Yacht news

42-meter superyacht Lalibela has been heavily damaged due to fire, which broke out at the night while she was docked near Cannes, France. The fire destroyed the top deck and cabins inside, reports Maritime Bulletin. Two of the firefighters had been injured while extinguishing and two seamen were on board, while the fire broke out, but they succesfully left the vessel without any damage. Lalibela was built by Benetti in 1972 and last refitted in 2013. She was available for charter starting from € 75,000 per week + expenses.

Passionate superyacht owner - Paul Allen passed away at the age of 65, as he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since 1982. Paul Allen was one of the founders of the Microsoft, alongside with Bill Gates. It is well knonw that he had a passion for the ocean and adventures. Paul Allen owned 126-meter superyacht Octopus built in 2003 by Lurssen. The exterior was designed by Espen Oino Naval Architects, whilst Jonathan Quinn Barnett of Seattle was responsible for the interior. Unlike the other owners of superyachts who are trying to stand out with non-standard form or with a length of their boats, Paul Allen has made a bid for excellence, for example, his yacht was built under the scheme of diesel-electric with 8 diesel generators, who simultaneously work on two electric motors of 6 megawatts, propelling screws. Also, Octopus has thrusters that allow her to go into any port or moor without help of tugboats despite the length of 126 meters.Megayacht's alluring features include two helicopters, a submarine, swimming pool, music studio and basketball court. She can accommodate up to 26 guests in 41 suites and a crew of 60. Octopus is also known for its annual celebrity-studded parties hosted at Cannes film festival, where Allen and his band play for guests.Another Paul Allen's superyacht was 92-meter Tatoosh. Tatoosh was built by Nobiskrug for mobile phone magnate Craig McCaw. Then the vessel was purchased by Paul Allen for a reported $100 million. The yacht's interior has been designed by Terence Disdale and has exterior styling by Kusch Yachts.The owner's accommodation incorporates two deck levels and is designed for total privacy, with a full beam bedroom, family room, observation lounge, gymnasium and a private office along with two children's cabins. She can sleep 20 guests overall in a further nine double staterooms and two cabins for four staff. Amenities aboard include a cinema and a heated swimming pool with contra-flow jets and Tatoosh also has two helicopter pads.

Pieter van Geest and Tracey-Jayne Canavaggio have a combined 35 years of experience in the design field. Their talents lie in exterior and interior yacht design as well as furniture design and project management. With their extensive knowledge and experience in shipyard production, project management and owner’s representation, they maintain not only an artistic, but also a practical hands-on approach to design. For 106-meter superyacht Mirage, after extensive research on glass specifications and capabilities Van Geest Design has created this design. The glass with its visual effects combined with the overall shape of the yacht lead to this extraordinary result. Mirage is not something different, but something unique in its philosophy and execution. She will be built from mirrored glass, which makes it easily blend in with its surroundings. Staggeringly, designers claim that the 4,200 tonne vessel completely “vanishes” when you’re viewing it from more than 50 metres away.Mirage is the translation of city landscapes, sky scrapers, gigantic, present, anchored, but then again cladded with reflective surfaces, blending into the landscape, merging with its environment, giving lightness to the building, an elegant presence embracing its surroundings. The colour variable mirrored glass is developed by a German glass manufacturer, which has never been used on yachts before. All the vertical panels on the yacht will have this finish – if you were on the water it would probably be invisible from over 50 metres away. If you are on the yacht itself the mirror will project the yacht's surroundings, so in a way, it will give you a floating on air effect when onboard.Present on the water un-accessible with a closed transom, one can only board in by invitation. It is a retreat made discreet by its reflective surfaces blending on the horizon, with its decks disappearing between water and sky. Unfolding itself, Mirage tells a story of time, reflecting the day passing by on a coloured reflective surface offering a peaceful gaze on the travelled distances. Bridge deck forward the area has been designed as a gathering point, interacting with the captain, discussing the next destination while looking forward. It took 12 months to create the blueprints.

19-meter Lexus yacht is the fourth Lexus flagship, joining the LS sedan, LX SUV and LC coupe. She is a first production marine vessel to use L-finesse, the design language of Lexus. It is a result of the exploration into non-automotive ventures continues beyond the Lexus brand’s involvement in luxury lifestyle experiences related to culinary, design and film.Crafting amazing automobiles is something Lexus has pursued relentlessly, as evidenced by the beautiful hand-pleated door panels in the LS 500 or the complex paint process, inspired by the morpho butterfly, that results in dazzling Structural Blue. And crafting every touch point around the brand is an opportunity Lexus continues to seize. This maritime application is another proof point in the storied history of Lexus that explores new frontiers both inside and outside the automotive industry.Lexus continually evaluates what constitutes a luxury experience and has, as a result, ventured into the worlds of culinary, design, film, and more as alternative opportunities to interact with the brand. Driven by Lexus International President, Yoshihiro Sawa’s vision of Lexus as a brand that, “explores new ways to deliver innovative and amazing experiences for our guests,” Lexus has partnered with some of the world’s finest purveyors of experience to further celebrate the phrase, Experience Amazing. And now, Lexus returns to the water with its next expression of a Lexus yacht in the form of the LY 650. Bearing the most contemporary expression of Lexus design language, L-finesse, applied beyond the world of automobiles, the production LY 650 picks up where the stunning Lexus Sport Yacht Concept left off.Encouraged by the robust public interest in the Lexus Sport Yacht Concept, a follow-up maritime effort was fueled by Executive Vice President; Shigeki Tomoyama’s desire to, “present a dream-like vision of the luxury lifestyle; one where the Lexus Yacht expands the potential of Lexus mobility to the ocean.” Making this dream-like vision a reality, Marquis-Larson Boat Group was selected to build, sell and service the next Lexus yacht based largely on their extensive experience with bespoke boat building and their proven capability, confirmed by their work bringing the Lexus Sport Yacht Concept to life. Based in Pulaski, WI, Marquis-Larson is the ideal partner to bring the second chapter of Lexus yacht design to fruition with their thorough blend of artisanal craftsmanship, modern technology and inspired design. Complementing the Lexus brand’s heritage of takumi craftspeople who are supremely skilled in their roles, Marquis’ craftsmanship backbone is clearly demonstrated by their masterful boat builders, many of whom have been with the company for 30 years.Several of the most attractive features from the 12-meter concept have made their way onto the LY 650. Measuring 65 feet in overall length with a 5-meter beam, the newest Lexus yacht has a distinguished style found in the strong, pronounced bow, curved deck accents and accentuated aft hips. Viewed from the profile, the elegant rise and fall of the yacht’s distinctly Lexus roofline flows into rising, broad hips of the rear section. The first completed Lexus LY 650 is expected to be finished in the second half of 2019 and will make its global debut late in the year.

60-meter superyacht Sarastar is coming to small screens next year, as she has one of the leading roles in movie, alongside with Hollywood superstars - Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Luke Evans. All together they will appear in a mystery-comedy for Netflix called "Murder Mystery".60-meter Sarastar was filmed in August in Santa Margherita, Italy. Recently, she was spotted in Monaco, where the yacht was renamed "Mediterrannean Queen" for the purposes of the film.Built in 2017 by Mondomarine and designed by Luca Dini, she represents a sportive and elegant vessel capable of reaching a maximum speed of 19.5 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots.One of the main characteristics of the yacht is the completely closed forward area in which the garage has been located. The tenders are hidden under a flush bridge that can be used as helipad, sunbathing area for guests or dance floor. Another key feature is represented by the stairs that lead one from the sundeck directly to the side of the wheelhouse. Sarastar can sleep up to 12 guests in a master suite and 5 double staterooms.Luca Dini worked with designers Silvia Margutti and Gabriele Tartaelli, who used rare natural materials (white onyx, semi-precious stones, crystals and exotic marbles) throughout the interior. The Italian shipyard has unveiled its largest superyacht concept in September 2016, which has been designed in collaboration with Giorgio Vafiadis & Associates. 70m Arte's alluring amenities include a vast beach club with fold-out transom and folding side panels and a wheel house on the sun deck covered by a glass shell. Moreover, the yacht features a a sundeck Jacuzzi and a swimming pool, situated in front of the owner's saloon.Sarastar is currently for sale asking €50 000 000, as well as available for charter starting from €364,000 per week + expenses both through Burgess.Photo and info by Raphael Belly