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Inside.the.Worlds.Most.Luxurious.S01E03.Yachts
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00:01Yachts, the super elite's ultimate status symbol.
00:05The attention to detail on this yacht is the epitome of sailing luxury.
00:09It's beautifully made and designed.
00:11For the select few of the wealthiest movers and shakers,
00:14it's about freedom, luxury and adventure.
00:17In a day like today, anything can happen.
00:23These floating palaces redefine the meaning of opulence.
00:27I wouldn't say this supersedes even the best hotels.
00:30I would say it absolutely annihilates the very best hotels.
00:34They're masterpieces of design and engineering.
00:37Like you guys in England playing football, high level.
00:40That's how you have to think about building a yacht.
00:43Crafted to take you anywhere in the world.
00:46So I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia,
00:49or I can go fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo.
00:52So join us as we go above deck and below.
00:57Monaco, playground of the rich and famous.
01:09The most exclusive location on France's Côte d'Azur.
01:14With white beaches and stunning sunsets,
01:1732% of the population is high net worth.
01:20And Michelin-starred restaurants are ten a penny.
01:24But it's also the world's premier destination for luxury yachting.
01:28Below its famous casino lies Port Hercules,
01:32home to 700 of the most prestigious and sought-after berths in the world.
01:38Mooring fees here can cost up to £130,000 per week.
01:43And anchored nearby, preparing for the arrival of its billionaire owner,
01:49is £80 million, 73-metre-long mega-yacht Titania.
01:58Named after the Queen of the Fairies from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream,
02:02Titania is the epitome of super-rich sailing.
02:06And what a queen she is.
02:12Six decks of sumptuous luxury, punctuated by rich woods, luxuriant fabrics and panoramic views.
02:20Today, the crew are busy in preparation for their most esteemed arrival of the season.
02:30And for chief steward Izzy, there's a busy day ahead.
02:34Today we have a very important guest coming on board.
02:37That means we have to clean and polish everything to make it look perfect.
02:41As well as plush salons for entertaining.
02:50There's also a massage room, jacuzzi, deck and spa.
02:55The yacht has five en-suite bedrooms.
02:59And uniquely, two owner's state rooms.
03:03One with lounge, bedroom and private health salon,
03:06and the other with wraparound sea views.
03:11And a glass lift effortlessly connects its six decks.
03:17The billionaire owner of the yacht uses it maybe once or twice a year.
03:23The rest of the time it can be chartered, complete with its 21-strong crew,
03:28for more than £600,000 per week.
03:35Chief steward Izzy is putting some final touches to the master suite.
03:39So I'm just going to be finishing the last little bits of the set-up,
03:43putting up their family photos.
03:45The unique service aboard a vessel like this is part of the experience.
03:49And professional attention to detail is a key part of the package.
03:53All his things are set up, his clothes are steamed, his picture frames are out,
03:58the kids' toys are set up.
03:59So please make sure the boat is absolutely spotless, which we always do anyways,
04:03but please pay extra attention today.
04:05And let's have them have a fabulous day.
04:08This morning we've been very busy already.
04:11We had some last-minute provisions arriving,
04:13we had flowers arriving,
04:15and the crew has been making everything look perfect for the boss's arrival.
04:20Yay!
04:21Today's VIP isn't just a guest, it's the boss and owner of Titania.
04:31Founder of the one-time high street giant Phones For You,
04:34billionaire businessman and philanthropist John Cordwell
04:38is with his long-term partner Modesta,
04:41their children William and Bea,
04:43and her son Leonardo.
04:49What boating is all about for me
04:51is getting all my friends together
04:53in an unbelievably luxurious environment
04:56and having fun.
04:58And that's what Titania represented.
05:00The crew are really exceptional.
05:02They can deliver that seven-star experience
05:05for the people who charter the boat.
05:07Part of that elite service takes place in the galley
05:12where Michelin-trained head chef Tom is preparing lunch.
05:16Do you want to just grab some herbs out of the cupboard
05:19and start picking?
05:21Do some dill, mint, coriander, please?
05:24Take the bones out of that chicken, if the kids, please?
05:26Yeah.
05:27So I've been cooking professionally for about almost 12 years.
05:31I started in hotels, restaurants.
05:34I've been on the boats now for about six years.
05:37And pleasing the palates of those ultra-wealthy guests
05:41certainly keeps Tom on his toes.
05:43I had a guy in the past I've worked for,
05:46he specifically wanted a tasting menu
05:48from a restaurant he'd seen online
05:49and we had to try and source all the ingredients
05:51for the next day.
05:52So you could do it eventually,
05:53but it took a bit of planning,
05:55a bit of messing around,
05:57but, you know, it keeps it interesting.
06:01Catering for the super-rich can cost up to £2 million a year
06:05and Tom and his team ensure all produce is freshly sourced.
06:10Everything from the most expensive caviar
06:12to the finest bottles of champagne are brought on board.
06:16If we're doing small trips,
06:17we've got markets all around the south of France and Italy,
06:19I really like to go to those.
06:20If we're doing big long trips like a week or two weeks,
06:22we bring in a few pallets worth of food onto the boats
06:25and we have a walk-in fridge and freezer
06:27and we'll stock it for the week
06:29and we'll just top up as we need with fresh vegetables.
06:31For John, being on board isn't about work,
06:35it's about fun.
06:37And where better to exercise his cares away
06:40than in the ship's state-of-the-art gym?
06:42Cycling is his passion and his first port of call.
06:46A big part of boat life is a cycle ride every single day,
06:50maybe two, three, four, five hours,
06:52going and exploring all the countries that we visit.
06:55And it's just an amazing way of seeing natural, real, hidden life.
07:01On the physical fitness side, we have Pilates instructors,
07:04we have gym instructors, we have masters, beauticians,
07:08everything that anybody could want
07:10that gives the most spectacular holiday imaginable.
07:16Not all yachting is about holiday though.
07:19Super luxury living with the crew,
07:21catering to your every need is par for the course.
07:24But an extension of this lifestyle is to race your superyacht too.
07:36The Superyacht Cup, which takes place annually in Palma, Mallorca,
07:41has been running for almost 30 years.
07:46Kate Browner is the owner and event director.
07:49The Superyacht Cup Palma is the longest running superyacht event in Europe.
07:54It's a popular event for boats of all different sizes,
07:57different designs, all coming together to have competitive racing.
08:03Open to all monohull superyachts measuring over 24 metres in length,
08:08this four-day event is the highlight of the global regatta calendar.
08:13And the entry fees are a very closely guarded secret.
08:17The Superyacht Cup is a little different to the other events.
08:20It's got a strong association with the island,
08:22which is a very, very important hub for superyachts.
08:25So the sailing is phenomenal.
08:27Flat water, nice breeze and blue skies.
08:31It's an opportunity for people to get together, go racing.
08:35It's very competitive, but it's also a lot of fun.
08:41Matthew Sweetman, who took part in the race last year,
08:44knows what it takes to compete.
08:46When racing, we have 30 people sailing and everyone has a job.
08:52It's all hands to get everything going and it's a sight to behold.
08:56Matthew is captain of Superyacht Rainbow,
08:59a 130-foot titan of the sea,
09:03which blends classic 1930s design with modern technology.
09:08These are very historic sailing yachts.
09:10They originally were designed for the America's Cup in the 1930s.
09:13There's only nine in the world, so it's quite an exclusive club.
09:19With towering masts and flawless craftsmanship,
09:22the £6 million rainbow is regarded as true racing royalty.
09:29Its hull and design pay homage to the great yachts of the 1930s.
09:35We've got an old compass in the original style,
09:38but then we have to marry in the modern technology
09:41with the instrumentation, the computers,
09:43and we try to hide them as much as possible,
09:45but we still need to know where our navigation suite is.
09:48So we hide them under hatches to make it look a bit more special.
09:54The deck may be built for speed,
09:56but it's below deck where the height of luxury awaits.
09:59A fitting touch for a yacht owned by a billionaire enthusiast.
10:06As you come down from the deck level into the lower saloon area,
10:12it's very luxurious, very nice air-conditioned space
10:16with natural light coming from the skylights.
10:18In true 1930s Art Deco style, the interiors are richly opulent,
10:25with mahogany panelling, polished oak floors,
10:29and space to lavishly accommodate six guests in comfort.
10:34Everything is custom-made and was designed exactly for this boat.
10:37The attention to detail on this yacht is the epitome of sailing luxury.
10:41It's beautifully made and beautifully designed.
10:46But blending high luxury with high speed at sea brings its own challenges.
10:53Obviously when we go sailing the boat is moving around a lot,
10:56so every glass has its place so they won't smash.
11:00Same with plates and cutlery.
11:02Everything has a custom-made plate, it's very secure.
11:06Plates, bowls, they all have their own storage.
11:10You want to be able to go sailing during the day and then in the evening
11:13have a nice glass of champagne or a three-course dinner
11:17and not have broken glass everywhere.
11:19Heaven forbid!
11:22For the super-rich, yachts are the ultimate plaything.
11:26And in today's world, money doesn't just buy luxury,
11:29it can buy a place at the very top of the sport.
11:33One of the nice things about super-yacht racing is
11:35there's not many sports where an owner can come and sail
11:38and sail with a professional team and compete at a very high level.
11:42You can't buy a football team and play football,
11:44but you can buy a super-yacht and hire in some professionals
11:49and bring your family, bring your friends
11:51and sail at a very, very high level.
11:54Although Matthew isn't at the helm of Rainbow today,
11:57the other captains readying their yachts and crews are all vying
12:01for the chance to finish on top.
12:05There's a bit of pressure.
12:06We have very tough composition and so we have to sail good
12:09and we have to sail fast all the time and keep focused.
12:11But certainly, in a day like today, anything can happen.
12:24In Monaco, billionaire John Cordwell and his family are holidaying on his yacht.
12:29In order to raise money for charity, philanthropist John charges the yacht to the rich and wealthy.
12:37Successfully, he's raised as much as £2.5 million per year.
12:43My pledge is to leave 70% of my wealth to charity during or after my lifetime.
12:49I will help lots of different charities but children are a real focal point
12:52because they haven't had a proper start in life.
12:55John started his charity, Caldwell Children, over 25 years ago.
13:00If we can put them on the right pathway for the rest of their lives,
13:04what a transformation.
13:08To help maximise the returns for the charity,
13:11John recently spent over £10 million on refurbishing his mega-yacht.
13:15One of John's favourite rooms is the main salon,
13:22the centrepiece of which is a £100,000 Steinway grand piano,
13:28perfect for entertaining guests.
13:32This is where often we have musicians perform for us.
13:36They're not bought-in musicians, they're friends like Robbie Williams.
13:40Of course, we've got the kids here, entertained by our wonderful stewardesses.
13:43By the way, when they eat, they're not allowed any food at all
13:49on the carpets.
13:51Just for clarity.
13:53Oh!
13:55That was a bit vicious.
13:57Brutal.
14:00In addition to the main salon,
14:02there are no less than nine first-class dining and lounge areas.
14:06The yacht can sleep 12 guests
14:08and the plushest cabin of all is John's magnificent owner's stateroom.
14:13This is the main cabin on the boat.
14:17It's full beam with windows either side,
14:20which makes it not only incredibly spacious but incredibly light.
14:24We've got the office attached.
14:26We've got the most beautiful bathroom.
14:28It's just a wonderful space to be in.
14:30John sets up each room to his meticulous specification.
14:41This is the Master VIP massage cabin,
14:44and it's absolutely set up to perfection in the way I want it set up.
14:48And there are reasons for that.
14:49So let's just go through them.
14:51The horseshoe there is essential for comfort on the neck and the head,
14:55as there's a very, very soft, fluffy towel.
14:58But then in addition to that, to take the stress off the neck,
15:02two shoulder pads there,
15:04and then here, a bolster placed under
15:07so that the toes are not pressing onto the bed.
15:10And the final piece de resistance is a heated blanket under here,
15:16so that the whole thing is very soft, very warm and beautiful to lie on.
15:21John is so proud of his yacht that he won't leave even the tiniest of details
15:26to the very well-trained staff.
15:31I've just looked in the information book,
15:34and there should be a full list of crew profile in here,
15:37and for some reason there isn't.
15:40So I'm now ringing the captain to find out why we've gone backwards on something.
15:43And this is the sort of thing I'm always looking at,
15:46the perfection of how the boat runs
15:49to satisfy every guest, every requirement.
15:53Oh, hi, Sean. A bit puzzled here.
15:55I've got the guest information book on my bed,
15:57and it doesn't have all the crew's profiles in which it should do.
16:01Do you not think that we should probably have a hard copy inside it as well?
16:04I put real attention to detail in everything that every single crew member does
16:11in order to get what I think is the very best perfection that we can deliver for our customers.
16:17I wouldn't actually say this supersedes even the best hotels,
16:20I would say it absolutely annihilates the very best hotels.
16:24And to accommodate his best in-class taste, who better than his own personal chef?
16:29Just to reinforce the food that I'll be requiring,
16:34same as usual really, just lots of herbs, lots of spices, lots of flavour,
16:39and very little carbohydrate.
16:41So I love vegetables, but I don't really want rice or potatoes or any of the high carbohydrates.
16:46High carbohydrate.
16:47Absolutely, yeah.
16:48Yeah, so I've got some spring chicken with a spicy Turkish sauce,
16:52and some John Dory, and that's with a nice citrusy pistachio salsa,
16:57your favourite lamb's lettuce salad, that's going to be on the menu,
17:01as well as a broccoli salad, and a few other additions that will come along the way.
17:04Fantastic.
17:05Back at the Super Yacht Cup Regatta in Palma, Mallorca,
17:18where the wealthy flaunt both their fortunes and their vessels,
17:22captains are directing their crews, making final preparations as race start time approaches.
17:28We're racing today at midday, so in the mornings the crew are preparing sails,
17:34getting lines in place.
17:36There's a lot to do before racing, a lot of cleaning and polishing.
17:39The boats always look immaculate, and that takes hard work.
17:42Here we have Chervo, a very experienced crew, well prepared.
17:47They won the race yesterday, and they'll be going out to get the same results today, I'm sure.
17:50Two-time Olympic champion Shirley Robertson OBE knows better than most just how much rests on the captain's command.
18:00In all these super yacht racing campaigns, the linchpin on all the boats is the captain.
18:06It is a big job, I mean it's like running a business, and particularly when you come racing,
18:11there's a lot of added stress and expectation, and one of the outstanding captains is Ben Potter on rows.
18:16He takes it all in his stride, he's a great racer, and has pulled together an exceptional team.
18:23Ben has taken victory two years running, aboard the multi-million pound super yacht, Rose.
18:30And this year, he's chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title.
18:36Our motto is to keep it easy, race hard and go fast.
18:40We're getting ready for the regatta, we have one mindset and that is to hopefully take it for the third time.
18:45But that always isn't that easy when we have difficulties on the boats and mechanical failures and whatever the case may be.
18:51So there's always a lot of pressure on all the crew, myself, and the owner as a driver.
18:57The owner of Ben's boat is a billionaire businessman, and with the super yachts all heading out to start the race,
19:03his skill as a helmsman is about to be tested.
19:09The captain's and seasoned crews may make all the difference on the water, but it begins with the design of the super yacht itself.
19:27And in today's race, one designer's work dominates the fleet.
19:34I designed five of the boats that are racing today, out of 11, so I'm pretty happy.
19:40For the Baltic Cafe races, which Javier designs, this kind of craftsmanship comes with a serious price tag.
19:47The boats that I designed, they have a course range from five to 25 million.
19:56These boats, they have a double life. We wanted to create a very sporty boat for racing, but also a second life, which is a luxurious style for vacation.
20:06A fit-out for an interior can run into hundreds and thousands of pounds.
20:15And that's even before you begin to think about the exterior.
20:23The hull should represent 40% of the cost of the boat.
20:26These boats, they have around seven sails. These sails are very high quality and they use a carbon fibre to produce them and they are super strong to take all the loads when sailing.
20:37Around £200,000 for a set of sails is the price you pay if you want to slice through the water at speed.
20:44When designing these super yachts, there is always a compromise between comfort and performance.
20:55And these boats, they tick all the boxes.
20:58So overall, these boats are very light and very powerful, which they make them super fast on the water.
21:05With today's racing complete, the crews now face an anxious wait to discover who will claim the coveted Super Yacht Cup, awarded to the fastest team across all three days of competition.
21:21The Super Yacht Cup has been a great success. I'm very, very pleased.
21:25Obviously, everybody wants to win, but there can only be one winner overall.
21:28With racing over, attention now turns to the other side of the regatta, where the super rich mingle, strike deals and await the final results.
21:41It's been a good combination of fun on the water and then some relaxed parties in the afternoons.
21:46A glass of champagne, a cold beer, finishes off the day nicely.
21:50And this year's first prize, as well as a remarkable third consecutive victory, goes to Captain Ben Potter.
21:58And the crew of the Rose.
22:02What a great day we had sailing today.
22:04We came out on top and the boys are extremely excited and we're really, really happy and thrilled that we got the top results for the third year in a row.
22:12From wind power to something far higher octane and far more compact, day yachts.
22:28These much smaller super yachts have been described as supercars on water.
22:35Sleek and refined, they're perfect for dotting and dashing around on some of the most exclusive inlets, coves and lagoons in the world.
22:49Not surprisingly then, there's a showroom, as such, in Ibiza.
22:57A magnetic destination for the jet set, surrounded by crystal clear blue water.
23:04Charged with convincing the super rich to park with their cash is James.
23:14The majority of our clients come to us because they want to have something special and they want to have something different.
23:25You know, Dubai now and Ibiza have become a luxury brand and therefore we have a luxury item to go along with it.
23:34James and his team are preparing for the arrival of an important high-profile client with a multi-million-pound budget for his dream yacht.
23:44Morning, guys.
23:45Well, well.
23:46Good to see you.
23:47You're well?
23:48Very well, thank you.
23:49Gaming CEO and prospective buyer, Zane and his wife, Katharina, have a house on the island and have come to take James's flagship model for a test drive.
23:59I've always loved boats ever since I was a young kid.
24:04So for us, a boat is part of the Ibiza lifestyle.
24:07It's just part and parcel of what the island is all about.
24:11We're chartering the boat for the day.
24:13It's a boat we're really interested in.
24:15It's just an amazing piece of technology and engineering and we're really excited to get out on the water.
24:20So today's an important day to try and understand more about the boat.
24:24The boat on Zane's radar is this 52-meter-long, ultra-lightweight day yacht.
24:33The seven-and-a-half-ton hull is made up of 100% carbon fibre and it's capable of speeds of over 50 miles per hour.
24:41With a range of 300 nautical miles, it's perfect for getting around the island.
24:47What I like about the boat best is clearly the design.
24:51I've never seen another boat in the world that has these shapes and lines.
24:56With sun decks at the front and rear, two kitchens as well as a barbecue grill, there's room for plenty on board.
25:06Below deck, the master cabin has a luxurious double bed with large windows that look out to sea and a rear cabin that can convert from dining area to sleeping area for another two guests.
25:19Remarkably, for a yacht of this size, it has a toilet and a full stand-up rain shower.
25:29But will this boat impress Zane and Katerina?
25:35You've got to drive before you might.
25:37Yeah, exactly.
25:38I'm nearly right.
25:40Hey, guys.
25:52How are you?
25:53Nice to see you again.
25:54Nice to see you again.
25:55How are you?
25:56On the island of Ibiza, Zane and his wife, Katerina, are preparing to test drive a new state-of-the-art day yacht, which they're thinking of buying.
26:05Yeah.
26:06So what do you think?
26:08It's beautiful, isn't it?
26:09It's so big.
26:10It's big.
26:11It's bigger than I don't think.
26:13You're going to love it.
26:14We're going to have a beautiful day today.
26:16The weather is looking amazing.
26:18Their captain for the day is Diego, who knows the island like the back of his hand.
26:28Time to take their dream yacht for a cruise.
26:31Yeah, it's off the charts.
26:33I mean, I think in terms of speed and the size, it must be the quickest boat out there that you can buy.
26:45Designing a bespoke day yacht to provide thrills and luxury requires technical expertise.
26:52In Lake Constance, Germany, Say's headquarters, Karl and his team know exactly how to deliver.
27:00I think the main USP is clearly the lightweight concept.
27:04Usually they travel fast.
27:06Maybe they race other boats.
27:08Other boats.
27:09It's always good fun.
27:10If you see different boats or our competition, then they always try to be the fastest, of course.
27:16And in most times they succeed.
27:18The reason for their speed may have more to do with land than sea, as Karl's former job involved delivering carbon fiber parts for high-end sports cars.
27:28As I had a really close relationship with McLaren working for motorsports like Formula One, like Le Mans racing cars, but also for series production cars from the major German and English automotive industry.
27:44I have a high level of engineering, have a high level of quality.
27:49Karl and his 40-person team have been bringing that expertise to bear on the Say 52.
27:56So you can see what carbon fiber means.
27:59It's just lightweight.
28:01It's a bench for four people.
28:03And you move it like this.
28:05Our carbon fiber material is a very, very expensive material.
28:10The pure fiber itself in the range of, let's say, 50 euros per kilogram.
28:15So it's an extremely valuable material.
28:18But of course it's worth every cent because we can do the lightest constructions, the lightest designs in the ship industry.
28:28Creating a hull that will withstand water pressure and the constant battering of the sea takes time and skill.
28:35We need a lot of these layers to create a hull.
28:38So you have like, depending on the size of the boat, four, five, six layers.
28:43Then comes the foam and then comes another couple of layers.
28:47So it literally takes forever to build up the hull.
28:51We are finished with the first layer now.
28:53So this is completely done.
28:55It's in the mold in a perfect way.
28:58And so this step is okay.
29:01We can sign it off.
29:02And the next step will be then putting the foam into it and then another layer of carbon fiber.
29:09Apart from carbon fiber, the yacht's interior flooring and paneling are covered with engineered birch bark.
29:17Once it's fitting perfectly, it will be bonded and then comes the caulking.
29:23It's a birch material, but it's a very, very special treated one.
29:28It's extremely lightweight.
29:30It's very durable.
29:31It will last forever and it looks beautiful.
29:34It's much more expensive than teak would be, but it can withstand water.
29:39It can be even used in the bathroom, in the shower.
29:43So it's the perfect material for us.
29:48When the final fit out takes place, the interior will be finished with bespoke upholstery,
29:53whilst the exterior will have a custom paint job.
29:57It's these luxury finishing touches that will make it truly unique for its mega-rich buyers.
30:12Meanwhile, out on the water in Ibiza, Zane and Katarina are enjoying their sea trial in their prospective new yacht, Say 52.
30:20I love the boat.
30:21I think it's very steady on the water and I think it's really comfortable inside.
30:29I was really impressed by the cabin and by interior design.
30:37I think it's a great boat to spend a day or two or even longer.
30:42You can bring your friends, you can bring your family and everyone will sit comfortably here.
30:48I'm really impressed with the hull. It's really capable in what is quite a rough day out today.
30:57The unique selling point of a yacht like this one is you can speed through the bumpy ride
31:03and moor up in secluded, calm places others can't reach.
31:07Here's some little picnic.
31:09Wow, Diego, thank you. Amazing.
31:12It's incredible.
31:13To beat the life on a Say 52 doesn't get any better.
31:18Enjoy.
31:21This is a super exclusive place because you can only get here by boat.
31:25There is no way to get here if it's not with a boat.
31:28So, yeah, that makes it very unique and exclusive and we have it for ourselves.
31:35So, let's enjoy it.
31:36This is an amazing island and, you know, this is the kind of boat that really fits the bill for the island.
31:53Absolutely.
31:54It just belongs.
31:55It gets you around the island in an incredibly quick time.
32:00You can explore all of the bays, all the kayas.
32:03And the land is good to go anywhere.
32:06And the local knowledge is very, very important.
32:08But really, there's only one way to make up your mind before committing to this £1.7 million purchase.
32:17How are you doing?
32:18You have to drive it before you buy.
32:24Now, the it just neutralizes the rough sea.
32:26We've got seasterly wind rolling in some pretty significant swell.
32:32And you barely feel it on the boat, which is amazing.
32:36I think there's anything else that comes close right now.
32:41So, exceptional.
32:45You know, we are in the market for a bigger boat.
32:48It's about as big as you can go with two people.
32:51I think for us, it kind of, it ticks all of the boxes.
32:56You know, whilst we're at our house in Ibiza here, we'd like to spend as many days as possible on the water.
33:01And, you know, what better boat to do it on than this one.
33:11While some are content with the simple pleasures of life aboard a modest yacht, others pursue the pinnacle of bespoke luxury.
33:20On board Titania, billionaire and philanthropist John Cordwell and his family are revelling in the yacht's opulence.
33:28And there's so much to enjoy.
33:32Including the beach club at the back of the yacht.
33:35This club comes complete with 200,000 pounds worth of water sports equipment.
33:40Including sailboats, a water park, and jet skis.
33:47All right, ready? Stand up here.
33:49Put your arms up.
33:52Arms up.
33:53Well, even the world's most luxurious water sports can't keep everyone happy.
33:58Time for lunch.
34:02Look at that.
34:04As this yacht is the most successful charter in its category, it's unavailable for most of the year.
34:09So being able to enjoy his own yacht is a real treat for John.
34:14Today is a fairly rare opportunity to be on board the yacht because it doesn't happen anywhere near as much as I would like it to.
34:21Are you excited?
34:22Excited. I'm always excited on this yacht. I love it. I love the fact that the crew are so great. I love the food. I love everything about it.
34:31I don't seek luxury weirdly. I seek perfection. I seek quality. To me, this epitomized luxury. This is luxury because of the quality of the service and the fact that there's every facility you could ever dream of.
34:47We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your holiday, John. Bye.
35:06In Holland, another superyacht is only at the start of its journey.
35:10Heeson Yachts has been crafting boats for nearly 50 years and once built the fastest luxury yacht in the world.
35:21Chartering a superyacht from them costs as much as £400,000 a week and buying one upwards of £45 million.
35:29At the firm's home is brand new owner, Dutch entrepreneur and billionaire, Lorenz Last, whose love for the sea and luxury knows no bounds.
35:41Owning a yacht, they say there are two happy moments when you buy a yacht and when you sell the yacht.
35:45Not content with just owning the company, Lorenz's first port of call was to purchase his own yacht, which will be called Sofia.
35:56With work underway on his mega-million-pound new toy, Lorenz is eager to take a sneak peek.
36:04So, welcome at the sun deck. This is, I think, the most beautiful area of the boat.
36:09We have a jacuzzi here. As you can see here, we get big sun lounges here.
36:14And during cruising, you can go in the jacuzzi, lay down, take some sun and look through the beautiful scenery.
36:20Then, by there, we get the kitchenette. And there will be a lounge area.
36:25We will get a glass window to protect during cruising for the wind, so we can open the glass door panels here.
36:32And then, in front here, I will make my fitness area. So, I will be using the weights and biking and during the cruising.
36:39And I'm really looking forward. I cannot wait to start using this boat.
36:44When Sofia is complete, she will sleep 12, have three decks and be able to travel from Holland to Lorenz's favourite part of the Mediterranean without the need to refuel.
36:55Perfect for his island-hopping lifestyle.
36:57Buying Sofia is like a dream for a boy. It's like buying your first car. That's kind of the experience.
37:06Sofia is simple to operate. It can cruise 22 knots. So, I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia or I can go fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo.
37:18And that's what I was looking for. What appeals to me is the freedom. I love to have the wind. I love to see the land from the ocean side.
37:26And Lorenz is counting the days till he can get behind the wheel.
37:29So, I don't know if you have seen, but we have a clock on top of every yacht and the clock is counting backwards.
37:35So, we are counting the days. The last day, every time, on time, that yacht is being delivered and going into the water.
37:43But, with the clock ticking, will the team at Heesen be able to deliver for their boss on time?
37:49In Holland, the expert team at Heesen are busy creating Sofia. For billionaire new owner Lorenz Last. And in the world of luxury, every detail matters.
38:08This is the bridge. So, this is where the magic happens. You see the wires. You know how many kilometers of wires we have to this boat? This is amazing.
38:18Explain me what you do with all those wires because it looks like a big mess.
38:21The cables are coming from the engine room and they are coming from all the technical parts.
38:25More and more on boats. There are electrical issues and not mechanical issues. So, these guys, you know, here are really important for the shipyard.
38:34There's plenty of work left to do on Sofia before she's seaworthy, but creating a bespoke superyacht as high spec as this one always starts with the design team.
38:44When we design a boat, first we do modeling by computer and then we can really calculate the resistance and in the end we make a model and test the tank to check if it's correct.
38:56And we also build very light. So, when you build light, you also have less resistance.
39:02Once the team has a design that can speed through the seas, it's down to the welding team to ensure the superyacht's wealthy owners never have to worry about their new acquisitions sinking.
39:14And that responsibility is down to Carlos, head of welding.
39:19As a welder, you've got to pay attention. When you're going to weld your seams, it has to be done the correct way because you don't want at the end that your weld gets a crack.
39:30If you don't follow the rules, you're going to have a crack and the lid is going to sink on the bottom of the seam.
39:37The company specializes in lightweight aluminium, but working with this material takes real skill.
39:46Aluminium welding is your worst nightmare. This is one of the most difficult material to weld.
39:52You never know what this material is going to do the next day. It's for everybody every day a new challenge.
40:00It takes years before you can become an aluminium welder.
40:04And it's not only the welder, it's a team. You've got the guys who are building the construction, the welders.
40:10At the end, the surveyor was walking around and checking all what has been done.
40:16So it's like you guys in England playing football, high level. So you need good players to win a match. That's how you have to think about building a yacht.
40:25The super rich want the best of the best. And the company caters for their every whim, with premium features including glass bottom swimming pools, sea level beach bars, Japanese inspired wellness spas and more.
40:42And uniquely, they do it all in house.
40:47Manager of interior design is Perry.
40:50When we start with the interior design, first of all, it's a full custom design specifically made for a client. It's unique and it's one of a kind.
40:59Everything that is possible to be made, we can make it over here. So in that respect, the sky is the limit.
41:06Using the best materials from across the globe, the company has developed a reputation for some of the most luxurious interiors in the super yacht sector.
41:16Any wish a client has, Perry and his team fulfill it.
41:20We had a client who requested to have a helipad, but beside that they also wanted to use the deck as a cinema.
41:27So we had to find a solution to either have the deck ready to have helicopter landing on it or transforming it into a fold-up cinema screen where they could use it as an outside cinema.
41:38And that's with everything. As long as you pay, you can make it.
41:40And that's just as well as their current client with a multi-million pound dream is his new boss, Laurence, whose yacht Sofia is under construction in the shipyard.
41:50With this expectant and important customer to please, Perry's checking on progress.
41:55OK, we're going to take a look on board to do some first inspections. Basically see how the translation of the design is fitting it into the boat and see if all the details, all the elements are as we plan to make them.
42:07The staff need to be meticulous with their work, making sure each item on board the boss's new boat is perfectly installed.
42:15For instance, the cabinet over here, it aligns with everything which is placed on the floor, so they have a double check how the items are being fitted.
42:22Is everything going well?
42:24Very well.
42:25All fitting in?
42:26Yeah.
42:27OK.
42:28In the factory, carpenter Rick oversees fitting out one of the most important areas.
42:34Over here, we've got the base frame of the dashboard.
42:38Eventually, the captain will be standing here, controlling his yard and looking over the ocean to see where he's going to.
42:49I'm sending a very specific piece of wood.
42:51It's hard to be done with any machine, so the last piece of veneer I need to take down, away, by hand.
42:59The finishing touch with the hand, you know, that is going to make the yard special.
43:07Back on board, luxury isn't only exclusive to the fabrics and materials being used.
43:12It's also in the tiniest nuts and bolts.
43:16Those small attachments may not look important. If you don't put those on, then you get vibrations inside the interior.
43:23And when you get vibrations, you get sound.
43:26If you are on the ocean, but still the owner wants to have a good sleep, everything needs to be as silent as possible.
43:33It's engineering for luxury.
43:35First, checks completed.
43:38The inspection went well. It's all well, it's on schedule, so looking good.
43:42Everything is customised, everything is handmade and fitted, so there is always a lot of pressure to get it done in time.
43:49There is still a lot of work to do.
43:50The interior design is entirely bespoke and is being made to Laurence's exact specifications.
43:57So here we get the shower, then we get the toilet here, and here we get the big bath in front of the window.
44:04So can you imagine yourself cruising, laying down in the bath, looking through the ocean? I think it's amazing.
44:11If you look at it, it looks for you maybe like a big mess, but you need to visualise.
44:15Here's going to be the bed.
44:17You see we have a regressed ceiling, which will be finished.
44:21This is, I've just been told, eucalyptus wood. So that's the finish of the master cabin.
44:26Known for its durability, eucalyptus wood is also treasured for its natural beauty and warm tones.
44:33And of course, Laurence will need somewhere to keep his designer clothes.
44:38This is my walk-in closet.
44:41So here, all the shoes and the clothes during cruising are being stored very nicely.
44:48These artists' impressions show just what Sofia's interior might look like.
44:53Laurence's luxury master suite will be on the main deck.
44:58For his guests, there will be four spacious remaining suites on the lower deck.
45:03There will be a beach club at the rear.
45:07And the main deck terrace will offer plenty of outdoor space for Laurence's family and friends to enjoy.
45:14What is so nice about this face of the boat, you can really see how much engineering is going into a boat and how complicated it is.
45:21So in four or five months, this boat is ready.
45:25Are you excited?
45:26I'm pretty excited.
45:28Yeah, you can imagine.
45:30There is, of course, the small detail of how much Sofia will cost.
45:34But to a billionaire, perhaps that isn't much of a stumbling block.
45:38The price, I still have to negotiate with the CEO what will be the price.
45:42But I guess it will be around 45 million.
45:47And Laurence has grand plans for when his dream yacht is finally finished next year.
45:53I love Italy. I love the Italian food.
45:56My children, young children, are going to school in Rome.
45:59So I probably will put her in a port close to Rome.
46:04And I am looking forward to cruising to Sardinia.
46:07And I think we will do a nice opening party when she will be launched.
46:10My children love to party.
46:12One of my sons is a DJ.
46:13So I am sure we will have a DJ set on board and party through the night to celebrate her lunch.
46:18And we will celebrate her lunch.
46:49So the clock that's coming.
46:54Don't run into Sardinia facilitating a whole gig.
46:56That's when there was a magical cop in Rome.
46:58Yeah, there wasenae in London that was the only one.
47:00So I think that's someone that would deal with you.
47:02And I do have to keep watching and to watch these mini
47:11all the time.
47:13So if you're going to be in a small sauna for your own,
47:16and I'm going to play out for SPEAK hump.
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