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The planned expedition led by Norwegian Jarle Andhoy was already shady, and now there’s an unwilling member along for the ride. The yacht took off in a hurry as immigration officials arrived to investigate Andhoy at an Auckland harbor, while a mechanic was on board repairing an anchor on the 52-foot boat Nilaya.
Mr Andhoy and three crew members have embarked on an unpermitted voyage to Antarctica’s Ross Sea, in defiance of both the Norwegian and New Zealand governments.
A previous trip he made to Antarctica almost a year ago ended in disaster when his yacht Berserk sank in a fierce storm and three men died.
Declaring himself “a Viking”, the Norwegian adventurer says he is seeking the wreckage of the Berserk, which was serving as a supply ship for an attempt to reach the South Pole on quad bikes.
New Zealand authorities, who co-ordinated an extensive search and rescue operation last year in which Mr Andhoy and a companion were airlifted to safety, are furious about his return voyage.
Authorities are looking for the Nilaya, which Andhoy has said does not have a locator beacon. It is assumed to not have adequate provisions for an extra expedition member, either. Link -via Arbroath
SS Jiugang doesn't actually mean "Titanic" in Chinese, but it sure acted like one. The $2.6 million Chinese yacht was launched with much fanfare, but immediately sank like a rock!
But in a horrifying turn of events for the makers, the vessel immediately dropped like a block of concrete as it entered the water, becoming hopelessly submerged in the Yellow River. The ceremony on September 29th was intended to cast the 104-foot (32-meter) houseboat downstream – they just didn't anticipate which form of down the boat would go.
I’ve seen some pretty sweet P Diddy style yachts out there, but this one is pretty ridiculous. See the gallery at the link for a proposed “mega yacht” that would be like having your own tropical island for the super rich.
I’ve read Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, so forgive me a moment, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the poor would make the best fuel for this floating in-your-face exuberance from the folks at Yacht Island Design.
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This sleek 166-foot superyacht comes with its own supercar and was designed by Gray Design Studio to appeal to auto lovers. It has a hidden jacuzzi bar for entertaining up to eight guests. The red leather and chrome interior holds five luxury double en-suite staterooms equipped with 52 inch TVs, state of the art sound systems and an iPad control and information center that allows you to activate any function from anywhere on the yacht. It’s sure to draw attention at the marina.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich new yacht Eclipse is the largest in the world. It features lasers that disrupt cameras pointed at it and missile defense system to ward off attack:
Even the precise length of the vessel has been kept secret, though it is thought to be about 16ft longer than the previous record holder, the 532ft yacht Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. It has been built by Blohm & Voss — the shipyard in Hamburg that constructed the German battleship Bismarck.
The Eclipse is said to have two helipads, two swimming pools — the larger of which converts into a dance floor when drained — bullet-proof glass, 6ft home cinema screens in every guest cabin and a master cabin where the roof opens to allow Abramovich and his girlfriend Daria Zhukova to sleep under the stars. An anti-paparazzi electronic “shield” will take care of their privacy while on board.
Previously on Neatorama:
$47K Food Bill, $7K Tip: Just a Friday Night Out for Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich
When Hermés yacht brand executive Pierre-Alexis Dumas met Wally builder Luca Bassani Antivari they hatched a dream- to combine the terrestrial luxury of your own island with the aquatic bliss of yachting. The fruit of their efforts is WHY (Wally Hermés Yachts), a 36,000 square foot, energy-saving, sustainable yacht unlike any seen before.
Antivari: This revolutionary concept of the moving island is developed with latest and most advanced technologies, recycling thermal energy, as well as any organic and inorganic waste. The architecture of the project fits perfectly in the environment- there are no excesses, nothing is superfluous, the impact on the sea is minimal.
Dumas: We hope to open a new path, to offer a new lifestyle that is different, serene, contemplative and respectful of the environment, moving slowly on the water, combining the pleasure of sailing and absolute comfort.
The whole fascinating story, lots of pictures, stats and more video at Twisted Sifter. WHY’s website. (Photos by WHY HWSam)
They Should Have Stolen a Watch First
They got drunk and waited until 3 o'clock in the morning, when they knew it would be empty. But when they broke in, they were surprised to find the restaurant full of people. Turns out, in their drunken haze, they accidentally wandered in at 10:30 pm. The attempted burglary landed Haggard in notorious San Quentin State Prison, where he saw Johnny Cash perform three times, inspiring him to pick guitars instead of locks. Always Case the JointIn the olden days, crooks used to "case" joints, staking out a place and detailing all the intricacies before attempting to rob the business. But on March 12, 2008, two young criminals in Port St. Lucie, Florida, proved that tradition is dead. The would-be robbers confidently entered the lobby of a business, hid their hands in their jackets like guns, and demanded money from the woman at the front desk. Unfortunately, there was one flaw in the plan - the "business" was actually a police station. When God Closes a Window ...
Enraged, Rayford lunged through the store's drive-thru window, going after the employees like they were chalupas themselves. But drive-thru windows aren't meant to accommodate a 6'3", 270-lb. lineman, and Rayford got stuck. There he remained, half inside and half outside the Taco Bell, until the police arrived to dislodge him, and then arrest him. Pier Review
Unfortunately for him, the 45-ft. vessel was still tied to the dock. When Renfro fired up the engine for a joy ride, the yacht inched forward and was quickly yanked back into the dock, damaging the stern and alerting everyone that something fishy was afoot. Nearby boaters held the beardless pirate until police arrived. (Photo: Brad Renfro's mugshot at The Smoking Gun) |
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Go Directly to Jail: 4 Brilliantly Bungled Crimes is written by Adam K. Raymond. It is reprinted with permission from the Scatterbrained section of the May/June 2009 issue of mental_floss magazine. Be sure to visit mental_floss' entertaining website and blog for more fun stuff!
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Long
before he was an outlaw country crooner, Merle Haggard was a real outlaw
- albeit a bad one. At the rebellious age of 20, Haggard and a few friends
planned to rob a restaurant. 
Never
come between a defensive lineman and his chalupa. Employees at a Lawrence,
Kansas, Taco Bell learned this lesson the hard way in 1999 when they forgot
to include one of the deluxe tacos in the order of Dion Rayford, a former
member of the Kansas Jayhawks. 
Despite
being a former child star, late actor Brad Renfro (The Client, Sleepers)
could never afford a $175,000 yacht. So, in 2000, the 18-year-old actor
decided to steal one from a Ft. Lauderdale marina. 
