Privatsea issue 8

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FORMITALIA Luxury Group spa

Luxury Interiors and Accessories for Exclusive Homes, Hotels, Executive OfďŹ ces & Yachts

E-Mail: info@formitalia.it

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Web: www.formitalia.it

contents ISSUE 8 / 2012

PrivatSea – moving forward The last 12 months have seen a marked change in charter enquiries for PrivatSea — with the usual summer hotspots along the French Riviera gradually being challenged by a new interest in the different experiences that Alaska, New Zealand and the Maldives (to name but a few recent bookings) have to offer. The most recent destination to whet our clients’ appetites has been the Galapagos Islands — a totally unique place where you are guaranteed to see nature at its very best.

And what better way is there to experience these wonderful places than on a yacht?

The itineraries to the Galapagos have been incredible. This archipelago of volcanic islands, sitting on the equator line off the coast of Ecuador, open up a totally unique natural world to its visitors, and its collection of rare and exotic wildlife can be found nowhere else on earth. Whilst on board you could witness the spectacular flight of the waved albatross, the blue footed boobie diving below the waves for food, whales breaching offshore and pink flamingos in hidden lagoons; and step ashore for a hike off the beaten path to discover giant Galapagos tortoises, prehistoric marine iguanas and flightless cormorants. The only negative feedback so far is that a seven-night itinerary just isn’t enough, so take note if you’re planning a similar expedition!

With summer just around the corner, PrivatSea has also been expanding its villa services. It’s a popular alternative, or addition, to a yacht charter, but only it seems when the villa can offer similar levels of privacy, service and comfort. For more news on our latest villa addition – Mas Mateu in northern Spain – see our News pages and City of Culture feature on p18.

News is also positive from PrivatSea’s construction and brokerage divisions. A number of new conversion and building projects are currently under tender and with pre-owned yacht sales still dominating the market, our brokerage office is expecting another busy year in 2012. And despite the economic downturn slowing the rate of new launches, there is still the ongoing demand for maintenance, so PrivatSea’s marine services remains fully booked for the season.

We welcome enquiries on any aspect of yachting — buying, selling, refits, charters — and PrivatSea also offers luxury villas and private jet travel. For more information on any of our services or our yachting itineraries, contact info@privatsea.com.

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Guest editor’s letter

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city of culture

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the rules of winning

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master of the sea

36

bejewelled

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STEPPING OFF THE PASSERELLE

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EDITOR’S PICK

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life on the down low

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all that glitters is not gold

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PRIVATSEA NewS In safe hands

Buying and maintaining a superyacht can make a dent in even the deepest pockets. Kate Hubert makes the case for taking on specialist yacht management.

From Gaudi’s famously unfinished cathedral to fabulous food and a beach on your doorstep, Barcelona’s pleasures are many. But here we recommend the city’s lesser-known delights.

It’s the sport of titans — an exhaustive, moneyburning racing yacht campaign that ends in a best-of-nine clash in the waters. It is, of course, the America’s Cup. As an enthusiastic yacht owner and passionate shipbuilder, Frans Heesen, chairman of Dutch company Heesen Yachts, has a privileged vantage point of both sides of the superyacht industry.

For those who love art, putting it into a yacht can present a number of challenges. Perfectly suited for seafaring, however, is the dazzling work of Canadian artist, Fareen Butt.

Soft cashmere, floaty patterned silks, and sparkling white diamonds dazzle in the glittering rays, as you step off the passerelle, stroll past the yachts at anchor in Flisvos Marina, and head into the city for a night to remember in Athens.

His ‘n hers must-have accessories for the ultimate yachting experience.

On Jumby Bay island, two miles north of Antigua, so white is the sand, so clear the water and so lush the surrounding landscape, you will find it hard to believe you are not dreaming.

The exquisite pieces of Georg Jensen have become icons of Scandinavian design, synonymous with high quality and faultless craftsmanship.

fashionably forward

Nautor, maker of the world-famous Swans, has steered its way to the fore of sailing yacht builds, has a loyal following of keen sailors, and is intrinsically linked with nail biting regattas for the elite.

Passport

Anouska Hempel is a celebrated fashion designer who transcends boundaries and has turned her hand to chic interiors and yacht design to boot.

Here she talks about being aboard her beloved Gulet, Beluga, and the magic of being at sea.

Lucinda Peranic Director of PrivatSea Member Services 3

Inspired by world travels comes a new line of jewelry that will last forever.

Traveling the world is a vital component of our lifestyle and provides inspiration for our jewelry collection. People and places stimulate our creative process and we translate these experiences into our jewelry designs.

thetruecollection.com Shop online at

misahara.com

Location: Azadeh’s Atelier; Couture Designs by Azadeh - Jewelry Designs by Lepa & Susan for Misahara photograph by Forrest Arakawa of The True Collection’s athletes and partners

jewelry

guest editor’s letter

RODDY GRIMES GRAEME

Cornelia Marioglou

GUEST EDITOR Cornelia Marioglou COMMISSIONING EDITOR & PROJECT MANAGER Julia Brandon PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Caroline Hillier DESIGN Emma Tracey James Tredray PICTURE EDITOR Luke Sprague KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Donata Rotunno CONTRIBUTORS Kate Hubert, Garen Ewing, Scott Manson, Dan Houston, Catherine Milner, Liv Friis-Larsen, Liz Newman, Justin Ratcliffe and Alejandra Garcia PUBLISHED BY The Superyacht Art Agency a division of The Superyacht Group 3-7 Northcote Road, London SW11 1NG Tel: +44 (0)20 7801 1021 Email: art@thesuperyachtgroup.com For all sales and marketing enquiries: donata@thesuperyachtgroup.com HEAD OFFICE PrivatSea 36 Dover Street, London W1S 4NH Tel: +44 (0)20 7396 5460 Email: info@privatsea.com PRINTED BY Granite

T

he cruising season is short, short, short. Most people have to work in April, May and June, in the last push before the holidays. Then comes July and August and the real summer begins for most people on a sandy beach and, for some, holidays begin aboard a yacht.

For true yachting enthusiasts, being on board means everything: a chance to explore the world, a place to enjoy family life, and somewhere private and secluded to recharge batteries that have been drained by the stresses and strains of everyday life.

So in this eighth edition of PrivatSea magazine, we have put together some of the finest charter destinations in the Med to get your imagination going.

Barcelona, a beautiful city full of culture that now boasts a new marina due in September, is explored in all its glory. And not forgetting my Greek roots, Athens, with its successfully operating Flisvos Marina, is the perfect setting for this issue’s stunning photoshoot. But if it’s a new destination in the Caribbean that you’re after, then Jumby

Bay, a stunning, private island off the coast of Antigua, might just be the ticket.

We also speak with Enrico Chieffi, MD of Nautor’s Swan, to get the inside scoop on its regattas and to find out what really makes sailors tick. We gain insight on both sides of the superyacht industry from Frans Heesen’s privileged vantage point at the helm of Heesen Yachts. And my dear colleague Dan Houston, an expert on classic yachts, profiles the news on the America’s Cup to keep you updated on the AC World Series.

Welcome aboard the annual magazine to explore the many facets of PrivatSea, a firm dedicated to providing the very best service to their club members, owners, and friends of superyachts.

Enjoy reading, get inspired, and most of all, capture the good moments in life.

Cornelia Marioglou Guest editor

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PRIVATSEA NEWS PEOPLE AND PARTNERSHIPS

iavra welcomed In response to increased requests for villa breaks, PrivatSea has become a member of an innovative new holiday rental company, International Association of Villa Rental Agents (IAVRA).

IAVRA is the UK’s first subscription-based online database of villas available for rent around the world. The company has 2,414 properties in 41 countries, and this number continues to grow. Through IAVRA, PrivatSea is able to source a wide range of properties to a guaranteed standard in quality and service for all budgets ranging from exclusive, one-ofa-kind luxury chalets to chic, city apartments.

The IAVRA membership enables PrivatSea to provide a more efficient service, including access to a large number of villas through one central database, online tools to search for targeted requests, and the ability to immediately view availability calendars remotely.

For villa enquiries, contact info@privatsea.com www.iavra.com

CHARTWELL ESTATES

Mas Mateu is latest to join the elite luxury alliance PrivatSea is delighted to welcome one of Spain’s most exclusive private properties into its esteemed Luxury Alliance.

Mas Mateu is a beautifully restored traditional farmhouse, dating back to 1750. The fully staffed estate is set in more than 170 acres of land in the heart of Girona and comprises the beautiful property Mas Mateu, which comfortably accommodates 20 guests in luxurious surroundings. Features include the finest equestrian facility in southern Europe complete with its own Olympic-sized equestrian centre, a football field, a basketball and tennis court, quad biking, and an outside summer lounging area complete with infinity-edge swimming pool, kitchen and barbecue.

Mas Mateu is a grand and private retreat, and PrivatSea members are being given a unique opportunity to escape to this stunning estate. The property will be available at a rental price of €44,000 per week, and PrivatSea members who wish to book a stay will also be offered one of the following events (subject to availability) with the compliments of Mas Mateu: 1. Dinner at the private castle of Salvador Dali, or, if unavailable, the Salvador Dali Museum.

2. A special wine tasting evening at Mas Mateu.

3. A GT Experience at the Barcelona Formula 1 circuit.

4. A special chef’s sample menu at a three-star Michelin restaurant.

5. A special experience at FC Barcelona.

Mas Mateu is featured in more detail on p24.

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For bookings or more information, please contact lperanic@privatsea.com www.masmateu.info

PrivatSea is pleased to announce a new partnership with Chartwell Estates, specialists in the sale and purchase of the most prized residential properties worldwide.

Chartwell Estates serves a large, international clientele and provides a bespoke service in all aspects of the property market.

With properties ranging from exclusive London townhouses to country equestrian estates to opulent international residences, Chartwell Estates offers settings to suit most requirements.

Chartwell Estates showcases its finest international properties in Chartwell Magazine, which also reflects the luxury lifestyles of its readers with features dedicated to the latest business and financial trends and exclusive living in all forms.

PrivatSea members who sell their property through Chartwell Estates will receive a complimentary fullpage advertisement (value £1,500) in Chartwell Magazine. Advertisers are assured an audience of discerning, affluent readers, with the magazine distributed to the world’s wealthiest individuals.

For more information on buying or selling a property through Chartwell Estates, contact info@privatsea.com www.chartwellestates.co.uk www.chartwellmagazine.com

privatsea welcomes partnership with luxury homes PrivatSea members travelling to Marbella, the sparkling gem of southern Spain’s crown, will now benefit from a new partnership with Cilo Marbella – a leading boutique agency for luxury property sales and rentals in the Marbella area.

Cilo Marbella, which was created by two former affiliate directors with Sotheby’s International Realty, has a team in Marbella with more than 20 years’ experience of the luxury property market. Villas are carefully hand-picked and personally inspected to ensure the highest levels of comfort and luxury for their guests.

Properties are available in the most prestigious locations in Marbella, with mountain-side residences boasting magnificent vistas, and villas by the water’s edge offering close proximity to the restaurants, cafes, shopping and beautiful beaches.

There is an option to upgrade to a Cilo Villa Hotel service, which includes desirable extras such as luxury airport transfers, your own private chef, daily maid service, a luxury welcome pack and a selection of toiletries and bathrobes. All clients benefit from access to Cilo’s unique 24/7 concierge service.

PrivatSea members who use Cilo Marbella will

benefit from a complimentary three-course dinner in their residence with a private chef and waiter service.

For bookings or more information, contact info@privatsea.com www.cilomarbella.com

flisvos marina awarded 5 gold anchors

PrivatSea partner Flisvos Marina in Athens has recently become the first Greek marina to be awarded 5 Gold Anchors.

This prestigious achievement, awarded by The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA), is based on their code of practice for the design, construction and operation of marinas. Ratings range from one to five gold anchors and the number of anchors awarded reflects the facilities, standard of service available, and a full compliance with statutory regulations.

The managing director of Flisvos Marina, Stavros Katsikadis, said: “We are very proud that Flisvos Marina is the first Greek marina accredited with the highest rating of the TYHA’s Gold Anchor scheme. Complementary to ISO9001:2008 and ISO14001:2004 certification by Lloyd’s Register Group and the ‘Blue Flag’ award, Flisvos Marina sets upscale standards, proving consistency in our company’s policy and mission while fulfilling our customers’ expectations, and providing high-end services with the utmost care.”

Flisvos Marina features 303 berths, more than half of which accommodate luxury yachts of more than 35 metres. The commercial complex, which stretches across 3,800 square metres, features a majestic Mediterranean esplanade lined with fine dining, shopping venues, yacht agencies, brokerage companies and a roster of special events. www.flisvosmarina.com

privatsea celebrates new business from smash success at monaco yacht show PrivatSea’s presence at the 2011 Monaco Yacht Show in September was an unprecedented success for the yachting company.

The show enjoyed more visitors than in previous years, resulting in an exceedingly high number of meetings with vendors, buyers, industry colleagues and owners for PrivatSea, many of which have produced exceptional results.

The PrivatSea magazine was also an achievement worth noting – Issue 7 was a tremendous success and supplies were depleted before the show was

over. Feedback from readers at the show was that the PrivatSea magazine was a refreshing change from many of the other publications that seem only to promote the same yachting products. Readers also commented that the PrivatSea magazine ventured into the frontiers of yachting, beyond where most other publications dare to go.

As always, the Monaco Yacht Show was an excellent opportunity for the PrivatSea Group to demonstrate the services it offers and to reflect the principles and standards of the company.

marine services arm reports busy season PrivatSea’s Marine Services shipyard facility has had a busy season with full bookings for the early part of 2012 for winter maintenance services, electro-mechanical and engine works, as well as external painting.

A number of large yachts have also been in the dock for longer-term work, with the largest being the 133-metre M/Y Al Mirqarb, which arrived last September for external painting and maintenance.

Fifty-metre M/Y Rio Rita has also been berthed alongside for engine and mechanical works in addition to general winter maintenance. And 61-metre M/Y New Sunrise spent a number of months berthed alongside last year while undergoing maintenance works and external touch-ups.

A steady flow of other vessels visit the shipyard facility for shorter periods for engine tuning, maintenance and external painting touch-ups.

For more information on PrivatSea’s Marine Services, contact info@privatsea.com 7

PRIVATSEA NEWS yachts - privatsea recommends

SEANERGY LENGTH 15.11 METRES BEAM 4.34 METRES YEAR 2010 MODEL FERRETTI 500 FLAG LUXEMBOURG CRUISING SPEED 25 KNOTS MAX SPEED 32 KNOTS guests 6 cabins 3 M/Y Seanergy is a 15.11m Ferretti.

She was built in 2010 and offers a range of features that make her unique in her class. The window area has been increased, providing a sweeping, uninterrupted view from stern to bow and allowing natural light to flood the entire living area. The interior is deceptively spacious and is tastefully designed in a minimalistic style. The furnishings are a calming mix of earthy creams and browns.

Seanergy accommodates six guests with a generously sized master cabin with a queen-size bed and two further twin cabins.

CLAUDIA LENGTH 17.2 METRES BEAM 4.63 METRES YEAR 2009 builder sunseeker FLAG FRench CRUISING SPEED 26 KNOTS MAX SPEED 32 KNOTS guests 6 cabins 3 M/Y Claudia is a superb Predator 52’ performance yacht that has been perfectly maintained since her launch in 2009. This beautiful, sporty yacht offers sophisticated interior living space and a stylish exterior that is perfectly equipped for alfresco fun and relaxation. There is ample space for sunbathing on the foredeck, with further lounging areas in the roomy aft area where you will also find a hydraulic bathing platform for easy access to the water for swimming. The well-designed interior has a large lounge/dining area and a well equipped galley that leads to three cabins sleeping six guests, and a full beam en suite master stateroom.

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itinerary antibes - saint tropez

dick holtthius

Following a rise in popularity of day and weekend charters, PrivatSea has added new yachts to the fleet that are perfect for shorter charters or for a more intimate cruise experience.

Antibes Ideally located a few minutes from the Riviera International Airport in Nice, Antibes Juan-les-Pins offers one of the longest coastal stretches in France, lined with tiny inlets and long fine sandy beaches.

Juan-les-Pins/Golfe Juan Juan-les-Pins is famous for its annual jazz festival, Jazz à Juan, taking place in July. Along the street behind the seaside stage where the festival is held, you will find ceramic tiles laid into the pavement with handprints of more than 50 jazz musicians who have played here.

Cannes Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the Cannes Film Festival. The nearby Lérins Islands are an ideal place to cruise to with picturesque views and beaches. The smaller island – Île de Saint-Honorat – is home to monks who divide their time between prayer and producing wine, honey, and Lérina, a herbal liqueur.

Saint Tropez Saint Tropez is known today for its famous and wealthy summertime guests.

There are an abundance of places to enjoy — restaurants, cafes and bars are located just in the port, which is always bustling with yachts and people.

l’Estérel On the way from Cannes to Saint Tropez you will pass by the Massif de I’Estérel, a dramatic sight with rugged, red rocks contrasting with an azure blue sea, and beautiful beaches.

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PRIVATSEA NEWS yachts - privatsea recommends

grace LENGTH 44.20 METRES BEAM 6.73 METRES year 1928 (full refit 2009) builder camper & nicholsons FLAG ecuador guests 18 cabins 9 M/Y Grace, a beautiful 44m expedition yacht that operates year round in the Galapagos Islands, takes her name from her late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. Launched in 1928, Grace surrendered none of her youth’s glamour to the scars and wrinkles of a gallant life, including a stint chasing submarines during the Second World War. Benefactors like Aristotle Onassis, John Issa, and Prince Rainier ensured she was kept in the style to which she was accustomed, and she now offers charterers a historic platform on which to explore the Galapagos Islands, equipped with naturalist guides.

Grace sleeps 18 guests in nine wellappointed ensuite staterooms.

safari explorer LENGTH 44.20 METRES BEAM 10.97 METRES year 1981 (full refit 2008) builder freeport shipping FLAG usa guests 36 Cabins 18 The 44m M/Y Safari Explorer is a perfect yacht for exploring Alaska in the summer season and provides a rare opportunity to cruise Hawaii in the winter. 18 generously-sized staterooms accommodate 36 guests on board.

Safari Explorer is well equipped with a large hot tub on the top deck, a sauna, exercise equipment including stationary bikes and ellipticals, and for excursions ashore there are double and single sea kayaks, mountain bikes and fishing equipment. With permits to visit Glacier Bay National Park, Safari Explorer is able to operate in some of the best parts of Alaska, and boasts an experienced and knowledgable crew. It is worth noting that Safari Explorer offers a competitively inclusive rate.

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PRIVATSEA NEWS

itineraries: alaska, Hawaii and Galapagos islands For those craving something completely different, PrivatSea recommends two fantastic expedition yachts to take you off the beaten track — the wilds of Alaska, inter-island cruising in Hawaii or the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.

alaska

ARCTIC OCEAN

On our way to view Alaska’s massive glaciers aboard Safari Explorer, we enter some of the world’s deepest fjords to hike and kayak while other vessels’ guests stay shipside. We meet Alaska and its wildlife at eye level for a vacation of a lifetime!

ALASKA

BERING SEA GULF OF ALASKA

PACIFIC OCEAN

Day1: Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation Arriving in Juneau, you will be transferred from the airport to our hospitality area. Upon boarding, your crew greets you with champagne and smiles. Set sail for a week of scenic channels and secluded wilderness.

Day 2: Glacier Bay National Park Accompanied by a National Park Ranger, you’ll travel nearly 60 miles cruising up-bay to the tidewater glaciers of Grand Pacific and Margerie, which frequently calve huge icebergs into the bay. Here in the majestic wilderness there are puffins and sea lions, mountain goats and bears, moose, eagles, and scenery more spectacular than any place on earth.

Day 5: Chichagof Island/ Baranof Island Today you’ll cruise along the waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. Marvel at those ‘not in the guide book’ places known only to the locals. This evening, perhaps tucked away in magical Red Bluff Bay, there’ll be time for skiff operations and sea kayaking to look for sea otters and bears before calling it a day near Baranof Island.

Day 6: Frederick Sound Spend the day cruising the feeding grounds of Frederick Sound — another excellent chance for viewing humpback whales and other marine wildlife.

Day 7: Ford’s Terror/Endicott Arm Cliff-walled fjords sliced into the mountainous mainland are on tap today as you slip slowly into an area widely acclaimed as the most beautiful in all of Alaska. Alaska has more designated wilderness areas than any state in the nation and Ford’s Terror — a pristine tidal inlet and fjord — is one of them.

Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park Glacier Bay is at its best when explored by small groups over the course of two days to hike and kayak inside the bay and wilderness areas.

Day 8: Juneau Disembark for breakfast before returning to historic Juneau. A transfer to the Juneau airport or the Baranof Hotel is included.

Day 4: Icy Strait Today’s the ultimate day of exploration.

Set your course for arguably the richest whale waters in Southeast Alaska.

Keep watch for the telltale blow of the humpbacks as you scour the nutrientrich waters in search for humpbacks, porpoise, sea lions, and other wildlife.

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PRIVATSEA NEWS yachts - privatsea recommends

HAWAII

hawaii Safari Explorer is the only vessel that offers charterers an unstructured inter-island yacht cruising among the Hawaiian Islands. Truly a privileged experience where you visit one of the richest marine mammal environments in all of North America.

Day 1: Maui/Lana’i – Embarkation Welcome to Hawaii. You’ll be transferred to our hospitality suite in Lahaina for a warm aloha from our expedition leader.

Following an introduction to your weeklong adventure, a ferry carries you to Lana’i to the awaiting Safari Explorer.

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Day 2: Lana’i On Lana’i, you’ll find coves lined by steep rock faces, white-sand beaches, and ancient volcanic plugs sitting both above and below the water surface.

Gear up for a day of play. Water activities include snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, and skiff exploration.

Day 3: Moloka’i/Halawa Valley From Kaunakakai Harbor, you’ll meet the people of Moloka’i and experience their land and traditions as few visitors ever do. Get some sand between your toes on one of Hawaii’s longest beaches. Discover the history and culture of this ancient homeland at a local museum; learn to make lei’s at a plumeria farm; and treat your taste buds with a stop at a plantation and a visit to an organic macadamia nut farm.

Day 4: Moloka’i/Halawa Valley Spend another exclusive day exploring beautiful Moloka’i.

Day 5: Olowalu/West Maui In ancient times, Olowalu was considered a place of refuge. Today, you’ll have a treat of snorkeling among black rock and coral gardens teaming with underwater life. Later you’ll be underway in an authentic hand-carved voyaging canoe sailing as the early Polynesian warriors did. The Safari Explorer turns towards Hawaii, the Big Island, this evening for two days of exploring along its leeward coast.

Day 6: Kailua Kona Head to Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook perished in 1779, for some of the island’s best snorkelling. At Kailua-Kona, rendezvous for a guided walking tour of the historic town of Kailua. This evening we’ll anchor at an offshore location to search for and night snorkel with Great Pacific Manta rays.

Day 7: Honomalino Bay/Opihihali Fringed by coconut palms, Honomalino Bay offers a morning of snorkelling, paddle boarding, sailing, and kayaking. The bay reveals a diversity of colourful corals, sea turtles, sponges, and tropical fishes. And to fill out your last day of ultimate relaxation, more skiff tours and kayaking await in Opihihali.

Day 8: Hawaii – Disembark As the Safari Explorer docks at Kawaihae Harbor, we’ll transfer you to the Kona Airport.

PRIVATSEA NEWS

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

galapagos ISLANDS Day 1: Quito or Guayaquil/Galapagos Fly to Galapagos Islands and board M/Y Grace. Visit Sombrero Chino, which has a beautiful landscape and a spectacular white coral sand beach.

Snorkel with sea lions and penguins.

Receive a welcome cocktail and first formal briefing.

Day 2: Santa Fe/South Plaza Islands Visit Santa Fe Island in the morning, which offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands. Our goal is to spot one of the large endemic species of land iguana. In the afternoon we visit South Plaza, one of the smallest islands of the archipelago, yet one of the richest in wildlife.

Day 3: Tower Island/Prince Phillip’s Steps & Darwin Bay Beach Tower Island is an ocean-filled caldera ringed by the outer edges of a sizeable and mostly submerged volcano. It is also known as ‘Bird Island’, a name it lives up to in a spectacular way! We have the opportunity to go on walks and hikes, snorkeling, kayaking and on dinghy rides.

Day 4: Fernandina Island Punta Espinosa Isabela Island/Urbina Bay In the morning we visit Fernandina Island, home to La Cumbre volcano, which erupts frequently. Visit Punta Espinosa, where species such as marine iguanas, sea lions, flightless cormorants, and hawks can be seen in close proximity. In the afternoon we take a visit to Urbina Bay. Walk amongst dried coral heads of an uplifted ocean floor and track down large land iguanas and Galapagos tortoises that live in the area.

Day 5: Isabela Island/Tagus Cove/ Punta Vicente Roca Hike up Tagus Cove for a spectacular view of our anchorage in the bay, as well as Darwin and Wolf Volcanoes.

In the afternoon, enjoy snorkelling at Punta Vicente Roca. The abundance of marine life here, in combination with the protection of the coves, makes this one of the best snorkeling spots in the Islands.

Day 6: Santiago Island/James Bay First landing is Puerto Egas, which offers an intriguing eroded rock formation.

Inland, the trail crosses the dry interior.

Darwin describes his visit to James Bay in The Voyage of the Beagle. From the beach we experience one of the most exuberant snorkeling sessions of our visit.

Day 7: Santa Cruz Island/ Puerto Ayora In the morning visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding and Rearing Program, as well as meet famed Lonesome George in the Charles Darwin Research Station.

In the afternoon visit the lush wet fields of the Highlands. Explore old lava tubes and look for giant tortoises in the wild.

Day 8: San Cristobal Island Return to San Cristobal Island and visit the Interpretation Centre, which presents a comprehensive exhibit of the islands’ natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora and fauna.

Late Morning: Head to the airport for a flight back to Quito or Guayaquil in the mainland.

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IN SAFE HANDS

BUYING AND MAINTAINING A SUPERYACHT CAN MAKE A DENT IN EVEN THE DEEPEST POCKETS, SO PERHAPS THE IDEA OF PAYING OUT YET MORE CASH FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO MANAGE YOUR YACHT MAY SEEM LIKE A STEP TOO FAR. SURELY YOUR ASSISTANTS OR THE CREW CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF THAT? WHAT IS THE CASE FOR TAKING ON SPECIALIST YACHT MANAGEMENT? WORDS BY KATE HUBERT

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IN SAFE HANDS

A

s well as providing the peace of mind that your yacht will be ready and waiting to cruise whenever you want to, yacht management also provides a useful ‘one-stop shop’ that covers the dizzying array of regulations pertaining to safety, tax and pollution control, to name just a few. Rather than the owner and crew having to deal with a large number of different agencies and facilitators, a yacht management company will deal with everything, from sourcing that rare case of wine to vetting your crew and making sure you get the best insurance deal.

Perhaps some of the most important aspects that yacht managers can take responsibility for are legal and financial matters. The complexity of these issues is compounded by the fact that yachts must often comply with the laws and regulations of several countries and jurisdictions. Companies such as PrivatSea can allay those headaches. “It is the yacht manager’s job to make sure that all legal compliance is met so that the owner, vessel and crew are kept a safe distance from legal pitfalls,” says PrivatSea. And, as is often the case, spending money on professional management can often save you money in the long run, especially in the convoluted world of taxation. The management company will keep abreast of the yacht’s tax obligations and also be wise to where money can be saved: “In the case of VAT, PrivatSea offers advice to owners as to the most tax efficient procedures, locations and mechanisms that might be appropriate to their situation.”

As yachts have grown larger, shipping regulations, especially regarding safety and crew, are constantly evolving. A specialist yacht manager can help navigate you through these important, but often hard to interpret, rules. For example, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) governs the International Safety Management (ISM) Code (a long list of regulations designed to cover merchant shipping), not all of which is always entirely applicable to private yachts – you see the problem? It seems prudent to lift the burden of responsibility from the crew and give them the correct guidance. Management companies such as PrivatSea pride themselves on being ahead of the curve.

“Of course ISM procedures are followed ‘de rigueur’ aboard all yachts we manage,” PrivatSea says. “PrivatSea was among the only yacht managers to maintain a Manual of Operations before ISM came in, which was the company’s operational policy to ensure safety at sea, prevention of human injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the marine environment or property.”

Security has also become a much bigger issue than simply protecting the crew and guests from thieves and miscreants. International terrorism and the threats from piracy have thrown this area into sharp focus. Once more the IMO provides a code – the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) produced in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Yet again, yacht mangers can offer specialist advice, but this is not all they can do. A successful company will manage many yachts,

hence possess collective buying power and the ability to run its own facilities. “The PrivatSea Marine Services Shipyard in Athens is an ISPS facility where most of the fleet spends its winter lay-up. The yachts are protected in a facility where they can perform winter works in a secure environment, appropriate for yachts.” This is also one of the ways that yacht management can help with the ongoing maintenance or even full refit of your yacht.

And, naturally, the combined purchasing power provides economy of scale when it comes to buying insurance and other essentials.

Of course, a large part of yacht management is involved in the day-to-day running of the boat in close collaboration with the crew. As PrivatSea says: “It reflects well on management when the crew performs well.” It’s a real help for your crew to know that they can pick up the phone to the managers and get help quickly, rather than having to wade through local directories to find the specific spare part, ingredient or fuel supply they find themselves in desperate need of. It saves time and gives them the confidence that they’re finding the best solution as quickly as possible. This is where a management company, and its extensive contacts, comes into its own.

“Senior PrivatSea yacht managers are on call at all times,” says the company. “The Designated Person Ashore (DPA) is an experienced and fully qualified executive who works closely with the port captain, yacht managers and captains to make sure that all needs, especially emergencies, are attended to with swift efficacy.” Good management companies will also offer full support in the vital area of customs and immigration. PrivatSea has its own shipping agency, as well as a network of port and shipping agents in all the key yachting areas.

A great management team can be a real benefit to both owner and crew. As an owner, you’re offered the convenience of having all the yacht’s operations under the aegis of single entity, reporting directly to you. This means they can forecast accurate annual budgets and pull all of the yacht’s finances together. If you decide to charter out your yacht, the company should be able to handle this and some of the yacht’s costs may be offset. And, of course, should you ever choose to sell your yacht, they could help with this, too. In many ways it’s important to choose your yacht manager with as much care as you would select your next yacht – they may be with you for even longer.

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"Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake"

- Henry Thoreau -

The True Collection is the premier private travel club in the world for discerning travelers who seek unique vacation experiences within the exclusive family atmosphere that only a private members club can deliver. The True Collection is the world’s very best “experience” based lifestyle club providing exclusive access to private villas, private yachts, fashion designers, artists, professional athletes, celebrity chefs, and other hidden gems from across the globe. The True Collection offers one-of-a-kind experiences around the world.

thetruecollection.com Photos: The True Collection's locations, partners and athletes. Couture fashion by Azadeh and Misahara jewelry.

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CITY OF CULTURE From Gaudi’s famously unfinished cathedral to fabulous food and the prospect of a beach on your doorstep, Barcelona’s pleasures are many and well-documented. Better, then, to take the road less travelled and discover some of the city’s MORE HIDDEN delights.

Words by Scott Manson

For an even quirkier take on Barcelona dining, why not experience one of the city’s incredible ‘secret’ pop-up restaurants.

tart your journey with a morning coffee in the palm-lined Plaça Reial Square. As the city wakes from its dreamy slumber, the cobbled streets become alive, the sun glints off the ubiquitous multicoloured Gaudi mosaics at Park Guell, and the ever popular Ramblas begin to throb. Keep an eye out, too, for the city’s famous ‘castellers’ – Catalan groups who meet in the area to build human towers, up to eight people high – during the summer months.

From here, take a taxi to arguably the world’s most spectacular outdoor swimming pool – Piscina Municipal de Montjuic – up on Montjuic Hill.

Originally built in 1929, it came to international prominence when it hosted diving events and water polo at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Since then, its panoramic view of Barcelona has been the backdrop for a Kylie Minogue video and, crucially, the pool provides an oasis of calm for locals looking to escape the fierce heat of summer in this vibrant Spanish city.

Back down below, chef Ferran Adria’s famous El Bulli restaurant may now be closed but visitors should turn their attention instead to Tickets, his new 20

bar in Barcelona, run with his brother Albert. There are many reasons to check out this contemporary Catalan tapas bar. First, if you never made it to El Bulli, you can still try spherified olives, ‘liquid ravioli’ and other fantastical, whimsical food.

Second, it’s enormous fun – you’re greeted by a ringmaster of sorts and ice-cream is served on a trolley with a ringing bell. Third, the excellent and extraordinary cocktails.

city of culture

Barcelona’s bars and eating areas include La Presumida, serving Mediterranean dishes such as Galician oysters, Joselito ham and grilled crabs.

Nostromo 180286 is a bar serving small, unusual dishes such as manchego cheese ice-cream, hedgehog with avocado, and mint jelly and grilled watermelon salad. There is also the 41˚ bar, serving snacks. Reservations are essential, even for drinks.

Barcelona is an energetic, youthful and bilingual

city; both Catalan and Spanish are official languages widely spoken in the area. The mix of old and new is beautifully illustratred throughout, from modern sculptures on the beach to the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter in Catalan) located in the centre of the old city. Many of the buildings date back to Medieval times, some even as far as the Roman settlement. The City History Museum, itself housed in a Medieval building which was at one time a ›

previous The stunning vista from Gaudi’s Park Guell. left Fine cuisine such as that found at Tickets abounds in the city. above Morning time in the beautiful Plaça Reial Square.

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THIERRY AMELLER / MARINA PORT VELL

For more conventional culture, look no further than the famous 150-year-old GRan Teatre del Liceu where you can enjoy world-class musical performances.

left A view of the spectacularly designed ceiling in Gaudi’s iconic Sagrada Familia RIGHT Modern art punctuates the city and its beach front

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city of culture

‹ Royal residence, sheds light on Barcelona’s bygone era. Don’t forget to include a visit to the Roman ruins in the museum’s basement.

A visit to the famous 150-year-old Gran Teatre del Liceu combines world-class musical performances in a stunning architectural setting, but when it comes to iconic buildings, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly the most breathtaking. Despite work commencing on the cathedral in 1882, its current completion date is set for 2026.

Alternatively, you can view some superb examples of modern-day Catalan art at the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art, found at the Plaça dels Angels. The Picasso Museum is also well worth a look, although it’s best to go early morning to avoid the crowds.

Finally, for a late-night drink (and this is a city that truly lives for a late-night drink), try Dry Martini on Carrer d’Aribau for one of its signature drinks in a sophisticated setting. It’s a great way to get a last taste of Barcelona’s vibrant atmosphere.

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imagine the best boutique five-star hotel you’ve ever stayed in, and then forget it, because it won’t even come close to the grandeur of Mas Mateu.

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city of culture

The villa Mas Mateu

ABOVE Evening sets over the breathtaking, floodlit Mas Mateu OPPOSITE clockwise from top Time out on the terraced gazebo; Pool-side with refreshments; Equipped for home entertaining or fine dining

The heart of Girona, in north-eastern Spain, offers arguably the country’s finest privately owned property for rental, and now it is available to PrivatSea members in an exclusive new partnership.

Owned by one of Spain’s most distinguished families, the Cabanes, Villa Mas Mateu has undergone an extensive refurbishment by some of the finest craftsmen, interior designers and landscapers in Europe. The result is nothing short of spectacular.

Imagine the best boutique five-star hotel you’ve ever stayed in, and then forget it, because it won’t even come close to the grandeur of Mas Mateu.

Celebrities, dignitaries and VVIPs of every description have made this villa their holiday home, enjoying both its unrivalled privacy and award-winning features.

“Every time I walk through the door of Mas Mateu I have to pinch myself,” says Derek Gregory, personal assistant to the Cabanes family. “The refurbishment has restored it to way beyond its former glory, and the attention to detail is amazing. There are stone steps inside, for example, that are over 200 years old.

It took us 18 months just to find the correct stone to

update those steps.”

A handsome arched doorway leads into a series of lounges, with magnificent views over the snow-capped Pyrenees. The grand salon’s huge fireplace provides the perfect focal point for a party or family gathering, or simply relaxing with a good book. Investigate further and you’ll find that each bedroom is uniquely decorated in subtle, muted tones, many with bathrooms that look out to a vista of beautiful woodland.

The fully staffed property, which sleeps up to 20 people, includes a swimming pool, gym with indoor jacuzzi, spa area, cinema, office and conference centre, Wi-Fi, wine cellar, state-of-the-art sound and entertainment facilities, elevator, antique furniture and a private art collection.

It’s surrounded by 15 hectares of gardens, meadows and fields that include what Gregory considers to be the villa’s finest feature – an Olympicsize equestrian centre.

“This is, quite frankly, the best equestrian dressage centre in Europe, and it’s privately owned,” he says. › 25

‹ “Only villa residents can use it, and it’s overseen by a member of Spain’s highly regarded classical training team.”

The centre can stable up to 10 horses and houses a 70x30m all-weather covered track, a 70x30m outdoor track, a round track for warming up and horse lunging, six paddocks, stands for up to 100 spectators, several acres of fields and living quarters for trainers. Further investigation outdoors reveals extra options for energetic types, including a football field, basketball court and a paddle tennis court.

An in-house chef is on hand to fulfil all your gastronomic needs, creating everything from a Catalan feast to a sushi evening or a luxury barbecue. The region is also home to some of the most celebrated restaurants in Spain, including Massana and El Celler de Can Roca, should you choose to spend an evening dining in a Michelinstarred establishment.

Alternatively, says Gregory, why not let the world’s best chefs come to you? “We can arrange for chefs from Spain’s finest dining rooms to cook in the kitchens of Mas Mateu. Anything is possible for our guests,” he says.

The transfer options are similarly low effort, with a helipad located in front of the property. A helicopter transfer from Girona takes around eight minutes.

Alternatively, take a boat to Barcelona’s marina and enjoy a picturesque one-and-a-half-hour drive by limousine.

However you get there, this secluded slice of low-key luxury living will charm you from the moment you arrive. www.masmateu.info

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We can arrange for chefs from spain’s finest dining rooms to cook in the kitchens of mas mateu. anything is possible for our guests.

above Sheltered seclusion in the outdoor/indoor living area below Each bedroom has a luxurious bath tub with views overlooking the magical woodlands

city of culture

The port

Marina Port Vell

ABOVE Marina Port Vell is set to become one of the world’s prime arrival points for large yachts (buildings subject to permissions approval).

A superstar city deserves a superyacht port. That was the thinking behind the creation of Marina Port Vell – a destination that’s set to become one of the world’s prime arrival points for large yachts.

With completion scheduled for autumn 2012, Marina Port Vell will boast 150 fully serviced berths for power and sail yachts and superyachts of up to 180 metres, about half for sale with a 24-year concession and half for lease.

As you’d expect from a marina vying to attract the elite of the global yachting community, the facilities are second to none. No detail has been spared to provide an excellent level of personal care to superyachts, their owners, captains and crew. This includes ISPS certification, vehicle access to all superyacht berths, allowing for crew mobility, crane loading/unloading and MARPOL services and world-class security staff on duty 24 hours a day.

The marina will also have CCTV monitoring, gated entrances to superyacht areas with restricted public access, new reception, and club lounge with leisure facilities. Transport links couldn’t be better, too, with the marina sitting in the heart of Barcelona and adjacent to a heliport.

The city’s location close to the ‘playgrounds’ of Europe means that the port’s owners, the Salamanca Group, believe that it could soon rival Monaco in popularity.

“While Monaco has an established reputation we believe Barcelona has even more to offer,” says group chairman Martin Bellamy. “When we were carrying out our market research, we really did struggle to find another facility in the centre of a dynamic city.”

Marina Port Vell – a glorious gateway to one of Europe’s most exciting destinations. www.marinaportvell.com 27

The rules of

Winning It’s the sport of Titans – an exhaustive, money-burning racing yacht campaign that ends in a best-of-nine clash in waters of the last winner’s choice. The excitement is palpable, the contentions inevitable. It is, of course, the America’s Cup. Words by dan houston

GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

R

eputed to be the world’s longest, continuously run, international sporting event, it delivers on passion and technology in equal measure; the latest materials for lightweight (but strong enough) boat hulls; sails, or wings, that capture every ounce of pressure in the wind; and electronics that feed you myriad amounts of information from changes in wind pressure to changes in air pressure to time-to-go to the next mark.

Billionaires spend eye-watering amounts of cash to win the America’s Cup – the oldest sporting trophy in history. Just participating, even to mount a fledgling campaign, would cost upwards of £100 million in today’s money. Sadly, for many yachtsmen it’s become an irrelevant sideshow that takes place every three or four years using money and rules that have become alien to them.

The last struggle for the ‘auld mug’ (as the silver cup has become known) involved billionaires Larry Ellison, 67, the self-made American head of Oracle software systems, and Italian Ernesto Bertarelli, 46, heir of the Swiss-based biotech firm Serono. The billionaires, worth an estimated $33 billion and

$10 billion respectively, ended up in the New York Supreme Court in 2008 in a legal spat over what determined a ‘keel yacht’. Reporters colourfully relayed the case, which became one of nit-picking complexity over semantics of words, such as what was meant by “weekday” in a two-page 1877 document called the Deed of Gift, which was drawn up when the trophy was “given” to make “a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations”. Some sailors groaned, others laughed and the lawyers cleaned up.

To many the original ethos of that deed of gift had been traduced by the egos of two men fighting in court. Bertarelli’s Alinghi team’s argument was largely that as the last winner of the cup he should be allowed to decide the rules for the next challenge.

Ellison’s billions and his Golden Gate Yacht Club challenge prevailed, both in court and two years later, in 2010, on the waters off Valencia, Spain.

The next America’s Cup will be held in September 2013, at San Francisco, California, with 72 foot catamarans, which are similar to Ellison’s BMW Oracle Racing’s winning trimaran USA-17. When ›

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GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

‹ the cup was won by Ellison it was the first time since 1995 that it had returned to American soil — and the Americans do like to win that trophy.

The cup was originally the Queen’s Cup, valued at 100 guineas, and was won for the first time in 1851 by the 100 foot schooner America, at Cowes in England. America had radical lines and was more dishy than similar yachts of her day with thinner bow sections. She was designed by George Steers to a new concept called wave-line theory (developed by British naval architect John Scott Russel in 1835) for members of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC).

She was sailed to Britain to challenge all comers and the gauntlet was taken up by the Royal Yacht Squadron. The race day was set for August 22, 1851, and 18 yachts took part in the 53-mile race around the Isle of Wight. America won by eight minutes although some say she cheated because she had not been given course directions to go around an easterly mark known as the Nab Light. After the euphoria of the race this embarrassment was brushed aside, but it’s that niggling controversy that seems to have attached itself to the Garrard-made sterling silver ewer and which reincarnates every few years to dog the reputation of the race.

After her success at Cowes several yachts were built following her lines but the yacht herself did not go on to dominate racing; she was sold just 10 days

one aspect of the challenge is assured — with racing at this level the lawyers are every bit as important as the sailors.

the rules of winning

previous page An example yacht set to partake in the nail biting race in 2013 opposite top The 1930-built J-Class Shamrock V is still sailing today opposite bottom Ernesto Bertarelli and Larry Ellison — friends at last right Racing in full throttle bottom left Ernesto Bertarelli’s 2003 winning yacht Alinghi

GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

bottom right and previous illustration The most famous challenger for the cup was Sir Thomas Lipton, the tea baron

GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

after her famous win, but it seemed she never won anything else. She eventually returned to the US but was scrapped after a shed she was in collapsed in a snowstorm in 1942.

But if the boat’s legacy was as a one-trick pony her famous cup, given by Queen Victoria to NYYC commodore John Cox Stevens and his syndicate, went home to inspire and enthuse rich yachtsmen and fans for the following 160 years.

The NYYC’s first attempt to repeat the experience was in 1853, with a $500 wager for a 50-mile race off the coast of New York, open to yachts of all nations. It was not taken up and in 1857 the members of America’s syndicate gave her cup to the NYYC naming it America’s Cup with the famous deed of gift to promote international challenges to win it. It was not until 1870 that a first British challenge was made, with Lord Ashbury’s topsail schooner Cambria. In a 17-schooner race she lost to Franklin Osgood’s American schooner Magic, so beginning a long-running history with challenges every few years failing to wrest the cup from its ‘home’ in New York.

Ashbury had tried again with another yacht the following year. He used his lawyers to insist on racing against just one ‘defender’ and bitterly protested against the scoring and the host club committee.

The most famous challenger for the cup was Sir Thomas Lipton, the tea baron, who was persuaded by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) to challenge after the Earl of Dunraven’s second attempt in 1895 with his 129 foot cutter Valkyrie III ended in such bitter acrimony that it threatened future trials. Dunraven had accused the Americans of rewriting the rules and cheating, and Lipton’s genial sportsmanship was seen as a way of smoothing the waters. The Glasgow-born Ulsterman challenged unsuccessfully no less than five times over 31 years with his beloved green-painted Shamrock yachts – the last of which, the 1930-built J-Class Shamrock V, is still sailing today. It was Lipton who affectionately nicknamed the cup the ‘auld mug’.

The opulence of J-Class racing for the cup in the 1930s was replaced by a more affordable dominance of the sport by boats built to the 12-metre rule as yachting got back on its feet slowly after the Second World War. Final matches went from best of three races to best of five – it’s now best of nine.

But from 1958 through to 1983 the Americans held on to their cup, and it was only the Australians – challenging throughout the late 1960s and 1970s — who eventually won it with Alan Bond’s Australia II, carrying a radical new wing keel design to literally lift the boat in the water. The Americans won it straight back in 1987 with a yacht appropriately named Stars & Stripes 87, from the San Diego Yacht Club, but in 1988 a new challenge, by New Zealander Sir Michael Fay, again ended up in court with the 12-metre rule being discarded in favour of Fay’s massively larger 90 foot KZ-1. The Americans’ Dennis Conner produced a catamaran for that event that was much faster on the water and which was bitterly contested by Fay, who won the cup for a few brief months before an appeal court ruled multihulls were allowed. By then many felt the cup had been won by intense litigation rather than sportsmanship.

In the 1990s the International America’s Cup Class rule came in to play, and in 1995 New Zealand’s Black Magic won, which would see races based in Auckland in 2000 and again in 2003, when Bertarelli’s Alinghi finally beat the colonials to bring the cup back to Europe for the first time.

Alinghi successfully defended the cup against a New Zealand challenge in 2007, before Larry Ellison

eventually took the cup back to America in 2010.

It remains to be seen who will become the 34th challenger for the cup in 2013; a British challenge is under way but at the moment a Royal Swedish Yacht Club challenger is favourite. One aspect of this nail biting challenge is always assured – with racing at this level the lawyers are every bit as important as the sailors.

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master sea of the

As an enthusiastic yacht owner and passionate shipbuilder, Frans Heesen, chairman of Dutch company Heesen Yachts, has a privileged vantage point of both sides of the superyacht industry. Here he talks passionately about getting the build experience right for owners, his new 47-metre Lady Petra, and that much anticipated first trip around the Caribbean.

Words by Kate Hubert

DICK HOLTHIUS

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rans Heesen is chairman of the board of the Dutch superyacht construction company that bears his name. Heesen’s high-quality yachts have a reputation for speed and excellence and are still built in the yard in Oss that he took over in 1978. Turning from plastics to aluminium, Heesen became a pioneer in the construction of all-aluminium superyachts.

From 1992 the yard also began to construct in steel and Heesen Yachts have regularly garnered awards for their innovative design as they continue to embrace emerging technologies. During the 1980s Heesen Shipyards (as it was formerly known) collaborated with Italian shipbuilders, and in 2003 the company was renamed Heesen Yachts.

Some chairmen may be content to take life easy and let others run their company, but not Frans Heesen; he is still very much involved in the day-to-day operations. “When I am in Oss I go to the shipyard every day around 10am and most of the time I leave for lunch (my lovely wife Petra still prepares it for me every day!). But if there is a client visiting I prefer to stay at the yard with him and the building team,” he

says. “It helps create a feeling of being part of a family and brings us closer. Otherwise I join the sales team during all the boat shows where I welcome people and entertain them when they’re on our stand. Most of our clients will come to see me in Monaco and Fort Lauderdale and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

Of course it could be difficult to maintain a worklife balance when your business is yachts, and your vacation time is spent on board one, but for Frans Heesen, it’s in his blood. “I am always at work,” he says. “With a shipyard that bears my name, as well as my owning one of our marvellous yachts, I am a walking logo. So for me it is almost impossible to be on holiday. But I enjoy that. It is a joy and a pleasure for me to talk about the vessels we build.”

So how does he manage to ‘switch off’ and enjoy some down time when afloat? “For the Dutch it is easy to stop thinking of work when we leave the office,” he says frankly. “When the office door is locked the brain is free. But this is very much our own discipline and culture. There is time for work and time to relax, and we respect the time off; it makes you more efficient when back at work. It’s a virtuous circle – the

better you relax, the better you work the day after.

I believe that it’s really important to rest the brain and enjoy life.”

Such a healthy attitude and infectious enthusiasm for his work is surely one of Frans Heesen’s great strengths along with the special insight that comes from being a yacht owner himself. “Owning a Heesen yacht gives me a better and deeper knowledge of our product. I’m closer to the owners and understand their problems, and my personal experience helps to find them solutions,” he says. As well as the technical aspects of yachtbuilding and ownership, Frans also has an appreciation of the interpersonal dynamics that are just as important as a beautifully designed hull. “The relationship with your captain is the basis of a good life on board. He is the key person, the magician who can make your days unforgettable or make your life hell.”

As with many yacht owners, Frans’ boat, M/Y My Petra is very much a family affair, named after his wife. “Petra and I are still like young lovers and enjoy running away, just the two of us,” he says.

“On board, one of the most crucial elements for us is

previous page Frans Heesen at the helm at his Oss-based shipyard ABOVE Rendering of the main saloon in Lady Petra right Lady Petra in build Photo courtesy of Heesen Yachts

far right Frans and Petra Heesen enjoy a rare break from their busy work schedule

dick holthius

Photo by Viola Berlanda

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master of the sea

“My Petra was not built for us,” he explains. “It was an existing hull that was available at the yard, a semi-displacement vessel, very fast and sleek. For our new boat we decided to go for a long-range, full-displacement vessel. We have three children and seven grandchildren so we wanted more space for our family. From the beginning, this boat was really tailored to our needs: our bedroom is on the upper deck aft so we can enjoy a 270-degree ocean view before we go to sleep and as soon as we open our eyes in the morning. I have not been to the Caribbean yet and Petra and I are already dreaming about our cruise there with our new superyacht.”

Frans Heesen is a great advocate for life as both a yachtbuilder and owner, a rare and fortunate position to be in, but which is the more fulfilling? “It’s hard to say, but I still prefer being a yachtbuilder,” he says. “I love every single yacht that we build. I love the challenges that each new owner brings to the shipyard. It’s really great fun to make people’s dreams come true. I’m doubly lucky though, as not everybody has the chance to own a boat that bears his name.

But I do.”

viola berlanda

“with a shipyard that bears my name, as well as my owning one of our marvellous yachts, i am a walking logo.”

dining. We love the meals cooked by our German chef Micha, who has worked for us for three years.

He’s never cooked the same dish twice; he helps us discover the places we’re cruising through his cooking because he always buys fresh food at the market, and makes his own interpretation of local dishes.”

And as always, the balance between work and play, business and family is maintained with humour and good grace, exemplified by Frans Heesen’s fond memories of the time when he entertained VIP guests from the famous French brand of cognac, Louis XIII, on board his yacht. “We picked up the guests in Nice old harbour and had lunch while cruising towards Cannes to attend the Film Festival. On the second day the sea was a bit rough and all the Taiwanese guests were seasick, so they laid down on the floor in the main saloon. My wife Petra laid down with them and together they finished all the Sudoku puzzles she had.

It was the most hilarious scene I’ve ever witnessed aboard,” he says laughing.

Wonderful though the memories of My Petra are, she will soon be replaced by a larger custom-built yacht, his new 47-metre Heesen M/Y Lady Petra.

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Bejewelled For those who love art, featuring it aboard a yacht can present a number of challenges. Will it be ruined by the dry salt air? Will watercolours fade and oil paintings crack? Perfectly suited for seafaring, however, is the dazzling work of Canadian artist, Fareen Butt.

Words by Catherine Milner

F

previous page & above Close ups of ‘Himalaya’ right Dazzling artist, Fareen Butt OPPOSITE A close up view of ‘Canyon’

“there is an energy about mountains that is immediate and unmistakable. a sunset reflected off a mountain is one of the most beautiful things you will ever see.”

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areen Butt’s intriguing and unusual paintings combine physical resilience with sparkling beauty. Made from crushed gemstones and minerals painted onto canvas, they are reminiscent of religious icons in that their actual ingredients echo the potency of their image. For Ms Butt is the queen of mountains.

“Mountains are revered as significant by various belief systems,” she says. “From Mount Sinai in Judaism to the Himalayas in Hinduism and Buddhism to the Sierra Range by Native Americans, there is an energy about mountains that is immediate and unmistakable. A sunset reflected off a mountain is one of the most beautiful things you will ever see. It is a spiritual moment reflected in the majesty of something solid. Regardless of who you are or what you know, you will be able to relate to that experience.”

And people apparently do. One of her works was bought to furnish M/Y Pelorus at the time Roman Abramovich owned the yacht, and commissions are tumbling in so fast, Butt has had to employ five new assistants in the past month to cope.

Born in Toronto to an Afghan mother and a Kashmiri father, Butt’s work synthesises cultural influences from both the East and West. During her teens she worked as an apprentice for jewellery designers in Islamabad and Rajasthan (the birthplace of gemstone painting), before attending Parsons

bejewelled

New School for design in New York.

Her early work was pointillist – in the manner of the 19th-century French painter Georges Seurat – but frustrated by the limited palette of colours that most commercial paint manufacturers produce, she began to research making her own. “As the stipples became smaller, I needed to find more innovative ways of working with the colours, needing a specific red or grey or blue,” she says. “I started to explore how paint was made once upon a time, and took it from there.”

The problem, she discovered, was that many pigments in their raw form are toxic, often containing arsenic and lead, and so, inspired by Japanese Nihonga paintings, she moved on to creating paintings using emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, rubies and diamonds, instead. She also now incorporates precious metals into her work, such as platinum, gold and silver, sometimes coupled with such simple materials as coal and marble dust. “I also use the more rare purple gold and minerals found only in meteors that are not native to earth,” she adds.

Given such precious components, the prices Butt charges for her work seem surprisingly reasonable.

A panel measuring about 5ft by 6ft will cost between $40,000 (€30,750) and $50,000 (€38,435), for instance, with only the bigger ones measuring 7ft by 10ft shooting up to more than $100,000 (€76,855). “I have friends in high places,” is all she

will divulge about how she manages to keep her costs down.

Applied onto a flat canvas using a synthetic binding agent that hardens like glass, the finished panels Butt creates can be simply hung on the walls of the yacht, or fitted into doors or cupboards.

According to Pascale Reymond, co-founder of Reymond Langton Design, yachts offer an infinite potential for artistic experimentation and invention.

“Including bespoke art pieces, both as integrated architectural features or as loose ornamentation, wall hangings and paintings are all a very important part of our overall yacht designs,” she said. “It reflects the owner’s personal taste and character, and enhances the overall interior atmosphere.”

Helena Howcroft, Reymond’s design assistant, says: “Sometimes, they can be huge pieces. We recently made, for instance, a panel that ran the course of a lift up through the decks, or they can be small enough simply to hide a television.

Howcroft adds: “Fire regulations can restrict the kind of art you can put in a lobby area or near an exit. They have to be made with paints, lacquers and finishes that aren’t flammable.”

Favourite spots for larger oeuvres include the dining rooms and state rooms and the walls of the beach club, though any outdoor works should not contain metal on account of the corrosive effects of salt air.

Because the air on most modern yachts is strictly › 39

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bejewelled

“a new aesthetic, it seems, is being born out of superyachts. in the new-build industry there is increasing demand for bespoke art.” ‹ controlled, explains Howcroft, there should be no real problems hanging conventional wall art in the main interior areas of a vessel.

“Only in cabins, or in the areas that lead out to the exterior, do we recommend caution, and we don’t usually recommend people to have sculptures that have any moving parts because of the noise they might emit when the boat rocks or its engine vibrates,” she says.

Different parts of the yacht are bound to lend themselves to different materials. “Embossed leather can suit a masculine and contemporary interior, whereas a fabric wildlife picture would suit an area used by children,” says Howcroft. “A stone sculpture can look great in a spa.

“But we really take our lead from our clients, who usually have a very strong idea of how they want their yacht to be.”

Howcroft mentions a Balinese suite her company recently installed for a client, decked with bamboo and woven copper art works, and a bathroom studded with art panels made of mother-of-pearl and Murano glass.

“Tobacco leaves, onyx, marble, shells – we have a huge library of materials that we use in making art for the yachts,” she says.

A new aesthetic, it seems, is being born out of superyachts. Although many clients have ‘loose’ art, in the new-build industry there is increasing demand for bespoke art.

“There’s a lot of activity at the moment for stylish, affordable pieces that appeal to interior designers,” says Anthony McNerney, the London-based head of

the contemporary art department at Phillips de Pury & Co. “Often they aren’t the sort of things you’d see in our auctions.”

But Joseph Clarke, who owns the Millennium Gallery in St Ives and sells a lot of works by Cornish artists to furnish yachts, insists that the idea that all owners want is stylish rather than good art is “snobby” and outdated. “The fact is many people have the most amazing collections on board that include paintings by such artists as Picasso and Bacon,” he says.

He does, however, add that yacht owners do tend to favour “works about the elements” over the urban kind of art that dominates the contemporary international art scene at the moment.

Simon Allen, who makes wave-like carvings in wood that he then gilds, for instance, is highly popular, says Clarke, as is David Whittaker, who creates Claude-like landscapes.

“When you are out at sea and surrounded by nature”, says Clarke, “you either want works inspired by the earth and land – because it reminds you that you are at sea – or ones that reflect the sensations you are having out there.”

Butt concludes: “My works run in tandem with yacht design today on many levels. Both come from time-honoured international traditions, and are exclusively made with the personal tastes of the yacht owner in mind. Finally, both can be wedded to create the perfect atmosphere that breathes life into the skeleton of a finished yacht.” www.fareenbuttart.com

left ‘Himalaya’ is created using crushed gemstones and minerals painted onto canvas

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stepping off the passerelle

Sail the waves of the sun-kissed mediterranean sea, travel from port to port exploring the delights of the Greek islands and the secrets of its age-old mythology, before gliding into harbour at the sleek flisvos marina in athens. a stone’s throw from the romantic acropolis, this contemporary marina offers exclusive mooring services for superyachts, state-of-the-art facilities, and high end shops and restaurants to pass the time when ashore. soft cashmere, floaty patterned silks, and sparkling white diamonds dazzle in the glittering rays, as you step off the passerelle, stroll past the boats at anchor, and head into the city for a night to remember.

PHOTOGRAPHER Liv Friis-Larsen STYLIST Dimitra Spiropoulou HAIR Stella Mavrodi MAKE-UP Ioanna Tavoutsoglou ASSISTANT Charalampos Labiris MODELS Nikki Ermi and Aristotelis Bolovinos from Ace Models LOCATION www.flisvosmarina.com 43

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Brown short-sleeved T-shirt by Canali from www.canali.it, lemon shorts with turnups by Shanghai Tang from www.shanghaitang.com, deck shoes by Hackett from www.hackett.com, watch by T W Steel from www.twsteel.com; (Opposite) Red and purple jumpsuit by Stelios Koudounaris from www.stelioskoudounaris.com, blue and turquoise snakeskin bag by Lemaresca from www.lemaresca.com, blue and purple diamantĂŠ ring by Swarovski from www.swarovski.com; (Previous page) Horizontal striped cardigan, earth-toned top and brown shorts by Stelios Koudounaris from www.stelioskoudounaris.com; Powder blue sleeveless top by Vivienne Westwood from www.viviennewestwood.co.uk, and sunglasses with dragonfly motif

by Tiffany & Co. from www.tiffany.co.uk

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White polo shirt by Hackett from www.hackett.com, fitted trousers and dark earth-toned jumper by Paul Smith from www.paulsmith.co.uk, sunglasses with green accent by Polo Ralph Lauren from www.ralphlauren.com

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Floaty floorlength silk dress with attached diamantĂŠ belt by Pinko Skin; (Opposite) Patterned dress and mustard jacket by Andrew Majtenyi from www.andrewmajtenyi.com, bronze blossom glitter leather belt by Jimmy Choo from www.jimmychoo.com, black clutch bag with diamantĂŠ by Swarovski from www.swarovski.com

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Nautical-style navy and white striped jacket by Pinko Skin, mustard trousers by Andrew Majtenyi from www.andrewmajtenyi.com, gold and diamond ring and earrings from the Rocks Collection by Diamonds Rocks from www.diamondsfactory.com

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Long-sleeved white top by Paul Smith from www.paulsmith.co.uk, white tailored trousers by Canali from www.canali.it, red long-sleeved cardigan with navy and white stripes by Hackett from www.hackett.com; White full-length jumpsuit with belt by Elisabetta Franchi from www.elisabettafranchi.it, powder blue jacket with three-quarter sleeves by Vivienne Westwood from www.viviennewestwood.co.uk, multicoloured diamantĂŠ bracelet by Swarovski from www.swarovski.com, stainless steel watch by Raymond Weil from www.raymond-weil.com; (Opposite) Collarless blue shirt and rust-coloured trousers by Paul Smith from www.paulsmith.co.uk, navy singlebreasted jacket by Hackett from www.hackett.com, brown leather shoes with white soles by Jimmy Choo from www.jimmychoo.com, stainless steel watch by Raymond Weil from www.raymond-weil.com

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Black silk dress by Pinko Skin, pink gold ring with diamonds from the St Tropez Collection by Diamonds Rocks from www.sttropezrocks.com, pearl and gold bracelets from the Rocks Collection by Diamonds Rocks from www.diamondsfactory.com; (Opposite) Long pleated skirt and chiffon cream and black top by Hugo Boss from www.hugoboss.com, red belt by Jimmy Choo from www.jimmychoo.com

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EDITOR’S PICK

FOR HER A contemporary mix of elegant sailing necessities for the lady that likes to impress at home and at sea 1 1. Buoyant beauty The 18ct gold Life Ring from Asprey is a contemporary take on the classic lifebuoy found on all nautical vessels. Inspired by a marine keyring discovered in the depths of Asprey’s archives, this unisex ring is said to symbolise love, friendship and life. Available in three combinations of white and yellow gold, the central rotating rope adds a novel twist to an otherwise elegant piece of jewellery.

RRP £2,000 www.asprey.com 2. Talking point A striking design for any savvy communicator, this eye-catching St Tropez iPhone 4 cover from Diamonds Rocks ups the ante with beautiful technology. Forming part of the St Tropez Collection, which is designed to reflect the stylish nature of the city itself, the smart phone cover is made from solid 18ct gold and displays the St Tropez name in brilliant cut diamonds on the back. Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, those fast enough to bag one can also have their initials written in diamonds, as well as any other bespoke requests so desired.

RRP £28,900 www.diamondsfactory.com

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3. Carry on typing This exquisite Kenley iPad case from English leather goods and silversmiths brand Thomas Lyte is a must-have accessory for ladies who like to stay connected while on the move. Handcrafted in the finest mustard breuninger grained bridle leather, and lined with luxury plum silk featuring the Lyte flower stream, it delivers on style as well as convenience.

RRP £195 www.thomaslyte.com 4. Scent of a woman When one aroma is simply not enough, why not indulge in Grossmith’s special edition of three classic fragrances: Hasu-no-Hanna, created to evoke the beautiful Japanese Lotus Lily; Shemel-Nessim, an exotic fragrance named after a springtime festival; and Phul-Nana, a bouquet of India’s choicest flowers. Each special edition flacon is hand-blown in Baccarat crystal and etched with pure gold, making them collectors’ items in their own right. Housed in a hand-crafted wooden case, lined in midnight blue velvet and opened with a golden key, they’re travel-friendly luxury.

RRP £21,000 www.grossmithlondon.com 56

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With views of the nearby Tuileries Garden, Le Meurice has been ranked among the most elegant hotels in the world for almost two centuries. Combining exceptional decoration, style and quality with contemporary chic, Le Meurice embodies the perfect French palace hotel and remains one of the most beautiful addresses in Paris.

Phone: +33 1 44 58 10 10 - lemeurice.com

An Extraordinary Collection

Dorchester Collection

The Dorchester

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Le Meurice

Hôtel Plaza Athénée

Hotel Principe de Savoia

Hotel Bel-Air

Coworth Park

45 Park Lane

Le Richemond

LONDON

BEVERLY HILLS

PARIS

PARIS

MILAN

LOS ANGELES

ASCOT

LONDON

GENEVA

EDITOR’S PICK

FOR Him A stylish collection of essential fashion and gadgetry for the gentleman who likes to travel in comfort

1. One vision One of the many benefits of being aboard a superyacht is the outstanding ocean views that glide by, from rare wildlife sightings to spectacular vistas. Having these full HD Sony binoculars to hand, with video recording, stereo sound and up to 20 times magnification will ensure you’ll not only capture that once-in-a-lifetime maritime moment up close and personal, but you can record it in 3D to enjoy again and again in thrilling stereoscopic video footage.

RRP £1,449 www.sony.com 2. Sound bite These premium in-ear headphones from audio experts AKG are aimed at dedicated music aficionados who warm to the idea of headphones with personal sound-tuning capabilities. By applying one of three adjustable, precisionmachined mechanical filters of your choice, control of the bass, mid or high frequencies is immediately at your fingertips. So now you can fine-tune your easy listening requirements no matter where you are.

RRP £1,000 www.akg.com 3. A game in hand The attention to detail is second to none on this bespoke backgammon set from Geoffrey Parker Games. Made from hand-stitched Dauphin calf leather for speed of play and to withstand the rigours of late night gaming, this hand built checkers board with its matching inlaid leather doubling cube is a beautiful example of how best to while away those quiet hours when at sea.

RRP £3,400 Available from www.gift-library.com 4. Animal magic This beautiful, handmade white zebra suitcase from Netherlands brand HENK is a piece of travel art. Made from cow hide with a zebra print design makes for a big fashion statement.

But custom-built designs to your specifications are also available from glossy carbon fibre and smooth calf leather for the exterior to high-tech fibre or horsehair interiors. All cases are said to be weightless yet sturdy, easy to manoeuver, accessable with a dual door design, and friendly on your back with a telescoping handle.

RRP £19,940 www.henk.com

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CUSTOM YACHTS OF DISTINCTION SINCE 1863

Your journey begins with Burger Discover Burger. Discover yachting.

USA +1 920 686 5117

Monaco +377 97 97 29 70

sales@burgerboat.com burgerboat.com

CUSTOM BUILT IN THE USA

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Life on the down low On Jumby Bay Island, two miles north of Antigua, so white is the sand, so clear the water and so lush the surrounding landscape, you will find it hard to believe you are not dreaming.

Words by Liz Newman

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previous page Paradise at your fingertips in Antigua above Looking out to see from an Antiguan jetty right A below the water view of yacht life at Jumby

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RODDY GRIMES GRAEME

life on the down low

The almost unbroken coral reef that encircles the island is popular for diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing

R

inged with fine white sand beaches – apparently there are 365, one for every day of the year – Antigua, one of the West Indies’ Leeward Islands, is as much about the clear, azure waters that surround it as the land that covers it. The almost unbroken coral reef that encircles the island is popular for diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing, and the protected harbours make it the perfect spot for sailing.

Indeed, every year at the end of April, Antigua Sailing Week attracts competitors from across the world. It is one of the top five yacht racing regattas in the world – alongside Cowes Week and Cork Week – and the largest in the Caribbean; the racing is competitive and the setting fantastic. Strong trade winds and big ocean swell make the racing fast and tough but exhilarating; one can see why the event has been referred to as the ‘granddaddy of Caribbean sailing regattas’.

It was these very waters that made the island so attractive to colonialists and traders back in the 18th century. Sir Christopher Codrington established the first large sugar estate on Antigua in 1674, but today the economy is built around tourism. Over half a million holidaymakers visit Antigua every year, an invasion, which the locals take with typical grace and wry smiles. This stiff upper lip is not the only thing the Antiguans have inherited from the colonialists;

the island’s British roots are evident everywhere, not least when there is a good cricket match on. Take a stroll along the boardwalk to Redcliffe Quay, a historic promenade of restored town houses and stone warehouses that have been converted into brightly painted cafés, shops and restaurants, and you will also get a strong sense of the British legacy.

In contrast, visit the annual carnival with its lively steel-drum music and energetic dancers, and you will realise that memories of the old empire are far removed from the island’s current beat.

Just two and a half miles off the coast – a matter of minutes from the international airport, but a world away from the tourist mob – is Jumby Bay, an exclusive 300-acre private island resort. With its wide-open spaces, pristine beaches and colourful wildlife, it is easy to imagine that the island has been largely undisturbed since Columbus discovered it in 1493. Over the years there have been only a handful of owners; today it belongs to the Jumby Bay Island Company, formed of the owners of the 56 private villas, beach homes and estates that grace the island (among them, apparently, are Ken Follett and Lord Sainsbury). As well as equal shares in the island, the homeowners also own the luxury holiday resort here, which is managed by the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts group, an indication, should you need one, that this is a destination of world-class excellence.

The resort has recently had a US$28 million facelift and alongside the existing restaurants ›

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mike jones

‚

Above Panoramic ocean views are the order of the day

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life on the down low

After a week of island hopping, you should be just about ready to return to Jumby, where the choice of where to eat is probably the most taxing decision you’ll have to make.

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life on the down low

left Looking through to a stunning sea view from a Jumby villa TOP Candlelit dinner at dusk on the beach

‹ and boutiques now boasts exquisite new suites, a stylish new pool complete with bar and kitchen, and a gorgeous full-service spa. In the words of the owners, this is “a place without airs, status, façade or expectations, where owners and guests can, quite literally, disappear”. It is such a seductively exclusive hideaway that it should come as no surprise to discover that past guests have included high-profile celebrities and even royalty, though the resort is far too discreet to reveal names. As such, security is the name of the game; unless you have previously arranged to moor your yacht in Jumby Bay harbour, the only way to reach the island is via private highspeed ferry transfer from Jumby’s dock, and only those verified as registered guests are allowed past the security gate here.

Such security does not translate to stuffiness, though; it would be difficult not to feel at ease here.

You will not have to sign for services rendered – there is a ‘worry-free’ rate policy (meaning all-inclusive with an unlimited open bar); and there are no room keys (although all rooms have safes and the doors are lockable from inside). The enormous suites with their Colonial-style furnishings, vast four-poster beds, perpetually refilled minibars, shady sea-view terraces and secluded claw-footed outdoor bathtubs are certainly difficult to drag oneself away from. But with some of the best sailing in the West Indies on your doorstep, it would be a mistake not to get out and explore the neighbouring Leeward Islands.

To the east of Puerto Rico, in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, the Leewards are some of the most beautiful yachting destinations in the world. From pristine, private beaches to restaurants and chic shops, a week spent island hopping here should cater to every taste. The beach-front team at Jumby recommend an itinerary taking in Nevis, St Kitts, St Barths, St Maarten and Anguilla.

Contrasting two of these islands gives a flavour of what such an itinerary offers. From a distance, Nevis, which rises in sweeping curves to the central and only summit, looks like a snow-capped mountain, an illusion created by the clouds and mist hovering around the peak. Charlestown provides an interesting insight into a bygone era, with its well-preserved plantation estates and 18th-century buildings decorated with gingerbread trim. Cosmopolitan St Barths, meanwhile, the St Tropez of the West Indies, is a steep, mountainous island home to gorgeous beaches, fine restaurants and fashionable duty free shopping. Though the island is only eight square miles, Gustavia harbour is equipped to dock up to 60 yachts (200ft maximum) in the inner harbour with anchorages for another 100-plus yachts in the outer harbour.

After a week of island hopping, you should be just about ready to return to Jumby, where the choice of whether to eat in the fine dining Estate House or the more relaxed beach-front Verandah Restaurant is probably the most taxing decision you’ll have to make. If you have the energy, there are tennis courts, Hobie Cats, sea canoes, paddleboards and organised snorkelling trips. At an additional cost, golf, deep-sea fishing and motorised water sports can be arranged, and when that all gets too much, there is, of course, the spa. A massage accompanied by the symphony of waves lapping the nearby shore is the very definition of paradise. Jumby may be easily accessible by yacht but it is, without doubt, almost impossible to tear oneself away from.

Rates for Beachside Courtyard Suites at Jumby Bay start from £835 per night all-inclusive. www.jumbybayresort.com

Jumby bay resort is a place without airs, status, facade or expectations, where owners and guests can, quite literally, disappear.

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In 1904, the son of a knife grinder called Georg Jensen set up a small company in Copenhagen to produce silverware. The exquisite pieces his workshop produced — and continues to produce and distribute today through retail outlets worldwide — have become icons of Scandinavian design, synonymous with high quality and faultless craftsmanship.

Words by justin ratcliffe

PREVIOUS PaGE Designer Henning Koppel's signature pitcher aptly named the Swan above Georg Jensen silver adorns every available surface on board M/Y Shooting Star opposite Perfection in silversmithing

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ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

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uch is the international prestige of Georg Jensen that Danish Yachts partnered with the firm during the 2011 Monaco Yacht Show to present its sterling silverware in conjunction with the debut of M/Y Shooting Star. The ultra-fast, carbon-fibre motoryacht designed

by Norwegian born Espen Øeino, and built by Danish Yachts, was the perfect platform on which to unveil Georg Jensen's latest range, the Ambassador collection.

It might seem odd to market centuries-old craftsmanship with such a futuristic, high-tech yacht — the Ambassador collection encompasses styles from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco and Danish Modern, whereas Shooting Star is celebrated for her contemporary looks and blistering performance (50 knots at full throttle) — but Anne Mette Müller-Krogstrup, head of silverware international at Georg Jensen, sees them as a perfect fit.

“Both products highlight the best of Danish design,” she says. “There has always been a close relationship between the designer and the craftsman at Georg Jensen, much like the relationship between yacht designer and builder. Stylish, timeless and eminently functional, it doesn’t matter if it’s a modern

motoryacht or a classic sailing yacht, our silverware always looks good on board.”

Nina Vibe-Petersen, the wife of Kim Vibe-Petersen, owner of the 56-metre Perini Navi ketch, is an amateur silversmith herself and an avid collector of Georg Jensen silver. Some pieces from her own collection were displayed aboard Parsifal III during the Perini Navi Cup in Sardinia last September.

“I’ve always loved silver,” she admits. “As a child I went around the antique markets looking for silver spoons and salt cellars. I’ve just finished a flower-shaped biscuit platter for my husband as a present, but to become an expert silversmith takes years of practice and accumulated knowledge.”

Just how long became apparent during a recent visit to the Georg Jensen workshop in Copenhagen.

Jesper Nordø is one of a workforce of 26 silversmiths and has been with the firm for 18 years.

He explained that it takes an apprentice silversmith four years to earn his diploma, but at least another four years passes before they become what the company terms as “ready”.

Nordø was working on an immense champagne bowl weighing almost six kilos that was first launched in 1926 as a tribute to a smaller piece now in the Louvre in Paris. Only two examples were made before the design sketches were mislaid, but they were recently rediscovered and production ›

there has always been a very close relationship between the designer and the craftsman at georg jensen, much like the relationship between yacht designer and builder.

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left In the throws of crafting a more rotund jug nicknamed the Pregnant Swan opposite An expertly finished Georg Jensen goblet

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ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

it is not unusual for the craftsmen to spend their entire working lives with the firm — "either you die or go on to retirement."

‹ has started up again. Nordø, who attended the Monaco event hosted by Danish Yachts, pointed out the deceptively simple beaded surface produced by innumerable tiny hammer blows. Each bowl takes a single silversmith two-and-a-half months to produce.

Another department was working on the turned wooden handles for creamers and tea or coffee pots. Each piece of wood is handpicked and although the use of ivory is now banned, sometimes 10,000-year-old fossilised mammoth tusk from Siberia is used for the handles instead. Another silversmith was chasing decoration on to pieces that make up a candelabra, using much the same tools Georg Jensen would have employed more than a century ago. In fact, most of the craftsmen use specialist tools they have either made themselves or been handed down from former generations.

What really stands out about Georg Jensen silverware is the way each piece, regardless of style or function, has its own individual character that speaks to the heart and provokes an emotional response. Each design is catalogued by number, but the silversmiths call them by their own pet names inspired by forms in nature, which have gradually assumed common currency. Nordø, for example, showed me a pitcher designed by Henning Koppel identified as no. 1052, which because of its long neck and slender body goes by the name of the Swan. Another more rotund jug in the series goes by the nickname of the Pregnant Duck (no. 992), while yet another is called the African Lady (no.

978). One of Nina Vibe-Petersen’s favourite pieces

– and most expensive – is a fish platter (no. 1026), also designed by Koppel, which resembles the head of a dolphin. The 65cm-long covered dish is made from two solid sheets of silver, takes the silversmith some 500 hours to make and is worth €161,000.

Together, these objects resonate with the integrity of design and workmanship envisaged by the founder and the designers and craftsmen who followed in his footsteps.

While Acorn is the largest collection of silver flatware in the world with 226 pieces, and Magnolia the most complex to make, with 16 individual components in just one knife, Georg Jensen also produces more humble items, such as a Kleenex box and a series in polished steel to suit less affluent pockets. But the heart of the company remains its flagship sterling silver tableware. These might be customised and embellished with rubies or emeralds (85 per cent is tailor-made to order with an accompanying photo album that records the various production stages), but they all rigorously respect the original designs and anything too outlandish will be politely but firmly refused.

Georg Jensen’s longest-serving employee is Michael Birkefeldt, a third-generation silversmith who began work with the company’s founder. He will shortly retire (and no doubt leave his precious tools to his younger colleagues), but it is not unusual for the craftsmen to spend their entire working lives with the firm. “It’s very difficult to leave Georg Jensen,” says Anne Mette. “Either you die or go on to retirement.”

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kurt arrigo/rolex

Fashionably forwarD Nautor, maker of the world-famous Swans, weathered a whirlwind of changes when Leonardo Ferragamo of the Salvatore Ferragamo luxury goods empire took the helm. now in 2012 the brand has steered its way to the fore of sailing yacht builds, has a loyal following of keen sailors, and is intrinsically linked with nail biting regattas for the elite.

Words by Alejandra Garcia

kurt arrigo/rolex

I

n 1998 Leonardo Feragamo, an avid sailor and the owner of a Swan 90S, invested his personal fortune spearheading a successful yearlong campaign for the acquisition of Nautor’s Swan for an undisclosed sum. At that time Nautor was financially well into the red and stagnant in terms of strategic vision, with a 10-year lapse since the last Swan model had been introduced. Fourteen years later, Ferragamo has used his career-long experience in the family business to position Nautor’s Swan as the indisputable leader in luxury cruisers and racers where a money-losing company once stood.

First came the building of a new, high-tech boatyard in Jakobstad, located 200 miles below the Arctic Circle, capable of producing yachts over 100 feet. Then, the birth of a new breed of Swan in 2002, the Swan 45, a single design with limited options, allowing for standardised production. In that first year, Nautor had a 14-day turnaround for every new Swan, and quickly sold its entire yearly building quota – 40 yachts.

“Nautor’s Swan was sort of a sleeping beauty. The biggest change has been moving Nautor’s Swan from a yard to a brand,” says its managing director, Enrico Chieffi. “Mr Ferragamo is one of the biggest experts I know in branding. He is the biggest change.”

Ferragamo has also linked Nautor with Marina di Scarlino, which offers contemporary luxury hotels and leisure experiences in the historic districts of Florence and Rome. Guests of the Lungarno Collection have the opportunity to charter Ferragamo’s own yacht S/Y Solleone for Mediterranean cruises, complete, of course, with private chefs and immaculate itineraries.

Perhaps one of the most criticised moves from ›

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One of the most awaited events on the nautor calendar is the biannual rolex swan cup, where the ambience dockside can get just as festive as it is hard-fought on the water.

PREVIOUS PAGE Leonardo Ferragamo at keel on board Solleone TOP Racing at pace in the competitive Rolex Swan Cup ABOVE Marina di Scarlino, which is one of Nautor’s partners OPPOSITE Leonardo Ferragamo on calm waters

kurt arrigo/rolex

Fashionably Forward

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‹ Nautor’s Swan has been its adventure into Asia, while other more established yachtmakers are focusing on Brazil or stabilising the European market.

New Chinese millionaires are starting to set their sights on more exclusive toys, such as yachts, but the lack of infrastructure or a generalised interest keeps the market in its early stages. Nonetheless, Nautor has established itself in China, where the construction of a 350-berth marina is under way in Hainan Island.

The Ferragamo group knows the Asian market quite well. As of 2011, nearly 37 per cent of Salvatore Ferragamo’s revenue stream stemmed from Asia; even Japan, which suffered a devastating earthquake and was threatened by nuclear contamination, increased in revenue during the first half of 2011. It’s no secret that Asians are hungry for status-enhancing symbols and are quite loyal to the most important luxury brands, in particular those with the ‘Made in Italy’ stamp of quality.

Certainly one of the most popular family dynasties

to stem from Florence, the unity and branding of the business group is just as strong as its familial stability – even with flotation plans that brought the first non-Ferragamo into the executive branch of the company in 2006. Now with the third generation at the helm of operations, the breadth of the Salvatore Ferragamo world spans from leather goods and ready-to-wear collections, to the interior design of luxury penthouses in Dubai.

Most of Ferragamo’s worldwide clients buy into a lifestyle concept straight out of a dreamy, Italian film. This way of life is certainly not too far off from reality for many Swan owners, together making up ClubSwan; successful businessmen and women who realise that sailing a Swan is a much better alternative to purchasing the equivalent of two or three rather expensive vacation homes. Active ClubSwan members range from the owner of Belgian beer, Duvel Moortgat, to the head of the German publishing giant Bauer Media Group.

Whether amateur or proficient, ClubSwan

Most of Ferragamo’s worldwide clients buy into a lifestyle concept straight out of a dreamy, italian film. this way of life is certainly not too far off from reality for many swan owners.

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members instantly find themselves part of an exclusive social calendar. There are dozens of regattas Swan owners may participate in, from a casual rendezvous in St Tropez or Capri, to the Swan 42 and 45 circuits; the latter being probably the most serious league of competition. While there are many amateur drivers and owners, professional tacticians and bowmen are brought on board for pricey daily sums (some unofficial quotes state upward of £10,000 a day for crew).

One of the most awaited events on the Nautor calendar is the biannual Rolex Swan Cup held in the prestigious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, where the ambience dockside can get just as festive as it is hard-fought on the water.

“My definition of the most exclusive and glamorous event has been the Swan Cup; the latest one, held in 2010, was absolutely stunning,” says Chieffi.

Perhaps just as attractive as the regattas themselves are the parties that allow for ClubSwan members, their crew and families to rub elbows. Natalia

Fashionably Forward

Brailoiu, a young Russian businesswoman at KDF Energy, had owned her Swan 42 for less than a year when she entered the 2010 Swan Cup. “I had the opportunity to admire a lot of amazing Swan boats, and to meet some of their owners. The competition was successfully planned to the smallest detail, which offered a real outstanding experience,” she says.

And outstanding it was. In 2010, rains and winds didn’t put a dent on the social calendar, where guests were treated to acrobatic and dance troupes, trapeze artists and magic shows, followed by a night of dancing.

But when the throngs of parties are all said and done, owners never seem to lose sight of what it means to form part of such an exclusive club.

Chieffi hits the nail on the head when he says: “It’s not a matter of showing off, it’s the opportunity of owning something that will allow you to live a unique experience.”

kurt arrigo/rolex; alessandro braida

LEFT The 2010 post-Swan Cup party, where ClubSwan members celebrated until the early hours of the morning

designer’s cut

When it comes to fashion designers and their superyachts, it’s safe to say that they’re always one step ahead of the curve. Disciplined, sharp and slim, Giorgio Armani’s custom-made 65m Maìn is run like a tight ship, but that’s not to say that the likes of Bar Refaeli and Naomi Watts as guests can’t soften its glow.

Interior designer, Anouska Hempel’s Turkish gulet, Beluga, was built originally from the ground up. She says she just wanted “a glorious place to have supper on a deck, where people can’t see you and where it’s romantic”.

Decorated with a signature cream and black, Beluga sleeps up to seven and is available for charter in Croatia and Montenegro.

When he’s not racing her, Leonardo Ferragamo keeps his 30m Swan 90S Solleone (a name given to the midday sun at its hottest) in Marina di Scarlino in Italy. Designed by Germán Frers, and Michele Bönan on interiors, Solleone is undoubtedly one of the gems of the Swan line, evoking the true essence of the Ferragamo design mixed with the latest technology Nautor has consistently offered.

TOP AND LEFT The sleek lines of Anouska Hempel’s Turkish gulet Beluga RIGHT Regatta time on board Solleone BELOW Giorgio Armani’s custom-made 65-foot Maìn

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passport anouska hempel

Anouska hempel is a celebrated fashion designer who transcends boundaries and has turned her hand to chic interiors and yacht design to boot. here she talks about being aboard her beloved gulet, beluga, and the magic of being at sea.

TOP An aerial view from Beluga’s timber mast ABOVE The redesigned interior with its pasha style aft deck

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I acquired Beluga 12 years ago after seeing her hull on a beach in Bodrum; even then I could tell she was beautiful. I wanted something slow and romantic having loved Turkey all my life. Beluga is used largely for entertaining, pasha style, on the aft deck, which has been a great success. She accommodates 36 guests for seated dinner, and we never have a dull moment on board, ever – it’s always full of candles and magic. We sail to wherever takes our fancy. We’re ready to go anywhere, at any time: Croatia, Greece, Italy, France…

When redesigning Beluga’s interior I wanted to achieve a casual basket, trunk orientated look. My aim was for her to be clean, sensual, comfortable and always seductive.

There is very little crossover between fashion designing and yacht designing in terms of my vision and influences except for clear, clean lines. But when I’m at sea, I take huge inspiration from the sardine, oily sea at dawn, and the porpoises and dolphins swimming seamlessly along the bow with an albatross following. I take every inspiration I can and

then go back to work and have a sort out.

My favourite port is Simi, in Greece. It has deep aqua sea and huge clean cliffs, and it’s very close to the port of Ormos, in Yialos bay. When we’re there we eat on the quayside with the goats or have night-time picnics beside the small chapel. It’s carpets and rugs galore, and a blazing fire. But I still have a wish list of places in the world where I am yet to sail, and this includes Beirut, on to Alexandria and then to Cairo.

I’ve always loved being at sea, and when I’m aboard Beluga I pass the time by improving things, including my mind, and read a lot. I’m also being bossy and organising every bit of the way. One of my most memorable moments was when fellow fashion designer Garavani Valentino came on board with his very, very smart American entourage, dressed to the nines. We had supper and sailed into Jacob Rothschild’s bay with his vegetable garden and nicked some of his rosemary. It was a very funny night, and just one of a host of fantastic memories that I have from being aboard.

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