Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank. Was it a 'black swan event'?
The Bayesian set off on a leisurely cruise around Italy's southern coast on a sunny day in late July.
The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of Morgan Stanley − set sail from the Amalfi Coast, bound for Sicily.
Less than a month later, the ship had sunk 160 feet under the water , leaving its cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing and prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention.
Now, experts are trying to piece together why in the early hours Monday the Bayesian was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water.
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A perfect storm led to Bayesian sinking, experts say
The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told USA TODAY.
The Bayesian was well-built: A 2008 product of Italian ship maker Perini, it was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Schanck.
The bout of bad weather that swept the area when the ship went down was also out of the ordinary in the northern Mediterranean, "which isn't renowned for prolonged, significant stormy weather," he said.
"The fact that those two elements have then resulted in the foundering of a super yacht is pretty extraordinary," Schanck said. "These things don't happen every day."
After the ship sank just before 5 a.m. local time, 15 people, including a 1-year-old, were pulled from the water. Some were rescued from a life raft by the crew of a ship docked nearby.
Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities.
As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Several missing passengers were involved in Lynch's trial on fraud charges, including Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley chair who served as his character witness, and one of Lynch's attorneys. Lynch, accused of fraud after he sold his company to electronics giant Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges weeks ago.
Who is Mike Lynch? UK entrepreneur among those missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily
Tornado formed over unusually hot water
Storms in the area that night may have whipped up a water spout, a tornado over the water , according to local meteorologists.
It was likely triggered by the water's unusual warmth, said Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist who served in the Navy.
"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence," he said. "But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water."
At 83.7 degrees, water in the area was more than 3 degrees hotter than average on the day the Bayesian sank, likely the result of climate change, Shema said.
"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.
The water spout may have spun up when cooler air dropped from mountainous places nearby onto the hot water, he said. "A water spout is a vortex, basically like a tornado, spinning real fast, sucking up water and moisture as the column rises," he said.
Although water spouts only reach around 120 mph, as compared with tornadoes on land, which can reach up to 300 mph, "you don't need 200 mph to sink a ship," he said.
"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, "which would heel the boat over for sure."
Water spouts spring up suddenly, Shema said. Before they strike, winds can be slow, but "once the water spout comes over, bam, it's on," he said.
Before sunrise, the ship's crew may not have seen the water spout coming. "The visibility was probably a big factor," he said.
With the windows of the yacht opened, as they likely were in the hot weather, the water spout could have triggered water that flooded through the portholes, Shema said, causing the ship to sink.
Tragedy strikes: Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast
Search continues, but shift to recovery phase approaches
Italian authorities said the Bayesian was probably at anchor when the storm struck, meaning it couldn't maneuver and ride the waves, according to Mitchell Stoller, a captain and maritime expert witness. Other ships in the area that turned on their engines rode out the storm, he said.
"When you're at anchor and you see weather, you start your engine and you put the wind on the bow. You don't let it get on the side," he said.
Schanck said another key question concerns the position of the keel, a heavy weight underneath the boat that acts as a counterbalance to keep it upright, when the ship sank. When lifted, "that's going to affect the stability of the vessel, because, obviously, you've now raised the center of gravity of that vessel," he said.
The Bayesian was floating over 160 feet of water at the time, deep enough that the keel would likely be deployed. But the fact that "the vessel heeled over so heavily makes me question that," Schanck said.
The cause of the disaster may not be known until the ship can be examined in more detail, experts say. Prosecutors in a nearby town have already opened an investigation.
Schanck said investigators will have plenty to work with once the operation moves into a recovery phase.
"The vessel is intact and in good condition on the seabed," he said. "There's a lot of eyewitness accounts from other vessels in the area and the shore."
As the search entered its second day on Tuesday, the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later on, today or tomorrow, we'll probably see some mention of a recovery operation being stated," Schanck said.
The decision to would depend on whether rescuers find signs of life in the ship and air pockets or survivable spaces, Schanck said. At this point, survivors on the water's surface looks unlikely. "My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.
"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."
Contributing: Reuters
Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.
What is known about the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily and those aboard
PORTICELLO, Sicily — Specialist cave divers working in 12-minute underwater shifts were searching Tuesday for six missing passengers and crew, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, believed to be in the submerged wreck of a luxury yacht that was slammed by a powerful storm and swiftly sank off Sicily.
The sleek yacht, named the Bayesian, was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers when it suddenly sank near the Mediterranean island that is part of Italy at about 4 a.m. on Monday. One body has been recovered and 15 people survived.
Fire rescue officials have said the six believed to remain in the sailboat's hull will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage.
Here's what we know so far about the sinking and those who were on board.
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What happened?
Italian civil protection officials believe a sudden and fierce storm that battered the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday whipped up a waterspout in the exact spot where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian was moored.
Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht moored nearby, said he saw the Bayesian during the storm but when the wild weather passed it was gone and he saw only a red flare lighting the night sky, the Italian news agency ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported.
Borner and one of his crew boarded their tender and found a lifeboat carrying 15 people, some of them injured. They took them aboard their yacht and alerted the coast guard.
Rescue authorities said the wreck was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) about a half mile offshore of the picturesque fishing village of Porticello.
Who was on board?
Among the missing is 59-year-old tech tycoon Mike Lynch, sometimes described as the British Bill Gates. Lynch was acquitted in June of all charges in a US fraud trial linked to the $11 billion sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.
Lynch still faced a potentially huge bill stemming from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven’t been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $4 billion. Lynch made more than $800 million from the Autonomy sale.
A Cambridge-educated mathematician, Lynch made his name running Autonomy, which made a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly.
Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was reportedly among the missing. His wife, Angela Bacares, and 14 other people survived.
Among others still missing Tuesday, according to the civil protection agency, were one of Lynch’s US lawyers, Christopher Morvillo of Clifford Chance, and Morvillo’s wife, Neda. Morvillo was regarded as an elite defense lawyer and was also a federal prosecutor in New York after 9/11.
Also missing was Jonathan Bloomer, the non-executive chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy. He is the former head of the Autonomy audit committee and testified for the defense at Lynch’s trial.
Bloomer was also chair of the Hiscox Group, an insurer that does business on the Lloyd’s of London market.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain said in a statement.
Among the survivors was Charlotte Golunski, who said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to grab her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, ANSA reported. The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived.
The Dutch foreign ministry said a Dutch man survived. The ministry, citing privacy, did not release his identity.
One body was recovered on Monday, identified as the on-board chef.
What is the Bayesian?
The Bayesian was a luxury yacht built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Nav. It was known for its single 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast — one of the world’s tallest. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.
Its registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., based on the Isle of Man, according to online maritime database Equasis. Lynch’s wife is listed as Revtom’s sole owner, according to corporate registration documents from the Isle of Man.
The yacht's name is an apparent reference to “Bayesian inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Autonomy.
What is a waterspout?
Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and can happen when a storm moves across warm water.
According to the US National Ocean Service, there are two types of waterspouts — fair-weather and tornadic.
Tornadic waterspouts “have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning,” the service says on its website.
While scientists haven't attributed the specific event to climate change, average monthly surface temperatures have been at record highs for months. Hotter air can hold more moisture, making heavier storms more likely.
Sicily has been baking under intense heat this summer, and the United Nations’ panel of climate change experts notes the Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with warming rates roughly 20 percent higher than the global average.
How rare is it for a huge sailboat like this to capsize?
Experts say it is extraordinarily rare for a luxury sailboat of this size to capsize due to weather events.
“This just doesn’t happen. You know, boats sink because things like keels fall off, or they run aground and breach the hull ... whereas just from a weather angle, a boat that big being pushed over on its side is absolutely extraordinary,” said Skip Novak, a lifelong sailor who has taken part in multiple round the world yacht races and written books about sailing.
Novak said he believed that strong gusts likely pushed the yacht over 90 degrees to its side, and the vessel did not recover because of the weight of the huge mast and because it was anchored. He suggested that internal doors were likely not closed, and water quickly poured in to sink the vessel.
“When you’re at anchor, even if it’s blowing with a storm in the Mediterranean, you rarely shut the whole boat down because nobody expects something like this to happen," Novak told The Associated Press. “So if the boat wasn’t completely watertight at the deck, you’d have flooding going in. It would take a couple minutes and that would be it."
What happens next?
As the search for the missing continues, authorities already have begun trying to piece together exactly what happened.
Prosecutors from the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation, as is normal in such events even when no suspects are identified. To date, they have not commented publicly.
The British Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo.
Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report.
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Similar yachtsNew listingsThere are 3 major theories as to why Mike Lynch’s Bayesian yacht sank so fastOn Thursday, Italian authorities retrieved a fifth body from the Bayesian superyacht that sank in a storm earlier this week, killing British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch. The 184-foot British-flagged vessel sank early Monday , and the five identified bodies thus far from the incident include Mike Lynch , founder of Autonomy and investor in Darktrace; Morgan Stanley Bank International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and his wife, Neda, were also found. Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah is still missing. There are several theories as to why the massive $39 million boat sank in just about 60 seconds. And the maker of the ship says the crew should have had time to rescue passengers. Theory one: The mast was pushed over by the windThe first theory is that the mast on the massive vessel was so tall it tipped the boat over when a waterspout— essentially a water tornado —hit the boat. Giovanni Costantino , CEO of the Italian Sea Group , which owns several boat brands including the yacht’s builder, Perini Navi , told the Financial Times the boat was “designed to be absolutely stable” because it had the “world’s second-tallest mast.” But Karsten Borner, the skipper of a nearby boat, suggests the sinking actually could have been caused by high winds hitting the 236-foot mast. Even with sails stowed, the mast and its rigging would have provided a vast surface area for wind resistance. The Bayesian “went flat [with the mast] on the water, and then went down,” Borner told Reuters . For reference, the tallest mast on a sailing boat on record was the Mirabella V at nearly 247 feet long, according to Guinness World Records . Theory two: The retractable keel was in the wrong positionThe second theory about the cause of the Bayesian sinking is that the keel was retracted when it should have been lowered, making the boat less stable. The keel is a structural beam that runs under the middle of the boat from bow to stern, giving the boat better stability, a lower center of gravity in the water, and more control while moving forward. “Without the keel, a boat might slip or skim on the water,” according to boat manufacturer Sea Born . The Bayesian had a keel that could be retracted, according to the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi. It could be lifted to reduce the draught of the boat, making it easier to enter shallow harbors. It’s possible that if the keel had been in the raised position rather than extended, that could have compromised the boat’s stability in a strong wind, causing it to sink. Theory three: A major hatch was left open to the wavesPerhaps the strongest theory so far is the notion that someone onboard may have left a major hatch or door ajar, causing the boat to quickly fill with water. In fact, Costantino thinks this is the strongest theory after watching back footage of the sinking; the rear of the boat appears to have a hinged door that folds down into a sea-level deck. Since it was obvious the Bayesian was taking on water, there should have been time to get everyone off the boat and into rafts, Costantino told the FT . “Jesus Christ! The hull is intact. The water came in from [hatchways] left open,” he said. “There is no other possible explanation. If maneuvered properly, the boat would have comfortably handled the weather—comfortably,” he said. Latest in Environment9/11-era security measures and climate change put thousands at risk from damsGreenpeace files supreme court case accusing Finland of climate inactionFed Chair Jerome Powell can’t keep ignoring the climate elephant—or its impact on inflation—at Jackson HoleI sold a $1.4B big-data startup to IBM—then founded a nature sanctuary. Here are the dangers of AI energy consumptionGerman Shell whistleblower says Chinese emission reduction oilfield was actually a chicken farmMost popular. The stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts planned to hitch a ride home with SpaceX, but their space suits aren’t compatible with Elon Musk’s spacecraftMike Lynch was ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’—but the late tech millionaire would spend many of his final months under house arrestAfter postage price hikes and $87 billion in losses, critics of the USPS leader say latest gambit could lead to death spiralU.S. Olympic gold medalist went from $200,000-a-year sponsorship to $12-an-hour internshipElon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the listShoppers are so scarred by inflation they’ve cemented new habits to save money—and discount retailers are the big winnersPlease use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.
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David Beckham on board in his new 5 million superyacht “Seven”David Beckham superyachtDavid Beckham has taken to sea on his new £5million yacht. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) David went for a first cruise on his mega-boat with wife Victoria and family, including her parents de ella, Anthony and Jackie Adams, who are seen sitting between the Beckhams The new £5million superyacht is named Seven after the England shirt number along with being the middle name of his ten-year-old daughter Harper. During the sun-kissed Florida jaunt while dressed in black shorts, white T-shirt and baseball cap worn back-to-front. The yacht has a length of 28.5 meters and inside there are five cabins that can accommodate ten guests, plus crew members. Seven is powered by two engines of 2,400 horsepower each and give her a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots. This maritime work of art is by Zuccon International Project and Ferretti, who modified some details of the original design , in addition to allowing Beckham to customize and give an exclusive cut to his new yacht. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) Share this:Antigua and barbuda launches 2024-2025 calendar, 44 cup worlds brunnen – can charisma make it a hat-trick, globe 40 warm up on virtual regatta. Most PopularKiwis on top at louis vuitton preliminary regatta, predictwind official weather data supplier for the 37th america’s cup, puerto portals 52 super series : tough, tougher, toughest…, america’s cup in barcelona with an historic pairing for ineos britannia, one week to go to the america’s cup preliminary regatta, hong kong team set to line up on the 52 super..., 2024 tasar world championships in melbourne. The Dictator’s Son Wanted His Yacht Back. That’s When Trouble Started for Two Oilmen.Vice President Teodorin “Teddy” Nguema Obiang was in a mood for payback. The Obiangs have run the oil-rich Central African country of Equatorial Guinea like a family ATM since 1979, accumulating mansions in Paris and Malibu, Ferraris and Bugattis, and at least three superyachts, according to court documents. And now a South African court was seizing Nguema Obiang’s two high-end Cape Town villas and the Blue Shadow, the yacht that carries his jet-ski collection while he vacations on one of the other two. He lashed out at “racist scammers” and “white slaver lawyers from Cape Town.” He threatened to bar South African ships from Equatorial Guinea’s waters and South African planes from its airspace. Days later, Equatorial Guinean police arrested two South African oil workers, accused them of trafficking cocaine and threw them in prison. The men’s family members, employers and U.S. officials say their arrest was direct retaliation against South Africa by Nguema Obiang, son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and de facto head of the country’s feared security services. “This is something that Teodorin is known to do,” says Mark L. Asquino, a former U.S. ambassador to Equatorial Guinea and now a senior adviser to Horizon Engage, a New York-based political risk consulting firm. “He can be quite vengeful.” A year on, the oil workers, Frederik Potgieter, 54 years old, and Peter Huxham, 55, remain in an isolated prison in a forest clearing deep in the Central African hinterlands. Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador in Washington says that, as far as the government is concerned, justice is being done to a pair of drug dealers in a case that has nothing to do with the vice president’s assets. But he also hints the Obiangs might be open to a trade. State hostagesThe world has recently seen a spate of state-sponsored hostage-takings, with governments using humans as pawns in diplomatic negotiations. Venezuela, for instance, recently freed 10 Americans for President Nicolás Maduro’s moneyman, who was facing money-laundering charges in Miami. Last year, the U.S. recovered five Americans jailed in Iran in exchange for several Iranians held in the U.S. and the release of $6 billion in seized Iranian oil revenue. Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison for more than a year. Both have been accused in separate cases of espionage, allegations they deny, and the U.S. government has declared them wrongfully detained. The Biden administration lists nine countries, from Nicaragua and North Korea to Iran and China, where U.S. citizens face an elevated risk of wrongful detention. Equatorial Guinea isn’t among them. The imprisonment of oil workers Potgieter and Huxham, family members and U.S. officials say, shows even the smallest countries playing the hostage-taking game, in this case to gain leverage in an international property dispute. “To us it’s quite clear what’s going on here,” says Shaun Murphy, spokesman for the families. Oil riches and a strategic spotThe case alarms American officials. For decades, U.S. oil companies have drilled in Equatorial Guinean waters, and diplomats now routinely point to the case of the two South Africans to warn American firms their employees aren’t safe there. Washington finds itself in a pinch, however. The Biden administration criticizes Equatorial Guinea’s human-rights record. But it is also worried the Obiangs, if at odds with the U.S., might allow China to build a naval base on the Atlantic Ocean. Washington sees the prospect of Chinese warships rearming and refitting at an Atlantic port as a national-security threat. American officials have limited leverage in the case of the South African oil workers. The men aren’t American citizens. And while they were working on oil ships operated by Exxon Mobil and Chevron, they were employed by a Dutch oil-service company, SBM Offshore. The story is a convoluted one, in which Potgieter and Huxham find themselves entangled in a legal dispute and diplomatic shouting match that originally had nothing to do with them. Equatorial Guinea, with a population of 1.5 million, is composed of a series of islands in the Gulf of Guinea, and a rectangular chunk of mainland Africa wedged between Gabon and Cameroon. Spain’s only sub-Saharan African colony, it gained independence in 1968, and soon fell under the rule of Francisco Macias. Macias declared himself president-for-life under the motto, “In politics, the victor wins and the loser dies.” He burned the villages of his perceived enemies. His men murdered dozens in a soccer stadium while loudspeakers played the hit, “Those Were the Days.” In 1979, rebellious troops ousted Macias from power. He escaped with suitcases full of cash, but was captured in the forest. The new junta tried him in a movie theater in Malabo, the capital city. Less than five hours after the guilty verdict, a firing squad executed him at the notorious Black Beach prison. His nephew, then-Lt. Col. Teodoro Obiang Nguema, seized power and has held it tightly ever since. Human-rights advocates have accused the senior Obiang of human-rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial imprisonment of his opponents. Diplomats and international law-enforcement agencies say the president and his family helped themselves to public coffers filled by the discovery, in the 1990s, of vast offshore oil deposits. Among other oil-fuelled projects, the president built a scaled-down version of St. Peter’s Basilica in his hometown, Mongomo, not far from where Potgieter and Huxham are now imprisoned. But it is his son, Nguema Obiang, commonly known as Teodorin or Teddy, who has displayed his wealth most ostentatiously. Nguema Obiang graduated from a position as his father’s minister of agriculture and forestry, to second vice president, to first vice president, head of the state security apparatus and heir apparent to the presidency. In many ways, Nguema Obiang is already doing his father’s job, including addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September. The government touts him as the people’s champion in the fight against corruption and nepotism and he himself has said that his wealth came from legitimate government contracts. “The country cannot move forward with corrupt people,” he wrote last year. The U.S. Department of Justice accused the younger Obiang of amassing $300 million on a $100,000-a-year ministerial salary “through relentless embezzlement and extortion.” In a 2014 settlement with the federal government, Nguema Obiang surrendered a $30 million cliff-top Malibu mansion, a $530,000 Ferrari 599 GTO and several life-size Michael Jackson statues, part of his large collection of Jackson memorabilia. One federal asset-seizure suit against Nguema Obiang was identified in court documents as “United States of America v. One White Crystal-Covered ‘Bad’ Tour Glove et al.” In 2021, a French court upheld his conviction for embezzlement and laundering public funds. The court ordered the seizure of €150 million in ill-gotten assets, including a collection of supercars and a mansion on tony Avenue Foch in Paris. He received a suspended three-year prison sentence. Crisantos Obama Ondo, Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador in Washington, said, “The accusations made against the presidential family of Equatorial Guinea are unacceptable, intolerable, disrespectful and above all unfounded.” The country, he added, has no “wealthy people” at all. Villas and superyachtsAmong the luxuries Nguema Obiang acquired are a seaside villa in Cape Town’s Clifton Beach, originally built for servicemen returning from World War II, and a house in the wealthy Cape Town suburb of Bishopscourt, immaculately kept by staff required to cover their shoes while inside. The two houses are worth an estimated $6 million. Then there is the Blue Shadow, a 220-foot superyacht. The boat was originally built for a wealthy Saudi, according to a former crew member. It briefly passed through the hands of an Emirati middleman and, on June 24, 2019, while the yacht was in the Mediterranean, the middleman formally sold it to Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Defense, according to ship documents. Nguema Obiang soon fired the yacht’s French captain and crew members. His criminal conviction in France still stung, and he didn’t want Frenchmen aboard, according to the former crew member. That summer, Nguema Obiang hosted shipboard parties as the Blue Shadow cruised around Sardinia, Capri and Sicily, the crew member says. Nguema Obiang had personal use of two other superyachts, Ice and Ebony Shine, though they were also officially Ministry of Defense property. Blue Shadow served as the supply ship for the other two, carrying water-sports gear and women flown in for parties, mostly from Latin America, according to the crew member. One Cayman Islands registry document shows the Blue Shadow carrying 24 smaller watercraft, including 15 jet skis; a 36-foot fishing boat that lists for $400,000; a James Bondesque Gibbs Quadski, which converts from an off-road vehicle into a jet ski with the press of a button; and a Seabreacher, a craft that can race along the surface at 60 miles an hour, dive 5 feet underwater, breach the surface and shoot 20 feet into the air. Nguema Obiang had the Seabreacher painted to resemble a marlin, according to the crew member. “It’s not a military vessel in any way, shape or form,” says the former crew member. The Blue Shadow did play a key role in legal battles to come. A business deal gone wrongIn 2011, a South African businessman named Daniel van Rensburg tried to start an Equatorial Guinean airline with Gabriel Mba Bela, a member of the Obiang family, and then-mayor of Malabo. The deal went south and, according to a 2021 a South African court ruling, Nguema Obiang sent his personal security force to arrest van Rensburg on Mba Bela’s behalf. Van Rensburg was never tried. But he spent close to 500 days locked up, most of the time in Black Beach prison. Prisoners moved freely inside of the facility, van Rensburg recalls. Women and children were mixed in with criminals, political prisoners and others who had gotten on the wrong side of the regime. He remembers an 11-year-old being held for stealing a banana. “It’s a free-for-all inside—it’s a survival thing,” he says. “You lie in open space, and you can be preyed upon if you’re weak.” Van Rensburg says he saw other prisoners beaten while handcuffed. There wasn’t enough water to bathe regularly. There were two toilets for 400 prisoners, and no toilet paper. Twice he contracted cerebral malaria. “I was just left in there to rot or die of some disease,” van Rensburg says. “It’s the worst possible thing you can think of.” He got out in 2015 after a new judge realized he had never been charged, tried or convicted. Van Rensburg took shelter at the South African embassy and eventually reached home. The judge fled the country. Seized assetsVan Rensburg sued Nguema Obiang in South Africa in 2015, arguing that as de facto head of Equatorial Guinea’s security services, the vice president ultimately gave the orders that kept him imprisoned. The Western Cape High Court sided with van Rensburg and, in 2021, ordered Nguema Obiang to pay almost 40 million rand, the equivalent of $2.8 million at the time, plus interest and legal costs. “This is a case that epitomizes a sheer abuse of power and authority by the defendant,” the court said. Nguema Obiang “was hell-bent to ensure that the plaintiff does not leave prison and that he was tortured and abused,” it said. Nguema Obiang has appealed the ruling. Worried that Nguema Obiang wouldn’t pay up, van Rensburg asked to seize his South African assets as collateral. The court initially allowed van Rensburg to sell off the furniture from the two villas. Early last year, the court ordered the attachment of both houses and the Blue Shadow, which was undergoing repairs in Cape Town. On Feb. 7, 2023, a Cape Town sheriff seized the yacht. When the South African ruling came down, Teddy Nguema Obiang lashed out on the internet. The Blue Shadow was a military vessel “that the racists of Cape Town” were holding to “cheat me out of $2 million,” he wrote. “I have the $2 million,” he wrote, “but I will never pay it.” A drug chargePotgieter and Huxham worked as engineers on oil ships in the same tiny country for the same Dutch company, SBM Offshore, but, according to their bosses and families, they never met until Equatorial Guinean authorities accused them of running a joint cocaine-trafficking operation. Potgieter worked on an Exxon Mobil ship, FPSO Serpentina, that collected oil from the Equatorial Guinean seabed. Huxham, a dual South African-U.K. citizen, was on a Chevron ship, FPSO Aseng. Their routines were similar: some five weeks on the water, then home for a break. On Feb. 9, 2023, two days after the sheriff seized the Blue Shadow, their schedules overlapped and both men were at the Anda China Hotel, in Malabo, waiting to fly out the following day. At 10:30 p.m., the hotel receptionist called them to the lobby. The men left their belongings in their rooms, according to SBM and court documents filed by the men’s attorneys, and headed down. Waiting there were police agents, who took them into custody, claiming to have found bags of cocaine in their backpacks. But the police neglected to search the men’s hotel rooms, and never saw, much less seized, their backpacks, SBM staff say. Obama Ondo, Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador, says the investigation and the men’s subsequent conviction followed the regular judicial process, but declined to discuss details of the case. Police took Potgieter and Huxham to a state security-service building, known to locals as Guantanamo. As a state-television camera rolled, agents interrogated the men in front of black plastic bags filled with white powder. The men, wearing shorts and T-shirts, an edge of panic in their voices, denied any knowledge of the alleged drugs. “No, no– never in my life,” said Potgieter, vigorously shaking his head. “It’s definitely not mine,” said Huxham. SBM delivered mattresses, sheets and food for the men. A week after their arrests, Potgieter and Huxham were transported to Oveng-Azem prison, deep in the virgin forests of Equatorial Guinea’s mainland. Van Rensburg quickly released the Blue Shadow, in part because of the potential maintenance costs should the court reverse itself and decide it was an Equatorial Guinean military yacht and not Nguema Obiang’s personal property. Van Rensburg’s team also hoped the move might persuade Nguema Obiang to release Potgieter and Huxham. Nguema Obiang triumphantly posted footage of the Blue Shadow leaving Cape Town and heading out to sea. “They underestimated us, and we showed them that we know how to vigorously defend ourselves,” he wrote. “This victory is a message to anyone who tries to disrespect us: You must understand that respect for our honor and sovereignty is not negotiable.” Potgieter and Huxham went on trial in June. By now the alleged cocaine, which authorities had previously displayed loose in black bags, was presented as trial evidence wrapped in half-a-dozen tight white bundles, according to a complaint filed to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions by the men’s lawyer. Prosecutors never explained how the police found the alleged drugs, not having seized Potgieter and Huxham’s backpacks. Nor did they present any evidence that the powder was, in fact, cocaine, despite defense requests that the substance be tested, according to the appeal filed by the defendants. Nevertheless, the court found the South Africans guilty: “After several months of investigation, the Criminal Police came to the conclusion and without any mistake, that the ANDA CHINA hotel was the place where the accused kept said product (Cocaine) for its later sale,” the judges wrote. The court even stated, inaccurately, that the defendants had confessed. Each man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, $5 million in compensatory damages to be paid to the government, an unexplained $2,500 fine, and court costs. “Equatorial Guinea guarantees the well-being of all the expatriates working in the country, but we’re also obliged to adhere to international norms against drug trafficking,” says Obama Ondo, the ambassador. Diplomats and the men’s lawyers and families, however, complained the sentences far exceeded the three-year maximum set by Equatorial Guinean law, and that the enormous fines seemed less about compensating the state for damage inflicted by a scourge of drugs and more about compensating Teddy Nguema Obiang for the seizure of his villas and the Blue Shadow. “The evidence presented at trial on the drug charge was not credible, and the penalty imposed was inconsistent with Equatorial Guinean law,” says the U.S. official. Stuck in prisonPotgieter and Huxham have now spent more than a year in prison and appear in courtroom photos to have lost a great deal of weight. They have been allowed a handful of visits from South African and U.K. diplomats, and five family phone calls between them. In one, Huxham proposed to his longtime girlfriend; she accepted. The men’s families praise SBM for exerting pressure to get Potgieter and Huxham freed. But they say Exxon and Chevron haven’t thrown their weight around on the men’s behalf. An Exxon spokeswoman says the company supports SBM’s efforts, but adds that “these are sensitive matters, and we don’t comment on details involving employees of other companies.” A senior Chevron executive joined a recent call with family members. Chevron’s local subsidiary “remains committed to the rule of law and ethical business standards in its operations and to its partnership with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to develop its energy resources for the benefit of its people,” a spokeswoman says. Foreign companies are wary of provoking the Obiangs. In addition to the money they have at stake in Equatorial Guinea, they have other employees in the country, as vulnerable to arbitrary arrest as were the South Africans. And Exxon, its Zafiro oil field’s production tapering off, is navigating its own exit from the country. The families also fault the South African government’s response. A top South African diplomat, Zane Dangor, told Potgieter’s wife the government is hamstrung because an Equatorial Guinean court had convicted the men. But South Africa’s foreign minister is leading a delegation to Equatorial Guinea this week in hopes of negotiating the oil workers’ release, Dangor told The Wall Street Journal. Obama Ondo says the men’s conviction “has nothing to do with a private case the vice president might have in South Africa.” But, he hints, maybe there’s a deal to be struck. “Diplomatic lines of communication are open to resolve this case,” the ambassador says. Daniel van Rensburg’s adviser, Errol Eldson suspects Nguema Obiang would free the men if he got his villas back. “But where would that leave Daniel?” Write to Michael M. Phillips at [email protected] Corrections & AmplificationsFrederik Potgieter worked on Exxon Mobil’s FPSO Serpentina. Peter Huxham worked on Chevron’s FPSO Aseng. An earlier version of this article misidentified which ship was affiliated with which company. (Corrected on May 6)
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NEW + USED YACHT SALESDenison Yachting is a yacht brokerage firm specializing in yacht sales (as well as super yacht + charter sales) that has helped boat buyers find superyachts , motor yachts , catamarans , sailboats , and trawlers . Prospective yacht owners interested in buying a new luxury yacht can search for yachts on the market worldwide by brand, make, type, length, price, location, year, and more. You can even search for yachts in Bitcoin, as we offer the option to purchase with Cryptocurrency. Our yacht selection includes megayachts of all sizes and from all over the world. YACHT BROKERS WITH EXPERIENCEOur team of licensed + bonded yacht brokers offer our clients three generations of yachting expertise. With over 100 brokers worldwide, their knowledge and experience in the yachting industry with both new and used yachts is one of the biggest factors in our success. With a large inventory of yachts for sale combined with our industry leading level of service & expertise, our brokers are guaranteed to find the perfect boat for your yachting needs, be it a luxury superyacht, a used catamaran, a large sailboat, or just about any yacht of your dreams. 353' Benetti 2022 LuminosityTivat, montenegro, €135,000,000, 345' oceanco 2024 h3, monaco, monaco, €295,000,000, 315' davinci 2021 il dolce far niente, heeg, netherlands, 282' devonport 1998 chakra, portisco, italy, 262' benetti 2024 simon fraser, genova, italy, 262' isa 2025, ancona, it-an, italy, 262' oceanco 2019 y701, sanremo, it-im, italy, €79,750,000, 262' admiral 2024 galileo 80, carrara, italy, 257' abeking & rasmussen 2011 amaryllis, antibes, france, €89,000,000, 255' custom 1962 hansa, karlskrona, sweden, 253' admiral 2028, viareggio, italy, 251' custom 2015 yersin, marseille, 13, france, €59,000,000, 249' custom 1972 lady sarya, 243' lurssen 2007 global, la ciotat, france, €79,000,000, 243' lurssen 2017 aurora, dubai, united arab emirates, €130,000,000, 240' delta marine 2006 laurel, naples, it-na, italy, $69,500,000, 235' custom 1983 nansen explorer, kristiansund, norway, €15,900,000, 230' admiral 2024 galileo 70, 226' custom 2024, fort lauderdale, fl, us, €70,000,000, 224' armon 2021 wayfinder, portico, it-ce, italy, €55,000,000, 223' custom 2025, €95,000,000, 221' icon 2010 loon, monaco, france, $47,500,000, 220' heesen 2023 yn20067, oss, netherlands, €99,000,000, 213' admiral 2024 admiral 65m u force, 210' custom 2011 running on waves, athens, greece, €17,500,000, 209' royal denship 2006 cupani, genoa, italy, $29,950,000, 209' vsy 2020 atomic, san diego, ca, us, $58,000,000, 207' delta 2027 project metaverse, seattle, wa, us, $95,000,000, 203' sarp yachts 2025 project nacre, antalya, turkey, €45,000,000, compare yachts. 14194 Results YACHT CATEGORYLogin or register, hi, welcome back. Login and pick up from where you left off. Creating an account allows you to save and compare your favorite yachts. By creating an account you agree to the terms of use and our privacy policy. NEW LISTINGS Dufour 412 Grand / Hans Christian 38 MkII / Hunter 30 Sloop Dufour 412 Grand - 3 cabin sloopDescription, specifications. Year: 2021 Length: 40.5 ft Beam: 13.75 ft Draft: 6.92ft Engine: Volvo 50hp Location: San Carlos $199,995us OVERVIEW " SV Osprey" is a 2021 412 Grand Large located on the hard in San Carlos, Mexico. This comfortable and fast 3-Cabin boat would make for a great exploration platform for all the Sea of Cortez has to offer. The current owner purchased the boat new and took delivery in La Paz, where he placed it with Dream Yachts Charter. SV Osprey exited charter in 2024 and following an extensive exit survey and systems inspection is now available for a new owner. (Survey Available upon request for serious buyers). New ablative Bottom Paint was applied in January 2024 during survey inspection haul outI have pictures on the hard. the vessel is in storage and so everything that was outside is now inside., boat details and inventory available by clicking the links below. , make your appointment to to view, before she's gone.. CLICK BELOW: For addition pictures, videos and information. Contact me directly to make an appointment, or if you have additional questions. EMAIL: [email protected] TEXT OR PHONE: USA: 520/356-0305 MEX: +52 622 120 7683 WHATSAPP: +526221207683 Morgan 461 CC Cutter rigged sloop (Price Reduced)Year: 1979 Length: 46.5' Beam: 13.5' Draft: 6' Engine: Perkins 4-154 Location: San Carlos $69,000us "REDUCED" Last wet: Dec. 09, 2023 OVERVIEW "Promise" has just completed passage (Dec. 2023) from Puerto Vallarta to San Carlos, and is now on the hard in Marina Seca, San Carlos.A change in retirement plans has put this beautiful yacht back on the market, awaiting her next captain and crew. this vessel is ready to cruise this season. , she has a lot of features and condition is very good, with lots of room for comfortable living, entertaining and passages. this vessel is loaded with bicycles, carts and water toys. she is ready to go cruising, as soon as you load her with provisions and add enough water to float., the morgan name speaks for itself when it comes to quality construction and bluewater performance., additional information and video, click below. Contact me directly if you have additional questions, or to make an appointment.
Cortez yacht sales Email: [email protected] Text or phone USA: 520/356-0305 Mex: +52 622 120 7683 WhatsApp: +526221207683 Copyright © 2021 Cortez yacht sales - All Rights Reserved. Powered by GoDaddy This website uses cookies.We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. Call us now to book a trip of a lifetime: 305-906-0456* We are relocating to Marathon Florida. We are not accepting any new bookings at this time. We expect to be operational in spring 2022 at our new location! Please check back soon. * Blown Away Yacht Charters is Key West's Five Star rated premier private charter company. Our daily Sunset Sails, Snorkeling, Sandbar Excursion and Day Trips are limited to 6 guests. Our Captains and crew go above and beyond to make sure your trip is the highlight of your Key West adventure.
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Boat of the Week: How This Classic, 90-Year-Old Superyacht Was Restored to Her Former GloryInterior designer Nathan Hutchins is more used to renovating historical buildings than classic yachts. But when the owners of the 1930s yacht Marala commissioned him to undertake the boat’s extensive renovation, he couldn’t refuse. Co-owner of British studio Muza Labs, Hutchins’s experience of heritage interiors ranges from Spanish UNESCO world heritage sites to historic buildings in London. Hutchins was first introduced to the classic yacht’s owners 20 years ago when he completed the interior on their Dutch river barge. Two decades on, Marala is his first-ever yacht. More from Robb Report Inspired by Classic Ocean Liners, This Epic 350-Foot Superyacht Concept Comes With 7 Decks Wally's New 89-Foot 'Space' Ship Concept Offers the Room of a Superyacht This 82-Foot Amphibious Catamaran Crawls Onto the Shore Like a Crab “I recently worked on two canal barges in France and I’ve just completed a sleeper train in South America,” Hutchins told Robb Report . “I think a lot of elements of pure design are very relatable, but technically it’s been a jump. For me, it’s about finding the spirit of the place and in this case, the yacht. How the owners want to enjoy it.” The current owners, who purchased the yacht in the summer of 2018, are only the fifth in Marala ’s 88-year history. But the modifications made over time have “interrupted the elegance” of Marala ’s original lines, says Hutchins. The owners wanted the designer to capture the spirit of the 1930s to regain its original essence. The authenticity of the restoration, which is being carried out at Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, UK, was aided by Hutchins’ discovery of hand drawings on the ship’s original blueprints located in the U.K.’s National Maritime Museum’s archives. “We’ve been able to reference and reintroduce design elements using the original concepts, such as beautiful bookcases in the aft saloon,” says Hutchinson. “We discovered two original beds that had been cobbled back together that had featured softly curved corners and drawer fronts.” Designer Hutchins had to be careful to keep the original charm and character, but also modernize the decor. During the restoration, much of the old woodwork uncovered under old layers. Marala was built in 1931, but its would-be owner unfortunately died a month before the yacht’s delivery. This meant she was launched as number 388, the only Camper & Nicholson boat ever delivered without a name. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy in World War II, she served as HMS Evadne, successfully downing a German Heinkel III aircraft using the anti-aircraft guns mounted on her decks. Later, in the Strait of Gibraltar, she used depth charges to disable and sink a U-boat. “When the vessel was requisitioned for war a lot of the original furniture was removed to make the boat more utilitarian,” says Hutchins. “Much of it wasn’t put back with the most love and care.” The designer said that stripping the yacht back to her bare bones has revealed original details, such as bedside tables, joinery, and a Douglas fir floor, complete with scuff marks and staple holes. “We realized straight away that we needed to keep the floor,” says Hutchins, who has complemented the existing woodwork with the introduction of American black walnut. In 1962, Marala was bought by Hungarian businessman Robert de Balkany, who decorated the interior in a bold Savoir blue in honor of his wife Princess Maria Gabriella of the House of Savoy. He named the boat after his first two daughters, Marina and Alexandra. In her heyday Marala entertained the world’s elite, including Frank Sinatra and Salvador Dali. In a nod to the yacht’s history, Savoir-blue will run throughout the renovated exterior, paired with anthracite and white. Two custom tenders will have the new exterior palette. Marala ’s 1940s systems have been upgraded and integrated into the authentic design. “A lot of this boat hasn’t been seen for decades, so there were some items that needed immediate replacement,” Nick Kearton, project manager at Pendennis, told Robb Report . “A 90-year-old vessel means you’ll find things you might not want to. But the riveted steel that has survived is in very good condition, and we were able to clean it up and preserve it.” Other sections were modernized for more practical use. Overhangs, doorways and the fashion plates outside of the owner’s suite have been reduced. The original timber decks have been fitted with steel separation plates to protect the interior. “It’s taken about 100,000 hours of steelwork fabrication alone,” says Kearton. For Hutchins, one of the biggest challenges was discovering Marala ’s hull was a slightly different shape than he had originally conceived. That required a redesign while in the Pendennis dry dock. “Nothing is black and white on a boat like this, and sometimes surprises are wonderful,” says Hutchins. “You pull off a panel and you find a carpenter in 1931 left signed his name in chalk. So, some of the revelations have been really interesting and reveal the history of the boat.” Marala is scheduled for completion and delivery this November. Best of Robb Report The Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World’s Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . Recommended StoriesThe 49ers' wild play to end their preseason against the raiders has to be seen to be believed. There were only three seconds left in Friday night's preseason finale between San Francisco and Las Vegas, but the 49ers weren't ready to go home just yet. Zion Williamson's apparent weight loss draws attention on social mediaNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson appears to have lost notable weight during the offseason, based on photos taken at his basketball camp in South Carolina. Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong zooms around bases in 14 seconds for inside-the-park home runChicago Cubs outfielder Pete-Crow Armstrong showed serious speed in running out an inside-the-park home run Danny Jansen will make MLB history by playing for both Red Sox and Blue Jays on MondayBoston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen will become the first MLB player to play for both teams in the same game when a postponed game from June 26 is resumed on Monday. Kerr out at Team USA, Zion slims down & our favorite under-the-radar offseason moves | No Cap RoomJake Fischer and Dan Devine talk their way through the late August NBA news cycle and list off their favorite under-the-radar moves from this NBA offseason. What credit card users need to know if the Fed cuts rates in SeptemberThe Fed may soon cut interest rates. Here’s why you should take control of your credit card debt now. Falcons saw enough of Michael Penix Jr. last week that he won't play again this preseasonMichael Penix Jr. is done for the preseason, Raheem Morris said. Bust alert! 13 players to avoid early in your drafts | Yahoo Fantasy ForecastIt's officially 'Convictions Week' on the pod as we provide our most definitive takes of draft season. Matt Harmon is joined by Yahoo Fantasy's resident hater Dan Titus to identify potential busts in each round of your draft. While both make it clear they don't think the guys they pick will have awful seasons, they do offer reasons why each of their picks won't meet the expectations of their current ADP. The two also end the show by answering your questions in the fantasy mailbag. Wake up! 10 deep sleepers to target in your drafts | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast'Convictions Week' rolls on with Andy Behrens back in the host chair and Sal Vetri joining him to identify the 10 deep sleepers you need to target later in your drafts. Behrens and Vetri pick players from each skill position that are set up to severely out-kick their ADP. The two also discuss players to target for Yahoo's million dollar sweepstakes with NBC. They end the show answering your pressing draft questions in the fantasy mailbag. Mike Tyson shows no interest in taking Jake Paul's bait during news conference for Nov. 15 fightMike Tyson had little interest in trash-talking or insulting Jake Paul during the press conference for their Nov. 15 fight on Netflix. |
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BACK SOON is a 24m luxury motor super yacht built by Benetti Yachts. View similar yachts for Charter around the world
Back Soon is a 24 m motor yacht. She was built by Benetti in 1983. The motor yacht can accommodate 8 guests in 4 cabins and an exterior design by Fratelli Benetti.
The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, ... the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later ...
Interior & exterior photos of BACK SOON, the 24m Benetti Yachts super yacht, designed by Fratelli Benetti.
As 2022 draws to a close, BOAT looks back on all the news stories that captured our readers' attention throughout the year. Here are the most popular yacht news stories of 2022...
The sleek yacht, named the Bayesian, was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers when it suddenly sank near the Mediterranean island that is part of Italy at about 4 a.m. on Monday.
Named the world's first "yacht liner," Somnio, which has 39 apartments on board, will launch in mid-2024. While the identity of the owners will be kept secret, those who make the cut will benefit ...
Stay informed with the latest superyacht news: luxury yacht builder updates, launches and deliveries, plus yacht designs and concepts.
Interior renderings of the $600 million vessel have just been unveiled, offering a glimpse inside what's being described as the world's first "yacht liner."
The wait for Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 appears to be almost over! After Bravo shocked fans by airing Below Deck Med Season 9 this summer, it seems Captain Glenn Shephard and crew will be ...
New Yachts Arriving Soon. Incoming! Yachts are on the way, and now's the time to claim yours! Our MarineMax crew is standing by to help you find the perfect yacht and keep fun going! Each manufacturer offers something unique and special in their lineup of extraordinary yachts, and we at MarineMax take pride in offering you access to all of ...
Yacht for Sale is a 39 superyacht built by Back Cove in 2025. Currently she is located in Portland and awaiting her new owners.
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Back Soon is a 24 m / 78′9″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Benetti in 1983. With a beam of 5.5 m and a draft of 2.6 m, she has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. She is powered by Volvo engines of 425 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 10 knots and a cruising speed of 9 knots. The motor yacht can accommodate 8 guests in 4 cabins and an exterior design by Fratelli Benetti.
In fact, Costantino thinks this is the strongest theory after watching back footage of the sinking; the rear of the boat appears to have a hinged door that folds down into a sea-level deck.
Download the full charter brochure for luxury Motor Yacht "BACK SOON" to explore her beautiful interiors, guest accommodation and full range of amenities as well as outdoor living spaces. This comprehensive overview provides the best way to get a feel for the charter experience on offer and gives detailed and accurate specifications so that you can match them up to your own requirements.
David Beckham has taken to sea on his new £5million yacht. David went for a first cruise on his mega-boat with wife Victoria and family, including her parents de ella, Anthony and Jackie Adams, who are seen sitting between the Beckhams. The new £5million superyacht is named Seven after the England shirt number along with being the middle name ...
Back Soon is a motor yacht with a length of 24m. The yacht's builder is Benetti SpA from Italy who delivered the superyacht Back Soon in 1983.
We had been invited by Andy Bristow for drinks aboard David and Kate Kenyon's lovely Italian-built motor yacht Back Soon, anchored off Hangman's Rock, where we were joined on board by James Trafford and his parents.
Nguema Obiang soon fired the yacht's French captain and crew members. His criminal conviction in France still stung, and he didn't want Frenchmen aboard, according to the former crew member.
The news comes not long after Denison Yachting made the expansion into Europe, opening its first office in Monaco at the tail end of last year. OneWater Marine has been on an extensive expansion campaign over the last few years, purchasing the Roscioli Yachting Centre and Tom George Yacht Group (now the OneWater Yacht Group), among many other acquisitions in 2021. Back to News
Sea U Soon Yacht for Sale is a 100 superyacht built by BODRUM in 2007. Currently she is located in Marmaris, Turkey and awaiting her new owners.
A change in retirement plans has put this beautiful yacht back on the market, awaiting her next captain and crew. This vessel is ready to cruise this season.
Back Cove Yachts, founded in 2003, is a sister company of Sabre Yachts. A group of Sabre dealers requested a smaller Downeast style cruising boat to suit the needs of owners who admired the look and feel of the Maine lobster boat and the dependability and fuel efficiency of a single diesel engine. The Back Cove 29 was launched soon after, and ...
Find Back Cove Yachts for sale in United States. Offering the best selection of Back Cove Yachts to choose from.
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The designer said that stripping the yacht back to her bare bones has revealed original details, such as bedside tables, joinery, and a Douglas fir floor, complete with scuff marks and staple holes.