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The ultimate 2017 guide to yacht charters in Asia: Now in YACHT STYLE magazine Issue 38

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In a continuation of YACHT STYLE’s issue 37 “The People and Boat Show” issue – including the signature “Top 100 Yachting Personalities” who shape the yachting scene in the Asia-Pacific region — boat shows in Japan, Dubai and Singapore are discussed in issue 38 to be released in early April. However, the most startling piece of recent news is Informa’s US$133 million purchase of the Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach events in the States – a virtual monopoly as the company already owns the esteemed Monaco Yacht Show. Will there be significant repercussions or will the big boat scene continue on business-as-normal mode? Only time will tell.

77m Silver fast, available for charter via Burgess Yachts

YACHT STYLE issue 38 features our annual Charter focus compiled by Bruce Maxwell who commented “I would like to thank all the regional Asia-Pacific owners, captains, charter agents and YACHT STYLE staff who have greatly assisted in pulling this 30-page analysis together. We present an extensive view of the current market, and although space restricts our list from being completely exhaustive, we have managed to cover the many important segments of the market.”

Princess 75 heading to Singapore

In Yacht Reviews we start by looking at what is described by some as the world’s largest private yacht, a 196m vessel called The World in Hong Kong late April. Also included in our cover review is the Amels 180, Elixir, the Benetti Meamina, plus a look at the Princess 75 that plies between Phuket and Singapore. We also test out the new Lagoon Seventy 7, released in Cannes last year in conjunction with Simpson Marine, which will hold a premiere for the first boat in Hong Kong in May.

Lagoon 77 ready for its Asian premiere in Hong Kong in May

The warmer months of May and June play host to the 35th America’s Cup, culminating with the actual AC head-to-header. In this issue, we run a comprehensive preview of this always cloak-and-dagger event, which this year promises to be one of the most extraordinary ever. Can these boats really be described as yachts? Sparkman and Stephens must be turning in their graves.

Do also keep abreast of all the latest social, fashion and luxury brand news from around Asian cities as they appear in our Luxury Living section, which we sincerely hope you will enjoy.

We look forward to seeing you in person at one of the forthcoming boat shows or at events in the Asia-Pacific region. Remember to mark your diaries for the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS at Raffles Marina from October 5-8, and the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS at Royal Phuket Marina from January 4 to 7, 2018!

New luxury car launches: McLaren announces the delivery of BP23 in 2019

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McLaren reveals further details of bespoke 'Hyper-GT' car | © McLaren Automotive
McLaren reveals further details of bespoke ‘Hyper-GT’ car | © McLaren Automotive

British supercar company McLaren has started work on what it describes as the “most powerful and aerodynamic” road-going car in its history.

Imbued with Formula 1-developed technology, the new car, codenamed the BP23, isn’t due to be delivered to any of its 106 future owners until early 2019. However, two years is far too long for most hypercar fans to wait so the company has been sharing some carefully selected details about what to expect when it officially breaks cover.

The first is that it will have a one-plus-two seating layout, just like that found in the company’s first road car, the McLaren F1. Launched in 1992, it was the world’s fastest production car until the Bugatti Veyron came along.

McLaren has been quick to point out that the new car isn’t a 21st century take on the original F1, though it will pay homage to it in some aesthetic respects, such as its planned production run (106 units).

“BP23 will borrow the three seat layout with the central driving position made famous by the iconic McLaren F1, and it will be housed in a streamlined, shrink-wrapped carbon fibre body of great elegance,” said McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt.

This body will cover a four-litre twin turbo V8 engine working in concert with a hybrid system, so a similar powertrain set up to that found in the company’s last hypercar, the P1 built between 2013 and 2015.

Still, the company promises that in the new car, the system will set a new benchmark beyond the combined 903bhp offered by the P1 and, more importantly, will serve up this power in a road-centred rather than track-focused way.

“A hybrid powertrain will make it one of the most powerful McLarens yet created,” said Flewitt. “But the car will also deliver the highest levels of refinement, enabling significant journeys to be undertaken with up to three people aboard.”

And this is where the new car will seriously differ from every McLaren that has gone before, and in doing so potentially risk, or welcome, comparisons between it and the Bugatti Chiron.

“We are calling BP23 a ‘Hyper-GT’ because it’s a car designed for longer journeys, but with the high levels of performance and driver engagement expected of any McLaren,” continued Flewitt.

And even though each of the 106 multi-million-pound cars has already been sold, the BP23 will be good news for all McLaren customers as its hybrid tech will be filtering down to the entire range over the coming years. By 2021, all series production cars built by the company will be hybrid and the BP23 will be serving as a very exclusive test bed.

WOW Spring 2017 brings the annual Geneva Report and more from SIHH

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WOW’s Spring issue is out on newsstands, with an eclectic mix of content for casual readers and seasoned collectors alike. Longines’s Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 fronts the issue, and our cover story inside traces its predecessor’s place in the history of human flight – on the wrist of aviator Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927.

Look out for our annual Geneva Report as we bring you the top highlights from both SIHH, as well as the other brands that were also in Geneva in the same period. From Panerai’s LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days, which comes with an astonishing 50-year warranty, to IWC’s completely revamped Da Vinci collection, stunning timepieces abound, market downturn notwithstanding. Of course, value still reigns as the industry’s top buzzword, so we’ve decided to explore a few of the term’s facets with two anchor features: one looks at the various certifications that a timepiece may acquire beyond COSC for quality assurance, and the other delves into the price differentials between watches with identical complications from different brands.

The visually inclined are in for a treat as well. The issue’s two photospreads one explore vintage designs in modern watches, and the unexpected angles to view a timepiece from. This continues with a separate feature on visual art and its place in watchmaking. Finally, a report on Cartier’s excursions into new metiers rounds up this theme.

All these, and more, in the Spring issue of WOW.

Editor of WOW, Ashok Soman, says, “The current market conditions look set to continue, at least for the foreseeable future, but judging from the novelties that we saw in Geneva, this hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of the brands to release spectacular products. We remain committed to covering them, and helping our readers to make sense of them.”

Olivier Burlot, CEO and Publisher, added, “As usual, we have started the year right with an issue that highlights our business partner’s amazing creations and savoir-faire, some of which had taken years to develop. This is set to continue with the Summer issue of WOW, which will contain our Basel Report.”

Dining awards in Australia: The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 announces runner-up ranking

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Parmesan cheese coquitos egg yolk and truffle at Disfrutar | © Francesc Guillamet/Disfrutar
Parmesan cheese coquitos egg yolk and truffle at Disfrutar |
© Francesc Guillamet/Disfrutar

It’s that time of the year again: The World’s 50 Best Restaurants reveal their list of the top dining locations across the seven seas for 2017. The annual awards event will be taking place in Melbourne for the first time, promising a congregation of elites from the culinary world. Ahead of the big reveal on April 5, the academy has teased us with its list of the World’s Best restaurants — from rank 51-100.

The preview certainly does not disappoint! Holding true to the notion of a global gastronomy experience, the 50 ‘runner up’ restaurants hail from 24 countries, spanning across six continents. Debuts from Mexico, Russia, Denmark and Brazil are just a few fresh faces included in this year’s culinary hunt. Despite the United States of America bagging nine restaurants on this list, the most notable is Disfrutar from Barcelona. The 2017 winner of the Miele One to Watch Award is the highest out of 11 new entries at number 55. With intriguing dishes such as transparent penne pasta on their menu, it is no wonder Disfrutar is the leading Spanish restaurant on the list.

Highest climbers on the list include Hong Kong’s 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana—climbing 26 places to number 60. Most notably, New York’s Momofuku Ko scales the list by leap-frogging 39 places to number 58, the highest amongst USA’s nine entries.

For something a little closer to home, Burnt Ends and Odette from Singapore are number 53 and 86 respectively. Burnt Ends, who also holds the runner up title for the 2017 edition of  Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, continues to dazzle with its signature modern Australian-style barbecue. Odette on the other hand recently burst into the culinary scene with the title of Highest New Entry at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants under its belt. Located in the stunning National Gallery Singapore, Odette’s fast rising popularity makes it the restaurant to look out for.

William Drew, Group Editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said: “In anticipation of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in Australia on April 5, we’re thrilled to share the 51-100 list. As well as showcasing emerging talent and highlighting new culinary trends, this group also features perennial favourites that demonstrate enduring quality. Overall, the list reflects of the diversity, promise and excitement surrounding global gastronomy.”

For this year’s edition of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the academy expanded their voter range to include 1,040 voters worldwide — an overall 52% increase. This expansion is in lieu with the academy’s bid to expand their reach and scourer for the next-generation of world-class dining locations. With their net cast wide, we look forward to the reveal of 2017’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

For more information, visit World’s 50 Best.

New automatic watches at BaselWorld 2017: Corum Golden Bridge Stream inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge

Architecture frequently comes up at watch presentation at BaselWorld and it certainly pops up at Corum. Of course we are talking about movement architecture here but in the case of the Corum Golden Bridge Stream. This wonderfully shaped watch and matching movement (sadly a rarity these days) are amazing feats.

First of all, while the case is basically rectangular, the automatic movement (via Corum’s signature system of weights moving along the length of the bridge) gets shown off in a sapphire crystal tube, meaning one gets o enjoy the calibre at every angle. The design on the flanks resembles wrought iron bridges, with support structures looking a little like the Eiffel Tower or the Golden Gate Bridge. In fact, various colour combinations are possible, including red for this section (which is lacquered) and there is no difference in the price for the variation here. In Singapore, it retails for 102,400 in red gold. It is a 42.2 x 31mm size watch, being 14.7mm thick. It is limited to 88 pieces.

New business jets by Bombardier: The Global 6000 joins the Global Express fleet

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On board a private jet — the only level beyond first class and in our humble opinion is the ultimate way to fly — reaching your destination faster and surrounded by luxury is a reality. Bombardier is known for manufacturing state-of-the-art business jets with impeccable range and the Canadian brand has developed a tech tour de force to join the exclusive league of private jets, in the form of the Global 6000. For those familiar with its popular model, Global Express, you will recall that it took non-stop private aviation to the masses of corporate travellers tired of having to refuel on their trans-global business trips.

The Global 6000, while it does not boast of having the longest range in Bombardier’s Global fleet, has several unique qualities that propel it to the top of the league. For one, it does offer exceptional performance figures including the ability to travel into many small airports that similar-sized aircraft can’t. For example, the aircraft is certified for steep approaches, which means London City Airport isn’t a problem after a long flight from the States. Smaller airports mean time saved, and apart from privacy, is a huge reason why people choose to travel in a business jet.

This particular model features a range of 6,000 nm (hence the name), which is enough to fly from London to Cape Town or Singapore to Sydney. And with two Rolls-Royce turbofans producing 14,750 lb ft of thrust and a maximum speed of 580 mph, you’ll get there quickly enough and still feel refreshed. Fresh air is always available and pumped into the cabin, where an air management system regulates the cabin temperature and the pressurisation is always kept at a low altitude. There’s also super- fast internet connectivity on board with Ka-band technology, a necessity for those who work on the go. You will have access to speeds of up to 15 Mbps, meaning video conferencing and streaming is all a possibility no matter where you might be.

The cabin on the Global 6000 offers almost a foot of extra width compared to its closest competitor. That might not seem like a lot, but it’s definitely noticeable when you have got that little bit more elbow room. All 13 passengers will be comfortable no matter the distance.

One of the greatest aspects of business aircraft design is that the engines are located aft, which equates to a quieter ride than your usual larger commercial aircraft. But there are further areas that manufacturers are focusing on to make the journey even quieter. The Global 6000 features advanced soundproofing through a variety of materials and techniques that make it the best-in-class when it comes to low sound levels. Noise-cancelling headphones are no longer a necessity.

The design of the cockpit is all about reducing the workload on the pilots. An advanced avionics system enables pilots to have exceptional control, while a synthetic vision system on the head-up display allows for a safer working environment.

Smooth, sleek and comfortable, the Bombardier Global 6000 is an all-conquering business jet for the individual that needs to be everywhere at once. As the private aviation market continues to expand in Asia, this is the one jet you need to include in your fleet now.

This article was first published in Yacht Style 37

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