International eXcellence Luxury Magazine Issue 8 by International eXcellence Luxury Magazine

Eight 08

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E M AGAZIN

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The place to go for all your shopping needs and desires, check out the latest and greatest gifts.

SEA-DOO IN NASHVILLE Yves de Contades enjoys riding on the river in the latest luxury watercraft.

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PUBLISHERS

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TALKING TECH

ART ROTANA HOTEL, BAHRAIN

This season’s pick of the latest, hottest gadgets and luxury technical innovations.

We experience art therapy, jacuzzis and watercraft in this magical kingdom.

International eXcellence, is a celebration of all that is truly outstanding, online, mobile and in print, courtesy of The eXcellence Group. As the name suggests, we are all about sharing excellence from around the world, presenting the best brands, products, artists, designs, businesses and people who are passionate about their life and work. For all advertising enquiries please call: +44 203 289 9779 or 07957 246845. Copy enquiries to: editorial@internationalexcellence.co.uk

DIVING IN THE MALDIVES 14

VILLA EDEN GARDONE

McLaren Launch the 570S

A unique celebration of modern architecture on a majestic scale on Lake Garda.

This great British supercar brand show off their latest sports car in Portugal!

24 WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON AROUND THE WORLD

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SAILING ON THE WISP YACHT

PAGE 38

DUNIYE SPA

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TOP 10 LUXURY SKI RESORTS

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EDITORIAL

Welcome to our Winter issue of International eXcellence. As we race towards the end of another busy year, take some time to appreciate the excellent people, products and places we have all experienced in the last twelve months. Have a wonderful Christmas and in the meantime sit back and immerse yourself in eXcellence and enjoy our Winter issue of International eXcellence magazine!

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GOSH CAROL

INTERNATIONAL

LEOPARDSTOWN

LONDON BOAT

CONCERT

HORSE SHOW

FESTIVAL

SHOW

8 December An enchanting celebration of Christmas at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge featuring popular congregational carols, inspirational readings and much more. gosh.org

15-21 December This year featuring The Household Cavalry; high speed charges, intricate formations and military spectacle come together in their incredibly daring display. olympiahorseshow.com

26-29 December Featuring seven Grade 1 races this festival, dating back to 1888, is world class theatre where the best horses, jockeys, owners and trainers compete against each other. leopardstown.com

8-17 January Whether you are an enthusiast or new to boating and sailing, this will give you a vast range of craft to explore, from Kayak to Dinghy to Superyacht. londonboatshow.com

WINTER What’s On in the UK... There’s a whole host of social, cultural, charity and sporting offerings for us all to enjoy this winter. Wrap up warm, get involved and have fun!

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LONDON ART FAIR

20-24 January The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier art fair presents the freshest art from across the globe, showcasing large scale installations, solo shows and curated group displays. londonartfair.co.uk

LONDON WINTER RUN 31 January The Cancer Research UK London Winter Run returns to the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets to raise money for the charity. There will be an event village based in Trafalgar Square . winterrunseries.co.uk

RBS SIX NATIONS

6 February - 19 March Opening with France v Italy , this tournament will no doubt fill a hole for those missing the World Cup Action, and provide England with another chance to shine. rbs6nations.com

LONDON FASHION WEEK 19-23 February London Fashion Week takes place twice a year in February and September showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of influential media and retailers. londonfashionweek.co.uk

RYE BAY SCALLOP FESTIVAL

BATH LITERATURE FESTIVAL

20-28 February

26 February - 6 March

The 14th Rye Bay Scallop Week in East Sussex offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in seafood delights. Restaurants will be showcasing an array of different dishes, there will be tasting events, cookery schools, demonstrations and live music.

Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, the Festival features some of the most intelligent, creative, and cutting edge thinkers of today. Events take place in historic buildings throughout the town.

scallop.org.uk

bathlitfest.org.uk

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ART BASEL MIAMI

LA SCALA OPENING

BEACH

NIGHT

3 - 6 December 267 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa show significant work from the masters of Modern and contemporary art. artbasel.com/miami-beach

7 December One of the world’s most famous opera houses. This year the opening night features a performance of Verdi’s Giovanna D’Arco, conducted by Riccardo Chailly. teatroallascala.org

SYDNEY FESTIVAL

7 - 26 January Now in its 40th year this bold cultural celebration is based on the highest quality art and big ideas. With diverse performances, there is something for everyone. sydneyfestival.org.au

JAIPUR LITERARY FESTIVAL 21 - 25 January The ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival brings together some of the greatest thinkers and writers from across South Asia and the world, providing a space to dare and dream. jaipurliteraturefestival.org

WINTER What’s On around the World... From the sunny shores of the Caribbean to the snow capped mountains of Switzerland we bring you a select collection of events to amuse and enjoy.

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SUNDANCE FILM

SNOW POLO WORLD

FESTIVAL

CUP

21 - 31 January Since 1985 hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gained critical recognition, received commercial distribution, and reached worldwide audiences. sundance.org

29 - 31 January St. Moritz has played host to the world’s pre-eminent snow polo tournament since 1985. Cradled in a gorgeous natural setting there is a unique atmosphere. snowpolo-stmoritz.com

VENICE CARNIVAL

RIO CARNIVAL

23 January - 9 February A great excuse to don a lavish mask and costume, parade around this beautiful city, enjoy the live music in the main square and all the events on offer. venice-carnival-italy.com

5-10 February This wild 5 day celebration is the biggest carnival, with around 500,000 foreign visitors. It begins with the crowing of the Fat King (Momo), by the city’s mayor. rio-carnival.net

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

BVI SPRING REGATTA

20 March The 67th Formula One season kicks off here at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, the first of 21 races, finishing in Abu Dhabi on November 27th. Lewis Hamilton starts the season as defending Drivers’ Champion, while his team, Mercedes, are the defending Constructors’ Champion.

28 March - 3 April This year marks the 45th anniversary of this wonderful sporting and social event. The Sailing Festival is two days of warm up racing and the the Regatta kicks off three days of some of the best racing in the Caribbean. A great place to race, cruise, practice or just party.

formula1.com

bvispringregatta.org

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MCLAREN LAUNCH THE 570S IN PORTUGAL McLaren launched the new 570S Coupe in the Algarve last week at the Conrad Hotel and the race track at Portimao. It was quite a sight to see so many McLaren 570s’ all lined up outside the Conrad hotel, flanked by flames floating in the elongated water pools, and outside the race track in every available colour. Not quite as good as driving them, but we’ll get to that.

underpriced or is it simply that McLaren have produced something so exceptional, with clever marketing of a limited series, upping demand to give the P1 immortal classic car status right out of the showroom.

Yves de Contades Races the Ultimate British Luxury Sports Car on the Road and at the Portimao Race Track!

The 570S does 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds, 0-124 mph in 9.5 seconds, with 570 PS which is where the McLaren

Let’s start by defining what the 570S is. A supercar masquerading as a sports car. Everything about it is supercar except the price tag. The 570S Coupé will retail from £143,250 and is part of the new Sports Series that will soon include the 540C Coupé which launches in the second quarter of 2016 retailing from around £126,000. So McLaren will have the Ultimate Series comprising the uber powered P1™ and the P1™ GTR, the latter giving out 960 bhp, a track car available only to owners of a P1 Coupé already, talk about exclusive. Next is the Super Series comprising the McLaren 675LT, the McLaren 650S Coupé and the 650S Spider (which I find myself dreaming about far too often). So the 570S is really aimed at a wider audience and a clear statement of intent to sell a larger quantity of cars, whilst still maintaining exclusivity, as the cars are all produced to a well defined limited series. McLaren are the only car company in the world that can boast producing a car model that may not depreciate and in the case of the P1 is regarded as an investment. Only 376 P1 models were made and they sold out well ahead of their predicted target dates. The P1 is currently trading at £400,000 more than the original purchase price. Are they McLaren 570S Monocell II

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;McLaren 570S at the Portimao Race Track indispensable before taking any selfies in the car. Included are a Bowers and Wilkins sound system that is definitely aimed at the luxury market and gives great sound, you can pick from a four, eight or twelve speaker system. Though quite why you would want to drown out the sound of that engine is beyond me. The interior is more comfortable with space for luggage in the front bonnet, a vertical control panel for more screen space and a rear shelf for the extras you need while touring. As to the exterior colour I liked the Mantis Green, but would opt for the McLaren Orange (darker with more red than the Ventura Orange) or the Ice Silver (silver with a touch of blue) though the Volcano Orange The 570S has many small differences from was gorgeous too. the other series, essentially to make it more of a road car and more comfortable to drive The carbon fibre Monocell II chassis makes every day whilst still retaining the speed this an incredibly light car and has shown capabilities of the other models. I have to itself in testing to be nigh on indestructible, say that it has achieved this and more. The itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much the same cell that is used stunning dihedral doors swing up just a in the Formula One cars and the design has little higher and the bottom sill is just a little proved so amazing it has changed very little lower to make getting in and out a tad more since the one used in the McLaren 12C. The comfortable. There is a cup holder and even stunning body has been air shaped by super a vanity mirror, a first in any McLaren, and forming aluminium sheets, wherein hot naming system comes from. 562 bhp is impressive but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the torque that raised my eyebrows as it produces 443 lbs ft at 5-6500 rpm so you really get an idea of the raw power available. McLaren have worked very hard to push the boundaries of the 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine by reducing the weight of the vehicle in every area, making this car 30% different from its precursors, with new materials and lightweight composites employed wherever possible, but still overpowered in terms of strength and resilience. It also does a combined 26.6 mpg which is pretty impressive in a sports/ supercar.

aluminium is blown into shape over a mould. This mixture of carbon fibre and aluminium body give this car fabulous curves and a shape to worship. The car follows the original sketch by chief designer Robert Melville very faithfully as both form and function are equally well balanced in this marvellous machine. There are new LED lights front and rear and their frowning eyes shape is a perfect reminder of the McLaren logo. The back end of the 570S is different too as it is curtailed and beefier, with more lines and detailing. Seats wise I much prefer the standard to the bucket seats, but I am getting on in years and need the comfort, so by all means get the bucket seats if you intend speeding round every corner, and who could blame you in this monster! The seven speed gearbox is incredibly smooth with gearshift paddles that respond faultlessly and are perfect to the touch. The overriding feeling you get from this car is that every detail has been meticulously thought about from first principles. The brake is a little slow at first, but that is actually a good thing in a road car, especially if you want to enjoy driving it around town and on country lanes, but with just a little

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more pressure the McLaren carbon ceramic brake steer system come properly into play and you can really pile into those corners whilst maintaining excellent control. I had the Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres which give you just a tad more acceleration and better braking times and should be regarded as a must on this car. The steering is to my mind perfectly balanced and responsive, you feel the road and have excellent control especially at higher speeds and powering out of a corner. Like all mid engined cars you can swing the attractive rear out as you go round a sharp bend, if you really want to, but the feedback is pretty nigh perfect. I have to confess I loved the steering, the 570S holds the road like a true track car and you merely have to point the front at the right line in a corner and it will follow it effortlessly. The trick is to steer gently and not to be fooled into pulling the wheel round too sharply, but even after a couple of hours in the car, it becomes second nature. This is a track car adapted to the road and you get incredible surface holding abilities despite its being targeted more at road users than the Super or the Ultimate Series. The 570S may not have the same aerodynamic downforce as the more expensive McLarens but by golly it is still glued to the road. The new McLaren 570S also uses anti roll bars instead of the hydraulic roll control system used in the P1 and the 650S which saved a few pennies that could be spent elsewhere as well as the weight loss. It makes use of a lot of Formula One technology for the Brake system, the Electronic Stability Control system and the Performance Traction Control. Different choices can be selected for the stability, with full, dynamic or ESC off in sport and track modes. Likewise for the traction control, selecting dynamic mode when pushing the car to its limits on the track. McLaren have really aimed for engagement and driving pleasure in this Sports model and driving it around the motorways and country roads of Portugal certainly convinced me they had succeeded. This car is all about having fun and enjoyment, driving it on a regular basis and taking pleasure in its performance. As Rowan Atkinson is quoted as saying, he really enjoyed driving his McLaren F1 to the shops 18

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and on the school run most, even though it excelled on the track, because it was such sheer pleasure to drive. The 570S is great fun and it will undoubtedly sell incredibly well as it really gives close to P1 ability and looks at a fraction of the price, without tarnishing the P1 which still out performs all its rivals. McLaren have spent a lot of time tuning the engine to get just the right sound and it’s evocative of that Formula One pitched screech as you rev up the counter, not as throaty or booming as the Aston Martin, but a beautiful historic race track howl that is unique to McLaren and had many a Portuguese child looking up in sudden delight as we drove by, exclaiming even before they had fully seen the car “Look Papa, a McLaren”. Why are McLaren producing such a successful line of cars despite the enormous competition from such heavy weights as Bentley, Audi, Aston Martin and Porsche? Many of these established car manufacturers have large scale operations committed to certain manufacturing paths, developments and huge commercial targets. Not McLaren, they are effectively a very recent start up, albeit with an already present brand history, continuing the Bruce McLaren tradition. This is the McLaren advantage, they are a relatively small team, minuscule by car manufacturing standards, of extremely talented car fanatics who take advantage of the latest developments in materials, technology, engineering and design to produce the greatest possible car they can make. It really is a team of experts looking to build something they can be proud of. This is not exceptional in itself, but it’s the support, investment and the commercial success that make this such an exciting, innovating, luxury, tech brand. Not to mention the Formula One association and its benefits. Nothing is perfect, the 570S does slightly remind me of a Transformer from afar, but then the Transformers were a dream ideal of the tech supercar as seen in the eyes of a child. So maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Some of the appeal of this car is not just down to the incredible track and road performance, but the looks which call out to

the boy who played with toy Formula One race cars and has now grown up to see these toys made reality on the road. If you are going for a sports car it should really look like one and the chief designer Robert Melville grew up lusting after the Lamborghini Countach and there is some of that space ship design in the McLaren. I drove the car on the motorways of the Algarve and on the track at Portimao and my impression was that this is a ground breaking car, despite the obvious competitive talents of the Porche 911 and the Audi R8, this car is a real pleasure to drive and an incredible looker too, it stands out as being part of a brand that is truly unique, putting quality, technology, innovation and craftsmanship first, before sales targets. The legacy of Bruce McLaren, his famous eye for detail and drive to excel are being demonstrably preserved in this British global brand. One lovely legend about Bruce McLaren centres on the development of the famous airflow “nostrils” of the McLaren. Apparently during a race Bruce was irritated by the fuel cap which had not been fitted properly, flapping around as the car went round the track. The thinking at the time was that the airflow would push the cap down at speeds, but whilst pondering this annoyance, Bruce had a moment of inspiration and realised that there must be higher pressure under the cap for it to be lifting off. So, the story has it, he leapt from the car and borrowed some tools to cut out some of the body work around the fuel intake area, thereby giving rise to the famous “nostrils” that improve airflow and give the car more speed and stability. The McLaren 570S gets a full five stars from International eXcellence Magazine. So what next for McLaren? In fact they have very precise plans with the 540C coming out next, with another surprise in 2016, think 650S Can Am (the epitome of style). In 2017 they plan to launch a Gran Touring and an open top Spider version of the 570S. www.cars.mclaren.com/home

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VILLA EDEN GARDONE LAKE GARDA Lake Garda is the most prestigious of the Italian lakes where discerning Italians holiday or own holiday homes. Wealthy Italians pick their holiday destination with great care and Lake Garda is the most renowned for good reason. It is home to some of the most beautiful historic houses in Italy, many overlooking the lake. Indeed there is one stunning Palazzo, still entirely family owned, on a little island in the middle, on the southern side of the lake which really is a must see. International eXcellence Magazine had been invited to an exclusive preview of a daring and bold new project that has been ten years in the making, cost 80 million Euros and shaken up the whole lake and its residents. A Viennese billionaire, RenĂŠ Benko, had purchased a 78,000 square metre valley just above the Gardone Riviera, a little town just north of Salo, and commissioned five of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading architects to conjure up grand new villas in a purist modern style. The pedigree and work of the architects is quite extraordinary, these are all leaders in the field of modern architecture: Richard Meier, David Chipperfield, Matteo Thun, Marc Mark at ATP Sphere and Enzo Enea. I cannot think of another venture that brings together so many distinguished masters of modern architecture in one place. The mind boggles at the idea of managing such different artists to create this fantasy valley dedicated to modern design principles in such a rich historic and normally conservative part of the world. Villa Eden Gardone is a museum to modern architecture and without doubt one of the most exciting building ventures we have ever

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seen. At first sight it is so anachronistic as it quite literally smashes all classic traditions of the area and yet after only a few days in this futuristic fantasy valley, it takes hold in the mind as a brave adventure, very much of its time and the traditional villas surrounding it start to look tired and a little clichĂŠd. There are at present nine villas on the estate, all of which are staggering statements in their own right. Modern versions of classical pillared Italian architecture designed with local materials of stone and glass, but in utterly modern block styles. Sharp angular staircases that jut from the buildings or cut down a hillside, infinity pools of sheer grey slate, panoramas of impossibly rectangular columns staggering off into the distance and vertical slabs of aquamarine glass walls that soar majestically from flat square terraces. All set in a lush green valley with incredible views of the lake with thousands of years of classical architecture dotted about its borders. There are also two helicopter pads on the estate which for nine villas is probably about right. I admit I was a little doubtful at first, but soon you cannot help but be over awed by such chutzpah, such valiance and adventure in devising such a brave and futuristic haven in this dignified setting. It is aptly named the Villa Eden, an Eden for a brave new world that forsakes the accepted or expected and takes the best of the old and forges it anew to create a state of the art paradise, a contemporary and future Eden that accepts innovation, the advent of new materials and techniques, and is not afraid to explore all their possibilities. Please excuse the rant, it really needs to be seen to be believed and I am very much

A Unique Celebration of Modern Architecture on a Majestic Scale Overlooking Lake Garda. aware that my words will fail to do it justice. Perhaps a little more detail will help conjure up a more personal vision of the property and its surroundings. On arrival at Verona airport we were greeted by the Villa Eden concierge, Jay an Italian American who grew up in the states and now lives in Italy. His remit is to look after you and to make sure that your stay is the best experience it can be, whether you want to relax, take in the local culture, visit the bars and restaurants or speed across the lake in a motor boat. Jay knows and loves the area well and is very much a part of the offering at Villa Eden, he is warm, kind, sincere, humorous and takes personal pride in finding exactly what you are looking for. We were whisked off to the Villa Eden or more precisely to the Clubhouse which was designed by Matteo Thun and is the core of the project serving as bar, restaurant and clubhouse terrace, with a Spa, gym and indoor/outdoor pool that traverses from the Spa to the garden. It is constructed in a rectangular semi circle over two floors with a protective wall or skin of glass squares in hues that reflect the colours of the lake and spill coloured light over the building and deck. It has six luxury rooms and suites which are ideal for getting to know the property. As you enter the building the welcome desk is to the left but you turn right for an even more welcoming glass of champagne in the beautiful glass bar at the entrance to the restaurant. The restaurant is run by Cristoph Stiglitz who cooks there in the summer and chefs at their sister property Chalet N in the winter. He worked at Nobu in London and even did

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a stint with Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck. Christophe takes great personal pride in using locally sourced ingredients and local produce whilst working with the very finest meat and fish. His wine pairing is a delight and he clearly revels in presenting wonderful local and international grape varieties to invigorate even the most experienced palate. After some lovely canapés and bubbly we were chauffeured down to the lake, they have two Range Rovers on call, for an outing on the Villa’s motor yacht, a Frauscher 1017 Lido with twin engine 700 bhp. The boat is perfect for the lake, with stylish lines, grey hull and classic wood finish. We cruised over to the palazzo on the island, where a private tour with the family owners can be arranged, then moored off a local beach on the south east side for a refreshing swim in the soft, clean, dulcet and surprisedly fresh waters. Italian families swanned sleekly by in their flat bottomed lake boats, whilst more powerful speed boats cruised by with typical Italian panache, immaculate styled hair and dark glasses, waving as they slalomed past. Jay eventually guided us to the lake side San Vigilio bar on the eastern shore which immediately evoked romantic images of Audrey Hepburn sitting effortlessly sipping an Aperol Spritz (ice and a slice of orange, 3 parts Cinzano Prosecco , 2 parts Aperol , 1 splash of soda), a location straight out of the 50’s film classics. A wooden pontoon extends from a stone wall that contours a tiny harbour, bedecked with tables, covered by a pergola draped in vines and low hanging flowers. We sat at the bar and sipped Negroni cocktails as the sun went down over the lake, the opposite shore disappearing gradually as the light faded, surrounded by the numerous ducks and the singsong chatter of Italian couples. All too soon it was time to go and we took the boat back across the lake, soaring over the blue waters, criss crossed by white wakes as the light morphed ever more orange. My favourite villa has to be Villa Sphere Ovest designed by ATP Sphere, though of my six marvellous companions, I believe we all had a different preference, so you will have to decide for yourself. Villa Sphere Ovest is like all great Italian architecture designed around an outdoor space, the terrace and pool, and 28

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the use of large slabs of stone and glass are all made to minimise the use of materials and maximise their impact. It is minimal modern architecture at its finest and also a celebration of light, with a blatant sun worship element thrown in. Bronze yourself to a crisp on the open terrace sun trap or lunch comfortably in the shade under the roof slab by the barbecue. It is open plan and open to the landscape so that you share completely in the earth, hills and greenery around you, living as part of the valley. After a beautiful day visiting the different villas we spent the evening in Verona, a town with two grand squares framed by bars and restaurants and the hugely famous roman amphitheatre, the Arena Di Verona, where courtesy of Jay we were treated to a wonderful concert by three young tenors known as Il Volo. The setting was achingly beautiful with ancient stepped stone walls curving around us steeped in both ancient barbaric sporting history and recent large scale contemporary operas. No great change there then. The concert was a roaring success with people rising in their seats to applaud each charismatic tenor as they frolicked about, singing duets, trios and solos with youthful energy and passion. To see a concert at the Arena should almost certainly be on everyone’s bucket list as the venue is superb with an electrifying atmosphere. It also hosts rock bands and I would put this as one of the best places in the world to see the Rolling Stones or any other great live band. After the hugely successful concert we all retired to one of the idyllic bars overlooking the square for an Aperol Spritz and enjoyed the warm late September evening and watched the world go by, all stylishly dressed of course. The last day was spent chatting with Luca Colombo, the architect at Matteo Thun, who designed the clubhouse. We met just after breakfast and he appeared immaculately but simply dressed in crisp white shirt, blue trousers and shoes, relaxed, charming and self deprecating. His approach to the project was to start by talking to the locals and farmers who knew the land to glean vital background information. He performed sun studies and explored the local materials and their potential. His ethos was to base the project on quality of life and comfort and to build up from there. Each architect

was given the freedom to express his own creative personality on the space they had been allocated and to be as creative as they wished. They had a generous budget to begin with but each felt that they had to deliver the utmost quality within that framework as a matter of pride. Luca uses a different “language” for every building he creates and the front glass panelled wall is unique to the Clubhouse and came about from a love of the lake and the myriad reflections of light in different shades of blue and green mimicking the luminescence of light on water. Many of the materials employed were sourced locally and much taken from the land that was dug up on the property itself. The relationship between the outdoors and the interior were vital in the formation of the design as outdoor living is so vital to Italian culture with the climate playing such an important role in the life of the people and the building. Buildings age well or badly with the passage of time and Luca designs with an eye to the future and the way the building will age. This is known as the “Patina” and is essential in any build that will gradually acclimatise to the area over time. The building must age gracefully and fit in with the landscape as it develops. Luca sought out local craftsman who worked stone in the old traditional style and they even reopened local quarries to source these materials. The plaster used on the site was based on old Roman techniques and employed in this modern design to great effect. It was a project where new and old techniques could be fused to create fresh synergies combining the best building methods irrespective of their time to create something truly modern with a classical craftmanship background. All this nestling in a lush green valley overlooking the lovely little town of Gardone with the shortest but loveliest promenade on Lake Garda, where they frequently hold summer music festivals and the cafes all abound with sleek dapper Italian couples and families enjoying La Dolce Vita. If you love exciting luxury architecture, exclusive new places and ideas, modern art, lake living or luxury holidays that will inspire you then this is an absolute must. Both the Clubhouse and Villa Sphere Ovest are available to rent at Oxford Private Travel. www.oxfordprivatetravel.com

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RACING ON THE RIVER IN NASHVILLE I watched quietly as the crane lowered the latest 300 BHP Luxury Sea-Doo from the truck to the trailer which then slid this amazing watercraft into the Cumberland River which runs through Nashville Tennessee. We were preparing to ride 15 high powered Sea-Doo luxury watercraft up this deceptively powerful river to the Old Hickory Lake at an average speed of 40 mph. SeaDoo were launching their new range of 2016 super powered watercraft a week later and had organised this luxury rally along this meandering estuary to celebrate the extra ordinary research and development that produced these marvels of engineering and design. A boat took me across the river to the sand bank and I leapt aboard the Sea-Doo Luxury GTX Limited 300 with the new Rotax 1630 ACE Engine, a 3 cylinder beast producing 100 hp from each cylinder. It also has a top speed of 72 mph, limited by legal limit rather than by engine power. It is amazingly comfortable and secure, with great balance. The controls are so simple, you almost feel they ought to complicate them a bit more, just to up the macho image. The right lever accelerates and the left lever is both the brake and reverse. Pull to brake, tap to go into neutral and hold to reverse. This is the second generation iBR or intelligent braking system, which allows you to stop 160 feet sooner than without braking. It has also been designed so that the front does not dip so much and to be smooth even at quite amazing speeds. The Rotax engine is also a major work of art in itself, in terms of size, power and fuel efficiency it is awe inspiring and so compact, well designed and ergonomically laid out.

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The acceleration on all of these crafts is quite unbelievable, you can smoothly ride out in style, or you can pull that little lever firmly and literally take off. You can go from standing to 70 mph in under 4 seconds depending on the smoothness of the water surface. It is without doubt the safest and most exhilarating rush I have ever experienced. You have to hold on for dear life at full acceleration and good muscles are needed to hang on. Beware of the wind burn factor as a day on these babies will have you romantically wind swept beyond any back combing hairdressers wildest imagination. The adrenaline rush as you weave and bob along the water at speeds between 40mph and 70 mph is powerful and addictive. Anyone with even the slightest love of speed immediately thinks “I must have one of these”. It is the combination of stunning design, power, comfort and speed mixed with the ultimate addition of flying on the water, you can ride at tremendous pace in comparative safety. It’s liquid adrenalin heaven. The 15 super powered Sea-Doo’s raced up the river, slaloming from side to side and weaving in between the other water-crafts, artfully avoiding the huge stream of water that each machine spouted up and backwards. You catch one of those and you are soaked and blinded. This was like Mad Max on the water, a convoy of aqueous speedsters roaring stylishly along the mellifluous Cumberland, careering past old Tennessee Paddle Steamers. The captain of the General Jackson stood on the top tier deck and waved as we rolled past, a nod from the past to the future. Within minutes we were gone, a plethora of rolling wakes undulating out, swamping the sleepy old oaks on the river bank.

International eXcellence Joins Sea-Doo As They Launch Their New Luxury Watercraft.

We roared along like this for a while until we came to the biggest lock I have ever seen, a huge metal structure that loomed in the distance, rising to an impossible height as we drew near. A vast circle of rusted red corrugated iron straight out of a some over the top apocalyptic movie. The lock measured a full 22 metres high and covered the area of a football field. Impressed into silence we cruised silently in and cradled the PWC’s up against the wall and the other crafts, tethering or holding them together in case the vast wall of water came crashing down on us. The gargantuan ferric gates began closing like glaciers to completely encircle us and then the water began to flow in through the sluice gates and we rose up the 22 metres, ascending to the Old Hickory Lake. We waited patiently as the opposite gates opened and then fanned outwards over the lake taking up the wider space so we could really push the bikes up to their top limit. By now I had swapped over to the performance Sea-Doo, the RXP-X 300 which has the same Rotax 1630 ACE engine with 300 hp and is built more for the full sports or racing enthusiast, with a new supercharger and a seat design that allows you to really grip the bike with your knees so you can turn very tight corners at incredible speeds. I don’t think anyone would ever really get used to the full acceleration on these dream machines. If you accelerate at full throttle, the craft lifts straight out of the water, the handle bars literally yank you forward and you fly

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through the sultry Tennessee breeze with the most remarkable thrust of any sports vehicle in the world. It is breath robbing raw power that projects you forward as fast as your senses can take it in. It is both surprising and exhilarating every time, and completely addictive. We were now on a large lake and could really put the PWC through their paces, accelerating and performing astonishingly tight u turns at speeds in excess of 50mph. The performance on these machines has to be tested to be believed, the suspension is so smooth that you can swoop over even choppy water without getting too bumped about, there is a clear difference in comfort from any of the other PWC’s out there. I was now zooming straight up to over 70 mph and then throttling down to 50 mph to circle tightly around a buoy in the lake, one leg out and leaning as close to the surface

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of the water as possible to counteract the mammoth horizontal inertia and take the corners as swiftly and smoothly as possible. The more you get to know this craft the better it becomes as you get to grips with its idiosyncrasies and just how well it performs.

more like a Harley, built for comfort and style; though of course both are equally fast and stylish. I thought I preferred the luxury model, but in the end I could not decide between them, both were simply too amazing and such a pleasure to ride.

300 horse power on a PWC bears repeating, there is even a souped up version that Riva Racing in the states will make, that takes the Rotax up to 350 hp. It is a most powerful monster, bringing to mind some kind of a super shark. It certainly has evolved over the years developing more power and greater performance. And the performance model comes in a sleek lava red, which really makes it stand out. The luxury model comes in jet black and deep pewter satin finish and I was really having trouble deciding which of these two bikes I liked best. The performance water craft is like a Ducatti, fast as hell and built for a sporty ride, whilst the luxury model is

I spent the next day on the lake in this wonderful part of the world joyfully testing the Sea-Doo Spark which is the very affordable model, the Sea-Doo Wake aimed at tow sports and the recreation model which are all equally good PWC’s and come in a variety of engine sizes and models. I think it’s time we started a British jet ski race and rally around Cowes, perhaps with a few ramps and slalom courses thrown in! For more information about all the different models and styles: uk.sea-doo.com/ www.sea-doo.com/

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SAILING ABOARD THE WISP, A WORK OF ART True perfection is an extremely rare quality particularly in an object. I have come across it only once; a Ming Dynasty vase, one of a pair; they were made for the Imperial Palace, the owner bizarrely allowing me to handle it; magic. I checked out the British Museum’s world class collection and nothing matched the purity and appeal of those Ming vases. Near perfection which I assume takes into account an element of taste is also very rare; as a pure design as opposed to just a car is the Koenigsegg, the integrity of the design and the craftsmanship is sublime as is its performance. Royal Huisman’s ‘Wisp’ sailing yacht is right up there with the Koenigsegg car marque. Externally the yacht is a modernclassic with flowing, graceful lines whilst the interior does not have to make any apologies

for being very modern, but oh so comfortable both as a living space and a sight to behold. She is built for speed (14 knots) as well as for a smooth ride and achieves at every level. When you come across a yacht that has the same attention to detail as a bespoke watch with a quality that even a watchmaker would fully respect, it stops you in your tracks as superlatives really come into their own. I visited Roger W. Smith’s workshop on the Isle of Man, he and his team of ten people produce ten watches annually, his whole approach revolves around his obsession with quality. Shortly afterwards, I visited Royal Huisman’s yacht building yard in Holland where I found that same approach with their sailing and motor yachts.

Tim Stevens Experiences the Elegance of The Wisp Yacht.

Last summer I had a feast of viewings on Royal Huisman yachts; taking in the 90m. ‘Athena’; ‘Hanuman’; the replica of Endeavour ll, the ‘J’ Class Americas’ Cup yacht from the 1930s and then the very modern 57.5m. ‘Twizzle’. Other yards build fabulous yachts too but ….. Last autumn, to top it all, I was invited to sail aboard their new 48m. ‘Wisp’. It would be a personal indulgence to describe the minutiae of the detailing despite being fully justified by the quality of the design and craftsmanship. Photographs just cannot capture the moment as it is the overall effect that counts. The ingredients in achieving the overall success of Wisp are; an owner who has a passion for the project which is matched by the means to achieve his goals; an architect who interprets the owner’s wishes (normally including getting a quart into a pint pot amongst other whims) and takes a pride in following the brief of the owner. In this case, the naval architect Andre Hoek (Hoek Design) suggested building the yacht at Royal Huisman. Then we turn to the interior designers (Rhoades Young Design) whose work would be foremost in many people’s initial overall impression of the readily perceived success of the project. Representing the owner in the project was MCM of Newport managing the project on his behalf. Last but not least, the five parties obviously had a common bond and

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worked extremely well together to produce a modern classic high performance cruising yacht (racing was nevertheless still on the agenda) which delivered a comfortable ride. The mix of modern and classic sloop is blurred as the exterior lines are certainly harping back to the era when the flow of lines was at its zenith. The bow overhang is both long and elegant with a stern that complements, together with the deepest of under-cuts on a 48m. yacht, overall, the waterline length is reduced to 33m. The superstructure is low-built which completes the classic look; everything else is modern in both interior design as well as in exploiting the latest technology. Quite reasonably, I would have expected the fundamental compromise of following the classic lines to leave the volumes of the interior to reflect the 33m. waterline

length. How they have created a spacious and light interior is remarkable, particularly bearing in mind the demands on space of the engineering aspects. In addition, to keep noise levels to an absolute minimum, the extensive ducting for both engines and air conditioning has to be large in volume. It had to be repeated to me that working up the interior design had taken a full eight man/years plus another year in supervising the installation. Regardless of the cost, it was time well spent. They exploited every opportunity to optimise space, for example, they identified a wall space of a depth of 10 cm. that could be used. It was just deep enough to build in a cupboard for the slimmer white wine glasses. Still on wine; there is an ottoman with a tray inset on top in the main saloon, under the tray is enough storage capacity for a dozen or so bottles of wine.

The daytime guest accommodation walls are mainly covered in wood panelling, a light coloured, tightly grained oak with very consistent figuring and colour is used. You could anticipate that it is doubtless rare; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only found in a small corner of Germany. Mischievously, I asked where the fresh but subtle green saloon carpet came from: Nepal, effectively every fitting and artefact is bespoke as this is a very personal display of refined but a very practical yachting experience. To follow through with the clean uncluttered lines, instead of having fielded panels, parallel pencil line thickness inlays are used. Look closely and, frequently one of those inlays is actually a gap of exactly the same width as the adjacent inlay. There can be no better way to hide numerous but easily accessible cupboards. The layout, starting from the stern comprises

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of the very spacious owners’ quarters stretching across the full beam of the yacht. Just aft of the en-suite (the bathroom lacks for nothing) is a private sitting area plus a commodious walk-in wardrobe. A few steps up is a door leading to a private alfresco sitting area shielded from everyone’s gaze and weather alike by a ‘pram hood’ canvas awning. There are two en-suite guest cabins forward of the owner’s quarters, a double and a twin. The linking, central passageway leads forward to the saloon. Simply relax or fold back a built-in table top and all the navigational equipment comes into view; a ‘Techie’s’ dream come true. There is still more guest accommodation to come as there is a dining room plus a further smaller sitting area alongside. A good yacht needs generous space for the galley, other services and storage plus crew quarters, so all the accommodation forward is thus dedicated to the running of the yacht. Fine dining is increasingly a major part of the enjoyment on board yachts so galleys have increased in size and sophistication in recent years to attract ever more highly skilled chefs; we much appreciated the flow of dishes from below decks as we sat in the alfresco deck saloon.

an alfresco meal. The actual sailing is controlled immediately aft of the deck saloon, the cockpit for best vision and comfort has a wheel on each side. Guests, who are welcomed to helm and get involved in the joy of driving the yacht, can still join in the social whirl whilst steering. There is ample uncluttered deck space for sunbathing or under cover to watch the world go by or to read. The more energetic amongst us will appreciate the range of ‘toys’ now carried on all yachts these days. The sailing experience was simply an extension of the elegance of the yacht; the crew adeptly handled everything with aplomb, the engine noise was very muted as we manoeuvred and then motored out into clear water until we found the regrettably rather light winds. It was inevitable; the day before they had brisk winds for a great sail topping 15 knots. Nevertheless on our trip the vast sails of the cutter rig filled

as the skipper found wind to turn off the engine, and we then enjoyed a leisurely but nevertheless enjoyable sail. It is important that there are people who can push the boundaries of achievements in quality and technology at all levels. A neglected aspect on these high status projects is the number of jobs they create and maintain in both the building process and ongoing operations. In addition, the job satisfaction by the teams involved in these projects gives them a great style of life. Yacht Builder: www.royalhuisman.com Naval Architect: www.hoekdesign.com Interior Designers: www.rhoadesyoung.com Owner’s Project Managers: www.mcmnewport.com Travel Insurance: www.mpibrokers.com Wisp Yacht photographs by Carlo Baroncini and Cory Silken.

The crew quarters have not been stinted; where appropriate, the wall finishes, similar to the guest quarters have panels of fine textiles including silks and linens which are pieces of art in their own right. Larger yachts have enough space for the crew to have separate access for moving forward and aft without venturing in to the guest accommodation; quite where they conjured up enough space to provide that privacy on Wisp is a marvel. Venturing on deck, there is still more guests’ day accommodation. There is a ‘halfway house’ in the form of a vast deck saloon under a canvas awning; cleverly, the design approach has been to create a nautical feel about it. It is less formal than the main saloon below, I expect the guests would spend much time here whether they are simply wearing swimming costumes or casually dressed for internationalexcellence.co.uk

DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

Scuba Diving is one of the most fascinating, thrilling, adventurous and exploratory sports that anyone can do. You get to kit up like an aquanaut with high tech gear, generally in gorgeous and sunny locations and explore a brave and wondrous three dimensional new world that is so many times larger than our two dimensional home. Ian Fleming fell in love with free diving and Scuba Diving in Jamaica and some of the greatest scenes he wrote took place in the sea, under the sea or even simply walking out of the sea. It is the nearest our generation will get to flying under its own power, free from gravity, as with simple flippers you can glide over the seabed with marvellous ease. Add the right scooter and it is somewhat akin to being Iron Man and soaring, jet propelled, over fabulous strange new terrain, populated with unusual and amazing creatures of all shapes, sizes and colours. Diving enables you to enter a vast new realm, still relatively untouched by visitors and populated by endless fascinating flora and fauna. The sea is the last unspoilt nature reserve where fish, mammals and many other species can be found and observed in a truly natural habitat. Imagine following a giant turtle as it grazes the sea bed or floating with a vast Manta Ray with its wings swaying magnificently as it undulates through the water. You can swim with a shark as it weaves from side to side, flowing through the ether. Soar over Sea Cucumbers that look like giant caterpillars, bigger than your arm. Marvel at

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a whale shark, four times your size, its mouth a vast open abyss, gathering and sifting the plankton as it moves inexorably forward, drifting past you like a floating dirigible. The Maldives has always been one of the top destinations for Scuba Diving so International eXcellence Magazine went there to dive with Prodivers, to see if it lived up to the hype. Much of my youth was spent Scuba Diving in the Mediterranean, and the Maldives was always one of the top dive sites the keenest divers would talk about. Prodivers are one of the leading dive schools in the Maldives and have four centres on four different islands, Kuredu. Komandoo, Lily Beach and Vakarufalhi so I got in touch with them and booked a two week diving experience. Kuredu where we were staying is the home of the Prodivers development centre and is a five star PADI operation, they even have their own Hyperbaric chamber! For those who have not yet tried this divine sport, a hyperbaric chamber is a pressure chamber that can be used to pressurise a diver who has suffered decompression problems. Typically if a diver has not observed their depressurisation times they might need to be put back “down” to a higher pressure so that they can slowly be bought back to normal pressure or one atmosphere. Diving in the Maldives is restricted to 30 metres so it’s not something that is much needed but it is great to dive with a centre that has that capability. Few dive centres

Discovering the Flora and Fauna of the Indian Ocean With Prodivers.

can boast the same, but Prodivers equip their teams with the very best of everything. The Kuredu manager Ray Van Eeden is an absolute stickler for buying the latest and most expensive gear, from the scooters to the rebreathers which is reassuring for both novices and expert divers alike. In fact Prodivers are so well regarded that they have a special license from PADI to teach children as young as eleven to Scuba Dive in the bay at Kuredu and this makes them a great family centre too. Imagine taking your whole family out to see teeming shoals of multi coloured fish and huge turtles that happily play by your side, diving down every so often to nibble the sea grass. An incredible experience and a memory to keep and treasure. The dive centre on Kuredu is a large open wooden bungalow with a long reception counter where you can wander in and book your dives or excursions. They also have booking forms on the outside wall so you can sign up whenever you like. My first excursion was a refresher, as I hadn’t dived in a while, and they like to check you out and see exactly what level of diver you are before venturing further into deeper and more exciting waters. I was introduced to a French instructor, Kamil Duvert, an enthusiastic and friendly professional who has been diving pretty constantly since he was 12, and he delighted in showing me around. We then picked out the gear I would be using for the duration of the dives and I was allocated my own storage point where I could hang the BCD (Buoyancy

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Control Device) and my weights, flippers and mask. The dive room was lined with wooden spokes set at different heights for storing the gear encircling two giant water baths used to clean the salt off the equipment after a dive. At the end of this room was a desk where you could pick up any other gear you might need and rent any extras you might want to try out. Outside the centre was a lovely old Dhow and benches that were used to gear up if you were going diving in the bay or a trolley used to transport the equipment out to the pier nearby, which is lined with boats and the fabulous seaplanes we had arrived on. Kamil and I picked out our tanks, regulator and BCD’s and pulled the whole lot on over our shorts; it is so warm in the Maldives that even diving to 30 metres you don’t need a wetsuit. We waddled towards the pier, did a buddy check on each other and then jumped from the side stairs into the crystal clear water. We were going to dive on the Kuredu House Reef which even has its own wreck about 100 metres out from the beach. We submerged and flippered leisurely along the seabed until we reached the point where the floor drops sharply and then followed the reef parallel along the beach for around 10 minutes. Already we were surrounded by huge and varied shoals of fish in all sizes and colours. The clarity of the water was very good, though I was told that it gets even better in May, and I was already in seventh heaven to be diving in such a great location. However it got better as we approached the wreck, lying perpendicular to the beach and standing almost vertically from prow to bow, from 4 metres down to 15 metres in depth. The visibility was superb and the metal body of the ship was used by every possible type of sea creature as a home. The pilot’s cabin was so thick with fish you could barely see through the flying, swirling, flashing colours as they spun round, darting from one direction to the next. There were creatures of all shapes, sizes, spots, stripes and luminescent silvers and blues, you could have spent hours spotting the different species just here alone. As you approached they would swerve around you, just inches away, moving and reacting at much faster speeds than us. I swiped a hand through a mass of Angel fish, glimmering in front of the deep blue backdrop, and they 46

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coiled around it, with the plankton sparkling and undulating with the current. My favourite fish had to be the Unicorn fish, flat and around two feet long, grey with darker fins running along both its top and bottom edge with a horn that sticks straight out from its eye line for about ten centimetres above a pursed mouth that pouts in a semi serious comedic way. You find them everywhere, even in the shallow water by the beach and they travel both alone and in large shoals. They are endlessly curious and will flutter around you as you swim. Quite the most perfect sea companions and completely harmless, with wonderful facial expressions. We also spotted Napoleon fish, Leaf fish and Bat fish and halfway along the house reef Kamil pointed at a rock that on closer inspection turned out to be a Lion fish. They are the most extraordinary species, slightly larger than your hand, striped in different hues of orange and white, with large transparent fins and bedecked with banded spines; though I was just as intoxicated by the giant sea cucumbers, the size of your leg, inching along the sea floor, camouflaged in sand colours, with darker bars around the head and tail. This is like going back in time and seeing the plains of North America, before the vast herds of animals were hunted down and wiped out, you are surrounded by so many different species in such numbers! We may be depleting the oceans of Cod from over fishing but the habitat is still relatively unspoilt as we have not yet moved in, so most and species are still plentiful. I could have stayed for hours, but I was fast using up the air in my tank with excitement so we circled the wreck and gently made our way back over the rocks and waving fronds to the pier. The first dive had been a great success and Kamil explained that there were many other sites that were even more exciting. He also recommended I do the Nitrox course so I could dive for longer at depth and do more dives in a day. Enriched Air or Nitrox is now a must for all serious divers, you can spend more time diving and less worrying about decompression times, not to mention that

you get less tired over the same number of dives than with normal air. Diving with Nitrox extends your limits and simply makes the dives easier and more fun, with shorter intervals between dives. Enriched Air refers to the mix in the tank which has more oxygen and less nitrogen so you get less exposure to the nitrogen over the same time period. The course can be taken by people as young as twelve so it is fairly straight forward and simple. You are provided with a manual on Enriched Air diving which explains all the information and techniques. Enriched Air is any air mix that is greater than 21% in the tanks. At Prodivers they used a mix of 32% oxygen to 68% nitrogen. One important point is to always check your tank mixture with an air metre yourself just before your dive so you know exactly what you are working with and can plan your dive accordingly. You can buy this air metre yourself or any good dive school will provide you with one so you can perform this test easily. After a couple of hours instruction with instructor Sylvain Veron, I was tested and passed. “Voila” I was a certified Nitrox diver! Prodivers even supply the Nitrox fills free to their divers and were one of the first in the world to do so! Scuba Diving gives you access to a world that is beyond imagination, you will find animals there that defy logic: transparent, star shaped, exploding with spikes, sticky to the touch, in hues that are not found above water and all hidden just a few metres below the surface of the sea. The sea is a magnificent wonderland that would have had Alice even more bemused and infinitely curious. If the legendary explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton were alive today he would be a Scuba Diver and would be seeking out the home of the giant squid or something equally dangerous and inspiring. The great thing is anyone can dive, it really is a sport open to all, as long as you are careful and respect the rules. The technology in diving has advanced so much over the last decade that it is very safe and if you stick to a limit of 30 metres in depth, which is where you get the best light anyway, you can explore this wondrous new world to your heart’s content. www.prodivers.com

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KUREDU ISLAND MALDIVES The Maldives has always enjoyed the reputation of being home to the most beautiful dream islands in the world and one of the top diving destinations for any underwater enthusiast. IX Magazine decided to fly out with Etihad Airways to Male, and the local seaplane company Trans Maldivian Airways to Kuredu and spend a couple of weeks exploring this hypnagogic destination. Kuredu Island Resort and Spa is one of the largest islands in the Maldives and is found to the north of Male, in the Lhaviyani Atoll. Once at Male it is a short drive to the dock to catch the seaplane, a floatplane rather than flying boat, which has to be the most romantic mode of transport ever invented. It’s not just the use of floatplanes in Raiders of The Lost Ark that elevate this plane into the luxury travel hall of fame, but also the associated photographic and written history from the 20’s onwards. The seaplane port itself is an unspoiled low tech delight, exactly what you would hope for, multiple jetties jut out into the sea from the quay with numerous seaplanes bobbing about. The pilots and passengers embarking and disembarking on to the moving platforms with the look of expectant explorers commencing exciting journeys into hitherto unexplored territories. We waited our turn in the comfortable lounge which came pretty swiftly as we had arrived early so they moved us to an earlier flight. We bounced happily along the wooden pontoon to our fiery red and white striped seaplane and clambered up the small steps to the cabin door, squeezing through into the 12 seater interior. The engines started up with a vibrational roar and we taxied out from the pier to the open sea and picked up

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speed, until with the gentlest of bumps we were airborne, spray streaming off the sides of the aircraft and gliding smoothly up into the vivid cerulean sky. After 30 minutes we landed waterskiing style by a tiny planked raft in the middle of the Indian ocean where we dropped one of the passengers who was picked up by a boat to escort her to her island destination. The image of the seaplane lashed to this tiny raft will stay with me forever, a seaplane version of Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa undulating on the crystal waters with infinite azure waves fanning out in all directions. We bumped along the water again until the little hop that signified breaking off from the water and sailed back up into the sunshine heading for Kuredu, gliding over the scores of islands, lilliputian flecks of yellow and green dotted in crescents along our path. The air is so clear with only the spinning blades of the craft between you and the unspoiled view of the atolls below that every palm tree and stretch of sand emerges pin sharp from the sea as you approach. Eventually

Flying Seaplanes Over Dream Island and Basking in Heaven.

with a ripple of excitement we spotted our island destination rolling towards us on a carpet of blue velvet. We circled Kuredu to approach into the wind from the opposite side and came in sharply to land with the softest thump and glide on the water, taxying smoothly to the large pier extending from the middle of the island. We disembarked to be greeted by the staff and management, our bags whisked away to the rooms, while we were escorted to the Akiri bar to enjoy a mint tea and warm hand towels that were most welcome after around 18 hours of travel from London. The beach villas we had ordered on the southern side were perfect in every way, right on the beach and facing out to sea, each villa separate from the others and with its own terrace merely 20 metres from the crystal waters. Rarely did we ever see anyone else on the beach, at very most maybe 10 people on sands that could fit hundreds. The villas have everything you need, a lovely 4 poster bed with large screen tv and adjoining open air bathroom and shower. The night air is warm and insect free and it is lovely showering in a

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warm garden every evening. The next day after a refreshing swim in the soft, clear Indian ocean we explored the island to see what it had to offer for our two week stay. The set up at Kuredu is pretty special. We were impressed at the range of facilities on offer - a huge plus for those who worry about being bored on a small island. There is a six hole golf course with full size driving range, gym, football pitch, spa, boutique shops, Pro Divers centre, Ocean Watersports, three swimming pools, four buffets, three a la carte restaurants and quite a few bars! Watching two Maldivian teams battle it out on the football pitch in the first match of the tournament was a delight and the skills on display were formidable. However the The Maldives is known less for its football and more as one of the greatest places to dive in the world and home to a Prodiver sports centre. Prodivers is one of the very best diving centres equipped with all the latest Scuba gear, Scooters, Nitrox, Hyperbaric chamber and even Rebreathers. Then there are the plethora of excursions to be experienced: island hopping, fishing, Atoll cruises, and the ultimate Robinson Crusoe and Dream Island trips. We were lucky enough to experience Dream Island, a stunning sandbank island a short speedboat ride away from Kuredu. You are whisked from the dock in a lovely white motorboat across the rippling glassy water to this island that is about 400 metres long and 30 metres wide with just a hut made of palm leaves. It is utterly Robinson Crusoe, only they also leave you with enormous luxury hampers filled with vast quantities of food and cold boxes with enough soft drinks, beer and wine to last a month, let alone the afternoon. They also leave you with a mobile phone in case you need anything else and will pop back for any request. Dream island is one for the bucket list, you must experience it, the sand bar curves in a crescent shape with the most vitreous, mellifluous crystal water rippling all around you. I don’t mean to go on, but the water there flows like a living thing, viscous and caressing, as you glide through it. It is a dream of heaven and I would gladly have stayed there for the entire trip. Sadly as the sun set the boat came to fetch us and take us back to Kuredu and we waved the island a

fond farewell. The staff on Kuredu are part of the island’s charm, with the island hosts, waiter and chefs reaching high levels of helpfulness and friendliness and they go out of their way to enhance your stay. You are assigned a waiter who looks after you for your entire stay which is like having your own concierge. Our waiter Alfans looked after us and quickly got to know what we liked, the three chefs also took great effort to offer us their best local cuisine and greet us warmly every time we came in for a meal. In particular I had been looking forward to the sushi restaurant Far East which sadly had burned down shortly before we arrived and when one of the chef’s Ibrahim found this out, he started cutting up a gigantic Tuna for me and then subsequently pre-prepared a lovely dish of sushi from the best catch of the day to present me with each day. This was excellent service above and beyond and I was extremely happy to be eating such fresh fish, all pole caught that morning in the sea only a few metres away. Fear not, the sushi restaurant is being rebuilt and stylishly improved so it should be done by the time you read this and great plans are afoot to make it even better than before. The high standard, quality and variety of food is impressive, with the buffets constantly providing delicious feasts for us all. The a la carte restaurants: Carlo’s, and The Beach go even further, with The Beach providing an extremely high level of dining. We spent a delightful evening there, which as its name suggests is actually on the sand overlooking the south side of the island and the food and service are quite magnificent and to a very high standard. Add the skill of the chefs to the quality and freshness of the produce and you have a restaurant that compares with the best in London, Paris or New York. It is a wonderfully romantic setting with great food

and most certainly worth a visit. Another experience that stands out is the Veli dinner, a five course menu paired with wine, which takes place on the beach in your own dining area made of sand, surrounded by flowing white muslin drapes, a must for romantic couples. You can walk round Kuredu in 45 minutes to an hour depending on just how leisurely a pace you set, it is wonderful at sunset as you are treated to black tip reef sharks in one cove, sting rays in another and if you are lucky you will see dolphins playing out to sea. The flora and fauna are bounteous, with coconut palms, Banyan trees, tropical birds, black rabbits, every type of crab imaginable, giant fruit bats that swoop erratically from tree to tree and Sir Henry the resident Heron. You feel like Dr Doolittle on your own Sea-Star Island. You can peruse the different areas as you stroll round all with their own restaurant and bar, such as Sangu which is adults only, where the water villas can be found and the starry twinkling lights infinity pool. The O, which is for over 12’s only and is the newest part of the resort with a restaurant set out over the water. All the restaurant and bar interiors are well thought out with impressive nautical themes, with colossal Manta Rays and Conches hanging from the ceilings and lanterns shaped like vast jelly fish, brilliantly illuminated at night. The night time activities, if you wish to join in, range from Maldivian dancing to live music and white themed parties and were all well organised and a delight to watch. It is the swimming and the sea for which the Maldives is rightly famous and as someone who is happy spending 8 hours a day or more in the sea it was heaven. The water as previously ecstatically mentioned is warm and clear and abundant with fish. The fish in the Maldives are very territorial and can

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almost always be found in the same place and it was a pleasure finding the same friends to play with each morning. They are very friendly and will come up and swim around you, darting around whilst feeding. This goes for the turtles too. There were a couple of Hawksbill turtles who were always just in front of our villa, about 5 metres out and you could swim with them every day and accompany them as they foraged for more of the undersea grasses they clearly enjoyed. Swimming with turtles every day was simply exceptional and hardly seems mentioned by the locals as it is such an every day experience, but it is wonderful diving down and floating up with them as they rise for air every so often. The turtles are used to people and very relaxed and will happily play as long as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too close or bother them. They will gently push you aside if you get in their way, but you should be very careful to respect their space and enjoy their presence without interfering with their leisurely dip. One of my favourite fish was the Yellowmargin Triggerfish which is a large beast with black

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and yellow markings and humongous pink lips. These lips look like the famous trout pout of a Los Angeles plastic surgeon gone wrong. They are magnificent, over a foot and half long and they will warn you if you get too near to their nest by darting at you from different directions. One interesting encounter saw me surrounded by two of them as they circled me, huge pink lips swinging around at great speed, until I moved away and they promptly forgot about me. Kuredu is a wonderful introduction to the Maldives, its natural beauty is breathtaking, the range of activities on offer is extensive, and it caters for everyone, from the diver who will spend all the time in the incredible Indian Ocean and only needs a garden or beach bungalow to crash in at night, to the families in the beach villas, to the honeymoon couples in the adults only Sangu resort, and finally the ultimate Sultan Villas with their own private pools for that extra taste of luxury. One fly in the ointment is the return journey. Make sure you get an early flight back as the seaplanes are not co ordinated with the return flights

as much as they are with the arrivals. So for a later flight you risk being ushered to the airport 4 or 5 hours before your connection and wasting half a day sitting in the lounge, which when you have paid handsomely for your trip is a poor end to the holiday. Despite this we highly recommend the resort. The people, service, food, amenities, location and sheer natural beauty make this a perfect place to spend your holiday. Whilst not the height of luxury, neither are you being charged luxury prices and Kuredu gives you elements of luxury in stunning surroundings at great value. Kuredu has one of the highest return rates for guests we have ever seen and in fact we met many people who had been coming for 10, 15, even 17 years, though the record stands at 33 visits. Normally this is not something we would do, preferring to try new places each time, but with Kuredu we might make an exception. www.kuredu.com

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DUNIYE SPA KUREDU MALDIVES In the Indian Ocean to the north of Male, is the Lhaviyani Atoll, and there you will find Kuredu, one of the larger islands in the Maldives. Kuredu has something for everyone: diving, water sports, a golf course, a football pitch, gym, beautifully fresh and delicious food, great bars and a wonderful spa. In fact, Kuredu boasts two Duniye spas, the Land Spa in the tropical garden setting of Kuredu’s main area and the Over Water Spa is in the luxury setting of the “O” resort, set out on stilts over the Indian Ocean. Both are aromatic oases of calm and serenity, with the Over Water Spa maintaining your view of the turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean while you drift away into deep relaxation. Duniye Spas have 11 different locations in the Maldives and Seychelles. Duniye means universe, and their spas provide a holistic approach to health and well-being. Their services are inspired by traditional and modern therapies from around the globe with an emphasis on regional healing traditions from Asia and Africa. Duniye Spas claim to have “created a space of healing, touch and aroma, to promote within you a deep sense of calm, joy and serenity” and I can attest that in Kuredu they certainly have. The Duniye Spa at Kuredu has a wide menu of treatments, but it was their three signature treatments that caught my eye: Sense of Touch, Heaven on Earth and Maldivian Island Paradise, all sounding utterly divine. I had plumped for the Maldivian Island Paradise which “uses the essence of coconut from top

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to toe, to give shiny and lustrous hair, smooth and soft skin, profound and deep relaxation.” It sounded exactly what I needed. On arrival at the spa, I was seated comfortably in the reception area, which smells divine, and given a welcome lemon drink with a cool lavender scented flannel, to ease me into a calmer frame of mind. I was then gently escorted to my treatment room where the beautiful array of coconut products were laid out for me. There were two massage beds with glass floors to look down through and gaze at the fish floating by below, a shower and changing room, and windows looking out onto the inspiring Indian Ocean. After I had changed into a robe, I was in for a surprise as I was guided out through a door onto the serenity deck, where I sat and drank in the uplifting view of the Lhaviyani Atoll while my feet were bathed and massaged for about ten minutes. The hypnotic sound of waves soothed my senses as I gazed out at the horizon and the beautiful blue waters. A wonderful start. Next I was ushered back into the treatment room and was soon lying face down and watching the fish through the glass floor, which is mesmerising. Then followed about an hour of seriously good massage (you can choose between a Balinese or muscle ease massage, depending on your preference) with coconut oil: back, shoulders and legs, before turning over and the massage continued.

Emily de Contades Luxuriates in a Maldivian Island Paradise.

and later pure quartz crystals and jade rollers were used in a healing face massage. Even my hair was not neglected, and a warm coconut treatment was massaged in, followed by a cool coconut mask - incredibly refreshing. By this stage I had already reached an extreme state of bliss. A freshly ground coconut-vanilla body polish followed for a moisturising exfoliation all over, which woke my sleepy skin though not myself, and it was then very hard to get up and stagger over to the shower to rinse my hair and body. I gratefully returned back to the bed for a final covering of soothing coconut body lotion, which was heaven. I had totally lost track of time during the previous two hours, all my senses had been stimulated: the view of the Indian Ocean and the fish beneath my feet, the sound of the waves, the scent of the coconut, the touch of the massage and the taste of the lemon drink to start and tea to finish. I felt like a cat stretched out in the sun - completely content. Back in the reception area I sipped my ginger and lemongrass tea, glowing with essence of coconut and feeling utterly at peace with the world. The Duniye team are extremely professional and dedicated and the Maldivian Island Paradise is 120 minutes of total relaxation, with every inch of you cared for, in beautiful surroundings. I finished my tea and slowly drifted out into the hot sun and floated off down the beach, radiating health and happiness, in a state of pure tranquility. www.kuredu.com/recreation/spa/

Hot stones were placed on at different times,

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TALKING TECHNOLOGY Wearable technology is all the rage, but still in its infancy. However the great new tech bandwagon of the Smart Watch industry is well up to speed now with many brands launched already, but will it make the distance? They can connect to your phone, monitor your health, text, email and take notes via voice input. Some have an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an altimeter, a barometer, a compass and of course GPS so you can measure your speed, distance, angle, height, depth and even heart rate. For the OCD inclined who want statistics on everything it’s 7th heaven, or 6.999th heaven if you want to be exact. The new Smart Watches will break down the world into precise bits of information, effectively connecting us more closely with the growing social and work orientated software and netware. We are rushing into the future now, a hybrid

period where we take that first step towards cyborgs, a mix mash of man/woman and machine. Effectively linked through a bracelet on our wrists that will eventually connect to everything and everyone around us. The potential is limitless, information regarding our health, our careers, our dating tastes, social status, wealth and shopping habits will automatically be swapped around at light speed. Many of the most mundane tasks can be automated, based on where we are at any particular moment or chosen preferences: a drink automatically re ordered at the bar, bills paid for as we pass the store or restaurant, travel arranged as we reach the station. There is no end to the possibilities of automation once we are tagged in infinite ways. What about the traditional watch industry, will it fall by the wayside as watches morph into complex computers? Actually traditional watchmaking should not suffer, quite the

contrary, Smart Watches will open out the industry to a wider audience. Luxury mechanical watches have for a long time distinguished themselves from electronic watches as objets d’art or wonderful works of luxury craftsmanship, competing more with cars and luxury items than with laptops. The British watch industry is enjoying something of a renaissance, with more and more brands starting and succeeding in the UK. Mechanical watches are more luxury items of jewellery, crafted to perfection using traditional techniques, pairing quality and design, rather than simply a product to tell the time. Smart Watches will be distinct from established luxury watch brands though many will collect both, selecting which to wear according to mood, purpose and environment. Here we have selected our favourite Smart Watches that blend form and function to great effect.

Garmin fēnix 3 The fenix 3 is probably the best looking of all the Smart Watches and comes with a host of sports applications and apps. The fenix® 3 Sapphire comes with a dark stainless steel bezel and scratch resistant domed sapphire glass lens. You can design colourful always-on watch faces and it supports Connect IQ and comes with GPS, altimeter, Tracback and barometer. It has a high-resolution colour Chroma display that enhances the display of analogue watch faces to convey a classic look. Price from £369. Works with iOS, Android. fenix3.garmin.com/en-GB 64

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LG Watch Urbane This is another great looking Smart Watch. Stainless steel with stitched leather strap. WIFI enabled so you can use without your phone. Finger slide to change screens. Works with IOS, Android. Price from £259 lg.com/us/smartwatch/urbane

Motorola Moto 360 WIFI and heart rate sensor, with multiple faces, bezels, colours and straps,. You can design your watch your way online with Moto Maker. Price from £259 Works with IOS, Android. motorola.com/us/products/moto-360

Apple Watch It says media darling, yes, but it will go with the MacBook, iPad, Apple TV and iPhone, not to mention the numerous apps and functions. Not as attractive as some of the competition though. Price from £299. Works with IOS. apple.com/uk/watch/

Suunto DX Black Titanium Not exactly a Smart Watch per se, but it is the divers watch par excellence and definitely one to add to the collection if you are the adventurous sort. Wear for all occasions as a conversation starter. Rebreather compatible. Price from £1,195.00 suunto.com/en-GB

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ART ROTANA HOTEL BAHRAIN Another day, another airport terminal at some ungodly hour of the morning. However it seems petty to moan as I was off to Bahrain to stay at the new Art Rotana Hotel and take in the sights and sounds of this island jewel set in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I was flying with Gulf Air which is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, so we arrived in Muharraq, a little island just off the capital city of Manama, on time and in comfort. Gulf Air is extremely well run with comfortable seats, good food and personable cabin crew. Flying economy feels like business class on any other airline and first class is so good it feels like you’ve already arrived at your destination and you can start the holiday on take off. The flight was a breeze and once landed in Bahrain we moved swiftly through customs as the airport is small and well organised, only to hit a small snag which concerns anyone working in media. We were detained by security along with a seemingly random group of women and children for no apparent reason after passing through passport control. The snafu, it turned out was that one of our party had put “publisher” as his profession on the landing form. This is also the same mistake that one lady with two very small children had made. She published children’s educational books, so no real threat to national security, but be warned airport security will detain anyone who lists their profession on the landing card as either writer, publisher, photographer or media, and you will stay there until someone can vouch for you. So be advised do not count yourself as any sort of media unless you have cast iron permits to practice that profession in the country. However after a little while the hotel sorted 68

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International eXcellence Experiences Art Therapy, Jacuzzis and Watercraft.

out the delay and we arrived safely at the Art Rotana in the Amwaj islands, less than half an hour from the airport. The hotel entrance is imposing, modern with curved swooping lines and the staff greet you immediately with hot towels, dates, tea and great big smiles. The lobby is a vast pillared marble extravaganza, beautifully designed to bring you into the space, past the check in desks and then off to the lifts. Check in is swift and painless and very soon I was ensconced in the luxury suite overlooking the pool, sea and brand new marina. I was staying in the classic suite which is magnificent, consisting of a large terrace with covered double wicker lounger and Jacuzzi, a huge living room and a large king sized bed with adjoining bathroom, shower and giant jacuzzi bath, all tastefully decorated in marble and subdued browns and greys. Including giant screen tv, instant wifi and fully laden complimentary fridge There were also dates, chocolates and other treats attractively arranged on the dining room table in warm welcome. The chocolates were absolutely sublime and I would heartily recommend the place for them alone. I quickly changed and made my way down to the pool, the best way to get over any plane journey, however comfortable. There are two main pools, one for families and one for adults only, which is where I found my reserved pool longer and immediately ordered a wonderful fruit cocktail from the waiting attendants. The service at the pool is friendly and attentive and if you have reserved your lounger they will keep it for you too. No pushy tourists stealing the pool beds here! My delightful companions soon joined me and we made our way off to Choices for

lunch, the Art Rotana all day restaurant. I was instantly in heaven, there was a vast platter of sushi and plates of lobster and crayfish, all beautifully prepared, sea fresh and tender. After lunch we made our way to the dock just past the pool to board a lovely luxury yacht the hotel keeps for guests and sailed off around the island. You cannot go to Bahrain and not take a boat out, the sea is very warm even in October and the vistas of the island from the sea are magnificent, where you can admire all the incredible palaces, minarets and developments underway. We even sailed past the house where Michael Jackson lived when he was producing an album with the Prince of Bahrain, Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Khalifa. Bahrain has for millennia made its living from the sea and not just fishing, with a large proportion of its population diving for pearls, which was its main industry. Bahrain used to be called ‘Dilmun’ or Pearl Islands and was famous for the quality and size of its pearls dating back 2000 years BC. At its peak the pearl industry employed half the population of the islands on around 3000 boats. The annual income apparently reached $10 million at its peak, giving the people of Bahrain one of the

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Dalal Al Sindi

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highest per capita incomes in the world. The pearling methods used changed very little over a thousand years with divers still using traditional diving methods well in the 1900’s. They would dive down from the side of the boat with a rope for guidance and another to haul up the booty in a net bag. They would use beeswax to stop up their ears and dive to depths of 50 feet or more, remaining submerged for up to three minutes! A single diver could collect a dozen oysters at a time and make around 60 descents in a day. The pearl industry continued until the 1930’s when it crashed because of cheap imports of cultured pearls from Japan. Luckily enough the Standard Oil Company of California struck oil in 1932 and this new income more than made up for the loss of the pearl industry. However you can actually go pearl diving and what an experience that would be, I did not have enough time while I was there, but it gives me a fantastic reason to go back. You can even keep the pearls you find and there is a recent tale of a women finding a large rare black pearl that sold for $10,000. There are various tour operators offering this experience and of course the Art Rotana can arrange a trip if you so request. Dinner at Rosso’s that evening was a great success, the restaurant is well lit and welcoming, overlooking the terrace with views out to sea. The chef Federica Piccioni is an absolute charmer who is takes great personal pride in her wide range of Italian cuisine made from the freshest local ingredients. She is clearly passionate about presenting a varied popular menu, such as great pizza, as well as surprisingly inventive signature dishes in an open and inviting kitchen. It is her personal touch that really makes it and we eat there many more times during our short stay as she made it such a fun experience.

The next morning we were booked in for a painting class with the exceptional art therapist Dalal Al Sindi, who generally works with people with psychological problems or just those who feel the need for a little help in life. She offers a one to one class or group sessions in art for people with learning disabilities, anger problems, stress, anxiety, fear, trauma and communication difficulties. Despite her great reputation for helping children and people traumatised by war, I was little sceptical as to how effective art could be as a therapy tool. The next two hours could not have been more effective in convincing me how wrong I was. I was in a group of six fairly different people and yet it was simply astounding to see how Dalal reached everyone in the group in quite a profound way. Her manner was extremely impressive, warm, sincere, open and honest, the sort of person you trust immediately. At first everyone was curious and saw it as a little bit of fun, but once they started drawing, the mood became much more serious and contemplative. Much thought went into each picture and it became clear that it really was a very impressive way of getting people to open up. With gentle guidance from Dalal on what kind of things we might draw and examples taken from famous paintings, we all bared our souls. One of our party was

moved to tears and deeply touched, but we all were affected in different ways. Dalal is quite exceptional and it is worth going to Art Rotana in Bahrain simply for this experience, even if you have no communication problems but especially if you feel that a kind and sympathetic soul might just be able to help you with any problems in life you might be facing. After another magnificent 7 course meal at Rosso’s with Federica’s kind care I headed off to the pontoon to pick up a classic Sea-Doo watercraft and headed out into the Persian gulf to clear my head and kick the heart rate up a notch by flying over the waves at around 50 miles per hour whilst admiring the incredible panoramas. There were three old oil tankers rusting away in the bay, with the new Arabian palace under construction on the opposite shore and the city’s minarets festooned along the coastline. It was a magnificent fusion of old Arabia mixed with the modern architecture for which the country is now becoming justly famous. In the early evening we popped along to Block 338 which is a newly arising art district with trendy galleries and cafes, much reminiscent of Berlin’s underground art scene, with street

After dinner we retired to Cellar 59 Bar where a DJ mixed some excellent sets and got the crowd hip hopping away, whilst we tried out some very tasty and visually stunning smoky cocktails that seems to come straight out of a Harry Potter potions mixing class. They have a great range of fine wines and some seriously good whiskies too. It is a wonderful place to lounge, chat, relax and luxuriate the evening away. internationalexcellence.co.uk

works decorating cross roads, roundabouts and the narrow pedestrian alleys. We dined there at Lanterns Indian restaurant, which has a lovely outside bar festooned with lanterns along side a warm convivial restaurant with great food and service. Original indian authentic cuisine with an Arabian twist. The next morning we took breakfast at the delightful Saffron Cafe founded by Naris Kambar, a business woman who was also ambassador for Bahrain at last year’s Expo Milan. The cafe is set in an old Madbasa which is where dates were pressed for their honey. The cafe is very popular with authentic Bahrain cuisine and classical, elegant decor. You can even see the old date press rooms in the basement though the glass floor. After we visited the Al Jasrah Handicrafts Centre which is a great place to pick up local hand made gifts for friends and family and were treated to an impromptu concert by a famous local musician on the lute, who also made stunning bespoke pearl jewellery. You can find pottery making, cloth weaving, wood working, basket weaving, and sadow making all housed in a restored classical style

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mansion. In contrast to this we stopped off at the Bahrain National Museum which is a great example of modern middle east architecture, strong imposing lines of steel, cement and glass with historical references to Bahrain’s rich history. The museum has full size life stories of Bahrain’s past and a great map of Bahrain sunk into the marble floor, so you can stride across the island like Gulliver in Lilliput, stepping from one area to another with giant ease. They have a great pearl diving display there too! The day finished off with a swim in the pool and a few drinks followed by a wonderful massage in the hotel spa before dinner at the superb Flames restaurant. Great cocktails and a wonderful surf and turf menu, in good company and opulent surroundings, made it a perfect end to a wonderful few days. I would highly recommend Art Rotana as the perfect place to stay when visiting Bahrain, to take in the history, the fine dining, the scenery and relax in the warm wonderful sea, with a little jet skiing to keep you fit and perhaps a little pearl diving just for the adventure.

ART Rotana Hotel: Stay at the five star ART Rotana in Bahrain from BD122 (approx. £211) per room, per night, inclusive of breakfast based on two adults sharing a Classic Room. To book or for further information, please visit www.rotana. com. Gulf Air: Gulf Air offers twice daily flights from London Heathrow to Bahrain. Return economy tickets start from £584 per person, and business class tickets start from £2,047. All fares include taxes and are pending availability. To book, call 0844 493 1717 or visit www.gulfair.com Dalal Al Sindi Art Therapy Bahrain: www. arttherapybh.com/ Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre: culture.gov. bh/en/visitingbahrain/destinations/ Name,10286,en.html... Bahrain National Museum: www.bahrain. com/en/vp/things-to-do/top-ten-sights/ Pages/Bahrain-N...

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IX INTERVIEWS ROB BUNCE

IX Magazine interviewed the impressive Rob Bunce, a 2015 Artemis Offshore Academy Rookie, after sailing with him for the day in The Solitaire Du Figaro. Age: 21 Hometown: Warminster, Wiltshire Boat name: Artemis 37 Title sponsor: Artemis Offshore Academy Number of Solitaire du Figaros: 1 (35th overall, 10th Rookie, 2015) How did you first get into sailing and where? I got into sailing through my Grandfather and father at the age of four. My first experience of sailing alone was at a small inland lake near Lymington on the South Coast of England.

I got involved with the Solitaire Du Figaro by being one of the lucky few to be selected for the Artemis Offshore Academy. I spent a year in the squad and was selected to do the race first time round. What makes this race so special? It is known as the unofficial championships of offshore sailing. For many it is the pinnacle of the sailing world. So many great names are still involved; handfuls of the world’s most accomplished sailors have competed over the years. Still to this day it is one of the most competitive sailing fleets in the world. What unique challenges does this race present over other sailing events?

What is it about sailing that you love? I love the variety in sailing. The fact that there are so many different types and forms mean that it can be enjoyed by so many. Also the purity of it entices me. The fact that it is all powered by nature, it is a very sustainable sport in a simple sense. How did you get involved in the Solitaire Du Figaro?

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Firstly it is solo so you only have yourself to rely on. There is no outside assistance with weather or course help like there is in other offshore sailing races. The length of the legs means you spend the best part of a month managing extreme levels of fatigue. Can you tell us about the boats used in the race?

International eXcellence Enjoys Sailing in the Solitaire du Figaro With New Sailing Talent Rob Bunce.

The boats used are 33 feet long Bénéteau Figaro IIs. Just 100 were built solely for the race. They are specifically designed for solo or short handed offshore racing. With a strong structure and a deck layout made for one or two people there is no better boat for the purpose. How do you cope with the lack of sleep during the race? Being tired during the race is just a fact of life. The race is won or lost with how you manage it. Personally this is probably what I found hardest about the race. For me making sure I nailed the simple things like eating well and resting when possible is the only way to counter the lack of sleep. Dealing with it fully though takes years of practice. I try and sail to my strengths for example I know I am excellent close quarters, starting and highpressure manoeuvres play into my staple skills. It’s all about pushing hard at the right time I have always felt fast downwind in light to moderate conditions so when it is like this I will push extra hard. I tend to sail on feel more than with data on the screen. If the boat feels good then the numbers will come and the speeds the boat should be

doing will be achieved.

Who are your sailing heroes/mentors and why?

Could you share some of your favourite race I have looked up to Sir Ben Ainslie since I was moments? five years old. I admire how he has dominated Before the race even began, the parade of in some many different disciplines of the sail up the river to Bordeaux was incredibly sport. special. The amount of people there cheering your name was overwhelming. The I also idolise French skipper Alain Gautier (VendĂŠe Globe winner) for his modesty and atmosphere was fantastic. love of the sport. He continues to excel in all During the first leg we had an amazing sail types of sailing with no hesitance in giving around Cape Finnistere with the sun setting advice and help to others alongside him over the mountains and the boat with the whether they are teammates or competitors. spinnaker up at maximum attack in 30 knots What other sailing challenges would you like of wind. to compete in? My other favourite moment was coming along the English Coast on Leg 3 and I would like to move into the area of the sport finishing with my best result into Torquay. All that is developing the most. The multihulls my friends and family there to greet me at the of all shapes and sizes are really changing sailing and I want to be a part of it. As far a finish, it was a moment to be remembered. specific races go my overall goal in life is to

sail in the Americas Cup. On route to this hopefully the GC 32 circuit and some offshore multihull sailing. Name some of your favourite place to sail in the world. Helsinki, Oslo and of course the Solent! What plans do you have for the near future? I have recently just delivered the Donfeng Volvo 65 to Gothenberg, I have some high latitude sailing on the cards in the coming weeks and possibly some Extreme 40 sailing after that. International eXcellence recommends this chap as definitely one to watch, a future sailing legend in the making. www.lasolitaire.com ww.artemisoffshoreacademy.com

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Winter is here, and more importantly Christmas - the most excellent shopping time of year. Love eXcellence is our beautiful luxury on-line shop. Wonderful gift ideas from the everyday to the extraordinary - marshmallows to space travel, heaven either way and both truly excellent! Fantastic furniture to enhance your home, radios, speakers, glassware, dining ware, barware, comfy cushions and a few kitchen essentials chocolate and champagne!

beautiful bags, gorgeous jewellery, sublime sunglasses and wonderful watches. Beauty products galore to tempt and tone you and marvellous make-up. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also plenty for the art, fishing, boating, cycling, motorbike enthusiast and fitness fanatic. As well as some unique experiences: helicopter rides, indoor skydiving, polo lessons and yacht charters. Something for everyone, whatever the budget and all truly eXcellent! Happy Shopping!

Amazing fashion and accessories for you, fabulous frocks, divine denim,

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loveexcellence.co.uk Pucket Board Game Mk 1 Original Version £40 “a crucial game for every family Christmas. Beware, it gets aggressive.” Pippa Middleton, The Daily Telegraph. Pucket is a frantic dexterity game. Players race each other to clear the pucks from their side of the board by catapulting them through a small hole leading to the other side (the “gate”). Any pucks that arrive on your side must be sent back before you win. The game appeals to anyone with a competitive streak. Blend Collective 3 Piece Variety Gift Pack £45.50 The perfect gift consisting of Enlivening Lip Balm to revitalise, refresh and protect, Balancing Body Moisturiser to calm, nourish and replenish and Unwinding Soap Bar to cleanse, erase and caress; this organic moisturising. Blend Collective have created a new and exciting truly natural body care range, using unique pure essential oil blends. Ash Water Carafe and Glass Set £156

Bluebell Vineyard Estates, Hindleap Classic Cuvée 2010 £24 A traditional Champagne blend with an English twist. A blend of the three classic Champagne varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this Classic Cuvée from Sussex has spent over 30 months on its yeast lees. Golden yellow in colour, with soft bubbles and a cream texture, the wine displays brioche, caramel and butterscotch flavours along with tropical fruit aromas, such as mango, red apple and baked pear flavours. Moroccan Natural Organic Argan Oil 100ml £34

Each set is hand blown to create these collectibles. The design is achieved through the movement of colour blown into the glass, a technique that is fiendishly difficult to achieve let alone master. Each piece is truly unique. The MARTA Ash Set from Bib & Sola is offered in 8 colours which can be mixed and matched depending on preference of colour and requirements.

Often referred to as ‘Liquid Gold’ as it’s packed with some of nature’s best beauty enhancers. Incredibly rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants, Argan Oil is not only used as an anti-aging agent, but is suitable for skin prone to psoriasis, eczema, acne and chicken pox. It is also said to reduce scaring and prevents stretch marks.

852London’s Zoe Earrings £49 Two trends combine into one with this chic pair of earrings. Crafted in eye-catching rose gold tone. This dangling orbit drop earring is decorated with white and black rhinestones, white pearls and feature a tassel design made from various onyx chains and black crystal rhinestones. Dimensions: Depth 8cm. Mixed metal in rose gold tone. internationalexcellence.co.uk

Bella Box Gianduja Grande £39.95 A deluxe praline selection box containing our finest gianduja products including the award winning triple layered cremini. Made using traditional recipes, the Gianduja box includes a delicate blend of flavours and textures. From the rich and creamy pistachio Gemme, to the delightful ‘Delice’ containing a whole hazelnut surrounded by gianduja and coated in chocolate. The Gianduja box will delight the praline lover with its exceptional quality of chocolate and gianduja in a stylish luxury box.

Jasmine Silk Throw £100 A 100% Mulberry silk throw that’s finer than pashmina and much softer than cashmere. Perfect for a guest bed, sofa or armchair. The ultimate luxury to throw over your shoulders when you’re relaxing at home.

TreasurePods Gold Locket from £175 TreasurePods glass memory lockets come in a choice of sizes and are available in gold, silver or gold plated. Choose your locket and then add your charms and birthstones to create those special memories. Lockets can be opened and closed so you can add to your Treasure Pod over time. All lockets are hallmarked and handmade in the UK. 78

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Veritas Silver Lizard Print Credit Card Holder £25 Credit card holder from Royal Warrant Holders, Veritas, in silver lizard print on soft lambskin. Five card sections, two each side and one at the top. Dimensions: 105 x 70 mm. Beautifully presented in the purple Veritas box tied with blue ribbon.

Lip Watch GDG Automatic Milanese Chrome £265 The “General de Gaulle” watch is so called because it was offered to him by Fred Lip in 1958. LIP worked out numerous inventions in the watch making sector and remains to this day the most innovative of its sector. LIP house continues even today by launching this special edition in automatic version and bracelet in Milanese stitch. Always anxious to anticipate the latest market trends, it accessorises this model to give it a refined jewel finish.

Roberts Blutune 50 Radio Sound System £85 The new Blutune range of DAB/Bluetooth Sound Systems from Roberts Radio will blow your streaming minds. Stream your music from iPhones and smartphones and lap up the sound quality. The BluTune 50 is a compact table top solution offering a whole host of features including stereo sound system with a 2.1 speaker system, USB socket for iPhone/ Smartphone charging, DAB/DAB+ and FM wavebands andso much more.

The Lisa, Jet Black with Gold Body Frock Dress £190 A Body Frock signature dress with a twist! This sexy fine filigree long sleeved lace dress has soft scalloped edges on hemline and sleeves and a slim fabric-covered belt to accentuate the waist. The contrasting gold sculpting slip gives this dress the perfect extra for a ‘wow’ night out. Body Frock dresses are engineered to enhance your finest features. With their special control lining, the dresses are designed to deliver confidence every time.

Salina Luxury Black Leather with Orange Hidee Handbag £550 The Hidee handbag is the newest trend setting handbag, a concept designer bag to covet. This handbag can hide high-heels in her lower compartment, making her the perfect handbag for the well-heeled! The unlined hobo in black with a pop of orange leather inside will lift you no matter what your mood, it will inspire your day. In keeping with the contemporary cool the hardware is silver colour. The handbag has a magnet on the top compartment and a zip compartment perfect to keep everything under wraps.

Whitney Aqua Snake Pinucci Shoes £125 Designed in Marylebone and crafted in Spain, these elegant slip on mid heel pumps are both elegant and comfortable. With a super wearable 80mm heel, these Whitney pumps are versatile enough to be worn with smart tailoring or can be styled more casually with a basic top and skinny jeans.

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Victoria Tryon Pearl Drop and Diamond Bow Ear Studs £1,195 These stunning 18kt white gold, diamond and pearl ear studs form part of the VT Essentials Collection, this carefully selected compilation of timeless pieces provide the staple parts to one’s jewellery wardrobe. These beautiful earrings represent wearability and elegance, whilst exhibiting Victoria’s unique style.

The Aquamarine Indian Flower Ring £3,950 Aquamarine and diamond flower ring in 18 carat white gold from Luis Miguel Howard Jewellery. Inspired by the embroideries seen on the vibrant fabrics of India, the colour scheme for this ring was taken straight from a blue and silver wedding sari. Each aquamarine has been carefully chosen to match in colour and the flower motif has been highly stylised. The addition of diamonds to the border adds brightness and fire to the coolness of the aquamarines.

Sterling Silver Garnet Heart Necklace £150 Inspired by the wistful feather-grass in Mexico and the motion of dance, this sterling silver and heart-shaped necklace is so romantic. The designer symbolically shows where the heart lies; the beauty of nature at its finest. Sterling silver (925) with 5 heart shaped garnets of 5mm each. The necklace measures 160mm in diameter and weighs approximately 4.4g. Hallmarked Augustine Studios. internationalexcellence.co.uk

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Hawthorn House™ Combination Candle Tank 2000g £95 Hawthorn House™ are proud to present the Combination Tank filled with 2000g of fine scented wax that has been carefully poured by hand. On the top layer is No6 Moroccan Orange & Coriander and on the bottom bursting to come through is No1 Kaffir Lime & Basil Leaf.

Stars Large Tote Bag £32.50 Made from beautiful linen/cotton designer fabric depicting red/blue/ fawn/grey stars of different sizes, this large Tote is perfect for a day out and about, and is plenty big enough to hold all essential items! It is fully lined with a dark red/white dotty fabric and has navy blue cotton webbing shoulder straps. Bags are handcrafted in a smoke-free environment, using professional sewing techniques and materials to ensure the bags last for years.

Millionaire Gold Safe Security Box £21,925 One of Boca do Lobo’s most exuberant Limited Edition pieces. Lockable drawers and a whole structure in mahogany, coated in high polished brass and dipped in gold, this piece is one of indisputable value.

The ONE 70cl Bottle Whisky £29.95 A 70cl bottle of the award winning British blended whisky. Slightly smoky, sweet and fruity, nutty, with hints of spice. Located next to Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District National Park, an 1850’s Victorian model farm has been renovated to be home of the Lakes Distillery and their World Class Spirits.

Children’s Personalised Character Beanbags £46.50 Medium size bean bags are ideal for children 5-7 years of age. Also available are: small (3-5 yrs) and large (7+ yrs). There is a whole host of colourful characters to choose from. You can also choose to have them plain or personalised with a child’s name. 80

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Child’s Fair Isle Cardigan £60 Picaloulou’s traditional looking hand knitted Fair Isle style yoke cardigan comes in two beautiful shaded colours - Nougat or Silver. Each cardigan uses six toning colours to pick out the striking pattern across the chest and sleeves and is entirely knitted by hand. Finished with real mother of pearl buttons. Made in Great Britain.

Airfix Christmas Tea Towel £8.95 Add some Christmas spirit to your kitchen with this brilliantly festive and British Christmas Tea Towel. Full of bright Christmas symbols and British icons, this Christmas Tea Towel pays homage to the model-making hobby air fix kits to make up your very own British Christmas. The symbols include a robin, reindeer, letter to Father Christmas, stocking and tree, beautifully complimented by the festive London bus, Big Ben clock face at midnight, and post box. This festive design is also available on an Apron (£18.95) to create the perfect Christmas gift set and addition to your kitchen.

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Aroma Holiday New York Candle & Diffuser Gift Set £59.95 Earthy New York Indulgence - Fresh Coffee Bean, Apple, Cinnamon & Chestnut. Remember taking that small bite out of the Big Apple, with its diverse cultures and overpowering energy. Gooey pastry for breakfast is tough to beat, sticky buns and cinnamon rolls were the perfect start with your freshly brewed coffee.

Stiletto Table £22,794 A dressing table, desk or occasional table from Splinter Works. The sinuous leg of the table evokes a ‘stacked heel’ stiletto, and is hand sculpted from solid walnut. The iconic ‘red sole’, defines the underside of the table in heavily dyed Birds Eye Maple, with a French Burr Walnut veneer top. Swiss Military Calibre Men’s Red Star Watch £330 The exceptional Red Star Collection is sure to impress with its distinctive functionality and reliability! Swiss Military Calibre Red Star Gold Tone Dial Mens Watch features a Chronograph with 24-hour, 30-minute and continuous seconds subdials. Water resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters), Swiss Quartz movement.

The Whitechapel - Brown Herringbone Flat Cap and Scarf Set for Kids £60 Artimus London flat caps and scarves for kids are a head turning accessory for little cherub when they’re out and about. They are bespoke, stylish and designed to stay on a child’s head. The flat caps and scarves are handmade in London with high quality 100% wool tweed. They have a 100% funky cotton lining so little heads won’t get sweaty. All natural materials allow heads to breathe while keeping them nice and warm.

Peppermint Chocolate Cloud Nine Marshmallows £6.95 Crispy peppermint pieces whipped into the tenderness of our gourmet mallows. The perfect after-dinner liaison, splendid for rounding off a merry feast. Each bag contains around ten inch-cubed marshmallows. Keep sealed, cool and out of direct sunlight. At their best for up to a month. These pretty packets can be personalised with a printed gift-tag in any colour and font, and gift-wrapped in a white box. The Articulate Macro Gallery Frame £40 This is a fabulous showpiece for displaying your children’s creations properly. This frame allows instant framing of four pictures in both orientations at once. Simply slot the pictures in place and instantly your child will have their very own Art Gallery. Just see how their eyes light up when they see their pictures properly framed just like a real artist.

The SteakStones Sizzling Starter Cooking Set £60 The SteakStones Sizzling Starter Set is a great introduction to the benefits and features of Hot Stone Cooking. Perfect for a sizzling selection of Scallops and King Prawns with some chilli sauce and lemon mayonnaise or perhaps some mixed meat and fish skewerss. It’s a fresh, fun and healthy way to cook every bite to perfection. internationalexcellence.co.uk

GLOBAL LUXURY VILLA RENTALS COULD HIT £15BN The global rental market for exclusive and bespoke luxury villas - from the Americas to Australia and from the Caribbean to Thailand - is projected to be worth £15 billion (c.US$23bn) in 2016 - up from £10bn currently - according to the founder of Edge Retreats and ‘Blogger’ to a million dollar business.

Since commencing operations the firm has built up a portfolio of just over 1,400 properties on its website, which offers a visual feast of luxury villas and interior design. And, this number is set to increase further with 2,640 properties signed and ready to go live in response to increasing client demand and interest to visit new territories.

Travel writer turned tech entrepreneur Luke McCormick, who launched the exclusive luxury villa and travel website Edge Retreats for sophisticated and discerning travellers, says: “We estimate that the global luxury rentals market will be worth at least £15bn in 2016. And, given that online travel sales are growing at 12% annually we see plenty of room for growth.” The London-based Australian adds: “We think the number of online bookings could rise to 40% by 2016, with 20% of those coming from mobile as customers become used to mobile transactions, particularly with the introduction of services such as Apple Pay.” While the global travel market is estimated today to be worth £500bn a year and growing at 3% per annum, online travel sales are growing at 12% a year and online transactions now account for 43% of all travel sales. Bookings via mobile devices are forecast to make up around 30% of online sales by 2017. Until now no company has been taking a “truly global view” of the luxury villa rental market according to McCormick. Things are changing though with Edge Retreats, a venture capital backed start-up, which aims to be the first stop for high-net worth (HNWI) clients looking to book exclusive villas around the world.

Luke states that “the sharing economy has yet to impact the luxury sector as it has in other parts of the market. This in itself presents a huge opportunity in terms of the number of properties available. It will certainly increase the size of the market substantially.”

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Discerning travellers today who are looking for an ultra-exclusive villa anywhere in the world or particularly love the Cote d’Azur in France, Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Bali, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, or the Caribbean, can be accommodated by the firm. But it does not stop there. While currently the company is operating on all continents and in 35 countries including - Australia, Bali, the Caribbean, France, Morocco, Thailand, UAE and Vietnam – they plan to double the number of countries served over the next 5 years. Luxury Rentals Growth: Edge Retreats, which has seen growth since launch more than double between the first and second quarter of 2015, is bringing new properties every day onto its site. Should a location or property not already be listed the operator will actively seek to cater for the requirement. Almost all of the properties featured on the site offer real-time pricing and availability information and online booking. Typically the average booking is £10,000 per week.

‘Million Dollar’ Blogger Luke McCormick Predicts The Luxury Trends. The Edge Retreats founder explains: “The rise of real-time availability has now made its way into the luxury marketplace and transformed the way that we travel, by offering instant access to palatial rental properties ranging from lavish designer villas, to chateaux and chalets. The wealthy professional can now at any time select from a plethora of unique estates with a click and a swipe - securing architecturally stunning villa destinations online.” Coastal vs. Countryside: McCormick, formerly of Secret Escapes, says currently that when travelling abroad, 43% of renters of luxury retreats choose a coastal location, while 28% opt for the countryside. But whatever the choice the aim is offer the ultimate luxury villa rental experience - from start to finish. Optional extras can include a chef on site or even a luxury car. He adds: “We predict growth too for turnkey properties in the Caribbean due to the introduction of golden visa programmes in places such as Antigua and Barbuda and the launch of new developments in the British Virgin Islands.” But other areas like Montenegro are “coming up on the radar”, he notes. He says further: “There will be continued interest and strong rental yields in France, particularly the Riviera. But also increasing interest from China in vineyard properties in the south west of France.” Call to speak with one of their bespoke villa specialists or visit the website: www.edgeretreats.com

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TOP TEN LUXURY FAMILY CHALETS AND SKI RESORTS Some of the best family holidays are taken either on a sailing yacht or on a skiing holiday. All family members can take part at varying levels of interest and commitment, they are brilliant for children for both the enjoyment and the education, i.e. they come across situations where they have to make decisions. In skiing, a slope might appear very challenging at first sight so a decision has to be made; gaining a great life skill will stand them in good stead in later life. The choice can be bewildering in ski holiday options, with different countries, resorts, accommodation and, not least, is finding the right characteristics and demands of the ski terrain. In setting our criteria for our Top Ten, the easiest choice was to opt for catered chalets as that both gives guests the option of Chinese or any other style of cuisine, as well as much more flexibility in meal times for differing ages and, as a family group, the enjoyment is series of private experiences. There are things to avoid or at least minimise if possible; carrying skis which always seem to want to go in different directions and walking to ski lifts in boots that are the world’s least friendly footwear. For some strange reason, the people who design ski lifts always include a flight of stairs instead of being able to walk straight on at street level. Ski-in, ski-out is a big bonus and so where possible the choices take that into account. However, many long established resorts are 84

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built in the valleys which limits the choice; so regrettably, no St. Moritz and no Klosters. The capital of ski in, ski out has to be France’s Trois Vallées but we wanted to show a much wider selection. There are some great resorts which cannot be ignored where a short walk of a maximum of 200m from the chalet to the piste are included. We have chosen complementary resorts; the chalets vary significantly in price so in the more expensive resorts, more expensive chalets seem more appropriate. All the chalets have staff to look after your every need both before and during your stay. Their concierge services include sorting out ski passes, particular requests, restaurant and other bookings, housekeeping, etc. The chef/s will prepare all meals which will be served along with wines, etc. There are minor variations in the detail, for instance, some chalets do give the chef an evening off each week, but they offer a superb standard of service to ensure that your stay is thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing.

Tim Stevens Mulls Over Skiing Excellence in Winter Wonderland.

gourmet restaurants galore, night clubs and boutiques selling the world’s most desirable, as well as the most exclusive jewellers such as Moussaieff. However, there is another side of the resort where guests are not so challenged in price terms whilst they can enjoy the best facilities with endless skiing opportunities on a family skiing holiday. Family parties where there is a mix of skiing skills from total novice to expert can find exactly what they want, to show the resort is in the real world, there are some lifts by the nursery slopes free of charge so you can establish if skiing is for you without buying a lift pass.

The ‘Top ten’ is actually eleven as finding ski in, ski out resorts with chalets was such a big challenge. They are set out in a random order from which you can make your own ‘Number One’ choice.

The Three Valleys has a whole range of interconnected resort villages, the scale of the skiing area within the Trois Vallées ski area is simply vast; you can ski hard for days and still be covering new runs. However, if you only have a minimum level of skill, there is a panorama of skiing opportunities with gentle runs. You might want to dine in a gourmet restaurant but not at the Courchevel 1850 level of prices. La Tania, one of the neighbouring villages, has a Michelin starred restaurant where the prices are very affordable for a family meal.

The Resort: Courchevel 1850 (France). Their own small, challenging airport has 6,000 private aeroplane movements each ski season which says it all. These guests come for the cluster of very individual, small 5* hotels and the new breed of mega-chalets,

The Chalet: Chinchilla nestles into the mountainside some 70m from the ski piste and a short walk into the very centre of the resort. In appearance, it is ‘picture-perfect’ in the romantic, traditional style. Nevertheless, it lacks nothing in space (180m²) for six adults

Chalet La Tene

and two children; the open plan living room has an open fireplace and the French doors open onto the terrace with views across the valley. The master en-suite bedroom is on a mezzanine overlooking the living room. On the floor below, there are two double ensuite bedrooms and a bunk room for children with its own shower room. There is also a sauna. In addition to the usual staff and inresort driver service, there is the option of a comprehensive child care package. The Resort: Zermatt (Switzerland). This world class summer and winter resort has so much tradition and heritage as well as a magnificent very near neighbour; the spectacular Matterhorn Mountain which overlooks the entire region. Everything is here with a combination of a great selection of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other interesting diversions, plus shops and boutiques which offer high fashion alongside jewellery and endless brands of watches. In contrast, there are many ancient farm buildings tucked away where livestock still live during the winter months. The heliport provides both fabulous scenic trips as well as quick transfers as the main access is only by train: the upper part of Zermatt is car-free. What is rare are ski-in, ski out chalets, the only area where they can be found is the Winkelmatten. This is known as the “Beverly Hills” of Zermatt and has some fantastic

restaurants and bars, children’s play areas and shops.

great den for children), this bedroom has an adjacent private bathroom.

The Chalet: The White Pearl, just to emphasise its superb position, you can ski through the snow covered meadow and down to the Klein Matterhorn Express, alternatively, you can ski back down to the Moosweg ski-run. An oblique but true point; it is the only standalone chalet that has an indoor swimming pool. In the modern but atmospheric interior, there is also a Hammam, sauna, massage room and an outdoor hot-tub. On the lower ground floor are a cinema room, games area, wellness area and bar.

The second floor has two suites with balconies and fantastic Matterhorn views and open fires. Each suite has a large double bedroom with a free-standing bath, en suite bathroom with shower/WC. The master suite has a separate lounge/dressing room with a fireplace and the second suite has an openplan lounge and dressing room.

The ground floor has a spacious entrance, a dining area that can seat 14 comfortably, a lounge with an open fire, TV, DVD and wireless internet and a library niche. The lift will suit the less agile guests. There is a complimentary taxi service, until dinner, to access to the village centre, it takes four minutes in an ‘electro’ taxi. Alternatively, it is a pleasant 15 minute walk. The chalet sleeps ten to twelve guests. The first floor comprises of two large en suite double bedrooms with balconies and Matterhorn views. The third bedroom can either be a king size double bedroom or a quad room for a group of up to four younger guests (there are two extra full size pull down bunk beds that can make this room a

The Resort: Megeve (France) is another fabled ski resort where ‘old money’ i.e. those who are comfortable and relaxed about their wealth take their holidays. Most guests are not looking for extreme challenges on the slopes but want extensive ski runs (440km), for them it is a combination of good facilities for the children, superlative restaurants, and a beautiful resort in picturesque surroundings. It has great style and is very chic but in a quieter presentation, there is great appeal to the fashionable Parisian set. This Haute Savoie village is built around a fine medieval church set in a traffic-free main square, from where you can take a horse drawn sleigh ride around the resort. The skiing area is a part of the Evasion Mont Blanc with its excellent children’s facilities and long beautiful tree-lined pistes for effortless gliding which are ideal for intermediate skiers. There are enough black runs to keep

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the more experienced skiers happy. Crosscountry trails of about 70km will keep the more energetic skiers happy as these trails take you to peace and quiet, well away from the buzz of the downhill slopes.

plenty of options catering for all skill levels from total novice upwards. If you want to find a relatively quiet skiing area then head over to the other side of Les Gets to the Mont Chéry area.

The resort is just over an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, but on the downside, there are a lot of weekend skiers.

The ‘Portes du Soleil’ have two main resorts; Avoriaz which is a modern purpose built development and the old picturesque town of Morzine which is mainly built of stone. There is plenty of things to do and see in Morzine; a riverside promenade and a good selection of restaurants and bars; the resort centre has an excellent après scene and is one of the most vibrant in the region’s smaller resort towns it also has some good shops and boutiques.

The Chalet: Chalet Lampas is more elaborate and more expensive than others chosen as it matches the sophistication of the resort. There are no ski-in, ski out chalets in the centre of Megeve but Chalet Lampas is located nearby in the prestigious hamlet of the Mont d’Arbois where you can ski in, ski out from the chalet. It is only a seven minutes’ drive into Megeve centre provided by the chalet’s driver service. The chalet has a magnificent wellness area with a superb indoor swimming pool (the level of water can be adjusted), a Jacuzzi, a sauna and a contemporary fitness bike. The Swimming Pool can also be covered to create a fantastic dance floor/nightclub. There is also a library and a children’s play room. The style combines traditional materials with a modern contemporary approach which results in a refreshing, warm ambiance. The main living room/library has an open log fire; large bay windows let the natural light enter the living spaces and offer wonderful panoramic view over mountains. All bedrooms have en suite facilities, some have baths others have showers; there is a master bedroom with dressing room, a further four double/twin rooms and a children’s bedroom with four single beds. The Resort: Morzine (France) is brilliantly located for skiing in the extensive Portes du Soleil region that boasts 650 kms of ski pistes and it is just an hour’s drive to Geneva Airport. The Morzine valley is a snow heaven surrounded by forest; it offers everyone lots from tree-lined runs and some amazing terrain parks. The most famous or rather fearsome run has to be the ‘Swiss Wall’, a challenging mogul run that straddles the border of France and Switzerland. The quality of off-pistes is challenging for both skiers and the wilder snowboarders. There are also 86

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The Chalet: Chalet Chardon has been nominated for an award in the 2015 International Design Awards in London. It is built with traditional materials externally and includes a blend of contemporary with traditional style in the interior. It nestles at the foot of the main Pleney pistes - so conveniently located for ski-in ski-out with a mere five minutes’ walk into the centre of Morzine. The chalet comprises six demi-levels surrounding a generous central stairwell (showcased by a seven metres’tall chandelier). As you move upwards through the levels the chalet opens up even more space to the two large open plan living areas at the top of the building with their uninterrupted views of the resort. The centrepiece is a large log fireplace. On the way up there are two floors comprising five en-suite bedrooms including one master suite, along with access to the hot tub deck and garden terrace. The ground and basement floors lead you to the sauna, home cinema, bar and games suite. The Resort: Obergurgl (Austria). Most of the ski resorts in Austria are relatively low in elevation but the small resort of Obergurgl is relatively high at 1,930m, with only 500 yearround inhabitants. It is the highest parish in the country and it shares its skiing area with Hochgurgl another 200m. higher, they are two of the most snow-sure resorts in Europe as it includes glacier skiing. The villages are known as the ‘Diamonds of The Alps’

perhaps their well-preserved architecture is a contribution to that title. Obergurgl is considered one of the most peaceful resorts in the Tirol region; its streets are free of cars at night, and its views are particularly breath-taking even for this idyllic part of the country. Airport transfers to Innsbruck conveniently take just over an hour. The ski area is not particularly large at 110 km of pisted ski runs, it is known for its largely queue-free lift system which comprises 21 lifts. However, there is a lot of variety with a high point of over 3,000m. on Wurmgogl Mountain, all the runs are above the tree-line. Advanced skiers will enjoy the off-piste runs, it is also worth a day trip over to the glacier in Sölden where last season part of the ski element of the new James Bond feature was filmed. There are many skiers who prefer smaller resorts as they can find their favourite runs and enjoy perfecting their techniques; you can also frequently catch up with your fellow skiers as your paths cross and there is a good selection of mountain hut bars and restaurants. They organise a weekly ski show and there is night skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing (too hard work!) and tobogganing on a natural course. The Chalet: Chalet at 11° East. The chalet has been completely renovated in recent years and now provides tip-top standards on all fronts to gain the reputation of being the first boutique chalet in the village. It is ski in, ski out, situated right on the piste by the children’s ski school and right in the hub of village life. The en suite bedrooms which can be configured as twins or doubles are spacious, comfortable and have magnificent views, two sides of the chalet face the slopes; peace and tranquillity are assured. There are four rooms on the first floor and a room below the living area but with views straight out onto the piste, ideal for appealing to teenagers or older children. Those who cannot be without their electronic toys, there are flat screen cable televisions, ipod docking stations and wireless free broadband. There is a well-stocked bar and spacious living area which has a log fire; in addition, there is a dining room and home

Chalet Chardon

Chalet Lampas

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Chalet La Tene

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cinema with a vast choice of DVD’s. The Resort: Val d’Isère (France). This resort is one of the biggest names in skiing that attracts people from all over Europe and beyond as it has some really superb skiing together with lively après ski and good shopping. The traditional Tarentaise village is at height of 1,850m in the Savoie region and dates back to the 13th century. One side of the village has attractive chalet-style architecture, the other side far less attractive with high-rise buildings but inside them can be another story. The skiing area; Espace Killy has 300km of piste and heights of over 3500m, including the Le Fornet glacier in the neighbouring resort (included in the ski pass) Tignes, guaranteeing snow. The off-piste terrain is some of the most demanding of any in Europe. The lifts system is massive as it comprises over 90 lifts making vast areas of terrain accessible. The resort is also good for beginners with a nursery slope right in the centre of the village. More than half the ski runs are suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. Experts will already know the potential for more challenging slopes and off-piste skiing. You need a lot of energy to get the most out of Val d’Isère as the skiing is only a part of the highlife with numerous après ski bars, cafés and restaurants, of course there are the chic boutiques patronised by its wealthy international clientele. The Chalet: La Tene is in the very heart of the resort but is nevertheless ski in, ski out. It is newly renovated and up-graded to Swedish architects designs and is a now showpiece of elegance and comfort. The upstairs living area is the most spectacular aspect of the chalet with glass walls creating airy and spacious surroundings with panoramic piste views. The chalet has a bar with a log fire and flat screen TV and surround-sound system. Sitting in the living area you can be an armchair critic of the styles of passing skiers. Surrounding the living area is an upstairs deck for sunbathing in the latter part of the season and for the eight-person hot tub at any time after a day on the piste. The whole area has its own sound system.

The imposing black run, La Face, provides the atmospheric backdrop to the dining room. There are six twin/double bedrooms each with en suite baths and showers. All bedrooms are individually decorated and contain a double bed, which can be turned in to a twin. The en suite bathrooms created from local stone and reclaimed wood; each has a bath and shower, under-floor heating and heated towel rails. Downstairs, the heated boot room leads in to the sauna, Hamman and massage area. On the next level there is a wine ‘cave’, from which you can select the wine for dinner and other occasions. There is an in-resort driver available. The Resort: Davos (Switzerland)is world famous three times over; the annual World Economic Forum for world leaders in commerce and politics, its ultimately high style guests and last but not least, its skiing over 320 km of pistes, which includes the smaller and more atmospheric resort of Klosters, known for its Royal following. Davos is the largest ski resort in Switzerland but the slopes are never too crowded and it is the highest city in Europe. There are five separate ski areas, any one of which would be considered big even by American standards. The resort is no beauty with many flat roofed buildings but the beauty of its surroundings is superlative. Advanced to expert skiers and snowboarders are best served around Davos and intermediates have a handful of good options. The Pischa area is recommended for families as the slopes are mainly easy, less populated and sunnier. Non-skiers and vacationers looking for plenty of off-mountain activities have ample choices. Cruise around Davos’ endless crosscountry trails, speed down its tobogganing hills, and relax with the family on a cheery sleigh ride. The ice rink is the largest outdoor rink in Europe. Après ski is lively and vibrant with very wide international visitors which gives the resort a great atmosphere. Restaurants are also international in cuisine from Asian, Italian, fondue, seafood, Swiss, and meat grills. However, the prices reflect that this is a very full five stars resort.

The Chalet: Tivoli Lodge is a large chalet that has a great presence. It is located just above Davos on a private road and lies in one of the most exclusive mountain retreats. This is a discreet location, despite being ski in, ski out and only a two minute chauffeured drive from the centre of the village. From the south-facing windows, there are views across the valley towards the highest peaks of the Engadine. Tivoli Lodge’s massive and characterful front door beckons whilst the traditional exterior belies a chic and contemporary interior of over 700 sq m of living space. The living room has an open fire; the majestic dining room overlooks the Davos valley. Not forgetting the library, study /media room and an extensive wine cellar. The chalet sleeps up to twelve guests in two master bedroom suites with fireplaces; one has a wrap round balcony, and four further twin/double bedroom suites. A colourful and delightful bunk room for up to four children has charm. The spa complex comprises an indoor pool with a jet stream and adjacent hot tub, massage waterfall and air-jet massage together with a sauna and Hammam. For the younger guests, an indoor multi-story soft play gym for up to twenty children is always popular. The fully equipped home cinema will appeal to all ages of guests. Of note, the chef has worked in several Michelin starred restaurants. The Resort: Lech (Austria) is very much its own character; the word ‘genteel’ fits well. This small village provides a great diversity of slopes for all grades of skier and boarder, but with more focus to the beginner and intermediate skier. Lech makes up a part of one of the world’s best ski domains, providing good connections into the neighbouring mini-resort of Zürs and the world class St Anton. Experts will head for off-piste skiing, heli-skiing and the challenges at the neighbouring St. Anton, but I am sure they will time a circuit of the ‘White Ring’ that takes you around the local lift system. New lifts are well designed and attractive for a change, they have also tried to minimise the approach steps to the lifts. internationalexcellence.co.uk

The resort is a chocolate-box Alpine village, charming and with a very refined ambience. Many of the older chalets have been renovated into small but luxurious hotels and new mega-chalets. The resort has numerous restaurants set on either side of the river which winds through the centre of the village, past the centrepiece of the church. There are few villages the size of Lech that has the local equivalent of Harrods; Strolz department store is really impressive as it offers an excellent range across a wide spread of goods. There are also some boutiques. Regular visitors tend to be rich, famous and/ or royal yet the resort remains refreshingly unpretentious. The Chalet: Uberhaus, more expensive than we would have liked to offer here but again the status of the resort has tempted us. Uberhaus is located just above and overlooking Lech in the hamlet of Oberlech. In passing, we have to mention ‘Chalet N’ as it sets new standards in mega-chalet size at 4,800 sq. m. for up to 18 guests (staff live out) but it still exudes a great atmosphere. Uberhaus was rightly nominated for the World Ski Awards for the ‘Best New Chalet’ in 2014. Built in traditional style using ancient timbers, it is nevertheless very much twenty first century both with incorporating the latest technology and with the flair of the designers. They have cleverly mixed the old with the new to great effect. The chalet has five en-suite bedrooms including a spacious master bedroom complete with open fire. Two family suites, one contains a double bedroom and a separate children’s bunk room sleeping four children. This suite has a large bathroom with shower and bath. The second family suite has a double bedroom and a children’s bunk in an alcove, the top bunk bed can be folded away to make a seating area. This bedroom has an en-suite shower room. The additional double bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. A guest toilet is also located on this floor. The chalet’s living room is very spacious indeed; it is divided by a fireplace with the dining area on the other side with a table to seat 16 diners. The outdoor hot tub is located on the 90

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extensive terrace, right on the edge of the piste, definitely a ski-in and ski-out chalet and has uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains. The chalet has extensive spa and leisure facilities including a sauna, Hammam, gym, massage treatment room, snooker table, library, bar and a dedicated home cinema. The chef takes one evening off in the week; there is a dedicated driver service. Child care can be organised. The Resort: St. Anton (Austria) At an elevation of 1,300m., St. Anton is a small town with a year round population of 2,500 people; it is just over an hour to Innsbruck Airport. It is at the centre of the Arlberg Ski-Circus and is certainly one of Europe’s top ski resorts, drawing keen skiers from all over the world. It offers some of Austria’s most extensive and most challenging skiing. The cosmopolitan atmosphere of this famous village also ensures plenty of activities off the piste with a multitude of lively bars, discos, nightclubs, excellent restaurants and plenty of shopping opportunities. In addition, you can enjoy ice skating, sleigh riding and curling. The Arlberg region’s St. Anton attracts skiers to tackle its challenging runs with limitless skiing off piste areas. The area is made up of seven resorts that are all accessible on an area lift pass with the longest run of 8.5km. The lift system has 83 lifts and mountain railways including a new cable-car which gives access from Lech-Zürs to the resorts of Warth-Schröcken - adding another 64km of piste to the 270 km of prepared pistes and 170 km of powder and granular snow slopes. While the terrain can be challenging for those with only a few weeks’ experience, the Rendl area offers some easier runs and plenty of sun. The Chalet: Eden Rock This new chalet has been built for flexibility in the number of guests as it comprises three units that can be booked separately or combined to create accommodation for twenty guests. It has been nominated by the World Ski Awards for ’Best Ski Chalet’ 2015, there is also an award winning architect involved who was retained to combine traditional local styling with a contemporary sleek finish. From the exterior, Eden Rock

looks right at home in a Tyrolean village with its antique wood, local stone and Austrian styled shutters, whilst inside the modern facilities and luxurious interior are exactly what the discerning skier is looking for. The three large apartments, Ariane, Kanzi and Zari, share the lobby area with its log fire and bar area you instantly know this isn’t a typical chalet. The Tyrolean stube restaurant area is available exclusively for the guests enabling them to eat together as a group. Alternatively, each apartment can be catered for individually and guests can dine in privacy with friends and family. The bedrooms in particular are of impressive dimensions with the average bedroom size of 22 sq.m. plus bathrooms averaging ten square meters. All have en-suite facilities with separate bath, shower and double basins. Ariane has three bedrooms over the ground and lower ground floors and sleeps six people. Kanzi sleeps eight people in four bedrooms over the first and second floor with its beautiful balconies. Whilst Zari has three bedrooms over the two upper floors each with a balcony and fabulous view. The sitting rooms all have log fires and are finished in natural wood and stone, each has flat screen TVs, DVD players and Apple TV and complimentary WIFI. The chalet has a luxurious wellness area in the lower part of the building with a swimming pool that has a whirlpool and a counter current, so you can swim in an endless water stream. A steam room and sauna to relax in or if skiing is not enough exercise, there is a fitness room. The Resort: Verbier (Switzerland) the town lies in a sunny, south-facing bowl with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks; it is the largest resort of the “4 Vallées” ski region with over 400km of pistes some of which are challenging and to make life easier, there are off-piste areas accessible by lifts. A menu of skiing delights can be enjoyed; glaciers, couloirs and deep powder bowls for advanced skiers and riders. The Savolèyres and Lac des Vaux sectors provide a more limited playground for intermediates and novices with some gentle runs. Boarders will not be left out as there are the terrain parks with half-

Chalet Eden Rock

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Chalet Tesseln

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pipes and obstacles.

fireplace.

Five resorts are tied into one ski pass which offers you one of the largest skiable areas in the Alps, but in practice, few skiers venture beyond the limits of the main Verbier lifts.

The first floor is given over to the main living room, the dining area, the kitchen, and a guest toilet. A terrace, with an outdoor barbeque area is accessed from the dining room and a large balcony wraps around the front of the property.

Most people come to Verbier for the skiing and boarding challenges it offers, some people find the town attractive, a few areas have an appeal but through enormous growth it now comprises an endless vista of a suburb of modern, traditionally styled chalets which are obviously attractive individually. If your party’s skiing is solidly at the lower end of intermediate, you would not be accessing the pistes that have all the appeal. Tackling the notorious Chassoure-Tortin run, which is consistently steep and usually heavily mogulled is a challenge too far for many who may sheepishly regard themselves as ‘advanced’. My first thoughts at the top were ‘Why no fence?’. There are other resorts that would still present changes but have a higher percentage of less extreme pistes. If you are confident you can take on the challenges, you will cherish the memories and return year after year. Verbier offers a lively après ski culture, distinguished dining, numerous smart cafés and good shopping at the chic designer stores and exclusive boutiques that line its pedestrianised central promenade. The Chalet: Chalet Tesseln. This chalet occupies an enviable position perched above the Médran lift station and within a 100m. of the piste; a rarity of a ski in, ski out chalet, albeit slightly off piste, in Verbier. The main, high ceilinged open plan living area has a magnificent stone open fireplace with great areas of glazing either side. The dining area is partly integrated with a semipartition which works well. The chalet’s layout comprises four floors and sleeps a total of 12 guests in five bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. All the bedrooms have access to the large terrace or garden. A further small en-suite bedroom is located in the lower ground floor and is perfect for a nanny. The expansive master bedroom with en-suite bathroom occupies the entire top floor and has its own private balcony and

The ground floor accommodates four ensuite bedrooms. There are also two bunk rooms: a large children’s bunk room sleeping four with a double en-suite shower room, a further bunk room for with en-suite bathroom sleeps two children. A Hammam, television room, laundry room and a shower room are all located on the lower ground floor, as well as the main hallway accessing a small staff apartment which has a single bed, small kitchenette and an en-suite shower room. There is an in-resort shared driver service. The Resort: Argentière (France). This is a resort that has its own character that can hold its own with a famous and larger neighbour; Chamonix. Rising behind the village is an awe inspiring mountain of great character; Les Grands Montets (3,295m); a skiing area famous for its steep and demanding slopes, both on-piste as well as off-piste. The other main attraction in the entire area for experienced skiers is the fearsome Vallée Blanche, an off-piste 20km long route with a vertical descent of 2,700m. The views are stunning and the high mountain environment provides a real sensation of wilderness. For those foolhardy enough to tackle this dangerous route, it will certainly be an unforgettable memorable life experience. The skiing at Chamonix and Argentière are not directly connected although there is a good bus and train service over the seven kilometres along the glacial valley floor. Whilst both areas can be ski heaven for expert skiers, there are 150 km of groomed pistes to appeal to all grades of ability at Argentière. There’s the nursery slope at the base of the terminal, excellent red and blue intermediate runs.

dozen restaurants plus bars and coffee shops, the nightlife is low key. Everything is here for skiers and non-skiers alike as the Savoie countryside is simply beautiful with lots of opportunity for snow shoeing, alpine walkers. It is an hour and a quarter from Geneva Airport. The Chalet: Chalet Libellule This new 400 sq m chalet offers panoramic views of the spectacular Mont Blanc mountain range and of the impressive Argentière glacier. The chalet and its sister chalets are the very successful result of a personal passion by the owner Jon Law. Internally, the style is mainly modern but with lovely wooden ceilings supported by large beams, it is spread over four floors and has six en-suite bedrooms; the bathrooms are finished with Italian slate tiles and designer fixtures. A spacious top floor mezzanine gives the option of two further beds and/or children’s area. There is a large open plan living room, complete with log burning stove, large windows and a balcony offer panoramic views of the spectacular Mont Blanc mountain range and of the impressive Argentière glacier. Alternatively, they seemingly have every electronic devise to watch and play with. The boutique spa has a relaxation room with massage table and luxury shower. An open glass solarium will make you smile and a sauna is housed in its own mini-building. There are two outdoor Jacuzzis, a hot tub and a sauna housed in an insect-like mini-building with a ‘bubble eye’ window. Uniquely in Argentière, with the usual good snow the chalet is ski in, (just) ski out as the lift is just a matter of meters away. The Argentière ski school and the Panda Club ski school for children is only a few minutes away. The heart of the quaint traditional French village is only five minutes on foot from the chalet. www.marmottemountain.com www.oxfordski.com www.scottdunn.com www.skiinluxury.com www.supertravel.co.uk www.uniqueluxurychalets.com

Argentière is a charming rustic village with a internationalexcellence.co.uk

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BATIK DESIGN IN AFRICAN FASHION

Helen Elands Looks at the History of Batik and African Fashion From Brown Fleming To Vlisco. paramount. Another problem was the fact that the clients of Vlisco were ageing and the younger generation seemed less interested in the traditional motifs than their mothers and grand-mothers.

Brown Fleming dominated the market for imitation wax prints on the West African Coast and although several attempts had been made to get an insight into Previnaire’s production process it was only around 1910 that several other companies in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and in the Netherlands managed to produce a quality of wax print that compared to the quality of Previnaire. These companies were extremely keen to do so, because the production of Previnaire’s two sided printed cloth was very time consuming, hence the production volume was very low while the demand was quickly growing. Most of their first designs were based on the Brown Fleming collection. An important company that started by copying Brown Fleming was Ankersmit in Deventer (Netherlands), who quickly gained a solid position on the West African market. Van Vlissingen & Co in Helmond (Netherlands) followed soon. After Brown Fleming’s death in 1912 his company was taken over by his son and his son-in-law. The First World War made an end to the HKM, the company of Previnaire, who was completely dependent on the export to West Africa. Production stopped in October 1917. Further orders were printed by Roessingh & Zoon in Veenendaal (Netherlands) until their 96

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bankruptcy in 1935. From 1927 also F.W. Ashton and Co of Newton Bank Works, part of the Calico’s Printers Association in Hyde near Manchester started printing for Brown Fleming until they bought the company in 1939. This company, since 1970 named ‘ABC’ was bought in 1992 by a Chinese group ‘Cha’, based in Hong Kong, who in 2005 transferred all its production to Ghana. In Hyde six designers continue to work for ABC. After the Second World War the market expanded enormously. Growing trade increased the wealth of the African customer. By gaining independence many African countries were keen to see the production taking place in their own country instead of being dependent on importing cloth. Although many European factories transferred their production, cloth was still imported, mainly from China driven by very low prices. Initially this did not pose a threat for other companies because of poor quality. But the Chinese producers managed to improve their products, still selling it for a very low price, and were able to copy new designs of other companies at an increasing speed. This turned out to become a serious threat for Van Vlissingen & Co, who had merged with Ankersmit in 1964 and renamed itself since 1970 as ‘Vlisco’. The company realized that brand protection had to be

In order to survive the company had to reinvent itself in order to appeal to a changing market. From a fabric manufacturer they changed their profile into a design brand - one of the most successful in Africa. Every month a new collection is launched with a catwalk, catalogue and new models on the website. Vlisco prints and the accompanying marketing and advertising campaigns serve as inspiration for the high fashion creations for which they are used. Vlisco is also actively involved in co-creation projects with leading consumer brands in the world of fashion and design. The traditional designs still represent 80% of their sales, but the new generation shows increasing interest in the brand. In several African cities the company has opened flagship stores, where the complete collection is on display, and developed special tailoring services, enforcing the relation between client and tailor. Tailoring is less expensive in Africa, so an individual can order a unique piece which is very much appreciated and sought after to stand out from the crowd. Vlisco aims with their own tailoring service to offer garments that are comparable to haute couture in Europe. When the fabric leaves Vlisco’s factory in Helmond it has just the name of the brand and a serial number on the selvedge. It is only

when it reaches its consumers in Africa that it gets its own life and meaning. The Africans have permeated dress with meaning for centuries. The prints very often got symbolic names in cooperation with the consumers which contributed to its prestige. The search for the symbolic meaning of the wax print designs is complicated by the fact that its customers often perceive the motif differently from what it was meant to be traditionally – in case of the Indonesian inspired motifs – or intended by the producers. Customers often named and still do name the patterns according to certain circumstances, events, existing proverbs or ideas they wanted to express by wearing the cloth. In addition such expressions vary from region to region and country to country. An example of this is a fabric with a print of open bird-cages and two birds flying out, that goes by the title ‘Si tu sors, je sors’ (You leave, I leave), which means to say ‘ if you think you can have an affair, so can I’.

Another design is ‘ABC’ with the letters of the Alphabet, worn by women to show that they find education important. Interesting is that this kind of symbolism is only possible because the messages are open to multiple interpretations and the fabrics are worn as dresses. Nobody can criticize a woman for wearing a pretty dress. It is a discreet way of communicating your ideas and emotions. ‘Dutch Wax’ or ‘Wax Hollandais’ is an example of complex cultural appropriation and reappropriation of an elite craft, batik, that was produced in one part of the word (Indonesia), then became merchandise in colonial trade routes (Netherlands/United Kingdom), was eventually machine made and subsequently acquired a new identity in another part of the world (West Africa). Vlisco is in the unique position that it started exporting non-wax fancy prints to Indonesia in the 1850s and printing wax in the 1910’s for West-Africa, but is now the last remaining and oldest wax printing company in Europe.

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