Editor's Note: Coffee, Catch-ups & Ice Breakers
With the peak of July closing in, we traded the piercing heat of Italy’s busy yacht-building Mecca for the soft summer sunlight of the Freisland. We spoke with exploration legends ICON Yachts and Vripack to gain a deeper insight into the world of modern adventure.
Speaking about the dawn of the ice explorer with Dick Boon, Founder of Vripack, to the future of responsible tourism with the builders of ‘Legend’ and the designers behind ‘Project Revolution’, my obsession with the explorer market is getting somewhat out-of-hand.
As I write this, walking through the streets of Amsterdam on one of the famous Vripack ‘Trendwalks’, the everyday inspirations of creative ‘Vrithinkers’ Marnix Hoekstra and Bart Bouwhuis only serve to exacerbate the fuel firing my curiosity.
This is, after all, our sixth week on the road, and a time - while filled with film shoots, insightful discussions and long-awaited catch-ups over too much coffee - that must now give way to the gruelling post-production phase.
Luckily, my tired (and frankly, sorry-looking) passport is being put to rest next week as myself and the film team look over our recent work, but the journey is set to continue as we move into the next phase of our new video project. Trying not to give away any details away gets harder and harder every week.
In the meantime, Christina Tsangaris has been speaking to the Ancona-based progressive yacht-builder WIDER to gain a first-hand insight into their recent takeover with Genting Hong Kong Executive Vice President of Marine Operations, Michael Hackman.
Read Christina’s full story here, as the new owning company give us details into taking the yard’s penchant for innovation even further.
Also on our team’s radar this week is the Monaco Yacht Show, with the annoucement of their bespoke itineraries on offer, as they prepare innovative new initiatives to attract both existing owners and new owners alike. Think Galas, a doting concierge and exclusive invites to the most prestigious luxury brands. As the entire industry gears up for the show, we have one ocean revelation we can't wait to see: Lurssen's M/Y Areti which will no doubt turn heads on arrival.
Week in, week out, the design world continues to impress. SuperYachtsMonaco's newest concept by RC Design was this weeks talking point. From sketch-pads to sun-downers, we explored the interior allure of Superyacht OKTO, paying homage to the late Alberto Pinto's brilliant design execution.
IYC's success in the sale of S/Y Pink Gin, an eye catching explosion of colour, sets sail with her new owners across the horizon. Elsewhere on the brokerage scene, Imperial Yachts Project 783, a never-before-chartered vessel, is fresh in their sales portfolio with an earthly elegance owed to British interior designer Mark Berryman.
Where innovation is concerned, Damen makes a bold statement, showcasing a Support Vessel made for exploring, answering a clients desires for freedom and spontaneity and reminding us sometimes it's ok to rip up the rule book.
Catch up on the latest from the superyacht community here. Feel free to get in touch with us via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the meantime or message me here if you think there’s something we may find interesting.
