Nautical Luxuries Blog

Sure, we'd love to enjoy summer all year, with lazy sunny days on the water and warm swims in the sea! As we turn our clocks back this weekend, though, it’s time to officially welcome the winter months, and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of coastal living in the off-season. Celebrated artist, surfer and chef, Jim Denevan set a creative coastal tone at the end of Daylight Savings Time last year, with his amazing solar lantern art created on Laguna’s Main Beach for the Laguna Art Museum’s Art & Nature Festival. Known internationally for his monumental, temporary drawings on beaches throughout the world, Denevan's art is eco-friendly, and in sync with the sea. Beginning at the 4:00 a.m. low tide, Denevan worked with sticks and rakes to create a large geometric pattern of circles and spirals. Throughout the day, 40 volunteers traced his designs with approximately 2,500 solar lanterns that lit up as darkness set in.

 

  Laguna Art Museum will hold its second annual Art & Nature Festival this November, celebrating Laguna Beach as a center for the appreciation of art and nature.  To learn more about this year’s Art & Nature Festival, visit www.LagunaArtMuseum.org  DJ

Summer may be coming to a close, but there's nothing like a triple-digit hot September to make everyone think about getting out on the water! Luckily, it's fall boat show season, so you don't have to wait until next year to go shopping. Check your local harbor activities, because this is the best time to check out the newest models, take a tour of previously owned boats, and find a great broker to assist you in getting a great deal on your perfect boat. And if you're in the Newport Beach area, the Lido Yacht Expo is in full-swing, now through Sunday, with both in-water and shoreside displays. Stop by our office in Lido Village and say hello!  Now that you've got that boat, you'll be needing a few luxuries for the inside! DJ

Few things are as ubiquitous, or as popular with sailors worldwide, as the iconic red Solo Cup.  When we heard they were now available in re-usable, hard, double-walled plastic - and came in new shapes for wine, martini's and margaritas, well, we just had to smile! Here are just a few examples of intrepid boaters and sailors putting the Red Cup to use in admirably creative ways: And - for you real Red Cup afficionados, did you know that those lines on each cup are actually there for a reason? Not that anyone I've ever know has ever, or would ever, actually serve to them... Or, did you know they come in party lights? Or serving buckets?   We're excited to see the new styles, and look forward to putting them to use onboard, and ashore. Cheers, matey! DJ

Set in some of the world's most beautiful coastal locations, these Superyacht Events offer an extraordinary glimpse inside the luxury world of mega-yachting. From boat shows to big-boat regattas, they are top-ranking must-see events on any yachting enthusiast's Bucket List. MAY 3:          World Superyacht Awards, Amsterdam, The Netherlands MAY 8-11:     Taiwan International Boat Show, Kaohsiung, Taiwan MAY 14-25:   Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France MAY 22-25:   Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Monaco MAY 22-25:   Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, Australia MAY 26-31:   Pendennis Cup, Falmouth, UK JUNE 3-7:     Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy JUNE 13-15: New York Yacht Club 160th Regatta presented by Rolex, Newport, RI JUNE 19-22: The Rendezvous in Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Monaco JULY 12:        International Yacht Restoration School Summer Gala, Newport, RI JULY 12-19:  New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex, Newport, RI JULY 21-25:  Cowes Classics Week, Isle of Wight, UK JULY 31-AUG.4:  Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia AUGUST 17: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Pebble Beach, CA AUGUST 22-24: Newport Bucket Regatta, Newport, RI AUG.31-SEPT. 14: Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy SEPT. 8-14:    Rolex Swan Cup, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy SEPT. 9-14:    Festival International de la Plaisance, Cannes, France SEPT. 11-14:   Newport International Boat Show, Newport, RI SEPT. 12-21:  Southampton Boat Show, Southampton, UK SEPT. 24-27: Monaco Yacht Show, Monte-Carlo, Monaco DJ

It's boat show season, and the docks are filled with boating enthusiasts this weekend for the Newport Boat Show at Lido Marina Village. The sun is bright, and the weather is warm - it's the perfect time to be inspired to get out on the water, and to shop for a new or previously owned sailboat or powerboat. Staging a lovely Beneteau sailboat for the show, reminded me of what a big difference just a few beautiful accessories can make onboard. As these before-and-after shots show, it doesn't take much to create a cozy environment for your floating or land-based nest!                                                     Master Stateroom                                                                                                                     Starboard Stateroom                                                                      Starboard Settee Our top accent pieces with the biggest impact: a smart looking coverlet for each bunk, color-coordinated accent pillows for bunks and main saloon settees, silk florals for an elegant touch of color and rubber feet to keep them in place, a table centerpiece, and a spectacular Italian rope serving tray - complete with non-breakable polycarbonate glasses that look like crystal!                         Main Saloon Check your local area for upcoming boat shows - be inspired, and have fun creating your own before-and-afters! DJ

We couldn't agree more with Claude Monet's love of flowers.  No matter the season, there's simply nothing more beautiful than being surrounded by fresh cut flowers onboard, or in your cottage by the sea. Fresh cut flowers aren't always practical, or even possible, though, which is why we've introduced Yacht Silks. 52 astoundingly realistic permanent silk floral arrangements for yacht and home, let you enjoy the beauty of fresh cut flowers any time of year - year after year. With 52 different arrangements, you're sure to find a style that speaks to your personal style: Formal traditional?       Peony Nosegay        White Tulip Bouquet       White Lily Bouquet   White Gladiola Bouquet   Classic romantic?          Tangerine Rose & Tulip    Rose & Ranunculus           Woodsy Rose Bouquet    Peach Rose Bouquet     Rare tropical?          Mixed Orchids    Vanda Orchid Arrangement             Phalaenopsis Orchid   Orchids, Protea & Lily       Stunning arrangements with river stones, plant fronds and vines are set in realistic looking water created by clear resin. A beautiful look that also offers stability. Lower, horizontal styles are best-suited for onboard use, but every arrangement comes with silicon low-profile "feet" to help prevent movement while on the water. DJ

At a time when more and more luxury goods are being manufactured elsewhere, it's inspiring to see a masterpiece like the new 216-foot Invictus, created right here at home. Built by Delta Marine in Seattle, Invictus is a true luxury yacht, with a grand piano in the main salon, an upper-deck dining table for 20 guests, an on-deck gymn with magnificent views, a fold-out teak beach club at water level, a custom 28-foot Comitti tender, and a cinema with raised stadium-style seating. Heads turn wherever she goes, as happened this past month when she visited Newport Beach. Visitors and locals alike lined the shore and created a constant parade of boats and paddleboarders, taking pictures and simply enjoying the view of one of the largest private yachts ever to enter the harbor. Invictus was built for family cruising, and will also be available for charter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean through Burgess Yachts.

                                  I’d have to agree with Yachts International Magazine, that the largest and best yachts always pique our curiosity and capture our imagination. While the largest yachts afloat may seem excessive to some, they represent the state of the art in design, engineering and craftsmanship. This month, Yachts International Magazine features the 10 largest yacht launches of the past year. Given the increasing numbers of owners who require strict confidentiality at all levels of their projects, details and interior images of these amazing yachts are seldom available. Nonetheless, it is difficult to conceal the profile of a yacht as large as a warship once it enters the public waterways. Topping the list at 590 feet, 6 inches in length, (180 meters), is the yacht Azaam.  At two and a half football fields long, she is the largest private yacht ever built. Azzam, (which means dedication in Arabic), was built by Lurssen Yachts in Germany, at an estimated cost of $592 million, and a gross weight of 14,000GT – roughly the equivalent of 1,750 adult African elephants! While interior pictures are not available, here is an amazing video of her leaving the Lurssen shed, posted on SuperYachts.com. The footage has been sped up, so it’s even more difficult to get a true sense of her immense size. At the sped-up rate, about 7-feet of yacht appear out of the shed per second. In about 15 seconds, 100-feet of yacht has already exited the shed! We raise our glass to the pinnacle of nautical luxury, Azzam! DJ

Love the natural look of this new coiled rush entry mat - what a great way to welcome your guests. At over a yard-wide, it's a real showpiece for any beach cottage or seaside home. Nice sand/dirt trapping capability too.  Now... to find a shipping carton to fit it!

We're welcoming Spring with beautiful new luxuries for your home and yacht, like this nautical 18/10 stainless pattern from the French artisans at Sabre. The Admiralty Stripe design is brushed right into the metal, not painted on, which gives it a very sleek, elegant look. 

Spring is the perfect time to get out there and shop around for the boat of your dreams and pick up some great boating accessories and outfitting ideas. Here are a few shows coming soon to a waterfront area near you: March 21-24 -          Palm Beach Boat Show, West Palm Beach, FL -          South West International Boat Show, League City, TX April 4-7 -          Gulfcoast Yacht & Boat Super Show, Gulfport, MS -          Maine Boat Show, Portland, ME -          Reno Boat & Recreation Show, (4/5-7), Reno, NV April 12-14 -          Strictly Sail Pacific, Oakland, CA -          Southeast US Boat Show, Jacksonville, FL -          Oriental Boat Show, Oriental, NC April 18-21 -          Newport Boat Show, Newport Beach, CA -          Antibes Yacht Show -          World Royal Luxury & Yacht Show, Barcelona, Spain -          Boat Asia, Singapore -          Suncoast Boat Show (19-21), Sarasota, FL -          Lake Havasu Boat Show, Lake Havasu City, AZ April 25-27 -          Cancun Boat Show & Salon Nautico 2013, Cancun, Mexico April 26-28 -          Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, Annapolis, MD -          South Shore In-Water Boat Show, Hingham, MA May 1-4 -          Cabo Marine Show, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico May 4-5 -          Keels & Wheels Concours D’Elegance, Seabrook, TX -          NC Maritime Museum Wooden Boat show, (5/5), Beaufort, NC

One minute is about all the time you'll need to transform your front door from plain to extroardinary! Welcome Spring, and your seaside guests, with one of our preserved floral wreaths, decked with seashells, starfish and sand dollars. Shown here, is our Pawley's Island wreath; one of eleven beautiful coastal designs. BEFORE...                          ... 60-SECONDS LATER!                         Now, which door would YOU want to walk through! DJ