Superyacht Design Symposium 2009 Day Two: Pirates, Helicopters and Flying Subs
October 27, 2009
A series of absolutely riveting presentations highlighted the
concluding day of the Superyacht Design Symposium 2009, presented by Boat International Media.
Safety on sailing yachts, anti-piracy measures, helicopter operations
and a revolutionary new submersible were the topics discussed by an
all-star cast of yacht owners, designers, maritime aviation and
yachting industry professionals in the gilded Grand Ballroom of the
Plaza Hotel in New York City.
The buzz started over breakfast on Tuesday as the Symposium presenters
and delegates compared notes on the festive cocktail party sponsored by
the internationally renowned Chihuly Studio and the spectacular dining experience they had enjoyed the night before at Midtown restaurant Rouge Tomate, which recently was awarded its first Michelin star. Restaurant Founder Eric Wittouck,
who is also a superyacht owner, welcomed the Symposium attendees to the
private dinner, commenting on how much he had enjoyed Monday’s session.
“I was interested to hear the conversation about the long, lean and
light hulls. I am building such a boat right now,” he revealed.
Wittouck’s greeting was echoed by Rouge Tomate’s Executive Chef and its
Head Sommelier, who personally introduced the evening’s menu featuring
seasonal, fresh market ingredients, and the excellent wine selection
that accompanied each course. The sparkling dinner conversation also
centered on the issues that had been covered that day.
“I think it’s been very interesting – there was a lot of variety in the topics,” said yacht designer Ken Frievokh, who participated in many of the Symposium’s creative discussions both from the stage and the audience.
“I’m very impressed,” agreed Til von Krause of Abeking & Rasmussen. “It has been very well organized, the whole event.”
Just as on the previous day, Tuesday’s session featured very timely topics for the yachting industry. Joe Vittoria, owner of the 75m S/Y Mirabella V,
introduced the panel on Anti-Piracy Security, explaining that while
attacks on yachts are still extremely rare, the recent rise in piracy
around the world certainly merited attention. While stressing that he
did not intend to scare anyone, Vittoria said, “A lot of yacht owners,
myself included, think about this.”
The 2008 Superyacht
Design Symposium had begun with a presentation by owner Tom Perkins on
building his former 88m sailing superyacht Maltese Falcon,
during which he gave the delegates a preview of his DeepFlight Super
Falcon Submersible. So it was only fitting that the 2nd Annual edition
of the event should end with a fantastic presentation by its builder, Graham Hawkes
of Hawkes Ocean Technologies – including a film of Perkins himself
“flying” the craft beneath the sea. Hawkes’ description of diving with
dolphins provided an exciting glimpse of the future for yacht owners.
“All of us have a little bit of James Bond in us,” said Boat International Media CEO Tony Harris during his concluding remarks.
Boat International Media will welcome back the Superyacht Design Symposium to New York City in October 2010.
For more information visit www.superyachtdesignsymposium.com or contact:
Alice C. I'Anson Widdows
Business Development Director - Events
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8545 9338
Email: alice.widdows@boatinternationalmedia.com
|
|
