Yacht name: Blue Bird
Formerly: Blue Bird IV -> Sterope -> Janick
Length: 104 ft • 32 m
Year: 1938
Builder: Goole
Rebuild: Astilleros de Mallorca • 2007
Architect: GL Watson
Interior: Bannenberg

Photo: NT • Monaco Grand Prix • May 2009

Blue Bird has a long and interesting history. She was originally commissioned as an ocean-going yacht for Sir Malcolm Campbell's treasure hunting ambitions. But World War II put an end to those plans and she was requisitioned and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

After the war she passed into the French car manufacturer Jean-Louis Renault's hands and was renamed Sterope. More recently, she was completely rebuilt to give her her original profile and a comfortable modern interior.

length - year: 104 - 1938

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco Grand Prix • May 2009

Lewis Hamilton looked relaxed minutes before the start of the Monaco Grand Prix. Unfortunately he was unable to reproduce last year's performance.

Yacht name: Anjilis
Length: 162 ft • 49 m
Year: 2008
Builder: Trinity Yachts • # 38
Design: Trinity Yachts
Interior: Glade Johnson

Photos: NT • Monaco • May 2009

Anjilis was one of fifty or so large yachts arriving for the Grand Prix.

length - year: 162 - 2008

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco Grand Prix 2009
Photo: Tatiana Hughes • Monaco Grand Prix 2008.

"We've got Monaco, baby" - Jenson Button's words over the Brawn GP radio as he and team-mate Rubens Barrichello strolled home in first and second place yesterday.

In a tactical gamble, Brawn were the only team to start with super-soft tyres, which gave them an early lead, but were liable to deteriorate faster than harder tyres.

Meanwhile, last year's winner Lewis Hamilton had a bad race, starting at the back of the grid after crashing in qualifying. Ferrari showed potential picking up third and fourth.

Button's only mistake was to park in the wrong place in the pits after winning the race, so he ran back along the track to the podium, to great applause from both the crowd and rival crews.

Yacht name: Elena
Length: 138 ft • 42 m
Year: 2009
Builder: Marin LuxurYachts

length - year: 138 - 2009

Yacht name: Vibrant Curiosity
Length: 279 ft • 85 m
Year: 2009
Builder: Oceanco • Y704
Design: Nuvolari Lenard

Photos: KB • Bergen • May 2009

Launched in March 2009, German industrialist Reinhold's Würth's brand new 85 metre Nuvolari-&-Lenard-designed Oceanco Vibrant Curiosity is now visiting Bergen in Norway. Thanks to Knut for the photos … !

length - year: 279 - 2009

Yacht name: Dubawi
Formerly: Renaissance I -> The Mercury -> Leisure World
Length: 297 ft • 91 m
Gross Tonnage (Volume): 4200 GT
Year: 1989 • Conversion: 2009
Builder: Cantiere Navale Ferrari
Conversion Architect & Design: Platinum Yachts
Crew accommodation: 71 including captain
Passenger accommodation: 2 Owner suites, 8 VIP suites, 12 guest cabins

Photos courtesy of Platinum Yachts.

Dubawi, was converted by Platinum Yachts, from a mini cruise ship, originally named Renaissance I. Work started in 2007 and she was relaunched earlier this year as a luxury yacht. Now registered in the UAE.

Above are some photos of her relaunch and first sea trials.

Easy Cruise One and Clelia II, which were previously based in Monaco, were both "Renaissance" sister ships, II and IV respectively. (Thanks also Andy Lindy et al via PMY)

Platinum Yachts have another cruise ship from the Renaissance series in stock, with plans ready for a similar fast conversion to a high volume luxury yacht. Read More...

length - year: 297 - 1989

Yacht name: Project Triton
Length: 286 ft • 87 m
Year: future
Builder: Platinum Yachts
Design: Sam Sorgiovanni

Photo courtesy of Platinum Yachts

A new project design from Sam Sorgiovanni for Platinum Yachts…

length - year: 286

Cruise Ship name: Hebridean Spirit -> Sunrise
Length: 297 ft • 90 m
Gross Tonnage (Volume): 4200 GT
Year: 1991 • Refit: 2001
Builder:
Cabins: 49
Passengers: 80
Crew: 70
Former Cruise Operator: Hebridean Island Cruises

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • 2008

This mini cruise ship has recently been sold by Ocean Independence. Hebridean, the former operator, announced March 2009 that it was pulling out of the international cruise market, due to financial conditions. Booked cruises are being refunded or transferred to their second ship Hebridean Princess.

According to Wikipedia Hebridean Spirit it is one of the Renaissance class ships - but it certainly looks very unlike the other ones.

Cruise Ship name: Easy Cruise One
Formerly: Renaissance II -> Neptune II
Length: 289 ft • 88 m
Gross Tonnage (Volume): 4077 GT
Year: 1990 • Refit: 2005
Builder:
Crew: 55
Capacity: 232

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • 2005

After Monaco Easy Cruise One moved down to Greece until 2008, where her hull was painted black. According to Wikipedia, she has been retired and is currently up for sale.

Cruise Ship name: Clelia II
Formerly Renaissance IV ?
Length: 290 ft • 88 m
Gross tonnage: 4200 GT
Year: 1990
Builder:
Current Operator: Great Lakes Cruise Company

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • 2005

Clelia II is now operated by Great Lakes Cruising and has been refitted. She will be relaunched early 2009 as an ice-strengthened cruise ship, capable of cruising Antarctic regions.

Yacht name: Dubai Magic
Length: 148 ft • 45 m
Year: 2002
Builder: Aegean Yacht • Refurbished: Platinum Yachts
Design: Aegean Yacht

Photos courtesy of Platinum Yachts

Recently refurbished by Platinum Yachts…

length - year: 148 - 2002

Cruise ship: Sea Cloud II
Length: 384 ft • 117 m
Year: 2001
Builder: Astilleros Gondan
Passengers: 86
Operator: Sea Cloud Cruises

Photo: NT • Monaco • May 2009
Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • 12 May 2007

Demand for former luxury private yacht Sea Cloud was so great that the cruise operator had "sistership" Sea Cloud II built in Spain in 2001.

May 2009: The cruise ships are back in Monaco - a sure sign that the new season is underway. Thanks to NT for spotting Sea Cloud II.

length - year: 384 - 2001

Yacht name: Bystander
Length: 138 ft • 43 m
Year: 2006
Builder: JFA
Design: Vripack & Dick Young Design

Photos: BP • St Barths • March 2009

Thanks to Bob for sending in a photo of Bystander, Velsheda's new (well, 2006, how time passes … ) retro-styled escort ship in St Barths for the Bucket earlier this year. The old Feadship Bystander was re-named Santa Maria.

length - year: 138 - 2006

Yacht name: Dubai
Project name: Project Platinum • Golden Star
Length: 531 ft • 162 m
Year: 2006
Builder: Platinum Yachts - Hull: Blohm & Voss
Stylist: Andrew Winch
Engines: 4 x 9625 hp
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum • Crown Prince of Dubai

1. Angela Culveyhouse • Jebel Ali • Dubai • March 2007
2. KT • Port Rashid • Dubai • 6 January 2008
3. Stelios Dritsas • Jebel Ali • Dubai • October 2006
4. 5. David Nichols • Jebel Ali • Dubai • March 2006
(+ top photo courtesy of Platinum Yachts)

Two new views of Sheikh Mo's yacht Dubai, still the largest yacht in the world. 1 & 2.

Angela has sent in a very nice set of Dubai aerial shots, taken over Jebel Ali, in a helicopter leaving the Burj Al-Arab. Great photos !

A 40m catamaran under construction is visible behind, with a 114m yacht in the shed, and another smaller vessel behind that.

KT reports that an artificial island, where the yacht will be moored, has been built 20 miles from Dubai and is nearing completion.

Dubai was delivered to its owners in 2006.

length - year: 531 - 2006