Superyacht Design Symposium 2009 Day Two: Pirates, Helicopters and Flying Subs

October 27, 2009

A series of absolutely riveting presentations highlighted the concluding day of the Superyacht Design Symposium 2009, presented by Boat International Media. Safety on sailing yachts, anti-piracy measures, helicopter operations and a revolutionary new submersible were the topics discussed by an all-star cast of yacht owners, designers, maritime aviation and yachting industry professionals in the gilded Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

The buzz started over breakfast on Tuesday as the Symposium presenters and delegates compared notes on the festive cocktail party sponsored by the internationally renowned Chihuly Studio and the spectacular dining experience they had enjoyed the night before at Midtown restaurant Rouge Tomate, which recently was awarded its first Michelin star. Restaurant Founder Eric Wittouck, who is also a superyacht owner, welcomed the Symposium attendees to the private dinner, commenting on how much he had enjoyed Monday’s session. “I was interested to hear the conversation about the long, lean and light hulls. I am building such a boat right now,” he revealed.

Wittouck’s greeting was echoed by Rouge Tomate’s Executive Chef and its Head Sommelier, who personally introduced the evening’s menu featuring seasonal, fresh market ingredients, and the excellent wine selection that accompanied each course. The sparkling dinner conversation also centered on the issues that had been covered that day.

“I think it’s been very interesting – there was a lot of variety in the topics,” said yacht designer Ken Frievokh, who participated in many of the Symposium’s creative discussions both from the stage and the audience.

“I’m very impressed,” agreed Til von Krause of Abeking & Rasmussen. “It has been very well organized, the whole event.”

Just as on the previous day, Tuesday’s session featured very timely topics for the yachting industry. Joe Vittoria, owner of the 75m S/Y Mirabella V, introduced the panel on Anti-Piracy Security, explaining that while attacks on yachts are still extremely rare, the recent rise in piracy around the world certainly merited attention. While stressing that he did not intend to scare anyone, Vittoria said, “A lot of yacht owners, myself included, think about this.”

The 2008 Superyacht Design Symposium had begun with a presentation by owner Tom Perkins on building his former 88m sailing superyacht Maltese Falcon, during which he gave the delegates a preview of his DeepFlight Super Falcon Submersible. So it was only fitting that the 2nd Annual edition of the event should end with a fantastic presentation by its builder, Graham Hawkes of Hawkes Ocean Technologies – including a film of Perkins himself “flying” the craft beneath the sea. Hawkes’ description of diving with dolphins provided an exciting glimpse of the future for yacht owners.

“All of us have a little bit of James Bond in us,” said Boat International Media CEO Tony Harris during his concluding remarks.

Boat International Media will welcome back the Superyacht Design Symposium to New York City in October 2010.