How the other half live...

[Stemar]

At least social distancing shouldn't be a problem.

Not for me, though, even if she was just pocket change. (I wish... No, actually, I don't. I'd quite like a few million to cushion my declining years and get the kids properly set up, but not billions - too much hassle)

 

[steve1963]

Anyone know why she flies a UK Ensign? Thought she was owned by a German businessman ?

Almost certainly because it is registered in one of out offshore tax-havens. Almost all super yachts are. It is a national disgrace

 

[Tintin]

Following shipping lane, then crossing at 90 degree? Were't likely to tack into the current NEasterly were they!

And there you go, ruining a perfectly good start to an anti-French rant .... I ???

 

[capnsensible]

Almost certainly because it is registered in one of out offshore tax-havens. Almost all super yachts are. It is a national disgrace

Interesting comment. As I understand it, a large percentage of the worlds Superyachts are UK flagged. That means they conform to the MCA standards for safety and manning in order to be attractive to the very active megabuck charter market.

World leaders in the field. Kinda opposite to a 'disgrace'?

To see loadsa big yachts and Motor Vessels of a similar size and cost during the winter, try English Harbour in Antigua as an example. You can get fed up with them.

 

[Triassic]

And there you go, ruining a perfectly good start to an anti-French rant .... I ???

Sorry, it was getting late and I wasn't thinking properly.... carry on!

 

[Greenheart]

I remember discussion of an even bigger yacht - might have been Maltese Falcon - in which I was disappointed to learn that the innumerable conveniences and luxuries below deck on modern sailing vessels this large require the engine room to be humming 24/7, albeit only with generators that are necessarily almost as powerful as the yacht's auxiliary, so she might almost be a motor yacht.

A three-masted schooner this size from 100 years ago couldn't have enjoyed much if any of the tech cleverness of this big Baltic, but it would have been a pure sailing boat, quiet at anchor, and every mile she sailed would have been reward for effort and planning, even if that effort were delegated to a crew. I wouldn't actually say 'no' if I were given a big motor yacht, but I'd never choose one and for the same reason, I can't envy the owner of this Baltic. Automation isn't what I like about sailing.

I didn't like the look of her from first glance, but the video below confirms that she's a taste-vacuum.
I particularly like the comments. You can't read them here, but they all expressed similar dismay: Never let a homeless drug addict design your interior. ?

Having said all that, there are big boats from recent years that would turn my head...

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Whoever said money can't buy happiness had no imagination!

 

[johnalison]

Places they have been

You mean they were just showing off? I'd have thought they would have been more modest. Do you think they would have been impressed if I had sailed past with my 8 ensigns on display?

 

[Wansworth]

You mean they were just showing off? I'd have thought they would have been more modest. Do you think they would have been impressed if I had sailed past with my 8 ensigns on display?

It used to be the case if you had done a world cruise on returning to your home ort you strung up all the flags of the places you had been,Hiscock comes to mind.

 

[slipknot]

I believe their support boat is Pink Shadow. And very impressive she is too. She is ahead of Pink Gin in Rotterdam



Pink Gin support yacht Pink Shadow delivered

 

[blade]

Interesting track. Did the French turn him away I wonder.

View attachment 88781

I happened to be looking on Vesselfinder quite recently and saw it coming up through the Straits of Gibraltar enroute for Malta, it had crossed from the Caribbean, it got close to Malta and then about turned (possibly didn't get permission to enter), then sailed or motorsailed all the way back to Gibraltar, called in probably for fuel and supplies and then set off non stop to where it is anchored now. Can imagine it is being turned away by marina after marina.

 

[Frogmogman]

I happened to be looking on Vesselfinder quite recently and saw it coming up through the Straits of Gibraltar enroute for Malta, it had crossed from the Caribbean, it got close to Malta and then about turned (possibly didn't get permission to enter), then sailed or motorsailed all the way back to Gibraltar, called in probably for fuel and supplies and then set off non stop to where it is anchored now. Can imagine it is being turned away by marina after marina.

The flying Deutsch mann

 

[dunedin]

There has been a steady convoy of large boats heading up the channel for the past few weeks. Mostly headed for Netherlands or Germany.
Firstly an amazing number of largish traditional sailing vessels - didn’t realise there were that many in commission.
Then the start of a flotilla of motor superyachts - presumably heading back early from the Caribbean
Now the larger sailing superyachts - as well as Pink Gin there was a J Class coming into the English Channel a few days ago, after the Caribbean regatta season was aborted.
Also quite a few smaller sailing craft heading back from Portugal and Spain (did they have to sneak out in the dark?), many SE and NL flagged.
I assume the convoys of smaller sailing craft returning from the Caribbean are still a few weeks away. There are certainly a lot of satellite AIS traces open route.

 

[capnsensible]

Im in fairly regular contact with a friend who's anchored outside Jolly Harbour, Antigua. He tells me there is a high demand for delivery skippers and crew to start moving boats back before hurricane season as no one can fly there. Of course no one can tell what will happen on arrival in Europe. Some hard decisions to be made in the next few weeks.

 

[Lightwave395]

Still there this afternoon, I guess they couldn't get going unless the butler had cleared away lunch...