The Yachting bug is sweeping the celebrity crowds this summer but what if you don’t want to splash out a few million for some summer fun. Well more and more celebrities are now choosing to charter or even borrow a yacht from some of their celebrity friends. This is presumably so they can save their pennies and splash out on a new car with some equally expensive car accessories.
Probably one the most if not the most famous couples in the world Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made use of a yacht owned by the equally well known Johnny Depp. The beautiful yacht is 156 feet long and can be chartered for a mere $129,000 per week.
The thirty-seven year old supermodel and host of popular reality television show Project Runway set sail on a fabulous, luxury yacht with her family of four children and superstar, singer husband Seal. The family boarded the impressively sized yacht in the South of France and cruised in style down the coast of Italy.
The yacht, dubbed Indian Empress, is listed as being one of the world’s largest motor super-yachts and is owned by Indian-born billionaire Vijay Mallya. Mallya is a liquor baron and is son of the industrialist Vittal Mallya. Vijay Mallya is the Chairman of the United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines, boasting an almost inconceivable net worth of over one billion dollars.
Mallya’s famed Indian Empress measures an amazing three hundred and eleven feet and can hold up to thirty-two guests accompanied by forty-two crew members. Inside the phenom-of-a-yacht hangs original masterpieces by the lauded Renoir and Chagall. The boat even sports a garage, which parked inside are two lovely Mercedes-Benz.
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry’s love of taxation is fairly robust, even for a Democrat. He has often expounded upon the virtues of allowing the government to take a larger bite of every private citizen’s paycheck in order to stimulate the economy of our great nation (since individuals cannot be trusted to invest in America or make spending decisions that are in step with government agendas). And while he has diligently upheld taxation in his own state, he has recently come under attack for dodging the very taxes he supports again and again, in particular, one that centers on yacht ownership.
That’s right: Senator John Kerry owns a yacht. “Isabel” is a 76-foot pleasure craft that apparently set Kerry back a whopping $7 million dollars. Somehow it just doesn’t seem fair that public servants can afford such luxury, but it appears that marrying up and financing a campaign with the assets of a big-brand heiress can get just about anyone elected. In any case, people are allowed to live as they please, hopefully within their means, and Kerry clearly has the means to purchase a yacht, so more power to him. And yet, there is a catch.
One of the most famous architects of our times, Norman Foster, decided to design an unusual yacht.
It is made for the wealthiest clients that expect luxury and novelties. Units designed by Lord Norman Foster are constructed for the fractional ownership super-yacht company YachtPlus and its most demanding customers.
The appearance of a luxury 41-meter yacht is the result of 15 months efforts. An entity called the 40 ”Signature Series” is to ensure larger areas of decks and much more comfort than any contemporary yacht of comparable size. In the process of design the most emphasis was placed on quality and quantity of space, outdoor terraces, light and views. For example, the path from the largest of the four decks inside the boat leads through translucent staircase, what increases the amount of natural light that reaches the cabins. Glazed interior finished with wood and best materials should ensure the passengers comfort and excellent conditions during their cruise.
If you’ve been interested in boating for awhile, you have probably heard of the Britannia (officially a yacht of the Royal Fleet, unofficially Scotland’s best visitor attraction). And while it is the most famous floater in the fleet, known to house royal dignitaries from time to time, it is not the only boat that has been owned and loved by Britain’s elite aristocracy. A lesser known (and smaller) yacht, the Bloodhound, was once a part of this illustrious cadre of boats, and while it was subsequently sold (again and again), eventually falling into disrepair and the annals of yachting history, the once great ship that won many a race has received a face-lift and a second chance at glory, thanks to one devoted couple.
The life of this yacht began in 1936 when it was built by Camper and Nicholson’s for an American lover-of-all-things-English, Ike Bell, who named the boat Bloodhound in honor of his post as Master of the Wiltshire Hounds. The 63-foot long racing vessel served its owner well, allowing him to enjoy great success racing in both the south of England and Bermuda until 1962, when it was bought by Prince Phillip and added to the Royal Fleet. In addition to winning several races with his 12-man crew (including the famous Cowes Week regatta), the Prince sailed it alongside the Britannia on the family’s yearly cruise to the Western Isles, subsequently using the old girl to teach Prince Charles and Princess Anne to sail. The Bloodhound was not only used in the service of the crown, though. Throughout its tenure in the Royal Fleet, it was also loaned out to yachting clubs with a 3-man crew to teach other youngsters how to sail (thousands, in fact), and spread the culture that the princes and princesses of the country adored.
Now that you’ve got your dream cruiser, built to entertain like the floating pleasure palaces of ancient Rome, you’re ready to take your little boat out for a test run. Or are you? You’ve had it outfitted to your lengthy specifications. From state-of-the-art guest rooms equipped with the latest technological gadgetry to a swanky 1920s-style art deco lounge to a luxurious deck lined with Adirondack chairs, you’ve thought of everything to host on the water with class and style. Wet bar? Check. Top-shelf liquor? Check. Enough supplies to keep the party going until Armageddon (and the will to do so)? Check and check! There’s only one thing missing…who’s going to pour the drinks? If you seem to have left service out of the equation when planning your party boat, never fear. Here are a few service professionals that can benefit any yacht-owner.
Maid. If you’re going to be out to sea with guests for any length of time, you certainly don’t want to leave the state of their staterooms up to them. So hire on a maid to do the laundry, make the beds, and keep you and your guests supplied with clean linens (you’re going to go through a lot of towels taking dips all day in the warm, blue waters of whatever tropical paradise you happen to be in at any given time).
Chef. Nothing will ruin your fun faster than a lack of edible entertainment. Sure, you can serve Ramen noodles every night of the week, but if you want to cater to expectant guests, you’re going to need cuisine that’s heavier on the brie than the government cheese. So order up a five-star chef (they can’t all have restaurants of their own) and staff to keep your guests ooh-ing and ah-ing over dessert instead of tossing it in the ocean. And while a chef may be pressed into service as a waiter, you might want to consider a separate bartended if you plan to party quite a bit.
If there is one thing that any sports fanatic loves is detailed description and commentary from experts, so that they can keep track of their favorite sport at all times. It is this kind of an audience that the Tour De France guide, which is a magazine that is being released for this year’s- Tour De France 2010, race.
As you might know already, the Tour De France race begins from July 3rd and will continue on till the 22nd of the same month, and something like the Tour De France Guide is going to be perfect for people to keep track of the race at all times. This guide is going to contain expert commentary and opinion as well as all the information that anyone might need on the race this year.
The disastrous condition our environment is in has made many people who really care about the wellbeing of their planet start working on saving the little that remained unspoiled. The reasons for this situation are many, one of which is the air and water pollution and here is where the efforts are being made of making things better, the land and water traffic. What we mean in particular is that new means of transport for both land and sea are being invented, carefully manufactured to use sources of energy which come from the nature and cannot do any harm to our environment. As for the land traffic, the use of bicycles has noticed huge increase as well as the use of the newly manufactured eco-friendly land vehicles. Well, we have the same thing done with the sailing means of transport and the last few years there are serious improvements in the manufacturing of the green yachts. These yachts are eco-friendly and do not harm the environment in any possible way. Besides, they have also shown that they can be really functional and durable, so here is a list we made on top 10 green yachts ever manufactured. These luxurious beauties look as grand as the regular yachts do and do not harm nature in any possible way.
1.) The first on our list is a topnotch design by the high-end designer Nuvolari-Lenard. It is the PJ World Superyacht. This uses the Rolls Royce’s package of electric-diesel engine which helps this yacht to achieve its place among the “Clean Class” lucky group. The peak performance, flawless design and, of course, impeccable protection of the environment are some of the things why this piece has deserved the first place on our list.
Yachts today are the motor watertight homes of many wealthy individuals and this is no surprise since from the end of the 16th century until today, these sailing homes have experienced long and eventful history of constant development which is the reason why from sailing boats with the purpose of transport of the Dutch navy in the late 16th century, they have become luxurious resorts that could be afforded by very few.
Aside from the luxurious features, this period of constant improvement has made them the most technologically advanced beauties the seas and oceans have ever seen. This is the reason why it is logical to seek for the top 5 technologically advanced yachts in the newer models of the renowned yacht manufacturers.
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1.) The first on our list is a member of the Bentley family. Bentley as a yacht manufacturer is known to bring the most technologically advanced pieces in the yacht industry. Each and every manufacture from this company is well known for the advanced military hull, completely equipped to provide the smoothest ride first of all thanks to the computerized motion control system and all of them are proven to beat the yachts from all other manufacturers, no matter the current sea conditions.
Strand Craft, the well-known manufacturer of elite classic-style boats enhanced by modern technology, has announced their latest offering, the Strand Craft 122 Yacht: gorgeous, expensive, and almost entirely unattainable. At a cost of $24 million (£17 million), and with only six slated for production, it’s going to be harder to get your hands on one of these than the coveted Bugatti Veyron, and with a ridiculously steep price point, it caters to only the most extravagant spenders. So what can you expect from a yacht that costs more than a mansion?
You start with 122 feet of sleek, sexy, streamlined exterior. This thing seriously looks like a stealth plane sitting on the water. Inside, you’ll find a stylish art deco interior that hearkens back to the lavish lifestyle of the roaring ‘20s, four large double staterooms, and spacious salon and receptions areas to fit your entertainment bill (and 52-inch LED TVs and superior sound systems provided by Bang and Olufson in every room are sure to meet the media needs of your guests). Bonus: this thing even sports bulletproof windows
