New Americas Cup Catamaran AC45: Pushing the Boundaries

Core Builders of Warkworth, New Zealand, the company responsible for the legendary design that won the 2010 America’s Cup, launched the much anticipated AC45 racing catamaran in Auckland Harbour this week. The sleek and swift AC45 received rave reviews from the international sailing community on hand to participate in the launch.

The AC45 catamaran, a scaled-down version of the boats to race in the next America’s Cup, has been aptly nicknamed the “little sister with attitude”. The high-tech, wing-sailed catamaran is the first of 10 to be constructed by Core Builders in the next six months. The goal is to sail the cutting edge builds in a series of Cup pre-regattas, which have been rebranded the “America’s Cup World Series”, scheduled for June or early July this year.

Oracle skipper James Spithill was at the helm on the maiden voyage, while internationally renowned members of the racing community gathered dockside to witness the event including America’s Cup principal race officer Harold Bennett, Americas’ Cup veteran and sailing TV commentator Peter Lester, and Andy Hindley, of America’s Cup Race Management. According to reports, all were extremely impressed with the speed and agility of the AC45 and forecast a winning future for the Americas Cup.

Posted on January 26, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

Announcing StunningYachts.com Luxury Yacht Charter Site

We’re proud to announce our newest sister site – stunningyachts.com – a slick new site dedicated entirely to luxury yacht charter worldwide. On StunningYachts, you will find only the most, well, stunning yachts available, plus luxury destination guides, itineraries, and advice.

StunningYachts.com has a unique and powerful advanced search page, where you can search for just about any combination of criteria available – for instance; yachts in the French Riviera, suitable for events, with six cabins, internet, and advanced AV systems. It’s as simple as ticking the boxes and your selections immediately show up.

We invite you to take a look at StunningYachts.com if you’re interested in the best of luxury charter. And of course, Boatbloggings stories are prominently featured on the home page so you’ll never be far from the news!

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Luxury Superyacht 144 ft. OCEAN EMPIRE LSV: Uber Green SuperCat

Sauter Carbon Offset Design, dedicated to advancements in alternative energy for the marine industry, presents OCEAN EMPIRE LSV, a solar hybrid, totally self sufficient, zero carbon, luxury superyacht.

OCEAN EMPIRE LSV has a streamlined, dark and stealthy superstructure straddling dual hulls and supporting an impressive exoskeleton of photovoltaic cells. Although solar power is the primary energy source that propels OCEAN EMPIRE LSV and runs her operating systems, the superyacht is also equipped with a SkySail for wind propulsion, and a third source of kinetic energy derived from wave motion.

Energy from the sun powers solar cells that cover the entire surface of the vessel, illuminate two innovative hydroponics farming systems and power high tech fish “harvesting” equipment on board. Wind powers an auxiliary automated SkySail, capable of driving the OCEAN EMPIRE LSV to speeds in excess of 18 knots, while charging her GM ESS2 batteries through power sailing KER.

A third energy source is derived from the motion of the waves and is captured through Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR). The MDR system is basically an ATMD (Adjustable Tuned Mass Damper) more commonly utilized in skyscrapers to reduce their swaying motion. Essentially, the weight of 16 tons of batteries create a resistance to the rocking motion of waves that channels power to linear generators that produce up to 50 kws of electricity as they dampen the motion of the vessel.

Richard Sauter, head of design commented “The OCEAN EMPIRE life support superyacht liberates the superyacht community from its strict dependence on unsustainable resources by harnessing the renewable collective power ever present in the Earths Biosphere”.

OCEAN EMPIRE LSV is competitive in terms of cost, operation and features, with conventional superyachts. The hybrid design offers guests every luxury yet boasts a range from a 50% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to Ultra Green Carbon Neutral and Zero Carbon cruising capability. As a charter, a plugged in OCEAN EMPIRE LSV is capable of feeding 360+Mwh of electricity to the grid, or enough energy to make up to 12,000 nautical miles of chartered carbon neutral voyages every year.

LOA: 144.3 ft.

Beam: 51 ft.

Draft: 2.62 ft.

Cruising speed: 12 knots

Maximum speed: 18 knots

Guests: 10

Crew: 8

Follow this link Green Chartering – Low Carbon Emissions Charter for Boatbookings.com pertinent information about environmentally friendly yacht charters.

Posted on January 3, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

154ft Luxury Superyacht AIR: Striking New Heesen Displacement Class Vessel

Heesen Yachts announces the delivery of the sixth vessel in the 47-Metre displacement class, AIR, a dynamic design with a streamlined exterior and pelican beak bow that has become a Heesen trademark. The yacht’s elegant superstructure combined with the sloped wheelhouse windows gives AIR a particularly sleek appearance.

AIR features interior design by Frank Laupman from Omega Architects, who created a classic contemporary style that makes use of ultra-modern loose furniture to create a stylish yet cozy environment. The décor incorporates details in leather, brushed stainless steel and burl wood to make the atmosphere even warmer.

Frank Laupman comments: “The aim of the design was to create a high-contrast modern interior, while avoiding a cold minimalist theme. We used beige and warm accents throughout, blending these with a black-and-white overall mood and incorporating a few elements of intrigue, such as the frosted gemstone lights set into the leather column that strikes down through the central atrium.”

For strategic wood finishes, Laupman chose Japanese elm (Sen) veneer, an exotic pale timber whose strong veins have been brushed and lacquered in satin gloss, and skillfully positioned these adjacent to a darker American walnut to create a sophisticated and at the same time natural atmosphere.

Luxury superyacht AIR accommodates the owner and ten guests in five staterooms, four of these on the lower deck, with the full beam master suite traditionally located on the forward part of the main deck. Two guest suites are located on either side of a central passageway, with a double suite on the port side and to starboard a twin fitted with additional Pullman beds that descend from the deckhead. For added versatility, the two single beds can be easily transformed into a double.

Notable on AIR is the theatre room located on the upper deck, equipped with a 103″ HD Plasma Screen complemented by a full 7.1 Steinway Lyngdorf Audio System. This unique audio installation, designed specifically for AIR, includes two flagship Model D speakers standing nearly 7 feet tall. Together with the center and four surround speakers, they are hand-finished in the same high-gloss black piano finish used on Steinway & Sons pianos and are accented with 24k gold. Completing the system are five Dual Woofers, three located below the plasma screen and two custom-built woofers in the deckhead to the rear. The system uses 6.400 Watts of power to provide flawless reproduction of music and movie sound tracks.

Predecessors to AIR include the extremely popular Caribbean based luxury charter yacht BLIND DATE, and the prolific yard has an additional three 47-meter yachts in build that are scheduled for delivery in 2012.

LOA: 154’

Beam: 29’

Draft: 9.6’

Maximum speed: 15.5 knots

Range: 4,000 nm

Engines: 2 x MTU 20V4000M93L

Boatbookings.com features extensive information on luxury charter yachts and yachting destinations worldwide. Here are some useful links to help launch your search: Super Yacht and Luxury Yacht Charter, Heesen Yachts, Yacht Charter Destinations

Posted on December 28, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

Moonen 82 ALU: New High Speed, Long Range Luxury Yacht

Moonen Shipyards has been building fine custom and semi-custom yachts for more than 25 years.

Based in the charming Dutch town of s-Hertogenbosch, Moonen has an established reputation for superb engineering and boasts an increasing number of large yachts in the works. The newest of these on the drawing board is the 82 ALU high-speed aluminum motoryacht.

The Moonen 82 Alu is designed to reach speeds of 25 knots with an exceptional range for a high-speed luxury yacht. It was the vision of Moonen to create an aluminum range of yachts called the Alu-series. “Our first high-speed yacht of this range was the Moonen 94 Alu NILO and the Moonen 82 Alu is part of a plan tomake a range of boats in various sizes,” comments Emile Bilterijst, Managing Director of Moonen Shipyards. ” The Moonen 82 Alu will combine a high degree of displacement comfort with an option to go 25 knots. As the owners are also looking for low fuel consumption, the hull needs to be very efficient at low speeds. The design for the hull is the subject of extensive research work, including lines models. A stringent testing program is also underway as the yard gears up to start building this exciting new project. Launching is scheduled for 2012. Boatbookings.com has additional information on Moonen Shipyard as well as extensive information on similar luxury charter yachts available in destinations throughout the world at: About Motor Yacht Charter.

Posted on December 23, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓