TIDE Issue 14

Summer is ripe with regattas, from the chance to race round Land’s End and onto France as part of The Fastnet in July, right to JoySail in Ibiza come September: indeed, as we go to press we will be joining the newly refitted Namuun for this year’s big Balearic weekend. It all sounds special and it is; we are lucky to do what we do. Creating your own reality and finding a working balance is crucial to the Superyacht lifestyle. Two people who are certainly inspired by and nailing that philosophy right now are the owner and the Captain of Black Jack, who took line honours at this year’s edition of the aforementioned Fastnet, and who we recently caught up with in the UK. Given that this issue is out…

Carlo Baroncini shot this issue’s cover image: a stunning portrait of Aquarius (now known as Asparo) For this issue, our cover shot is something of a tease, as we all anticipate the launch of Aquarius ll. To whet our appetites in advance of that unveiling, we bring you this beautiful image by Carlo Baroncini of Aquarius (aka Asparo) – once described by her owners as ‘close to perfect’. Launched in 2017, it’s fitting that she graces our cover now, when we’re talking to the designers of both boats, Dykstra Naval Architects. The same design and build team are back (including Project Manager Godfrey Cray and Interior Designer Mark Whiteley) to come up with the new 65m ocean ketch, simply because the owners want a bigger version of their previous much-loved…

Good drivers are legion, but true Formula One legends are rare. The ebullient Australian Jack Brabham was one such, winning no fewer than three F1 Driver’s Championships between 1959 and 1966. The man himself has sadly passed on, but his winning ways are still making headlines thanks to the recent performance of the 100ft Supermaxi that bears his nickname as a tribute. Black Jack is a storied Reichel/Pugh design that has collected line honours in the world’s biggest yacht races so many times it’s bordering on greedy. From the Rolex Sydney Hobart to the Giraglia Offshore Race, she has bagged dozens of major titles since her launch in 2005 as Alfa Romeo II, beating the likes of Comanche and Wild Oats XI. Peter Harburg named her Black Jack after his…

For those with a taste for adventure and a conscience for conservation, the Mediterranean’s sapphire waters, heritage shipwrecks and abundant reefs are more than a backdrop for exploration. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organisation. Anchored in the ethos that restoration and recreation can coexist, PADI Eco Centers are setting the highest standards for ecotourism: alongside the United Nations Environment Program and Reef-World, PADI launched the new international accreditation for scuba facilities in 2023. Application requirements are extremely in-depth, take approximately a year to complete and include providing evidence that a centre has directly improved the local environment. With bespoke itineraries, discreet transfers and access to places beyond the reach of casual tourism, Eco Centers can now place sustainability at the heart of…

The term ‘poetry in motion’ tends to be overused. And yet, if you were fortunate enough to be in Palma de Mallorca this June, you would have seen its true meaning brought to life. The sight of four Baltic 68 Café Racers sailing side by side; each team drilled to perfection and every yacht displaying equal parts power and grace in the fresh breeze gave new vibrancy to the phrase. The Café Racer is a class that has slowly been gaining momentum since the launch of hull number one, Pink Gin, in 2021. The concept for the yacht was for it to be an uncomplicated supersized luxury daysailer that could be either cruised or raced. For the uninitiated, the term Café Racer refers to a genre of slick, stripped-down motorbikes…

“One of life’s quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful.” This line was written by the author Norman Maclean in his book A River Runs Through It. He was actually talking about fly fishing and how even small acts, well executed, can be wonderful. This is, of course, true. Yet it can also apply to bigger acts – creating a yacht, for example. Speak with Thys Nikkels, CEO of Dykstra Naval Architects, and it soon becomes clear that the team he has in place have been co-authoring some of the most exciting and beautiful boats that grace our waters today. Dykstra Naval Architects is one of the leading lights in yacht design: vessels such as the iconic Maltese…