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00:00symbol. The attention to detail on this yacht is the epitome of sailing luxury.
00:04It's beautifully made and designed. For the select few of the wealthiest movers
00:08and shakers, it's about freedom, luxury and adventure. In a day like today, anything
00:14can happen. These floating palaces redefine the meaning of opulence. I
00:22wouldn't say this supersedes even the best hotels, I would say it absolutely
00:26annihilates the very best hotels. They're masterpieces of design and engineering.
00:32Like you guys in England playing football, high level. That's how you have to think about
00:37building a yacht. Crafted to take you anywhere in the world.
00:41So I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia or I can go fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo.
00:47So join us as we go above deck and below.
00:56Monaco. Playground of the rich and famous. The most exclusive location on France's Côte d'Azur.
01:09With white beaches and stunning sunsets, 32 percent of the population is high net worth.
01:15And Michelin-starred restaurants are ten a penny. But it's also the world's premier destination for
01:22luxury yachting. Below its famous casino lies Port Hercules, home to 700 of the most prestigious and
01:29sought-after berths in the world. Mooring fees here can cost up to £130,000 per week.
01:38And anchored nearby, preparing for the arrival of its billionaire owner, is £80 million, 73-metre-long mega-yacht, Titania.
01:50Titania. Named after the Queen of the Fairies from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream,
01:57Titania is the epitome of super rich sailing.
02:04And what a queen she is. Six decks of sumptuous luxury, punctuated by rich woods,
02:11luxuriant fabrics and panoramic views.
02:20Today, the crew are busy in preparation for their most esteemed arrival of the season.
02:25And for Chief Steward Izzy, there's a busy day ahead.
02:29Today we have a very important guest coming on board. That means we have to clean and polish
02:35everything to make it look perfect. As well as plush salons for entertaining.
02:44There's also a massage room, jacuzzi, deck and spa. The yacht has five ensuite bedrooms.
02:54And uniquely, two owner's state rooms. One with lounge, bedroom and private health salon,
03:00and the other with wraparound sea views. And a glass lift effortlessly connects its six decks.
03:12The billionaire owner of the yacht uses it maybe once or twice a year.
03:18The rest of the time it can be chartered, complete with its 21 strong crew, for more than £600,000 per week.
03:25Chief Steward Izzy is putting some final touches to the master suite.
03:35So I'm just going to be finishing the last little bits of the setup, putting up their family photos.
03:40The unique service aboard a vessel like this is part of the experience. And professional attention to
03:46detail is a key part of the package. All his things are set up, his clothes are steamed,
03:52his picture frames are out, the kids toys are set up. So please make sure the boat is absolutely spotless,
03:57which we always do anyways, but please pay extra attention today. And let's have them have a fabulous day.
04:04This morning we've been very busy already. We had some last minute provisions arriving,
04:08we had flowers arriving, and the crew has been making everything look perfect for the boss's arrival.
04:14Today's VIP isn't just a guest, it's the boss and owner of Titania. Founder of the one-time high street
04:28giant Phones for You, billionaire businessman and philanthropist John Cordwell is with his
04:33long-term partner Modesta, their children William and Bea, and her son Leonardo.
04:44What boating is all about for me is getting all my friends together in an unbelievably luxurious
04:50environment and having fun. And that's what Titania represent. The crew are really exceptional.
04:57They can deliver that seven star experience for the people who charter the boat.
05:03Part of that elite service takes place in the galley,
05:07when Michelin-trained head chef Tom is preparing lunch.
05:10Um, do you want to just grab some herbs out of the cupboard and start picking?
05:16And do some dill, mints, coriander, please. Take the bones out of that chicken as the kids, please.
05:21Yeah. So I've been cooking professionally for about almost 12 years. I started in hotels, restaurants.
05:30I've been on the boats now for about six years.
05:32And pleasing the palates of those ultra-wealthy guests certainly keeps Tom on his toes.
05:38I had a guy in the past I've worked for, he specifically wanted a tasting menu from a restaurant
05:43he'd seen online, and we had to try and source all the ingredients for the next day.
05:46So you could do it eventually, but it took a bit of planning, a bit of messing around, but,
05:52yeah, it was, you know, keeps it interesting. Catering for the super rich can cost up to
05:58£2 million a year, and Tom and his team ensure all produce is freshly sourced. Everything from the
06:06most expensive caviar to the finest bottles of champagne are brought on board. If we're doing small
06:11trips, we've got markets all around the south of France and Italy, I really like to go to those. If we're
06:15doing big long trips, like a week or two weeks, we bring in a few pallets worth of food onto the boats,
06:20and we have a walk-in fridge and freezer, and we'll stock it for the week, and we'll just top up as we
06:25need with fresh vegetables. For John, being on board isn't about work, it's about fun. And where better to
06:34exercise his cares away than in the ship's state-of-the-art gym. Cycling is his passion and his
06:40first port of call. A big part of boat life is a cycle ride every single day, maybe two, three,
06:46four, five hours, going and exploring all the countries that we visit. And it's just an amazing
06:51way of seeing natural, real, hidden life. On the physical fitness side, we have Pilates instructors,
06:59we have gym instructors, we have masters, beauticians, everything that anybody could
07:04want that gives the most spectacular holiday imaginable. Not all yachting is about holiday,
07:13though. Super luxury living with the crew catering to your every need is par for the course.
07:19But an extension of this lifestyle is to race your superyacht too.
07:29The Superyacht Cup, which takes place annually in Palma, Mallorca, has been running for almost 30 years.
07:41Kate Branagh is the owner and event director.
07:44The Superyacht Cup Palma is the longest running superyacht event in Europe. It's a popular event
07:50for boats of all different sizes, different designs, all coming together to have competitive racing.
07:55Open to all mono-hull superyachts measuring over 24 metres in length, this four-day event is the
08:05highlight of the global regatta calendar. And the entry fees are a very closely guarded secret.
08:11The Superyacht Cup is a little different to the other events. It's got a strong association with the island,
08:17which is a very, very important hub for superyachts. So the sailing is phenomenal. Flat water,
08:24nice breeze and blue skies. It's an opportunity for people to get together, go racing. It's very competitive,
08:31but it's also a lot of fun. Matthew Sweetman, who took part in the race last year, knows what it takes
08:40to compete. When racing we have 30 people sailing and everyone has a job. It's all hands to get
08:48everything going. And it's a sight to behold. Matthew is captain of Superyacht Rainbow, a 130-foot
08:56titan of the sea, which blends classic 1930s design with modern technology. These are very historic
09:04sailing yachts. They originally were designed for the America's Cup in the 1930s. There's only nine in
09:10the world. So it's quite an exclusive club. With towering masts and flawless craftsmanship, the six
09:17million pound rainbow is regarded as true racing royalty. Its hull and design pay homage to the great
09:26yachts of the 1930s. We've got an old compass in the original style, but then we have to marry in the modern
09:35technology with the instrumentation and the computers. And we try to hide them as much as
09:40possible, but we still need to know where our navigation suite is. So we we hide them under
09:45hatches to make it look a bit more special. The deck may be built for speed, but it's below deck where
09:52the height of luxury awaits. A fitting touch for a yacht owned by a billionaire enthusiast.
10:00As you come down from the deck level into the the lower saloon area is very luxurious,
10:09very nice air conditioned space with natural light coming from the skylights.
10:14In true 1930s art deco style, the interiors are richly opulent with mahogany paneling,
10:23polished oak floors and space to lavishly accommodate six guests in comfort.
10:28Everything is custom made and was designed exactly for this boat. The attention to detail on this yacht
10:34is the epitome of sailing luxury. It's beautifully made and beautifully designed.
10:42But blending high luxury with high speed at sea brings its own challenges.
10:48Obviously when we go sailing the boat is moving around a lot, so every glass has its place so they
10:54won't smash. Same with plates and cutlery. Everything has a custom-made place. It's very secure.
11:01Plates, bowls, they all have their own storage. You want to be able to go sailing during the day and
11:07then in the evening have a nice glass of champagne or a three-course dinner and not have broken glass
11:13everywhere. Heaven forbid! For the super rich, yachts are the ultimate play thing.
11:20And in today's world money doesn't just buy luxury, it can buy a place at the very top of the sport.
11:27One of the nice things about super yacht racing is there's not many sports where an owner can come
11:33and sail with a professional team and compete at a very high level. You can't buy a football team and play
11:38football but you can buy a super yacht and hire in some professionals and bring your family,
11:45bring your friends and sail at a very very high level. Although Matthew isn't at the helm of Rainbow
11:51today, the other captains readying their yachts and crews are all vying for the chance to finish on top.
11:59There's a bit of pressure. We have very tough composition and so we have to sail good and we
12:04have to sail fast all the time and keep focused. But certainly in a day like today anything can happen.
12:19In Monaco, billionaire John Cordwell and his family are holidaying on his yacht.
12:26In order to raise money for charity, philanthropist John charges the yacht to the rich and wealthy.
12:32Successfully, he's raised as much as two and a half million pounds per year.
12:38My pledge is to leave 70% of my wealth to charity during or after my lifetime. I will help lots of
12:44different charities but children are a real focal point because they haven't had a proper start in life.
12:50John started his charity, Caldwell Children, over 25 years ago.
12:55If we can put them on the right pathway for the rest of their lives, what a transformation.
13:01To help maximise the returns for the charity, John recently spent over £10 million on refurbishing his mega yacht.
13:14One of John's favourite rooms is the main salon, the centrepiece of which is a £100,000
13:21Steinway grand piano, perfect for entertaining guests.
13:24This is where often we have musicians perform for us. They're not bought in musicians,
13:33they're friends like Robbie Williams. Of course we've got the kids here, entertained by our wonderful
13:37stewardesses. But by the way, when they eat, they're not allowed any food at all on the carpets.
13:45Yes. Just for clarity. Yes.
13:49Well, that was a bit vicious. Brutal.
13:54In addition to the main salon, there are no less than nine first-class dining and lounge areas.
14:00The yacht can sleep 12 guests and the plushest cabin of all is John's magnificent owner's stateroom.
14:10This is the main cabin on the boat. It's full beam with windows either side,
14:15which makes it not only incredibly spacious, but incredibly light. We've got the office attached.
14:20We've got the most beautiful bathroom. It's just a wonderful space to be in.
14:25John sets up each room to his meticulous specification.
14:36This is the master VIP massage cabin, and it's absolutely set up to perfection in the way I want
14:42it set up. And there are reasons for that. So let's just go through them. The horseshoe there is
14:48essential for comfort on the neck and the head, as is a very, very soft, fluffy towel. But then in
14:54addition to that, to take the stress off the neck, two shoulder pads there, and then here,
14:59a bolster placed under so that the toes are not pressing on onto the bed. And the final pièce de
15:07resistance is a heated blanket under here so that the whole thing is very soft, very warm and beautiful
15:13to lie on.
15:16John is so proud of his yacht that he won't leave even the tiniest of details to the very well-trained staff.
15:24I've just looked in the information book, and there should be a full list of crew profile in
15:32here. And for some reason there isn't. So I'm now ringing the captain to find out why we've gone
15:36backwards on something. And this is the sort of thing I'm always looking at, the perfection of
15:42how the boat runs to satisfy every guest, every requirement. Oh, hi, Sean. A bit puzzled here.
15:50I've got the guest information book on my bed, and it doesn't have all the crew's profiles in which
15:55it should do. Do you not think that we should probably have a hard copy inside it as well?
15:59I put real attention to detail in everything that every single crew member does in order to get what
16:08I think is the very best perfection that we can deliver for our customers. I wouldn't actually say
16:13this supersedes even the best hotels. I would say it absolutely annihilates the very best hotels.
16:19And to accommodate his best in-class taste, who better than his own personal chef?
16:26Just to reinforce the food that I'll be requiring, same as usual really, just lots of herbs,
16:31lots of spices, lots of flavour, and very little carbohydrate. So I love vegetables. I don't
16:37really want rice or potatoes or any of the high carbohydrates. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, so I've
16:43got some spring chicken with a spicy Turkish sauce and some John Dory, and that's with a nice,
16:50really citrusy pistachio salsa, your favourite lamb's lettuce salad, that's going to be on the menu,
16:55as well as a broccoli salad, and a few other little additions that will come along the way. Fantastic.
17:07Back at the Super Yacht Cup Regatta in Palma, Mallorca, where the wealthy flaunt both their
17:14fortunes and their vessels, captains are directing their crews, making final preparations as race
17:20start time approaches. We're racing today at midday, so in the mornings the crew are preparing sails,
17:29getting lines in place. There's a lot to do before racing, a lot of cleaning and polishing. The boats
17:34always look immaculate, and that takes hard work. Here we have Chervo, a very experienced crew,
17:40well prepared. They won the race yesterday, and they'll be going out to get the same results today,
17:45I'm sure. Two-time Olympic champion Shirley Robertson OBE knows better than most just how much rests on
17:53the captain's command. In all these super yacht racing campaigns, the linchpin on all the boats is the
18:00captain. It is a big job. I mean, it's like running a business, and particularly when you come racing,
18:05there's a lot of added stress and expectation. And one of the outstanding captains is Ben Potter on
18:11Rose. He takes it all in his stride. He's a great racer, and has pulled together an exceptional team.
18:18Ben has taken victory two years running aboard the multi-million pound super yacht Rose.
18:24And this year, he's chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title.
18:32Our motto is to keep it easy, race hard and go fast. We're getting ready for the regatta. We have one
18:37mindset, and that is to hopefully take it for the third time. But that always isn't that easy when we
18:42have difficulties on the boats and mechanical failures and whatever the case may be. So there's
18:47always a lot of pressure on all the crew, myself, and the owner as a driver. The owner of Ben's boat
18:54is a billionaire businessman, and with the super yachts all heading out to start the race,
18:59his skill as a helmsman is about to be tested.
19:15The captains and seasoned crews may make all the difference on the water,
19:20but it begins with the design of the super yacht itself. And in today's race, one designer's work
19:27dominates the fleet. I designed five of the boats that are racing today out of 11, so I'm pretty happy.
19:35For the Baltic cafe racers, which Javier designs, this kind of craftsmanship comes with a serious price tag.
19:42The boats that I designed, they have a cost range from five to 25 million.
19:52These boats, they have a double life. We wanted to create a very sporty boat for racing, but also
19:58a second life, which is a luxurious style for vacation. A fit out for an interior can run into
20:05hundreds and thousands of pounds. And that's even before you begin to think about the exterior.
20:13The hull should represent 40% of the cost of the boat. These boats, they have around seven sails.
20:25These sails are very high quality and they use a carbon fiber to produce them,
20:29and they are super strong to take all the loads when sailing.
20:32Around £200,000 for a set of sails is the price you pay if you want to slice through the water at speed.
20:42When designing these super yachts, there is always a compromise between comfort and performance.
20:50And these boats, they tick all the boxes. So overall, these boats are very light and very powerful,
20:57which they make them super fast on the water.
21:02With today's racing complete, the crews now face an anxious wait to discover who will claim
21:07the coveted Super Yacht Cup, awarded to the fastest team across all three days of competition.
21:15The Super Yacht Cup has been a great success. I'm very, very pleased. Obviously,
21:20everybody wants to win, but there can only be one winner overall.
21:24With racing over, attention now turns to the other side of the regatta,
21:28where the super rich mingle, strike deals, and await the final results.
21:36It's been a good combination of fun on the water and then some relaxed parties in the afternoons,
21:41a glass of champagne, a cold beer, finishes off the day nicely.
21:44And this year's first prize, as well as a remarkable third consecutive victory,
21:51goes to Captain Ben Potter and the crew of the Rose.
21:57What a great day we had sailing today. We came out on top and the boys are extremely excited and we're
22:03really, really happy and thrilled that we got the top results for the third year in a row.
22:07We came out on top of the world.
22:17From wind power to something far higher octane and far more compact, day yachts.
22:26These much smaller super yachts have been described as supercars on water.
22:31Sleek and refined, they're perfect for dotting and dashing around on some of the most exclusive
22:42inlets, coves and lagoons in the world.
22:48Not surprisingly then, there's a showroom as such in Ibiza.
22:53A magnetic destination for the jet set, surrounded by crystal clear blue water.
23:01The majority of our clients come to us because they want to have something special and they
23:18want to have something different. You know, Dubai now and Ibiza have become a luxury brand
23:25and therefore we have a luxury item to go along with it.
23:29James and his team are preparing for the arrival of an important high-profile client with a
23:36multi-million pound budget for his dream yacht.
23:39Morning, guys.
23:40Well, well, it's good to see you again.
23:42You're well?
23:44Very much, very well, thanks.
23:45Gaming CEO and prospective buyer Zane and his wife Katerina have a house on the island and have
23:51come to take James's flagship model for a test drive.
23:54I've always loved boats ever since I was a young kid. So for us, a boat is part of the Ibiza lifestyle. It's just
24:03part and parcel of what the island is all about. We're chartering the boat for the day. It's a boat
24:09we're really interested in. It's just an amazing piece of technology and engineering and we're really
24:13excited to get out on the water. So today's an important day to try and understand more about the boat.
24:18The boat on Zane's radar is this 52 meter long ultra lightweight day yacht.
24:28The seven and a half tonne hull is made up of 100% carbon fiber and it's capable of speeds of over 50
24:35miles per hour. With a range of 300 nautical miles, it's perfect for getting around the island.
24:41What I like about the boat best is clearly the design. I've never seen another boat in the world
24:48that has these shapes and lines. With sun decks at the front and rear,
24:56two kitchens as well as a barbecue grill, there's room for plenty on board. Below deck, the master cabin
25:04has a luxurious double bed with large windows that look out to sea and a rear cabin that can convert from
25:10dining area to sleeping area for another two guests. Remarkably, for a yacht of this size,
25:17it has a toilet and a full stand-up rain shower. Thank you. Thank you. But will this boat impress
25:26Zane and Katarina? You've got to try before you might. Yeah, exactly. That'd be right.
25:40Hey guys. How are you? Nice to see you again. Nice to see you again.
25:51On the island of Ibiza, Zane and his wife Katarina are preparing to test drive a new state-of-the-art
25:58day yacht, which they're thinking of buying. So what do you think?
26:01It's beautiful, isn't it? It's so big. It's bigger than I don't think.
26:07You're gonna love it. We're gonna have a beautiful day today. The weather is looking amazing.
26:12Their captain for the day is Diego, who knows the island like the back of his hand.
26:23Time to take their dream yacht for a cruise.
26:25Yeah, it's off the charts. I mean, I think in terms of speed and the size,
26:32it must be the quickest boat out there that you can buy.
26:39Designing a bespoke day yacht to provide thrills and luxury requires technical expertise.
26:47In Lake Constance, Germany, Say's headquarters, Karl and his team know exactly how to deliver.
26:52I think the main USP is clearly the lightweight concept. Usually they travel fast.
27:02Maybe they race other boats. It's always good fun. If you see different boats or our competition,
27:08then they always try to be the fastest, of course, and in most times they succeed.
27:14The reason for their speed may have more to do with land than sea,
27:18as Karl's former job involved delivering carbon fiber parts for high-end sports cars.
27:24As I had a really close relationship with McLaren working for motorsport like Formula One,
27:31like Le Mans racing cars, but also for series production cars from the major German and English automotive
27:38industry. I have a high level of engineering, I have a high level of quality.
27:43Carl and his 40-person team have been bringing that expertise to bear on the Say 52.
27:52So you can see what carbon fiber means. It's just lightweight. It's a bench for four people,
27:58and you move it like this.
27:59Our carbon fiber material is a very, very expensive material. The pure fiber itself in the range of,
28:08let's say, 50 euros per kilogram. So it's an extremely valuable material, but of course it's worth
28:15every cent because we can do the lightest constructions, the lightest designs in the ship industry.
28:23Creating a hull that will withstand water pressure and the constant battering of the sea takes time and skill.
28:30We need a lot of these layers to create a hull. So you have like, depending on the size of the boat,
28:36four, five, six layers. Then comes the foam and then comes another couple of layers. So it literally takes
28:44forever to build up the hull. We are finished with the first layer now. So this is completely done.
28:50It's, it's in the mold in a perfect way. And so this step is okay. We can sign it off. And the next step
28:58will be then putting the foam into it and then another layer of carbon fiber. Apart from carbon fiber,
29:07the yacht's interior flooring and paneling are covered with engineered birch bark.
29:13Once it's fitting perfectly, it will be bonded and then comes the caulking. It's a birch material,
29:20but it's a very, very special treated one. It's extremely lightweight. It's very durable. It will last
29:27forever and it looks beautiful. It's much more expensive than teak would be, but it can withstand
29:34water. It can, it can be even used in the bathroom, in the shower. So it's the perfect material for us.
29:41When the final fit out takes place, the interior will be finished with bespoke upholstery whilst the
29:49exterior will have a custom paint job. It's these luxury finishing touches that will make it truly
29:58unique for its mega rich buyers. Meanwhile, out on the water in Ibiza, Zane and Katarina are enjoying
30:11their sea trial in their prospective new yacht, Zane 52. I love the boat. I think it's very steady on the
30:19water and I think it's really comfortable inside. I was really impressed by the cabin
30:26and by interior design. I think it's a great boat to spend a day or two or even longer. You can bring
30:37your friends, you can bring your family and everyone will sit comfortably here. I'm really impressed with
30:44the boat. It's really capable in what is quite a rough day out today. The unique selling point of a yacht
30:54like this one is you can speed through the bumpy ride and moor up in secluded, calm places others
31:00can't reach. Here's some little picnic. Wow, Diego, thank you. Amazing. To beat the life on a
31:09side 52 doesn't get any better. Enjoy. This is a super exclusive place because you can only get here
31:19by boat. There is no way to get here if it's not with a boat. So yeah, that makes it very unique and
31:26exclusive and we have it for ourselves. So let's enjoy. This is an amazing island and you know this
31:45is the kind of boat that really fits the bill for the island. It just belongs. It gets you around the
31:51island in an incredibly quick time. You can explore all of the bays, all the kayas. And the land is
31:58good to go anywhere. And the local knowledge is very, very important. But really, there's only one way
32:06to make up your mind before committing to this £1.7 million purchase. You have to drive it for your
32:14nearby. Now it just neutralizes the rough sea. We've got seasterly wind rolling in some pretty significant
32:25swell and you barely feel it on the boat, which is amazing. I think there's anything else that
32:33that comes close right now. So, exceptional.
32:36You know, we are in the market for a bigger boat. It's about as big as you can go with two people.
32:45I think for us, it kind of, it ticks all of the boxes. You know, whilst we're at our house in Ibiza here,
32:53we'd like to spend as many days as possible on the water. And you know, what better boat to do it on than
32:59this one? While some are content with the simple pleasures of life aboard a modest yacht, others
33:11pursue the pinnacle of bespoke luxury. On board Titania, billionaire and philanthropist John Cordwell
33:19and his family are reveling in the yacht's opulence. And there's so much to enjoy,
33:24including the beach club at the back of the yacht. This club comes complete with 200,000 pounds
33:33worth of water sports equipment, including sailboats, a water park and jet skis.
33:42All right, ready? Stand up here.
33:43Keep up. Put your arms up.
33:48Well, even the world's most luxurious water sports can't keep everyone happy.
33:53Time for lunch.
33:59As this yacht is the most successful charter in its category, it's unavailable for most of the year.
34:05So being able to enjoy his own yacht is a real treat for John.
34:09Today is a fairly rare opportunity to be on board the yacht because
34:13it doesn't happen anywhere near as much as I would like it to.
34:16Are you excited? Excited? I'm always excited on this yacht. I love it.
34:20I love the fact that the crew are so great. I love the food. I love everything about it.
34:28I don't seek luxury, weirdly. I seek perfection. I seek quality.
34:33To me, this epitomise luxury. This is luxury because of the quality of the service and the fact that
34:40there's every facility you could ever dream of.
34:42We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your holiday, John. Bye.
34:50We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your holiday.
35:00In Holland, another super yacht is only at the start of its journey.
35:05Heeson Yachts has been crafting boats for nearly 50 years and once built the fastest luxury yacht in the world.
35:15Chartering a super yacht from them costs as much as £400,000 a week and buying one upwards of £45 million.
35:23At the firm's home is brand new owner, Dutch entrepreneur and billionaire, Laurence Last, whose love for the sea and luxury knows no bounds.
35:35Owning a yacht. They say there are two happy moments when you buy a yacht and when you sell the yacht.
35:40Not content with just owning the company, Laurence's first port of call was to purchase his own yacht, which will be called Sofia.
35:51With work underway on his mega million pound new toy, Laurence is eager to take a sneak peek.
35:58So, welcome at the sun deck. This is, I think, the most beautiful area of the boat. We have a jacuzzi here.
36:05As you can see here, we get big sun lounges here and during cruising, you can go in the jacuzzi, lay down, take some sun and look to the beautiful scenery.
36:15Then, there we get the kitchenette and there will be a lounge area.
36:20We will get a glass window to protect during cruising for the wind so we can open the glass door panels here.
36:28And then, in front here, I will make my fitness area.
36:30So, I will be using the weights and biking and during the cruising and I'm really looking forward. I cannot wait to start using this boat.
36:38When Sofia is complete, she will sleep 12, have three decks and be able to travel from Holland to Laurence's favorite part of the Mediterranean without the need to refuel.
36:50Perfect for his island hopping lifestyle.
36:53Buying Sofia is like a dream for a boy. It's like buying your first car. That's kind of the experience.
37:01Sofia is simple to operate. It can cruise 22 knots. So, I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia or I can go
37:10fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo and that's what I was looking for. What appeals to me is the freedom.
37:16I love to have the wind. I love to see the land from the ocean side.
37:21And Laurence is counting the days till he can get behind the wheel.
37:24So, I don't know if you have seen, but we have a clock on top of every yacht and the clock is counting backwards. So, we're counting the days.
37:32The last day, every time, on time, that yacht is being delivered and going into the water.
37:37But, with the clock ticking, will the team at Heesen be able to deliver for their boss on time?
37:44In Holland, the expert team at Heesen are busy creating Sofia for billionaire new owner Laurence Last.
37:58And, in the world of luxury, every detail matters.
38:03This is the bridge. So, this is where the magic happens. You see the wires. You know how many kilometers
38:11of wires we have to this boat? This is amazing. Explain me what you do with all those wires,
38:15because it looks like a big mess. The cables are coming from the engine room and they're coming
38:19from all the technical parts. More and more on boats, there are electrical issues and not mechanical
38:24issues. So, these guys, you know, here are really important for the safety. There's plenty of work
38:30left to do on Sofia before she's seaworthy, but creating a bespoke superyacht as high spec as this one
38:38always starts with the design team. When we design a boat, first we do modelling by computer,
38:44then we can really calculate the resistance and in the end we make a model and test the tank to check
38:50if it's correct. And we also build very light. So, when you build light, you also have less resistance.
38:57Once the team has a design that can speed through the seas, it's down to the welding team to ensure
39:03the superyacht's wealthy owners never have to worry about their new acquisitions sinking.
39:09And that responsibility is down to Carlos, head of welding.
39:14As a welder, you've got to pay attention. When you're going to weld your seams, it has to be done
39:20the correct way, because you don't want at the end that your weld gets a crack. If you don't follow
39:26the rules, you're going to have a crack and the lid is going to sink on the bottom of the seam.
39:32The company specialises in lightweight aluminium, but working with this material takes real skill.
39:40Aluminium welding is your worst nightmare. This is one of the most difficult material to weld. You
39:48never know what this material is going to do the next day. It's for everybody every day a new challenge.
39:54It takes years before you can become an aluminium welder. And it's not only the welder, it's a team.
40:01You've got the guys who are building the construction, the welders. At the end, the surveyor
40:07was walking around and checking all what has been done. So, it's like you guys in England playing
40:13football, high level. So, you need good players to win a match. That's how you have to think about
40:20building your yacht. The super rich want the best of the best and the company caters for their every
40:26whim, with premium features including glass bottom swimming pools, sea level beach bars,
40:32Japanese inspired wellness spas and more. And uniquely, they do it all in-house.
40:42Manager of interior design is Perry. When we start with the interior design, first of all, it's a full
40:49custom design specifically made for a client. It's unique and it's one of a kind. Everything that
40:55is possible to be made, we can make it over here. So, in that respect, the sky is the limit.
41:01Using the best materials from across the globe, the company has developed a reputation for some of
41:06the most luxurious interiors in the super yacht sector. Any wish a client has, Perry and his team
41:14fulfill it. We had a client who requested to have a helipad, but beside that they also wanted to use
41:20the deck as a cinema. So, we had to find a solution to either have the deck ready to have a helicopter
41:25landing on it or transforming it into a fold-up cinema screen where they could use it as an outside
41:31cinema. That's with everything. As long as you pay, you can make it. And that's just as well as their
41:37current client with a multi-million pound dream is his new boss, Laurence, whose yacht Sofia is under
41:43construction in the shipyard. With this expectant and important customer to please, Perry's checking
41:49on progress. Okay, we're going to take a look on board to do some first inspections. Basically, see
41:55how the translation of the design is fitting it into the boat and see if all the details,
42:00all the elements are as we plan to make them. The staff need to be meticulous with their work,
42:05making sure each item on board the boss's new boat is perfectly installed. For instance, the cabinet
42:11over here, it aligns with everything which is placed on the floor, so they have a double check
42:16how the items are being fitted. Is everything going well? Very well. All fitting in? Yeah. Okay.
42:22In the factory, carpenter Rick oversees fitting out one of the most important areas.
42:29Over here we got the base frame of the dashboard. Eventually, the captain will be standing here
42:35here controlling his yard and looking over the ocean to see where he's going to. I'm sending a very
42:44specific piece of wood. It's hard to be done with any machine, so the last piece of veneer I need to
42:51take down away by hand. The finishing touch with the hands, you know, that's going to make the yard special.
42:57Back on board, luxury isn't only exclusive to the fabrics and materials being used,
43:07it's also in the tiniest nuts and bolts. Those small attachments may not look important. If you
43:14don't put those on, then you get vibrations inside the interior, and when you get vibrations, you get
43:20sound. If you are on the ocean, but still the owner wants to have a good sleep, everything needs to be as
43:26silent as possible. It's engineering for luxury. First, checks completed. The inspection went well.
43:34It's all well, it's on schedule, so looking good. Everything is customized, everything is handmade
43:39and fitted, so there is always a lot of pressure to get it done in time. There is still a lot of work to do.
43:45The interior design is entirely bespoke and is being made to Laurence's exact specifications.
43:52So here we get the shower, then we get the toilet here, and here we get a big bath in front of the
43:59window. So can you imagine yourself cruising, laying down in the bath, looking through the ocean? I think
44:04it's amazing. If you look at it, it looks for you maybe like a big mess, but you need to visualize.
44:09Here's going to be the bed. You see we have a request ceiling, which will be finished. This is,
44:16I've just been told, eucalyptus wood. So that's the finish of the master cabin. Known for its durability,
44:23eucalyptus wood is also treasured for its natural beauty and warm tones. And of course,
44:29Laurence will need somewhere to keep his designer clothes.
44:32This is my walk-in closet. So here, all the shoes and the clothes during cruising are being stored
44:41very nicely. These artists' impressions show just what Sophia's interior might look like.
44:48Laurence's luxury master suite will be on the main deck. For his guests, there will be four
44:55spacious remaining suites on the lower deck. There will be a beach club at the rear. And the main
45:03deck terrace will offer plenty of outdoor space for Laurence's family and friends to enjoy.
45:08What is so nice about this phase of the boat, you can really see how much engineering is going into
45:15a boat and how complicated it is. So in four or five months, this boat is ready. Are you excited?
45:21I'm pretty excited. Yeah, you can imagine. There is, of course, the small detail of how much Sophia will
45:28cost. But to a billionaire, perhaps that isn't much of a stumbling block. The price, I still have to
45:34negotiate with the CEO what will be the price. But I guess it will be around 45 million.
45:42And Laurence has grand plans for when his dream yacht is finally finished next year.
45:48I love Italy. I love the Italian food. My children, young children, are going to school in Rome.
45:54So I probably will put her in a port close to Rome. And I'm looking forward to cruising to Sardinia.
46:01And I think we will do a nice opening party when she will be launched. My children love to party.
46:07One of my sons is a DJ. So I'm sure we will have a DJ set on board and party through the night to celebrate her lunch.
46:20Take the stress out of hosting this festive season. Sauces, sides and dishes all cooked before the big day.
46:27Jamie's cook-ahead Christmas starts Monday at 8. But next tonight, we're starting in Belfast in 1972
46:33for a gripping drama about the Troubles. Based on a true story, it's Say Nothing.
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