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Yachting Industry News

Transatlantic Race 2011: Fierce Competitors Challenge Each Other and the Unpredicatable North Atlantic

Transatlantic Race 2011-Photo Credit: Amory Ross

Today, Wednesday, June 29, the largest group of 14 yachts departed on the Transatlantic Race 2011, a 2,975 nautical mile course from Newport, R.I., to Lizard Point, South Cornwall, England, featuring 30 boats ranging from 40 to 289 feet in length.

The sight of the Open Class, which is

Maltese Falcon-Photo Credit: Roddy Grimes Graeme

comprised of just two, albeit show stopping yachts heading off into the Atlantic Ocean was a spectator spectacular. The 289’ head turning Perini Navi, Maltese Falcon, is racing against the only multihull entered in the race, the Lamborghini orange catamaran Phaedo.

Jazz-Photo Credit: Rolex, Carlo Borlenghi

In IRC Class Two, Jazz, a Cookson 50, with a star-studded crew challenges two German teams on nearly identical yachts competing in the class. Given the racing records of these top yachts, Jazz, Shakti and Varuna should virtually match race across the North Atlantic.

IRC Class Three will

Ambersail-Photo Credit: Paul Wyeth

feature six yachts, including Snow Lion, a winner that should prove highly competitive on corrected time. Zaraffa, the Reichel Pugh 65, will undoubtedly be a fierce competitor boasting a crew that includes several veterans of the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Volvo 60 Ambersail has logged over 100,000 miles since being purchased in 2008 in tribute to a thousand years of Lithuanian history. Ambersail took part in the 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, winning class honors and placing second overall.

Concise 2

The two smallest yachts are the Class 40s, Dragon and Concise 2. Team Concise will be a force to be reckoned with, having won the 2009 Class 40 World Championship, set a world record for the Round Britain and Ireland course, and taken class honors at the RORC Caribbean 600 for the last three years. Dragon is the only boat racing across the Atlantic double-handed. Owner Michael Hennessy started to focus on short-handed distance racing in 2002.  Since then he has competed in four Newport Bermuda Races, as well as dozens of other races across New England. In 2008 he took delivery of Dragon, an Owen Clarke-design, which will be co-skippered by Rob Windsor.

The Transatlantic Race 2011 is the centerpiece of the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series (AORS), which includes the Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race, RORC Caribbean 600, the Annapolis to Newport Race, Rolex Fastnet Race, Biscay Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.  Of the seven races in the AORS, three races, including the TR 2011 must be completed to qualify for a series victory.

Click here to Track the Yachts.

For more information, yacht blogs and photos: https://www.transatlanticrace.org/

Visit this link to Charter Racing and Spectator Yachts

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Sauter Carbon Offset Design Presents the Emax Excalibur: Gutsy Solar Hybrid Flybridge Cruiser

Richard Sauter and his forward-thinking design team introduce their newest concept eco-yacht to be built by the Ned Ship Group. As with their other carbon offset designs, this yacht operates on hybrid diesel power and has a photo voltaic exoskeleton, which in this case can offset up to 3,000 nautical miles of carbon neutral cruising at 18 knots.

Richard Sauter’s futuristic designs are feasible today, uniformly making use of currently available technologies. The Emax propulsion system combines the new VW Marine 350TDI V8 and the GM Allison dual-mode Hybrid Transmission with Delco Remy motor/generators. The GM Allison transmission was developed with 330 million dollars of DOE Grants and currently powers hybrid vehicles worldwide.

Richard Sauter commented “ The Emax Excalibur is the world’s first Carbon Neutral Yacht built from molds in order to produce a semi-custom series which represents a revolutionary first step in the Maritime Industry toward the production of Post Carbon Yachts”. The Emax Excalibur is designed to be affordable, environmentally responsible, aesthetically powerful and high-performance, with projected speeds topping 30 knots.

LOA: 72ft.

Beam: 16ft.

Draft: 3 ft.

Hull material: Epoxy Carbon Kevlar Composite

Max speed: 30knts

Cruising speed: 22knts

Cabins: 3 Doubles 1 Single

Please visit Green Chartering for Low Carbon Emissions to discover the ease of environmentally responsible charter.

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The Best Way to Attend the Monaco Royal Wedding? By Boat of course!

In celebration of the Royal Wedding this weekend (30 June to 2 July), Monaco is throwing a bash as only Monaco can.  Including an Eagles Concert, Jean Michel Jarre performance, Processions, Ceremonies, Fireworks – this tiny principality will have it all.

And what better way to attend the various events, but on your chartered boat or yacht?  Avoid the crowds, have peace and quiet when you want it, cruise up close to the concerts, watch the fireworks overhead, and don’t worry about anything else but just enjoying the experience.

Boatbookings has over 50 yachts and boats, of all types and sizes, to get you to Monaco this weekend in style!  Please see our charter boats for the Monaco Royal Wedding and let us know which one best suits your needs!

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Uncle Roddys Beach Bar is a Destination Must for Yachtsmen Cruising the Leeward Islands

Rodman George of Uncle Roddy’s Beach Bar in Barbuda, listed among the Top 20 Beach Shacks in the Caribbean, will commemorate Princess Diana in a local ceremony.

Roddy’s Beach Bar, owned by renowned bartender Rodman “Roddy” George, opened its doors in 2005 to become legendary among yachtsmen sailing the Leeward Islands. Uncle Roddy’s Bar is steps from a pristine, white sand beach with magnificent views of neighboring islands Antigua, Montserrat, St Kitts, and Nevis.

An abundance of lobster, expertly prepared, and signature cocktails have provided the foundation for the growing fame of Uncle Roddy’s, recently rated one of the Top 20 Beach Bars in the Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveler.

George worked at the exclusive K Club as a bartender before opening his own place. Among the many famous guests at the resort the most celebrated was Princess Diana. In her honor and to commemorate what would have been her 50th birthday, Barbudan residents have elected to name a beach after her.

Councilwoman Dorcas Beazer commented, “We were honored to host Princess Diana on her many visits to Barbuda, and I believe that it is people like Uncle Roddy and the hospitality and laid back charm of Barbudans that inspired her repeat visits to Barbuda.”

Proprietor Rodman George will join Governor General Dame Louise Lake Tack, local Barbudan officials and residents in lighting a flotilla of 50 lanterns to signify the hope, peace and harmony that Princess Diana brought to Barbuda and to help spread her spirit of humanity via the ocean to the rest of the world. For persons who cannot attend the ceremony, their messages will be carefully placed on lanterns and floated off in the ensemble.

Uncle Roddy’s is located on the beach front known as The Coral Group Bay. Anchor by Coco Point and tender west along the shoreline until you spot the rooftop of the beach villa adjacent to the property. Or telephone 1 268 785 3268 for a lift.

Here is a link to useful destination information for Caribbean Yacht Charter.

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Azimut-Benetti Group Hosts Spectacular Venice Debut for the New Azimut 45 and Atlantis 44

Last Saturday Azimut Benetti revealed the newest offerings from the company headed by Paolo Vitelli in a world premier staged against the magnificent backdrop of Venice, Italy. The sporty Azimut 45 and Atlantis 44 were moored in front of the Hotel Excelsior Lido, the grand finale of an 18th century Venice themed evening: masks, costumes, Venetian Republic Heralds and the Rondò Veneziano Chamber Orchestra paved the way for the triumphant appearance of the new arrivals.

Certainly the most innovative element of the Azimut 45 is convertibility. The entire yacht has several areas designed with flexible, modular arrangements that allow a transformation of the space according to the requirement, or whim, of the moment. Designers Stefano Righini e Carlo Galeazzi collaborated with the shipyard to create a yacht that is roomy, comfortable and adjustable. For instance, the cockpit can be converted from a relaxation area into a dining area and interior spaces can be configured in different layouts to better accommodate different uses and allow maximum livability even in tight quarters.

The Atlantis 44’ was selected by Volvo Penta for the exclusive debut of their very powerful D6 400 Z-drive diesel engine. The innovative and conceptually revolutionary engine boasts a faster sprint and a top speed exceeding 36 knots. The engine is also designed to maintain cruising speeds at lower RPMs, enabling a significant reduction in fuel consumption. In addition, this lightweight and compact engine has noticeably reduced noise and vibration levels for greater passenger comfort.

Use this link to reach information and worldwide locations of Azimut Charter Yachts.

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