Picture of the day: Palmer "Clifford II"

Click to enlarge

The 2008 Palmer Johnson 150ft "Clifford II" was at anchor near Antibes today.

This aluminium express cruiser was design by famous architect Nuvolari & Lenard.
Powered by twin MTU 3,650 HP diesel engines, Clifford II can reach an amazing top speed of 30 knots.

Note the folding balcony to starboard.

In 2007 the first two PJ-150’s, "O’Khalia" and "Hokulani", were delivered.
In 2008 another two superyachts were delivered: hull n°3 was "Four Jacks" and hull n°4 is "Clifford II".

Rise of the Billionaire Nomad...to avoid direct taxes

Wealth-bulletin.com - D. Pain
Financial advisers are starting to refer to their wealthiest clients as billionaire nomads -- those who globe-trot between homes to avoid direct taxes from any country.

Ultra-high net worth families have always been mobile, but the crackdown on offshore accounts is making them even more so.
A few have even taken to living on megayachts, apparently deciding that pirates on the high seas are less of a risk than dodging the remorseless embrace of tax authorities.

>> Read the complete article here

Guy Couach Auction

Click to enlarge - Guy Couach 1601 - "Blue Cloud"

Following the economic downturn of the French shipyard Guy Couach, auctioneer Jean dit Cazaux et Sahuquet handled today the auction of 24 yachts (mostly part-exchange yachts from the shipyard).

"Unbelievable", the 31m/107Ft Breaux Baycraft Hargraves built in 1969 was the largest yacht on offer.

The Guy Couach shipyard was recently saved from bankruptcy by a pool of investor.

Here is a picture of the Guy Couach 1601 "Blue Cloud" currently lying in Port Gallice near Antibes.

>> Auctioneer website (in French)

Quote of the day

"A guy who was worth $10 billion and is now worth $5 billion obviously took a hit but he certainly can afford a yacht."
Trinity's (shipyard) owner

US yacht broker back to business

Reuters.com just released an interesting article about the effect of a weak dollar on yacht sales:

1. Sagging US dollar drives yacht sales to foreign buyers
2. Data shows room for growth in global yacht sales

A weak U.S. dollar has helped keep the American shipyards afloat by making yachts more affordable to wealthy overseas clients.

>> Reuters

Riva 60 Corsaro...the biggest Riva in the 80's

Click to enlarge

The Riva 60 Corsaro was the biggest Riva in the late 80's.
She was powered by two 760hp diesel engines and could "glide powerfully over the waves at 31 knots" according to the original brochure.

The Riva 60 could accomodate up to 6 people + crew in her clever layout: there was one master cabin forward, one double guest cabin aft plus the famous bunk bed cabin to port (L shaped cabin).
A vertical ladder gave access to the crew cabin that was located in the bow near the master cabin.


The master cabin - click to enlarge

The original brochure shows a picture of the salon which was divided in two areas: to port was the dining area with a sofa and a table. There was a comfortable L shaped sofa with a burr coffee table to starboard.
The central helm station came with a bouble banquette and there was a central built-in TV set with a VHS player.
As usual with the Riva shipyard, the interior boasted the finest Italian craftsmanship with a sophisticated burr woodwork and a dark blue laminate.


The main salon - click to enlarge


The port guest cabin - click to enlarge

Her large aft cockpit could accomodate...a folding table and a pair of deckchairs.


Nowadays, such yacht interiors are regarded as out-of-date but the Riva 60 Corsaro continues to offer plenty of storage space and a seaworthy hull...

All at Sea: a Special Report form the Financial Times

"...Prices of new and second-hand yachts and superyachts – a super-yacht is loosely defined as a boat more than 30m or 100ft long – fell sharply as the financial crisis deepened..."

Check out the Special Report by Financial Times reporter Victor Mallet

>> FT website

Aussie's yacht linked to missing McCann ?

According to Ninemsn.com.au "The widow and daughter of Australian property tycoon Bill Wyllie say they are perplexed by claims their luxury yacht may have been involved in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann."

Mrs Wyllie was reportedly "devastated" by British newspaper reports about the possible connection between her 32m yacht and the inquiry.

MY "Will Power", ex "Breeze", is a Sunseeker 105, built in 2001

>> complete aricle

"Mega Yacht, Mega Outrage" by CNBC

A look at what the largest Madoff feeder fund is doing with his Summer vacation, with Vicky Ward, CNBC contributor.

>> Video by CNBC
>> Article here

Same old story...

Phot A.B.


The French newspaper "Var Matin" just reported that the 31m Heesen "Matanthar' (ex Buka) ran aground rocks between Sanary sur Mer and Bandol yesterday.
Her starboard prop and her rudder were damaged as well as the hull and 10 people were evacuated from the yacht.

A 2 meter hole was seen in its hull and the French Coastguards decided not to tow the yacht to the closest port for security reason.
The French authorities closed one beach and sat up water barriers to stop leaking fuel from the hull

The tug "Laisser Aller" has started to pump out the sea water from the semi-flooded yacht.

Any suggestion about the superyacht crew training welcome...