Category: Uncategorized

Move over Larry Ellison and Paul Allen. When it comes to showing off it’s always hard to outdo an Arab sheik. And in the “World’s Largest Private Yacht” category, the sheiks are at it again, with a 525 luxury monstrosity known as “Platinum.” (Ellison and Allen’s rides are ONLY in the 400 foot range–see here). This baby is estimated to cost more than $300. Here’s a report from YachtForums:

The Platinum Project was originally commissioned in 1996 by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the younger brother to the Sultan of Brunei. Following the prince’s bankruptcy, the yacht was mothballed, until the project was later sold to Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Launched in April of 2005, Platinum was originally a collaboration between the Lürssen and Blohm & Voss yards. At 525 feet (160m), Platinum is undisputably… the world’s largest luxury yacht. Move over Octopus and Rising Sun!

There is some speculation regarding the current name of “Platinum”. The yacht may be renamed “Golden Star”. However, there is no speculation about the price tag… EXPENSIVE! Some estimates exceed $300 million. Currently, Platinum is moored at the Jebel Ali Docks in Dubai, but will likely have it’s interior fitted at another yard by craftsmen with experience working with vessels of this magnitude. It is scheduled to be towed up river shortly, after the exterior paintwork has been completed.

Platinum is a well-conceived yacht, combining the massive engineering experience of both Lurssen and Blohm & Voss. Among the many features to be expected on a yacht of this enormity, Platinum will have a heli-pad on the bow and on the upper aft-deck, with dedicated observation rooms for each.

There is a minimum of two master staterooms, located fore and aft, with an additional five or more VIP suites. The numbers of guest staterooms are undisclosed at this time, but it might be reasonable to assume they would rival a mini-cruise ship! The Bridge deck includes the captain’s quarters, along with a dedicated lounge and office, all within steps of the exterior port/starboard observation stanchions. Platinum will likely feature an enormous foyer and atrium, connecting each deck with illumination via a skylight above. There is an abundant area of exterior seating on every level, both fore and aft.

Platinum is projected to be powered by four (4) diesel engines, each packing in excess of 9000 horsepower. Suffice to say, this might be the first yacht that needs an onboard crude-oil refinery. 😉

Good thing fuel oil is so cheap right now…

Check out Neville Crichton’s new Alfa Romeo. She did 19 knots in a lightish breeze during her maiden sail this week around Sydney harbor. Here are her vitals:

Club: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Sail Number: NZL 80
Designers: Reichel/Pugh – USA
Builders: McConaghy Boats, Sydney, Australia
Construction: Hull – Carbon Fibre Composite, Keel – Steel, Rudder and Mast – Carbon Fibre, Sails – 3DL Carbon/Mylar
Mast: Southern Spars, Auckland, New Zealand
Sails: North Sails, Sydney, Australia
LOA: 30.0 metres (‘Alfa Romeo’ 1: 27.5 metres)
Beam: 5.2 metres (‘Alfa Romeo’ 1: 5.6 metres)
Draft: 5.1 metres (‘Alfa Romeo’ 1: 4.0 metres)
Mast Height 44 metres (‘Alfa Romeo’ 1: 36.5 metres)

The big fast boats just keep on coming down the ways. This is a golden age for big monohull maxis. Enjoy it. Next stop for the Bog Boys: the Fastnet Race in early August…

Looks like the big Vineyard shark derby, which prompted the fish tale below, has snagged some massive fish. Shark derbies are stupid, and oh-so-Jaws-1970s. There’s something that’s simply pathetic about needing to slaughter sharks to feel good about yourself, to feel that your life is not a lame, endless hamster wheel with no real meaning or excitement. And this 1100 tiger shark paid the price (the team that caught it didn’t even win because they got to the dock six minutes late; talk about pointless…). It’s hard not to feel ashamed for homo sapiens and sorry for the fish. I just wish the fish world would stage more shark fishermen derbies…


“Yes, yes. You boys are real he-men. Now, can you end this charade and put me back in the water? I’ve got a date with some surfers…”
(Photos: Paul Cataldo)

You’ve earned millions winning America’s Cup races, but now you are out of the spotlight, on the sidelines, cast out of the fraternity. What do you do? Start a website, of course. So, if you happen to care what Russell Coutts thinks and does, this is the site for you. Here’s a sample of what’s going on in RussellWorld:

Lately, I have been really enjoying getting involved in more high performance boats such as the TP52 class where there are a lot of exciting developments, particularly relating to the sails. I have also been racing Décision 35 catamarans on Lake Geneva and have learnt a lot about multi hull sailing. I must admit that multi hull racing is becoming a new passion for me – I am discovering what I missed out on by not competing in these types of boats before now.

I’m finding that speed sailing is just as tactical (although in a different way) and as demanding as displacement sailing.

Could it be any more canned? C’mon Russell, loosen up, let ‘er rip, and give us something we really want to read (maybe you should call your buddy Paul Cayard for some tips on how to write for a mass audience). So give us your take on Larry Ellison or some of the other AC heavy hitters your lawyers will let you talk about, what your relationship with Brad Butterworth is like these days, and how you handicap the AC teams. Please…

“This just doesn’t feel right anymore. Maybe I should take up blogging…”

Okay, I’ve already gotten a Friday picture post, and then a caption contest out of this picture:

But now comes TWC reader Brian McCarter with the following tale. So what the hell, here we go again. From Brian:

I sail beachcats around Buzzards Bay, Rhode Island and Vineyard Sounds. With the big Vineyard shark derby making national news last week, there was some talk in the beach parking lot Saturday, about the giants all being far off shore. I reminded them of the shark in your picture. The scary thing is that last August I’d been out on Fleet 448’s annual Island Hop, when my skipper decides he wants to go ashore to take a leak. As we headed into the beach at Quick’s Hole a young man ran down to wave us off. We were head to wind in about three feet of water. Skipper muttering that he was going to go in anyway… The guy gets close enough for us to hear him, and says the Piping Plovers are nesting for a second time, and we cannot come ashore! So I jump in to hold the boat whilst Skipper and bird guard argue. Skipper says “Ah Hell!” and jumps in so he can have the privacy of the water to do his buisness. Then a guy yells from a nearby powerboat “Get out of the water! There’s a big shark over here and she’s feeding!” We didn’t see the shark, but we got aboard pretty quick. It was just a day or two later that the Great White was found just aound the corner from where we were! Glad I still had my wet ass!

His wet ass, his arms and all the rest of him. Good thing the shark was happily downing Piping Plovers…

Close Call McCarter: “I don’t think I’ll ever pee again…”

I don’t know why, because it is so pointless and stupid (actually, that’s exactly why). But I love the endless competition to see who can stay underwater the longest. In 1994, a guy named Jerry Hall managed 95 hours (almost 4 days) at the bottom of a lake (TWC report here). Then a Turkish guy logged 121 hours (5 days) in a swimming pool in a mall in Istanbul (Damn, how did I miss that one…?). And now comes one Rich Henry, who on Sunday ducked into the waters of Lake Andrea in Prairie Springs Park, Wisconsin, where he hopes to stay for a full week. His secret strategy? Henry has clamped a recliner to the underwater platform he will be hanging out on. So he’ll be nice and comfy as he watches DVDs and listens to music on his waterproof entertainment toys. Good luck, buddy, you’re going to need it…

Wrinkled Couch Potato: “No worries. I’ve got the last 5 Jerry Lewis Telethons on disk…”

Playing a little catch up here. Just found this excellent TV report on Maximus and the Transatlantic Challenge, which took place earlier this summer. It’s almost 12 minutes long, and has some great onboard footage…

Misery On Maximus: It was cold, nasty and wet. Perfect…

Fredrik Ericsson, a Swede, might look like your average ski bum if you ran into him on the slopes of his Chamonix home base. You know the look: stubbly face, laid-back posture, with just the hint of a hangover. But Ericsson is one of those guys who just can’t stand the bunny slopes. So he climbs to the tops of big mountains and skis down. This summer he has been hanging around in the high ranges of Pakistan, and according to Explorer’s Web he last week pulled off a summit and slide down the slopes of 8,035 meter Gasherbrum II. Here’s what it was like:

After a clear and sunny morning the wind got stronger and clouds where forming quickly. Totally exhausted we were sliding on our knees on the narrow summit ridge. At noon Jorgen and I could go no further. It was the summit of Gasherbrum 2, 8035 meters above the sea. Strong wind and massive clouds didn’t make the stay on the summit any pleasant so after some photos the skis were on and we were making right and left turns down the slopes of Gasherbrum 2. The thin air makes you as exhausted after five turns as you are after 1000 meters in the Alps. The surroundings are probably amongst the most spectacular in the world. Just having a peak at mountains like Chogolisa and Hidden Peak makes you forget about tiredness and gives new energy to continue skiing. The slopes on Gasherbrum 2 is fairly steep and broken up by lots of seracs and crevasses making it very interesting skiing.

You can read his full report and check out some very cool pictures in his gallery. I’d give you the links but, sorry, But you have to go to his site and navigate your way to them, because it is a fancy Flash job, and I still haven’t figured out how to grab stuff from Flash. Someday, someday…

Gasherbrum Bum: “Damn, where’s the warming hut…”

Fast Fredrik: “Heh-heh! If this doesn’t get me laid backin Chamonix, I don’t know what will…”
(Photos: via Explorer’s Web)

Back from London. Apologies for the delay. New posts start Tuesday, after I catch up on whatever has been going on in the Wetass World…

I’m off to London for a few days. See you when I see you….