In June 2015 it was announced that yet another superyacht with a name inspired by a James Bond movie would be built, the 66-meter Spectre. Commissioned by American businessman, John Staluppi, the superyacht is set to become his 7th yacht.
Active in the automobile industry since the 1950s, Staluppi is best known for building the fastest yacht on Earth, the 40-meter The World is Not Enough along with the rest of his Bond fleet that keeps growing in length.
Moving up from an 18-meter Viking boat, Staluppi commissioned the 36-meter For Your Eyes Only from Denison as his first yacht. The semi-displacement yacht was eventually launched in 1985 and became the first motor yacht to have a combination of MTU engines with water-jets in the US, which allowed it to reach a top speed of 30 knots.
In the late eighties, For Your Eyes Only hit a sandbar which led to her taking in water from a crack in the engine room. The yacht was eventually salvaged, refitted and renamed with some speculating that the following alleged legal actions, combined with the sinking of two other Denisons within a short amount of time, led to the bankruptcy of the US shipyard.
In 1988, Octopussy was launched as Staluppi's second yacht in a successful attempt to build the fastest yacht in the world. A defining moment for Heesen Yachts, Octopussy had to reach 50 knots in order for Staluppi to take ownership of the boat, which it ultimately did, reaching a top speed of 53 knots. Staluppi eventually sold the 44-meter yacht after having used her for close to a year in and a half, which allowed him to start working on his next project, Moonraker.
A fast cruising trideck, Octopussy now features an interior by Art Line. Fully refitted by her current owners in 2015, the 44-meter now has a sundeck with a Jacuzzi and raised sun pads. On the upper deck, she features a sky lounge and her sporty bridge along with two dinning tables to her aft.
Down on her main deck is the yacht's main lounge with a myriad of seating areas, tall windows, a bar area and a TV screen that slides out amidst ship. Towards the yacht's aft is a dinning table for 12 guests that can be either opened up in good weather or closed down with glass panels. Forward of the deck is the main cabin with four additional guest cabins on the lower deck. The yacht's current owner's are selling it at $4,995,000.
By the time Octopussy was sold, HH the Aga Khan, was building a yacht to overtake the crown of the world's fastest yacht. Staluppi therefore set out to build an even faster one and the 36-meter Moonraker was eventually delivered in 1992 by Norship with a design done by Dutch-based Mulder.
In 1998, Staluppi set up his own business in yachting, Millenium Superyachts that was to handle his project in the superyacht industry. In 2004, the newly created label delivered The World Is Not Enough, a 40-meter yacht with 20,600hp that could reach a top speed of 70 knots but couldn't steer past 66 knots according to the owner.
In October 2007, Staluppi acquired a project in-build from Henry Luken, co-owner of Christensen Shipyards. In 2008, the 49.6-meter Casino Royale which can cruise at a more regular speed of 12 knots, was delivered to her new owner. Built out of composite, the full displacement yacht came in at just under 500GT. It was later listed for sale in December 2008 and sold in April 2009 to Californian businessman, David McDonald.
Built with a more traditional, American audience in mind, Casino Royale features a straightforward layout with a full-beam master cabin forward of the main deck, 2 guest, 2 twin and one VIP cabin on the lower deck. With two tenders and three jet skis carried onboard, Casino Royale features a lounge on the main deck and a sky lounge as well.
In July 2009, Staluppi acquired Midlandia, a 52-meter Benetti with an asking price of €19,950,000, which he renamed to Quantum of Solace and extensively refitted. In August 2009, he listed the boat for sale again at an asking price of $24,995,000 and eventually sold it, two years later, in July 2011.
Designed with Italian roots at its heart, Quantum of Solace has a layout more typical of yachts found in the Mediterranean. Its main tender is brought into a tender garage aft of the lower deck, with a foldable platform for swimming. This clears out the sundeck for lounging, sunbathing, casual dinning and leaves enough space up there for a Jacuzzi.
In a configuration that has proven popular for charters, Quantum of Solace's main deck features a main salon and dinning room with an outdoor lounging area towards the aft. Up on the second deck is a large sky lounge with a playing table, bar area, lounging area and large outdoor dinning table.
In November 2011, Diamonds are Forever was launched for Staluppi who had acquired the yacht whilst in-built, 18 months prior to its delivery. Throughout the construction project, Staluppi made several substantial improvements including the addition of an extra top deck.
Originally intended to be chartered out by its owners, Diamonds are Forever was listed for sale in August 2012, asking $63 million. In October 2012, her asking price was reduced to $59.5 million and she was eventually sold in December 2013.
With a number of features mirroring the Quantum of Solace, such as the large bar area in the sky lounge, Diamonds are Forever became a refined version of Staluppi's previous builds. The main attribute that set the yacht apart from other Benetti's of her size is the addition of a fifth deck to act as a sunbathing area, creating a second master cabin on the upper deck and pushing the bridge up to the third deck.
Born in Brooklyn in 1947, Staluppi started as a mechanic at 16 years old with a life long passion for cars during the golden era of automobiles. His first business became a Sunoco station, which he established thanks to a loan that his father took on.
After establishing a chain of gas stations, Staluppi risked bringing on an unknown car manufacturer at the time to the American market, which is now known as Honda. After 10 years, Staluppi established 20 dealerships of Honda cars in the United States. After Honda, Staluppi established a network of dealerships of Hyundai cars.
An avid collector of cars, Staluppi had established a museum around cars from all eras and an extensive personal collection. In 2012, these cars were put up for auction by RM Sotheby's in Palm Beach and generated over $11,5 million in sales revenue.
"John Staluppi is larger than life and well known in the collector-car hobby. His collection reflects a very precise collecting philosophy, focused on securing only the very best." said Donnie Gould of RM Auctions at the time of the auction.
Commissioned in July 2015, Spectre will become Staluppi's seventh superyacht named after a James Bond film and will also be designed by Mulder.
During the fourteenth edition of Italian Film Festival Cortinametraggio, a movie “The Master Bridge (La Plancia)” was premiered as a tribute made by the Ferretti Group to the genius of Carlo Riva, two years after his death.La PlanciaA 15-minute film celebrates the historic headquarters in Sarnico and Carlo Riva’s famous futuristic office the Plancia, overlooking Lake Iseo. The latter was designed by Riva himself along with architect Giorgio Barilani, and is considered an authentic architectural masterpiece. Carlo Riva was so fond of it that even after he sold the shipyard, he rented La Plancia and continued to use it as his office for almost ten years.The short film also highlights the history of the entire shipyard, telling the story of a young filmmaker, played by actor Gabriele Stella, in search of the secret and the essence of the Riva myth.Following an enlightening tour among the yachts under construction and an interview inside the Plancia with an enigmatic Giorgio Marchesi, who plays the shipyard manager, the young filmmaker grasps the enchanting power of the most famous speedboats in the world. Indeed, master craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies and innovative design remain the distinguished features of the Riva brand, with such famous people as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who used a Junior as the tender of their yacht, Sean Connery, who owned the historic Rudy model, and on to Sofia Loren and George Clooney listed among the brand’s clients.One of the oldest boatyards in the world, Riva, was established in 1842 on Lake Iseo, in Sarnico-Italy. One hundred years later, the already recognised brand became to a synonym of elegance, status and perfection under Carlo Riva’s direction. Riva’s creations became the object of desire for the aristocracy, successful businessmen and movie stars. For instance, next month, RM Sotheby’s will auction one of the notable vessels built then for Princess Grace Kelly and Primce Rainier III.
April 22, 2019
The hugely popular 40ft-plus power segment is set to exhibit at the 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), with a multitude of international debuts, Australian launches, and Queensland firsts.“The 40ft-plus segment offers an extremely diverse and versatile selection of boats,” said SCIBS General Manager Johan Hasser, whose team is preparing to host more than 45,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors at the event from May 23-26, 2019 in Queensland, Australia.The Whitehaven Company was established by Keith Hanson to fill what he believed was a niche in the market for high-end boats that would reflect their owners’ visions. The boats are built in Taiwan with Keith’s son, Ryan overseeing the team of boat builders. The Harbour Classic 40 concept was drawn by highly respected New Zealand yacht designer builder Bill Upfold, with Australian naval architect Misha Merzliakov reimagining her for discerning Australian day boaters. Merzliakov is based in Brisbane and has traditionally designed large motor yachts both here and overseas. You can see the enthusiasm in the design and listening to him, it sounds like he has borrowed design elements from all over the place. There is a chance that such an approach could deliver a Jekyll and Hyde result, but like a mad scientist, he has mixed the elements together with a fine touch.The Harbour Classic 40 is a sophisticated and supremely comfortable 40ft dayboat, which combines the aesthetic and timeless appeal of a gentleman’s cruiser with the benefits of high-tech design and engineering, constructed with an expertly-designed hull for a quieter ride.Except much-anticipated Harbour Classic 40, the all-new Whitehaven 6100 Coupe with its incredible superyacht-inspired Euro Edition styling package will be presented.“These vessels represent close to two years of R&D and production, and we are very proud to bring them to SCIBS,” Whitehaven Motor Yachts Managing Director Bruce Scott said.Below decks, the galley is bathed in natural light, enjoys a line of sight to the helm and all the mod-cons of boutique apartment living for a perfect day or weekend on the water. Accommodation is flexible depending on owners needs with the ability to sleep up to six aboard, so friends and family are always welcome.Offering single or twin-engine arrangements, owners can prioritize pace and maintenance to suit their boating lifestyle. Either way, she'll achieve 25 to 30 knots to find that ideal anchorage in time for sunset cocktails. Underpinning the boat in standard guise will be a single Volvo D6 480hp shaft drive with ZF gearbox. The first boat built has received an engine upgrade in the form of a Cummins Q6.7 550hp engine. It is quiet and unassuming and the performance perfectly suits the leisurely nature of the Harbour Classic 40 and will see you cruising from bay to bay in comfort. Elegant, refined, so well suited to a more leisurely pace of boating, the Harbour Classic 40 represents the romance of yesteryear with the precision engineering, power, and performance that are synonymous with all Whitehaven vessels.Each Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 will be a customized masterpiece, brought to life for her owners with the personalized approach, precision and pride that are hallmarks of Whitehaven Motor Yachts.@Photos by Whitehaven Yachts
April 22, 2019
Visitors
to this years’ Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will have the opportunity
to view Longreef Yacht’s newest addition, the Longreef 60 SX Flybridge.
She is a
super luxury boat and was designed through feedback from 400 boat owners. The
result is a super-refined boat providing functional glamour and grandeur.
She
easily accommodates two families across three luxurious bedrooms including a
full-beam owner’s bedroom amidships. Double Pullman bunks in the downstairs
lounge and in a crew cabin aft of the engine room make this one of very few 60s
that will comfortably sleep 10.
Her main
deck layout makes her one of the most social and comfortable boats on the water
with an indoor/outdoor layout, giant swim platform, a sun lounge on the foredeck and a huge flybridge for maximum views. Bi-fold tinted glass doors open to
provide a shared space between the comfortable interior and the aft deck.
The
super-large flybridge with its bimini cover is reached by a staircase from the
aft deck.
The
Longreef 60 SX Flybridge is powered by a pair of Cummins 550 hp diesel engines.
Anyway, it will
be the outstanding debut for the 60 SX in Queensland.@Photos by Longreef Yachts
April 22, 2019
Russian billionaire banker, Oleg Tinkov, whose net worth is estimated at $2.3 billion by Forbes, has ordered the first private 77-metre icebreaker yacht dubbed La Datcha. She is set to become the first private luxurious ice breaker, capable of exploring the furthest destinations possible. Planned for delivery in autumn 2020, the yacht is being built as a part of Damen’s SeaXplorer series in the Netherlands.The explorer is being built as a part of the businessman’s luxury recreational project La Datcha, consisting of several holiday hikes in ultra high-end destinations. La Datcha will be available for charter according to Tinkov’s interview with Forbes, at a price starting from € 690,000,000 per week. Meanwhile, the owner himself is planning to spend up to 20 weeks a year on the yacht. The six-deck expedition yacht will feature a 14-metre beam, along with a draft of 6.5 metres, adding up to interior volume of 2,560 GT. She will also boast a speed of 14.5 knots. In fact, it is an expedition yacht, able to break ice up to 40 centimetres thick and maintain autonomy at sea for up to 40 days.Thanks to generous storage spaces, a wide range of equipment and tenders can be housed on-board, including 2 helicopters, 1 submarine, 1 VIP tender / rescue boat, 1 beach lander tender, 1 dive support tender, 4 waverunners, 2 expedition ribs and 2 snowscooters.The yacht’s custom interior design by Amels and Damen will be trademarked with full height windows of the observation lounge, main saloon and the owner’s suite and an observation deck upstairs. Expedition Yacht 77 will come with hot water Jacuzzis — 1 indoor and 1 outdoor, a sauna and steam bath, massage room and a fully equipped gym.La Datcha Expedition Yacht 77’ six guest cabins, including 2 master suites and 2 VIPs, offer accommodation to 12 guests, along with a crew of 25. Each suite comes with a bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.Tinkov plans to premiere the vessel at Monaco Yacht Show 2020. After that, he is going to tour the 77-metre across Mediterranean, Seychelles, Madagascar and then Kamchatka and Kuril Islands, with the yacht to be seen in the Antarctic in January 2021. Tinkov also ensures, according to Forbes, that a Russian businessmen from the Forbes list has already expressed interest in renting the boat for six months, while Microsoft founder Bill Gates wants to sign up for a three-week charter.Photos via La Datcha
April 22, 2019
A new-build 27.02-meter hull by Italian shipyard Canados Yachts has been sold by Northrop & Johnson is set for delivery in 2020 as a Canados 888 Evo model. In 2018 Canados 888 was awarded as Most Functional Yacht. Also in May 2019, the first Canados 120' Caesar should be delivered.Canados is one of a few Italian builders capable of producing one-off versions of its models that are fully customized with tailormade interiors. One of the yacht’s most exceptional features is her four-meter tender garage accommodating a Williams 3.85 meter jet tender, and a Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer system. She comes with a hard top that provides guests with ample shade when enjoying her gigantic flybridge.The Canados 88’ is the direct evolution of the Classic 86’ of which 46 have been delivered. One of the Canados clients had four 86’s built over the course of 13 years! The interior of the Canados 888 Evo is being conceptualized by Rome-based designer Michela Reverberi. All in-house built furniture has been designed with rounded edges equipped with indirect strip LED lights which, when lit in the dark, give the impression that the furniture is floating.Built with an Aramat/Kevlar hull and superstructure, the 88’ Evolution comes with a reversed deck saloon overlooking the water and gigantic saloon floor to ceiling windows. The main deck layout remains an example of practicality with its oversize saloon with direct sea view, thanks to the cut-down bulwarks, dining room, Boffi galley, day head and crew dinette in the wheelhouse. On the flybridge, guests will find two corner sofas with drinks tables looking out over the stern. Another L-shaped sofa is placed on the port side and looks forward to the central alfresco dining area, where eight guests can savour a meal beneath the hardtop that folds back to let in the sunshine. The accommodation total is for eight guests across four cabins. The lower deck still offers its reputed four cabin layout with a VIP to the bow, two twin guest cabins to the sides and the full beam owner’s suite in the centre. Bathrooms are equipped with custom-made wash basins in Striato Olimpico marble.She capable of cruising at 27 knots and can reach a top speed of 32 knots, the Canados 888 Evolution 48 is powered by two Caterpillar C32 Acert 1,925hp diesel engines. The asking price was €5,240,000@Photos by Canados Yachts
April 19, 2019