Yachtstyle issue 24

Asia’s award winning boating lifestyle magazine

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24

louis vuitton cup

SAILING koh samui People Eddie Law Boatyard nautor’s swan launch monte carlo 86 timepieces race watches YS24_Cover 7.indd 1

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PR E STICiE速 LUXURY MOTOR YACHTS

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YACHTSTYLE ISSUE TWENTY-four summer

LOGBOOK 024 NEWs Hong Kong-Vietnam Race, Ferretti in Asia, Migaloo superyacht sub

034 regattas Ensenada, Koh Samui, Penghu Regatta and ABC Classics Rally

040 BOAT SHOWs Korea International, Hong Kong Gold Coast, Nansha, Macau and SIBEX

046 PArties Veuve Cliquot Yellow Summer, The Macallan ‘M’, and Hebe Haven 50th

056 People Ilkka Seppälä takes a new approach to floating solutions for the future

058 People Eddie Law talks about the Princesses that he is introducing to Hong Kong

FEATURES 062 AC CHALLENGErs The men and teams sailing those spectacular cats in the Louis Vuitton Cup

068 DREAM BOAT Nautor’s Swan are so much more than ‘just boat builders’

076 CHARTER CHOICES Rent, don’t buy! Sail away in a private hotel for a week or more.

086 50th birthday The superyacht builder CRN turns 50, and looking better than ever

092 SAILing cOMMUNITY Sansiri’s community responsibility programme supports youth sailing in Asia

098 FAST & FURIOUS Jetskis mean personal freedom, and are more than just superyacht toys

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on board 106 pocket maxi The Monte Carlo 86 thinks it is a superyacht and it is a mini version

112 NEW BOATS Princess 88, Ferretti 690, Astondoa 72 GLX, Wider 150 and Oceanis 55

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YACHTSTYLE ISSUE TWENTY-four summer

STYLE 126 fair game Asia is now home to four large international contemporary art fairs

132 race time Watches to get you across the start line, bang on time

138 grandes cuvees How well do you know your Moet from your Mumm?

142 HIGH BROWSE Limited Edition ‘must have’ good’s that add distinction to life

145 lAST word A shortage of moorings is stifling the leisure marine industry in Hong Kong

146 lAST SHOT Sailors or gladiators?

America’s Cup crews wear full body armour

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13 8 24

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managing editor suzy rayment contributing editors: guy nowell, Nic Boyde, Bob Fisher, Jenny cooper Mai-Yan Lai, paul zimmerman, and Maria Boyde

photographers: Guy Nowell, Gilles Martin-Raget, Carlo Borlenghi, kurt arrigo and chris cameron art director: JIVA production and PrintinG: GEAR PRINTING LTD SALES AND MARKETING director: Darren Barton SALES manager: josephine look circulation manager: Lo Wai gei SALES TRAFFIC COORDINATOR: johnny Chan SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: LIZ HAMERTON international advertising sales International: Darren Barton:enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk china: Maria Lam: China.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk singapore and Indonesia: Jo Barton: Singapore.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk thailand and Malaysia: Poon Kosolkarn :Thai.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk CANADA AND USA Manxman Publishing Inc: NAMERICa@yachtstyle.com.hk AUSTRALIA : One World Publications: Australia@yachtstyle.com.hk managING DIRECTOR: HONG KONG Guy Nowell creative director: Davide Butson-Fiori CHIEF FINANCIal Officer: Nic Boyde Yachtstyle Asia Directors: Nic Boyde, Darren Barton, Guy Nowell, Suzy Rayment cover Photograph louis vutton cup challenger luna rossa Photography gilles martin-raget

Published by Yachtstyle Asia Ltd 2A Gold Shine Tower, 346 - 348 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2792 6234 Email: enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk www.yachtstyleasia.com Advertising Enquiries Tel: (852) 9680 3511 or (852) 9680 7063 E-mail: enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk

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Tel: (852) 2873 3803 All rights reserved © 2013 Yachtstyle Asia Ltd All materials published remain the property of Yachtstyle Asia Ltd. Manuscripts and photographs submitted to Yachtstyle magazine should be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with return postage. While they will take reasonable care, the editors assume no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Single copy HK$80.

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12 editor's letter summer ISSUE

suzy rayment

flashback to the 1980s - learning to drive one of the first jetskis to arrive in Hong Kong

Clockwise from top left: The launch of the Monte Carlo 86 in Monaco; Tom Cruise meets the Top Guns on Emirates Team New Zealand; sea trials on Swan 90 in Finland

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W

ith only three yachts competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup, it was not much of a Challenger Series when compared to previous editions.

Artemis Racing had her 15 seconds of fame in the semifinals, but was soundly trounced 0-4

by Luna Rossa who will now meet Emirates Team New Zealand in the final of the challenger series. We will have to wait until the end of August to find out who will compete against Oracle Team USA for the America’s Cup - which is set to start in September. To find out about the men and the teams in the Louis Vuitton Cup see our feature story on the Penultimate Challenge (page 62).

We also give over the Gallery in this issue to the AC 72 ‘mean machines’ who have launched sailing ‘into the future’ with their wing sails, foiling catamarans and space-age technology. (page14).

Until now, body armour has not been part of a sailor’s crew kit; our Last Shot image of Chris Draper shows how Prada have turned a space-age armoured sailing suit into a fashion statement – and probably the closest that we’ve ever come to running a pinup! (page 146).

Moving on from the elite end of sailing, we take a look at how property company Sansiri PLC is supporting and promoting youth sailing in Thailand. A generation of Thai sailors have been inspired to follow in the footsteps of the King, who won a medal for sailing at the 1967 SEA Games. Sansiri PLC, sponsors of the Thailand National Optimist Sailing Championships 2013 are making it happen for a whole community of young people in Asia (page 92).

Continuing with the sailing theme, I recently visited the

Nautor’s Swan yard in Finland, and gained an understanding of why Swan yachts are so often described as ‘the sailor’s dream boat’. The brand has a well-deserved reputation, worldwide, for quality and service, and they continue to be a perennial favourite amongst the racing and cruising fraternity (page 68).

Returning from Finland to warmer waters, and with the sun shining in between typhoons, we hopped on board a jetski to experience life in the fast lane - on the water. Talking to a group of jetski enthusiasts who come together each weekend, we learned not only about their ‘need for speed’, but also their desire to fit in with all the other water-users out there. Their story is featured in Fast and Furious (page 98).

Summer in Asia is the perfect time to hire a charter yacht, but really anytime is a good time! Our feature story on Charter Choices helps those who are new to the boating world by unravelling some of the jargon and mystery associated with boats and chartering, and hopefully encouraging them to sign up for the holiday of a lifetime (page 76).

Add in the launch of the Monte Carlo 86, a party or two, a rundown on the growing modern art show scene in Asia, a large glass of champagne and the latest racing watches, and you have 148 pages of yachting style to keep you entertained. Next issue will be our 25th, and we are planning to bring you a ‘Best of the Best’ edition. Boats, brands, destinations, events – count on it, they’ll all be there and much, much more!

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16313 RH Yachtstyle Sept2013_Layout 1 22/07/2013 12:44 Page 1

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14 GALLERY LOUIS VUITTON CUP 2013 EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND

POINT OF CONTACT How do you balance a 72’ catamaran moving at 40kts, and almost 18 ft up in the air, on 2 sqm of carbon fibre? Ask Emirates Team New Zealand - they do it better than anyone else.

ETNZ are favourites to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and thereby earn the right to challenge for the America’s Cup later this year.

PHOTO: © ACEA /ABNER KINGMAN

Ys | AUTUMN 2012 | 15

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16 GALLERY LOUIS VUITTON CUP 2013 LUNA ROSSA

RED ALERT Challenger No 2. Luna Rossa brings a touch of sartorial style to the Louis Vuitton Cup - hardly surprising when your team is sponsored by Prada! These people can even turn body armour into a fashion statement.

PHOTO Š ACEA / GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

Ys | AUTUMN 2012 | 17

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18 GALLERY LOUIS VUITTON CUP 2013 ARTEMIS RACING

FLYING START To earn the right to challenge for the America’s Cup, first you have to win the Challenger Series - the Louis Vuitton Cup. Of the three entries, Artemis Racing had the least time on the water and therefore the least practice. But that doesn’t stop them looking spectacularly good as they fly across San Francisco Bay. PHOTO © ACEA / SANDER VAN DER BORCH

Ys | AUTUMN 2012 | 19

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20 GALLERY AMERICA'S CUP 2013, DEFENDER ORACLE RACING

ALL TO PLAY FOR Oracle Racing, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club and funded by Larry Ellison, is the present holder - and therefore Defender - of the America’s Cup. Come September, they meet the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup to thrash out the ownership of the oldest trophy in international sport.

PHOTO: © ACEA / GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

Ys | AUTUMN 2012 | 21

BOAT INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

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lEADSHIP ROYAL DUTCH SHIPYARDS

Asia Pacific

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KATAROCKS IN F INI TE LU X U RY

27/05/2013 3:38 PM

The Who’s Who were at the launch of the MCY 86 featured in Monte Carlo Magic p.054 while Eddie Law’s Princesses all promise silver service P.058

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I VAN FOIS

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24 LOGBOOK NEWS

Thailand in Transpac DOUG GIFFORD/ ULTIMATESAILING.COM

DID YOU KNOW? In early August, Robin Lovelock’s boat took off across an ocean... without him! The 4’ long remote controlled vessel, Snoopy Sloop, is making a bid to be the first unmanned craft to cross the Atlantic. Mini Transat, indeed!

O

Azzam newest record-holder. But industry sources say the owner is likely the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates.

Burgess Technical Services were the Consultants and Project Managers in the initial stages of the project, developing the brief and commissioning the build. Technical engineering was developed by Lürssen, with exterior design by Nauta Yachts and interior design by Christophe Leoni.

Aside from its sheer size, Azzam was require to be super-fast and able to navigate shallow waters “while providing luxurious and sophisticated accommodation for its guests.” The boat is powered by jets rather than propellers, and boasts 94,000 horsepower. A recorded top speed of 30 knots is about 30% faster than most megayachts.

“It’s like a 590-foot jet ski,” said one executive involved in the project. Azzam will go through sea trials in the summer and will be officially launched in autumn.

T

he spectacular 180m motor yacht Azzam, by Lürssen Yachts, has officially bumped Roman Abramovich’s 536ft Eclipse of the top of the ‘Biggest’ list. Azzam represents a significant milestone in the superyacht industry. Conceived for cruising in warm shallow waters, the vessel is an innovative and ground-breaking megayacht with fast speed capabilities, highly sophisticated facilities and an unprecedented degree of luxury.

Lürssen won’t say who owns the

GUY NOWELL

Hong Kong-Vietnam Race 2013

This year’s Hong Kong-Vietnam Race, organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and starting on 17 October, has already attracted huge interest from overseas competitors, and is shaping up to be a classic in its own right.

Local boats who just can’t stay away from this race include Sam Chan’s FreeFire.

‘We have unfinished business – a damaged mast in 2008 and a broken rudder stock in 2011 mean we haven’t had any good

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finishes lately’. The Burns/Kinmonth combo EFG Bank Mandrake (King 40) is back for another go, and is joined by Keith Jacobs’ Ker 40 Signal 8. At the moment Redeye (J/145-C, Wayne Thompson) and Sea Monkey (Sense 50, Emmanuel Pitsilis) and Raphael Blot’s straight-out-of-the-box superlight superfast MC60 catamaran make up the local contingent. Already in Hong Kong and waiting to get going (3 months early, they must be keen!) are

T

hai sailor Patinyakorn “Ging” Buranrom, along with co-skipper Michael Spies and three other crew claimed third place in Division 7 of the 2013 Transpac Race. Their yacht Sansiri crossed the finish line at 00:39:13 local Hawaii time on 21 July 2013, 12d 14h 30m after leaving Los Angeles and having raced 4,100km across the world’s largest ocean, the Pacific.

The team’s goal was a podium place in their division, and from early in the race, Sansiri were consistently in the top three of the division. Patinyakorn said, “The toughest day in the race was the first day. All five of us were on deck sailing at high speed. We had no time to sleep or eat, and we were focused solely on the race. We did very well in the early stages. It has been challenging, the toughest ever challenge for myself.”

Michael Spies, sharing the skipper duties with Patinyakorn, said, “Our aim was to stay south of the rhumb line as much as possible. This was a good tactic for most of the race, but towards the end a number of boats appeared to make better progress to the north of us, possibly getting some localised weather, and that made the difference.”

Sansiri faced many challenges during the race, including losing use of their communications equipment early on. They took on board a lot of water due to the rain and strong breeze, and like many other boats had to contend with debris in the water. That did not deter them, however, as the crew battled to the very end, eyes firmly on the podium.

“I have been impressed with the professionalism of Michael and the crew, and it has been an honour racing with them all. I am proud to be the first Thai competing in this legendary race, and a third place against some of the best sailors in the world is something of which Thailand can be very proud,” concluded Patinyakorn.

Steve Manning’s GTS43 Walawala 2 and David Ross’s Ker 40 KukuKERchu – looking for a derby match with Signal 8, no doubt. There’s yet another Ker 40, Connel McLaren’s Icebreaker, based in New Zealand, and heading to Hong Kong for the sprint to Vietnam, and fresh from winning the 2012 NZ IRC Champs. Add in a bigger Ker design, Jens Kellinghusen’s 51-footer from Germany, and it’s starting to look as if there needs to be a Ker division!

As soon as the Transpac is over, Giovanni Soldini’s VO70, Maserati, is expected to continue on across the Pacific to Hong Kong. That shouldn’t take too long! After setting a new Golden Route monohull record (New York-San Francisco, 13,225nm) of just over 47d at the end of last year, the trip from Honolulu will be a stroll and the race to Nha Trang will barely be a trip to the corner shop. And Syd Fischer’s Dubois 90, Genuine Risk is in the list too. Now renamed Ragamuffin 90, she is no stranger to Asian waters having walked away with Line Honours in last year’s Rolex China Sea Race. Since then she has been back to Australia for a major refit, and will be setting out

for the return journey to Hong Kong in September. Bryon Ehrhart’s TP52 Lucky won IRC Overall in the 2010 Rolex Middle Sea Race. After the Middle Sea he said, ‘Stromboli, spewing smoke and lava – you don’t see that in Chicago.

This race is a classic.’

Soon Lucky will be heading for Hong Kong and another race destined to come a classic, the Hong Kong-Vietnam Race. Hollywood Boulevard, and various versions of Evolution, and victories in practically all the Asian majors. Roberts’ latest steed is the TP52 One Sail, formerly Island Fling, and now on its way to Hong Kong from Kota Kinabalu after winning the Borneo International Yachting Challenge. What all this is saying is that the Hong Kong-Vietnam Race 2013 is lining up to launch with a 17-boat fleet on the start line on 17 October. As big an entry as the race has ever seen, and with more international visitors than ever before – indeed, with more international visitors than anyone can remember for any blue water race out of Hong Kong, ever. Anyone who hasn’t participated in this race is missing out.

www.rhkyc.org.hk

20/08/2013 6:07 PM

Fort Lauderdale Newport San Diego Palma Hong Kong

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08/08/2013 4:57 PM

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26 LOGBOOK NEWS

Ferretti Focuses on Asia

Migaloo

GUY NOWELL

I

Alessandro Tirelli (front) and Fabiomassimo Discoli

F

erretti, started in 1968 by two brothers who were in the sports car business, has grown rapidly, both organically and by acquisition. It now owns 8 brands at the prestige end of the yacht-building market.

In 2012, in a debt re-structuring deal, 75% of Ferrati’s equity was taken over by a mainland Chinese firm, the Weichai Group, itself part of Shandong Heavy Industries Group, one of the largest and most profitable firms in China.

As part of the deal restructuring the Group’s equity, Ferruccio Rossi was appointed Chief Executive Officer, and he has now started reorganising corporate operations. Amongst other things this has meant proper attention to the Asia Pacific market. New offices have been opened in Phuket and Hong Kong, and Ferretti have just announced the launch of a 112’ superyacht destined for Thailand.

The tie-up with the Weichai Group gives Ferretti access to Weichai’s line of high-speed diesel engines, and their power-chain manufacturing.

The eight brands that the Ferretti Group own are distinctive, and the current brand separation will continue - the brands have strong consumer loyalty in the markets where the brands developed. If anything, the brands will be strengthened and developed further. They are: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line.

Product development, manufacturing and brand management teams in Italy will focus on the “Made in Italy” tradition, and will take a global view of marketing, sales and service while keeping local operating presences in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

The Asia-Pacific operations, once just a sales office in Shanghai, is now a wholly-owned subsidiary based in Hong Kong, headed by Mauro Frattesi as MD, assisted by 9 other senior Italian figures, including Sales Director Alessandro Tirelli.

Ferretti intend to focus strongly on the Asia Pacific market. They currently get about 15 per cent of their sales from Asia-Pacific, and intend to double this proportion in the next 5 years.

Ferretti clients in Asia can now expect a higher level of service and support from Ferretti’s new Asian based headquarters.

Yachtstyle applauds this professional approach: following-up sales with service and support is just what this market needs. We wish them luck.

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t’s only a design study at the moment, but Austrian-based yacht design studio Motion Code:Blue have produced the concept drawings for a six-deck superyacht called Migaloo and named after an albino whale. It’s aimed firmly at the extra-superrich superyacht owner who wants to stand out from the crowd. It’s a submarine.

Managing Directors Christopher Gloning and Christian Gumpold set out to transform the well known and tested shape of current submarine designs into a private yacht offering a state-of-the-art luxury experience with the added benefit of being able to submerge the whole vessel and explore the undersea world. “We can imagine the Migaloo travelling with a school of whales, while the guests watch and chat over a cup of tea in the main saloon. It would be quite breathtaking,” says Gumpold.

At 115m long and 11m wide, and designed to dive to a depth of 240m, the Migaloo is not a minisub of any sort. No, this is the full size version, just like one of those mysterious black cigars that slip silently in and out of naval bases around the world – except it is white.

Surfaced, the yacht sports an enormous aft deck with lounging areas, sun beds, a bar and a helipad. The bottom of the 8x3m swimming pool moves up flush with the hull before the Migaloo dives. The top of the tower offers a spacious sun lounge. Wide hatches on either side of the hull transform into enormous beach terraces, allowing access to the water.

Of course, the Migaloo is not a windowless tube when she dives – that wouldn’t be any fun! The tower, or ‘sail’, is longer than on a military submarine, and houses a grand saloon with inches-thick pressure-proof glass windows, so open the blinds and watch the undersea world go by outside. Other luxury appointments include a cinema, a library, a gym and a gaming room.

Forward of the tower is almost all owner-land. The foredeck is entirely private, with a two-level full beam suite just below, lounge and private bar included. For the guests, there are eight VIP-suites on sub-decks two and three.

The bridge and all the technical ‘stuff’ needed to run a submarine –principally the communications, navigation and control systems - are situated right underneath the tower, with an additional helm station on top of the tower for when the vessel is surfaced. Sub-deck four is entirely reserved for the crew quarters including crew mess, laundry and crew gym. Capt Nemo is going to be very jealous indeed, especially when we call ours the ‘Nautilus’.

Rainbow Warrior The Rainbow Warrior is Greenpeace’s flagship, named for a Native American prophecy about a group of people – the Warriors of the Rainbow – that would rise up to defend the Earth in her time of need. Making her first visit to Hong Kong, visitors were welcomed aboard the yacht to see her eco-credentials first-hand. The new Rainbow Warrior was built entirely from Greenpeace supporter donations, and she was visiting Asia as part of a “Save Energy for Our Future” tour.

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09/08/2013 4:33 PM

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28 LOGBOOK NEWS

One Design Wind Surfing

Phuket Partnership

Andy Dowden and Gulu Lalvan

The Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) has secured its home for the future with the signing of a five-year Host Venue agreement with Royal

Chinese Billionaire buys Sunseeker ROLEX/KURT ARRIGO

O

ne sail, One board - everyone competing with the same equipment. “It’s the rider that makes the difference.” That’s the motto of the RS:X Olympic and RS:One windsurfing classes - bridging the gap between youth and master, and expanding recreational windsurfing.

RS:One is the youngest international windsurfing Class.

Developed by NeilPryde Ltd and adopted as an ISAF Class in 2011, it has seen steady growth since its inception. Initially the class was promoted through the NeilPryde Racing Series, a worldwide tour visiting a number of countries alongside the Extreme Sailing Series.

2013 began with an Asian Championship in Singapore; the RS:One World Championships will be hosted in Istanbul in August. Then follows the European Championships, which will also include the Olympic windsurfing Class and NeilPryde stablemate, RS:X Racing.

The latter came about as the result of a successful bid by NeilPryde Windsurfing to supply one design windsurfing equipment to the 2008 Olympic Games in China. The international RS:X Class Association was established in November 2006, and was instrumental in driving the development of the RS:X as an international Olympic Class.

The 2013 RS:X and RS:One Championships are supported by NeilPryde Bikes, the cycling branch of NeilPryde. For over 40 years the NeilPryde Group has been at the cutting edge of developing high performance products built for extreme fun.

Phuket Marina (RPM), the award-winning 5-star marina and luxury lifestyle destination on Phuket’s east coast. Having recently announced the show dates for 2014 being moved back to the popular January 9-12 ‘slot’, organisers are laying strong foundations for the next decade. We are now looking forward to delivering another decade of success for the regional marine industry, and are very happy to announce the signing of a five-year agreement with our current home and Official Host Venue going forward, Royal Phuket Marina,” said Andy Dowden, Show Director.

Launched in 2003, PIMEX pioneered large inwater displays with marina-side indoor exhibition space in a luxury marine lifestyle show that has grown to become best-in-class in the region, supported by noted names such as Sunseeker, Ferretti, Pershing, Princess, Nautor’s Swan, Lagoon and many more, together with luxury brands such as Jaguar, Maserati, Land Rover and Lexus displaying their products at PIMEX.

www.phuketboatshow.com

Marine Parks of Indonesia Over the last 25 years Indonesia has established scores of marine protected areas, including six national marine parks and extensive marine sectors attached to the most important terrestrial parks – Komodo and Ujung Kulon.

A recent expedition to explore and photograph each of the parks has resulted in a book, Marine Parks of Indonesia, which explores the history of the marine parks and then goes on to look at the marine flora and fauna of each one, and to provide information on locations access and amenities available to sailors, divers, and all for whom travel and exploration are the breath of life. It’s certainly not all scientific, and it is definitely not dry! It includes the story of the expedition: travel difficulties; disasters averted and problems overcome; unexpected events and delightful encounters; and perhaps above all encounters with the Indonesians whose lives and livelihoods are inextricably linked to the parks. It’s a book for conservationists, scientists, divers, armchair travellers, anyone with a love of the sea and the marine environment, and anyone blessed with insatiable curiosity.

The book is a non-profit publication, and all proceeds go towards marine conservation projects in Indonesia.

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T

he Sunseeker brand has long been associated with ultimate quality in the luxury boating market. Founded by Robert Braithwaite in 1968, Sunseeker is an international company with an annual turnover of £290 million. Hard hit by the global financial crisis, the group made a loss of £9m in 2010, was re-financed by Dublinbased FL Partners, and bounced back to post a £20.8m profit in 2012.

Now the company is 91.8% Chineseowned after property magnate Wang Jianlin invested around £320m in the iconic brand.

“We wanted to buy 30 Sunseeker yachts because we are planning to build three marinas in China,” said Wang. “So then we thought it would be a better deal if we just bought the company. We bought the best yacht company in the UK.” The Daily Telegraph (UK) described the purchase as “mere pocket change” for Wang, who himself bought a Sunseeker Predator 108 Special

Edition model in 2010. His company, Dalian Wanda, is China’s largest property developer, with £26bn in assets and annual revenues close to £15bn.

Stewart McIntyre, Managing Director of Sunseeker, said the company now plans to increase production from 180 to a potential 370 boats a year, much of it to meet Chinese demand – which is forecast to triple over the next five years. “Sunseeker already exports nearly 100% of its yachts. Dalian Wanda will be a wonderful partner, particularly in helping to unlock the substantial potential inherent in the developing Chinese boating market.”

Wanda has promised, as part of the deal, that all of Sunseeker’s operations in Poole, UK, where it currently employs around 2,300 people, will be untouched. Robert Braithwaite will continue as Group President of the company. “Sunseeker will remain a British brand.” No doubt James Bond, a noted Sunseeker aficionado, would approve.

20/08/2013 6:07 PM

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30 LOGBOOK NEWS

GUY NOWELL

Asia Superyacht Rendezvous

OCEAN FASHION

Ermenegildo Zegna and Maserati have collaborated to raise ocean racing fashion to a new level. During the recent Transpac Race, the crew of VOR 70 Team Maserati were equipped with Techmerino, technical garments produced by Zegna Sport. The collection – worn by John Elkann (President of Fiat SpA) himself who was part of the Transpac crew – provided the sailors with high-performance sailing gear that was both innovative and comfortable.

Techmerino is a 100% natural fibre from Merino wool treated with technical finishings. It was launched as part of the Zegna Sport FW 2013 collection, which was an immediate success due to its extreme light weight and versatility. The collection included jackets and vests in technical fabric, slim-fit long and short pants, t-shirts, polo shirts, and a line of cardigans and sweatshirts in cotton and cotton pique. A capsule collection, inspired by the outfits of the crew, can be purchased at selected Ermenegildo Zegna global stores or via the e-store within Zegna.com, starting in Spring 2014.

Aseanarean Bluewater Alliance supplies every now and again), a group of yacht clubs and marinas have formed an association ‘to promote nautical lifestyles and seamless marine tourism, by offering premier destinations, sharing local knowledge and offering special privileges to cruising yachtsmen and support for cruising yachts.”

T

he Asia Superyacht Rendezvous is held in Phuket, Thailand every December 16-18. This prestigious ‘Invitation Only’ superyacht event is sponsored by Feadship Royal Dutch Shipyards, and has been the largest gathering of superyachts in Asia for the past 13 years. Superyachts of 30m or longer are cordially invited to apply to attend this year’s event, and interested owners or captains should contact the event organisers.

The Rendezvous will be hosted by Kata Rocks, a multi award winning ocean front sky-villa residence and resort, which is situated between two of Phuket’s best beaches, Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach. Right on the sea front on a perfectly sloping, west facing site, all the Kata Rocks Sky Villas enjoy stunning, uninterrupted sunset views of the Andaman Sea and Koh Phu island.

The Welcome Cocktail Party will be aboard one of the participating superyachts. The Rendezvous will feature numerous activities and games both on and off the water to keep everyone entertained - adults and children alike - as well as social events in the evenings. It will also include two sailing events, with the motoryachts in attendance.

The Rendezous concludes with an exclusive Gala Dinner for Owners, Captains and VIPs, held at Kata Rocks and hosted by Boat International Media. Food connoisseurs will delight in a mouth-watering cuisine, prepared by the Executive Chef of Kata Rocks - Paul Quarchioni, a cook whose clientele includes royalty and dignitaries.

The Crew Party is back this year and will be hosted by Rekata Beach Club at the Boat House on Kata Beach. This special party is sponsored by Sevenstar Yacht Transport and will also be held on the final evening of the Rendezvous. Expect great DJs, lots of dancing, and lots of fun! It’ll be the party of the season!

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Founder Members of the Aseanarean Bluewater Alliance are:

A

sian boaters all know very well that we have some of the world’s most fabulous cruising grounds right here at home. Think of the myriad islands of Indonesia, and the Philippine Archipelago.

Think of Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay, the Mergui Islands in Burma, and beautiful Langkawi. There’s enough yachting mileage out there to keep anyone – sailor or powerboater – occupied for a lifetime.

Asia is the world’s largest nautical lifestyle region, and home to the world’s highest level of marine biodiversity, In order to facilitate moving around the region (because you still have to stop for

Admiral Marina & Leisure Club (Port Dickson, Malaysia) Bali Marina (Indonesia) Batavia Sunda Kelapa Marina (Jakarta, Indonesia) Krabi Boat Lagoon (Krabi, Thailand) Nongsa Point Marina & Resort (Indonesia) Ocean Marina Yacht Club (Jomtien Beach, Thailand) Phuket Boat Lagoon (Phuket, Thailand) Raffles Marina (Singapore) Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (Malaysia) Straits Quay Marina (Penang, Malaysia) Sutera Harbour Marina (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia) Royal Selangor Yacht Club (Port Klang, Malaysia)

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32 LOGBOOK NEWS

Summer Adventure

T

he House of Dancing Water is the world’s largest and most spectacular water-based extravaganza and the flagship entertainment centrepiece for the City of Dreams Macau. The show is now offering young artists an opportunity of a lifetime: fans from Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), over 18 years old, were invited to apply for six places on a summer camp that will see participants learning to fly some 17 meters over the main pool, and experiencing scuba diving

in the world’s largest commercial pool.

Sunny Yu, Senior Vice President, Entertainment and Projects of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited said, “The House of Dancing Water has thrilled over two million spectators since its opening. It is a creative masterpiece of theatre, dance, gymnastic artistry and high-performance diving, all of which push the physical boundaries of human performance, leaving audiences astounded.The artistic and entertainment adventure summer camp is a tailor-made programme designed to offer fans of The House of Dancing Water a once-in-alifetime chance to get a glimpse of the secrets of this world-class extravaganza.

I sincerely hope this spectacular experience will be an unforgettable journey for all participants.”

The Dancing Water Theatre epitomises cutting-edge theater technology, and is home to a cast of 80 international performance artists and some 130 worldclass production staff, technicians and professional divers from more than 25 countries around the world. Besides performance skills, the camp participants will also learn about make-up, carpentry, wardrobe, aquatics and rigging under the guidance of the show’s world-class professional team.

Vote for Ruby

WWF-Hong Kong is pleased to announce their nomination of Ruby for the Miss Hong Kong beauty contest.

Sadly, Ruby was turned down as an official entrant in the competition, but the WWF is

canvassing support for her reinstatement through a petition and a social media campaign.

Ruby is a Chinese white dolphin - pink in colour - from Tai O! Her gorgeous eyes, playful smile and smooth skin, as well her intimate knowledge of the need for marine conservation, make her the perfect candidate for the beauty pageant. Hopefully this stunning dolphin will help to raise public awareness about the sad plight of her species in Hong Kong – Ruby is one of only 61 Chinese white dolphins left in Hong Kong waters. Ten years ago there were 158 or more...

You can vote for Ruby on line. She has already enlisted the support of her celebrity friends, Karen Mok and Khalil Fong, who have been seen sporting “Vote for Ruby” t-shirts!

DID YOU KNOW? Hong Kong has 15,463 locally-registered pleasure vessels, but only 4,000 legal berthing spaces. Now that there is no Hong Kong fishing fleet, what about all those typhoon shelters?

YS24_Logbook_News_6.indd 32

Charter Show

GUY NOWELL

T

he organisers of the Singapore Yacht Show have confirmed the launch of a new charter yacht show, to be hosted annually at Phuket Yacht Haven in Thailand. The inaugural show, slated for mid-December 2014, will combine the best aspects of yacht charter, boating industry and luxury lifestyle events. Destined to attract industry and consumers alike, the event will be staged in the biggest superyacht marina in the Asia Pacific region, currently being completely redeveloped by its owners.

“After several years of really focused promotion, the numbers of yachts visiting Asia is at last becoming significant - and growing rapidly. We see this huge region - from Myanmar and the Andaman Sea to Australasia and the Pacific Islands - as being very important for the international industry,” said Andy Treadwell, Managing Director of organisers Singapore Yacht Events.

“This event is being launched with substantial support from the local industry, and will help to showcase everything the Asia Pacific region has to offer as a stunning charter and cruising destination. At the same time, we want to introduce the yachting lifestyle to the fast-growing potential client base here there is a lot of wealth, but as yet, little experience of boating.”

The beautiful Phuket Yacht Haven, in the north east corner of Phuket and just 15 minutes from the international airport, is widely regarded as the first port of choice for superyachts visiting Asia. The marina’s owners have recently commenced a complete redevelopment of their huge site, with a brand new private access road directly off the main highway, and a new car park already completed. The upper part of the site will incorporate new residences, apartments, restaurants and marine industry business units. Most importantly, on the lower level next to the marina, there will be a world-class Yacht Club accommodating 400 – 500 guests, with special facilities for captains and crew. In response to demand, the development will also include the addition of another 40 superyacht berths, 30 of which will be ready by December 2014 for the launch edition of the new Yacht Show.

Proprietor Jean Phataraprasit explained: “For several years we have been aware of the need for a world-class superyacht marina in Phuket, with all the facilities that experienced and discerning yacht owners from the Mediterranean have come to expect. We have finally been able to bring the Yacht Haven project to fruition, and we are thrilled to be able to play a major part in developing the yachting industry in Asia, with all the economic benefits that it can bring. We are delighted to be working with such an experienced and respected show organising team, and we look forward to an excellent opening event in December 2014.”

Nick Wyatt, well-known to captains and yacht owners world-wide as the manager of Asia’s most popular superyacht marina, continued: “Most particularly, all of us at Yacht Haven and all the other marinas here are keen that Phuket continues to lead the way as the major destination hub for the region.

We will have around 75 superyacht berths and all the infrastructure that such a facility needs, so we will be able to give a really great welcome to owners, captains, crew, and charterers alike. Phuket is also fast developing as the main refit and repair centre in Asia, and we are gradually filling in all the gaps to make this a genuine yachting destination.”

The Asia Pacific region is fast becoming a favourite winter destination for Mediterranean-based owners and captains, with more than 50 large yachts based in Phuket alone last winter. As yachts and their owners get more and more adventurous, the Asia Pacific stands out as one of the few remaining areas of astounding and unspoilt beauty left to explore. Significant improvements in infrastructure and transport links within the region mean that it is easier than ever for yachts to visit this part of the world. As the destination continually grows in popularity, the new show will fill a gap in the market to promote the region specifically as a charter option.

20/08/2013 6:07 PM

Yacht Insurance

With Aon’s Global Access and superior market knowledge, we are able to provide Worldwide Coverage for any aspect of your yacht’s insurance requirement.

‘We are also pleased to cater for China Registered Yachts.’

For more detail, please contact our yacht insurance specialists:

Aon Hong Kong

Aon Cofco (China)

Tommy Ho Tel: +852 2862 4241 Fax: +852 2243 8861 tommy.ho@aon.com www.aon.com

Steve Huang Tel: +86 20 3816 5928 Mob: +86 133 0228 8251 steve_huang@aon-cofco.com.cn www.aon-cofco.co.cn

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Aon plc is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries.

Specialist Yacht Team: LONDON, HONG KONG, NEWYORK, ROTTERDAM M40Y100 in Process Color or Pantone Color 1375 M100Y85BL15 in Process Color BL100

Risk  Reinsurance  Human Resources s

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Pantone 200U

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34 logbook Regattas Ensenada Race, USA

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

The message was clear. It came in the form of an email: “The Ensenada Race starts at noon on Friday April 26th. Your berth on “It’s OK!” awaits. The tickets follow separately.” text by BOB FISHER Photos by Mary Longpre

clockwise from above: Start of the Ensenada Race; It’s Ok!; pure concentration in the light stuff; running to the finish

N

ewport Beach is on the Californian coast, north of San Diego, and it’s some six thousand miles away from home for me. We have been joking about this for several years; Andy Rose, one of the triumvirate of owners of the Alan Andrews-designed ‘It’s OK!’, and myself, generally each time we meet at an America’s Cup Hall of Fame induction. Andy, a US citizen, sailed aboard Australia as tactician to Noel Robins in 1977 and caused a minor furore at the New York Yacht Club, until it was firmly pointed out by Alan Bond that there was nothing in the rules to prevent it.

But I digress. Last year, after the AC Hall of Fame induction, Andy held a dinner party in the 12-Metre Room at the Candy Store on Bannister’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, to which my wife and I were invited. It was a very jolly affair and in the middle of it, Andy stood up to address the assembled multitude (which included many of It’s OK!’s crew) and looked straight at me and said: “Guys, The Fish is joining us for the Ensenada Race next year!”

The good lady wife smiled and gave the OK (how appropriate) for me to join the crew. We both thought no more of it until the email arrived, but it was the tickets that sealed the deal. I arrived with a couple of days to acclimatise and meet the crew again before joining the boat in Balboa harbour. The two days were not wasted – I had to prepare myself fully for the rigours of a race on this all-carbon

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50-footer. The training was intense, but I had to learn what was expected of me.

There was another guest crew member – David Vietor, also a refugee from the 12-Metre era of the America’s Cup – and he arrived the morning after me, but he was no stranger to the boat and the race and knew what was expected. I, however, was learning, and learning fast, and should have been fully prepared when I was given a preview of the Bill of Fare for the race - but I most certainly wasn’t.

To explain: the Ensenada Race follows the coast, missing the Coronado Islands, to finish in the Mexican town that gives the race its name, after a downhill slide. The total distance is 124 miles. Starting in the middle of the day guarantees sailing in the hours of darkness and I would not be following the advice given to me years ago by Uffa Fox, who said: “If you are racing out of sight of land, in the hours of darkness, make sure that you have at least one foot of waterline length for every year of your age.” He meant it, but there aren’t so many boats doing ocean races that qualify for me these days.

I was, however, prepared to make allowances after learning what was in store in the way of comestibles. While It’s OK! does run to a fridge, deep freeze and a microwave, it doesn’t sit 14 (the total number of the crew) around the dinner table and so the solid food was to be in the form of Tapas. The courses ranged widely and varied, but what caught my eye was that on

18/08/2013 6:46 PM

the facing page was the Carte des Vins and these were paired to the courses and were listed in serving order!

We met at the boat at 0700. I had been warned that there would be more than two hundred boats starting (there were 203) and that we would be in the last but one class away – only the multihulls to follow. What I hadn’t accounted for was the number of spectator craft of all shapes and sizes.

Came our turn and Tom (another of the trio of owners) steered her straight for the favoured end of the line and arrived there spot on time. There’s nothing like gaining the best start for putting one in the right mood for any race, but grinding your closest rivals into the dirt does even more. We could have raised a glass, but nothing was being served at this stage.

There was a pleasant ten-knot breeze from 253 degrees, and the course to the first waypoint was 144. We were trickling along nicely close to wind speed and there was promise (from the forecasters) of a shade more and that it would back slightly.

The moment it did, combined with a course change to 134, the half-ounce kite was set and It’s OK! took off with the speed showing around 14 knots.

It was then that I received an invitation to steer. Should I demur or should I move behind the wheel? No contest.

It was then that I found that Alan Andrews had done a magnificent job and as luck would have it, the breeze continued to increase and with it the boat speed. After a little more than an hour, I handed the wheel back to the owners and took up my position on the weather rail with a 16.4 best speed. Time for weather-rail chat.

The breeze continued to increase and that was when the boat displayed the results of its only failing. The rudder is on the small side when under pressure – it is perfect in light to medium breeze, and to windward in anything, but presents problems when power reaching. The stalling-out can only be cured by rapid and large movements of the wheel to reestablish the flow across the blade. Those in the know showed how it was done and round-ups were very few.

We ploughed on, and when the evening sunset began it was time for tapas and beverages. First up were the steamed

artichokes with herb aioli accompanied by an un-oaked Chardonnay. Then followed fresh gulf prawns with ginger horseradish sauce, and then the lobster empanadillas with avocado sauce. Somewhere about this time the wine changed to a barrel-fermented Chardonnay. And so it went on through another five courses (with three more wines) to the desserts that included Key Lime tartlets and chocolate truffles. All the time the boat was on course and flying. That’s my kind of sailing – such a pity it’s not like this in the Solent.

There had to be something to go wrong, and we had been warned that around midnight there was a likely change in the breeze. It happened when we were seven miles short of the finishing line and could see the lights of the committee vessel on station. The breeze shut off completely with nine minutes to go to midnight. The bigger boats and multihulls had finished and we saw our chances of glory flicker away in the reflections in the dark mirror-like sea. It took two hours of painful progress and much sail trimming before we crossed the line.

Then the engine failed to start and the Boat Captain looked anxiously at the owners - but they are an amiable bunch, and hailed the next boat to finish for a tow into the marina. Maybe that’s when a sensible sailor should have left, but I was to learn that the race is simply a means of gathering a big group of sailors for a party – and the awards were two days away. There were other delights to sample, not the least the one-armed croquet tournament (the other arm mandatorily supports a wine glass that is constantly replenished).

Where did we finish? It was a big boat race – the wind shut-off saw to that and a big trimaran took the major prize. We were fourth in class and ninth overall – nothing to complain about.

Finally, we left this Mexican resort after three days of parties and I was dropped from the motor launch in San Diego to head for the airport and home with the final order ringing in my ears: “See you next year, Fish.” Outline planning permission granted, but what of that from the loving wife?

We’ll see.

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36 LOGBOOK Calendar asian regattas

Aberdeen Boat Club Classic Yachts Rally 2013

eileen sze

by Guy Nowell

DID YOU KNOW? 'Flotsam' is floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo.

'Jetsam' is part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that has been purposefully cast overboard or jettisoned

August-October

asian racing/sailing calendar

13 YS24_Asian_Regattas_5.indd 36

T

he Aberdeen Boat Club’s 2013 Classic Yacht Rally was very special indeed, welcoming the two oldest-ever entries for the ninth edition of this truly ‘classic’ event. Along with many of the usual suspects, the fleet was delighted to welcome the 1895 ketch, Rona, owned by Richard Campbell-Breen as well as Merrymaid (1904) a gaff-rigged 112-foot cutter taking a break from a five-year aroundthe-world odyssey. A few more boats like these and Hong Kong will start to look like Imperia’s Vele d’Epoca!

Most of the remaining 24 entries were classic craft (defined by the ABC as being

any boat of more than 25 years of age), many of which were substantially older. In a properly inclusive spirit, modern boats were also invited to join the fun.

Saturday’s race took the fleet from Stanley Bay around Castle Rock, the Furies, and back to Tai Tam Bay, with Merrymaid exercising her substantial waterline to advantage, and leading the fleet for most of the race and across the finish line in great style. A dying breeze left some boats struggling to make the 1800h cut-off, but a little flexibility from the Race Officer ensured that all boats finished in good order. The Farr Side, a venerable Farr 38 of early 1980s provenance, was

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST WESTERN CIRCUIT Sailing REGATTA, SINGAPORE, 17, 18, 24 AUGUST

One of Singapore’s premier keelboat regattas, this regatta

is organised by Raffles Marina, and the sailors of Singapore Management University, and takes place over multiple weekends in August. www.westerncircuit.com

awarded first place in the top division by over an hour on corrected time.

A bibulous bacchanalian barbecue on Tai Tam Beach left many a little jaded on Sunday morning, but as true sailors, all the crews had weighed anchor by 1000.

A wonderful 15kts (and building) breeze powered the fleet around the Furies, back to Castle Rock and eventually to Chesterman Buoy, before giving everyone some fine reaching conditions as they reached to a finish in Stanley Bay in 20kts of wind. “An unmissable part of the sailing calendar” said one 'modern' boat owner. He’ll have to buy an older boat now!

OCTOBER

ROYAL HONG KONG

St Regis CHINA COAST

YACHT CLUB AUTUMN

Regatta, ROYAL HONG

REGATTA, HONG KONG,

KONG YACHT CLUB,

28-29 SEPTEMBER

12-14 OCTOBER

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s “Opening Regatta” marks the start of the new sailing season. The racing this year will be held over the weekend September 28-29, and attracts around 80 keelboats in 10 classes. There is one race on the Saturday afternoon, and two races on the Sunday and the regatta prizegiving is held at Kellett Island after the last race. www.rhkyc.org.hk

Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the China Coast Regatta is the first, inshore, part of China Coast Raceweek. This is Hong Kong’s premier "big boat" regatta. It attracts around 35 entrants from Hong Kong and overseas, particularly Asia. Three consecutive days of yacht racing in the waters to

the south of Hong Kong island. Traditionally plenty of northeast monsoon breeze, but not quite always. www.rhkyc.org.hk

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RHKYC Spring Regatta 2013

by Guy Nowell

rhkyc /guy nowell

T

he Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club celebrated the close of its official sailing season over the weekend 18-19 May with the traditional twoday event that this year attracted 96 entries. After a dreary and light airs start on Saturday, the breeze picked up to 10kts or so from the south south west. Courses were set from the Club line going west in the area more usually used for RHKYC Sunset Series racing.

Gusts of up to 15kts made for good ‘spectator sport’ from the Club balcony!

It was more of the same the next morning, with a 10kt westerly breeze topping out at 14kts, and the addition of

glorious sunshine – rare enough for this event. The biggest class on the water for the weekend was the 14-strong Flying Fifteen fleet, with further entries from the Big Boats, Etchells, Dragons, Impalas, J/80s and other assorted classes. After two races of two laps around a sparkling harbour, taking in some of Hong Kong’s very best urban maritime scenery, absolutely everyone voted it Harbour Regatta of the Year.

Back at the RHKYC’s historic Kellett Island clubhouse, the RHKYC Pipe Band entertained an enthusiastic crowd before prizegiving got under way, with prizes being presented by Wellock

welcome. The record for the 656nm race to Nha Trang in Vietnam is currently held

by Grant Wharington’s Skandia Wild Thing, which made the crossing in 42hr 45min 41sec, in 2004. www.rhkyc.org.hk

Lo, distributor of Old Pulteney scotch whisky and Chang soda water, and Garry Hui from Official Regatta Beer Sponsor, Heineken.

In the Winners’ Enclosure: Big Boat Division 1 – Peninsula Signal 8 (Jacobs/McWilliam) Big Boat Division 2 – Red Kite II (Anthony Root) Big Boat HKPN – Happy Hour (Harry Leong) DragoN – Eaux Vives (Joseph Chu) Etchells – Gunga Din (Nick Burns) Flying 15 – French Fries (Akira Takada) Impala – Impala 1 (Mike Burrell) J/80 – Sea Biscuit (David Fan) Pandora – Windfall (Tom Ho) Ruffian – Victory 9 (Li Fook Hing) Magic 25 – Fly By Wire (Frank van Kempen)

inshore racing out of the Longcheer Yacht Club, in Shenzhen. The 30-strong fleet of one-design Beneteau 40.7s is the big attraction, now joined by fleets of Soto 27s and Far East 26s - all available for charter. www.chncup.com

CHINA CUP

audi HONG KONG TO VIETNAM RACE, 17 october

The second part of China Coast Raceweek. This Category 1 offshore race

starts on October 17 and is known as one of the great "downhill" sled rides.

This is the sixth time the race has been held, and overseas competitors are

INTERNATIONAL REGATTA

NOVEMBER

SHENZHEN,

Lipton Trophy

25-28 OCTOBER.

presented by Zerorh+

China showpiece for big boats. The event starts in Hong Kong with a passage race to Shenzhen and is followed by three days of

Hong Kong, 9 November.

Part of the Top Dog Trophy Series, the Lipton Trophy take place in Victoria Harbour

DID YOU KNOW? Emirates Team New Zealand won their first 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup race against Luna Rossa by a greater distance than an entire 'traditional' AC racecourse?

and the pursuit race sees the competiting yachts coming together at the finish and first across the line wins.

Tommy Bahama ROUND THE ISLAND RACE, HONG KONG, 10 November

This classic race around Hong Kong Island starts outside the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Kellett Island clubhouse. The Around The Island Race is open to all Hong Kong sailors and all classes of boat including keelboats, catamarans and dinghies. In

recent years, outrigger canoes and coastal rowing boats have also taken part, and have even beaten some of the bigger yachts around the course. www.rhkyc.org.hk

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38 LOGBOOK Calendar asian regattas

Koh Samui Regatta 2013

samuipics.com

by Guy Nowell

DID YOU KNOW? The Transatlantic Singlehanded record is now down to 5d 2h 56m 10s thanks to Francis Joyon's blast from Ambrose Light to The Lizard in June this year. That translates into an average speed of 23.41kts for his 118' trimaran, IDEC

November

January

asian racing/sailing calendar

13 14 YS24_Asian_Regattas_5.indd 38

T

hey call it ’The Tropical Island Regatta’, which immediately conjures up images of sugar-white sand, gently waving palm trees, beach babes and long cool drinks – which is correct on all counts. Of course, for the sailors it’s likely to be a hot day on the water before they go ashore for all that glossy brochure stuff, but as long as there’s breeze then a good time is going to be had by all.

This year the Koh Samui Regatta excelled itself. 22 boats battled it out over five days of intense racing up and down the east coast of this magical island.

Frank Pong’s 76’ guided missile, Jelik,

had the IRC 0 class sewn up with a day to spare, but their walk-away victory belies the closeness of the competition – one of the coastal passage races had the entire IRC 0 division finishing within 62 seconds of each other on corrected time.

IRC 1 turned into a nail-biter when Walawala 2 (Steve Manning) and Foxy Lady 6 (Bill Bremner) went into the very last race on equal points – Foxy Lady emerging victorious. Mat Allen’s Ichiban whitewashed the opposition with nine firsts from nine races in IRC 2.

And as if good breeze, sunshine and close racing were not enough, there were the daily Stand-Up Paddleboard

in-port racing at the last two. A new starting place in Port Klang, and a new finish location at Telaga Harbour in Langkawi this year. It's a week that feels like a month, and if you haven't done the Raja Muda you haven't sailed in Asia. November 15-23. www.rmsir.com raja muda selangor international regatta, port klang to langkawi, malaysia

Originally designed to catch boats on their way north to

the Phuket King's Cup, the Raja Muda long ago acquired its own space in the calendar. Passage races Port Klang-PangkorPenang-Langkawi, with

DECEMBER Phuket King’s Cup, Thailand

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s biggest regatta and is now in

Challenge races to keep the sailors and crews (and even ‘selected media’!) entertained before heading out to one of the lavish and thoroughly thirstquenching regatta parties.

The regatta ended with the traditional Gala Dinner on the lawn at the host venue, Centara Grand Beach Resort, and the regatta prizegiving. One competitor called it “the perfect ending to a perfect regatta” so what more can we say? After 13 editions, the Koh Samui Regatta goes from strength to strength. Drop by next year for a taste of The Tropical Island Regatta, and see for yourself.

its 25th year. Over 100 yachts participate in the regatta, with many coming from overseas.

A strong charter fleet makes the event unique in Asia. With the patronage of HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej, the regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of

Thailand and the Royal Thai Navy. The regatta starts on November 30 and carries through to December 07. www.kingscup.com

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Penghu Regatta, Taiwan, 2013

guy nowell

by Guy Nowell

H

ere’s something entirely new on the Asian yachting calendar: Taiwan’s inaugural Penghu Regatta, with 11 yachts taking part. The Penghu Islands are in the Taiwan Strait, 25nm west of Yunlin County. The archipelago of almost 100 small islands is famous for its beautiful beaches, glorious temples and a plethora of traditional Chinese-style homes surrounded by walls made from coral. The regatta was jointly sponsored by Beneteau and Simpson Marine, and took place over two weekends.

The Penghu Islands are particularly well suited to yachting during the summer months (April to October), with regular

southerly winds of up to 20 knots. Since 2000, the islands have hosted events such as the Asian Windsurfing Tour, Olympicclass sailing regattas, cross-Straits sailing races and, most recently, the RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships.

The Penghu Regatta started with a Welcome Party on 21 June, a barbeque on Shirli beach for 150 guests and sailors, complete with a live jazz band and singer.

Racing over the next two weekends took place in Penghu Bay and around the islands to the south of Penghu, and wound up with a passage race from Makung Harbour to Wang An Island where the Closing Party and prizegiving took place. Honours were shared

and most exciting match racing of the entire WMRT series.

December 2-7. www.wmrt.com Asia SUPERYACHT RENDEZVOUS PHUKET THAILAND

MONSOON CUP, MALAYSIA.

The very last event of the Alpari World Match Race Tour circuit, and usually the decider for

the Tour Championship as well. Strictly 'pro' only, so don't go looking for an entry form, the Monsoon Cup provides some of the best viewing

The exclusive invitationonly annual Superyacht Rendezvous is sponsored

by Feadship and will be hosted this year by the stunning Kata Rocks development at Kata Point in Phuket, Thailand. The event runs

among Rewind, Ocean 1, Fly La La, Maggie (Beneteau Oceanis 37), Shine (Beneteau Oceanis 48), and Ocean 2.

Said Julian Jesson, Simpson’s GM for Taiwan, “Penghu really is an ideal destination for sailing. We are thrilled with the interest we have seen during this regatta, demonstrating the passion for yachting that exists in Taiwan. There has been strong support for the event locally, and we are already looking forward to building on the success of this year’s event with a bigger and better programme next year. We are delighted to be able to support the development of yachting in the stunning Penghu archipelago.”

December 16-18, 2013.

Regular features of the rendezvous are the Feadship Challenge, fun sailing races, a treasure hunt, cocktail parties aboard the participating yachts and a gala dinner party. www.phuket-invitational.com

sets out from Sydney Harbour and races across the Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and then up the Derwent River to the finish at Hobart. The race is known as one of the toughest offshore races in the world. www.rolexsydneyhobart.

ROLEX SYDNEY

JANUARY 2014

HOBART RACE

ROYAL LANGKAWI

AUSTRALIA

INTERNATIONAL

To many sailors in Australia, Christmas Day is merely “the day before the Hobart”. The fleet

REGATTA MALAYSIA

This event is organized by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and is

DID YOU KNOW? The Audi Hong Kong - Vietnam Race in October 2013 is attracting more international entries than ever before 17 and counting, including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy and USA

scheduled for January 13-18 2014. The racing takes place in the beautiful scenery of the Langkawi archipelago. www.langkawiregatta.com

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40 LOGBOOK boatshow report KOREA

30.05- 02.06.13 Korea International Boat Show 2013

DID YOU KNOW? In 2014 KIBS will join forces with nearby Gimpo Marina to provide a floating section of the show too

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T

he flavour of the Korea International Boat Show has changed. A marine industry friend once told me that he judged the seriousness of an Asian boat show as being in inverse proportion to the number of exhibitors’ stands displaying radio controlled helicopters and sunglasses. This year, there were none at KIBS. Maybe it is the change of venue from Tando Harbour, Jeonggok to the palatial surroundings of KINTEX, the Korea Trade and Exhibition Centre, on the outskirts of Seoul. Somehow the show seems to have ‘settled down’. There may have been less evidence of the big marques than we have come to expect to see at Asian boat shows, but a great many more exhibitors of a practical nature in what one overseas visitor described succinctly as “an emerging market”.

At the first KIBS, in 2008, boating as a leisure pursuit in Korea was almost invisible, and there was little or no evidence of a marine leisure industry. The professed intent of the boat show was to offer to Korea something new to do with the (then) recently-legislated two day weekend, and to provide a sort of example to potential marine industry start-ups.

At that time some observers expressed doubt that the entire country was unlikely to embrace ‘messing about in boats’ overnight, and even if they did so it was unlikely to be through the medium of 80’ motor yachts. This has proven to be true, but six years down the line – judging by the show stands – Korea and the Koreans are seriously interested in getting out of their apartments and into the countryside, away from the city and onto the coast, getting their shoes muddy and - yes - getting their feet wet.

KIBS this year incorporated Korea Dive Expo, and also included a substantial section of ‘camping cars’ and caravans – both of which attracted enormous interest. Add in the ATV bikes, the kayaks, the ‘tackle and tinnies’, the stand-up paddle boards, the inflatable kiddie boats, a whole range of novelty boats (see-through canoes - go snorkelling without getting wet!) and even a baby hovercraft, and you get the distinct feeling that not only is KIBS is becoming an ‘outdoors show with a strong nautical flavour’, but also that the goods on show are a better offering for a clientele just becoming acquainted with the water than some of the deluxe sub-superyachts on display in recent years. It’s a touch of realism where an emerging market is concerned.

There are now 19 operational marinas in Korea, 9 more in build, and a total of 45 more planned. “We are delighted that the show has moved to KINTEX,” said Everett Babbitt of Bellingham Marine.

“It’s been twice the show we’ve ever had before. Regardless of who you are talking to, and regardless of where a project might be – or might be planned – ‘the office’ is in Seoul. We work on paper, not on water, and here we are right on Seoul’s doorstep. I used to be rather sceptical of the ‘build it and they will come’ approach in Korea, but we’ve been building, and they seem to be coming!”

Four days produced 31,000 visitors. “We are really very pleased with the numbers,” said Tim Coventry, Special Adviser to the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and head of the overseas contingent of KIBS organisers. “We feel that the attendance figures have vindicated moving the show to a place more accessible to metropolitan Seoul.”

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Completely filling the enormous Halls 7 and 8 at the Korea International Trade and Exhibition Centre CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Everything inflatable under the sun; Korea Dive Expo 2013; Kim Moon-Soo, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; not quite a submarine; eye candy is mandatory at KIBS; appropriately entrylevel sailing boats; Any excuse to get on the water

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42 LOGBOOK boatshow report Hong Kong

10 - 12. 5. 2013 Gold Coast Boat Show

DID YOU KNOW? A Superayacht Charter Show will be held in 2014 at the Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket, Thailand

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H

ong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show 2013 boasted 66 boats in the water, with the Sunseeker Predator 92 at just HK$63m topping the price list. Over three days, Friday’s chilly insistent rain gave way to better weather, just in time for the weekend visitors to enjoy the TopShop fashion show.

Of course, the real attraction of any boat show is the opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with the sort of vessels that aren’t usually open to the public. Simpson Marine were showing off an Azimut 100, Jebsen Marine had a Fairline Squadron 78, and UK brand Princess welcomed visitors on board a P64 and a P42. The Prestige 500 was presented by China Pacific Marine who is also the agent for Jeanneau sailing yachts. Ferretti have recently opended a regional Asia office in Hong Kong, and had a Custom Line Navetta 26 on display. On the big boat side, Northrop & Johnson presented a super-luxe Royal Denship 85’ and an Aycer 110 was on display in Hong Kong for the first time having previously been to the Singapore Yacht Show. Also on a debut visit was the dramatic purple and white Numarine 78HT from Turkey, which is also available for charter in Hong Kong. There are an increasing number of boat builders ‘out there’ and ready to challenge the established brands, but reputation and a familiar name still count for a great deal in the luxury boat market.

Sailing yachts are always in a minority at Asian boat shows. You can stand at the top of the pontoon ramp and count the masts.

One, two, three… Motor boats and motor yachts reign around here, but at Gold Coast there was a Beneteau Oceanis 55 available for inspection, as well as a Hanse 495 and a Hanse 545 and a Leopard 48 Catamaran. For anyone those interested in a floating apartment (literally) there was a 50’ liveaboard from Sun Hing Shing.

All manner of nautical gadgets and gizmos were available on the Stormforce stand, and propritor Simon Boyde had working models of Victron Energy power units on display.

With the lack of marina berths in Hong Kong, the continued support for boat shows by dealers maybe a problem in the future.

Gordon Hui, Managing Director of Sunseeker Asia, said recently that, “The Hong Kong boat shows are really a shop window for potential China customers. It’s no secret that there is a severe shortage of berths in Hong Kong, and it is time consuming and expensive to get boats into China for the shows there.”

We know about the shortage of berths in Hong Kong, and we know about the shortage of infrastructure in China, and the provincially fragmented leisure boating ‘policy’ that makes it very difficult to actually do anything functional with a boat in China. Sort out the latter, and there will be a substantial uptick in the boating business in this part of the world.

18/08/2013 6:28 PM

OPPOSITE PAGE: Sailing yachts and motorboats are open for viewing ABOVE, CLOCKWISE: Ferretti displays their Custom Line Navetta 26, Leopard Catamaran, Numarine on show; Searay team; Plenty of power; Stormforce Marine supplies all things nautical

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44 LOGBOOK boatshow preview Nansha/Sibex

10 -13.10.13 Yacht CN 2013

N

ansha is well-positioned for access, with five international airports within a 70km radius (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong). The Pearl River Delta has historically been a conduit for business into China. All things considered, there’s no reason that the boating business, too, shouldn’t flourish here. There are already a growing number of boat builders just down the road in Pingshan District, Zhuhai, and the Chinese Central Government has declared Nansha to be one of the “main focuses of State attention.”

Yacht CN 2012 attracted 50 exhibitors and 60-odd boats, and organisers reported 17 boats sold and RMB100m business transacted, which is very good for an inaugural show. It was preceded by the Yacht CN

conference, and the dual event is set roll out again in 2013. Nansha has the space, they really do have the facilities, and they have proved that they have the organisation.

Yacht CN and Singapore Yacht Show recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, making the two events 'Affiliated Boat Shows', a strategic partnership that aims to promoting the two shows beyond their immediate regions, by sharing joint resources and marketing efforts.’

This year’s event has been extended to four days, of which two will be Trade & VVIP Days.

Yacht CN 2013 will also include a Lifestyle section, showing off a range of luxury cars and private jets, and a ‘massive Pearl River Delta Nansha Sailing Rally gathering yachts from all over Hong Kong, and Macau.’

24- 28.10.13

SIBEX (Shenzhen) Boat Show

B

oating in Asia is not sufficiently mature for manufacturers to use the regional shows to roll out their new launches – that sort of thing happens at Southampton, or Fort Lauderdale. What we have in Asia is a collection of dealers and brokers showing off what they have in stock, or borrowing a boat back from its owner in order to say ‘we can get you one like this.’

SIBEX is the nearest China boat show to Hong Kong. At this year’s show you can expect to see all the usual culprits – both dealers and brands – with some of the domestic builders taking advantage of the fact that the event is close to Hong Kong but still inside China. A company’s ability to manoeuvre through the paperwork is just as important as having something to show off to the boating public.

The first show was in 2007, and SIBEX

now aims “to become an inspirer of China’s yacht industry and a preacher of boating lifestyle, to make it available both for elites and ordinary people.” The Chinese National Tourism Administration named 2013 ‘Year of Discovering the Sea’, and one of the items on the agenda is the loosening of administrative restrictions hampering free movement of leisure vessels between Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau. “According to Shenzhen officials, this could happen within 2013. This will liberate the surge of yacht activities in these regions,” says a press release from SIBEX. Too right. Free movement from Daya Bay to the Pearl River Delta and maybe on down to Hainan could turn this stretch of the China coast into the epicentre of boating area in China. And at that point SIBEX will be right in the middle of the action.

Watch this space.

The Monaco Yacht Show starts on 25 to 28 September 2013, and is held in Port Hercule, Monaco. The show features the 'best of the best' superayachts launched in the previous year, and some of the highlights at this year's show will include: Choppi Choppi (80m) and J' Ade (58m) from the CRN shipyard, on the charter side Lurssen's Quattroelle (88m), Amel's Event (60.6m) and Bennetti's Ocean Paradise (55m) will be open for viewing for potential charter clients. www.monacoyachtshow.com

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45 LOGBOOK boatshow preview Macau

01-03.11.13

China (Macau) International Yacht Import & Export Fair

A

fter an inaugural event at Fisherman’s Wharf (2011) and an all-indoor event at the Venetian Cotai in 2012, this year’s Macau Yacht Show, themed as ‘Innovative Win-Win Cooperation’, comes of age for the 2013 edition with 20,000 sqm of space at the Venetian Cotai Expo (again) and an in-water show at the Macau (Green Island) Yacht Club, where more than 20 new large luxury yacht

berths as much on display as their floating occupants. The Venetian Cotai Expo location will exhibit sailing boats, power boats, speed boats, boat engines, marine accessories, docks and facilities design, tourism and charter, water sports, high-end lifestyle products and related services. A number of famous and prestigious brands from Italy, the US, the UK, Netherlands and Germany are

expected to bring new boats to the show.

The event is dedicated to the integration of global yacht resources. Organisers have invited representatives from UCINA (Italy) and ICOMIA (UK), as well as a number of other boating organisations from the US, Germany, Australia, and Taiwan to participate in this Macau Yacht Show in order to foster knowledge exchange. Also invited - representatives from yacht clubs and chambers of commerce from Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian; socialites from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mainland; and a large number of financial professionals and banking customers.

Macau seems like an obvious place for a high-end boat show, offering the right mix of international accessibility, proximity to the sea and (last but not least) lots of people with lots of money. A proper marina would help enormously.

Gordon Hui, Director of Sunseeker Asia, speaking after the formal announcements of the press conference, said ‘In my opinion, Macau Yacht Show is as important as any of the Hong Kong boat shows. It’s all about serving China, and it gives an occasion for our China dealers to get together, and talk to our China customers. Macau is a really important venue.”

Boat Show Calendar 2013-2014 Sept. 10-15

Sept. 13-22

Sept. 25-28

Sept. 25-30

Cannes International Yacht & Boat Show

PSP Southampton Boat Show

Monaco Yacht Show

Grand Pavois International Boat Show

Cannes, France www.salonnautiquecannes.com

La Rochelle, France www.grand-pavois.com

VENUE:

VENUE:

Southampton, UK www.southamptonboatshow.com

VENUE:

Port Hercules, Monaco www.monacoyachtshow.com

VENUE:

Oct. 02-06

Oct. 10-13

Oct. 24-27

Nov. 01-03

Genoa International Boat Show

YACHT CN

China (Shenzhen) International Boat Show

Macau International Yacht Import & Export Fair

VENUE:

Genoa, Italy www.genoaboatshow.com

VENUE:

Nansha Marina, China www.yachtcn.net

VENUE:

Shenzhen, China www.sibex.net.cn

VENUE:

Nov. 22-24

Nov. 31- Dec. 02

Jan. 18-26,14

Mar. 04-18,14

Pattaya Boat Show

Hong Kong International Boat Show

Boot Düsseldorf

Dubai International Boat Show

Ocean Marina, Pattaya, Thailand www.oceanmarina.asia/boatshow

VENUE:

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Sai Kung, Hong Kong www.clubmarinacove.com

VENUE:

Düsseldorf, Germany www.boot.de

VENUE:

Macau www.macau-yachtshow-nk.com.mo

Dubai, UAE www.boatshowdubai.com

VENUE:

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46 logbook PARTIES Veuve Clicquot yellow summer 2013

Urban Beach Chic It was a ‘mellow yellow’ evening poolside at the Grand Hyatt when Veuve Cliquot splashed their Yellow Summer 2013 party amid yellow beach umbrellas, cabanas, tropical flora, sand dunes and surf boards. Dress code quickly became shorts and sandals as guests sipped Veuve Clicquot Yellow Lable champagne, soaked up the sounds of DJs Eve Speciall and Monsieur Graz, and enjoyed a performance by professional wakeskaters. Welcome to Yellow Summer!

Photos : VEUVE CLICQUOT

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Clockwise from above: Pool party launch at the Grand Hyatt; Carmen Lee, Manesh Chellaram, Wafa Hadef, Samuel Lee; Guests toast the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label champagne; Chitra and Manolo Chellaram, Fabrice Papin

14/08/2013 1:01 PM

Clockwise from top left: Brian Taam, Adam So and Watson Chao; Cheers! to Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label!; DJ Eve Speciall; The world turns beautifully Yellow!; wake skating performance in the pool; Leilani Chan, Melissa Bui, Natalie Lee and Fiona Hung

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48 logbook PARTIES the Macallan M

Sublime Spirit Celebrating 189 years of refined and legendary craftsmanship, The Macallan have released The Macallan M, a sublime and complex single malt whisky, presented in only 1,750 exquisite Lalique crystal decanters. The occasison was marked by The Macallan’s first global event in Asia - a Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with performances by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Gigi.

Photos: THE MACALLAN

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Clockwise from above: The Gala Dinner; Jeremy and Nicola Young, Carmen and Samuel Lee, Thomas and Anita Yiu; Cathy Chow Lepeu, Marianne Mao and Nikki Chow; Hong Kong Sinfonietta

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Clockwise from top right: Tony, Antonia and Paule Adne Cruz; Josephine Yun, John Ying; Thomas Wu, Roy Kwong; Ming Ho Tang, Reina Chau and Jane Lee; Ken Grier, Silvio Denz and Martin Reimann toast the launch of The Macallan M-Decanter

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50 logbook PARTIES Monte Carlo 86 launch In Monaco

Monte Carlo Magic Monaco was the perfect place to hold the worldwide launch of the Monte Carlo 86. This ‘pocket superyacht’ made an impressive entrance under a breathtaking full moon and pulled alongside the private dock of Villa Key Largo at Cap d’Ail where guests could see, first hand, just how Monte Carlo yachts are taking luxury boating to a new level.

Madame Roux, (CEO of Groupe Beneteau) and Carla Demaria (President of MCY) were at the event to greet guests and media representatives who had flown in for this special occasion.

Clockwise from above: Dramatic arrival of the Monte Carlo 86; guests celebrate the new addition to the Monte Carlo Yacht range; walking the red carpet; Suzy Rayment, Frederico Peruccio and Silvia Amici

Photos: IVAN FOIS

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Clockwise from top left: Villa Key Largo in Cap d’Ail; elegant table setting at the Gala Dinner; Shelly Xie; all that Jazz; Paul Farrell with his wife and daughter; Carlo Nuvolari, Fabrizio Larrera, Madame Roux, Carla Demaria and Dan Lenard

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52 logbook PARTIES Hebe Haven Yacht Club 50th Anniversary

Golden Dragon Members and long term supporters of the Hebe Haven Yacht Club gathered together to celebrate the Club’s 50th Anniversary with a Gala Dinner. Over 250 guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment and fine dining, and Commodore David Campell paid tribute to senior members.

Other Half-Centenary events included a Sail-Past and the the launch of a book to commemorate this significant milestone in the Club’s history.

Clockwise from above: Commodore David Campbell, Minnie Mildor, William Allan and Suzanne Hales; Mr and Mrs Kevin Hoban; toasting 50 years of boating at Hebe Haven Yacht Club

Photos: courtesy of Hebe Haven Yacht Club

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Clockwise from top left: String Quartet entertains the guests; Phil Boothroyd and guest; long term Hebe Haven members celebrate a unique milestone in the Club’s history; C.K. and Catherine Chan; Bill Lake, Brenda and Colin Dyson;

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54 logbook PARTIES elite charters Launch Party

Mahala Lin Elite Charters introduced their 86’ luxury cruiser, Mahala Lin, during an elegant harbour cocktailcruise. “Big luxury boats are expensive to buy and expensive to run, especially when they are only being used on an occasional basis,” says Director Stuart Walker, “so Elite Charters is the perfect answer, offering an ultimate luxury experience or a high class corporate entertainment venue just when you want it - not all the time!”

Photos: Guy Nowell and Tony Ma

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Clockwise from above left: Stuart Walker tees off in the harbour; 86 feet of sybaritic luxury; sunset drinks on the back deck; Culinary Director, Chris Woodyard; Kylie and Stuart Walker; girl talk; Sandra Martin and Adriana Merlo

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56 logbook PEOPLE Ilkka Seppälä

Floating Future

Finnish entrepreneur Ilkka Seppälä is taking the world of marina design and manufacturing into the future with his floating creations and innovative use of the world’s waterfront spaces. text by suzy rayment Photos courtesy of Marinatek Group

A

civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience, in 2009 Ilkka Seppälä was appointed a member of the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Academy. Chosen from a pool of 10,000 candidates, the jury agreed that it was Seppälä’s innovative use of floating structures that set him apart from the other entries. “This nomination is the highlight of my entrepreneurial career”, says Seppälä, “and a real accolade for me and my company. With 70% of our world covered by water, why are we so fixated with building houses on land?”

Seppälä has always had a love for boating, and he sees the water as a versatile platform for much more than boats alone.

Marinatek was set up in 1994, and the company also recently won the ‘Company of the Year’ award in Finland. Marinatek is now one of the world’s leading builders of marinas and floating structures, with over 56 distributors working in 40 countries and production plants in 12 of them. Over its 20 year history the company has built some 2,000 marinas in 35 countries.

Famous for its concrete pontoons, which are extremely durable and have an expected service life of between 30 and 50 years - with almost zero maintenance - a lot of Marinatek’s business involves commercial shipping.

Marinatek are also leaders in marina development for the

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pleasure boat industry, and the company has invested heavily over the years in R & D to increase their range and produce top quality products. Their pontoons offer an ultra-stable platform, with slip-resistant surfaces that are second to none.

Their ability to customize their products to the individual needs of the client has resulted in Marinatek winning contracts that included the Grand Harbour Marina in Malta, the luxury Porto Carras Marina in Greece, the spectacular Port Hercule in Monaco and the Anchor Marina, Dubai.

Recently, Marinatek has begun reaching out to beyond the boating industry, with new products which include floating breakwaters, floating swimming arenas, floating golf ranges and floating buildings that make up residential complexes.

Seppälä actually lives in one of his own floating creations, and has helped create Reposaari village, a floating residential development. “The Finns love the water”, says Seppälä. “Every summer there is a mass escape from the city, and families retreat to their summer houses on one of the many islands located close to Helsinki. To get to their summer houses they need to spend time on the water, and that is why most Finns understand the importance of a good pontoon or marina.”

“What would life be like if you could bring that feeling of the summer house to urban living? A beautiful waterfront environment, with all year round facilities for yachting, and recreation…?” Seppälä believes that sustainable waterscape urbanism combining low environmental impact and high economic impact is the way to move forward. It was these innovative thought processes or ‘Finnish Design Thinking’

as it has now been dubbed, that lead him to receive his entrepreneurial award. “We are running out of land,” asserts Seppälä, “so it makes sense to use the water, especially as sea levels rise. Maybe our species will need to adapt to living on water if we are going to survive into the future!”

“Waterfront land is costly and at a premium. As specialists in floating concepts, we are constantly looking at how we can make the best use of water space.” Marinatek recently teamed up with Lappset, a family-owned business, which manufactures playground equipment. “The floating playground is a perfect new application for our products that underlines our mission to create waterfronts with true destination appeal and a community atmosphere.”

Asia is another part of Marinatek’s expansion strategy, and the new office in Singapore is run by another Finn, Kristian Räme, who seeks to combine global marina expertise and manufacturing excellence with local knowledge. Says Räme, “Asia has some great waterfront environments – the opportunity to develop something a little more original and exciting than the standard marina/housing model is an intriguing prospect.”

Seppälä is quite sure that the Finnish commitment to nature will ensure the success of the company, long term.

“Waterfronts are the future of leisure time. Ultimately they are for people to enjoy as a community. Our passion and mission is to combine knowledge and insight with boldness and creativity to create solutions that will float us into the next century.”

opposite page: Kristian Räme and Ilkka Seppälä above: Grand Harbour Marina in history-rich Malta

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58 logbook pEOPLE eddie law

SILVER SERVICE

Eddie Law tells us that Daddy’s girls are all Princesses, and he is looking forward to taking them to the ball.

R

text and portrait by Guy Nowell

ecently-appointed Executive Chairman of Princess Yachts South China, Eddie Law, is looking forward to the imminent arrival in Hong Kong of his three Princesses – an 82’, a 98’ and a 32M (104’). “I feel like a father with three daughters about to be married,” he says. “Each of them has a different character, and for sure each one is going to find a different husband, but I don’t have any control over who they are marrying! It’s bitter-sweet.

“We are going to show them off in southern China,” he promises. “Hong Kong, Hainan, Nansha, Macau, Xiamen, Fujian. It’ll be like taking them on a Grand Tour.” Law, formerly a Goldman Sachs financial adviser, describes himself as: “pretty savvy, you know. I have made a lot of money for a lot of clients.” Which means that people tend to listen when he talks. “Right now is a really good time to be taking luxury business into China. The infrastructure that a boating industry

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demands is beginning to take shape. It’s no longer a case of driving a low fast car on a road full of potholes – which was the case when the high performance car brands were first selling into China. There are real marinas - Nansha being a good example – and they just need populating.

“At the same time, the Government has started talking seriously about the streamlining all the red tape that is an obstacle to actually using a boat in China. If you want to move a boat from, say, Guangzhou to Xiamen, then you have to deal with the Customs, Immigration and Marine Departments three times three – once at each end of the trip, and once at a Federal level before you even start. What we are going to see first is a Provincial policy that allows boats to move freely within a given province – it’s a start. The bigger-scale version will come later. I give it two years.

“So now is the perfect time to introduce the Princess brand – wealthy men have chauffeurs, so there’s no call to sell them a two-door car, see what I mean? And we are not aiming to sell hundreds or even dozens of boats. We are here to build a brand with it’s reputation based in quality, class, style and service. The ‘service’ part is terribly important to

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us – the relationship with our customer begins, not ends, when they sign the papers and buy a boat. We want to create loyal customers – like the 80% of Princess owners who have owned a Princess before. It’s about creation of ‘premium’, not simply about selling as many boats as possible. Think of it this way – support and service have to be an integral part of our relationship with the customer. If you sell more boats than your service network can support, you end up with unhappy customers. If you don’t get it right, you are feeding poison to the client, and all the friends they talk to as well. Word of mouth is undoubtedly the very best advertising channel, but it can work the other way too, you know!”

Law is very proud to note that the Princess brand has grown in strength and prestige over the last five years or so. “Our competitors may never say that Princess is the premier brand of luxury motor yacht, but they will admit that we are their No 1 competitor. We have quadrupled our spending on new model development in the last three years, and we are not interested in cutting wafer-thin deals. Instead we are interested in a much longer term view in which ‘Princess’ becomes even more firmly tagged with the labels of quality, style, reliability,

service and prestige. We want our owners to have an emotional reason for buying a Princess, not just a financial one.”

Hong Kong is a saturated market – especially when it comes to moorings and berths. “Of course we are looking principally at China,” says Law. “Boating is something entirely new in China. Money is not an obstacle to the growth of a leisure marine industry in this part of the world – the wealth exists. The challenge is to explain why on earth spend it on a boat! It’s an educational process: the ocean lifestyle is a good way to mend things, to heal your mind. Switch off the mobile phone, forget about the market. Relax. Leave the business meetings behind.

“In my experience boats are both a venue for family relaxation and for growing business relationships – I’ve never ‘talked business’ on a motor yacht, but I have met plenty of people that I’ve gone back and done business with later. Tell my 7-year old daughter that we’re spending a weekend on a boat and she’s over the moon. So a boat really does have a dual function. With the assistance of our beautiful Princesses and some first class service, that is what we are aiming to promote.”

opposite clockwise from top left: Three Princesses clockwise: from top: 32M, 32M bow-on, Flybridge 82 above: Eddie Law at the helm

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Racing inquiries: racing@kingscup.com

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www.kingscup.com General inquiries: pkcrsecretaryoffice@gmail.com

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features Meet the sailors who are participating in the Louis Vuitton Cup which is the PEnultimate challenge P.064 and up near the Arctic Circle, Swan are building dream boats P.068

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e challenge The Louis Vuitton Cup is the America’s Cup Challenger Series, and the winner of the regatta will meet Oracle Racing in the 34th America’s Cup. Suzy Rayment looks at the men who shape the teams.

Photography by Gilles martin-raget, abner kingman, chris cameron, carlo borlenghi and sander van der borch

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Three teams contested the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup: Artemis Racing of Sweden, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Luna Rossa Challenge of Italy.

Significantly, 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which first took place in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1983. It was an auspicious debut, as the winner of that first Louis Vuitton Cup, Australia II, went on to become the first successful challenger in the 132-history of the America’s Cup. Prior to the first Louis Vuitton Cup, no challenger had ever found success in defeating the U.S. defender. Just three and a half years later, however, a similar story played out. Racing off Fremantle, the new home of the America’s Cup after Australia II’s victory, American skipper Dennis Conner became the second skipper to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and follow it up with a victory in the 1987 America’s Cup. Those back-to-back victories by challengers after more than 130 years of futility, spawned a brilliant slogan: “To win the America’s Cup, first win the Louis Vuitton Cup.” There have been seven Louis Vuitton Cup regattas, and the winner has advanced to win the America’s Cup four times, so there is something in it.

“This summer, Louis Vuitton celebrates the 30th anniversary of its partnership with the America’s Cup. We have taken great pride over these years in awarding the Louis Vuitton Cup to the team that outshines all the others to become the Challenger for the America’s Cup,” said Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton.

Three challengers contested the Louis Vuitton Cup Series, with Artemis Racing eliminated by Luna Rossa in a semi-final. Luna Rossa now meets Emirates Team New Zealand in the final, and the winner advances to meet defender Oracle Team USA in the 2013 America’s Cup Finals beginning in September 2013.

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Grant Dalton The true grit of Team New Zealand

Dean Barker The Ice Man of Sailing

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mirates Team New Zealand is the reigning Louis Vuitton Cup champion, having won the trophy in 2007. Although the current iteration of Emirates Team New Zealand was founded in 1993, the team is the most tenured in the 2013 America’s Cup field with roots tracing back to the first ever New Zealand challenge in the 1986-87 Louis Vuitton Cup in Western Australia.

The New York Yacht Club notwithstanding, no other team in the history of the America’s Cup has competed for as long as Team New Zealand.

Emirates Team New Zealand is led by Managing Director Grant Dalton, who joined the team after its loss in the 2003 America’s Cup. The defeat ended an eight-year run for Team New Zealand that had it sitting atop the sailing world. The team won the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup in San Diego, and followed it up in 2000 with the first successful defence outside of American waters. After that victory, the team fractured and lost many of its top leaders, who returned in 2003 with the Swiss team, Alinghi, and defeated Team New Zealand, 5-0.

One of the constants over the past 13 years has been skipper Dean Barker. Barker steered the team to victory in the fifth and deciding race of the 2000 America’s Cup, and he’s been the mainstay on the wheel since. Barker has had his share of heartbreaks in sailing, narrowly missing out on an Olympic bid and stumbling from the lead of a Laser World Championship, but he’s also experienced the pinnacle of victory and has been enjoying the switch to multihulls. It feeds his need for speed, one that he’s quenched in the past by racing cars with his father, Ray. Emirates Team New Zealand says it “employs designers and engineers of international repute,” and they’ve invested more than 140,000 man hours in designing the team’s two AC72 yachts. The 37-person design team is led by Technical Director Nick Holroyd, who’s been with the team since the successful defence in 2000.

Other key members include Daniel Bernasconi, who migrated to the sailing world in 2007 from Formula 1, wing designer Steve Wilson, sail designer Burns Fallow, and naval architect Pete Melvin, a Californian multihull specialist who drafted the new AC72 Class Rule.

CHALLENGER Emirates Team New Zealand TEAM FOUNDED 1993 YACHT CLUB Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron PRINCIPAL Matteo de Nora MANAGING DIRECTOR Grant Dalton OBE SKIPPER and HELMSMAN Dean Barker KEY PERSONNEL Glenn Ashby, Wing Trimmer; Adam Beashel, Strategist; James Dagg, Trimmer and Grinder; Ray Davies, Tactician

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italy CHALLENGER Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 Founded 1997 Yacht Club Circolo dell Vela Sicilia of Palermo Principal Patrizio Bertelli Skipper Massimiliano “Max” Sirena

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ounded in 1997, Luna Rossa has been a popular contestant since the millennial America’s Cup in New Zealand in 2000. Some challengers spend a lifetime trying to find the winner’s circle, but the start-up syndicate won the Louis Vuitton Cup in a thrilling series that was decided in the ninth and final race. The Italians’ luck ran out soon thereafter, and they were swept out of the 30th America’s Cup Finals by a steamrollering Team New Zealand. The heart and soul of Luna Rossa lies with Patrizio Bertelli, the CEO of fashion giant Prada, and the Team Principal of Luna Rossa Challenge 2013. An avid sailor, Bertelli’s influence on the America’s Cup was recognised in 2012 when he was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame, the first Italian to receive such an honour.

Bertelli has entrusted Massimiliano “Max” Sirena as skipper. Sirena, 41, has been a member of Luna Rossa since its inception. He started as a mid-bowman and now holds the title of skipper, although he’s not at the helm. Sirena gained valuable experience managing the wing sail programme on the shore team for BMW Oracle Racing’s victorious America’s Cup campaign in 2010. He feels that his many different crew

and management positions over the years now give him unique insight into troubles that may lurk around the bend.

Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 has named Chris Draper of England as its helmsman. Draper won an Olympic bronze medal and two world championships in the two-man 49er Class dinghy.

New to both America’s Cup competition and multihulls, Draper nevertheless won two events of the America’s Cup World Series and placed a close second in a third.

His tactician will be Italian Francesco “Checco” Bruni, one of Italy’s most accomplished sailors. Bruni, 40, was with Luna Rossa Challenge in 2003 and 2007, and this spring he won the America’s Cup World Series in Naples in front of an approving home crowd. Bruni and Draper both have the talent to be successful in their roles; how the team does will depend on how well they communicate. Due to its late entry in 2011, Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 entered into a shared design programme with Emirates Team New Zealand. The Italians purchased a complete AC72 design package from the Kiwis, then built the hulls and the rest of the hull components of their yacht in Italy and the 130-foot-tall wing sail in New Zealand.

Key personnel Francesco Bruni, Tactician; Paul Campbell-James, Helmsman; Pierluigi de Felice, Headsail Trimmer; Chris Draper, Helmsman; Manuel Modena, Headsail Trimmer; Alister Richardson, Wing Trimmer

PATRIZIO BERTELLI - Principal

Massimiliano Sirena - Skipper

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sweden CHALLENGER Artemis Racing Founded 2010 Yacht Club Royal Swedish Yacht Club Principal Torbjörn Törnqvist Skipper Iain Percy Key Personnel Paul Cayard, CEO and tactician; Nathan Outteridge, helmsman; Loïck Peyron, helmsman

Torbjörn Törnqvist - Principal

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iain percy - Skipper and Tactician

rtemis Racing, a first-time challenger from Sweden, was set up by Swedish billionaire Torbjörn Törnqvist, a passionate sailor who began one-design racing in 2005, then joined the TP52 class and raced on the RC44 circuit; he won the 2011 RC44 World Championship.

The team’s CEO is Paul Cayard, an American sailing legend and six-time America’s Cup veteran. Cayard is a local San Francisco sailor who grew up sailing on the Bay and has raced with Törnqvist on some of his grand-prix campaigns.

Artemis Racing has seen more than its share of misfortune over the past three years. During an early training session in 2011 on a 60-foot trimaran to test the team’s first wing sail, a dismasting occurred, and the wing was damaged. The team’s first skipper, Terry Hutchinson, was dismissed late in 2012. And then

came the tragic capsize on May 9, which resulted in the death of Andrew “Bart” Simpson. In the crash, the team’s first AC72 and second wing also were severely damaged.

For all that, there were many positives as well. Artemis Racing won the 2011-12 America’s Cup World Series MatchRacing Championship and finished third on the overall Championship leaderboard.

The team brought together talented youngster Nathan Outteridge, 27, and French veteran Loïck Peyron, 53, as helmsmen and put the sailing team under the watchful eye of Olympic champion Iain Percy, 36. The three undoubtedly worked well together, but in the end ‘time on the water’ was lacking for Artemis Racing, and they were defeated 0-4 by Luna Rossa in the only semifinal match of the Louis Vuitton Cup series.

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dream Owning a Swan is a long-cherished dream for many sailors. A recent visit to the Finnish shipyard showed why the brand generates such a loyal international following all around the world

text by suzy rayment Photos by Kurt Arrigo, Eva-Stina Kjellman, Franco Pace and Carlo Borlenghi.

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Leonardo ferragamo Leonardo Ferragamo is a proud Swan owner and racer, as well as being the Director of the company.

In 1988 Ferragamo was in the market for a boat. “I was about to get married and wanted to buy a yacht before my brideto-be asked for a summerhouse,” he recalls. He bought a Swan 51 (but he still had to buy the summerhouse!) “I thought the yacht was superior to anything I has seen at that time. I had an immediate appreciation for the brand, and this has only increased since. Ferragamo likens his relationship with Swan to a love affair: “First there was a flirtation with a preowned boat, and then I had a new boat built - and that was when I discovered the Swan yard and appreciated the craftsmanship and above all the pride that the shipyard has in their yachts.”

Nautor’s Swan describes itself as ‘the sailor’s choice’. Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia at a cool 63˚N, this Finnish shipyard has acquired an enviable reputation for itself since it was founded in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkyla. It really takes a visit to appreciate why this is so. To start with, consider that almost every one of the 2,000 boats built by Nautor’s Swan over the last 47 years is still afloat, and in use. In fact the very first Swan to be built, the 36ft Tarentella, has recently been bought back by the company, where it is viewed as a masterpiece that represents nothing less than ‘the art of sailing’.

Commitment to sailing comes from the top down in this company, and it was love at first sight when Leonard Ferragamo was introduced to the Nautor’s Swan brand. Ferragamo, a keen sailor from an early age, became the major shareholder in the company in 1998. “In Nautor’s Swan, I found the same core values that had distinguished my family’s business”, says Ferragamo. “Innovation, performance, durability, comfort, style and quality. So when I took over the company I felt an enormous responsibility to look after this iconic brand.”

But to go back to the beginning, and Kokenkyla’s fledgling Swans…

The name, Nautor’s Swan, was chosen to sound nautical and to evoke the qualities of its stylish namesake. His vision for the company was to produce high-quality yachts for sailors who had a passion for cruising and racing, and enjoyed being close to nature. Swans were never, ever, meant to be parked in marinas – they were meant to be sailed.

Pietarsaari is a maritime town with a long history of shipbuilding and merchant trading. The original workers at Nautor’s Swan brought with them all the inherited know-how handed down from their fathers and grandfathers, and poured the knowledge and craftsmanship into interpreting the projects developed by the designers.

At first the designs came from the famous drawing boards of Sparkman & Stephens, and Swans immediately attracted attention by virtue of their winning ways. The Swan 36 and 43 were particularly successful with one of the latter, Casse Tete III competing in the British Admiral’s Cup team of 1969, making the point that a production boat was good enough for inclusion in one of the top

PREVIOUS PAGE: Downwind at the Swan European Regatta OPPOSITE FROM TOP CLOCKWISE: Cuor Di Leone, a Swan 42 skippered

by Leonardo Ferragamo, the Pietarsaari factory, German Frers Design house; Swan 90S; owner’s suite on the Swan 90S, main saloon of the Swan 90S

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Today a team of almost 40 in-house designers and engineers makes up the Nautor’s Swan Product Development and Technical Office, where the commitment to producing quality, seaworthy products, with outstanding performance, has never faltered.

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racing teams in the world. Sayula II, Ramon Carlin’s Swan 65, won the inaugural Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973/74. Over 1000 yachts were designed by S&S before Ron Holland took over the design reigns for the company. Between 1978 and 1981, 300 boats were built to Holland’s designs, including the Swan 37, 39 and 42.

For the last 30 years German Frers has been ‘designer in residence’ at Nautor’s Swan. His prolific output includes over 700 yachts, among them the Club Swan 42, which was developed in association with the prestigious New York Yacht Club, and the Swan 45 which allowed the company to enter the one-design market place. Frers was responsible for the Swan 66 - produced for Nautor’s 40th anniversary - and he has now been responsible for the new range of cruising yachts that includes the 60RS, 80RS and 105RS, plus the new flagship for the group, the 115RS which is scheduled to be launched in 2015.

Today a team of almost 40 in-house designers and engineers makes up the Nautor’s Swan Product Development and Technical Office, where the commitment to producing quality, seaworthy products, with outstanding performance, has never faltered.

The company is spread over three facilities, in different locations.

Chieffi admits that it is “not an ideal format, but we do have plenty of

space at each of the facilities.” The largest production facility, located in Kallby, is the company’s dedicated plug and mould fabrication section.

Equipped with the latest in fully computer-driven milling machines, here the hull moulds are shaped to perfection. This is also where the lamination of the Swan hulls is performed, in huge thermostatcontrolled heating sheds that cure the carbon fibre with precision down to the ‘nth degree. Yet another section of the factory is dedicated to assembly of the smaller size models.

The carpenters and the timber store are nearby, at Kronoby.

Magnificent wooden interiors are as much a hallmark of a Swan as their sea-kindly performance. Such is the attention to detail in this workshop that a sample of the actual wood that is used on every yacht is kept at the factory, so that an exact replacement part can be made if ever required.

A third yard was opened in 2002, closer to the water and devoted entirely to the building of the big boats, from the Swan 60 to her grown-up sister the new Swan 105. This is also the place where clients can work with the designers to make their dream boat a reality.

In 1998 Enrico Chieffi was invited aboard as Nautor’s CEO. Chieffi has now been head of the company for 15 years, and is just

OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Teak decking; building the deck of the Swan 80; skilled carpenter at work; plans filled for future reference; matching the wood grain; reference wood sample for each yacht; laminating press ABOVE CLOCKWISE: Hull infusion; measuring out the carbon fibre; hull detailing; production briefing; fibreglassing

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According to Chieffi, the newest additions to the Swan family – some of the biggest boats ever built by the company – are designed to meet the needs of a new set of owners interested in short-handed blue water and long distance cruising in comfort and style.

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as much at home on the water as he is in the boardroom, giving the company its direction and authenticity and maybe even a touch of Italian style. His sailing pedigree is unquestioned, having competed in World Championships and the Olympic in both the 470 and Star classes. “My goal early in life was to become a world champion, and l achieved that in 1985 when my brother Tommaso and I won the 470 Worlds.” Chieffi was also the tactician for Il Moro di Venezia, in the 1992 America’s Cup in San Diego. He jokes that these days he doesn’t sail as much as he would like, but there is huge satisfaction in running a company such as Nautor’s Swan, and he still manages to get out on the water for the occasional sea trial, or a Swan regatta or two.

According to Chieffi, the newest additions to the Swan family – some of the biggest boats ever built by the company – are designed to meet the needs of a new set of owners interested in short-handed blue water and long distance cruising in comfort and style. The Swan 60 combines a voluminous interior and large cockpit, but is light and responsive on the helm and can be sailed with limited crew. The Swan 80 presents an up-to-date fast maxi-cruiser concept with outstanding long range cruising capabilities. The Swan 105, the jewel in the

Bothnian crown, is an impeccable statement of luxury and represents Swan’s first steps into the superyacht arena.

It’s all about boats, but it’s not only just about boats. Nautor’s Swan is actually much more than just a shipyard, as the brand offers owners and sailors a complete Swan lifestyle package. ClubSwan is a complete social, cruising and racing events package which to connect everyone in the ‘Swan family’. The ClubSwan calendar is packed with exciting international events regattas that include Rolex Swan Cups in both Sardinia and the Caribbean, the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex, and the Swan 42 and 45 World Championships. Swan classes can be found in many of the major international regattas, including the famous Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race. The most recent newcomer to the racing calendar is the Gazprom Swan 60 Class, boasting two new regattas hosted in collaboration with the St Petersburg Yacht Club.

Everyone involved with Nautor’s Swan lives and breathes sailing and the sea, and that’s what makes a Swan the boat that sailors dream about. “Swans really are special”, says German Frers. After 30 years with the company, he should know.

OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NYYC Invitational Cup; MD Enrico Chieffi; Swan 80 Plis Play at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup ABOVE CLOCKWISE: Swan 53; Galley on the Swan 53; cockpit on the Swan 53; chart table and communication centre on the Swan 60

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Charter Asia has a variety of choices when it comes to chartering. From big to small, motor to sail, bareboat or skippered, there is a charter experience that suits every pocket.

choices Text BY SUZY RAYMENT PhotographY BY guy nowell, Sunsail and Asia Marine

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Chartering a beautiful yacht in an exotic location is the ultimate way to spend a vacation, and when you look at the overall package of chartering it may end up being a more economical holiday than you first thought

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If you are new to boating then chartering is a good way to experience and test-drive a variety of boats before taking the plunge and buying one. There are so many different charter options available it is hard to know where to start, but basically your dream holiday is out there and waiting for you, no matter what the size of your budget.

Chartering a beautiful yacht in an exotic location is the ultimate way to spend a vacation, and when you look at the overall package of chartering it may end up being a more economical holiday than you first thought. Review the costs of staying in a 5-star resort: accommodation, transportation, food and beverage, it all mounts up. If you divide the charter fee amongst the number of guests you may be surprised at how little it works out per head.

Being on a boat has many benefits. It allows you to stay in a different location each night, avoids the holiday crowds, lets you set your own schedule and gives you the freedom to be as active or as relaxed as you choose. I am not saying that chartering is a cheap option, but rather it compares favourably to staying in a five star resort, and it will also give you a very different and unique holiday experience.

Being on a boat is a real bonding experience that will bring you closer to your family and friends, all because you are “all in the same boat” and you are “all pulling together”. But choosing the right type of yacht is easier if you understand what is available, and what type of boat would best fit your needs.

Many people are worried that they will find being on a boat too restricting and cramped, but charterers find that they spend so much time in the water or on the beach, that over-closeness is rarely an issue. If you do feel restricted for any reason, then take a book to the bow of the boat and you will instantly feel refreshed, or take the dinghy and go exploring some of those remote islands.

Unfamiliarity with boating jargon is another reason why many people shy away from chartering. It can all seem a bit intimidating for the non-sailor, so here is a basic introduction to the terms that are used when booking a charter yacht.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Cruising on Silolona Opposite Clockwise from Top Left: Isabella Rose on charter in Phang Nha Bay; Sunsail Leopard catamaran for charter; M/Y Maverick is a luxurious superyacht that can be chartered in Asia; racing in the ‘bareboat fleet’ at Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

Bareboat vs Crewed Everything from 30ft sailing yachts which you sail yourself (bareboat) to 60m superyachts where you are treated like royalty (crewed), are available for charter in Asia. On the grand

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Chartering a superyacht If you are nterested in chartering a superyacht then it is best to contact a brokerage firm who specialises in this area. Most of the companies are based in Europe, but there are a few companies who have a local office in Asia.

Northrop and Johnston Asia www.northropandjohnson.com Asia Pacific Superyachts www.asia-pacific-superyachts.com Camper and Nicholsons www.camperandnicholsons.com Burgess www.burgessyachts.com Fraser yachts www.fraseryachts.com Edminston www.edmistoncompany.com Yachting Partners Interntional www.ypigroup.com 80 |

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scale of things, superyachts, which are basically your own private luxury floating hotel, come with accommodation for 8 to 12 guests, and have a crew of eight or more whose job is to pamper you and provide you with your luxury dream holiday experience. Superyachts, whether they are motor or sail are seriously spacious and comfortable, with numerous areas for eating, relaxing and sunbathing. Most have a pool and/or Jacuzzi, some have a gymnasium or cinema, and all will have a selection of tenders, jet skis and water-toys for the amusement of guests. These superyachts cost serious money to charter but they also provide the discrete and private environment which has great appeal for jet-setters and celebrities who want out of the limelight for a while. Or for those who want a more adventurous experience, there are a small number of sailing superyachts that are based in Asia, and can be chartered for racing.

At the other end of the spectrum is the bareboat charter. This is the nautical equivalent to trekking without a guide. It does mean that you will need at least one experienced sailor on board. It gives you total freedom to choose when and where you want to go, and it also gives everyone the opportunity to experience first-hand the joys of sailing. Bareboat charter works best when one person takes the role of skipper, and everyone has at least one role in the team. Great for family holidays or a group of 2-3 couples as most sailing yachts have three cabins with 6-8 berths (or beds). If you are a racing fan then these can also be

Opposite Clockwise from Top left: Main saloon (with fireplace) in the superyacht Shamoun; owner’s suite on Shamoun; S/Y Shamoun racing in a superyacht regatta; M/Y Tarragon; M/Y Lady Isabel

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Chartering a boat in Asia Local companies who specialise in yacht charter both motor and sail, skippered or bareboat charters include: Hong Kong Saffron Marina www.saffron-marina.com Northrop and Johnson www.northropandjohnson.com Hong Kong Yachting www.hongkongyachting.com Riviera Orentale www.rivieraorientale.com Hong Kong Catamaran Club www.cata.hk ELITE CHARTERS www.elitecharters.hk Thailand Asia Marine www.asia-marine.net Elite yachting www.charter-yacht.com Sunsail www.sunsail.com THE MOORINGS www.moorings.com Gulf Charters Thailand www.yachtcharterthailand.com 82 |

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hired and sailed in the ‘bareboat chater’ fleet.

If you don’t feel that you are capable of taking charge yourself, then you can opt to take a skipper onboard with you.

This allows you the best of both worlds in that you can fully concentrate on spending time with family and friends without the responsibilities of being in charge of the yacht, yet still participate in the running of the yacht. Taking just a skipper is a less expensive option than chartering a fully-crewed yacht.

Motor or Sail Some people prefer the peace and quiet of a sailing yacht, and find the movement under sail an immensely relaxing experience.

But sailing yachts tend to have destinations not ETAs: your sailing speed may be less than a motor yacht is capable of, and the cruising range may be more limited, if definately more environmentally friendly. Modern technology has made yachts easier to handle with sails that are self-furling (ie, they roll themselves up) but sailing yachts are not quite as roomy as motor yachts, and generally having less useable deck space.

Motoryachts have the advantage of being able to get you

to places quickly and on time: they are not as affected by the vagaries of the weather and work even when there is no wind.

The major down-side of a faster boat, is that it drinks more fuel and adds additional cost to your charter. You will need to plan your route based on your fuel consumption or you will need to plan to refuel along the way. Clean fuel can be a problem in Asia, so knowing where to source clean fuel also needs to be factored in. This said, most motoryachts tend to be more luxurious and come with all the mod cons such as air conditioning, microwaves, and entertainment systems. They don’t sail tipped at an angle like monohull yachts and you can be sure of getting to your destination on time.

clockwise from top Left: M/Y Indian Empress features a spa pool in the aft deck; M/Y Indian Empress; S/Y Silolona; Onboard Silolona; Sunsail bareboat racing fleet

Catamarans Vs. Monohulls Two hulls or one hull that is the question? Many who are new to sailing prefer the stability of catamarans. The entertainment and living spaces are larger and more open which is why many chartering sailors opt for multihulls. Catamarans are also useful for navigating in shallow waters, and this is often the situation in the tropical waters of Asia. Catamarans have that great trapeze

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area at the front of the yacht, and this giant hammock is a great place to hang out while the boat skims across the ocean. One negative side of multihulls is that they are a bit more tricky to sail in light winds, as they don’t point as high as Monohulls, and they are more difficult to tack, and as they don’t have a deep keel they tend to get pushed sideways.

Experienced sailors tend to prefer to stick to one hull, as they ‘know the ropes’ so to speak. Purists will say you don’t get the feeling of exhilaration without the boat heeling over in strong winds, and many novice sailors are perfectly happy with this too.

Even though space is more cramped than on catamarans, many sailors prefer to stick to what they know, and only feel like they have ‘really been sailing’ when they charter boats with one hull.

Corporate and Specialty Yacht CharterS Customers and friends always feel special when a meeting or event is on board a yacht, as opposed to a standard dry land venue. Whether it is a sunset sail, one day on the boat or a week long journey, a business meeting or a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday will be made even more special when celebrated on a yacht. Five-star cultural sailing experiences are also popular with those travellers who seek

out adventurous holidays and classic yachts are perennial favourites because of their classic styling and nostalgic appeal. An ultra-modern motor yacht may have all the bells and whistles, but from a style point of view there are few boats that look as good as some of the classic yachts. And what could be more glamourous than hanging out on a yacht that used to be owned by Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Sir Richard Burton?

Opposite page, clockwise from top LeFT: S/Y Montigne; Isabella

Rose at sunset; the Indonesian crew of Silolona; guest suite on Silolona; Spa pool on S/Y Montigne

Destination While there are a myriad of choices when it comes to what boat to charter there are equally as many options when it comes to destinations. Thailand, or more specifically Phuket, has a well established charter fleet to choose from, and offers world-class cruising opportunities. Hong Kong has a growing charter fleet available, and for the more adventurous there are the unexplored cruising grounds of the Andaman Sea, Burma and Indonesia.

The time of year will dictate when and where to cruise to get optimal sailing conditions but basically Asia is an all-year-round cruising destination with more charter choices than ever before.

Remember to add water to your next holiday, for the experience of a life-time.

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The italian Superyacht shipyard CRN is celebrating half a centery of boat building and the launch of its biggest megayacht to date.

Text by Nic Boyde photos Courtesy of CRN / ferretti group

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C CRN, short for Coztruzioni e Riparazioni Navali was set up in 1963 in Ancona, two-thirds of the way up the Adriatic coast, and destination port of several ferries from the former Yugoslavia and Greece. On the fast road to Bologna and its surrounding hi-tech engineering industries, the firm was very well-placed indeed.

The brainchild of Sanzio Nicolini, the firm started to build luxury yachts in steel at a time when everyone else was building in wood. This avante-garde approach has been rewarded with success, and the firm has gone from strength to strength, building ever larger and more luxurious yachts in its 50 years of existence.

Now building the largest privately-owned boats afloat, the epithet “superyacht” no longer suffices, so CRN produce “megayachts”, the behemoths of the personal-boating world. They currently have no fewer than four of these colossal craft under construction: a 55m, a 60m, a 73m and a 74m. That last is 243 feet, in old money. Mega indeed.

They weren’t that big in the 70s – 15-20m was considered “superyacht” in those days – but the CRN design is what really set these boats apart. It was instantly recognisable even before founder Nicolini began his long and fruitful friendship and association with Carlo Riva, founder of Riva Yachts (which is now a fellow stable-mate in the Ferretti Group of brands).

CRN built boats for Riva, including one called “Vespucci” which became Carlo Riva’s personal yacht. Design continued to flourish under the relationship with Riva and his firm – CRN’s distinctive bow dates from this period and has become the signature look for CRN yachts of all sizes.

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The dimensions of the yachts ordered continued to grow with the first 60-footer launched in 1966 and the first 100-footer launched in 1971. In part due to location, many of the owners of these fabulous boats came from Greece and the Middle East. An early buyer was the Emir of Qatar, who took delivery of a 47.2m yacht in 1978, the year your writer first visited the Emirate. With all the space such great length provides, the yachts became more complex, the demands on the designers became unusual, the clients more demanding, and the need for discretion and delicacy ever greater.

CRN has always cultivated relationships with other boat builders and designers, and seems at some time or other to have been associated with everyone in the Italian boating world and almost everyone else in the boating world at large. One fruitful relationship was that with George Nicholson, a legend in the boating industry and founder of Camper & Nicholson. Nicholson became an ‘Ambassador’ for CRN, and his endorsement brought a number of respected clients and commissions. One such introduction was Gianni Agnelli, the head of Fiat, who took delivery of a hugely innovative yacht in 1983, the famous F100.

This was the first real ‘explorer’ superyacht, and completely overturned the design concept of the megayacht. Looking more like a trawler than a millionaire’s plaything, it was designed to go anywhere, under any conditions, and to land a helicopter on its poopdeck - a feature never before made available on a 33m boat.

On the inside, the “monastic” (read “rustic”) looks belied the supremely comfortable accommodations designed to be lived in for long periods no matter the outside conditions.

PREVIOUS PAGE: The massive 60m megayacht Chopi Chopi is the biggest to be produced by the CRN shipyard OPPOSITE: Darlings Danama the 59.6m steel and aluminium superyacht launched in 2011 ABOVE: A fleet of CRN megayachts

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As CRN steams confidently into its second half-century, it is technical innocation rather than mere size that sets the brand apart.

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Lamberto Tacoli: Chairman and CEO CRN Chairman since 2006, Lamberto Tacoli was appointed CEO in 2012.

For most of his professional life he has been involved in the boating industry, especially within the Ferretti Group. His early business experience was gained in Asia and Eastern Europe, and he then moved on to Japan and the former Soviet Union, where he worked for companies with an interest in Italian luxury goods.

His entrepreneurial activity in the boating industry started in the late 1980s, when he was appointed Marketing Manager and CEO of S.M. Italian Yachts, a company which produced fibreglass yachts in Fano, Italy.

The experience acquired during these years led Tacoli to work together with Norberto Ferretti to launch the Custom Line brand (of which he is also a shareholder). In 1999 Tacoli encouraged Norberto Ferretti to take over CRN which duly became part of the Ferretti Group.

Around this time the company began to look to the North American market. Azzurra (47m) was built in 1988 for an American owner, with the interiors designed by an American designer. Azzurra was an international success and commanded record charter fees of $100,000 per week.

The Gulf War saw a downturn in orders from the Middle East, and the firm began doing more repair and refitting than construction. However, they still managed to launch seven megayachts in ten years, of which Awal 11 (65m) and Numptia (61m) were the biggest to come off the slips.

In the late 90s, CRN became part of the Ferretti Group. CRN had worked with Ferretti to found the Ferretti Custom Line brand, and so the firms knew each other well - it was an excellent win-win partnership: CRN with its know-how in steel and aluminium construction methods complemented by the high-end Custom Line yachts built in fibreglass.

Ferretti further strengthened CRN in 2002 by purchasing the adjacent shipyard Mario Morini, itself an historical name in Italian ship building. Morini’s experience in steel construction gained from the production of commercial, mercantile and military

vessels became an asset to the group. The union of the two shipyards created premises that covered 80,000 sq m.

Ferretti have since been taken over themselves by a Chinese industrial conglomerate, representatives of whom were on hand for the launch of CRN’s biggest megayacht yet, the 5-decker 80m long Chopi Chopi. At a million euros per metre of length, this 129th megayacht produced by CRN attracted a crowd of 4,000 people at its launch in January. The boatyard put on a big show, with cheerleaders and marching bands, but all eyes were on the boat, and rightly so.

As CRN steams confidently into its second half-century, it is technical innocation rather than mere size that sets the brand apart. The clients are becoming - still - more demanding, but CRN rises happily to the challenges. Like the floodable tender garage on the 60m J’Ade , or the Active Noise Cancelling system on Darlings Danama (also 60m) - just like the noise cancelling headphones so popular on airoplanes, but suite-sized. For 50 years CRN have been making dreams come true. If you can think of it, they can probably design and engineer it, with ingenuity, precision and (of course) bags of Italian Style.

OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: M/Y Darlings Danama (59.6) launched in 2010, airial view of M/Y Lady Trudy; owner’s suite on M/Y Lady Trudy; helm station on M/Y Lady Trudy ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Upper deck of M/Y Darlings Danama; the owner’s suite on M/Y Darlings Danama; jazzcuzi and sunbeds on M/Y Darlings Danama

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y of sailors Grass roots sailing in Thailand is receiving substantial support from local property developer Sansiri PLC, and it is young Asian sailors who are benefiting text and photography by GUY NOWELL

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Sansiri’s sponsorship of the Thai National Optimist Championship s,part of the Top of the Gulf Regatta at Pattaya earlier this year, was instrumental in giving young sailors the opportunity to compete at an international level

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Sailing in Thailand has received a shot in the arm from local property developer Sansiri PLC, and the effects are being felt Asia-wide. Sansiri’s sponsorship of the Thai Optimist National Sailing Championships, part of the Top of the Gulf Regatta in Pattaya earlier this year, was instrumental in giving young sailors the opportunity to compete on an international level.

Support for sailing has always been strong in Thailand, given the involvement of His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej HM sailed in the South East Asian Games in 1967, beating his daughter Princess Ubol Ratana in the final of the OK dinghy class – no doubt inspiration for generations of young sailors to follow in the King’s footsteps. Now in it’s 38th year, the Thai National Optimist Championship is the second oldest annual sailing event in Thailand, and continues to develop youth talent and to introduce Thai youngsters to the sport of sailing.

Bill Gasson, serial regatta-founder, started the Top of the Gulf Regatta in 2005 with the aim of developing a properly international sailing event in the Gulf of Thailand.

Running out of the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, it is now of the biggest regattas in Asia. Says Gasson, “We have been actively supporting grass roots sailing in Thailand since the regatta stated nine years ago. Right from the beginning we

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incorporated the Thai Oppie Nationals Championships into the Regatta programme, and we have hosted and supported it ever since. I believe one of the great strengths of Top of the Gulf is its diversity – we go a good many extra miles to encourage new boats and new classes.”

At TOG 2013, and besides the Optimist fleet, there were 12 other sailing classes out on the water during the four-day event.

Dinghies and beach cats launched off the beach right beside OMYC, and the big boats were all accommodated on pontoon berths in the newly-renovated marina. The regatta included four IRC classes, a Cruising class, and the feisty Platu fleet competing for another piece of Thai royal sailing memorabilia – the Coronation Cup, which marks – unsurprisingly – the coronation of the King.

Add to this the Ocean Multihulls, the Formula 18 fleet, the Open Beach Multihulls, single- and double-handed dinghies and (returning for the second year) the NeilPryde RS: One windsurfing, and the number of boats on the water this year was well over 200.

Gasson is delighted to have a sponsorship partner like Sansiri - who understand the importance of developing a community, not to mention the subtleties of promoting sailing as both a sport

PREVIOUS PAGE: The Optimist fleet on the startline CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Platu fleet competiing in the Coronation Cup; determined Optimist sailor; Optimists on the reach

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ad a lifestyle. “Sansiri’s sponsorship has helped our event to grow,” says Gasson. “This year there were more than 100 Thai youngsters racing among a fleet of 130 Optimists. The rest came from Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Myanmar. It was a properly international event.”

Srettha Thavisin, President of Sansiri PLC, is a keen observer of Thailand’s social development, and has encouraged the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to focus on supporting and improving the lives of children in Thailand. “Our CSR programmes have targeted childhood development in three specific areas: health, sport and education. An event such as the Top of the Gulf, ticks all the right boxes.”

“At Sansiri, we aim to construct a life, not just a building,” says Khun Ob-oom Chutrakul, Sansiri’s Social Director. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for us to work on a local level, both with the Thai sailors and with the city of Pattaya, but we

are also promoting Thailand on a much broader level, on an international stage, to the visiting sailors and media attending the event.”

“OMYC is a tailor-made location. We have a beach front area for launching the small boats, and a great marina for accommodating the bigger yachts. The waterfront ‘regatta lawn’ is a wonderful venue, makes a great ‘sailing village’ for post-racing prizegiving. We can even host a sit-down Prizegiving Ceremony and Gala Dinner, al fresco, for over 250 guests. Not many regattas in the region can do that!

Next year is the regatta’s 10th anniversary of Top of the Gulf. Gasson is looking to do something special. “We are not sure what that will be yet, but I am sure it will mean more boats and more competitors, and maybe a few more headaches,” says Gasson, but he seems to take it all in his stride, working with local sailors to make the Top of the Gulf Regatta an event for the whole community.

OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Keel boats are the ‘big guns’ of the TOG regatta fleet; Gala Dinner at sunset; Dinghies in action; NeilPryde RS:One windsurfing action ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Calum Gregor, 5th, top international competitor; Khun Ronnakij Ekasingh, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City; Pongsapat Pumyam,Thai National Optimist Champion 2013, receives the trophy from Khun Ob-oom Chutrakul; Bill Gasson signs off TOG13

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furious Often Described as "Road Racers of the sea", these Jet ski enthusiasts show how the freedom of the open water can be enjoyed in a responsible way.

TEXT by Suzy Rayment Photography by Guy Nowell

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Jetskis first came to Hong Kong some 25 years ago; I remember this, as my photographer husband volunteered me to model for a photo shoot on one of the first machines to arrive in Hong Kong. It was made by Yamaha, and looked remarkably staid by present design standards. I remember buzzing around in front of the (then) Sai Kung Surf Hotel in rather sedate fashion, but it all seemed very exciting and ‘glam’ at the time. Today, jetskis look a great deal more edgy (it’s a design thing, right?), showing off lines more akin to those of high-performance supercars. They have proven themselves to be very popular in the tropical waters of the Asia region. Take a look in the ‘garage’ on any superyacht and you’ll find a couple stowed away.

This summer I decided, for the sake of a good story, to get out from behind the desk and get wet for a change. I wanted to experience at first hand what it is that makes jetskiing so attractive to the young - and not so young!

I was introduced to group of jetski enthusiasts by a friend, Martin Lai, the famous powerboat racer, so speed was always going to be part of the equation. This group of a dozen or so friends meets up every weekend during the summer to explore the Hong Kong coastline and the waters that surround the territory.

What did interest me when we met up was the variety of the members of the group - male, female, young, middle aged.

There were definitely some common factors uniting the group: one was fitness, and the other was a ‘need for speed’.

When we went to Pak A to take the photos, and set off on a rip-roaring helter-skelter ride all the way to Tai Long Wan and back at full throttle, the thing that impressed me most was the level of responsibility and attention that everyone paid to safety issues.

Like many other boating people, I have always looked down my nose at jetskiers, the Port Shelter Road Racers, the

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Formation skiing; wave crashing; acrobatics; at ease; take-off!

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Jetski team Petunia Pang Yamaha (black)

SaSa Sin Yamaha (yellow)

Philip Au Yeung Yamaha (Blue)

K.K. & Vincent Tsang Seadoo (Red/Black)

Alen Choi Seadoo (Red/Black)

Ron Chan Seadoo (Green)

Banyon Wong Kawaski (grey/black)

Tony Lee Seadoo (white/orange)

Eddy Lo Seadoo (Yellow)

C.K. Siu Seadoo (Yellow/Black)

Thanks to C.K. for loaning his Princess as a support yacht for the photo shoot.

annoying people who buzz around quiet anchorages with little or no regard for peace, quiet and swimmers in the water, and whizz – much too close – to sailing and racing yachts and dinghies.

This was not the case with my newfound friends. This is a group of people who go out of their way to look after each other, to consider other people both in and on the water, and to be environmentally responsible in general. This was a real eye opener for me. I had thought irresponsibility came with the territory, so to speak.

Sin Miu Man or “Sasa”, is the groups’s team leader. She has been jet skiing for the past 10 years and was keen to dispel the myth that jetskiers are irresponsible larrikins. “Sure, jetskiers love going fast, but they also need to protect themselves and their equipment, so they are not going to do anything stupid.

We enjoy being out in the open ocean, and we enjoy seeing how far we can push ourselves, but we also look out for each other and we absolutely make sure that we are courteous to others who are out on the water.”

It occurs to me that, fully kitted up in wetsuits and helmets, the riders seem to be behaving a great more responsibly than

I would have done when I was their age. The group assures me that jetskis are easy to learn to drive, which is probably one of the great attractions. And then there’s the speed limit thing – or lack of it. “One of the great freedoms of this sport is that we are not restricted to specific roads or speed limits. The ocean is vast, and you can go where you like. How fast you go is dependent on the weather, the state of the sea, and your own skill level. You can push things as far as you are comfortable with, without putting anyone else in danger. You can’t do that driving a fast car,” says Banyon Wong, one of the more experienced riders in the group.

Jetskiers are also attracted to the sport due to its sheer physicality. One joint-rattling trip past Long Ke, Sai Wan Shan and the magnificent basalt columns of the Sai Kung Geopark is enough to make you understand why jetski riders consider their outings to be a workout as much as a scenery experience.

A 30min spell on the back of the machine with SaSa had my adductor muscles screaming – at the speeds we were doing, and in the turns we were carving, you really need to ‘squeeze ze knees’ to stay on board! The rest of me also got a sort of percussion workout as we bounced over the waves. Now I

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understand why you need to be a lot fitter and slimmer than I am to really enjoy this sport!

There‘s a huge variety of models of jetskis, and they meet different needs. So no surprise, then, that many enthusiasts own more than one. The Yamahas, Kawasakis and Seadoos all handle differently on the water. Says Philip Au-Yeung, who can spin his machine almost on its nose, “Seadoos and Kawasakis are described as more ‘sensitive’, and Yamahas are more stable. If you want to do tricks then you want a more reactive machine, but if you are a novice rider then you probably want a jetski that is more forgiving.”

So how do you go about joining a jetski group and getting out on the water in Hong Kong? First you will need a Pleasure Vessel Operator’s Licence (formerly known as a Master’s and Engineer’s licence grade 2), to drive a jetski - there are a number of courses in Hong Kong that will help to get you that piece of paper. The next problem is finding a place to keep it, as Hong Kong marinas are notoriously overflowing with boats and space is limited. This not just a problem for jetski owners, but affects the whole boating community and it is an issue that the Government really does need to address urgently.

Jet skis are a great entry level boating craft as they only cost around $120,000 to get on the water, and come with relatively low maintenance and fuel costs. “We tend to help each other when it comes to regular care of the equipment,” says Sasa, “and we always travel with our emergency ‘tool box’ when we are doing our weekend outings.” The ‘tool box’ consists of emergency towing ropes with quick release shackles, a modified barbecue fork handy for clearing out debris from the jet intake, and a few items of basic safety gear.

“Each weekend our outings are planned according to weather conditions, but we try to make sure we introduce a lot of variety to keep the programme interesting for members.”

This tight group of friends would like to see the sport grow and develop. “There is no official racing in Hong Kong,” says Sasa, “as the Government has not been supportive, but there is racing in China and sometimes we go and compete in those events.” Sasa believes that jetskis could do more exhibition events in the harbour, and it would help to bring fun and entertainment to ‘Asia’s World City’. But that is for the future, the first step is to get the message out that “jetskis are a great way to enjoy the fast lane of life.”

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP: Nine friends celebrate; pre-trip route and safety briefing; SeaDoo; safety kit ABOVE: Zig-zagging through the wake

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Monte Carlo 86 struts its stuff. It really is a pocket maxi P.106 Astondoa, Leopard, Oceanis, Wider, Ferretti and Princess are all seen in NEW boats IN ASIA P.112

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106 on board boat launch MONTE CARLo 86

Pocket Maxi

Named after one of the world’s smallest and most charismatic countries, the Monte Carlo 86 sets high-rolling standards in the luxury boating world. text By suzy rayment PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MONTE CARLO YACHTS

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108 on board boat launch MONTE Carlo 86

Monte Carlo Yachts are a unique combination of “Made in France” and “Made in Italy”

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onte Carlo is pure style named after itself; the new range of Monte Carlo Yachts is the seagoing expression of this famous enclave. A unique combination of ‘Made in Italy’, and ‘Made in France’, the Monte Carlo Yachts brand marries sensitive Italian tailoring to the powerful production capacity of Groupe Bénéteau.

Each MCY model perfectly exemplifies the brand’s most distinctive values – a blend of naval design, style and technology.

The new Monte Carlo 86 is the fourth and largest model in the MCY range, describing itself as a ‘Pocket Maxi’. It is Monte Carlo’s next step towards a superyacht, offering plenty of space afloat along with a remarkable level of customisation.

Monte Carlo Yachts appeal to the most discerning of boat lovers, bringing together a blend of the technical and the aesthetic under the direction of Nuvolari and Lenard. The designers are not the only well-known names associated with this model – some of the biggest names in fashion and style can also be found on board, with the living areas of the boat being embellished by fabrics and

materials from Hermès, Armani, Poltrona Frau and Pierre Frey.

There is a strong family resemblance of external lines throughout the MCY range, and the 86 happily fits in. Nuvolari and Lenard have drawn a ‘classically-styled’ yacht, without compromise. The MCY 86 offers a remarkable level of customisation, and offers an experience of made-to-measure luxury – so, in more ways than one, this is just a heartbeat away from a superyacht.

Radically different configurations allow each owner to personalise their yacht, allowing it to fit into their own unique lifestyle. The layout variations encompass all three decks, offering a choice of three, four or five below-deck cabins, and allowing for different distributions of the spaces on the main deck and the flybridge.

Step on board for an immediate and extraordinary feeling of space and comfort. The stern deck, which is completely sheltered by the extended flybridge, offers a huge social area From the foredeck - a highly distinctive part of the MCY range – the Portuguese deck leads to an exquisitely private living room. A real lounge, which adapts to different uses during the whole day

previous page: The amazing foredeck dining area ABOVE: Distinctive external lines of the Monte Carlo Yachts range opposite, clockwise from top: Spacious aft deck dining space; VIP Guest Cabin; VIP bathroom; Full beam owner’s cabin; Volterra alabaster adorns the owner’s bathroom

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110 on board boat launch MONTE CARLO 86

“Monte Carlo 86 is at the top of its category and as stressed by the designers Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard the MCY 86 has significant usable areas and internal layout of a much bigger yacht”

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Tech Specs LOA

26.30m (86’)

Beam

6.46m

Draft

1.90m

Displacement

72t

Engines

2 x MAN V12 1800

Speed Max

29kts

Cruise Speed 24Kts Tanks Fuel

7.100 / 1561 imp gals

Tanks Fresh water

1500 / 330 imp gals

Grey Water

700 / imp gals

exterior and interior Design

Nuvolari and Lenard

Year of completion

2013, July

spent on board. The extensive area is ideal for using large sun loungers, comfortable sofas and a table where meals can also be eaten in the shade. This can all be done while enjoying the sea view with one’s family and guests in a space that is both open and private, the sort of cleverly-designed space that you really only expect to find on a vessel over 30m.

Aloft, on the flybridge, there’s space for a Jacuzzi and a bar as well. So, soak and sip. There’s also room for an open-air kitchen, and a carbon fibre T-top with an electrically operated soft-opening sunroof provides shade as and where required. Indeed, ‘room’ and ‘space’ are very much the hallmarks of the MCY 86.

If the outdoors is just too hot, then retreat and relax indoors: the open-plan saloon is nothing short of vast, and provides a succession of luxurious and comfortable living areas, which are ideal for conversation, entertainment, relaxation or dinner with guests.

And then there are the opening side platforms – extendable terraces over the sea that not only expand deck space, but expand horizons, too.

All the below-deck layouts are ‘made to measure’, and of course they can all be changed. The spacious cabins are all embellished with exclusive fabrics and furnishings – please, pick the colour and texture of your cushions. The master stateroom is a true fullbeam suite with a sizeable office and large walk-in cupboard, and presents the very epitome of style and comfort. Look a little closer, and you will find finishes and detailing in precious materials such

as white Volterra alabaster, cedarstone marble and mocha cream limestone. Such exotic materials create a feeling of delightful elegance, further refined by the inclusion of accents such as Venetian mosaics of hand-made Murano glass.

At the end of the day, it is attention to detail that helps to put the new Monte Carlo 86 at the top of its category. Indeed – as stressed by the designers Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard - the MCY 86 has significant usable areas and the internal layout of a much bigger boat. The separation between guests and crew is clear: crew members can work, live, cook and steer the yacht under professional conditions, thereby allowing owners and guests to be guaranteed an enjoyable and relaxing time on board.

In a class of its own, the MYC 86 offers technical, living and aesthetic solutions which cannot be found in similar vessels of the same size or category. Preceded by a private event in July (in Monte Carlo, of course), the MCY 86 is set to make her official debut at Cannes Boat Show in September this year. The Monte Carlo 86 is the biggest model of the range to date, but we feel sure that we will be seeing an even more ‘grown up’ MCY on the horizon in the not too distant future. Bienvenue, and bon voyage!

Opposite Page, clockwise: Spacious flybridge with a variety of entertainment levels; the galley; al fresco dining area on the foredeck; the engine room; spacious sun deck

Monte Carlo Yachts www.montecarloyachts.it E-mail: info@montecarloyachts.it

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n board new boats in Asia Princess 88 112 o

A new design from Princess.

Powerful, agile and elegant, and ideallysuited to longrange openwater cruising

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Princess 88 Long-Range Royalty W ith the projected opening-up of Chinese waters to cruising, Princess believe there is a future for the longrange yacht. Engine options all give a cruising speed of up to 27 kts, and with fuel tank capacity at 8,400 litres, and speed moderated for maximum efficiency, quite long journeys are eminently feasible.

Her unique deep-V hull design utilises the very latest resin infusion technology and so her performance and handling are both impeccable and efficient. The basic design provides for many optional extras giving owners wide flexibilty of choice.

Wide side decks lead from the large cockpit to a secluded foredeck seating area, and the shaded flybridge provides space for relaxing or entertaining with a large dining table or a bar and optional spa bath. On the main deck, a powered balcony can be specified which folds neatly from the starboard side deck, connecting the saloon with the mooring through sliding glass doors.

The interior styling and detailing is exceptional with the finest fabrics and finishes adopted throughout. The expansive saloon and formal dining area are exquisitely furnished and bathed in light from large panoramic windows either side. The wheelhouse and high-spec galley are separated from the main guest areas with discrete crew access ensuring privacy. Below decks, owners can

specify four or five en-suite cabins. A beautifully appointed forward VIP stateroom, starboard double and twin port cabin are accompanied by either a palatial full beam stateroom or two further double cabins as required.

Crew are accommodated aft of the machinery space where there are substantial quarters comprising a captain’s double cabin, a twin cabin and a crew mess area. www.princessyachts.com

18/08/2013 1:37 PM

Can-Am Commander 1000 LTD

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n board new boats in Asia wider 150 114 o

Versatility, exceptional range, efficiency and speed, all rolled-up into an enormous 150-foot package that sets this yacht aside into a category all its own

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Wider 150 A Superyacht Indeed P owered by a Siemens diesel/electric propulsion system, giving 8 hours of travel under batteries alone, this yacht’s designers have gone all-out to provide versatility of performance, utilisation, and low fuel consumption, providing exceptional range.

Combining all the propulsion systems at once gives a very respectable top speed of 19 kts, helped by the lightweight aluminium structure and the semi-planing hull design of this 150-foot yacht.

The interiors have been designed to provide as much connection with the outside world as possible. You won’t forget you are at sea with this one. Large expanses of glazing looking out over each deck allow lots of light into the studied minimalist design and layout of the interiors, emphasied by the austerity of colours and simplicity of materials.

The upper deck features a lounge and a lunch area and a “disappearing” portal to connect to the outdoors space. The main deck, behind the full-width forward master suite and its panoramic views, is split into two living areas, leading eventually to the external cockpit. The master suite’s lounge area opens up to an external private terrace.

Four large en-suite guest cabins each have direct access to the boat’s exterior. The tender, itself a 32-footer, is launched and recovered using a floating launch system. The whole rear of the boat un-

folds. Once launched, the space becomes a seawater swimming pool, complete with a lido “beach” as the two side wings open flat and become lounge areas. Water “toys” are housed in the bow, and yet more structural versatility permits the deck above the toy chest to be raised to the level of the side decks providing a touch-and-go helipad.

There’s a very nifty covered storage space that holds a decent-sized sports car, provided you’ve got the means to load and off-load it onto the dock. www.wider-yachts.com

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n board new boats in Asia FErretti 690 116 o

A longer flybridge and sporty finish are complemented by some grunt in the engine department, and plenty of room, inside and out

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Ferretti 690 Sporty and Spacious T he Ferretti 690 is characterized by a new design of outer sporty lines, making a big feature of continuous glazing along the sides of the upper deck. Some of this glazing is of increased height, reaching down to the gunwale On the lower deck, the increased use of glazing extends to larger windows for the cabins, especially the owner’s cabin.

The designers have extended the flybridge rearwards, giving it a stylish elongated tail, handy for radar and sat-nav domes. The new boat is approximately 21 metres long and 5.5 metres wide and is offerred in two interior layouts, with three or four cabins. The main deck features what is said to be a rational distribution of space common to both options: galley towards the rear allowing service to the open deck below the flybridge, the flybridge itself and the interior sitting and dining spaces. The boat is rated for 18 people, including crew.

On the lower deck the two options are based on a different position of the stairs and a different layout of lobby, guest cabins and heads. The full-beam owner’s cabin is even more functional and spacious. The decision to place the bathroom with separate shower and the large walk-in wardrobe towards the stern, increases the owner’s privacy and the distance between this cabin and the engine room.

Latest-generation engines have been selected: twin MTU 8Vs, each over 1000 bph in the standard version, and 1200 bph as an option. These compact diesel engines are designed for fast patrol boats and police craft and save space in the engine room, so a second services gen-set can therefore be installed as an option. This yacht is happy to cruise at 27kts, and can get up to 30kts. Maximum range of 300nm from its 3,700 litre fuel tanks. www.ferretti-yachts.com

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n board new boats in Asia astondoa 72 glx 118 o

Every inch of this large yacht is used to provide space and comfort. And every inch of it is beautifully presented

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Astondoa 72 GLX Grandee from Spain F rom the Costa Blanca in Spain, near Alicante, comes Astondoa’s line of yachts. This latest addition to the stable is outwardly conventional but sports several innovations worthy of remark. The galley on the main deck is front-and-centre (meaning that it is very much ‘not hidden away’, even if it is on the starboard side). No serving hatch, no bulkhead, which on a 72-footer is a refreshing nod to the practicalities of entertaining 18 people on board: you need space. The lower deck has four cabins - two doubles and two twins, and crew accomodation beside the sizeable garage, forward of which are the substantial twin MAN V-12 diesels. All the accomodation features en-suite bathrooms, one doubling as the day-head.

The engines will push her along, under light loads, at 25 knots, and with fuel tanks of 4,400 litres, she has a range of over 200nm at full chat, further at more modest speeds. Built to the Germanischer Lloyds Classification, and with all materials, finishings and furnishings in-house, the designer has been able to articulate his vision with the minimum of restrictions, and with the maximum input from existing owners.

The rear cabin has two seating areas adjoining the generous space in the cockpit with its stairs to the spacious flybridge, and the stairs down, either side of the garage, to the large swimming

platform at water level.

The flybridge offers yet more seating and lounging space, with a ladder to the roof that both shelters some of the flybridge, and provides mounting space for navigation and radio equipment.

The roof incorporates a retractable sun-shade. The fore deck sports large areas of lounging space, cunningly convertible to seating with the deployment of adjustable-height tables in the centre-zone. www.asia-boating.com

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n board new boats in Asia leopard 58 120 o

Boasting over 8 million bluewater ocean miles in deliveries alone, these catamarans mean business offshore

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Leopard 58 Offshore Capability R obertson and Caine, South Africa’s largest exporting boat builders, have been winning award after award for their line of sailing catamarans for both individual owners and the international charter market, where their spaciousness and easy handling have won the builders order after order.

The latest in their range, the Leopard 58, successor to the multi-awarded 48, also includes the same innovative front cockpit. From the top, the hard-covered fly-bridge and sundeck cover the main cabin, aft cockpit and forward cockpit.

The main deck also includes wide side decks, multiple outdoor dining areas, and provides what catamarans do best: enormous width, both inside and out. The saloon alone is 750sq ft net!

The open galley is spacious enough for the most expansive chef, and the most ambitious meals, and the galley bar is in just the right place to pick up a champagne cocktail when the need arises.

The Leopard 58 has already notched-up its first award – the consumer’s choice award at the Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show.

Show attendees loved the space, the storage, the single-handed helm station on the flybridge, and the hydraulically-raised swim platform and dinghy-launcher.

Internal configuration, given all this space, is very flexible

indeed. Cabins can number from 2 to 6, with cabins being built within the hulls or placed forward on the main deck. The flybridge alone accomodates 12 for cocktails and meals under the hard-top bimini with sundeck and bar, while the shady forward and aft cockpits provide panoramic breezy views. Whether you want to travel the world in a sailing version of your apartment, or invite all your friends and family for a day-cruise, the Leopard 58 can handle it. www.robertsonandcaine.com

18/08/2013 1:38 PM

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n board new boats in Asia beneteau oceanis 55 122 o

This offshorecapable yacht is easy to sail and flexibly provides huge amounts of living space inside and out

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Oceanis 55 Seaworthy and Spacious T he man behind this design, Thomas Gaillard, said “The words that come to mind ... are sophisitication and suitability. We strived to make a cruising yacht with clean modern lines, using contemporary design codes, favouring an extremely comfortable interior where there is an ambient feeling ... of space.” This is achieved using many hull openings to let in light (while blacking-out the roof hatches, which keeps things cool) and the generous volumes of space.

The interior space is designed to be flexible in design – that is, the owner can choose from a list of optional layouts quite late on in the build programme, without imperilling the delivery date. The flexibility of design extends to the use of space – all the options permit easy adaptation of use – from lounge, to dining, to sleeping, to whole-crew dinners. The chart-table craftily uses the lounge seating for access, saving a few square feet for extra living space.

Cabin space can be configured with just two or up to five cabins, each with private bathroom space.

Cruising, however comfortable the Oceanis 55 makes it, still requires that the boat be sailed. It is easy to sail. Central mast, minimal-overlap jib, high boom, and the mainsail sheet on a cross-boat arch. The chine keeps the hull to a moderate heel

angle, and the méridienne seating makes it easy to stay at the yacht’s heel angle while seated at either of the two helm stations.

All manoevering equipment has been brought to the rear and is situated around the helmsman. The headsail winches are centred in the wide and spacious cockpit providing for safety and ease of use.

When you get to where you are going, the rear transom folds down to give a bathing platform with an integrated boarding ladder. www.simpsonmarine.com

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style Asian art aficionados appreciate the fair game P.126 and the countdown starts with race watches P.132

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Fair Game

Asia now plays host to several large international contemporary art fairs.

Jenny Cooper discovers why you should stay closer to home to see a world of art. photos courtesy of art basel hong kong, art taipei, india art fair and art stage singapore

I

n just seven weeks this year, global art devotees travelled three continents to be part of four international contemporary art exhibitions. From Frieze in New York, to Art Basel Hong Kong, to the Venice Bienniale and last stop Art Basel in Basel. Artists, galleries and collectors gathered for champagne previews, celebrity parties and the promotion of contemporary art and artists.

Art lovers in Asia no longer need to travel the world to get their fix. The international contemporary art scene has definitely arrived here. The last few years has seen an increase in the number of large international art fairs setting up in Asia as part of the overall growth in the art market.

The global art market has been booming. Much of this success has come from Asia, fuelled by Chinese artists and collectors. Private collectors in the West first recognized the worth of Chinese contemporary artists over two decades ago, and Chinese artists became the darlings of the international auction houses, setting record high prices. This has caught the attention of folk back home, and wealthy Chinese have recently emerged as collectors in their own right.

According to Artprice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; leaders in contemporary art market information â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from June 2011 to June 2012, Asia accounted for

clockwise from opposite top left: Gallery Boers, Li; Fabien Merelle, Pentateuque 2013, Gallery Edouard Malingue; Damien Hirst, Ptolemea 2012; Hauser Wirth; Atul Bhalla, Adrift, Vadehra Art Gallery; Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gallery Koyanagi; India Art Fair Pavillion; Tseng Kwong Chi, Paul Kasimin Gallery; Juan Ford, Entwine & Implode, Dianne Tanzer Gallery; Yan Pei Ming, Portrait Officiel Rouge 2003, Bernier Eliades Gallery; Nick Brandt, Elephant with Exploding Dust, Amboseli 2004.

Atlas Gallery; 10 Chancery Lane Gallery; Dolron, Grimm Gallery; Art Taipei (centre)

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43% of global auction revenue. Europe accounted for just under 30% and 26% from the US. China accounted for 90% of the Asian revenue and had the highest average price per artwork sold.

Asia is seen as the most prosperous contemporary art market in the world, buoyed by collectors who are looking to diversify their investment portfolios.

Hong Kong has become the regions’ leading international art market and not just because global heavyweights Christie’s and Sotheby’s have made it their Asian base. In 2008 Art HK opened its doors. Several internationally renowned galleries have followed, setting up a permanent presence there.

Hong Kong’s ‘art centre’ reputation has certainly been boosted by the presence of an international art fair. The fair has become the hub for exhibition-jammed days and party-packed nights with many parallel art events happening around town. Be it satellite fairs, gallery openings, or stimulating lectures, the week of the fair generates countless endeavors in the local art community as everyone wants to be part of the buzz.

Local artists have clearly benefited from being exposed to a more international audience. Katie de Tilly, owner of 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, one of Hong Kong’s leading galleries says, “I think the art fair has had a really big effect in Hong Kong and brought attention to Hong Kong artists. It has pushed them to be bigger and better artists”. She adds, “For local artists, it has also given them an

opportunity to exhibit in the satellite events around the fair.”

Georgia Manifold, an art consultant also based in Hong Kong agrees. “ I think now local artists have to be more accountable commercially. The quality of the work has improved as well as the presentation due to exposing local artists to a broader experience of international contemporary art practices.” Manifold also feels that the pricing and quality of work being exhibited alongside comparable international artists at art fairs has influenced the value of the work too.

With art on the rise in most Asian countries, international art fairs heighten the public’s awareness of local and overseas contemporary artists. Marketing campaigns encourage a city’s crowds to attend and engage in the fairs’ activities. With the number of visitors being a measure of an art fairs’ success, an impressive line up of events is typically on offer. Talks and panel discussions (many of them free-of-charge) featuring well-known artists and collectors deliver a broadening and informative experience.

clockwise from opposite top left: Gallery Arendt; Art Basel Hong Kong; Art Basel Conversations, Zhang Xiaogong; Wang Huaiqing, Chinese Emperor, Tina Keng Gallery; Takashi Murkami, Pom and Me on the Red Mount of Death 2013, Blum & Poe Gallery this page: Art Basel Hong Kong

Top fairs to visit Art Basel Hong Kong opened this year for the first time in Asia.

It bought a majority stake in the Hong Kong International Art Fair in 2011. ART HK (as it was previously known) quickly rose to prominence as Asia’s pre-eminent contemporary art fair under the art direction of Magnus Renfrew. With over 70,000 people

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Art Stage Singapore has put the city on the contemporary art fair map as the commercial hub for Southeast Asia, positioning itself as the ‘bridge building’ platform between the Asian and international art scenes.

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key dates for art fairs in asia

Korean International Art Fair (KIAF) Seoul, Korea 3 – 6 October 2013

India Art Fair (IAF) New Delhi, India 30 January 2 February 2014

Art Taipei Taipei, Taiwan 8 – 11 November 2013

Art Basel Hong Kong Hong Kong 15 - 18 May 2014

Art Stage Singapore Singapore 16 – 19 January 2014

visiting Art Basel Hong Kong this year, and 245 galleries from 35 countries, it is unquestionably the most prestigious contemporary art fair in Asia.

Launched in January 2011, Art Stage Singapore, under the direction of Lorenzo Rudolph, has put Singapore on the contemporary art fair map as the commercial art hub for Southeast Asia, positioning itself as the ‘bridge building’ platform between the Asian and international art scenes. The fair now attracts over 40,000 visitors and 130 galleries from 23 countries. This year they featured an Indonesian Pavillion promoting Indonesian artists and increasing their exposure to a global audience. Beyond the annual focus of the fair, Art Stage Singapore remains involved in local artistic activities through the year.

India Art Fair (IAF) hosted another outstanding event in January. Successfully attracting international partners in 2012, the fair continues to expand every year. Held in New Delhi in a custom-built tent designed by Indian space designer Sumant Jayakrishnan, it is now over 20,000 square metres, four times the size it was in 2009. With its focus on modern and contemporary art, 104 exhibitors from 24 countries were represented. IAF believe they have a key role to play in promoting access and awareness about art to the local population, particularly schools and colleges. With over 300,000 visitors during the first five shows,

SH Contemporary Shanghai, China (Dates To be Announced)

IAF continues to be the world’s most attended art fair.

Art Taipei is celebrating its twentieth anniversary in November 2013. Organised by the Taiwan Art Gallery Association, the fair attracted 40,000 people in 2012 with 150 exhibiting galleries.

With 136 galleries from Asia, north Asian galleries from Taiwan, China and Japan dominated. Art Taipei dedicates itself to be the most Asian style contemporary art fair securing its importance in the region and the confidence of Taiwanese collectors.

SH Contemporary’s first fair was in 2007 in Shanghai. By 2012, foot traffic had grown to 35,000 people who visited 90 galleries from over 18 countries. The fair is organised by BF China. It is usually held in October with this year’s dates yet to be announced.

The Korean International Art Fair (KIAF) held in Seoul has been running for an impressive 12 years. Presented by the Galleries Association of Korea, in 2012 over 200 galleries attended (60% from Korea) from 20 different countries. Each year there is guest country focus with Latin America featuring in 2012.

KIAF’s show is in early October.

With local art scenes expanding each year and with greater access to contemporary art than ever before, visiting several international art fairs a year may sound like hard work. But at least now there is no excuse to leave Asia to get your fill.

clockwise from opposite topleft: Indonesian Pavilion, Henry Dono, Art Stage Singapore; Mad Museum of Art and Design, Eric So; Art Stage Singapore; Nasirum; Ang Soo Koon, Fost Gallery, Art Stage 2013 Singapore; Breeding Life, Arnie Quinzie, Purple Roof Art Gallery; Art Stage Singapore

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132 STYLE timepieces race watches

Race Watches When you are on the bow, counting down to the line, you need to have the start time right to hand. Nic Boyde reviews some watches suitable for the yachtsman who needs functionality and style.

Rolex YachT-Master ii No collection of Race Watches is complete without a Rolex YachtMaster. Rolex made the first effectively water-proof watches exhibiting them in tanks of water, complete with goldfish. Nothing is fully water-proof of course, it depends how deep you go, but the yachtsman is concerned about water at or near the surface, and wants something instantly readable that isn’t going to mind a bit of spray, or for that matter an entire wave, surging across the boat. This edition has a race start countdown timer, cunningly controlled by the bezel, a Rolex-exclusive setting system. Available in white gold & platinum, steel & gold and wholly-gold, this regatta chronograph makes no compromises.

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seculus royal marine Swiss royalty being a thing of the past, and access to the sea never a feature of this nation’s geography, it might be thought that “royal marine” was a reference to the famed British naval military force, or the colour of the dial. It seems there is no connection at all: the watch is a solid automatic, waterproof to beyond the needs of a yachtsman. (If you need a watch that works at 200m down, you are a submariner).

The high-contrast white hands on black dial make it easy to read, even in reduced light, and the tachygraph scale on the bezel will help the mentally-agile with speed calculations.

The stainless-steel case comes with a stainless-steel or silicon strap, and the gold-plated detail is an option too.

louis vuitton tambour LV Cup Regatta navy This watch isn’t just about style. Swiss-made, automatic, chronograph, fly-back, countdown, 100m of water-resistance.

There’s nothing wrong with the specifications. It will do the job, and at 44mm in diameter, even the fiddly little things are big enough to see, and the hands luminesce, so it works into the long watches of the night. Sailing isn’t all about dashing around the cans on a Saturday afternoon. It doesn’t forget it’s a watch too, and keeps track of time and date like any other. It is the styling that sets it apart from the field though. It and its fellows are quite unlike anything else, and the dial styles and functions vary across the stable - and they will all look as good in the boardroom as they do on the fly-bridge.

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Breitling Transocean Chronograph 38 Breitling have been making big and heavy watches for a while: here’s something smaller, intended for the feminine wrist. The red gold or steel case has pure lines, and the finely crafted dials are available in black, silver-toned or midnight blue versions. The watch has a mechanical automatic movement and is officially chronometer-certified by the COSC. It is resolutely elegant, with a leather or crocodile strap in a broad choice of refined colours. The Transocean Chronograph 38 is entirely in line with the brand’s range of elegant, high-performing instruments. As usual, deep-water resistance, and a chronograph accurate to 1/4 of a second makes the tachygraph scale actually useful.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ceragold Professional dive watch features within a luxury 45mm gold case include the uni-directional diving bezel and a helium escape valve. The applied gold indices and the hands have a white coating that luminesces blue, while the minute hand and the bezel-zero dot emit green light, making it easy for divers to keep track of elapsed time in the murky deep. And this watch does go deep. Up to 600m of water resistance, which given that the worldrecord scuba dive is about 330m, is probably enough. Sporting the now-legendary Omega co-axial movement, it is possible to adjust the hour hand without affecting the progress of the minute and seconds hands, a useful feature in this world of jet travel and frequent adjustment of time zones.

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Alpine Sailing Yachttimer Countdown Designed to be a serious sailing watch and the first sign is the separate countdown window from 0 to 4 that runs into a fluorescent start indicator when the action begins. Being first off the mark, and not OCS, is what it is all about in yacht racing.

Seconds at the start can translate into minutes at the finish, and because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the seconds that count, the triangular seconds hand standing out in fluorescent orange on the 44mm face is nicely prominent. The rubber strap will withstand the elements well, as will the water resistance to up to 300m of depth. Stainless steel case, with a transparent sapphire back.

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Longines Lindbergh Atlantic Voyage When pilot Charles Lindbergh was scouting the North Atlantic for future air routes, he took with him his wife, and a speciallydesign Longines watch, now replicated in tribute to this historic 47,000km voyage of discovery. In a gold or steel 47.5mm case, this chronograph includes a tachygraph scale outside the numerals wheel on the polished white face and contrasting black numerals and hands. Basic water-resistance, more than suitable for the yachtsman, the tachometer permits accurate estimations of speed over a timed course. There are 30-minute-counter and small-seconds dials, and it comes with an alligator strap, fixed with a buckle. Timeless style. alligator leather. Anthracite dial.

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Hermes Arceau le temps suspendu Not a Proustian jest, but whimsical enough, at first glance it is not clear what this watch is for. It has an off-switch!

Pressing on the pusher returns all the hands to 12 o’clock, and time-keeping is suspended. A further push and the hands spring forwards to the current and correct time. For those of little faith, the sub-dial turns backwards while time is “suspended”, so it is possible to tell that the watch hasn’t actually stopped. An automatic mechanical movement, within a pink gold or stainless steel case, and enough water resistance to stand a dive to 30m, this small (38mm) watch comes with a choice of matching straps. Oh, and what is it for? For meditation perhaps. For getting in the zone before the start. If the perception of time is suspended; then the pressure of time is suspended.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Chronometer makers for more than a century, Ulysse Nardin carries on the tradition. An imposing 45mm pink gold case conveys authority, and the utilitarian crown has a rubber casing to facilitate winding and setting. The snow-white enamel face, and jet-black hands and numerals contrast strongly. There will only be 350 of these made, so they are not priced cheaply, but as chronometers and collectibles they will attract attention from senior afficionados of the finest things in watch-making. Automatic, mechanical and COSCcertified, it will withstand immersion to 200m, and has a useful power reserve of 60 hours. Straps can be in leather, rubber, titanium and gold, and certain combinations thereof.

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138 STYLE connoisseur champagne

Grandes Cuvees

Dominated by the Grandes Marques, the huge Champagne Houses, it seems there’s little choice for the discerning drinker. Nic Boyde gets bubbles up his nose as he pursues the Champagne Story.

TEXT by Nic Boyde

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hampagne, the recently-neglected Grand Dame of French wines, appears to have been created largely by mistake. Take a flat, cold chalky plain 50 miles ENE of Paris, plant some grapes on it, wait eons for the Romans to turn up and plant some more, and all this time make a thin acidic wine, that has one remarkable quality - it keeps well.

Occasionally, given how cool the autumns are, bottle it before it is strictly ready. Then, next spring, watch in amazement as a natural second fermentation starts up: the yeast has not consumed all the sugar in the grape-juice. Instead, it has been asleep, quietly dormant throughout the winter, and only now re-awakens as the sap starts to climb up the vine-stalks.

Or rather, listen in amazement, as the CO2 generated by this unlooked-for fermentation builds up under the pressure of the stopper, and blows it out - or blows up the bottle, whichever is the weaker. Then, rush to save the wine and discover that it is fizzy, tastes much better, and smells absolutely heavenly.

The phenomenon was well understood in England and in France, long before Dom Perignon took his vows, but how to control and reproduce the effect was the question. The English had strong bottles, but no wine. The Spanish and Portuguese had corks, but no cool climate, and the French had detonating bottles of wine that were both random and highly dangerous!

Less than 300 years ago someone started to try to understand the process - long before Pasteur showed that yeast was the agent responsible, and that it converts sugar to alcohol and CO2. That person is generally accepted to be Dom. Pierre Perignon, in whose honour Moet and Chandon have named their premier champagne.

A monk with a mission, he researched and standardised the processes that have come to be set down in law and tradition as the way to make Champagne. Maturing in bottles, using corks to seal the bottles using much stronger bottles, and deliberately stimulating the second fermentation were all artifices of the man who held the post of Cellarer at the Abbey of Hautvillers for 46 years, and kept his monastery financially-viable throughout.

Soon after, a fellow-monk started to store the ever-increasing stock of maturing bottles in ancient Roman subterranean chalk quarries that proved easy to extend. Chalk is soft. And that monkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nephew founded the oldest of all the Champagne Houses - Ruinart - in 1729.

Champagne, like the still wines that preceded the modern sparkling variant, was sweet. Lots of sugar was added to bring the sometimes anaemic grape-juice up to a level that would generate a final alcohol strength of about 12%. Yet more was added to stimulate the second fermentation, and a further dose to adjust the sometimes acidic wine for the tastes of the time.

Tastes change, and a concerted effort by several of the great houses has resulted in ever-drier variants being produced to extend the range to the point where brut natural has no residual sugar at all.

Tastes are not universal however, and deliciously sweet champagnes are still made and enjoyed. The drive to dryness came, perhaps unsurprisingly, from Britain, where champagne was drunk

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STYLE connoisseur champagne

Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque

Moët & Chandon Imperial

Mumm Cordon Rouge

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principally as an aperitif. Russians, by contrast, demanded sweet wine, because they drank theirs in great toasts at the end of the meal. There are now almost as many variants on the original idea as there are tastes and opinions.

Unusually for French wine, the small grower/producer is a rare creature. This is a sector that has grown rapidly in recent years, but it is growing from an exceedingly small base. Almost all the wine made is made from grapes produced by growers whose interest in the process ceases as soon as they they receive the cheque for their crop.

Everything else is done by the Champagne Houses: pressing, vinification, fermenting, racking, riddling, dosing, fermenting again and storing before finally bottling and labelling into the container in which the wine will be sold. The Champagne Houses do own some of the region’s 24,000 hectares of vines, but they are limited to 10% of the total, and in any case they all employ blending across their product lines. For the Grandes Marques, consistency year-on-year is essential.

Indeed, Champagne is the only region where firms like the

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Grandes Marques have developed. Elsewhere the grower/vintner is the norm, with thousands of independent labels to choose from.

There are 20,000 growers in Champagne, many with less than one hectare of vines, but there are very few wine-makers by comparison.

This all comes down to the enormous expense involved in establishing a Champagne operation. The costs of maintaining tradition the labour-intensive nature of which is difficult to mechanise - from the planting and pruning of vines to the way the bottles are induced to eject the sediment before being re-corked and sold: the whole process is beyond the small grower.

Luckily, the great houses have already invested the huge sums required, and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy it. It is possible to pay large amounts of money for special bottles with special dates, some old, but while Champagne can last for years, it isn’t designed to. Yes, slight acidity, and untroubled storage in those enormous caverns at a constant 11 degrees will give a wine long life, but once you’ve got it in your hands, don’t bank on it outliving a Bordeaux.

The great houses don’t release their wines until they are ready to drink, so you’re under notice as soon as you take delivery. It’s worth reminding yourself who the big names are. You can drink good Champagne for US$40 a bottle, or higher, but you can’t drink it for less without sacrificing heavily on quality. “Don’t drink anything cheaper than Veuve Clicquot Orange Label” is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received. It has worked for me for more than 30 years.

All the great houses differentiate their product on quality: the original quality of the grapes, of the juice (first or second pressing), and the care taken in fermentation in barrel or vat, and the subsequent champagne-isation of the wine. Moet et Chandon’s Dom Perignon and Roederer Cristal are perhaps the best known, and priciest, but Mumm’s Cordon Rouge, Perrier-Jouet’s Fleur de Champagne, Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame and Taittinger’s Comte de Champagne can stand with honour alongside the toastier offerings from Bollinger and Billecourt-Salmon that are so popular in Britain.

Clockwise from top: Abbey of Hautvillers, home of Dom. Perignon; the eponymous wine; tasting in a chalk cellar LEFT: Harvesting the Chardonnay grapes, one of the several varieties (most of the others are red) that together make Champagne

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142 STYLE high browse Luxury ‘limited edition’ goods

Jet Set

Exclusive luxury is only really special with it comes in limited numbers. If you are trying to impress then these ‘limited edition’ luxury goods will make a statement like no other.

Vertu Ti Red gold mxed metals mobile phone. Large sapphire crystal screen, and titanium case with leather accents.

MClaren P1 Lightweight ‘limited edition’ super sports car, MonoCage carbon fibre chassis with powerful twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, coupled to single electric motor.

Omega New Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand ‘limited edition’ timepiece commemorates Omega’s participation in the 34th America’s Cup. Macallan M This sublime and complex single malt whisky is available in a ‘limited edition’ of only 1,750 exquisite Lalique crystal decanters.

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18/08/2013 12:36 PM

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16/08/2013 12:03 AM

THE LAST WORD 145

MORE, PLEASE!

BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

Paul Zimmerman is the Chairman of Designing Hong Kong, a not-forprofit organisation promoting sustainable urban planning in Hong Kong. He is also the Hong Kong District Councillor for Pok Fu Lam

he Hong Kong Government has this month - belatedly - acknowledged the need for a fundamental review of the policy and management issues relating to vessel berthing space. The review will commence in September 2013. It is intended to explore solutions for better management of berthing spaces for local vessels and identify the challenges faced by the Marine Department in this regard. With input from the leisure marine industry, this mandate can be expanded to include the supply of berthing spaces: there is a dramatic shortfall of 20,000 berthing facilities for local vessel used for leisure, recreation and sports. A champion is need within government to ensure that waterfront land and sea bed is set aside to address this deficit - someone who can develop policy, safeguard waterfront land and obtain funding to build public piers and marinas.

The Government now recognises that the composition of Hong Kong's boat 'population' has changed dramatically in recent years.

In 1997 there were 13,90 1locally registered vessels, of which 7,27 4 (52%) were Class IV pleasure vessels and Class Ill outboard open sampans - small boats primarily used for recreational line fishing. Last year this figure had risen to 11,183 (72%) in a total of 15,463. On top of this already substantial figure there are an estimated 3,000 sailing and rowing craft without an engine which do not require registration with the Marine Department.

These 14,183 vessels used for leisure, recreation and sports demand very different berthing facilities from the working and fishing boats which, with their permanent crew, can safely use anchorage areas. At best, small recreational vessels are stored on shore in racks or berthed in sheltered water alongside pontoons which allow easy access. At a minimum they are tethered to secure moorings in sheltered water so that the boats can be left alone out of harm's way, and so that they can be insured. And that is where the problem lies.

Theoretically, Hong Kong has sufficient typhoon shelters for local and visiting vessels during inclement weather, but they are primarily designated as big-vessel anchorages and they are not always situated close to the waters used for recreation - or even easily accessible.

Aside from the naturally protected waters of Port Shelter and the Clear Water Bay Marina in Sai Kung, typhoon-proof shelters have been constructed by the Government by placing breakwaters around bays. Within these protected waters, there are only 3,230 wet moorings (2,280 berths under the management of marinas and clubs, and a further 950 private moorings leased out by Marine Department) . Together with the estimated 800 dry berths located with clubs and private operators, that makes a grand total of only 4,000 berths.

The shortfall of 10,000 berths has led many people to create illegal moorings which are then rented out extortionate rates.

Many small-boat owners who can't afford membership of a marina club or expensive sub-lets, and are unwilling to sit out the many waiting lists, leave their boats exposed to the risk of damage, lack of insurance cover and the wrath of Government occasioned by 'unlawful occupation of land'. You don't have to look too hard to find sampans and small cruisers all over Hong Kong, tied to rocks or pulled out under the trees, tied together in anchorages or at the end of illegal moorings.

Two separate studies have identified a latent demand of would-be boat owners, deterred by lack of mooring facilities . A Dutch business consultancy studied income thresholds for boat ownership in different markets, and concluded that Hong Kong's recreational boat ownership would double if safe, convenient and affordable moorings were made available. In 2012 , a study by a team from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) analysed the length of boats owned in different markets. This indicated a shortfall of 12,000 small cruisers (16- 26ft) in Hong Kong. Boat owners in Hong Kong have either very small craft they can pull out and tie to a rock, or they are wealthy enough to own a large vessel moored in a marina club or kept safe by a permanent crew.

People in Hong Kong love to take to the water. Sports, leisure and recreational marine activities provide a great opportunity for improving quality of life. A growing number want to enjoy Hong Kong's archipelago of 263 islands, white sand beaches, blue waters and spectacular 733-kilometre coastline, including the dramatic rock formations which have been recently recognised as 'GeoParks'. Sai Kung pier is crowded with boaters every weekend morning. Small sampans are rented out at Eastern Channel next to Tseung Kwan 0, To Tau beach in Tolo Harbour and at Ting Kau beach by people who want to go fishing. Sailing regattas are held in Port Shelter, Victoria Harbour and off Middle Island. Junks and yachts sail out of Aberdeen for lunch and a swim in a quiet bay. Windsurfers set off from Stanley and Cheung Chau. Beach catamaran sailors ready their boats in Discovery Bay and Tai Tarn Harbour. Tourists enjoy tours of Victoria Harbour and excursions to Lamma's fish restaurants.

Weekenders take small ferries to remote islands. We have yet to account for the potential increase in commercial leisure and tourism vessels these these exciting options offer.

New berthing facilities will permit an increase in boat ownership which will in turn will offer alternative jobs for the commercial fishermen who have been obliged to abandon their trade. We are already seeing a reversal of the decline in the ship building industry as this sector of the workforce is retrained to repair and maintain recreational boats. Importantly, as more people learn about the sea through sports, leisure and recreation, we can start to address the systemic shortfall in manpower faced by the Marine Department and throughout the commercial marine industry as (again) highlighted by the reviews following the recent Lamma ferry tragedy. ~

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146 the last shot Chris Draper, Skipper of Luna Rossa

Let the games begiN WHATEVER happened to a pair of shorts, last year’s regatta shirt, and a pair of well-loved deck shoes? not only has the 34th edition of the America’s Cup introduced huge and frighteningly fast catamarans to sport’s oldest international trophy, but the sheer physicality of the boats now demand that the sailors wear body armour and crash helmets, and carry safety knives and ‘spare air’ bottles. aqua-gladiators? maybe. naturally, when your sponsor is prada, you can count on a fashion statement at the same time.

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PHOTO © ACEA / GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

18/08/2013 12:08 PM

Panoramic Perspective by Sunseeker The new Sunseeker Predator 101

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Philippines: Brenton International Ventures Manufacturing Corporation Tel: 63 9178 802 903 E-Mail: ewt@asgroup.com.ph Singapore: 2by2 Marine Pte Ltd Tel: 65 9633 3488 E-Mail: daniel@2by2marine.com Thailand: Sunseeker Thailand Office Tel: 66 76 239 502 E-Mail: info@sunseekerthailand.com Vietnam: Saigon Marina Co., Ltd. Tel: 84-8 744 2533 E-Mail: info@sunseekervn.com To visit Hong Kong Gold Coast Boatshow 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; http://www.sunseekerasia.com.hk Sunseeker designs and builds a range of 22 luxury motoryachts up to 54 metres

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Thinking ahead. From the back seat.

The New Flying Spur.

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The name 'Bentley' and the 'B' in wings device are registered trademarks. Š 20 13 Bentley Motors Umited. Model shown: Bentley Flying Spur

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