Has the yacht ownership reached a turning point?

YachtPlus launches its first Foster + Partners designed super-yacht

The fractional ownership super-yacht company, YachtPlus, launches its first yacht – The Ocean Emerald – in La Spezia, Italy on April 25 in the presence of Norman Foster.





This contemporary 41 metre yacht has been designed with a strong emphasis on space and light and has five suites for up to 12 guests, who will be looked after by a permanent, highly trained crew of seven.





The internal planning of the yacht offers total flexibility to respond to the diverse requirements of the owners and their guests and keen attention has been paid to design and detail ranging from the internal (2,790sqft) and external (2,495sqft) areas to cutlery, crockery, fabrics and crew uniforms. All furnishings and fittings are provided by the Italian manufacturer Cassina and kitchen and galley equipment by Schiffini.



All arrangements from bookings to transport, private jet, helicopter transfers and onboard requests will be taken care of thereby further enhancing the ultimate experience in hospitality, service and luxury.

Ocean Emerald will be the first of four identical Foster + Partners designed super-yachts to be launched by the company over the next two years. The second yacht, Ocean Pearl will enter service in the autumn 2009 and the third, Ocean Sapphire in the early part of 2010. The fourth yacht, as yet unnamed, is scheduled to launch in the latter part of 2010.

According to the Wealth Bulletin, "the 164-foot super-yacht designed by world famous architect Sir Norman Foster has attracted a waiting list of 20 buyers who will each pay at least €2m for an eighth of the boat."

At the moment, as far as we know, none of the big 4 yacht brokerage companies (Burgess yacht, Edmiston, Camper & Nicholson, Fraser Yachts) offer the YachtPlus program to their clients...

Superyacht business: a new fractional superyacht company

Rendering of the 33m catamaran

Curvelle is a new company which has just been launched and offers shared ownership of a superyacht...catamaran built in China by Cheoy Lee.

According to the company website "Curvelle luxury power catamarans are created with the twin pleasures of absolute comfort and unbeatable performance always in sight. Our yachts cruise equally well at speeds between 10 and 25 knots and, because of their highly efficient hull design, use far less engine power and fuel. And with about 50% more space to play with than a comparable monohull, a Curvelle is in a class of its own.

For one million Euros you become a Fractional owner of a brand new Curvelle 33x9 model and you can cruise for five weeks in the Med and Caribbean - every year."

Rendering of the 41 m catamaran

With their versatile layout, the six double cabins can be swiftly changed to three suites or a combination of twin cabins depending on the wishes of you and your guests.

At the same time, YachtPlus, formed in 2005 by a group of financial investors, announced that it will be launching its first 41m superyacht designed by Sir N. Foster, at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Fractional ownership is not a new idea and has proved to be a succesfull business especially with the sailboats.
Will the subprime crisis and the general slowdown of the economy boost the superyacht fractional ownership business?
Not sure...

>> http://www.curvelle.com
>> www.yachtplus.co.uk