The Islander Magazine August 2023

transom

pillar

dock steps

boarding

tender

jet ski storage

lifting beams

awnings

games decks and much more

The Islander Team

CEO (Creative Enthusiastic Owner) Jens Oomes

Head of Sales Damian Raxach

Creative Director Mershe Fuentes

Accounts & Admin Marlot Cathalina

Office Manager Natalie Tempelers

Editor Roxanne Hughes

Writer Mia Naprta

Writer Lucie Gardiner

Writer Melanie Winters

Photo & Video Nathalie Kraft

With thanks to our contributors

Jens@theislander.online

Damian@theislander.net

Note from the Editor. Jens

The secret is out!

Nine years ago, my wife An and I moved to Mallorca. Yachting had taken us to more than 50 countries and to us it was clear that Mallorca has everything. A compact and cosmopolitan city, world class beaches, picturesque mountain villages, more than 300 days of sunshine. And, of course, one of the world's most important yachting hubs! Whenever I went home to Belgium, people gave me a confused look when I told them I live in Mallorca. It was the island their grandparents went to for their all-inclusive holidays. I realised Mallorca was a well-kept secret. Over the past few weeks, I had quite a few friends visiting from various places abroad and it’s clear that the secret is out!

To our delight we notice that a discerning audience is ordering The Islander Magazine online to have a piece of Mallorca at home! If you want to receive The Islander at home, you can order it on our website.

Our distribution continues to improve so we can reach you, our target audience, in all the right places! We continue to be “everywhere” in all the yachting and expat related locations on Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and the Spanish mainland. Additionally, you’ll find The Islander at the major boat shows and regattas. And with Cannes, Monaco and Ibiza Joysail coming up next month, September will be a hot issue for our growing Islander Family of advertisers!

If you want to advertise your business and join The Islander Family, you can email me directly.

Enjoy the August heat. Stay close to the sea or pool. May you always have a refreshing drink by your side.

Slow down and enjoy the read!

9. Note from the Editor

12. Judged by the Cover

14. HVO Hits Mallorca

18. British America’s Cup Syndicate waves farewell to Palma

22. Aegean Yacht - the Turkish shipyard building a Tempest

26. A Growing Interest In Greece

30. A Whale’s Tale

32. The legionnaire of Kourou

36. Technology Update

40. Be the best version of yourself with Luxury Hospitality’s new tool: LH Dynamics

42. Industry Updates

50. The Conversion of S/Y Galaxie

56. Meet the crew

60. Ship to Shore

64. First steps on board…

66. Communicating with a bully

70. Save the Med - Summer is here!

74. Dive in with PADI and Explore the Balearic Islands this Summer

80. Mallorca´s top fiveChiringuitos

84. Chefs Chat - Barry D'Arcy

88. Hermes the turtle

94. The Rouge Linen Tote Bag: where sustainability meets timeless elegance

98. The SEA EAGLE Soars

104. The 120-year comeback story

108. Hotel Honucai – Colonia Sant Jordi. 'Everything says: It's not about us.'

114. Sir Richard Branson's new hotel, Son Bunyola, opens to fanfare in Mallorca, Spain.

118. The court-side experience of The Mallorca Championships

124. The Andaman Archipelago

130. Brokerage

JUDGED BY THE COVER

Taken against the backdrop of Bora Bora, this month’s cover shot features Royal Huisman’s 81m Sea Eagle, photographed by Tim McKenna.

“That’s Mount Otemanu in the background. It’s so distinctive, as are the shades of blue in its lagoon,” says Tim. “We had begun photographing with a drone, but I wanted to get higher while the boat was running along the reef fringe, so we took to the helicopter.”

Tim has been based in French Polynesia for over twenty years and considers it the perfect setting for yacht photography. “It all started for me here with photographing the beautiful 1902 Shenandoah in the Marquesas Islands. At the time, drones didn’t exist, and we were lucky to find a helicopter that was there for medical evacuations!” explains Tim.

Nowadays, Tim has a team on hand to assist, “I appreciate the teamwork these shoots take. They’re intense – we usually do both photo and video over two or three days, and the commitment from the yacht’s crew is really what makes it happen.”

Tim remains inspired by the architecture and engineering of large yachts, “These yachts are stunning, and I get to shoot them in the most beautiful setting!” We couldn’t agree more…

Written by Roxanne Hughes

Photo by Tim McKenna

HVO HITS MALLORCA

Mallorca-based Sunseeker 95 sets a new standard in yachting with eco-friendly fuel usage

The Blue Infinity One yacht has successfully trialled biofuel, garnering positive feedback from both clients and industry professionals.

In a ground-breaking move towards sustainable yachting, the company behind the Blue Infinity One yacht have embarked on a series of tests to assess the viability of HVO 100. The initial results have been met with resounding praise from their clients, who appreciate the vessel's commitment to environmentally friendly practices.

The Blue Infinity One, a flagship offering from Meros Yachting, is a Mallorca-based Sunseeker 95 available for shared ownership. Distinguishing itself from other yachts in its class, the vessel boasts a three-level master suite on the main deck, five staterooms, and a range of tailored design features, including a hot tub and toy stowage on the upper deck. However, what truly sets it apart is its approval for the use of synthetic fuels, a collaborative effort between Meros, Sunseeker, and Rolls Royce, the manufacturer of its MTU engines. These industry leaders have been actively seeking low-CO2 or CO2-neutral fuel alternatives, and the Blue Infinity One serves as a pioneer in their efforts.

Specifically, the yacht has been utilising Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO), also known as low-CO2 HVO, sourced from Repsol. Under the command of Captain Carlos Julia Dalmau, the Blue Infinity One commenced its trial runs in May, embarking on a 350-nautical-mile journey from Monaco to Mallorca, Spain. The choice of Monaco as the starting point was deliberate, as the principality places a high priority on environmental protection and sustainability.

Captain Dalmau reveals that "while overall fuel efficiency has experienced a slight reduction, the overall performance of the yacht remains indistinguishable from that of conventional

fossil fuel usage. Furthermore, it [HVO fuel] operates at lower temperatures, resulting in reduced engine noise and significantly diminished soot and exhaust smells. The cleanliness of the yacht has notably improved, making maintenance and upkeep far more manageable."

The positive feedback from both the Blue Infinity One yacht co-owners and guests has cemented the decision to continue using HVO throughout the summer season. Meros, in collaboration with supporting suppliers aims to further expand the available supply of synthetic fuels while implementing the current utilisation of Repsol's HVO 100 they have already lead to an impressive reduction of CO2 emissions ranging from 65 to 90 percent, Meros looks to source additional environmental measures to reduce its CO2 footprint by an additional 10 percent in the coming years.

The success of the Blue Infinity One's trials mark a significant milestone in the yachting industry's pursuit of sustainable practices. As more owners and crews express eagerness to explore eco-friendly options, the integration of synthetic fuels into luxury yachts is poised to revolutionise the way vessels operate, reducing their environmental impact while providing an unforgettable experience for passengers.

Industry Insider

18. British America’s Cup Syndicate waves farewell to Palma after successful winter training period

22. Aegean Yacht - the Turkish shipyard building a Tempest

26. A Growing Interest In Greece

30. A Whale’s Tale

32. The legionnaire of Kourou

36. Technology Update

40. Be the best version of yourself with Luxury Hospitality’s new tool: LH Dynamics.

42. Industry Updates

50. The Conversion of S/Y Galaxie

British America’s Cup Syndicate waves farewell to Palma after successful winter training period

Written by Justin Chisholm

When INEOS Britannia looked around for a winter base for its training, testing and development programme ahead of the 37th edition of yachting racing’s oldest and most prestigious competition, Palma Bay stood out clearly as the best option on several counts.

The UK team – headed by sailing’s most successful Olympic sailor, British yachtsman Sir Ben Ainslie and backed by British billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe – arrived on the island in September last year and by October were up and running from a highly secure temporary facility inside the gates of the Port of Palma’s ferry and cruise ship terminal adjacent to Porta Pi’s Dic de l’Oest lighthouse.

“We chose Palma because of the weather conditions we knew we could expect here,” commented Ainslie. “We believed Palma Bay offered the best chance of maximising our sailing days over the winter months.”

With a core staff on site of around 60 people – including sailors, designers, sailmakers, boatbuilders, mechatronics and hydraulics engineers, as well as electronics specialists and data analysts – the team would swell to over 100 at key times.

Photos by Ugo Fonollá / 37th America’s Cup

Many of the designers and specialist technical staff working on the project came from INEOS Britannia’s close partnership with the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 motor racing team based in Brackley, England.

With the rules for the 37th America’s Cup – to be held on the waters off Barcelona, Spain in the Autumn of 2024 – dictating that the competing teams can only build one 75-foot AC75 foiling monohull raceboat, the British made the strategic decision to first build a smaller 40-foot boat for testing and development purposes.

This type of scaled down test boat is known in America’s Cup parlance as an ‘LEQ12’ (standing for Less or EQual to 12 metres) with the British christening theirs as Britannia at a private launch ceremony at the team’s base in October 2022.

With its slick silver/grey paint job and prominent INEOS Britannia branding on the hull and black carbon sails, Britannia was easy to spot sailing out on Palma Bay. But if onlookers

were hoping to glean some idea from her hull shape as to what the team’s yet-to-be-built full-size AC75 might look like, they would have been sadly disappointed.

“Britannia’s principal function is as a testing and data gathering platform so that we can validate the software design tools that we will use to design our full size AC75,” Ainslie explained on the boat’s launch day.

To facilitate this critical data gathering process Britannia simply bristled with multitudes of sensors and cameras above and below the waterline, as well as some highly complex computing systems hidden below deck.

Every day the team went sailing, the boat – sailed by four crew (two helmsmen and two sail trimmers / flight controllers) in crash helmets and specially designed goggles – would generate multiple terabytes of data, later to be pored over and analysed by the experts in Palma and Brackley.

Palma Bay’s (mostly) regular midday thermal sea breeze enabled them to maximise their data gathering time aboard their LEQ12 test boat and the INEOS Britannia sailors frequently made the expanses of Palma Bay look small as they clocked 80 - 100 nautical miles per day at top speeds of around 50 knots – remarkably, often in no more than 10 knots of breeze.

INEOS Britannia’s final sailing day in Palma took place on June 17 after which the team set about decamping to Barcelona where, from August 1 – alongside the other challenging teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, as well as the America’s Cup holders from New Zealand – the Great Britain team is to be based for the rest of its preparations for next year’s Cup competition.

Aegean Yacht - the Turkish shipyard

building a Tempest

Written by Lucie Gardiner

Gardiner

Reporter Lucie

visits boutique custom builder Aegean Yacht at their facility near Bodrum, Turkey.

Visiting a shipyard is always an exhilarating experience, there is something thrilling about witnessing the custom yacht-building process in action, and observing the bustling activity of a highly skilled workforce. At the sprawling 40,000sqm Aegean Yacht shoreside facility in Oren, near Bodrum, a team of experienced in-house engineers, craftsmen, naval architects, interior designers, and CNC operators, along with numerous skilled workers, collaboratively work on creating something truly extraordinary. During my visit to Aegean Yacht, I was not disappointed, as their full sheds were brimming with activity.

Notably under construction is a 39m steel motorsailer, White Island, set to make its debut at this year's Monaco Yacht Show. Additionally, there's a tri-deck 66m steel/aluminium superyacht, which, once completed, will be the largest yacht ever built in the Bodrum & Aegean region of

Turkey. The shipyard was also putting the finishing touches on the first hull of their explorer range, a 26m vessel that will be shown at Cannes Yachting Festival in September. Plus, two 37.3m motor yachts designed by Riza Tansu, the first of which, Project Tempest (P372), prompted my visit.

Over the past four decades, Aegean Yacht, under the leadership of its visionary entrepreneur owner and CEO Sinan Ozer, and with the dedication of his longstanding team, many of whom have worked with him for decades, has established itself as a prominent player in the industry. Initially dedicated to wooden yacht construction, for the last 20 years, the shipyard has focused on new build, full & semi-custom yachts built from steel & aluminium. The company's focus lies in creating yacht designs that prioritize seaworthiness and safety with a perfect balance of function and form. With a deep understanding of their

clients and their desires, Sinan and his team work closely with them throughout the entire process, often forging lasting friendships, delivering exceptional vessels, and having a lot of fun along the way. As a boutique modern heritage builder, Aegean Yacht has an impressive track record, having successfully delivered over 50 high-quality sailing and motor yachts ranging from 20m to 60m LOA since the company's beginnings back in 1976.

Among Aegean Yacht's recent projects are the 50m sailing yacht Galileo, the 57m sailing yacht Montigne, and the 34m Gentleman's Motoryacht Olde Salt. The latter, blending old-world charm with modern technology, won first prize at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards in 2016.

Now, let's delve into Project Tempest, the new collaboration between Aegean Yacht and renowned designer Riza

Tansu. Tansu is celebrated for his Tigershark Series launched in 2011, which garnered numerous industry design awards for its distinct minimalist, military-esque aesthetic.

The partnership between Aegean Yacht and Tansu showcases the power of combining a shared vision of quality, modernism, simplicity, and proximity to the sea with the unmistakable rugged, naval flair of a Tansu design. Tempest's interior also has lots to shout about. There's a spacious interior lounge area with expansive windows and a full-beam owner's suite on the main deck, complete with a vanity, desk, and his-and-hers bathrooms. The lower deck accommodates two twin cabins and two double cabins, offering flexible arrangements for guests. Tansu's interior design is in his signature modern beach house style, with wooden flooring, light surfaces, sleek, minimalist lines, and a contemporary feel complemented by pure geome -

tric forms. An expansive open aft deck play area can also accommodate two large tenders when necessary. Moving forward to the main saloon, intimate spaces offer a comfortable indoor/outdoor experience while providing shelter from the elements. The sun deck, equally vast, features a central bar and a dining table for ten. Custom removable sun awnings, 12mm teak decking, and oversized stainless steel deckware showcase quality craftsmanship at every turn.

The naval architecture and engineering for Project Tempest is by Endaze, whose long list of projects has included such world-class vessels as the 43m M/Y Sunrise, 140m M/Y Ocean Victory, and 88m S/Y Maltese Falcon.

The Tansu, Endaze and Aegean Yacht collaboration certainly has the vision and credentials to deliver something unique to the market. Currently, under construction, Project Tempest is expected to be completed in June 2025, and Denison Yachting Monaco has signed the exclusive CA agreement.

A GROWING INTEREST IN GREECE

Edited by Jane Catchpole

Greece is amongst one of the most popular sailing destinations in the world with an increasing number of people feeling drawn to experience the idyllic blue water conditions, the renowned maritime history, year-round sunshine and rich variety of beautiful cruising destinations. It continues to boast one of the world’s largest yachting fleets as well as being ranked within the top five countries of superyacht owners in the world.

Greece’s appeal is obvious, with its natural beauty and endless potential for maritime activity around its vast coastline and scattered islands. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Greece is easily accessible to those coming from Europe and the east. The unique qualities of the region as a cruising destination, means sailors and yachtsmen can experience everything from tranquil secluded sandy beach moorings to traditional marinas nestled in historical waterfront villages and dramatic mountainous

coastlines dropping into turquoise seas. There is an experience that everyone from the charter guest, to the experienced yachtsman can relish in.

More recently, notable interest from international yachting companies who offer a range of yachting services from yacht sales and yacht management to charters and marina management, has come to the forefront and luxury yachting specialists such as Fraser and Camper & Nicholsons have opened in Greece, with others likely to follow suit. We spoke to Sea Alliance Group (SAG) who recently strengthened their operations by expanding into Greece to offer a fully-fledged brokerage, charter management and marina management service, bolstering their existing Central Agencies (CAs) which were already in place across Greece.

As an established international business, Sea Alliance Group came to The Athenian Riviera earlier this year and

With several international yachting companies recently expanding into Greece, we find out more about what’s driving these recent developments.

opened new offices to serve the increasing interest and developments within the Greek marine market. Utilising their expertise and know-how to maximise the potential opportunities they identified, they have also become one of the first international companies to offer marina management services there.

With these large international yachting companies tapping into rising demand and setting up bases in Greece, charter business is rapidly increasing along with a range of other yachting services. In addition, the on-going development of the Athenian Riviera highlighting world-class structures and boasting seven marinas along its coastline, makes it a promising investment for these companies. Acting as a natural channel between the Eastern and the Western Mediterranean, the country’s location also allows for an upbuilding business association between the Sea Alliance Group’s head office in Gibraltar and its sister company, Stream Yachts, located in Israel.

“Greece as a destination is perfect for maritime businesses – there is a long history of sea culture, perfect sailing conditions and a vast array of different experiences and locations for all types of water enthusiasts to enjoy. There is so much potential for future development across Greece to pave the way for charter, marina management and yacht brokerage businesses. The region’s infrastructure is relatively underdeveloped as much of it has been caught up in the longstanding traditions of its famous maritime history. With the success and experience we’ve built up within our sister companies, we began looking at new opportunities and took the step to expand into Greece and develop our much-needed services there.” said Roy Klajman of SAG.

veloping maritime infrastructure which is ripe for investment, we were very confident that we can build a business which serves not only sail tourism and the abundance of yacht owners but also one that feeds into the wider strategy for improving the maritime industry of Greece.

“We want to bring a new level of service to the local market, we take every client’s needs and wants seriously and truly believe in our slogan ‘Big enough to deliver, small enough to care’. This combined with all that Greece has to offer, makes it the perfect location to expand into and continue to grow within.”

Sea Alliance Group already manages several CAs from Greece, offering luxurious cruising aboard 35m sailing yacht My Star which is actively operating in Greece as well as other private and charter use boats.

“With the support of our sister companies, we aim to offer a full Med service, helping to deliver after sales, concierge service and charter management to meet the increasing demand for this type of service across Greece. The recent interest and investment in Greece from international companies illustrates why the maritime industry in Greece is set to evolve over the coming years.”

Sea Alliance Group has a wealth of marina management experience and although there has been significant recent investment across many of the country’s marinas, they still see potential for further development in marina facilities; “Greece’s marinas can truly benefit from and take advantage of the expertise of specialised businesses such as ours to help drive improvements and services for yacht owners, tourists, visiting yachts and berth holders. It’s an exciting time for Greece’s yachting industry as we begin to see very real investment from many international yachting companies.” concluded Roy.

“We saw a lot of potential in Greece” said Roy. With an abundance of coastline, high levels of tourism and a de -

A Whale’s Tale

Written by Sara Manley of Links Marine Services SL

When three Orcas seemingly attacked SY Wildlife while under passage from Lanzarote to Palma de Mallorca, the crew weren’t immediately concerned. The Orcas, however, were persistent in their mischief...

Photo: with thanks to the crew of SY Wildlife

Over the last few months, we have been reading in the press and watching in the news the shocking stories of Orcas attacking numerous vessels off the Spanish coast apparently for fun. But this isn’t a recent phenomenon, so many incidents were reported from the Galician coast as far back as 2020 that sailing vessels under 15 metres had to be prohibited for their own safety from sailing off the coast and more recently in June of this year the first incident was reported in Northern waters off the Shetland coast.

The crew of SY Wildlife had first-hand experience of this back in May when they were terrorized by a group of three Orcas for an hour and a half as they were making passage from Lanzarote to Palma de Mallorca. The first the crew knew about the attack was a loud thud on the hull, which they assumed must have been from the hull hitting a submerged container. But as they looked over the side towards the stern they saw two pieces of red debris floating off into the distance, which unfortunately for them turned out to be bits of their fibreglass rudders… and then they spotted the Orcas circling under the boat.

The crew weren’t immediately panicked and as per protocol provided by Orcaiberica.org they slowed the vessel, stopped the engine, turned off the auto pilot and left the rudder to track, hoping that the whales would soon enough get bored and go away.

But once the boat had been turned completely around, the panic did set in. The captain called Tarifa traffic control to explain their predicament. They could see the whales pushing the rudders with their noses under the boat, one of which was slightly greyer along the back which they later learnt might have been the Orca named as Gladis, the other two Orcas with her seemed to be full size. The Orcas were pushing the rudders to such an extent that they broke the connecting rod between the two rudders, and they had also turned one of the rudders completely to face the other way leaving boat un-steerable.

Luckily for the crew, thanks to the Orcas’ continued prodding of the rudders, they managed to push the rudders back into the correct position and the boat was once again steerable.

The crew started the engine and got under way, eventually limping into Gibraltar. On arrival, the Harbour Master told them the unbelievable news that there had been 57 attacks in the last 60 days – three of them on the same day as Wildlife attack!

There are two main theories that have been put forward to explain this behaviour. The first being that one of the Orcas suffered from either being struck by a boat or entangled in fishing line and has then taught this attacking behaviour to younger whales as revenge for injuries suffered. The second theory, made recently in by Renaud de Stephanis, a marine biologist undertaking research for the Spanish Government into this behaviour and reported in the Daily Telegraph on 27 June, suggests that the mammals were possibly playing and received a ‘massive adrenaline rush’ from the attacks.

Whatever the reason for this behaviour, the consequences can be devastating and several boats have been lost. Luckily for SY Wildlife, Links Marine Services were able to rebuild in aluminium the two rudders using the existing rudder stock and were able to get the boat back up and running in a couple of weeks.

The team at Links Marine Services provide a complete marine welding, fabrication and machining service, with over 20 years of experience working within the super yacht industry in Mallorca. We are also a leading supplier of anchors, chains and swivels for the Island. If you need a quote give us a call and we can come down to the boat and discuss your requirements.

OscarSiches THE LEGIONNAIRE OF KOUROU

Written by Oscar Siches

Oscar Siches recounts his experience searching for diesel in the second city of French Guiana.

Partner and manager of two marinas in Mallorca for 15 years Oscar has been designer and consultant for marina projects in various countries, and designer of customized marina elements. He has shared his experience through more than 30 conferences in 12 countries and has written numerous articles for Marina World and other international nautical magazines.

Oscar is a Certified Marina Professional, was founder director of the Global Marina Institute, member of ICOMIA’s Marinas Committee, member of PIANC Recreational Marine Committee, Convenor of ISO TC228 WG8 “Yacht Harbours”, member of the Global Marine Business Advisers (GMBA) group and founding member of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association.

Kourou. It is one of those places you only reach by chance. We had set sail from Buenos Aires, bound for Bonaire, one of the three Dutch Caribbean islands off the coast of Venezuela. We would be travelling 4,800 miles in a motor-sailer named “Sea Witch”, a vessel of 25m in length and 75 years of age, and one that had survived a collision with a submarine at the exit of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base.

The Sea Witch had a bad reputation, she was a cursed boat. Oak hull on oak and iron frames, I never knew who designed or built her, and she was moored at the Yacht Club Argentino de San Fernando. Being one of the largest boats there, everyone knew her. At 25 years of age myself, the only thing that interested me was sailing, adventure, and the experiences to be had along seven countries of endless and mysterious coasts. Before leaving, we had installed five bilge pumps because despite caulking the hull two months before (in the traditional method of opening of seams, red lead paint, wick pressed at the seams with the fairing iron, and then finished with putty made with red lead, talc and varnish, and launch within 72 hours to avoid the putty drying), the hull moved a lot and as a result we made about 200 litres of water per hour while under way.

We were a crew of four. We had made stops in Paratí, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia, Recife, and an inlet – the name for which I do not remember, but where the locals gave us 10 banana clusters - Fortaleza, San Luis de Marañón just before the mouth of the Amazon river, and Kourou, the second city (the capital is Cayenne) of French Guiana that takes its name from the river that caresses it, and where eight miles from the mouth are the Salvation Islands: Île Royale, Saint Joseph, and the Île du Diable, (the Devil's Island of Captain Dreyfuss and Papillon).

saw curious pools built from stacked stones on the coastline so that the water could rise and fall with the tide and permit bathing safely protected from sharks.

In the morning the corvette gave us a sound signal and set sail for the brown spot that entered the Atlantic and marked the mouth of the river. It was blowing from the NE and the swell increased as we sailed through less and less depth.

We landed in the cove to the south of Île Royale, anchored, and disembarked, both curious and delighted to have already left behind 3,400 miles. We came across the prison staff buildings in pretty good condition, and some helpful French-speaking locals whom I asked if I could get diesel. No go. To fuel up with diesel you had to enter through the Kourou River and the bar was a dodgy one to negotiate. I forgot to tell them that by way of on-board electronics, I carried a VHF and a depth sounder, with a neon flash that suddenly went up or down a metre by means that had nothing to do with religion, but made us pray that at that moment it was accurate because we had just a metre of water under the keel!

We toured the island, and they told us of the 75,000 political prisoners that died there . Those who did not die on the island died from tropical sicknesses while building the road to Saint Laurent du Maroni, and were thrown to the sharks (abundant in the area and an archaic recycling method). I still remember the visit to the cemetery, where half of the tombstones signalled the graves of children under 10 years old, and the punishment cells at Île St. Joseph, which are today pierced by enormous roots that condemn the inhumane practices which took place there by breaking the walls inexorably.

The next day, a French Navy corvette anchored near us. They came by tender to ask who we were, where we were going, the usual… I told them about our need for diesel, and they invited us to follow them to Kourou the next day - the high tide was in the morning, they had almost the same draft as us and they had to go to the Kourou dock, where we could order a truck with diesel. We spent the day hiking the other two islands, and visited the training camps of the French Foreign Legion, and

It was difficult to keep the course in the wake of the corvette, the waves took the stern sideways and we had to give a lot of rudder anticipating the effect, but having that ship of the French Navy show us the way gave me a sense of safety that, knowing that it was totally subjective, made me enjoy the adventure. The breakers looked very active on both sides and suddenly, in a matter of seconds, we passed the river mouth and stopped rolling and pitching, the Caterpillar purred stable, and the moisture transpired by the river was breathed with pleasure and relief. Two miles up, a concrete pier with a major esplanade and a kind of ranch made from straw and palm leaves gave us a lonely welcome. A tall, blue-banded kepi Legionnaire (sub-officer) materialized (we never knew from where) and approached us.

We carried the “Q” flag requesting free practice in the high port shroud under the first spreader, the French flag on the starboard, and the registration Argentine in a socket in the crowning of the stern. The legionary asked us for the passports and told us that we could go ashore but not leave the (unfenced) perimeter of the esplanade. After 20 minutes he was back, returned the passports, and welcomed us, informing us that we could lower the "Q" flag. He said we could go wherever we wanted but must comply with the safety signals: Kourou is a rocket (Ariane) launch station, and many safety regulations must be observed. He told us where to get a cold beer, but that if we saw a fight begin we should run away, because the guys (les mecs) tend to get a little violent and with the training they carried it was best not to participate. I asked him about the diesel, and he offered to manage it for me. I asked him if I had to close the ship or leave someone on duty and he replied, the right corner of his mouth moving two millimetres, which I interpreted as a laugh: "There are ten pairs of eyes looking at this boat, as long as you are here you are untouchable."

Within five minutes we were at the rancho-bar. It was the wild west in tropical form, all we were missing was John Wayne in a camouflaged vest. Behind the bar stood a humanoid to whom the shoulders were attached to the face without an apparent neck, and the face wore an unfriendly expression that had surely been fermenting for 50 years or more. Two small windows allowed the circulation of a 40ºC breeze that brought to mind the apocalypse and the prelude to hell…

"Bonjour!" I expressed with the attitude of a seasoned sailor. “Quatre bières, s'il vous plait- Kronenbourg1664”. I was not in the mood to play the suicidal cocky captain and ask for Heineken. I paid with dollars, the tip almost greater than the price, and we went for a walk into town, happy to be alive and sweating out the bar experience, never mind the beer. Half an hour on a paved road took us to New Kourou, an artificial, modern city, where the technicians and scientists of the Arianne project were housed.

New Kourou was totally tax-free, whether it was cigarettes, supermarket shopping, perfume or clothing. We provisioned there, buying cigarettes and perfume, and accepted the transport to the boat that the supermarket offered "aux premières clients argentins de la maison" (to the house’s first Argentinian clients).

When we arrived at the dock, there was a TOTAL fuel truck waiting for us with the diesel. I liked this place more and more.

That afternoon a Legionary who had been in the bar showed up, in uniform. He spoke a little Spanish, and you could tell he wanted to chat. He told us that the French Legion’s 3rd Infantry Regiment was permanently stationed in French Guiana. To listen to him was to daydream, to live the books read in one of the places where the war events occurred, to look and listen to a protagonist. Leo, one of my crew, asked him if he had ever been hurt. And this parishioner, entertaining himself with his strong Spanish accent, raised his head and rendered us mute, leaving us looking foolishly at a scar that went from ear to ear - badly healed, a second mouth on his head, and an irregular, violent protagonist of our memories of Kourou during the following days.

The Legionary told us that they had been sent to Algeria, where France still had a conflictive presence, and had been ordered to control a town far from the capital. Almost all of them were circulated in mobylettes, those motorcycle-bicycles so popular in France. One night, when he left the headquarters to go to the tents where they slept, the locals had set a cable trap across the street. "If it had been a normal bike and I had gone faster," he told us, “I would not have made it.”

We filed the departure papers and caught the high tide early in next morning, negotiating the bar and sailing to pass the Strait of Serpents Mouth south of Trinidad, one of the two mouths that allow access to the Gulf of Paria, separating Trinidad from Venezuela.

The four and a half thousand litres of diesel, 3,000 in tanks and 1,500 in drums of 200 litres each, had transformed us into an asthmatic hippopotamus, with little manoeuvrability and

slow reactions. We took the tide tacking in the channel, so if the keel touched the bottom the swell beating on the beam would allow us to get free again. Serpents Mouth was waiting for us: heading 298, 620 miles ahead.

The European Dental Practice

• Friendly dynamic team

• Great with kids and nervous patients

• Same day emergency appointments

• Cosmetic treatments including whitening

• Hygenist

• Dental Implants

Roger Horner is the founder and Group Managing Director of e3 Systems, and he’s our in-house expert on all things to do with superyacht tech here at The Islander. Each issue, Roger shares news, reviews, and insight from the technology sector.

Roger Horner

Written by Roger Horner

Roger Horner is the founder and CEO of e3 Systems since 1996. He has been a contributor for The Islander Magazine since 1997.

An update from e3 Systems

Midsummer is always a great time for celebrations, and here at e3 Systems we were delighted to welcome Stuart Castell as our new Commercial Director, but sad to say goodbye to Mat Cros, who is returning to France after five years with us here.

We also welcomed a special guest to the celebrations. Back in 1996, Jason Abbot was one of the founding members of e3 Systems, together with me and Alan Walker.

So, the three of us getting together again after twenty odd years was an added reason to celebrate!

Controlling Artificial Intelligence (AI) is clearly a concern to tech heavyweights.

Did anyone try Chat GPT following my column last month?

I have been listening to some very interesting podcasts over the last month about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Most of them need a health warning attached, as they sure do cast gloom and doom in a very short period of time unless we take action.

In my column last month, I said that I believe AI’s progress is highly dependent on human collaboration. So, AI couldn’t exist without humans, ergo it could be regulated by humans. The authors of these broadcasts, columns and podcasts agree with this and say Robo Cop will not be created unless man instructs it to happen.

An Open Letter was drafted and signed at the end of May 2023, by over a thousand tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, carrying a stark warning that they be -

lieve Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses an existential threat to humanity unless we control its development. With just 22 words, the statement reads, "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." I wonder why they didn’t include global warming.

They say there are huge upsides to AI if we can control it. One of the reasons they put the statement out is that they feel the study of safety and regulation of AI, and mitigation of the harms, both short-term and long-term, has been understudied compared to the huge gain of capabilities that can be borne out of AI, they need time to catch up and the resources to do so.

Is AI inevitable?

The general feeling is it can’t be stopped. If one company stops developing software, then their competitors will continue. AI is in a parallel dilemma to that which Oppenheimer was in when he was developing the nuclear bomb. If he stopped, the Nazis would get there first. Even if there was a way to get all the companies to stop, then there would still be a teenage prodigy coder, in his bedroom, coding the next upgrade.

Chat GPT 3, the version I have been using, has been tested to have a verbal-linguistic IQ of 120. Chat GPT 4 that is being released will have an IQ of 155 which will be superior to 99.99% of 2,450 of the human testers. Einstein had an IQ of 160. Chat GPT 5 is under development…

SpaceX launched at least another 48 Starlink satellites in July.

On July 7 SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The California launch was of another 48 Starlink V1.5 satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster landed on a drone ship in the Pacific to be used again. If you haven’t seen how this happens, it’s worth taking a look on YouTube!

If you are using your RV/Roam like this, for the sake of your budget, we highly recommend an upgrade to Maritime!

The end of June marked the first month where Starlink started charging for the data used above the plan threshold of 50GB, 1TB and 5TB for Maritime and also started charging the $2.00 per GB for the RV/Roam when at sea, as mentioned earlier.

As we expected, there were some clients who were surprised that their service was cut as they had selected to OptOUT. The default is to Opt-OUT, so unless you monitor your data usage daily you could be in for a surprise.

There were also some clients who have had bill shock as they had Opted IN! So they were on an unlimited service, but they had not been monitoring how much over the threshold they were running.

How to avoid bill shock or service termination mid-month:

Starlink RV/Roam is now available at sea but at a cost.

The flat High Performance Starlink Roam allows users to enjoy high-speed, low-latency internet whilst in motion. However, in order to use a Starlink Roam at sea you need to opt-in to Mobile Priority data or change your service plan to Mobile Priority if it’s available in your area. At sea you will be charged $2.00 for each GB of data used…

That makes Starlink RV/Roam much more expensive to use than the Maritime system. Roam/RV costs $150/m for unlimited use on land, but this now cannot be used at sea.

However, as an example 550GB at sea will cost $2/GB. Total cost being $1,250/m which is $2.3 per GB. The Starlink charge is only $1.00 per GB for their 1TB and 5TB Maritime Plans at sea. So for less than the same price you get twice as much data!

This means Maritime is 45-55% less expensive!!

What does this mean in real terms? It means that if just one person on-board is watching four hours of Netflix or IPTV per day at sea, then it will cost twice the price to use the RV/Roam to do this than if using the Maritime system. And that’s excluding any other use of the internet.

What you need is some help from AI to help you with live data measurement, monitoring, and analysis regarding what you have asked for and what you actually need. And you need this information to be sent to you automatically so that you can make fast decisions.

At e3, we have built this AI into our Starlink service, accessed via the Client Portal my.e3s.com:

• We collect your data numbers from the Starlink servers every half hour.

• By using my.e3s.com you can see your data use across the month.

• We collect your data numbers from the Starlink servers every half hour.

• We then predict your usage for the rest of the month and display this in red if it’s going into overage.

• We automatically send an email warning when you reach certain thresholds.

• In that email we offer the option to Opt-IN to excess data, if you are clearly not going to make the end of the month, as shown by our predictive data use algorithm.

• If you Opt-IN to use excess data, we send a spend warning by email every $500 used and you can select to Opt-OUT at any time.

If you choose to use a Starlink Reseller, make sure you select a Reseller like e3, which knows how you work, understands the needs in yachting, and is an expert in data communications. Use their experience to shorten your learning curve and benefit from the added value services they offer such as this.

Look no further Starlink just got local

e3 is now a Starlink approved reseller

• Fully featured Starlink Maritime high power, flat panel systems in stock where yachts operate.

• Fast up to 350Mbps down.

• 5TB, 1TB & 50GB data plans.

• Starlink Support by e3 from our 24/7 SOC.

• Includes our my.e3s client portal to set and manage custom warnings of reaching data limits to avoid BILL SHOCK.

• Use with your other existing services.

• Or use our Starlink companions: Big Data 4&5G Pay-as-you-Go, and daily VSAT on demand in areas where Starlink doesn't work or as a backup.

• We will install it and tune up your IT and networks to handle the bandwidth.

• We have a multitude of additional services to help you get the best out your Starlink!

Connectivity on the move

systems

Be the best

of yourself with Luxury Hospitality’s new tool: LH Dynamics.

Written by Gemma Harris

The hospitality sector consistently strives for excellence, and in a luxury world where only perfect is good enough, how canindividuals working in these roles better recognise and utilise their unique talents and abilities?

In a world of untapped potential, there is a profound secret to unlocking success and fulfilment. Imagine if you could reach your full capabilities. What if you could understand what makes you tick and why? Or if you could acknowledge how to harness your strengths better?

Enter LH Dynamics, a unique talent awareness tool. Taking inspiration from a world-renowned educator and entrepreneur, Roger Hamilton and his Talent Dynamics concept, the training company Luxury Hospitality (LH) collaborated with him to launch the tool. Based in the Netherlands and offering training worldwide to a range of hospitality staff and superyacht crew, the team wanted to bridge the gap and create a relatable and applicable tool for

the hospitality industry, helping individuals (and teams) unlock their inherent talents.

The tool underpins LH’s vast offerings of personal and team development programmes. Users access it via a unique login key and are then asked to instinctively answer an array of straightforward, multiple-choice questions about work/ life experiences. Results then show how an individual’s character is divided between the four energies (‘Dynamo’, ‘Blaze’, ‘Tempo’ and ‘Steel’) derived from Ancient Chinese philosophy, reflecting our state of being. Most people tend to be a blend of energies, dependent upon where the user’s strongest energy sits, giving them a specific ‘profile.’

version

A 12-page report is delivered to the individual to fully understand the results. A recent candidate explains, "The results page details my personal strengths with a level of accuracy that surprised and impressed me.” The ‘Insight’ expert trainers at LH then unpack the results through in-depth debriefs.

The candidate further comments, “Going through the process myself gave me a much clearer understanding of the logic and how it relates to everyday life and work.” Another candidate expresses this element of gaining a deeper knowledge of self, “It was impressively accurate in its assessment of who I am. I was reminded of my worth and my value in a time when I really needed it.”

This powerful framework not only benefits individuals but also extends to teams. The importance of these ‘energies’ are fundamental for building powerful teams. The results enable individuals to become more self-aware and help them understand their psyche better, which can foster a greater awareness of others. A yacht management company that uses the system explains, “The new joiners are adapting slightly slower than expected, but with a better understanding of their ‘profiles’, I can now adapt the approach.” When you know and understand someone’s energy, it is a crucial development and communication tool.

Luxury Hospitality has been empowering personal and team development in the hospitality sectors for the past 15 years, and the launch of LH Dynamics helps them continue to do so.

“The journey to providing excellent service starts with understanding yourself,”

Peter Vogel, Founder of Luxury Hospitality

Industry Updates

Benetti celebrates 150-year anniversa ry

IPM-IMG Group show continued environmental commitment by receiving Blue Flag award

The IPM-IMG Group marinas (Marina Port de Mallorca, Marina Ibiza and Marina Palma Cuarentena) have once again had their ongoing dedication to the environment recognised by receiving the Blue Flag award from the ADEAC (Association of Environmental and Consumer Education).

Benetti held three days of grand celebrations for owners, employees and officials at the Viareggio and Livorno shipyards to celebrate 150 years of values, handed down from father to son.

Proceedings started on 16th June in Viareggio, where Paolo Vitelli, founder of the Azimut | Benetti Group along with his daughter, Chair and CEO, Marco Valle, welcomed local authorities to witness the deep bond with the area and celebrate the place where the shipyard’s story began. It was also a moment to pay homage to their long-standing collaborators.

The following day, yacht owners were invited to attend a spectacular evening at the Livorno Shipyard. Guests were treated to a spectacular banquet with Belgian architect and set designer, Charles Kaisin recalling the history of Benetti in an extraordinarily creative way.

To round off the weekend, employees, their families, and suppliers were invited to the shipyard to enjoy a host of sporting and cultural activities.

The flag is part of a programme involving 45 countries worldwide and reflects an outstanding standard of quality in service, facilities and environmental aspects, whilst also recognising the continued hard work that the IPMIMG Group have been fulfilling for 21 years over their three marinas.

This consistent environmental commitment displayed by the marina group involves the promotion of good practices amongst customers and users, creating awareness campaigns and managing the Blue Flag for private yachts that share the same values and environmental concern.

The Blue Flag Ceremony was attended by Pilar Moyá and José María Marroig from the IPM-IMG Group where they were presented with the award by Jose Palacios, Chairman of ADEAC.

Industry Updates

Balk Shipyard appoints Evan Kortmann CEO

Monaco Yacht Show unveils carbon neutrality plan

Daan Balk, the seventh generation of Balk to direct and manage the refit and repair shipyard, has now entered semi-retirement after a championship spanning over two decades and countless completed projects. He will remain a non-executive director and advisor of the shipyard.

Evan Kortmann has been appointed as Balk’s replacement with immediate effect. Commenting on his successor, Daan Balk said, “Evan Kortmann is a very suitable candidate and we are very happy to have found him to fill the role of CEO. Evan will bring a new energy and fill his position with great enthusiasm and drive.”

Kortmann joined Balk Shipyard over a year ago as CCO and has been instrumental in the yard’s recent success securing ground rights for a long-awaited expansion as well as completing highly acclaimed projects such as the rebuild of 50.4m Feadship, Emerald.

Speaking about his new appointment, he said “Balk Shipyard is a true heritage shipyard in the Dutch yachting industry and it’s an honour to have the opportunity to take over the helm. I am looking forward to continuing the Balk 225 year legacy.”

The show has presented plans to transition towards carbon neutrality, as part of its commitment to sustainability and ongoing efforts to minimise environmental impact.

The three-phase transition requires the collaboration of exhibitors and suppliers, with step one being a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025, compared to the emissions calculated for the 2022 edition.

The latter phases align more closely with the Principality’s own low-carbon trajectory, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This includes reducing the indirect emissions of the show, such as electricity and water consumption, and activities not controlled by the show itself, such as exhibitors’ own waste management and transportation.

The Monaco Yacht Show is committed to sustainability, both in preparation of the event and its four-day undertaking. The show organisers will be promoting sustainable practices and environmental responsibility throughout this year’s edition to help raise awareness amongst exhibitors and visitors.

JOIN THE FASTEST ONE-DESIGN CLASS IN THE WORLD

- Pedigree Design & Build

- Owner Driver

- Fleet Racing

- Fast Foiling

Class support from ETNZ and McConaghy

The AC40s are already in use by the America’s Cup teams as a training boat and development tool. They will be used for competition in various America’s Cup preliminary regattas in the run-up to the 2024 America’s Cup contest in Barcelona, and the AC40 is the boat of choice for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup events.

The AC40 is now offered to private owners and race consortiums, presenting opportunity to join the fastest one-design class in the world.

McConaghy Boats | World leaders in the construction of advanced composite yachts and components.

Industry Updates

Rossinavi launches first expedition yacht, M/Y AKULA

Italian Shipyard Rossinavi has launched its first luxury expedition yacht from its Pisa facilities. The 59.4m Ice Class yacht was designed by Gian Paolo Nari with a cosy and elegant interior design by Ancona based studio, FM Architettura.

Fitted with diesel electric propulsion and dynamic positioning, M/Y AKULA has been built to fulfil the owner’s dream of world exploration, with the goal of navigating long distances whilst meeting certain standards of eco sustainability. Each space outsizes standard yachts, allowing for large storage areas and comfortable crew accommodation.

The yacht has been developed with the owner to support marine research and philanthropic projects. Key custom solutions include the forward manoeuvring station being moved below deck, leaving the entire over deck free as an observation deck. Federico Rossi, COO of Rossinavi explained "With the owner’s input, we were able to best express the know-how and skills we have gained through decades of experience.”

Oyster Yachts Palma Regatta returns for special celebration

A special edition of the Oyster Yachts Palma Regatta will take place between 4th-8th September as the company celebrates 50 years in business.

Oyster Yachts from all over the globe will gather in the new luxurious location of Port Adriano, Mallorca - one of the most modern and best equipped marinas in the Mediterranean.

All Oyster Regattas are run as ‘Clean Regattas’ to minimise environmental impact. The regatta was awarded Platinum certification in 2022 and aims to repeat this in 2023 by working with local organisations to provide sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic, whilst all documents will be shared digitally.

This fun and friendly event will see yachts ranging from 40ft to 90ft enjoy four days of racing combined with a variety of social activities both on and off the water. A particular highlight this year will be a 50th anniversary dinner for Oyster Yacht owners, taking place on Wednesday 6th September.

Industry Updates

Silent Resorts announces plans for second fully solar powered location in Fiji

Following the success of its inaugural 100% solar powered marina and residence resort in the Bahamas, Silent Resorts is finalising the location of its second luxury resort in the island nation of Fiji.

Silent Resorts is the exclusive partner of Silent Yachts, the Austrian company that produces innovative solar electric catamarans.

This new location in Fiji will offer 52 Silent Residences in a variety of layouts on the beachfront and marina village, alongside exclusive access to a fleet of solar-electric powered tenders, speed boats and catamarans to help guests explore the island’s incredible natural surroundings.

Michael Köhler, founder and CEO of Silent Yachts commented: “Our ongoing collaboration with Silent Resorts represents the perfect match for our owners, who are looking to explore and enjoy the most beautiful, pristine areas on the planet in a thoughtful and sustainable manner.”

Construction is due to begin in Fiji by the end of 2023

THE CONVERSION OF S/Y GALAXIE

Written by Steve Smid

TrueWorld and PhoenixOne have successfully converted S/Y Galaxie into a 100% electric vessel, and in doing so make her a pioneer for sustainability in the maritime industry.

TrueWorld Organisation, an innovation company at the forefront of sustainability and decarbonisation solutions, has embarked on an extraordinary endeavour that combines education and conservation. Their latest achievement involves the conversion of the well-known Galaxie sailing yacht into a fully electric-powered vessel. This ground-breaking transformation not only showcases their unwavering commitment to the maritime industry but also highlights their dedication to environmental preservation and the adoption of sustainable practices.

Originally crafted in 1979 by the esteemed engineer Dominique Presles at France's renowned Chantier de Biot shipyard, S/Y Galaxie is a Ketch-rigged sailing boat with a length of 21.45 metres, giving an aura of elegance and functionality. Beyond

its exceptional craftsmanship, S/Y Galaxie is a symbol of solidarity, having served as the vessel for the Balearic Fundació Joves Navegants since its establishment in 1992. The foundation's primary focus was to provide training and promote sailing among young individuals facing social exclusion. However, their activities were halted due to the pandemic, as limited resources prevented them from continuing their mission. In 2022, TrueWorld stepped in to take over the educational project, ensuring its legacy of solidarity and reinvigorating the purpose of empowering disadvantaged youths through the transformative experience of sailing.

TrueWorld, in collaboration with PhoenixOne, a company that specialises in the electrification of yachts, through the incorporation of cutting-edge technology such as onboard ener-

gy storage, advanced power management systems, and hybrid propulsion, took on the transformation of S/Y Galaxie into a zero-emission vessel. At the heart of this endeavour lies the replacement of the boat's original 120-horsepower diesel engine with an 80 kW electric motor, ensuring it now sails without relying on fossil fuels. Phoenix One is paving the way through the transformation of traditional yachts into eco-friendly vessels by giving them a second life with superior performance whilst minimising their environmental impact.

This remarkable feat not only reduces the vessel's carbon footprint but also sets an example for sustainable practices in the maritime industry. The conversion is currently taking place at Mallorca's AlcudiaMar shipyard. By utilising energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials, they not only extend Galaxie's lifespan but also minimise its environmental impact. This holistic approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, actively contributing to a more sustainable future in the Mediterranean.

“At Phoenix One, our commitment is to provide innovative solutions that make a positive impact on our world," affirmed CEO Lucas Nowak. "Our partnership with TrueWorld not only exemplifies this dedication to giving back to those less fortu-

nate, but also underscores our shared vision in the protection of the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring it remains a source of life and joy for generations to come."

In addition to its primary function as a zero-emission educational vessel, Galaxie will be used to conduct scientific investigations, conservation missions as well as the core educational mission. Through strategic alliances, grants, and partnerships with foundations, TrueWorld aims to foster environmental awareness and actively involve young individuals in marine conservation. By integrating scientific research into its multifaceted approach, S/Y Galaxie becomes a valuable platform for the gathering of crucial data on marine ecosystems, advancing knowledge and support for conservation initiatives of our marine ecosystems.

The Mediterranean Sea is facing numerous environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and pollution, and the transformation of Galaxie into a 100% electric vessel, with the use of public grants, is leading the Balearic maritime sector in terms of sustainability through a reduction in carbon emissions. With collaborations such as PhoenixOne, TrueWorld hopes initiatives like this will inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Lucas Nowak - CEO at PhoenixOne (left) Raimon Martinez - Project Manager at TrueWorld (right)

TrueWorld's dedication to professional development and education has also extended to their collaboration with the Centre Integrat de Formació Professional Nautico Pesquera de Palma, where they donated the used diesel motor to the Centre, providing practical training opportunities in marine mechanics. This donation not only benefits students but also promotes a circular economy by maximizing the motor's lifespan, whilst minimising waste.

In summary, TrueWorld’s conversion of the Galaxie sailing boat into a 100% electric-powered vessel represents a paradigm shift in the maritime industry.

S/Y Galaxie serves as a powerful embodiment of a future where the fusion of technology and conservation principles propels us towards emissions-free sailing. It stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating a path towards a cleaner and more sustainable world. By embracing cutting-edge innovations and prioritising environmental stewardship, S/Y Galaxie inspires us to reimagine a future where every voyage embodies a greener and more sustainable way of life.

Crew Life

56. Meet the crew

60. Ship to Shore

64. First steps on board…

66. Communicating with a bully

70. Save the Med - Summer is here!

74. Dive in with PADI and Explore the Balearic Islands this Summer

80. Mallorca´s top five - Chiringuitos

84. Chefs Chat - Barry D'Arcy

88. Hermes the turtle

MEET THE CREW

Written by Melanie Winters

with Lieze Muller Chief

Stewardess

What did you do before yachting and how did your yachting career first begin?

After University I went straight to work on cruise ships and stayed there for 10 years. Yachting was the next level up. I have two brothers who are also in the industry, so it came naturally for me.

What has been your favourite boat you’ve worked on and why?

I have been on one yacht since starting in the industry. She is a great yacht in the water that glides smoothly and reaches a comfortable 10 knots easily. The people you work with always make or break a contract and I am so lucky to have the most amazing boss and fellow crew, and that is enough to make it my favourite boat.

Photos by Lieze Muller

What are the best and worst parts about working on-board?

There are so many good things about working onboard, including travelling, seeing beautiful places, meeting people and making money. But for me my absolute favourite part has to be the sunsets we get to see…they just never get old. Each seems to be different to the next, and they seem to make you feel so thankful for having a life so exciting and adventurous.

How do you keep sane on charter?

It’s not always easy to find time to get off the boat during charter so my go to is always Yoga. During the night stargazing is perfect when you are stuck on the boat but would love to connect with nature. When I have time to get off I go for a hike or run or just visit a local beach for sunbathing, supping and swimming.

What are your best strategies for spoiling charter guests?

The ultimate spoil for me is making sure towels and bathmats are always fresh. This is a big one. It’s not always possible to wash daily so some days I make sure to tumble dry them so they smell fresh and are nice and fluffy. Some people shower several times a day, so I would need to do this a few times a day to make sure they feel extra spoilt.

What’s the coolest thing you have done for guests?

Although it doesn’t seem like much, finding time even just to wash hair some days is hard. So, finding the time during busy charters to make the guests some of

my signature date balls to take home after a charter is definitely special. That’s if the crew have not finished them first…They are such a crowd pleaser. Everyone loves them as they are tasty and guilt free…

What is your signature cocktail?

I am known as the best Bloody Mary maker…EVER!!!

What is your favourite yachting destination?

I don’t have a favourite destination. I love exploring anywhere I go. But somewhere I would still love to go is the Pacific islands…

If you owned a superyacht, what would you do differently?

Not much differently actually. I would still travel the world and would probably still clean the boat myself… the only difference would be that I would not have to work for someone else.

What is your on-board pet hate?

Men leaving the toilet seat up.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

Being able to work in the hospitality and service department for over a decade. It’s not always easy but can be very fulfilling as you meet such diverse people.

Best housekeeping tip/hack?

Setting the table for breakfast at night after guests have gone to bed! It saves time the next morning and gives me a few minutes’ more sleep.

Tell us about your funniest embarrassing moment on board.

One day I asked the crew what the black sheet in the bathroom was for. They laughed and said that it was the blackout for the window! This black screen/sheet had been in the shower every single day and was positioned just under the window but not covering it. I had been looking straight at it every day for over a month not realising however, that I had been showering with everyone being able to see me through the window! I had assumed it was a one-way window where only I can see out… to my dismay it wasn’t…Safe to say it was quite embarrassing and I could never forget that moment!

What’s your favourite adventure in Mallorca?

Anything outdoors…hiking, biking, walking around.

If you could give your 20-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Travel as much as you can as long as you can…collect memories not things.

What’s your plan for the future?

Stay in the industry as long as possible. I would like to have my own business…something in the health department like a yoga instructor, massage therapist, vegan restaurant owner or health consultant. And most definitely a lot of travelling.

Tell us a little about yourself…

First of all, it might be a challenge to say only ''a little'' about Lars Molin, but I shall give it a try!

I grew up in a small seaside town north of Copenhagen, Denmark. Despite hanging out with friends on the beaches during the summer months, sailing never really got my attention although I did enjoy spending days on the water with those who knew how to sail. I was into football and golf, in particular, but also enjoyed trips with the local boy scouts, exploring the local fields, forests and wherever else the adventure could be found. Later in life, the wilder the adventure, the better it sounded to my adventurous spirit. Comparing me to a mix between a wannabe Indiana Jones and Dennis the Menace is not far off – I was a bit of a troublemaker, but those stories will remain untold (unless shared over a beer in the Corner Bar... LOL).

After finishing my military service with the Royal Guards, fate led me to a summer camp in the US. After three magic summers in the mountains of Pennsylvania and loads of newly established international friendships later, a Danish mate of mine told me about yachting. Was it really true that you could explore the world and get paid good money at the same time? I nearly dropped everything in my hands and set off to Fort Lauderdale to see what that was all about!

The Face behind Palma Yacht Crew!

Lucky for me, those were the days (1993) when you didn't need know port from starboard and the captain was the only one with a certificate of some sort. Local yachties took me under their wings and gave me a ride to the Caribbean where I landed my first job as a deckie. I still recall the day I walked down the dock in Simpson Bay Marina seeing a faded 100' 1967 Benetti sitting by the end of the dock. To say the least, it was far from as flashy and shiny as nearly all other yachts in the marina. I was ready to turn around, but as the saying goes; beggars can't be choosers... And so, I continued down the dock, knocked on the door where I was greeted by Captain Tony wearing his whites including his gold Pierre Cardin shades, gold Rolex, gold rings, chains and belt buckle – and then white shoes and socks... Apparently, the last deckie, who was from Cairns, had told Tony to go f#*! himself and walked off the boat same day. Being the only candidate not being Australian I was hired on the spot. That was my lucky break into yachting – the rest is history...

Interview by Melanie Winters

Photos by Lars Molin

Lars Molin

How long did you work in yachting?

Between October 1993 and December 2016

Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?

There are many highlights, but the one standing out from them all would easily be spending a summer season in Alaska. A close second would be exploring the fjords of Papua New Guinea. What a stunning part of the world those are - I hope to return someday soon!

To the contrary, a low point would be being let go after five years on board the most beautiful old expedition yacht where the crew was like a family. I stood up for our seasonal African dayworkers when the local yacht/finca manager wanted them replaced by Mallorquin friends of his. He whispered a few words in the owner's wife's ears about how they could save money by replacing me and shortly after I was on the dock – and the Africans replaced by Mallorquins... This led to two years of backpacking through Africa, Asia and Australia, so I suppose that as long as it doesn't kill you, nothing is so bad that it is not good for something, right?

How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?

It was partially because of all the BS that also exists in yachting, but primarily due to my father's health; He was

getting old, so being away for such long periods of time was far from ideal when all I wanted was to be with him. I had difficulties focusing on my job, when the right thing was to move back to Copenhagen to care for him during his final days. I still believe I made the right choice.

What was the most difficult thing about the transition?

By the end of my yachting career, I swapped on and off between being at sea and being land-based. This gradual transition worked a dream for me. With that said, suddenly having to cover all expenses yourself, including electricity and water takes getting used to after living the Life of Riley for so many years, in that regard. The daily banter on board and the travels are very much missed as well.

What was the best thing about it?

Privacy and freedom to do what you want to do and when you want to do it! Simple as that.

What do you do now?

While being based in Palma I was working on the expedition yacht mentioned earlier. Most of the crew was South American, so the social life on board was primarily in Spanish. One day the thought of others dealing with similar issues occurred and Palma Yacht Crew (Facebook Group) was born. Initially, the idea was to create a social network for yachties locally, but as the word started spreading down the docks, more and more would be using the community to ask questions, look for work and crew or simply just a place to crash while being in between jobs. I saw a need for similar networks in the main yachting hubs worldwide and set up Facebook groups in other destinations where yachties could help each other. Soon people would start messaging me from all over the world with their questions and requests.

With a total of 350K+ profiles in the network, it has become a full-time job for me these days. Thankfully, a very helpful team of moderators help me watch the boards, screening new member requests etc. Without them, it would not have been possible to keep the community running so smoothly.

What do you miss most about yachting?

The many international friendships, the travels, the banter, the job, and the sea.

Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?

Absolutely; The longer you have worked at sea the harder it can be to change lifestyles. You will become a lot more money conscious as you will have to provide everything

for yourself. Suddenly, you are not being taken care of anymore. No more luxury products from the market, fancy travels, new electronics, expensive dinners, champagne lunches etc. For this reason, my advice will be to leave yachting with savings enough to provide for yourself for a good three years to come. Paying rent/mortgage, electricity, water, internet and telephone all add up. Add taxes on top of that! Some may even have a baby in the making, a car or property expenses to cover as well.

“Life ashore ain't cheap!” –famous last words...

Obviously, leaving yachting is a lot easier with an education and a career to fall back on, but we are not all so lucky. Others may be looking to find a land-based yachting gig or to establish a business of their own. To those my advice is to see if you can get it set up (at least the business plan) while you are still crewing. The ideal thing is to step off the yacht and straight into your new job/business and then move forward from there. This is certainly do-able for those looking to work online or to establish an online business. There are so many opportunities out there, whereas it may be slightly more challenging if you want a shore-based business.

Last but not least, if you are looking to invest your money to accomplish some of the above, be careful with whom you trust your savings. Some plans include heavy penalties should you need your money earlier than anticipated. Spread your savings in different baskets – please... If you don't manage your own investments, choose your financial advisor with great care! Too many yachties have had significant financial losses in the past trusting advisors who were more concerned about their own commissions than the return of their clients' investments – unfortunately.

Whatever you do, don't lean back and let one day take the next, with next to nothing being accomplished. Be proactive and get the ball rolling. The “Life After Yachting” - community is a great place to start!

First steps on board…

Written by Clair Minto

You’ve done everything right, the stars have aligned, and you’ve landed your dream job aboard a superyacht. But what next? Here’s my tips for those first few days in a new job!

Pack light!

You won’t need much to begn with and you will no doubt be in some amazing places where you will definitely want to shop so it’s better to be minimalist to begin with, especially as you don’t know how much space you’ll have to store things (once you’ve been on a while you’ll figure out all the secret spots in the cabin that you can use!)

Stay out of drama

There will be established relationships and potentially a few dramas on board. It’s easy to get drawn in but the easiest thing to do is not comment and don’t take a side, it could backfire once the situation is resolved! Similarly, don’t get involved with anyone romantically too quickly –this can make for a very long and awkward season. If it’s meant to be, it will be!

Get to know your crew

Ask open ended questions and listen to the answers. Socialising together is great but be careful of your alcohol consumption on the first crew night out, believe me, you’ll never live it down!

If you’re not sure on something - ask!

Nobody comes on board knowing everything and you’re not expected to either. Your chief stew (or captain if you are the chief stew!) is there to advise and answer any questions.

Go above and beyond

Observe what’s happening and how you can help, offer to assist other departments when appropriate and you’ll soon become everyone’s favourite new crewmate!

Clair Minto

(+44) 781 667 8634

I: @chief_stew_shop info@chiefstewshop.com

www. chiefstewshop .com

Nod and smile

Don’t say ‘But wouldn’t it be easier if…’ or god forbid, ‘On my last boat….’ There is a time and place to put ideas forward to your head of department, and that’s not until you have a better understanding of the way the boat runs.

Go with the flow

Be positive and understand that things change at a moment’s notice, it’s all part of the fun!

Realise it’s Ok to be overwhelmed

Whether this is your first season or your tenth, every time is different. It may feel like you’ll never fit in, or you made a mistake but give it a moment and if you need help, seek it out - whether that’s from your head of department, a friend, family member or a professional.

And finally, enjoy!

You worked hard to get the job and now you need to make the most of that effort, take opportunities that are offered, maybe a before work swim or a mid-trip opportunity to watch a gorgeous sunset. It’s these things that will get you through – along with your new crew family of course!

COMMUNICATING WITH A BULLY

Written by Karine Rayson

Karine Rayson Director The Crew Coach

T: +61 402065101

Skype: karine_rayson karine@thecrewcoach.com  www.thecrewcoach.com

Karine has a Bachelor of Social Science in Organisational Psychology and Psychology, Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and a Postgraduate in Collective Entrepreneurship from Torrens University. She helps Crew become confident leaders, master their own mental health and access a powerful network of industry leaders.

Sadly, bullying behaviour is rife in our industry. I would say that comes down to the fact that there is no mandatory leadership training besides HELM (which is under review) and no real consequences for poor leadership. Common bullying behaviours encountered onboard can include micro-managing, ignoring crew, derogatory comments and so forth. I would love to see leadership courses that focus on self-leadership so that unique learning gaps can be addressed but, in the meantime, this month I share some options for dealing with a bully.

Understand their motivations.

There are many reasons why a person might be a bully. Sometimes they're threatened by your success; other times, they are power-hungry and want to suppress others to feel superior and in control. Or maybe there's something else going on in their life that is causing them so much unhappiness that they project their distress onto others. From my experience, understanding their motivations will help you understand how best to deal with them and guide you in making a decision on the future of the relationship.

To get inside the mind of your tormentor, think about what makes them tick; when do they become a bully? Ask yourself: What do they want? What motivates them? Why do they act the way that they do? By taking off your hat for just a moment and putting theirs on, you'll gain some perspective on what's behind their behaviour - and perhaps learn ways to respond more effectively than before.

Confront them on the issue.

Embrace your strengths, weaknesses, and unique qualities. Remind yourself that everyone has their own journey and that you are on your own path. Practice self-compassion and appreciate yourself for who you are. So often we can focus our thoughts on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. This keeps us stuck in a spiral of negative thinking. A simple activity to switch your mindset is to create a ‘compliment bucket’. This is where you can collect feedback and affirmations you receive throughout the day or week.

When confronting the bully remember:

• Don't be a passive aggressor. You may feel like there's no way to stand up to your bully directly; however, there are other ways of expressing your feelings than just letting everything build until one day you explode! Think carefully before saying something like, "I'm really feeling attacked by this comment."

• Be firm and direct in your stance against bullying behaviour. You should not feel guilty when saying “no” or standing up for yourself; this will help prevent them from using guilt as leverage against you later.

• Don't apologise for having feelings about being bullied - that just gives away power and encourages further mistreatment from them! Instead, stand up for yourself calmly and firmly without making it personal (even if it feels like it).

• If you can have a witness present when you have the conversation, it will help if you need to make a report to DPA.

Don't take on too much.

• While it's natural to want to help out and be a team player, you should never take on more than you can handle. If you're working with a bully, they may try to guilt or pressure you into doing more than your job description asks. Be assertive if this happens and explain that the workload is already too much for one person, so adding extra responsibilities would only make things worse in the long run.

• Ask for help when needed and lean on your crew members for support.

CONCLUSION

Bullies do a great job of making you doubt yourself and your ability. If you can, try not to take it personally. The bully is the problem; it is not a reflection of you who you are as a person or your capabilities. If anything, remember that bullies often feel threatened by those around them and need to bring others down to feel better about themselves.

Don't let their behaviour get under your skin. Instead of focusing on their negativity and aggression, focus on what is in your control. Remember, you have the option of terminating the relationship. If you are not valued or respected, then remove yourself from the situation.

Acknowledge your feelings.

• Don't let them hook you. Bullies aren't interested in anything but power, so don't let them rule your emotions. If you tend to get upset or angry, then learn how to calm yourself down before the bully notices that it's getting under your skin.

• Stand up for yourself when necessary. This can mean anything from calmly stating your opinion on a matter (which requires real confidence) all the way up to refusing unreasonable requests.

The key is to step back and understand that you can’t control other people. You can only control yourself, your actions, and the way you respond to their actions. Following these steps, you can work for a bully without letting them get the best of you. If you want to learn more about what bullying behaviour includes contact karine@thecrewcoach for your free download.

Take a step back and try not to take it personally, if you can.

Life is Full of Colorful Choices

The finish of your yacht should reflect your expectations of durability, longevity, color, and gloss. ALEXSEAL® offers outstanding finish performance with different systems: The polyurethane Premium Topcoat 501, the acrylic Topcoat X, and the polyurethane High Solid BaseCoat/ClearCoat.

Three possibilities with one target: Giving you a choice to find the right solution for your application parameters and finish characteristics.

Scan the code and learn more about our Topcoat solutions →

Always

instagram.com/alexsealpaint fb.com/AlexsealYachtCoatings

WWW.ALEXSEAL.COM

a perfect mat

Summer is officially here!

Save the Med is kicking off a summer of marine regeneration and community-led action. To keep the sea clean, the work starts on land!

Time for the next generation

What do you get when you mix teenagers, plastic pollution, and creativity?

Welcome to the Changemakers Project!

This school project challenges teens to come up with real-life solutions to plastic pollution. All participants of the project were invited to the annual event in Finca Son Forteza in June. Students got to meet peers who are equally passionate about protecting nature and participate in workshops held by local NGOs, including the amazing blue shark project with SharkMed and learning about coastal plant species with PermaMed. The kids also took part in a virtual underwater experience with Save the Med’s special “Twilight zone” underwater projections.

To close the event, we selected our favourite ideas from the teams and they were presented with diplomas for their great initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. Particularly noteworthy was the team “ReduScore” from IES Porreres, who developed a clever point system to include on supermarket packaging, informing consumers how much plastic is truly present. In the next phase of the project, the students will be joining Save the Med for marine expeditions at sea.

Marine custody forums involve communities in protection of the coastline

On June 1st, Save the Med held the fifth 'Xarxa Dragonera Blava' forum and invited local communities to proactively become involved in the care of the Andratx coastline. The event marked a new milestone, with the participants ready to take action in this next phase of the project. Topics addressed included sewage, regulation of buoys, and a list of ‘Good Practices for land and sea.’

Together with NGO Arrels Marines, Save the Med organized a 2nd Participatory Community Forum in the Assembly Hall of Puerto Pollença in April. The aim is to enhance community engagement in the care and custody of the coastal area of Pollença.

Participatory Forums are a step towards creating a ‘bottom-up’ approach in the way citizens can protect what matters to them. The process ignites and supports community movements, participation and fortifies local and regenerative actions to protect the sea.

Plastic Free Balearics travels to the Adriatic

The Plastic Free Balearics team have their hands full! They have been sharing their findings and experiences through international workshops and webinars, providing support to other groups with similar goals. They are now participating in the new and exciting project with 'MedWaves' and 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)': ‘Tackling single-use plastics in the Adriatic region through public and private action,’

In short, the program supports local entities by adapting the Plastic Free Balearics Certification Programme to other countries and organisations. Find out more about their success in preventing plastic waste by visiting plasticfreebalearics.org

The Dos Manos School Programme

School's out for summer and the team are sending out a huge thank you to the 984 students and all the teachers that joined our Dos Manos schools programme this term and helped categorise and remove plastic pollution from beaches all around Mallorca!

The top 5 most commonly found items:

1) microplastics and other small, broken up pieces of plastic

2) cigarette butts

3) lids (from bottles)

4) ear bud sticks

5) ropes and strings

Stay tuned with more adventures to come as expedition season begins! To find out more about Save the Med’s projects, activities, and events, follow their Instagram on @savethemedfoundation, Twitter @savethemed_ and Facebook: Save the Med Foundation, or get in touch at info@savethemed.org

Perhaps you find this ad hard to read but it’s not even half as hard as finding suitable crew for 50-100 ft Pocket Superyachts. We know, because we have been focused on selecting and supporting crews for these yachts for 10 years now. For help with understanding this ad and running your Pocket Superyacht (as owner or crew) contact jens@invisiblecrew.com or find out more at www.invisiblecrew.com.

SI TE GUSTA LLEGAR HASTA EL CORAZÓN DE UNA CIUDAD, MARINA PORT IBIZA (antigua Ibiza Magna) ES IDEAL PARA AMARRAR A LOS PIES DEL CASCO ANTIGUO DE IBIZA Y VIVIR SU HISTORIA DESDE TU PROPIO BARCO

IF YOU LIKE GETTING TO THE HEART OF A CITY, MARINA PORT IBIZA (formerly Ibiza Magna) IS IDEAL TO BERTH RIGHT AT THE FOOT OF IBIZA’S OLD QUARTERS AND LIVE ITS HISTORY FROM YOUR OWN YACHT

Dive in with PADI and Explore the Balearic Islands this Summer

Written by Becky Roberts

There are over 80 different dive sites around the Balearic Islands that offer incredible underwater adventures for all levels of experience. We went exploring with PADI.

Photos courtesy of Plataforma MarianaScuba Ibiza Dive Centre and Manuel Bustelo

Situated in the Mediterranean, divers can visit Balearic PADI Dive Centres across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

Discover deep shipwrecks lying in crystal-clear waters, spectacular caves and caverns with air pockets to surface in with stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as sheer wall dives along limestone cliffs and seagrass meadows in turquoise waters bursting with marine life. The beautiful Balearic Islands offer a plethora of unique dive adventures with something for everyone.

In 2015, Dr. Sylvia Earle named the Balearic Islands as a Hope Spot - an area that is critical to the health of the ocean.

When to dive in the Balearic Islands? Quite simply, all year round, as visibility is usually very good averaging at 100ft (30m).

High season for visiting the islands is during July to September when the water temperature is warmer at 66-75˚F (19-24˚C) but you could dive on a year-round basis - if you don’t mind the cold.

Dive site highlights

Don Pedro, Ibiza

Don Pedro in Ibiza is one of the largest wrecks in the Mediterranean and has quickly established itself as one of the best dives in the world. The Don Pedro was a cargo and passenger ship that, after colliding with the islet of Dado Pequeno on 11th July 2007, sank to 47 metres deep.

Just one mile away from the Port of Ibiza, the Don Pedro wreck rests silently on a sandy bottom waiting to be explored by intrepid scuba divers. At 143 metres in length, there are several different dive options, with the bow anchors and the stern deck bridge being the most popular.

With depths ranging from 25 to 47 metres, this dive is for experienced divers and additional training such as the PADI Deep Diver or PADI Wreck Diver is recommend.

PADI Dive Centre: Scuba Ibiza Diving Centre

Cabrera Marine Reserve, Mallorca

Located one hour southeast of Mallorca by boat, the Cabrera Archipelago is a protected marine reserve known for its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life. This oasis has one of the best-preserved examples of marine life in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea and its almost untouched coastline hosts a wealth of species native to the Balearic Islands.

The waters that surround the 19 islands and islets are home to vast underwater meadows of seagrass (Posidonia Oceanica) that are rich and vital ecosystems. Here you can experience a vast array of marine life including scorpion fish, moray eels, octopus, turtles, and dolphins.

PADI centre: Diving and Adventure Mallorca

El Toro, Mallorca

El Toro, also known as ‘The Bull’, is a marine reserve and popular dive site teeming with life just 10 minutes away from land by boat. It offers a fascinating underwater landscape with canyons, arches, and walls covered in colourful marine flora. Divers often encounter large groupers, moray eels, and schools of barracudas.

The six different dive sites here offer a wide variety of dives for both advanced divers and beginners. The dive starts at a depth of five metres at a platform that runs all over the island. From there, a vertical drop takes us down to 18 metres and then gently to 35 metres or more.

PADI Dive Centre: Mar Balear

Plataforma Mariana, Ibiza

Just a 30-minute boat ride from Ibiza in the Formentera Marine Reserve lies the wreck of a fish factory. The structure resembles an underwater oil rig, but some divers say it’s like being inside a spaceship. At La Plataforma, you'll be surrounded by hundreds of schooling barracuda.

Divers can also expect to see amberjacks, groupers, conger eels, moray eels, scorpionfish and crustaceans. The water temperature ranges from 14-28°C/57-82°F, making La Plataforma a great dive any time of year.

An Advanced or Deep Diver certification is essential. Most divers start at the bottom (33 metres/108 feet) and gradually spiral up to the top. Visibility averages 30 metres/98 feet, but an Enriched Air Diver certification is recommended to ensure you have enough time to explore safely.

PADI Dive Centre: Scuba Ibiza Diving Center

Isla del Aire, Menorca

At the Marine Reserve of Isla del Aire, divers will find incredible caves, tunnels, canyons, and holes to explore. The shallow and calm waters in the bay of Fornells are ideal for beginners and they can even explore the wreck of a steam-powered sailing yacht at 12-metres deep.

At many of the dive sites within the marine reserve, there is abundant marine life from schooling barracuda to giant groupers. Stingrays can be spotted resting on the sandy seafloor and moray eels hide in the cracks and crevasses of the many rock formations.

PADI Dive Centre: Diving Menorca

To get started on your PADI Open Water Diver Course contact your local PADI Dive Centre.

For more information about PADI visit www.padi.com

Mallorca´s top FIVE

Chiringuitos

Written by Mia Naprta

For many, “los chiringuitos” are a way of life on our little rock! They are places all over the island that offer food and drinks in a casual setting at the edge of a beach; it is somewhere you can come and chill out any time of the day – from waking up with your morning coffee, to enjoying a meal or a colourful sun downer cocktail. Sadly, thanks to environmental issues and local politics, these little gems of social life, enjoyed by the locals and tourists alike, are slowly disappearing. But, as long as there are still some around, let’s check them out and enjoy their unique vibe! Here are my top five…

Illeta - Camp de Mar (Andratx)

IL CHIRINGO BEACH

This is my local chiringuito, and so one I frequent most regularly. Nestled besides pine and palm trees on the middle beach in Palmanova, west of Palma, it is popular with local residents at weekends and with tourists during the summer. It is open most of the year and offers good coffee, a trendy brunch, and good fresh meat, fish and seafood plates for lunch and dinner. It is also known for its Long Island Ice Tea. I particularly like their seafood pasta and their home-made tiramisu.

RESTAURANTE ILLETA

Restaurante Illeta is one of the most instagramable spots on the island and if you head there you will quickly realize why. As the name suggests, it is a little island, a minute or two walk over a bridge from Camp de Mar beach. This place in particular is often threatened with closure but so far it has resisted, and I urge you to visit it before it disappears. The restaurant offers some very good seafood, paella, sangria and a selection of wines.

EL CHIRINGUITO

El Chiringuito in Costa de la Calma was one of my favourites when I first moved to Mallorca, seven years ago. With sunbeds spread out on the rocks near Santa Ponca and facing west - it is one of several great spots around Mallorca to see the sunset. This place offers a chilled vibe, charcuterie plates, salads, pizzas, and beers in a relaxed setting.

PASEO MAR /P. NOVA 19, PALMANOVA

CARRER PALMERAS, COSTA DE LA CALMA

PLAYA DE CAMP DE MAR, CAMP DE MAR

CAP FALCÓ BEACH CLUB

Another spot in the southwest, is Cap Falco Beach Club in Cala Falco. Despite the ‘beach club’ name, it is technically a chiringuito, albeit a more upmarket one. It covers the back of the Cala Falco beach and is divided into several distinct sitting areas, with repurposed sails providing necessary shade on hot days. Many charters and private boats stop in the bay and the bar offers a tender service to collect guests or deliver them take away meals. This place offers fantastic food and fun cocktails

It is amongst the more expensive ones, but it is worth it for a total disconnection from the outside world, for a few hours or an entire day.

CA´S PATRO MARCH

In the north west, down the hill from the gorgeous arty village of Deya, there is another gem worth mentioning. Ca´s Patro March is perched on the rocks besides a pebbly beach. It offers stunning views of the open sea as well as tasty, freshly caught fish and shellfish. Although it is hard to get to, and it looks slightly worn out and run down, it is incredibly popular. Its claim to fame and its rise in reputation is largely owed to the fact that it was featured in a popular British TV series. Please note that they advise you to bring cash as signal is sporadic down there and you might not be able to pay by card.

CARRER CAP FALCÓ, 19 CALVIÀ

CARRER SA CALA 16, DEYA

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT USING PROMOCODE

A s i n t e r n a t i o n a l b r o k e r s w i t h m o r e t h a n 3 0 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e , w e c a n o f f e r y o u t h e b e s t i n s u r a n c e c o v e r t h r o u g h o u r p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h l e a d i n g i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n i e s . W e o f f e r y a c h t i n s u r a n c e s a s w e l l a s i n s u r a n c e s f o r t h e m a r i n e i n d u s t r y A t S e i p p e l & S e i p p e l , w e m a k e s u r e y o u a l w a y s g e t t h e r i g h t i n s u r a n c e a t t h e m o s t c o m p e t i t i v e p r e m i u m s

#SeippelMarine23

Chefs Chat with Barry D'Arcy

We catch up with Barry D’Arcy, 12 months after launching his chef placement agency.

What is your background before Ocean Earth Chefs?

I began my career serving an apprenticeship as a pastry chef in Australia. I had the opportunity to work with many Europeans during this time. I saw how professional they were and how they had a different approach to working in a professional kitchen. My Austrian Executive pastry chef once told us Australians working in the hotel that 'we wouldn't last a day working in a European kitchen.' I always wondered what he meant by that, as I thought we worked hard even though we would have music playing, light-hearted banter, and regular days off. So, at the age of 25, with the burning desire to test myself in Europe and a relationship in tatters, it was the perfect opportunity for me to leave the comfort of Australia for the seductive chaos of London. My first day in a London kitchen was memorable when I asked another chef, 'Hey mate, do you

know where the ice machine is?' He replied, 'My name is not mate; it's chef!' From that moment on, I realised I needed to wake up and sharpen up, and I had so much to learn. Working in London kitchens as a chef was like starting my apprenticeship all over again. Looking back, I was green and now know what my Austrian Executive pastry chef meant. I left London six years later when offered a sous chef position on a charter boat in the Mediterranean for six weeks. I then spent the next 22 years on large motor yachts working for UHNW families and individuals, and I absolutely loved it.

Do you believe in luck?

Yes, but you mostly create your own luck by putting yourself out there and following the things that feel right, bring out the best in you and drive you forward. Taking opportunities is what it's all about. I've always taken risks; sometimes, things go in your favour, and sometimes they don't. The learning process is the best part; you never know where things will take you in life when you focus on something and give it your all. I've been incredibly fortunate to have had good teachers and people who were patient enough to share their knowledge with me. Knowledge gives you the confidence to take on new challenges. Looking back and seeing myself as a young apprentice riding my bike to work at 2.30am to assist the bakers is a subtle reminder of how far I have come.

What is your business, Ocean Earth Chefs?

Ocean Earth Chefs is a Mallorca-based private chef placement agency for yachts, villas, chalets and estates. We provide chefs for one-off occasions, short-term, temporary, and long-term positions. Our international clients are looking for the services of cooks, chefs, Michelin-starred chefs, and chefs who specialise in particular cuisines and dietary requirements. We operate seven days a week and provide a more personal service to our clients and chefs. Having launched just over a year ago, it's been a lot of hard work, and the growth has been unexpected, which is a good thing. We have already signed agreements with exclusive villa and chalet companies to supply chefs for the summer and coming winter season and have appeared in this year's summer edition of National Geographic Food UK magazine. Covid has really increased the demand for

private chefs worldwide, with some chefs asking for up to €1,000 a day for their services. Any chef we put forward is thoroughly checked to see that the references are in order and tickets are up to date before we present them to a client.

Does your chef background help with selecting chefs for clients?

Absolutely! It's incredible how much information you can draw from reading a chef's CV, asking them to write five days’ worth of menus and speaking with them. Between the three things mentioned, you can begin to understand the chef's personality, strengths, and weaknesses and how they might be best suited to certain positions and not considered for others. Also, not every client is after a fine dining experience with a Michelin-starred chef, and some clients want simple, well-presented home-style food, even the wealthy ones. So, it's always a balancing act about not overcomplicating things, listening to the client's requests, and matching them accordingly with chefs who understand the client. That's one of our largest assets. We take the time to get to know the needs of our clients and don't bombard them with countless chef CVs. Only carefully considered applicants are presented for the client's approval.

HERMES THE TURTLE

Written by Alnitak

Photos courtesy of Alnitak

In July of 2012 a loggerhead turtle was found by Alnitak’s research vessel Toftevaag entangled and drowning in a ghost net, two nautical miles west of the National Park of the Cabrera Archipelago. The crew of Toftevaag managed to rescue the turtle in time and released her back with a NOAA NMFS satellite transmitter and the name “Hermes”.

The transmitter was active for close to a year, sending over 80,000 valuable transmissions of high-quality data that was crucial for solving an important problem of bycatch in the Mediterranean longlining fishery. Satellite tracking data provides us with valuable information on the turtle for up to one year, helping us understand details on their ecology. Thanks to data on dive patterns, integrated in the ICTS SOCIB Ocean Observation and Forecasting Systems, operational changes were made in the depth of longlining hooks in the Spanish fleet targeting swordfish that has saved over 150,000 turtles per year since 2008.

Usually tags fall off and are lost forever, but Hermes’ case is quite special. Scientists of Alnitak, SOCIB and NOAA did not expect that his tag would be recovered three years later in Florida, when Hermes was rescued by the “in-water research team” of a nuclear power plant off Melbourne Beach. The tag was still stuck on the turtle and Wildlife Computers were able to recover the serial number and contact the Alnitak / NOAA / SOCIB research team. This curious anecdote happened just while a delegation of Spanish fishers, teachers and scientists were visiting Florida, having been invited by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to thank them for their efforts in reducing sea turtle bycatch.

Known for its large head and blunt jaws used to feed on hard-shelled prey, loggerhead turtles are the most abundant species of sea turtle that nest in the United States. The species is found worldwide and has nine distinct population segments that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In the U.S., the species' Northwest Atlantic Ocean distinct population segment nests primarily along the Atlantic coast of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, and along the Florida and Alabama coasts in the Gulf of Mexico.

So what was Hermes doing in the Mediterranean?... hatchlings emerging from their nest at Melbourne beach undergo frenetic crawl and then swim to offshore waters where they enter the Gulf Stream and deep waters that mean safety. Most of these hatchlings will end up in the Sargassum Sea, but many will be taken across the Atlantic Ocean to the Macaronesian Islands, and some will be absorbed by the Mediterranean, where the Alboran Sea Gyres will take them to the Algerian basin and Sicily Channel that will be a critical foraging habitat where they will spend over a decade growing from juveniles to sub adults. In these waters, over

75% of the turtles are of the NW Atlantic nesting population, but we can also find loggerheads of the SW Atlantic and Mediterranean DPS. When Hermes passed through the Straits of Gibraltar its carapace was probably less than 20cm long. The day Hermes was rescued in Cabrera, the carapace length was over 75cm, a size that often coincides with the turtle’s biological clock telling them to head west to exit the Mediterranean and cross the Atlantic to start its reproductive life stage. After arriving in Florida, Hermes has been nesting on Melbourne beach in two-year cycles, producing some 2,500 eggs.

Hermes is quite a lucky turtle overall. First of all, only an estimated 1 in 1,000 hatchings survive to adulthood, but also due to the threats that turtles like Hermes face in the modern Ocean. The species is threatened by loss or degradation of its nesting habitat from coastal development and beach armouring. Nests are vulnerable to predation by native and non-native predators, and hatchlings to disorienting beachfront lighting. In their marine foraging habitat, loggerheads face threats from marine pollution and debris, watercraft strikes, disease, and incidental take from channel dredging and commercial trawling, longline, and gill net fisheries. All in all, it isn’t a great moment to be a sea turtle!

Thankfully in some places there are measures being put in place to protect them. At Melbourne beach,

over four decades of sea turtle conservation efforts are showing results and the last seasons have had record turtle nestings. This is where Hermes the turtle arrived to start her reproductive life stage.

In the southeastern U.S., concerted nest-protection and beach-habitat protection efforts are underway for most of the significant nesting areas, and significant progress has been made in reducing mortality from commercial fisheries in U.S. waters with the enforcement of turtle excluder device regulations. Many coastal counties and communities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have developed lighting ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientations. Important U.S. nesting beaches have been and continue to be acquired for long-term protection.

Beyond these protected beaches however, when turtles are in the open sea, they are largely beyond our help. Loggerheads are highly migratory, which severely compromises conservation efforts once they move outside U.S. waters. This is mainly due both legal and illegal fishing activities, which in some countries are causing high mortality of loggerheads from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean distinct population segment. Due to this long-range migratory movement between nesting beaches and foraging areas, long-term international cooperation is absolutely essential for the recovery and stability of nesting populations.

You can find more information about these turtles at:

https://www.fws.gov/species/loggerhead-caretta-caretta

The USFWS “Wildlife without borders” program…..

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's International Affairs Program coordinates domestic and international efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the world’s diverse wildlife and their habitats with a focus on species of international concern, including domestic species that extend beyond our borders or are traded internationally. The USFWS envisions a world where all people value nature and conserve living resources for the well-being of life on Earth.

The importance on international network and cooperation for addressing the conservation of pelagic megafauna and the management of global threats to our oceans. Since its establishment, the Marine Turtle Con-

servation Act has awarded $711,704 in grants to 32 projects around the world to address the most pressing threats faced by sea turtles. Alnitak is one of the organizations that has been supported by the MTCS. Since 2010, the MTCA project “Engaging fishers and navigators in the conservation of marine turtles” has focused on the management of the risk of sea turtle entanglement in fishing gear and especially ghost gear. As a navigator, it is quite likely that you encounter a turtle entangled.

At https://www.observadoresdelmar.es/Proyecto/ Pes ca-Fantasma/19 you can find the information necessary to rescue the turtle. Your help can make a change.

The Islander supports

Owners World

94. The Rouge Linen Tote Bag: Where where sustainability meets timeless elegance

98. The SEA EAGLE Soars

104. The 120-year comeback story

108. Hotel Honucai – Colonia Sant Jordi. 'Everything says: It's not about us.'

114. Sir Richard Branson's new hotel, Son Bunyola, opens to fanfare in Mallorca, Spain.

118. The court-side experience of The Mallorca Championships

124. The Andaman Archipelago

130. Brokerage

The Rouge Linen Tote Bag:

WHERE SUSTAINABILITY MEETS TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Written by Maryan Puig

ROUGE MALLORCA, the luxury boutique located in the heart of Palma, is set to unveil its latest masterpiece to its esteemed customers. The Rouge Linen Tote Bag is a handmade creation that combines recycled linen and exquisite calf leather. While boasting a minimalist design, the bag's interior is adorned with intricate details. In this article, we explore the fusion of comfort, luxury, and current fashion trends in this eco-friendly accessory.

Photos by Julio Feroz

Sustainable Craftsmanship:

The Rouge Linen Tote Bag is not only a stylish fashion accessory but also a testament to ROUGE MALLORCA's commitment to sustainability. The bag is crafted from recycled linen, obtained as an industrial by-product during the production of long fiber yarns. This production process, classified as GRS Pre-consumer, addresses waste generated in the textile industry and contributes to Spain's circular economy. By embracing recycled materials, ROUGE MALLORCA actively supports environmental consciousness and responsible consumption.

Elegance and Sensuality in Design:

The designer of the Rouge Linen Tote Bag, Elisabet Colom, sought to merge form and function seamlessly. Her vision was to create a bag that exudes elegance and sensuality in a timeless yet sophisticated design. Drawing from her architectural background, Colom's attention to detail and conceptual approach are evident in the bag's structure and aesthetic. The result is a simple yet sublime accessory that embodies practicality and infinite refinement.

Collaboration for a Cause:

ROUGE MALLORCA's dedication to sustainability extends beyond the Rouge Linen Tote Bag. The boutique has partnered with ANTIC MALLORCA to develop the Rouge Mallorca Basket Bag, a distinct model crafted from palm hearts harvested in Capdepera. Handmade by "Ses Madones de Sa Llata," each bag takes over 30 hours to create. The use of palm hearts pays homage to the island's cultural heritage while inspiring other renowned luxury brands to incorporate this traditional material into their collections.

Elisabet Colom: Architect Turned

Fashion Designer:

Elisabet Colom's journey from architecture to fashion accessory design showcases her multidisciplinary approach and keen eye for aesthetics. After settling in Mallorca, her close connection with nature shaped her work's style, combining elements of the city and the environment. Colom's collaboration with ROUGE MALLORCA allowed her to merge her vision with the luxury shop, resulting in bags that beautifully embody the duality she cherishes.

ROUGE MALLORCA: A Hub of Luxury and Exclusivity

Since its opening in 2019, ROUGE MALLORCA has become a haven for fashion enthusiasts and collectors. Located in a historically significant building on Paseo del Borne, the luxury boutique offers an unparalleled selection of high-end brands such as Hermès, Chanel and exclusive editions of Louis Vuitton. Through strategic partnerships with renowned international suppliers, ROUGE MALLORCA provides its customers with access to rare and coveted items, including an exceptional collection of Rolex watches. The Rouge Linen Tote Bag epitomizes the perfect blend of sustainability, craftsmanship, and high fashion. ROUGE MALLORCA's dedication to supporting local produce while maintaining a global perspective showcases the boutique's commitment to embracing the abundant resources of Mallorca. As Elisabet Colom's vision comes to life in this exquisite accessory, fashion enthusiasts can appreciate the harmonious fusion of elegance, sensuality, and environmental consciousness embodied by the Rouge Linen Tote Bag.

The SEA EAGLE Soars

This contemporary 81m schooner quietly slipped into the water in 2020 and joined an exclusive club alongside her peers on the list of the top 10 largest sailing yachts.

When SEA EAGLE (formerly SEA EAGLE II) joined the superyacht fleet in 2020, she went relatively unnoticed – we were preoccupied with where to order face masks from and for the safety of our loved ones amidst a global pandemic, rather than keeping abreast of news from the shipyards who had, miraculously, still managed to deliver.

Three years later, Royal Huisman have issued an update on the yacht’s initial sailing programme, which comprised some 45,000nm of world exploration... And the shipyard invites you to notice SEA EAGLE anew. We agree; it’s time that this sailing superyacht enjoyed her moment in the spotlight.

Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and featuring an interior by Mark Whiteley Design, SEA EAGLE has dramatic and purposeful lines with a plumb bow. Her extended waterline and powerful Panamax rig ensure effortless, mile-eating performance, whilst her expert construction guarantees quality, strength, and fuel-efficiency.

SEA EAGLE is an evolution (significantly) of the owner’s first yacht, which was a 43m called Sea Eagle I, also built by Royal Huisman.

The owner’s experience had led him to reconsider his priorities for this next project. He set out, with the help of the design team, to create an extremely comfortable and spacious yacht with good sea keeping and exceptional amenities for both guests and crew. She had to offer outstanding passage-making performance and be a true sailor’s yacht – practical, powerful, safe, and easily managed. Finally, she had to be functional, favouring simplicity and reliability over unnecessary frills. With this, he would sail the oceans.

And it seems that this is the yacht Royal Huisman delivered. Almost twice the length and five times the volume of her predecessor, SEA EAGLE has soared across oceans and swooped between idyllic island anchorages to provide her owner with carefree cruising adventures.

Written by Roxanne Hughes

Photos by Tim McKenna and Yachting Image

One the most remarkable attributes of this sailing superyacht’s design is her rig package and sail wardrobe. Sporting a sail area of some 2,580sqm upwind and 3,552sqm downwind, incredibly all three mainsails can be hoisted at once – taking no more time than required for a sloop of half this size. The efficiency of this sail management system understates the technical challenges behind it; the exceptional cooperation of an ‘A Team’ comprising Dykstra Naval Architects, Rondal, Carbo-Link and Doyle Sails.

Supersized sailing yachts like this are no longer an impossible dream, comments Jan Timmerman, Royal Huisman’s CEO: “Continual innovation, accumulated expertise and rigorous self-challenge have come together through our highly skilled and dedicated team to produce yachts such as ATHENA, SEA EAGLE and, currently in-build, the world’s largest sloop - the 85m Project 410.”

For Dykstra Naval Architects, a careful review of the tank testing results would prove essential. “The modern styling allows a beamy transom and almost full-length waterline, providing better capabilities and promising faster crossings in greater comfort. Due to the higher stability the yacht can sail with less heel, greatly

improving the comfort on board,” explains Erik Wassen of Dykstra Naval Architects. Wassen continues, “Environmental impact is reduced when the vessel is responsive to the breeze and can sail by wind to the desired destination. The powerful rig geometry of SEA EAGLE can be quickly adapted to the conditions encountered, allowing her to safely sail for proportionately more miles of the journey.”

The sense of size and space when arriving on deck is powerful. The long, perfectly proportioned superstructure makes an impressive statement. When it comes to her interior design, Mark Whiteley and his team took their inspiration from the yacht’s exterior aesthetic – those long, uninterrupted lines of glass and subtle, sweeping curves. “As the design developed, we homed in on a faceted feature that helps give SEA EAGLE a distinctive modern signature, lightens the overhangs and reflects the chine. The overall effect gives the superstructure ‘a curved tension’ that draws the eye from bow to stern. The proportions and low profile were driven by the owner’s request to have a continuous floor from the exterior dining space, right through the large main saloon to the forward dining saloon, with no steps,” says Whiteley.

In terms of the onboard lifestyle, Whiteley highlights the flybridge as an integral aspect. “The flybridge deck provides a huge leisure and entertainment space for the owner and his guests. Particular attention was given to ensuring clear sightlines from the helms to sail trim, all areas of rig management and the surrounding seascape.”

There are six suites for the accommodation of 12, separate quarters for 14 crew, and all the luxury lifestyle amenities associated with the finest superyachts - an outdoor cinema setup, al fresco dining space, formal dining room, and a gym to mention but a few.

SEA EAGLE is now for charter and available in the Caribbean and Costa Rica through winter 2023/24, before heading to Polynesia for summer 2024.

ARGOS SONARS ALLOW USERS TO NAVIGATE SAFELY AND CONFIDENTLY. Real time imagery of the waters ahead out to navigationally significant ranges See obstacles in the water column and shallows in real time along with depth history in 3D and on chart

The 120-year comeback story

Written by Roxanne Hughes

Over 120 years since her launch, the commission that gave Charles E. Nicholson one of the most important opportunities in his career not only survives, but sails on.

Photos courtesy of Camper & Nicholsons

Black Swan was designed by Charles E. Nicholson and built at the esteemed Camper & Nicholsons shipyard. She represents one of the most important yachts in the Nicholson story, and is a vessel admired by classic yacht afficionados around the world.

Launched in 1899 and refit multiple times to ensure her continued seaworthiness, the 40.2m sailing yacht Black Swan has been returned to her full original glory and is now offered for charter, presenting an incredible opportunity to step aboard a piece of maritime history and a verifiable icon of the classic fleet.

Charles E. Nicholson was brought up in Gosport, where the Camper & Nicholsons shipyard and the yachting businesses that surrounded it dominated much of the town. Inevitably, the young Charles messed about in boats and tried his hand at designing for his family’s enterprise.

In 1887 his first yacht, Lucifer, was built, and she impressed his father enough for him to speculatively build more of his son’s designs. In 1889, Nicholson had his first commission for a racing yacht and with its success Nicholson developed a small following. In 1892, another of Charles’ designs, Dacia, burst on to the yachting scene, beating all those she came up against and the yacht made front page news when her owner sold her for twice what she had cost him, halfway through her first season.

Black Swan began life as Brynhild, a design commissioned by John Selwin Calverly who had heard of Nicholsons’ success designing racing yachts and his desire to conceive a larger cruising vessel. The brief was for a yacht that was an all-rounder, not designed for racing but able to participate in the handicap classes. Unconstrained by any rating rule and able to design a yacht that truly reflected his ideas on yacht design, Nicholson excelled.

Brynhild was launched in May 1899 and Calverly immediately took to racing, demonstrating that his yacht was still a formidable competitor as well as an able cruiser.

Sadly, Calverly’s ownership was not to last and he died after just two seasons’ sailing.

Such was her reputation, however, that Brynhild was quickly acquired by Sir James Pender who continued to champion her and ensured that her reputation as a race winner only grew.

Brynhild changed hands several times through the 1920s and ‘30s. An engine was installed in 1923, and then in 1937 she was converted from a yawl to a ketch under the ownership of H. S. Bomford, and then sold to Frederick J. McEvoy who renamed her Black Swan.

After World War II, Black Swan was sold to the Frenchman George Guérin who had her refitted at Camper & Nicholsons with John Nicholson, son of Charles E. Nicholson, managing the work.

In 1958 Guérin sold Black Swan to Mexico-based Turkish businessman Felix Mechoulam and and she stayed in the Mechoulam family’s ownership for some 40 years. During this time, her rig was modernised and her bowsprit was removed. A major refit was carried out in Turkey during 1984/85 and although this ensured her immediate future, the quality of the work was poor.

In the early 1990s, Black Swan found a new owner in Mr Satori and she underwent significant works at the Beconcini yard in La Spezia. She was restored to a gaff rig, albeit ketch, and the current deckhouse was installed. But this period of investment was not to last and, soon after passing into the hands of fellow Italian Mr Matassena, she was soon mired in financial troubles and seized by the bank to be laid up ashore at Valdettaro in La Spezia from 2008 to 2015.

To the good fortune of the maritime industry Edouard Poullain, her current owner, recognised Black Swan as the important classic she is and under his ownership, the years of neglect have been addressed.

Over 120 years since her launch, Black Swan sails again and is now offered for charter with Camper & Nicholsons. The yacht has accommodation for eight guests in four double cabins, and her traditional yachting style runs throughout the interior. This rare and important vessel is today equipped with all-modern essentials for onboard comfort, safety, and ease of handling.

Hotel Honucai

– Colonia Sant Jordi.

'Everything says: It's not about us.'

Written by Jens Oomes

You are enjoying a great hospitality experience when you feel 'a bit special'. For a hotel or a restaurant to provide this experience, it requires creativity and passion. The four star Hotel HonucaiHawaiian for turtle - definitely exudes these traits.

Despite having as many as 78 rooms - as I only learned after my visit - the hotel feels intimate. They've succeeded in providing a personalised service and deserve the label of 'boutique hotel’.

We were welcomed by cheerful, multilingual staff before being immersed in Honucai's unique interior atmosphere. If someone would pitch me the idea of styling rooms and corridors in a sub-marine theme with lots of blue's, turquoise, seashells and coral, it would raise my left eyebrow. But Honucai's team has pulled it off tastefully by using textured wallpapers, balancing the different colour shades, and using quality materials for all furniture and fixtures. The idea is clear: they want to honour the amazing location they have!

Look out the window and see the picturesque little port that harbours a beautiful blend of small working fishing boats, traditional Mallorquin Llauts and a few private yachts. With the coves in the distance, the little lighthouse on the end of the breakwall and the rocks and islets scattered over the bay, you could wonder where the decorated areas of Honucai's surroundings begin and end.

We entered our room after a very quick check-in procedure. A mini bottle of Mallorquin Hierbas liquor with a small ice bucket was waiting for us. The fresh ice was an indication that the hotel staff runs a smooth operation. The complementary hierbas and almonds reminds guests that they are in Mallorca. A quality Honucai tote bag, another gift, encourages guests to go out to the wonderful beaches that are only a short walk away.

So while a lot of attention had gone into the interior, everything about it said: 'It's not about us, it's about our amazing location and surroundings!'

We enjoyed a great night's sleep in a dead-silent room. My eternal hotel frustration remains the two single beds turned into one though... Before venturing out, we did enjoy the well sized room featuring mini bar and coffee machine. So, coffee in-hand, I enjoyed a relaxing moment, sitting in the balcony sofa, taking in the wonderful views. The seagulls were hovering over the palm treetops and there was happy chatter of the tourists below. The breeze gently blowing in from the sea... a great way to start the day!

Cala Marmols, Es Trenc, Es Carbó or Cala Tugores are some of the nicest beaches of the island, just a few minutes away. The receptionists can point you to routes through authentic fishing villages where typical Mallorcan architecture dominates, such as Cala Figuera, hidden between rocky cliffs, pines and fig trees. Take an evening stroll along the path from Colònia de Sant Jordi beach to the lighthouse to enjoy the perfect sunset moment.

The Rooftop and Restaurant.

With its infinity pool, sunloungers and the designer cocktails they serve, the rooftop bar 'The Top' is a great alternative to the beach. However, the kitchen has particular opening hours and days. The receptionists will tell you all about that.

Salicorno is the hotel's restaurant on the ground floor. In the open and airy setting, reinvented traditional dishes are served.

Recommended activity.

Our favourite activity suggestion from Hotel Honucai is a boat trip to the nearby coves. From Colònia Sant Jordi marina, boat trips are offered by Náutica Colònia.

They turn visiting some of the most beautiful coves on the southeast coast of Mallorca into a commitment to the environment, since it implies the collection of plastics to care for the island and the Mediterranean.

Some of the coves on the tour:

- Cala Marmols: This completely virgin cove takes a relaxing route between two cliffs. It is one of the most remote and quiet. Few dare to reach it on foot.

- Ses Salines Lighthouse: This lighthouse, inaugurated in 1963, is located in the southernmost point of the island and is surrounded by the most turquoise waters of Mallorca.

- Es Caragol: It is one of the beaches with the most marine fauna due to its Posidonia and protected areas. It's surrounded by nature and away from noise and crowds.

- Cala Tugores: Shallow waters with numerous corals make it perfect for snorkelling and enjoying a relaxing bath. Accessing by boat is ideal.

- Es Carbó: A virgin white sand beach just five minutes from the port. Its crystal-clear waters are full of marine fauna, ideal for enjoying water activities.

- Es Trenc: One of the best-known beaches on the island due to the blue colour of its waters and its 2.5-kilometre length. A virgin place with few restaurants and buildings and a protected area full of sand dunes, pine forests, bushes, and wetlands.

Honucai scores 4.5 stars on both Trip Advisor and Google Reviews. We wholeheartedly agree with this score.

Book via www.hotelhonucai.com

Approximately 30% of your time on board will be spent sleeping and we feel that’s too long to tolerate any discomfort. Having produced premier mattresses for new and refitted yachts of all sizes since 1992, Neptune specialises in high quality mattresses, slat systems and bespoke bed linen. We can provide bespoke advice on the exact product that best suits your needs. All mattresses and bed linen are hand-made in the Netherlands and represent the finest quality in terms of materials and craftsmanship. We deliver directly to owners or yacht builders, anywhere in the world.

Whetherenjoying a leisurely cruise or some serious sailing, a good night’s rest is as essential on water as on dry land.

SIR RICHARD BRANSON'S NEW HOTEL, SON BUNYOLA, OPENS TO FANFARE IN MALLORCA, SPAIN.

The magnificent property acquired by Sir Richard Branson over 25 years ago was unveiled as a majestic hotel with great fanfare last month. Son Bunyola Hotel, a Virgin Exclusive Edition, is situated between Mallorca's UNESCO-protected Tramuntana Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea on the picturesque northwest coast of Mallorca.

Written by Amanda J Butler

Photos by Amanda J Butler and Photos courtesy of Son Bunyola Hotel

The Son Bunyola estate spans over 200 hectares (680 acres), with lush vineyards, reintroduced citrus orchards, olive groves and awe-inspiring mountain vistas. Those in search of a peaceful sanctuary of tranquillity and calm will find a secluded haven. The property has been transformed, blending contemporary elegance with rustic charm. The décor is inspired by the island's colour palette of nature and culture with neutral tones and soft olive hues. Crossing the threshold, guests will find original stone flooring, wood-beamed ceilings, antique wooden doors, rustic wood furniture and traditional Mallorcan woven fabrics. Each of the 26 beautifully designed rooms and suites has a unique character, including two striking Tower Suites, one of which was originally a 13th-century defence tower. Rooms offer stunning vistas towards the sea, lush gardens and mountains, and some have private balconies. The overall effect is sumptuous yet unpretentious and feels homely.

The hotel's opening ceremony on a midsummer evening attracted distinguished guests, celebrities, and industry leaders to witness the unveiling. The sophisticated celebration included live music and showcased the hotel's excellent cuisine. Still, the real showstopper was the presence of Sir Richard Branson, who shared his passion and vision for his latest hotel.

"I fell in love with this property twenty-five years ago," says Branson. "It took me as long to get people into outer space as it did to build Son Bunyola," he joked, recalling the ups and downs of the hotel build and the challenges obtaining permits. "The positive thing about taking so long to make it a reality is that the environment and its coast have been preserved. We have to fight to keep it that way."

In his address to guests, Branson spoke about his vision behind the Virgin Exclusive Edition brand, emphasising commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. In restoring Son Bunyola, great efforts were made to preserve the original building, incorporate eco-friendly practices and preserve its natural surroundings. The property harnesses renewable energy sources and utilises energy-efficient technologies, with a biomass boiler powered by recycled wood chippings. Water is from a natural well, with grey water being reused for irrigation.

Branson's charisma and enthusiasm were palpable as he interacted with guests, sharing personal anecdotes and insights into the hotel's creation. I enjoyed chatting with the man who has transformed industries and left an indelible mark on the world. He tells me the Son Bunyola estate is open for everyone to enjoy. Non-resident guests can stop by for coffee, lunch, dinner or a cocktail in Sa Terassa or tapas in Sa Tafona, housed within the historic olive press.

I was excited that guests wellness has been considered in Branson's vision for the hotel. There is a stunningly positioned 28-meter infinity pool (heated in cooler months) with an adjacent jacuzzi and two treatment rooms offering a wide array of facials, body treatments and massage. Complimentary yoga and pilates sessions are offered most days in addition to private sessions, and there's a yoga mat for all guests as a gift in every room. The hotel offers a plethora of activities to keep the family occupied, including tennis, hiking, cycling, watersports, creative workshops and cookery classes, with a delightful array of activities available for children.

The opening of Son Bunyola Hotel, the latest addition to the Virgin Exclusive Edition, marks the beginning of a remarkable chapter in Mallorca's hospitality landscape. The combination of Richard Branson's visionary leadership and the breathtaking beauty of the Son Bunyola estate has resulted in a new standard of retreat. As the doors of this exquisite hotel open to guests, they are invited to embark on a transformative journey of relaxation, luxury, and environmental consciousness. The opportunity to relax in such a serene and idyllic environment is truly a gift for the soul.

Amanda J Butler | wellness warrior and founder of wellnesstraveller.co - The new destination for wellness in Mallorca.

The court-side experience of The Mallorca Championships

Written by Jens Oomes

The organisers of the Mallorca Championships invited The Islander Magazine to the third edition of the ATP 250 held in Santa Ponça (Calvià). The meticulously organised event hosted some of the world’s greatest tennis players, in the wonderful setting of the Santa Ponça Country Club.

Photos by Mallorca Championships

The atmosphere was glamorous but also relaxed. Especially on the opening night, which started with a special moment to celebrate Feliciano López. The 41-year-old player decided to make The Mallorca Championships his last tournament before retiring from competition. Boris Becker was present to share a few words to highlight the achievements of López. These include seven titles and more than 500 individual victories on the ATP Tour, five times champion with Spain of the Davis Cup and winner of a doubles Grand Slam at Roland Garros (2016).

The Mallorca Championships is one of eight tournaments that make up the grass-court tour that ends with the third Grand Slam of the calendar at Wimbledon. Adding to the true Mallorcan spirit, the event is directed by Toni Nadal, uncle, and ex-trainer of Rafael Nadal. Toni Nadal explains: “On grass the tennis concept changes completely. While on clay court you have to be a solid player with powerful and consistent shots from the back of the court, here the court helps you when you have a good serve. When you make shots, you don’t need so much power, but you have to do it a little lower to make it difficult for the other player to hit the ball.”

Rafa Nadal himself was present to watch some of the games, which caused quite the stir whenever he passed through the public areas. While it was a magnificent event for people to see and be seen at, the seriousness of the competition was obvious and unmistakable. To watch these athletes at work in full focus with emotions ranging from deep concentration and frustration to the ecstatic high of the victory is a unique experience.

Mallorca is growing its international reputation as a high-end destination, and the Mallorca Championships definitely contribute to the name and fame. The fast-growing success of this event leans on the attraction it has towards the top 100 players in the world. Director Toni Nadal commented: “The Mallorca Championships is growing every year. I think that the event, the infrastructure and everything in general is getting better and better and people notice that. This tournament, although it is only three years in the circuit – and you know that it is difficult at the beginning to set up events of this category and make them work immediately – is becoming more established. I think the players are happy to participate here and although this year we had some problems with injuries to various world stars, the roster is still very good. I know, because I talk to the players: they are very happy both with the treatment and with everything that comes with playing here.”

The tournament was won by American Christopher Eubanks in the singles. In the doubles the victory was for Yuki Bhambri from India and South African Lloyd Harris.

The Islander is rooting for the continued success of this event, which brings Mallorca to The World and The World to Mallorca!

Arturo Valls, Feliciano López & David Broncano

Broncano, Valls & Nadal

Becker & López

The Andaman

Archipelago

Written by Linda Cartlidge

Cruising the clear waters of the Andaman Seas and exploring its enchanting islands awards international visitors with miles of seclusion. Coral gardens, soft sandy beaches, pure blue waters, and good sailing winds are guaranteed.

Aparadise of anchorage options awaits in an adventure journey that opens onto a secret world of tropical jungles, lush rainforests, and serene, pristine beaches, which are scattered throughout much of the Andaman Archipelago. When voyaging to India, skippers will find Thailand’s Phuket an excellent departure point from which to cruise the 400 NM to Port Blair in the Bay of Bengal, India.

Port Blair is the capital of this union territory and well connected to mainland India with Kolkata in the east of India and Chennai in the south serving as primary gateways. Surrounded by tropical forest and rugged coastline the Andamans lively provincial capital, Port Blair, has a fascinating history. Here you can visit the famed ‘Cellular Jail’ and plan enticing day trips like to locations such as the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.

Photos courtesy of Asia Pacific Superyachts

A major challenge when visiting a new wilderness destination is knowing where to go, where to anchor and what to see, along with trying to figure out the time-consuming check-in and check-out procedures. Mr. R. Rathnam, the Managing Director operating the leading professional yacht handling & facilitation agency, Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) Andamans, and his expert team can assist and provide all the guidance necessary prior to and during the journey, and create a pre-arrival itinerary specifically designed to the interests of the owner and captain.

Expert assistance is needed through a vessel’s arrival and departure as clearance procedures at Port Blair can be a lengthy process, requiring lots of paperwork. Customs, Immigration, Coast Guard, Harbour Master, and the Forestry Department all require written requests before providing formal written approvals and arrival/departure procedures for these needs and for visas, health and security, can be professionally and efficiently handled with you by your agent.

While the numerous procedures and paperwork are completed under the eagle eye of your agency, visitors can enjoy unique sites and wonderful activities in and around Port Blair, steeped in British tradition and holding many delights for visitors. It may take a couple of days to clear in, including arranging with the Harbour Master to take on water at the commercial dock and to ensure all paperwork is completed and provisioning has been done. APS can bring provisions right to your yacht from their modern and expansive provisioning facility, located at Port Blair. Prior to arrival, APS will advise on ber-

thing and anchoring and will submit the detailed itineraries, along with twice daily radio check-ins to ensure the authorities know where the vessel is at all times.

While guidebooks provide some indication for itineraries, invariably some of the best spots are omitted; thus, your agent will tailor an itinerary drawing on extensive local knowledge that includes advice on navigational hazards, berthing and anchoring, along with options for accommodation, special island visits, vehicle hire, air travel and helicopter transport.

There’s good news for visitors as foreigners may stay as long as desired, per the visa validity. Before, yachts that were interested in longer stays had to leave the country and then return, and the crew had to have a multiple entry visa if they wanted to spend more than 30 days in the Andamans. Now crew and guests may visit with a single-entry visa and stay as long as they want, as per the validity of the visa.

In a major move to boost tourism in the Andaman Islands, the Indian government removed the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from 29 islands in the Andamans for foreigners a few years ago. Now the Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed the RAP for a further period, i.e., till December 31, 2027. Mr. Rathnam adds, “Some of the islands may require a permission from the tribal department or forest department. Previously, most of the tribal reserve and forest reserve areas were totally off-limits for tourists. Now it is open with permission from the concerned authorities.”

Itinerary Suggestions

At the heart of a visit to the Andaman Islands Archipelago, is its natural beauty. Situated more than 1,000km off the east coast in the middle of the Bay of Bengal, the archipelago is thickly covered by tropical forest that supports a profusion of wildlife, including some extremely rare species of birds. The principal attraction lies in the beaches, and scuba diving or snorkelling along the pristine reefs that ring most of the islands.

An Andaman Islands itinerary might consist of visiting any of the following islands: Long Island, Inglis Island, Rutland Island, Ross Island, Tarmugli Island, Inglis Island, Cinque Islands, North Sentinel Island, Neill Island, Kyd Island, Havelock Island, John Lawrence Island, Henry Lawrence Island, Outram Island, North Passage Island and Barren Island.

Havelock is the most popular tourist island with Havelock Beach Number 7 the busiest. Most superyachts head on to more isolated locations, which offer stunning marine scenery.

Through the Diligent Strait, Peel Island and Henry Lawrence Island offer secluded anchorages for snorkelling and interesting coastal outcrops to explore. Exciting and adventuresome island cruising for superyachts is accessible only by boat and include the islands of Inglis, Sister, Passage, Brother, Barren, Narcondum, Little Andaman, Interview, Neil, Cinque, Henry, Lawrence, and Button.

The Barren Island volcano, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia, may be at least 1.8 million years old according to scientists at Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory and the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.

The best time to visit

“When the monsoon season is over the scuba diving season starts with waters turning calm, clear and flat. Coral reefs and marine life put on a great show offering a memorable visit for scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. Yachts can head north or south from the capital, viewing stunning islands along the way with the best anchorages easily reachable”, reports Rathnam.

The peak time to visit is between December and March. Once the festival of Sankranti ends around January 15th the weather turns warm. With no rain-bearing clouds and no winds to stir up the sea, the clear blue skies and serenely cool seas can be enjoyed. If you are a scuba enthusiast, visit between February and March and head north to the Havelock Islands with their excellent and exhilarating marine life – thanks to a flat and smooth sea with no wind, you’ll have near-perfect visibility.

Looking at a broader time range, from October till midJune is the best season in general to visit Andaman Islands. The heavy southwest monsoon showers are over by September, Rathnam reports. “The entire area looks decked up in fresh greenery after the rain and each of the islands looks beautiful and ready to welcome the festival season. The weather remains temperate thanks to the intermittent rains. Happy with rainassured bountiful crops, the local people get ready to celebrate the festival season and welcome visitors.”

“Generally, there are fewer tourists visiting Andaman Islands during June, July and August. As a matter of fact, this is one of the best times and season to enjoy the bountiful showers from the monsoon. The rain-drenched highlights of the Islands, its pristine coastline and the abundant green cover will surely captivate you. They are monsoon’s best gifts to Andaman Islands.”

EXCELLENCE. DELIVERED.

The sailmaker of choice to the world’s most spectacular superyachts.

By sailors, for sailors. doylesails.com

VIJONARA // 39m Hoek | Pendennis

Photo Credit: Harri Wren

Beneteau Gran Turismo 46

2017

345000 Pound Sterling VAT paid

Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 built in 2017 to a 2018 model specification with low hours for her age. LATEST WORKS/UPGRADES MAY 2023: (Antifoul, Anodes, Engine, Leg and Generator Service, 3 New Domestic Batteries) Ancasta supplied and in her first ownership, this two cabin, two head Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 is powered by twin Volvo 370hp engines with the joystick option for ease of close quarter handling. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 features the patented and innovative Air Step hull technology. This not only gives better performance and handling overall but also allows for improved fuel economy when compared to similar vessels. Fully equipped with a comprehensive suite of Simrad navigation electronics, bowthruster, 7.5 Kw generator, reverse cycle air conditioning, hi/lo hydraulic bathing platform plus more, this Gran Turismo 46 is ready to go.

Arrival Yachts S.L. T. +34 638 90 40 40 info@arrivalyachts.com www.arrivalyachts.com

Riva 110' Dolcevita

11,995,000 EUR Mallorca

Riva understated excellence with the brilliant 110 Dolcevita, incorporating elements of asymmetric design without compromising practicality or beauty. 5-cabin layout with full-width owner's cabin - Custom Metallic Shark Grey - Custom interior, satin ebony woodwork - Hermes fabrics, Minotti & Paola Lenti furniture - 270º view saloon with patio doors port and starboard - Huge bow lounging area with jacuzzi - Fin and gyro stabilizers - Float-in tender garage and hydraulic platform - Light private use only. It is an opportunity to acquire a unique, highly specified vessel and beat the long waiting list for new!

(+34) 971 402 911 palma@devalk.nl

www.devalk.nl

Alliaura Privilège

435 Easy Cruise Dimensions 13,42 x 7,11 x 1,35 (m) 395.000 EUR VAT Paid

A strong, seaworthy and remarkably well-finished catamaran: this sums up the Privilège 435. The Privilège touch is the famous central ‘spur’, a kind of third hull which doesn’t touch the water. It is clearly visible from the deck, significantly reducing the area of the trampolines. A clever device which allows much more convincing comfort, than on the classic cats. This Privilège 435 Easy Cruise model with longer sugar scoops offers 4 spacious cabins. It satisfies both demanding sailors and those who love fine prestigious units. Berth available. Contact us for more details and we look forward to arranging your viewing!

yachting@hamilton-marine.com

www.hamilton-marine.com

M. (+34) 609 43 33 33

T. (+34) 971 40 44 66

Jonathan Syrett is a yachting and brokerage consultant who can accompany you on the ownership journey - and beyond. You can rely on his expertise, integrity and dedication to help you make the right decisions when buying, using and enjoying or selling a yacht. Please call, email or visit his website to find out how.

C/ Benito J. Feijoo 2, local 8, 07181, Puerto Portals, Mallorca, Spain

De Valk Palma Port Cala Nova, Avda. Joan Miró, 327 07015 Palma de Mallorca

2019 Princess S66 “PRINCESS CALI"

€2,450,000 EUR VAT Paid Mallorca, Spain

This beautifully maintained and high specification Princess S66 was built in 2019 and first delivered in 2020. M/Y “PRINCESS CALI” has had light use by the same experienced owner from new and is cared for year-round by two full time crew. Powered by twin MAN V12 1400hp diesel engines, she is capable of speeds of up to 36 knots. This sporty and practical motor yacht is perhaps best defined by her imposing exterior lines and her impressive array of exterior relaxation areas, which include a spacious foredeck sunlounge. Below deck, she boasts an elegant and light interior complete with a fully-equipped galley, a well-appointed saloon and a spacious 4 cabin layout which comfortably accommodates up to 8 guests. Key features include her 19kW Cummins ONAN generator, Seakeeper 9 stabiliser, 90,000 BTU air conditioning system, bow and stern thrusters, crew cabin, electro-hydraulic bathing platform, electric sunroof and a garage for a tender up to 3.4m in length. British flagged with EU VAT paid.

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 2021

710,000 EUR Ex Tax

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54. An opportunity to get a 2021. 125 hours on Yanmar 110Hp. 7.5Kva Gene. Aircon throughout. Full electronics. 3 cabin 3 head version with skipper cabin fwd. 710.000 E ex tax.

+34 971 67 63 92 mallorca@sunbirdyachts.eu www.sunbirdyachts.eu Puerto Portals, Local 10 - Mallorca

Simon Crutchley: +34 656 949 244

Beneteau Brokerage Specialists