Yachting

As glamorous as it looks yachting is basically being in jail, with the looming threat of drowning. Regardless, yachting for me was a wonderful way to experience the world. Primarily I love to sail, secondly I love to roam, thirdly I love to cook. So to arrive in so many wonderfully exotic destinations by sea and under sail, to pull along side and cast lines ashore from one accidental location to the next. To live in the moment in the heart of cities like Venice, Dubrovnik, Cannes or Barcelona finally cooking in these fabulous locations with local ingredients, techniques and know how. What can I say, for a while it was the perfect life & chef career.
 Some would argue it's not real traveling. I would argue the alternative to fly hours, navigate a countries airport and rail network loaded with an 80kg backpack Staying in cheap hotel after cheap hotel, though a great experience in itself, isn't what I would call traveling either.
 I was lucky enough to sail over 40,000 miles, crossing the Atlantic four times and learn from some fantastic people, far wiser than I.  People and their perspective seem to have more worth on a boat. As Emerson wrote:

"Aboard a boat there is no knowledge that is not valuable - In this little balloon of ours, so far from the human family and their sages and colleges and manufactories, every accomplishment, every nature or acquired talent, every piece of information is at some time in request"

Here are a hand full of yachts and some of the locations they took me.

M/Y taTii

taTii

BUILD: Tamsen Yachts
YEAR: 2009
LENGTH: 41m
BEAM: 8.6m
DRAFT: 2.2m
GUESTS: 12 in 5 double cabins
CREW: 7
CRUISING: 12 Knots


   
MONACO                                FRANCE
 
TURKEY                                 GREECE

Winner of several yacht design awards, the stunning 41m ex-demonstrator tri-deck from Tamsen Yachts offers a luxurious "boutique hotel" experience in a truly intimate and welcoming setting, while also offering unique design and lifestyle features to create the ultimate yachting experience.

S/Y Felicita West

Felicita West

BUILD: Perini Navy
LENGTH: 64m / 209'11"
BEAM: 12.7 / 41'7"
DRAFT: Centerboard up 3.8m / 12'5
: Centerboard down 9.1m / 29'8
CRUISING SPEED: 12 knots
Crew: 11/12
ACCOMODATION: 12 guests in 3 double and 2 twin cabins RECREATION EQUIPMENT: 2 x 6.3m Zodiac tenders with 235hp jet drives, 2 x Laser 2000 sailing dingies, 2 x Laser sailing dingies, wakeboards, kayaks, waterskis, inner-tubes, snorkelling equipment, boogie boards, fishing equipment, treadmill in master stateroom.


     

  
     
MONACO : ITALY : BARCELONA : MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Felicita West is the largest and fastest aluminium sailing yacht in the world. Everything about this magnificent yacht has been designed to provide the ultimate sailing experience in the greatest possible comfort. Her pedigree is highly impressive and her statistics are simply awesome. The flybridge is so large that all twelve guests can sit, eat and talk in the sun or shade, surrounded by gleaming mast machinery. A large swimming platform descends from the main deck with easy access into the water or onto the jet tenders. The most spectacular views are from the bow seat or a crow's nest 'lift' that ascends 40 metres (131ft). Dining can take place in the shaded, sunken aft cockpit, where the crew magically transform the scene from informal breakfast through
buffet lunch to a sumptuous dinner

M/Y Sai Ram

Sai Ram

BUILD: Benetti
LENGTH: 51.80m / 169'11"
BEAM: 10.40m ? 34' 1"
DRAFT: 3.2m
BUILT: 2004
ACCOMODATION: 12 Guests in 4 Doubles, 2 Twin
ENGINES: 2 x 1,800hp Cat
CRUISING SPEED: 17 Knots
CRUISING AREA: Mediterranean
CREW: 13



Sai Ram is a complex blend of traditional yacht building combined with modern contemporary interior design. She is the result of a close collaboration between Benetti shipyard, Stefano Natucci for external styling and Lazzarini Pickering Architetti for interior design and design of the external deck areas. Her decks have large informal areas for guests to recline and relax in comfort. Her sundeck offers a spacious living area with sun beds, Jacuzzi, sofas, a bar and a dining area. Her interior has wide open spaces finished in contrasting light and dark woods, set-off with exotic oriental antiques and modern, bright, contemporary furniture.

S/Y Windrose

Windrose of Amsterdam

LENGTH: 46.32 / 151'12"
BEAM: 8m / 26' 3"
DRAFT: 4.30m /14' 1"
RIGGING: Staysail Schooner
SAIL AREA: 1067m
YEAR BUILT: 2001
BUILDER: Holland Jachtbouw
NAVAL ARCHITECTS: Dykstra & Partners
ACCOMADATION: 8 Guests in 4 Cabins
CRUISING SPEED: 10 Knots
MAX SAILING SPEED: 26 Knots
CRUISING AREA: S
CREW: 7

 

 


A frequent participant in regattas around the world, WINDROSE was conceived for winning races - her classic hull and modern schooner rig shaped for speed. But she is also a highly sought after luxury charter yacht, created with guests’ ultimate comfort in mind. When all the requisite cruising gear, water toys, entertainment, food and drink are stowed aboard, she becomes the matchless venue for an exciting sailing holiday.

M/Y Sealyon

Sealyon
Built: 2006
Builder: Overmarine
Type : Mangusta 105 Yacht
LOA : 31.50m
Draft : 1.3m
Main engines : 2 x MTU 16V 2000 M93 CR 1791kw (2400Hp) at 2450rpm
Speed : 31 knots Cruising, 35 knots Max
Number of Cabins: 3 (2 Double, 1 Twin)
Total Guests (Sleeping): 6
Total Crew: 4
Based: Cap d'Ail near Monaco, cruises throughout the Western Mediterranean

S/Y Unplugged

Unplugged

Length: 334.02m / 117 ft
Beam: 7.90m / 92'11" ft
Draft: 2.80m / 9'2 ft
Built: 1993
Builder: Valdettaro
Accomodation: 10 guests in 1 master & 4 double cabins
Cruising: 10knots
Crew: 6

M/Y Christina O'

Christina O'

LENGTH: 99.06m / 325 ft
BEAM: 10.97m / 36 ft
DRAFT: 4.1m / 13.11 ft
YEAR BUILT: 1943
BUILDER: Canadian Vickers
ACCOMMODATION: 30 guests in 18 double cabins
CRUISING SPEED: 16 knots
TOTAL CREW: 36
CRUISING AREA: Summer - Mediterranean / Winter - Mediterranean

  

  




Aristotle Onassis bought Christina O and named her after his daughter. She became one of the most famous society venues of the mid 20th century. Her short list of former guests includes Kennedy, Churchill, Sinatra, Monroe, Callas.

Sir Hubert Wilkins

Sir Hubert Wilkins

Material: Certified steel with five epoxy coatings, filled and faired
Type: Chine hull, full-keel troller concept
Length (overall): 15.55m
Beam: 4.75m
Draft:1.85m
Displacement: 41,000kg(fully loaded)
Max. speed: 9.1kts(under power)
Cruise speed: 7 to 8kts CAPACITIES
Berths: 6 + 2
Fuel: 7500lt
Water: 1000lt (plus desalinator)
Black and greywater: 250lt

Sir (George) Hubert Wilkins MC & Bar (31 October 1888 – 30 November 1958) was an Australian polar explorer ornithologist, pilot, soldier, geographer and photographer

Solway Lass

Solway Lass


Length: 33m/127ft including Bow Sprit.
Beam: 6.1m/20ft
Weight: 170 tonnes.
Built: 1902
Sails:11
Sail Area: 5500 square feet.
Berths: 36 guest in 11 quad cabins.
Crew: 6


Amazing History: Built 1902 in Holland of German Steel with Timber decking as a sail powered cargo vessel. Originally named Stina. In 1905 sold and renamed to "Adolf", working in and around the Baltic and North Sea. In 1915 seized as a prize of war by the British and used as a Q-Ship during WWI. At the end of WWI, worked as a coal, produce and stone carrying vessel between Liverpool and Scottish Ports. In 1924 sold to a Scottish firm in Solway Firth where she was renamed Solway Lass. When WWII broke out the Germans seized the Solway Lass as a prize of war where she was used to supply their armed forces. During the war, Solway Lass hit a mine and was badly damaged, however, the Germans repaired the hull for use as a sail-powered icebreaker. After WWII, Solway Lass served in the South Pacific as a cargo vessel. In 1983 a Sydney businessman purchased Solway Lass in Fjii and from 1983 to 1985 it was rebuilt. In 1988, it took pride of place in the 1st Fleet re-enactment of the Tall Ships into Sydney Harbour.

"Her Majesties Armed Vessel"

           HMAV Bounty

HMAV Bounty


Class: Armed Vessel
Tons: 220 26/94
Length: 90 ft 10 in (27.69 m
Beam: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
Draft: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Builder: Whangerei Engineering & Construction
Launched: December 1978




HMAV Bounty is a faithful replica of the 18th century ship, built for the 1984 movie “Bounty” starring Mel Gibson(as Fletcher Christian) and Anthony Hopkins(as Captain Bligh) launched on December 16, 1978 by Whangerei Engineering and Construction Limited in Whangerei, New Zealand.



The original Bounty, scene of the now infamous mutiny near Tahiti in 1789, was burned at Pitcairn Island.