Barely cracking the first half of the world's 100 largest yachts, Aviva became the first yacht to have an indoor padel tennis court. Built for a UK billionaire, the 98-meter Aviva is also the largest yacht ever built by Abeking & Rasmussen.
The yacht is currently anchored by the Ross Dock picnic area near the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge. Abeking & Rasmussen’s superyacht Aviva is a winner at this year´s World Superyacht Awards which took place on May 19, in Florence.
Photo by Adam Jeffery
Launched in January 2017, Aviva was designed by British design studio, Reymond Langton, morphing into their largest creation to date. Boasting large interior volumes throughout its hull, Aviva also manages to feature some exterior space to take in the sun. Its sheer scale required Abeking & Rasmussen to create a special system to launch the yacht with a special pontoon.
Delivered within 33 months of signing the contract, Aviva was commissioned by UK billionaire Joe Lewis, currently valued by Forbes at $5 billion. His fourth superyacht named Aviva, Lewis' former yacht was a 68-meter version of his current flagship also built by Abeking & Rasmussen. Extensively used as a floating home and office by the investment mogul, Aviva's volume would be impressive for any yacht.
Photo by Adam Jeffery
The powerful looking hull is the result of new research and testing which ensures superior seakeeping abilities combined with a 20% decrease in drag. Less engine output is required, fuel consumption is reduced and the maximum speed is a full 20 knots. A very special feature is the hybrid drive system: it allows Aviva to run at up to 11 knots without the use of the main engines, using electric motors only.
Aviva's main feature, however, became an indoor, full-sized padel tennis court. Stretching across a length of 20 meters and a width of 10 meters, the court area goes up 6.65 meters high, a space that would be difficult to fit into any type of yacht. Aviva's 5,000GT of interior volume, however, allowed to blend in this space without compromises as to the size of the court.
Photo by Adam Jeffery
"It is not only a lifestyle change for the owner but also for the crew as this is also the largest gym of any yacht." the yacht's designers' commented. "The crew is encouraged to play with the owner and guests and when the court is not in use for padel, the net can be removed and the crew plays football and use other exercise equipment in the space. It is after all a sports hall."
Perfectly lit through lights on the ceiling, this indoor court sits amidst the yacht's hull and stretches down to the bottom of its draft. In addition to the padel tennis court is a small lounging and viewing area up a series of stairs. Hidden away behind a net to protect the ball from flying away, the viewing area can also be used for gym equipment whilst a game is being played. "The owner is adamant that this is the best padel tennis court in the world, period!" the studio continued.
Photo by Adam Jeffery
In terms of exterior relaxation areas, Aviva features a circular set of lounging pads up on her sun deck as well as small, hidden away lounging pads towards the yacht's bridge. Powered by an eco-friendly system, the 98-meter can reach a top speed of 20 knots and cruise at 11 knots by using only electric power. This is achieved, in part, thanks to her innovative hull design couple with an electric propulsion system.
Photo by Adam Jeffery
Apart from her sundeck, most of the areas on the 98-meter superyacht are found inside, which gives it tremendous volume required for a live onboard owner. An exterior lounging area can, however, still be found aft of the main, upper and third decks with a series of lounging chairs and sun pads. A swimming platform also opens up onto the sea, creating a beach club area, her tenders being launched through side doors.
"Featuring a fresh and dynamic contemporary exterior design, unique, highly personalized layout for the interior and a cutting edge technical platform, Aviva is intended as a home away from home, and as a result the layout moves away from current trends to maximise the spaces that will be used the most, and create a welcome, inviting atmosphere, with a combination of spacious, open social lounges alongside more intimate and discreet areas for dining, working and relaxation." commented Andrew Langton.
"The interior design features a number of avant-garde architectural elements and details, and uses a rich combination of fabric and leathers in light, warm tones."
Throughout the yacht, Aviva features a modern design with sleek shapes couple with an extensive use of glass and stainless steel. Opting for a clear colour scheme with sprinkles of vivd soft furnishings, Aviva's exterior and interior look follows that of Lewis' former 68m Aviva.
"Communication and information are critical to me." Lewis said in an interview with regards to his requirements for his floating office. "To be effective, I need reliable phones and internet, these have improved much over the past few years, but, it is too expensive, too slow and not consistently reliable. Aviva is more than an office; it is also my home for much of the year. So for me, it is relaxing working from home, wherever Aviva may be in the world."
Currently valued at $5 billion by Forbes, Joe Lewis sits as the 5th richest man in the United Kingdom. Chairman of the Tavistock Group with investments in over 200 companies, the 81 year-old started his career in the catering business in London, joining his father's company at the age of 15 in 1958.
Initially making his wealth by selling that business in 1979, Lewis moved into currency trading, switching his residence to the Bahamas. Teaming up with George Soros in 1992, the pair bet against the pound and earned exponential returns with Lewis reportedly pocketing even more than Soros.
Lewis' portfolio now includes Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur as well as Lake Nona, a fast growing development in Orlando, Florida. In December 2016, he paid $165 million to acquire the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six hotel in Fort Lauderdale through Tavistock. In addition to this, Lewis owns stakes in UK's largest pub operator, Mitchell's and Butlers as well as luxury club resort Albany.
In a deal profiled by the Guardian, Lewis was able to back a Christie's art auction for the Ganz collection, guaranteeing a minimum sales price of $168 million and, eventually, splitting the $38 million net profit with the auction house when the sale fetched $206 million weeks later. "Being a trader means that you are wrong at the very least three times out of 10, and that is very hard." Lewis once told Fortune magazine.
Prior to taking deliver of the 98-meter flagship, Lewis' largest yacht was the 68-meter Aviva delivered by Abeking & Rasmussen in 2007. A smaller version of his current yacht, the 68-meter featured a similar focus towards interior volume and acted as Lewis' floating office with a Bloomberg terminal and several trading screens onboard.
In 1998, Lewis had taken delivery of 62-meter Feadship, Lady Aviva, which later caught fire in the Red Sea. The yacht was eventually salvaged by serial yacht owner, Dennis Washington, who transformed the yacht into Attessa III. Lewis' second Aviva became the 60-meter Oceanco built in 2004 as Alfa Four and now known as Sea Pearl.
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Heesen is proud to announce that on Saturday 10 November 2018, the hull and superstructure of YN 19150 Project Electra were joined together at the facility in Oss.Electra is the second in the 50 metre 5000 class, which features an FDHF hull and hybrid propulsion.
Based on the success of her award-winning predecessor - YN 17850 Home - Project Electra marries performance and efficiency by using the slippery Fast Displacement Hull Form with Heesen’s innovative hybrid solution, which combines diesel and electric propulsion.It is indicative of a core strength of Heesen, which offers progressive solutions and smart technologies to the market in new products while being able to draw on its financial strength to bring those products to market as spec builds. It is a ‘hybrid’ business methodology that offers the possibility of reduced build times and economic savings for clients while delivering cutting edge systems and full-custom options.Compared to a traditional diesel engine arrangement, the hybrid power and propulsion system is quieter and more fuel efficient. In addition, it offers cost-reducing benefits and flexible power management, as the yacht can be operated in four different cruising modes: • Hybrid mode: up to 9 knots at noise levels of just 46dB, equivalent to soft rain! Two water-cooled DC electric shaft motors of 127kW each quietly power the yacht. The benefits are silent cruising and higher manoeuvrability in close quarters.• Economic Mode: 9-12 knots with main engines on and generators off. Ideal for longer passages, the economic mode comes with few interesting perks – frugal fuel consumption (at 12 knots the yacht burns just 98 litres per hour) and extended generator service life.• Cruising Mode: 12-15 knots. This is the traditional mode, where the diesel engines drive the yacht’s propellers and the generators provide the hotel load.• Boost Mode: to achieve the max speed 16.3 knots, the generator-powered shaft motors are brought into service alongside the main engines to give an extra kick of power.Electra’s technological heart is wrapped in a contemporary design package that comes in just below the 500GT threshold. Frank Laupman of Omega Architects created a bold exterior design where aesthetics meet functionality. The vertical bow with spray rails is not only on-trend, it also serves a practical purpose by providing progressive buoyancy when carving through waves. The bow shape also means the crew accommodation can be set further forward. Twelve guests are accommodated in five lower deck suites and a master stateroom located on the main deck forward. The interior design is by Cristiano Gatto, whose décor integrates organic shapes and emphasizes the indoor-outdoor connection with deep and low furniture, allowing the guests to fully enjoy the panoramic vistas from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Project Electra is available for delivery in April 2020.
November 15, 2018
The striking technological invention on custom line 120’ is honoured at the 2018 Boat Builder Awards
The choice to invest in Research & Development has once again rewarded Ferretti Group and its commitment to innovation. Further evidence came last night, November 13th, at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, where Ferretti Group received a major recognition from the jury of the Boat Builder Awards, a prestigious event organised by METSTRADE and IBI magazine.Specifically, the Boat Builder Award in the category “Collaborative Solution Between A Superyacht Builder and Its Supply Chain Partner” went to the innovative lounge door on Custom Line 120’, designed by the Ferretti Group Engineering Department in collaboration with Francesco Paszkowski Design studio and developed in conjunction with Mecaer Aviation Group, an important player in the aerospace industry.The invention is an innovative glass door that breaks new ground in the nautical world, with undeniable benefits in terms of both practicality and aesthetic appeal. The door, installed at a 45° angle, can either open traditionally with the two panels sliding sideways, or exploit a tilting mechanism to rotate upwards and disappear into the ceiling. Both operations are performed by electric motors, with the tilting rotation made possible by twin worm gears. The system also includes a non-reversible gear motor that ensures safe operation in the event of electrical failures. Through this high tech mechanism, the tilting door creates a continuity between the cockpit and lounge areas, forming a single environment of over 80 square meters.“Innovation is a door to the future, and in this case it is literally a door: the innovative glass door designed for the new Custom Line 120’. This accolade rewards our Group's significant investments in Research & Development, an area of the yacht-building industry which could be defined as the search for new levels of comfort and the development of solutions capable of improving the on-board experience” said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. “There isn’t a single investment in R&D that wasn’t rewarded in the form of customer satisfaction.”
November 15, 2018
Ocean Alliance has hosted a select group of international charter agents, travel designers and media representatives onboard motor yacht Oneworld to discover the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. The outstanding feedback from the guests highlighted a greater appreciation of the destination, delight in its vibrancy and a desire to protect and celebrate this UNESCO World Heritage Listed location.Among the six hand-picked guests were three representatives of world’s leading brokerage houses - Camper & Nicholsons (France), Northrop & Johnson (USA), and the Luxury Charter Group. Thanks to the growing interest for superyacht bookings in the travel agency world, the group included a representative from influential Australian high-end inbound agency, The Tailor. A journalist contributor to Forbes, Bloomberg and Michelin guides flew in from New York with Tourism Australia’s support, to join The CEO Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. Setting out from Hamilton Island, the five-day familiarisation trip took in the highlights of the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef from both above, on and below the water’s surface. The invaluable support received from Tourism Australia allowed guests access engaging experiences alongside Oneworld’s unique offering in the domestic charter market. These wide and varied experiences included cuddling a koala; wandering along the iconic Whitehaven Beach on the south east coastline of Whitsunday Island (recently voted the best island in the world by Condé Nast’s 2018 readers survey); a trek to the heights of Hamilton Island’s Passage Peak to expansive views of the entire region under an iconic Australian crisp blue sky; undertaking a scenic seaplane flight over the islands and reef, spotting mantarays and turtles under the clear surface; diving into the depths from the aft deck during a brief yet memorable Outer Reef experience; and an adrenaline-fueled slide down the inflatable slide at Chance Bay. “It was wonderful to experience first-hand the latest addition to the Australian charter fleet. Oneworld is a beautiful, well-equipped Majesty 100 that delivers a premium charter experience. The Crew and Chef were so professional and the service, the food and the ambience were exceptional. I have a renewed enthusiasm for the Whitsundays and the Reef, thanks to the amazing Oneworld charter. We were able to explore the region's picturesque islands, from the most remote and untouched bays to the 5-star luxury of qualia and the boutiques, restaurants and attractions of Hamilton Island,” said Jeni Tidmarsh of Luxury Charter Group.The compact trip also included cruising out to the Great Barrier Reef, in a short 3-hour motoring passage, and taking the opportunity to dive on the reef guided by Reef Safari’s insightful Instructor.“'I've dived in many places in the world and the clarity on the reef was exceptional at the Stepping Stones dive site. I was so excited to dive in the Great Barrier Reef, and my expectations were way surpassed. I was blown away. The team at Reef Safari were wonderful guides, pointing out different types of fish and, after our dive, giving a great mini lesson on the fascinating life of reef and coral,” said journalist Sophie Friedman.The Stepping Stones are a unique feature of Bait Reef. They are made up of 18 or more flat topped, thus the name, coral pinnacles lined up in a row. At the Southern Face shallow waters are dominated by flat terrain completely covered by hard corals with the odd sand patch. Large turtles, manta rays and some pelagic fishes such as mackerel and barracuda are often seen cruising along the drop-off. “I recently read a quote by renowned marine biologist, Sylvia Earle, where she said ‘Please get out into wild places…. And get under the sea. Look at creatures and how they live. It's hard to be reckless with nature if you have spent time in a wild place. So be a curious explorer!’ and without doubt, we now have six of the most committed ambassadors for the reef and chartering a superyacht in the Whitsunday Islands,” said Laurie Foulon, Charter Experience Manager of Ocean Alliance. The familiarisation trip wasn’t all at sea as the group had the opportunity to discover Hamilton Island and its leading resort, qualia, for a private tour of its private pavilions and sumptuous hosted lunch. The final leg was returning to Airlie Beach on the mainland of Australia, whilst Tourism Australia’s representative Ingrid Sellarulo guided the group through the Signature Experiences program, followed by Captain Matt Baily who imparted his immense knowledge of the area and secret spots for beach BBQs and exploration.Oneworld was launched onto the Australian superyacht charter market earlier in the year. Built to the exacting standards of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the yacht is available for charter along the east coast of Australia offering guests a quintessentially Australian experience on a leading superyacht.As superyachts are limited to no more than 12 guests, the impact of international guests discovering a destination as unique and sensitive as the Great Barrier Marine Park is very low. Whilst the tourism expenditure is high yielding, a recent Economic Impact study undertaken by peak industry body, Superyacht Australia, calculated that superyacht guests spend AUD$7500 per guest per day ashore.“Our partners from this trip onboard Oneworld will return to their desk invigorated by the experience of cruising on a superyacht on the Queensland coast. Their recommendations will result in discerning travellers selecting the destination for their next holiday bringing tourism dollars to this regional centre not to mention a heightened awareness, appreciation and celebration of the reef. We see it often, guests return from a reef experience with altered perspectives and committed to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef,” offered Joachim Howard, Managing Director of Ocean Alliance.
November 15, 2018
Most drones provide a fun way for you capture beautiful outdoor views and while hiking or traveling. But with an underwater drone, anyone can explore the unknown ocean depths. The functionality of a standard, airborne drone expands to meet challenging ocean currents with high-performance motion technology.Titan is the most affordable underwater drone on the market with the highest available water pressure rating, built to go wherever your underwater adventure takes you. With its powerful 4K 30fps camera and streamlined, game-like control system, Titan can be your eyes under the sea. Able to withstand depths up to 150m, farther than any other drone to date, you can pilot Titan with an easy to use smartphone/tablet app. Capture stunning underwater images and videos, find plentiful locations to fish, or even carry out accurate technical inspections of underwater equipment. Whether you are scuba diver, underwater photographer, drone enthusiast, marine naturalist, educator or just want to have fun, Titan is your best choice. Titan’s built-in camera features a 160° ultra-wide angle lens, creating cinematic 4K videos and spectacular 8MP photos in rich detail and color.Titan is designed with a diving range of up to 150m, so it can dive down and unravel the mysteries of the deep blue sea, while you stay high and dry, enjoying the adventure. Powered by 6 high-performance thrusters and guided by a precise steering algorithm, Titan commands the speed, endurance, and agility needed to withstand demanding deep dives and strong currents.<iframe width="1063" height="517" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FSpNnhNXB8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
November 13, 2018
Moore Stephens is a company that offers a broad range of services including accounting and business services, corporate and personal retirement solutions, corporate recovery, financial planning, investigations and forensic, local business support, luxury asset insurance/insurance intermediation, taxation advice and compliance, VAT and business consulting, all under one roof.Expert crews around the world diligently take care of some of the world’s finest superyachts, ensuring everything is smooth sailing for their wealthy owners. But who takes care of the needs of the crew?Moore Stephens Crew Benefits recently won the ‘Best Superyacht Crew Insurance Award for 2019’ by the international business publication ‘World Commerce Review’ (WCR). WCR awards celebrate achievement, innovation and excellence across several fields of international endeavour and are recognised as confirmation of professional conduct and excellence.“To be best in class and win an award such as this, it’s necessary to think way beyond the expected”, said Melanie Langley, Senior Crew Benefits Adviser. “We go to all lengths necessary to provide the best possible service for crew at sea and we’re delighted our skill and dedication in this regard has not gone unnoticed”.
November 13, 2018
