Boat International US Edition June 2019

There’s a lot of noise around ocean health at the moment and it can be a little overwhelming. Is it plastics, acidification or overfishing that does the most harm? Is the solution to the plastic problem one of culture, recycling or lobbying? Should we try to save coral reefs or cod? And so on. It is our view at BOAT International that we need to quieten the noise and harness what we do best. That is why in this issue we have focused on storytelling, celebrating those on the front line of ocean conservation, from the first female PADI instructor in the Maldives to the scientists developing micro-algae for use in the rapidly expanding aquaculture sector – just two of the winners of this year’s Ocean Awards (page 70). We…

Simon Ward Simon joined BOAT International as production editor in 2018 after six years at the UK edition of Wired magazine. To get him up to speed on the superyacht lifestyle, he was dispatched to Hôtel Casadelmar in Corsica to sample its Espa spa and Michelin-starred restaurant (page 125). What was your favorite part of the Corsica trip? Just tuning in to its relaxed pace of life. Sitting in Casadelmar’s herb-scented gardens with a sundowner after a spa afternoon is the definition of relaxation Tell us about a great place you’ve been to by the water Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s south coast has everything: friendly people, gorgeous food and astounding wildlife. We spotted blue whales, dolphin pods and green turtles hatching on the beach, all in the same afternoon Any other trips planned? We’re plotting a family…

Ten years in the making, Benetti’s third and final 100m-plus superyacht, Project FB275, has hit the water. The 354ft yacht, the largest project yet for exterior designer RWD, follows the December 2018 launch of FB277 and FB272 in February. These projects’ combined stats are staggering. According to Benetti, the trio represents more than five million hours of work and a total tonnage of 12,800GT. The launch of Benetti’s largest projects required major investments in time and infrastructure, particularly at the Livorno shipyard on the Tuscan coast, where €18 million ($20m) went into the construction of two new large sheds. benettiyachts.it…

Inflated asking prices have been blamed for the sluggish sales results in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019 – but there is a silver lining to this particular cloud. Just 89 sales were recorded during this period, a significant drop from the 112 in Q1 2018, and the lowest figure since 2016. March was particularly lethargic, with 28 sales, down from 42 in March 2018. Industry figures were quick to link the slower brokerage sales to asking prices, particularly in the 35m to 45m (115ft to 147ft) market. Cromwell Littlejohn, Northrop & Johnson’s commercial director, says: “We’ve got several clients making offers, but it seems a number of boats are overpriced and the owners aren’t budging.” Fraser sales broker Maarten Ten Holter agrees, describing many asking prices as “way too high.” But…

The ocean was ever present during Titouan Bernicot's childhood. He was born on an atoll in French Polynesia's remote Tuamotus where his parents ran a pearl farm and he spent his formative years surfing and diving the South Pacific’s turquoise lagoons and sprawling coral reefs. As he reached adolescence, however, he began to notice this natural playground disappearing around him as coral bleaching and pollution damaged the reefs. Determined to make a difference, he encouraged a group of teenage friends to take matters into their own hands and launch Coral Gardeners, an NGO aiming to protect the future of Tahiti’s coral reefs. Created in 2017, Coral Gardeners is now helping to save reefs by raising awareness in schools and events around the world and by replanting coral into damaged reefs. Based…

Phoenix rising The new Phoenix 130 is taking shape at South Korean yard GHI Yachts, with input from a team of well-known American designers for the styling and engineering. French designer Alexandre Thiriat, an alumnus of Alberto Pinto who worked on ISA Yachts’ 217ft Okto, has created the interior. GHI is keen on breaking into the US yacht market and is well equipped to build this sporty aluminum yacht, says exterior designer Ian Ombres, of Lazzara Ombres Architects. “South Korea is a world leader in the shipbuilding industry, its labor force is highly skilled and its infrastructure is second to none. The country’s about to take off as a leader in superyacht construction,” Ombres says. Since the first Phoenix 130 is being built on spec, the team had to take care of striking the…