Ever wondered where the likes of Roman Abramovich, David Coulthard and Wayne Rooney kept their yachts?  We run down the top 5 most beautiful marinas in the world, which also happen to be some of the most expensive – you’re eyes will pop out of their sockets when you see how much it costs to stay there for just ONE night! Port de Saint Tropez; France. £1,200 per berth. Port de Saint Tropez is one of the most well known marina’s in the world. It is located in France and considered one of the major hubs of the Mediterranean. It offers beautiful views reminiscent of the Renaissance period and is a common port of call for most cruise ships.   Puerto Jose Banus; Marbella, Spain. £1,800 per berth. Built originally by Jose Banus in 1970, Puerto Banus has become a luxury complex ever since. It has enough berths for 915 boats and covers a total area of 15 hectares, with a beach located on either side! It’s clientele includes some of the richest and most powerful people in the world, including the King of Saudi Arabia!   Marina di Portofino; Genova, Italy. £1,900 per berth. While not offering as much space or luxury as other ports across the world, Marina di Portofino offers everything you could want out of the Mediterranean. It’s buildings are typically Italian and the walks along the port front will leave you wishing you could stay forever.   Marina di Porto Cervo; Sardinia, Italy. £2,250 per berth. The Marina di Porto Cervo is a sparsely populated town with less than 200 permanent inhabitants. The Marina itself is one of the best equipped shipyards in the Mediterranean, capable of repairing even the largest luxury yachts. The town has a Italian countryside feel, with it’s dark orange buildings.   Marina Grande; Capri, Italy. £2,500 per beth. The Marina Grande is the most beautiful marina in the world. The town climbs up Mount Solaro and from the port itself, it creates one of the best views available. The Marina is busy all year round and offers two basins for Commercial and Leisure craft.   Liked this article? Be sure to check out our twitter @plainsailing for...

Singapore Yacht Show is an absolutely glamorous event that gives the ultimate opportunity to the magnificent yachting brands to market their yachts and get associated with wealthy individuals. Ever since the rich class of Asia has been increasing, the market for international yacht brokers and builders is also augmenting. Singapore Yacht Show is the event that encourages international yacht brokers and builders to invest in Asia. The exhibitors who participate in the show interact directly with the billionaires and millionaires from Singapore and also enjoy the luxury shopping, world famous casinos and renowned golf courses in the region. Recently, the Singapore Yacht Show has collaborated with Wealth X so that through their joined forces they are able to analyze and gain knowledge about Asia’s ultra wealthy and also get an idea of demands for boats and yachts in the future. Wealth X is the UHNW prospecting and intelligence firm which has organized research and data related to the UHNW individuals in Asia. Wealth X has its headquarters in Singapore but it also has 13 field offices in 5 different continents. The partnership between Wealth X and Singapore Yacht Show will allow the yachting companies from all over the world to capitalize on the changing tastes and increasing private wealth in Asia. According to Wealth X’s CEO- Mr. Mykolas Rambus, the joint venture reflects the fact that Wealth X is totally committed to the ever expanding yachting industry and to its customer base. In his opinion, yachting professionals take keen interest in the news flashes, stories and reports that are published by Wealth X. Singapore Yacht Show’s managing director- Mr. Andy Treadwell also said that getting details on Asia is extremely fundamental and therefore getting associated with Wealth X is perhaps the smart move on Singapore Yacht Show’s part. Only time will tell how this partnership between the two is going to...

The Torres Herald found some severe trouble at this weekend. Projecting masts were all that might be spotted after the huge old wooden boat sank in Calliope River. Senior Const. John Kernan told that the police were attempting to find the owner. He added that volunteer Marine Rescue gave them information that a yacht had sunk this morning. At presenting they are trying to search the owners. The harbor master and Maritime Safety Queensland have been advised. Investigating officers are carrying on into the matter and they would have to work out how to remove the yacht. The mariners must take care when navigating across there. It is not too dangerous though because there are two masts visible at all tides. Russell Charles, the VMR Gladstone controller, stated that he came to know about the sinking just yesterday morning. They got a whole lot of reports regarding this at this morning. Because it is a salvage operation, it is outside of their constitution. A leading newspapere came to know that if the vessel is thought to be a problem to natigation, then there would have been an order passed to get the boat removed. People paid tributes on the Gladstone community site All Things Fishing. Mellie Stratton brought back some old memories: She said: Its name was Torres Herald, it has been around a long time that boat. Her dad remembers it from the 60s and 70s up in the Straits. The Torres Herald found some severe trouble at this weekend. Projecting masts were all that might be spotted after the huge old wooden boat sank in Calliope River. Senior Const. John Kernan told that the police were attempting to find the owner. He added that volunteer Marine Rescue gave them information that a yacht had sunk this morning. At presenting they are trying to search the owners. The harbor master and Maritime Safety Queensland have been advised. Investigating officers are carrying on into the matter and they would have to work out how to remove the yacht. The mariners must take care when navigating across there. It is not too dangerous though because there are two masts visible at all tides. Russell Charles, the VMR Gladstone controller, stated that he came to know about the sinking just yesterday morning. They got a whole lot of reports regarding this at this morning. Because it is a salvage operation, it is outside of their constitution. A leading newspapere came to know that if the vessel is thought to be a problem to natigation, then there would have been an order passed to get the boat removed. People paid tributes on the Gladstone community site All Things Fishing. Mellie Stratton brought back some old memories: She said: Its name was Torres Herald, it has been around a long time that boat. Her dad remembers it from the 60s and 70s up in the...

Monaco is world famous for its annual Formula One Grand Prix races and its annual yacht show. During this time of the years, Port Hercule hosts some of the largest and most luxurious boats from all around the world. However this years is special, as the Solar1Races, the Monaco yacht club and the Dutch design firm Vripack are set to combine the two to launch the world’s first ever solar-powered yacht Grand Prix at the Solar1 race. This is to take place between 10th of July to 12th of July this year in Monaco. The origin of this solar-powered raced can be traced back to Holland, about eight years ago as the Dong Energy Solar Challenge which had two divisions; the hobby level cruising class and the professional yachting class whose cost made it an exclusive event in itself. After three years at the hobby-level cruising the engineers at Vripack decided to introduce a uniform racing division that was far less costly than the professional yachting class. This led to the birth of the V20 series- the hydrofoiling boats, they are known for the speed they are capable of achieving however are never overly expensive. These uniform boats could now race in a third division that tests the skills and techniques mastered by the skipper rather than the quality of the boat and the skills of the boat builder. Vripack has four such hydrofoiling boats molded and built from carbon shells with as many solar panels as feasible. Now all the team can hope for is sunny skies for it cannot be exactly predicted how long it shall take to charge the panels. The Vripack designed boats can more or less gain a top-speed of 18 mph which is a small compromise for the one-third the cost of the professional boats one has to pay for...

Mumbai boys, Arosh Chaudhari and Upamanyu Dutta together defeated five other teams last week in Vishakapatnam to win the national selection trails. With that win they got the opportunity to represent India for the Asian games 2014 men’s in September in South Korea. Life has been like a fairytale for these two Mumbai boys. The 17 year old Dutta, who went to Bombay International School at marine drive, said that it hasn’t sunk into his mind so far. Dutta, who took part in the races across Europe and Asia said it’s too late for them to realize that what they have succeeded and what is waiting for them in September. Chaudhari aged about 15, who went to the Podar International School Santa Cruz uttered that it is going to be a good experience and the emotions should not overcast them. There is a task in hand which will help them to succeed. At the age of nine both of them became experts. They are termed as the second generations’ sailors. Chaudhari’s father, who is a national level sailor, has taught him in this field. Chaudhari said that later on when he realized that not many children are there in sport he clinched the sport. As the Asian games is knocking on the door, both of them practiced at the Bombay yatch club. They practiced a lot during the month of June. They will be travelling to Germany for the Kile Week which is the world’s biggest saling occasion. After that, the under 19 world championship will be held Portugal in July. Dutta said that it will be hot in Portugal, but cool in Germany. The challenge is not so simple; it is not an easy sport. The contest which they are facing is huge. They need to get focused as the wind tides and clouds are going to alter every...

Among so many contributions in the field of sailing The US National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) included ten significant contributors into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held for the first time in the organization’s hometown. The City Dock is the historic waterfront district of the Annapolis where this time the award ceremonies took place unlike the other times at San Diego and New Orleans. To preserve the sailing legacy of the Americans, the 2013 NSHOF Induction Ceremony was partnered by the United States Naval Academy with an intention to recognize the sailing heroes. The Director of the Naval Academy Sailing stated that sailing is the best way through which one can develop leadership qualities within themselves. The only second woman who is inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame till date for three times is Timmy Larr from New York. Her contributions in the field of sailing are the pioneer of sail training programs in the US. Bill Buchan is the three time winner of the Star World Champion being the oldest member of the entire US Olympic Team across all sports. He was also rewarded with the hall of fame this year. The two times ICSA All American winner Davis Curtis is popular with one-design titles in number of classes among which the Soling world Championship in 1981, the Soling North American Championships of 1999 and 1997 are significant. While receiving the Hall of Fame Curtis exclaimed that he has never been so nervous in any other award ceremony before . Frank Butler developed the Catalina 22 which is one of the most popular sailboats in America. This star from California was into navy at the beginning of his career. His first notable boat design-the Coronado 25 gives enough evidence of his knowledge in the airplane industry. While the Hall of fame was presented to Butler he said that he had designed his first boat when he was 12-13 years old and is really feeling proud to sit with the other sailing...

The Emirates Team New Zealand is in search of a permanent and new home in order to set their base and the probable chance of the location is the Wynyard Quarter in Auckland. The boss of the team Grant Dalton said that it is not a thing which they wanted but they would have to move on and select their base so that they can start practicing as soon as possible. The boss reportedly has described the Wynyard Quarter as the “tin shed” which they need so desperately at this present point of time. The present of the Emirates Team New Zealand is in Halsey St which will be broken down and converted into a five star hotel by the end of 2015 which is why the team has to move to a different place. In an interview Dalton said that these are things which you do not call for but when such a crisis has occurred they would have to be united as a team. Changing the camp from one base to another is always difficult and that is what Dalton had to say about the whole matter. However he is quite confident about his team and says that this will not hamper the performance of his team and they will be able to perform better than before. Dalton is also looking to make the New Zealand a brand for this sport and believes that they are really close. The team members have already started looking into different academies and the next attempt will be in the shops. But one thing that he also mentioned is the fact that there will be money required for all this and the team will take its time to think about all this because it will be some time after they have found and settled in their new base that they will start to think about their...

The first sailing race in Forfar started amidst light breezy ambience with Murray Hadden and Lasers of Graeme striking the mark on gun. The racing would continue for a week and would last up till this Sunday, November 3rd, 2013. Forfar Sailing Club is a small family sailing club on the inland Forfar Loch, located close to Forfar town center. The loch is only compatible with light, small and easily maneuverable boats given its modest size & cannot allow larger vessels as these demand deeper water & space Jim (the Commodore) had a poor start and got pushed behind from the mark & Duncan Brown was further back given the necessary on-water repair works on his boat. Graeme could reach up to the 1st mark before Murray & managed to maintain an upper hand for the remaining part of the Forfar race. He eventually finished in less than ten seconds ahead of Murray. In the meantime, Jim was found recovering fast from his weakened start- it was the wind building up during the sailing race that helped him to win the Forfar race on handicap. Jim was followed by Graeme in the second position while Murray battling up to the 3rd. Unfortunately, Duncan took a wrong turn and was thus disqualified from the race. The wind was getting strong with the 2nd race. Again it was Murray and Graeme who came up with fantastic starts yet Duncan and Jim weren’t far behind. Accidentally, a wrong tack by Jim got his boat overwhelmed with water and he had to spend maximum of the 1st lap bailing during the sail- that effectively placed him out of the competition for the top positions. However, he somehow managed to catch up with Duncan and they finished as 3rd & 4th respectively. It was Graeme who came up as the winner of the second race beating Murray to the 2nd...