- 7 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
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.
01:45And anchored nearby, preparing for the arrival of its billionaire owner,
01:50is £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, we had flowers arriving,
04:14and 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 Bones For You,
04:34billionaire businessman and philanthropist John Cordwell
04:38is with his long-term partner Modesta,
04:41their children William and Bea, and her son Leonardo.
04:45What boating is all about for me is getting all my friends together
04:53in an unbelievably luxurious environment and having fun.
04:57And that's what Titania represented.
05:00The crew are really exceptional.
05:02They can deliver that seven-star experience for the people who charter the boat.
05:09Part of that elite service takes place in the galley,
05:12when Michelin-trained head chef Tom is preparing lunch.
05:17Do you want to just grab some herbs out of the cupboard and start picking?
05:22Do some dill, mint, coriander, please.
05:25Get the bones out of that chicken of the kids, please.
05:27Yeah.
05:28So I've been cooking professionally for about almost 12 years.
05:32Started in hotels, restaurants.
05:35I've been on the boats now for about six years.
05:37And pleasing the palates of those ultra-wealthy guests certainly keeps Tom on his toes.
05:44I had a guy in the past I've worked for,
05:46he specifically wanted a tasting menu from a restaurant he'd seen online
05:49and we had to try and source all the ingredients for the next day.
05:51So you could do it eventually, but it took a bit of planning,
05:54a bit of messing around, but, yeah, it was, you know, keeps it interesting.
06:00Catering 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 and we'll just top up as we need
06:30with fresh vegetables.
06:33For John, being on board isn't about work, it's about fun.
06:38And where better to exercise his cares away
06:40than in the ship's state-of-the-art gym?
06:43Cycling is his passion and his first port of call.
06:47A 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.
07:18Super luxury living with the crew catering to your every need
07:22is 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,
07:40has been running for almost 30 years.
07:42Kate Branagh is the owner and event director.
07:48The Superyacht Cup Palma is the longest running superyacht event in Europe.
07:53It's a popular event for boats of all different sizes, different designs,
07:57all coming together to have competitive racing.
08:00Open to all monohull superyachts measuring over 24 metres in length,
08:08this four-day event is the highlight of the global regatta calendar.
08:12And the entry fees are a very closely guarded secret.
08:16The 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.
08:30It's an opportunity for people to get together, go racing.
08:34It's very competitive, but it's also a lot of fun.
08:37Matthew Sweetman, who took part in the race last year, knows what it takes to compete.
08:47When 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, a 130-foot titan of the sea,
09:02which 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.
09:17With towering masts and flawless craftsmanship,
09:22the £6 million rainbow is regarded as true racing royalty.
09:27It's 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, but it's below deck
09:57where the height of luxury awaits.
10:01A fitting touch for a yacht owned by a billionaire enthusiast.
10:07As 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.
10:19In true 1930s Art Deco style, the interiors are richly opulent,
10:26with mahogany panelling, polished oak floors,
10:29and space to lavishly accommodate six guests in comfort.
10:33Everything 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.
10:47But 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 place. It's very secure.
11:06Plates, bowls.
11:08They all have their own storage.
11:10You want to be able to go sailing during the day
11:12and then in the evening have a nice glass of champagne
11:15or a three-course dinner and not have broken glass everywhere.
11:18Heaven forbid!
11:22For the super-rich, yachts are the ultimate plaything.
11:25And in today's world, money doesn't just buy luxury.
11:29It can buy a place at the very top of the sport.
11:32One of the nice things about super-yacht racing is
11:35there's not many sports where an owner can come
11:38and sail with a professional team
11:40and 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.
11:53Although Matthew isn't at the helm of Rainbow today,
11:57the other captains readying their yachts and crews
12:00are all vying for the chance to finish on top.
12:04There's a bit of pressure.
12:05We have very tough composition
12:07and 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.
12:23In Monaco, billionaire John Cordwell and his family are holidaying on his yacht.
12:30In order to raise money for charity,
12:33philanthropist John charges the yacht to the rich and wealthy.
12:37Successfully, he's raised as much as £2.5 million per year.
12:42My 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.
13:19One of John's favourite rooms is the main salon,
13:22the centrepiece of which is a £100,000 Steinway grand piano,
13:27perfect for entertaining guests.
13:31This is where often we have musicians perform for us.
13:36They're not bought-in musicians, they're friends like Robbie Williams.
13:39Of course, we've got the kids here,
13:41entertained by our wonderful stewardesses.
13:44By the way, when they eat,
13:46they're not allowed any food at all on the carpets.
13:50Just for clarity.
13:52Yes.
13:53Oh!
13:54That was a bit vicious.
13:56Brutal.
13:59In addition to the main salon,
14:01there 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
14:10is John's magnificent owner's stateroom.
14:15This 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.
14:23We've got the office attached.
14:25We've got the most beautiful bathroom.
14:27It's just a wonderful space to be in.
14:36John sets up each room to his meticulous specification.
14:40This is the Master VIP massage cabin,
14:43and 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,
15:01two shoulder pads there,
15:03and then here a bolster placed under
15:06so that the toes are not pressing onto the bed.
15:10And the final pièce de résistance is a heated blanket under here
15:15so that the whole thing is very soft, very warm and beautiful to lie on.
15:19John is so proud of his yacht that he won't leave even the tiniest of details
15:25to the very well-trained staff.
15:31I've just looked in the information book
15:33and there should be a full list of crew profile in here
15:37and for some reason there isn't.
15:38So 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. I'm 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?
16:05I 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
16:15that 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,
16:27who better than his own personal chef?
16:30Just to reinforce the food that I'll be requiring,
16:33same as usual really, just lots of herbs,
16:36lots of spices, lots of flavour,
16:38and very little carbohydrate.
16:40So I love vegetables.
16:42I don't really want rice or potatoes or any of the high carbohydrate.
16:47Absolutely, yeah.
16:48Yeah, so I've got some spring chicken with a spicy Turkish sauce
16:51and some John Dory,
16:53and that's with a nice citrusy pistachio salsa,
16:56your favourite lamb's lettuce salad.
16:58That's going to be on the menu as well as a broccoli salad
17:01and a few other additions that will come along the way.
17:03Fantastic.
17:04Back at the Super Yacht Cup Regatta in Palma, Mallorca,
17:17where the wealthy flaunt both their fortunes and their vessels,
17:21captains are directing their crews,
17:23making final preparations as race start time approaches.
17:27We're racing today at midday,
17:30so in the mornings the crew are preparing sails,
17:33getting lines in place.
17:35There's a lot to do before racing,
17:37a lot of cleaning and polishing.
17:39The boats always look immaculate and that takes hard work.
17:42Here we have Chervo,
17:44a very experienced crew, well prepared.
17:46They won the race yesterday
17:47and 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
17:57just how much rests on the captain's command.
18:00In all these super yacht racing campaigns,
18:02the linchpin on all the boats is the captain.
18:05It is a big job.
18:06I mean, it's like running a business
18:08and particularly when you come racing,
18:10there's a lot of added stress and expectation
18:13and one of the outstanding captains is Ben Potter on rows.
18:16He takes it all and his stride, he's a great racer.
18:19and has pulled together an exceptional team.
18:23Ben has taken victory two years running
18:26aboard the multi-million pound super yacht, Rose.
18:31And this year, he's chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title.
18:37Our motto is to keep it easy, race hard and go fast.
18:40We're getting ready for the regatta,
18:42we 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 boat,
18:48difficulties on the boats and mechanical failures
18:50and whatever the case may be.
18:51So there's always a lot of pressure on all the crew,
18:54myself and the owner as a driver.
18:57The owner of Ben's boat is a billionaire businessman
19:01and with the super yachts all heading out to start the race,
19:04his skill as a helmsman is about to be tested.
19:07The captain's and seasoned crews may make all the difference on the water,
19:24but it begins with the design of the super yacht itself.
19:28And in today's race, one designer's work dominates the fleet.
19:33I designed five of the boats that are racing today out of 11,
19:38so I'm pretty happy.
19:40For the Baltic Café racers, which Javier designs,
19:43this kind of craftsmanship comes with a serious price tag.
19:47The boats that I designed, they have a cost range from five to 25 million.
19:57These boats, they have a double life.
19:59We wanted to create a very sporty boat for racing,
20:02but also a second life which is a luxurious style for vacation.
20:07A 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.
20:24The hull should represent 40% of the cost of the boat.
20:27These boats, they have around seven sails.
20:30These sails are very high quality and they use carbon fibre to produce them
20:34and 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
20:42if you want to slice through the water at speed.
20:48When designing these super yachts,
20:50there is always a compromise between comfort and performance.
20:55And these boats, they tick all the boxes.
20:59So overall, these boats are very light and very powerful,
21:02which they make them super fast on the water.
21:06With today's racing complete,
21:08the crews now face an anxious wait to discover
21:11who will claim the coveted Super Yacht Cup,
21:13awarded to the fastest team across all three days of competition.
21:20The Super Yacht Cup has been a great success.
21:22I'm very, very pleased.
21:23Obviously, everybody wants to win,
21:25but there can only be one winner overall.
21:27With racing over, attention now turns to the other side of the regatta,
21:32where the super rich mingle, strike deals and await the final results.
21:39It's been a good combination of fun on the water
21:43and then some relaxed parties in the afternoons.
21:45A glass of champagne, a cold beer, finishes off the day nicely.
21:49And this year's first prize, as well as a remarkable third consecutive victory,
21:55goes to Captain Ben Potter and the crew of the Rose.
22:01What a great day we had sailing today.
22:04We came out on top and the boys are extremely excited
22:07and we're really, really happy and thrilled
22:09that we got the top results for the third year in a row.
22:22From wind power to something far higher octane
22:25and far more compact, day yachts.
22:28These much smaller super yachts have been described as supercars on water.
22:41Sleek and refined, they're perfect for dotting and dashing around
22:45on some of the most exclusive inlets, coves and lagoons in the world.
22:50Not surprisingly then, there's a showroom, as such, in Ibiza.
22:58A magnetic destination for the jet set,
23:01surrounded by crystal clear blue water.
23:10Charged with convincing the super rich to part with their cash is James.
23:15The majority of our clients come to us
23:18because they want to have something special
23:22and they want to have something different.
23:25You know, Dubai now and Ibiza have become a luxury brand
23:29and therefore we have a luxury item to go along with it.
23:35James and his team are preparing for the arrival
23:38of an important high-profile client
23:40with a multi-million pound budget for his dream yacht.
23:44Good morning, guys.
23:45Good morning.
23:46Good morning.
23:47Good to see you.
23:48You're great.
23:49Thank you very much.
23:50Very well, thank you.
23:51Gaming CEO and prospective buyer Zane and his wife Katharina
23:54have a house on the island
23:56and have come to take James' flagship model for a test drive.
23:59I've always loved boats ever since I was a young kid.
24:03So 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
24:17and we're really excited to get out on the water.
24:19So today's an important day to try and understand more about the boat.
24:25The boat on Zane's radar is this 52-metre-long, ultra-lightweight day yacht.
24:32The seven-and-a-half-ton hull is made up of 100% carbon fibre
24:37and it's capable of speeds of over 50 miles per hour.
24:41With a range of 300 nautical miles,
24:43it'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.
24:58With sun decks at the front and rear,
25:01two kitchens as well as a barbecue grill,
25:04there's room for plenty on board.
25:06Below deck, the master cabin has a luxurious double bed
25:10with large windows that look out to sea
25:13and a rear cabin that can convert from dining area
25:16to sleeping area for another two guests.
25:19Remarkably, for a yacht of this size,
25:21it has a toilet and a full stand-up rain shower.
25:29But will this boat impress Zane and Katerina?
25:35You've got to try before you move.
25:37Yeah, exactly.
25:38It's ugly.
25:39Absolutely right.
25:52Hey, guys.
25:53How are you? Nice to see you again.
25:54Nice to see you again.
25:55How are you?
25:56On the island of Ibiza,
25:58Zane and his wife, Katerina,
26:00are preparing to test drive a new state-of-the-art day yacht,
26:03which 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 so baby.
26:12Bigger 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,
26:20who knows the island like the back of his hand.
26:23Time 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,
26:37it must be the quickest boat out there that you can buy.
26:41There you go.
26:45Designing a bespoke day yacht to provide thrills and luxury
26:49requires technical expertise.
26:52In Lake Constance, Germany,
26:54Say's headquarters, Karl and his team know exactly how to deliver.
26:58I think the main USP is clearly the lightweight concept.
27:03Usually they travel fast.
27:06Maybe they race other boats.
27:08It's always good fun.
27:09If you see different boats you compete or our competition,
27:13then they always try to be the fastest, of course.
27:16And in most times they succeed.
27:19The reason for their speed may have more to do with land than sea,
27:23as Karl's former job involved delivering carbon fiber parts
27:27for high-end sports cars.
27:29As I had a really close relationship with McLaren,
27:32working for motorsports like Formula One,
27:36like Le Mans racing cars,
27:38but also for series production cars
27:40from the major German and English automotive industry.
27:44I have a high level of engineering,
27:46I have a high level of quality.
27:49Karl and his 40-person team
27:52have 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.
28:03You 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,
28:24the lightest designs in the ship industry.
28:28Creating a hull that will withstand water pressure
28:31and 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,
28:41four, 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
29:06and then another layer of carbon fiber.
29:08Apart from carbon fiber, the yacht's interior flooring and paneling
29:14are covered with engineered birch bark.
29:17Once it's fitting perfectly, it will be bonded.
29:21And then comes the caulking.
29:23It's a birch material, but it's a very, very specially 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,
29:37but 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.
29:47When the final fit-out takes place,
29:50the interior will be finished with bespoke upholstery,
29:53whilst the exterior will have a custom paint job.
29:59It's these luxury finishing touches
30:01that will make it truly unique for its mega-rich buyers.
30:12Meanwhile, out on the water in Ibiza,
30:14Zane and Katarina are enjoying their sea trial
30:17in their prospective new yacht, Say 52.
30:20I love the boat.
30:23I think it's very steady on the water.
30:25And I think it's really comfortable inside.
30:28I was really impressed by the cabin
30:31and by interior design.
30:35I think it's a great boat to spend a day or two or even longer.
30:41You can bring your friends, you can bring your family
30:44and everyone will sit comfortably here.
30:48I'm really impressed with the whole...
30:50It's really capable in what is quite a rough day out today.
30:54The unique selling point of a yacht like this one
30:59is you can speed through the bumpy ride
31:02and moor up in secluded, calm places others can't reach.
31:06Here's some little picnic.
31:09Wow, Diego, thank you, amazing.
31:11Wow, that looks incredible.
31:12To beat the life on a Say 52 doesn't get any better.
31:15Enjoy!
31:18This is a super exclusive place
31:23because you can only get here by boat.
31:25There is no way to get here if it's not with a boat.
31:27So, yeah, that makes it very unique and exclusive
31:31and we have it for ourselves.
31:34So, let's enjoy it.
31:48This is an amazing island and, you know,
31:50this 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.
31:59You can explore all of the bays, all the kayas.
32:02Yeah, and the length is good to go anywhere.
32:05And the local knowledge is very, very important.
32:09But really, there's only one way to make up your mind
32:12before committing to this £1.7 million purchase.
32:17You have to drive it before you buy it.
32:20I think it just neutralizes the rough sea.
32:26We've got cisterly wind rolling in some pretty significant swell
32:31and you barely feel it on the boat, which is amazing.
32:35I think there's anything else that comes close right now.
32:40So, exceptional.
32:42You know, we are in the market for a bigger boat.
32:47It's about as big as you can go with two people.
32:50I think for us, it kind of ticks all of the boxes.
32:55You know, whilst we're at our house in Ibiza here,
32:57we'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
33:14aboard a modest yacht,
33:16others pursue the pinnacle of bespoke luxury.
33:19On board Titania, billionaire and philanthropist John Cordwell
33:24and his family are revelling in the yacht's opulence
33:27and 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 worth of water sports equipment,
33:40including sailboats, a water park and jet skis.
33:44All right, ready, stand up here.
33:49Put your arms up.
33:53Well, even the world's most luxurious water sports
33:56can't keep everyone happy.
33:58Time for lunch.
34:04As this yacht is the most successful charter in its category,
34:07it's unavailable for most of the year,
34:09so being able to enjoy his own yacht
34:12is a real treat for John.
34:14Today is a fairly rare opportunity to be on board the yacht
34:17because 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.
34:24I love it.
34:25I love the fact that the crew are so great.
34:28I love the food.
34:30I love everything about it.
34:31I don't seek luxury weirdly.
34:35I seek perfection.
34:37I seek quality.
34:38To me, this epitomised luxury.
34:40This is luxury because of the quality of the service
34:44and the fact that there's every facility you could ever dream of.
34:48We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your holiday, John.
34:54Bye!
34:55In Holland, another super yacht is only at the start of its journey.
34:57Heesen Yachts has been crafting boats for nearly 50 years
35:12and once built the fastest luxury yacht in the world.
35:16Chartering a super yacht from them costs as much as £400,000 a week
35:20and buying one upwards of £45 million.
35:30At the firm's home is brand-new owner, Dutch entrepreneur and billionaire,
35:35Lorenz Last, whose love for the sea and luxury knows no bounds.
35:41Owning a yacht, they say there are two happy moments
35:43when you buy a yacht and when you sell the yacht.
35:46Not content with just owning the company, Lorenz's first port of call
35:51was to purchase his own yacht, which will be called Sofia.
35:56With work underway on his mega-million-pound new toy,
35:59Lorenz is eager to take a sneak peek.
36:03So, welcome at the sun deck.
36:06This is, I think, the most beautiful area of the boat.
36:09We have a jacuzzi here.
36:11As 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
36:18and look through the beautiful scenery.
36:20Then, there we get the kitchenette and there will be a lounge area.
36:24We will get a glass window to protect during cruising for the wind
36:29so we can open the glass door panels here.
36:32And then, in front here, I will make my fitness area.
36:35So, 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.
36:43When Sofia is complete, she will sleep 12, have three decks
36:47and be able to travel from Holland to Lorenz's favourite part of the Mediterranean
36:52without the need to refuel. Perfect for his island-hopping lifestyle.
36:58Buying Sofia is like a dream for a boy. It's like buying your first car.
37:04That's kind of the experience. Sofia is simple to operate.
37:08It can cruise 22 knots. So, I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia
37:13or I can go fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo. And that's what I was looking for.
37:19What 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.
37:33And the clock is counting backwards. So, we are counting the days.
37:37The last day, every time, on time, that the 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?
37:57In Holland, the expert team at Heesen are busy creating Sofia for billionaire new owner Lorenz Last.
38:05And in the world of luxury, every detail matters.
38:08This is the bridge. So, this is where the magic happens. You see the wires.
38:14You 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.
38:29So, these guys, you know, here are really important for the ship.
38:33There's plenty of work left to do on Sofia before she's seen her.
38:37But 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.
38:48And then we can really calculate the resistance.
38:50And in the end, we make a model and test the tank to check if it's correct.
38:55And 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 acquisition sinking.
39:14And that responsibility is down to Carlos, head of welding.
39:19As a welder, you've got to pay attention.
39:21As a welder, when you're going to weld your seams, it has to be done the correct way.
39:26Because 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 lady's going to sink on the bottom of the sea.
39:39The company specializes in lightweight aluminium, but working with this material takes real skill.
39:47Aluminium welding is your worst nightmare. This is one of the most difficult materials to weld.
39:53You 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.
40:11At 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.
40:23That's how you have to think about building a yacht.
40:27The super-rich want the best of the best. And the company caters for their every whim.
40:32With premium features including glass-bottom swimming pools, sea-level beach bars,
40:37Japanese-inspired wellness spas, and more.
40:41And uniquely, they do it all in-house.
40:47Manager of interior design is Perry.
40:51When we start with the interior design, first of all, it's a full custom design specifically made for a client.
40:57It's unique and it's one of a kind. Everything that is possible to be made, we can make it over here.
41:02So in that respect, the sky is the limit.
41:05Using 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.
41:15Any 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.
41:26So we had to find a solution to either have the deck ready to have a helicopter landing on it,
41:31or transforming it into a fold-up cinema screen where they could use it as an outside cinema.
41:37And 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, Lorenz,
41:46whose yacht Sofia is under construction in the shipyard.
41:50With this expectant and important customer to please, Perry's checking on progress.
41:55Okay, we're going to take a look on board to do some first inspections.
41:59Basically see how the translation of the design is fitting it into the boat
42:03and 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.
42:19So they have a double check how the items are being fitted.
42:22Is everything going well? Very well. All fitting in? Yeah. Okay.
42:27In the factory, carpenter Rick oversees fitting out one of the most important areas.
42:33Over here we got the base frame of the dashboard.
42:37Eventually the captain will be standing here, controlling his yard and looking over the ocean.
42:44to see where he's going to.
42:48I'm sanding a very specific piece of wood.
42:51It's hard to be done with any machine.
42:53So the last piece of veneer I need to take down away by hand.
42:58The finishing touch with the hand, you know, that's going to make the yard special.
43:03Back on board, luxury isn't only exclusive to the fabrics and materials being used.
43:12It's also in the tiniest nuts and bolts.
43:15Those 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. If you are on the ocean, but still the owner wants to have a good sleep.
43:30Everything needs to be as silent as possible. It's engineering for luxury.
43:34First checks completed.
43:37The inspection went well. It's all well. It's on schedule. So looking good.
43:42Everything is customized. Everything is handmade and fitted.
43:45So there is always a lot of pressure to get it done in time.
43:48There 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.
44:05So can you imagine yourself cruising, laying down in the bath, looking through the ocean?
44:09I think it's amazing. If you look at it, it looks for you maybe like a big mess, but you need to visualize.
44:14Here's going to be the bed. You see we have a request ceiling, which will be finished.
44:20This 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. So 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.
44:55Laurence'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.
45:15What 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.
45:22So in four or five months, this boat is ready. Are you excited?
45:26I'm pretty excited. Yeah, you can imagine.
45:29There is, of course, the small detail of how much Sofia will cost.
45:33But to a billionaire, perhaps that isn't much of a stumbling block.
45:37The price, I still have to negotiate with the CEO, what will be the price.
45:42But I guess it will be around 45 million.
45:46And Laurence has grand plans for when his dream yacht is finally finished next year.
45:52I love Italy. I love Italian food.
45:55My children, young children, are going to school in Rome.
45:58So I probably will put her in a port close to Rome.
46:03And I'm looking forward to cruising to Sardinia.
46:06And I think we will do a nice opening party when she will be launched.
46:10My children love to party.
46:11One of my sons is a DJ.
46:13So I'm sure we will have a DJ set on board and party through the night to celebrate her lunch.
46:25Take the stress out of hosting this festive season.
46:28Sauces, sides and dishes all cooked before the big day.
46:32Jamie's cook ahead Christmas starts Monday at 8.
46:35But next tonight, we're starting in Belfast in 1972 for a gripping drama about the Troubles.
46:41Based on a true story, it's Say Nothing.
Be the first to comment