Picture of the day: Lürssen Saint Nicolas

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The 70m Lurssen Saint Nicolas was spotted near the Lerins island in the Baie de Cannes yesterday.
This massive superyacht was designed by famous architect Espen Oeino (interior by François Zuretti) and delivered in 2007.

Saint Nicolas is the second of three more or less identical yachts (MY Apoise and MY Martha Ann) which were ordered by the same american investor: the idea was that the first two would be sold to finance the third...

Click on the picture to discover how big this superyacht is: there is a crew member standing on the swim platform ...

Superyacht Market Gossip...

According to an unoffical source, Rodriguez Group would have sold several brand new superyachts to a Middle East client.
The mysterious client would have bought several Leopard yachts...only time will tell.

Madoff's $7M yacht for sale

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MY "Bull", the famous Leopard 27m of Mr Madoff (who is dying of cancer in prison), has been put up for sale by Auctioneer Wyles Hardy & Co on behalf of liquidators.

The yacht was lying in Port Gallice, near Antibes, south of France.
On their website, Auctioneer Wyles Hardy & Co explained that a local sales tax would become applicable after March 2010 (15% VAT rate) : guess where the yacht is currently lying ?
UK or Chyprus both have a 15% VAT rate...Nop, she is still lying in Port Gallice!

VAT status information provided by Auctioneer Wyles Hardy & Co: "All Lots or items are sold exclusive of V.A.T. which will be added to the Buyer's sale accounts at the rate of 15% except those lots which are zero rated for VAT purposes as indicated.

We are informed that when originally purchased the vessel was registered in George Town, Barbados in order to maximise the tax advantage of such a status. We believe that the vessel is therefore held on a temporary importation basis within the European Union.

We understand that this is allowed for a period of 18 months before local sales tax would become applicable. We are informed that the vessel left EU waters on the 28th September 2008 not returning until 6th October that year.

As a consequence we understand that local sales tax or a further visit outside EU waters will not be necessary until March 2010. Prospective purchasers are strongly advised to obtain such information as necessary to satisfy themselves as to the tax basis of this vessel."

Stars and Superyacht

Va Bene - click to enlarge

So you want to know which yacht Naomi Campbell chartered this summer?

Did you know that Jenson Button and girlfriend Jessica Michibata were in the lap of luxury on the ISA Firouzeh, in St Tropez ?

"Why the superyacht is floating the boats of the rich and famous who want a summer holiday with style" published on the Daily Mail website

>> Read more

Yacht accident discussion by Dockwalk

It seems that the recent yacht accidents that we reported on this blog have found some echo in the press.

An interesting article has just been released by Dockwalk (login required) : "Accident reports almost always pinpoint lack of seamanship as the culprit. Mike French goes a step further and looks at why fundamentals are being ignored."

The good thing with Dockwalk is that it is not only a marketing website that only promotes the press release of the shipyards...

Picture of the day: Palmer "Clifford II"

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The 2008 Palmer Johnson 150ft "Clifford II" was at anchor near Antibes today.

This aluminium express cruiser was design by famous architect Nuvolari & Lenard.
Powered by twin MTU 3,650 HP diesel engines, Clifford II can reach an amazing top speed of 30 knots.

Note the folding balcony to starboard.

In 2007 the first two PJ-150’s, "O’Khalia" and "Hokulani", were delivered.
In 2008 another two superyachts were delivered: hull n°3 was "Four Jacks" and hull n°4 is "Clifford II".

Rise of the Billionaire Nomad...to avoid direct taxes

Wealth-bulletin.com - D. Pain
Financial advisers are starting to refer to their wealthiest clients as billionaire nomads -- those who globe-trot between homes to avoid direct taxes from any country.

Ultra-high net worth families have always been mobile, but the crackdown on offshore accounts is making them even more so.
A few have even taken to living on megayachts, apparently deciding that pirates on the high seas are less of a risk than dodging the remorseless embrace of tax authorities.

>> Read the complete article here

Guy Couach Auction

Click to enlarge - Guy Couach 1601 - "Blue Cloud"

Following the economic downturn of the French shipyard Guy Couach, auctioneer Jean dit Cazaux et Sahuquet handled today the auction of 24 yachts (mostly part-exchange yachts from the shipyard).

"Unbelievable", the 31m/107Ft Breaux Baycraft Hargraves built in 1969 was the largest yacht on offer.

The Guy Couach shipyard was recently saved from bankruptcy by a pool of investor.

Here is a picture of the Guy Couach 1601 "Blue Cloud" currently lying in Port Gallice near Antibes.

>> Auctioneer website (in French)

Quote of the day

"A guy who was worth $10 billion and is now worth $5 billion obviously took a hit but he certainly can afford a yacht."
Trinity's (shipyard) owner

US yacht broker back to business

Reuters.com just released an interesting article about the effect of a weak dollar on yacht sales:

1. Sagging US dollar drives yacht sales to foreign buyers
2. Data shows room for growth in global yacht sales

A weak U.S. dollar has helped keep the American shipyards afloat by making yachts more affordable to wealthy overseas clients.

>> Reuters

Riva 60 Corsaro...the biggest Riva in the 80's

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The Riva 60 Corsaro was the biggest Riva in the late 80's.
She was powered by two 760hp diesel engines and could "glide powerfully over the waves at 31 knots" according to the original brochure.

The Riva 60 could accomodate up to 6 people + crew in her clever layout: there was one master cabin forward, one double guest cabin aft plus the famous bunk bed cabin to port (L shaped cabin).
A vertical ladder gave access to the crew cabin that was located in the bow near the master cabin.


The master cabin - click to enlarge

The original brochure shows a picture of the salon which was divided in two areas: to port was the dining area with a sofa and a table. There was a comfortable L shaped sofa with a burr coffee table to starboard.
The central helm station came with a bouble banquette and there was a central built-in TV set with a VHS player.
As usual with the Riva shipyard, the interior boasted the finest Italian craftsmanship with a sophisticated burr woodwork and a dark blue laminate.


The main salon - click to enlarge


The port guest cabin - click to enlarge

Her large aft cockpit could accomodate...a folding table and a pair of deckchairs.


Nowadays, such yacht interiors are regarded as out-of-date but the Riva 60 Corsaro continues to offer plenty of storage space and a seaworthy hull...

All at Sea: a Special Report form the Financial Times

"...Prices of new and second-hand yachts and superyachts – a super-yacht is loosely defined as a boat more than 30m or 100ft long – fell sharply as the financial crisis deepened..."

Check out the Special Report by Financial Times reporter Victor Mallet

>> FT website

Aussie's yacht linked to missing McCann ?

According to Ninemsn.com.au "The widow and daughter of Australian property tycoon Bill Wyllie say they are perplexed by claims their luxury yacht may have been involved in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann."

Mrs Wyllie was reportedly "devastated" by British newspaper reports about the possible connection between her 32m yacht and the inquiry.

MY "Will Power", ex "Breeze", is a Sunseeker 105, built in 2001

>> complete aricle

"Mega Yacht, Mega Outrage" by CNBC

A look at what the largest Madoff feeder fund is doing with his Summer vacation, with Vicky Ward, CNBC contributor.

>> Video by CNBC
>> Article here

Same old story...

Phot A.B.


The French newspaper "Var Matin" just reported that the 31m Heesen "Matanthar' (ex Buka) ran aground rocks between Sanary sur Mer and Bandol yesterday.
Her starboard prop and her rudder were damaged as well as the hull and 10 people were evacuated from the yacht.

A 2 meter hole was seen in its hull and the French Coastguards decided not to tow the yacht to the closest port for security reason.
The French authorities closed one beach and sat up water barriers to stop leaking fuel from the hull

The tug "Laisser Aller" has started to pump out the sea water from the semi-flooded yacht.

Any suggestion about the superyacht crew training welcome...

No more mast for the Perini Principessa

The ex-yacht of Mr Berlusconi, the 41m Perini "Principessa Vai Via", lost its main and mizzen masts in July whilst heading to Isola Rossa in Sardegna.

The 1991 yacht that had her mast overhauled last spring and the rigging completely rebuilt, is now the property of Mr Ennio Doris, the President of Mediolanum.

15 people were aboard (7 crew and 8 guests including Doris'wife and daughter) and none of them suffered life-threatening injuries.

Despite strong winds, SY "Principessa vai Via" was towed to Stintino.

2009 Superyacht Market Report by CNI

Camper Nicholson International has just released the second edition of the (super) Yachting Index: the 54 pages report is now available to view online!!!

>> 2009 Superyachting Index

Lady Christine helicopter crash

Click to enlarge - Lady Christine in Monaco - 2009

Superyacht bigger than 50m often feature an helipad for emergency reason or for the Owner 's convenience.

The website Coastguerdnews.com reported that the 55m Oceanco Lady Christine had an helicopter crash. Four people were aboard the helicopter and none of them suffered life-threatening injuries.
According to the Coastguardnews website, "...The Rockland Coast Guard small boat at 6:55 p.m. tied up to the crashed helicopter and towed it to shore on the island, where a marine salvage company will attempt to remove it."

The yacht built by the Oceanco shipyard in 2004 was offered for sale for euro 45,000,000 by Edmiston Company in 2008.

Maltese Falcon sold US$ 100,000,000 ?

According to an unofficial source, Tom Perkins, the owner of the superyacht Maltese Falcon which is currently lying in Antibes, has sold has vessel.

The same sources confirms that the amount of the deal is around US$ 100,000,000.

Middle East Owners Rule !!!

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The 147m Prince Abdulaziz, the world’s second largest private yacht in the world, is currently at anchor near Golfe-Juan.
Prince Abdulaziz was built in Denmark by Helsingor Vaerft shipyard in 1984 for the late King Fahd. After his dead King Abdulah took over the yacht.




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The 86m Benetti Kingdom 5KR built in 1980 for Mr Khashoggi, was at anchor near the Ile de Lérins, bay of Cannes.
The pictures shows an helicopter on the top deck.
Both yachts feature a fully closed aft-deck.

Previous owners:
Donald Trump: ex Trump Princess
Adnan Khashoggi: ex Nabila