Sea Breezes July 2019
n by CAPTAIN MICHAEL HOWORTH (www.thehoworths.com)
Superyacht News
SINGER ANDREA BOCELLI TRADES UP IN SIZE
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ndrea Bocelli, the blind Italian tenor and song writer whose work spans both popular music and classical opera is a very keen yachtsman. He has recently traded up in size selling Libertas his 22 metre vessel and has taken delivery of Stella del Nord a 29 metre Darwin 86. The deal was brokered by the Sales and Marketing Director of Cantiere delle Marche in Italy in conjunction with Mr Bocelli’s brokerage firm; Corte who are based in Lavagna. Stella del Nord, the fourth in the Darwin Class 86’ was built by Cantiere delle Marche and launched in 2015. She is the perfect yacht for an owner like Andrea Bocelli, who is not only an amazing singer but also an expert yachtsman, who – after having owned vessels of all sizes - wants to begin serious expedition yachting. Bocelli was looking for an explorer that allowed him and his family to sail far and wide, and comfortably, even in the most severe weather conditions. This yacht matches with his wishes and requests, in that she is not too big and not operationally complicated. Bocelli likes a crew of 4 or less and a yacht with a registered tonnage under the 200 GT and he insists she be extremely fuel efficient. Yet at the same time, he wants her to large enough to offer full comfort during long passages. Straight after the handover, he set course for Naples and despite facing rough seas on passage, Bocelli arrived in time and relaxed to hold a concert. Not a bad start to his new ownership at all! Stella del Nord boasts an airy and spacious accommodation with a 2.10m headroom throughout. She features subtle yet elegant elm wood interiors and iroko floorings, divided across two saloons, 4 guest cabins on the Lower Deck including a spacious and comfortable Owner suite amidships. Aft, a proper lazarette store supplies, while on top a spacious sundeck, plays host to a 5-metre tender on the Upper Deck. Her pedigree as a sturdy, well equipped explorer vessel has been proven by the
Andrea Bocelli’s new yacht Stella del Nord.
cruising record of her sistership Percheron who has completed three hassle-free Atlantic crossings. Powered by two Caterpillar 287 kW CAT C12 engines, she reaches a top speed of 11,5 knots and has an enviable range of 6700 nm at 8,5 knots. Andrea Bocelli said of his new yacht: “I love the way space has been arranged so that our large extended family can be together, enjoying closeness and intimacy, while at the same time respecting
everybody’s privacy. A yacht must meet precise needs and be able to make us feel at ease; it must comply with – and express both architecturally and technically – the same priorities as those living on it. Cosiness, warm materials, safety, low noise levels and comfort: these were my needs, and they have been fully met. I needed a solid, safe and comfortable boat, and I am very happy that I chose this yacht.” As well as being accomplished sailors, Andrea and his wife Veronica are well known for their charitable work. The charity project known as the Andrea Bocelli Foundation was created by them in 2013 to provide full medical care for over 1000 children in Haiti. As well as sponsoring three schools on the island the foundation a operates a water truck which brings clean, potable water to the least served areas of the city six days a week, six times a day, providing 18 millions litres of water a year along with a great deal of hope and health in these areas.
NEWS SUPERYACHT NEWS
DAMEN GROUP SUPERYACHTS
Amels yard in Vlissingen City. Amels and Damen yard in Vlissingen East.
WITH 25 PROJECTS underway, business is booming for Amels the Dutch luxury yacht builder. This spring, the two brands representing the yachting division of the Damen Shipyards Group had no less than 16 yachting projects in The Netherlands and nine additional hulls under construction. The current project numbers further establish them as the largest luxury yacht builder and refit provider in the Netherlands. With a full house at its main yard in Vlissingen, the yacht builder is expanding at its second facility, Vlissingen East, a few kilometres away. Part of the Damen Shipyards Group, the Vlissingen East yard now includes a dedicated 200-metre building hall for Papa’s departure.
Yachting as well as the largest covered dry dock in the Netherlands. At 215 metres in length, the dock can easily accommodate the largest yacht in the world. Spring deliveries completed so far at the builder’s two facilities in Vlissingen include refit projects Dytan and Ventum Maris, as well as new build Amels 180 Papa, all on time and on budget. Since departing the yard, Papa journeyed to the Mediterranean to welcome her owner on board for the first time. “Amels have performed outstandingly,” says Papa Build Captain Paul Bessant. “We’re on time and on budget. In fact four weeks ahead of schedule and not only that but in my opinion beyond expectations.”
During the next few weeks, Amels and Damen will deliver five more new builds and three more refit projects. “We’ve never been so busy,” explains Marketing Manager, Victor Caminada. “The superyacht-shaped inner harbour in front of the main yard plays testament to that. We recently had six superyachts lining the quayside with five more inside and another two refit projects at our Vlissingen East yard. That is almost 1,000 metres of superyacht and it doesn’t include the three yacht projects under construction at Damen Shipyards elsewhere in the Netherlands.” Rose Damen, Managing Director of Yachting and third generation family shareholder: “In times like this, we realise how lucky we are to have the incredible pool of talent and our hard-working comakers in the region. With all the unique superyacht knowhow on our doorstep, there really is no better place in the world to build and refit your superyacht. As we have grown, and continue to do so, we remain dedicated to our clients, past, present and future, in upholding our reputation for absolute top quality. Most of all, we want our clients to have a smooth and fun experience when they choose us.”
Sea Breezes July 2019
SUPERYACHT NEWS NEWS
QUEEN MÁXIMA OF HOLLAND OPENS SHIPYARD A TRULY MAJESTIC opening ceremony in Amsterdam saw the culmination of five years of meticulous planning, design and construction when a giant new eco-friendly superyacht yard was opened by Queen Máxima of Holland. Feadship officially opened its brand-new, purpose-built superyacht facility in the port of Amsterdam in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima and some 2,500 members of the workforce. This year marks the 170th anniversary of Royal Van Lent, one of the two yachtbuilding family dynasties that makes up Feadship along with Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw in Aalsmeer and Makkum. The spectacular opening of the second Royal Van Lent yard and the fourth Feadship facility in the Netherlands, means it will now be used to build and refit Feadships of up to 160 metres in length. Measuring 425,000 cubic metres, the facility is the most eco-friendly superyacht yard in the world and the pinnacle of contemporary design. Before entering the giant construction hall, Queen Máxima was introduced to Dick Van Lent, the fourth generation of his family to have led the yard until his retirement in 2016. Her Majesty then viewed nineteen classic yachts presented along the quay, all members of the Feadship Heritage Fleet. She also met young graduates from the Feadship Academy and several generations of family members who work at the Royal Van Lent yard in Kaag. Royal Van Lent
director Peter van Mil – who managed the build project – showed Queen Máxima how solar panels, district heating and LED lighting have enhanced the energy efficiency of the new facilities. Last but not least, Bram Jongepier, senior specialist at De Voogt Naval Architects, explained the innovative and sustainable approach that Feadship takes to building superyachts. The facility in Amsterdam will operate in tandem with the Royal Van Lent yard on Kaag Island, which continues to run at full capacity. The two yards will share the
Captain Michael Howorth is a freelance journalist who writes stories about superyachts and publishes them on his website www.thehoworths.com
same management team and corporate culture, with 450 skilled employees from a wide range of outfitting and refit disciplines moving between the facilities as and when required. A further 150 new jobs have been created for highly skilled yacht builders, a demand which is in part being met by the award-winning Feadship Academy training schools. The first project is already underway in Amsterdam as construction moves forward on an 88-metre Feadship currently known as Project 816.