Monaco is awash with cheerful Russian football supporters, primed for kick off against Manchester United at 8.45 pm in the UEFA Super Cup Final. Didn't see many Man U supporters this afternoon - maybe they're flying in after work, or in the bar already perhaps ?

Plenty of Russian boats around, of course, including Pelorus and Izumi (I'm reliably informed). A bit of Wikipedia trivia for the pub quiz later - Zenit's majority owner is the Russian energy giant Gazprom, whose ex Chairman is none other than Russian President Dmitry Medvedev …

A significant turn out of yachts moored off the Larvotto too - Deniki and Friday Star above… "A" was visiting Beaulieu earlier in the week.

Yacht name: Al Shoua
Formerly: Interceptor -> Paladin Shadow II
Length: 186 ft • 57 m
Year: 1980
Builder: Rockport Yacht and Supply - RYSCO
Conversion: Shadow Marine
Design & Architect: Lay, Pitman & Associates

Photo: monacoeye • Antibes • August 2008

Al Shoua is the supply ship to Al Mirqab, or perhaps Constellation …

length - year: 186 - 1980

Yacht name: Spirit
Length: 109 ft • 33 m
Year: 2005
Builder: New Zealand Yachts
Naval architect: Brett Bakewell-White
Stylist & Interior: Ken Freivokh
Speed: 24 knots

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2007
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • May 2007

The multi-hulled Spirit now has a light blue hull - good choice of colour !

length - year: 109 - 2005

Yacht name: Obsession
Formerly: Oceana C -> Bolkiah I -> Maalana -> Oceana -> True Blue
Length: 180 ft • 55 m
Year: 1991 • Refit: 1998
Builder: Oceanfast

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco

Obsession now sports a light grey hull …

length - year: 180 - 1998

Yacht name: Tiara
Length: 178 ft • 54 m
Year: 2004
Builder: Alloy Yachts • # AY30
Naval architect: Dubois Naval Architects
Interior: John Munford Design

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • 2006

25 August 2008: Pirate attack - Breaking news

Tiara, the 54m luxury sailing yacht, which is available for charter, was boarded by four armed men in the bay of Porto Novo, off Porto Vecchio, in the south of Corsica - last night, 24th August 2008.

The men arrived in an inflatable, armed with guns and other weapons, and quickly overpowered the crew. The attackers left with €138,000 taken from the safe.

The ten crew and nine passengers, who had sailed from Porto Cervo in Sardinia, were reportedly shocked but unhurt.

The pirates then disappeared into the night. French police are investigating …

length - year: 178 - 2004

Yacht name: Secret
Length: 201 ft • 61 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Feadship • Van Lent • #795

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008
Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • May - June 2007

Secret was launched two weeks before Christmas 2006 and visited Monaco for the Grand Prix.

length - year: 201 - 2006

Port Hercule last night

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008

Yacht name: Al Mirqab
Length: 436 ft • 133 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Peters Schiffbau • # 681
Architect: Kusch Yachts
Stylist: Tim Heywood
Interior: Andrew Winch

Photo monacoeye • Monaco • 18 August 2008
Photo Mark Wotherspoon • Kristiansand, Norway • 18 July 2008
Photos Jannick Bruhns • Wewelsfleth • April - June 2008
Photo Werner Fähland • Heligoland • May 2008

18 August 2008: Al Mirqab pulls in to Port Hercule… Here's a high res photo…

20 July 2008: Another super shot of Al Mirqab, this time in Kristiansand in Norway, sent in by Mark. We are very impressed by the Nokia N95 5 megapixel image quality!

16 June 2008: Nice new photo of Al Mirqab from Werner in the Heligoland.

27 April 2008: nice new photos of Al Mirqab from PB.

The new Al Mirqab, formerly known as Project May, was launched at the Wewelsfleth yard in April. It's one of the largest yachts ever built. Seems to borrow much of the exterior styling from Carinthia VII.

length - year: 436 - 2008

Yacht name: Odessa
Length: 164 ft • 50 m
Year: 2007
Builder: Proteksan Turquoise • # 45
Design: Dubois Naval Architects

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008
Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008

Look out for Vinydrea at this year's Monaco Yacht Show …

length - year: 164 - 2007

Yacht name: Principessa
Length: 105 ft • 32 m
Year: 2003
Builder: CNL • Admiral • # 105

Photo: NT • Santa Monza, Corsica • July 2007

length - year: 105 - 2003

Yacht name: Alexander
Length: 400 ft • 122 m
Year: 1965
Builder: Lübecker Flender Werke

Photos: monacoeye

length - year: 400 - 1965

Yacht name: Um Hurair
Length: 159 ft • 49 m
Year: 1970
Builder: Benetti • # FB78

Photo: Nigel James • St Katherine's Dock • August 2008

length - year: 159 - 1970

Yacht name: Blue Scorpion
Length: 174 ft • 53 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Baglietto • # 10191

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco Yacht Show • September 2007
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco Yacht Show • October 2006

Baglietto broke the 50 metre barrier with Blue Scorpion at the 2006 yacht show…

length - year: 174 - 2006

Yacht name: Poco Loco • Bandido 75
Length: 75 ft
Model year: 2008 ?
Builder: Bandido Yachts • Jade Yachts ?

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 75 - 2008

Yacht name: Rusalina Exp
Formerly: True North
Length: 137 ft • 42 m
Year: 2007
Builder: Newcastle Marine • # 1001
Architect: DeJong & Lebet
Design: Luiz de Basto

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 137 - 2007

Yacht name: Romance
Length: 185 ft • 57 m
Year: 2008
Builder: CRN • # 122
Design: Giovanni Zuccon

Photo: NT • August 2008 • Monaco
Photo: monacoeye • September 2006 • Monaco Yacht Show

CRN 122 is 3m longer than Ability. CRN 123 will be 3 m longer still at 60m.

length - year: 185 - 2008

Yacht name: Nara
Formerly: DIana II -> Dianamare
Length: 199 ft • 61 m
Year: 1979
Builder: Feadship • # 735

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 199 - 1979

Yacht name: Je T'aime Too • Bilgin 98 Plus
Length: 98 ft • 30 m
Builder: Bilgin Yachts

Photo: NT • Monaco • 2008

The 98 Plus from this Istanbul shipyard …

length - year: 98

Yacht name: Gas Gas
Formerly: Apache I -> Vista (2008) ?
Length: 112 ft • 34 m
Year: 2003
Builder: Baglietto • # 10181

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 112 - 2003

Yacht name: Dynasty
Length: 194 ft • 59 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Benetti
Design: Stefano Natucci

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008
Photos: monacoeye • Côte d'Azur • July 2008

May 2008: Dynasty, sister to Wind etc, was launched early May 2008.

length - year: 194 - 2008

Yacht name: Etamir • Drago 70 S
Length: 73 ft • 22 m
Builder: Italcraft

Photo: NT • Monaco • 2008

length - year: 73

Yacht name: Riva Florida Super
Model years: 1952 - 1969
Length: 5.40 m - 6.27 m
Builder: Riva

Photo: monacoeye

length - year: 18 - 1952

Yacht name: Riva Aquarama ?
Model years: 1962 - 1997
Length: 8.14 m - 8.75 m
Builder: Riva

Photo: monacoeye

length - year: 27 - 1962

Yacht name: Faribana V (2008)
Formerly: Sarafsa
Length: 179 ft • 55 m
Year: 1998
Builder: Amels • # 431
Stylist: Andrew Winch

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008
Photos monacoeye • Monaco

July 2008: Faribana V now has a black hull (top photo)

2008: Amels 1998 55 m Sarafsa has been sold and renamed Faribana V. She has been replaced with the recently launched 82 m Devonport Sarafsa.
MYS 2007: Surprise entrant. The beautifully teak-sterned, maroon-hulled Sarafsa took up a central position on the T yesterday.

length - year: 179 - 1998

Yacht name: Riva 80 Opera Super
Length: 80 ft
Builder: Riva

Photo: monacoeye

length - year: 80

Yacht name: Hero
Length: 103 ft • 31 m ?
Builder: Falcon Yachts

Sister to Magic Dream ?

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 103

Yacht Name: Lady Soul
Length: 102 ft • 31 m
Builder: Custom Line • Navetta 30

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 102

Yacht name: MJ Taknm • ISA 133 #3
Length: 133 ft • 41 m
Year: 2005
Builder: ISA
Top speed: 32 knots
Engines: 2 x 2800 kw

Photo: NT • Monaco • 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Cannes • May 2007

Sisterships: MJ Taknm • Alfa XII • Samja

length - year: 133 - 2005

Yacht name: Momentum • Centaurian 108
Length: 108 ft • 33 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Leight Notika -> Nedship
Design: Bill Dixon • Orhan Celikkal

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 108 - 2006

Yacht name: Monaliza
Formerly: Martha Ann
Length: 140 ft • 43 m
Year: 2000
Builder: Westship

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008
Photo: Olivier • New York • August 2007

length - year: 140 - 2000

Yacht name: Netanya 8
Length: 190 ft • 58 m
Year: 2007
Builder: CMN
Stylist: Andrew Winch

Photo: NT • Monaco • 23 June - August 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • June - August 2008

June 2008: NT just sent in this beautifully crisp (top) shot of Netanya 8
August 2007: … French built, Andrew Winch designed, Netanya 8 arrives in Port Hercule…

length - year: 190 - 2007

Yacht name: Newvida
Formerly: Gallant Lady
Length: 160 ft • 49 m
Year: 2000
Builder: Delta Marine • # 160-001
Architect: Delta & Sharp Design
Design: Glade Johnson

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008
Photo: Robert Paylor • St Martin • Jan 2008

length - year: 160 - 2000

Yacht name: Oasis
Length: 195 ft • 59 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Lürssen • # 13642
Design: Glade Johnson

Photo: NT & monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008 - links to follow
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • May 2006

May 2006: Lürssen's recent launch on her maiden voyage to the Med… here entering Port Hercule for the first time.

length - year: 195 - 2006

Yacht name: Goga -> Perla Blu
Formerly: Lady Florence -> Mustang Sally
Length: 157 ft • 48 m
Year: 2005
Builder: Trinity • # 32

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco Yacht Show 2007

length - year: 157 - 2005

Yacht name: Basrah Breeze
Formerly: Ocean Breeze <- Al Yamamah <- Qadissayat Saddam
Length: 269 ft • 82 m
Year: 1981
Builder: Helsingor

Photo: monacoeye • St Jean • April 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Nice • November 2007

3 August 2008: An end to the Saddam yacht saga appears in sight.

The French press have reported that Saddam's yacht Ocean Breeze was handed over to Iraqi authorities today, and the Iraqi flag was hoisted. They add that the yacht will now be heading down to dry dock in Greece.

According to the Nice Matin, the Jordanian authorities suddenly had a change of heart and decided not to contest Iraqi ownership claims. The yacht has changed names once again, and is now Basrah Breeze !

Jan 2008: Ocean Breeze is in the news again. The Iraqi government is claiming ownership of the yacht. According to an article in the Independent today, French police and a bailiff boarded the yacht in Nice and found an insurance document pointing to former ownership by Saddam Hussein.

Although the history of ownership of the yacht is not at all clear, it seems it was intended for Saddam, but, according to the report, moved into Saudi and then Jordanian hands, before coming to Monaco for the 2007 yacht show.

She was then sold and renamed Ocean Breeze. According to the Independent, a French court blocked resale of the yacht ten days ago. She is currently in Nice.

length - year: 269 - 1981

Yacht name: Skat
Length: 232 ft • 71 m
Builder: Lürssen • # 13621
Year: 2002
Design: Espen Øino

Porto, Corsica • August 2008 • NT
Monaco • 12 - 13 February 2007 • monacoeye
Portofino • 2 February 2007 • Heinrich Scheit
Genoa Italy • 30 January 2007 • monacoeye
Halmstad Sweden • 18 July 2006 • Andreas Slanemyr
Stockholm • August 2006 • Anders Linden

August 2008: Fantastic shot of Skat with a Corsican red rock backdrop, from NT.

February 2007: Microsoft Chief Software Engineer, Charles Simonyi's militaristic looking yacht, Skat.

length - year: 232 - 2002

Yacht name: Annaeva
Length: 184 ft • 56 m
Year: 2007
Builder: Benetti • FB 234
Design: Stefano Natucci

Photo: NT • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 184 - 2007

Yacht name: Allure • Blubay Yachts 102
Length: 102 ft • 31 m
Year: 2007
Builder: Blubay Yachts • Yachts Industries

Photo: NT & monacoeye • Monaco • August 2008

length - year: 102 - 2007

Yacht name: Light Blue
Length: 125 ft • 38 m
Year: 2005
Builder: Rodriquez Yachts
Design: Francesco Paszkowski

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • July 2008

length - year: 125 - 2005

Yacht name: Betty
Length: 127 ft • 39 m
Year: 2001 • Refit: 2007
Builder: Royal Denship
Design: Tom Fexas

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • July 2008

length - year: 127 - 2001

Yacht name: Teleost
Length: 161 ft • 49 m
Year: 1998
Builder: Feadship • Van Lent • #781
Architect: De Voogt
Interior: John Munford

Photo: NT • Girolata, Corsica • August 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2007

length - year: 161 - 1998

Yacht name: Bibich • Peri 29
Length: 94 ft • 29 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Peri Yachts
Design: Scaro Design

Photos: NT • Corsica • August 2008

Stylish, green-hulled, Bibich is the new sister to Quantum from Turkish builder Peri Yachts.

Scaro Design is the in-house design company for Peri Yachts, founded by Turkish businessmen Kemal Cambol and Hisar Celik. The boats are built in the Antalya free trade zone of Turkey.

Look out for Ludy, the new Peri 37 at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.

length - year: 94 - 2008

Yacht name: TM Blue One
Length: 152 ft • 46 m
Year: 1988 • Refit 1995
Builder: Picchiotti
Design: Gerhard Gilgenast

Photo: NT • Corsica • August 2008

Thanks to Dan for ID …

length - year: 152 - 1988

Yacht name: Life Saga
Formerly: Lady Christine -> Blue Harem ->
Length: 138 ft • 42 m
Year: 1994 • 2001 Moonen refit • 2008 HJB rebuild
Builder: Heesen • # 9136

Photo: Ricardo Pilguy • Port Vell, Barcelona • July 2008
Photo: monacoeye • June 2006 • Monaco

Life Saga has recently emerged from her 18 month rebuild at HJB (Holland Jachtbouw) and has been handed over to her owner in Barcelona. Read More...

length - year: 138 - 1994

Yacht name: Cornelia
Length: 112 ft • 2006
Year: 2006
Builder: RMK Marine • # 60
Design: De Vries Lentsch

Photo: NT • 2008 • Monaco

Cornelia was built by RMK Yachts - the yacht arm of RMK Marine - in Tuzla, Turkey, to a design of De Vries Lentsch.

length - year: 112 - 2006

Yacht name: Sibelle • 4400
Length: 144 ft • 44 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Heesen • # 13944
Design: Omega Architects

Photo: Ricardo Pilguy • Port Vell, Barcelona • July 2008
Photo: RK • Netherlands • 2008

Sibelle, third in the 4400 semi custom series, was launched in April. Read More...

length - year: 144 - 2008

Yacht name: Agram • 4400 # 4
Length: 144 ft • 44 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Heesen • # 14144
Design: Omega Architects

Photo: Marin Gospic • Zadar, Croatia • July 2008

The newly built Agram headed straight down to its new home town of Zadar in Croatia.

length - year: 144 - 2008

Yacht name: Karyatis
Length: 105 ft • 32 m
Year: 2005
Builder: Heesen Yachts • # 12532
Stylist: Pieter Beeldsnijder

Photo: RK • Netherlands • 2008

length - year: 105 - 2005

Yacht name: Maca • BSD 90 SD Ext
Length: 93 ft • 28 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Benetti Sail Division

Photo: Ricardo • Port Olympic, Barcelona • July 2008

Maca is the first in Benetti Sail Division's new 90 SD Ext line, launched March 2008 …

length - year: 93 - 2008

Name: Comunque Vada • Aicon 85 Fly
Length: 85 ft • 26 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Aicon

Photo: NT • Corsica • August 2008

length - year: 85 - 2006

Yacht name: BN 80
Length: 148 ft • 45 m
Builder: RMK Marine

length - year: 148

Yacht name: Caressa K
Length: 121 ft • 37 m
Year: 2006
Builder: RMK Marine • # 59
Design: Vripack

length - year: 121 - 2006

Yacht name: Dionea
Length: 169 ft • 51 m
Built: 1962 as liner • Refit: 2002
Builder: Felszegi

Photo: NT • 2008 • Monaco
Photo: monacoeye • 2005 • Monaco

length - year: 169 - 1962

Yacht name: Lady Aida
Length: 120 ft • 36.5 m
Year: 1990
Builder: Bugari

Photo: NT • Corsica • August 2008

length - year: 120 - 1990

Yacht name: Lady Ann Magee • C107
Length: 163 ft • 50 m
Builder: Codecasa
Year: 2001

© Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • August 2006 Read More...

length - year: 163 - 2001

Yacht name: Lohengrin
Length: 161 ft • 49 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Trinity Yachts • # T034

Photo: NT • Monaco • July 2008
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco Yacht Show • September 2008

length - year: 161 - 2006

Yacht name: Celascor • Mangusta 130 #5

length - year: 130

Yacht name: Secret Love
Length: 120 ft • 36 m
Year: 1990
Builder: Amels • # 422

Photo: NT • Girola, Corsica • August 2008

length - year: 120 - 1990

Photo: Ricardo Pilguy • Port Vell, Barcelona • July 2008
Photo: Katja Juvonen • Port Vell, Barcelona • July 2008

Update July 2008: The top shot shows the burned shells of XTC and Drumfire, seen from the air, by Ricardo.



2 March 2008: This video and photo, taken in Port Vell, Barcelona, Saturday, by local resident Katja Juvonen, caught the drama of a raging fire as it tore through four 20+ metre yachts.

All four yachts sank with a fifth sailing yacht badly damaged - you can see the mast topple in the video. 6 people were on board but unharmed. Katja says the fire team seemed slow to respond, which may have allowed the fire to take hold.

The fire chief was reported in the press as saying that the job of extinguishing the fire had been complicated by the water-repellent nature of the yachts themselves - which may have been scuttled, as a last resort.

This La Vanguardia video shows a general view of the port with many yachts nearby. More links in comments.