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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.
01:06Playground 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.
01:29Below its famous casino lies Port Hercules,
01:32home to 700 of the most prestigious and sought-after berths in the world.
01:37Mooring 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-meter-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.
02:48There's also a massage room, jacuzzi, deck and spa.
02:55The yacht has five en-suite bedrooms.
02:58And uniquely, two owner's state rooms.
03:02One with lounge, bedroom and private health salon.
03:06And the other with wrap-around sea views.
03:09And a glass lift effortlessly connects its six decks.
03:16The billionaire owner of the yacht uses it maybe once or twice a year.
03:22The rest of the time it can be chartered, complete with its 21-strong crew,
03:27for more than £600,000 per week.
03:32Chief 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.
03:54All his things are set up.
03:56His clothes are steamed.
03:57His picture frames are out.
03:58The kids' toys are set up.
04:00So please make sure the boat is absolutely spotless.
04:02Which we always do anyways.
04:03But please pay extra attention today.
04:05And let's have them have a fabulous day.
04:09This 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.
04:25Today's VIP isn't just a guest.
04:28It'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 represents.
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
05:11where Michelin-trained head chef Tom is preparing lunch.
05:15I'm just going to grab some herbs out of the cupboard
05:19and start picking.
05:21You can do some dill, mint, coriander, please.
05:24Take the bones out of that chicken of 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.
06:00Catering for the super-rich can cost up to £2 million a year
06:05and Tom and his team ensure all produce is freshly sourced.
06:09Everything from the most expensive caviar
06:12to the finest bottles of champagne are brought on board.
06:15If 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.
06:32For John, being on board isn't about work,
06:36it'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,
07:06we 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
07:26is to race your superyacht too.
07:31The Super Yacht Cup, which takes place annually in Parma, Mallorca,
07:40has been running for almost 30 years.
07:46Kate Branagh is the owner and event director.
07:49The Super Yacht Cup Parma is the longest running superyacht event in Europe.
07:54It's a popular event for boats of all different sizes, different designs,
07:58all coming together to have competitive racing.
08:01Open to all mono-hull 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 Super Yacht 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.
08:37Matthew Sweetman, who took part in the race last year,
08:43knows 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 Super Yacht Rainbow,
08:59a 130-foot titan of the sea,
09:04which blends classic 1930s design with modern technology.
09:08These are very historic sailing yachts.
09:09They originally were designed for the America's Cup in the 1930s.
09:12There's only nine in the world, so it's quite an exclusive club.
09:18With towering masts and flawless craftsmanship,
09:21the £6 million rainbow is regarded as true racing royalty.
09:28Its hull and design pay homage to the great yachts of the 1930s.
09:34We've got an old compass in the original style,
09:37but then we have to marry in the modern technology
09:40with 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.
10:04As you come down from the deck level into the lower saloon area,
10:11it'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,
10:26with 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.
10:38The attention to detail on this yacht is the epitome of sailing luxury.
10:42It'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 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 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 with a professional team
11:39and compete at a very high level.
11:42You can't buy a football team and play football, but you can buy a super yacht
11:46and hire in some professionals and 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 for the chance to finish on top.
12:04There'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 Caldwell 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.
12:42My pledge is to leave 70% of my wealth to charity during or after my lifetime.
12:48I 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, what a transformation.
13:08To help maximise the returns for the charity, John recently spent over £10 million on refurbishing his mega yacht.
13:19One of John's favourite rooms is the main salon.
13:23The 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 on the carpets.
13:50Just for clarity.
13:52Yes.
13:54That was a bit vicious.
13:56Brutal.
13:57Beautiful.
13:59In addition to the main salon, there are no less than nine first-class dining and lounge areas.
14:06The yacht can sleep 12 guests and 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, which makes it not only incredibly spacious but incredibly light.
14:24We've got the office attached, we've got the most beautiful bathroom.
14:27It's just a wonderful space to be in.
14:37John sets up each room to his meticulous specification.
14:41This is the Master VIP massage cabin and it's absolutely set up to perfection in the way I want it set up.
14:47And there are reasons for that, so let's just go through them.
14:51The horseshoe there is essential for comfort on the neck and the head, as there's a very, very soft, fluffy towel.
14:58But then in addition to that, to take the stress off the neck, two shoulder pads there.
15:03And then here, a bolster placed under so that the toes are not pressing onto the bed.
15:10And the final piece de resistance is a heated blanket under here so 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 to the very well-trained staff.
15:31I've just looked in the information book and there should be a full list of crew profile in here.
15:37And for some reason there isn't, so 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, the perfection of how the boat runs to satisfy every guest, every requirement.
15:53Oh, hi, Sean. A bit puzzled here. I've got the guest information book on my bed and 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 on everything that every single crew member does in 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. I would say it absolutely annihilates the very best hotels.
16:23And 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, same as usual really, just lots of herbs, lots of spices, lots of flavour and very little carbohydrate.
16:40So I love vegetables, but I don't really want rice or potatoes or any of the high carbohydrate.
16:47Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, so I've got some spring chicken with a spicy Turkish sauce and some John Dory.
16:53And that's with a nice, really citrusy pistachio salsa, your favourite lamb's lettuce salad.
16:59That's going to be on the menu, as well as a broccoli salad and a few other additions that will come along the way.
17:03Fantastic.
17:14Back at the Super Yacht Cup Regatta in Palma, Mallorca, where the wealthy flaunt both their fortunes and their vessels.
17:22Captains are directing their crews, making final preparations as race start time approaches.
17:27We're racing today at midday, so in the mornings the crew are preparing sails, getting lines in place.
17:35There'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, there's a lot of added stress and expectation.
18:12And one of the outstanding captains is Ben Potter on Rose, he takes it all in his stride.
18:19He's a great racer and has pulled together an exceptional team.
18:23Ben has taken victory two years running aboard the multi-million pound superyacht Rose.
18:30And this year, he's chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title.
18:35Our 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 superyacht 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 Café 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.
20:18The hull should represent 40% of the cost of the boat. These boats, they have around seven sails.
20:30These sails are very high quality and they use carbon fibre to produce them and they are super strong to take all the loads when sailing.
20:36Around £200,000 for a set of sails is the price you pay if you want to slice through the water at speed.
20:48When designing these superyachts, there is always a compromise between comfort and performance.
20:55And these boats, they tick all the boxes.
20:57So overall, these boats are very light and very powerful, which they make them super fast on the water.
21:06With 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.
21:24Obviously, everybody wants to win, but there can only be one winner overall.
21:29With 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.
21:49And this year's first prize, as well as a remarkable third consecutive victory, goes to Captain Ben Potter and the crew of the Rose.
22:00What 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.
22:11From 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.
22:58A magnetic destination for the jet set, surrounded 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 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.
23:45Good morning.
23:47Good to see you.
23:48You're well?
23:50Gaming 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.
24:00I've always loved boats ever since I was a young kid.
24:04So for us, a boat is part of the Ibiza lifestyle.
24:08It's just part and parcel of what the island is all about.
24:11We're chartering the boat for the day.
24:14It's a boat we're really interested in.
24:16It's just an amazing piece of technology and engineering and we're really excited to get out on the water.
24:19So today is an important day to try and understand more about the boat.
24:24The boat on Zane's radar is this 52-metre 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.
24:42With a range of 300 nautical miles, it's perfect for getting around the island.
24:46What 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, 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.
25:20Remarkably, for a yacht of this size, it has a toilet and a full stand-up rain shower.
25:28But will this boat impress Zane and Katerina?
25:32You've got to try before you might.
25:33Yeah, exactly.
25:34Absolutely right.
25:35Hey guys.
25:36How are you?
25:37Nice to see you again.
25:38Nice to see you again.
25:39How are you?
25:40On 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.
25:42So what do you think?
25:43It's beautiful, isn't it?
25:44It's so big.
25:45It's so big.
25:46It's big.
25:47It's so big.
25:49It's so big.
25:50It's so big.
25:51It's big.
25:52It's so big.
25:53It's so big.
25:54Can you think of it?
25:55On the island of Ibiza, Zane and his wife, Katarina, are preparing to test drive a new state-of-the-art day yacht, which they're thinking of buying.
26:05So what do you think?
26:07It's beautiful, isn't it?
26:09It's so big.
26:09It's big.
26:10It's bigger than I don't think.
26:12You're going to love it. We're going to have a beautiful day today. The weather is looking amazing.
26:17Their captain for the day is Diego, who knows the island like the back of his hand.
26:25Time to take their dream yacht for a cruise.
26:31Yeah, it's off the charts. I mean, I think in terms of speed and the size, it must be the quickest boat out there that you can buy.
26:40There you go.
26:44Designing a bespoke day yacht to provide thrills and luxury requires technical expertise.
26:51In Lake Constance, Germany, Say's headquarters, Karl and his team know exactly how to deliver.
26:57I think the main USP is clearly the lightweight concept.
27:04Usually they travel fast.
27:07Maybe they race other boats.
27:08It's always good fun.
27:09If 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 motorsport 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, I have a high level of quality.
27:49Karl and his 40-person team have been bringing that expertise to bear on the Say 52.
27:55So 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.
28:06Our 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.
28:16So 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.
28:54So this is completely done.
28:55It's in the mold in a perfect way.
28:59And so this step is okay.
29:01We can sign it off.
29:03And 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.
29:18Once it's fitting perfectly, it will be bonded.
29:21And then comes the calking.
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.
29:47When the final fit-out takes place, the interior will be finished with bespoke upholstery.
29:53Whilst the exterior will have a custom paint job.
29:56It's these luxury finishing touches that will make it truly unique for its mega-rich buyers.
30:04Meanwhile, out on the water in Ibiza, Zane and Katarina are enjoying their sea trial in their prospective new yacht, Say 52.
30:19I love the boat.
30:21I think it's very steady on the water.
30:25And I think it's really comfortable inside.
30:29I was really impressed by the cabin and by interior design.
30:35I 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.
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 is you can speed through the bumpy ride
31:02and moor up in secluded, calm places others can't reach.
31:07Here's some little picnic.
31:09Wow, Diego.
31:11Amazing.
31:11Incredible.
31:12To beat the life on a Say 52 doesn't get any better.
31:18Enjoy.
31:18This 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.
31:34So, let's enjoy it.
31:35This is an amazing island and, you know, this is the kind of boat that really fits the bill
31:52for the island.
31:53It 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.
32:02Yeah, and the land 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 before committing to this 1.7 million
32:15pound purchase.
32:17You have to drive it for your buy.
32:24Now, it just neutralizes the rough sea.
32:26We've got cisterly wind rolling in some pretty significant swell and you barely feel it on
32:33the boat, which is amazing.
32:35I don't think there's anything else that comes close right now.
32:40So, exceptional.
32:41You know, we are in the market for a bigger boat and it's about as big as you can go with
32:49two people.
32:50I think for us, it kind of, it ticks all of the boxes, you know, whilst we're at our house
32:57in Ibiza here, we'd like to spend as many days as possible on the water and, you know,
33:02what better boat to do it on than this one.
33:04While some are content with the simple pleasures of life aboard a modest yacht, others pursue
33:17the pinnacle of bespoke luxury.
33:20On board Titania, billionaire and philanthropist John Cordwell and his family are reveling in
33:26the yacht's opulence and there's so much to enjoy.
33:31Including the beach club at the back of the yacht.
33:34This club comes complete with 200,000 pounds worth of water sports equipment, including
33:40sailboats, a water park, and jet skis.
33:47All right, ready, stand up here.
33:48Keep up.
33:49Put your arms up.
33:51It's too cold.
33:52Arms up.
33:53Well, even the world's most luxurious water sports can't keep everyone happy.
33:58Time for lunch.
34:02Oh, look at that.
34:03Very nice.
34:04As this yacht is the most successful charter in its category, it's unavailable for most
34:09of the year.
34:10So 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
34:19anywhere near as much as I would like it to.
34:21Are you excited?
34:22Excited?
34:23I'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.
34:33I don't seek luxury, weirdly.
34:36I seek perfection.
34:37I seek quality.
34:38To me, this epitomizes luxury.
34:41This is luxury because of the quality of the service and the fact that there's every facility
34:47you could have a dream on.
34:47You could have a dream on.
34:51We'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your holiday, John.
34:55Bye.
34:55In Holland, another superyacht is only at the start of its journey.
35:11Heeson Yachts has been crafting boats for nearly 50 years and once built the fastest luxury
35:16yacht in the world.
35:20Chartering a superyacht from them costs as much as £400,000 a week.
35:25And buying one upwards of £45,000,000 pounds.
35:30At the firm's helm is brand new owner, Dutch entrepreneur and billionaire, Lorenz Last,
35:36whose love for the sea and luxury knows no bounds.
35:41Owning a yacht.
35:42They say there are two happy moments when you buy a yacht and when you sell the yacht.
35:46Not content with just owning the company, Lorenz's first port of call was to purchase his own
35:53yacht, which will be called Sophia.
35:55With work underway on his mega-million-pound new toy, Lorenz 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.
36:10As 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
36:19beautiful scenery.
36:20And then, for there, we get the kitchenette.
36:22And there will be a lounge area.
36:25We will get a glass window to protect during cruising for the wind.
36:30So, we can open the glass door panels here.
36:33And 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.
36:41I cannot wait to start using this boat.
36:43When Sophia is complete, she will sleep 12, have three decks and be able to travel from
36:49Holland to Lorenz's favorite part of the Mediterranean without the need to refuel.
36:54Perfect for his island-hopping lifestyle.
36:58Buying Sophia is like a dream for a boy.
37:02It's like buying your first car.
37:04That's kind of the experience.
37:05Sophia is simple to operate.
37:08Can cruise 22 knots.
37:11So, I can go fast from Rome to Sardinia or I can go fast from Sardinia to Monte Carlo.
37:17And that's what I was looking for.
37:19What appeals to me is the freedom.
37:21I love to have the wind.
37:22I 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.
37:35So, we're counting the days.
37:37The 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?
37:56In Holland, the expert team at Heesen are busy creating Sophia.
38:01For billionaire, new owner, Lorenz Last.
38:05And in the world of luxury, every detail matters.
38:10This is the bridge.
38:11So, this is where the magic happens.
38:13You see the wires.
38:15You know how many kilometers of wires we have to these boats.
38:17It's amazing.
38:18Explain me what you do with all those wires, because it looks like a big mess.
38:22The cables are coming from the engine room, and they're coming from all the technical parts.
38:25More and more on boats, there are electrical issues and not mechanical issues.
38:30So, these guys, you know, here are really important for the shipyard.
38:33There's plenty of work left to do on Sophia before she's seaworthy, but creating a bespoke superyacht as high-spec as this one always starts with the design team.
38:45When we design a boat, first we do modeling by computer, and then we can really calculate our resistance.
38:51And in the end, we make a model and test a tank to check if it's correct.
38:56And we also build very light.
38:57So, 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.
39:13And that responsibility is down to Carlos, head of welding.
39:18As a welder, you've got to pay attention.
39:21When 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.
39:47Aluminium welding is your worst nightmare.
39:49This is one of the most difficult materials to weld.
39:53You never know what this material is going to do the next day.
39:57It's for everybody, every day, a new challenge.
40:00It takes years before you can become an aluminium welder.
40:03And it's not only the welder, it's a team.
40:06You'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.
40:20So you need good players to win a match.
40:23That's how you have to think about building a yacht.
40:26The super rich want the best of the best.
40:29And 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.
40:57It's unique and it's one of a kind.
40:59Everything that is possible to be made, we can make it over here.
41:02So 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.
41:14Any wish a client has, Perry and his team fulfill it.
41:20We had a client who requested to have a helipad, but besides 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.
41:37That'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, Lawrence,
41:47whose yacht, Sophia, 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,
42:20so 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.
42:26Okay.
42:27In 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.
42:47I'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's going to make the yard special.
43:06Back 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.
43:18If 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,
43:30everything needs to be as silent as possible.
43:32It's engineering for luxury.
43:35First, checks completed.
43:37The inspection went well.
43:39It's all well.
43:39It's on schedule.
43:40So looking good.
43:42Everything is customised.
43:43Everything is handmade and fitted.
43:45So 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.
43:59Then we get the toilet here.
44:01And here we get a 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.
44:10If you look at it, it looks for you maybe like a big mess, but you need to visualise.
44:14Here's going to be the bath.
44:16You see we have a request ceiling, which will be finished.
44:20This is, I've just been told, eucalyptus wood.
44:23So 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.
44:32And 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.
44:46These artists' impressions show just what Sophia'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.
45:02There 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.
45:25Are you excited?
45:26I'm pretty excited.
45:28Yeah, you can imagine.
45:29There is, of course, the small detail of how much Sophia 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.
45:43But I guess it will be around 45 million.
45:47And Laurence has grand plans for when his dream yacht is finally finished.
45:52Next year.
45:53I love Italy.
45:54I 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.
46:03And 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.
46:12One 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.
46:22And I'm looking forward to it.
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