Loro Piana Regatta 2010

Ganesha and Highland Fling enjoy big breeze in ‘Bomb Alley’

Porto Cervo, Italy – 9 June 2010

Strong winds and Sardinian sunshine made for an exhilarating start to the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo today.

The race committee set a 30 nautical mile course in the south-easterly breeze, which was blowing 18-20 knots at the start. The wind gusted up to 35 knots later in the race as it funnelled through the straits which divide the rugged islands of Caprera and La Maddalena from the Sardinian mainland. Today, no one needed to ask why sailors call these straits ‘Bomb Alley’.

While some boats were operating at their limits, others were lapping up the challenging conditions. In the Cruising Division, Ganesha, a 39-metre Dubois-designed Fitzroy Yacht, powered home to victory by 18 minutes on corrected time. In the Racing Division, Irvine Laidlaw’s 25-metre Wally racer/cruiser, Highland Fling, was similarly dominant as she surfed home almost 14 minutes ahead on corrected time.

Luca Bassani, who was steering Highland Fling, commented: “Today was a perfect race in terms of conditions, between 18 and 20 knots most of the time, and we had a very long run to the Isle of Barretinelli where we gained a lot of speed.” Volvo Ocean Race skipper Neal MacDonald was calling tactics alongside Bassani. “The race went well, and the boat went incredibly well – up to 22 knots of boatspeed in 22 knots of wind. I underestimated how much wind there was round the back of La Maddalena and we had to do a tough sail change, but the crew were superb.”

For the Cruising Division, which started a few minutes later, the breeze picked up considerably and made the upwind beat back to Porto Cervo very challenging. The 45-metre Dubois-design Salperton IV was forced to retire after a gear breakage led to one of the crew being injured.

With such high loads on these big and complex yachts, it’s easy to see why some of the world’s best professionals are invited to sail these boats. Among the fleet of 28 yachts, ranging in length from 25 to 45 metres, there are nine Southern Wind yachts, blue-water cruisers designed for crossing oceans. One of those is the 30.2-metre Farr-designed Nauta, Zefiro, whose owner commented: “Yesterday evening we were given a very professional briefing.  These guys are experts and today the organisation on the water was of the same quality, smooth and solid. I am extremely pleased with today’s racing, especially with regards to the performance of our newly formed crew.  It was the first race for the boat, which I have sailed from the yard in Cape Town to the Med. I am very happy and looking forward to the next race tomorrow.”

For photos and more information http://www.loropianasuperyachtregatta.com/

Heather Hawthorne – Charter Spa Services

LUXURY SPA SERVICES FOR THE YACHTING INDUSTRY – The Ultimate in Luxury for Charter Guests

I was recently fortunate enough to spend a delightful 1/2 hour with Heather courtesy of the yacht CLOUD NINE and Camper & Nicholsons. Don’t miss the opportunity and include Heather while on board your next charter. For more information on her wide range of services which include massage, yoga, skin care and fitness please visit her website at www.charterspaservices.com or contact me at 212 423 9280 or cindy@ultramarineyacht.com.

BIG FISH – Books First Charter

Will start historic voyage with broker’s donation for ‘Cruise For Change’

Auckland, NZ – Still more than a month away from completion and delivery, 45M Big Fish, has already booked its first yacht charter.  The booking, for a 10-day charter in Tahiti in August, originated with Cindy Brown of Ultra Marine of New York and Allan Jouning of 37S, Big Fish’s listing agent.

Three years in construction at New Zealand’s famous McMullen & Wing shipyard, Big Fish is a luxury expedition vessel combining the best attributes of a safe, strong and capable long-range motor yacht with the comfort, stability and amenities of a traditional ‘white’ yacht. Big Fish is a five-stateroom vessel and carries a crew of 10. She features floor-to-ceiling windows in salon, dining area and master suite, opening bulwarks port and starboard for an infinity- view dining experience, and opening port and starboard stern bulwarks that create the widest swim platform of any yacht under 65 meters. Big Fish carries a 29-foot custom aluminum long-range dive/exploration/fishing tender, offers active hull stabilization, and a full complement of water ‘toys’ including a pair of matched Laser sailboats.

Big Fish will be based in the South Pacific for the coming Northern Hemisphere summer, and then will visit Fort Lauderdale for the international yacht show, after which she will embark on an extraordinary and historic cruise to be the first vessel in history to complete a Polar Circumnavigation, including the first yacht crossing of the famed Northeast Passage over the top of Russia. Big Fish will be offering 10-day luxury expedition charters in the Antarctic (Dec. – Feb.), the Amazon (Mar. – April), Cuba (May – June) and Northern Europe/Arctic Circle/Northeast Passage (July – Sept.) before returning to the Pacific in late September 2011.

In announcing Big Fish’s first charter, Allan Jouning was also pleased to make public that Cindy Brown had generously agreed to donate 2.5% of her share in the charter commission to the Cruise For Change charity being started by Big Fish and her crew. The charity will look at the specific needs of remote islands and communities it will be visiting to provide such items as tools, medical supplies and educational materials. “We are very excited by our first charter,” said Capt. Winston Joyce-Clarke, “and the crew and I are very pleased at Cindy’s support in our effort to ensure that wherever we go and whoever we meet on our historic maiden voyage, will be better off for the experience.”

Top Ten Most Expensive Marinas

Via Luxist by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) Apr 18th 2010 at 6:00PM

Wealth Bulletin has assembled a list of the most expensive places to berth your superyacht for an evening, and we’re sure you’ll be amazed to find that seven of them are in Europe, six being in Italy or France, and the top three is an Italian shut-out. Capri comes in number one, with little slice of lapis-blue water running €2,900 ($3,914 U.S.) per night. Porto Cervo, in Sardinia, and Portofino round out the podium spots.

Ibiza, Spain of all places is next on the list and last to break the €2,000 barrier, with peak season costing you €2,300 (€3,104 U.S.) for a night of partying and port-of-calling. From there the price drop is steep, France’s St. Tropez requiring “just” €1,300 ($1,754 U.S.) to sleep on the water. The home team gets a showing in Miami, and if you’re looking for a bargain then you’ll want to head to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Marina, a bargain at €421 per night – might want to make sure those tanks are full, though…

Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show February 11 – 15, 2010

The multi-million dollar presentation of yachts including the world’s most extraordinary and uniquely designed yachts and superyachts from the world’s foremost custom boat builders. If you are there, make sure not to miss QUANTUM of SOLACE and MY MAX both for sale by OCEAN Independence, the stunning new Christensen yacht ODESSA and the line up of Trinity Yachts. Many of the yachts are already in charter or soon to be. For any interest and to assist with arranging appointments, please contact us at 212 423 9280.

GRACE, The “Gentleman’s Yacht” Cruises the Norwegian Fjords

GRACE was designed and equipped as a “yacht for all seasons” and will be available year-round in Norway. As well as the stunning beauty of the fjords, charter guests will be able to experience the “midnight sun” during the summer and, if lucky, the “aurora borealis” in winter.

GRACE accommodates 10 guests in five ensuite cabins. Her charter rate is 100,000 Euros per week, MYBA.

For further information & itineraries, check out the yacht’s website: http://www.mvgrace.com

Antigua Yacht Charter Meeting 2009 – BEST in onboard Cuisine

2009 BOAT INTERNATIONAL WINNERS!!

Buffet Brunch Chefs competition

Yachts over 150ft

3^rd Place tie between Jeremy Turgon from Lady Joy and Geoffrey Fischer from Slipstream

2^nd place Angelica Biafora from High Chapparal

1^st Place  James Jacobs from Sequel P

Yachts from 90 to 149ft

3^rd Place Anthony Bentoft from Shalimar

2^nd Place  Patrick Roney from Kapalua

1^st place  Kdn Lyne from Lionshare

Yachts up to 90ft

3^rd place Elizabeth Lee from Wonderful

2nd place Mark Miles from Pacific Wave

1^st place is Patrick La Brosse from Matau

Best table setting:

Boats over 150ft

Third place Jeremy Turgon from Lady Joy

Second place Angelica Biafora from High Chapparal

First place Ronald Pot from Sherakhan

Boats from 90 to 149ft

3rd place Alun Mahon from Paradigm

2^nd place Anthony Bantoft from Shalimar

1^st place Patrick Roney from Kapalua

Boats up to 89ft

3^rd place Laura Wheeler from Ravenous

2^nd place Patrick La Brosse from Matau

1^st place Sophie Bardon from Icarus

Carib Bean Coffee Roasters section: Best use of the Bean

Yachts over 150ft

3^rd place Fabrizio Zazzera from Kogo

2^nd place Angelica Biafora from High Chapparal

1^st place Ronald Pot from Sherakhan

Yachts up to90 to 149ft

3rd place Jeff Price from Perle Bleue

2^nd place Eric Glass from Cocktails

1^st place Kdn Lyne, Lionshare

FEATURED  MENUS

:: ODESSA ::

Dinner Menu

Parmesan Cafe Latte with Truffle Oil
~~~
Confit Pork Belly & Tiger Prawns
Served with Foie Gras, Passion Fruit Coulis & Baby Fennel
~~~
Ballotine of Quail with Prune Compote, Goats Curd Potato Pancake,
Carrot & Ginger Foam Snow Peas
~~~
Layered Kahlua Cheescake
With Carmelized Kumquats & Espresso Cinnamon Ice Cream

Chef: Brenton Gordie
Brenton uses the freshest of seasonal produce and is able to produce stunning menus wherever he is in the world.

::  S L I P S T R E A M  ::

Lunch Menu

Assiette of the Caribbean
Salt Fish Fritter wiht Love Apple Sauce
Jerk Chicken on Rice & Peas
Lime Marinated Prawn with Pineapple Salsa
~~~
Seared Fillet of Loca Red Snapper wiht a Warm Salad of
Roasted Plantain, Avocado, Cho-Cho
& Caribbean Salsa Verde
~~~
Rum Chocolate Brownie with Coconut Ice-Cream
& Mango ’3′ Ways

Chef : Geoff Fisher
Geoff worked in Michelin Starred restaurants such as “Foliage” and “Le Gavroche” before joining the yachting industry.
In 2006, Geoff won the Antigua Yacht Show Chef competition.

:: ALTITUDE ::

Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
and walnuts, drizzled with maple sherry vinaigrette

~~~

Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Fillet accompanied by
Fondant Potatoes and a Rosemary and Thyme sauce
or
Pan Fried Snapper with Caribbean Style Curry
Saue, sugar snap peas and Mango relish

~~~

Fresh Berries with caramel Mascarpone Cheese and White Chocolate
topped with Rosemary Coulis

Chef: Kevin Feinberg

Antigua Yacht Charter Meeting 2009 – SUPERYACHT Top Five All Stars *****

This show should have been named “THE SUPERYACHT CHARTER SHOW.”  The yachts on display graced the harbor like no charter show has ever done before.  A sight to behold indeed. The line up included such stars as HURRICANE RUN, SAMAR, SLIPSTREAM, BIG AARON, JO, ANJILLIS, SHERAKHAN, TRIDENT, HIGH CHAPARRAL, PERLE BLEUE and many others.

ALFA NERO ~ 82m (269′) Oceanco
With a stunning black hull and indulgent levels of open space in the manner of a grand villa. Boasting  a the quintessentially private master suite and the an aft deck featuring a waterfall from the infinity swimming pool.

KOGO ~ 71.71m (235′ 3″) Alstom

SUPERB EXTERIOR DESIGN BY TIM HEYWOOD, KOGO IS RAISING THE STANDARD OF LUXURY YACHT CHARTER.
Offering accommodation for 12 in 5 luxuriously appointed double and 2 twin suites, KOGO offers a wealth of exciting opportunities for even the most discerning of charterers, ranging from outdoor stage / concert facilities on the upper deck to helipad, a fully equipped gym with adjacent steam room and large Jacuzzi dip pool with jet stream.

The most frequently mentioned words of inspiration for direction during the interior design meetings at Terence Disdale Design were “Warm Sophistication”, “Zen” and “Natural Elegance”. These themes run throughout the entire yacht where oriental flavours lend subtle intrigue to the many interesting finishes and textures. Coupled with the soft, warm, neutral tones, the atmosphere is one of spacious tranquility and relaxation.

UTOPIA  ~ 71.60m (234′ 10″) Feadship
The largest and most highly specified Feadship for charter. Her incredible stability and confort result in a yacht with a very special status. Connected by a sweeping staircase, her sun and upper deck are two of the largest and most attractive terraces afloat. Her interior volume is staggering. Floor to ceiling windows and unprecedented headroom provide enormous spaces for entertaining. Light panelling, elegant furniture and marble fireplaces create the most refined classic, contemporary style.

CALLISTO ~ 65.2m (213′) Feadship
Offering accommodation for 12 guests in a full-width main deck master suite, three en-suite double cabins and two twins, she has a warm neutral atmosphere throughout, with a personalized yet easily recognisable Terence Disdale interior. A blend of fine oak panelling, polished marbles, the finest fabrics, with custom carpeting throughout. She is fully equipped with high quality crockery, cutlery and crystal glassware.

ODESSA ~ 50m (164′ ) Proteksan Turquoise
A recent offering from the renowned Proteksan-Turquoise yards, ODESSA presents the utmost in modern luxury. The yacht’s sundeck is a highlight of the design with a spacious sunning area with Jacuzzi and sun loungers. The interior is effortlessly elegant and pervades the living areas and cabins giving a relaxed feel throughout. ODESSA has state-of-the-art audio visual and communications throughout all areas of the yacht.

 

 

Motor Yacht KATYA for Charter through Ultra Marine

 KATYA will be attending the forthcoming Antigua Charter Show. KATYA is perfect for family charters and is still available for Christmas and New Years. Accommodates up to 12 guests in 5 cabins.

Small is Beautiful

It is my pleasure to announce that after several years with a large superyacht firm, I have chosen to re-establish Ultra Marine Yacht Charters, a boutique company I founded in 1997. Ultra Marine is dedicated to offering highly specialized service and providing the insight required to ensure your yachting experience is more than a success. 

All charter agents have access to the same worldwide inventory of yachts but not all are true experts. Whether part of a large yachting brokerage firm or an Internet based operation that offers every yacht afloat, not all brokers truly understand the luxury market and the desires of the discriminating traveler.

If you’re like me, you want special care, understanding and someone who can deliver the quality you expect. When you book a charter with Ultra Marine, you benefit from my personal network of international insider contacts, perfectionist standards and fanatical attention to detail.  I assure you that your yachting experience will be under my personal guidance, something my loyal clientele have come to rely upon.

If you haven’t experienced the pleasures that life onboard your own private yacht offer, this is an ideal time to benefit from the opportunities. This winter there is an outstanding collection of yachts available in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Maldives and Seychelles.

Welcome!

Cindy Brown