What’s a VSV? The acronym stands for Very Slender Vessel and applies to the boat shown above, the needle-like MarySlim, a 72-foot wave-piercing yacht design created and crafted by Multimarine Composites Limited.

The $2.14 million boat can cut through waves in any conditions and the hull and windscreen have been constructed to withstand the pressure of 50 tons of water.

Other features include a top speed of 38 knots, a range of 1800 miles, and a KiteShip kite as an auxiliary power system. Source : bligblog

Ten unique yacht designs created by famed luxury yacht designer Tom Fexas, who died in 2006, will be sold at auction.

These copyrighted designs will offer an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of boating history and craft a yacht from a choice of 10 individual Fexas designs never seen before.

The designs include the outboard profile and general arrangement for yachts ranging in size from 65 feet to 145 feet.

The 17th edition of the biggest and most recognized international boat show in the Middle East, DIBS, will open its doors in Dubai from March 3 to March 7, 2009.

There will be 721 companies representing 50 countries and a special section focusing on the world of diving.

Gone are the days when the people of this country would venture out to sea only to fish or collect pearls. Instead of the traditional wooden Dhows gracing these waters, one can now admire shiny, expensive yachts and the very, very expensive Superyachts.

Van Geest Design has released details and images of their latest superyacht design concept, a 85m vessel that contains two principal aspects; crisp contemporary lines and an open air lifestyle.

The yacht will have four decks, with a plumb bow and a low superstructure used to give the yacht a balanced look.

To deliver the design aim of outside lifetsyle the vessel’s transom has been cut open to the water level, thus allowing passengers to relax in the immediate vicinity of the water.

Iconic Italian motoryacht maker Riva will debut its new 52′ Rivale Palm Beach at the Miami Yacht Show this weekend.

The boat’s deck and hull are finished in a new color, desert sand, with Roman bronze detailing on the dashboard and signal mast evoking the image of a shark’s flipper.

Inside the cabins, the walls and furniture are made of luminous elm, embellished with topstitched natural-grain leather, for a soft, dark contrast to the Roman bronze lacquering.

The Herald reports that packing magnate Michael Smurfit is selling his luxury yacht for €16.5m after buying it eight years ago for more than €40m.

Fifty metres in length and containing six luxury cabins, the Lady Ann Magee is capable of accommodating 12 guests.

A jacuzzi, a swimming pool and an en-suite sauna are among the features of the 12-crew boat.