Books on Boats: Superyacht Saga a Compelling Tale

Grand Ambition

Grand Ambition: An Extraordinary Yacht, the People Who Built It, and the Millionaire Who Can’t Really Afford It by G. Bruce Knecht (Simon & Schuster, 2013) It’s impossible not to cross courses with really big yachts (superyachts, megayachts, call them what you will) – as we do often enough on the BC coast, one of their favourite destinations – and not be intrigued by the rarified world they represent. If you share this fascination, this book is for you.
It follows the construction of the 187’ Linda Lou for a self-made millionaire who wants his new yacht to be the best ever built in the US. But the financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent recession erode his ability to afford his boat – and threaten the builder’s prospects of completing it. And then the owner becomes ensnared in a Ponzi scheme… 

Author Knecht tells this dramatic story through the eyes and words of the designers, engineers, tradesmen and craftsmen who help create Linda Lou, exploring the gulf between their lives and ambitions and those of the big-yacht owner class. It’s an utterly contemporary tale of the rich and the rest of us that resonates particularly here in the Northwest, where harsh economic realities have taken their toll on our once-booming big-boat industry.

www.gbruceknecht.com/books/grand-ambition/

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As you may already know, the 36th America’s Cup is under way, sort of, in Auckland NZ. It is unfolding as a bellwether of where boating and the world in general finds itself.  So let’s take a look at what is happening on and off the field.

“This is your boat. Itu2019s my baby, but itu2019s your boat. “

“This is your boat. Itu2019s my baby, but itu2019s your boat. “

In the last few months Bruce Kirby, the Canadian designer of the Laser sailboat, the world’s most successful racing dinghy ever, and the one-design boat that powers arguably the largest and most significant class in racing, has revealed that for some time, he has not been paid the royalties owed to him by the builders who had contracts to build Kirby’s design. Yet, the authorities in the Laser class association with the apparent cooperation of ISAF, the International Sailing Federation have continued to issue official plaques to these unauthorized Laser boats. The series of events would seem to undermine the whole concept of one-design sailing and racing. Here’s Bruce Kirby’s own explanation of the current events – Andy Adams Editor

In an attempt to rescue the Laser Class from its downhill course of the past few years I have reluctantly decided that a name change, or re-branding is necessary.  During the past three or four years dealers have had difficulty getting timely delivery of boats, and in particular, of parts.  We have had calls

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New Boats: Lilybaeum Yacht’s Luxurious Levanzo 25

New to Canada and available through Marine SCA, the recently established Lilybaeum Yacht, led by Giorgio Maggio and Vincenzo Marco Pecorella, both in their mid-twenties, are steering the company towards innovative waters with the introduction of their inaugural model – the Levanzo 25.

A Synthesis of Strength and Elegance

The Levanzo 25 blends a fisherman’s robustness with the grace and amenities of a compact yacht. With its high, flared bow, this 7.70 metres vessel promises not only a head-turning aesthetic but also a sturdy, reliable performance on the open sea. One of the standout features of this vessel is its deep “V” hull, boasting a 22-degree deadrise, designed to ensure a secure and dry journey, even when navigating through rough waters.

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Serious Fun at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

By Allegra Smith-Herriott

As the plane started its descent, bright blue skies gave way to crystal clear turquoise waters as we skimmed over the famous Maho Beach. Exiting the airport, I was hit with a wall of warm salty air from the northeast trade winds. Nothing compares to arriving in the Caribbean.

From the airport, I headed to the Regatta Village in Port de Plaisance. Wednesday being ‘Day 0’ was registration day of the Regatta. Teams were out on the water to shake out sails, on the docks making last-minute preparations and in the Regatta Village for registration and most importantly picking up their cases of Heineken.

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