This month saw the launch of the 54.9m superyacht Harbour Island, constructed by Newcastle Shipyards of Palm Coast, Florida.  This is the largest yacht built by the shipyard and is the first hull of the Newcastle 5500 series. 

Harbour Island will debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October.  The six-stateroom yacht includes two master suites and a king VIP guest suite.   Amenities include an infinity pool on the sundeck and a raised veranda on the main aft deck.  The yacht will be available for sale and charter; the current asking price is $54.9 million.

Read more about Harbour Island at Superyachts.com and on the Newcastle Shipyards website.

This week the supermaxi yacht Ramber 100 lost her keel and capsized during the Fastnet Race off the South Coast of Cork, Ireland. The race, which is organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, took off from the Isle of Wight on August 14 with 314 participating yachts. The race course runs 608 miles along the southern coast of the UK then across to Fastnet Rock of the Irish coast, with the finish in Plymouth.

All 21 members of the Rambler crew, including owner George David, were separated from the yacht and later rescued. The Irish Coast Guard reported that the seas were not very rough when the yacht capsized but the conditions were foggy.

Rambler100, the fastest supermaxi yacht in the world, recently won the Transatlantic Race 2011. Prior to capsizing, the yacht was expected to take the monohull record for the Fastnet race.

You can see images of the capsized yacht in this YouTube video.

Sunreef Yachts in a world leader in the design and construction of luxury catamarans. At the 2011 Cannes International Boat Show, which takes place September 6-11, three new charter catamarans will make their debut. The new catamarans include the Sunreef 58 In the Wind, the superyacht Sunreef 114 CHE and the 70 Sunreef Power DAMRAK II (which features solar power).

Sunreef is also known for luxury power catamarans. Read about the 70 Sunreef catamaran at the Danmar Powercats website.

The Patio - Phil Marino for the New York Times

Picture yourself at a waterfront table on a balmy summer evening, enjoying a glass of fine wine and a sophisticated seafood meal as you survey the view of glistening white yachts at anchor.  These are the pleasures of marina dining.  Summer is definitely the season for dining outdoors and if you have a taste for seafood and yachts, it’s hard to surpass the experience of dining at a yacht club or marina restaurant.

The Patio at the Freeport Inn and Marina in Freeport, Long Island, is a good example of a marina restaurant that provides gourmet cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.  If Long Island is too far from your home but you’re lucky enough to live near water, explore your local marinas for unique dining experiences.  You may just find a restaurant that embodies the essence of summertime.