Yachting & Superyacht News
New Private Jet Charter Service: 24hr Private jets
To conicide with the launch of or new Yacht Marketing Software 24synergy, we are pleased to announce also the launch of our new Private Jet Charter https://24privatejets.com service operating from the North Of England.
Specialising in flights from the North of England to all the most popular destinations, Ibiza, Mallorca, Dubai, Nice, New York, Geneva etc you can now book and pay directly with us and we take care of all your needs.
We are also available for any private jet charters regardless of destination and are hoping to combine te service as a special service for yacht charter brokers who wish to link up clients with yacht charters.
By Yachting Journalist: Paul Thompson - 18/3/2025
Yachtbreaker Rebranded to 24synergy
It is now official that Yachtbreaker launched as pilot yacht marketing software on 14/8/2024 has now full rebranded to 24synergy and there is a free 3 month trial available for Yacht Charter agents to test the system.
This innovation in Yacht Marketing technology is set to be a major disruption to the traditional marketing and listing methods used by brokers and agents. It offers a new route to market, it is more cost effective, it gives brokers more control over marketing their yachts, it is more cost effective and it enables clients to receive direct, pertinent and targeted information.
It cuts down user time online spent search as all the relevant information is delivered direct to the recipients and the only get specifically what they asked for. With a stealth mode available as well it enables yacht brokers and clients to remain anonymous until such time they are ready to disclose.
It is operated over 24 separate websites so clients only need to see what they are interested in with one main site at 24synergy which is the hub for brokers and agents.
So for example clients looking for a yacht charter in the mediterannean would go and sign up at https://24yachtcharters.com and then they would subscribe to the list for "yacht charters in the Mediterannean". Charter agents will then only be able to send them information that is pertinent, so they would not be allowed to market to them with say "yacht charters in the Ionian Sea" because that is not what the user signed up for.
When the user has ll the info he wants which can be in as little as 24hrs he can then simply unsubcribe and re-join in the future when he requires more info.
With over 50 features available this is a must have tool for any broker or agent and even more so with brokers now steeing away from listing sites due to spiraling costs, with 24 synergy you pay a basic subscription fee and they dont take commissions and as part of the signup process brokers have to agree to share or split commissions on shared clients just as is expected in the real world.
By Yachting Journalist: Paul Thompson - 18/3/2025
GHOST 105
105 New Build Project
Bill Thiem tells us:-
We take great pleasure in sharing details of Alexander McDiarmid's spectacular, low profile 105 metre project "GHOST 105"
Inspired by DESTRIERO, the record breaker that logged the fastest ever Atlantic crossing in 1992, affording her the coveted Blue Riband which she still holds 33 years on.
"The exercise was to somehow honour the engineering excellence, long-range capability, and sustainable speed of the original," says McDiarmid
Specs:
Length: 105 m
Built: 2028
Builder: New Build Project
Beam: 16.70
Draft: 2.80
Max Speed: 30Knots
Cruising Speed: 25Knots
Guests: 12
Cabins: 6
Crew: 28
Gross Tonnage: 2500
Technical/Principal Characteristics:
Length overall: 105m / 344ft
Beam: 12m / 39ft
Hull material: Aluminium
Superstructure: Carbon Fibre Reinforced frame with infused panels
Propulsion:
57,8 MW CODOG propulsion and power generation system with heat recovery for water and
electricity
Quadruple 4 x MTU 20V4000M93L IMO Tier III combined output 17,2 MW
Main engine operating profile to be as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Propellers: 2 x Voith VLJ1780 Linear Jets
Bow Thrusters: 2 x Voith retractable Inline Propulsors
13.3 Gearbox
Renk 2 in 1 custom gearbox
13.4 Diesel generator sets & Power supply
A hybrid drive with five Volvo Penta D13 MG HE KC 1.9 MW Total
with
Li-ion Battery banks 1.8 MW Total
The engines are fitted with electric starting, heat exchanger cooling, instruments, etc. A wet
muffler system is installed in the exhaust lines leading to the funnel one generator with
electric operated valve also out through hull. The complete generator sets are flexibly
mounted in sound enclosures.
Full beam Owners state room with balconies
Berth capacity for 12 guests in 5 vip double cabins
Berth capacity for 28 crew
Class Compliant: Red Ensign Group Yacht Code
One-man-bridge designed with 46 inch touch screen panels.
Sunken and hidden foredeck cockpit featuring a motorised canopy for a shaded exterior lounge with
privacy
Swimming pool aft
Beach club, Wellness and Spa
Cinema
Gym
Sun deck with Jacuzzi and walk around bar
Foredeck Tender garage: 2 x 10m/32 ft Tender & Taxi via knuckle beam crane housed in the foredeck
Heliport for Airbus Helicopter AH145, AH160 helicopters or equivalent OEM size
Reported to Yachting Journalist Paul Thompson
YachtBreaker will make is global debut launch at the Southampton Boat show in 2024.
This innovative and unique networking software will connect the superyacht industry in ways never seen before give people direct and anonymous access to clients, yachts, charters, equipment, crew and more..
YachtBreaker AI
YachtBreaker AI is the cutting-edge global platform for yacht sales and charters, setting a new standard beyond traditional MLS services. Tailored to your specific needs, Yachtbreaker ensures a 100% spam-free experience, delivering precisely what you seek.
This revolutionary and innovative software is crafted specifically for the marine industry, streamlining the search process and facilitating direct connections between clients, buyers, sellers, agents, marine suppliers and brokers.
Yacht Owners - you can register for a complimentary account, with the option to upgrade and access additional, exciting features.
Once your membership is approved, you can select your preferences and enjoy the convenience of receiving curated yacht listings that match your criteria, delivered daily, weekly, or monthly.
For captains, crew, recruitment companies, and yacht management firms, YachtBreaker offers unprecedented connectivity, simplifying and expediting the crew-finding process.
Yacht brokers and charter agencies will find YachtBreaker to be the premier tool for promoting yachts for sale and charter, offering direct and instant access to all subscribers.
As a premium member, you also receive complimentary premium accounts for your clients, providing them with additional benefits and more opportunities for engagement.
With a database of over 2,900 businesses already in the YachtBreaker directory you also have instant access to a global network of marine suppliers and services.
All traditional commission structures are respected, with all transactions occurring offline. Notably, YachtBreaker does not charge any commission fees.
Our mission? To showcase the transformative power of instant communication and data exchange across industries like commerce, education, healthcare, aeronautics, and maritime.
Onboard the Super Boat, real-time education offers students and researchers hands-on experience with cutting-edge systems, shaping the tech-savvy leaders of tomorrow. Imagine how much fun it will be for students to learn in real time about their environment and our efforts to protect it! 
Join us by subscribing to our list, following us on social media, and becoming part of this incredible journey.
Project Full Circle Welcomes 1 UK.com on Board as a Valued Supporter
We are thrilled to announce that 1Uk.com https://1uk.com/ is partnering with Project Full Circle as a key supporter.
Our collaboration with Paul Thompson and his team has a long-standing history, dating back to before the pandemic. Throughout the years, they have consistently demonstrated their unwavering support, not only for our initiatives but also in rallying other companies to join our vision for the future.
We are particularly excited about the opportunity to work closely with one of Paul's newest ventures, www.Yachtbreaker.com, which is launching today.
This innovative company will also be showcasing its offerings at this year's Southampton Boat Show.
Our blog post 
https://www.fullcircle.international/.../project-full...
Learn More: https://www.fullcircle.international/
Boats 2020
( Show Was Cancelled due to Covid-19)
The Southampton boat show Boats 2020 will be open this year by our very own Alan Priddy who is a a renowned ocean explorer and adventurer. Alan who is the Skipper an team leader with the Team Britannia project to circumnavigate the world in a RIB will be sporting a 1uk.com branded jacked when he opens the show, which is part of our new clothing range available to purchase from our website.
We shall also be attending the show and if you wish to meet us please do book an appointment by emailing info @ 1uk.com
Although the show is much smaller this year it has still attracted leading brands such as Sunseeker Yachts, Princess, Fairline and Prestige Yachts.
It is advise to book appointments in advance as tickets for the show are aready selling out very fast.
Sinking Luxury yacht August 27th 2020
Over a dozen people have been saved from a burning yacht off the coast of Sardinia.
Dramatic footage shot by the Italian coast guard shows the yacht sinking below the surface of the Mediterranean.
The video captures flames tearing through the 155-foot ship, as thick clouds of smoke rise above.
The dramatic footage showed the blaze ravaging the vessel, until it disappears beneath the waves, says Euro News.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, the 50-metre yacht, the Lady MM, was heading from Capri to Porto Cervo, Sardinia, when a fire broke out on board.
It launched a distress signal at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the coast guard said. Two search-and-rescue patrol boats and a helicopter responded.
The 17 people, which included eight tourists from Kazakhstan and nine crew members, had already abandoned the ship and were in a smaller boat when the coast guard arrived, says the New York Post.
The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.
The Elite Events 2nd - 3rd Oct
Come and Visit 1uk.com at High Wycombe Airfield at The Elite Events Luxury Show 2nd - 3rd Oct 2020
Also The Luxury Property show in London 2020 on the 2nd - 3rd Oct 2020
Outdoors and on the water; Southampton International Boat Show Limited presents Boats 2020
British Marine is delighted to announce that Southampton International Boat Show Ltd will present Boats 2020 at Mayflower Park, Southampton from 11 – 20 September 2020. This outdoor and on the water event will be a not-for-profit showcase of boats and equipment. The health, safety and security of exhibitors, visitors and colleagues will be its number one priority.
British Marine has continued to work tirelessly with Southampton City Council, exhibitors and key event stakeholders to find a way to deliver this event on behalf of the industry and to support its members.
Extensive work has been carried out in close collaboration with Southampton City Council to stage the event and ensure that Boats 2020 presented by Southampton International Boat Show Ltd meets Public Health England COVID-19 secure requirements. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have also confirmed that the event plans fall within current Government guidance. Exhibitors and visitors can therefore be reassured that mitigating the risk of COVID-19 and safety is at the top of the agenda.
Organisations that are considering whether to attend should now contact the team at British Marine immediately to avoid missing out on this outdoor opportunity to engage safely with their enthusiastic audience (sales@britishmarine.co.uk). British Marine, as a not-for-profit organisation, has been working extremely hard to set this event up to support the sector following the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Exhibitors who now want to join in must fully commit to the event by Friday 7 August in order for the marina to be built and all other operational details to be fulfilled.
Colin Capewell, Managing Director from Princess Motor Yachts Sales says: “We are absolutely thrilled that the show is going ahead after such a difficult time for everyone. While we will be doing this in a socially distanced way, the team from Princess will all be there with a very warm welcome. We are promising a really exciting line-up, and this could be the only chance visitors will get, to see these beautiful yachts in one place this year! I know the British Marine team have worked tirelessly to ensure Boats 2020 can take place safely, and we can’t thank them enough!”
This event is aimed at the serious boat buyer and enthusiast, keen to see and buy the latest models and equipment available. To date an impressive 78 boats from 30 brands, including Princess Yachts will be located in the purpose-built marina, alongside over 40 land-based exhibitors of related marine equipment.
British Marine have worked with key stakeholders to develop a detailed set of enhanced measures to provide the highest levels of hygiene and safety at this show. These measures will focus on four cornerstones; Social Distancing, Cleaning and Hygiene, Protect and Detect and Clear Communications. The carefully designed show layout and ticketing platform will help create a safe environment for all visitors and will allow them to focus on spending quality time with exhibitors. Tickets will be limited and are expected to be booked up quickly. Anyone looking to attend Boats 2020 presented by Southampton International Boat Show Ltd can register their interest here and will be contacted once full ticketing information is released. British Marine will be monitoring and responding to any last-minute changes in the ever-evolving health situation, and will be asking all visitors, exhibitors and event staff to comply with all the latest public health advice.
Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, said; “British Marine has remained absolutely committed to supporting the industry through the provision of an event this year. The staging of Boats 2020 presented by Southampton International Boat Show Ltd would not have been possible without the support of Southampton City Council and I am delighted that we have been able to make this happen, at a time when so many other events have been cancelled. This not-for-profit event will offer boat buyers and the leisure marine industry a chance to come together with the reassurance that the event is within government guidelines. Visitors will see a super range of sailing and power boats, and the event format with opportunities to book appointments on boats will create a day of quality viewing for visitors.”
Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture, Southampton City Council, commented: “Southampton is known for its packed calendar of events, but the current circumstances mean we’ve had to rethink how we can present popular features like the Boat Show safely for exhibitors and visitors. It’s important as a city we start to work towards economic recovery and support sectors such as marine in Southampton. I’m really pleased that by working closely with British Marine we’ve arrived at a solution which, while different to previous years, is COVID secure and sure to excite people coming to experience everything our great city has to offer.”
Line-up confirmed for Ocean Village Boat Show as MDL turn additional exhibitors away
Right next door to the 1uk.com offices is the The Ocean Village Boat Show – taking place on the 11-20 September – which has confirmed its line-up, and it’s looking pretty spectacular.
Over 80 stunning boats will be on display from global power and sail names.
Invitations will be sent to carefully selected customers in the next few days, inviting them to book an appointment with one of the following brands, including Arcona Yachts, Axopar, Azimut, Bavaria Yachts, Bayliner, Beneteau Power, Beneteau Sail, Brig RIBS, Cranchi, Cobra, Comitti UK & Caribbean, Dazcat, Dehler, Discovery Yachts, Dufour, Elan, Excess catamarans, Fjord, Fountaine Pajot, Galeon, Greenline Yachts, Hanse, Hylas, J-Boats, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Moody, Najad, Nautitech, Neel, Nimbus, Nordstar, Prestige, RS Sail Boats, Sea Ray, Sessa, and Seward.
Plus, FlexiSail and Pure Latitude will be showcasing their membership clubs.
The Ocean Village Boat Show is now classed as full, with no remaining space for any on-water exhibits. In fact, MDL reports it’s having to turn exhibitors away.
But those guests who visit will not feel overwhelmed, say the organisers. The numbers of visitors are restricted on a daily basis. With that in mind, MDL has designed the show to run over ten show days, allowing an optimum number of visitors to access the site in a carefully controlled manner.
MDL has put a raft of measures into place, and has been working with Southampton City Council to make sure that the show’s exhibitors, visitors and wider team are confident in the measures taken – helping to keep people covid-secure.
The pontoons have been carefully adapted with connecting ‘bridges’ to make a one-way system. Everyone on site will be asked to wear a mask at all times, and be asked to make use of hand sanitiser placed around the site. Each boat will be thoroughly cleaned by the dealership teams after each appointment. Visitors will have the opportunity to complete test and trace details in advance, to save time at any potential pinch points when arriving at the show.
This means that only those who have booked an appointment in advance can visit the show.
Appointments can be made via a booking portal on MDL’s website which lists all the models available to view, and controls the number of people at the Ocean Village Boat Show at any one time by limiting entry to two people per ticket. Visitors are asked to arrive just 30 minutes before their appointment, but they have the opportunity to look around other models on display after their appointment (if the exhibitors aren’t with other guests or conducting a deep clean).
“We’ve been overwhelmed with companies wanting to exhibit,” says Tim Mayer, MDL’s sales and marketing director. “There’s a real appetite to get boats in front of serious buyers.
Although all the online events over the past few months have been successful, and we’re hearing stories of second-hand boats selling fast, there’s nothing like taking your time, in a stunning environment, to fully appreciate the boat you’re thinking of buying.
“We’re doing everything in our power to make sure that this show runs smoothly and offers carefully controlled access to the spectacular brands we’ve lined-up. It’ll be a brilliant couple of weeks for Southampton – a truly unique end to what’s been a unique season.
“And of course, we can’t wait to show off our five-star marina to all those who visit, as when they purchase their dream boat, they’ll obviously need somewhere equally as stunning to berth.”
The Ocean Village Boat Show is free for serious buyers to attend. Visitors must have a pre-booked appointment to gain access to the site so that numbers on the pontoons can be carefully controlled at all times.
( Interview with skipper Alan Priddy of Team Britannia by Paul Thompson )
With Lockdown creating a complete mess for many people I wanted to ask Alan how Team Britannia has been affected by the Lockdown.
Alan: In someways it has been a disaster as it has put back the whole 2020 challenge now by at least 12 months and probably maybe 18th months, however in some respect also it has been good for us as it has give us a chance to re-structure certain parts of the project that were slowing us down prior to the project.
What about the team, how have they been affected, is the ambition still there?
Alan: Well there is no doubt that everyone involved is as keen as they have ever been and everyone is just eager to get out on the water. We still have lots of sea trials to do and the whole crew are still hungry for this, we have all kept in touch through lockdown and kept spirits high, but as I think with everyone in the country they have been testing times and obviously so unexpected.
So lock down is releasing now when do you expect to be back on with moving forward.
Alan: We have already started something's in a small way and the boat still has a lot of work to be done, but we have meetings with sponsors to keep them up to date and I think by the end of July we should all be back in fulll swing and gearing up for commissioning the engines to start the sea trials.
Reported By Paul Thompson June 2020
by Paul Thompson ( 26/6/20 )
Some breaking news here in the fact that the chef from the Classic Ketch Bessie Ellen has broke his leg again in the same place he did 7 years ago, when he was assisting making repairs to the mast while in denmark.
We managed to speak to Peter while in hospital in Hayle.
So Peter what happened has to be the first question?
Well, it was nothing to crazy as some people might expect from me, I was out walking on bodmin moor and a small slip twisted my leg and it just snapped in exactly the same place as before.
Due the location I was located, it took two - three hours before I was finally transported the the hospital and about 3 bottles of Morphine
So does this affect your sailing now on Bessie Ellen.
Well all our charters for this season have had to be cancelled due to to Lockdown, so the boat is currently on Fowey and we have been visiting a few ties a week to carry out maintenance.
So, we may start some possible day sailings from Falmouth maybe in August, but I guess this obviously depends on the government lockdown and if local town's begin to get locked down.
But we are just keen to get back on the water soon, we have missed a full season sailing in Scotland and of course some dissapointed guests, but we will bounce back in 2021
We are pleased to announce the 1uk interactive online magazine will be coming your way very soon.
This new concept magazine for the Superyacht and charter industry will feature video interviews and footage from charters, to all be used as a guide and reference to help you in choosing your next charter and bring you all the latest charter news.
With reports and guides on your favourite destinations and we shall be speaking with some of the leading charter companies asking them how times have changed in charter since COVID-19
With lockdown now being eased and restrictions relaxed most charter companies are reporting a good uptake in bookings with what's left of the season.
Most companies are now offering free cancellations due to COVID-19 so do check on this with your agent before you commit to a booking.
We have our own new interactive charter magazine out very soon which will have all the latest offerings in the industry and special features for first time charter guests and what to expect from your charter.
Some companies tell us they are already booked up on some superyachts till the end of the season which is good news for them. If you have a story to tell about charter then myself as editor, Paul Thompson would be happy to discuss options for editorials in our new magazine. After reporting from shows for the past 3 years we are now dedicating this wholly to the charter industry as we believe this is the starting point for yacht ownership and sailing. email us at info @ 1uk.com with your news.
2020 News February
All the latest superyacht news for 1uk.com in February:
- Team Brittania is now officially branded as "Race to Save The World". with their round the world record breaking challenge set to break the current UIM world record, the voyage is also set to highlight the use of Clean Fuel for motor yachts and vehcles as the technology to make simple and cheap conversion and reduce emissions.
- Supported by 1uk.com we have now launched our new https://climateaware.uk which is award Superyacht owners, shipbuilders, brokers, with recognition for their efforts in creating awareness to climate change
- Automated sign up will soon be available for both our luxury yachts and luxury property sections of the 1uk.com website and clients will be able to add/edit and manage their own listings on the website for the first time.
- Our luxury shopping store will be launched now in 2021 to allow for the sign up procedure to be implemented and the CoronaVirus to clear.
- We would also like to welcome to 1uk all the new clients who have joined us and you will see these appearing on the site very soon plus some amazing new Properties in northern Cyprus that are ideal for investors, so if you are looking to invest and bulk purchase apartments in a fantastic holiday resort please get in touch
British Marine 2020 Expo
The annual two-day event will include a busy itinerary of key industry talks and seminars.
British Marine is to host its annual Spring Expo next week at the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Taking place from February 4-5, the two-day event will include a number of key industry talks and seminars and is set against a backdrop of learning, networking and business deals being done.
The event will include a host of new free BM Talks delivering the latest training skills, industry insights from leading experts and thought-provoking discussions surrounding the biggest challenges facing our industry today, as well as a free Trade Connections Area. It will also feature the popular, ticketed Superyacht UK Technical Seminar.
One of the highlights this year will be a seminar aimed at increasing women’s involvement in sailing. British Marine and its new Access to Boating Association will host a seminar with leading charity The Magenta Project and Sunsail Worldwide Sailing. Held on February 5 and free to attend, it will feature the unveiling of a ground-breaking initiative to increase the participation of women in sailing.
A panel of experts will be joining guests for an interactive Q&A. This includes renowned British sailor and chair of the World Sailing Trust, Dee Caffari MBE, entrepreneur and chair of The Magenta Project, Elaine Penhaul, marketing director at The Magenta Project, Victoria Low, partner and sailing team head at GAC Pindar, Andrew Pindar OBE DL, and successful Paralympic sailor, Helena Lucas MBE.
The British Marine Spring Expo is a must-attend event for marine professionals from across the sector, including sole traders, manufacturers, service providers or retailers active in the superyacht, leisure or small commercial sector. For more information, visit britishmarine.co.uk/bmexpo
Source: http://theislander.net/british-marine-spring-expo-to-be-held-next-week/
Coronavirus Covid-19
( March 9th 2020 )Being a virtual company as far as our own work goes we have not been imapacted directly as much as many of our clients have. We can still continue to work as normal as we always have done as all our team work from home offices around the world.
However it has had a cutting impact on many brokers who are missing footfall from boat shows and marinas and people obviously unable to travel to get to any destinations to use their boats.
Maybe it is time for us to launch our virtual yacht/boat show that were going to do in 2018 but was shelved at that time as brokers did not have their own technology to handle the enquiries.
Either way, brokers will be looking to boost business in any way they can at the moment so hopefully at 1uk.com we can help you do that with our pioneering online marketing experience and via our global luxury portal and all the cross marketing opportunities that we have.
Team Brittania we are told is also on hold at the moment as we wait and see how things pan out with the lockdowns and the virus
Look out for our new magaine coming later in the year.
Story by Paul Thompson
2019
Snapshot Latest Luxury News @1 for 2019
- Launch of our smaller sister site for boats up to £2million at https://1uk.co
- Now promoting luxury properties in Ibiza
- New Partner joins 1 in Antibes for Luxury Yacht Charter Naturally Yachting
- over 150 new yachts and properties added on the site over the 1st few months
- New affiliates we have partnered with will soon have their own logos showing for registered members
- 1UK is invited to become media partners with IELPE 2019 in Monaco - Meet us at the show and the Gala evening networking event 15th may
- VIP area on 1uk.com is launched with special services for VIP individuals and brokers alike.
- Joint Partner Site launched with Seaindependent for superyachts
- June 25th 2019 1uk.com seals sponsorship deal with Team Britannia for the 2020 Global Challenge Full Story to follow soon
1uk.com announces the appointment of two significant key players to the 1uk.com team
15th July 2019
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of two new significant members to the 1uk.com team.
Firstly, Alan Priddy, as of 2012, Alan had recorded 37 world records and 12 British national records and has been given a top honour by the University of Portsmouth as a Doctor of Science (honoris causa).
Amongst his early non-sailing challenges Alan canoed and rowed around the Isle of Wight. He undertook his first challenge in a rigid–hulled inflatable boat (a RIB) in 1990 when he set a record for a journey around Scotland in a 15-foot boat. Several record-breaking journeys followed around Britain (1992), Ireland (1993) and in the Bay of Biscay (1996).
Further RIB challenges and records followed:
- London to Monaco in 99 hours and 19 minutes
- The Circumnavigation of Britain in five days, six hours and five minutes
Alan’s valued contribution to 1uk.com will be an asset to clients and partner companies that we collaborate with, with a wealth of sailing knowledge and lifesaving/survival skills Alan can advise potential buyers and sellers and is looking forward to assisting in bringing new clients to 1uk.com and our new unique networking methods of yacht sales & marketing.
Secondly, we have Alistair Thompson (No relation to our MD) As a PR and media expert Alistair has looked after some of the UK’s leading think tanks, high profile corporate clients and politicians, he wanted to turn his passion into a business that supports similar groups and charities.
He specialises in developing bespoke public relations and public affairs campaigns for these organisations. He has worked closely with and advised several leading charities and political figures and think tanks.
A big part of our Ethos at 1uk.com is getting your products in front of the right people, quickly, efficiently and most importantly effectively and Alistair and his extensive background will also be a valued asset to 1uk.com enabling new and existing clients to use our resources to best bring their products to market.
Furthermore, as part of these appointments we shall have some exciting news to follow with our collaboration with both Alan and Alistair as part of their round the world Record Challenge in 2020.
1uk.com welcomes the opportunity to speak to new owners, clients and brokers to discuss the sales & marketing of their yachts, superyachts and both Alan and Alistair look forward to working with you as part of the team.
Press Release by: Paul Thompson
New Appointment for February 2020
We are pleased to inform you that the very experienced Sarah Diggle Whitlock is to join 1uk.com as our new charter Manager/Advisor.
With over 15 years experience as Chief Stew on board many of the best superyachts Sarah can assist you in planning your intinerary and organising your charters through 1uk.com.
With our unique 1uk.com member services we can offer better deals than buying direct with our special partner arrangements enabling us to put together to the perfect package for you and your family or business.
Through Sarah we shall also be offering high level crew training with live scenarios for each apprentice to experience on board a superyacht
Look at for sarah appearing on our team page soon and more details on our website soon
We met up with Sarah in Antibes in February to see the team in action on their training exams, this will be one of the first features in our new magazine that is being launched later in the year.
So call today to book your charter through the worlds largest luxury portal
Tel: +44 (0) 238 184 9724 - ( yachts @ 1uk.com )
Reported by Paul Thompson
2019 Monaco International Luxury Property Expo
1uk.com is pleased to be an official media partner for ielpe 2019
The IELPE show Monaco 2019 ( reported by Paul Thompson )
There was a different feel to this show than your typical exhibition with all the stands built almost to the same specifications and very similar aprt from a few different advertising boards. So nothing like the kind of money seen spent on stands at say the Yacht Show in Monaco.
Most exhibitors we spoke to said they were having a good show, but some seeing taht we were press were reluctant to speak to us, which we found strange as were was there to also promote the show on their behalf.
Things came to light more in the evening when we attended the evening reception at the Cafe De Paris. There was a definate more relaxed feeling and people were probably networking more than they had done in the show.
Perhaps that could have been down to the free flowing champagne but nevertheless we was left with the impression that all the visitors had a good show and was fruitful for most.
June /July News 2019
WIN WIN Lives Up To Her Name At The Superyacht Cup With Victory Overall
The 2019 Superyacht Cup Palma reached its captivating conclusion with the best day’s racing yet on the waters of Palma Bay.
Win Win lived up to her name once again and emerged as the overall victor of the Superyacht Cup, with class winners Topaz and Bequia also able to celebrate their success after three days of close racing and enjoyable socialising ashore.
The final St. Regis Race was held on what proved to be the clearest day of the 23rdedition of Europe’s longest-running superyacht regatta, the Mallorcan mountains providing a stunning backdrop to the drama being played out on the water.
After a short delay to allow the sea breeze to establish itself the race committee launched the fleet on the deciding contest of the event.
In Class A the 33m Win Win was able to secure her third successive victory, this one by the narrow margin of just 33 seconds on corrected time ahead of Nilaya with Open Season third in the race and overall in the class. The triumph is a second SYC win for the Javier Jaudenes designed Baltic Yacht built boat, which also topped the table in 2016.
Her delighted skipper Ryan Taylor said: “It’s great and we are very happy – we worked for it and it wasn’t easy, but it was nice clean racing and we just kept it simple. The owner is very happy!”
It was Class B that saw the closest racing, with three different winners in each of the races. Overall Topaz edged a single point ahead of her J-Class rival Velsheda to win the class, with the lightweight flyer Missy only a point further back in third.
Class C meanwhile went to the gorgeous 30m Stephens Waring Yacht Design Spirit of Tradition yawl Bequia, with Huckleberry and Kealoha tied on points in second and third. Skipper Seumas Meharg said: “It’s always fun to win and we have great owners and a fantastic team on board as we celebrate Bequia having 10 years on the water.
“It’s fantastic to be here in Palma in such perfect conditions, ideal for us, and great to come away with a class win. The owners and the crew have also really enjoyed the shoreside activities as well. The Owners Dinner was superb, the owners loved it, and generally the whole attitude of the regatta is fabulous, it’s not too pompous or anything like that, it’s a good fun time for everybody.”
However, the appeal of The Superyacht Cup Palma runs throughout the fleet, also including those who simply enjoy the pleasure of taking part with no expectation of winning their class or the Cup itself.
Among them are Tulip, the Dutch modern classic taking part in her fourth SYC and again sailed by family and friends. Speaking before the final day of racing co-owner Alicia van Vissengen said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. We know we are not going to be in the one or two but it doesn’t matter as we are enjoying ourselves so much – that’s what it is all about, it is really, really fun. Good vibes, lovely people, good organisation, great company, wonderful weather, Palma is fantastic – what more do you want?”
Over the course of the three-days of the SYC all the owners and their teams have enjoyed competitive and friendly racing in memorable conditions.
Equally memorable have been the festivities ashore, with owners, guests and crews enjoying Happy Hours courtesy of Southern Spars and North Sails, the Marinepool Paddle Board Challenge – which was won by a team from Bequia – a Dock Party in the SYC Race Village and, of course, the highlight of the vibrant social side of the regatta the Owners Dinner at the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort – SYC’s Preferred Hotel Partner.
Also celebrated was the presentation of the first ever North Sails Boat of the Day Award, with the beautiful limited-edition crystal and Sterling silver Admiral ship’s decanter and glasses being awarded to SYC first timer Huckleberry, with the Award set to become an annual SYC feature.
Announcing the dates of next year’s regatta, Event Director Kate Branagh said: “It has been another great year for The Superyacht Cup Palma and it has been a real pleasure for the whole team and I to see so many happy faces out on the water and then back here in the SYC Race Village.
“The 24thedition of The Superyacht Cup Palma will be held from 17 to 20 June 2020. We look forward to seeing all of you back here for another marvellous festival of superyacht sailing.”
Gallery of photos visit: www.thesuperyachtcup.com
Project 818 Emerges From Feadship’s Kaag Facility
The 77.25m vessel ready for further outfitting, placement of the mast and testing of the propulsion system
The 77.25-metre Project 818 has emerged from one of the giant construction halls at the Feadship yard on Kaag for further outfitting, placement of the mast and testing of the propulsion system. A significant proportion of the superyacht is being kept quite literally under wraps for now with more details to be revealed in the near future. Nonetheless, there was plenty to see for the global audience of Feadship fans who tuned in to the first ever livestream broadcast of such an event, which included some dramatic drone footage.
Project 818 is custom-built for an owner working in partnership with designer Jarkko Jämsén. KK Superyachts have been representing the owner from the concept development phase through to completion and yacht operations. Feadship will be sharing detailed information on this superb new member of the fleet closer to the official launch date, including an impressive interior from the boards of Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design.
Source: http://theislander.net/project-818-emerges-from-feadships-kaag-facility/
Provezza Claims 52 SUPER SERIES Lead
Cadiz, Spain (June 22, 2019) – So disappointed was Turkish owner Ergin Imre with last season’s outcome for his Provezza team in the 2018 52 SUPER SERIES that it was only when team coach John Cutler, a Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist, agreed to steer for this season, that the hugely passionate owner agreed to press on with renewed rigour and a changed crew line up.
Imre and his team were rewarded today for their hard work as narrow winners of Puerto Sherry 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup, the second regatta of the 2019 season. By winning the event they also claimed the 2019 season lead.
The day started with three boats in contention to win the trophy, which dates back to 1995 and the IMS class, Bronenosec – the newest boat in the fleet steered by the young Croatian Olympic gold medal winning hero Sime Fantela – one point ahead of 2017 champions Azzurra. Going into today’s racing, Provezza were four points adrift, but the runners up to Platoon in Mahón last month are sailing with supreme confidence and big smiles.
It was only on the last downwind of the last race, when Platoon passed Azzurra, that the regatta title was secured by the Turkish-flagged team – only the second time they have secured an event win after their popular 2017 victory in Puerto Portals, Mallorca.
Changes to their Vrolijk-designed boat appear to have helped, but bringing Cutler – whose experience spans Olympic racing and national team coaching as well as America’s Cup and grand prix racing – in to the central role as helm, and a hungry-for-success Hamish Pepper as tactician has been key; the duo supported by unflappable Spanish navigator Nacho Postigo.
They finish one point ahead of Azzurra who take second but only on countback against their third placed rivals Bronenosec. The Russian-flagged team put themselves on the back foot when they finished eighth in the first race.
“It was a tough day out there for every team, and we managed to end up on top,” said Cutler. “You can see from the way the points are – there’s not much separating the top 5 teams, so it was great to be amongst it and at the top at the end of the week! The final race was quite incredible, I actually checked my heart rate through the race to make sure I wasn’t in the red zone, but it was all under control!
“We’ve made some changes to the boat, the same changes that Platoon’s made – we moved the bulb, a new rudder, new fin. We made some learnings from last season on setup and things like that and thought about what we did wrong last year and corrected a few things.
“We’ve got Hamish on board now and he’s doing a great job. Even though we’ve never sailed together before we seem to have a pretty good fit and just keep it relaxed on board and enjoy ourselves. I was a bit grumpy on our bad days but you can’t be too upset, just look at the weather, at the venue; it’s been so tricky, there’s lots of opportunities out there, it’s just been great sailing and we came out on top!”
“It was one of the toughest, closest races that I’ve ever done,” noted Bronenosec helm Sime Fantela. “With such an open track like what we’ve had all week, it was all open until the very end. We were watching whether Platoon was going to sneak in to take it from Azzurra, and all the top 3 positions just hinged on one point.
“Our first race was tough, we were betting more on the right side. There was a leftie and we were just losing places; we had some technical issues and finished 8th. Then the second race we had a battle with the pin, and didn’t quite win it, and had to tack out; but we moved through the fleet and finished 3rd. I must say we had a really good week and did a good job; and we just have to keep working at the same pace.
“Our goal coming here was to be better than Mahón, where we were 5th; so finishing with a podium is ‘happy faces’! We showed here that we have the ability to pass boats in the breeze, so we are looking forward to Cascais – it’s going to be fun racing!”
Guillermo Parada, the Argentinian skipper-helm of Azzurra was disappointed to leave points on the water and confessed that they felt slow at times today.
“We had two very good starts, especially the first one, but we felt very, very slow,” shared Parada. “We checked the underwater in between races and there was nothing wrong, but oh well. Second race we elected to start on the pin again and were controlling our opponents, ahead of Platoon and Bronenesoc, but Phoenix crossed and tacked on us and made us go left, and a big righty came.
“We had chances in the first run and then we covered in the last beat, but then the last run we made a split from Provezza and Platoon got in between. But it was very very close and this regatta was for them, so now we’ll fight in Cascais!”
Provezza leave Andalucia with the Royal Cup and the circuit lead by two points ahead of Mahón winners, Platoon. Seven of the eight different boats won at least one of the ten races sailed. Only Quantum Racing and Provezza did not finish eighth at all.
Final Standings
1. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (1,4,7,7,2,2,3,6,2,4) 38 p.
2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto Roemmers) (5,1,2,5,5,1,2,8,4,6) 39 p.
3. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (4,3,4,3,1,5,5,3,8,3) 39 p.
4. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (3,6,5,1,3,8,7,2,1,1,5) 41 p.
5. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (8,2,3,4,4,4,8,4,3,7) 47 p.
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (2,8,6,2,8,6,1,7,7,1) 48 p.
7. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (7,7,1,6,6,7,4,5,5,5,2) 50 p.
8. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (6,5,8,8,7,3,6,1,6,8) 58 p.
Racing was on Tuesday and through Saturday, June 18-22.
MYS 2018 - Monaco Yacht Show
A great show for the 1uk.com team at Monaco 2018. Met some lovely people and thouroughly enjoyed the whole vibe of the show. Was great to see the UK Red Arrows pass over 1UK at the show and then to have the pleasure of a couple of hours chatting with the pilots at the reception later.
Meet The Red Arrows
Interview with the Red Arrows at Monaco Yacht Show 2019 By Paul Thompson.
I asked one of the Reds, what technology they used during their display, he said "nothing..! , so long as I can see at least 4 rivets on the plane in front then I know I am in the right place" ha ha
So what about Navigation?
We all have an ipad each that is taped to the windscreen with some gaffer tape, it does the job and we travel the world with them. The ipad probably has more of the latest technology inside it than the actual aircraft itself, these are quite old hawkers what we fly, but we all love them for there agility in the sky and great for performance.
Greeting the team at the after show party
So my next question was, do you fly in formation when you are heading out to shows and how do you navigate. " Yes we always fly in formation and flick the smoke on to wave to any other planes we pass. For navigation we have an Iphone6 attached to the windshield with Velcro...!! and we use an app to navigate"
Great ambassadors for the UK
I asked how long you do service in the red arrows and surprised to hear that they rotate every 3 years with 3 in and 3 out each year, so in total you only do 3 years. occasionaly some pilots can do a second tour.
It was a humbling experience chatting to the red arrows and you could not meet a nicer bunch of guys, they engaged with the audience and chatted to everyone plus answered everyones questions with enthusiasm, great ambassadors for the UK.
NEW - 1UK affiliate program
Launching in October 2018 is our Partner Affiliate program. Join us as a buyer, seller, broker, shipbuilder and once you reach the criteria you will receive regular dividends from our profits. Unique in the industry and another example of our creativity at 1 in finding new and innovative ways to collaborate with many partners.
1uk.com becomes just:- 1
1
The new branding coming slowly of the next 12 months we will change to just " 1 ". as part of our mission to be the number 1 luxury portal for luxury products on a global basis we are re-branding to become our own goal of Number 1
Welcome our new partners in 2018
We are pleased to welcome on our 3 new partners in 2018 with Benetti Yachts adn superyachts, Shafaer Yachts & Drascombe. We have added their range to our inventory and they are available for purchase direct through 1uk.com as official affiliate partners.
We also have several other new shipbuilders coming on board soon to complete our range and cover all aspects of luxury sailing.
Superyacht St David
See our special feature on the Superyacht St David This was Sold by West Nautical shortly after MYS 2018
E 3systems at the Monaco Superyacht Show
Nov 2017
This year’s Monaco Yacht Show was a big one for myself and all of us at e3. So with a team of 17 we were out in force and out to impress. With a demanding schedule of VIP tours, demonstrations and meetings – together with one or two glamorous parties – we aimed to showcase a whole range of new technology and products. Not least our new flat panel antennas launched with our partner, Kymeta.
I’m glad to say that all the hard work paid off with this game-changing technology turned out to be one of the talking points of this year’s Show. Owners, agents, captains, shipyards, re-fitters, service providers and the media took the opportunity to join tours to see the technology in action aboard the two superyachts that had successfully trialled the panels over several months across the Caribbean, Atlantic and Mediterranean. Each tour was led by engineers and crew who had supported the installations and monitored the performance of the technology throughout the trials.
The tours took VIPs to see working Kymeta KyWay™ terminals onboard the 65-meter motor yacht White Rose of Drachs moored at Cap d’Ail and the 89-meter sailing yacht, Maltese Falcon, swinging at anchor outside Monaco harbour. Guests were invited to inspect the panels in situ on both yachts and to connect to the internet using their smart phones and tablets. e3 and Kymeta engineers together with the captain and crew of each vessel were on hand to provide their own personal account of how the trials progressed and to answer the many questions.
OFF WITH THEIR DOMES
Reaction to the new technology has been overwhelming with a fantastic amount of interest from across the industry and the media. Agents for several well-known superyachts told me they are now actively pursuing refit options to incorporate the technology while a significant number of shipyards have also said they will now offer flat panels as a standard option on all their new builds.
Perhaps the biggest recommendation for this game-changing technology has come from Andrew Schofield, captain of the White Rose of Drachs, who was very happy to state that he plans to cut off the vessel’s domes this winter: “We look forward to progressing from the current temporary trial installation to the finalized fully-integrated solution, which will rid the yacht of the current VSAT and TVRO domes. This will remove over five tons of weight from her super structure and provide the yacht with permanent access to the internet.”
MALLORCA LEADS THE WORLD WITH FLAT PANEL SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY
This tweet amused me during the Show. Mallorca has been leading the charge with flat panels, something that has not gone unnoticed as this tweet from Holland-based M4SAT shows.
Our social media channels have also been busy so if you want to find out all the latest news from e3 please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
A SPARKLING EVENING
One of the lovely things about Monaco is the chance to catch up with old friends and the chance to make new ones, so we were delighted to host an exclusive party for specially invited guests on the White Rose. This very splendid motor yacht had spent the summer trialling the flat panel antennas across the Med and her elegant surroundings were a very fitting venue from which to welcome the good and great of the superyacht industry from around the world.
The Champagne flowed into the early hours as guests were entertained by one of Monaco’s favourite jazz bands and an impressive magician who wandered the decks surprising guests with tricks and sleight of hand. More than 150 guests were welcomed aboard and tucked into the excellent cuisine, expertly prepared and beautifully presented by the yacht’s exceptionally attentive crew. Naturally we had time to conduct a few informal tours of the technology and talk business but mainly the focus was on having fun and catching up on the hottest topics at Monaco.
COMING SOON TO A SUPERYACHT NEAR YOU
The big question that many in the industry have been asking me is: “when will the panels be ready to fit?” And after a long time in development and trialling, I’m very happy that the answer is imminently. The panels will be available in both single and multi-panel solutions. The single-panel solution which is designed to work across the Mediterranean and from Rhode Island to Trinidad will be commercially available before the end of this year. While multi-panel commercial availability for global use will be Q2 2018, to allow time for the combiner units to move from prototype stage to full commercial production. Both solutions will initially be available with Kymeta KĀLO™ service with other service providers coming online soon.
NEXT STOP FLORIDA…. AND AMSTERDAM
There’s no rest for the wicked and we’re off once again to spread the word, this time at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in early November, where we hope to build on the success we had at Monaco. We will be on the Aft Deck at the USSA Pavilion in FLIBS and will be demonstrating a single panel installation from two motor yachts in the Fleet Miami fleet at Pier 66, alongside the Show – the 54′ Shredder and 154′ Usher.
Also in November, e3 and Kymeta will also be hosting a booth in the Super Yacht Pavilion at METS with a full team on-hand to answer questions. In addition, we’re sponsors of The Superyacht Forum so you’ll find us giving a presentation on main stage followed by daily workshops. Full details at http://www.superyachtnews.com/thesuperyachtforum
It’s been an incredible year for us at e3 so far and all the hard work from
everyone involved has been worth it. I am confident that it will mean a higher profile for the yacht sector in Mallorca and as well as bringing employment opportunities at e3, as we get ready to cope with expected growth in new business.
Roger Horner of e3 System
The show has steadily become one of the most important shows in the world, with many boatbuilders and re- sellers saying they sell more boats here than at any other show in the world. There will be around 650 boats on display.
2016 saw 51,000 visitors including 666 journalists There were 530 exhibitors (60% from abroad) 48% of exhibitors are boat manufacturers/importers 52% represent other business sectors (equipment manufacturers, brokers, service providers, etc.) Last year saw 630 boats from 2.10 to 52 metres, including 191 new boats and yachts showcased during the Cannes Yachting Festival, including 107 world premieres and 40 second-hand boats ranging from 22 to 52 metres on display at Port Pierre Canto, 140 yachts longer than 20 metres, 115 sail boats (20%) 45 multihulls, including 10 motor yachts
Our good Friends at The Islander Magazine have been invited to become a media partner to the show, which they were delighted to accept. So, for the first time their readers will be able to pick up a copy of September’s Islander from one of the press kiosks. They will be there in person for most days, so don’t be shy in inviting us them to a glass of Rosé!!
Cannes 2017
Monaco Boat Show 2017
The Monaco Superyachtshow will take place this year from the 27th till the 30th of September at Port Hercules.
Virtual Boat Show
Being the first Virtual Yacht Broker and the largest luxury portal of it's kind we are considering launching an online Virtual Yacht/Boat show in 2018 and are looking for feedback in relation to this and your feedback. We are also considering in doing this to combine it with property and jets so we get good cross marketing opportunities. The idea being that we would produce a type of floor plan that would link to each company in their respective areas. This link would go through to their website whereby each company would then either arrange a video call or walk through and /or some sort of direct chat with potential clients.
We would sell the floor space as with any exhibition and offer sponsorship for different areas of the show. Registrants would pay a small fee to view to eliminate any timewasters and then book an appointment with each respective company.
So that's the basic idea and we welcome input from anyone who would be interested, you can email to virtualboatshow @ 1uk.com
The Pursuit Of Better Sails
“If I started a sailmaking company, would you buy a sail from me?”
That’s what Lowell North asked his friend John Shoemaker, one afternoon in 1957, while seated at the bar of San Diego Yacht Club. John replied, “Yes, I would,” which surprised Lowell. Sure, they were friends, but neither man could predict that Lowell’s new company would eventually grow into the largest sailmaking business in the world. Or that along the way, Lowell would become a world champion sailor and two-time Olympic medalist.
During a recent interview at his house in Point Loma, Lowell told us John’s answer “gave me the encouragement to start North Sails.” He admitted that before starting the company, he hadn’t built many sails. He said it took him years to figure out how to make a fast shape, but Lowell quickly became known for his unique approach in an industry where he had little experience. And 60 years later, a scientific approach to material and product testing, as well as analytics-based sail design and performance development, continues to be the backbone of North Sails.
“The realization that I didn’t know anything about sail shape was really a big help,” Lowell explained. “I was then able to test a great variety of shapes, some of which tested faster. This objectivity helped us to make a lot of progress in sail shape.”
After that drink with John Shoemaker, Lowell dove in. It all started in a rented 20 x 80 foot space at B Street Pier in downtown San Diego. He quit his job as an aerospace engineer at Narmco, and went to work on the floor building Snipe and Star sails. The early days were shaped by a tight group building a modest business. Lowell’s first wife Kay did the bookkeeping. Their first hire was a seamstress, Daisy. Next was Paul Merrill, who had worked for Herb Sinnhoffer sailmakers; he bridged the delicate gap between employee and teacher. Other early staff included friends like Earl Elms and Tom Nute, and later Pete Bennett from Murphy and Nye in Chicago.
“Pete brought a lot of really good production techniques with him, and established ways of cutting and sewing sails more accurately and efficiently,” Lowell said. “We started making Snipe sails, which was the first class we were really successful in. Meanwhile, Paul’s plan was to retire a few years from then and sail around the world.”
“Did he do it?” we asked.
“I haven’t seen Paul Merrill in years. I suspect he did.”
Around 1962, Lowell and production manager John Rumsey began empirically testing sailcloth stretch and fatigue. They read the numbers and confirmed the market standard was far too low. They could do better.
“The sails on the market weren’t good enough. I started re-cutting my Star sails from the prominent West Coast sailmaker at the time [Kenny Watts].”
“We began testing cloth samples by attaching them to the antenna of my car. We called it flutter testing, it seemed to match the real life degradation of the material and gave us a pretty good inkling of how the sail cloth would degrade in actual use. We later simulated the car antenna flutter testing by building an in-house machine which spun the attached samples on a rotating wheel or arm.”
This was the beginning of a long history in material development. The “30/30 benchmark” became known among cloth specialists: 30 minutes at 30 miles per hour. Looking past woven polyester, Lowell and textile converter Noah Lamport created the first laminated sailcloth, used on the 12 Meter Enterprise in 1977. In 1980, launching NorLamTM (a polyester/Mylar laminated sailcloth) complemented the company’s introduction of radial panel sail layouts.
Lowell’s legacy continued with patented three-dimensional membranes (1992), followed by the first warp-oriented polyester sailcloth, North Sails Radian™ (2008). North Sails 3Di composite membranes went to market in 2011, and they are continually improved by materials research out of the Minden loft. The capacity of North Sails 3Di technology continues to expand as designers and product engineers learn to adapt the product to new sailing markets. Ask North Sails designers today, and they’ll tell you it’s all about the strength and shape of the membrane – which goes right back to the same qualities Lowell was testing for.
On the water, Lowell is known as one of those guys who just “got it.” Renowned for his results in the Star Class, he medaled in 12 World Championships over 25 years and won gold at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He also won a bronze medal in the Dragon at the 1964 Tokyo Games. It was during this time that North Sails was first getting off the ground, and Lowell met many people who would become key players in its expansion.
“Peter [Barrett] and I met in Japan at the 1964 Olympics. I think Eckart Wagner was there too. Charlie Rogers and Dick Deaver crewed for me in Japan. They were all instrumental in the early success of North Sails.”
Peter Barrett founded the second North Sails loft (Seal Beach, CA) before moving home to Pewaukee, WI to start North Sails Midwest, the first loft outside California. Eckart Wagner broke ground in Germany in 1966, followed by Andre Nellis with North Sails Belgium. Later, North Sails Italia came online with the arrival of Robin Morgan.
“At some point I went to a school for executives. They taught me if you put together a group of men that were fairly hungry for something, and you worked to provide them with what they wanted, they would help create a successful organization. The term Tiger seem to fit the personality of our loft managers at the time; they were hungry.”
At this point in the interview, Lowell’s wife Bea chimed in. “We were in Portofino, in a little medieval castle in the old port, to accept a “Life of Sailing” award for Lowell. The Italian TV guy asked me, “Do you know who you’re with? Do you really know who you’re with?” and I said, “Well, who am I with?” He said, “The man that revolutionized the world of sailing.”
Lowell replied, “I think I brought together a great group of guys whose ideas and thoughts made for a very innovative company, and a profitable organization.”
For 27 years, Lowell led North Sails to new heights by being a true pioneer. He crafted ways to test the strength of raw materials, introduced computer-driven cloth-cutting machines, and performed the first computerized structural analysis of upwind sails. Along the way, he built a trusted team from the ground up and found personal success with the products he offered. By devising his own approach, he established a new industry standard and left his company with an ideology that still survives today.
As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of North Sails, Lowell reflected on how the sport has changed by weighing in on a much-debated topic between traditional and modern sailors. “Sailing has changed very little, in that wind and water are the same. Racing and winning still rely more on the skill of the skipper then on the equipment. 60 years from now? Not much difference: bigger, faster and more aerodynamic boats, bigger sails and probably more foils.”
We asked, “What makes a master sailmaker?” and “What is the greatest strength of North Sails?” Lowell had the same answer to both questions: “The ability to build fast sails.”
We asked his favorite place to sail and he replied truthfully, “In the ocean off Point Loma in San Diego.”
“The worst place?” we asked.
“I stay away from places like that.”
An Interview with Lowell North
Varnish 101
The Railstar source control system was not developed by an intern at one of the large marine conglomerates, nor does it reek of high-tech. This was derived over time and many refits in an on-going quest for a pragmatic approach to achieving a greater millage of product delivered via brush to intended yacht structure...
Marina Spotlgiht - Ibiza
Marina Spotlight - ibiza
For better or for worse, depending on which side of the fence you prefer to sit, the Balearic island of Ibiza has completely transformed over the past few years.
Left drained, depleted and relatively unknown at the close of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, it gradually gained its place on the tourism radar and earned favour with film stars escaping prying eyes, alongside bohemian hippy types enchanted by the rolling countryside, pine forests and deserted white coves.
Marina Spotlight - Grand Harbour Marina, Malta
Dropped into the Mediterranean, around 90km south of Sicily, Malta is one of the smallest and most-densely populated countries on the planet – in fact, it features in the top ten. When I say ‘Malta’, I actually mean the Maltese archipelago of Malta, Gozo and Comino which between them cover 316 square kilometres and share a dainty population of around 423,000. By way of comparison, for those with a Balearic bent, Mediterranean bedfellow Mallorca covers more than ten times the area (3,640 square kilometres) yet barely twice the population (860,000) – Malta is indeed a fun-size powerhouse.
Ship Shape
Ship Shape
Staying fit before I started living on a boat was a matter of going to the gym. However, this is not generally possible when living aboard. I have had to adapt my fitness plan to what is practical in, on and around the boat.
Seagoing life can often be harsh and challenging. This, coupled with long hours of work during times of heightened tempo, creates an environment in which the crew will be subject to increased levels of tiredness and stress. I believe, and have found, that maintaining good fitness enables me to conduct tasks professionally when under such conditions.
Long periods of healing over at 40 degrees, rain showers and big seas. No space. No privacy. The idea of maintaining fitness at sea was always a daunting challenge. But looking back, I am surprised at what I have achieved in such a small and and often unstable space.
Finding the motivation to work out in such conditions can be a test, so it is necessary to get creative! If the wind and sea state becomes too high, then a yoga session will always be more sensible and convenient – staying closer to the deck and incorporating the healing of the boat into the stretches. However, should the conditions become too severe, then I wouldn’t hesitate staying safe and missing a workout.
A workout mid Atlantic is a pretty amazing experience. Being set up on the aft deck or bow of a small sailing yacht, with no visible land in any direction, was very therapeutic.
After a long distance passage, the crew arrives and collapses from exhaustion, caused by the incremental effect of a lack of sleep and long watches. I underestimated how hard your body muscles have to work, whilst trying to maintain balance on board a continuously rolling sailing yacht; they even have to work when you are asleep to keep you in your bunk!
My TRX strap has been an ideal piece of equipment for me as a sailor. If you don’t want to spend the money on one, then find a length of one quarter inch surgical plastic tubing, with handles and a piece of webbing that has a grommet to attach the band to something on the boat – it is just as good! I have used this for a wide variety of arm and back exercises by anchoring the centre point to something on the boat or by standing on the tubing. You can also adapt the lead from scuba diving belts you may have on board to make hand weights.
You can use your boat as a gym: I can do dips and hip circles in our companionway and have used fenders as a makeshift exercise ball. I have also used a variety of exercise programs that I follow on my phone.
When I don’t feel like exercising on the boat, and when the opportunity arises, I try to take long walks or go running to explore my latest destination – it was one of the main reasons why I started working on yachts; to travel and see the places I sail to. When at anchor, I often kayak to shore early in the morning, with my trainers, socks and a towel in a dry bag. I drag the kayak up the beach and rid the sand from my feet with a towel, before putting on my trainers and finding the best place to watch the sunrise. Being prepared the night before has enabled me to slip away quickly in the early morning and be back before the guests are awake.
As a chef, I often spend long hours on my feet working in a small galley. This isn’t particularly good for me, so it is important that I keep stretching and moving when I can. If I need a pan from the bottom locker, then I squat down to get it. Getting creative with my everyday movements helps me to challenge my muscles and keep them active whilst I work.
I have always been a keen long distant runner. I find it to be a fantastic way to explore new destinations: Running along the waterfront in Mallorca, or up the hill to the castle, Bosc de Believer. There you can watch the sunrise stretch over the beautiful architecture of the city and the marinas. Then take a pit stop at ‘Ziva To Go’ in Santa Catalina for a smoothie, juice or homemade cinnamon granola with almond milk on the route back to the boat yard. Sometimes I rent a bike from one of the shops on Calle de Joan and cycle east along the cycle pathway towards El Arenal. I also love to stop off in Fibonacci for a coffee, or take away wrap, and continue towards the small rocky beaches – a perfect place to sit and eat lunch.
Buying good boots and decent socks has set me up ready to go hiking. Venturing up Mallorca’s mountains, to the famous lamb restaurant, Es Verger Alaro. Setting up camp in the forests between Valdemossa and Deia, where I can journey up the valley to a point where you can view the whole of the island stretching from North to South.
I have heard crew say that, during charter they find it difficult to slip off the boat for a run or swim, or find an opportunity to fit a workout in on the aft deck. It can be particularly difficult if the only space on deck is above a guest cabin (you don’t want to be jumping around completing a set of burpees immediately above sleeping guests!). I try to set myself a standard. I approached the captain from day one and explained how important it is for me to maintain my fitness. With the right approach, the guests and crew have become used to my antics and I am no longer embarrassed to be covered in sweat, jumping around on the aft deck whilst someone is on watch.
Since the Mediterranean season I have really started to enjoy my swimming! There is nothing more satisfying than jumping in the ocean after a long day spent hidden away in the depths of the boat.. Swimming has become a regular and enjoyable part of my daily routine, particularly when we are set at anchor.
During charter, my typical morning starts at six o’clock with a quick jump off the boat. I loved this as it gives me a morning kick-start, often needed after a late night working. If I’m lucky, we will be at anchor in a secluded, beautiful bay where the water is clean and crystal clear. I find it always satisfying to break the surface of flat, undisturbed water that flickers tinges of orange and pinks as the sun comes up. Swimming in tropical waters can be an incredible experience. The first signs of light in the morning can set off a mesmerising display of fish jumping as they hunt for their first meal of the day, you may see stingrays gliding or turtles breaking the surface of the crystal blue water to take a look at today’s sunrise.
I find the trick is to fit your routine around the routine of the boat. Assuming the crew or guests wouldn’t be up until later, I would do a deal with the Captain to cook dippy eggs for breakfast if he drops the swimming ladder when he hoisted the ensign at 8’o’clock. Perfect! This gives me two hours where I can swim to the nearest beach, stretch, walk or just sit and enjoy being off the boat and away from the galley.
There are plenty of places to swim, hike and run in Antigua. However there are only so many times you can walk the Goats Trail in English Harbour. In the past, I’ve hired a car and driven to the south coast – just up from Cades Bay, by the famous Antiguan Black pineapple plantations, the World’s sweetest variety of pineapple, and walked up Mount Obama through the Caribbean jungle. Its a steep climb, I followed the rocky trail through soaring thick bamboo, millions of spiders webs and then tackled lemongrass fields. After working up a sweat, I drove straight to the nearest beach to cool off in the sea!
I am learning to adapt to my environment and try to make the most of all the places and opportunities that arise as I travel the seas – opportunities that could so easily be missed when you have your head down working in the marine industry.
Monaco Superyacht Show 2017
Pictures by Paul Thompson
