Latest news with #superyacht
The National
a day ago
- Science
- The National
Superyachts for science: How luxury boats are being used to advance ocean research
You may have heard of a coelacanth. It is a prehistoric-looking, deep-water fish, rarely seen unless washed up dead on shore. Earlier this year, a scientific expedition off Indonesia dived to depths of 150 metres and beyond to study it in its natural habitat for the first time. What made this possible? The research was conducted from a private superyacht, hosted free of charge by its owner. It's one of more than 300 vessels – from tugs to catamarans, sailing boats to cruisers to billionaire-class megayachts – registered with the Florida-based International SeaKeepers Society. The group connects marine scientists with boat owners to carry out research that, even without declining grant funding, would often be impossible. This year alone, it has helped run more than 20 expeditions. 'The fact is that there is more research about the marine world to be done and so many scientists trying to do that, and yet the number of vessels available to them to do that pales in comparison,' says the society's chief programmes officer Tony Gilbert. 'Even if a university has a boat, it's one that maybe five labs are fighting over.' SeaKeepers' solution is elegant: if a boat owner is heading somewhere relevant, persuade them to bring a scientist or six along. The gains for science are immense – not least the comfort of a 100-metre floating palace, even if the vessel's size makes it less than nimble. Crucially, private yachts can access areas off-limits to official research ships – or at least without enduring months of red tape and permits from the governments that oversee those territorial waters. That works both ways. Scientists' research permits can grant boat owners rare access to tightly controlled waters, like the Galapagos Islands or the South Pacific's Pitcairn Islands, visited recently by a SeaKeepers mission. The owners' commitment varies. Most contribute depth-sounding data to the Seabed 2030 initiative to map the ocean floor by the decade's end. Some host only short daytrips; others volunteer for multi-week expeditions. Research may focus on photogenic subjects such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and coral reefs, but also less headline-grabbing projects: tracking pollution in bays or data-heavy studies 'full of jargon that only the scientists involved seem to understand', Gilbert laughs. Owners who charter their vessels may even take a financial hit to participate. 'Some owners may just think of their boat as a status symbol, and chances are they won't be working with us,' Gilbert adds. 'But others are aware that they have this vessel, crewed and ready to go – which is incredibly expensive to do – but which just sits there a lot of the time. 'These people typically love the ocean and understand the need to protect it. So getting involved with science is a recognition of the need to really utilise their vessel well. Besides which, boat-owners tend to talk to each other. And being able to say you've just helped advance science on your last trip tends to strike other owners as 'wow, that's really cool''. The concept is catching on. In the UK, Yachts for Science – backed by the Ocean Family Foundation – also matches boats with biologists. This year it's sending researchers to French Polynesia to study manta rays and to Scotland's Outer Hebrides to investigate the sea floor. 'Many missions are simple,' says project lead Rosie O'Donnell. 'If you're tagging sharks off Majorca, you just need a local sport fisherman's boat. We're not usually asking for something with its own submersible.' She currently oversees 20 projects and is looking for a major investor to help reach more boat owners. 'But there's a lot of research projects out there and so huge demand. Getting those projects up and running is all about access to boats and that means getting on to boat owners' radar,' she explains. According to yacht market intelligence platform BoatPro, there are about 13,000 suitable vessels of over 24 metres globally. 'We just need a fraction of those,' she says. 'No money changes hands. They're out there and want to help.' Meanwhile, the Pink Flamingo Society, co-chaired by Romain Trouble of the French NGO Tara Ocean Foundation, goes a step further, engaging prospective owners before their yachts are even built. Why so? The Pink Flamingo Society tries to persuade them that rather than build a floating hotel – of limited use for cutting-edge marine science – humanity would be much better served if they built a proper research ship from scratch, albeit an unusually well-appointed one. So far the building of seven vessels has got under way, with others some years off, given shipyard schedules. It is, Trouble argues, a new spin on the idea of private individuals investing in space, and advancing its exploration accordingly. Rather, here the investment goes into a world that is far more accessible, that covers some 71 per cent of the Earth's surface, and yet about which we know comparatively little.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brooklyn Beckham shares steamy kiss with wife Nicola Peltz before enjoying a beer with his billionaire father-in-law in final holiday snaps as couple return to NYC following Elton John's 'peacemaking deal' amid family feud
shared a steamy kiss with wife Nicola Peltz before enjoying a beer with billionaire father-in-law Nelson in final snaps from the family's trip to St Tropez on Wednesday. The eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, 26, who is currently locked in a bitter feud with his parents, packed on the PDA with the actress onboard her family's superyacht - after godfather Elton John reportedly attempted a peacemaking deal. In a snap shared to her Instagram Stories Nicola threw her arms around Brooklyn's neck as they smooched while watching a sunset. Brooklyn later enjoyed a beer with Nelson, 83, and pulled a string of animated faces for the camera as the family enjoyed a late night party at sea. Nicola stunned in a black mini dress as she strutted her stuff on the dance floor before enjoying a lavish fireworks display. The heiress later showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she headed ashore and turned heads in a Chanel crop top which she teamed with a fluffy shrug, despite the scorching weather. Brooklyn later confirmed the lavish holiday was over as he shared a snap of himself enjoying a huge pizza as the couple arrived in NYC. Amid their trip they enjoyed a swanky lunch with Elton, who sources revealed planned the dinner in a desperate attempt to calm the family's feud. The legendary musician, who has been friends with David, 50, and Victoria Beckham, 51, for over 30 years, treated Brooklyn and Nicola to food at fancy La Guerite beach club in the South of France. The Beckham family have been at the centre of a feud that has pitted Brooklyn and his wife Nicola against the rest of the family. According to The Sun, Sir Elton 'briefly' spoke about the family's feud in the hope Brooklyn would patch things up with his parents. A source said: 'Elton of old may have relished in taking sides - in this case his young godson, Brooklyn - but two years off his 80th birthday, he's a man who has seen and done it all. He just wants everyone to be happy. 'There is no side-taking as such; he simply adores his godson, and really has a laugh with Nicola who he thinks has a great sense of humour. He wants to look after them in his role as 'spiritual adviser' as a godfather, it's a role he takes seriously. 'Elton and David think the situation is terribly sad, and has gently suggested to all involved that life is short - to patch things up.' Nicola (L) stunned in a black leather mini dress as she strutted her stuff on the dance floor before enjoying a lavish fireworks display The stunner showcased her dance moves and played air guitar Brooklyn later enjoyed a beer with Nelson and pulled a string of animated faces for the camera as the family enjoyed a late night party at sea The source added Elton is 'adamant he doesn't want to stick his nose in' the feud, he just simply 'wants peace'. MailOnline contacted the Beckham's and Elton's representatives for comment. Nicola couldn't wipe the smile off her face during the lunch as she sipped on Aperol Spritz at the fancy beach club. Sir Elton is also said to have generously picked up the entire bill, after dining on the restaurant's signature lobster linguine which comes in at an eye-watering £190. David affectionately calls the musician 'Uncle Elton' after becoming friends in his football heyday. Sir Elton was due to perform at the Beckhams wedding in 1999 before suffering a heart attack that prevented him from playing. He later sang at one of the children's christenings. Meanwhile Victoria once disclosed that it was Elton who inspired her to say goodbye to the Spice Girls, penning an emotional letter to her older self where she confessed that watching her friend perform made her realise that her true calling lay beyond singing. It comes after Nicola doubled down on the family feud as she declared Brooklyn 'her everything' on Instagram last week during their luxury St Tropez trip. Nicola took to her Instagram Stories with snaps of the pair embracing during their sun-soaked getaway on board her billionaire father's yacht in St Tropez. The couple only had eyes for each other as she wrapped her arms around his neck while he pulled her in close. She wore a bikini top and skimpy white shorts while her husband shielded his eyes behind shades and a baseball cap and cheekily squeezed her bottom. Nicola captioned the post: 'My everything @BrooklynBeckhamPeltz' with Brooklyn later resharing it with his followers. Last week, it was revealed that Brooklyn and Nicola's Instagram accounts no longer follow his younger brothers Cruz, 20, and Romeo, 22, in the latest family drama. However, Brooklyn's friends told MailOnline on Friday that Cruz and Romeo have actually blocked them on the social media platform. This would make sense given that Brooklyn and Nicola are still following Victoria, 51 and David, 50. Cruz and Romeo were still following Brooklyn and Nicola earlier this month but appeared to take action after Brooklyn posted a birthday tribute to sister Harper, sharing a family photo without them in it – which Nicola reposted. There was much speculation whether Brooklyn would reach out to Harper on her 14th birthday, but despite him doing so, it seems all is not well in the camp. Brooklyn's birthday tribute to Harper marked his first public interaction with his family since he paid tribute to his grandmother Sandra on June 26, despite remaining silent and shunning his father's 50th birthday earlier that same month. Sources close to the family have told MailOnline of their fears that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola have also distanced themselves from Harper after they failed to visit her when they flew into London in May to film an advert for French-Italian clothing brand Moncler just over a mile from the family home in Holland Park. David and Victoria had no idea whether Brooklyn, who Harper has idolised since she was a little girl, would message her privately or publicly on Instagram because they have no communication with him.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Mike Lynch's widow facing damages battle as legal action from Bayesian disaster victims could wipe out her husband's estate
The widow of tech tycoon Mike Lynch could be dragged into multimillion-pound legal row as families of victims demand answers over the superyacht tragedy that killed seven, including her husband and daughter. Angela Bacares, who survived the horrific sinking of the £25 million yacht Bayesian, is now at the centre of a spiralling legal storm, with families of the five other victims preparing a multimillion-pound compensation battle that could engulf what's left of Lynch's fortune. Bacares, who is the sole shareholder of the corporate entity that owned the vessel, could find herself at the heart of the blame game, alongside the boat's management firm and insurance giant QBE. Among the seven killed were Lynch, his teenage daughter, Hannah, the vessel's cook Recaldo Thomas, Lynch's high-profile American lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda, and British banking couple Jonathan and Judy Bloomer. A further fifteen people, including Bacares, survived, rescued by the crew of a nearby yacht in a late-night operation off the Italian coast. While Bacares is understood to have her own personal wealth shielded from the estate, she may not be entirely free from the financial fallout. Bacares is listed as the sole shareholder of Revtom, the company that owned the doomed Bayesian, and that opens the door to potential legal claims from families of the victims. James Healy-Pratt, a prominent US aviation and maritime lawyer, is representing the family of 59-year-old cook Recaldo 'Rick' Thomas, the first victim recovered by divers. He has said: 'The Thomas family are satisfied that they can establish liability for Rick's death against those entities based on the current evidence.' He confirmed that Bayesian was insured for more than $150 million by British Marine, a subsidiary of QBE, and warned that the family would soon offer the insurer a chance to resolve the case behind closed doors or face high-profile legal proceedings in the US. 'The Thomas family will shortly be offering QBE the opportunity to mediate confidentially their significant claim in the US, or face very public US legal proceedings,' he added. Meanwhile, the family of Chris and Neda Morvillo have also signalled their mounting frustration with the yacht's managers and insurers. Chris's brother, New York lawyer Greg Morvillo, has been outspoken about his determination to fight for justice on behalf of his late brother's daughters. He said: 'We had hoped that by now Camper & Nicholsons, who managed the vessel, and the insurance companies that manage the liability for the vessel, would have proactively contacted us to offer not only their condolences but also assurances that there would be no need for us to litigate the losses suffered by our nieces. 'Sadly, no such outreach has happened and our patience is running out. We do not wish to engage in a litigation, and we had thought that Camper & Nicholsons and the insurance companies would feel the same way, but it is beginning to feel inevitable. 'Through all of this, we continue to express our deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones or who have been impacted by what we think was an avoidable tragedy.' QBE confirmed it had insured Bayesian but refused to comment further. It is understood the firm has already instructed a major US law firm to handle potential litigation. A legal insider close to the case said: 'What is an unspeakable tragedy for all is turning into a compensation fight.' Last month, Italian authorities raised the sunken yacht from the seabed as part of an ongoing criminal investigation that may not conclude until 2027. A separate British maritime inquiry is also under way and will feed into upcoming inquests. Teenager Hannah was the last to be found, hidden behind a mattress below deck. She had won a place to do English Literature at Oxford and was due to start her studies when she returned from the trip In a separate long-running civil case, Lynch - the Autonomy founder once hailed as Britain's answer to Steve Jobs - was found in 2022 to have defrauded US tech firm Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) in its $11.7 billion (£8.6 billion) takeover of his software firm in 2011. HPE accused Lynch and his finance chief of cooking the books to make Autonomy appear far more valuable than it was, launching a decade-long legal saga that only deepened after his extradition to the US and eventual death in 2024. Though Mr Justice Hildyard ruled in favour of HPE, the final damages have yet to be determined. The company is seeking a staggering $4 billion - far more than the $516 million Lynch is believed to have personally received. A final judgment is now expected within days, with speculation mounting that the figure could exceed the value of Lynch's estate.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Coolest Yachts Confirmed For The 2025 Monaco Yacht Show (So Far)
Breakthrough will be one of the largest, if not the largest, yacht at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show. Each September, the Monaco Yacht Show draws the world's most dazzling superyachts to Port Hercules. While the 2025 edition (held between 24 - 27 September 2025) is still shaping up, a few standout vessels have already been confirmed by the organizers. This shortlist is full of brand-new 2025-delivered superyachts, so this is the ultimate must-see selection if you're thinking about attending the the boat show in Monte Carlo this year… 389-Feet Breakthrough Breakthrough is one of the most innovative yachts ever built, allegedly commissioned for Bill Gates. Feadship's largest new delivery of the year, Breakthrough is exactly what her name promises. This 389-foot marvel pushes boundaries in both scale and sustainability, with a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell system which is the first of its kind in the world. When engaged, the fuel cell system will use no combustion whatsoever and will produce nothing but water as a byproduct. Rumor has it she features a two-deck glass atrium and a fully-fledgd private owner's apartment that's nestled inside the yacht. The yacht is listed for sale with Edmiston and will be attracting plenty of attention on the docks of Monaco. 263-Feet Al Reem Bilgin's third unit of its 263 series has some unique touches. Turkish yacht builder Bilgin is bringing the third unit in its series to the Monaco Boat Show, but Al Reem is significantly different to her sisters. The yacht, which has a name meaning gazelle in Arabic, boasts around 20 per cent more interior volume than her predecessors, meaning boat show attendees will get to see a fresh take on an existing series. Inside, expect Art Deco-inspired touches, a cinema room, and a wellness area that rivals a five-star spa. 260-Feet Valor Valor features a two metre ice belt for high-latitude exploration. Fellow Feadship build Valor will be easily recognizable on the docks of Port Hercules thanks to her exterior lines. "The owner had three directives," explais de Voogt designer Chris Bottom. "First, he requested something that 'would be recognizable from outer space' as a unique design and eschewed both the wedding cake and common curvaceous designs found on so many common yachts." Other cool features include cherry-picked Italian stone on the interior and a high-grade record player and selection of vinyl records. No doubt she'll be a popular addition to the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show lineup. 202-Feet Simena The yacht has "military grade build quality". A bold addition from Turkish yard Ares, Simena is a steel-hulled Turkish-built ketch named after an ancient city in Turkey's Antalya province. The yacht was 'designed for a true connoisseur', according to Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun, Yachts Projects Director at Ares Yachts. He points out: 'With a cruising speed of 11 knots and a top speed of 14.5, she offers transatlantic range even without sails. She's perfect for any voyage in luxury and comfort.' Mahogany, teak, leather and Calacatta Oro marble feature across Simena's Design Unlimited-interiors, and she has an impressive 12-guest layout. Northrop and Johnson have the boat listed for sale, and Ares Shipyard is one of the exciting new superyacht brands to have on your radar in 2025. 196-Feet O'Madeleine The yacht is available for rent from €390,000 per week. Cool new O'Madeleine is the latest vessel to launch from Greece's Golden Yachts. Her Studio Vafiadis exteriors hide a Nordic-meets-Mediterranean interior style from the drawing boards of Italian studio Massari. 'From the finely grained wood panelling that lines the walls to the textured stingray leather, handwoven rugs, straw panels and hand-carved marble, there is a palpable sense of authenticity and craftsmanship' said a representative from Massari. Golden Yachts is no stranger to making a splash in Monaco, and this latest launch is sure to be another must-see. 180-Feet Rose The yacht has an innovative Nemo lounge that lets guests look out below the surface of the sea. Tankoa's Rose was commissioned for a young entrepreneur with a lifelong passion for yachting. The owner was closely involved throughout the project, helping to modify the layout and introduce the concept of two Jacuzzis and the new Piero Lissoni interiors. Rose also has one of the most exciting features currently on the market in the superyacht world – a semi-submerged Nemo Lounge that sits just below the waterline to offer views underneath the surface of the sea. 177-Feet Riva 54 Metri Iconic yachtbuilder Riva has expanded its fleet with its new model. Riva's highly-anticipated flagship makes her Monaco debut this year. At 177 feet, the Riva 54 Metri is a sleek, silver-hulled stunner that fuses old-school glamour with modern design. Expect polished mahogany, stainless steel detailing, and enough James Bond energy to turn heads in Port Hercules. 163-Feet Bel1 The yacht was designed by Fulvio de Simoni with an interior by Enrico Gobbi. With a design inspired by supercars, Bel1 is a next-gen superyacht with a sharp, futuristic silhouette that's sure to catch attention at Monte Carlo's boat show. Her builder Rossinavi has given her an expansive 145 square metre sundeck with mini pool and opening balconies attached to the lounge. Inside, expect bold interiors by an A-list design team and clever spatial planning that makes her feel far larger than her footprint. 193-Feet Maximus Wellness facilities include a gym room that converts into a massage suite. Known as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing', the Germán Frers-designed ketch boasts twin cockpits and ample on-deck lounging areas. Inside, the Vitters build offers a full‑beam owner's cabin with direct deck access, his‑and‑hers bathrooms and a steam shower, plus a baby Steinway piano. For uncompromising views, Maximus has a crow's nest atop the main mast that'll offer incredible vistas over the Monaco Yacht Show. Whether you're attending the show in person or following the action from afar, these yachts are the ones to watch. Expect even more jaw-dropping reveals in the weeks leading up to the show, but for now, this fleet is setting a high bar.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Joe Rogan became the world's richest podcaster: As he lounges on a £480k-a-week yacht, TOM LEONARD reveals secrets behind former delivery man's empire - and exactly how much he makes
A wise public figure would surely think twice these days before allowing themselves to be caught swanning around the Med on an ostentatious, fuel-guzzling, money-burning superyacht. Especially if the celebrity in question is 'man-of-the-people' commentator and comedian Joe Rogan, who didn't become the world's most popular podcaster without developing a reputation for no-frills authenticity and relatability.
