August, 2010 ...now browsing by month
Monday, August 30th, 2010
Looking to claim the environmental high ground at the next megayacht owners potluck get together? Sauter Carbon Offset Design has unveiled what it calls “the world’s first carbon neutral megayacht,” and it could be just what you’re looking for. Harnessing energy from sustainable sources such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, power sailing kinetic energy regeneration and wingsails, the Super Nova 60 is capable of generating enough surplus energy to allow it to cruise carbon neutral for 7,000 nautical miles a year… and it can feed energy back into the grid while docked. Now you can enjoy cruising around the Mediterranean in luxury with an environmentally clear conscience.
Referring to the currently available green technology present in Super Nova, Richard Sauter Head of design at Sauter Carbon Offset Design commented, “Super Nova’s state of the art Green Technology demonstrates that Carbon Neutral Superyachts are not just a futuristic dream, but a present day fact of life destined to become a ubiquitous reality.”
Like the somewhat smaller DSe Hybrid, the Super Nova employs a range of technologies to achieve its green credentials. These include multiple Mercedes Benz BlueTecdiesel electric drives providing 1,600kW of power that are supported by adjustable camber fully rotational wingsails, power sailing and wave motion energy regeneration, a 650 square meter solar cell array and a plug-in lithium ion storage system/uninterruptible power supply (UPS) rated at 1,000 Kwh.
These systems allow the Super Nova to achieve a 75 to 100 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when cruising at a speed of 18 knots. Additionally, cruising at an average speed of 8 knots and with the renewable power sources charging the 1,000Kwh lithium ion battery bank, the Super Nova boasts a virtually unlimited zero carbon cruising range.
Further contributing to the Super Nova’s efficiency are azimuth counter rotating contracted loaded tip (CLT) high torque propeller systems, wave piercing Catamaran hi-speed displacement hulls, aerodynamic PV deck spoilers and radar tower canopy, energy efficient equipment with waste heat recovery, and computerized energy management, maintenance and guidance systems.
And if you’re worried performance could take a hit with all this green technology, think again. The company says the Super Nova’s wave piercing hulls feature “self leveling sea keeping hydro & aerodynamic advances that will easily make her the fastest power sailing megayacht in the world.”
The Super Nova 60 measures 60m (197ft) long with a beam of 18m and a draft of 1m (3.3ft). It can accommodate 14 guests and a crew of 16. It weighs less than 125tons and has a sail area of over 1,200sq.m. The yacht boasts a cruising speed of 18kts and a maximum speed of over 22kts. When docked and plugged into shore power, the vessel is capable of feeding over 400Mwh’s of electricity back into the grid.
We contacted Richard at Sauter Carbon Offset Design who told us that if you and 50 of your (well-heeled) friends chipped in, it would cost you US$1 million each to purchase the yacht. That would mean you could enjoy the Super Nova 60 for one week a year or charter it for US$500,000 a week—apparently the going rate for a vessel of this type. As Richard points out, after a couple of years you’ll have recouped the cost of your investment.
Source [Bloomberg]
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a possible missing boater after an empty yacht mysteriously washed ashore near Madeira Beach in Florida.
The search was suspended Wednesday night, Coast Guard officials said.
The empty 48-foot boat washed up on the beach about 1 p.m. Wednesday, triggering a police investigation and a Coast Guard rescue mission.
The Coast Guard sent out two rescue vessels and a helicopter but was not able to locate anybody.
Adding to the mystery is the fact that the vessel is registered to the federal government, CNN-affiliate WFTS reported.
Also when the ship came ashore the engine was still running and lights were on, witnesses told the affiliate.
The sight shocked some.
“We do not see something like this often. I have lived here since 1958 I have never seen a boat this size beached like this,” Rob Klingel told the affiliate.
Danita Gainey who lives in Redington Beach which is near Madeira Beach, said the sight gave her a bad feeling.
“I do not know what to say. I can’t explain it. I don’t want to say anything bad. It’s hard to say anything good when you see something like that,” Gainey said.
Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office are investigating the incident and trying to track down the owner of the boat.
Witnesses say boat’s engine was still running and lights on when it hits shore.
Source [TBO]
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Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Shawn Mattiuz, manager of the Hapuku Fish Shop in Market Hall, a collection of upscale food purveyors in Oakland’s bustling Rockridge district, has been watching the Gulf seafood saga play out in the ice-cooled trays of his display cases.
For a few days after the oil spill turned into a crisis this spring, demand stalled as “everybody freaked out,” he said. Since then, he says concern has died down and he’s selling about the same amount of Gulf shrimp as he did pre-spill.
“I get a lot of questions about it, definitely. They want to know if it’s regulated,” says Mattiuz. “The truth of the matter is from everything that I’ve read, it’s more highly regulated now than it ever has been.”
More Gulf waters are reopening to fishermen, and government officials say seafood cleared for sale has been thoroughly vetted. Whether consumers are buying those assurances — and the fish — remains to be seen.
Nationally, an Associated Press-GfK poll that surveyed 1,007 adults nationwide between Aug. 11-16 found that 54 percent did not trust the seafood.
But Jimmy Galle, founder of Sausalito-based Gulfish LP and supplier to Hapuku and a number of upscale restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area and elsewhere, says his business has begun to grow again after a few lean months. “And the shrimp has been nothing less than spectacular lately,” he said.
Ann Cashion, co-owner of Johnny’s Halfshell in Washington, D.C., one of Galle’s clients, sees concerns about Gulf seafood safety fading.
“I find that people aren’t even asking right now. It was more on top of people’s brains when the oil was still flowing,” she said.
Cashion believes the testing is thorough, particularly because state officials are involved. “The state of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast in general has so much to lose if there is any kind of problem with any seafood that gets through inspection, so I know the inspection is going to be thorough and is going to err on the side of ‘Let’s don’t take any chances,’” she said.
Not everyone shares that confidence in Gulf seafood, which accounts for about 2 percent of overall U.S. seafood consumed.
“I would say that I always have a skeptical eye toward government regulation and government certification of things,” said Genie Gratto, an Oakland food blogger. “It’s been proven time and time again that, first of all government certification of food is such a massive job — the USDA and the FDA tend to be pretty understaffed in those kind of inspection areas — there’s no way they can get everything.”
On the other hand, she does have confidence in buying from trusted suppliers, like the small meat and fish market she shops at. She also tries to buy local, which doesn’t include Gulf seafood.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups recently asked the Food and Drug Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to strengthen procedures for determining whether seafood is safe and whether fishing areas should be reopened.
They also want sampling protocols and data published online.
“We’re not saying that the seafood is not safe,” said Gina Solomon, a senior scientist with NRDC. “We’re basically raising questions about the government’s procedures, their scientific procedures and their transparency.” One issue is whether government standards are strict enough to protect vulnerable populations, she said. “We want to make sure that the government is setting up a robust seafood safety testing program that will be able to protect the public for years to come, because that’s how long this problem is likely to last.”
The FDA is reviewing the NRDC letter, but officials are confident in the protocols, said agency spokeswoman Meghan Scott.
The main issue with oil contamination is potential cancer-causing substances called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These are pollutants that show up in other foods as well, such as grilled meat.
If there is contamination, fish metabolize it fastest, oysters and crabs slowest and shrimp are somewhere between.
Testing includes “sniffers,” who check for traces of oil and lab tests on ground up seafood to check for signs of contaminants.
Because of strict adherence to procedures, the FDA “feels confident in the safety of seafood coming from these waters,” Scott said in an e-mail. “We also understand that we must remain vigilant to ensure the safety of seafood coming from the Gulf. As such, FDA and NOAA will continue to monitor both water and seafood to ensure that tainted fish is not allowed into the marketplace.”
Like Mattiuz, John Currence, chef/owner of the City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Miss., has been getting a lot of questions about Gulf seafood — but not because customers are nervous.
“People have, through the entirety of this crisis, actually questioned us about our seafood because they wanted to support the Gulf fisheries and the Gulf fishermen, not because they were afraid of the quality of what was available out there,” he said.
Like others, he’s concerned about the long-term effects of the spill, “but nobody has any idea of what the actual answer to that is. So the question is, are we going to sit here and wring our hands in fear for what the future may bring? Or are we going to do our best to make the Gulf heal and be glad for what’s coming through our doors every day that is entirely on par with what we were getting April 19 (before the spill began.)
In Oakland, about half a dozen customers stopping by Hapuku Fish during a recent lunch-hour seemed unfazed at the idea of buying Gulf seafood. One exception was Louise Booth, a homemaker in the east San Francisco Bay. She wasn’t ready to buy Gulf seafood “for a while. I know it’s been authorized, but ….” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
But regular customer Sharon Francis of Oakland happily selected some fresh Gulf shrimp to go with a paella. “I just trust my fishmonger,” she said. “I know these guys carry the best.”
Source [
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Monday, August 23rd, 2010
With the stealth that perhaps only a teenage girl (or maybe international spy) can manage, 14 year old Dutch sailor Laura Dekker snuck away from dock this weekend, setting off on her attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. As you may know, Laura has been battling for some time to attain the permission to take off on her voyage. The bullheaded young teen even went so far as to run away from home at one point, terrifying her parents who finally found her in St Maarten, shopping for a yacht! You would think that being labeled a teenage runaway would have ended her hopes of being found responsible enough to sail around the world alone, but Laura came home to convince her mother, and then the Dutch courts and social services, that she was a person capable of handling her boat by herself all the way around the globe. She didn’t, however, convince the Portuguese police.
A child of two divorced parents, Laura Dekker has a lot of experience around boats, as she has been raised on yachts most of her life. Her father (who is the custodial parent) was in support of his daughter taking the trip from the start, “encouraging” her toward the goal of becoming the youngest around the world alone. Her mother, however, was apprehensive, thinking Laura too young for the endeavour. The Dutch courts agreed, and for over a year the legal battle dragged on, as experts were brought before the court to attest to the physical and emotional toll such a journey would take on this little girl. Fearing that Laura would be allowed to sail off on her own unprepared (she had been caught once before illegally piloting her boat alone), Laura’s welfare was placed in the temporary care of social services last summer. The courts ruled that: “The parents are going to have to negotiate all important decisions regarding Laura with the child protection services.” This decision meant Laura’s parents were stripped of their ability to allow Laura to cast off.
Laura kept insisting that she should be allowed to sail around the world alone, saying she was ready, and she wanted to do the trip soon. “My parents always knew it was a dream of mine to do this,” the then 13-year-old Laura Dekker told the court, “and I want to do it while I’m still young, so I can break the record.” In December, Dekker ran away from home, launching a world-wide search. Apparently the young girl flew by herself to the Caribbean, and was planning to buy a boat to set off on her voyage. When she was finally found on the Dutch Antilles island of St Maarten, she was placed in police custody and put on a plane to the Netherlands. Her lawyer told the press at the time: “She was going to buy a boat, which still needed some work done on it, and then set sail.”
One might assume that such rash behavior would end all hopes for Laura to take off on her own, but it actually helped her chances. Her mother, Babs Mueller, miraculously seemed to now back the idea of Laura sailing around the world solo, withdrawing all legal opposition. With this support, a larger (and more prepared) sailboat, and a bit more preparation by Laura (including some first-aid lessons), the courts finally agreed to release the young girl from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies that had blocked her attempts to leave when she was still 13. The courts allowed her parents to once again make the decisions regarding the welfare of their child, and to decide themselves whether she was adequately skilled as well as physically and emotionally mature enough for sailing alone around the globe.
Laura Dekker and her father Dick Dekker wasted no time, and quickly got her 38 foot yacht named Guppy ready for sea. The father and daughter then took a sea trial from the Netherlands to Portugal. Laura Dekker said the boat had some glitches during that passage, including problems with a water pump, and trouble with the yacht’s GPS and radar. Laura’s team had indicated that she would be departing on her trip from Portugal, but this appears to have only been a trick to avoid the press, any controversy, and most importantly, the Portuguese police, whom her team says “were making problems because of her age.”
Portuguese law does not allow a minor to sail alone. In order to avoid the chance of anyone stopping her from starting her voyage, the teenager snuck out (as teenagers often do) and secretly sailed from the southern Portuguese port of Portimao on Wednesday, moving her boat to Gibraltar for the solo departure. Although the wind was light, she took off from Gibraltar on Saturday, sailing the first leg of her journey, which should see her in the Canary Islands or Madeira (depending on conditions) in about eight days.
Laura hopes to complete sailing around the world alone by the age of 16, well before her 17th birthday on September 20 of 2012. If she does complete the journey by that time, however, she will hold no official record. Instead, the teen will only earn bragging rights, as all respected records-keeping organizations have agreed to stop recognizing the “youngest” world sailing records for fear of encouraging children from attempting the dangerous feat. Such a danger was made evident only a few months ago, when 16 year old sailor Abby Sunderland had to be rescued after being dismasted during her own around the world attempt.
Laura Dekker does not plan on sailing around the world non-stop. Instead, she will attempt to circle the globe in a series of jumps, most lasting less than a few weeks. Laura’s expected course will make a cruiser’s circle of the world, avoiding the Southern Oceans completely. To accomplish this, she plans to cross the Atlantic to enter the Pacific via the Panama Canal, and then sail the South Pacific to Australia. From there, she plans to skirt the Indian Ocean, sailing back toward Europe through the Suez Canal. This route will take her through the Gulf of Aden, commonly referred to as ‘Pirate Alley.’ When asked if this idea bothered the teenager, particularly in light of the fact that there are still yachties being held by pirates in Somalia for ransom, the teen quipped: “They don’t attack yachts so much.”
Laura’s support team, as well as the television production company which has bought exclusive rights to her story, will be meeting the 14 year old as she arrives in each port. The team will record her arrival, and presumably take care of the necessary paperwork for the child. Although some feel that the young Laura Dekker may be old enough to sail a yacht solo, she is far too young in most countries to be considered legally responsible for herself on land, and therefore must be accompanied by an adult.
Source [yahoo]
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Somehow it’s fitting that the lastest F45 from Feadship’s Royal Van Lent yard is a celestial-themed superyacht, just like one of her predecessors.
Sirius is the fourth 44.65-meter (147-foot) yacht in the F45 Vantage series. Like Space, delivered in 2007 (and Harle in 2007 andTV in 2008), Sirius accommodates 10, including the owners, with all staterooms on the main deck. When Feadship unveiled this layout as a central part of the series several years ago, some of us in the media wondered whether it would catch on. Clearly it has. And why not? It allows everyone to enjoy equally excellent views. The master stateroom doesn’t suffer space-wise, either. It actually feels more spacious than it is because of the 3.2-meter-high (about 11-foot-high) ceiling, further fitted with a skylight. Take a close look at the foredeck area just ahead of the pilothouse windows, and you can see the rectangular-shaped expanse of skylight glass.
The interior blends deep- and medium-tone woods in the “Miami” decor package from Sinot Branding & Design (formerly Sinot Design Associates), one of a few offered in the series. It has a serene, Art Deco-influenced look. You can see a few photos in a slideshow on the F45 Vantage website. One of my favorite: the upper-deck lounge, which has a dining table tucked to port and teak decking just like the additional dining area outside its doors. In fact, the lounge can turn into an indoor-outdoor spot by keeping the doors open. It’s a great beach club feel.
Sirius is also being offered for charter through the Feadship Charter Division. Interested parties will note that the queen-size beds in the guest staterooms can convert to twins. The megayacht also has an office that can convert to handle extra guests thanks to a Murphy bed. Equally noteworthy, the crew-to-guest ratio is 1:1.
[via MegaYachtNews ]
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Tags: mega yacht, Yacht, yachts
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
This luxury yacht, property of Seabourn, it’s called Sojourn, and will be launched this June. Among others, it offers 225 luxury suites measuring 295 to 1,682 square feet, 90% with private verandas, four dining venues where you can find eclectic menus developed specifically for The Yachts of Seabourn by celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer, lounges, six bars and a spa.
The spa menu is very interesting. Here are some of the exclusive services it offers:
- Seabourn 24 Karat Gold Facial
- Elemis Skin IQ for Men Facial
- Thai Herbal Poultice Massage
- Thai Massage
- Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy
- Couples Massage and Bathing Ritual
- Swedish Massage
- Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction Program
- Fire and Ice Manicure and Pedicure
The list above represents probably 10% of the services they offer in the spa.
The itineraries aboard of Sojourn are numerous and vary, as price, location and length. You can choose to take a vacation in Canada & New England, Europe, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South & Central America or more general like Transatlantic Crossings, World Cruises or Grand Voyages. The length varies from 6 to 26+ days.
So, any plans for the summer?
[via DaringIdeas]
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Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Oculus is the first “design launch” of Schöpfer Yachts LLC. This 250-foot vessel was designed by E. Kevin Schöpfer, founder and owner of his namesake company.
Designed to accommodate 14 guests in extraordinary comfort and style, Oculus is a long distance cruising yacht capable of speeds upwards of 21 knots.
The exterior styling is representative of the jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals. Featuring a dramatic reverse bow configuration, the yacht’s armature balances an elegant expression of symmetry and structure.
In addition to the bow, Oculus also features a “low rider profile”. This slightly lowered surface allows for new side recreational areas, alternate dockage access and light cruising openness. Lateral retractable side panels close this area when heavier wave action is indicated.
The interior features of Oculus focus on a 12 foot high ceiling in the main salon, a cylindrical double height dining room, central stair and elevator tube, and seemingly anatomical ceiling and floor lighting extensions giving definition to the seating areas.
The second level is the dedicated Owner’s suite. Living areas and bedchambers are divided by a series of four freestanding tubes, which house bath and storage necessities.
In addition to the main common stair, the second Owner’s stair connects to the third level aft private salon and deck / water feature.
The third level also contains the forward pilothouse an
d separate captain’s quarters. The generous open decks with separate water features are located forward and aft for convenient guest use. Specifications and plans are in the final stages of completion and will be posted at a later time.
[via Schopfer Yachts]
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Tags: Yacht, yacht concept, yachts
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
A Russian billionaire’s $300 million, Philippe Starck-designed yacht makes waves.
 Anja Wippich
The yacht’s three pools include a high-powered jet pool for laps that can be switched from salt to fresh water.
BARBADOS—At the top of a spiral staircase lined with scalloped, silver-leaf walls (the banister cost $60,000) is a door accessible by a fingerprint security system. It opens to an all-white, 2,583-square-foot master suite wrapped in bomb-proof, 44-milimeter glass. There, a king-sized bed sits on a giant platter that rotates with the press of a silver button. Another set of buttons rotates the bed itself. The combination of the rotating bed and the rotating platter allows limitless angles for watching the sunset, sunrise or the 60-inch plasma TV, which retracts from the ceiling. And of course, everything’s afloat.
In the battle among Russia’s billionaires for yacht supremacy, Roman Abramovich’s upcoming 540-foot Eclipse may soon become the biggest, but Andrey Melnichenko’s 394-foot “A” has become the most talked-about yacht on the seas.
With its radical shape—more sleek submarine than boxy pleasure boat—and reams of custom parts and finishes (including bath knobs costing $40,000 apiece), “A” is a conspicuous marker of an ocean-going plutocracy that’s largely been untouched by the recession. The boat, designed by Philippe Starck and completed in mid-2008 for more than $300 million, has spawned a flotilla of copycats emulating its low-slung hull and design scheme. Numerous companies involved in its construction went bankrupt, done in by the novelty of the project and the level of customization required.
For all its fame, “A” remains a bit mysterious. Its owner, a 38-year-old banking, steel and fertilizer czar, is intensely private and requires all his construction crew and staff to sign strict confidentiality agreements (he declined comment for this article). He and his wife only rarely entertain on board, and few public images of the boat’s interior exist.
Dirk Kloosterman, “A”‘s project manager and a veteran of the world’s largest yachts, recently provided an exclusive tour of the boat’s 23,600 square feet of living space.
The boat’s interior departs dramatically from most conventions of yacht design. Instead of the usual overstuffed couches and mahogany walls, there are Baccarat-crystal tables, shiny white finishes and polished silver, a kind of Manhattan-loft-meets-Vegas aesthetic. Many of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling mirrors, which Mr. Starck says have a built-in “mathematical beauty” that also refer to the “mathematical genius” of Mr. Melnichenko.
The walls of one room are covered in white sting-ray hides, while another is covered in hand-stitched calf’s leather. The main deck features two Michel Haillard chairs made from alligator hides and Kudo horns. Known for his mischievous streak, Mr. Starck outfitted “A” with risqué touches like the suite dubbed the “nookie room” by the crew, with its white circular bed with padded walls and a ceiling-mounted TV.
Mr. Starck says that while most megayachts are “vulgar” statements of wealth and power, “A” was designed to be in harmony with the sea and nature. “This boat has elegance and intelligence, it is not trying to show the money,” he adds.
As with many Russian-owned yachts, “A” is highly secure. Its rounded exterior and knife-like hull make it difficult for intruders to board. It has 44 security cameras and more than a dozen exterior cameras fitted with motion-detection systems and a night-vision infrared system.
It is also designed to outrun threats: Twin, high-speed diesel engines deliver 24,000 horsepower and push the 5,959-gross-ton ship to 24 knots, roughly a third faster than most boats its size. The boat, which is stabilized by fiber-optic gyroscopes and four giant motorized flaps, is rumored to also be equipped with a pod-like escape system, but the staff declined to comment.
A transom door in the rear of the boat, which swings with open to become a swim deck, is fitted with so many hydraulics, locking pins, rotating stairs and electronics that it cost around $25 million to build. The company that made it eventually went bankrupt, along with the company that made the bomb-proof wrap-around glass encasing the master suite and the company that built the hydraulic gangways. The ship’s two main landing boats are mini-yachts themselves, stretching to 36 feet, boasting plush interiors and costing more than $1 million each.
There’s little sign that the billionaire boat boom is ending. The recession has certainly hit the “middle-class” yacht market, as banks cut back on boat loans and mere millionaires struggle to rebuild their fortunes. Orders for boats of more than 80 feet fell to 753 last year from 992 in 2008, according to Showboats International magazine. Yet orders for superyachts, or those more than 250 feet, were actually up more than 20% in 2009, according to Showboats.
“A” has a crew of between 35 to 37 people, including stewards and stewardesses, mechanical engineers, security staff, housekeepers, deck hands, galley crew and chefs. The crew also has specialists for surfing, jet skiing, water skiing and cycling. All of the crew wear Starck-designed uniforms—crisp white dress shirts and white pants for daytime, and tight, black T-shirts and slacks for evening. The boat costs over $20 million a year to maintain; Filling the gas tank costs more than $500,000.
There are many discussion groups and forums about “A” online, with titles like “The Ugliest Yacht in the World” and “Should Philippe Starck Design Boats?” Debates can get heated: On the “Insider’s Guide to St. Bart’s”—a Web site frequented by vacationers on the upscale Caribbean island—dozens of “A” spotters tracked the boat’s daily movements.
“That’s pretty Cool!,” wrote one St. Bart’s vacationer. “Finally a real designer yacht!”.
Added another: “Who would call their Yacht ‘The A’? Seems like you’re setting yourself up big time.” (“A” stands for both Andrey and Aleksandra, Mr. Melnichenko’s Serbian-born supermodel wife).
Some yacht designers and brokers describe “A” as too futuristic and aggressive for the leisurely world of yachting. “Initially I was very skeptical,” says Jonathan Beckett, chief executive of London-based Burgess, the yacht broker. “When you just see photos, it’s a very strange-looking boat. But when I saw it cruising in the Caribbean this year, I have to say I was impressed. It’s a very exciting boat to watch. It’s simply unlike anything that’s ever been done before.”
Crew members often joke about the Melnichenkos’ penchant for the spontaneous, with frequent changes in itinerary or travel. The boat doesn’t spend much time in any one port, since Mr. Melnichenko prefers to roam the seas for weeks at a time. Last year he spent several months in the Mediterranean; this year he’s mainly in the Caribbean.
“The fun thing about working on ‘A’ is you never know what the next hour will bring,” says Mr. Kloosterman, “A’s” project manager. “This boat is all about the unexpected.”
via Robert Frank
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Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
The Le Boat 1500 Series will change the way boating holidays are both perceived and enjoyed forever. The three models (8+, 6+, 4+) boast a range of technical features and creature comforts that are set to revolutionise the holiday boating industry, giving customers the chance to enjoy luxurious, green boating holidays on Europe’s beautiful inland waterways
NEW HYBRID TECHNOLOGY ensures greener boating holidays for the future: The Le Boat 1500 Series allows the customer to cruise via a conventional diesel engine or under electric power with zero noise, zero pollution and zero fuel consumption – helping to preserve the waterways for the enjoyment of future generations.
Each boat has six solar panels to generate green energy that is stored in the boat’s industry-leading battery bank (produced by Valence Technology) making cruising possible even on cloudy days. Electric energy will also be provided via the boat’s generator and shore power connectivity.
The superior diesel engine is built using the latest marine technology by Volkswagen Marine and has very low CO2 emissions.
The low-wave making hull is specially designed to minimise bank erosion and large holding tanks store all grey and black water.
A range of other technology enhancements and benefits for the customer – such as low wattage LED lighting and minimal flush toilet systems are also being developed.
NEW JOYSTICK STEERING makes the Le Boat 1500 Series the easiest to drive and manoeuvre: The new Le Boat 1500 Series will without doubt be the easiest boat on the waterways to manoeuvre thanks to the introduction of revolutionary joystick technology and a steerable POD drive system which eliminates the need for a rudder. Le Boat is the first company to install these features into an inland waterways commercial hire fleet. The joystick will be in addition to two conventional interior and exterior steering positions with steering wheels.
The steerable POD drive system, which is connected to the boat’s bow thruster, will give customers greater cruising control while the joystick enables the boat to rotate 360 degrees and dock sideways alongside the canal bank. These unique features are set to revolutionise and simplify mooring and docking procedures, change the way cruising holidays are enjoyed for the better.
NEW LUXURIOUS INTERIOR – designer cruising arrives: With all models built on the same 14.97m x 4.65m hull, the new Le Boat 1500 Series is the most luxurious and spacious boat in the Le Boat fleet and designed to provide a home-from-home environment. All cabins have flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms and have individual air-conditioning. Cabins have flexible twin/double layouts with additional space for children via fold-down beds. All beds are standard-sized with proper mattresses for maximum comfort.
A spacious arc-shaped saloon will comfortably accommodate all passengers and provide access to the foredeck. A convertible settee sleeps one extra person if required. The open-plan kitchen galley has been designed for great on-board socialising while appliances such as the large fridge-freezer with ice compartment and regular-sized oven while make for easy catering for all onboard. There will be standing headroom and level flooring throughout and large windows on all sides will increase the feeling of light and space as well as provide panoramic views. The huge top deck (flybridge) has plenty of comfortable seating and a large bimini (sun canopy) as well as a gas BBQ, bar fridge and outer shower/sink.
The new Le Boat 1500 Series will be available as a range of models and will be available in France, Germany and Italy in 2011. The first 50 boats will join the Le Boat fleet at the start of the 2011 season, with more set to join the fleet in the coming years as Le Boat builds a greener and cleaner fleet for the future.
Commenting on the new boats Lex Raas, TUI Marine CEO, says: “It is a privilege to be involved in the creation of a totally new concept for the inland waterways boating industry. I believe the new Le Boat 1500 Series will not only become the most sought after model for our customers, but it will also set the standards for environmentally-conscious cruising for the future. Waterways authorities and tourism companies connected with the waterways have to work in partnership to protect and preserve the waterways for the enjoyment of future generations and I will personally ensure that Le Boat continues to push the boundaries.”
Models:
Le Boat 15-02: 2 luxurious equal-sized en-suite cabins each with fold-down child’s bed and comfortable seating (4+3)
Le Boat 15-03A 3 equal-sized cabins, each with optional fold-down child’s bed and en-suite bathrooms (6+4)
Le Boat 15-03 B: 1 master cabin with optional fold down child’s bed and 2 smaller cabins – all en-suite (6+2)
Le Boat 15-04 4 equal-sized cabins and 4 en-suite bathrooms (8+1)
Notes to Editor: Le Boat will be showcasing and officially launching the new boat at the Paris Boat Show in December. If you wish to discuss joining us at the show please contact Laura Hamlin laura.hamlin(at)tuiactivity(dot)com
Le Boat is the largest operator of self-drive boating holidays on the waterways of Europe, operating its own fleet of 1000+ self-drive cruisers from a network of over 40 different departure bases across eight European countries. Le Boat brings together over 40 years of expertise and experience of Crown Blue Line and Connoisseur in Europe and Emerald Star in Ireland.
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Monday, August 9th, 2010
On August 6th 2010 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) announced that it is still expecting an active hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin.
The seasons peak, from August to October, is just around the corner and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centre says climate factors that point to an active season are present. La Nina, which favours lower wind shear over the Atlantic Basin allowing storm clouds to gather and organise, has formed in the Pacific Ocean. Other factors pointiong to an active hurricane season are warmer than usual water tempratures in the Atlantic and Carribbean and the tropical multi-decadal signal (a naturally occurring cycle in tropical climate patterns) which, since 1995 has produced hurricane-favouring atmospheric and oceanic conditions in unison, leading to more active seasons.
“August heralds the start of the most active phase of the Atlantic hurricane season and with the meteorological factors in place, now is the time for everyone living in hurricane prone areas to be prepared” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
NOAA’s updated outlook for the season now sits at 14 to 20 named storms with winds of 38 mph or more, eight to 12 may be hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or more and four to six could be major hurricanes with winds of at least 113 mph.
The outlook still reflects and active season, but the number of storms predicted have been reduced since the initial outlook in May. NOAA’s updated 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook calls for a 90% chance of an above normal season. There is only a 10% chance of a near-normal season, and no expectation the season will be below normal. Therefore, 2010 is expected to become the eleventh above-normal season since 1995.
An important measure of the total seasonal activity is NOAA’s Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which accounts for the combined intensity and duration of all named storms and hurricanes during the season. According toNOAA’s hurricane season classifications, an ACE value at or above 175% of the median reflects a very active (or hyperactive) season. For 2010, we estimate a 70% chance that the seasonal ACE range will be 170%-260% of the median. This range indicates a high likelihood of a hyperactive season. If the activity reaches the upper end of our predicted ranges, the season will be one of the more active on record.
These ranges include the two tropical storms and one hurricane seen to date. During June – July 2010, two named storms (Hurricane Alex and Tropical Storm Bonnie) formed in the Atlantic basin. The pre-season outlook issued in late May reflected the possibility of even more early-season activity. As a result, the upper ends of the predicted ranges have been reduced.
You can find an Article about preparing your yacht or boat for hurricane season here: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/prepairing-a-yacht-or-boat-for-hurricane-season-2871269.html
Source [NOAA]
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