Catherine Pearson's Blog

A Feadship Farewell...

2010-03-29T21:10:00Z

I know, I know—another Feadship post? But this time, the news is big, so it can't be helped: Feadship recently announced the departure of Francois van Well, who will step down as the president of Feadship America effective April 1st. Van Well, who joined the Dutch builder's American office in 2006 (after having served as one of the directors at Royal Van Lent), will move to Merle Wood & Associates, taking what a recent Feadship press released described as a "senior position."

For his part, Van Well says that the move represents an exciting new challenge and an opportunity to experience a different side of the business. "After more than 13 memorable years at Feadship, both in the Netherlands and in the US, I felt the time was right for a change of direction towards more direct involvement in superyacht sales and being able to help clients find the right yacht, be it new, pre-owned, or charter." Feadship 's *** Van Lent spoke on behalf of the company board and wished the outgoing president of Feadship America all the very best."We wish Francois every success and look forward to continuing our excellent relationship in the future."

Back to the Future

2010-03-19T18:49:00Z

I recently posted about WHY, which was one of the cooler things I saw at last fall's Monaco Yacht Show. Here's another:

PMYers, meet Aeon, Feadship's 2009 concept yacht.

What, prey tell, is a concept yacht? According to the builder, it's a vessel "that infuses advanced design, technological and engineering insights with the lastest thinking on how upcoming generations of owners will enjoy life at sea." Each year, Feadship unveils a new concept model and for 2009, the idea was to envision the owner of 2020, identify what was most important to him or her, then design the boat of his or her dreams.

Feadship's designers agreed that above all, the yacht owner of 2020 will be extremely green. Thus Aeon, a boat that's all about the environment, sustainability, and, as Feadship puts it "creative conscience." While I can't help but think Swiss, the design was actually inspired by whale sharks—not cheese. ("The whale is one of the iconic symbols of the movement to raise environmental awareness," Feadship explains). Large sections of her exterior could be covered in solar paneling, and Aeon's propulsion would be entirely electric. She'd also feature cool elements like a large ocean observatory on her tank deck.

WHY

2010-03-03T19:07:00Z

One of the cooler things I saw at last fall's Monaco Yacht Show was the rather large "tent" in which was housed a model of WHY, Wally Hermes Yacht's outrageous-looking 58-meter (190-foot) vessel. And yet in my case, the old maxim of "out of sight, out of mind" rang true: After flying back to the states, I didn't think of the boat again. That all changed last week when I opened an e-mail with renderings of the sleek, piano-shaped vessel and was transported back to that snappy Monaco display. And though I'm still not sure the yacht's lines are my cup of tea, I will admit to spending several minutes being utterly mesmerized by the vessel's design.

As many of you already know, the idea for WHY was born several years back when two companies—Hermes and Wally—set their sights at designing and building a vessel that would revolutionize life at sea. The aim was to build a vessel that was not only beautiful, but that maximized living spaces and that pushed the boundaries of what we've come to expect from onboard architecture. Or as Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermes has said, “The WHY 58x38 yacht looks very unfamiliar but it remains on a human scale. Space is the greatest luxury on the sea, but I believe the new luxury will be the time to enjoy it."

But talking about the boat just doesn't do it justice. It is, without question, one of those things you've got to see to believe. So whether or not this is your first introduction to WHY, here are some images for you to mull over. At the very least, it's a decent way to kill a few minutes on what, in New York anyway, is a very grey Wednesday. Better yet, it's a reminder that the possibilities truly are endless.

Happy hump day, everyone.

A Bahamas Break

2010-02-04T13:57:00Z

This might come as a shock to you, but sometimes we editors take a break from the taxing work of writing about all things boat-related. (Sidenote: It's pretty typical that, upon describing what I do for a living I'm asked, "And that's a real job?".) In January, I had the great fortune of taking off from work to enjoy a sunny and relaxing week in the Exumas. My home base was in Staniel Cay, but much of the week was spent bopping from island to island, taking in the lovely scenery. And one of my absolute favorite spots was Compass Cay.

According to the marina's Web site, "Boats with up to [a] six-and-a-half foot draft can enter the harbor...following the channels marked with buoys and a range. Tucker [the marina's longtime owner] will cheerfully guide the first time voyager into the harbor, where depths range from ten to 16 feet." The marina accomodates boats up to 150-feet plus, has 30,50, and 100 amp electrical service, laundry, shower facilities, a terrific little marina store, and more. For those who want to just pop over for a quick trip, there's a small tie-up fee.

As beautiful as the area is, to my mind, the marina's main attraction is the veritable fish tank that's just under the dock, where the water is filled with grouper, snapppers, bonefish, and a whole heap of nursesharks. Don't believe me? Take a look. Here are a few snaps from my terrific afternoon at Compass Cay.

Above: Nurse Sharks at the docks.

Above: Dock art work.

Above: A shot of the beach. (We were the only ones there.)

The Battery Barge

2010-01-20T14:56:00Z

Vripack, the Dutch naval architecture and engineering firm, recently announced the launch of its first 100-percent battery powered passsenger vessel. Yup. A battery-powered barge. The 18-meter (60-foot) boat in question runs on a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 60 batteries, which activate her twin 11-kW EMOD F1112-240Y engines and give her a cruising speed of 10 km per hour. She's outfitted with LED lighting and boasts a galley that can churn out food for up to 50 people.

And yet for all of her technological advances, this battery-powered boat, built by Brandsma Jachten, is in fact quite traditional looking. "The classic details of her exterior are reminders of the historic Irish barges," a Vripack press release states, pointing out "the wooden rubbing strakes and the outside steering possibility with the old-fashioned tiller." Because she's meant to, as Vripack puts it, "whisper herself through the Irish canals," she complies with all the Irish Damage Stability criteria for passenger vessels.

Busy Building at Heesen

2010-01-13T17:00:00Z

Things are typically pretty slow around the holidays. After we've all soaked up plenty of relaxing family time (and in some cases, eaten our body weight in Christmas cookies) it takes a while to shake off that post-holiday stupor and get back in the swing of things. Not so at Heesen, which has enjoyed a very busy and exciting holiday season, thanks to the unveiling of a big new boat.

The storied Dutch builder recently launched 4YOU, the 47-meter (154-foot) sistership to 2006's Sirocco and 2008's Celestial Hope. In describing the interior of the new boat, Hessen highlighted her "art-embellished lobby," and a main saloon with a soft color palette with a "relaxed and cool atmosphere." The builder also mentioned the second saloon on her upper deck (complete with baby grand piano), and a plasma-screen TV that's housed behind a custom work of art, a panel by Dutch glassmaker Glass Deco, that's "delicately colored in pale blue and light gold, to create a marine scene." Like Sirocco, 4YOU also has a sundeck that can be partially enclosed and that features an "open-air fitness center and a spa pool area that can be fully covered by an awning supported by carbon-fiber retractable pillars."

Now that the boat's been cleared out of Heesen's Oss shipyard, the builder was able to do a bit of juggling, moving Hull No. 14955 (a 55-meter slated for a 2010 delivery) into building hall seven, while Hull No. 15250 (a 49.8-meter also slated for a delivery this year) has been moved into building hall one, for completion.

Long Live Serena

2010-01-06T17:40:00Z

First launched from Feadship's De Vries yard in Aalsmeer in 1964, Serena was (and is) a 73-foot yacht—a member of the yard's Caravelle series. Seven of these boats were launched between 1961 and 1965, all of them featuring De Voogt designs, and all of them fast and made from steel. "[They] were one of three different custom-series vessels created in partnership with Riva," reps for Feadship explained in a recent press release, "who owned an ultra-modern yard in Sarnico, Italy. Both his astonishing eye for fine detail and his flair for marketing had a profound impact on the way Feadship operated at a crucial time in the brand's development. In short, Carlo Riva dared to be different and taught Feadship the value of trial and error and taking on new challenges."

Now called Alcor (though she'll reportedly return to being called Serena), the boat is now undergoing an extensive refit at the De Vris Makkum yard, where trainees and teachers will work on her overhaul together. "There are two reasons that we have decided to approach the refit in this way," Sijbrand de Vries, the general director of De Vries Makkum has said. "Firstly, it is an excellent way to train young people in a way that prepares them for working later on the far larger luxury yachts that Feadship builds today. Secondly, considering the historical importance of Serena, which was build by the grandfathers of the present directors at De Vries, this is a prestigious project for all concerned."

(More) New Life for A New Range

2009-12-28T13:52:00Z

It was a very merry Christmas for the Dutch builder Amels, which recently announced the sale of the second 54-meter Limited Editions Amels 177. In fact, with five projects on site (including one Amels 171, two 177s, and two 212s) the yard is now at maximum capacity.

The Limited Editions boats are, according to the builder, "designed for clients seeking a first-class yacht delivered in less time." It also adds that "Limited Editions offer extensive options for personalizing, so although each may begin as a 'sistership,' it sails away as a unique expression of individuality.

Don't believe it? Just take a quick peek at some of these renderings, by Italian designer Laura Sessa Romboli, showing the many options available for the main deck saloon.

Here's Contemporary:

Here's "Summery White":

And finally, here's "Classic":

No word yet on what the owner of the second Amels 177 will go with in terms of an interior scheme. But what he or she will certainly get is a beautiful Tim Heywood-designed vessel with a large beach club, and, according to Amels, "a larger transom door for easier water-toy handling."

Virtual Management

2009-12-17T20:01:00Z

This just in: Sunseeker Superyacht Management has announced that it will launch its new Virtual Yacht Management system at the London International Boat Show in January. According to the company the product—which it touts as the first of its kind—"will provide up-to-the-minute information about every aspect of a yacht’s operation and administration." And this information will be accessible from anywhere in the world, at any time.

Wondering how it works? Sunseeker expands, but just a bit: "Utilizing 128-bit encryption to provide client authentication and secure data transfer, the tried and tested system will store information in a secure online database which is further enhanced by built-in back-ups and controls, to ensure complete security and total peace of mind." The sort of peace of mind that can only come from having access to real-time data on what Sunskeer Superyacht Management's founder and managing director Ben Young calls "the minutiae of [an owner's] pride and joy"? That's exciting news indeed.

Boating Gifts

2009-12-14T14:08:00Z

The holidays are officially upon us, which means most of us are in full-on gift-buying mode. Here are a few ideas for that passionate boater in your life...

The High Maintenance Stocking

Perfect for the maintenance buff in your life, here are a few inexpensive options that make great stocking stuffers:

Liquid Wrench recently launched a new line of products, including the oh-so-boating-friendly Penetrating Oil (which the company says is great for stuck nuts, bolts, spark plugs, valves, and marine fasteners) and a Lubricating oil (which it claims works for drying out spark plugs, coils, wiring, and more), and more.

Why not add a few rolls of Scotch's new Tough Tape, too? These uber-strong new tapes are perfect for lots of tasks, particularly the Heavy-Duty All-Weather tape, which according to the company will hold up for "long-term, permanent exterior repairs," and its Extreme Hold Duct tape, which according to Scotch, is basically duct tape on steroids.

Boat-Friendly Bags

Here's a cool one: According to the makers of the BHEESTIE bag, the BHEESTI is able to preserve (and possibly save) your cell phone, iPod, camera, and more. Apparently, the bag removes the moisture that collects in your personal electronics on a daily basis, decreasing the chances of corrosion, etc. And, according to the company, it can even save some electronics if they're inserted in the bag immediately after a big splash or an accidental drop into the drink.

Is there a sartorially-minded boater in your life? Give the gift of fashion with Not for Navigation's handsome silkscreened, all-natural cotton canvas bags, which come in a range of styles from messenger to tote. Head to the company's Web site to select the chart and style you'd like.

A Banner Year for Mr. Heesen

2009-12-04T13:43:00Z

(Frans Heesen accepting his ISS award. Photo by Pamela Jones)

It's been a dicey year for the industry, but a personally rewarding one for Frans Heesen, the president of Heesen yachts. In just the last few months, he's won a string of awards, all celebrating his impressive contributions to yacht building and design. And they're well-deserved, too: Heesen's enjoyed a 30-year-long (and still going) run at his epynomous company, during which time the shipyard has launched over 150 vessels, including the recently-launched Blind Date and the much-celebrated Man of Steel, which appeared on the cover of our November issue.

Among Heesen's many honors? In late October, HISWA, the Dutch trade and industry association for shipbuilding and water sports, bestowed upon him its third-annual Excellence Award. According to a press release from the builder, "The jury commended Frans for the enormous respect he has generated on the global stage, thus strengthening the image of Holland as the world's leading yacht building country." It went on to explain that "the jury also praised Heesen's ambassadorial role for yacht building in general and his dedication to mutual cooperation and socially responsible business." Around the same time, the 23 board members of The International Superyacht Society (ISS) gave Heesen the group's prestigious Business Person of the Year award. All fitting tributes to a powerhouse figure in the megayacht world.

Lurssen's Arkley

2009-11-18T15:48:00Z

At this year's Monaco Yacht Show, I had the great pleasure of taking a tour aboard Arkley, Lurssen's new 196-foot, Espen Oeino designed vessel.

As you can see in the photos here, she's got a very contemporary interior, courtesy of Mark Berryman, which Lurssen says give her a "youthful" feel. The company also says that in the case of this boat, the beauty's in the details, and I've got to heartily agree. I was particularly impressed by the intricacy of the the wave patterned oak used throughout much of her interior, her staircase's braided leather handrail, and her main dining table, which is made from "bog oak" and features a silverleaf centerpiece, one that's mirrored in the room's ceiling and carpet as well.

Here are a few shots of this truly stunning vessel—more photos to come in a later installment. Enjoy! (All photos courtesy of Lurssen and Klaus Jordan.)

CRN Launches...Again...

2009-11-11T17:28:00Z

A few weeks ago, CRN launched the fifth hull of its composite CRN 43 line, the 139-foot Eviva. And this just on the heels of the launch of Clarena 2 (pictured below), which at a whopping 236 feet LOA, is one of the largest boats ever built in Italy.

Though Eviva's launch (below) might not have seen as much fanfare, it was nonetheless an emotional and intimate affair. According to CRN, "The shipyard dedicated this event to its client, who came over with his family and closest friends, and it was a moment of pride at all levels...the ship owner toasted to this occasion together with the workers involved in the construction of the vessel, testifying a relationship of trust and cohesion."

With interior and exterior design work done by Zuccon International, the yacht "stands out," CRN says, "for [her] significant volumes and [her] wide-open areas, such as the covered cockpits on the main deck and the upper deck." Eviva can carry ten passengers in five cabins plus nine crew. She also sports a "balcony" with table and chairs, attached to the owner's suite, which has become a signature element on many CRN vessels.

A Trinity Tour

2009-11-04T17:48:00Z

One of the things I most enjoyed at this year's FLIBS was poking through several of Trinity's newly delivered megayachts, something I had the opportunity to do on the eve of the show when the Louisiana-based builder held an onboard open house of sorts. And the highlight of that tour? Being led through Blind Date, Trinity's just (and I mean just) delivered 161-footer by the boat's owner, who couldn't have been a nicer guy.

He was obviously proud of his new vessel—the second he and his wife have named Blind Date, a moniker inspired by their initial meeting—and talked about the build and design process with real joy. While pictures can't really do her justice, check out these shots of her Patrick Knowles-designed interior, from her stunning bi-level master to her silver and blue-toned main saloon. Pretty groovy, huh?

Now that the show's over, she's off to spend the winter in the Caribbean, where her proud owners will no doubt make good use of her five staterooms and killer sundeck.

Shady Business

2009-10-22T13:05:00Z

Perhaps it's because I'm a bit of a nut about finishing my Christmas shopping months ahead of time (check out my post on charitable holiday gifts) or maybe it's because the lens just popped out of my trusty Ray Ban sunglasses, but I've been thinking about shades these days. Fortuitously enough, I just got wind of a few new styles from Costa Del Mar—a brand many boaters swear by. I may just have to head over to my nearest Costa retailer to check them out...

According to Costa's president Chas MacDonald, the company's "known for it's performance technology, and we build that functionality into sunglass styles that are on trend with what consumers are wearing today." That emphasis on trendiness is something a bit new for the brand, which has always been all abut performance, and its why the Gatun and Lago glasses (between $149 and $249) have a fresh, hip look. Don't fret though, they've still got classic Costa features, like no-slip Hydrolite nose pads and flexible spring hinges.

So, what do you think? Are these styles perfect for someone on your Christmas list?

The Lago (above):
The Gatun (above):