Solar megayacht

For 585 days, Swiss adventurer Raphael Domjan braved storms, pirates and cloudy skies in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe on a boat propelled by nothing but sun beams. The boat, christened "Turanor" after a word meaning "power of the sun" in JRR Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is Domjan's brainchild.

As heavy as a whale and 30 meters long, it's adorned with enough photovoltaic panels to cover two tennis courts. After eight years of fundraising, 64,000 hours of construction, and 19 months at sea, the "Turanor" made history on May 6, when it cruised into Port Hercules, Monaco, completing the first ever round-the-
world journey by a solar-powered vessel.

From the coast of Miami to the shores of Mumbai, Domjan and his four-man crew visited 28 countries on a voyage designed to showcase the practical applications of solar energy. "The aim of this journey was to show the world that this technology is not science fiction, it is very real and it can help us change how we do things now rather than in the future," said Domjan.

Full story on CNN >>> http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/23/tech/solar-powered-boat-circumnavigation/index.html

Great new book about boating

From Family to Crew is the true account of Dr. James Ellingford and his family as they embark on a remarkable journey with Pendana, a beautiful vessel designed for open-ocean.

Ellingford and his wife have owned several boats over the course of their lives, but none so impressive and capable as Pendana, a Nordhavn 62. The doctor and his family purchased the boat and decided to write about their experiences over the first year of ownership.

From Family to Crew shows anyone interested in voyaging with their families that it may be challenging at times yet absolutely possible for a couple with no real hands-on knowledge or experience of crossing oceans, to successfully own and operate such a sophisticated vessel.

For those who would like to read more, “From Family to Crew” –is available for a special price only from CreateSpace. Using the discount code of TFX6MZ2V you will receive a $20.00 discount from your order. Packed with over 320+ pages and more than 150+ colour photos. Australian buyers can buy direct via pendanablog.com to save time and freight charges.

Discount offer - $20.00 off.

https://www.createspace.com/3945639

5 things to remember before setting sail

So you are getting ready to set sail. Whether you’re going out on a small boat or a luxurious multihull, there are always some basic tips and safety requirements to be aware of while sailing. The following apply to crew as well as passengers.

1. Sunscreen – Nothing will ruin your day of sailing faster than realizing you just got burned to a crisp under the bright sun. Depending on the amount of cloud cover, sunburn can occur in a matter of minutes. Bring a sunscreen with a high enough sun protection factor (SPF). Reducing instances of sunburn also reduces chances of contracting skin cancer. Many a sailor has spent the evening after a day of a sailing cursing themselves for forgetting the sunblock.
2. Wear proper footwear – Depending on the size of the boat and how involved you’ll be in its operation, having shoes that will make walking on deck safe is important. Nobody wants to be that person who slips and goes overboard or slips and hits the deck face first. A good pair of soft soled shoes works best. Avoid any footwear with excessive heels or hard rubber soles.
3. Make sure there are enough life vests on board – Before setting sail make sure the boat has one life vest for each passenger/crew member. Common sense dictates that before setting sail everyone put on their life vest. This will ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable voyage. All children passengers should have their life vests put on by an adult and secured properly. Periodically, the children’s life vests should be checked to ensure they are still being worn properly.
4. Bring appropriate clothes – Enjoying the bright sun is great while sailing, but you should take into account that weather conditions can change quickly when out on the water. Temperatures can cool quickly if the sun goes behind clouds or as evening approaches. Take a coat and a set of clothes to wear if the weather or temperature changes for the worse.
5. Know where the safety and first aid equipment is located. Depending on the size of the boat, this can include items like the first aid kit, flare gun, fire extinguisher or any sort of inflatable life rafts. Knowing where these items are can avoid any delay in getting aid should an accident occur during your time out on the water.

These five simple tips can ensure that a sailing trip can be fun and enjoyable for all involved. These tips are a simple matter of preparation and can help avoid any unnecessary accidents or mishaps. Have a great time sailing!

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Enjoy the Best’s platform offers you a place to mingle with people who share the same hobbies as you, the same love of adventure and travel. This new and exciting site connects you to thousands of luxury travelers, men and women, from around the world who are looking for their next adventure at sea and want to get to know new and interesting personalities. Benefit from a secure and easy to use platform as we do an identity check on all potential members before accepting their profile. Subscribe now at www.enjoythebest.net for a free trial before the official launch!

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Most expensive £3billion super yacht - A boat made of Gold and Platinum

A super yacht built by a British designer, half of which is covered in gold and is worth an estimated £3billion, is to set sail.

Whatever coats your boat: The History Supreme and its gold hull, commissioned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, for a reported £3billion

The was built for a Malaysian businessman by British designer Stuart Hughes. It is 30.5m (100ft) long and is claimed to feature around 100,000kg of solid gold and platinum – making it worth a reported £3billion.

Its main sleeping quarter is adorned with platinum accents, including a wall feature made of stone from a meteor - and bone from a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The hull is also wrapped in a thin layer of gold, while precious metals were used to make the deck, dining area, rails and anchor.

The British-designed yacht was made for a mystery Malaysian businessman and designer Stuart Hughes said it took him three years to complete.
The 40-year-old from Liverpool worked on the commission – called The History Supreme – with a team of eight people. ‘It was probably the most mammoth task ever,’ he said. ‘I’ve covered all sorts of things in gold but this has got to be my most ambitious project yet. This will never be topped.’
Mr Hughes, who has also used gold to customise other luxury goods like iPads and iPhones, added: ‘He wanted a plane doing as well but the thing would never take off if we did.

So he said “can you do the yacht?” and I said we’ll give it a crack and then it was pretty much a case of “can you make this gold, can you make that gold?” We just did what we were told and are delighted with the result.’
The yacht, built in Italy, was completed in Malaysia about two weeks ago. ‘I believe it will be mostly in dry dock, it won’t be used, it is just for show,’ Mr Hughes said.
According to the World Gold Council, some 165,600 tonnes had been mined at their last estimate in 2009, meaning that the craft has nearly one per cent of the world’s gold.

found on: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/869927-introducing-the-3billion-super-yacht-made-of-gold-and-platinum