Burger Boat Company in the US has received a contract for the construction of a 98ft steel passenger vessel from First Lady Cruises in Chicago.
CHICAGO'S LEADING LADY
To be christened CHICAGO’S LEADING LADY, the vessel is designed by Seacraft Design of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and will be built at the Burger Boat yard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The custom styling is especially intriguing in its intent to replicate the luxury cruising yachts of the 1920s, like the presidential yacht SEQUOIA, a style synonymous with the “Golden Era of Yachting.”
Remarkably, the Burger Boat Company has been building custom boats since 1863. The company’s production history includes many magnificent builds and noteworthy contracts. Between 1870 and the turn of the century, the Burger brand name appeared on almost 100 vessels including steamers, tugs, scows, schooners, barges and ferries. Production of motor yachts commenced in 1901 and today the yard continues to be internationally recognized for innovative design, quality construction, seaworthiness and reliability.
SYCARA IV
In 2009, Burger launched the highly anticipated SYCARA IV, a 151 foot classically styled custom fantail cruiser. SYCARA IV won ShowBoats Design Award 2010, successfully recapturing the splendor, grace and charm of a bygone era. The fame of SYCARA IV no doubt influenced the decision of First Lady Cruises to commission the steel passenger vessel from Burger, which will be used for private parties, corporate events, and serve as an official vessel for the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise.
Follow these helpful links to view a selection of Burger Boats available for charter and for information on Great Lakes charter.
WHISPER is an extraordinary sailing yacht, launched in 2003, that features every classic detail you can imagine. This luxurious 116ft. sloop features naval architecture and styling by renowned Ted Hood/Ted Fontaine with supremely elegant interiors by Andrew Winch. WHISPER, built by Holland Jachtbouw, was the distinguished winner of the 2004 ShowBoats Award for Best Sailing Yacht Under 40 Meters.
WHISPER is an ideal yacht from which to view some of the Caribbean’s most exhilarating competitions. St. Maarten’s Heineken Regatta, March 3-6, St. Barth’s Bucket, 24-27 March, and Les Voiles de St. Barth, 4-9 April, pit award winning world class teams against each other to challenge the seas.
Guests on board WHISPER will thrill to magnificent views from the raised pilot house featuring L-shaped banquette seating and congenial bar area. This luxury sailing yacht also has a spacious cockpit that seats up to 10 guests.
WHISPER has a regular weekly rate of $80,000 but is being offered at the reduced rate of $69,000 per week. This supremely elegant yacht features a highly skilled crew of five that are dedicated to providing the ultimate charter experience.
Alloy Yachts shipyard, located in New Zealand, announced today the launch of the largest sailing yacht ever built in the Southern Hemisphere, 220 foot VERTIGO. For over two years the world has been anticipating the launch of this somewhat secretive build, and this morning she gracefully slipped into the waters adjacent to the yard, much to the thrill of all onlookers.
Alloy Yachts began building the 220 foot ketch in October of 2008. Naval Architect Phillippe Briand was charged with the design of this high performance sailing yacht capable of transoceanic cruising. The interior design of the yacht was conceived by the famous French designer, Christian Liaigre, whose design principle was based on the client requirement for an atmosphere of “urban at sea”.
Specifications:
LOA: 220.5
Beam: 41.1
Draft: 16.5
Sail Area: 5330m2
Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C32 DI-TTA V12
Generators: 2 x Caterpillar C9 200kW
Fuel: 16,907 Gal.
Water: 3,672 Gal.
Designer: Phillipe Briand Yacht Design
Interior Design: Christian Liaigre Interior Design
Friday, February 18, the Italian Trade Commission in collaboration with UCINA (Italian Marine Association) organized a very special evening at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens to recognize the efforts of Italian companies and shipyards that have successfully promoted their products worldwide; the Nautical Design Awards.
Vizcaya, an Italian villa designed in the Mediterranean Revival architecture style, was built in the early 20th century for James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune, on Biscayne Bay. The location provided the perfect setting for Italy’s most renowned industry leaders to be recognized for their achievements.
Marco Rocca, the Honorable Consul General of Italy, presided as Master of Ceremonies, and despite inoperable microphones, was gracious and charming in his introductions. He proudly made the point that an 8.6 per cent increase in sales has made Italy the leading supplier of yachts in the United States. Also present, Luisa Boccietto, President of IDA (Industrial Design Association) and President of the Nautical Design Awards Judge Committee.
Cataldo Aprea, of the Neapolitan shipyard Aprea Mare, which has recently launched their Maestro Line, further expanding the brand in the United States, received the first award. The company has participated in the Miami show since 1995.Francesco Ansalone – Azimut Benetti Marketing Director, accepted the award given to the innovative Azimut/Benetti shipyard for their eco-friendly Magellano line, a response to the disastrous Gulf oil spill that ravaged Florida coasts last year. Vitelli stressed the commitment of the company to “maximum respect for the environment.”
Dino Salvemini accepted an award on behalf of Mase generators, widely used in the United States and worldwide by shipbuilders, in defiance of a highly competitive market.
Massimo Radice accepted the award for Sessa Marine, a Milanese shipyard
Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo Shipyard
dedicated to competing with local shipyards in producing smaller vessels that boast competitive quality and Italian design.
The prolific Italian design company Nuvolari/Leonard received an award for achieving overwhelming popularity in the US market, which was accepted by Carlo Nuvolari. The company is perhaps most famous for their supremely
Carlo Nuvolari – Nuvolari/Lenard Design
elegant Palmer Johnson and Marquis Yacht designs and currently have more than ten yachts in production. The renowned director, Steven Spielberg, purchased their newest Marquis yacht, so recently delivered in St. Barths it has not yet been advertised.
The Ligurian shipyard, Sanlorenzo, which founded Sanlorenzo in America, was awarded for successfully promoting “Made In Italy’ in three U.S. locations. Massimo Perotti who accepted the award was exuberant when he declared, “we are at the top of the world!”
The Ferretti Group was honored with an award for the collaborative efforts of two prestigious brands, Riva and Gucci, which produced the glamorous speedboat Aquariva Gucci. Accepting the award, Salvatore Basile attributed their success to “the perfect mix of high tech and Italian style.”
A reception above the renaissance gardens and below a full moon was a perfect conclusion to the prestigious ceremony, and lent a heady aura of La Dolce Vita. The gourmet Italian antipasto, pasta courses and deserts served to bring a truly Italian event to a sumptuous conclusion, as well as providing members of the Italian marine industry an opportunity to catch up with old friends and establish new ones.
The glossy white Aquariva by Gucci, awash in brilliant Miami sunlight at the Yacht and Brokerage Show on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, lures show goers for a photo op, who strike a pose, capturing their image with the glamorous yacht as if it is their own, which it could be for about $800,000.
In celebration of Gucci’s 90th anniversary this year, the iconic brand teamed up with the equally legendary Italian boat builder Riva, to launch the signature speedboat, Aquariva Gucci. The 33 foot, electric two speed, high performance day cruiser is propelled to 41 knots by twin 380hp Yanmar engines, and has a range of 150 miles at cruising speed.
Speaking to the press, company president, Norberto Ferretti said, “I thought such a partnership would be impossible because companies that are so important, like Gucci or Hermes… stay very high and consider everybody (else) very low. This was my idea but it was completely different…I am very proud of this partnership because Riva is probably the most important factory in boating but Gucci is one of two or three most important factories in luxury products…The product is beautiful, the market successful and we are very proud of that.”
The Aquariva Gucci features the classic Riva styling that has made the brand continually popular for 170 years. Riva’s signature use of mahogany treated to twenty coats of high gloss varnish is used for the cockpit, walking decks and awning cover hatch. The waterproof fabric covering the seats and sundeck features the emblematic Gucci print, and Gucci’s green-red-green web detailing edges the float line to compliment a unique green crystal windshield.
Gucci enthusiasts are also afforded the opportunity to appropriately accessorize thanks to Gucci creative director Frida Giannini, who designed the Riva by Gucci Collection. This line of nautical wear includes duffel bags, flip-flops, towels, and more, in white leather with green-red-green appliqué identical to the boat.
This stylish Italian brand is a very popular choice for cruising to Mediterranean ports of call. Follow this link to charter a Riva!
