Boatbookings Onboard 147-Foot Luxury Explorer BIG FISH: The Yacht Without Borders

We’re standing on the world’s first granite decks. They are classically handsome and impervious to Jimmy Choos, non-skid yet sensually smooth, and we are told you can light a fire on them, just like at the beach, and the crew need only hose them down to clean them up. This remarkable decking was just one facet of BIG FISH, the most innovative and distinguished vessel we’ve seen to date.

Boatbookings went onboard for a tour with Jim Gilbert of Aquos Yachts, whose passion for BIG FISH is easily understood. “This is a charter yacht for people who are younger, more active, or people who are young at heart,” says Gilbert. “It’s a boat to go places and do things that are different.

This boat may never see the Med, she’s more at home in Tahiti, Antarctica, or through the Northeast Passage over the top of Russia, where we’re heading this summer. BIG FISH will be the first yacht ever to do that. In between we’re chartering in the Amazon, then we’re heading to the northern islands of Europe and the Land of the Midnight Sun.”

BIG FISH accommodates 10 guests and 10 crew, has a 10,000-mile range and enough storage facilities to be off the dock for four months at a time. It is a yacht built to explore the world with all the luxury of an exquisite boutique hotel, right down to the finest linens.

Everything on BIG FISH is about adaptability and spontaneity. You can have your breakfast on deck, in the galley, upstairs, in the main salon, even on the observation pod, 43 feet above sea level, whatever moves you in the moment, whichever way the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.

The breathtaking owner’s suite features a private half deck with sun pads that can be raised or lowered, or converted to a table. Four guest queens convert to two full-beam VIPs, perfect for families with children, exquisite for adult couples. Even the comfortable chairs are collapsible. Other notable features include stern quarters that unfold down on both sides for lounging and safe water access, an atrium video screen that spans three decks and a garage that transforms to a disco.

“But the story about this boat is really the story about the tender,” says Gilbert. “The owner was a long time charterer of superyachts. After several charters he realized he liked to dive, fish, explore, and ended up spending most of the day on the tender only to return to the yacht with sore knees, painful kidneys, tanks that fell on his feet. He realized that all the fun things he did were on a rib, which was miserable. So he designed this fully tricked-out tender, it weighs three and a half tons, is fully fared, has a 200 mile range, jet drive, seats 12 people plus crew, all the dive tanks you need, outriggers for fishing, and there’s a bathroom onboard. Then he went to Greg Marshall (Greg C. Marshal Naval Architects) and said build me a boat to house this tender.”

BIG FISH is the end product of extraordinary vision and meticulous design. For the adventurous charter client, BIG FISH is simply unsurpassed. We will provide additional descriptions and impressions of BIG FISH, as well as the newest project under construction at McMullen & Wing for Aquos Yachts, STARFISH, in the near future.

Access Boatbookings.com for information on chartering BIG FISH, or to view an extensive selection of the world’s finest charter yachts through this link: Super and Mega Luxury Yacht Charter

Moonen 124 NORTHLANDER Luxury Charter Yacht Wins ISS 2010 Best Power Award at FLIBS

At the 20th Anniversary of the International Superyacht Society (ISS) Awards Gala Moonen Shipyards was awarded the prestigious Best Power trophy for NORTHLANDER, a superb charter yacht that is a tribute to the design and engineering teams of the Dutch yard.

NORTHLANDER made her first Atlantic crossing to participate at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and, according to her captain Peter Davey, “handled the very challenging seas and weather conditions exceptionally well”.

Styled by Rene van der Velden with naval architecture by Stolk Marimecs, NORTHLANDER is a luxury charter yacht that offers guests superior styling, stability and seaworthiness. Interior design by Art-Line is contemporary European and supremely elegant, utilizing a repetition of curvilinear elements to define spaces throughout. The effect is both stately and soothing.

NORTHLANDER accommodates 10 guests in one master, two double and two twin staterooms. Twin MTU 16V 2000 M60 engines propel the yacht to a maximum speed of 14 knots, with a cruising speed of 11 knots. To date she is the largest build to launch from Moonen Shipyards. However, the yard has an even larger yacht in the works scheduled for delivery in 2012, the first Moonen 133, designed to carry a submarine onboard.

Boatbookings.com is an excellent resource for information on luxury charter yachts and destinations worldwide. Here is a link to begin your exploration: Super and Mega Luxury Yacht Charter

Luxury Charter Yachts BLIND DATE and JEMS Receive Gold Neptune Awards for Yacht Design

Heesen Yachts is the proud recipient of two Gold Neptune trophies awarded October 26 at the 2010 ShowBoats Design Awards ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. BLIND DATE was awarded the trophy for the acclaimed expanding burl elm dining table designed by Keech Green.

Although the ingenious geometrical design has inspired many versions since the 19th century patent was awarded to Robert Jupe, the Keech Green interpretation is simply stunning. The judges were impressed by the intricate artistry, hand craftsmanship, and ingenious engineering that allow the table to expand to seat 12 by turning the top through 90 degrees. BLIND DATE accommodates 10 guests in five cabins and is currently available for charter in the Caribbean.

Heesen 4400 JEMS received an award for Exterior Recreational Area that is cleverly designed by Eric Benque with space-saving furniture pieces including switchable table tops that raise or lower, seating that converts from bar stools to dining chairs, sun pad cushions that convert into multiple seating and lounging arrangements, and a sophisticated entertainment system that includes a retractable outdoor movie screen.

This luxury superyacht features ultra modern interiors and can accommodate 10 guests in 3 doubles with a VIP that converts to two twins. Swift, voluminous and stylish inside and out, JEMS, is a perfect charter yacht for families and friends.

Boatbookings has extensive information on superyacht charters and destinations throughout the world. Use this link to explore the possibilities:  Super and Mega Luxury Yacht Charter

Go Green! Guardian S Class Carbon Neutral Yacht Tender

Sauter Carbon Offset Design has launched the world’s first carbon neutral speedboat, the Guardian S Class, with the aim to reduce global warming pollution in the boating community by 280 million metric tons annually.

The prestigious solar hybrid with low profile, tapered bow and displacement hull, is constructed of lightweight carbon fiber. Powered by a Mercedes Benz car engine coupled to an electric motor the tender is capable of reaching a speedy 45 knots with a 50 Nm range.

According to the manufacturer, the cutting-edge tender has fuel consumption and emission rates that are from 50-100% lower than any other speedboat. Lithium ion batteries combined with plug-in solar power generates free energy delivering the capability to motor carbon neutral for up to 1,000 Nm per year.

Green technologies are rapidly being adopted as industry standards and the trendsetting Guardian S Class is likely to raise the bar industry wide.

Boatbookings.com features pertinent information about green yachting at: Green Chartering – Low Carbon Emissions Charter

LOA: 29’

Beam: 6’

Draft: 1’

Passengers: 10

Engine: Mercedes Benz Bleu Tec V6

Motor: Carbon-Grossbauteile electric

Heesen Yachts Build Contract for Luxury 65-Meter Concept Yacht

Heesen Yachts announces a signed contract for their latest new build concept, a 213-foot aluminum hull design scheduled for delivery in June 2013. Following positive results of tank tests completed at the Wolfson Unit in April 2010, Heesen launched the revolutionary 65-Meter concept during the Monaco Yacht Show in September, which resulted in attracting very enthusiastic future owners.

The construction of the 65-Meter Fast Displacement superyacht will start in mid-December 2010 at the Heesen shipyard in Oss, the Netherlands. The cutting-edge yacht is projected to attain a maximum speed of 27 knots, a remarkable achievement for a vessel of this size. The yacht features expanded exterior spaces including a voluminous pool and extended beach deck and accommodations for 12 guests and 13 crew.

LOA: 213.25’

Beam: 37.4’

Draft:  10.17’

Maximum speed: 27 knots

Minimum speed: 24 knots

Range at 14 knots: 4200 Nm

Engines: 2 x MTU 20V4000 M93L

Stabilizers: 5 x Seakeeper gyroscopes