Engineering:Necker Belle
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Necker Belle |
| Owner: | Virgin Limited Edition |
| Operator: | Virgin Limited Edition |
| Builder: | CMN |
| General characteristics | |
| Length: | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Beam: | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draft: | 1.8 m (6 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Speed: | 22 knots |
| Capacity: | 13 |
| Crew: | 5 |
The Necker Belle is a 105-foot[1] (32 m)[2] private charter catamaran yacht,[3] offered through Virgin Limited Edition and based at the resort Necker Island.[4] The Belle superyacht is one of the few luxury sailing catamarans in the world.[5][6]
Prior to being purchased by Richard Branson's Virgin, the yacht was called Lady Barbaretta, and cost £5.3 million for Branson to obtain.[1] It required a two-year refit to emerge as the Belle,[7] operates with a crew of seven, and is currently captained by Captain Piers Helm.[2] The refit won the 2010 best new refit at the World Superyacht Awards.[5] The yacht has a top speed in excess of 20 knots,[7] being rare in the world as being able to do so.[5]
The Necker Nymph excursion submersible also operates from the yacht.[8] It is reputedly the first-of-its-kind "aero submarine", buoyant when not under power.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 eTravel Blackboard, "Virgin Limited Edition welcomes Necker Belle into fleet", Thursday 10 September 2009 (accessed 1 August 2010)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BTN, "Sir Richard Branson says 'Ahoy' to Necker Belle ...", 30 September 2009 (accessed 1 August 2010)
- ↑ New York Times, "Ahoy, Matey - Let's Get Nautical", Michael Cannell, 28 March 2010 (accessed 1 August 2010)
- ↑ CNN Money, "Charter Richard Branson's yacht", Hibah Yousuf, 7 January 2010 (accessed 1 August 2010)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 CharterWorld.com, "Necker Belle - Luxury Catamaran" (accessed 2 August 2010)
- ↑ "Richard Branson's Necker Belle | Club Yacht" (in en-US). Club Yacht. http://www.clubyacht.net/yachts-and-owners/richard-bransons-necker-belle/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Daily Record, "The £5.3 million Catamaran", Jon Kaila, 4 January 2010
- ↑ SuperYachts, "Necker Nymph 'Underwater Aircraft' announced by Virgin Limited Edition", M. Tempest, 31 January 2010 (accessed 1 August 2010)
- ↑ ABC News, "Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind", Ki Mae Heussner, 4 February 2010 (accessed 1 August 2010)
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