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Reminiscing “Freedom”: a 12 Metre Classic

  • By Herb McCormick
  • January 2, 2024

12 Metre Freedom

Forty years ago this past September, in the waters of Rhode Island Sound just off the coastal city of Newport, a crew of Aussies shocked the sailing world. The 12 Metre Australia II defeated the American boat Liberty to win the 1983 America’s Cup and bring the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year defense of the Auld Mug to a conclusion. It’s safe to say the Cup, and my hometown of Newport, have never been the same.

I spent a lot of time on the sound that summer taking in the action, so when I signed up to volunteer on a marshal boat for the latest edition of the 12 Metre World Championship regatta in August, I found myself on the very same waters, which turned into a pretty nostalgic voyage down a nautical memory lane. But the graceful Twelve I couldn’t take my eyes off wasn’t the winner of the Modern Division, Challenge XII , or even the victor of the Traditional/Vintage Division, Columbia . Nope, I was more or less transfixed on the runner-up to Challenge XII , a striking-blue yacht called Freedom . Of all the entries in the 10-boat fleet, to me, Freedom was easily the most historic and memorable.

Three years before the Australians absconded with the Cup, in 1980, with the estimable Dennis Conner in command, Freedom won the contest in dominant fashion, and it seemed like the New York Yacht Club’s winning streak would go on forever. It was designed by the legendary naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens, which had drawn the lines of every Cup winner but one since 1936. Conner was back on the helm in the losing effort in ’83, but he would find redemption, winning the Cup back for the United States in Western Australia in 1987. But for S&S, Freedom marked the end of an illustrious era. The firm would never again create a Cup winner.

For the 12 Metre Worlds, ironically enough, the navigator aboard Freedom was a lanky old Aussie mate of mine called Grant Simmer, who’d served in the same capacity aboard Australia II for his country’s winning effort way back when. With the exception of the gray hair, he looked exactly the same.

This time, however, Simmer couldn’t work his magic. Unlike the America’s Cup, where boats compete in one-on-one match racing, the World Championship event is fleet racing, with everyone out on the track at the same time. It’s a different game. And Challenge XII had a ringer of its own: the president of North Sails, Ken Read, also a longtime America’s Cup veteran. As far as I was concerned, Freedom was easily the prettiest of all the Modern yachts. When push came to shove, though, it was no longer the fastest.

Today’s America’s Cup competition, conducted on closed-course race tracks in skittish foiling catamarans—about as far removed as possible from a stately 12 Metre racing in the open ocean—bears little resemblance to what the event looked like in the early 1980s. And Newport has undergone a radical makeover as well. The shipyards where the Cup boats used to reside between races have been replaced by condos and hotels, and the only real remaining trace of the America’s Cup is the boulevard of the same name. It’s a reminder that the only true constant in life is change.

But for a few afternoons last August, I could shut my eyes for a moment of reminiscence and open them up to see what I can only describe as a fleeting image of a bygone time. Freedom may be a footnote in the history of yacht racing, but the big, beautiful blue boat still looks powerful and fantastic all the same.

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12 METRE RACING

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

12 metre yacht

THE AMERICA'S CUP

The America’s Cup is one of the longest running and most prestigious sporting events in the world, beginning in 1851 when the Royal Yacht Squadron of the United Kingdom opened the annual regatta around the Isle of Wight to all international competition.

One country answered that invite, the United States, sending a team from the New York Yacht Club on a schooner named the America.

A BRIEF HISTORY

       The Americans defended this cup for 132 years, and no other country came close to defeating the New York Yacht Club. In fact, at one point the cup was bolted into her case, saying she would never again leave New York. To this date, it is considered the longest winning streak in all of sports history. This all changed in 1983, when Alan Bond and the 12 Metre yacht Australia II, pulled off what until then had seemed impossible. Designed by Ben Lexcen and skippered by John Bertrand, she was the first ever 12 Metre to compete with a winged keel. Overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 over Dennis Conner aboard Liberty, the Australians heralded in a new era of America’s Cup racing.

       

       This set up the 1987 America’s Cup, which many consider to be the greatest of all time. Dennis Conner, the same man who lost it for the Americans in 1983 and disgraced the New York Yacht Club, returned to his hometown of San Diego to put together his own racing syndicate, The Stars and Stripes Campaign. Following the development of four yachts over a four years span, Conner competed in over 163 races, beating out 11 teams from 6 nations and earned the chance to challenge Australia off the coast of Fremantle.

       Aboard Stars & Stripes ’87 (US-55), Dennis swept the Australians 4-0, winning back the cup for the United States and solidifying one of the greatest comeback stories of all time. Though both the technology and format has undergone change, the spirit of the America’s Cup remains. 

       We at 12 Metre Racing look forward to having you join us in celebrating the history of one of the World’s greatest sporting events.

conner1.jpeg

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Enterprise: Is this restored 12 Metre the best yacht to never contest the America’s Cup?

Yachting World

  • November 19, 2019

Enterprise is a 1977 S&S-designed 12 Metre, originally built to defend the America’s Cup, and fully restored in time for this year’s 12 Metre World Championships in Rhode Island. Dave Powlison reports

Among the 21 elegant Twelves lining the docks at Rhode Island’s Fort Adams for this summer’s 12 Metre World Championship, sat a yacht that for many was a huge disappointment. Enterprise , built for the 1977 America’s Cup , had everything going for her, but never got the invitation to the Cup she seemed destined to receive. Today, she’s arguably the best set-up 12 Metre in the world.

Designed by Olin Stephens and David Pedrick at Sparkman & Stephens, and built of aluminium at the Minneford Yacht Yard, Enterprise boasted a number of firsts. She was the first design to be tank-tested on a large scale, with a handful of models measuring roughly 7m each, in tanks designed for the aerospace and military industries.

Results from those tests suggested that over a typical 24-mile America’s Cup course in an average 10-knot wind, Enterprise would be a minute faster than her rivals.  Enterprise was also the first yacht to pioneer laminate sails, using plastic films to stabilise the more conventional Dacron. Her sails included the ‘garbage bag’, a light airs genoa that (in colour, at least) suggested its moniker.

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-aerial-running-shot-credit-ian-roman

Enterprise posted two race wins in the 2019 12 Metre World Championships. Photo: Ian Roman

The 1977 Challenger matches were a rematch of the 1974 Courageous v Intrepid rivalry between upstart west coaster Lowell North and eastern establishment sailor Ted Hood.

At North’s right hand was sailmaking wunderkind John Marshall, who would be a dominant presence in Cup competitions for years to come. Many of Enterprise ’s crew had cut their 12 Metre teeth on Intrepid ’s successful 1970 Cup defence. In fact, Intrepid was brought out of retirement and trucked to San Diego to spar with the new design.

Yet it was Courageous , a 1974 design, that secured the spot to defend the Cup ( Courageous successfully saw off Alan Bond’s Australia in the Cup match). So what went wrong for Enterprise ? Anyone who knows the boat well won’t hesitate to respond. “ Enterprise had a foretriangle dimension that was about three feet shorter than what was conventional,” Marshall explained to me recently.

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-aft-running-shot-credit-Paul-Todd-outside-images

Enterprise hull is now painted battleship grey – the original colour was white

Most 12s have a 24ft foretriangle, give or take a bit. Enterprise ’s was 21ft. “Computer predictions that evaluated flow over surfaces suggested this would give us an edge,” Marshall recalled. But when it came to tacking, getting the stiff headsails quickly across was a challenge, as there was now 3ft more sail that had to pass around the front of the mast.

“The jib didn’t fill quite as quickly, and we didn’t accelerate quite as quickly coming out of tacks,” Marshall adds. In the early challenger races, Enterprise performed well. But as the summer progressed, Courageous got distinctly better. “Once the difference got down to being pretty small, and the boats were always close together, tacking performance became much more important.”

Consider that it wasn’t unheard of for 12 Metres to do over 50 tacks on a four-mile beat, and it’s clear why the writing was on the wall.

Article continues below…

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Maiden refit: How Tracy Edwards’ sailing legend was brought back to life

Few yachts, and fewer skippers, become truly famous – famous in the sense that the everyman on the street would…

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Fujin: The inside story of this carbon catamaran’s Caribbean refit

After Fujin capsized during the 2018 RORC Caribbean 600 race it would have been understandable if owner Greg Slyngstad had…

Back to her best

Fast-forward to 2019 and Enterprise is back in fighting form. After stints in the Med she had been donated to the US Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation.

With the impetus of the forthcoming 2019 Worlds in Newport, a major refit was begun in earnest. Tommy Rich, from New England Boatworks, which carried out the refit, recalls: “The boat had been bastardised. They had put a flush deck on it and a bogus interior, and it was basically in a state of disrepair.”

The refit was done over roughly two years, and in that time virtually everything on the boat was upgraded or replaced, except the hull and framework.

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-hull-structure-credit-Paul-Todd-outside-images

The hull structure is one of the few parts of the boat that remains original

Rich explains: “S&S, along with David Pedrick, designed a new keel. The boat got a more modern spade rudder to replace the old, barn-door type, and a more modern deck. That included new cockpits and a spinnaker pole trough – basically all the working deck – as well as a new chainplate structure.”

The boat received a new rig: an aluminium mast, as per the class rules, but with carbon used everywhere else, as well as all-new Harken hydraulics. And, of course, the ‘J’ foretriangle dimension is at 24ft once again.

For this level of investment in time and money, there was just one goal: to win the World Championship. Enterprise was chartered by Clay Deutsch for the summer, but the race started even before she had hit the water. “The challenge for us has been the calendar,” says Deutsch. “We didn’t have the boat in a position to go sailing until the end of May. And it’s pretty humbling how long it takes to get these boats dialed in.”

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-double-wheels-credit-Paul-Todd-outside-images

Double wheels: outer one for steering; inner one for trim tab control

Nevertheless, her pedigree showed quickly. In her first competition in Newport this summer, Enterprise posted a pair of 1sts in the two final races. In the 2019 World Championship in Newport she finished a solid 2nd overall in the Modern Division to the more seasoned Challenge XII .

For Deutsch, the 12 Metre seed was planted long ago. “When I was a kid, while other kids had baseball and football cards, I had an Intrepid scrapbook, and I have always fantasised about 12 Metres. Then, out of the blue this past winter, North Sails’ Mike Toppa came to me with, ‘What about Enterprise ?’ It was the furthest thing from my mind, and I just figured we wouldn’t be there.”

But Deutsch was persuaded, and work shifted into a frenzied pitch at New England Boatworks. “I remember when I first looked at it, and it was in a million pieces, and I said: ‘I’m not a professional, but my amateur opinion is that this boat has no chance of being ready.’

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-asymmetric-foredeck-credit-Paul-Todd-outside-images

Asymmetric foredeck hatches – the port hatch has a roller on the aft side for spinnaker take downs

“But Ben Quatromoni, the project manager, and his team jumped on it, working around the clock, and we made it to the starting line.” Today Enterprise ’s decks today are remarkably spartan for a 12 Metre: it’s 1977 meets 2019 technology, with lots of carbon. “The boat setup is complicated,” says Quatromoni, “but it’s very user-friendly.”

The port foredeck hatch has a roller on the aft side, TP52 -style, for the string take down spinnaker system. Once around the roller, the chute is pulled through a Dacron tube that runs to the stern. With the grinders working in unison, the sail disappears in five seconds.

Control lines run through custom-made carbon ‘trumpets’, allowing them move effortlessly out of sight. Carbon reels take up the halyards. These are ratchet system reels, where one control line spins the reel, bringing the halyard in, and another control line releases it. Unlike those reels, the spinnaker take-down reel is powered off the pedestals.

enterprise-restored-1977-americas-cup-boat-spinnaker-takedown-bag-credit-Paul-Todd-outside-images

The spinnaker take down bag; the spinnaker comes down through the forward deck hatch and is pulled through this long Dacron bag

The aluminium cockpit has been lowered to get the grinders down and allow the boom to just avoid grazing the deck when fully sheeted in. But the boom is low. “Man, is it crowded,” says Deutsch. “I can barely fit under the boom – when we’re tacking, I’m literally down on all fours.”

The port and starboard jib trimmer pits have hydraulic controls for the jib tack and jib leads, which is standard for the Twelves. As on most 12 Metres, below decks is anything but simple.

The 150ft of mainsheet runs from the traveller car up into the boom, forward to the gooseneck, below deck, then aft to a turning block where it goes up into the mainsheet pod. Rather than using a winch for the traveller, the car is controlled by a Harken magic wheel below decks, with a 17:1 purchase.

With so many hydraulic systems, continual pumping is required to keep them pressurised, and the aft cockpit pedestal is set up to run a rotary pump, mounted below, for that purpose. For trimmers, there’s no downtime. Once they’ve finished trimming, it’s back to pumping to keep the hydraulics powered up.

The workmanship on many of the systems is truly extraordinary. The turning blocks for the spinnaker sheet and guy are so inconspicuous as to be barely noticeable. The traveller control line looks as if it has been simply laid on deck.  Enterprise ’s original white hull is now battleship grey. Coupled with black spars, the effect is stunning.

Specification

LOA: 20.15m (66ft 1in) LWL : 13.41m (44ft 0in) Beam: 3.78m   ( 12ft 5in) Draught: 3.78m   ( 12ft 5in) Displacement: 25.7 tonnes Sail area: 168m 2  (1,808ft 2 ) Design: Sparkman & Stephens Year: 1977 Builder: Minneford Yacht Yard, Inc.

About the author

Dave Powlison has been writing about sailing since the late 1970s and is currently an editor-at-large for Sailing World magazine. When not writing, he races Etchells and an RS Aeros in Vermont, USA.

First published in the November 2019 edition of Yachting World.

12 metre yacht

12 Metre Worlds

Official website of the International Twelve Metre Class World Championships

ABOUT THE 2019 12 METRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:

The International 12 Metre Class’ 2019 World Championship was held at Newport, Rhode Island (USA) from July 8- 13, hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club and the 12 Metre Yacht Club . It was the largest-ever gathering of 12 Metre yachts in the United States featuring 22 boats from seven countries. International teams comprised of elite sailors including America’s Cup veterans and Olympic medalists will represent Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway and the United States. The 2019 12 Metre World Championship fleet will span the years 1928 -1987, include seven America’s Cup defenders and challengers, and be sailed on Rhode Island Sound, the site of nine America’s Cup competitions from 1958-1983.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE CLASS:

The 112 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987).

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December 5, 2022

A brief history of the famous “12 metre” class yachts.

15mR Yacht in Action

Historic Yachts

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Elegant Beauties

The boats, especially the long-keeled examples of the thirties are elegant. You can look at them for a long time, from the massive stem to the stern that is lifted apart from the water.

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But let’s tell the story from the beginning

America’s Cup contenders between 1958 and 1987 – the 12 Metre Class

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International Rules

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The America’s Cup, the oldest Trophy

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The Auld Mug

“12 metres” were designed with one thing in mind – to win America’s Cup races. The design of their products reflects this in every aspect. America’s Cup twelves didn’t have room for an engine, anything below decks, or even a toilet when they were campaigning. The deck layouts of America’s Cup twelves are set up for optimal sail performance as well as for speed. When racing, the sails are the engine of the boat, so trimming them correctly and quickly was crucial to winning. America’s Cup “12 Metre” crews were also trained for efficiency. When it was their turn to compete in the famous America’s Cup, they had intensive training and practice to be flawless at sail handling and the best yacht racers in the world.

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During the summer months of August and October, many of these classic racers attend numerous sailing events on the French Riviera . Noblesse Yachts is the only company that offers sailing opportunities as well as yacht charters.

Come sail with us on a piece of America’s Cup racing history on these sleek racing beauties!

Available Dates are: 07.09. – 10.09.23: Vele d’Epoca di Imperia ( See Video here ) 13.09. – 16.09.23: Monaco Classic Week ( See Video here ) 19.09. – 25.09.23: Les Regates Royales de Cannes ( See Video here ) 24.09. – 08.10.23: Les Voiles de Saint Tropez ( See Video here )

Note about copyright: This text is copyrighted by us and you may copy and use it only with a link to our website along with a clear indication of our authorship. Thank you!

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12 metre yacht

The 12-Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was used in the Olympic Games of 1908, 1912 and 1920 but only few boats participated. The 12 Metre Class boats are probably best known for their use from 1958 to 1987 in the America’s Cup.

Rough equality between boats is ensured by requiring compliance with a formula that takes  account of the length at the waterline, the girth (the measurement around the boat from one sideboard; under the keel and then back over the top on the opposite side back to the original side) and the sail area. The very carefully specified measurements are then entered in to the formula, and the result must be 12 Metres – hence the name of the class. Designers are free to change any of these variables (as well as other details, such as the size of the rudder and keel, etc.), with the understanding that for any change in any of the measured attributes, something else will have to be adjusted, in order to make the formula produce the required value.

The “12 Metre” in the class name does not refer to the actual length of the boats, which ranged from 65 to 75 feet (about 20 to 23 m) overall. They were all sloop-rigged, with their masts typically being about 85 feet (26 m) tall. The “12 Metre” yachts are also referred to as “Twelves” or “12 Metres” or even 12s.

The Formula and associated rules for designing and constructing 12 Metre yachts has been modified several times from inception in racing.

The purpose of the Formula and rules was to encourage designer creativity to optimise designs to get the best overall performance when racing whilst maintaining competitive racing between the different designs. Although the Formula and Rules allowed some creativity they were also intended to be comprehensive enough to eliminate loopholes which could result in an extreme design which conformed to the 12 Metre rule but completely outclassed other contemporary designs on the race course. If the rules were considered to be too loose then it would discourage the building of new 12 Metre yachts for fear of a new boat being outclassed even before it was launched.

The Rules were typically updated in response to advances in areas such as material technology (e.g. metal masts versus wooden masts), design technology (e.g. use of the wind tunnel to design sails and sail/mast combinations, advances in fluid dynamics), and equipment (e.g. winch technology).

The Rule has four distinct periods:

Used from 1907–1920

\frac{L + B + G/3 +3d + \sqrt{S}/3 - F}{2} \leq 12 \mbox{ metres}

  • L  = waterline length (LWL)
  • B  = beam
  • G  = chain girth
  • d  = difference between skin girth and chain girth
  • S  = sail area
  • F  = freeboard

Used from 1920–1933

\frac{L + G/4 +2d + \sqrt{S} - F}{2.5} \leq 12 \mbox{ metres}

Used from 1933–1939

\frac{L + 2d + \sqrt{S} - F}{2.37} \leq 12 \mbox{ metres}

Used from 1956 onwards:

Associated with the formula is an extremely comprehensive set of rules. The rules can be classified into two main areas. Rules concerning safety and rules to ensure competitive racing. For example the maximum total area of all cockpits is specified to minimise the chance of a boat being swamped in rougher seas. Structural requirements are specified to ensure that strength is not sacrificed by the need to get weight low down in the keel. Materials are specified plus numerous other details concerning all aspects of the boat. The intention is to challenge designers but ensure competitive racing.

Information courtesy of the ‘Australian Twelves Association’.

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A billionaire NFL owner's superyacht is now available for charter. It'll cost you.

NFL owner Shahid Khan's superyacht Kismet is available for charter at $3 million a week.

Kismet, which will debut at the Monaco Yacht Show, features luxury amenities and can host 12 guests.

Added costs for provisions, gratuities, and taxes can raise the weekly charter cost to $5.4 million.

Want to vacation like a billionaire? You can — for $3 million a week.

The superyacht belonging to Shahid Khan, the owner of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars who is worth $13.3 billion, according to Forbes, is officially available for charter.

Kismet, Khan's new yacht, will make her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show later this month.

The 122-meter yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests — and a crew of 36 available to serve them — and, like any superyacht worth its weight, has some special amenities .

A "Balinese-inspired" spa features a hammam, sauna, and cryotherapy chamber, as well as a massage table and chromotherapy bathtub offering some sort of color-related treatment. For more active wellness, there's a gym, basketball court, and pickleball court.

There are three pools — two are jacuzzis — spread over six decks, four outdoor showers, four bars, four fireplaces, two fire pits, and one helipad. For your viewing pleasure, there is an outdoor cinema, and for your listening pleasure, a DJ booth and grand piano.

And because billionaires love to play, there is a suite of water toys aboard, including Jet Skis, SeaBobs, e-foils, and WaveRunners.

Khan is a committed superyacht owner. His previous superyacht, also named Kismet, was purchased by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt last year. While its final sales price was not disclosed, it was listed for about $160 million. Renamed Whisper, the yacht was built by the same German shipyard as the new Kismet, Lürssen, and measured 95 meters.

"The yacht has exceeded all expectations of the client for whom we have built his third yacht in total," Peter Lürssen, a managing partner at Lürssen, said in a statement about the newest Kismet.

Kismet is the largest yacht on display at the Monaco Yacht Show, which will feature 120 superyachts . Renaissance, the second largest at 112 meters, charters for the same weekly price of $3 million.

While the nine-figure sales prices of these yachts make their seven-figure charter rates seem like a bargain, renting out a superyacht is not for the faint of wallet. In addition to the charter fee, there are costs associated with provisions which can come to as much as 40% of the fee; gratuities, as much as 20% of the fee; and taxes, also as much as 20%. That means a week aboard the Kismet can actually cost as much as $5.4 million.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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NFL Billionaire's Superyacht Up For Charter, Here's How Much It'll Cost You

Zinger key points.

  • Shahid Khan's ultra-luxurious superyacht Kismet hits the charter market with a weekly price tag of $3 million.
  • Experience the pinnacle of opulence with a 122-meter vessel boasting a spa, basketball court, and three pools.

12 metre yacht

Billionaire NFL owner Shahid Khan has made his superyacht available for charter, offering a unique opportunity for those willing to shell out a cool $3 million a week.

What Happened : The superyacht, christened Kismet , is the property of Khan, the owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars . The yacht is all set to make its first appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show later this month. Khan, who boasts a net worth of $13.3 billion as per Forbes, has officially put his new yacht up for charter.

The 122-meter luxury vessel is designed to accommodate up to 12 guests, with a crew of 36 at their disposal. It features a Balinese-inspired spa, a gym, a basketball court, and a pickleball court among other amenities.

According to the report by Business Insider, The yacht also includes three pools, four bars, an outdoor cinema, a DJ booth, and a grand piano.

Khan’s former superyacht, also named Kismet, was purchased by ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt last year. The new Kismet, constructed by German shipyard Lürssen, is the largest yacht to be showcased at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Also Read: A Retiree Was Planning To Pay $1 Million To Live On A Luxury Cruise Ship — Until He Changed His Mind: ‘Is This Going To Happen In My Lifetime?’

“The yacht has exceeded all expectations of the client for whom we have built his third yacht in total,” said Peter Lürssen , a managing partner at Lürssen.

While the charter fee may appear steep, additional expenses such as provisions, gratuities, and taxes can inflate the total cost of a week aboard the Kismet to a staggering $5.4 million.

Why It Matters : This move by Khan signifies a growing trend among billionaires to monetize their luxury assets. It also highlights the increasing demand for ultra-luxury experiences among the super-rich, who are willing to pay premium prices for exclusive experiences.

The charter of Kismet also underscores the popularity of superyachts as a symbol of opulence and status among the world’s wealthiest individuals.

The fact that Khan’s previous yacht was bought by another high-profile billionaire, Eric Schmidt, further emphasizes this point.

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fire on atina heesen yacht

Sunken 47m Heesen superyacht Atina to be recovered by the end of September

What remains of the 47-metre Heesen yacht Atina will be recovered by the end of the month, according to the maritime directorate of Olbia, Ugo Piras.

On 11 August, Atina sunk approximately 300 metres from the coast of Olbia in Sardinia, Italy following a fire that broke out in the stern. Dramatic footage taken by the Olbia Coast Guard shows the flames spread until the superyacht is entirely engulfed. She then begins to list and sink.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Direzione Marittima Olbia (@guardiacostieraolbia)

The Olbia Fire Brigade worked alongside the Olbia Coast Guard to tackle the blaze from 8pm local time. Eight people were on board but were evacuated and confirmed safe by authorities.

The recovery of the yacht follows an operation to remove the 33,000 litres of fuel and 18 batteries that were on board at the time, which was completed on 30 August. Piras also told BOAT International that the defueling process caused "a small leak" from a pipe compromised in the fire, but was promptly remediated on site. 

No other pollutants were reported. Anti-pollution pads have been placed on the scene and an area prohibition order has been issued.

Atina was delivered by the Dutch shipyard in 2008 and won a Neptune at the World Superyacht Awards the following year.

She has sailed under many names, including Elandess , Raasta and Naseem . The superyacht was most recently sold in 2021 at a last known asking price of €16,250,000. Atina then underwent an extensive, multi-month refit with Turkish shipyard FDC Yachts to optimise her for charter .

The most noteworthy change was the sundeck, which was redesigned with a larger pool set forward of the new navigation mast, a Teppanyaki grill and a large bar that could seat up to 12 guests for parties or sporting events.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Maritime Authority of Olbia.

BOAT International will update the story as it develops.

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Autopsy Suggests Tycoon Mike Lynch Likely Died of Suffocation in Yacht - Source

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Rescue personnel operate in search for the missing, including British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, in the area where a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo

PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - British tech tycoon Mike Lynch died of suffocation after running out of oxygen, an investigative source said, citing initial examinations carried out on Saturday after his body was recovered from the family yacht that sank off Sicily's coast last month.

Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, an onboard cook and four guests died when the British-flagged superyacht Bayesian sank during a severe and sudden weather event off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, on Aug. 19.

Initial results on Hannah Lynch's body, whose examinations were carried out on Saturday, were inconclusive, the source told Reuters, only ruling out any traumas or wounds as the cause of death and leaving open the possibilities she either ran out of oxygen or drowned.

The bodies of the dead, except for the cook, were found in cabins on the left-hand side of the 56-metre (184-feet) vessel, where the trapped passengers may have tried to search for remaining bubbles of air, the head of Palermo's Fire Brigade said last month.

Preliminary results from autopsies on four other victims - Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda - indicated suffocation as the likely cause of death, judicial sources said earlier this week.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yacht's captain.

Initial examinations of the Canadian-Antiguan onboard chef Recaldo Thomas indicated he died by drowning, the investigative source said on Saturday.

Further forensic tests have been ordered all the victims, with results expected in the coming weeks, the source said.

The sinking has puzzled naval experts, who said a vessel like the Bayesian, built by high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, which is owned by The Italian Sea Group, should have withstood the storm and not have sunk as quickly as it did.

(Reporting by Wladimir Pantaleone, writing by Elvira Pollina; Editing by Valentina Za)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Autopsy suggests tycoon Mike Lynch likely died of suffocation in yacht, says source

12 metre yacht

PALERMO, Italy - British tech tycoon Mike Lynch died of suffocation after running out of oxygen, an investigative source said, citing initial examinations carried out on Saturday after his body was recovered from the family yacht that sank off Sicily's coast last month.

Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, an onboard cook and four guests died when the British-flagged superyacht Bayesian sank during a severe and sudden weather event off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, on Aug. 19.

Initial results on Hannah Lynch's body, whose examinations were carried out on Saturday, were inconclusive, the source told Reuters, only ruling out any traumas or wounds as the cause of death and leaving open the possibilities she either ran out of oxygen or drowned.

The bodies of the dead, except for the cook, were found in cabins on the left-hand side of the 56-metre (184-feet) vessel, where the trapped passengers may have tried to search for remaining bubbles of air, the head of Palermo's Fire Brigade said last month.

Preliminary results from autopsies on four other victims - Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda - indicated suffocation as the likely cause of death, judicial sources said earlier this week.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yacht's captain.

Initial examinations of the Canadian-Antiguan onboard chef Recaldo Thomas indicated he died by drowning, the investigative source said on Saturday.

Further forensic tests have been ordered all the victims, with results expected in the coming weeks, the source said.

The sinking has puzzled naval experts, who said a vessel like the Bayesian, built by high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, which is owned by The Italian Sea Group, should have withstood the storm and not have sunk as quickly as it did. REUTERS

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British tech magnate Mike Lynch, 2 US citizens among missing after luxury yacht sinks off Sicily

15 people were rescued and one body believed to be the cook was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for and believed inside the hull, by andrea rosa and nicole winfield | the associated press • published august 19, 2024 • updated on august 19, 2024 at 6:21 pm.

British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five other people were missing after their luxury sailing yacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily early Monday, Italy’s civil protection and authorities said. Lynch’s wife and 14 other people survived.

Lynch, who was  acquitted in June  in a big U.S. fraud trial, was among six people who remain unaccounted for after their chartered sailboat sank off Porticello, when a tornado over the water known as a waterspout struck the area overnight, said Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency.

One body was recovered, and police divers spent the day trying to reach the hull of the ship, which was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) off Porticello where it had been anchored, rescue authorities said. They returned to the site after 10 p.m. to see if it would be possible to search through the night, when weather conditions were expected to worsen, said Luca Cari, spokesman of the fire rescue service.

It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, the Italian coast guard said. A sudden fierce storm had battered the area overnight, and struck the place precisely where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian had been moored.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Cocina, noting that another superyacht nearby wasn't as badly damaged and helped rescue some of the 15 survivors, who included Lynch's wife Angela Bacares.

The Bayesian was notable for its single 75-meter (246-feet) mast — one of the world’s tallest made of aluminum and which was lit up at night, just hours before it sank. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Golunski, said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported, quoting the mother. The father, James Emsley, also survived, said Cocina.

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Karsten Borner, the captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, said he had noticed the Bayesian nearby during the storm but after it calmed he saw a red flare and realized the ship had simply disappeared, ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported. Borner said he and a crew member boarded their tender and found a lifeboat with 15 people, some of them injured, who they then took aboard and alerted the coast guard.

Eight of those rescued were hospitalized while the others were taken to a hotel. One body believed to be the cook was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for and believed inside the hull, said Cari, the fire rescue spokesperson. The rescue operations, which were visible from shore, involved helicopters and rescue boats from the coast guard, fire rescue and civil protection service.

#Palermo , naufragio imbarcazione a Porticello: recuperato dai #sommozzatori dei #vigilidelfuoco il corpo senza vita di un uomo, all’esterno del relitto. Proseguono le operazioni di ricerca con il coordinamento in mare della @guardiacostiera [ #19agosto 11:30] pic.twitter.com/Y2m9o5ohCe — Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 19, 2024

Fisherman Francesco Cefalu’ said he had seen a flare from shore at around 4:30 a.m. and immediately set out to the site but by the time he got there, the Bayesian had already sunk, with only cushions, wood and other items from the superyacht floating in the water.

“But for the rest, we didn’t find anyone,” he said from the port hours later. He said that he immediately alerted the coast guard and stayed on site for three hours, but didn't find any survivors. “I think they are inside, all the missing people.”

He said he had been up early to check the weather to see if he could go fishing, and surmised that a sudden waterspout had struck the yacht.

“It could be that the mast broke, or the anchor at the prow pulled it, I don’t know,” he said.

Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries: In addition to Britain and the United States, passengers and crew were from Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, he said.

Among the dead and missing, four were British, two were American, and one was a man with dual citizenship from Canada and Antigua, according to Luciano Pischedda, the Italian Coast Guard official overseeing the rescue operations.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was “providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families.”

Dutch foreign ministry spokesperson Casper Soetekouw said the lone Dutch citizen on board, a man, had been rescued and was not in life-threatening condition.

Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was cleared in June of fraud and conspiracy charges related to Hewlett Packard’s $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp.

The not-guilty verdicts followed an 11-week criminal trial in San Francisco that delved into the history of HP’s  2011 acquisition  of Autonomy, a business software firm founded by Lynch.

The  fraud accusations  represented a dramatic turn in the fortunes of an entrepreneur once described as the Bill Gates of Britain — a title he seemed to live up to when he netted an $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

The acquittal vindicated Lynch, who had vehemently denied wrong doing and portrayed HP as a technological train wreck.

“I’m looking forward to returning the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” Lynch said in a statement released after the verdict.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate 12 passengers in four double cabins, a triple and the master suite, plus crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.

The vessel, which previously was named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag, featured a sleek, minimalist interior of light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions and photos on the charter sites.

AP writers Danica Kirka and Sylvia Hui contributed from London.

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CRUSADER (K-24) was designed and built for the last America’s Cup in the 12-metre class, she benefited from years of development in the class and advanced aluminum technology and skills at the time. Since then, she has been well-loved and maintained by her current owner, and more importantly, she has been used and not left to stand idle.

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Own an Italian racing machine! Built in 1986 according to the International Third Rule- America’s Cup, Azzurra III (I-10) is under complete refit in Italy, which will presumably be completed by October 2024.

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IKRA: The iconic 12mR is now available for a new owner! Formerly named Kurrewa V, IKRA serves as a testament to the enduring sustainability and versatility of the 12-Metre class in the America’s Cup. IKRA also holds a special status in France as a “Bateau d’intérêt patrimonial” (heritage vessel)…

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Own a vintage beauty; 12mR Vanity V (K-5) is available for purchase and ready to race!

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KZ-5 was the second in a development series of the three “Plastic Fantastics” (KZ-3, KZ-5, KZ-7) built by McMullen & Wing for the 1987 New Zealand Americas Cup Challenge in Perth, Western Australia. Well maintained and stored professionally, she was chartered by a Swedish Syndicate for the 2019 World Championships in Newport and claimed first place in the Grand Prix Division.

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Wings (K-15) now available for purchase! Wings (K-15) oiis a Camper & Nicholson 12 Metre which was originally built in…

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  1. 12 Metre Yacht database

    The 115 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the ...

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    12 Metre yachts were used for the last time in America's Cup competition at the 1987 event held in Fremantle, Australia. 12 Metres continued to race together on a local basis but due to the high cost and without the impetus and prestige surrounding competition in the America's Cup, no new boats have been built since 1987 save one. ...

  3. List of 12-metre yachts

    Robert E. Derecktor Yacht Yard [64] USA 25: US-25: 1974: Mariner: Britton Chance Jr. Robert E. Derecktor Yacht Yard [65] USA 26: US-26: 1974: Courageous: Olin J. Stephens: Minneford Yacht Yard Inc. [66] USA 27: US-27: 1977: Enterprise: Sparkman & Stephens: Minneford Yacht Yard Inc. [67] USA 28: US-28: 1976: Independence: Frederick E ...

  4. INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE ASSOCIATION

    The 115 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the ...

  5. Mariner, US-25

    The 115 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the ...

  6. St. Maarten 12 Metre Racing

    MAARTEN 12 METRE RACING. St. Maarten Twelve Metre Racing is a physically and culturally immersive, historic sailing experience that allows our guests to compete against one another as integral working members of the crew. Except for some guest safety enhancements, all boats in the 12 Metre fleet have been exquisitely maintained in original form.

  7. Reminiscing "Freedom": a 12 Metre Classic

    "Freedom" is a Sparkman & Stephens-designed, 12-meter sailing yacht that won the America's Cup in 1980 for the New York Yacht Club. ... The 12 Metre Australia II defeated the American boat Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup and bring the New York Yacht Club's 132-year defense of the Auld Mug to a conclusion. It's safe to say the Cup ...

  8. 12 Meter Yacht Charters

    12 meter yacht charters. 1 Bannister's Wharf Newport, Rhode Island 02840. Mailing address: PO Box 305, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 +1 (401) 851-1216. [email protected]

  9. International Twelve Metre Association

    The 116 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife ...

  10. History of 12 Meter Racing

    12 Meter Racing Yachts The 12 Metre Class - America's Cup contenders 1958-1987. In 1958, after a twenty-one year halt of America's Cup competition, racing continued with a new class of racers, the 12 Metre Class. These 60 to 70 foot sloops were smaller in size, easier to crew, and more manageable on a race course than the previous 135 ...

  11. 12 Metre Worlds

    12 Metre Worlds - Official website of the International Twelve ...

  12. The America's Cup

    This all changed in 1983, when Alan Bond and the 12 Metre yacht Australia II, pulled off what until then had seemed impossible. Designed by Ben Lexcen and skippered by John Bertrand, she was the first ever 12 Metre to compete with a winged keel. Overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 over Dennis Conner aboard Liberty, the Australians heralded in a ...

  13. History & Design of the 12-Meter Yachts

    History & Design of the 12-Meter Yachts. Over 100 years ago the 12-Meter yachts first set sail. So why are they still recognized as the standard for design, speed, and agility? Originally built in 1907, the 12-Meter boats first appeared in America's Cup in 1958 when the competition resumed after a 21 year halt due to World War II.

  14. Enterprise: Is this restored 12 Metre the best yacht to never contest

    Among the 21 elegant Twelves lining the docks at Rhode Island's Fort Adams for this summer's 12 Metre World Championship, sat a yacht that for many was a huge disappointment.

  15. Home

    ABOUT THE 2019 12 METRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: The International 12 Metre Class' 2019 World Championship was held at Newport, Rhode Island (USA) from July 8- 13, hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club and the 12 Metre Yacht Club.It was the largest-ever gathering of 12 Metre yachts in the United States featuring 22 boats from seven countries.

  16. A Brief History Of The Famous "12 Metre" Class Yachts

    The nimbus derives from its function as a former America's Cup class. Sailing history was written with the „12 metre" from 1958 off Newport to 1987 off Fremantle, Australia. The best yacht designers, boat and mast builders, hardware manufacturers, sailmakers, savvy sailors and shrewd tacticians competed in the class back then.

  17. 12-Metre

    The "12 Metre" in the class name does not refer to the actual length of the boats, which ranged from 65 to 75 feet (about 20 to 23 m) overall. They were all sloop-rigged, with their masts typically being about 85 feet (26 m) tall. The "12 Metre" yachts are also referred to as "Twelves" or "12 Metres" or even 12s.

  18. U.s.a, Us-61

    The 115 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the ...

  19. The Fleet

    With the yachts berthed at Bannister's Wharf, accessible to sailors and spectators alike, this event recalls the heyday atmosphere of 12 Metre America's Cup Racing in Newport from 1958 to 1983. For the complete 12 Metre Racing Calendar visit: International Twelve Metre Association. To charter a 12 Metre Yacht contact:

  20. Home

    Home - 12 Metre Yacht Club

  21. The 12 Metre Courageous is For Sale

    Launched in 1974, Courageous was designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built at Minneford Yacht Yard. The first 12 Metre made of aluminum construction, she carried a who's who of American sailing to victory in the 1974 and 1977 America's Cup campaigns. Ted Hood skippered her in 1974 with Dennis Conner in the afterguard, and in 1977, Ted ...

  22. A billionaire NFL owner's superyacht is now available for charter. It

    The 122-meter yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests — and a crew of 36 available to serve them — and, like any superyacht worth its weight, has some special amenities. Kismet's spa is inspired by Bali and equipped with a chromotherapy bath and massage table. Courtesy of Cecil Wright.

  23. NFL Billionaire's Superyacht Up For Charter, Here's How Much It'll Cost

    Khan, who boasts a net worth of $13.3 billion as per Forbes, has officially put his new yacht up for charter. The 122-meter luxury vessel is designed to accommodate up to 12 guests, with a crew of ...

  24. Sunken 47m Heesen superyacht Atina to be recovered by the end of September

    What remains of the 47-metre Heesen yacht Atina will be recovered by the end of the month, according to the maritime directorate of Olbia, Ugo Piras.. On 11 August, Atina sunk approximately 300 metres from the coast of Olbia in Sardinia, Italy following a fire that broke out in the stern. Dramatic footage taken by the Olbia Coast Guard shows the flames spread until the superyacht is entirely ...

  25. Heritage, US-23

    By 1985 she had been donated to the Sea Scouts of America. 1993-2013: Jeffrey G. Barrows, HYC, Inc. purchased Heritage in California in 1990 and brought her to Marblehead, MA. By 1993, Heritage was sailing in Newport, R.I. In 2000 she was refitted with a 12 metre rig. 2013-present: Heritage was purchased by Eli Massar and Emily Pollack in 2013.

  26. Autopsy Suggests Tycoon Mike Lynch Likely Died of Suffocation in Yacht

    Sept. 7, 2024, at 12:31 p.m. Save Comment. More. ... in the area where a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 21, 2024. ... were found in ...

  27. Autopsy suggests tycoon Mike Lynch likely died of suffocation in yacht

    Sep 08, 2024, 12:31 AM. More. ... The bodies of the dead, except for the cook, were found in cabins on the left-hand side of the 56-metre (184-feet) vessel, where the trapped passengers may have ...

  28. 1 dead, 6 missing after luxury yacht Bayesian sinks off Sicily

    It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, the Italian coast guard said. A sudden fierce storm had battered the area overnight, and struck the place precisely where the 56-meter (184-foot ...

  29. Mike Lynch, man once dubbed 'Britain's Bill Gates,' dies at age 59

    Mike Lynch, who had just recently won a landmark U.S. fraud trial, was found dead in the wreckage of a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily. He was 59.

  30. 12mRs for Sale

    The 115 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the ...