LE KAP - Autumn 2015 edition

COUTURE SA ARMANI DUBAI GLAMOROUS ST. MORITZ PEARL DIVING MERMAIDS FIGHTING TO BE BORN FREE

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LAMBORGHINI SUPERVELOCE

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A U T U MN 2 0 1 5

Welcome to

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LAMBORGHNI HURACĂ N LP 610-4

Lamborghini Cape Town Authorised Dealer 10 Hospital Street, Harbour Edge Building Phone 021 419 0595 Fax 021 419 0596 www.lamborghini.com

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Lamborghini Johannesburg Authorised Dealer Corner William Nicol And Bryanston Drive Phone 011 361 6500 Fax 011 361 6547 www.lamborghini.com

PRESENTS

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Bentley Johannesburg, Corner William Nicol abd Bryanston Drive. Tel 011 361 6500 www.bentleymotors.com/johannesburg Bentley Cape Town, 10 Hospital Street, Harbour Edge Building. Tel 021 419 0595 www.bentleymotors.com/capetown The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2013 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: Continental GT Speed Convertible

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editor-in-chief l Steve Swanepoel automotive lifestyle editor l Richard Webb creative l Le Mag Publications Group proofreaders l Moira Theart l Marion Pfeiffer photographers l Various wine route correspondent l Margi Hoffe international research & correspondents Howard Linsee-Tutill l Liz Webber advertising enquiries l sales@lemagpublications.com editorial enquiries l info@lemagpublications.com event enquiries l info@lemagpublications.com website l Warren Richardson editorial contributors l Richard Webb, Liz Webber, Steve Swanepoel, Daniel Snyman, Lilly-Ann Tonner, Sarah Woods, Moira Theart, Josie Eveleigh, Marion Pfeiffer, publisher l Le Mag Publications Group editor l editor@lemagpublications.com email l info@lemagpublications.com web l www.lemagpublications.com tel l 021 829 7120 l 021 829 7205 fax l 086 554 5580 COPYRIGHT Š 2015 - LE MAG PUBLICATIONS GROUP The opinions and views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Le Mag Publications Group. The publisher and editor regretfully cannot accept any liability for omissions or errors contained in this publication. The ownership of registered trademarks is duly acknowledged. No part of this publication or any of its content may be reproduced, digitally stored or transmitted in any format without the express and written permission of the publishing editor.

COVER l STEPHAN WINKELMANN (see page 22) 10 FROM THE EDITOR 12 GLAMOROUS ST. MORITZ 18 LOUIS VUITTON 22 STEPHAN WINKELMANN 24 LE KAP SELECT

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CONTENTS 26 LAMBORGHINI VELOCE

60 LEOPARD 40

33 INSECTA MIRABILIS

64 IT’S A BMW ...

39 PEARL DIVING MERMAIDS

70 THE QUEEN MARY 2

43 ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI

76 RACING IS LIFE & LIFE IS RISK

48 MARIE ANTOINETTE’S BREGUET WATCH

83 SA COUTURE

52 FIT FOR A PRESIDENT

88 FIGHTING TO BE BORN FREE

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From the Editor As the first semester of 2015 comes to its conclusion we welcome our readers to this autumn edition of Le Kap. We are delighted to have Stephan Winkelmann, the President & CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, on the front cover. Stephan is a man of extraordinary vision and determination. This is evident from the decisions he has made since he joined the company in 2005, which have steered Lamborghini to great heights and a leading position on the international automotive scene. In recognition of his achievements in successfully relaunching the iconic Italian marque, he was awarded the ‘Knight Grand Cross,’ which is the highest decoration in the Order of Merit of The Italian Republic.

A broad spectrum of lifestyle editorials have been included in this edition and in keeping with our international holiday destination features, we explore St. Moritz, one of the world’s most exclusive skiing destinations in our travel section.

South African fashion designers have come of age and have made significant inroads onto the world stage and are captivating the imagination of the international fashion industry. In this edition we take a closer look at a few of our rising stars.

‘Fighting to be Born Free’ is an interesting and in-depth editorial by Richard Webb, our Automotive Lifestyle editor, about the rampant poaching of African wildlife and the remarkable Virginia McKenna who has dedicated her life to combat this practice. My personal favourite is about the life and times of the legendary ‘Ama’ pearl diving Mermaids of Japan. It is an extremely inspiring editorial about these brave women who risked their lives on a daily basis to be able to feed their families.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Le Kap, as much as we have in the creation and compilation of its contents.

Steve Swanepoel Founder & CEO - Le Mag Publications Group

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GLITZY AND GLAMOROUS ST. MORITZ

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BY STEVE SWANEPOEL

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ew places are as astonishingly beautiful as St. Moritz under a thick white veil of snow amidst its magnificent alpine setting in the Engadine valley in Switzerland.

The world’s oldest winter resort dates back to 1864 and has been the ski destination of choice for the jet-set for centuries. Deemed to be the most exclusive ski resort in the world, it attracts royalty, millionaires and movie stars, such as Ivana Trump, George Clooney, Liz Hurley, Flavio Briatore and Indian steel baron Lakshmi Mittal, amongst many others.

Property is exceedingly expensive, that is if one is fortunate enough to find any for sale. When Lakshmi Mittal, the Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company, built what was believed the most expensive villa in St. Moritz at that time, 24-hour security was appointed to protect the gold-plated fittings and radiators being installed in the house.

St. Moritz with its inherent pioneering spirit is generally accepted as the global birthplace of winter sport. A superb infrastructure, perfect weather conditions for winter sport combined with approximately 300 days of sunshine per year make for a world-class winter sport and holiday destination.

Besides skiing and snowboarding, St. Moritz is also home to the oldest bobsleigh run in the world and it is also the official home ground for snow polo. Bob sleighing began in 1897 and the famous ‘St Moritz - Celerina’ Olympic bob run is the only natural ice bob run in the world. Other bob runs have to be artificially frozen due to due to less favourable weather conditions.

Those seeking an adrenaline charge can experience a bob run on the 1700 metre course. A ‘taxi style’ fleet of four-man modified racing bobs piloted by experienced bob pilots complete the course in less than 75 seconds. Speed ‘junkies’ and wide-eyed novice taxi guests, strapped in the second and third seating positions of the bobsleigh, may however find the trip to feel like an endless journey as they experience G-forces of up to 4.5G at speeds of up to 135km/h.

‘White Turf’ International Horse Racing events have taken place on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz Since 1907. I addition to harness and flat races, White Turf racing events also feature ‘Skijoring’, a race where riderless horses pull skiers behind them at neck breaking speeds. ‘Skeleton racing’ is a fast winter sliding sport, in which an individual lies face down on a small sled, was also invented in St. Moritz in the 1800s and is practised on a bob run track.

The main skiing areas are Corviglia, Corvatsch, Diavolezza and Zuoz with a total of 88 different pistes (ski runs) over a combined distance of about 350 kilometres. Adding to its popularity is the fact that St. Moritz is ideal for intermediate skiers because the majority of runs are considered to be of medium level difficulty.

‘Pistes’ are easily accessible via the modern and efficient ski lift system, with over 50 lifts, which can transport up to 65 000 passengers per hour to the various ski slopes. The lifts start operating at 07:45 am for skiers wanting to benefit from the freshly prepared white carpet ‘pistes’. Those wanting something less nerve racking can go for walks on any of the 105 km of lovely hiking trails throughout the valleys.

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In addition to downhill skiing, there are approximately 200 km of cross-country ski trails in the area, including a 42 km Marathon track, which is located between Maloja to S-chanf.

Another popular sport is ‘Snowkiting’, which is a variation of traditional windsurfing, practised on a frozen lake.

Despite its reputation for catering to the most discerning guests, St. Moritz has not lost its typical Alpine resort charm. The ambience of the historical village with traditional horse-drawn sleighs adds to a near perfect fairy-tale atmosphere.

Shopping is as much of a sport as any other in St. Moritz, with the liberal presence of the world’s most luxury brands in the town centre. The retail outlets on ‘Via Serlas’, Europe’s highest shopping street look like classic Swiss chalets complete with fireplaces and are well stocked with brand names such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Bulgari, Versace and Prada.

With no less than five superb 5-star hotels, as well as an extended choice of other luxury accommodation establishments, one is simply spoilt for choice. However, be mindful that this is not a ‘limited budget style’ destination.

The ‘Klum Hotel St. Moritz’ dates to 1856 and was, in fact, the first luxury hotel in the Alps. Badrutts Palace Hotel has been trading since 1896 and is the perfect blend of Swiss tradition and luxury. Recently celebrating its centenary, the Carlton Hotel is an outstanding boutique hotel and is well within walking distance of the village centre.

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No vacation is complete without excellent food and with over 80 eateries in St. Moritz, it is an absolute paradise for food lovers.

Many of these are highly acclaimed, with Michelin star ratings and numerous other awards and are as pricey as the finest restaurants in the world, so don’t be surprised on presentation of the bill.

Fine food isn’t just relegated to the three villages, St. Moritz Dorf, St. Moritz Bad and Celerina’, that make up the greater St. Moritz, as there are numerous restaurants high up on the slopes. Situated on the Chastelets slope, ‘Restorant Alpetta’, a traditional and cosy restaurant with a ‘hut-like’ appearance restaurant, serves specialties of grilled meats, fondue and boasts an impressive wine list.

At 8,000 feet above sea level, the Panorama Restaurant in Muottas Muragl provides a magnificent 360-degree view and specialises in fish, red meat, soups and pastas. Here, skiers can lunch on the terrace while taking in the panoramic scenery or enjoy the romantic atmosphere at dinner. At the highest ski terminal on Corviglia at 8,156 feet above sea level is Mathis Food Affairs. With no less than seven gastronomic eateries, including the Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar, this family-owned business caters for skiers with discerning tastes. One of the most stylish and a must-visit restaurant is ‘La Marmite’. In a relaxed, but ‘see and be seen’ dining room, chef Reto Mathis personally prepares black truffles atop flammkuchen for his ravenous Sable, Lynx, Chinchilla, Mink, Fox and raccoon fur clothed clientele. His magnificent dishes of duck liver, red deer, and ahi tuna are only rivalled by the view.

As famous as St. Moritz is for numerous sporting activities, shopping and restaurants, it is as famed for its lively champagnesoakednightlife. It is littered with a myriad of upmarket night clubs, classic and trendy ‘lounge style’ bars, all with an international appeal. One can safely enjoy ‘club-hopping’, as most of the ‘in’ spots are within walking distance of each other.

Arguably the most famous nightclub in Switzerland is the ‘Kings Club’ in Badrutts Palace Hotel, which attracts nobles, millionaires, movie stars and celebrities alike. This is the place to see and be seen. A round of drinks amongst a couple of friends costing between $1 500 to $2 000 is deemed as rather insignificant and hence goes unnoticed. During the winter season, there is no such thing as closing hours at the Kings Club. Party hungry celebrities dance and celebrate the St. Moritz lifestyle to the pulsating music by world famous DJ’s until the sun rises over the glorious Alpine landscape, before heading up the slopes to enjoy breakfast at one of the numerous restaurants on the upper Engadine.

Another equally legendary club is ‘Dracula’s Ghost Riders Club’ founded by Gunter Sachs of Playboy fame. It was originally an exclusive club for the enigmatic ‘ghost rider’ bobsledders. However, should you somehow manage to make it past the tuxedo-donned bouncers you will find yourself surrounded by fine-looking ladies and notable gentlemen.

The annual ‘St. Moritz Music Summit’, which brings together some of the best international DJ’s and lovers of the electronic dance music scene in the Engadine for a 3 day ‘Ibiza-style’ music festival is growing in popularity and is well attended.

The region owes much of its appeal to the ‘glitz and glam’ of St. Moritz, but the star attraction is nature itself. The Engadine with its inspirational alpine slopes and valleys offers residents and visitors alike boundless opportunities to enjoy this magical natural setting.

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Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has introduced unique designs to the world, which have combined innovation with style, always aiming for the finest in quality. Today, the Maison remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented a true ‘Art of Travel’ through luggage, bags and accessories, which were as creative as they were elegant and practical.

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Since then, audacity has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its heritage, Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists and designers over the years, all the while developing disciplines such as ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, watches, jewellery and stationery. These carefully created products are a testament to Louis Vuitton’s commitment to fine craftsmanship.

Louis Vuitton arrived in South Africa for the first time on 21 October 2004 at the Sandton City shopping centre to mark the 150th anniversary of the brand. In 2007, a second store was opened in Cape Town.

In April 2015, the journey will continue with the unveiling of a brand new Louis Vuitton store in Sandton City’s Diamond Walk.

The location remains the same on the upper level, but the store will increase in size from 260 sq m to 336 sq m.

Out-of-date ideas of restricted areas behind glass cabinets have made way for an open, free-to-explore shopping environment >

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and offer a new retail experience where open spaces will invite clients to browse freely around the store.

Clients will embark on their own journey through the store, moving easily from women’s leather goods and shoes to accessories and fashion jewellery, while making their way through travel to discover the men’s universe.

The opening of this emporium will showcase the latest women’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection and also witness the launch of the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2015 leather goods and shoes collection, recently presented at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne by Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiére. This collection features new versions of the Twist bag and the Petite Malle, mixed with strips of brightly coloured leather and plush stitching detail. The store will also offer a fine selection of leather goods, luggage, shoes, accessories and fashion jewellery, as well as watches, books and stationery.

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Stephan Winkelmann Le Kap magazine asked Stephan Winkelmann, the President and CEO of ‘Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.’, about the things that inspire him. As one would imagine, super sports cars, and in particular ‘Lamborghini’ tops the list.

Although Stephan is very enigmatic about who designs his clothes, there is no doubt that he is as passionate about form as he is about function.

Due to Stephan’s incredibly busy schedule we decided to stick with a basic ‘questions and answers’ format.

Question: Stephan, you launched the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Superveloce at the Geneva show. What’s the significance of this car to Lamborghini?

Answer: ‘The Aventador Superveloce is the purest form of a Lamborghini. In this car we concentrated mainly on three aspects.

The first is the improvement of the power-to-weight ratio. We reduced the weight by 50 kg through massive use of carbon fiber and increased the power by 50 hp to 750 hp. This leads to a power to weight ration of only 2 kg/hp. Secondly we improved the aerodynamic efficiency and increased the downforce by 170% compared to the Aventador. Furthermore Magneto Rheological Suspension and Lamborghini Dynamic Steering significantly improve the driveability. With these features the Superveloce is the most sports-oriented, fastest and most emotional Lamborghini. It is the halo car for our brand currently and received an overwhelming reception at its launch in Geneva’

Question: Will we see more of the technologies in the future, which you showed in the Lamborghini Asterion last year? Is a hybrid Lamborghini on its way, for example in the SUV? Answer: ‘The Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 was a technology demonstrator, showing our concept Plug-In Hybrid solution that met particular Lamborghini objectives. It defined our proposal for significantly reducing CO2 emissions through technologies that are available to us at the present time, cost-effectively, while still ensuring a true Lamborghini driving experience. The Asterion illustrates the design and engineering expertise found in the current Lamborghini product range with added, innovative technology. It shows a new and sensual design, in line with the technical characteristics of the car but yet still unmistakeably a Lamborghini.

The heritage of Lamborghini is based on naturally aspirated engines, as seen in our current V10 Huracán and V12 Aventador models.

If Lamborghini produces an SUV, this could be an appropriate opportunity to introduce a hybrid solution.’

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‘Cometh the hour cometh the man’ Question: What is the next major challenge for you at Lamborghini?

Answer: ‘Every day at Lamborghini is about new challenges, setting and meeting new benchmarks, and looking after day to day business. In 2014 we achieved a record result with 19% sales growth, delivering 2,530 cars to customers worldwide. We are recognised as a ‘best employer’ in Italy. Our Lamborghini Huracán, launched last year, has collected more than 3,300 orders. We are a niche brand producing extraordinary and very exclusive super sports cars and we make an above industry average investment into R&D and facilities. The next challenge is about new technologies, working with our markets worldwide, our growing motorsport programme and of course, the next car!

Question: The trend towards customisation helps increase spend on your product portfolio, but where do you draw the line on client requests?

Answer: Our Ad Personam programme allows owners to further individualise their cars, to their specific tastes. There are a wide range of additional colours and trims available under Ad Personam, or we can work with a client to create a specific colour for example.

The limits are those of homologation and anything that would damage the brand.’

Question: You must be one of the best-dressed CEO’s in the automotive industry. Where do you have your suits tailored and where do you gravitate to for wardrobe replenishment?

Answer: ‘I have got a tailor in Turin.’

Question: What keeps you awake at night?

Answer: ‘Probably jetlag. Automobili Lamborghini is an international

brand with a worldwide following. We have 130 dealers in 48 countries, and a programme of events throughout the year. Last time I visited South Africa I flew via Johannesburg then directly to Cape Town, attended an event then straight back to Europe for meetings the next day. But at least it was the same time zone!’

Stephan is a man of extraordinary vision and determination. This is evident from the decisions he has made since he joined the company in 2005, which have steered Lamborghini to great heights and a leading position on the international automotive scene.

The charismatic Stephan Winkelmann has an equally interesting past. Although he was born in Berlin, Germany in 1964, he was raised in Rome where his father worked as a diplomat.

After he completed school he graduated in political science before joining the German military where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant as a paratrooper.

After his two year stint in the military forces, Stephan pursued a professional career with a German financial institution before he joined Mercedes Benz.

He then moved across to Fiat between 1994 to 2004 in a marketing and sales capacity, in both Italy and abroad, after which he took up the role as CEO of Fiat in Austria, Switzerland and Germany before joining Lamborghini in 2005.

The year 2015 marks 10 years of exceptional success for Stephan at the helm of Lamborghini. His achievement does not go unnoticed.

On the 22nd of May 2014 he was awarded the ‘Knight Grand Cross,’ which is the highest decoration in the Order of Merit of The Italian Republic, in recognition of his achievements in successfully relaunching the iconic Italian marque.

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Le Kap

Select

Louis Vuitton

A fine selection of desirable items for our discerning readers to consider for this season

Breguet - earrings & ring

Vacheron Constantin - ‘Overseas Chronograph’ Louis Vuitton Summer/Spring 2015

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Bentley ‘Infinite Intense’ Eau de Parfum

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Breguet ‘Tradition’ wristwatch in 18ct rose gold. Ref. G7057BRR99W6

Meisterstück fountain pen

by Mont Blanc

Carbon bag

by Lamborghini Automobili

‘Winston sofa’

by Bentley Motors

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THERE’S WILD, WILDER AND

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THEN THERE’S SUPERVELOCE

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BY RICHARD WEBB

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uring the early 60s, Ferruccio Lamborghini was an unknown Ferrari-driving Italian industrialist. He was deeply unhappy with the quality of his Prancing Horse, so he created the company that still bears his name in Sant'Agata Bolognese, in the province of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, north Italy.

as a continuation of the illustrious Lamborghini tradition of Superveloce models. ‘It pushes the boundaries in terms of performance and pure driving emotion and is the purest incarnation of a Lamborghini to date,’ Lamborghini President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephan Winkelmann said.

Any new products announced by those raging bulls in Sant'Agata have always captured the world’s imagination, so it will come as no surprise that their new supercar is yet another jaw-dropping, eyewidening piece of engineering art.

This even faster version of Lamborghini’s already super-fast flagship Aventador has developed radical bodywork and F1 style wings and diffusers. These aero aids are not just for visual drama though - which it has in spades. It is now 150 per cent more aerodynamically efficient, which generates an extra 170 per cent of downforce compared to the ‘standard’ model. This extra downforce means that the SV delivers a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 2.8 seconds and the 350 km/h >

Lamborghini presented this rocket ship, the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce (SV for short), at the Geneva International Motor Show

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MOTORING 2015

The Aventador SUPERVELOCE is Lamborghini’s wildest super sports car. This ‘Raging Bull’ is the meanest and most hardcore raging bull to date.

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top speed is highly usable on the road and the track - plenty enough rage to do battle with the best that Ferrari and McLaren can bring into the bullring.

The emphasis is on the SV being blisteringly fast but still pretty easy to drive in a ‘race-car for the road’ way. The new electromechanical Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS) variably adapts the steering ratio to road speed and to the dynamic mode selected. Specially tuned for the Superveloce, it ensures even greater stability at high speed, while making it much easier to manoeuvre at low speed.

‘The original Aventador was presented four years ago and the Superveloce pays homage to its passionate owners, as well as the community of aficionados, whose enthusiasm has resulted in the biggest commercial success ever of a Lamborghini V12 super sports car. In the Superveloce, Lamborghini's expertise in lightweight engineering is clearly evident. With technological features combined with design, quality standards and craftsmanship, the Superveloce results in the most exclusive, pure and emotional production model in the history of our brand,’ said Winkelmann.

has been saved from the Aventador’s mass, thanks in part to the extensive use of carbon fibre. The SV’s monocoque and doors are also crafted from unadulterated carbon fibre. ‘Every single detail of the car has been optimized to achieve the lowest possible weight,’ says Hilton Ralph, from Imperial Collection, the official importers and distributors of Lamborghini in South Africa.

As one would expect with the SV, the chassis has been modified to handle the extra power. A complex race car-type pushrod suspension system means the car responds rapidly, which assists in enhancing handling and high-speed stability. A mechanical locking differential also helps to improve traction at the rear, while the front boasts a brake-activated electronic system that works through the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) to lay down that immense power.

Lamborghini is known for exceptional driving precision and their 'Drive Select System' offers three chassis and engine settings, Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (race), which the Italians call anima, meaning ‘the soul’. These settings give the SV extensive flexibility to suit the road and your mood.

The Lamborghini Aventador SV is the most powerful series production Lamborghini ever made, thanks to the uprated version of the Aventador’s mid-mounted 6.5-litre V12. Power has been tickled upwards by 32kW to 559kW with a brand-new lightweight exhaust system, and by fettling the V12's variable valve timing. That raw power is civilized by Lamborghini’s seven-speed ISR automated manual transmission - fastest of its kind in the world.

The theme of beautifully crafted lightweight materials continues inside this car with woven carbon fibre fabric in a completely revised cabin. The new carbon sports bucket seats are clothed in black Alcantara and the door panels are made from carbon fibre.

A Thin-Film-Transistor (TFT) touch screen instrument display cluster displays the RPM shifting indicator in light blue, with the G-force indicator below.

All four wheels are driven through a Haldex IV based coupling system, allowing variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles. Expect it to be blisteringly capable over twisty ribbons of tarmac in almost any conditions.

Crouching on malevolent looking lightweight centre-locking forged wheels of 20” front and 21” rear wheels, the car rides on Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres as standard, giving it that highly individual look.

When you go to buy a Lamborghini, it’s obvious that you are buying something distinctive. If the Aventador SV isn’t unique enough, Ad Personam is a bespoke programme that allows you to add your personal touch to literally any part of the car you can imagine, making your car as close as possible to perfect.

The power-to-weight ratio is one of the keys indicators for how much fun you get out of driving a car – the lighter the car, the better it is to drive. Simply increasing the power is not enough. Reducing weight is becoming harder because active and passive safety, comfort, MagneRide electromagnetic damper control and the Lamborghini Dynamic Steering all add to the weight. Yet, a substantial 50kg

The Aventador SV will arrive at dealerships later this spring. Pricing will be announced in the coming weeks. It won't be cheap. Start saving now.

Lamborghini South Africa

instinctive technology

LAMBORGHNI HURACĂ N LP 610-4

Lamborghini Johannesburg Authorised Dealer

Lamborghini Cape Town Authorised Dealer

Corner William Nicol & Bryanston Drive Johannesburg, South Africa Phone +27 (0) 11 361 6500

10 Hospital Street, Harbour Edge Building Cape Town, South Africa Phone +27 (0) 21 419 0595

www.lamborghini.com

www.imperialcollection.co.za

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Grassopi - Insecta Mirabilis Collection

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COUTURE 33

‘Insecta Mirabilis’ A Roman Tale

BY LILLY-ANN TONNER

The venture of Hendrik Vermeulen, a young ‘boerseun’ born in the Free State, into the temple of Italian fashion and the centre of the Italian cultural life in Rome, as a couturier might be seen by many as presumptuous. It is well known that every Italian has fashion sense embedded in their DNA. The attention paid to dressing-up well, ‘la bella figura’, is an important part of everyday life in Italy and is most visible in the streets of Rome, the Caput Mundi, Capital of the World.

Many couturiers view recognition in the Italian fashion institutions as proof of their talent. Acknowledgement by the Roman crowd may be as little as the use of laconic comments like ‘Bravo!’ or just two words: ‘si’ or ‘no’, but it means a lot.

Hendrik completed his fashion studies in 2002 achieving a certificate in Haute Couture and gained experience working alongside some of the best fashion designers in the country and went on to establish his own couture atelier, the Hendrik Vermeulen Couture fashion house in Cape Town.

The Vice-President of AltaRoma, the iconic Valeria Mangani, invited the young artist to showcase his designs in Rome. Immediately his atelier became a hive of activity as he had only three weeks available to produce exceptional designs to impress and capture the attention of one of the most difficult panels of judges in the world.

Once the chief concept and characteristics of the collection were defined, the race to secure material, printing slots, find the ostrich feathers in the desired colours and to procure the custom accessories required started in earnest.

Hendrik presented the title of the latest conceptual Couture Collection ‘Insecta Mirabilis’ or Wonderful Insects during AltaRoma (Rome Fashion Week) last July at the Grand Hotel di Roma. The collection drew its inspiration from the arguable beauty of certain insects, choosing those that are not particularly attractive, such as spiders, dragonflies or moths by underlining the unique characteristics of these insects. Specifically attention was drawn to the morphological uniqueness of their bodies and the mesmerising beauty that can be found in these creatures. This range followed very particular design guidelines as Hendrik explains: The look through a macro lens shows the unique anatomical structure of an insect’s body, organised into segments of three distinctive, yet interconnecting, units: the head, the thorax and the abdomen. Taking this into consideration, the collection shows a strong emphasis on cinched waists and exaggeratedly round hips as to mimic the shape of insects. This is achieved through different methods such as strategic design (negative space), conceptualization, manipulation and placement of each custom designed print and through the construction of the garment (corsetry).

Thirteen different types of silks were used for this collection, including Habutai, Dupione, Marocain, Bobby and these were meticulously crafted in the atelier to fit the design by applying several methods in the manufacturing process, such as hand dyeing, digital printing, moulding, beading, appliqué and hand embroideries.

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Hendrik attempts to use locally-sourced materials, such as wool crêpe, mohair and ostrich feathers wherever possible. In their Autumn/Winter Prêt-à-Couture collection entitled ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ presented at the New York and Milan Fashion Week last month, custom-dyed Italian double knit wool and Springbok leather tailored trousers, cape and biker jackets with chocolate-coloured hand-dyed mohair detail were included in the styles by the designer.

The result of Hendrik’s work is realised in the patterns which depict the beauty and charm of flying and crawling creatures emerging from another world and printed on silks and colourful artistic pieces with their cinched waists and intricate corsetry. Each garment attracts your attention and together they offer a feast for the audience in a festival of exquisite detail. The entire collection exudes luxury and the craftsmanship is exceptional.

The Roman audiences were truly satisfied and praised the collection with exuberance with a few local artists comparing Hendrik to those masters that have given Rome its reputation as a fashion capital.

The management of AltaRoma simply stated that they wished to see more of the highly creative young talent from South Africa, which says it all. ‘Mirabilis’ indeed.

Rome, New York, Milan. This young designer is moving quickly towards becoming extremely successful internationally. It has been mentioned that this fashion house is considering opening a second atelier in Rome, as a result of the success of their presentation last year and in response to the demands of their clientele.

However, Hendrik Vermeulen Couture is well established in South Africa and as the company Managing Director, Jean-Daniel MeyerVermeulen, states: The success of the brand and labels overseas is perhaps also due to a strong identity linked to South Africa and its energy and that it is maybe what the rest of world is reacting to as something they are looking for; a way to kill the monotony of the fashion catwalks presented on the main platforms worldwide at the moment… We are thus so far decided to remain strongly established in South Africa and we will carry on using the manpower, skills and suppliers available in the Western Cape and South Africa.

Hendrik Vermeulen Couture has a very busy agenda for 2015. His projects include the new Couture collection at AltaRoma in July and participating in the Spring/Summer ’16 collection presentation at the New York and Milan Fashion Week in September. Meeting the requirements of these prestigious events will demand much of their time, artistic skills and hard work this year.

Like many of his loyal clientele, we will watch the progress of this young and talented designer with interest and wait in anticipation for the next couture collection.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos: Natalie Bardin, Model: Kate, 20 Management, Makeup: David Sharp, Hair: Nadia Hern, Art Direction: JD at HV Creative, Jewellery: Ansia Jonck, Venue: Le12 Artist Loft on the sea, Llandudno.

Dragonfli - Insecta Mirabilis Collection

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Chrisalidi - Insecta Mirabilis Collection

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Locusti - Insecta Mirabilis Collection

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Pearl Diving Mermaids

BY STEVE SWANEPOEL

For centuries, man has been fascinated by romantic tales and the mythology of mermaids, the mythical creatures with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish.

Even famous explorers have recorded sightings of mermaids. One of these was the English explorer, Henry Hudson after whom the Hudson River and Hudson Bay have been named, On 15 June 1608, whilst in search of a passage from England to Asia, Hudson entered the following in the logbook on his ship, The Hopewell, near the Novaya Zemlya Islands off the north coast of Russia.

‘This morning one of our companie looking over boord saw a mermaid, and called up some of the companie to see her, one come up, and by that time shee was close to the ship’s side, looking earnestly upon the men: a little after, a Sea came and overturned her: From Navill upwards, her back and breasts were like a woman’s her body as big as one of us; her skin very white; and long haire hanging downe they saw her tayle, which was like the tayle of a porposse and speckled like a Macrl.’

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However, in Japanese culture mermaids are no myth. The captivating history of the legendary Japanese female pearl divers called Ama or Amasan ( in Japanese) dates back to over 2000 years. The word Ama derives from ‘Amaterasu’, the Japanese Sun Goddess, but directly translated it simply means ‘woman of the sea’. Freediving is practised by the Ama to depths exceeding 30 metres, using a single breath to search for a variety of shellfish and edible seaweed.

Accounts of Ama pearl divers have been recorded as early as 750 AD in the oldest Japanese anthology of poetry, the Man’yoshu.

Diving, while wearing nothing but a fundoshi (loincloth), made it easier for them to glide freely through the water without the hindrance of clothing. They consistently exposed themselves to the dangers of the sea, potential damage to their sight and even drowning. The ultimate and extremely rare reward for the Ama diver would be to find a pearl in an oyster.

With specially developed breathing techniques, they are able to hold their breath for up to three minutes at a time and can dive for periods of up to six hours daily. Upon surfacing, they would make a unique and distinct whistling sound known as ‘Isobue’ as part of their breathing technique.

It was only in the ‘Meiji era’ that goggles were initially used by the Ama, as they were suffering from blindness as a result of being constantly exposed to seawater and in 1964 wetsuits were introduced.

However, the wetsuits could be dangerous, as the rubbery material could become jammed in the rough rock surfaces when divers would slide their arms into narrow crevices and underneath rocks searching for shellfish. Should a diver struggle to free herself while holding her breath, she would quickly deplete the oxygen in her lungs.

The reason why the majority of these freedivers were women, is because women have a higher percentage of subcutaneous fat than men. This provides better insulation from the cold water. Another reason was that the self-supporting nature of the profession liberated these women. Before the stirrings of feminism in the 20th century, women were generally perceived as the weaker sex. However, diving was the one occupation in which they could outperform men and this allowed them to live more independently.

To understand the vital role performed by these freedivers, it has to be understood that prior to the 20th century, the only means of obtaining pearls was to gather large numbers of oysters or mussels from either the ocean floor, lakes or rivers. The bivalves had to be brought to the surface and the tissue searched for an oyster. At best three to four quality pearls would be discovered from every ton of oysters harvested.

Sadly the legendary Ama with their tradition of near-naked freediving have now become nearly non-existent due to modern diving methods and the development of cultured pearls in the early 1900s

by Japanese entrepreneur, Kokichi Mikimoto.

Mikimoto, the man accredited for the development of cultured pearls, employed the traditional Ama divers to collect oysters from the seabed of his oyster farm near Toba, a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, so that a pearl-producing nucleus could be inserted in the oyster tissue. This practice extended the important role of the Ama to continue supplying pearls to the ever-demanding consumer market.

Strangely enough, it is Mikimoto’s cultured pearl business that has

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created the strong association between the Ama divers and pearls in the western world. Mikimoto’s Ama divers were soon forced to replace their traditional loincloths, which originally romanticised the Ama divers, with white cotton suits. Although public nudity was largely acceptable in the Japanese Ama diving communities until the late 20th century, this became necessary, as foreign tourists were taken aback to see the practically naked women diving.

The Ama used a wooden barrel, which served as both a flotation device to rest and catch their breath between dives, and as a basket to hold their harvest. A rope would be attached to the waist of the divers to pull them up to the surface. In many cases the original Ama would simply jump off rocks into the water, then clamber back with whatever they had gathered from the ocean.

The single role of the Mikimoto’s Ama was to collect oysters from the seabed so that pearl-producing nuclei could be inserted in the oyster tissue. Once this process was completed, the Ama would then return the oysters to the seabed for harvesting several years later, after pearls had formed inside the shells.

To understand this process; a natural pearl begins forming inside an oyster’s shell when an intruder, such as a grain of sand slips into the oyster and irritates or injures the oyster, very much like a grain of sand irritating a human eye. In response to the irritation, the oyster will quickly begin covering the uninvited visitor with layers of nacre. Layer upon layer of nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, coat the grain of sand until a shimmering gem is eventually formed.

Cultured pearls are formed in a similar manner. The only difference is that instead of an accidental intruder lodging itself in the oyster flesh,

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a cultured pearl farmer artificially embeds a grain of sand (nucleus) into the mollusc.

Today’s cultured pearl industry produces billions of pearls annually and some of the traditional female Ama divers still dive, but primarily for the tourist industry. Perhaps most surprisingly, however, is the age to which these women are able to keep diving, some even surpassing 90 years of age. Most of them had started practising this art during their teenage years.

However, with the lack of young women to succeed their elders and as previously mentioned, the modernisation of Japan’s fisheries, this ancient practice has dwindled to near extinction. Numbers have dropped significantly. During 1956 there were nearly 18 000 Ama in Japan but as of 2010 only about 2000 remained.

As technology progressed, the Ama communities were faced with decisions, whether to adopt new tools and equipment or retain their traditions? One of the most important parts of the decisionmaking was the consideration of sustainability. New fishing methods could easily enable greater hauls and reduce work, but at the same time, increase the risk of over fishing and damage the delicate ecosystems that supported life in these coastal towns. Guidelines were introduced to prevent this. On Hegura Island in Wajima city rules state that abalone measuring less than 10 centimetres must be returned to the sea. The punishment is two days without work if they are smaller. Despite these efforts, the numbers of abalone and other shellfish have continued to decline, in part due to over fishing, but also due to the rising sea temperature, which has affected the growth of the seaweed that feeds them.

This culture of Ama divers is not only unique to Japan. Other impressive groups of free divers are the Haenyo of Korea, the sponge divers of Greece and the pearl divers of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia.

Although the scantily-clad romanticised image of this noble profession is now a thing of the past, the rich history and culture of these amazing women is to be cherished. The tourism industry at Mikimoto Pearl assists in preserving their heritage and the ageold fishing traditions held within these small coastal villages stand in witness and will hopefully ensure that their heritage will not be completely forgotten and remain a part of Japan’s enduring folklore and legend.

The Ama became the pin-up girls of their time and their existence was widely celebrated from the erotic woodblock prints by the famed 18th-century Japanese artist, Utamaro Kitagawa, to voyeuristic documentaries and the erotic B-movies of the 1950s and 1960s. The sassy and athletic Ama also captured the imagination of Hollywood. In the 1967 blockbuster movie, ‘You Only Live Twice’, starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond, married Ama diver Kissy Suzuki, while the 1954 novel Shiosai, a classic Japanese romantic love story, was filmed no fewer than five times since it was first published.

Although the magical era of the Ama, as seductive sea nymphs is over, their legacy lives on...

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Armani Hotel Dubai Towering high above Dubai, the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 830 metres, is home to the exclusive Armani Hotel Dubai.

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n international first, every aspect of the hotel’s design and service offerings has been designed and planned by Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian fashion designer.

The design detail at Armani Hotel Dubai is indicative of the elegance and simplicity that define Armani’s sophisticated yet relaxed style, from the typical Italian-style hospitality, bespoke furnishings and restaurant menus to the Eramosa stone floors and Zebrawood panels.

Subtle colours, clean lines and unique textures integrate seamlessly with the Burj Khalifa tower’s stunning architecture and the use of natural light creates an atmosphere of calm serenity where guests can retreat into a world of minimalist elegance.

The hotel has 160 luxurious guest rooms and suites, seven superb restaurants, exclusive retail outlets and a SPA. Since its opening in 2010, the hotel has welcomed several thousand discerning guests, who seek an exclusive lifestyle experience with Armani signature suites and rooms, a delectable range of food and beverage choices or to experience the first 'in-hotel' Armani SPA. Based on the philosophy that travel is as much an emotional journey as a physical one, the Armani Hotel Dubai assigns each hotel guest a personal Lifestyle Manager who serves as a personal concierge and host from the moment they make a reservation to the time they check out and even beyond. A spokesperson for

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Emaar Hotels & Resorts said: ‘Armani Hotel Dubai has created a new benchmark in luxury hospitality, pushing the accepted norms and frontiers in the industry. The collaboration with Giorgio Armani brings a new level of aesthetics to the hotel.’

Guests experience a choice of seven restaurants offering a selection of cuisines, ranging from Japanese and Indian to Mediterranean and authentic Italian fine dining. Also popular are the three exclusive retail outlets: Armani/Galleria, the first and only retail outlet in Dubai where the ‘Giorgio Armani Privé collection’ is showcased; Armani/Dolci, a luxurious Italian confectionary store offering a selection of chocolates; and Armani/Fiori, a floral boutique offering exquisite fresh flower arrangements and exclusively designed vases

by Giorgio Armani.

Located in the heart of the hotel and overlooking the spectacular ‘Dubai Fountain’ the Armani/Lounge has panoramic views across the city and Arabian Gulf. It is the perfect venue to relax while enjoying innovative interpretations of international cuisine or to enjoy an pre-meal drink at sunset. An extensive selection of coffees, teas and wines complement a world-class array of beverages.

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As part of the hotel’s commitment to value-added features, the hotel introduced the Armani/SPA. The spa, measuring over 1000 sq m, is a haven of tranquility with outstanding service levels in a superb setting.

Each unique space in the Spa provides a context for personalised treatments, personal fitness and sequential thermal bathing, or one can simply enjoy the creative Spa cuisine while enjoying the private and social relaxation areas within the Spa. Guest at the Spa receive a personal consultation from a Spa professional to develop a bespoke sensory experience designed by Armani. The Spa therapies have been designed to fulfil different goals; MU quenches a desire for relaxation and stillness; Libertà encourages freedom of movement and the release of physical pain; and Fluidità enhances vitality, restoring internal balance. These therapeutic treatments are enhanced with custom made, naturally fragranced Bois, Jasmine and Jade oils by Armani.

The hotel’s exclusive Armani/Privé lounge is one of the city’s favourite night time venues where one can dance the night away to the vibrant music by the Armani DJ and international guest DJs. The award-winning Armani Hotel Dubai is certainly one of the most fashionable and luxurious international hotels and should be included on the list of essential experiences for every visitor to Dubai.

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The Amazing Story of Marie Antoinette's Breguet Watch

BY MOIRA THEART

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his amazing story unfolded over a period of more than 240 years and began in 1782 when Abraham-Louis Breguet was commissioned to create the world’s most elegant and complicated timepiece as a gift to Marie-Antoinette, the Queen of France.

Abraham-Louis Breguet is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest watchmakers of all time and the pioneer of numerous watch-making technologies, the most notable being the ‘Tourbillon’.

He began designing and constructing this watch in 1782.

This watch, with the official Breguet reference No 160, but more commonly known as the ‘Marie-Antoinette’ or ‘the Queen’, was believed

Sadly, ‘the Queen’ would never take delivery of her pocket watch as the French Revolution began ten years later before the watch could be completed and the beautiful queen was beheaded for treason at the Place de la Revolution in Paris on the 16 October 1793.

At the time of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s death in 1823 the watch was still unfinished. His son, Louis-Antoine Breguet, also a talented horologer in his own right, eventually completed the watch in 1827, 34 years after Marie Antoinette’s death. This was 44 years after Breguet first accepted the order.

Upon completion, No 160 was apparently sold to the Marquis de La Groye. During 1838 he returned the watch to Breguet for a service but never collected it. In 1887 it was sold to Sir Spencer Brunton, an English collector, for £600 and subsequently had several different owners before being bought by Sir David Lionel Salomons, to add to his extensive watch and clock collection; this already included 124 Breguet timepieces.

Salomons, an authority on Breguet watches, is quoted as saying that ‘to carry a fine Breguet watch is to feel that you have the brains of a genius in your pocket’. Upon Salomon’s death in 1925, his daughter Vera inherited his estate. She was a regular visitor to Palestine and her mentor, Leo Aryeh Mayer, was the rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

After Mayer’s passing in 1959, Vera founded The LA Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem in his memory. Vera bequeathed numerous rare Islamic artefacts, including her father’s timepiece collection to the museum. The collection included No 160 (the Queen), as well as the last watch delivered to Marie Antoinette in prison before her execution.

Marie-Antoinette

to have been ordered by Count Hans Axel von Fersen, an officer in the Queen’s guard who was also assumed to be her secret lover. The watch was to be as spectacular as possible, incorporating the entire range of horological expertise known at the time. Furthermore, the order stipulated that gold should replace all other metals wherever feasible and that any auxiliary mechanisms, that is ‘complications’, should be as numerous and varied as possible. No time or financial limits were imposed.

To add to the already intriguing mystery of No 160, an event unfolded in the early afternoon of Friday, 15 April 1983 that sealed the fate of the watch. The LA Mayer Museum for Islamic Art closed early for the Sabbath and the security officers secured the building before settling in for the night shift. After an undisturbed night, they made their rounds in preparation for handing the security of the building over to the day shift. Upon entering the gallery where the Salomons collection of antique watches were displayed, they discovered that more than half of the collection of 192 rare timepieces, estimated at several hundred million dollars, had vanished. The theft included ‘the Queen’, valued at more than $30 million.

Breguet, the innovator.

Classique Hora Mundi 5717

An invitation to travel across the continents and oceans illustrated on three versions of the hand-guillochĂŠ lacquered dial, the Classique Hora Mundi is the first mechanical watch with an instant-jump time-zone display.

Thanks to a patented mechanical memory based on two heart-shaped cams, it instantly indicates the date and the time of day or night in a given city selected using the dedicated pushpiece. History is still being written...

ELEGANCE JEWELLERS SHOP HL15 MELROSE ARCH, JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA +27 11 684 1380 TA N U R J E W E L L E R S S H O P 1 4 7 , V I C T O R I A W H A R F, V & A W AT E R F R O N T, C A P E T O W N S O U T H A F R I C A + 2 7 2 1 4 1 8 5 5 2 4

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The burglary was unsolved for over a quarter of a century and ranks as one of the greatest mysteries of the art world. The value of the stolen collection made this the biggest crime in the history of horology.

In a desperate attempt to recover the collection a famous former Israeli army intelligence officer turned private investigator, Samuel Nahmias, was employed to search for ‘the Queen’. After a number of years and despite the combined efforts of Nahmias and Interpol, the case went cold.

When The Swatch Group took over the Breguet watch manufacturing company in 1999, Nicolas G Hayek, the CEO of The Swatch Group at that time, initiated an international treasure hunt to try and find this mysterious watch, but their search also proved unsuccessful.

During 2005 Hayek challenged Breguet’s watchmakers to manufacture an exact replica of ‘the Queen’ to complete the Breguet collection. Recreating so many complications solely with the help of ancient documents proved a real challenge for the watchmakers.

The original technical drawings in the Breguet Museum archives and the material available from the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris provided the only available information regarding the function and styling of the watch. Careful research uncovered skills, which had partly disappeared and enabled The Swatch Group, the owners of Breguet, to produce a replica timepiece, authentic in every way, to its fabled ancestor.

In 2007, after nearly four years of research and development, the replica of No 160 was complete. However, in another bizarre twist and just before its completion, Nicolas G Hayek received an anonymous message from someone offering to sell him the original No 160 that had been stolen from the museum. After numerous letters between the parties and discussions with the police, Hayek decided not to enter into an illegal transaction.

The case went cold for the second time until a lawyer by the name of Efron-Gabai called Zion Yakubov, the owner of an antique shop in Tel Aviv and requested an evaluation of some antique watches.

Efron-Gabai informed the antique shop owner that a woman living in America had secured her services to help return some artefacts, inherited from her late husband, to the LA Mayer Museum. The client insisted that all negotiations had to be strictly anonymous and communicated to the lawyer that her late husband had a few boxes of antique watches and these boxes were hidden somewhere in Tel Aviv. Her husband Na’aman Diller, a notorious Israeli thief, who had fled to Europe and then the USA, had apparently only told her about the stolen watches shortly before he succumbed to cancer.

The Brequet No 160 duplicate, the ‘Grand Complications Ref. 1160

Yakubov went to the lawyer’s office to examine the watches, which the lawyer had procured with the help of her client. Yakubov immediately

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recognised the immense value of the watches, which also included the missing No 160. Efron-Gabai then contacted the museum’s director, Rachel Hasson, who promptly visited the lawyer’s office together with Eli Kahan, the chairman of the museum, to examine the content of the boxes that held some of the greatest treasures of the horological world.

Despite their excitement, Hasson and Kahan were faced with a predicament as they had signed a nondisclosure agreement with the lawyer and were hence sworn to secrecy. They were also worried about the prospect of placing the watches back on display as the museum had already received an insurance payment in respect of the burglary.

However, in August 2006, the watches were returned to the museum and were kept hidden by Hasson and Kahan until November 2007 when information was leaked and soon reached the press. The headlines of Haaretz, a national newspaper on 11 November 2007, announced that the stolen watches had been found and that ‘the Queen’ had been returned to the museum.

The police promptly visited the museum to investigate. They reviewed the negotiation trail, which led to the return of the timepieces. Hasson, maintaining her promise of confidentiality to the lawyer and the mysterious client, disclosed very little.

The police proceeded to the storage facility where the watches had been hidden for all these years and discovered a document with the name of a woman in Los Angeles, Nili Shamrat, who they assumed to be the client of the lawyer Efron-Gabai. In addition, the police also found a record of her marriage to the notorious thief, Na’aman Diller, who lived discreetly in Tel Aviv at the end of his life. Na’aman Diller was an extraordinary cat burglar who lived in Israel between 1960 and 1970. A disgraced air force pilot, the reclusive criminal was a repeat offender who specialised in forgery and burglaries. His skills incorporated a wealth of tactics with which he managed to execute what were deemed to be near impossible crimes at the time. He had an unquestionable alibi for the museum heist as he had forged travel documents indicating that he was not in Israel at the time of the robbery.

Another notorious Diller heist was the 1967 robbery of a major Tel Aviv bank. He began preparing for the robbery more than five months before the operation, informing the bank’s neighbours that he was an engineer while he dug a trench to the back of the bank. As part of his plan, he buried a 100 m length of pipe along the trench. When his excavation was complete, he parked a van containing oxygen tanks, which he connected to this pipeline to supply oxygen to a portable cutting torch to cut through the bank vault. This system saved him the problem of carting the heavy tanks down the tunnel and made the bank heist possible. At one stage during his excavation Diller even took an extended break

Nicolas G. Hayek holding the duplicate of ‘The Queen’

so that he could join the military forces to fight in the Six-Day War. Although Nili Shamrat, a Hebrew teacher at the Carthay Center Elementary School in Los Angeles, was not involved in the theft of the watches, she was sentenced to five years probation and 300 hours of community service for receiving stolen property.

The final twist in this incredible story sees the Breguet’s replica pocket watch, considered the fifth most complicated watch in the world, proudly placed in an impressive presentation case, which is carved from the wood of an oak tree under which Marie Antoinette once sat. Nicolas G Hayek from The Swatch Group had heard that an old oak tree of over 320 years of age in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles was to be felled. Hayek desperately wanted to secure some wood from the tree in order to make a presentation case for the replica of ‘the Queen’ watch. After some discussions with the Palace of Versailles officials, Hayek agreed to donate five million Euros for the restoration of the Petit Trianon and French Pavilion at the palace in exchange for the wood to manufacture the presentation case.

Today ‘the Queen’ is back on display in a bulletproof case in the LA Mayer museum and stands in tribute to the iconic watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet.

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Master bedroom of Presidential suite, Saxon Hotel

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Fit for a President Bespoke Presidential suites in South Africa

BY LIZ WEBBER

The Presidential suite, in some cases named ‘The Royal suite’, is by default the most opulent and expensive suite in a luxury hotel and hence reserved for the rich and famous. In this edition of Le Kap magazine we feature three Presidential suites in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban respectively.

The term, the Presidential suite acquired its name during the presidency (1913–1921) of the 28th President of the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson. He insisted that his hotel rooms conform to specific standards during his political trips away from Washington. Since then in the United States, Presidential suites have generally adhered to the Woodrow Wilson standard specifications. The room must be southfacing in the Northern Hemisphere and north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere and have an en suite bathroom and walk-in closet. In Wilson’s era en suite bathrooms were a rarity.

The term Royal suite is more commonly used in hotels in countries with monarchies and its use may often imply that royalty have stayed in this set of rooms. A limited number of hotels offer both a Presidential and a Royal suite. In such instances both suites are usually of a comparative size and price, but vary in décor and facilities. Royal suites may be more classically decorated, while presidential suites are more modern in appearance. Presidential suites may offer facilities such as a private conference room, while Royal suites may include a formal reception room.

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SAXON - Johannesburg

Upon entering the magnificent 400 sq m ‘Nelson Mandela Presidential Suite’ of the multiple award winning Saxon Hotel via a glass-enclosed elevator one is immediately surrounded by unparalleled luxury.

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he stately African décor of this premier suite, voted as ‘Africa’s Leading Hotel Suite’ by World Travel Awards during 2014, is the embodiment of the style and elegance for which the Saxon is renowned. Named in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, this is the suite where the great statesman lived for six months while he completed and edited his autobiography ‘Long walk to Freedom’ after his release from prison.

This majestic set of rooms is comprised of a magnificent entrance and reception area, a guest suite, guest bathroom, a lounge and dining area, and a business area complete with business desk, complimentary WiFi, international multi plugs and iPod docking station. The room is equipped with a 40 inch Bang & Olufsen HD LCD screen television and Blu-ray DVD player, together with a

state-of-the-art surround-sound music system, including all radio stations, full gaming interface and digital music library.

The splendid master bedroom has a king size four-poster bed adorned with the world’s finest linens, offers a large walkin dressing room with a lavish bathroom equipped with an oversized Jacuzzi bath, a walk-in shower and private steam room. A generous pillow menu, luxurious robes, slippers and abundant fresh white towels add to the opulent experience.

The suite is serviced daily and a newspaper is delivered to the door every morning.

Every detail is considered, from the magnificent African décor to the well-equipped butler’s kitchen with a 24-hour dedicated

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The Nelson Mandela Presidential suite is adorned with magnificent African art.

butler service and chef. This suite benefits from the best views of the estate, overlooking the pool terrace, impressive infinity pool and looking beyond to the gardens and treetops towards the Johannesburg skyline.

The daily rate varies between R25 000 and R40 000 and includes complimentary French Champagne on arrival, breakfast, full mini bar, WiFi, use of the Saxon Spa hydro facilities, in-room entertainment system and iPod docking station, daily laundry (excluding dry cleaning), fully equipped butler’s kitchen and insuite check-in for added convenience, as well as return airport transfer and airport VIP meet and greet.

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One & Only - Cape Town A

warded ‘Best Hotel in Africa’ by Condé Nast Traveller in 2014, it comes as no surprise that One&Only Cape Town urban resort boasts some of the most luxurious suites on the continent. With top quality amenities and world-class service, this resort is a haven for those seeking unsurpassed luxury. With its range of spacious suites, guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing accommodation.

There are four ‘Marina’ suites and seven ‘Marina Grand’ suites, with generous floor space of between 123 sq m and 155 sq m respectively. However, the jewel in the crown is the two-bedroom Presidential suite with its 383 sq m of floor space, which has every conceivable luxury.

What sets the One&Only presidential suite apart are the roomy, double volume spaces, the fully equipped kitchen and luxurious bathrooms, as well as original works of art and photography by some of South Africa’s foremost artists. These adorn the foyer, entertainment area and dining room and add to the eclectic mix.

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The view of Table Mountain is another very attractive feature of the suite, an artwork in itself, and the use of warm and neutral fabrics in the rooms accentuates this vista.

Both bedrooms offer awe-inspiring views and feature extensive walk-in closets and king size beds.

Magnificent his-and-hers bathrooms, each with a rain shower (and one that converts into a steam room), marble vanities and walk-in closets add to the sense of opulence and comfort, while open air terraces overlook Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront.

There are 42-inch flat screen televisions with satellite TV and a DVD/CD player in both bedrooms and the lounge that complements the extensive Multi-media entertainment system installed throughout the suite.

The Presidential suite also boasts an impressive dining area that seats up to 12 guests. Furnishings covered in richly coloured leather and velvets add an even more opulent ambience to the voluminous space.

On a practical level, the fully equipped kitchen with its separate entrance, allows the 24-hour butler or private chef (at an additional cost) access for convenience. The suite features a private gym complete with a massage bed. The second lounge has a large work desk with a computer and printer.

Rates start from R69 930 per night, which includes breakfast each day in Reuben’s Restaurant, a welcome drink upon arrival, the use of the Spa Thermal Suites and Fitness Centre, secure underground parking, limited complimentary WiFi access throughout the resort and a full concierge service.

The use of a staffed business centre with a 12-seater boardroom is subject to availability at an additional charge.

In addition, the twice-daily housekeeping services will be undertaken at a time convenient to the guest’s schedule and daily local newspapers are available upon request.

One&Only bottled mineral water is supplied at turndown daily and transfers to the V&A Waterfront can be arranged (subject to availability).

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THE OYSTER BOX - Durban

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he 246 sq m Presidential suite at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks on the East Coast of KwaZulu-Natal overlooks the magnificent Indian Ocean. This spacious suite, the epitome of luxury and comfort, is split over two levels and accessed by its own private lift.

The open-plan living space on the ground floor features a bar and well-equipped kitchen and connects the living and dining areas in perfect harmony. The plush furnishings are light and elegant with white timber floors and marble and white Caesar stone throughout the room. A beautiful Venetian glass chandelier sets an elegant tone in the dining area with seating for ten visitors, whilst mirrors add dimension and a sense of lightness and space.

On the upper level, the grand master bedroom incorporates a comfortable seating area and a personal study. Indulgent luxury is yours in the ‘His’ and ‘Hers’ marble bathrooms; ‘Hers’ with unparalleled sea views from the large marble bath. An additional en suite bedroom is located downstairs, providing accommodation for two persons.

The latest technology is at your fingertips with an iPod docking station, entertainment centre, six flat-screen TV’s and DVD player.

For the convenience of guests a fax machine, scanner and printer are also available.

A exclusive rim-flow plunge pool on the expansive and secluded patio with unfettered views is a perfect area to entertain guests for cocktails or a private dinner, prepared by the hotel's executive chef.

The standard R50 000 daily rate includes an express check-in and complimentary snack platter upon arrival; canapés at sunset and a full English breakfast is served daily. In addition, the In-Suite Butler Service offers valet packing and unpacking, a food service and individual attention to suit every request.

A chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benz is available and a selection of other personal treats such as individually-embroidered hotel gowns and nightly turndown gifts will make this a stay never to be forgotten.

Enjoy five-star decadence when you book the unique ‘Bath Butler’ to have a bath prepared for you by a spa specialist in the privacy of your suite or alternatively set in the luscious, tropical gardens. ‘The Spa’ is just a few steps away, where you can treat mind, body and soul with an extensive selection of wellness treatments.

Some famous guests that have stayed in The Presidential Suite include; Alexander Putin, Naomi Campbell, Sir Alex Ferguson, Hilary Swank, French Montana, Khloe Kardashian and Kendrick Lamar.

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THE LEOPARD 40 This innovative and performance-driven Leopard 40 is sure to excite anyone interested in a new catamaran in the 40 ft range.

BY DANIEL SNYMAN

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esigners and builders Robertson & Caine and Naval Architects Simonis-Voogd have set a new standard for contemporary cruising catamarans with the launch of the Leopard 40. The innovative interior layout combined with the increased volume of the hulls and the expanded windows and doors blur the lines between the interior and exterior creating the ambience of a much larger yacht. With careful attention and experience invested in hull and rig design, no sacrifices were made in performance; this yacht is not only more spacious, but significantly more nimble than her predecessors in the 40-foot class.

The interior design of the Leopard 40 is unlike any other Leopard catamaran before her. Her galley is located forward and the lounging and dining area is now located aft. This affords panoramic views with large sliding glass doors between the saloon and the aft cockpit. The arrangement allows for easy communication between guests with an open flow between the saloon and the aft cockpit. In

addition, the galley area includes a large forward-facing window and an access door to the forward platform of the yacht. The access door enhances the open concept feel and allows for easy passage in and around the yacht and promotes ventilation throughout the interior.

Leopard’s newest catamaran leaves little to be desired with this unique interior layout, her speed and agility. Franck Bauguil, Vice President of Yacht Ownership and Sales at TUI Marine expressed his thoughts regarding the Leopard 40, saying, ‘The result of the very fruitful partnership between Robertson and Caine, TUI Marine and the architects Simonis and Voogd, the Leopard 40 is the logical progression of the Leopard mid-range model, based on the worldwide success of the Leopard 48, with added features. The Leopard 40 feels like a much larger and more powerful catamaran.

A new exterior and a completely updated interior make this model very innovative while staying with the tradition of a strongly built, >

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well performing cruising catamaran.’ Bauguil went on to discuss the main saloon and the aft cockpit, saying, ‘Opening the large sliding doors allows for a fusion of the outdoor living area and the indoor living area and when the sliding door is closed it is a temperature controlled main saloon with spectacular panoramic views.’

As with the rest of the Leopard line, the new Leopard 40 has a light blonde interior with a light, modern and airy atmosphere. Her upholstery is in a light cream colour and the cabinets and flooring are made from Alabaster oak. This new interior design has been exceedingly well received and is extremely popular, boosting the ever-increasing demand for the Leopard models.

John Robertson, Managing Director and Co-founder of Robertson and Caine, expressed his views of the Leopard 40, saying, ‘The Leopard 40 is the final step in our complete Leopard range update, which concentrates on unifying the living areas on modern cruising catamarans. This has been achieved by a door in the front of the saloon giving access directly to the forward area and trampoline. As in our other new models, taking the full height of the saloon forward has given the added attraction of panoramic views ahead as well as better through flow ventilation when needed in tropical climates. In addition, the Leopard 40 has taken the unifying concept dramatically

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further by a complete redesign of the seating arrangement from the cockpit to the saloon and moving the galley forward. A large door and window combination opens to allow flow between the two areas, and the floor and seating throughout is on the same level aiding social interaction.'

The Leopard 40 sticks to the standard 3 or 4 cabin layout design with two heads. In the 3-cabin owner’s version there is an additional desk area located in the starboard hull, extra storage space and a private head. The heads are fitted with Corian counter tops, a shower and an electric flushing toilet. The Leopard 40 has also been built to 'Moorings' specifications and in spring 2015 it will be entered into the Moorings Yacht Ownership program as the 'Moorings 4000'.

This innovative and performance-driven Leopard 40 is sure to excite anyone interested in a new catamaran in the 40 ft range. Her unique layout and ergonomic design are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, while her agility and manoeuvrability make her a must see for any avid sailor who appreciates a quality built, blue-water capable catamaran.

Want to learn more? Contact Leopard’s South African office at 021200-1825 and speak with representative Daniel Snyman, or visit us online at www.leopardcatamarans.com

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It's a BMW, so it knows

the job description ...

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BMW i8

BY RICHARD WEBB

Oil is not getting any cheaper. And while the price may fluctuate in the short term, historically all the projections point to a continual rise of prices at the pumps.

For this reason, the recent Cape Town launch of the ‘BMW i’ brand in South Africa is a gutsy, but breakthrough move for BMW, especially given the local infrastructure challenges at this point.

BMW’s ‘i brand’ is noteworthy for three main reasons. First, BMW have managed to work out how to mass-produce the carbon fibre to construct the cars. Second, having positioned themselves as thoughtleaders, BMW will force the competition to create equally innovative products. And finally, they are demonstrating just how much fun electric cars can be.

I have been following their work on the BMW i sub-brand of electric cars since 2008, and one certainly can’t accuse BMW of a lack of research.

More than 1,500 prototype battery-powered cars – draped in regular MINI and BMW 1-series clothing – have covered at least 320 million kilometres in the hands of paying customers around the world.

Some of the items all this research revealed is that on average, people drove less than 48 kilometres per day and charged their cars two or three times per week. It’s also quite understandable that 81 per cent of those in the trial preferred plugging in at home versus visiting a petrol station for a recharge.

The market for electric cars in South Africa is small, but very enthusiastic and BMW are to be commended on forging ahead with this technology with their first two plug-in electric hybrid cars, the i3 and i8.

Towards the end of 2013 I drove the i3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and I can assure you that both this car and the i8 look even prettier in the metal than in any pictures in the media. On the roads, in and around Cape Town, the i3 delivered on drive and performance. The low positioning of the battery means it has great cornering, even though, like most modern cars, it is set up to gently understeer if pushed really hard.

The first thing you notice, though, is the almost complete absence of noise. Plant your foot down on the accelerator and the response is unexpected. It zips surreally from a standstill with no tailing off in performance. The display shows consumption in real time and this helps to keep you more aware of your driving style. To add to the new experience, unlike a conventional car, the i3 rapidly decelerates when you take your foot off the accelerator. You get used to it within a short journey and it soon becomes great fun to slightly adjust your driving.

The wide-screen media centre is brilliant; the sat-nav, Bluetooth and entertainment system were all easy to operate via the ultra-clear screen.

The door panels and dashboard are made from renewable natural fibres and the upholstery is made of 100 per cent recycled material.

The i3’s interior is much more spacious than illustrated in the pictures and there’s loads of glass, which makes it an incredibly bright and cheerful place to be, plus there is more room in the back than you’d think.

However, no matter how short the daily commute might be, there will still be some range anxiety since you can only drive 130-160 kilometres between eight-hour recharges (or under three hours if you use a 32A BMW Wallbox). For an additional R70 000, you can buy a range extender for your i3. It’s a 650cc, 28kW rear-mounted engine to act as a generator

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to maintain – but not add to – the battery’s state of charge. This would double the car’s range, and should you need to go further then you can keep topping up the nine-litre fuel tank (CO2 emissions climb from zero to 13g/km).

The i3 is very refined, rides well and handles beautifully, thanks to its even weight distribution and low centre of gravity - the battery is mounted in the aluminium chassis supercar-style construction technology. It is a huge step forward for electric cars, and is an extremely desirable urban runabout. Guaranteed to turn heads anywhere you go – if it suits your lifestyle and you like the design, then you will almost certainly love the i3.

The second BMW i is an unmistakable, emotion-stirring car that faithfully follows the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept exhibited at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Virtually unchanged for the production version, I also drove it at the national launch in Cape Town. What we have here is a plug-in hybrid sports car that combines high performance with low fuel consumption.

Imagine having all the best bits of a supercar – the performance, the handling and the style – with the kind of running costs you’d normally associate with a VW Golf? Well, that’s what the i8, the BMW’s petrolelectric plug-in hybrid actually does incredibly well.

At R1 755 000 it’s not cheap to buy, but by combining a small yet punchy petrol engine with an electric motor and powerful battery pack, BMW has built a sports car that costs very little to run. Like most of its competitors (think Porsche 911 and Audi R8), the i8 is a two-plus-two, however, don’t expect much in the way of storage space.

BMW i8

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Set SPORT mode and the sequential manual gear selection, the engine and electric motor combine to deliver extra-sharp performance. And, to keep the battery topped up, SPORT mode also activates maximum energy recuperation, ensuring that the BMW i8 is quick and dynamic as it looks. When the battery is being recharged using the car’s kinetic energy, the electric motor’s generator switches to a more powerful setting. At the same time, the gear change become sportier and an extra-racy ride is selected for the standard-fit Dynamic Damper Control and Electric Power Steering.

If the sudden onset of eco-consciousness follows that spirited driving, just press the eDrive button. The vehicle will switch to the electric motor as its sole power source. Only if the battery charge drops below a given level – or the driver suddenly wishes to drive at full throttle – does the internal combustion engine jump in automatically. Power delivery is instant and it corners like its on rails.

Half of the fun of being in an i8 is seeing the reaction this car gets from the public. Short of driving a gold-plated Rolls Royce Phantom convertible with a sabre-toothed tiger in the back seat, I cannot think of any other car that will generate flash mobs like this one. And it delivers in all of those areas expected of a sports car. It’s fast and supremely responsive, accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

You’ll find yourself taking the long way home, as longer journeys are something to enjoy, not dread. As much as the i8 might be the most significant and forward thinking car on the road today, it is the i3 city car people can actually buy in relatively large numbers and drive every day to work. So it’s the BMW i3 that will change the face of motoring, as we know it, but it will take a while to get traction in South Africa. BMW are to be congratulated for having the courage to be the change, even if we are not yet fully ready for the conversion.

Thanks to those swan-wing doors, getting in and out of the i8 requires you shuffle over a wide piece of bodywork before sinking into the comfortable seats, but once securely in place, the driving position is spectacular.

Cocooned in a strong, but very light, carbon fibre reinforced plastic passenger cell, you have a distinct impression of being in a racing car. It’s peppered with lightweight materials including aluminium and magnesium in an effort to compensate for the weight of the batteries that run down the centre of the car.

There’s loads of dashboard information projected on to one of the digital displays, including the car’s speed, total fuel range and consumption, as well as letting you know whether the batteries are depleting when providing power, or are recharging using regenerative energy from deceleration or braking.

In the centre of the dashboard is the second display screen with which you control the BMW iDrive system. In a kind of delayed gratification, I found myself pausing a while to master some of the shortcut buttons, which take you to the most frequently used functions.

The navigation system’s map also displays the location of public charging stations, allowing drivers to plan their journeys to incorporate a stop-off to charge the high-voltage battery. Public charging facilities are currently available at the four iBMW dealers around the country. BMW South Africa is currently engaging with private and public institutions to expand its network of public charging facilities.

On the road, the standard adaptive suspension – especially when switched to ‘comfort’ – means the i8 is compliant enough to take the edge off poor roads yet remains distinctly driver-focused. When the electric motor takes over, the near silence adds to the air of sophistication.

Need to know BMW i3 Price R525 000 or R595 000 with range-extender Electric Motor BMW eDrive – Electric Motor + Engine – BMW eDrive + 2 cylinder, 647cc Maximum Power Electric Motor (kW/rpm) 125 / 4 800 125 / 4 800 Maximum Power Engine (kW/rpm) – 28 / 5 000 Maximum Torque Electric Motor (Nm) 250 250 Maximum Torque Engine (Nm) – 56 Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (seconds) 7.2 7.9 Top speed (km/h) 150 Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km) 12.9 13.5 CO2 Emissions (g/km) 0 13 BMW i8 Price R1 755 000 Electric Motor + Engine BMW eDrive 3 cylinder, 1 499cc Maximum Power (kW/rpm) 96/4 800 + 170/5 800 Maximum Power, system (kW) 266 Maximum Torque (Nm/rpm) 250 + 320/3 700 Maximum Torque, system (Nm) 570 Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (seconds) 4.4 Top speed (km/h) 250 Top speed (km/h) eMode (pure electric driving) 120 Combined Consumption (1/100 km) 2.1 CO2 Emissions (g/km) 49

EST. 1989

COMFORT ZONE

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THE QM2 The queen of the ocean ...

BY DAVE WALLACE

It is a terrible addiction, this cruising! My wife and I have suffered from it for many years and there are no signs of an imminent cure.

After months of waiting, the big day, 11 April 2013 has come. We are to board the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) in Cape Town for a crossing to England.

Launched in March 2003, the QM2 is 345 m in length, the height of a 23-storey building and weighs 151 400 tons. The QM2 boasts 17 decks, 15 restaurants and bars, five swimming pools, a 2-storey state-of-the-art day spa, a casino, a ballroom, a theatre, a 3D Cinema, an 8000-book library and a planetarium. The QM2 is also the world’s largest ocean liner accommodating 2620 passengers and a crew of 1250. ‘Although there are larger cruise ships, a cruise ship is not to be confused with an ocean liner. An ocean liner is more powerful and built to a higher standard for transatlantic crossings in order to withstand the most adverse conditions, whereas a cruise ship is built for calmer waters.’

The checking-in process was well organised and within minutes our credit card sized ship’s passes were issued. These act as the key to your accommodation, the ID for leaving or boarding the ship and for all on-board purchases. After boarding, we proceeded to inspect our stateroom. Sailing day was quiet with many passengers sightseeing onshore. We decided to check our dinner table allocation in the 3-storey Britannia Restaurant, which is the main dining room. Afterwards, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the King’s Court prior to sailing.

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The QM2 has a class system, which can be defined as first class being the Queens Grill, second class the Princess Grill and Britannia the third class. The Queens and Princess Grill classes are closely interrelated and both share exclusive public areas such as their private dining rooms, lounge, deck areas and separate kitchens, but at a price reserved for millionaires. The major difference between the Queens and Princess class is the much bigger size of the staterooms and the benefit of a private butler and concierge service.

At the time of departure from Cape Town a moderate wind had picked up and this resulted in two tugboats having to assist the QM2 to push her out from the quay, a task she would normally do under her own power. However, after about 15 minutes of pushing and pulling the captain announced that the 45-knot wind was too strong to align the QM2 with the dock entrance. With the departure schedule uncertain, we prepared for dinner. This is an elegant affair with the waiters and wine stewards dressed in smart white uniforms and tables set with white starched linen and silver cutlery.

We attended a fabulous show, in the Royal Court after dinner, performed by a juggler who at one stage had 12 dinner plates

rotating simultaneously on long poles. After the show, we made our way to the popular, science-fiction themed discotheque, the G32, named after the shipyard’s hull number for the ship. Around midnight the DJ announced that we were about to leave the port and we all streamed onto deck. After watching the lights of Cape Town recede, we went inside to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies before heading off to bed.

The next day was our first day at sea! We love the sea days as the ship almost feels as if she comes alive. There are so many activities that one cannot participate in all. Each day varies, but could include ‘power walking’ around the deck, lectures, dancing lessons, trivia contests, seminars, crosswords and quizzes, guest speakers, table tennis, art and fitness classes to name a few. Oh and I forgot, eating!

The food was good and every night there was a three or four course menu with a choice of four or five different dishes for each course.

Each table is allocated a table steward with an assistant, as well as a sommelier, to cater for all one’s culinary needs. Dinner on the second night was a formal occasion, the first of five, which was preceded by the Captain’s cocktail party in the Queens Room.

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We often attended the ‘Royal Court’ theatre, once boasted as the largest theatre afloat, which seats 1150 people and offers a variety of productions that one would expect to see in London’s West End. We remained on board during our stop at Walvis Bay and spent hours around the pool. By 1700h, with all passengers back on board, the ship readied for departure. Sailing away is always magical as everyone gathers on the open decks, mostly on the pool deck where a Caribbean band is playing up-tempo music. Some passengers may be having a swim or just be sitting in the Jacuzzi, whilst others are enjoying sundowners, as the ship makes ready to depart. Before dinner that evening, we stopped at the Red Lion pub for a drink. Everyone else seemed to have had the same idea as it was packed.

As the ship neared the Equator the weather became hot and humid.

The interiors, in contrast, are quite cool which can be a problem: when you take your camera outside the lenses just keep fogging up until the camera becomes acclimatized.

Sir Samuels on deck 3 is a popular coffee shop serving speciality

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coffees and light snacks at lunchtime. One tends to eat way too much on board, so it was prudent to partake in light lunches.

The Promenade on deck 7 is popular and at any given time there can be dozens of walkers striding around this great ship. Just under than two laps of the deck equals 1km. The other feature about the Promenade deck is that one can acquire a lounger and just relax with a book and watch the sea flowing past.

The 500-seater ‘Illuminations’ theatre on deck 2 features the first full-scale planetarium at sea and is also used as a cinema. However watching a movie coupled with the gentle vibration from the engines soon induces one to succumb to sleep. Deck 2 is also home to the 13 tables and 120 slot machines of the ‘Empire’ Casino.

There are five pools on QM2, one in the Solarium, a pool and Jacuzzi on Deck 13. Aft, there are two further pools, one on Deck 6 and the other on Deck 7, the latter having two Jacuzzis, one on either side.

We favoured the pool on Deck 7, due to its superb vantage point of the aft of the ship and of the wake trailing off into the horizon. There is a pool bar on this deck with a Caribbean band playing during lunch.

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The Commodore Club with its sophisticated ambience is popular for drinks before dinner and is positioned just below the Bridge on Deck 9 and has great sea views. Centred in the room is a beautiful bar featuring a huge glass-encased model of the ship. Adjacent to this, is the ever-popular cigar lounge, the Commodore Room.

Every evening there was dancing to big band music in the Queens Room. One of the features of Cunard ships is that they have gentleman escorts who will invite single ladies to dance. The Queens Room is also where high tea is served every afternoon, which includes cucumber sandwiches, .

One evening we were invited to attend a cocktail party for past Cunard passengers in the Queens room. A short speech by the captain was followed by some statistics presented by a lady from the Cunard sales office. It was interesting to learn how much some folk cruise. One couple was on their 12th round-the-world cruise, whilst another had done four round-the-world trips in five years.

At times we had lunch at the Golden Lion, an English Pub serving a selection of beers on tap and traditional English foods, such as bangers and mash and steak. It also serves as a sports bar when there is a Grand Prix or rugby game being televised.

During our voyage we participated in a tour of the stainless steel galley where 16 000 meals are prepared daily. It is an enormous area about the area of a large supermarket, and the room is divided into various work stations, each with a specific task.

The following are some interesting facts about the galley: • • •

87 000 pieces of china and glassware are used 6 000 cups of tea and 700 English scones are served daily 9 500 canapés are consumed during the captain’s cocktail parties.

On a 16 day crossing of the Atlantic the following are consumed: • • • •

50 000 Kg of fresh fruit and vegetables 12 000 Kg of meat and 13 000 Kg of seafood 20 000 litres of milk and 32,400 eggs 2 000 Kg of sugar and 4 000 Kg of flour.

All too soon it was our last day on board. The Queen Mary 2 was as fabulous as we remembered her to be from past crossings. As the saying goes ‘A bad day at sea beats a good day ashore’.

As a farewell celebration, we had dinner with friends at Todd English, a speciality restaurant. With the sun setting off the stern, the Queen Victoria slipped discreetly in behind us as she also completed her world cruise. Together, the two sisters silently continued their heading towards the Solent and Southampton. QM2 is in a class by herself: a modern reinterpretation of the golden age of luxury transatlantic liners.

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‘RACING IS LIFE AND LIFE IS RISK’ Since December 2013 the media has focused on the events surrounding Michael Schumacher’s horrific skiing accident near Meribel in the French Alps. In this edition of Le Kap, we honour Schumacher for his outstanding legacy to Motorsport.

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BY RICHARD WEBB

T

he first time I clapped eyes on ‘Schumi’ – as he’s affectionately known to his legion of fans – was at the 1988 Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival, a few miles from my hometown in the South East of Britain. However, his performance on that day did not foretell the greatness that was to come, as he crashed and did not finish that race. But his talent was obvious.

He successfully raced in the German Formula Ford and Formula Koenig series, winning the Championships. This led to him to Formula 3, claiming the title in 1990. A year later, his Formula 1 (F1) racing career began when the Jordan-Ford Team asked him to compete in the Belgian Grand Prix. He qualified in a worthy seventh place, but retired on the first lap due to mechanical failure. But the die was cast, and the Benetton-Ford Team signed Michael again for the following race.

His first year in F1 was not stellar, but all that changed in 1992, when he finished third in the Mexican Grand Prix and then in first place in the Belgian Grand Prix, ending the year in third place in the Driver’s Championship. Through all his ups and downs, he kept his head in all types of racing conditions in almost every race that he ever competed in. Rarely have we seen ‘Schumi’ lose his cool, but the most memorable example was at Spa, when he stomped after

David Coulthard to confront him in his pit after their crash on a raindrenched track.

1994 saw Michael win the first of his seven Formula 1 Driving Championships by relentlessly winning six out of the first seven Grand Prix. He successfully defended his Driver’s Championship title in 1995, adding ‘the youngest two-time World F1 Champion’ to his accolades. ‘I always thought records were there to be broken,’ he said at the time.

The struggling Ferrari Team needed to reverse their poor performance throughout the early 1990s and Michael believed he could revive their fortunes. Schumacher knew he could help make Ferrari great again, and duly won the Constructor’s Title in 1999. It was at Monza in 2000, where he equalled Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41 wins.

In post-race televised interviews he showed another side of the emotionally composed ‘machine’, when he broke down, prompting archrival Mika Hakkinen to put a sportsmanlike and comforting arm around his shoulders. This was a side not seen before, or since – so much was the effect of winning at Monza in front of the tifosi (an Italian word to describe a group of supporters or fans, especially in motorsport) for the third time in five years. And who would forget his

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emotionally charged jump and ‘air punch’ on the podium, or his double elbow-pump whilst still in the cockpit of his car as he started his lap of honour?

There have been many difficulties for the ace though, including first corner crashes in Hockenheim and Austria and also being overtaken

by Hakkinen in Hungary and – most frustratingly – on his ‘own track’ at Spa. Some of Michael’s best results were in races with wet racetracks, having won 17 of the 30 F1 races he entered in the lead up to the end of the 2003 season, earning him the nickname of ‘Regenkonig’ (Rain King). In 2004, Michael won a record 12 of the first 13 races on his way to securing his 5th World Championship in a row, bringing to a total of seven World Championships. Both of these records endure to this day.

His time with Ferrari has seemingly brought out the best in the man. He always gave credit to his race team, who were obviously instrumental in reducing his pit stop times, which on occasion meant the difference between winning or not. He was quoted as saying that ‘when you start out in a team you have to get the teamwork going and then you get something back,’.

But it was not all milk and honey with Schumacher. Controversies raged early in his F1 career, when he was twice involved in crashes during the final races of the season. These were the races that determined the outcome of the World Championship. In 1994, the crash with Damon Hill and again, in 1997 in an accident that involved Jacques Villeneuve, Michael was accused of causing the accident when Jacques tried to pass him. Schumacher was punished not only

RACING IS THE FAMILY BUSINESS Michael Schumacher's son Mick has impressed the Formula 4 team Van Amersfoort Racing so much, they’ve signed him up as a driver.

Frits van Amersfoort, the team’s owner has been impressed with Mick’s progress. ‘We have watched his skills in test driving and are looking forward to a successful season.’

The 15-year old Schumacher came an impressive second in the German kart championships. This latest signing bodes well for Schumacher junior to excel in Formula 4, the racing series for talented young racers.

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for unsportsmanlike conduct, but was then disqualified from the 1997 Drivers’ Championship. It was a dark time for the driver and I remember being distinctly unimpressed with his behaviour, but he never failed to admit his mistakes and accepted whatever penalties he had received with appropriate grace and contrition.

He had announced his retirement at end of 2006 season after winning Italian Grand Prix prompting Niki Lauda and David Coulthard to hail Schumacher as the greatest all-round racing driver in F1’ s history. Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo always said that the decision to retire would be his alone. ‘But now that decision has been taken I feel a sense of sadness. We have lived through some unforgettable times together, some good and some bad, achieving results that will be hard to equal,’ he said.

On July 29th, 2009, he announced courageous plans for a return to Formula One with Ferrari, but two weeks later he decided against the comeback owing to a neck injury he had sustained during a motorbike accident earlier in the year. Obviously determined to compete again at the highest level, he announced a three-year contract with Mercedes GP before that year was up, ending his three-year retirement.

His glittering motorsport career is one that is etched in the minds of his fans. The amazing outpouring of sympathy following Schumacher’s ski accident would suggest that even amongst his detractors, there are few that do not wish him anything other than a meaningful recovery from his injuries.

Last word goes to Michael: ‘I’ve always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there’s only a slightest chance’.

BORN TO RACE Michael was born in Hurth, West Germany in 1969. His love of motorsport started when he was only four years old, when his Dad, Rolf, motorised his pedal powered go-kart using a motorbike engine. Michael soon became the youngest member of the KerpenHorrnm carting club .

He won his first karting club championship at the age of six and went on to win the German Junior Kart Championship at the age of 14.

This culminated in his winning the European Kart Championships in 1987.

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Suzaan Heyns Art deco evening dress with gold chain bolero: Inspired by the big screen sirens of yesteryear and the decadence of the art deco period.

BY SARAH WOODS

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he world is waking up to the fact that South Africa is slowly but surely becoming a significant player in the international world of fashion.

Fashion designers such as Suzaan Heyn, Jacques LaGrange, Thula Sindi, Kobus Dippenaar and Hendrik Vermeulen are proving to international fashionistas that the concept of South African designers primarily drawing upon inspiration from our ethic based heritage is an antiquated thought process.

Leading South African designers have been steadily paving the way on international catwalks with their creations and in doing so South Africa is gaining much needed international exposure as an emerging fashion frontier.

On the next few pages we have showcased some garments of a few of the more promising young South African designers who are unique with their individualistic approach to couture.

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Jacques LaGrange Elegant English wool couture dress with flared skirt and belt in waist with hand made guinea fowl feather flowers.

PHOTO l JACQUES WEYERS

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Thula Sindi Left model: A mock suede leopard print bustier overlaid with black chantilly lace - worn with mock suede leopard printed skirt with fluted hem finished off in a black lace boarder. The bustier is paired with a belt in the same mock suede leopard print plus a silk fringe shawl.

Model on right: A halter neck black chantilly lace covered printed suede cocktail dress.

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Kobus Dippenaar Black silk Bais cut gown with a plunging neckline, finished with beaded Chantilly lace and silk organza bows on the shoulders.

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Hendrik Vermeulen ‘Nkosi Sikelel’Afrika’ collection.

The ‘Krematart’ or ‘Baobab’ dress is made from hand painted Duchess Satin Silk, with silk Organza flower detail.

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Phoro by Martin Harvey

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Fighting to be Born Free Since 1979, Africa’s elephant population has plummeted from 1,3 million to being less than 400,000 at present. The rampant and illegal poaching of wildlife has also meant that the African lion population has declined and now number less than 25,000.

Virginia Mckenna

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BY RICHARD WEBB

S

hould the names Joy and George Adamson not be familiar to you, then maybe Born Free and Elsa the lioness could strike a chord somewhere in your mind. The book, Born Free was Mrs Adamson's simple and moving account of how she raised an abandoned wild lion cub to maturity and then eventually nurtured and trained her sufficiently so that she could return to live freely in the wild. This legacy was created and immortalised in an honest, humorous and heart-wrenching documentary style film.

Northern Kenya’s Meru National Park occupies part of the vast expanse of savannah in the basin of the Tana River on the rather rainy eastern side of Mount Kenya. One of four adjoining parks and reserves, Meru is one of Africa’s key conservation areas. Rugged, wild and often inhospitable, this a beautiful 870 sq km mix of ochre savannahs, Doum palm trees and the thorny acacia nilotica is dissected by sparkling rivers that help to sustain the wildlife of this extraordinary landscape.

The film Born Free based upon Adamson’s true story of Elsa, starred Virginia McKenna and her late husband, Bill Travers who were very concerned by the growing and increasingly settled human population and the resulting conflict between humans and wildlife in the area. The result of this concern was the creation of the Born Free Foundation, which was established specifically to help keep wildlife in the wild. Virginia, now a spritely 83-year-old, continues to be a resolute motivating energy for the foundation.

Meru is the kingdom of the lion, a kind of ‘Pride Rock’ of Africa, and the spiritual home of the evocative Born Free Foundation – the very place where the Adamson family famously raised and released Elsa the lioness back to the wild. But it’s not only because of Elsa – it’s also home to up to 50 of Kenya’s estimated 2 000 remaining wild lions and is the perfect habitat for many of Africa’s most iconic species.

That same resolve had led to the launch of their latest anti-poaching scheme, ‘Project Lion Rover’ and I was invited by Land Rover South Africa to accompany the Born Free Foundation with Virginia and her son, Will Travers, OBE. I was there to see some of the routines, the sometimes harrowing and always courageous work that is undertaken alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service.

When being there it is not difficult to imagine how the enchanting wilderness was virtually off limits due to out-of-control poaching during the 90s.

Travers, who is Chief Executive Officer of the Born Free Foundation, manages day-to-day operations and is a notably accomplished thought-leader on matters related to conservation. I travelled with him in one of their trusty Land Rover Defenders on an anti-snaring

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mission, where he told me ‘increased demand for bush meat is taking its toll on many species through poaching, and lions are affected in a multitude of ways.’ Currently, the lion’s plight throughout Africa is becoming a subject attracting serious concern. Since the late 1970s, Africa’s lion population has declined by more than 50 per cent.

Virginia Mckenna

Conservation is an incredibly complex issue and organisations like the Born Free Foundation are doing their best to raise awareness and gain public support both locally and internationally. Spending time with Will quickly confirms his genuine concern for the wildlife, but he is practical and realistic. ‘One cannot solve these difficult and complex issues alone; you have to solve it together,’ said Will.

‘The indiscriminate and prolific use of wire snares is significantly affecting the lions’ natural prey base, such as antelope and gazelle.

This consequently leads to lions attacking livestock and thereby escalating the conflict. Furthermore, field reports confirm that lions have also been unintentionally trapped, injured, maimed and sometimes killed,’ added Virginia.

Snares come in various sizes and are set in different locations depending on the intended target animals. For example, giraffe snares are strategically strung between trees three meters or so above the ground. An advance Born Free team recently removed more than 150 deadly wire snares in just a week. This obviously means that only a sustained, long-term effort can reduce this risk to lions and all other wildlife within the Park.

Richard Webb

The origins of the Land Rover’s association with Born Free date back to 1966, when they featured in the ‘Born Free’ film. The requirement was then as it is now, for vehicles with outstanding capacity and an all-terrain capability that allows them to reach the wildlife in the most remote locations. Aside from the vehicles, the company works with the Born Free Foundation to fund important anti-poaching equipment. GPS tracking units, laptops, binoculars and cameras have

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enhanced the abilities of the local Kenyan Wildlife Services team in their work to protect the wildlife in the area, as well as the development of conflict mitigation strategies with the local people.

‘The Born Free Foundation is on the front line of conservation and wild animal welfare and to get us to that front line we rely on Land Rovers. It is essential not only that we can get into some truly challenging locations but that we can successfully carry out our mission and get out,’ says Travers. Mark Cameron, Land Rover’s Global Brand Experience Director sees their vehicles and the Foundation as an ideal match. ‘We have seen what a difference the Foundation can make, not just for the rescue, care and protection of big cats and many other endangered species, but also in spreading awareness about how people can adapt their lives and attitudes to ensure a sustainable future for man and wildlife alike.’

Virginia Mckenna & Will Travers OBE

Working with local communities, particularly those living on the edges of the park, is vital. Despite the removal of hundreds of snares, wildlife poaching has become even more sophisticated. ‘Many parts of Africa are awash with illegal weapons due to local wars and local insurgencies. As a result weapons are cheap and easy to get hold of,’ says Will, ‘KWS and teams like these have a difficult and dangerous job, with their limited resources. We are committed to supporting them and we need to help them fight back with the type of support and technology that will make them even more efficient.’

As important as it is to protect individual animals, it is essential to preserve functioning ecosystems that directly benefit every person on the planet. ‘In working with the Kenya Wildlife Service, we are attempting to halt the illegal and unsustainable commercial bush meat trade. We have been making a serious effort in this area, but it’s a huge challenge. That’s why charities such as Born Free have to assist in whatever way they can.’

RANGE ROVER

ONE COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR NOT GETTING OUT IN A HURRY. landrover.co.za

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