We selected for you top 5 yacht stories of the last week at Yacht Harbour.
Inside Saddam Hussein’s $100-million 82-metre megayacht
Basrah Breeze was built in 1981 by Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft for then president of Iraq Saddam Hussein and was launched as Qadissiyat Saddam (the name is a reference to a 7th century battle in which Arabs triumphed over Persia). The yacht’s current captain – Hussein Ghazi Khalifa said the cost of yacht at that time was $25 million, but now it would cost approximately $100 million to build such a superyacht.
Saddam Hussein’s 82-metre superyacht Basrah Breeze was recently used by Iraqi marine researchers from the University of Basrah’s Marine Science Center to explore the changing Persian Gulf. The Basrah Breeze came to Basra in 2010 with the government ownership, but she was rarely used since then. In the year 2014 professors at the university asked the government to allow them to use the yacht as part of their research fleet.
The Basrah Breeze was fitted with marble-tiled bathrooms, numerous guest cabins and a large presidential suite. The superyacht’s indulgent interior then has been modified to accommodate Iraqi scientists but much of the original decor still remains. Saddam Hussein was never able to enjoy the yacht because of the war with Iran and she was left moored in Oman for many years. In the middle 1980’s Hussein gave her as a gift to King Fahd bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. The yacht then changed hands several more times before ending up under the ownership of a Cayman Islands company. Following the execution of Saddam Hussein the Cayman Islands company tried to sell the yacht in 2007, but documents were discovered that legally confirmed it to still be an Iraqi vessel. Following a difficult legal battle the Iraqi government was able to claim ownership.
But authorities have now decided to moor it permanently as a hotel and recreation facility for the southern port’s pilots, many of whom live in distant cities. “The port needs the boat to be a station where sea pilots can rest,” said Basra port spokesman Anmar al-Safi.
98-metre yacht Aviva wins Special Judges´ Award at the World Superyacht Awards
Abeking & Rasmussen’s superyacht Aviva is a winner at this year´s World Superyacht Awards which took place on May 19, in Florence. The judges dedicated the famous Neptune Statue in the form of a Judges´ Special Award for this very special yacht.
“Aviva is the result of highest workmanship and best communication between the owner and his team during the short building period of less than three years. Together with Toby Silverton and Reymond Langton Design we are very proud to win this important award.” said Till von Krause – Sales Director Yacht.
60-metre CRN yacht Constance wins at the World Superyacht Awards
CRN wins the prestigious World Superyacht Awards 2018 with 60-metre motor yacht Constance, receiving the Voyager’s Award for the most spectacular cruising itinerary created in 2017. Organized by the editorial group Boat International Media in the elegant Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, the event celebrates the excellence of the nautical world, involving owners and personalities of international yachting.
This important acknowledgement once again pays tributes to CRN’s long-standing experience in the construction of state-of-the-art megayachts, characterized by innovative design and engineering solutions that make cruising a truly unforgettable and unparalleled experience. In early 2017, Constance’s owner and his family cruised over 20,000 miles during a long and exciting cruise in the Caribbean Sea and the South Pacific. After sailing off Florida, Constance reached the Bahamas and Cuba, then continued towards the Cayman Islands, crossed the Panama Canal and finally reached Costa Rica. After cruising the pristine natural paradises of the Coco Islands and the Galapagos, the yacht headed towards French Polynesia, Cook Island and Tonga, Fiji, and then started its way back to Florida.
Born from the successful collaboration between CRN and design firm Zuccon International Project, 60-metre yacht Constance is a megayacht designed and conceived to maximize the pleasure of sailing and the constant contact with the sea, even during long-range cruising. Constance has proven to be capable of outstanding cruising performance, boasting a range exceeding 10,000 miles at 11 knots, which allows it to easily cross the ocean and return.
98-metre British billionaire’s megayacht Aviva with the indoor tennis court spotted
Barely cracking the first half of the world’s 100 largest yachts, Aviva became the first yacht to have an indoor padel tennis court. Built for a UK billionaire, the 98-meter Aviva is also the largest yacht ever built by Abeking & Rasmussen.
The yacht is currently anchored by the Ross Dock picnic area near the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge. Abeking & Rasmussen’s superyacht Aviva is a winner at this year´s World Superyacht Awards which took place on May 19, in Florence.
Launched in January 2017, Aviva was designed by British design studio, Reymond Langton, morphing into their largest creation to date. Boasting large interior volumes throughout its hull, Aviva also manages to feature some exterior space to take in the sun. Its sheer scale required Abeking & Rasmussen to create a special system to launch the yacht with a special pontoon.
The powerful looking hull is the result of new research and testing which ensures superior seakeeping abilities combined with a 20% decrease in drag. Less engine output is required, fuel consumption is reduced and the maximum speed is a full 20 knots. A very special feature is the hybrid drive system: it allows Aviva to run at up to 11 knots without the use of the main engines, using electric motors only.
Aviva’s main feature, however, became an indoor, full-sized padel tennis court. Stretching across a length of 20 meters and a width of 10 meters, the court area goes up 6.65 meters high, a space that would be difficult to fit into any type of yacht. Aviva’s 5,000GT of interior volume, however, allowed to blend in this space without compromises as to the size of the court.
Perfectly lit through lights on the ceiling, this indoor court sits amidst the yacht’s hull and stretches down to the bottom of its draft. In addition to the padel tennis court is a small lounging and viewing area up a series of stairs. Hidden away behind a net to protect the ball from flying away, the viewing area can also be used for gym equipment whilst a game is being played. “The owner is adamant that this is the best padel tennis court in the world, period!” the studio continued.
39-metre Silentworld discovered 19th century’s ship wrecks
Congratulations to the Owner, Captain Michael Gooding and crew of motor yacht Silentworld as the recipient of the inaugural Voyager Award at Australia’s annual Superyacht Awards.
The winning 10-day itinerary undertaken in January 2017 was one of discovery of Queensland’s Kenn Reef in which the yacht set out with the Owner, guests and representatives of the Australian Maritime Museum to seek ship wrecks previously undiscovered. They were successful in finding four wrecks over seven sites on Kenn Reef which has laid unseen by humans since the 19th century. The largest wreck they found was that of Dutch-built S/Y Delta wrecked in 1854.
Silentworld, a 40-metre Oassive, is one of the most prolific charter yachts available in Australia, which and Ocean Alliance has represented the yacht for more than two years. She accommodates 12 guests for charters, in 6 cabins, from as far north as Papua New Guinea to Tasmania in the south plus the whole South Pacific. Her conservation and research enthusiastic Owner named her after Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s 1956 movie, The Silent World, setting the tone and direction for this superyacht.
