Renowned yachtsman John A. Staluppi has a taste for adventure when it comes to yachts.  It’s not just that he’s named his collection of yachts after James Bond movies, including The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale, Moonraker and Thunderball.  He also has commissioned some of the fast super-yachts in the world.   When he wanted a 140-ft mega yacht that could reach a speed of 65 knots (about 75 mph), he was turned down by most of the major boat builders in the world.  So he created Millennium Superyachts in Palm Beaches, Florida, in 1998 to build The World in Not Enough.

A self-made millionaire who left school at age 16 and went on to own one of the most successful car dealerships in North America, Staluppi has the means to indulge his passion for fast boats and yachts.  Millennium Yachts combine power and luxury for the ultimate super-yacht experience.

Find out more about Millennium Yachts on the official website for the company.  Also check out The World is Not Enough in action in this YouTube video.

The Annisquam Yacht Club is located 35 miles north of Boston in Gloucester, Massachusetts on the banks of the Annisquam River and a short distance from the entrance to Ipswich Bay.  The private club, which was founded in 1896, provides its members with protected moorings as well as facilities for sailing, yachting and tennis.  The club has a few guest moorings and can accommodate yachts up to 45 ft in length. 

For more information, visit the Annisquam Yacht Club website.

Visiting the Galapagos Islands can be the experience of a lifetime.  Located 1,000 from Ecuador, this archipelago of 13 islands is famous for unique animal and plant life as well as volcanic geology.  The islands are also steeped in history – Charles Darwin developed his famous Theory of Evolution after a five-week visit to these remote islands. 

One of the best ways to see the Galapagos is aboard a small vessel.  Unlike Caribbean cruises that carry several thousand passengers, Galapagos cruises average 16 passengers.  Activities include snorkeling and exploring volcanic craters as well as bird, whale and dolphin watching.  The islands are also known for their sea lions and giant tortoises. 

Find out more about Galapagos cruises by visiting GalapagosIslands.com and start planning your visit today!

Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race started in Cape Town, South Africa on November 5.    A field of 6 racing yachts (one of the smallest starting fields in the races 38-year history) will complete in a series of races that will take the around the world.  The race covers more than 39,000 nautical miles, finishing in Galway, Ireland in July of 2012. 

Each yacht in the race has a crew of 11.  Many experts are saying that this is one of the most evenly-matched field of yachts that has ever competed.  Five of the six yachts are new, with only one yacht (Puma from the U.S.) from the previous race in 2008-2009 competing in the current race. 

The race consists of 9 legs that will take the competitors to Abu Dhabi, China, New Zealand, Brazil, Florida, Portugal, France and Ireland.

Find out more about Volvo Ocean Race 2011 – 2012 on the official race website.

The Chinese economy is booming and there is a new class of wealthy tycoons ready to splurge on luxury goods. A growing number of Chinese yacht makers are hoping that many of the new rich will begin to spend money on high-end boating. About 20 companies in China are currently producing super yachts, including a 144-foot vessel being built by Kingship Marine. With a price tag of $27 million, the yacht has yet to find a buyer.

China’s yachting industry is still in its infancy. While most of the startup companies have foreign backing and plenty of expertise, there are some for whom boat building is a new concept. This YouTube video shows the launch of the SS Jiugang, a $2.5 million yacht (not a submarine) that sank into the Yellow River during the launch for its maiden voyage. (No one was injured during the mishap.)

One of the most interesting entries in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will be a 3-seat air conditioned submarine. This personal submarine carries a $2.9 million price tag and is being marketed to owners of super yachts. Triton Submarines, the maker of the sub, began building 2-person personal submersible in 2007. The new Triton 3300/3 is the company’s first 3-seater. It features an acrylic sphere enclosing the seating area that offers 180-degree underwater views.

Although a license is not required to operate a submarine, they can be as difficult to handle as a submarine and training is required. Triton sells about one or two personal submarines per year. Each one is custom built and takes about a year to deliver.

Find out more about Triton Subs on the official company website.

The Mirabella V, the world’s largest sloop, was spotted in Charleston Harbor earlier this month (the photo above shows her anchored off the coast of Monaco and gives some idea of her immense size). Completed in 2004 at a reported cost of $50 million, the single-mast yacht is owned by Joseph Vittoria, former CEO of car rental company Avis. The 247-foot yacht boasts a 292-foot mast and 6 cabins. According to a 2005 post on the official Mirabella V website, the super yacht and its crew of 14 are available for charter at a cost of $250,000 per week.

Visit the Post and Courier website for more information about the Mirabella V’s visit to Charleston, South Carolina.

Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor is located 2 miles from the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida. The harbor features a fully-protected marina less than a mile from the St. Augustine Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Augustine Yacht Club is located in Camachee Cove as well as the headquarters of the Northeast Florida Marlin Association.

Established in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental U.S. It’s an area well worth exploring. Camachee Cove is a great destination or stop over for boaters cruising the Florida coast. Find out more at the official Camachee Island website.

Venice, Italy will host the America’s Cup World Series in May of 2012 and April of 2013. Venice’s location is ideal for spectators watching racers compete offshore. The Arsenale di Venezia, which dates back to the 12th century, will be the location for the bases for the racing teams. Describing the suitability of Venice for sail racing, mayor Giorgio Orsoni called his city “a cradle of sailing… inseparable from the sea.”

Teams will sail AC45 wing-sailed catamarans as they have in other America’s Cup World Series races in Portugal and the U.K. this year. The main event for the 34th America’s Cup will take place in Summer/Fall 2013 in San Francisco Bay. Read more about all the America’s Cup events on the Americas Cup website.

You can also see a replay of Race Day 7 in Cascais in this YouTube video.

Located in one of the most beautiful East Coast seaside locations, the Newport Museum of Yachting (MoY) preserves the tradition of New England yachting through informative exhibits and educational programs. Founded in 1979, MoY is associated with vessel and artifact exhibits as well as its sponsorship of local events and regattas (including the annual MoY Classic Yacht Regatta).

The Newport Museum of Yachting is part of Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. It is open to the public from June through October and can be reached by car or water taxi. For more information, visit the Museum of Yachting website.