2011 Dubai International Boat Show

With all the wealth in Dubia, it’s no surprise to see one of the world’s biggest boat shows being held there.

Well it’s time for 19th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show to open and many of the the world’s major yacht builders, such as Fincantieri of Italy and Luerssen of Germany will be there.

The 2011 Dubai International Boat Show draws hundreds of top, marine industry leaders in addition to thousands of boating enthusiasts.

This year’s even twill be held from March 1 to March 5, at the Dubai International Marine Club – Mina Seyahi.

Dubai is clearly a hub of luxury yachts, as almost one third of the world’s super-yachts reside in Dubai.

Given the global recession, Dubai’s economy was not immune. The luxury boat sector has experienced a drastic slow down that led to many luxury yacht owners trying to sell their boats to pay off other debt.

Hopefully with the worst behind us, the outlook for big-ticket luxury goods is improving and these luxury mega-yachts will return being in high demand by the world’s most wealthiest people.

The incredible Dubai boat show hosts the largest get-together of  Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) members in the show’s long history. Some of the largest boat constructors planning to attend include: Amels, Benetti, Burger Boat, Heesen Yachts, Oceanco, Sanlorenzo and Trinity Yachts.

Grant Burgham, an exhibitions director at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which is the organiser of the event, said the Middle East was home to some of the world’s highest net-worth individuals, and the market was “perfect” for the high-end marine leisure industry for super-yachts, generally defined as boats longer than 23 metres, and “giga-yachts” – those more than 100 metres in length. “It is an excellent opportunity for the super-yacht buyers in this region to connect with the elite of the industry.”

The 2011 Dubai International Boat Show is expecting to have more than 25,000 visitors during its five-day run.

That’s great news for Middle east marinas. Many new ones are being built to accommodate a surge in luxury yachts.

Show organizers stated that more than US$35 billion (Dh128.54bn) worth of waterfront marina projects are either underway or planned across the entire region.

Courtesy of ASK Yacht Design

The designer Adrien Jousset (ASK Yacht Design) and naval architect Sylvain Julien (BMT Nigel Gee), have been selected as one of five finalists in the World Superyacht Awards – Young Designer of the Year 2009 – with a truly innovative design – Ostria.

“The high standard of entries presented the judges with no easy task in selecting the finalists”, stated Trevor Blakeley, Chief Executive of The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and Chairman of the judging panel. “The judges were impressed by the effort and quality of work presented, reflecting the undoubted talent of today’s young naval architects and marine designers, which surely bodes well for the future of the industry.”

Ostria not only has a radical look but has also been developed to provide an answer to an environmentally conscious owner. Throughout the project the focus has been set on producing a realistic and feasible solution to reduce the environmental impact of a Superyacht whilst creating a truly innovative design.

Although owners are increasingly interested in green designs, they are not usually prepared to compromise on the style, onboard facilities or the sailing experience. Ostria is the result of the convergence of these challenging and often conflicting aims.

Early in the project it appeared that a carbon free propulsion system was unrealistic. The power production capacity required to propel a 70 metre monohull to any decent speed across an ocean is far too demanding compared to any means of renewable, carbon free, energy production. Even the hotel load requirement could not be answered properly with such solutions unless a significant volume of the yacht was dedicated to this purpose.

The choice of the diesel electric propulsion plant therefore came naturally to provide the necessary flexibility to take advantage of secondary, renewable, carbon free means of energy production (existing or near term technology). Podded propulsors have been selected for their high efficiency but also for the flexibility they provide in the design of the general arrangement.

Where the machinery room is traditionally located; a large summer lounge with recreational facilities including sauna and gymnasium has taken its place. This provides the guests with a unique experience of proximity to the sea, in a level of comfort that cannot be reached by a traditional beach club.

Ostria has been equipped with 370 m2 of solar panels, and a 4 m tall retractable wind turbine estimated to reduce the amount of carbon emission by approximately 800 tonnes per year through the reduction of fuel consumption. The solar panel and wind turbine installation have been designed to become a fully integrated feature of the vessel style.

An in-depth study of the vessel’s main systems has also been undertaken to limit the hotel load as far as practically possible. From climate control to rain water collection, most solutions have been studied to assess their feasibility in the marine environment with the aim of reducing the overall energy consumption.

Ostria demonstrates that low carbon emissions and reduced fuel consumption (with its associated cost) can be achieved through a truly stunning design.

The prestigious annual World Superyacht Award – Young Designer of the Year is organized by The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) in association with Boat International, and sponsored by Camper & Nicholsons International. The overall winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London during May.

For more details about Ostria & ASK Yacht Design:
http://www.askyachtdesign.com/Projects/ostria.htm

For more details about BMT Nigel Gee:
http://www.bmtyachts.com/

For more details about the Young Designer of the Year competition at:
http://www.rina.org.uk/worldsuperyachtaward

Catamaran sailing is not something you’ll learn on the regular sailing programs, since most navigation practice is carried out on monohulls.

The reason for such measures is the higher difficulty to operate multi-hulls as it is the case with the catamaran. Sailing experience combined with personal enthusiasm will eventually help one sail a catamaran, and enjoy the stability, the speed and the challenge of such a boat.

What are the elements to consider for one who is ready to invest in sailing gear? First of all, gloves and special foot wear like dinghy boots for instance, are first on the list. Then, there is the life jacket and the foul weather sailing gear. The latter includes both pants and jacket that keep off humidity. And last but not least, there are the wet and dry suits that should not miss from the sailor’s wardrobe; they keep you warm even in water or on very cold weather.

The most common mistake people make on their first sailing vacations is to pack way too much. Casual is the word to describe life on an island, so you won’t be needing fancy clothes and all sorts of gadgets. Sailing vessels impose limitations in terms of storage space, and hard-sided luggage are surely not a good idea to take with you.

Go for canvas or duffel bags that can be folded into occupying less room. Small baggage that can be taken with you on the plane also save you the trouble of having to deal with lost luggage when you arrive on the island.

Widely spread in the entire Oceania and Polynesia, catamaran sailing had a great influence on the design of leisure boats with multiple hulls. The power engine represents the options to wind and water current power in catamaran propelling, however the true feeling of the sea is attained by understanding the winds and decoding the message of the waves.

There are many types of sand yachts used for land sailing, and according to their distinct features, such vehicles compete in variety of classes. Thus, the biggest yachts in land sailing competitions are known as Class 2. All of them have very large masts with big sails that lend significant power to the vehicles; yet, the size could be an impediment to reaching high speed.

More popular than Class 2 is Class 3 that is very similar in design, but on a smaller scale. Designed according to high-tech principles, such yachts make land sailing really fast. Usually made of fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber, these vehicles will reach 60 miles per hour during a sand yacht race.

Luxury yachts have always been gleaming white and mainly bear the same, elegant design features. Wally has re-written the rules altogether.

The Monaco-based boat maker’s yachts, power yachts and smaller boats all carry design characteristics utterly undreamt of until they came about. Their dark, mysterious looks are undoubtedly head-turning, their power frightening. The minimalist lines don’t give anything away; indeed they hide the yacht’s interior which, in the larger variants such as the outrageous Wallypower 118, is simply spine-tingling. It is instantly evident that design plays the lead role in these beauties. After all, any power yacht which can house a space that changes from dining room to small conference area must be special.

Wally’s boats are nothing short of prodigious. To find out just how and why these seemingly fictitious concepts of arresting design exist, I chatted with Luca Bassani, Wally’s founder, president and mastermind. Incredibly, Mr Bassani not only takes charge of the whole business, but is the brains behind every single piece of marine art that comes out of Wally’s headquarters in Monaco.

“What inspires you to come up with such striking yachts?”
“The functionality and the need to find simple solutions, lighter and more neat.”

“What inspires Wally’s designers to come up with such striking yachts?
“The functionality and the need to find simple solutions, lighter and more neat.”

“Do you feel that your unusual designs detriment your sales, or enhance them?”
“We think that, as with any smart innovation, it will enhance our sales in the long term.”

“You are a much fresher, less well-established company than the likes of Sunseeker and Princess. Do you think boats like yours are a shape of things to come for all boat companies, or will your style remain unique?”
“On the sail yachts, we have already carved the whole market and everybody is copying our solutions and our style. It will also happen in the power boat sector and, in fact, it is already starting to happen.”

“You are based in Monaco, a place I love as well. Do you feel that basing Wally there is good for the company’s image?”
“We think that Monaco is, along with Palma, the capital of the Mediterranean yachting industry.”

“Where do your buyers mainly come from? I haven’t seen many in Monaco’s port.”
“Forty percent of our clients come from Germany, thirty percent from Italy and the rest from all over the world.”

“Has the recent film exposure of your boats been helpful to interest and sales?”
“For the moment, a lot of interest has been generated, which translates into an increase of the brand awareness and value- not the sales yet.”

“Which model sells best?”
“In terms of number of orders, the WallyTender. In terms of turnover, the biggest sail yachts generate most.”

“Realistically, do you think future interest will be based more around the smaller boats or larger yachts?”
“As we are perceived as a luxury brand, we believe we are going to experience the higher interest in the larger yachts market.”

“What do you think hold more importance; the interior of a yacht or its exterior design?”
“I personally think that it’s the exterior, though the market shows that the clients give more emphasis to the exteriors.”

“You provide a charter service for your yachts. Does this service lure many people into finally buying a Wally?”
“It has happened already, and it will always happen, as a small percentage of the charterers.”

“Finally, what does the future hold? Are there any big plans or new designs?”
“A lot of news and innovations in the power boat market, and also in the mega sail yachts.”

A true innovator of the yacht industry, Mr Bassani is tight-lipped about what hasn’t yet left Wally’s design room. I don’t think I could blame him; having revolutionised the face of yacht design forever, who knows what’s next from Wally?

View the latest idea from the innovative, yachtmakers Wally. The company has created the “WallyIsland”, a massive 325-foot yacht with a giant main platform that hosts a garden oasis, a large lounge, a heliport, a tennis court or anything else your imagination desires.

The WallyIsland is designed to be configured in a variety of different ways. Just let your imagination run wild. Full article