmetrically, a difficult and lengthy process. Lavish use of glass throughout means the interior benefits from lots of natural light, stopping the wood from feeling too heavy.

A well-stocked bar with backlit white onyx proves the focal part of the room, from which the spaces divide out into individual lounging areas, each made distinct by their own soft cream carpet.

ROCK.IT feels voluminous, and while the high ceilings certainly aid this, so does the interior design, which allows for spaces to flow from one designated area to the next, creating capsule environments. Rather than having the feeling of a bridge deck salon, the room is separated into useful and efficient spaces, which makes it feel much larger.

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Bars are a recurring theme on board, with each deck hosting a unique and ample-sized offering. On the main deck, the bar, complete with full-height wine chiller, is the first thing you see when you walk through the sliding doors.

Resplendent in backlit onyx and glossy mahogany and based in a circular ante-chamber, it separates the formal dining space, with a stunning table by Pollaro, and the outside entertaining space, immediately imparting the good-time vibe felt throughout ROCK.IT .

In the centre is a table and chairs, made in-house by Feadship, and drawing the whole area together as a relaxed lounging space that accommodates all twelve guests. Aft of the central bar is a row of deckchairs and a large tender and two Yamaha Waverunners.

“We have some owners that want two or three tenders and lots of toys, but the owner of ROCK.IT is really about yachting and diving, so the guest tender we store up top and the rescue tender is in a big hatch forward of the bridge,” says Halbertsma.

Not having the tenders stored in the beach club gives a feeling of more space elsewhere on the yacht, especially in the guest and crew accommodation.

As a yard, Feadship is known for focusing its efforts on offering bespoke superyachts , where there is no ordinary and exceptional is the new normal. And exceptional is no hyperbole. Liautaud took the ability to create a custom superyacht and ran with it.

“During his many visits to the yard, we had terrific fun with this unconventional and no-compromise client,” says CEO Henk de Vries. “His between-your-eyes honesty and tremendous respect for and appreciation of Feadship craftsmanship pushed us to new heights.”

ROCK.IT is one of the quietest yachts Feadship has ever made, and also was the first to utilise an intuitive control and manoeuvring system, commonly used on navy ships. The system allows ROCK.IT to keep her heading at anchor by hovering on the main engine and thrusters.

“I was willing to accept this new system because it comes from a proven military background,” says ROCK.IT ’s build captain. “The manoeuvring system represents a real step towards the future. To make it happen took real vision and considerable skill.”

This allows all the guest cabins, consisting of two large doubles, a smaller double and a twin, to be large and well-appointed, keeping a democratic harmony and reinforcing the feel of the yacht as a family home away from home.

Unsurprisingly, however, the owner’s cabin is pretty spectacular. Full beam and located on the main deck, the suite is accessed via an opulent marble lobby, past the dramatic mahogany-panelled staircase which links the guest areas.

A private study opens out into the full-beam cabin, which is characterised by the same deep mahogany as seen throughout the rest of the yacht, and soft furnishings in creams and whites. Huge windows ensure the room is always full of light.

Forward are large his’n’hers bathrooms, gleaming with marble and backlit stone. The sink in Liautaud’s bathroom is crafted from a single block of black Portoro marble, weighing almost 500 kilograms.

His wife Leslie’s side boasts a large French-style free standing bath, a rarity on a superyacht, as well as a wealth of Staturio marble and an elegant vanity unit.

With so much effort put into creating such a homely space, it would be easy to expect the owners to never leave their suite, however this is far from the case. There is no favourite space on board: “You know what, I love them all,” says Liautaud.

“We spend least time on the main deck, we spend most of our time on the swim platform and the sundeck, and we live in the bridge deck.”

The bridge deck is a compromise between the formal main deck and the relaxed sundeck. An al fresco dining table aft can be sheltered from a breeze by sliding glass panels, and the large doors into the salon create an easy inside/outside entertaining space.

Further aft, two smaller tables surrounded by sofas move up and down to serve either as coffee tables or dining tables, and match the larger table to create a symbiosis between the areas.

“Sander Sinot and Leslie did all of the art on board,” says the owner. “A couple of friends and musicians gave us a couple of pieces. I did the hardscape and Leslie did all the soft and the colour. That’s our deal.” The art makes the rooms feel personal, and adds a vitality to the otherwise flawless walls.

“Each Feadship is totally unique and no two Feadship owners are the same,” says De Vries. “It is our privilege to create the most amazing yachts on the oceans for the most fascinating people on the planet, and it has been a great experience to partner with the owner of ROCK.IT .”

The experience is, of course, of an owner involving himself in every aspect of the creation of his yacht, which, although perhaps not always easy, is what allows it to come alive in such a palpable way.

This is perhaps what gives her such a tangible soul, the passion that went into creating something that would still excite so much after so many days spent aboard. ROCK.IT is an apt name for a yacht that makes an owner’s heart soar, like a rocket into outer space.

First published on SuperYachtWorld.com on April 20, 2016

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7 of the largest yachts owned by American sports billionaires, ranked: From Dan Snyder’s Lady S, which has an IMAX theater, to the Dallas Cowboys owner’s $225 million superyacht. The most expensive vessel belongs to an immigrant who once washed dishes for $1.20 an hour.

7. Steve Bisciotti, Baltimore Ravens – Winning Drive, 130 feet-

Yachts are an extension of their owner’s personality, and the 130-footer Westport yacht is no different. As a young boy, the tycoon, who is worth $7.5 billion today according to Forbes, witnessed his father’s demise and the struggles of his middle-class Italian-American household. It was a winning drive that led 23-year-old Bisciotti to Aerotek, a staffing company in the aerospace and technology sectors, with his cousin Jim Davis.

6. Terry Pegula, Buffalo Sabres – Top Five Yacht, 200 feet-

The son of a truck driver from Quebec relied on his science degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering and $7,500 from family and friends in 1983 to start his natural gas drilling company. The 73-year-old made a fortune in oil and gas before transforming it into a sports empire that includes the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. The father of famous professional tennis player Jessica Pegula saw many highs, but the one we like most is the $75 million Royal Hakvoort vessel named after the owner’s five kids. The tycoon, worth $10.8 billion according to Forbes, has shown the world how to have a fun time with family when you can splurge $500,000 per week.

5. Stanley Kroenke, Los Angeles Rams – Aquila yacht, 281 feet-

This 77-year-old sports mogul has been honing his business acumen since childhood. Raised in Mora, Missouri, he started sweeping floors at his father’s lumber yard and managing the company’s books by age ten. After earning his MBA in 1973, he met Wal-Mart heiress Ann Walton in Aspen and married her a year later. In 1985, he launched his own real estate development company, and by 1994, he ventured into sports team ownership. With a net worth of $16.9 billion, the billionaire now commands an impressive portfolio, including the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and the U.K.’s Arsenal soccer club. A major landowner, with over 1.6 million acres of ranches across the U.S. and Canada also owns the majestic Aquilla superyacht with his wife, Walmart heiress Ann Walton.

4. Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons – Dreamboat, 295 feet

This 81-year-old New York-born businessman founded Home Depot after being fired from a hardware store. As it turned out, this setback led to a revolutionary success, transforming the home improvement industry and making the Babson Institute graduate a billionaire . Worth $9.1 billion today, the father of nine from three marriages retired as Home Depot’s co-chairman in 2001 and purchased the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons for $545 million in 2002. He also commissioned the massive ‘DreAMBoat,’ highlighting his initials (Arthur Morris Blank), built by Oceanco with interiors designed by Terence Disdale.

3. Daniel Snyder, Washington Commanders – Lady S, 305 feet

Snyder is an enterprising businessman worth $4.5 billion who, as a 20-year-old college dropout, made his first million leasing jets to fly college students to spring break in Fort Lauderdale and the Caribbean. The 59-year-old operated that business out of his parents’ apartment. With a successful business called Snyder Communications, he had enough wealth to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $750 million in 1999. Ten years later, the boy who mopped the floors at the cafeteria inside the National Institutes of Health as a high school student splurged on a whopping $192 million yacht, Lady S.

2. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys – Bravo Eugenia, 358 feet

From co-captaining Arkansas’ 1964 national championship football team to acquiring the Cowboys from H. R. “Bum” Bright for $140 million in 1989 (now valued at a staggering $9 billion), the 81-year-old billionaire worth $14.5 billion has showcased that sports run deep in his veins. His passion extends to art, with a collection that includes masterpieces by Picasso, Renoir, and Matisse. His $225 million Oceanco-built superyacht stands as a testament to luxury, adorned with art, bespoke furniture, and Swarovski details, all reflecting his wife Gene’s exquisite taste.

1. Shahid Khan, Jacksonville Jaguars – Kismet, 400 feet

The poster boy for rags-to-riches tales, billionaire Shahid Khan went from washing dishes for $1.20 an hour to taking delivery of one of 2024’s largest yachts. The $360 million superyacht Kismet , meaning ‘destiny,’ is a lavish Lürssen vessel that comes with exciting features like a Balinese spa, a gym, two movie theaters, and three swimming pools. The Reymond Langton-designed floating palace, dubbed a cathedral of design in his own words, is a huge leap from a teenage migrant boy grinding away in a YMCA kitchen.

Frank Fertitta III, Former UFC owner – Viva, 308 feet-

The fabulous Feadship mammoth, the Viva yacht , which won accolades like Motoryacht of the Year in 2022, deserves a mention despite her owner, Frank Fertitta III, having sold his stake to an investment group led by WME/IMG for $4 billion in 2016.

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Australian mining billionaire has revived plans to build a $1 billion replica of the doomed Titanic after millions of people have registered interest to travel on the vessel. Titanic II will have grand ballrooms, a casino, Turkish baths, squash courts and even third class cabins.

Jeff Bezos swooned his lady love Lauren Sanchez by proposing to her on his $500 million megayacht Koru with an enormous diamond engagement ring. The Amazon founder popped the question as a man worth $138 billion would.

EU court has downright rejected Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov’s plea to suspend the ‘harsh’ sanctions imposed on him. It will be a while before the sanctioned oligarch can even think of getting his seized $800 million Dilbar megayacht back.

Padel ball has become such a rage that superyacht owners are installing $250,000 modular courts on their vessels

After extensively cruising the Mediterranean, Jeff Bezos’ sailing yacht Koru and Steven Spielberg’s brand new $250 million superyacht are now docked near each other, both undergoing maintenance at the La Ciotat shipyard in France.

Jeff Bezos has poured $90 million on a third mansion in Florida’s aptly named ‘Billionaire Bunker’. The Amazon founder now owns homes worth around a quarter of a billion dollars on the exclusive Miami Island, which has its own police force.

Take a look inside Jackie Chan’s uber-luxurious 150-foot super yacht

Eco-activists in Spain vandalized Walmart heiress Nancy Walton’s $300 million superyacht Kaos. They defaced the billionaire’s 360-feet long shiny vessel with red and black paint and then proudly held up a sign that said ‘You Consume Others Suffer.’

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• Superyachts

MAN OF STEEL Yacht – Premier $150 M Superyacht

Measuring 86 meters, she is one of the world’s largest yachts.

Previously known as SEVEN SEAS, the name was inspired by the fact Spielberg had seven children. He owned the vessel from her delivery in 2010 through to 2021.

MAN OF STEEL yacht interior

The interior of the MAN OF STEEL yacht includes a fully equipped gym, a spa, a beach club, a movie theatre, a beauty salon, a dance floor, and of course, a glass elevator that connects the different levels of the yacht. 

The gym is arguably one of the most impressive parts of this superyacht as it has floor-to-ceiling windows providing great views from one of the upper decks of the vessel.

This allows guests to have a beautiful view of not only the pool below but also the breathtaking scenery this yacht might pass when underway.

The private owners’ deck offers a fantastic state-of-the-art master bedroom with its own dressing room as well as an attached office or study. This suite includes its own private deck area with a sizable jacuzzi perfect for relaxing and drinking a glass of wine under starry skies. 

The six additional luxurious suites can accommodate 12 additional guests allowing the MAN OF STEEL to welcome up to 14 guests in total who are tended to by 23 crew members. The MAN OF STEEL interior was designed by Nuvolari & Lenard and Molly Isaksen and is equipped with exquisite furniture made of walnut, teak, and rosewood, accented with natural materials and fabrics.

The design of the yacht interior is simple yet classy, with clean and minimalist spaces. Wooden furnishings can be found in all parts of the vessel, although the interior is not as opulently furnished and decorated as other superyachts in its price category.

Nuvolari & Lenard is a renowned design duo that specializes in traditional yacht design for vessels between 25 and 185 meters in length. Their aim is to redefine beauty while keeping classical elements in mind.

In collaboration with the American interior designer Molly Isaksen, they created a one-of-a-kind fusion of naval architecture, incorporating contemporary and traditional elements in the interior of this beautiful vessel. The MAN OF STEEL offers a 250 square feet semi-covered sundeck, which is located adjacent to the main salon that provides enough space for larger events and celebrations aboard the vessel. A crew of 23 members of staff offers an excellent 5-star service and fulfills every possible wish of the guests onboard the MAN OF STEEL superyacht.

With excellent fine dining capabilities and luxurious amenities, this yacht is ideal for private ownership as well as high-end charter service.

Yacht specifications

The MAN OF STEEL has a length of 86 meters (282.15 ft) with a beam of 14.2 meters (46.6 ft) and a draft of 3.91 meters (13 ft)​​.

She was built by Oceana in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands using mainly steel and aluminum which is their specialty. MAN OF STEEL was completed and delivered to Steven Spielberg in 2010. The yacht has her main port in George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, under whose flag she sails and she has been spotted as far south as the port of Puerto Escondido . With a weight of 2.658 tons and an output of 6,984 kW (9,496 hp), the MAN OF STEEL can reach top speeds of 20 knots.

Her maximum range lies at 4,750 nautical miles, which is respectable considering her size.

Yacht exterior

Designed by Azure Naval Architects and styled by Nuvolari & Lenard, the MAN OF STEEL yacht combines exceptional craftsmanship with unique outlines. The hull of the ship is set in an elegant dark blue, while the upper decks were left in the traditional brilliant white that many yachts bear. On the aft deck, you will find an impressive infinity pool with an incredible 4.6 meter (15 ft) glass wall, which doubles as a movie screen if required. The aft has another slightly smaller pool as well as a sizable deck with comfortable seating. This deck can be used as a helipad for smaller aircraft allowing guests to arrive in style. When this area isn’t needed for landing purposes, it can be covered completely by large awnings providing additional shade to guests.

Toys and equipment

A yacht this size naturally comes with lots of toys and equipment to entertain the guests onboard.

The MAN OF STEEL carries four jet skis, several sea bobs, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, and much more. 

The two tenders onboard the vessel are always ready to take the guests to the mainland or to the nearest secluded beach.

Spielberg purchased them from Hodgdon Yachts, a shipyard based in Maine in the United States after MAN OF STEEL was delivered in 2010.

The larger of the two tenders, the Limo, has space for twelve people with luxurious leather upholstery, flatscreen television, and air conditioning.

When the weather is nice, the roof of the tender can be lifted and opened using hydraulics.

Additional information

In 2013 MAN OF STEEL was overhauled and refitted by Amico & Co, a well-known superyacht repair and design company.

The shipyard is based in Genoa, Italy, and has a 60,000 m² dock and operating area where work on both smaller and larger vessels can be carried out.

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Boat of the Week: Inside ‘Secret,’ the Lavish 271-Foot Superyacht Owned by Walmart Heiress Nancy Walton Laurie

Walmart heiress nancy walton laurie's 271-footer has an eclectic interior of black and gold, along with splashes of red, as well as other, well, secrets., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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It would take the sale of approximately 5.75 million HP ink cartridges to fund the $92 million purchase of superyacht Secret , currently listed for sale with Burgess. The ink cartridges were one of Walmart’s top-selling products in 2021, and might well have contributed to a successful year of yachting for Secret ’s owner, Walmart heiress and philanthropist Nancy Walton Laurie.

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As the largest yacht on display at last month’s MYBA Charter Show in Barcelona, and one of three yachts reportedly owned by Laurie, the 271-foot beauty built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 2013 provides some insight into the family’s tastes and preferences.

The main salon’s bold color scheme by interior designer Jim Harris mixes pillar-box red sofas and carpets with ornate gold wall art. It’s a brave step change from the neutral beige and gray tones often selected by owners, typically with resale value in mind.

Courtesy Burgess

The designers also moved the formal dining room to the upper deck, leaving a large entertaining space to watch sports and socialize. A monochrome marble bar with a glass backdrop, views to the main deck aft and an onboard mixologist all help to set the tone. When it comes onboard socializing, Secret pulls no punches.

Guests arrive via the lower deck beach club or the main deck side entrance, where luggage can be ushered into the color-coded lower deck guest cabins. There are some unusual perks to being a guest aboard Secret . Heated bathroom floors feature across all guest suites, while guest mattresses are singles that zip together into doubles for greater flexibility.

The upper-deck, full-beam master suite, named Chanel to reflect the black-and-champagne silk color scheme, is highly personalized. Separate his and her en suites have their own amenities: Hers has a full-sized bath, and his has higher countertops to accommodate former basketball player and owner Bill Laurie’s 6’ 4” height. Both have steam showers. The private office is considerably smaller than the VIP office to accommodate the owner’s request for an oversized walk-in wardrobe.

The most surprising area on board is the “Valentina” main deck VIP guest suite, named after the Valentina-inspired white spiked headboard. The master has sea views and a private terrace, but the full-beam VIP, decorated and claimed by Laurie’s adult daughter when her family is on board, is arguably the superior option. It shares the same footprint as the master but enjoys a greater attention to detail. The ensuite, decorated in black-and-white stripes, has two day heads—one with bidet—and a central wet room fitted with a shower and full-sized bathtub.

The monochrome décor is echoed throughout the yacht, from the upper-deck sky lounge to the guest hallways. In the 12-person cinema, red Porsche leather armchairs are mirrored in the leather ceiling panels. The dedicated treatment room enjoys an onboard beautician and masseuse who specializes in hot Swedish massage.

A glass elevator connects the lower deck to the bridge deck, where an indoor glass-fronted gym and outdoor pool are located. For sundown soaks, the sun deck Jacuzzi ticks the box.

The regal salon.  Courtesy Burgess

Last refitted in 2018, the yacht started out life at 256 feet, with an additional 16 feet added to accommodate the owner’s choice of an aft deck dining table. It’s the preferred space to enjoy buffet-style breakfasts, protected from view by high bulwarks. Further al fresco dining for 14 people is available on the lower deck beach club, where a “dining under the stars” themed evening sees guests enjoy meals at the water’s edge beneath a blanket of twinkling LEDs and real constellations above.

For families and guests with a competitive spirit, the beach club, equipped with changing rooms and rain showers, is the center of watersports action. A serious collection of toys, including kneeboards, flyboards, trampolines and towables are matched by an inflatable assault course erected by the crew for “Sports Olympics.” The addition of a female water-sports instructor has proven popular with charter guests.  When the weather’s bad, the karaoke system comes to the rescue.

The main dining area was moved to the upper deck for a view and access to the outdoors.  Courtesy Burgess

It’s no secret that smaller yachts in the 190-foot size range are proving more popular on the global charter market at present, preferred for their ability to access smaller ports and anchor close to shore. But Secret pulls out all the stops for guests looking to enjoy time aboard a yacht maxed out with amenities and personality, provided in a covert setting. All in all, definitely worth the printer cartridges.

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SPECIAL ONE

… just before her first trials on the North Sea this Friday. The powerful hull of this unique vessel measures 52m / 171ft overall, and her towering profile accommodates six decks. These remarkable features not only make her the largest, but also the most luxurious and individually true sportfish yacht in the world: the ultimate expression of personal freedom.

Special One is designed for an experienced owner who is passionate about fishing. She is a unique vessel in many respects. Vripack Yacht Design is responsible for the exterior and interior design and naval architecture of this highly prestigious project. Her design is extremely distinctive, with a long bow and high bulwarks sweeping through a clear sheer to a low and uncluttered cockpit aft. The high tower offers outstanding views with a downward angle on the water for specialized fishing. Apart from its practical function, the tower also offers a superb viewing platform for guests, who can follow all the action below.

The world’s largest true sportfish yacht effortlessly blends the ultimate sports fishing experience with genuine superyacht scale, comfort, and refinement. Her Alustar® aluminum hull and superstructure offer strength and resilience, as well as the lighter weight that facilitates smooth and efficient passages from berth to fishing grounds. Not only is she the largest, but without a doubt, the most bespoke, finely appointed, meticulously engineered, and most impressive true sportfish yacht anywhere in the world, matching a typical bespoke Royal Huisman motor yacht. Special One will turn heads wherever she goes.

Special One will make an impression in the marina: her exterior laser lighting innovation is the next trend in lighting and jointly developed by Royal Huisman and Fibr8.com for various projects of the shipyard

Today’s first sea trial: this is what 30+ knots looks like on Royal Huisman’s Special One

Main specifications of Special One | type: Sport Fish Yacht | length overall: 52m / 171ft “world’s largest true sportfish yacht” | exterior, interior design and naval architecture: Vripack Yacht Design | owner’s representative: Pascarelli Consulting working with Bush & Noble and Hampshire Marine | builder: Royal Huisman | hull & superstructure: Alustar® aluminium. Information is restricted to the main specifications above.

Bespoke motoryachts without compromise Royal Huisman’s reputation has been largely built on a superlative portfolio of thirty-plus unique and tailor-made, low-profile sailing superyachts, but the legendary passion for perfection, expertise, quality, experience, flexibility and continuous innovation is not limited to these… The individual aspirations and challenges of both Project 403 and current motoryacht Project 406 were deemed to be outside the comfort zone of some yards, but both owners presented their highly distinctive individual projects to Royal Huisman – where fresh opportunities for creative problem-solving and innovation were enthusiastically welcomed. Keen to learn more? Read on at this website: news > inhuis stories & updates > bespoke motoryachts by Royal Huisman [ link ]

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NOT FOR CHARTER *

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Alaska of George Town

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ALASKA OF GEORGE TOWN yacht NOT for charter*

43.9m  /  144' | shipworks brisbane | 2004 / 2015.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Impressive 4,606nm range
• RYA water sports centre
• ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) ✠A1, Yachting Service, ✠AMS classification
• Sleeps 10 overnight
• 5.65m/18'6" Williams Jet Tender

The 43.9m/144' motor yacht 'Alaska of George Town' (ex. Alaska of George Town) was built by Shipworks Brisbane in Australia. Her interior is styled by design house Bernie Cohen Design and she was delivered to her owner in February 2004. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Bernie Cohen Design and she was last refitted in 2015.

Guest Accommodation

Alaska of George Town has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 9 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a gym, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Built with a aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure, she benefits from a semi-displacement hull to provide exceptional seakeeping and impressive speeds. Powered by twin diesel Caterpillar (3412) 12-cylinder 900hp engines running at 2300rpm, she comfortably cruises at 13 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 16 knots with a range of up to 4,606 nautical miles from her 70,000 litre fuel tanks. Her low draft of 2.24m/7'4" makes her primed for accessing shallow areas and cruising close to the shorelines. An advanced stabilisation system on board promises exceptional comfort levels at anchor or on any voyage. Her water tanks store around 12,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) ✠A1, Yachting Service, ✠AMS classification society rules.

*Charter Alaska of George Town Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Alaska of George Town is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Alaska of George Town Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Alaska of George Town Photos

This yacht is available for Corporate Yacht Charter and Events

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Alaska of George Town

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Vida - 2019

Customised features

As with all Heesen series yachts, Vida includes several highly customised features designed to meet the specific requirements of her highly experienced owner. As she will serve as a mothership for a fleet of sportfish boats, Vida’s original design for a forward tender garage was reworked to create a larger owner’s suite, with the foredeck itself now catering to two tenders. Her sundeck hardtop has also been raised six inches to allow for more headroom – a feature that will be carried forward to future models – with the resulting design carefully considered so as not to upset the perfect balance of her profile.

First impressions

Muscular, elegant, angular yet svelte, Vida’s exterior lines come from the board of Omega Architects’ Frank Laupman. Like other yachts in the 55m Steel series, Vida’s profile is clean and crisp, with characteristic floor-to-ceiling windows providing uninterrupted views while flooding the interior with natural light.

Step aboard

Stunning both in layout and in style, Vida’s interior impresses from the very first moment you step on board. Based on architecture developed by Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini, her finish and décor comes from Be Design in Boca Raton, Florida – the studio’s first yacht interior project.

Specifications

Hull type: FDHF

Exterior design: Omega Architects

Interior design: Be Design

Hull: Steel

Length over all: 55.0 metres / 180 feet 5 inches

Beam over all: 9.60 metres / 31 feet 6 inches

Draft (half load): 2.7 metres / 8 feet 10 inches

Tonnage: approx. 740 GT

Accommodations

Cabins: Full-beam owner’s stateroom, one full-beam VIP suite, two double guest suites and two guest suites

Technical Details

Maximum speed (half load): 16 knots

Range: 4,500Nm at 13 knots

Fuel capacity: 100,000 litres / 26,400 US Gallons

Fresh water: 24,000 litres / 6,340 US Gallons

Propulsion Details

Main engines: 2 x MTU 8V 4000 M63

Maximum power: 2 x 1,000kW

Main generators: 2 x Zenoro, each 175kW

Bowthruster: ZF-Marine 125kW, electrically driven

Stabilisers: Naiad Dynamics, type 720, zero speed

General arrangement

Wheelhouse deck

Sisterships 55m Steel FDHF

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On board sailing yacht Imagine with owner Aldo Melpignano

For this Roman businessman, exploring the seas under canvas is the key to happiness. Tristan Rutherford talks to the owner of Imagine about luxury tourism, Italian heritage and the joy of sailing

Chartering in the 1980s was “a very analogue experience”, remembers Aldo Melpignano. Every spring, his parents would wait for a hefty yacht brochure to arrive from Camper & Nicholsons in London to their address in Rome. “After looking at each page, my parents would call the broker in Monaco,” explains Melpignano. “They would tell you a little bit more about the boat or the crew but that was all you knew.”

Melpignano’s parents grew up in the sun-drenched Italian province of Puglia. “My father was a seaside guy,” explains his son, now 43. “He studied in Rome then set up a law practice. But we were in the water all the time, sometimes sailing in little wooden fishing boats.” Melpignano Snr’s business started going well when Aldo was “seven or eight”, and the family started to charter every summer for two weeks.

“A favourite charter was Boheme II ,” recalls Melpignano. The 39-metre (now Doriana , and currently for sale), was built in 1930 in Denmark’s Frederikssund shipyard and has a rare history. After cruising the Norwegian fjords she chartered in Antigua through the 1970s, then came to Cannes in the 1980s when the Melpignanos stepped aboard. In 2003 she sailed into Villefranche-sur-Mer for a refit – then burnt to the waterline after a suspected Zodiac leaked fuel onto flammable paints. Rebuilt again in Sweden, she now cruises the Med.

After “seven or eight” charters it was a natural progression for the Melpignanos to commission a yacht of their own. “In the early 1990s, my father made a beautiful project with Germán Frers,” explains Melpignano Jnr. “Then, unexpectedly, my mum became pregnant. My dad said: ‘You know, maybe it’s not the best time to try a sailing boat!’ So instead of this Germán Frers yacht I got a little brother 15 years younger than me. We still have the project blueprint somewhere.” To make cruising easier, Melpignano Snr purchased a Canados 70 motor yacht from the Roman shipyard in 1994.

By coincidence, a far larger boat had launched the year before. Imagine is a 33.6-metre sailing yacht designed by the peerless Ed Dubois. She captured headlines for her three circumnavigations and voyage into the Arctic Circle. Little did the Melpignano family know that by 2015 they would be her owners.

Aldo Melpignano takes up the story. “My wife’s family [who once owned the Jongert 74 ketch Valial ] knew the owner of Imagine . He wanted to sell her as he had already built a bigger yacht. It was a very friendly transaction – not too many complications due to the very direct relationship we had with her owner.”

Imagine ’s greatest recent adventure came in 2017. “My wife, our kids and I spent six months on board in the Caribbean, from the Leewards to the Windwards, ending up in Cuba,” says Melpignano. The Caribbean’s biggest island and its 5,700 kilometres of coastline can seem intimidating. “You need a local agent. They can even arrange for you to sail inside Havana harbour. The southern coast from Maria La Gorda [a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve alive with shipwrecks and coral formations] to Cienfuegos was just incredible. At night there’s not a single light on.” Imagine ’s Caribbean cruising capability was helped by her “relatively low draft of 3.5 metres, considering the size.”

“I also enjoy our range of watersports equipment,” continues Melpignano. Included on board is a BIC O’pen sailing boat, waterskis, paddleboards , fishing equipment, a glass-bottomed kayak and diving equipment with a compressor. A recent adrenalin-pumping addition is a wing, a type of surfboard that lifts at speed like an America’s Cup AC75. “It’s great for foiling !”

Melpignano claims that Imagine offers “incredibly smooth sailing, much more comfortable than all the more modern yachts I have been on”. Which is what you get from a yacht that took 300,000 working hours to build. “The previous owner kept her exceptionally well,” he adds. After yearly mechanical upgrades in Palma, the family decided on a big refit in Italy in 2018. “We kept the looks but upgraded the technology and technical parts such as battery and generators.”

Imagine ’s interiors exude timeless maritime chic. “The initial [1993 design] by Agnès Comar was extremely well done,” says Melpignano, referring to the interior designer who styles private homes in Paris and palaces in Marrakech. The family did not “change the style, only upgraded the upholstery and fabrics”. The three spacious cabins, which include a family-friendly triple, look sturdy enough round Cape Horn yet cool enough to grace a Breton boutique hotel. “We like to capture the essence and sense of place,” says Melpignano. “For Imagine , that was about respecting the initial wonderful design.”

Capturing that sense of place has been central to the Melpignano family business. In the 1970s, Aldo Melpignano’s parents purchased Masseria San Domenico, a rambling only-in-Puglia whitewashed ranch, a few hundred metres from the sandy Adriatic shore. “The estate my parents purchased belonged to Italian aristocrats from Naples,” he explains. “The central building of Masseria San Domenico is an old watchtower, which was built by the Knights of Malta about five centuries ago.”

For the Melpignano parents, Masseria San Domenico was an asset worth sharing. “In the early 1990s my mum said we should do something a little more tourism related,” explains Aldo. “She used to go with my father on hunting trips to big Scottish castle hotels, and basically imported the British country home concept to Southern Italy.” The 200 hectares of farmland surrounding the masseria – abundant with peach trees, apricot and fennel and wild artichokes – would feed decorous guests and further the authentic feel.

There was just one problem. A project that paired rural luxury with locally grown food was unheard of in the mid 1990s. As was the internet. “Back in 1996, when I was 19, my sister and I got involved,” says Melpignano. “We were the only ones in our family who spoke English, so I took a gap year to help her promote the property internationally. Fortunately we received help from a family friend who lived in Capri. He worked in luxury hospitality for many years and introduced us to the right contacts for top tour operators in the UK, Germany and the rest of Europe.”

The Melpignanos also had contacts of their own. “With our own network of friends we hosted dinners in Milan and Rome and got nice people to come and discover Puglia.” Word spread fast. Elegant Milanese and Roman urbanites would bomb down the Autostrada Adriatica in a convoy of Lancias and Alfa Romeos to a white stone escape with its languorous seawater swimming pool. Little has changed since 1996, apart from the addition of Wi-Fi in the dining salon, which was converted from an 18th-century olive oil press.

Aldo Melpignano’s “gap year” promoting luxury tourism proved that decanting Puglia’s historical elegance could be profitable. All he needed now was to hone his business sense. A finance degree from Cass Business School in London was followed by an MBA at Wharton, with working stints at Credit Suisse and Morgans Hotels. The latter group is credited with inventing the boutique hotel concept at Miami’s Delano and London’s Sanderson.

Experience abroad highlighted a luxurious gap in the local market. “That’s when we started to build Borgo Egnazia,” says Melpignano. “Something of the same quality but a completely different experience.” The five-star resort, which opened in 2010, is certainly different. This Italian fantasy is where Justin Timberlake, among others, part with millions to get married in style. Madonna also checked in for her 59th birthday celebrations.

Cuisine further showcases Puglia’s rural bliss. Local chef Domingo Schingaro rules a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves Adriatic clams with wild rucola, and sea urchins with pecorino. There’s an osteria-cum-cookery-school that teaches traditional recipes handed down from Pugliese nonne (grandmothers), and a mini restaurant, Da Frisella, dedicated entirely to children, where they enjoy orecchiette pasta and taralli crackers. “About 75 per cent of the ingredients used on our estates, which include 18th-century agricultural mansion Masseria Cimino and timeless Masseria Le Carrube, are home grown,” explains Melpignano.

Such authenticity is inspiring. If Melpignano can distil and dispense Italian culture to a moneyed elite, can his nation do the same? For him, it’s all about promoting what the country already has. “There’s a huge opportunity to reposition our natural heritage, our history, the fact that Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than anywhere else,” he explains. “It would be good if the ethos of the Italian population - quality of life, friendliness, well-being – came out more. Those aspects are in line with current sustainability trends but we don’t really market ourselves on them.”

Melpignano understands the need more than most. He sits on “a couple of boards” and is vice chairman of Altagamma, a network of Italy’s top marques that includes Alessi, Baglietto , Cantiere delle Marche, Perini Navi and Ferrari to name but a few. “Research from Altagamma found that 60 per cent of Italian luxury goods are purchased by foreign tourists,” explains Melpignano. The luxury yacht industry, where guests drop thousands of euros per day, could be more appreciated too. “The new VAT regime on charters didn’t help and there are not enough superyacht berths in prime places like Sardinia. We need to incentivise this area because, on the industrial side, the largest yacht producers are Italian.”

With so much on the table, it must be hard for Melpignano to relax. His iPhone chirps like a cicada during our conversation, as one might expect from a business-owning father of two in his mid forties. “My wider family and I like to wine and dine and entertain,” he explains. “And to explore the English countryside,” to where he recently relocated, dividing his time between there and a property on the Borgo Egnazia estate. Is he always working? “My wife makes fun of me, but it’s part of my work to be always looking around. In a restaurant I lift the plate and check the taps. Many of our conversations are about this!”

Sailing offers the Melpignano family further escape. “My wife and I, my mum, my sister and younger brother own Imagine and share her together,” explains Melpignano. “Because we work in hospitality, we tend to work when most people are on holiday so, as such, usually there are no ‘fights’ over who goes when.”

Like their masserie, the Melpignano family use their prized asset for business and pleasure. I magine charters with Camper & Nicholsons from €54,500 (£49,000) per week. Was the brokerage chosen because of their 1980s affinity? “It’s funny – we chartered with them in the 1980s,” admits Melpignano, “but the team we work with now came well recommended by friends.

“We have a transatlantic charter this month, with another transpacific charter in April 2021, before she continues to Australasia,” explains Melpignano. “In between charters we will use her to explore the Western Caribbean like Costa Rica, Belize and Panama.” Any plans to slow down? “She’ll keep going around the world as long as she can… and as long as we’re able to.”

Quickfire questions

Chef or chauffeur?

A chauffeur. I can cook myself

Speed or style?

Style. I drive vintage cars and sailing boats. There’s not much speed in them!

How many watches?

Twelve. The most special is an Audemars-Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in titanium It’s a limited edition that my father bought years ago

First item you pack?

Sports gear – usually my  snorkel or skis

Favourite beach?

Grotto della Poesia in Puglia. You access an emerald seawater swimming pool from a hole hidden in the rocks

Your idea of luxury?

Time alone in the open sea

First published in the January 2021 edition of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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