Yachting

Even a quick look at the profile of the Ferretti 870 leaves you with a bold impression. The stand-out features are the larger-than-usual ports lining the main deck and the oversized ports below decks. While the latter have appeared on previous Ferrettis, the main-deck treatment is new. Note, too, how the gunwale is lower amidships. You can better appreciate the effect of the lower gunwales aboard the Ferretti 870 while standing here in the combination dining area and saloon. Abundant natural light flows through the open floor-plan, and the use of wood soles and mixing satin-finished and lacquered surfaces creates a casual, almost beach-house-like feel. A number of European builders offering megayachts have started placing the galley below decks, in the crew area. But the Ferretti 870 situates the galley on the main deck, in both the European and U.S. versions. Americans will appreciate it, as it’s in keeping with the more family-oriented view that they take of crew. Remember the large ports below decks in the Ferretti 870’s profile? This is the effect they create in the megayacht’s master stateroom. The lounge lining the ports serves as an ideal spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea. In this larger, overall view of the master stateroom, you get another sense of how the multi-paneled ports bring plenty of natural light inside the Ferretti 870. There are five panes in all, and they’re to both sides of the full-beam stateroom. Even though it’s below decks, it doesn’t make you feel slighted. There are three guest staterooms aboard the Ferretti 870, including this fixed-berth twin cabin. Though it’s tough to see with the shade drawn, the stateroom also has a three-panel port.Another twin stateroom across the hallway allows the beds to be pushed together, to form a queen berth. Even among megayachts in this Ferretti’s 87-foot size range, inside helms are increasingly being replaced by main-deck master suites. Having a traditional pilothouse isn’t just practical, it’s also well suited to the American way of chatting with the captain. Note the observation settee tucked to port. Of course, ask any captain (or even owner-operator) where he or she likes to drive the yacht, and the answer is nearly always “outside.” The Ferretti 870’s upper-deck helm has a comfortable bench-seat for two (driving lessons, anyone?), and the raised section of the helm can retract. What would an Italian-built yacht be without abundant space devoted to the great outdoors? The teak-lined upper deck has a sunpad adjacent to the hot tub (covered in this photo), plus a handy pull-out shower in the base of the hot tub. There’s also a grill opposite the U-shape seating/dining area. When the weather’s good, activate the sliding hardtop to make the flying bridge even more of an enticing spot, especially while the yacht is underway. With twin MTU 12V 2000 M94s, the Ferretti 870 should see a top speed of 30.5 knots and cruise around 27 knots.

Two weeks after the Artemis tragedy, the AC review panel publishes its draft findings

Intended for specific types of watersports, these tow-boat models differ from the garden variety runabout.

To surprise the future" is the concept that guided the creation of this shipyard's challenge, the Pershing 64'. A great example of Pershing design and technology with all the space and luxury of a fly bridge yacht combined with aggressive open yacht contours and sports style performance. It has a modern, sleek design emphasized by single-stretch side windows and a highly versatile saloon on the same level as the cockpit. An exclusive retractable glass partition slides open to join the two areas into one vast space or closes to separate them. The craft's highly original internal layout creates a great sense of space, and great care has been taken over every detail, like the helm station created by the close collaboration of Pershing and Poltrona Frau designers. The galley has also been positioned at an intermediate level, thus leaving the entire below deck area free to become a well-equipped and organised night zone. There are three remarkably spacious cabins, each with its own ensuite bathroom, and the Master cabin is particularly exclusive, thanks to the natural light that streams through its two large open-view windows. With its twin 1550 hp MAN engines and Arneson ASD 14L drives, the Pershing 64' can reach peak speeds of over 46 knots, once again demonstrating the importance the shipyard places on performance.

2005 Silverton 34 Convertible, 37 ft. 7 inLOA. This 2005 Silverton 34C has been enjoyed and cared for and is in like new condition. She has new upholstery and a full enclosure for the flying bridge. The hull was recently bottom painted, buffed and waxed. She has modern lines and a proven hull with a comfortable 2 stateroom interior which combined with the sleeper sofa, sleeps six people. The interior boasts a roomy master stateroom with a large hanging locker, TV and separate air conditioning unit. Coming aft, the bath is a split unit with the head and sink on the port and the shower to starboard. To the port there is an over- under bunk bed stateroom. Next is the open galley, which boasts a two burner electric stove, microwave, sink, and large refrigerator /freezer. The counter tops are Corian. The salon has a dinette and a convertible sofa that sleeps two. There is also a 20 inch LCD TV with DVD player. In the cockpit, there is an entertainment center with a mini fridge, freshwater sink and cutting board counter. It also has a hot/cold transom shower and large swim platform. The bridge is accessed by wide molded stairs from the cockpit. The helm station has a captain and companion chair at the wheel. Behind is a curved lounge with seating for five. The cockpit has a fish box and large live well, outside ice box, bait table, tackle drawers and outside fresh water sink, for fishing and rod storage in the salon. Salon Cherry Hi-Lo Table Salon Halogen Lighting Ultra Leather Flex Steel Sofa/Bed Ultra Leather Booth Dinette Salon Aft Salon Privacy Curtain Sliding Cabin Screen Door Central Vacuum System Blinds Opening Salon Windows, Port & Starboard Upholstered Window Treatments Salon Corian Countertops Two Overhead Hatches 6'6" Interior Headroom Accent Pillows Designer Bedspreads Furniture Grade Cherry Cabinetry Window Screens Flat panel LCD TV Stereo w/speakers DVD Player CD player The bath is a split unit with the head and sink on the port and the shower to starboard.Jabsco "Quiet Flush" Head Galley Galley down configuration. Corian Countertops Sharp Carousel Microwave Amtico Flooring Ten Cherry Storage Cabinets with Push/Pull Locks Pantry Drawers Exhaust Vent Fan 12Volt Plug Garbage Disposal New Norcold Refrigerator with Freezeras of May 2013. Water Heater Dockside Pressure Water System Princess two burner cooktop stove Single Stainless Steel Sink with Corian Cover Master Stateroom Twin double berth Hanging locker. New air conditioner as of May 2013. Storage Cherry wood Upgraded decor Pillow and shams Overhead hatch 15" LCD color TV JVC DVD Stereo speakers Overhead lights Guest Stateroom Over/under bunks Cherry interior Hanging locker Pillow/shams Upgraded decor Overhead lights Electronics and Navigational Equipment Ritchie Compass ICOM VHF 602 Raytheon E80 Plotter, Radar, GPS B

Northern Europe has a wealth of wonderful ports of call. Here is a pick of just nine of the gems out there, from Cowes in the Solent on the south coast of England, to the Kyles of Bute on Scotland’s beautiful west coast, to the beautiful archipelago of Gothenberg, and beyond… Norway's spectacular western coast - photo Simo Rasanen Lofoten Islands Norway’s western coast offers a spectacular landscape of mountains, fjords and glaciers. What’s more, it’s well sheltered inside the chain of islands that fringes the coast, so even in strong winds you can make passages in almost flat water. However, the downside is that the easier-to-reach southern section of this coast is in the path of summer low-pressure systems and can be very wet. But time spent getting further north will reward you with clear skies, round in the clock sun and the spectacular jewel of the Lofoten Islands. Don’t be put off by the latitude – the islands benefit from the world’s largest positive temperature anomaly relative and with warm water temperatures, the sea is teeming with life and there’s a population of sea birds to match. Cowes is home to a host of sailing events held in the waters of the Solent, including the JP Morgan Asset Mannagement Round the Island Race. Photo Thierry Martinez/See&Co/RTI Race Cowes Cowes is home to a host of sailing events held in the waters of the Solent, including the world’s oldest – and largest – regatta, as well as the planet’s biggest yacht race, JP Morgan Asset Mannagement Round the Island Race. Cowes remains a must visit destination for many sailors that hosts a string of prestigious events for both state of the art raceboats and the most elegant of classic yachts. Each spring the small town awakes from a quiet winter slumber to welcome tens of thousands of sailors from around the world during the season. While the town is sometimes criticised for the lack of a smart hotel, or the difficulty of finding a restaurant table during busy events, those in the know rent one of the big Victorian villas or modern penthouses overlooking the Solent and hire a celebrity chef to take care of the catering. Falmouth is a traditional jumping off point - Photo Tony Atkin Falmouth This has been the traditional jumping off point from Britain’s south-west coast to destinations south and west for generations of sailors. It’s a port that can be entered in any weather, yet provides sheltered moorings for thousands of boats of all sizes. It has repair and refit facilities for every type of boat, including the world’s largest superyachts, while annual summer events include a 450 boat regatta week plus a classic regatta with around 100 yachts. In 2012 the port was graced by the J-Class regatta, while in 2014 Falmouth will host the Tall Ships Race. The Gothenburg Archipelago is two collections of islands Gothenburg Archipelago Sweden’s second city enjoys a benign, if short, summer season. Right on the doorstep, the Gothenburg archipelago is two collections of islands, offering spectacular remote anchorages, fishing villages and small resorts. The southern island group is entirely traffic free, with the 5,000 permanent inhabitants spread across five islands reliant on delivery mopeds, electric vehicles and ferries. When you’ve had enough of the quiet life, the city centre is only an afternoon’s sail away. No trip to France is complete without a visit to Honfleur Photo Pir6mon Honfleur No trip to northern France is complete without a visit to this stunning medieval port at the mouth of the Seine estuary and it’s a must for both foodies and art lovers. In the late part of the 19th century the Impressionist movement was born here, after Parisian artists – including Monet, Courbet and Boudin – were attracted by the exquisite quality of the light. Yachts and fishing boats still dock behind massive lock gates in the old port, where there’s ample draught for large vessels. Excellent cafes and restaurants that cater to all tastes and bud

Day 9 of the Cannes Film Festival features La Vie d’Adele  or in English as it is known, Blue is the Warmest Colour. It is the longest film up for the coveted Palme d’Or, at 179 minutes but is typical of director, Abdellatif Kechiche and his intimate and fastidious style in which he allows long takes to develop the characters and tensions in a natural, realistic manner. It is a film loosely adapted by Kechiche from the prize-winning graphic novel by Julie Maroh, “Le Bleu est une couleur chaude”, and portrays a deeply moving portrait of 15-year-old girl getting to grips with her sexual identity and the trials and tribulations of this young love. With a phenomenal performance from Lea Seydoux and a fantastic debut from newcomer, Adele Exarchopoulos it poses intriguing questions from that of  gender and sexual identity to issues of social belonging. Carrying on from this theme of young love, our yacht nominee is BABY LOVE – a lovely Sarnico 65 accommodating up to 6 guests in 3 cabins and available to charter in Corsica and Sardinia. With three large, en suite cabins BABY LOVE has all of the amenities and technology that you could possibly need. With fantastic areas on deck, she is perfect for sunbathing, relaxing and socializing with friends. What’s more she has an incredible top speed of 39 knots meaning it will take no time at all to cruise from destination to destination. Why not check out our honeymoon charter guide if you are thinking about how best to celebrate the beginning of a new journey with a partner. At www.boatbookings.com, we are here to help you plan your perfect luxury yachting holiday. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special.

Anacortes, located halfway between Seattle and Vancouver BC, calls itself the home port for the San Juan Islands. It is a natural location for one of the series of Trawler Fest standalone boat shows for the cruising enthusiast. Given the region’s reputation for being environmentally responsible, one of the boats on display that stood out in this regard was the Greenline 40 Hybrid with its diesel/electric propulsion system. The Greenline 40 Hybrid is designed and built by Seaway in Slovenia and has a hull design based on sailboat hull lines, which provide less drag and reduced energy requirements. The Greenline 40 Hybrid is designed and built by Seaway in Slovenia, which claims the boat’s unique performance results from a combination of hull design and build technology together with the propulsion system. The hull design is based on sailboat hull lines, which provide less drag and reduced energy requirements. The boat is built using infusion technology, resulting in a lighter and stronger yacht, further improving energy efficiency and performance. The propulsion system is a combination of the hybrid drive, solar roof and lithium batteries. Thus the boat can collect, store and use electrical energy from the sun, shore pick-up or main engine-driven generator. This provides the power to run a full-size fridge, electric stove, air conditioning, TV and other appliances while the fully charged batteries allow the boat to be powered for 20 miles at just over 4 knots. Other stand-out features include the overall sleek design together with the light and airy interior with its impressive headroom. Safety getting on and off the Seahorse Marine 54 as well as at sea is important, so the use of heavy duty hardware using known brands is evident throughout the boat. Trawler owners are an interesting demographic — they tend to be older with specific boat comfort and design requirements and view price/value as equally important. The Seahorse Marine 54 stands out for this group in these regards. Safety getting on and off the boat as well as at sea is important, so the use of heavy duty hardware using known brands is evident throughout the boat. (John Deere engine, Northern Lights genset, Wabasto hydronic furnace, Force 10 cooktop/oven are all standard equipment as well as Teak and Holly soles throughout the boat.) High bulwarks and railings are a prominent feature. The Seahorse Marine 54 on display was priced at $759,699, which the dealers say is a great value when compared to competitors’ models of a similar size and equipment specification. The reasons given for this great price point are that the boat is built in China by a small, successful factory with limited production runs and controlled profit margins. Promotion here in the U.S. is only through boat shows, so there’s no costly national advertising campaign to add to the final price.

Oceanstyle by Burgess tells me that the 97-foot Falcon motoryacht Powdermonkey has dropped her weekly base rates for all cruising dates this summer in the West Mediterranean. The high-season base rate for July and August previously was €58,000. Now it is €49,000, a savings of more than 10 percent. The weekly base rate for low-season months outside of July and August was previously €45,000. It is now €42,000, a savings just shy of 10 percent. Powdermonkey is a 2004 build that accommodates 10 guests in five cabins. Three of the cabins have double beds while two of the cabins have twin beds, making Powdermonkey an ideal choice for families chartering with children. The yacht's top speed is 24 knots, which should make for great itineraries that include multiple ports along the Cote d'Azur. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more about Powdermonkey or help you book a week onboard this summer at the newly announced rates for the West Mediterranean.

That's the question cruiser Jeff Southworth has no doubt been asking himself ever since January, when local police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents popped him in Puerto Rican waters and found 33 boxes of putatively Cuban Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta cigars on board his boat Janice Ann. Southworth claimed his cigars were actually cheap Dominican knock-offs, but CBP went ahead and seized both the cigars and his boat anyway. One does have to wonder about the government's sense of perspective. Evidently they've been telling Southworth since January 3 that one of their cigar experts will be able to determine where his cigars came from, but here we are over four months later and said examination has yet to take place. They've also valued his boat at $90K, which is a puzzler. Go and search Yachtworld, and you'll see the current lowest asking price for a used Catalina 470 of the same vintage as Janice Ann (1999) is $158K. Most are going for around $200K. Southworth's Catalina at rest. Is it a boat, or an instrument of criminality? Even if Southworth's cigars are knock-offs, the government might still be entitled to keep the boat, as smuggling counterfeit goods into U.S. territory is apparently also grounds for property forfeiture. What's interesting about that angle is that both Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta, as any cigar smoker knows, are brands existing in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The legal Dominican brands enjoy trademark protection in the U.S., but what about the illegal Cuban brands? Southworth wasn't carrying counterfeit Dominican cigars, he claims he was carrying counterfeit Cuban cigars that were manufactured in the DR. Can the government legally prosecute someone for a violating a trademark they don't legally recognize? Dominican Cohibas. The U.S.-based General Cigar Company, which produces these babies, in fact ripped the name off from the Cubans in the first place. The company that originally made Romeo y Julietas in Cuba, on the other hand, shifted production to the DR after the Cuban revolution. The Cuban government ripped the name off from them (i.e., nationalized it) and now puts it on cigars they produce Lawyers could make a bundle dancing around that question for a while, but they probably won't get the chance. CBP recently offered to give back the boat so long as Southworth signs a release and promises not to come after them for attorney's fees or damages. Not exactly fair (assuming the cigars are in fact fake Cubans), but he'd be a fool not to go for it. Fighting with the government on its own turf is generally a bad idea, especially when they're already holding the key to your boat.