Tempus Magazine | Issue 65 | December 2019 - January 2020

TIMELESS INSPIRATION

EXCLUSIVE

JOSHUA BUATSI The British light-heavyweight champion on stepping out from his mentor’s shadow

ISSUE

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ELITE PERFORMANCE | ALPINE NETWORKING | ARCTIC ADVENTURE SPORT EDITION

FABE

ERGE

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THE ART OF LUXURY CAVIAR Attilus proudly presents an exclusive collection of caviars for food lovers. Handcrafted on the banks of the River Elster, Attilus’s caviar is produced by Siberian and Russain sturgeon, and cleansed with pure artesian water. The precise seasoning process results in an extraordinary taste that is both smooth and luxurios.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Mo Bobat As performance director for the England and Wales Cricket Board, Mo knows what it takes to be a champion sportsperson.

In an exclusive feature on page 22, Mo shares his expertise and insight as we explore what ‘elite performance’ really means. Read his welcome letter to our Sport Edition (right) to find out more.

Adam Hay-Nicholls We send motoring specialist Adam to Thailand’s MotoGP to discover why Asian investors are taking a gamble on motorsport (page 74).

Gareth Herincx Car journalist Gareth swaps the racing track for the high seas as he finds out whether Lexus’ new yacht can impress in the world of luxury (page 30).

Cheryl Markosky Our property expert shares London’s latest super-prime property trends and explores a surprising rental revolution (page 88).

Alia Shoaib Travel writer Alia switches off in The Seychelles (page 82), where she discovers an island paradise determined to use its rich marine life to promote conservation.

Responsibly printed Tempus magazine is printed on FSC-certified paper that’s been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable way. All paper stock can be traced back to the original tree.

Shortlisted for: Editor of the Year – Independent, 2018 Art Director of the Year – Independent, 2018

WELCOME

L

et's talk about the weather. In cricket, we ultimately play for around six months of the year – and that's if you have a decent summer – compared to the nine or 10 months enjoyed by our competitors in sunnier climes. This typically British problem presents unique performance challenges for us and is symptomatic of what all elite sporting organisations are aiming to do – win after winning, despite your contextual constraints. Even with that limitation, it’s important that we stay true to what we do well and think creatively about overcoming our competitive obstacles.

If you did a quick health check of the nation's sporting achievements, in terms of how some of our national teams are competing across different sports, you might be surprised at our accomplishments. We won this year's ICC World Cup – a home win, at that – making us world champions in both men's and women's cricket, and England teams got to the Rugby World Cup final as well as the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, with our football team shifting its performance significantly from previous years.

As we head into 2020 it's with the knowledge that we've had two fantastic Olympics cycles and, in fact, Rio 2016 was our most successful Games ever, with Team GB finishing second in the medal table overall.

It's fair to say that the athletic health of the nation is pretty strong, and I predict that as long as we stay authentic to who we are and play to our strengths, 2020 will see us achieve even more.

That's why it's important to see this edition of Tempus Magazine celebrate British sport in all its many forms – from the athletes sharing their personal performance tips on page 26 to learning how former Brawn Racing CEO Nick Fry took a near-bankrupt team to an F1 championship (with a little help from Jenson Button; p74). This issues' cover star is British lightheavyweight champion Joshua Buatsi – who we predict will be a household name in 2020 for his winning outlook as much as for his skill in the ring (p38).

Elsewhere, Tempus explores the power of brand partnerships with Waldorf Astoria and Aston Martin's new Scottish collaboration (52) and delves into the indulgent spa treatments to soothe aching muscles (68).

2020 is a big year for the country but judging from the authenticity and drive of our sporting industries, we're not doing too bad a job.

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Michelle Johnson michelle@tempusmagazine.co.uk Creative Director Ross Forbes ross@tempusmagazine.co.uk Wealth Editor Lysanne Currie Sub-Editor Dominique Dinse COMMERCIAL TEAM Chairman Floyd Woodrow Managing Director Peter Malmstrom Operations Director Colin Clark colin@tempusmagazine.co.uk Events & Partnerships Director Georgia Peck georgia@tempusmagazine.co.uk Sales & Content Executive Freddy Clode freddy@tempusmagazine.co.uk GET IN TOUCH

Enjoy the issue

Address Tempus Magazine Vantage Media Group 22 South Audley St London W1K 2NY

Mo Bobat Performance Director England and Wales Cricket Board

Contact +44 (0) 203 519 1005 info@tempusmagazine.co.uk www.tempusmagazine.co.uk

tempusmagazine.co.uk @tempusmagazine @tempusmagazine

Tempus magazine is published by Vantage Media Group. www.vantagemediagroup.co.uk

© 2019 Vantage Media Limited Articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with special permission from the Publishers. The Publishers, Vantage Media Limited, accept no responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims in advertisements appearing in this journal and the Publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion.

COVER IMAGE Joshua Buatsi shot at BXR London.

Photography by Michael Shelford, styling by Thomas Mwadime. Suit

by Hackett London, watch by IWC Schaffhausen.

Article on page: 38

CONTENTS

10 The luxe list This season’s top 10 must-haves 14 Mind: the gap Personal trainer Luke Worthington on why fitness experts must think bigger 16 In the country The luxury hotels bringing sporting holidays closer to home 22 Pride of lions ECB performance director Mo Bobat shares his secrets for elite international success 26 Going for gold British athletes reveal the demands of their 2020 training regimes 30 Ocean drive We hit the high seas with Lexus’ first foray into luxury yachting 34 Fast fashion Explore the stylish collaboration between Huntsman and Jack Barclay Bentley 38 Just business Boxing star Joshua Buatsi squares up to success and shares his winning philosophy 48 Famous faces How celebrity ambassadors are impacting the world of fine watchmaking 52 The road less travelled Tempus heads to Edinburgh for a pace-setting fusion of hospitality and automotive luxury 56 Liquid gold An exclusive taste of Casks of Distinction’s singular rare whiskies programme 60 Peak trading Why the super-rich are heading to the Alps for big business deals 64 Northern exposure How polar explorer Inge Solheim is helping intrepid adventurers reconnect 68 Under Pressure The spa treatments designed to take your workout to the next level 74 Racing dream How Nick Fry took his Formula 1 team from near-bankruptcy to a championship win 78 The fast and the curious Tempus makes tracks for Thailand to discover an Asian motorsport revolution 82 Paradise unplugged Switch off in the Seychelles’ most sustainable haven 88 The rental revolution The UK property market has a surprise new trend in super-prime lets 92 Taking the reins Winemaking powerhouse Barbara Banke on how British tastes compare to the US 94 Save the date The finest events of the season 100 Tried & tasted Fine jewellery designer Tessa Packard reveals a passion for Italian cuisine

ISSUE 65

Joshua Buatsi 38

The LUXE LIST Our essential guide to the most exciting new launches and finest seasonal must-haves

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The Glenlivet 18 Year Old This exceptional Single Malt Whisky has been on quite a journey, thanks to Glenlivet’s master distiller Alan Winchester’s expertise. The 18 Year Old is an old gold colour, with sweet buttery toffee notes through the nose.

It has a tropical fruitiness thanks to its first and secondfill American oak casks and a tang of spice and raisins from its final maturation in ex-sherry oak. A perfect winter dram. theglenlivet.com

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BXR London Train like a champion with BXR London’s range of membership options this New Year. The ultimate highperformance gym, of which boxing champ Anthony Joshua is a major partner, doesn’t just offer technically advanced equipment and excellent personal trainers in its state-of-the-art studio, but its Sweat by BXR classes will push you to your limits while you hone your skills, cardio, strength and mobility. Working out never looked so good. bxrlondon.com

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Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra “Tokyo 2020” Limited Edition As the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games continues in earnest, the Games’ official timekeeper, Omega, has released two limited-edition sports watches to mark the occasion. This Seamaster Aqua Terra (left) is limited to just 2,020 pieces, and is designed to perform beautifully on land and water. The sporty model is powered by the brand’s Master Chronometer Calibre 8900, and introduces Omega’s first ceramic dial, which is laser-engraved with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic emblem. Exciting times, indeed… omegawatches.com

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UEFA EURO 2020 This year marks the 60th anniversary of the European Championships and, to celebrate, the football tournament will be hosted across 12 European cities. Here in the UK, London’s Wembley Stadium will play host to seven matches, including all three of England’s Group Stage matches, both Semi-finals and the Final. Fans can attend in style with Official Hospitality, with a number of private suite and exclusive lounge options that include dining, champagne and, of course, the best seats in the house.

Contact ola.alli@img.com or 0208 233 5819 for details and to book. hospitality.euro2020.co.uk

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Theragun Gold G3PRO Recover from your workout in the comfort of home with this limited edition Theragun automated muscle home massager, designed for post-sports healing. Specifically designed to promote faster muscle recovery, increase circulation in the muscles, soothe chronic and acute pain, and improve motion and flexibility, it works by targeting softtissue stress with rapid percussion to melt away tension. For the ultimate in post-workout indulgence, get yours in limitededition gold.

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Aston Martin Residences Miami Aston Martin launches into the world of luxury residences with its remarkable 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way development in downtown Miami. Partnering with G&G Business Developments, the building itself will feature 391 condos over 66 floors – including the incredible triplex penthouse covering the top three floors. Residents can enjoy on-site fitness centre and spa, large pool deck, salons, lounges and a private marina – together taking your standard of residence living from 0-60 in no time.

theragun.com

astonmartinresidences.com

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Amazónico London Madrid’s famous rainforest-themed restaurant has come to London’s Berkeley Square, bringing its inimitable design, creative cocktails and, above all, excellent Latin American cuisine to Mayfair. With the restaurant’s every detail overseen by owner, chef Sandro Silva, the menu is headed up by executive chef Vito Reyes and can cater to more than 280 guests. Follow the Amazon river throught the space, starting with a leafy bar and lounge area, live entertainment, intimate dining and a well-lit business lunch space. The food itself? Delicioso.

amazonicorestaurant.com

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Lift eFoil Surf ’s up thanks to Lift’s innovative hydrofoil.

Combining the technology of modern electric vehicles with ten years of hydrofoil design and expertise, this brilliant motorised flightboard allows riders to fly over water in a sport somewhere between surfing and gliding. Powered by electric propulsion, the eFoil will let you glide on any body of water at up to 25mph. What a way to make a splash… liftfoils.com

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Tesla Cybertruck Designed to offer electric-car aficionados the utility of a truck and the performance of a sportscar, the Tesla Cybertruck has already garnered controversary for both its extreme, futuristic design and its unfortunate launch gaffe in late November – when the truck’s windows shattered during an ill-fated demonstration of the prototype’s durability. Yet, at the time this issue went to press, Tesla founder Elon Musk suggested that 250,000 Cybertrucks had already been pre-ordered ahead of their expected delivery date of late 2021, leaving the electric car pioneers steering confidently into the lucrative utility market. tesla.com

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Royal Salute 21 Year Old Snow Polo Edition The ‘King of Whisky’s’ first ever blended grain whisky has joined Royal Salute’s coveted limited-edition polo collections. Created by Royal Salute’s talented master blender Sandy Hyslop and presented by brand ambassador and British polo champion Malcolm Borwick, whose signature graces each bottle, it is an innovative addition to the 21 Year Old range. The creamy scotch whisky’s ABV content is 46.5% – cleverly reflecting the latitude coordinates of St Moritz, where snow polo was invented – and has warming notes of chocolate and butterscotch as well as layered flavours of vanilla toffee. royalsalute.com

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Mind: The Gap When it comes to fitness, personal trainer and former rugby star Luke Worthington says there’s more than mindfulness to keep in mind. Here, he tells us why experts should treat body and being as a whole…

M

indfulness is a bit of a buzzword at the moment. While it’s a positive trend in many ways, it’s essentially talking about paying a bit of attention to our emotional wellbeing as a standalone thing. In fact, the psychological benefits of fitness aren’t something you can separate from the rest of your body: it’s all connected.

I completed my biomechanics degree while I was a professional premiership rugby league player. I became a full-time fitness coach at 24, and that’s when I really began in earnest to educate myself about human movement to become the UK’s first postural restoration science expert.

Postural restoration is about developing how the body performs and moves as a whole. It’s about treating the neurological, respiratory, circulatory, and muscular systems holistically in order to improve rehabilitation and performance.

It all hinges on understanding how particular techniques influence your nervous system, which in turn influences your emotional state and permits different mechanical outcomes. These techniques have a huge impact on human performance, whether that’s injury rehab or general fitness and wellbeing. As practitioners we combine breathing techniques and the positioning of your spine to mechanically stimulate your sympathetic nervous system – conscious responses like ‘fight or flight’ – or the parasympathetic, which includes subconscious and automatic functions; the ‘rest and digest’.

Understanding how these different mechanics work together can achieve spectacular changes in the body.

I first became interested in combining neurological and physical methods watching Major League Baseball athletes train in Boston. Athletes who were trained at the local facility were completely dominating the sport – not because they were better players, but because they were reducing their injury count and therefore available to play for more of the season. I saw the integration of postural restoration breathing drills with high-level strength and conditioning, and was able to observe almost instantaneous improvements in their movement and performance.

Just like stretching in the morning to wake ourselves up stimulates our system, there are thousands of little connections between our nervous system and bodies that, if you understand how they work, can have a positive effect on training and allow better healing.

I soon realised that, in the fitness world, we tend to each look at people through the lens of our own specialism. But actually

we should be looking at the body as a single, connected system.

Although my initial client base was made up of elite athletes (I’ve had world champions in very different sports as well as numerous premier league football and rugby players), it has now also crossed over to the worlds of entertainment and fashion and I’m integrating these same principles into training the likes of actor Forest Whitaker and models Winnie Harlow and Sabrina Dhowre Elba. They may have very different training goals, but their bodies are connected up the same way.

Working with elite athletes, we’re not necessarily changing their overall training volume – which can be a real problem to an athlete who is already training at their capacity – but instead adding lowload, low-impact techniques into the day. I introduce breathing techniques into their training as well as into their rest periods between sets. We can dial up their nervous systems – and make them very strong and focused – or dial it down to promote destressing the body, for better rest or recovery. These techniques are not physically demanding, but they are technically very difficult to perform and, crucially, have the biggest impact when incorporated into training.

For example, if someone is getting chronic knee issues on one side, we need to look at the origin and impact of the injury, how they’re performing exercises, but also what else could be affecting the injury – such as their job and even their sleep patterns. When I work with rehabilitation clients, I often find that people chase injuries around their body. An ankle injury might seem to have been dealt with, but it can soon become a sore knee or back.

This is where I feel experts are missing the boat. The fitness industry is booming, but I think it has become too fragmented. Over the past few years I think specialists have deviated from each other to a huge degree – physiotherapists compete with massage therapists, strength coaches are working against personal trainers or fitness instructors… but the truth is that we’re all trying to do the same thing: make people better. We need to look at the body more holistically.

At Nike, I work with a team of 10, all of whom are experts in different areas. We have exercise specialists, yoga teachers, dance teachers and football experts. What we’re trying to do is set the example of how to work with each other, learn from each other and integrate between disciplines. My hope is that we can begin to reintegrate all the different disciplines and work together on improving fitness in the UK, rather than chasing trends.

WE’RE ALL TRYING TO

MAKE PEOPLE BETTER. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BODY HOLISTICALLY

lukeworthington.com 14

COLUMN

Luke Worthington is the UK’s first postural restoration science expert

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IN THE COUNTRY

W

hen we think of luxury travel, too often we look to far-flung destinations for our adventures.

While jungle trails and mountain hikes are milestones for every traveller, sometimes there’s value in looking a little closer to home, where the vast British and Irish countryside has far more to offer than one might first assume. Tempus explores the very best country destinations for your favourite holiday activities...

These luxury countryside destinations are bringing the best of active holidays closer to home Words: Freddy Clode

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TRAVEL

SHOOTING | GIDLEIGH PARK This award-winning luxury manor in Dartmoor enjoys a stunning location on the upper reach of the River Teign, on the very edge of Dartmoor National Park. A Tudor-style country house set within 107 acres of grounds, Gidleigh Park offers peace and tranquillity in each of its 24 guestrooms – as well as boasting serious culinary credentials. The local shooting on offer is, quite simply, some of the best in the world, with access to Mairstow, Castle Hill and Great Fulford Estates for guests. The hotel also provides secure gun storage and on-site kennels as well as dog-friendly rooms. Finish your day of shooting with a feast, thanks to Gidleigh Park’s private dining facilities, which can cater to groups of up to 26 and features one of the UK’s best wine cellars – with more than 13,000 bottles stored on site. The cellar tour (complete with tasting) is a must-do to round off a successful day’s shoot. » gidleigh.co.uk 17

HORSE RIDING AND FISHING | THE EUROPE HOTEL & RESORT Located in Killarney, Ireland, The Europe’s unique setting overlooking 26,000 acres of National Parkland, lakes and mountains offers unbeatable relaxation. In addition to the natural playground on its doorstep, the hotel offers an unrivalled array of activities and amenities, including horseriding. The Europe Hotel & Resort is famous for its Haflinger Horses, a very gentle Austrian breed that is ideal for children and beginners alike. Guests can enjoy a complimentary guided trek around the grounds of the hotel. Killarney Golf and Fishing Club is adjacent to the hotel, offering two championship golf courses for guests to enjoy, as well as lake activities include fishing, boating and kayaking. After an energetic day in the wilds of Killarney, guests can relax at the 50,000 sq ft ESPA spa, which boasts 17 treatment rooms, a private jacuzzi bath, sauna, steam room and restaurant. theeurope.com 18

TRAVEL TENNIS | STOKE PARK Occupying a palatial mansion and modern pavilion on a 300 acre estate, this sophisticated hotel is set in the glorious Berkshire countryside, just 27 miles from central London. Stoke Park has 49 bedrooms across the two venues, many furnished with fine art, antiques, en-suite marble bathrooms and open fires. The tennis facilities on offer at Stoke Park are some of the best in the world, with three indoor carpet courts complementing the four floodlit artificial clay courts, and six Wimbledon-specification grass courts that play host to the prestigious ‘Boodles’ tournament. Additional sports amenities include a 27-hole golf course, chic spa and indoor pool. »

THE TENNIS FACILITIES AT STOKE PARK ARE SOME OF THE

BEST IN THE WORLD

stokepark.com

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GOLF | FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS Where better for a golfer to holiday than the spiritual home of the sport? Fairmont St Andrews is set on a 520-acre estate with a unique coastal setting. The five-star luxury resort offers a unique and special venue, with clifftop views of the North Sea and the town of St Andrews, Scotland, where golf was first played 600 years ago. The resort’s two championship golf courses – the Kittocks and the Torrance – are voted consistently in the top 20 golf resorts in the world. The Fairmont St Andrews combines five-star elegance with its Scottish heritage, offering sumptuous rooms, state of the art spa facilities, and excellent dining experiences including Italian eatery La Cucina and The St Andrews Bar & Grill, serving the freshest of local seafood. fairmont.com

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TRAVEL CYCLING AND WALKING | THE PRIVATE HILL The Private Hill, North Yorkshire, is a singular hotel and resort nestled in the North Yorkshire Moors near Malton. The locale has been home to both the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire cycling events, and provides some of the best on- and off-road cycling tracks in Europe – including 550 sq miles of breath-taking heather moorland. The destination’s Geodesic Domes take ‘glamping’ to extraordinary new levels of luxury, and with each furnished with super king-sized beds (or two large twins), a woodburning stove, firepit or BBQ as well as a fully stocked minibar, these domes are ideal for holidaymakers who feel most at home in the countryside.

There is, of course, a fabulous cafe and bar with soft seating serving the freshest of locally sourced food – a perfect spot for relaxing after a day of cycling or walking in this most atmospheric of British landscapes. theprivatehill.co.uk

GEODESIC DOMES TAKE ‘GLAMPING’ TO

EXTRAORDINARY NEW LEVELS OF LUXURY

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Pride of LIONS What does it mean to be an elite athlete or team? We ask the England and Wales Cricket Board’s performance director what it really takes to compete on the international stage Words: Mo Bobat

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SPORT

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Right: Mo Bobat. Below: the England cricket team in action

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have always been involved with cricket and have been fortunate enough to fulfil roles at various levels of the game. I coached during my formative years and throughout my seven-year career as a teacher. I began working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2011, working with the national under-17 squad. A couple of years later, I became manager of the England under-19s.

Over time, my role evolved to focus more on identifying talent, which is what I have specialised in for the last three years.

As the newly appointed performance director, I now support our men’s head coach Chris Silverwood and national selector Ed Smith with performance plans, as well as our selection strategy. We work closely with county teams to help support and challenge them, so that we can broaden and enhance our talent pool. I’m specifically responsible for our international pathway, which involves identifying and developing the highest potential players from county cricket and helping them to bridge the gap between the county and international game. That involves selection for our under-19 squad and our England Lions programme, which is essentially our second team.

RULE BRITANNIA People are most familiar with Test Cricket, which is five days long, and that’s a constant priority for us.

We’re currently third in the world and we’re ambitious about getting to number one.

In 50-Over Cricket, we hosted the ICC World Cup this year and won it for the first time in our history.

To win it on home soil was amazing and hopefully inspiring for the nation. Finally, we have the World Cup for Twenty20 Cricket happening in 2020, so our focus will be gearing » towards that – we’re also currently third in the world for this, so there really is everything to play for.

Cricket is fairly unique as a sport in that, although you do play as a team, there are very specific roles for individual players within that structure. It’s unlike invasion games, such as football or rugby, where there can be a lot of overlap between people’s roles and competitive demands. In cricket, there are only ever two people batting at any one time or one person bowling. You field as a unit, but there are teams within teams and a lot of individuality. So how we develop

both the team as whole and the individuals within it is a relatively unique performance problem.

Trying to help our England cricket teams sustain elite performance is a fascinating leadership challenge.

I believe there are four key ingredients that are fundamental for any high-performing environment.

1. Human resource Firstly, elite performance relies on having talented and skilful people. By talented I mean innate attributes and capabilities. However, they must also be skilful, and that can include cognitive, motor and emotional skills.

2. Create a culture Once you have the right people, it’s really important to create a culture where commitment and working hard are the norm. Committed people will put in sustained effort towards a goal, and although you obviously need to strike a work/life balance, having hard work as a shared value makes a difference.

3. Work towards a single goal You’ve got talented and skilful people who work hard, now you need a direction. It’s critical to inspire and motivate your team, and identifying a goal or dream that you’re all aligned to can completely unify a group.

4. Be less dysfunctional Most people strive for perfection – a perfect plan or team – but over time I’ve learnt that doesn’t exist.

The real trick, I believe, is that you just need to be less dysfunctional than your biggest competition. If you look at some of the greatest sporting teams in the world, this becomes really clear. The All Blacks rugby team, for example, are likely not to be perfect, but they’re a lot less dysfunctional than their opposition. This is clearly augmented by their strong cultural identity.

While these elements are simple to understand, it’s the implementation that becomes trickier. You have to nail your basics, be clear as a team (both on the field and within your management team) about the things that matter most, and then work hard to ensure your energy and resources are aligned to that goal.

A major part of that is communication between different departments, particularly between the England team and our pathway. The team spends the best part of

250 to 300 days a year on the road or overseas so it’s easy to become disconnected from the rest of our network.

How do you maintain clear communication? That’s one of the things I plan to prioritise in my new role.

FOLLOW THE LEADER I’ve always had a fascination with leadership, and have a lot of respect for strong, ethical and emotionally intelligent leaders, especially in the sports industry.

In cricket, the captain is both thinktank and cultural architect, which represents an intriguing leadership case study. I’ve been fortunate to work for exceptional leaders in my time at the ECB. Andrew Strauss, former managing director of the ECB, is a fantastic leader and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him.

Across other sports, I admire people like Simon Timson, whom I worked with previously. He oversaw the strategy for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Team GB’s most successful Olympic cycle ever. Then of course, there are those who are doing great jobs while working under an incredible level of scrutiny and expectation.

What Gareth Southgate has achieved with English football and Eddie Jones in rugby is really impressive.

Every field has its Everest in terms of elite achievement, and the thing about many athletes and teams is that we all very quickly move on to the next objective, so it’s easy to forget how remarkable some achievements are. For example, this year Eliud Kipchoge ran a sub-two-hour marathon – a fantastic achievement – and for obvious reasons, athletes in the Paralympic world deserve a huge amount of respect for showing us what can be attained.

If I was advising aspiring athletes – or even my younger self – I would say be more ambitious. Dream even bigger. As we grow older, society can wear ambition out of us, but these elite athletes prove we can do anything.

There’s a quote by poet Maya Angelou that I love and think about a lot: “Don’t make money your goal.

Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

My motivation has always been to do what I dreamt of doing as a kid and I believe that, to succeed, we should be passionate about what we do. That’s what leads to elite performance. Passion. ecb.co.uk

IT’S CRITICAL TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE YOUR TEAM, AND IDENTIFYING A GOAL OR DREAM THAT YOU’RE ALL ALIGNED TO CAN COMPLETELY UNIFY A GROUP

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SPORT

Photos courtesy of © ECB/Getty Sports

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Going for GOLD Britain’s top athletes share the demands and dedication it takes to be a sporting hero

Words: Michelle Johnson

T

he world of professional sport is a demanding one. Not just on athletes’ bodies and time, but maintaining the mental focus – even in the off-season – that it takes to win time and again. To find out more about the rigours of reaching the top podium in a diverse range of fields, we spent time with some of Britain’s sporting greats.

MOE SBIHI MBE | ROWING Sbihi is a leading figure in British rowing, laying claim to a host of medals including three World Championship titles and two European Crowns. Part of the men’s four to win gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Sbihi’s focus is firmly on replicating that success at Tokyo 2020.

Photos of Moe Sbihi © Henry Hunt Photography

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“When it comes to training, everything we do is about the Olympics. No matter how far away you are, it’s always in the back of your mind. Everything else is a short-term goal towards competing in Tokyo 2020.

Between October and April is our pre-season training block, we have many fitness tests as well as being pitted against our teammates, so personal performances are key.

Once the international season starts in April, we’re essentially training towards three key weeks of racing and testing spread through the year. The physical demands are high and the training programme is brutal on your body. We usually train four full days a week, plus two half-days – as well as the occasional Sunday depending on the time of the season.

During the off-season I like to switch off and try to forget about everything that came previously, find the reasons why I’m either angry or happy, and set attainable goals for the next season.” »

JAMIE CHADWICK | RACING DRIVER Chadwick made her name as the youngest – and first female – winner of the British GT Championship in 2015. This year, the unstoppable 21-year-old won the inaugural W Series, the MRF Championship and joined the Williams F1 development team.

“In racing you need a really good base level of fitness, making sure the general cardio, core strength and mobility is all there. The main physical demand of motor racing is dealing with G-forces, which puts a load of weight on your head and neck, and you have to sustain that kind of strength.

We also race in hot countries for long durations, so the cardio fitness required makes it a physically demanding sport. But the nice thing about motor racing is that there isn’t a specific type of training you have to do. I do a lot of road cycling and I’ve just got into climbing. It’s really good fun and perfect for racing because it involves grip strength – and a little bit of fear.

Championships are won and lost in the off-season, because that’s when you have the time to put the hours in the gym. So I’m motivated by knowing that’s the time to put the hard work in – and I’ll reap the reward during the season.”

MATT WALLACE | GOLF Four-time European Tour winner Wallace is a colourful figure in the world of golf. A passionate player, Wallace is currently world number 29, after beginning 2019 ranked 44th.

“For me, everything I do is ultimately about golf, and geared towards getting better. It’s nice to lose a bit of weight and feel good, but my workout has to improve my game. People can look down their noses a bit at golf, in terms of the physical demands, but it’s not an easy sport. Shoulder stability is something that’s really important, but you have to stay on top of all areas.

It’s been another good year for me. Although I haven’t managed to win in 2019, I’ve moved up the world rankings and have played a lot more in America – including playing at the Masters for the first time. Finishing third at the US Open at Bethpage Black was probably my highlight.

Even during the off-season, the hunger is always there to improve. I’m looking forward to a little break but I know I’ll be itching to get going soon and can’t wait for Abu Dhabi – and 2020 – to start.”

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SPORT JOE TRUMAN | CYCLING World, European and Commonwealth cycling silver medallist, Truman has his sights set on Tokyo 2020 and making his name as Britain’s only keirin rider in Japan.

For the 22-year-old, performance is about power.

Photos of Joe Truman © SWpix.com and British Cycling

“Sprint cycling is about accelerating as fast as possible to your highest peak speed, so my main priority is to increase my power. It’s basically giving yourself more horsepower; aerodynamics and pedalling efficiency are also important, but without the engine you’re not going anywhere.

When I’m in heavy training blocks with less focus on actually racing, I love gym training – especially Olympic lifting. I’m aiming for a 150kg Clean this winter. On the bike I’ve found interval training very beneficial, and it doesn’t take long to start to notice the effects on fitness. There’s no such thing as a magic workout, but I really rate CrossFit and how you can gain functional strength.

There’s no secret to maintaining motivation, and every single athlete will experience highs and lows.

Small targets seem to work for me; if the target is too far in the future it’s hard for me to envision the path to get there, but if I set a goal for a month down the line I can keep on track.”

DANIEL GOODFELLOW | DIVING Olympic bronze medallist Goodfellow wowed in his synchronised 10m diving with fellow Brit Tom Daley at Rio 2016, and is now gearing up for even greater glory with new partner Jack Laugher. Last year he took home a gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“My main focus when it comes to fitness and performance is making sure I’m healthy and injuryfree. Most goals are attainable once you can train healthy and smart. I average five hours of training a day, which can vary from heavy weight training to explosive plyometric training.

Half of the work we do is actually out of the water, in order for us to be flexible and strong enough to perform harder dives. It’s so important as a springboard diver to be able to have strength and power in the legs, in order to jump higher and rotate quicker. These workouts usually consist of squats, deadlifts and sometimes hip thrusts at a high weight.

My professional highlights of the last year have been qualifying for a spot at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with my synchro partner Jack. Also grabbing an individual World Series medal in front of a home crowd, and a lifetime best score was amazing.”

Photos of Daniel Goodfellow © British Diving 29

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SPEED

OCEAN DRIVE As car manufacturer Lexus makes waves in the world of luxury yachts, we discover that the LY 650 is worth splashing out on Words: Gareth Herincx

W

hen car manufacturers decide to extend their brand, more often than not they tend to play it safe – who isn’t familiar with branded travel accessories, fashion lines, timepieces or fragrances designed to capture the lifestyle of a car owner?

Not so for Lexus. This luxury car manufacturer is well known for its concept pieces on the road, but now it’s going off the beaten track to expand its daring design into a full lifestyle and mobility brand. The result is the new LY 650 – LY standing for ‘luxury yacht’, naturally – a stunning 65ft flybridge cruiser that has taken Lexus’ vision further than ever before.

The LY 650 follows the brand’s original 42ft open sport yacht concept, launched in 2017, which was just as eyecatching if a little less ambitious. For its inaugural sports yacht, Lexus embraced futuristic styling with technically advanced, lightweight construction and combined it with the power of twin high-performance Lexus V8 engines – a clear nod to its sporting roots. The proof-of-concept project made a splash at the 2018 Japan International Boat Show, winning a special award, and it was based on this reception that the brand decided to take the next bold step of producing a larger vessel, building on “the advanced nature of the concept while adding more comfort and living space”.

The LY 650 picks up where the sleek sports yacht concept left off, and is the first production maritime expression of Lexus’ unique automotive design language.

A collaboration between Lexus, specialist American boat builder Marquis Yachts and leading Italian nautical design house Nuvolari Lenard, the LY 650 is priced from £3m, can sleep six and accommodate up to 15 people.

“The LY 650 symbolises the challenge Lexus has taken up in its aspiration to become a true luxury lifestyle brand, venturing beyond the automobile,” says Akio Toyoda, »

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Previous page: The aerodynamic Lexus LY 650.

This page: The yacht’s interior design is inspired by the Japanese concept of omotenashi

president of Toyota Motor Corporation and Lexus chief branding officer, at the launch. “I am truly looking forward to seeing the advanced, high-quality LY 650 display its beauty on the oceans across the globe.”

The elegant LY 650 retains the aerodynamic lines and beautiful curves of the sports concept, and features a strong, pronounced bow, while its dynamic hull boasts one of the widest beams in its class. Elsewhere there are curved deck accents, accentuated aft hips and the brand’s signature flowing roofline. The ship retains its sleek design across three levels: the hull deck offers three double bedrooms, each with ample headroom and en suite facilities; the upper cabin contains a kitchen, lounge and forward helm; while up above on the flybridge an additional, open-air helm completes the yacht’s structure.

Finished in a sumptuous two-tone bronze paint, other highlights include stainless-steel exterior design details and Lexus ‘L’ themed window frames.

Yet, if we’re to consider this as a purely luxury concept, we have to ask whether the LY 650 can really stand up against well-known yachting brands. The answer is a resounding yes.

The 40-tonne yacht is capable of reaching impressive speeds of up to 31.4 knots thanks to its pair of Volvo Penta engines, with outputs ranging from 1,050 – 1,350hp per unit. The LY 650 also features state-of-the-art technology including a virtual anchor, which is a system that automatically maintains the vessel’s position and heading, even during strong currents or windy conditions. But in development for two-and-a-half years, and with a dedicated team of 30 (plus hundreds more along the chain), the project wasn’t without its issues as boatbuilders at Marquis and designers at Nuvolari Lenard worked to realise Lexus’ marine dream.

“Lexus influenced and challenged us to accomplish things in this project that had never been done on a production yacht,” says Josh Delforge, vice president of design engineering at Marquis Yachts. “We have the strength of Lexus’ brand, and the experience of more than 65 years of boatbuilding from the Marquis side.

“In the end, the product has this flowing, organic feel that really felt critical to the Lexus image. Nothing is a square, nothing is a box – everything has some sort of movement.”

This extends to the interior design, which is driven by the Japanese concept of ‘omotenashi’ – an approach to hospitality built around anticipating guests’ needs – and it’s clear to see.

Once aboard, I was hard pressed to find any features that hadn’t already been built in. The attention to detail throughout the boat is remarkable, from its seductive curves to the clever packaging which ensures appliances such as fridges and cookers are hidden inside cupboards and under real wood surfaces.

There’s extensive use of carbon fibre both above and below the waterline, a material known for its strength and lightness.

Lexus reckons buyers will be split between those who will skipper the yacht themselves and those who hire a captain, and so the vessel can be operated in a variety of ways, including by wheel, joystick and an innovative LY-link smartphone wireless connectivity system that controls the boat’s functions and uses real-time information to assist navigation.

Refinement and comfort are hallmarks of Lexus cars, and this translates well into the LY 650. The yacht’s extensive sounddeadening materials mean that it is a quiet cruiser, while the advanced hull has resulted in a calm ride, enhancing stability, manoeuvrability and lowering fuel consumption.

With Lexus’ predictions that it will build up to eight yachts a year, and with orders already stacking up, our bet is the LY 650 could become a familiar sight at the world’s most exclusive marinas.

WE HAVE TO ASK IF THE LY 650 CAN

STAND UP AGAINST WELL-KNOWN YACHT BRANDS. THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES

lexus.co.uk 32

SPEED

SPORTING ON THE SEAS Tempus discovers the sports yachts bringing competitive spirit to the waves in 2020 HEESEN VIDA The spectacular 180ft Heesen Vida is a highly customised yacht designed for professional tournament fishing.

Among Vida’s special features is the ability to carry out her role as mothership to a sport fishing fleet, refuelling and recharging two smaller boats to allow for several days out at sea. With a maximum speed of 16 knots and frugal fuel consumption that gives it a remarkable range of 4,500 nautical miles at 13 knots, Vida accommodates five cabins on the lower deck and an 80sqm master suite on the main deck. Outdoor areas include a spacious 100sqm sundeck, along with a pool complete with waterfall for the ultimate in comfort and competition. heesenyachts.com GULF CRAFT MAJESTY 120 Opulence is the order of the day when it comes to Gulf Craft’s new 121ft tri-deck Majesty 120. Under construction in the UAE, the first yacht is scheduled for completion in 2020. Designed to accommodate up to 11 guests across five spacious staterooms in an unusual asymmetric layout, there’s also space for a professional crew of seven, as well as a hybrid beach club that’s easily converted to a tender storage unit to ensure maximum fun on the water. Constructed from GRP and carbon fibre, the Majesty 120 is a collaboration between Gulf Craft’s in-house design studio and Cristiano Gatto’s interior design. gulfcraftinc.com RIVA 50METRI Riva’s first 50m superyacht, Race, premiered this summer as the flagship of the Riva range. The light alloy displacement superyacht is completely customisable in interior outfitting and décor across its four decks – a first for the brand. Despite its size, the superyacht is inspired by Carlo Riva coupé motor yachts, reflecting the sleek but aggressive profile of the famed 60s and 70s vessels. It features an MTU Iron Man 8v 4000 M63 engine, which provides a max speed of 14kn.

With five cabins, a main deck master suite and lower deck galley that can service the whole ship via dumbwaiter, the yacht also features a stern garage with enough room to house a Williams Dieseljet 625 tender and a foredeck storage area suitable for a pair of Jet Skis. riva-yacht.com 33

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STYLE

FAST FASHION We find out what happens when Savile Row staple Huntsman teams up with Jack Barclay for a stylishly exclusive Bentayga project Words: Georgia Peck

W

hat happens when one of Savile Row’s most esteemed British tailors unites with Bentley Motors’ oldest retailer to celebrate two 100-year anniversaries? Huntsman of Savile Row teamed up with Jack Barclay, as well as Bentley’s Mulliner Park Ward division – its impressive coachbuilding department – to create two limitededition, bespoke Bentaygas, adorned suitably with sumptuous quantities of tweed and steeped in the epicentre of Mayfair heritage.

Designed by the iconic Jack Barclay of Berkeley Square (which has recently undergone a multimillionpound refurbishment) and Huntsman, which is celebrating the centenary of its Savile Row boutique. The two variations of the Bentayga – the Sportsman edition and the Businessman edition – are designed to fit the modern lifestyles of their superlative clientele.

Only five of the limited-edition luxury motors are to be made – four of the Businessman and just one of the Sportsman – all offered with the unmistakable and adored V8 petrol variant of the famed Bentayga.

With a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged engine developing 542hp capable of 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and top speeds of 180mph, it is a car that encapsulates power, usability and sportiness.

Both models feature a distinctive Peck 62 tweed throughout the interior, replacing Bentley’s traditional wooden veneer. The tweed was created in celebration of Huntsman’s own centenary, inspired by a 1962 coat from their archive that was originally designed for To Kill a Mockingbird actor Gregory Peck.

Arriving at Cliveden House, a quintessential English country manor-turned-hotel in Berkshire, to test drive the Businessman, I was especially keen to examine the vehicle’s interior. As a distant cousin of Gregory Peck, for me the marriage of Peck 62 tweed and Bentley held personal significance; the actor had been close to my grandfather and helped sell his original Bentley Blower to James Coburn before the Second World War. » © Henry Hunt Photography

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The Businessman is the epitome of urban luxury, consisting of a two-tone grey and deep-black anthracite split satin and gloss exterior. The interior is jewelled with dark beluga hide and carbon-fibre veneer inserts, a perfect contrast to the tweed door cards and inserts. Further enhancing the feel of the Businessman edition are real sheepskin floor mats, ideal for polishing your leather soles after a hard day walking the streets of W1, and a bespoke mechanical Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling clock. The most complex of watch mechanisms, it is automatically wound periodically by a dedicated high-precision winding mechanism built into the car, and is machined in solid gold with a choice of faces, including motherof-pearl and diamond indexes.

In comparison, the Sportsman takes its inspiration from countryside pursuits, wearing vibrant candy red exterior gloss paintwork and featuring imperial blue hide and liquid amber veneer inserts within the vehicle – with a far more obvious use of the Peck 62 tweed, including on door cards and rear-seat pockets.

Both versions of these special-edition vehicles feature the logos of both Mayfair brands on all seat rests, and an added treat is the bespoke Mulliner chess board for rear passengers to enjoy – inspired by the chequered floor of the latter’s Berkeley Square showroom. This comes complete with a tweedtrimmed drawer for the chess pieces.

All customers purchasing one of these two very special motors will also receive a bespoke Huntsman jacket. Pricing has not been revealed, but it’s expected to be significantly more than the Bentayga’s starting price of £162,700.

“The personalisation work we do at Mulliner is about bringing a vision to life – like creating a perfect tailored suit – so adding an element of bespoke Huntsman material to the Bentayga’s lavish and beautiful interior is a perfect fit,” says Stefan Sielaff, director of design at Bentley and Mulliner.

Now managed by HR Owen Group, Jack Barclay is an important part of the vehicle’s history – and, thanks to its multimillion-pound renovation, has been exquisitely preserved.

“We are delighted to work with Jack Barclay celebrating Bentley’s centenary and Huntsman’s 100 years on Savile Row,” says Huntsman owner Pierre Lagrange. “Bentley espouses the timeless British values of authenticity, bespoke craftsmanship and attention to detail – all of which Huntsman embraces in each tailored suit.” jackbarclay.co.uk; huntsmansavilerow.com

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STYLE

AS A DISTANT COUSIN OF GREGORY PECK, THE MARRIAGE OF

PECK TWEED AND BENTLEY HELD AN

IMMEDIATE, PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Pictured: Huntsman and Jack Barclay Bentley collaborated on the design of the Bentley Bentayga The Businessman (black) and The Sportsman (red) 37

JUST BUSINESS British light-heavyweight champion Joshua Buatsi tells Tempus about stepping out from Anthony Joshua’s shadow, his plans for world domination and how he developed a winning philosophy Words: Michelle Johnson | Photography: Michael Shelford | Shoot Director: Georgia Peck

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WHEN A MAN HAS NOTHING IT’S EASY TO BE HUMBLE.

TALK TO ME IN TWO YEARS AND LET’S SEE IF I’VE STILL GOT THE SAME ENERGY

J

oshua Buatsi is the definition of today’s gentleman boxer.

In the ring, the undefeated, 26-year-old British lightheavyweight champion is a force to be reckoned with; calculated power meeting explosive force.

It’s this awesome combination that saw him take a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games before being snapped up by Anthony Joshua’s management team (after a brief bidding war with American promoter Floyd Mayweather) and launched into professional boxing in July 2017. Incredibly, Buatsi won the British light-heavyweight belt on 31 March this year, less than two years after going pro. But off-duty Buatsi exudes confidence, warmth and charisma, whether stopping for selfies with sports fans who recognise the rising star during our shoot at BXR London, or speaking of his current success with a pragmatic wisdom that belies his youth.

“People call me humble,” he tells Tempus. “But let’s be real; when a man has nothing it’s easy to be humble and to talk quietly. Right now, I’m British champion, I’m highly ranked, but I

haven’t made it yet. Talk to me in two years and let’s see if I’ve still got the same energy. Then you can judge my character.”

It’s this driving confidence, along with his technical skill, that makes Buatsi such a sure bet. Already, the light-heavyweight has seen big-brand interest from the likes of IWC Schaffhausen – for whom he was a London ambassador – and is sponsored

by Nike (“I spent all my money on Nike gear before I went pro, so it’s great,” he laughs). Buatsi takes each marker of success as a stepping stone to more, taking cues from his peers and mentors, such as manager Joshua – the most famous British heavyweight of this generation – while keeping his feet firmly on the ground with help from his core team, his unshakeable faith and his family, who brought Buatsi from their native Ghana to Croydon, aged nine, to better his education. Now, nicknamed ‘Just Business’ by friends, that legacy is becoming clear.

In our exclusive photoshoot and interview, Buatsi tells Tempus how his sport keeps him humble, and how he plans to dominate the business of boxing. » 40

Above: Buatsi wears a suit by Hackett London and an IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph. Right: The 26-year-old British lightheavyweight champion displays his dominance in the ring.

SPORT

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Gentleman boxer Buatsi wears a suit by Huntsman, Hackett London shirt and Finlay & Co glasses

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How would you describe your philosophy as a fighter?

That’s quite a hard one. As fighters, we always want to fight, and the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. This is what I’m doing day in, day out, and I’m constantly trying to improve my skills. I think it’s common to be a pressure fighter – to stand toe to toe and try to hit the other guy as many times as possible – but I think the real skill and discipline is learning to hit your man when he’s not ready to engage; to disengage all interaction. I’m obsessed with improving my craft and learning how to get hit less often while dishing out the punishment. There are a lot of talented fighters that are more advanced than I am, but when I get into the ring I find a way to win. And I always say a prayer. I get on my knees and say, ‘God, for all the wrongs I’ve done, forgive me. But as I go into this fight, I need you to help me’.

For me, every fight has always been serious, but

opportunities like there are here in England. Even poverty in England, it’s not as extreme as what I saw in Ghana. Some people have been in the same place for years, with no house, no clothes, without knowing where their next meal is coming from. I live a good life, and so for me to have come here and got these opportunities, I have to make the most of it.

What can I complain about?

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since turning pro?

I think it was moving from amateur to pro. Amateur boxing is a sport; professional boxing is a business.

If you’re signing a contract, you need to understand the money involved. I learned a lot very quickly.

The first thing I did was phone my dad, who had drummed education into my sister and me from a young age, and he advised me to go to university.

So I studied sports science business management,

fight someone that also knew how to fight.

As an amateur you were fast-tracked to the Olympic team.

I’ve always looked for ways to separate myself from the pack. I was fast-tracked as an amateur, got a great training team at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield where the British team is based, and after two years I won an Olympic medal at Rio 2016.

Usually people wait for about two Olympics cycles – so eight years – whereas for me, it was two. I knew I had to put the work in if I wanted to achieve.

Was there a moment that you remember when it all changed for you?

Honestly, I think the thing that pushed me into the second gear was my fourth fight as an amateur, which was the first time I’d ever lost. It took losing that fight to understand how serious boxing was to

AMATEUR BOXING IS A SPORT

PROFESSIONAL BOXING IS A BUSINESS now I’m at the level where the stakes are higher.

I want to make sure that each fight is highly anticipated, that I’m putting on a show – and then making sure I do good things with the success that comes with winning.

How do you intend to use your success to give back to others?

The truth is, it’s easy to talk. I don’t want to do things for the wrong reasons, and so I’m quite private about what I’m doing for charities at the moment. I feel like boxing is a vehicle; fighting and winning brings in the money and publicity to do great things for others and help others to be heard.

Success gives you a platform, and I feel like I have an obligation to help people. I have a blessed life: I fight, I win, I’ve got a platform, I get opportunities that others don’t.

When I was growing up in Accra, Ghana, I saw people stuck in a system where there are no

because I knew I had to understand my business. It helped me a lot, and some of my teachers still come to my fights.

You took up boxing in London as a teen.

How did your career start?

I thought boxing was boring when I was growing up.

I came to London when I was nine. And you know, you leave Ghana for England to take the educational route; to get the smart jobs. So it’s mad to go back now as an adult, because none of my family ever anticipated that boxing would be a career for me.

My mum lives in Accra now, and when I visit I can see that people are happy that I’ve done well.

When I was 15 my best friend bought a set of gloves to the estate I lived in. Everyone sparred with each other, and naturally I thought the biggest guys would always be the strongest guys. Then I found out that size didn’t matter against skill – and I wanted to learn about the art. It was captivating to

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me. Winning bronze at the Olympics also made me realise I had something, and could compete on an international level. Every fight was a hard fight, and I couldn’t pretend winning was a fluke at that level.

When I won that medal, I felt like I had something tangible to show people after years of hard work, to show that my goals and aspirations were beyond being number one in just my own country. And then from winning my professional debut to winning the British title, I’d shown that within two years I could be the best in Britain at my weight. So now I’m looking for other moments where I can say, okay, this is another first for me. The one thing I never think about is losing. It’s not something I’m familiar with. But the other thing boxing teaches you is to be humble and not to brag or over-celebrate – you have to look for the next improvement.

How does boxing teach you to be humble?

I think you develop a sense of true confidence, »

SPORT

This page: Buatsi has already gained interest from luxury brands, including IWC Schaffhausen.

Here, he also wears a suit

by Hackett London and glasses by Finlay & Co

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SPORT

not empty bravado. I don’t need to brag to seem bigger or scarier, because I know what my body can do. Boxing has taught me how to be calm. It also makes me feel like I need to help people who are more vulnerable – I have been known to intervene in robberies, or break up fights or bullying outside of the ring. It’s mad how much I’ve learned from boxing. It gives you a mentality and way of life that’s not just about what you do in the ring.

It’s harder getting used to fans, who can be a bit fickle when there are negative reports about you, but that’s part of life. People are opinionated. Before boxing, I thought the loudest man in the room was the strongest. Now, I’m happy to be the quiet guy in the background, because I know what I’m capable of. Even in the ring, I’ll be happy to win but I don’t ever want to celebrate the fact that I’ve hurt another person. You’re always one punch away from getting knocked out: boxing can humble anyone.

You’ve been compared to your manager, Anthony Joshua. How do you respond to that?

Personally, I think there’s a risk that comparing myself to other successful people can bring me down. My theory is that it’s good to benchmark other people’s successes, but never to compare yourself. So I think, okay, this person had this great fight at this specific point in their career – am I in the same place or do I have to work harder to get there? I let that inspire and motivate me. It’s like a company examining a bigger brand’s growth in the same marketplace. If I’m doing well, I could brag about it, or I can look at other athletes and see their success and let it motivate me further. I’m so grateful for all that I have and what I’ve achieved.

Then, the four people who have been with me from the start, they keep me grounded as well. My trainer Mark Gillespie has been with me since I was 15; my best friend Shane Sobers – he likes to hold my belt – is the man who introduced me to boxing. Duane Sinclair

who looks after my water, gum shield – he’s literally in my corner – and then my friend Kevin, who looks after my wellbeing. He makes sure I’m in the right frame of mind before a fight; he prays for me.

Do you feel your faith has an impact upon your success?

My faith as a Christian is really important to me. That’s why Kevin is such an important part of my team.

Sometimes, when you’re nervous or building up to a fight you don’t want to talk to anyone, you don’t want to pray. So he prays for me, that’s his sole purpose. As long as I know he’s there, doing that for me, I’m cool.

We’re all proud people. Boxing is a prideful sport; you’re fighting in front of a crowd, you don’t want to be embarrassed, you don’t want to be the one on the floor.

Your pride is on the line. I think there’s a way to counter that, to package it so that’s not the part of you that’s up in everyone’s face.

What are your goals for 2020?

I get this question a lot. Whenever someone asks I say, it’s to win my next fight. In the industry I’m in, you can’t overlook a single fight. When the anticipation starts to build around me, it’s hard to take it a day at a time. Yes, I did win a British Championship title, and I’m grateful.

But we’re all anticipating the European Championship and then World Title. And until that happens, I can’t really speak about it. I have to take it one fight at a time. As an amateur, I never once said I wanted to win an Olympic medal. I lived in the moment. That’s how I operate; I’ll win my next fight.

Art direction: Ross Forbes Stylist: Thomas Mwadime With thanks to: Nike, Huntsman, Hackett London, Finlay & Co, IWC Schaffhausen, BXR London 47

Opposite: Buatsi wears Nike in the ring. Above (l-r): Sharing a joke during our photoshoot; tailoring by Huntsman of Savile Row (centre and right)

I DON'T NEED TO BRAG TO SEEM

BIGGER OR SCARIER,

BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT MY BODY CAN DO

Serena Williams wears Audemars Piguet

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FAMOUS FACES Tempus explores how celebrity ambassadors of fine watchmaking are keeping the industry’s biggest brands ticking Words: Lewis Etherington

T

he world of fine watchmaking has a long association with sports timekeeping, whether that’s Omega’s official capacity at the Olympic Games or Hublot’s partnerships across racing, cricket and football. Little wonder, then, that sporting icons and celebrities alike are so keen to throw the weight of their names behind this trend to wear the best examples of horological couture. From bespoke novelties to classic timepieces, we round up some of the most exciting big-name brand partnerships.

AUDEMARS PIGUET A favourite of Grand Slam champion Serena Williams ( far left), Audemars Piguet is best known for its passion and meticulous attention to detail in horology. Its Royal Oak collection has enjoyed major success since its initial release in 1972, as evidenced by the number of high-profile celebrities who favour wearing it – including music mogul Jay-Z and Oscar winner Matt Damon – while Tom Cruise has often been spotted sporting an AP Chronograph.

Forging new fires in the timekeeping territory, the brand has recently released a new model line, CODE 11.59 (left). Boasting seamless integration of its signature octagonal case with a more traditional circular bezel, Audemars Piguet has released six unique handmade movements in this new line. Its contemporary sapphire crystal face is double curved, utilising light, depth and perspective to showcase its stunning features. »

audemarspiguet.com

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HUBLOT Hublot has firmly aligned itself with the world of competitive sports thanks to its multiple brand and cup partnerships. It is official timekeeper of the Fifa World Cup 2018 as well as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (a first for the ICC, in fact), and known for its exclusive collaborations with Scuderia Ferrari as the racing brand’s official watch. As such, the brand counts athletes such as sprinter Usain Bolt, England football manager Gareth Southgate and footballer Pelé among its friends of the brand.

With movements built in-house, world recordbreaking power reserves, and patented production processes, Hublot leverages a broad range of manufacturing techniques to lovingly craft its timepieces, which the brand often refers to as a delicate balance between art and science. This ethos certainly shines through in its Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary trio – available in platinum, 3D Carbon (left) or Sapphire and each limited to 90 pieces – which perfectly combines the aesthetics of Ferrari racing with top quality watchmaking. hublot.com

OMEGA Omega’s collaboration with golfer and brand ambassador Rory McIlroy (right) has yielded a number of bestselling timepieces for the brand.

So much so, that Omega presented McIlroy with a Speedmaster Rory McIlroy Special Edition to celebrate his 30th birthday. This year’s Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light ( far right) was a collaboration designed specifically for sport.

The Ultra Light weighs just 55g and is made from an aeronautic alloy called gamma titanium and is driven by the brand’s first ever titanium movement – the Calibre 8928 Titanium.

Omega is known for its links to cinema, too, with internationally acclaimed stars such as Eddie Redmayne and Nicole Kidman counted among its FOBs. Omega’s famous Speedmaster Moon watch was the first timepiece in space, and the brand hosted astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Hollywood star George Clooney at an event to celebrate the moon landing’s 50th anniversary this year. omegawatches.com

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STYLE JAEGER-LECOULTRE For more than a decade, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been closely associated with the most prominent artistic film festivals around the world, including the Venice International Film Festival and the Shanghai International Film Festival. No surprise then, that it has attracted some of the biggest names in film as its friends of brand. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch (right) has been a devoted FOB of the maison since 2018, attending trade shows and demonstrations to find out how the complications are painstakingly crafted. This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre welcomed Nicholas Hoult and Amanda Seyfried to the fold as well.

2019’s edition of the brand’s Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 (bottom right) combines traditional artistic crafts with rare and complex meteorite inlay. Its patented gyrotourbillon movement comprises more than 590 individual pieces. The watch also pays tribute to the watchmakers’ namesake, Antoine LeCoultre, with a limited run of 75 pieces. jaeger-lecoultre.com

JACOB & CO Jacob & Co has recently expanded its collaborative collection with nine-time Spanish La Liga champion Lionel Messi ( far left), with the Epic X Chrono Messi (left) working as the collection’s flagship. Crafted in 18-carat white gold and titanium, the case is meticulously set with 36 baguette-cut diamonds weighing 4.55 carats. It features white ceramic pushers and blue rubber horns, as well as a red rubber crown, and is limited to just 36 pieces.

However, football stars aren’t the only highprofile links Jacob & Co has announced this year.

The brand has also partnered with car firm Bugatti, producing two stunning timepieces to mark the luxe company’s 110-year anniversary.

The star of this show is undoubtedly the Jacob & Co Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti Edition; retailing for a comfortable $527,000 (£409,500), only 39 pieces are to be made – 18 carbon fibre, 18 rose gold and three diamond editions. Housing two triple-axe tourbillons, ensuring the watches’ absolute horological precision, these artistic watches are masterpieces of engineering. jacobandco.com 51

Edinburgh, Scotland

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LIFESTYLE

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Tempus heads to Edinburgh to indulge in a pace-setting fusion of five-star hospitality and automotive luxury Words: Peter Malmstrom

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xtended road trips across Europe and the United States are an authentic indulgence; a significant commitment, both in terms of time and logistics. Imagine then the convenience of flying into a place of natural beauty, checking into a world-class hotel and then having the luxury of an iconic Aston Martin to explore the environs to your heart’s content, returning to your sumptuous hotel for tea and tiffin – along with all the amenities for which the Waldorf Astoria hotels are renowned.

This is the vision of our hosts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Aston Martin Lagonda, who have invited Tempus to Scotland to participate in a new and exciting four-year global partnership, launched in 2019. It was the brands’ progressive marketing teams and think tanks who realised that, through a team approach, each brand could come together to create unique experiential breaks that promoted both brands by each playing to its obvious strength, creating a fantastically enjoyable, fresh and, above all, practical luxury experience.

Both Aston Martin and Waldorf Astoria display sound thinking.

Here, Aston Martin embeds its brand at the heart of its current and potential clients’ interests, extending beyond just ownership into a full 360-degree immersive luxury lifestyle that includes unique experiences and even property ownership, thanks to new Aston Martin Residences projects being developed on both sides of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the Hilton-owned Waldorf Astoria team can offer their clients a new level of mobility with which to take the static luxury of their world and extend the envelope into the beauty of each hotel’s surroundings. »

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And it is beautiful. We travelled to the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian in the heart of Scotland’s capital city. With its rich history and impressive castle, you have a powerful fusion of interest, excitement and relaxation – all of which is easily condensed into a short break or long weekend, a perfect interlude to a busy lifestyle where time is at a premium.

The Caledonian is located on Princes Street in the historic centre of Edinburgh, and stands out against the city’s grey stone with its unusual red brick. Built in 1902, the hotel is unmistakably high Victorian in its design and detail. The interior is wide and spacious – with corridors you could literally drive an Aston Martin down, originally designed to allow gentlemen in top hats and ladies in the huge bell skirts and bustles to pass each other with ease. The grand oak staircase dominates the lobby floor, topped by a stunning brass chandelier descending from the roof – itself a masterpiece of engineering. There are 241 guest rooms and suites, many of which offer a fantastic view of nearby Edinburgh Castle thanks to the unusually long corridors and layout, as well as three restaurants, the Caley Bar, spa and fitness facilities and links to six of the region’s best golf courses. The design also provides many nods the hotel’s origins as a grand railway station, before it was lovingly and sensitively converted to its current grandeur.

To complement this wonderful venue, Aston Martin has delivered two of its new premium offerings, the latest V8 Vantage and the performance flagship of the DB11 range, the DB11 AMR, for guests to drive as part of their stay. Available on selected dates, guests can enjoy the city and its stunning West Highlands surrounds – including the famous Loch Lomond – at their leisure.

Having had some experience with the DB11, I was very keen to explore the ‘upgrade’ delivered by the Aston Martin Racing development team, who take an already exceptional performance car and make it even better. Increases in power from the 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12 add another 30hp under the bonnet, while the fusion of the eight-speed gearbox and uprated suspension make this a very elegant performance masterpiece a joy to drive. A tuned exhaust note in sport urges you to turn down the beautiful Bang & Olufsen sound system just to revel in the gear changes as you set the car up for corners. More responsive steering and noticeable suspension adjustments, which have largely removed any tramping on uneven road surfaces while cornering under power, all come together to deliver a noticeably sharper performance. The carbon fibre brakes enable you to effortlessly stand the car almost on its nose under braking, while the fine balancing prevents instability, albeit with a slight wander as the massive tyres investigate the camber. It’s all very manageable, yet still exhilarating. The only impediment to the mighty V12 DB11 AMR experience was the less-than-iconic Edinburgh rush-hour traffic, which cut short the test drive and left me wanting more. It certainly underlined the thinking behind marrying this iconic car with such luxury locations.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience which heralds a new era of thinking and cooperation between two luxury brands who are striving to offer their clients immersive experiences, which touch all the senses and widen the envelope of enjoyment. The true achievement of Waldorf Astoria and Aston Martin Lagonda is their shared ability to capture the imaginations of two different but clearly compatible client demographics, creating a winning formula for these leading brands who dominate their own space, but understand that their customers are looking for that little bit more. With similar partnership experiences offered by Waldorf Astoria hotels in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Dubai, we believe they have delivered exactly that. waldorfastoria.com/drive 54

LIFESTYLE

THE TRUE ACHIEVEMENT OF WALDORF ASTORIA AND ASTON MARTIN

Clockwise from left: Aston Martin cars outside the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian; The hotel’s luxurious suites; On the road outside Edinburgh; The hotel’s Guerlain spa; A grand staircase dominates the lobby

IS HOW THEY CAPTURE THE IMAGINATIONS

OF THEIR CLIENTS

Fine dining at The Pompadour CALEDONIAN CUISINE Nothing says indulgence like a long, leisurely dinner after day of exploring the stunning Scottish countryside. Thankfully, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian has you covered with its excellent gastronomic options.

The Pompadour Three Rosettes-awarded Pompadour has been a city staple for locals and visitors alike since it opened in 1925. Its listed interior décor, with hand-painted panels, is designed in the Louis XV style – apt, considering the restaurant is named for the French king’s favourite mistress, Madame de Pompadour. The main bay window table is also known as Edinburgh’s premier romantic proposal spot. As well as his sumptuous seven-course Mystery Menu, head chef Dan Ashmore is famous for sourcing local ingredients, including a variety of interesting Scottish seaweeds foraged from the coastline and an incredible truffle substitute, providing varied and authentic flavours to all his dishes.

Grazing by Mark Greenaway One of Edinburgh’s most celebrated restaurants, Grazing by chef Mark Greenaway is designed to allow guests to relax, unwind and connect through its range of modern sharing plates. From tempura soft-shell crab to a fresh take on traditional haggis, neeps and tatties, this restaurant is a perfect venue to spend time with your loved ones.

The Caley Bar This destination city bar is inspired by the original grand Victorian railway hotel that first stood on the site, above the Princes Street railway station. Relax in the bar’s timeless and opulent surroundings as you explore the venue’s collection of 100 whiskies, from hidden gems and rare bottles to well-known brands. Not sure where to begin? The bar’s knowledgeable staff can tailor a personalised flight of Scotch whisky to for you savour.

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Lagavulin Distillery on Islay

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LIQUID GOLD When it comes to rare whiskies, Diageo’s global Casks of Distinction programme is creating a singular concept for discerning collectors Words: Michelle Johnson

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OUR MASTER BLENDERS SPEND AN ESTIMATED

4,200 HOURS EACH YEAR ASSESSING WHISKIES AND LOOKING FOR THOSE RARE WONDERS

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n the world of investment, whisky is an asset that is worth far more than its potential return. In fact, its popularity among collectors is experiencing an all-time boom, topping the Knight Frank Investment Index for the first time this year, with 107,890 bottles of Single Malt sold at auction in 2018 in the UK alone. An emerging Asian market has driven unprecedented interest and created new competition among ‘old money’ buyers from Europe and the US, and true collectors are searching further afield for unique whiskies.

Enter Diageo’s most exclusive programme, Casks of Distinction, a private buyers’ clubmeets-personalised tasting experience that offers access to the spirit producer’s rarest and most exceptional single malts.

“Whisky is unique in that it has an inherent value above and beyond its quality,” says James MacKay, Diageo’s head of rare and collectible spirits. “What you get with this programme is great quality, but also great rarity. We’re dealing with Single Malts that can never be reproduced. Each cask is like a Picasso painting – unique, irreplaceable and incredibly precious. And it’s this combination that is feeding the excitement among connoisseurs.”

The Casks of Distinction programme is curated by a team of four master blenders – including Johnnie Walker’s Jim Beveridge, awarded an OBE this year for services to Scotch whisky – who draw the very best selection of single malts from stocks of Diageo’s 28 operating distilleries, such as Talisker and Mortlach, and closed or ‘ghost’ distilleries indluding Port Ellen and Brora.

“We’ve got close to 10 million casks maturing within Diageo’s collection, so it’s incredibly labour-intensive if we’re going to find the real gems,” says MacKay. “Between them, our master blenders spend an estimated 4,200 hours each year assessing whiskies and looking for those rare wonders.

“It’s very exciting, and we’re fortunate to have

such extensive whisky stocks. But none of us can take credit for what the distillery and maturation managers did 30 or 40 years ago,” he says. “Right from the beginning of Casks of Distinction, there was always more demand than we were able to supply, so unfortunately there’s always the risk of disappointment. But it’s very exciting to see how much interest and passion our customers have across many cultures and countries.”

For UK buyers, the programme is offered by appointment only with Mayfair merchant Justerini & Brooks. There, collectors can taste curated selections during one-on-one appointments.

“We might spend a good hour speaking through different styles, what people like, liquids that bring back memories, like a location or style,” says Tod Bradbury, head of rare and collectible whiskies.

He says a major point of interest from buyers has been learning the history of casks from ghost stock. “When the industry had a downturn and we closed the doors on some stills, we never knew how beautifully aged the stock would be when it came out the other side. There’s a bit of romance there.

The stills might be gone, the people might be gone, but we still have this incredible liquid.”

“I think the ghost distillery offering is so special to our customers because these whiskies can simply never be made again,” agrees MacKay. “It feels different when you open the bottle. When you share this with your friends or guests, they’ll know that they’re being treated to something completely irreplaceable and finite. That’s why Port Ellen and Brora whiskies are so remarkable.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. There is something very romantic about that.”

Of the closed Scottish distilleries, Brora is perhaps the most famous. The distillery, which operated from 1819 to 1983, has attained cult status among connoisseurs and whisky lovers, with a 40-Year-Old 1972 Vintage fetching £54,450 at auction in October. The distillery will reopen 58

next year thanks to investment from Diageo.

“Brora is probably one of the loveliest stories of any distillery,” says MacKay. “It had a short period of success in the Highlands during the ‘Age of Peat’, but it was only after it ceased running that we realised, given time to age, it has produced one of the world’s greatest ever whiskies.

“There’s another distillery called Port Dundas, which is even more esoteric and unknown. It’s actually a single grain distillery rather than a single malt, and we have a cask filled in 1966 that is in absolutely spellbinding condition. It’s very unusual that whiskies can mature for that long without starting to deteriorate.”

Perhaps surprisingly, both MacKay and Bradbury agree there’s no discernible difference in trends between geographic regions. Instead, it’s about taste, quality and history.

“Styles will continue to change as people continue to explore the different parts of Scotland and brands out there,” says Bradbury. “Certainly everyone’s getting turned on by Single Malt Scotch Whisky and there’s a plethora of choice.”

MacKay adds: “Our clients are incredibly diverse and globalised, but the one thing they all share is an wonderful passion for whisky. 10 years ago whisky wasn’t that well known in Asia, outside of Japan, but now people are embracing the story and providence of our whiskies as well as the quality.”

While Casks of Distinction is limited and highly personalised for collectors, the heart of the programme is not selling stock, but sharing the romance. “Obviously, many people will hold onto unique bottles, because they are very precious assets, but I’ve never met someone who only looks at a bottle or cask as something to buy or sell. Our clients are passionate about whisky, and that investment is about sharing in something completely one of a kind.” justerinis.com; diageo.com

INDULGE

Casks of Distinction is curated by Diageo’s four master blenders (opposite, l-r) Maureen Robinson, Dr Emma Walker, Dr Craig Wilson and Jim Beveridge

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Gstaad Palace, Switzerland

PEAK TRADING As the super-rich ditch digital in favour of face-to-face networking, the Alps’ grand hotels are welcoming them back with open arms - and some radical new experiences

Words: Lysanne Currie

WEALTH

Opposite: UHNWs are visiting luxury Alpine retreats like Gstaad Palace (top) and Badrutt’s Palace, St Moritz (bottom) for face-to-face networking

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hat’s the most precious commodity there is? Gold? Oil? Data? The latter may be the most valuable commodity on earth, but there’s one thing that is arguably even more coveted; and for a new breed of elite business leaders and UHNWs, that thing is time. In an often oppressively digital world, going offline and being in charge of your own time is the ultimate in taking back control – absolute, paramount luxury.

This is, admittedly, much easier when you can employ others to keep your inbox at bay, do your grocery shop or book your flights. The UHNW can afford to be among the ‘analogue elite’, those who want to connect, network and do deals in real life. It makes a difference. “Being human in a digital world is the single most important conversation when you work with HNW clients,” says Helen Brocklebank, CEO of UK luxury brand alliance Walpole.

Old-fashioned face time, sharing a meal, genuine human connections, real-world experiences: these are increasingly coveted concepts. “Putting greater value on your time has been an important trend for the past five to seven years,” says Brocklebank.

“People have been creating boundaries so they can recharge – their health, their brains, their time. It’s about scheduling your email time. Or choosing just one social channel. Or just not being available when you’re on holiday. The digital world can be seen as a depleter. And if your life is about enrichment, you have to get rid of the depleters.”

You can see it in the popularity of time-tracking apps like Quality Time and Moment, designed to remind us just how long we’re spending staring at a screen. You can see it in the rise of digital-detox retreats and high end experiential travel outfits such as Black Tomato (their tagline: “We are human”), whose innovative packages transport clients to untouched natural locations. You can see it in the holiday suitcases bulging with paperbacks, as opposed to Kindles.

And you can see it in the choice of networking destinations for these time-rich UHNWs. If the uber-wealthy are to eschew the digital world for real-life interaction, it almost certainly follows

that they’re going to choose somewhere luxurious and away from the hubbub in which to do it.

The trend, increasingly, is to meet in person at winter sports resorts. “We’ve definitely seen a rise in ski resorts becoming a popular meeting place for the global elite to do business,” says Oliver Corkhill, CEO of the luxury ski chalet hire company Leo Trippi, which has just won Best Ski Travel Agent in the World. “Many of our clients head to Davos for the World Economic Forum in January and it’s clear that a great deal of networking and business decisions happen over a cosy fireside chat or a private dinner back at the chalet as opposed to designated events in the Congress Centre. This type of networking seems to have spread into other resorts and it’s not just the older generations – new, younger UHNWs are getting in on the act too.”

DESIRED DESTINATION Le Coucou, the hotly awaited luxury boutique hotel just opened in Meribel was built with exactly this demographic in mind.

“Having recently opened Hotel Lou Pinet in St Tropez, we understand the importance of fostering personal connections and building spaces where relationships can blossom,” explains Leslie Kouhana, president of Maisons Pariente. “This is something we very much had in mind when designing Le Coucou.”

Designed by Pierre Yovanovitch, Le CouCou has a Tata Harper Spa and Beefbar, brands loved by the young jet set. “We wanted to offer warm and welcoming dining and spa facilities with a sense of community and inclusion where guests can meet with friends, host events, have business meetings and more,” Kouhana continues. “The Beefbar and hotel facilities do just that and we believe will make Le Coucou a mountain hotspot like no other.”

The grand old luxury hotels are also adapting and updating to appeal to this latter crowd.

Situated amid the stunning, snowy vistas of the Bernese Oberland, the world-famous Gstaad Palace flings opens its iconic doors again this winter. It’s the resort that actress Elizabeth Hurley says “oozes glamour and style and is as picture-

book pretty as anywhere on earth”, Julie Andrews calls “the last paradise in a crazy world”, and was the regular haunt of royalty, stars and shipping magnates in its 1970s heyday. “I know maybe the best hotel in the world – but it’s not like this one” mused former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

A real-life fairytale castle, dripping with old grand hotel glamour, returners today include designer Miuccia Prada, Hollywood star Anne Hathaway and superstar DJ Mark Ronson. Along with its gorgeous spa, outdoor Jacuzzi and famous GreenGo nightclub, it offers discreet, relaxed cool, impeccable service and instagram worthy experiences such as fat bike tours through the mountains or a meet and greet with the local flock of ostriches.

And, of course, there’s St Moritz – the alpine holiday resort dubbed by Business Insider as the place “where the 1% go to ski”. Billionaires, celebrity and royalty head here every winter to luxuriate in its five-star hotels, Michelin restaurants and, of course, enjoy its world-class slopes (not for nothing has it twice hosted the Winter Olympics). “Compared to other highend Alpine resorts like Courchevel, Verbier or Zermatt, it’s far more discreet,” says Corkhill.

Last season St Moritz’s legendary Badrutt’s Palace not only reinvented its bar and nightclub King’s Social House in collaboration with chef Jason Atherton, but also gave the hotel interior a complete makeover to attract younger, trendier digital nomads, as happy to do business here as in the office. “I’ve certainly noticed fewer UHNW clients absorbed by what’s on their mobile devices,” says Corkhill, “and a much higher demand for tables at exclusive restaurants, private dining rooms and meeting spaces at exclusive members’ clubs like the Gstaad Yacht Club. We’ve also seen several clients rent a chalet for the season for the sole purpose of inviting associates out to the Alps to discuss business.

After all, a day on the mountain is sure to put you in a more relaxed frame of mind to do a deal.” palace.ch; badruttspalace.com; lecoucoumeribel.com; leotrippi.com

GRAND OLD LUXURY HOTELS ARE ADAPTING AND UPDATING TO APPEAL TO A NEW UHNW CROWD

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© Paul Thuysbaert

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NORTHERN EXPOSURE As a CNN documentary spotlights Arctic trailblazer Inge Solheim’s work, he invites Tempus to discover the life-changing force of the world’s most untouched environments Words: Michelle Johnson Photography: Tim Flach

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n Svalbard’s The Polar Hotel, Longyearbyen, Arctic explorer Inge Solheim is hosting a celebratory meal to mark the return of his latest expedition group. Made up of high-powered banking execs, an unflappable television crew, and one of the world’s most prominent wildlife photographers, the conversation could have been a bit been-there-done-it. Instead, Solheim’s guests are considered, reflective; each marked by a new, quiet confidence informed not by outside successes but by each guest’s inward accomplishments. The ice has done its job.

Solheim has guided intrepid men and women to the Polar regions for more than 20 years, and believes it is one of the few truly life-changing expeditions left. In fact, his knowledge of the treacherous landscape is such that the Norwegianborn polar guide is best known for leading Prince Harry and his team of injured veterans to the North Pole in 2011 for the now-Duke of Sussex’s Walking with the Wounded charity, and to the South Pole in 2013.

Now, Solheim is one of the intrepid adventurers starring in CNN’s special three-part series The Modern Explorers, set to air on 12 December, and also featuring Solheim’s Breitling Adventure Squad colleagues, environmentalist David de Rothschild and aviator Bertrand Piccard. The message shared by the three is one of education and environment, something Solheim cares passionately about.

“There’s a beautiful Swedish saying that if you are very strong, you have to be very kind,” he tells Tempus. “And that goes with other things. If you are smart, you must be wise.

If you have resources, you must be generous. I believe the personal journey has become more important than the physical journey, and that’s why the North Pole, which is such an alien environment, can facilitate that inner journey of discovery.”

Here, he tells us about what motivates people to accomplish dangerous treks, why the climate crisis must be faced head on, and how to reconnect to nature. »

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Above and previous: Exploring the Arctic with Inge Solheim. Left and inset: Up close and personal with local wildlife.

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INTERVIEW

Inge, you have led polar expeditions for more than 20 years. What do you enjoy most about your trips?

My job as an expedition leader is to bridge the gap between people’s ambition and their abilities. Sometimes that means I push people physically, sometimes it’s more about life coaching and inspiration. I try to understand what each person is there for and help them find it, and I believe that nature is the best arena to facilitate those processes. In nature, you can push yourself physically, but it also opens your mind and soul, where you can develop your potential.

These trips are about challenging yourself on every level, finding inspiration to do more and better, and to be a better person tomorrow than you are today.

on concrete action. My worry is that the climate change movement, which has turned almost religious in its rhetoric, could be misused as a smokescreen by organisations and politicians who want to go on doing business as usual. We need to address real and tangible things that could make significant impacts: we can’t allow diversions away from pollution, unsustainable power production, transportation or our own unsustainible consumption.

How would you go about addressing this?

I say it’s very simple: we need radical change. We have to tackle the political and economic culture of greed and ego that has created the problems. If our elected leaders can turn talking points into real action and legislation, we can do something about these issues.

But this means changing our economic system, stopping the obsession with constant growth that makes us exploit natural resources at an unsustainable tempo and consume too much. We need to stop subsidising oil and gas industries and invest into new solutions and technologies.

As individuals, we need to change the way we consume.

This change will be painful, but it’s absolutely necessary.

Winston Churchill said it really well: ‘Sometimes it is not enough to do our best; we must do what is required.’

What would you say motivates your clients to want to take on these extreme conditions?

It really varies. My clients are extremely accomplished people in their various arenas, so I learn as much from them as they do from the trip. For some it’s a lifelong dream.

Others might start out just wanting bragging rights, but I find that changes as soon as people start to feel the rewards of reaching new limits and learning new things. When you begin to accomplish real, tangible things like reaching the North Pole, it can completely change your self-image.

Most people come back more humble but with a new, deeper kind of confidence based on experience rather than outside validation.

You are working on eco-friendly opportunities in your own business ventures. Could you tell us more about the brands you work with?

I do; it’s very important to me to try to show that it is possible to do better. I work with SeaDream to build next generation explorer cruise ships, as well as the first five-star hotel in the Arctic. The ship SeaDream Innovation will be the most environmentally friendly cruise ship ever built when finished in 2021. The hotel will run on renewable energy and have zero waste. It’s going to be an incredible, beautiful project. If we can achieve that in in the Arctic, there is no excuse not to do it anywhere else. SeaDream isn’t doing this to look good, but because it’s the right thing to do. Likewise, my partner Breitling is supporting Ocean Conservancy among a lot of different charities. They’re actively giving back to society, and I think that’s a really good example for luxury brands.

You’re a regular visitor to the North Pole; do you ever get used to it?

Never! I find new and more incredible things every time I go. There’s something very unique about the Arctic and Antarctic. They change every time, and you always learn something new about yourself. I think, in my business, we get a lot of credit for what we do because of the legacy of the very first explorers, who managed incredible feats with very little equipment and high risk of failure. Now it’s much, much safer, but the value of visiting these places is still beyond extraordinary.

Why is helping others reconnect to nature such an important part of your work?

I see myself as an ambassador for nature; I want to help people reconnect. The urban lifestyle is sophisticated and complicated, but it leaves people feeling disconnected, so the natural world can feel very alien. It’s important to understand how interconnected the world is. We, as humans, have somehow elevated ourselves to a special position as if we’re better than other creatures, but it’s just not true. We’re dependent on bees and we wouldn’t survive a week without fungus. If our chemicals or pesticides destroy these species or systems, we simply won’t survive. As humans, we have the capacity to do great things, but our ego and greed sometimes also make us do great harm.

You’re one of the stars of Modern Explorers. Tell us about your experience working with CNN? I liked working with CNN because they wanted to talk about what I do, but also why I do it. In the beginning there were a lot of staged moments in prepared settings, but I said, ‘this isn’t me; I don’t work like this.’ Thankfully, they were really on board when I suggested they join us on the Svalbard trip.

The crew came with our group, joined us on glacier walks and kayaking. It was great. It was interesting to see the many different purposes people had on the trip – obviously the CNN crew had their task, but we were also joined by Tim [Flach], who is a beautiful, nutty wildlife photographer really driven by his mission. The way he approaches his work is really powerful, and it was a privilege to be out with him.

As an explorer, what are your thoughts on the climate crisis?

I’m an optimist; I do believe we have the capacity to solve the climate crisis. However, I do think we have to shift the conversation away from esoteric ideas and refocus

Modern Explorers starring Inge Solheim airs on CNN International from 12 December Instagram: @ingesolheim

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UNDER PRESSURE Not for the faint of heart, these treatments will take your workout recovery to the next level, from deep tissue massages to the skin saviours restoring your post-workout glow

LONDON AT TEN TRINITY SQUARE The spa and wellness centre at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square is a gem hidden in plain sight. Located within the grandeur of the Grade II listed former Port of London Authority Building, this excellent members-only spa is as grand as its surroundings, and provides access to hotel guests as well as the venue’s Ten Trinity Private Members Club. At 1,776sq ft, the spa offers a swimming pool, vitality pool, sauna and hammam, but it is its massage and beauty treatments that are truly indulgent – we particularly rate the soothing Luxury Green Caviar Lift Facial (90 mins, £240-£270) for soothing stressed skin. All treatments share a focus on healing, such as the Lympho Palper Rouler massage for a super detoxifier that helps drain fluids and stimulate circulation, leaving skin contoured, firmed and glowing – a perfect accompaniment to your workout. the Private Member’s Club has also launched a new “Olympic Challenge Series” in partnership with Somerton Sporting Club, so guests can expect even more sports therapy in 2020. tentrinitysquare.com

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WELLNESS COTTONMILL SPA Escape to Sopwell House, a luxurious hotel in Hertfordshire, for a spa day to realign the senses. Billed as the country’s first private members’ spa, residents receive complimentary access to its Cottonmill Spa and can upgrade to an exclusive inner sanctum to further enhance the experience. It’s a haven of tranquillity from its techno gym to spa gardens and whisper rooms, while Elemis, ESPA and Aromatherapy Associates treatments – what the brochure calls ‘indulgence therapy’ – ensure stresses melt away. Opt for advanced skin treatments fora visible glow, or body treatments such as the Deeper than Deep Hot Stone Massage (60 or 90 mins); the gently indulgent Sound & Sand treatment (30 or 60 mins); or the Intensive Muscle Release Massage (60 mins), a mix of Swedish and cross-muscle fibre techniques with a combination of soothing essential oils. Bliss. » Sopwellhouse.co.uk

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NED’S CLUB SPA

IF YOU’RE EXPECTING HYPER-TRENDY CLUB AND HOTEL THE NED TO OFFER

If you’re expecting hyper-trendy club and hotel The Ned to offer something a little unusual, you won’t be disappointed. Its spa, luxuriously appointed with Cowshed goodies, is built around a 20m pool and offers treatments and grooming for men and women, including a barbershop and nail salon. Among the modern treatments is the new CBD massage (60 mins, £120), capitalising on the fashionable essential oil derived from the cannabis plant. This massage combines The Ned’s signature Cowshed massage with MariPharm’s essential oil, and uses heated Thai compressors to relax the muscles and alleviate pain – a perfect remedy to even the most strenuous adventure.

SOMETHING A LITTLE UNUSUAL, YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED

thened.com

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WELLNESS

SIX PHYSIO With 13 London clinics, Six Physio is one of the capital’s most expert physiotherapy brands, specialising in everything from injury rehabilitation to ironing out your body’s form and function. It’s a far cry from the opulence of a hotel spa, but what Six might lack in the ambient sound of gentle waves it more than makes up for in its hardcore and expert massage therapy. Your therapist will take a holistic body and mind approach, analysing your form and explaining trouble areas, before bringing on the sports massage of your life. This may be punishing, but promises long-lasting results. » sixphysio.com

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THE DORCHESTER SPA One of London’s most extravagant hotel spas, The Dorchester aims to cater for every guest’s unique needs – whether they want to pop in for a moment of luxury or indulge in a private, soothing space to get away from it all. The spa’s treatment list is impressive, with traditional Thai, Swedish and Aromatherapy massages all on offer. But it’s the Deep Tissue and Sports massages that truly show off the skill of the resident masseurs. Opt for the Aromatherapy Deep Tissue massage (60 mins, from £120) for an intense way to release pain and tension and disperse lactic acid or, for sportier types, a Sports Massage is available by appointment only (60 mins, from £160), and incorporates techniques including soft tissue release and muscle energy work to help bring about optimum performance and reduce injury. dorchestercollection.com

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WELLNESS

TEN HEALTH & FITNESS For those of us looking to soothe the aftermath of our sportier pursuits, a gentle massage just won’t cut it. That’s where Ten comes in. This upmarket chain started more than a decade ago and has since blossomed into a host of clinics across London, regularly praised as offering the capital’s best postmarathon massage. And this high praise is well earned, as Ten’s masseurs provide intense tension relief that focuses on correcting functional imbalance. Ten now hosts everything from fitness classes, reformer pilates and full body MOTs, while its excellent sports massage incorporates core fascial release techniques – great for treating old injuries and pain – truly a life changer. ten.co.uk

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Former Brawn GP CEO Nick Fry (left) with 2009 Formula 1 winner Jenson Button

RACING DREAM In 2009, Brawn zoomed from near bankruptcy to a fairytale finish as Jenson Button won the F1 World Championship. Then-CEO Nick Fry recalls the team’s rollercoaster journey of risk and resilience – and the leadership lessons he learned Words: Lysanne Currie

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Clockwise from right: Jenson Button in 2010; Nick Fry with Sir Richard Branson; Brawn GP’s F1 winning car

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t’s 2006, and Honda’s Formula 1 racing team managers, CEO Nick Fry and head engineer Ross Brawn are celebrating driver Jenson Button’s win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Fast-forward two years: a financial crisis has crippled the UK and, amid the fallout, Honda has suddenly pulled their investment from the project.

Faced with total team collapse and the prospect of informing 700 employees they are about to lose their jobs, Fry and Brawn achieve something remarkable: through resilience, grit and strategic thinking, the team arise phoenixlike and soar through a fairytale turnaround culminating in Button’s extraordinary championship win in 2009.

A decade after Button was crowned world champion in that most dramatic of events (and a year before Formula 1 itself turns 70), Fry’s new book Survive. Drive. Win tells the insider account of the events leading up to it: how Brawn and Fry launched a multimillion-pound gamble called Brawn GP after Honda bailed out, and how Button had been rated an 80-1 shot to win the title before the season had even started.

Sometimes, there really is such a thing as a happy ending.

And Fry is paying it forward, too: all the proceeds from the book are going towards the Hope Tomorrow charity, which provides mobile cancer therapy units that can travel to rural parts of the UK. TOP GEAR Fry, a University of Wales Economics graduate, found his destiny right off the blocks.

“I had the offer of selling soap powder or frozen food goods – or going to Ford Motor Company to pursue my dream of working in cars,” he says. It was a no-brainer. For a new graduate, there were huge benefits in working at a large corporation and Ford had the breadth to allow him to work in a number of disciplines, from financial to manufacturing, marketing, sales and purchasing.

Over the following decade or so he helped develop a range of models, including the Ford Escort Cosworth, and eventually took a role as director of service engineering in the customer service division. By the turn of the new century, Fry had joined Prodrive as managing director, soon promoted to group managing director responsible for its racing and engineering operations. The Banbury-based firm managed Honda’s Formula 1 team.

Then came the financial crash and, in 2008, catastrophe: “Our F1 team was owned in its entirety by Honda, who fell into significant problems, as did most of the industry,” he recalls. “Honda understandably felt they couldn’t continue to support a Formula 1 team that, frankly, hadn’t been overly successful. They wanted out at very short notice.”

TURNAROUND TALENT “Looking back,” says Fry, what happened next “was a triumph for perseverance and optimism”. He and Brawn ended up owning Brawn GP because “frankly there was nobody else

willing to take it on. I think Mrs Fry and Mrs Brawn fully expected that we were going to end up homeless or living in a caravan for the rest of our lives based on what, on the face of it, was extreme folly. But we decided to give it a go.”

Initially, they had 720 employees and a salary bill of several million pounds a month. “But the other option was to shut down the team and leave several hundred families without an income.”

One of the pair’s first tasks as team owners was to write a cheque for €8m for a season’s worth of engines – a huge risk but, “The Mercedes engine we picked was arguably the best on the grid,” recalls Fry. “On top of that we, along with two other teams, came up with a very aerodynamic device at the back of the car, the ‘double diffuser’. We had no idea it would be so powerful or that it would be accepted as legal.”

Gradually the nascent team’s hard work started to pay off. “Richard Branson cottoned on that we might have a chance and sponsored the team.” Brawn arrived in Australia in March for the first race of the season after only a couple of days’ testing, but the cars finished first and second. “We won seven of the first eight races, which put us in a very good position to win the World Championship,” says Fry with a grin.

“Looking back, it was a triumph for perseverance and optimism,” he adds. “We took on the team knowing that unless things went our way we were going to be bust, potentially within a year. If you look at 20 problems all at once it can feel insurmountable. In everyday life, this is a useful lesson. You have to look at things one at a time and knock them down one by one. If you do that you’ve got half the problems you started with. Otherwise, you could just give up.”

In the intervening years, Fry went on to become chief executive of the Mercedes F1 team, working with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, and last year was appointed head of commercial strategy for esports company Fnatic, one of the biggest European gaming teams (“We have a team manager and a coach. They live together, they practise day after day and the top players are earning into the millions”).

“I’m one of these people who thrive on newness and new challenges,” he says. “If you’ve had a life where you’ve been on the go all the time the difficulty can be in slowing down rather than maintaining the speed.”

Now as chairman of Fnatic, he sees a big future in esports.

“Traditional sports will still exist but might become the minority,” he says. “We had teams reach two League of Legends finals, the most recent of which was watched by 35 milllion people around the world online.” And with such an experienced operator at the helm, it is surely only going to thrive even further.

Survive. Drive. Win: The Inside Story of Brawn GP and Jenson Button’s Incredible F1 Championship Win by Nick Fry is published by Atlantic 76

WEALTH

WE TOOK ON THE TEAM KNOWING THAT

UNLESS THINGS WENT OUR WAY, WE WERE GOING TO GO BUST

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THE FAST AND THE CURIOUS Tempus makes tracks for Thailand to find out why investment in high-octane motorsports is giving South East Asia a boost for locals and tourists alike Words: Adam Hay-Nicholls

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On the starting grid at Chang International Circuit, home of MotoGP in Thailand

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Opposite: High-octane action both on the circuit and off

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y alarm hasn’t gone off yet and I can already hear the screaming sound of Valentino Rossi practising on his purple Yamaha. I’m at the motorcycle grand prix in Thailand.

My accommodation couldn’t be closer to the Chang International Circuit; in fact, it is on the circuit, just metres behind the barriers and catch fence.

If you’ve ever stayed at the Hôtel de Paris or Hôtel Hermitage for Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix, you’ll know you can expect triple-glazed glass to shield you from the thunderous sound of flat-chat engines so you may sleep off whatever went on the night before.

Not so here at the MotoGP. I am staying in a shipping container – with windows and air conditioning, admittedly, but a shipping container nonetheless. It’s comfortably furnished, but rather minimalist.

Yet for those who want to really feel the excitement of motorcycle racing, it doesn’t get better than this set-up, which includes free-flowing hospitality on its balconies. Last night’s entertainment was Thai boxing, with a ring erected behind the pits and some of the most celebrated pugilists in Muay Thai invited.

Catching a lift on an Etan – a farm truck decorated with national flags and dozens of Michelin men – I venture up to the paddock for the main race and watch from the grandstand to see Marc Marquez squeeze past Fabio Quartararo on the final corner of the final lap to win a breathless race and a historic world championship.

More than 100,000 people have come to watch the Thailand Grand Prix in the small province of Buriram, 240 miles north-east of Bangkok. It’s proven the most attended race of the MotoGP season. Despite being home to the Phanom Rung temples, which date back to the Khmer empire, few would have cause to come here under normal circumstances – but bike racing has drawn visitors from around the world. There are around 20,000 travellers this weekend from Australia, Italy, Spain, France and the UK. Southeast Asia is embracing ‘sport tourism’, and motor racing is proving particularly attractive.

Formula 1 first made its mark in the region in Malaysia 20 years ago, at the groundbreaking Sepang circuit. Since 2008, the sport has had a hugely popular,

lucrative and telegenic foothold in Singapore, while Vietnam will host its first F1 grand prix in April next year. Grand Prix motorcycle racing has been in the region longer, competing in Malaysia at various circuits since 1991. But now, with motorcycles battling in Buriram and cars competing on the streets of Hanoi, motorsport is upping the horsepower ante in the ASEAN. The 2020 Thai MotoGP event will be the third and final of its current contract with the series’ commercial rights holder, Dorna, but it’s expected to be renewed for another five years. Last year, the race was voted the best GP on the calendar by the teams themselves. Perhaps more important to the Thai government and other public authorities and private enterprises which bankroll the event and cover the £7.6m annual licencing fee, it’s generating more than £79m in tourism – according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry – as well as 7,750 jobs.

“We’re using sport to engage visitors,” says Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of marketing communications, Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT).

“We want to change the perception of Thai tourism from mass tourism to quality tourism. MotoGP tourists are quality tourists; they like to spend money.

That is true of all sports tourists; they spend threetimes as much as regular tourists, TAT’s research tells us. A general tourist, on average, spends 5,000 baht per day (£130), whereas a golf or motor racing tourist spends an average of 15,000 baht per day (£390). They create no negative impact for the country, they come to cheer on their team. And as well as the event, they like to spend time with the local people, eat the local food, see cultural sights and go shopping.”

Most fly to Bangkok after the race, and a large proportion of foreign visitors head further south to visit Thailand’s wondrous islands for a week or more.

I did both, and ended up in the sanctuary of the Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay, where the wedding scenes in The Hangover Part II were filmed. The nightly rates fall well above the average ‘quality tourism’, but the sunsets, views across the cerulean Andaman Sea, gastronomy and stellar service are all well worth the investment – I like to balance out the whole ‘sleeping

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in a shipping container’ thing with a palatial pool villa.

The idea of coming to a loud, exciting motor race in Southeast Asia and then heading to the tranquillity of somewhere like Phulay Bay to restore one’s eardrums makes perfect sense to me, and clearly to TAT also.

But for MotoGP and F1 to work on a sustainable basis regionally it would also benefit from homegrown drivers and riders.

The timing is perfect. Known as ‘King Kong Kong’, Thai Moto2 racer Somkiat Chantra, 20, is hoping to make the step up to the premier league, while 23-year-old Anglo-Thai driver Alex Albon is already in F1. Racing for top three team Red Bull Racing, his performances in this, his rookie season, have been sensational and he’ll be hoping to take his first victory next year. London-born Albon is already the most successful Southeast Asian driver in grand prix history, even though he hasn’t got on the podium yet.

His profile should grow rapidly and he’ll engage more fans in the region. He’ll likely have a lot of support at the Vietnam Grand Prix and may encourage more kids to get into go-karts.

For now, though, bike racing is more popular because Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, Indonesian and Malaysian youngsters can relate to it; 10.25 million motorcycles and scooters were sold in the ASEAN region in 2018, compared with 3.56 million automobiles. Also, many of the manufacturers seen in MotoGP – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki – have factories here, so there’s a tangible connection.

But with Albon flying the flag for Thailand in Formula One, there are moves to bring the fourwheeled sport here. Red Bull GmbH is 51% owned

by Thailand’s Yoovidhya family, who are worth £16.3bn. Red Bull Racing have staged a number of driving demos on the streets of Bangkok, the last one attracting 125,000 spectators. Buriram may choose to swap relatable superbikes for the glamour of F1.

“We’ve been talking about F1, but it’s not easy. It’s very expensive,” says Tanes Petsuwan. “For the time being, I think MotoGP is good enough. But F1 is our dream. In a couple of years, maybe.” motogp.com

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Paradise unplugged We find out what happens when you combine deserted beaches, marine adventure and a chance to truly switch off

Words: Alia Shoaib

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n my fourth day on Alphonse Island I finally come face to face with its most notorious resident: George.

At least 90 years old and weighing in at 300kg, George is the oldest giant tortoise on the island, and his powerful presence is well known among Alphonse residents. After a tense moment of sizing me up he is surprisingly friendly, slowly extending his scaly neck to be petted.

Africa’s smallest country, the Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands, referred to as the scattered jewels of the Indian Ocean, and of which the vast majority are uninhabited. This means, of course, that it boasts a remarkable wildlife. The Seychelles is one of only two places in the world to which giant tortoises are native — the Galapagos being the other – and the magnificent prehistoric creatures roam Alphonse Island freely, despite the risk they pose to blocking roads.

Situated in the outer islands, 400km south west of the country’s largest island Mahé, Alphonse Island is a postcard come to life. Being just seven degrees south of the equator, the island is blessed with a perpetual summer, and is therefore popular all year around.

Part of the Alphonse Group, the remote island is home to a sprawling luxury resort that has on site bar and restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts and spa. Guests are also provided with bicycles – which our hosts assure us is the best way to see the island. With just 22 beach bungalows, five beach suites and two villas on the complex, the island’s privacy and intimacy is unrivalled, and certainly adds to its charm as a far flung getaway. Island dining typically includes freshly caught fish, such as wahoo or tuna, and the majority of fruit and vegetables served are grown in the resort’s organic garden.

Each meal is delicious, blending fresh flavours with Western and Creole influenced dishes.

What’s more, there’s no WiFi around the island, except for a patchy connection accessible from the bar or reception. At first, this seems like an inconvenience, but very quickly feels like a true luxury — an opportunity to genuinely unplug and unwind.

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TRAVEL

THE SEYCHELLES IS AN ARCHIPELAGO OF 115 ISLANDS, REFERRED TO AS THE SCATTERED JEWELS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

Clockwise from top: Villas at Alphonse Island; native giant tortoise ; the flats of St François Atoll; fresh seafood

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MARINE DREAM If one still needs a reason to put away the electronics, the atoll has endless activities to offer for active holidaymakers.

One of the most spectacular and unforgettable experiences in Alphonse Island’s roster is lunch on the flats. A 30 minute boat ride transports guests deep into the heart of the Indian Ocean to dine on the flats of St François Atoll — a submerged island of sand in the middle of the ocean. Surrounded by glistening turquoise waters as far as the eye can see, guests are treated to a feast comprising of a bar and buffet offering salads and sides, and a grill serving meat and fish. Strolling along these remarkable natural sandflats might even bring you eye to eye with turtles and other marine species.

It’s clear that exploring this world beneath the twinkling surface of the Indian Ocean is a major part of the Alphonse experience. Being so remote, the marine life here is abundant and the visibility is excellent, making it very popular for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Our dive instructor tells us that a dive is usually considered poor if you don’t see at least six turtles – and my scepticism is immediately disproved when, on my own first dive, I find myself swimming with no fewer than eight hawksbill and green turtles. Everywhere I look are hundreds of fish — huge shoals of bluestripe snapper, giant trevally, sweetlips, spiny lobsters, feathertail stingrays. In fact, Alphonse is most famous as a flyfishing destination, which operates on a strict catch-and-release policy in line with sustainable fishing commitments, so there’s more than one way to meet the marine life here.

Guests can also take a boat ride with the Blue Safari team in search of wild spinner dolphins to swim with. If lucky, it’s also possible to spot humpback whales between August and October. Other aquatic activities offered include kayaking and paddle-boarding, as well as boat excursions to the other two islands in the Alphonse Group, St. François and Bijoutier, which are both uninhabited. »

COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION Conservation is at the heart of the Alphonse Group, with everything done in alignment with the Island Conservation Society (ICS). The ICS works to protect the island’s rich biodiversity, which includes monitoring turtle and wedge-tailed shearwater bird nesting, tracking fish migration patterns, and regrowing natural vegetation that was wiped out by colonial settlers centuries ago.

There are many opportunities to be educated on and participate in their conservation efforts, with the team giving regular talks about their projects – including the decision to recently become the the only commercial outer island in the Seychelles to become fully reliant on solar power.

Alphonse team’s conservation efforts run to the beach life as well. Guests can visit the island’s tortoise pen, where babies are cared for until they are old enough to survive on their own, or get their hands dirty with weekly beach clean-ups. The waste collected is reused wherever possible — plastic bottles used to plant seedlings, flip-flops used to create colourful art pieces.

After a few hours of getting involved, what better way to celebrate your achievements than with sundowners on the beach, complete with Seybrew beer and cocktails made with the famous Takamaka rum. The beach bar, tucked away from the main resort complex, is special and romantic, perfect for intimate dinners with the backdrop of magnificent crimson and ochre sunsets. For those eager to socialise, Alphonse staff provides a traditional, cheerful ceremony each evening, which involves ringing a ceremonial bell and handing out milky cinnamon shots.

A MODERN EDEN Alphonse Island is only reachable by a small plane from Mahé, with flights available two to four times a week depending on season, and so no trip to this remote paradise would be complete without a stop over in Mahé, the Seychelle’s largest and most populated island – the capital, Victoria, accomodates 86% of the country’s entire population.

But Mahé’s charm lies in its lush, wild jungle, fringed by sandy beaches. A modern Garden of Eden, we stayed in Petite Anse’s Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, which provides guests with individual tree-house villas sprawled across the heights of a steep jungled hillside.

Our six-bedroom villa includes sprawling master bedrooms, and the communal area boasts a gorgeous infinity pool, living room and dining room. Every angle offers panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding jungle that took my breath away at every hour.

The central hotel complex includes access to the deserted Petite Anse beach, a pool and two restaurants. The spa, nestled high up the mountains, offers massages as well as yoga and meditation sessions.

While the word paradise is often thrown around when describing tropical islands, there is something special about the Seychelles that truly earns the title — the remoteness, the long stretches of unspoilt shorelines and azure waters, the swaying palm trees and lush forestry — it doesn’t get more idyllic than this.

THE WORD PARADISE IS OFTEN THROWN AROUND TO

DESCRIBE TROPICAL ISLANDS,

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEYCHELLES

alphonse-island.com fourseasons.com

Clockwise from top: Activities include diving; Private dining on the beach; Alphonse’s Le Lys bar; Inside the villa 86

TRAVEL

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Carlos Place, savills.co.uk

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THE RENTAL REVOLUTION Affluent individuals are no longer acquiring trophy residences; instead, they are moving in favour of letting super-prime homes Words: Cheryl Markosky

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enting is the new buying for millionaires.

According to research from Knight Frank, demand for £5,000-plus a week super-prime property is the highest it’s been for seven years, as short-term tenants and would-be buyers wait and see what will happen with Brexit and the global economy.

There were 153 super-prime tenancies agreed in the year to June, up 20% on the previous 12 months.

Houses on the sales market not attaining guide prices – like a smart home on Notting Hill’s Clarendon Road – are being quietly rented. “There were offers in the late £20 millions, but the owner wanted to get £30m. So we let the property at £17,500 a week to a Swiss fund manager for three years,” explains David Mumby, Knight Frank’s regional lettings manager.

The emergence of this uber-tenant is also in part a disguised stamp duty savings scheme, points out Trevor Abrahmsohn at Glentree Estates. “If you buy and sell a super-mansion, stamp duty and other fees amount to 20% of the purchase price – £6m alone for a property worth £30m. This gives the canny renter a budget of £1.2m per annum (or £23,000 a week) over five years.”

Many top-end tenants treat this as a ‘try before you buy’ scheme, with an option to purchase or first refusal written into the rentals contract, says Isabella Birch Reynardson, director of Savills Super Prime Lettings.

“Some high-end clients rent while building work’s carried out on their homes, while for others it’s a way to get into good school catchment areas,” she says.

SETTING THE STANDARDS Landlords can profit from sky-high rentals, but the wealthy can be exacting, cautions James Wyatt of Barton Wyatt in Surrey, who has let homes to actors Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe. “They want new, fully-furnished, luxury homes with pools, high levels of privacy and security, underground parking and staff accommodation.”

Among the company’s rental properties is a gated country mansion in leafy Surrey available at £32,000 a month, featuring 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and seven reception rooms, as well as a pool, gym and steam room and cinema, and chandeliered kitchen for the ultimate in opulent entertaining. Often, tenants’ exacting needs require a little remodelling.

Knight Frank converted a tennis court into a pop-up gym with 40,000 lbs of equipment for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson at a nine-bed Richmond mansion while he was filming a Fast and Furious spin-off.

Similarly, in the sports world, touring athletes often want the comforts – and personalisation – of homes to aid their training regime. For

DEMAND FOR £5,000-PLUS A WEEK SUPER-PRIME PROPERTY IS THE HIGHEST IT’S BEEN FOR SEVEN YEARS example, tennis star Novak Djokovic needs space to accommodate an oxygen chamber to enhance recovery after playing grand slams.

“Elite athletes wanting a good night’s sleep demand blackout blinds and comfort cooling,” explains Stephen O’Kane, associate director of Savills corporate services department. Another leading player wanted “a garage large enough to hold God knows how many cars. It was odd, as he was only there for a short time,” says O’Kane. “When would he have time to buy them?”

Jo Eccles of Sourcing Property recalls: “One young footballer demanded an entire room to house his collection of cartoon character memorabilia. It was like a section of Hamleys.”

PRIME PRIVACY Signing a non-disclosure agreement is de rigueur at this end of the market, adds Black Bricks’ Camilla Dell.

Private gyms – “the super-rich aren’t comfortable working out with everyone else” – massage rooms and space for trainers and nutritionists is also vital.

However, while the temptation to mimic the trend of fully-serviced residences to lure high net worth individuals in might be irresistable, Martin Bikhit of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kay & Co believes landlords shouldn’t try too hard.

“Will a home with a 200-metre wine cellar opposed to a 100-metre wine cellar really rent better?” Bikhit asks, suggesting that landlords should instead focus on providing good-sized rooms, storage, and quality kitchens and bathrooms to keep upper echelon renters happy.

Grand examples of these rental properties can be found both in the capital and home counties, rivalling serviced hotel residences for their built-in but utterly private amenities.

Sotheby’s International Realty offers a contemporary-meets-period home in Tilney Street with a dining room for 12, ornate fireplaces, winding staircases and services available from the nearby Dorchester Hotel – all from £12,000 per week –while in Chelsea’s Drayton Gardens, discerning tenants can have it all in a £8,250-per-week family house close to Fulham Road’s bars and shops, available from Aylesford International. The master suite covers the entire first floor, a reception/dining room leads onto the garden and keeping fit’s easy in a private gym.

In Bayswater, a remodelled period house let

by Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward allows renters to maximise modern luxe living with a large gallery, spacious gym, cinema room and landscaped gardens. A big bonus of this £14,000-per-week property is electronic off-street parking for two cars, ensuring that this home-to-rent is as future-proof as it comes.

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Pictured: The Bishop’s Avenue (left) and Kensington Park Gardens (above), both knightfrank.com; Drayton Gardens, aylesford.com ( far right); Tilney Street, Mayfair, sothebysrealty.com (right).

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INDULGE

Taking the REINS Winemaking powerhouse Barbara Banke on why American vineyards are taking cues from Europe

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arbara Banke is one of the most powerful women in winemaking. As chairman and proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, she’s in charge of an impressive portfolio of more than 40 world-class vineyards and wineries, including the flagship KendallJackson estate and 24 acclaimed US properties across California and Oregon.

She’s spent the last four decades building the company she co-founded with her late husband, wine icon Jess Jackson, pushing global expansion into France, Italy, Chile, South Africa and Australia as well as shaking up practices across the business. In fact, the family is hailed as an innovator for its philanthropic work and shaking up sustainability practices across the family business.

When she’s not working on the family’s impressive wine portfolio, Banke breeds racehorses from her Kentucky stables. In fact, her Stonestreet Farm stables have produced Horses of the Year winners Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, Eclipse Award-winner Good Magic as well as Cartier Award-winner My Miss Aurelia.

It’s only fitting, then, that Tempus meets Banke at Guard’s Polo Club, where the family's highly acclaimed Sonoma County winery Vérité is the club’s official red wine sponsor. There, Banke explains how her twin loves of creating great wine and winning horses aren’t without similarities.

“It’s an agricultural pursuit in both cases,” she says. “Every year you get a new crop. Hope springs eternal but it’s dependant on what nature gives you.

It’s exciting.”

Do you feel UK consumers have an appetite for American wines?

The UK market is Euro-focused and leans toward lighter styles, although there are a lot of people who like fruit-forward styles as well. The wines that we produce – including from Kendall-Jackson – are well-balanced, which appeals to the UK market.

We also have some really wonderful pinot noirs from Oregon. Vérité does very well here. It has a CalifornianEuropean taste profile because our winemaker was trained in Bordeaux.

He tends to pick grapes at the fresher end of the spectrum, so the wines have a lot of refinement and age very well.

Are there any new trends that you find interesting?

Currently, sparkling wine and rosé are the big categories – everyone in the UK seems to want to drink rosé, especially during the summer months.

Jackson Family Wines has some rosés from La Crema, from KendallJackson and from my personal favourite, Gran Moraine. This comes from the Willamette Valley in Oregon and is pinot noir-based. Another trend is that people are drinking less, but better quality. Recently, I’ve been impressed with some of the sparkling wine coming out of the UK, so that might be an area to look at.

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How has the industry changed?

When I first came to the wine industry in 1982, it was very maledominated, though there were a few spectacular women winemakers at that time. For example, Signe Zoller was one of our original winemakers for Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery, which was very unusual then.

Now we have a number of excellent women winemakers at different wineries, including Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Freemark Abbey, PennerAsh and Matanzas Creek Winery.

Vérité is one of your best known wines; what makes it unique?

Vérité’s revered winemaker, Pierre Seillan, came to the US from Bordeaux in 1998. He produces beautifully refined, impeccably balanced and complex wines that can age for 50 years, so they’re very collectible. We have three different Bordeaux-inspired blends: La Muse, a Pomerol-style, which is merlot-based; La Joie blend emphasising cabernet sauvignon; and Le Désir, which is predominantly cabernet franc. The wines have received 15 100-point scores from The Robert Parker Wine Advocate, which indicates their quality and stature.

How important is sustainability to your business?

We find that a lot of people want to

know where the grapes come from, how we farm, how we make the wines and that we’re doing something very responsible. Recently we partnered with the Torres family of Spain to see if we can reduce our carbon emissions by 80% by 2045. It’s very ambitious.

We have a lot of energy-saving and water conservation initiatives. We have also looked at the way we farm, and are trying to sequester carbon in our farming operations as well. In winemaking, the carbon footprint is largely based on the glass that you use, and the production of glass, so we are trying to lower the weight on some of the bottles because that reduces emissions. Not much glass is really recycled, which is another thing we are looking at. I think we’ll start locally with that and see if we can create a meaningful programme.

Do you approach your passion for breeding racehorses the same way?

They both have their charms. I’d say in horse racing, when you are winning a group, each race is very rewarding.

I’ve had a horse of the year in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in America and then my filly, Lady Aurelia, won a Cartier award as the top young filly. That’s very rewarding. Very exciting. jacksonfamilywines.com

SAVE the DATE Your luxury events calendar for December 2019 and January 2020

SPORT Fresh from New Zealand, the England cricket team embarks on a tour of South Africa (from 17 December), with the team’s first four-match test beginning Boxing Day. In Melbourne, the Presidents Cup (9-15 December) will see the biggest names in golf go head to head, with Tiger Woods (left) leading the US team and the International team led by South African pro Ernie Els. The Omega Dubai Desert Classic (23-26 January) follows with the UAE’s golf tournament celebrating its 30th year, then back to Melbourne, where the Australian Open (20 January-2 February) will see Djokovic, Nadal and Federer battle it out for the men’s top seed, and teen tennis prodigy Coco Gauff tipped to surprise in the women’s open. Smashing!

MOTORSPORT With the final Formula 1 grand prix of the 2019 season having just taken place in Abu Dhabi, it’s time to turn to its electric equivalent. FIA Formula E returns to Chile for its first electric street race of 2020 (18 January). Thrill as 24 cars and drivers go head-to-head on Santiago’s leafy streets, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Andes. The equally picturesque French Riviera will see both the Rallye Monte-Carlo (20-26 January, left) and classic car Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique (29 January-5 February) return in style, organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco. The former is held on the legendary route of the Côte-d’Azur, counting towards the WRC World Rally Championship, a prized title which all drivers and constructors dream of winning. Start your engines…

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SEE England in StylE at UEFa EURO 2020 OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MATCHES AT WEMBLEY STADIUM BOOK YOUR PACKAGES TODAY

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EQUESTRIAN The London International Horse Show is back at Olympia (17-22 December), bringing all things equestrian back to the capital’s exhibition centre. The event will feature the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup and the FEI Dressage World Cup, plus a host of exhibitor stalls. Later in the month, place your bets at the annual King George VI Chase at Kempton (Boxing Day). In St Moritz, the Snow Polo World Cup (2426 January, right) celebrates its 35th anniversary at Badrutt’s Palace, while across the pond the world’s richest horse race, the Pegasus World Cup, returns to Florida (25 January) – two mane events to launch the new year.

ART & DESIGN The premier art show of the Americas, Art Basel Miami Beach returns, displaying contemporary works from more than 200 leading galleries (5-8 December). Stay in the US for FOG Design+Art, San Francisco (16-19 January), which invites the brightest stars of the creative world to display for a challenging weekend of modern design – including 21POP, a special installation by Stanlee Gatti. Closer to home, the London Art Fair kicks off its 32nd year (22-26 January). For 2020 the fair has partnered with Southampton City Art Gallery, highlighting the UK’s finest collection of modern British art outside the capital.

CULTURE The Royal Opera House company is set to impress audiences with a naturalistic new production of Verdi’s epic, La Traviata (opens 17 December, left) directed by Richard Eyre. In the world of film, The Golden Globes return with a glamorous celebration of 2019’s best achievements in film and television (5 January), while in music the star-studded US Grammy Awards take place in New York (26 January). Paris Haute Couture Week sees the country’s most extravagant designers – including Chanel, Dior and Givenchy – take to the runway in inimitable style (20-23 January).

For more exciting events, visit our website: WWW.TEMPUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 96

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TRIED & TASTED Contemporary fine jewellery designer Tessa Packard shares her restaurant recommendations and reveals her passione for Italian cuisine Words: Freddy Clode Discover designs by Tessa Packard London at tessapackard.com

CELEBRATE | RIVER CAFÉ This famous Fulham restaurant has served seasonal Italian food since 1987, the training ground for some of Britain’s best-loved chefs, including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Packard says: “The food is amazing, the service attentive but discreet, and the location spectacular – especially in the summer.” rivercafe.co.uk

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INTERNATIONAL | FLORENCE, ITALY

An elegant private members’ club in Mayfair known as one of London’s most secretive and discreet venues. This exclusive location is perfect for a private appointment.

An independent restaurant in the heart of Islington, Trullo offers a British take on Italian cooking by head chef Tim Siadatan.

A family-run spot in the picturesque Oltrarno district, Packard says seemingly-simple restaurant Trattoria la Casalinga is a favourite of locals and tourists alike.

Packard says: “It has the best service in London is and by far the most comfortable place to have a cocktail pre- or post-dinner, whatever time of the year.”

Packard says: “A new discovery for me and so far it has never failed to wow. The Italian cooking is imaginative but traditional – no ghastly foams or random ingredients.”

Packard says: “We’re based in London but I would travel any day of the week to eat at Trattoria la Casalinga – the best ‘home-style’ Tuscan cooking in the city.” trattorialacasalinga.it

5hertfordstreet.com trullorestaurant.com 100

The New Bournbrook Travel Bag Collection.

Handcrafted in England alongside our prized best guns and rifles. westleyrichards.com/bournbrook

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Riverwalk East Developments, LLC, a Florida limited liability company is the owner of the property on which the Condominium is to be constructed and the seller of the units in the Condominium and is for purposes of the Florida Condominium Act the “developer” of the Condominium (“Developer”). Developer has engaged G & G Business Developments, LLC. (“G & G”) to assist with the development and marketing of the Condominium and its units and Developer has a limited right to use the trademarked names and logos of G & G. Any and all statements, disclosures and/or representations relating to the Condominium shall be deemed made by Developer and not by G & G and elating to the development and/or marketing of the Condominium and with respect to the sales of units in the Condominium. All images and designs depicted herein are artist’s conceptual renderings, which are based upon preliminary development plans, and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. All such materials are not to scale and are shown solely for illustrative purpose. For New York Purchasers only, the complete offering terms also require reference to that certain CPS-12 Application available from the ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER, FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. Conway+Partners