who owns plan a yacht

Who Owns Which Superyacht? (A Complete Guide)

Have you ever wondered who owns the most luxurious, extravagant, and expensive superyachts? Or how much these lavish vessels are worth? In this complete guide, we’ll explore who owns these magnificent vessels, what amenities they hold, and the cost of these incredible yachts.

We’ll also take a look at some of the most expensive superyachts in the world and the notable people behind them.

Get ready to explore the world of superyachts and the people who own them!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The ownership of superyachts is generally private, so the exact answer to who owns which superyacht is not always publicly available.

However, there are some notable superyacht owners that are known.

For example, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, owns the Rising Sun, which is the 11th largest superyacht in the world.

Other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Overview of Superyachts

The term superyacht refers to a large, expensive recreational boat that is typically owned by the worlds wealthy elite.

These vessels are designed for luxury cruising and typically range in size from 24 meters to over 150 meters, with some even larger.

Superyachts usually feature extensive amenities and creature comforts, such as swimming pools, outdoor bars, movie theaters, helipads, and spas.

Superyachts can range in price from $30 million to an astonishingly high $400 million.

Like most luxury items, the ownership of a superyacht is a status symbol for those who can afford it.

The list of superyacht owners reads like a whos who of billionaires, with names like Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

While some superyacht owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extravagant amenities.

Some of the most famous superyachts feature swimming pools, private beaches, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and luxurious spas.

In conclusion, owning a superyacht is an exclusive status symbol for the world’s wealthy elite.

These vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million, and feature some of the most luxurious amenities imaginable.

Notable owners include the Emir of Qatar, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Who are the Owners of Superyachts?

From Hollywood celebrities to tech billionaires, superyacht owners come from all walks of life.

Many of the most well-known owners are billionaires, including Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Other notable owners include Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.

However, not all superyacht owners are wealthy.

Many are everyday people who have worked hard and saved up to purchase their dream vessel.

Other notable billionaire owners include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and former US President Donald Trump.

These luxurious vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million.

For many superyacht owners, their vessels serve as a status symbol of wealth and luxury.

Some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, while others have made headlines with their extensive amenities – from swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas.

Many of these yachts are designed to the owner’s exact specifications, ensuring that each one is totally unique and reflects the owner’s individual tastes and personality.

Owning a superyacht is an exclusive club, reserved for those with the means and the desire to experience the ultimate in luxury.

Whether they are billionaires or everyday people, superyacht owners are all united in their love of the sea and their appreciation for the finer things in life.

The Most Expensive Superyacht in the World

When it comes to superyachts, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, certainly knows how to make a statement.

His luxury vessel, the 463-foot Al Mirqab, holds the title of the world’s most expensive superyacht.

Built in 2008 by German shipbuilder Peters Werft, this impressive yacht is complete with 10 luxurious cabins, a conference room, cinema, and all the amenities one would expect from a vessel of this magnitude.

In addition, the Al Mirqab features a helipad, swimming pool, and even an outdoor Jacuzzi.

With a price tag of over $400 million, the Al Mirqab is one of the most expensive yachts in the world.

In addition to the Emir of Qatar, there are several other notable owners of superyachts.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos all own luxurious vessels.

Bezos yacht, the aptly named The Flying Fox, is one of the longest superyachts in the world at a staggering 414 feet in length.

The Flying Fox also comes with a host of amenities, such as a helipad, swimming pool, spa, and multiple outdoor entertaining areas.

Bezos also reportedly spent over $400 million on the vessel.

Other notable owners of superyachts include Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owns the $200 million Kingdom 5KR, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who owns the $200 million Rising Sun.

There are also many lesser-known owners, such as hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin, who owns the $150 million Aviva, and investor Sir Philip Green, who owns the $100 million Lionheart.

No matter who owns them, superyachts are sure to turn heads.

With their impressive size, luxurious amenities, and hefty price tags, these vessels have become a symbol of wealth and prestige.

Whether its the Emir of Qatar or a lesser-known owner, the worlds superyacht owners are sure to make a statement.

Notable Superyacht Owners

When it comes to the wealthiest and most luxurious owners of superyachts, the list reads like a whos who of the worlds billionaires.

At the top of the list is the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who holds the distinction of owning the most expensive superyacht in the world.

Aside from the Emir, other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

All of these owners have made headlines with their extravagant vessels, which are typically priced between $30 million and $400 million.

The amenities that come with these vessels vary greatly from owner to owner, but they almost always include luxurious swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and spas.

Some owners opt for more extravagant features, such as submarines, personal submarines, and even their own personal submarines! Other owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, but for those who prefer a more showy approach, they can certainly make a statement with a superyacht.

No matter who owns the vessel, it’s no surprise that these superyachts are a status symbol among the world’s wealthiest.

Whether you’re trying to impress your peers or just looking to enjoy a luxurious outing, owning a superyacht is the ultimate way to show off your wealth.

What Amenities are Included on Superyachts?

Owning a superyacht is a sign of wealth and prestige, and many of the worlds most prominent billionaires have their own vessels.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The cost of a superyacht can range from $30 million to over $400 million, but the price tag doesnt quite capture the sheer extravagance and amenities of these vessels.

Superyachts come with all the comforts of home, and then some.

Many owners will equip their vessels with swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, spas, and other luxury amenities.

The interior of a superyacht can be custom-designed to the owners specifications.

Some owners opt for modern, sleek designs, while others prefer a more traditional look.

Many of the most luxurious yachts feature marble floors, walk-in closets, and custom-made furniture.

Some vessels even come with a full-service gym, complete with exercise equipment and trained professionals.

Other amenities may include a library, casino, media room, and private bar.

When it comes to outdoor amenities, superyachts have some of the most impressive features in the world.

Many yachts come with outdoor entertainment areas, complete with full kitchens, dining rooms, and lounge areas.

Some owners even opt for hot tubs or jacuzzis for relaxing afternoons in the sun.

And, of course, there are the jet skis, water slides, and other exciting water activities that come with many of these vessels.

No matter what amenities a superyacht has, it is sure to be an experience like no other.

From the sleek interiors to the luxurious outdoor features, these vessels provide a unique, luxurious experience that is unrivaled on land.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an exciting adventure, a superyacht is sure to provide.

How Much Do Superyachts Cost?

When it comes to superyachts, the sky is the limit when it comes to cost.

These luxury vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from anywhere between $30 million to over $400 million.

So, if youre in the market for a superyacht, youre looking at an investment that could easily break the bank.

The cost of a superyacht is driven by a variety of factors, including size, amenities, and customization.

Generally, the larger the yacht, the more expensive it will be.

Superyachts typically range in size from 100 feet to over 200 feet, and they can be as wide as 40 feet.

The bigger the yacht, the more luxurious features and amenities it will have.

Amenities also play a significant role in the cost of a superyacht.

While some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extensive amenities.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing a superyacht.

The more amenities a superyacht has, the more expensive it will be.

Finally, customization is another major factor that will drive up the cost of a superyacht.

Many luxury vessels have custom-designed interiors that are tailored to the owners tastes.

From custom furniture and artwork to lighting and audio systems, the cost of a superyacht can quickly escalate depending on the level of customization.

In short, the cost of a superyacht can vary widely depending on its size, amenities, and customization.

While some may be able to get away with spending a few million dollars, others may end up spending hundreds of millions of dollars on their dream yacht.

No matter what your budget is, its important to do your research and find out exactly what youre getting for your money before signing on the dotted line.

Keeping Superyachts Out of the Public Eye

When it comes to owning a superyacht, some owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

Understandably, these individuals are concerned with privacy and discretion, and therefore tend to take measures to ensure their yachts are not visible to outsiders.

For instance, some superyacht owners opt to keep their vessels in private marinas, away from the public areas of larger ports.

Additionally, some yacht owners may choose to hire security guards to patrol and protect their vessels while they are moored or sailing.

In addition to physical security, some superyacht owners also use technology to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

For example, a yacht owner may choose to install a satellite-based communications system that allows them to keep their vessel completely off-radar.

This system works by bouncing signals off satellites rather than transmitting them, making it virtually impossible for anyone to track the yachts movements.

Finally, some superyacht owners also choose to limit the number of people who have access to their vessels.

For instance, the owner may only allow family members and close friends to board the yacht.

Additionally, the owner may choose to employ a limited number of staff to help maintain the vessel and keep it running smoothly.

These individuals may be required to sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure they do not disclose any information about the yacht or its owner.

Overall, while some superyacht owners may choose to keep their vessels out of the public eye, there are still plenty of other ways to show off the opulence associated with owning a superyacht.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, there are many luxurious amenities that can make a superyacht the envy of any jet setter.

Final Thoughts

Superyachts are a symbol of luxury and status, and the list of yacht owners reads like a who’s who of billionaires.

From the Emir of Qatar’s world-record breaking $400 million yacht to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s vessel with a helicopter pad and on-board spa, the amenities of these luxury vessels are truly stunning.

With prices ranging from $30 million to over $400 million, owning a superyacht is an expensive endeavor.

Whether you’re looking to purchase one or just curious to learn more about the owners and their amenities, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to stay up to date with the superyacht scene.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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The largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, from Mark Zuckerberg to Jeff Bezos

• Megayachts have become a status symbol for the richest of the rich.
• In recent years, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have splurged on enormous boats.
• These are the biggest yachts owned by tech billionaires.

The average Joe celebrating a personal renaissance after, say, the end of a long-term relationship or when approaching a fresh decade might commemorate it with an ankle tattoo or a sports car. But if you're a billionaire, you may instead spend hundreds of millions on a yacht .

A few years after he and his wife divorced, Jeff Bezos shelled out on a megayacht. Last year, Bezos debuted the 127-meter vessel "Koru," a Māori symbol that signifies a fresh start — perhaps referring to that with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez.

Earlier this year, just before his 40th birthday, Mark Zuckerberg became the rumored owner of a yacht originally built for a Russian oligarch.

Superyachts have increasingly become ultrawealthy status symbols , providing highly secluded leisure and networking sites. They are — even more so than real estate — the single most expensive asset you can own.

"It's a bit of a celebration of your success in life, of wealth," Giovanna Vitelli, the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, the world's biggest producer of superyachts, told Business Insider.

While many tech billionaires have bought yachts, the richest of the rich, like Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, have gone bigger. Their boats are virtual palaces at sea, decked with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

A look at these megayachts — broadly defined as over 70 meters long, mostly custom-built, and often costing nine figures — offers a glimpse into how the .00001% lives. It's something few others will ever get to experience. Even chartering a yacht of this size for a week typically costs upwards of $1 million.

One major thing that hundreds of millions of dollars can buy is privacy. There are likely yachts that have not been publicly recorded or registered — for example, Evan Spiegel is rumored to own the 94-meter megayacht Bliss. In an industry ruled by discretion , deciphering who owns what is typically an exercise in stringing together many clues.

Here are the largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, listed in order of length.

Jeff Bezos: Koru and Abeona

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the 127-meter Koru, made a splash last year as she crisscrossed the Mediterranean in her first summer at sea, with her 75-meter support vessel Abeona in tow.

The sailing yacht, which is hard to miss thanks to her massive size and unique design, was host to Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez's famous friends . The couple held an engagement party on board, which reportedly drew guests including Bill Gates, Ari Emanuel, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Just a week later, they were seen on the streets of Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, and Usher.

Even before her completion, Koru made headlines. She drew the ire of some Dutch people, who vowed to hurl eggs after she was announced a historic bridge in Rotterdam might be taken apart to allow the Oceanco boat through. Luckily, the shipyard made alternative plans, and an egg crisis was averted.

Among yacht world insiders , Koru is widely praised for her craftsmanship.

"I heard back in 2018 or something that somebody had ordered a classic sailing yacht," one superyacht expert told BI. "You order 125 meters, that's not really going to be classic. But it is. I think it's pretty cool."

Mark Zuckerberg: Launchpad

Earlier this year, the yacht world was rife with rumors that Zuckerberg purchased Launchpad, a 118-meter superyacht originally designed for a sanctioned Russian businessman.

The ship made her maiden voyage in March, going from Gibraltar to St. Maarten and mooring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Little is known about her interior, but photos show a large swimming pool and helipad. Her price, too, has been kept under wraps but is said to be nine figures.

Eric Schmidt: Whisper

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made waves last year when he agreed to buy the Alfa Nero , the yacht of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, for $67 million in an auction conducted by Antigua and Barbuda. But he backed out of the deal following legal issues over her true owner. He quietly purchased Kismet instead. The 95-meter-long Lürssen-built boat was formerly owned by the Jacksonville Jaguar's billionaire owner Shahid Khan . Schmidt renamed her Whisper.

The ship can fit 12 guests and a crew of 28, according to Moran Yacht & Ship, which oversaw her construction. She features a master deck with a private jacuzzi, full-service spa, lap pool, movie theater, and outdoor fireplace.

While her final sale price was not public, she was listed for 149 million euros (about $161 million at current exchange rates), and at a charity auction in January, one week aboard the ship went for $2.4 million, according to industry outlet Yacht Charter Fleet.

Barry Diller: Eos

Barry Diller , the chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns the megayacht Eos with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg , who is immortalized by a figurehead sculpture by Anh Duong.

One of the largest private sailing yachts in the world, the three-masted Lürssen schooner measures 93 meters long. She took three years to be built before being delivered to Diller in 2009, and since then, little has come to light about her interior and features.

The power couple has hosted many celebrities on the Eos, which spends her summers crisscrossing the Mediterranean and New Year ' s Eve in St. Barts . Over the years, guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Emma Thompson, Anderson Cooper, and Bezos, leading some to believe she provided inspiration for his Koru.

Jim Clark: Athena

Netscape founder Jim Clark purchased the 90-meter sailing yacht Athena in 2004.

"I could easily have built a 50- or 60-meter motor yacht that would have had the same space as Athena, but I was never really interested in building a motor yacht," he told Boat International in 2016. "To my eye, she's one of the most gorgeous large sailing yachts, maybe the most gorgeous large sailing yacht in the world."

Athena has room for 10 guests and 21 crewmembers, and the only change Clark says he'd make in her design is adding more space for his kids.

"If I was forced to change something, I would convert the office on the lower deck into a children's room," he said.

The former Stanford professor tried to sell her at various points — listing her for $95 million in 2012 , $69 million in 2016, and $59 million in 2017 — but she has yet to change hands.

Larry Ellison: Musashi

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun — which he sold to fellow billionaire David Geffen .

He purchased his current boat, Musashi, in 2011 for a reported $160 million from custom-yacht giant Feadship.

Named after a famous samurai warrior, the 88-meter-long yacht has both Japanese and Art Deco-inspired design elements. She also boasts amenities including an elevator, swimming pool, beauty salon, gym, and basketball court.

Ellison is known for his extravagant spending — private islands, jets, a tennis tournament — and yachting is among his favorite and most expensive hobbies. He took up racing them in the 1990s and financed the America's Cup-winning BMW Oracle Racing team .

Laurene Powell Jobs: Venus

Steve Jobs' wife, investor and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, inherited a nearly finished 78-meter yacht named Venus when the Apple cofounder died in 2011.

After spending years vacationing on Ellison's yachts, Jobs wanted one for himself. He designed Venus with French starchitect and decorator Philippe Starck , and she was worth $130 million at completion.

"Venus comes from the philosophy of minimum," Starck said of her design. "The elegance of the minimum, approaching dematerialization."

Jobs and Starck began working together in 2007, the designer told Vanity Fair , and held monthly meetings over four years. Venus was delivered in 2012 to Jobs' specification: six identical cabins, a design to ensure spaces of absolute silence, and the most up-to-date technology.

"There will never again be a boat of that quality again. Because never again will two madmen come together to accomplish such a task," Starck told the magazine. "It was not a yacht that Steve and I were constructing, we were embarked on a philosophical action, implemented according to a quasi-religious process. We formed a single brain with four lobes."

Charles Simonyi: Norn

Early Microsoft employee Charles Simonyi has purchased two megayachts from the German shipyard Lürssen: the 90-meter Norn and 71-meter Skat.

Delivered in 2023, Norn is full of luxe features, including an outdoor cinema and a pool floor that lifts to become a light-up dancefloor. She shares a militaristic style with Skat , which Simonyi sold in 2021.

Skats's name is derived from the Danish word for treasure, and she had a listing price of 56.5 million euros and was launched in 2002.

"The yacht is to be home away from my home in Seattle, and its style should match the style of the house, adapted for the practicalities of the sea," Simonyi once said .

Sergey Brin: Dragonfly

Google cofounder Sergey Brin has built a flotilla of yachts, boats, and toys known as the "Fly Fleet."

Named after a once-secret Google product , the largest of Brin's armada is the sleek Dragonfly , which boasts a movie theater and a helipad. The 73-meter-long vessel was built by the Australian shipyard Silver Yachts and can fit up to 18 guests and 16 crew members, according to SuperYacht Times.

Also in his fleet is the superyacht Butterfly, a mere 38 meters long. Often moored in the Bay Area, her crewmembers spend their downtime kitesurfing and giving swimming lessons to local kids.

The rest of his marine lineup includes a smaller boat called Firefly, as well as Jet Skis, foilboards, dinghies, and kiteboards. She takes a team of 50 full-time employees to manage, steer, and maintain the entire operation.

Sindhu Sundar contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Correction: May 6, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Giovanna Vitelli's title. She is the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, not a vice president.

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PLAN B Yacht – Luxuriant $100M Superyacht

The PLAN B yacht is Patokh Chodiev’s $100 million superyacht that was delivered by German shipbuilders Abu Dhabi Mar in 2012.

Alberto Pinto drew up the classic interior design, and the exterior was designed by Focus Yacht Design. The 73m yacht offers a luxurious yachting experience.

PLAN B yacht interior

Alberto Pinto designed the interior of the PLAN B yacht. She has eight cabins that can accommodate 16 guests, one master, three VIPs, one double, and three twins.

There are ten cabins for 22 crew members. She features a massive beach club that creates an inside/outside area on the water for guests to enjoy.

Behind the helipad, which serves as an excellent spot to view the surrounding environment, is a sundeck jacuzzi surrounded by sun pads, sun loungers, and a bar.

A corridor connects the beach club to a spa and steam room.

The main deck aft has a partially shaded area by the upper deck overhang and with the option for additional shade with a canopy to suit guests.

There are plenty of interior design features that are excellent for relaxation and socialization among guests.

The master suite is on the main deck and is a large room with a private terrace, en-suite bathroom, a lounge, and a study.

The sundeck has an indoor gym space that guests can use while the boat is underway. The gym features spectacular views with floor-to-ceiling windows.

The exterior was designed by Focus Yacht Design and built by Abu Dhabi Mar, a prestigious German shipbuilder.

The ADM shipyard, Nobiskrug, is on the Elder River in Germany and is known for building custom-made and cutting-edge luxury yachts. ADM was formerly known as HDW-Kiel.

The PLAN B yacht was delivered in 2012, with an exterior consisting of a striking steel hull and white aluminum superstructure. PLAN B was recently refitted in 2020.

Specifications

With her 2 MTU engines, The PLAN B yacht can reach a top speed of 17kn. She has a volume of 1773 tons and costs $5-$10 million per annum to run.

At her cruising speed of 13 knots, she can cover 4000 nautical miles. She has a total length of 73m, a draft of 3.6m, and a 12m beam.

She has a Lloyds Classification, with advanced Zero Speed stabilizers for maximum comfort onboard while at anchor.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Abu Dhabi Mar
• Alberto Pinto
• Focus Yacht Design
• MTU Engines
• Pathok Chodiev
• Plan B Yacht

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Small boat crossings in 2024 pass 15,000

It comes a day after the new prime minister outlined his plans to tackle illegal migration following Labour's scrapping of the Conservatives' Rwanda scheme.

Political reporter @NifS

Friday 19 July 2024 11:57, UK

The number of people arriving in the UK via small boat Channel crossings this year has now passed 15,000, the government has confirmed.

A total of 317 people made the dangerous journey across six boats on Thursday, bringing 2024's total so far to 15,076.

Politics live: Demand for Cobra meeting over global IT outages

The number is higher than the figure for the same date in 2023, where the total had reached 14,071.

But it is still lower than the record breaking year of 2022, where it had reached 15,314 by this date.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

It comes after another person died overnight when their boat, crowded with 86 people, got into trouble in the Channel.

And it also follows fresh commitments from the new government on how it plans to tackle illegal migration.

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Europe comes to Starmer

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• Migrant crossings
• Sir Keir Starmer

Speaking at the European Political Community (EPC) summit last night, Sir Keir Starmer announced his plan to stop the crossings at "source" by putting £84m into health and education initiatives in Africa and the Middle East , helping prevent people wanting to flee their homes in the first place.

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The prime minister also confirmed a "deepening [of] cooperation" with European partners to tackle the issue, including increasing the UK's presence at Europol, agreeing new arrangements with Slovenia and Slovakia on tackling organised crime, and a commitment to share more intelligence "to put the gangs out of business".

It is a very different approach to the previous Conservative government and their Rwanda deportation plan , which was scrapped by Labour after they took power two weeks ago.

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A Home Office spokesperson said: "We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.

"The new government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit."

Related Topics

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Naomi Pomeroy, star of "Top Chef Masters" and award-winning chef, dies in river tubing accident in Oregon

Updated on: July 17, 2024 / 8:31 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the map as a culinary destination and starred on "Top Chef Masters," has drowned in an inner tubing accident, authorities said. She was 49 years old.

Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group she was tubing with got caught on an exposed snag in the water, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Pomeroy was pulled under the water and trapped by a paddle board leash attached to her, Captain Chris Duffitt said. The group had tied their inner tubes and paddle board together.

Authorities said they safely recovered the other two people on the shore and transported them to a boat launch.

Pomeroy's body was recovered Wednesday, the sheriff's office said, after people canoeing on the river spotted her remains and called 911.

"BCSO marine deputies arrived shortly after, located a deceased female on a shallow section of bedrock near the middle of the river with about one to two feet of water," the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office had earlier searched the area using sonar, underwater cameras and drones but was initially unable to find her body.

"I am dedicated to locating Naomi to bring her home to her family and loved ones", Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall said in a statement . "I want to thank all involved in the search and recovery mission and support during this difficult time."

The sheriff's office warned people not to attach themselves to a paddle board unless it has a quick release leash, and advised against tying two or more inner tubes together, as doing so means each person should have a life jacket.

The Oregon State Marine Board noted there has been an "emerging trend" in recent years of people dying due to the leash on their stand up paddle board, or SUP, getting tangled in brush or other debris in rivers.

"Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release," Brian Paulsen, the agency's boating safety program manager, said in a statement Tuesday. He said quick release leashes, designed for moving water, are worn around the waist.

Pomeroy rose to prominence in the Portland food scene after opening the restaurant Beast in 2007. There, diners could enjoy a six-course prix fixe dinner served at communal tables and built around Pomeroy's penchant for butchering whole animals.

The restaurant paved the way for Pomeroy to win a coveted James Beard award for best chef in the Northwest in 2014, around the same time Portland was soaring in popularity as a travel destination for its food scene, natural beauty and quirky reputation. The restaurant closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had just recently opened a new frozen custard shop.

Pomeroy was also known for her appearance on cooking shows, including "Top Chef Masters," and owned the Portland cocktail bar Expatriate with her husband. The bar was closed Monday, CBS affiliate KOIN-TV reported, as mourners left flowers and remembrances stacked outside the business.

Heather Wallberg, who owns a restaurant across from Expatriate and has worked in the industry for over a decade, told KOIN-TV that Pomeroy "made the Portland food scene what it is today." She said she reached out to Expatriate to offer any help they need.

Pomeroy's sudden passing "reminds you of the fragility of life," she said.

"She was a rock star chef," Portland food blogger Gary Okazaki told the station. "When they write the history of the Portland culinary scene, she's going to have her own chapter."

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon issued a statement describing Pomeroy's death as a tragic loss.

"Naomi was not just a fabulous chef and entrepreneur, but an amazing human being," Blumenauer said. "Her impact went far beyond Portland, helping establish our leadership and reputation for food excellence. She will be greatly missed."

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How Elon Musk Chose Trump

The world’s richest man, once deeply skeptical of Donald J. Trump, has now endorsed him and has emerged as a central character in the presidential race.

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By Theodore Schleifer and Ryan Mac

Theodore Schleifer reported from Milwaukee and Washington, and Ryan Mac from Los Angeles.

A little over two months ago, Elon Musk found himself at Montsorrel , the palatial Palm Beach compound of Nelson Peltz, the famed activist investor. Mr. Musk knew the sprawling grounds well, having stayed in the guesthouse.

The topic of conversation was a bit different than usual, though: Mr. Peltz had brought together a group of billionaire conservative financiers — including Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas casino magnate, and the hedge-funder John Paulson — to dive into concerns about whether Republicans could seize Senate control, as well as the party’s weak ground game, according to a person with direct knowledge of what transpired.

But Mr. Musk had a darker message that spring day. He told the group that this would be the last free election in America — because if President Biden won, millions of undocumented immigrants would be legalized and democracy would be finished, according to the person.

Mr. Trump had to win, Mr. Musk said. He dispensed some advice for the veteran financiers, who had decades more experience in Republican politics than he did: Their emphasis on political advertising was misplaced, he said. Tesla, his electric car company, barely advertises, he said, but had still built a cult following through word of mouth. Why couldn’t Republicans do the same?

The most important thing that the financiers could do, Mr. Musk said, was ask two people to support Mr. Trump, and urge them to ask two more. Two people by two people — that’s how the former president would win.

Mr. Musk has transformed himself from an idealistic supporter of Democrats like Barack Obama into a fierce ally of Mr. Trump, whom he flirted with for months and endorsed last weekend roughly 30 minutes after the former president survived an assassination attempt.

In fact, Mr. Trump’s campaign at one point had talked with Mr. Musk about him delivering remarks at this week’s Republican National Convention. Mr. Musk said on Thursday he was not speaking.

Mr. Musk is more comfortable than ever revealing his conservative sympathies. But the role that he has played in supporting Republicans financially is not widely known, in part because he has tried to avoid making public donations.

He has emerged as a central character in the presidential race, targeted by the Biden campaign and celebrated as an almost mythical figure by Mr. Trump’s advisers. Angry at liberals over immigration, transgender rights and the Biden administration’s perceived treatment of Tesla , the mercurial Mr. Musk has undergone a midlife reinvention that has many Republicans salivating about him as the party’s moneymaker — if only he will deliver.

This article is based on interviews with about two dozen of Mr. Musk’s political associates, friends and Republican Party allies, many of whom insisted on anonymity to disclose private conversations. Mr. Musk and his aides did not respond to requests for comment.

Woody Johnson, a pre-eminent Republican fund-raiser and Mr. Trump’s former ambassador to Britain, said he welcomed Mr. Musk into the party as an ideological convert.

“Explore all ideas — and come up with the best one,” Mr. Johnson quipped in an interview. “There’s nobody in the world like Musk. We’re lucky as Americans to have him. He is the most innovative — besides Trump.”

Dismissing Trump as a ‘stone-cold loser’

Mr. Musk was once allergic to Washington. He maintained a decent relationship with Mr. Obama and made several White House visits to build support for Tesla and SpaceX, his rocket manufacturer. But he generally disliked meeting with other politicians and saw political donations as a necessary evil, according to four people who worked with him.

Days before the 2016 election, he told CNBC that Mr. Trump did not “seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States.” After Mr. Trump won, Mr. Musk told some associates that the outcome was proof that they were living in a simulation, according to one person close to him. In 2020, Mr. Musk, in a private conversation with another associate, called Mr. Trump a “stone-cold loser.”

In 2022, the former president, for his part, used an expletive to describe the Tesla chief executive at a rally.

Mr. Musk also predicted that Mr. Trump’s days as a political force were finished, according to a private message that was viewed by The New York Times, as he prepared to voice support for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida , whose campaign he helped kick off in 2023.

Big promises, little follow-through

Mr. Musk has become an obsession of many Trump officials and Republican fund-raisers, who see him as the party’s next great hope — or a meal ticket for themselves. But over the years, he has acquired a reputation in political circles as something of a flake.

Some conservative activists said they wished that Mr. Musk had followed through more on promises to fund free-speech lawsuits by people who believed that they had been censored on social media.

Mr. Musk can be hard to pin down, and rumors fly about him in Republican circles. In 2023, when Kevin McCarthy was elected as House speaker , the California politician gave a party at the Library of Congress, and some aides were told until shortly beforehand to expect Mr. Musk to show up and speak. But he didn’t, disappointing some in the crowd, a person involved in the event recalled.

Mr. Musk has also been unreliable in local politics. He wrote last year on X that he planned to donate $100,000 to GrowSF, a centrist group in San Francisco, so it could help defeat a progressive city official. But Mr. Musk did not donate or even contact the group, said Steven Buss, one of GrowSF’s founders.

An embrace of dark money

Mr. Musk has said that he tries to stay out of politics , and he has not donated to a federal political group since the 2020 cycle, according to campaign finance records. He has gone to great lengths to avoid leaving a public footprint of the contributions he does make.

Indeed, he learned a tough lesson when he made his largest disclosed gift ever, a $50,000 donation in 2017, to the McCarthy Victory Fund, a group aligned with Mr. McCarthy. The disclosure of that donation angered liberals . He learned from that experience to prioritize giving to dark-money organizations, a person familiar with his thinking recalled.

In recent communications with Republicans, Mr. Musk and his associates have expressed a desire not to make political contributions to groups whose donations must be legally disclosed. He told a friend a few months ago that he wanted to find a way to support Trump but didn’t want to do it publicly, the friend recalled.

During the Republican presidential primary race, Mr. Musk’s team had detailed talks with allies of Vivek Ramaswamy about making a major donation to a dark-money group backing the entrepreneur’s candidacy, according to a person briefed on the talks. Mr. Musk attended two fund-raisers for Mr. Ramaswamy, in California and Texas, two people briefed said, but he ultimately declined to cut a check.

In 2023, he strongly considered making a significant political donation to the American Action Network, a 501(c) (4) dark-money group steered by Mr. McCarthy’s political operation, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. It’s not clear if he gave.

The tug of war

As Mr. Musk sought help on politics, the people he turned to sought to influence him.

He had gotten to know Mr. McCarthy over the last decade thanks to the former speaker’s advocacy for SpaceX. They now text frequently, and Mr. Musk has often relied on Mr. McCarthy over the years for advice on politics and lobbying.

Mr. McCarthy has been eager to highlight his relationship with Mr. Musk, and has gone to great lengths to cultivate him, according to people familiar with their relationship.

He interviewed the billionaire at an exclusive conference in Sea Island, Ga., hosted by the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and invited Mr. Musk to headline a fund-raising retreat for Mr. McCarthy’s donors in Wyoming. Mr. Musk also flew to Washington for the congressman’s birthday last year.

Mr. McCarthy has helped develop Mr. Musk’s relationship with Mr. Trump, but he has not been alone. Three close friends of the former president — Mr. Peltz, Mr. Wynn and Steve Witkoff, whose firm invested in the billionaire’s Twitter takeover — plus Mr. Musk’s emerging confidant, Diesel Peltz, a son of Nelson Peltz — have played a role in encouraging Mr. Musk to draw close to Mr. Trump, according to people familiar with the relationships. Mr. Musk also talks frequently with Mr. Ramaswamy, who has become a Trump surrogate, another person said.

Mr. Wynn said in an interview that Mr. Musk was “dedicating himself to making sure this election ends up properly” but downplayed his own role.

“He did that without my help,” he said. “Elon is a self-propelled rocket.”

Some of Mr. Musk’s friends in Silicon Valley have also bent his ear, including members of the so-called PayPal Mafia, a group of early executives at the payments company that includes the Trump donors David Sacks and Ken Howery, the people said.

Mr. Musk used to live primarily in Los Angeles, but people close to him said his politics had been shaped by his more conservative social circle in his new home state of Texas. Joe Lonsdale, a co-founder of Palantir who lives in Texas, and his aides have spent considerable time with Mr. Musk talking about politics, and Mr. Musk has told others that he is worried about what would happen to his businesses if Texas went blue, the people said.

But some of Mr. Musk’s more liberal friends and associates, have expressed unhappiness to him about his rightward drift, according to three people familiar with the situation. Some said they have received private assurances from Mr. Musk that he is not donating to support Mr. Trump.

The extremist direction of Mr. Musk has bothered his own high-profile, celebrity lawyer, Alex Spiro, according to two people who have spoken to him. Mr. Spiro, who declined to comment, has encouraged Mr. Musk not to alienate Democrats from his businesses, citing the famous quip from Michael Jordan that “Republicans buy sneakers, too,” one of the people said.

The final turn to Trump

It appears those liberal friends are losing the tug of war. Mr. Musk met with Mr. Trump in March and now talks with him directly on occasion, according to people familiar with the relationship. The two have spoken about electric vehicles, as well as technology like so-called deepfake videos , the former president has told donors who relayed his remarks.

During the Trump term, Mr. Musk once asked his top executives at Tesla how many of them had voted for Mr. Trump, and was alarmed to hear that none of them had, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting.

“I have had some conversations with him, and he does call me out of the blue for no reason,” Mr. Musk said last month at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting.

Mr. Musk and Mr. Sacks organized a private dinner this spring in Los Angeles with several other anti-Biden billionaires, who talked about ways to oppose Mr. Biden’s re-election.

Whether Mr. Musk might financially support the Republican ticket has flummoxed Mr. Trump’s aides. For much of this year, Mr. Musk entertained to friends the notion of an endorsement, or at least urging his followers explicitly not to vote for Mr. Biden, according to two people who spoke directly with Mr. Musk. The billionaire told these people that he wanted to wait until the president formally captured the Democratic nomination before he made a proclamation.

Then came the assassination attempt.

Within an hour of the shooting, Mr. Musk went on X and endorsed Mr. Trump.

Mr. Lonsdale has helped start a new super PAC that its donors say will fund an aggressive field program to aid Mr. Trump, and several of Mr. Musk’s close friends have pooled their millions behind the group. The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Musk had spoken of donating $45 million per month to the group — energizing both the Trump and Biden teams. But Mr. Musk has told people close to him that the figure is false, and while people close to the group said that while they expect him to give, they don’t know how much.

In recent weeks, Mr. Musk privately lobbied Mr. Trump to choose Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate. He celebrated vociferously on Monday after Mr. Vance was announced as the pick .

Trevor Traina, a Republican fund-raiser in San Francisco who served in the Trump administration and knows Mr. Musk socially, said he saw parallels between the two men.

“He has had to walk the same road as Trump — silenced, targeted, canceled — and within the last couple weeks,” Mr. Traina said of Mr. Musk, “he has decided it’s time to take action.”

Maureen Farrell and Kirsten Grind contributed reporting. Alain Delaquérière contributed research.

Theodore Schleifer writes about campaign finance and the influence of billionaires in American politics. More about Theodore Schleifer

Ryan Mac covers corporate accountability across the global technology industry. More about Ryan Mac

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Father and son missing after boat capsizes on celebratory birthday fishing trip

ASTORIA, Ore. ( KPTV /Gray News) - A family of seven says they are mourning the loss of a father and son who were out on a fishing trip when their boat capsized.

The U.S. Coast Guard said 43-year-old Constantin Leahu was with his 11-year-old son, Andrei Leahu, when the boat they were on tipped over near Astoria on Saturday.

Rescue crews said they have been searching for the father and son where they were last seen in the water, but they have not yet been able to locate them.

“I don’t think we have a lot of hope to find them alive at this point,” Irina Negrean, a friend of the Leahu family, said. “So, we’re trying to figure out the next steps,”

Negrean said Constantin Leahu and his wife have four daughters and their son Andrei.

She said Andrei was a sweet and responsible boy, who was always ready to look after his sisters.

The family friend said Andrei took after his father, who was a family man and an avid fisherman.

She said Constantin Leahu had been planning last weekend’s boating adventure as it was Andrei’s first fishing trip to celebrate his 11th birthday, which was a day before.

“Andrei had wished to go with him for so long, so this was a dream come true to be out on a fishing boat with his dad,” Negrean said.

The father and son were fishing with three others when the boat capsized and sent the group into the water.

Officials said the Coast Guard was able to pull three people out of the ocean, but one of them died on the way to the hospital.

Rescue crews said they are continuing their search for Constantin Leahu and his son.

“Andrei’s birthday cake is still in the fridge, and it is just a monumental loss,” Negrean said. “It’s an unbelievable loss.”

Since the tragedy, she said the Romanian community at Saint Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Portland has been doing everything they can to support the family.

Constantin Leahu is said to be the family’s sole provider.

“Our goal is to surround them with as much love and financial support as possible,” Negrean said.

The community has set up a GoFundMe on the family’s behalf.

Negrean said Constantin Leahu was always positive and someone who had room at his table for anybody at any time.

“I’m trying to channel his energy and give back to his family as much as possible,” Negrean said. “I know that’s what he would have wanted.”

Copyright 2024 KPTV via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Boat of the Week: This New 208-Foot Superyacht Has an Owner’s Suite That’s Bigger Than Most Apartments

The 208-foot "moca" is one of the big draws at the fort lauderdale boat show, a luxury superyacht designed to live off the grid for months., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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Talk about living a pampered life. When Moca’ s first owner took delivery of the 208-foot superyacht at builder Benetti ’s yard in Livorno, Italy, back in 2016, he wanted his first cruise to be to the Bahamas.

Instead of doing what most owners would do and instruct the crew to get it there on time, to avoid the wear and tear of a transatlantic crossing, he had the massive superyacht hoisted on the deck of a freighter and shipped there. The owner, a Greek shipping magnate, then used the yacht just twice before listing it.

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After the bespoke Benetti changed hands in October 2019, and was renamed Moca, it continued to lead a sheltered life, spending winters in the Bahamas and summers in the Hamptons. Even though the yacht is available for the occasional charter , its current owners are so protective and selective, they only let “caring” customers pay the $475,000-a-week fee to enjoy their yacht.

The main salon includes a bespoke bar, just steps away from the rear cockpit, with a large lounging space forward.  Courtesy Joel Eriksson

“They don’t allow day charters or parties on board,” said Frank Grzeszczak Jr. with FGI Yacht Group. Grzeszczak gave Robb Report an exclusive tour of Moca at this week’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where the yacht officially entered the brokerage market at €39.95 million, or roughly $46.6 million.

Originally named Waku , it was built by Benetti to ABS class for the first owner who specified a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, a 35-foot beam for voluminous interior spaces and 13-foot draft for good stability. The boat is equipped with MTU diesels, packing 1,029 hp each; enough to push Moca to a top speed of 18.5 mph and cruise serenely at 14. Her 30,000-gallon fuel tanks give her a range of close to 5,000 nautical miles. In five years, only 1,000 hours have been put on the engines.

The interior design by Francesca Muzio, co-founder of Italian studio FM Architettura, provides accommodation for up to 14 guests in seven staterooms, plus a multitude of multi-use spaces indoor and out. “The owners are big family people who love to have their extended family and friends aboard,” says Grzeszczak.

Elevators tend to be a mundane feature on most yachts but Moca’s, a transparent tube stretching four floors, is a work of art.  Courtesy Joel Eriksson

The main, big-windowed salon is an oversized, comfy space with a neutral, beach-cottage look of soft-white sofas, bleached oak for the walls and dark wood flooring. It’s a theme that continues pretty much throughout the boat. The salon opens out on to a huge covered back deck with a big U-shaped sofa providing seats for 16 and a large table for casual alfresco dining. An air-conditioning system is built into the ceiling to provide respite on hot, humid days.

Also on this level is an industrial-grade galley with extensive pantries, fridge/freezers, and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar just steps away. According to Grzeszczak there’s enough cold and dry storage for the yacht to go off the grid for more than four months. Right now, Moca runs with a crew of 15.

One of the design highlights is the glass-tube elevator that runs between all four levels of the yacht. With its shimmering chrome framing, it looks like a piece of art. Down on the lower level are the sleeping quarters, with twin bunk rooms for kids, and a spacious VIP double cabin, each with their own bathroom and shower. Forward are two more identical VIP double cabins.

The full-beam main suite is palatial, with a separate office, best-in-class walk-in closet and even two sofas near the window.  Courtesy Joel Eriksson

But the piece de resistance is the owner’s suite on the upper level. “It’s not really a suite, but a whole apartment,” says Grzeszczak. “It has an impressive amount of space, including what must be the biggest walk-in closet of any superyacht in its class.”

The master bedroom stretches the entire 38-foot width of Moca , and comes with a vast bathroom and massive walk-in shower. Close by is a lovely owner’s office, with views through a picture window.

Moca’ s incredible walk-in closet.  Courtesy Joel Eriksson

A press of a button opens a door from the master suite onto a private outdoor deck, where there is an alfresco dining table for 14. On the top level, there’s yet another outdoor deck with steps to the pool, and doors opening into a room that, since Covid-19, is no longer a massage and yoga room but a classroom for kids. Steps away is the yacht’s gym and reconfigured massage space.

The top deck is designed for family time and outdoor living.  Courtesy Joel Eriksson

Our final stop is Moca’s gleaming engine room with the pair of shiny, stainless steel-adorned MTUs, generators and Quantum stabilizers. Says Grzeszczak: “Since the owner bought the yacht, every single piece of machinery has been overhauled. Nothing has been overlooked. It really has been a labor of love for the owners.”

Here are the many sides of Moca.

Courtesy Joel Eriksson

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Students from Belle Isle program build their own boat. Now they look to sail it

Eight middle school students returned to Belle Isle this summer for another year of sailing lessons. But a few months ago, before they hit the water, those students learned a new lesson: how to build a boat.

The Detroit Community Sailing Center launched a pilot program this year that gave students an opportunity to learn how to build a sailboat. In May, they completed 80% of the boat's foundation . On Monday, after having a month off from the project, they put the finishing touches on the boat. On Tuesday afternoon, they attempted to sail it.

With their parents and instructors gathered on the dock to watch, the students pulled their sailboat into the water and took turns successfully sailing their boat.

" I'm proud of them," Harry Jones, president of the Detroit Sailing Community Center, said to one of the parents. "They built the boat."

A hands-on workshop

Brothers Ari and Eli Boyce, 14 and 13, of Detroit, have sailed with the Detroit Community Sailing Center's Challenge the Wind youth program for three years and welcomed the opportunity to learn how to build a boat.

"The experience was really fun," Eli Boyce said. "It really got easier over time, like learning how to use the tools. And it really helped that it was a really hands-on experience, it wasn't really like they showed you it and they just did it."

Learning a new set of skills can come with challenges.

"The hardest part for me, I think, was when we were cutting and like trying to make the shapes of the boat, it's a lot of back and forth with saws and tools and stuff," Ari Boyce said. "And I think that's the hardest part for me, just like, trying to carve out and get the right shape of the boat and different pieces together and all that."

Eli said he struggled most with conversions.

"The hardest part for me was probably the measuring portion of it because, when we were building the boat, instead of using like normal inches, like feet and stuff, we had to use millimeters and it was a rough change for me," Eli Boyce said.

After learning about the pilot program from an email, Laura Thomas, 47 of Grosse Pointe, thought it would be a great project for her 13-year-old son Logan, who already had some experience in woodworking.

"He really enjoyed making something that was something you could actually use and take out on the water and everything. And that experience of creating something that you can go out and utilize was something he really enjoyed."

Future of the program

Jones said the boat building workshop could be the foundation for a year-round curriculum around sailing, so students aren't just involved in the summer.

"For the past couple of years, we've been looking to expand the educational component, STEM component of our program," Jones said. "And we tried some of the conventional things that other sailing organizations are doing. And it was fine, but it wasn't capturing us emotionally."

The boat building workshop, a partnership between the Detroit Community Sailing Center and the Detroit River Stories Lab out of the University of Michigan, is an attempt to try something more innovative and grow its STEM offerings.

Jones first joined the center in 2011, and has served as director of the program for 10 years. When he first arrived, he said that the program "had fallen in disrepair." People had left the organization and there were only two boats to teach sailing. Today, Detroit Community Sailing has drawn donations in dollars and in vessels. The nonprofit has 40 sailboats, and 100 youths and adults learned how to sail there last year.

The organization has operated out of the Belle Isle Boathouse since 2018. The building now faces an uncertain future , as the state considers demolishing the aging structure in need of renovations. Jones said that the Detroit Community Sailing Center "got some reassurance from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) that we'll be able to continue to program there regardless of what happens," but understands that all could change, and are looking at other locations should they have to move.

"Hopefully, we won't have to," Jones said, "but we know the reality is that we better have an option if we want to keep the program alive."

'And here we are ...'

In May, the students completed 80% of the boat's foundation as part of the first phase of the project. On Monday, they reunited to begin the second phase. They finalized the boat's design details and installed the last pieces of equipment. Jones said that this boat will be added to the organization's fleet and is looking forward to building more in the future.

The workshop has inspired Ari and Eli to learn more about boats and pursue STEM-based hobbies, and it has brought them closer to their uncle, who has his own motor boat.

"I think that being part of the program helped me understand our uncle's boat a little bit more and like, help talk to him about the boat, and what the boat's doing and what direction the wind is coming from and stuff like that," Eli Boyce said. "It's helped me bond with him, definitely."

Their mother, Kenya Lowe, said that she has seen her children's confidence grow since they first joined Detroit Community Sailing Center in 2021.

"Ari and Eli were very shy but the instructors in the program made them feel comfortable and safe," Lowe, 47, of Farmington Hills, said. "Everyone in the program made the learning experience fun and adventurous. So after that summer, Ari and Eli wanted to come back. And here we are, year (three)."

Looking back, Lowe said that program offered her children, "so much more" than she expected.

"It's absolutely worth it to put your child in this program. You will see so much growth and calmness," Lowe said. "It is such a beautiful feeling to sit outside Belle Isle and watch your child sail a boat on their own. It feels good to know they are confident in their ability to manage a boat."

Eric Guzmán covers youth sports culture at the Free Press as a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support this work at  bit.ly/freepRFA .

Contact Eric Guzmán: [email protected]; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @EricGuzman90 .

10 of the most impressive superyachts owned by billionaires

From a sailing yacht owned by a russian billionaire industrialist to the luxury launch of the patek philippe ceo, here are the best billionaire-owned boats on the water….

Words: Jonathan Wells

There’s something about billionaires and big boats . Whether they’re superyachts or megayachts, men with money love to splash out on these sizeable sea-going giants. And that all began in 1954 — with the big dreams of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Onassis, keen to keep his luxury lifestyle afloat when at sea, bought Canadian anti-submarine frigate HMCS Stormont after World War II. He spent millions turning it into an opulent super yacht, named it after his daughter — and the Christina O kicked off a trend among tycoons. To this day, the world’s richest men remain locked in an arms race to build the biggest, fastest, most impressive superyacht of all. Here are 10 of our favourites…

Eclipse, owned by Roman Abramovich

Built by: Blohm+Voss of Hamburg, with interiors and exteriors designed by Terence Disdale. Launched in 2009, it cost $500 million (the equivalent of £623 million today).

Owned by: Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, the owner of private investment company Millhouse LLC and owner of Chelsea Football Club. His current net worth is $17.4 billion.

Key features: 162.5 metres in length / 9 decks / Top speed of 22 knots / Two swimming pools / Disco hall / Mini submarine / 2 helicopter pads / 24 guest cabins

Sailing Yacht A, owned by Andrey Melnichenko

Built by: Nobiskrug, a shipyard on the Eider River in Germany. The original idea came from Jacques Garcia, with interiors designed by Philippe Starck and a reported price tag of over $400 million.

Owned by: Russian billionaire industrialist Andrey Melnichenko, the main beneficiary of both the fertiliser producing EuroChem Group and the coal energy company SUEK. Though his current net worth is $18.7 billion, Sailing Yacht A was seized in Trieste on 12 March 2022 due to the EU’s sanctions on Russian businessmen.

Key features: 119 metres in length / 8 decks / Top speed of 21 knots / Freestanding carbon-fibre rotating masts / Underwater observation pod / 14 guests

Symphony, owned by Bernard Arnault

Built by: Feadship, the fabled shipyard headquartered in Haarlem in The Netherlands. With an exterior designed by Tim Heywood, it reportedly cost around $150 million to construct.

Owned by: French billionaire businessman and art collector Bernard Arnault. Chairman and chief executive of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company, his current net worth is $145.8 billion.

Key features: 101.5 metres in length / 6 decks / Top speed of 22 knots / 6-metre glass-bottom swimming pool / Outdoor cinema / Sundeck Jacuzzi / 8 guest cabins

Faith, owned by Michael Latifi

Built by: Similarly to Symphony above, also Feadship. With exteriors designed by Beaulieu-based RWD, and interiors by Chahan Design, it cost a reported $200 million to construct in 2017.

Owned by: Until recently, Canadian billionaire and part-owner of the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team , Lawrence Stroll. Recently sold to Michael Latifi, father of F1 star Nicholas , a fellow Canadian businessman with a net worth of just under $2 billion.

Key features: 97 metres in length / 9 guest cabins / Glass-bottom swimming pool — with bar / Bell 429 helicopter

Amevi, owned by Lakshmi Mittal

Built by: The Oceanco shipyard, also in The Netherlands. With exterior design by Nuvolari & Lenard and interior design by Alberto Pinto, it launched in 2007 (and cost around $125 million to construct).

Owned by: Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO of Arcelor Mittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company. He owns 20% of Queen Park Rangers, and has a net worth of $18 billion.

Key features: 80 metres in length / 6 decks / Top speed of 18.5 knots / On-deck Jacuzzi / Helipad / Swimming Pool / Tender Garage / 8 guest cabins

Odessa II, owned by Len Blavatnik

Built by: Nobiskrug, the same German shipyard that built Sailing Yacht A . Both interior and exterior were created by Focus Yacht Design, and the yacht was launched in 2013 with a cost of $80 million.

Owned by: British businessman Sir Leonard Blavatnik. Founder of Access Industries — a multinational industrial group with current holdings in Warner Music Group, Spotify and the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat — he is worth $39.9 billion.

Key features: 74 metres in length / 6 guest cabins / Top speed of 18 knots / Intimate beach club / Baby grand piano / Private master cabhin terrace / Outdoor cinema

Nautilus, owned by Thierry Stern

Built by: Italian shipyard Perini Navi in 2014. With interiors by Rémi Tessier and exterior design by Philippe Briand, Nautilus was estimated to cost around $90 million to construct.

Owned by: Patek Philippe CEO Thierry Stern. Alongside his Gulstream G650 private jet, Nautilus — named for the famous sports watch — is his most costly mode of transport. His current net worth is $3 billion.

Key features: 73 metres in length / 7 guest cabins / Top speed of 16.5 knots / Dedicated wellness deck / 3.5 metre resistance pool / Underfloor heating / Jet Skis

Silver Angel, owned by Richard Caring

Built by: Luxury Italian boatbuilder Benetti. Launched in 2009, the yacht’s interior has been designed by Argent Design and her exterior styling is by Stefano Natucci.

Owned by: Richard Caring, British businessman and multi-millionaire (his wealth peaked at £1.05 billion, so he still makes the cut). Chairman of Caprice Holdings, he owns The Ivy restaurants.

Key features: 64.5 metres in length / Cruising speed of 15 knots / 7 guest cabins / Lalique decor / 5 decks / Oval Jacuzzi pool / Sun deck bar / Aft deck dining table

Lady Beatrice, owned by Frederick Barclay

Built by: Feadship and Royal Van Lent in 1993. Exteriors were created by De Voogt Naval Architects, with interiors by Bannenberg Designs. She cost the equivalent of £63 million to build.

Owned by: Sir David Barclay and his late brother Sir Frederick. The ‘Barclay Brothers’ had joint business pursuits including The Spectator , The Telegraph and delivery company Yodel. Current net worth: £7 billion.

Key features: 60 metres in length / 18 knots maximum speed / Monaco home port / Named for the brothers’ mother, Beatrice Cecelia Taylor / 8 guest cabins

Space, owned by Laurence Graff

Built by: Space was the first in Feadship’s F45 Vantage series , styled by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and launched in 2007. She cost a reported $25 million to construct.

Owned by: Laurence Graff, English jeweller and billionaire businessman. As the founder of Graff Diamonds, he has a global business presence and a current net worth of $6.26 billion.

Key features: 45 metres in length / Top speed of 16 knots / Al fresco dining area / Sun deck Jacuzzi / Breakfast bar / Swimming platform / Steam room

Want more yachts? Here’s the handcradfted, homegrown history of Princess…

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Inside Below Deck Season 5 Superyacht VALOR

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By Oliver Pearson   18 July 2017

Airing on the 5th September, Below Deck season 5 sees the return of fan favourite Captain Lee Rosbach as well as superyacht VALOR, the charter yacht which featured on Below Deck season 4.

The first time a superyacht has featured twice on Bravo’s popular Below Deck TV series, VALOR will be returning to viewer’s screens this fall along with a number of fresh and familiar cast members.

Indeed, the much loved Chef Ben Robinson- a favoruite who has featured on each Below Deck season before now- has made way for Chef Matt Burns, whilst mainstays Kate Chastain and Nico Scholly will be resuming their roles as chief stewardess and senior deckhand respectively.

As we revealed in an exclusive last year, VALOR is in actual fact the 47m/154ft motor yacht BG . Built by world-leading shipyard Feadship, she is available for charter in the Mediterranean during summer and the Caribbean during winter.

Having been on board the motor yacht for a guided tour and cocktails at the Palm Beach Boat Show , you can read our full review here , as well as taking a full look inside with the pictures and information found below.

A wholly modern motor yacht built by the prestigious Dutch shipyard Feadship, superyacht BG is defined by her excellence. Indeed, by bringing together the very best in luxury amenities amidst a calm environment, her interior is sure to please everyone who steps on board.

Expertly refit in 2015 by Dee Dee Taylor Eustace, a celebrity architect and interior designer who established Taylor Hannah Architect Inc, the playful contrast of bright whites and colour make her as unique as she is comfortable.

It’s thefore unsurprising that the yacht is returning for a second season of Below Deck, with both the communal and guest spaces featured around the interior lending themselves perfectly for a show all about the glamour of the superyacht lifestyle.

Lovingly designed and full of the latest features, superyacht BG is perfectly designed for memorable charter vacations

Sure to be the stage for all the action to take place on this season, the exterior of luxury yacht BG is equipped with all of the latest and most desired features.

The sprawling sunpads on the sundeck, for example, are only a short distance away from a large Jacuzzi, an arrangement which allows the entire party to gather together for some stylish fun in the sun.

Steps on both the port and starboard side of the aft deck promise easy access to the full beam swim platform which has been superbly extended for greater access to the water. From this platform guests are able to effortlessly board tenders, begin playing with her catalogue of towable water toys, or simply dive into the ocean to cool off.

Also boasting an inflatable slide which can be attached to the sundeck, guests on board have the option of entering the water in the coolest fashion.

Read here for further information on any of the yachts featured in the Below Deck TV series , or contact your preferred charter broker if you are interested in inquiring about a vacation on-board M/Y BG.

Alternatively, browse and compare all luxury yachts available to charter in the Caribbean .

More Yacht Information

47m Feadship 1990 / 2021

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