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Les Voiles de Saint-Barth 2012 promises best-ever edition
superyachttimes.com 23 Jan 12
The
Les Voiles de Saint-Barth is just
three years young and scheduled for its third annual running
02-07 Apr 12. Held on the fashionable French island in the
northeastern Caribbean, the regatta continues to show signs of
healthy growth and popularity with a roster that promises not
only to expand by almost a third over last year’s 47 entrants
but also to showcase top sailing talent as well as some of
sailings most phenomenal racing machines. With more entries, we
are able to have more classes, making the racing tighter in each,
said LVSB Competition Manager Annelisa Gee.
Video of Kim Dotcom's Monaco GP charter uploaded
RLTV 23 Jan 12
A German video documentary on Kim Dotcom's 2008 Monaco
Grand Prix yacht charter has been uploaded on the
Internet. The charter was onboard Golden Fleet's 80.5m
Golden Odyssey and the video
shows the hedonistic lifestyle of the German founder of
file sharing site Megaupload.com. Kim Schmitz, aka Kim
Dotcom was arrested at his rented mansion in New Zealand
last week at the behest of US authorities who are
seeking his extradition for piracy of copyrighted videos
and music. The film called 'Kim Goes Monaco' shows
Dotcom, surrounded by topless women and men spraying
champagne on board the super yacht during a “crazy
weekend” in Monaco reported to have cost $10 million.
MD.
Business
leaders discuss yacht industry trends at Monaco Yacht Club
voilesnews.fr 23 Jan 12
Fifty yachting industry leaders met at the Monaco Yacht Club
last week for the 4th Belle Classe Economic Symposium to discuss
industry trends. 2011 was up and down, with an apparent revival
before conditions became tough again, making predictions for
2012 difficult. There is a twin trend of market consolidation
amongst the major players with higher overheads, but also a
growing sector of independent operators who are able to offer
lower prices. If the crisis continues, there could be further
market fragmentation. The market for larger yachts 70m+ remains
stable but there has been a decline in business for smaller
boats less than 40m. Second hand prices have declined 30-40%
since 2008. Russia, Brazil and China are growth regions in the
market. The next Belle Classe Symposium to be held 28 Mar 2012
will focus on environmental issues in the yachting industry.
European Yachts of the Year
yachtingworld.com 22 Jan 12
The winners of the 2011/12 European Yacht of the Year were
announced on Saturday night, with their trophies presented by
America's Cup winner Jimmy Spithill (pic). During a formal
reception of over 400 guests at the Dusseldorf Boatshow in
January, this year's European Yacht of the Year winners were
announced. The four catergory winners were awarded their
trophies by the youngest ever America's Cup winner, Oracle's
Jimmy Spithill, who had flown from Australia especially for the
event. The winners are: Oyster 625 - Luxury Cruiser; Pogo 1250 -
Performance Cruiser; Beneteau Oceanis 45 - Family Cruiser; Esse
750 - Special Yacht. Toby
Hodges.
Gstaad victory at Monaco Yacht Club Team
Racing event
adonnante.com 22 Jan 12 For the
third year, the Monaco Optimist Team Racing event was hosted by
the Monaco Yacht Club. It brought together 12 teams of four
young racers, representing eight nations. "The Team Racing
discipline encourages team spirit and is the first step toward
racing crews," said Bernard d'Alessandri, Secretary General of
the Monaco Yacht Club, who awarded Gstaad Yacht Club, with the
winner’s trophy. 42 rounds were needed throughout the weekend to
decide between the 48 young sailors aged between 12 and 15
years. Gstaad beat the Italian Lake Garda team in the final with
the Fédération Tunisienne de Voile in third place.
Debate over superyacht berth rates at La
Seyne
varmatin.com
19 Jan 12 There was heated debate
in La Seyne town council Tuesday over berthing rates for
superyachts. PCF councilor Philippe Mignoni proposed maintaining
daily berthing rates for large yachts at €4 per linear metre,
discounted to €3.23 for a nine month contract. “We are already
expensive with the same rate as Toulon,” said Mignoni. Another
PCF councilor Christine Sampere argued for a rate increase. “Our
citizens cannot afford to discount billionaires,” adding that
annual revenues of €500,000 did not justify further investment
in the berths. Councilor Raphaëlle Leguen commented, “"We are a
winter port that welcomes wealthy owners to come here to repair
their boat."
Marielle Valmalette.
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