LADY BARBARETTA IS BACK AS NECKER BELLE

This is a real good news, after two years of refit Lady Barbaretta, Richard Branson's luxury, fast, full carbon 105 foot catamaran is back in the water. Necker Belle also has her own blog.

2 September 2009 - Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s privately owned collection of luxury retreats, announces a new girl in town, Necker Belle – a magnificent 32 metre (105 foot) catamaran. Take note, she’s one fast lady, effortlessly reaching a top cruising speed of 20 knots!
Necker Belle has spent the last two years undergoing an impressive refit, following her former years as Lady Barbaretta. Currently in Australia with the final nips and tucks underway, she’ll be turning heads in no time!
With a fantastic crew of seven, she will then set sail for the Caribbean. Necker Belle will be available for tailor-made weekly charters from February 2010 onwards. It is planned that she will spend the winters in the Caribbean and summers in the Mediterranean, should her guests want her to sail the Riviera or uncover its untouched bays.
Days aboard Necker Belle will be spent enjoying the clear waters of the Caribbean, whether cutting up the sea on a pair of water-skis, trying a hand at the high-adrenaline sport of game fishing or marvelling at the vibrant marine life with scuba tanks strapped to your back. Sun lovers can relax suspended over the turquoise waters, catching some rays on the forward beam trampoline.
Whether you prefer formal or informal dining, fine cuisine on board Necker Belle is a given. Dining can be inside or outside, themed or traditional. Regardless, guests are encouraged to treat Necker Belle as their home. Whilst in the evenings, after dinner, there is always an option for open air cinema –a projector is on hand with the stars in the sky as a back drop.
Accommodating eight guests in four double cabins, Necker Belle is 14 metres wide, which means she’s extremely roomy. It’s been commented that she’s as spacious as a beautiful beach house, a fine extension from her sister property, Necker Island. Except of course she can travel at over 20 knots under full sail!
To keep abreast of Necker Belle’s progress in the run up and during her sea trials, visitors can log onto the ‘Captain’s blog’ at http://vlog.virginlimitededition.com
This also provides the opportunity to chat with our Captain Jono and Chief Stewardess Suzanne.
The seven night weekly charter rate for the remainder of the 2009/2010 winter Caribbean season will be $88,000 USD. This rate includes the charter of Necker Belle with a full crew.*
With a crew of seven catering to each guests’ needs, and a modern and stylish interior; complete with fabulous Virgin service, Necker Belle is the perfect choice for fun and relaxation on the high seas.

YACHTS INDUSTRIES - NEW WEBSITE

YACHTS INDUSTRIES recently launched its new website and the BLUBAY 92

Yachts industries has now a much better website with lots of great pictures and explanations about the shipyard and the two brands they are building and marketing YAPLUKA and BLUBAY. I have already posted their videos which I am a great fan of. When I am bored sometimes I look at them and also Lady Barberetta's. The video's are not on-line yet but they should be soon. Since the beggining with Yapluka the company has invested in good quality marketing tools which I think are very important in the business. I think when you have a good quality video it should come on the first page of your website.

Yachts Industries was very brave when they launched their lastest adverstising not showing catamarans pictures but a Rubik's Cube made of leather, wood, aluminum... Most of the time Yachting advertising is so concervative. I know what I am talking about since when I propose clients or potential clients to innovate in terms of advertising or public relation they are really afraid of changes. So congratulations to them.

Yacht industries also launched the BLUBAY 92, a very nice looking catamaran. I look forward to see her at the Cannes International Boat Show, there will be a lot of cats there which shows how this market market niche is doing.

More on the BLUBAY 92 in a future post.

WORLD MEGA-CATAMARAN LISTING - LAUNCHED AND IN BUILT

Last year, I listed all the luxury catamarans over 70 feet that I knew of and that I could find on the web in order to write NAHEMA's press kit. This was a special order from NAHEMA and it is available for journalists to read. (Just send me an email, it includes interesting bonuses about catamarans). This morning I asked Nicolas DAHER, NAHEMA's excecutive director, if I could share this list with you on my blog. Thanks to him for giving me a positive answer, so here it is.

DOUCE FRANCE THE LARGEST EVER UNTIL GEMINI IS LAUNCHED

LAUNCHED

DOUCE FRANCE 138’4’’ VPLP ALUMARINE 1998
LADY BARBARETTA 105’ CPA CMN 2003
ALLURES 99’4” BLUBAY COMPOSITE WORKS 2006
CILIAM 92’ VPLP SALT HOUSE BOAT BUILDERS 2003
SUN TENAREZE 86’ JOUBERT NIVELT JFA 2004
HIGHEST HONOR 85’ VPLP DRA 1991
LONESTAR 85’ VPLP DRA 1991
MAGIC CAT 82’ GILLES OLLIER MULTIPLAST 1996
ALUMARINE 80 80’ P. LAURENT ALUMARINE 1992
ETOILE MAGIQUE 80’ PLESSIS/ DILASSER BOB ESCOFFIER 2005
LADY PACA 79’ ALUMER 1991

FAT CAT 78’ MORELLI 1992
CORIOLAN VI 77’ VPLP MULTI YACHT COMPOSITE 2003
ZINGARA 75’8’’ MATRIX MATRIX YACHTS 2005
AKASHA 75’8’’ MATRIX MATRIX YACHTS 2005
LIZ 75’4’’ VATON DESIGN PETTER YACHTS 2000
PRIVILEGE 745 74’5’’ MARC LOMBARD PRIVILEGE 2006
PRIVILEGE 745 74’5’’ MARC LOMBARD PRIVILEGE 2007
PRIVILEGE 745 74’5’’ MARC LOMBARD PRIVILEGE 2007
CHE 74 VPLP SUNREEF 2003
NAHEMA IV 72’3’’ YACHT INDUSTRIES YACHT INDUSTRIES 2006
INDIGO FLYER 71’ WORMWOOD DOUGLAS BROOKS 1989
BELLA DONNA 70’2’’ YACHT INDUSTRIES YACHT INDUSTRIES 2005
WONDERFUL 70’1’’ BERRET RACOUPEAU YACHT INDUSTRIES 2004

Clearly we can see there is a positive trend in this market which is increasing in number and in size as you can see below in the "being built" list.

NAHEMA 120 THE LARGEST BEING BUILT IN COMPOSITE

IN BUILT

GEMINI 145’ VPLP DERECKTOR SHIPYARD
NAHEMA 120’ GILLES VATON NAHEMA
SUNREEF 102’ SUNREEF SUNREEF YACHT
HH100 100’ VPLP ALUMARINE
BLUBAY 95’1’’ YACHTS INDUSTRIES YACHTS INDUSTRIES
BLUBAY 92’1’’ YACHTS INDUSTRIES YACHTS INDUSTRIES
GUNBOAT 90’ MORELLI/MELVIN GUNBOAT
CATANA 87’ CHRISTOPHE BARREAU CATANA
YAPLUKA DD 85’1’’ YAPLUKA YACHTS INDUSTRIES
EXCLUSIVE 76’ GILLES OLLIER DESIGN KING CAT/J EUROPE
EXCLUSIVE 76’ GILLES OLLIER DESIGN KING CAT/ J EUROPE
SILHOUETTE 75’8’’ MATRIX MATRIX YACHT
The catamarans mentioned above are ocean sailing cruising catamarans.

Day charter catamarans are not mentioned.

I also read in the last Boat International Issue that 2 Berret Racoupeau Designs (27 and 31 meters) were being produced but I couldn't find any more information. In the latest issue of Showboats, the Global Order Book features a new 85 foot by JFA but again couldn't find more information. If you have any they are very much welcome.

Charte Allures Catamaran with Windward Islands.

LUXURY CATAMARAN WEBSITE - THE WINNER IS LADY BARBARETTA

The winner of the pool "your favorite catamaran website" is LADY BARBARETA (CMN), followed by CHE (SUNREEF) and WONDERDFUL (YAPLUKA). Thanks to the 31 readers who have participated to the pool. The results seems logical to me and it would be a shame for LADY BARBARETTA not to finish first since she is or was (if you know if she has been sold yet let me know) the property of Richard Branson, the communication gourou. Richard Branson bought this yacht at the end of year 2005 at a time it was listed by the marketing agressive Edminston company at 9.2 Million $. (via Luxist). The main advantage of LADY B website is the quality of the pictures and really of the three video displayed : lifestyle, onboard and water. Watching the movies really makes you want to charter this catamaran which offers great leaving space inside and performance under sail. You can find more information about LADY B in this previous post I wrote in April. This pool has generated quite a few connection to the catamarans website. Maybe I will launch another pool soon, if there is a subject you would be interested in let me know.

LADY BARBARETTA

One of the largest cruising catamaran ever built, 32 meters. Lady Barbaretta's website is very attractive it features three videos : lifestyles, cruising, and on board. Delivered in 2003 she is the largest all carbon mutihull ever built. She is very confortable and fast, with a rotating mast and titanium deck fittings. She is available for charter and can be also developed for sale. She was built in France by CMN, which builds yachts and also warships. She can host 8 guest with 5 crew members.