Yachting December 2023

I ARRIVED AT JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to find my flight canceled. The previous day’s snowstorm had left the Big Apple covered in a blanket of white, and I was trying hard to break out from this winter gloom. My plan was to take in the blue hues and warm environs of Belize for a week of island-hopping. ¶ The next flight was delayed for deicing. That delay led to a missed connection in Miami. Such is travel life sometimes. Eventually, I got on a plane and hotfooted it to Belize City. ¶ The plane door opened, and a wave of warm air washed over me. It was glorious, and the stress of the two-day travel odyssey melted away, setting the tone for the week to come. ¶ I…

HERE’S A FUN FACT: Accordingtoarecentsurveyofadults18 and older, nearly 20 percent of Americans are now planning road trips with itineraries that are fully contained within 100 miles of home. People traveling really long distances for vacations—say, 1,000 or more miles from home—make up less than 7 percent of the US population. ¶ The takeaway is that it sometimes pays big dividends to think small when it comes to planning an escape. With a boat, it’s entirely possible to spend an afternoon or a long weekend away from the grind, often right up the coast from home. ¶ In fact, more and more marinas are adding waterfront dining and other amenities that make them great destinations unto themselves. Some marinas are also within walking distance or a quick cab ride of vibrant…

01. WATER-RESISTANT Like all MB&F timepieces, this one resists the water down to a depth of about 100 feet below the surface. 02. THE FRAME It’s made of 18-karat white gold in versions with a blue CVD movement. In green versions, it’s 18K yellow gold. 03. SHOCK ABSORBING Helicoidal springs are crafted by lasers and then placed between the movement and the case.…

Boston Boatworks says construction is underway on the first two hulls of the BB44 Offshore Express, with the boats expected to launch in summer and fall of 2024. This shipyard has been around for nearly three decades, building boats for other brands, and is now building these boats under its own Boston Boatworks branding. Doug Zurn, who is based in Massachusetts, designed the BB44’s hull. It’s expected to allow for a top speed of 36 knots with standard twin Volvo Penta D6s and DPI Aquamatic Drives. Interiors are by Winch Design across the pond in the United Kingdom. That firm is best known for its work aboard superyachts, which should give the BB44 a special touch when it’s time to shut down the engines and relax. 49'3" LENGTH OVERALL 14'10"…

This concept design from Bering Yachts is intended to offer several configurations for owners to customize. Just one example the shipyard notes is a version with six staterooms that are all similar in size, for use on the charter market with clients who want to cruise together and then split the weekly rate. Owners can expect performance numbers that include a 10-to-12-knot cruise speed and a top-end speed of 14 knots, according to Bering Yachts, whose construction facilities are in Turkey. Range is projected at more than 4,000 nautical miles. For the interiors Bering’s team worked with Phathom, which focused on light, creamy tones—also with an eye toward wide appeal for possible use on the charter market. 121'8" LENGTH OVERALL 29'2" MAXIMUM BEAM…

THE LOMAC TURISMO 9.5 is a high-end RIB with an aggressive look that will rotate heads in any harbor. The boat carries a generous bow area for lounging and dining, a center console with a windshield, a belowdecks shower and a U-shaped dinette aft that converts into a sun pad. The boat also sports a twin-shell hull and six-chambered tubes, which are a safety feature in case of punctures to any single chamber. • Whom It’s For: Performance-minded boaters who appreciate practical amenities and flexible spaces for socializing or lounging. • Picture This: The Antigua Charter Yacht Show is unfurling at Nelson’s Dockyard, but your yacht is berthed at Jolly Harbour. No matter. You load up your Lomac Turismo 9.5 and blast over. The yachts and the former Royal Navy…