Editors Comments: Week Ending 06/03/2015

A strange but fantastic story grabbed my attention this week and enthralled me on a number of levels. This story surrounded one man’s heritage, passion for exploration and an inherent want to do good. I am of course, referring to the eight year expedition by Paul Allen - co-founder of Microsoft - which ended in the successful discovery of a WWII legend.

I’ve often thought to myself how owning a superyacht is like to make a pretty dramatic shift in how your schedule plays out across the year, but this expedition perfectly illustrated the superyacht owner’s lifestyle in one neat package.

For eight years, Paul Allen and his team of researchers and scientists have dedicated their time and energy into conducting expeditions which often result in something outstanding; and this journey is no exemption to the rule.

Naturally passionate about military history thanks to his family and his life as an engineer, we have today seen one of the world’s largest and most revered battleships which was never thought to be seen again. The Japanese battleship Musashi went down in 1944 with over 1000 men on board and was lost to the history books, until today.

Obviously this story is far from over, but to embark on a journey of discovery armed with men of science, academics and a submersible - as well as Octopus herself - across the world’s finer backdrops is a use of time which has, in short, greatly impressed me.

I am aware of a number of yachts with research laboratories on board - in fact it was this fact which enthralled me with the industry when I first entered into it - and as I see more and more oceanographic research conducted by NGO and Owner alike, I’m excited about the future of responsibility and discovery in the industry and, as always, will be delivering everything once it emerges from the waters.