L’Hydroptere is multihull hydrofoil sailboat that was built for speed.  Designed by French yachtsman Alain Thebault, this “flying boat” broke the outright world speed record for a sailing boat in 2009, sustaining a speed of 51.36 knots for 500m.  Thebault and his team are now working on a new version of the Hydroptere that will serve as a prototype for a future Maxi  Hydroptere that can circle the globe in 40 days.

Find out more about L’Hydroptere on the official website and watch exciting footage of its record-breaking voyage in this You Tube video.

UK yacht builder Yacht Island Design offers wealthy buyers custom-built luxury boats with fantasy design.  The company’s first design was a 155m yacht that recreated the streets of Monaco, including replicas of the royal palace, the Hotel de Paris and the Monaco race circuit.  It was followed by the Tropical Island Paradise 90m yacht, which features a waterfall, palm trees and a personal volcano.  Beneath the on-deck pool, a recreational area includes a small pier with jet skis, kayaks and cabanas.

Yacht Island Design hopes to expand its market to the Arab world, where yachts are becoming an increasingly popular investment.  Find out more about this creative yacht company on the official Yacht Island Design website.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, plans to build a marina for mega-yachts have been scuttled following a compromise agreement between the city of San Francisco and the America’s Cup organizers.  The original plan would have blocked one of the only remaining open views of the bay from the city’s Embarcadero.  Instead, America’s Cup officials agreed to develop pier 54 in nearby Mission Bay.

All is not clear sailing yet.   Neighborhood and environmental groups are still appealing the event’s environmental report, saying that not enough study went into the impact of traffic jams and damage to plant life.  The regatta is scheduled to begin in July of 2013, but the outcome of the appeal could cause delays in construction of the America’s Cup Village.

Read the full story on the SFGate website and following the events in San Francisco on the America’s Cup website.

The Old Greenwich Yacht Club provides residents of Greenwich, Connecticut with the opportunity to enjoy boating on Long Island Sound, regardless of boat ownership.  Established in 1943, OGYC offers a full program of sporting, educational and social events.  The club facilitates member’s interest in power boating, cruising, racing, regattas, fishing and kayaking.  Overnight cruises on the sound are organized from May to September.   

OGYC also sponsors the Greenwich Community Sailing program (GCS), providing kayak and sailboat rentals as well as instruction for children and adults.  Courses are available for every level from beginner to advanced.

Find out more about the Old Greenwich Yacht Club on the official OGYC website.

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.