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New Partnership with Bravada Yachts Marks Milestones for Volvo Penta

Invictus  marks several important “firsts” for Volvo Penta. The impressive luxury houseboat is the first Bravada houseboat to be powered by Volvo Penta and largest boat in the region to be powered by a Volvo Penta  Aquamatic sterndrive .

“Team Bravada wanted a propulsion system that would continue the Bravada legacy of changing the houseboat industry and we found it in Volvo Penta. We were impressed by the throttle response, rapid acceleration and maneuverability with integrated electric steering,” said Robert Gutierrez, Principal at Bravada Yachts. “In addition, we found the Volvo Penta propulsion package very easy to install and service.”

The DPI sterndrive enables silent and smooth shifting and boasts high engine torque for easier maneuvering. The Volvo Penta system also offers longer service intervals, fewer service items and propeller seals designed for longer life, as well as industry-leading fuel efficiency and low CO 2  emissions. The fully integrated EVC network provides improved diagnostics and monitoring of system health.

Martin Bjuve, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas, commented, “The team at Bravada does not shy away from venturing toward uncharted territory, and this is a mindset we fully embrace at Volvo Penta. We see strong synergies between our organizations and are confident our solutions will serve as a cornerstone in Bravada’s efforts to define the future of the houseboat industry.”

The installation and system integration of the propulsion package was overseen by  Helmut’s Marine Service , Volvo Penta’s Power Center servicing Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Guam.

“This collaboration with Bravada demonstrates just how versatile the propulsion package from Volvo Penta really is,” said Nadine Urciuoli, vice president of Helmut’s Marine Service. “The power, performance and fuel efficiency of the system makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.”

“Invictus , with massive aquarium-style floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, features a host of luxury amenities for lake cruising and entertaining in style,” said Aaron Browning, Principal at Bravada Yachts. “The boat has five staterooms, two baths and two cuddy cabins. There are a fire pit and waterslide on the top deck, stainless-steel appliances and quartz countertops in the kitchen, 10 flat-screen satellite TVs, surround sound and other custom features for the most discriminating owners.”

Click  here  for images.

About Bravada Yachts

A company built on performance and style, Bravada Yachts is an Arizona-based yacht and houseboat manufacturer that produces a series of cutting-edge vessels. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in Tolleson, Arizona and serves lake lovers locally and across the country. Bravada was acquired in 2017 by a new dynamic executive team and employs a dedicated and experienced crew of yacht builders and fabricators.

About Volvo Penta

Volvo Penta , with approximately 3,500 dealers in over 130 countries, is a world-leading and global manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for boats, vessels and industrial applications. The engine program comprises diesel and gasoline engines with power outputs of between 10 and 1,000 hp. Volvo Penta is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy trucks, buses and construction equipment.

Connect with Volvo Penta of the Americas on  Facebook ,  LinkedIn  and  Instagram  for the latest company news and insights.

For further information, please contact:

Christine Carlson Volvo Penta of the Americas Phone: +1 (757) 382 4084 E-mail:  christine.carlson@volvo.com

Jim Rhodes Rhodes Communications, Inc. Phone: +1 (757) 451 0602 E-mail:  jrhodes@rhodescomm.com

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Luxury Houseboat by Bravada Yachts Calls Lake Powell Home

Bravada Yachts has launched its most high-end luxury houseboat to date. Introducing the new “Invictus,” a spellbinding 80-foot V-Series watercraft inspired by the ocean, but built for the lake.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bravada Yachts (@bravadayachts)

Valued at $2 million, the Invictus has recently made Lake Powell’s Antelope Point Marina its home base.

Available for 8-day shares , the Bravada Yachts Invictus showcases such luxury features as:

• 3,200 square feet across 2.5 levels
• 5 staterooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 kitchens
• Stainless steel appliances
• Custom cabinets and granite countertops
• Bose sound system & satellite TV
• Central air conditioning & heating
• Unlimited fresh water
• Custom outdoor furniture including sun deck with daybeds

Tolleson-based Bravada Yachts is known for its stunning handcrafted luxury houseboats that are sleek, modern and outfitted with the latest design and amenities.

For more information, visit www.bravadayachts.com .

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Tolleson’s Bravada Yachts will debut Atlas V-Series on Lake Pleasant

Bravada Yachts announced the launch of its newest freshwater yacht that will set sail in its own backyard at Lake Pleasant. The 80-foot, completely custom vessel will be the first million dollar houseboat to ever float on the lake. Complete with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two fully loaded kitchens, the vessel is part of Bravada’s new V-Series line that is taking the freshwater yachting industry by storm. 

Bravada is quickly becoming known for its disruption of the industry with its sleek curves, replacing the long-standing boxy designs that the houseboat community has seen for decades. In addition to the distinctive exterior, this vessel showcases a gorgeous custom teak swim deck, firepit, dual kitchens with Samsung appliances and a 14-foot waterslide.  Interior boasts designer touches throughout, including floor-to-ceiling marble tile showers, electric fireplace, custom bedding and a surround sound system. The upper deck features custom outdoor furniture with powder-coated steel framing and Sunbrella cushions, built-in daybeds, a Pellet Grill, Nexus TV lift, and waterfall island with Dekton counters. No expense spared, the vessel has an upgraded water filtration system, Volvo dual prop diesel engine, Westerbeke generator, dual prop bow thruster and two jet ski winches.

READ ALSO :  15 must-see places for an Arizona road trip

“Team Bravada is excited to launch our latest design, the Atlas V-Series, in our own backyard at Lake Pleasant,” said Principal, Robert Gutierrez. “We’ve worked hard to develop a team of the best framers, welders, fabricators, designers, engineers and a support staff that is laser-focused on innovation and perfecting the manufacturing process.  Our goal was to create a hybrid of the sleek look of an ocean yacht, with all the comfort of a luxury houseboat.  We feel we have done that and look forward to our customers enjoying this vessel for years to come.”

These innovative houseboats can also be custom built for other Arizona lakes including Bartlett, Havasu, Powell, Saguaro, and Roosevelt Lake. The sleek designs Bravada has developed have created high-demand for the vessels, and the company is currently taking orders for 2024. 

Bravada Yachts is the only luxury houseboat brand with a team consisting of world-class fabricators, master engineers from various disciplines, designers from the ocean yacht world and top-notch industry experts leveling up the game including Principals, Aaron Browning and Robert Gutierrez. The team’s combined expertise has allowed for the creation of a completely revolutionized lake yachting experience. 

Bravada has streamlined production, invested in cutting-edge technology and appointed fresh, bright minds to build new luxury houseboats that are stronger, lighter, faster, and more fuel efficient than ever. Chief Development Officer J. David Weiss, brings his award-winning eye to the new Atlas V-Series, takes center stage with its sleek lines and high-end features that infuse the ocean yacht world into the lake yachting experience. 

For more information call: (801) 725-6481 or visit the website at www.BravadaYachts.com

Bravada Yachts is located at 9310 W. Buckeye Road, Suite 200, Tolleson. For regular updates on Bravada, visit the following social media platforms:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bravadayachts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bravadayachts

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Business Buzz: Bravada Yachts Transforms the Houseboat Industry

The company recently launched Invictus, a $2 million, 3,200-square-foot luxury houseboat designed by naval architect J. David Weiss. Bravada CEO Aaron Browning and president Robert Gutierrez tasked Weiss with “bringing some of my ocean yacht design sensibilities to freshwater vessels,” he says. Gone are the stodgy, blocky silhouettes typical of these barges, which were originally designed by RV manufacturers. “We drew a lot of inspiration from more organic shapes, and feathers and wings… the form should speak to movement, not stasis,” Weiss says. “I love cars as well, so the shapes of this were also inspired by contemporary models from Bugatti and McLaren.”

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This metro Phoenix company makes luxury houseboats that can cost up to $2 million — take a look

You might wonder why a builder of big houseboats would set up shop in the middle of the desert, miles from the nearest navigable lake or river.

The answer, it turns out, has little to do with water.

Skilled labor availability, or the lack thereof, explains the Arizona location of Bravada Yachts' boat-making factory in an industrial section of Tolleson, among warehouses and other manufacturing sites. 

"We're here because we can't find a workforce in Page to accommodate what we do," said Mia Gutierrez, the company's business-development officer. She stood in a steel-framed boat under construction for an interview, talking above the buzz of drills, the beeping of forklifts and noise from other machinery.

The company's staff of roughly 70 includes welders, metal framers, carpenters, painters, electricians and other skilled laborers.

Most destined for Lake Powell

Page, or more specifically Lake Powell in far northern Arizona, is where most of Bravada's houseboats wind up, although the 15-year-old company also has boats destined for Roosevelt Lake, Lake Pleasant and other waterways closer to metro Phoenix.

Regardless of the destination, getting them there isn't easy. Completed houseboats are shipped in sections on specially built trailers, typically in the middle of the night with police escorts. Transportation and other costs run tens of thousands of dollars.

"It's a very intense process," Gutierrez said. "You can't just throw them on the back of a truck."

Especially Bravada's vessels. These aren't the boxy pontoon boats that many people envision as houseboats. They are large, sleek structures equipped with granite countertops, multiple TVs and other high-tech electronics, water slides, fire pits and, on some models, hot tubs, helicopter pads and up to 16 beds and five bathrooms spread among four decks. Construction can take up to a year or more.

They're also vessels not made of wood but steel framing and various composite materials that are water-proof as well as fire and mold resistant.

Nor do they sell for the $300,000 to $500,000 for standard houseboats but rather $900,000 to $2 million or so, Gutierrez said. She estimates 40% of Bravada's buyers own their houseboats outright, while the other 60% of vessels are jointly owned in arrangements somewhat similar to resort timeshares.

Coronavirus' effect on company

It's a niche market for sure, but one that is faring well during coronavirus lockdowns in particular.

"We're seeing an explosion of lake boating," said CEO Aaron Browning, one of Bravada's two owners, along with Gutierrez's husband, Robert, another company officer. "But it's also a long-term activity that people don't get tired of."

In fact, the company has struggled to keep its operations humming amid the coronavirus pandemic that has led to sick-time absences for some workers while delaying shipments of raw materials and components, some of it imported.

Deliveries of steel that normally take two to three weeks lately have been running up to eight weeks, Gutierrez said. One British supplier of specialty marine paints has been "struggling to stay open," she added.

Bravada makes eight to 10 boats in a typical year but didn't share a number for 2020, when production slowed owing to the pandemic.

Boats combine leisure, business uses

Spending a week or more a houseboat can be a nice way for families and friends to ride out the pandemic while avoiding busy airports, restaurants, hotel lobbies and the like.

A houseboat also can be a great way to host business clients.

Justin Tomlinson, a 52-year-old pharmaceutical-industry consultant who splits his time between the Salt Lake City area and Switzerland, uses a week on a houseboat at Lake Powell to entertain small groups of executives, without spouses, to conduct various think-tank sessions.

He's a co-owner in one of Bravada's Atlas-V houseboats, which feature five bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2.5 levels.

"Lake Powell is like the Moon for many of them," Tomlinson said of his European guests. "They've never seen anything like it."

Guests like to congregate and discuss business around eating areas and on the open-air top deck, Tomlinson said, and the visitors enjoy hikes in nearby box canyons during his week in August. "They get out in nature and let their guards down," he said.

Like Tomlinson, many of Bravada's Lake Powell customers come from Utah.

Other costs of houseboat ownership

Some boating enthusiasts buy vessels individually while others, like Tomlinson, purchase shares at a cost of $100,000 to $160,000 or so each. That gives them use of maybe seven to 10 days annually during the peak boating season during warmer months, plus various other days at other times of the year.

As an example, one boat recently shipped to Powell has 11 owners, Gutierrez said. Bravada helps to arrange shared ownership.

Bravada employs about 50 people in Tolleson plus a couple-dozen more in its transportation arm. The private company doesn't provide revenue or other financial numbers, but Browning said it is poised for a strong 2021.

There are various ongoing expenses for owners, including pumping fees, slip fees, repairs and expenses to clean between owners. These and other costs might average around $3,000 to $6,000 annually per owner in sharing arrangements, she said. Single owners would face around $35,000 in annual expenses.

And while manning a houseboat is something that owners can do themselves, some opt to hire a captain at additional expense. Tomlinson said members of his ownership group agreed to hire a captain to minimize the risks of collisions or other mishaps that can lead to costly repairs and drive up insurance costs.

Most manufacturers in eastern U.S.

Houseboat makers aren't as numerous as those producing sailboats or more traditional motor boats. Most houseboat manufacturers are located in the eastern U.S., especially in Mississippi River watershed states including Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. There's also a notable cluster in northern California.

Given the high costs of transporting boats great distances, especially over mountains, the industry is a highly localized one. 

"Competition isn't something we really worry about," Gutierrez said. "There's enough demand for everyone right now."

Reach the reporter at [email protected] .

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Meet the New Class of Freshwater Superyachts Bringing Bold Design to the Lakes

The vessels resemble their oceangoing cousins, but with expanded design possibilities., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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The term “freshwater yacht” was an oxymoron until J. David Weiss designed Invictus , a futuristic 80-footer that redefines large houseboats. Having penned dozens of oceangoing superyachts for Europe’s leading builders, Weiss was given carte blanche by Arizona-based Bravada Yachts to create a new freshwater category. “The designs have typically been boxy, bloated RVs,” he says. “The good news is their scale can provide a custom yacht experience.”

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The nearly $2 million Invictus has 3,200 square feet of space across two decks. The sprawling interior, with nine-foot ceilings, includes five staterooms, two full kitchens, customized daybeds and, true to its lake-boat DNA, a 15-foot water slide, while omnipresent glass delivers exceptional water views. Since even big lakes experience minimal wave action—at least compared to ocean swells—Weiss was able to push certain aspects of the design. “Bringing glass so low to the waterline is unheard of on a superyacht ,” he says. “Those kinds of differences let us explore what was possible” within the new category.

The 80-foot Invictus promises to be the first of a new generation of freshwater superyachts.  Bravada Yachts

Companies in Australia and Germany are also launching new glass-centric freshwater designs. Status’s 60-foot, tri-deck Mischief , while boxier and less maneuverable than Invictus , has a sprawling, upscale interior, while a 90-foot, single-deck model from Berlin-based HouseBoatYacht resembles a floating glass studio.

The 60-foot, tri-deck Mischief .  Status

Weiss expects a rapid evolution in the segment, with ever-larger and more elaborate designs. “It’s a great opportunity to move beyond the best-in-class designation and instead design a whole new class,” he says. “We’re really trying to do justice to what  these vessels should look like in the 21st century.”

Bravada is entertaining a proposal for a 120-footer complete with helipad. “We’re also designing one for a music label with a recording studio on board,” he says. “The owner wanted unusual features and colors, and we’ll be delivering that.”

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Bravada Yacht launches newest vessel at Lake Pleasant

Valued at $1.5 million, the 80-foot yacht has four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and two fully-loaded kitchens. FOX 10's Cory McCloskey has more.

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Tolleson-based Bravada Yachts has custom-built yachts for customers on Bartlett, Havasu, Powell, Saguaro and Roosevelt lakes, as well as Lake Pleasant.

• Copy article link

Bravada Yachts debuts Atlas V-Series on Lake Pleasant

• By Christina Fuoco-Karasinki, Glendale Star Executive Editor
• Aug 18, 2021
• Aug 18, 2021 Updated Feb 26, 2024

Tolleson-based Bravada Yachts launched its newest freshwater yacht that will set sail in Lake Pleasant. The 80-foot, completely custom vessel will be the first million-dollar houseboat to float on the lake.  

Complete with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two fully loaded kitchens, the vessel is part of Bravada’s new V-Series line.

Bravada’s yachts are known for their sleek curves, replacing the long-standing boxy designs. After purchasing it in 2017, principal Robert Gutierrez changed the way the boats look, fellow principal Aaron Browning said.

“We changed a lot of the materials that go into building them,” said Browning, an avid houseboater who calls himself a “serial entrepreneur.”  

“We’ve chosen material that is water, fire, and mold and mildew resistant. We’re different than other houseboat companies. We don’t use any wood inside of our boats. All the others use wooden framing, plywood floors and ceiling. Instead of drywall, we use a product that is waterproof and fireproof.”

In addition to the distinctive exterior, this vessel showcases a custom teak swim deck, firepit, dual kitchens with Samsung appliances, and a 14-foot waterslide. The interior boasts designer touches throughout, including floor-to-ceiling marble tile showers, electric fireplace, custom bedding and a surround sound system.  

The upper deck features custom outdoor furniture with powder-coated steel framing and Sunbrella cushions, built-in daybeds, a Pellet Grill, Nexus TV lift and waterfall island with Dekton counters. It also has an upgraded water filtration system, Volvo dual-prop diesel engine, Westerbeke generator, dual-prop bow thruster and two jet ski winches.

“Team Bravada is excited to launch our latest design, the Atlas V-Series, in our own backyard at Lake Pleasant,” Gutierrez said.  

“We’ve worked hard to develop a team of the best framers, welders, fabricators, designers, engineers, and a support staff that is laser-focused on innovation and perfecting the manufacturing process.

“Our goal was to create a hybrid of the sleek look of an ocean yacht with all the comfort of a luxury houseboat. We feel we have done that and look forward to our customers enjoying this vessel for years to come.”

These innovative houseboats can also be custom-built for other Arizona lakes, including Bartlett, Havasu, Powell, Saguaro and Roosevelt. The sleek designs Bravada has developed have created high demand for the vessels, and the company is taking orders for 2024.  

Bravada Yachts is the only luxury houseboat brand with a team of world-class fabricators; master engineers from various disciplines; designers from the ocean yacht world; and industry experts leveling up the game, including Browning and Gutierrez.  

Most of the Bravada Yachts on the water call Lake Powell home, but the company is expanding and can ship to anywhere in the United States or Canada.

Visit bravadayachts.com .  

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The Glendale Star

Bravada Yachts: Redefining Houseboating as a Luxury Yachting Experience

• March 18, 2018

Bravada Yachts is an Arizona-based luxury lake yacht and houseboat company that is setting the optimal standard and pushing the boundaries in the industry. Bravada crafts fully-furnished lake yachts resembling high-end luxury homes with the amenities of a five star resort.

Current yacht models include: V-Series - Up to 7 beds, 3 baths (Starting at $499,000), GT-Series - Up to 9 beds, 4 baths (Starting at $1,099,000), X-Series - Up to 16 beds, 6 baths (price upon request).

Bravada creates custom dream yachting experiences with an unsurpassed eye for the details. Just a few of Bravada’s full-customization capabilities include: dual luxury kitchens, optimized floor plans, premium finishes, stainless steel appliances, Jacuzzis that can fit up to 16 people, flat-screen movie theater, fire-pits and endless water toys.

Bravada’s fractional ownership program allows buyers to divide the costs of owning a luxury houseboat with a small group of co-owners, very similar to the private jet model. Owners receive their “guaranteed week” each year, in addition to using the boat whenever it’s free.

Debuting in summer 2019, Bravada Yachts will offer an exclusive ownership opportunity of the first Bravada X-Boat Mega-Yacht , which boasts: 4.5 levels, 7,500 sq. feet of living space and a helicopter pad to name just a few features. Partners will share ownership of the first ever Bravada X-Boat Mega-Yacht with like-minded individuals and participate in bi-annual retreats with celebrities, pro-athletes and business superstars like Robert Kiyosaki and Daymond John.

Bravada is revolutionizing the yacht-houseboat hybrid with advancements in tech and safety such as ease of steering with highly-tuned bow stern thrusters that centrally direct the boat (as opposed to traditional rear-driven boats) and also offers driving lessons so anyone can try their hand at playing “captain.”

https://bravadayachts.com/

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Tolleson-based Bravada Yachts has custom-built yachts for customers on Bartlett, Havasu, Powell, Saguaro and Roosevelt lakes, as well as Lake Pleasant.

• Copy article link

Bravada Yachts debuts Atlas V-Series on Lake Pleasant

• By Christina Fuoco-KarasinskiI, Peoria Times Executive Editor
• Aug 10, 2021
• Aug 10, 2021 Updated Dec 19, 2023

Tolleson-based Bravada Yachts launched its newest freshwater yacht that will set sail in Lake Pleasant. The 80-foot, completely custom vessel will be the first million-dollar houseboat to float on the lake. 

Complete with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two fully loaded kitchens, the vessel is part of Bravada’s new V-Series line.

Bravada’s yachts are known for their sleek curves, replacing the long-standing boxy designs. After purchasing it in 2017, principal Robert Gutierrez changed the way the boats look, fellow principal Aaron Browning said.

“We changed a lot of the materials that go into building them,” said Browning, an avid houseboater who calls himself a “serial entrepreneur.” 

“We’ve chosen material that is water, fire, and mold and mildew resistant. We’re different than other houseboat companies. We don’t use any wood inside of our boats. All the others use wooden framing, plywood floors and ceiling. Instead of drywall, we use a product that is waterproof and fireproof.”

In addition to the distinctive exterior, this vessel showcases a custom teak swim deck, firepit, dual kitchens with Samsung appliances and a 14-foot waterslide. The interior boasts designer touches throughout, including floor-to-ceiling marble tile showers, electric fireplace, custom bedding and a surround sound system. 

The upper deck features custom outdoor furniture with powder-coated steel framing and Sunbrella cushions, built-in daybeds, a Pellet Grill, Nexus TV lift and waterfall island with Dekton counters. It also has an upgraded water filtration system, Volvo dual-prop diesel engine, Westerbeke generator, dual prop bow thruster and two jet ski winches.

“Team Bravada is excited to launch our latest design, the Atlas V-Series, in our own backyard at Lake Pleasant,” said Robert Gutierrez, who is a principal along with Aaron Browning.  

“We’ve worked hard to develop a team of the best framers, welders, fabricators, designers, engineers and a support staff that is laser-focused on innovation and perfecting the manufacturing process. Our goal was to create a hybrid of the sleek look of an ocean yacht, with all the comfort of a luxury houseboat. We feel we have done that and look forward to our customers enjoying this vessel for years to come.”

These innovative houseboats can also be custom-built for other Arizona lakes, including Bartlett, Havasu, Powell, Saguaro and Roosevelt. The sleek designs Bravada has developed have created high demand for the vessels, and the company is taking orders for 2024. 

Bravada Yachts is the only luxury houseboat brand with a team of world-class fabricators; master engineers from various disciplines; designers from the ocean yacht world; and industry experts leveling up the game, including Browning and Gutierrez. 

Most of the Bravada Yachts on the water call Lake Powell home, but Bravada is expanding and can ship to anywhere in the United States or Canada.

Visit bravadayachts.com .

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A houseboat sits on the lot in front of Destination Yachts operations on Washington’s south side.

Mike Grant | Times Herald

Destination Yachts building on U.S. 50 Bypas has a houseboat parked in the front lot.

Troubles at Destination Yachts

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• Aug 18, 2023

A boat company in Washington appears to be struggling financially. Destination Yachts was once a locally owned operation producing large houseboats for use throughout the nation. At one point the business appeared to be flourishing. Orders of boats during COVID were so strong that the company had a wait list of two years.

About two years ago the business was sold to Bravada Yachts, a builder of larger boats out of Arizona. While the business kept going, some of the employees report they began to notice problems.

Now, questions are circulating about the current status of the operation and its future.

“We are on a temporary slowdown right now and we are actively working on it so that we can have a future there,” said Destination Yachts Office Manager Cindy Johnson, who says the company currently has 33 employees on the job.

There are reports that the company has had trouble paying its utility bills and when asked about that Johnson did not give a response.

A check of Google found a number of lawsuits brought against the company and its owners. Some for non-payment of bills, some for not delivering boats that had been purchased.

Former employees have complained that they often were not paid or had to wait weeks for payment.

“My husband and I both worked there,” said Lindsay Southern. “We had a pretty rough situation with them. My husband got it worse than me. The direct deposit checks were sometimes not made. They issued paper paychecks that bounced. The company eventually made a wire transfer to pay him, but he wound up leaving. It is a mess.”

“They originally did direct deposit, but then they started giving us paper checks and they were bouncing everywhere. It was to the point where at least one bank would not cash anybody’s check,” said Christie Brake, another former employee. “They just stopped paying us. They have not paid my last check. There are other employees who are owed paychecks. My bank account is in the negative because of this. All they are doing is ignoring us. I think they are getting ready to file bankruptcy and just leave us with this.”

Johnson did not answer a direct question on non-payment of the employee wages. Instead, she talked about business conditions.

“Things have been difficult for a number of reasons, including the cost of materials and labor, COVID, inflation and supply chain issues. We have a strategy we are working on and we will be back on track soon,” she said. “We are building and shipping boats. We are going to be moving forward, building and delivering boats.”

A check of the business found there is a boat in lot that appears to be nearly completed and there were a handful of vehicles in the parking lot.

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Sean Combs’ son Christian accused of sexual assault on yacht that Diddy chartered

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This story contains a description of an alleged sexual assault.

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been named in another civil lawsuit, this time by a woman alleging that his son Christian “King” Combs sexually assaulted her aboard a superyacht the Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder chartered in late 2022.

But the Combs team dismissed it as “just another lewd and meritless claim” by the woman’s attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, that is “filled with the same kind of manufactured lies and irrelevant facts” they say they have come to expect from the New York-based lawyer.

In the new lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Grace O’Marcaigh added her name to the list of people accusing the embattled business mogul of wrongdoing while he faces a federal probe into sex-trafficking allegations. O’Marcaigh, who worked as a steward on the Victorious ship, alleged that 26-year-old rapper Christian Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in late December 2022 aboard the charter boat, which Diddy “sold as a wholesome family excursion” but allegedly devolved into a “hedonistic environment.”

O’Marcaigh, who was 25 around the time of the alleged incident, provided dinner and drink service on the yacht from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The bartender also said she witnessed partying and drug use between a “constant rotation of suspected sex workers and other A-List celebrities,” according to the filing reviewed by The Times.

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March 28, 2024

O’Marcaigh is accusing Christian Combs, one of Diddy’s children with the late model Kim Porter , of sexual assault, sexual harassment and infliction of emotional distress in the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. Diddy, 54, who is named as a co-defendant, is being sued for premises liability as the person who leased the yacht and “had full control of the staff and premises” and for aiding and abetting his son in the alleged assault. O’Marcaigh accused him of orchestrating a “subsequent coverup” of her alleged assault that ultimately resulted in her termination in May 2023.

She claimed that Diddy allowed “unwanted exposure to unlawful drug use, sex work, and general chaos” and “created an extremely hazardous environment” in which staff was often “treated with disrespect, suspected sex workers were sprawled out unconscious about the yacht, and it was difficult to distinguish which bottles of alcohol were laced with drugs and which bottles were not.” She described women aboard the yacht “falling over themselves, panicking, or passing out” after one shot of tequila or one mixed drink, which she believed were “likely laced with drugs.”

The complaint was filed by Blackburn, the lawyer who is also representing Diddy’s former “Love” album producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in a sexual harassment and assault case brought against the Grammy Award winner, his son Justin “Dior” Combs, Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and other members of Diddy’s inner circle . (O’Marcaigh, in her complaint, described Jones as “an extended member of the service staff” who spent time with her at the service bar and piano room on the yacht.)

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April 2, 2024

She also made several other allegations about illicit behavior by Diddy and Gooding, whom she said she witnessed “inappropriately touching” Jones, as was alleged in Jones’ lawsuit.

“Like father, like son,” Blackburn said in a statement to NBC News , which first reported on the new lawsuit. “It gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs, who has clearly adopted his father’s pattern and practice of depravity.”

“As long as sexual harassment and assault continues to happen, and as long as people out there still think it is even slightly okay, or can get away with it because of their celebrity, then everyone is still in danger of this happening to them,” added Blackburn’s fellow filing attorney Tyrone S. Diggs. “I am here to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves and I applaud Grace for being so brave to come forward with her truth. “

However, the Combs team kept its focus squarely on Blackburn.

“This is just another lewd and meritless claim from Tyrone Blackburn — just like what he filed in the Rodney Jones lawsuit, which he still has not served,” said attorney Aaron Dyer, who represents both Sean and Christian Combs.

“This is exactly why the federal judge in New York slapped [Blackburn] two days ago for a ‘pattern of behavior’ in ‘improperly [filing] cases in federal court to garner media attention, embarrass defendants with salacious allegations, and pressure defendants to settle quickly,’ ” he added, “and why he was referred to the disciplinary committee in the Southern District of New York. We will be filing a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim.”

In the past, Diddy has denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight the lawsuits. Four women, including ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura , have sued him since last November, alleging sexual assault.

O’Marcaigh, who is described in court documents as “a European Caucasian female who worked as a Stewardess in the Yachting Industry since 2018,” said she planned to work the entirety of her career in hospitality and the yachting industry but, as stated in her complaint, “those plans have been derailed due to the trauma [she] continues to have as a result of the assault.”

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In the wake of multiple lawsuits filed against him, former members of Combs’ inner circle told The Times that his alleged misconduct against women goes back decades.

Dec. 13, 2023

On or around Dec. 28, 2022 — days before Diddy hosted a star-studded New Year’s Eve party aboard the ship , which was at sea — O’Marcaigh said that she worked the late shift on the yacht when Christian Combs, who usually stayed at a nearby villa on shore, came aboard “heavily intoxicated” from what O’Marcaigh believed was “a mixture of narcotics and alcohol.”

While she was serving drinks in the studio, where Jones also was present that night, Christian was being “particularly attentive with her, which she considered very inappropriate.” Christian then insisted that O’Marcaigh take a shot of tequila, which she believed he had spiked. She said in the filing that she “felt comfortable” knowing that Mr. Jones was present and “didn’t think anything more of it,” assuming she could return to her work elsewhere on the yacht after the drink. But when she took the shot, she said, the “mood changed” and things “became sinister.”

O’Marcaigh described Christian violently grabbing her arm and hurting her as he insisted that she take another shot. After that, “the situation escalated” and she described being physically assaulted by Christian, whom she alleged touched her legs, breasts, anus and vagina, and who also tried to kiss her on the neck, face and hands.

She said the timeline then became “very blurry and vague.”

But because O’Marcaigh said Diddy insisted on “Mr. Jones recording everything,” Lil Rod obtained an audio recording of the alleged incident. The recording was submitted as an exhibit in O’Marcaigh’s case.

In a transcript of the recording that was included in the complaint to describe the alleged incident, O’Marcaigh tries to leave but Christian does not let her. She tells him not to touch her legs or backside.

After she left, the complaint said, Christian later found her, refused to go back to shore and “demanded that she find him a place to sleep on the yacht.”

A timeline of allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Hip-hop mogul and entrepreneur Diddy has been accused of physical and sexual violence dating back to 1990. Here’s a timeline of the allegations.

March 26, 2024

O’Marcaigh went with him to the cinema, which was commonly used as an extra sleeping area, and he allegedly blocked her from exiting. She described Christian getting “physical and extremely aggressive,” cornering her and allegedly groping her despite her pushing back. He allegedly removed his clothes, exposed his erect penis and physically tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. She began fighting him, and then one of her colleagues entered the cinema, startling Christian. O’Marcaigh was able to leave.

She said she was “seriously bruised as a result of the attack,” that she did not consent to any of the sexual assault or misconduct, and that she was drugged and intoxicated by Christian. Images of her bruising were also included in the complaint.

O’Marcaigh said she complained to the yacht captain the next morning but alleged that he “berated [her and] lacked compassion or concern, failed to investigate, and insisted that [she] was probably voluntarily partying with the guests.” (She said she was not.)

After the incident, O’Marcaigh said, she was assigned to work the “front of the house,” which required her to personally serve Christian Combs while he was aboard the yacht. She also alleged that the captain “received a generous tip” from Diddy to keep him “quiet and from protecting [O’Marcaigh] or taking action on her behalf.”

She alleged that Diddy “fostered and encouraged an environment of debauchery” and “did not have any safeguards in place to ensure there was no excessive drug use, no excessive drinking, and no importation of purported sex workers.”

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs remains in the United States and vows to fight sex trafficking allegations, sources close to the music legend said.

March 27, 2024

“He intentionally created an unsafe environment that gave license to [Christian Combs] and his friends to believe that he was free to sexually assault [O’Marcaigh]” and allowed him and his friends “to behave carelessly, as they observed and mimicked his actions.”

O’Marcaigh said that the alleged assault deeply impacted her mental health, as well as her professional and personal life. She alleged that as a result of the alleged attack, her mental health deteriorated, she experienced anxiety and panic attacks and had severe suicidal ideations, the lawsuit said. She claimed the emotional strain also affected her physical health and that she developed an eating disorder and epileptic seizures after the incident.

In an unrelated action, Blackburn was chastised in a Wednesday court filing by New York Judge Denise Cote and referred to the grievance committee for the Southern District of New York after receiving repeated admonishments from another judge in a separate case. The attorney, known for his cases against celebrities, has brought lawsuits against rappers Nicki Minaj, T.I. and his wife Tiny, and comedian Tiffany Haddish.

Diggs said of the new lawsuit, “This case, just like others, should be viewed on the merits and not against other attorneys as a means of distraction.”

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Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics, celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.

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Bruce Kessler, Prolific TV Director and Adventurer, Dies at 88

By Pat Saperstein

Pat Saperstein

Deputy Editor

• Bruce Kessler, Prolific TV Director and Adventurer, Dies at 88 1 day ago
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Bruce Kessler , a prolific TV director as well as a noted yacht designer, died April 4 in Marina Del Rey, Calif. after a brief illness. He was 88.

His brother Stephen confirmed his death.

Kessler started out racing cars at the age of 17 and at 21, he crashed at night during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, bailing out of the car before it burst into flames. He survived two more crashes before retiring from racing at 26 in 1962.

With the help of Hawks as mentor, Kessler became a director for dozens of TV movies and series including “The Rockford Files,” “McCloud,” “Marcus Welby, MD,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Knight Rider,” “The Fall Guy,” “CHiPs,” “Barnaby Jones,” “The Monkees,” “The A-Team” and “The Flying Nun.”

He later began designing boats, building a yacht, the Zopilote, built on the hull of a fishing trawler and created for marlin fishing. With his wife, actor Joan Freeman Kessler, he cruised and fished around North America. The couple circumnavigated the globe from 1990 to 1993, visiting 34 countries. The Zopilote’s innovative design proved influential and he became an authority on the subject. A model of the yacht is on display at the Del Ray Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey.

Born in Seattle, his family moved to Beverly Hills where he started his racing career among Hollywood celebrities such as James Dean and Steve McQueen.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan; brothers Rick and Stephen and many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

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Lawsuit naming Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as co-defendant alleges his son sexually assaulted woman on yacht

FILE - Christian Combs attends Day 1 of Maxim Big Game Weekend, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at City Market Pavilion in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this May 30, 2018, file photo, Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles. Combs’ lawyer said Tuesday, March 26, 2024, that the searches of his Los Angeles and Miami properties by federal authorities in a sex-trafficking investigation were ”a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Sean “Diddy” Combs, right, and Christian Combs perform at the Billboard Music Awards, Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Television crews report live outside a property belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Los Angeles, the day after federal Homeland Security Investigations agents and other law enforcement executed a raid as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A Hollywood Bus Tours van carrying tourists stops momentarily by the front gate of a property belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Los Angeles, the day after federal Homeland Security Investigations agents and other law enforcement executed a raid as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

FILE - Sean “Diddy” Combs, wearing a fur coat, walks down the sideline during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, Sunday, March 12, 2017, in New York. Combs’ lawyer said Tuesday, March 26, 2024, that the searches of his Los Angeles and Miami properties by federal authorities in a sex-trafficking investigation were ”a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawsuit that names Sean “Diddy” Combs as a co-defendant alleges that his son Christian “King” Combs sexually assaulted a woman working on a yacht chartered by his father.

The suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court says Sean Combs created the circumstances that led to the assault and paid to cover it up afterward. It’s the latest in a series of lawsuits accusing the producer and music mogul of sexual misconduct, and it comes amid a federal sex trafficking investigation that led Homeland Security agents to raid his homes in Los Angeles and Miami last week.

Grace O’Marcaigh, who worked as a crew member and a bartender on the boat, says that in late December 2022, Christian Combs pressured her to drink tequila that she believes was spiked with other drugs. He groped her breasts and genitals and attempted to force her to perform oral sex, the suit alleges.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as O’Marcaigh has done. She also consented to being named through her attorneys.

Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Sean and Christian Combs, called the lawsuit “lewd and meritless.”

“We will be filing a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim,” Dyer said in a statement.

Dyer called the investigation that brought last week’s raids “nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”

Sean Combs, who chartered the yacht throughout the holidays in 2022, “had full control of the staff and premises” and created circumstances where her assault was not only tolerated but encouraged.

O’Marcaigh, who was 25 at the time, said when Christian Combs, then 24, came aboard late one night, he appeared heavily intoxicated and began giving her inappropriate attention.

She said the two were in a music studio on board the ship, where producer Rodney Jones, who filed his own lawsuit in February, was told to be available around the clock for Sean Combs to work on his next album.

O’Marcaigh said in the suit that Christian Combs was insistent that she take shots of tequila, and she drank out of obligation.

The suit alleges he became increasingly aggressive with her, violently grabbing her arm as she tried to get out of the situation then groping her. The drinks made everything blurry, unusually quickly, the suit says.

Microphones in the studio, where Jones was told to capture everything, recorded their exchange, and the lawsuit includes a transcript where O’Marcaigh demands that Christian Combs stop touching her.

The suit alleges that he later continued the assault in the ship’s movie theater, which was used as a spare sleeping area and where she was attempting to find a place to spend the night because the rooms were all taken, before another crew member appeared and he stopped.

O’Marcaigh told the yacht’s captain about the assault the following morning, but she alleges that after Combs gave him a large amount of cash the same day, the captain failed to meaningfully investigate or take any action.

The suit says O’Marcaigh was eventually fired in retaliation and has since been unable to find work in the music industry where she had planned to build a career. It says since 2022, she has suffered severe emotional trauma.

The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial.

Christian Combs is also a musical artist whose song “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” with Kodak Black topped Billboard’s Mainstream R&B Hip-Hop charts in 2022. He was at his father’s Los Angeles home during last week’s searches, during which he and his brother were handcuffed but not arrested.

The producer Jones’ federal lawsuit, filed in February by Tyrone Blackburn, the same attorney as O’Marcaigh’s suit, includes allegations that Sean Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.

Dyer’s statement said the newest lawsuit is “filled with the same kind of manufactured lies and irrelevant facts we’ve come to expect from Blackburn.”

He pointed out that U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote criticized Blackburn in a separate lawsuit on Wednesday and referred him to a disciplinary committee for a “pattern of behavior” where he “improperly files cases in federal court to garner media attention, embarrass defendants with salacious allegations, and pressure defendants to settle quickly.”

Blackburn responded in an email that “a referral is not a sanction” and the statement from Combs’ lawyer was an attempt to “deflect and distract.”

“Christian Combs sexually assaulted Ms. O’Marcaigh, and we have it on tape,” Blackburn said.

Several lawsuits have brought public scrutiny to the music and business mogul, beginning with a November suit from his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie , which alleged years of sexual abuse, including rape. It was settled the following day .

Combs and his attorneys have denied all of the lawsuits’ allegations.

Combs, a three-time Grammy winner and the founder of Bad Boy Records, is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades. He turned his hip-hop empire into a broader business empire that includes private-label spirits , fashion, and a TV network .

Moscow Metro update

Moscow has built almost 21 km of metro tunnels since early 2016. Eight of 29 TBMs are currently tunnelling their way through the Moscow’s underground. Six of them, diameter 6 m, are operating between the Ramenki and Rasskazovka stations on the metro’s Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya Line 8, and two more are displacing earth between the Elektrozavodskaya and Aviamotornaya stations on the northeastern section of the Third Interchange Circuit (TIC). The Moscow Metro has used mainly parallel single-track tunnels. The new TIC line will introduce the double-track tunnel concept. These sections will feature side platform stations. This technology will cut construction costs by up to 30%. Late in 2016 a Herrenknecht TBM, named Lily, with a weight of over 1,600 t, length 66 m, and a diameter over 10 m, started to drive the two-track tunnels between the Kosino and Nizhegorodskaya Street stations on the Moscow metro’s new Kozhukhovskaya line. Lily can move at up to 12 m daily, 350-400 m a month. 

Moscow is to build over 20 km of double-track tunnels over the next three years. The metro’s Kozhukhovskaya Line will receive two such tunnels, and two more are scheduled to be built on the Third Interchange Circuit in northern and eastern Moscow.  The new Kozhukhovskaya Line (pink line) will run for 17.2 km in parallel to the Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line from the Nekrasovka area in the southeast and will connect with the Aviamotornaya station on the Kalininskaya Line (yellow line). The following nine stations will be built on the Kozhukhovskaya Line: Aviamotornaya, Nizhegorodskaya Street, Stakhanovskaya, Okskaya, Yugo-Vostochnaya, Kosino, Dmitriyevskogo Street, Lukhmanovskaya and Nekrasovka. 

The Third Interchange Circuit will be built and finished by 2020 and will connect all existing and planned radial lines of the metro. The circuit will be 62.3km long and will have 28 stations, seven of which will be inter connected with radial railway lines, with 17 interconnected  with metro lines and two more with the Moscow Central Circle. It will become the longest metro line in Russia. In spring, the Delovoi Tsentr-Petrovsky Park section will be opened. It includes five stations – Petrovsky Park, TsSKA, Khoroshovskaya, Shelepikha and Delovoi Tsentr. In 2018, the line will be extended from Petrovsky Park to Nizhnyaya Maslovka station with a  total length of 12.4 km. 

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Donald Trump Plans to Build New US Military 'Yachts'

D onald Trump is vowing to build up the U.S. naval fleet capacity to contest China's growth in the sector, detailing beautiful "yachts with weapons"—and an expert told Newsweek how that may play out.

In its 2023 China Military Power Report, the Pentagon said the People's Liberation Army Navy had about 370 warships . U.S. officials, who in 2021 correlated the Chinese naval growth to the addition of more major surface combatants, estimate the fleet will expand to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials gathered at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2022 focused on intensifying and accelerating the People's Liberation Army's modernization goals, including deploying PLA forces on a "regular basis and in diversified ways," according to the Pentagon.

Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday asked Trump whether he would increase U.S. shipbuilding to compete with adversaries like China.

"Yeah, we were going to, we were on track to do that," Trump said. "We had unbelievable talent, unbelievable ships getting ready to be made. And then this guy [President Joe Biden ] came in, and he canceled it.

"First of all, it's jobs, okay? It's very important because it's jobs, great jobs. But you know, I rebuilt the entire military, and the one thing was, the ships are, you know, they take longer to do. We were set to do something great. We started the process. We gave, as you know, the destroyers, we gave Wisconsin a tremendous yard in Wisconsin."

In April 2020, part of the last year of Trump's first term, the Italian company Fincantieri's shipyard in Wisconsin announced it would begin constructing its first Constellation-class frigate, according to Defense News.

In May 2023, the company announced that the Department of Defense awarded its $526 million contract to build a fourth Constellation-class frigate for the U.S. Navy to include the frigate and nine option ships, with a cumulative value of $5.5 billion that includes post-delivery availability support and crew training.

Construction on the first frigate, the future USS Constellation, began in late August 2022 in Marinette, Wisconsin, and is scheduled to be delivered in 2026.

"[The frigates] look, I mean, they were beautiful," Trump said. "They look like, yeah, because I'm into beauty, to be honest with you. They look like yachts with lots of weapons on them, lots of weapons.

"But, and they've really come out good. But we were giving out a lot of ships, and then this guy came in, and he has no idea what he's doing. No idea whatsoever. China is on a shipbuilding message like nobody's seen before."

Rajan Menon, a nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Russia and Eurasia Program and director of the Grand Strategy Program at Defense Priorities, told Newsweek via email that Trump's vision of naval ships like frigates goes beyond aesthetics.

"Frigates may be 'beautiful' in Trump's eyes, but they are far more expensive to build than yachts—to which he likens them," Menon said. "More importantly, warships, as most recently demonstrated by Ukraine's repeated, successful attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet , provide big targets for the most advanced anti-ship missiles."

Menon said that the naval disparity between the U.S. and China can be tied to two separate questions, one of which is whether China in any foreseeable future can displace the worldwide maritime supremacy the U.S. has. He said the answer is "no."

But China's reliance on a variety of sophisticated weapons that substantially increase the cost "in blood and treasure" is already costing the U.S. and its warships in the seas off the eastern shore, he added.

"Moreover, its capabilities in this respect are almost certain to increase, in quantity and quality," he said.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs' son accused of sex assault in lawsuit that also names music mogul as defendant

LOS ANGELES — Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is a subject of a federal sex trafficking investigation , has been named as a defendant in a new lawsuit that alleges his son sexually assaulted a woman while she was working on a yacht the music mogul had chartered for a trip at the end of 2022. 

The allegation is the latest in a wave of lawsuits accusing Combs , 54, of sexual assault, sexual trafficking and engaging in other criminal activity. He has denied all the allegations, calling them sickening.

In the suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Grace O’Marcaigh alleges that Christian Combs, 26, sexually assaulted her in late December 2022 while she was working on a boat charter that had been “sold as a wholesome family excursion” but turned into a “hedonistic environment.” 

The alleged assault happened just days before Sean Combs hosted a New Year’s Eve yacht party with a long list of celebrity guests . 

Christian Combs is accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment and infliction of emotional distress in the lawsuit. Sean Combs is being sued for premises liability as the person who chartered the yacht and for aiding and abetting his son in the alleged assault. 

A lawyer for the father and son called Thursday's suit "lewd and meritless" and said it was "filled with the same kind of manufactured lies and irrelevant facts we’ve come to expect" from O’Marcaigh's lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn.

The lawyer, Aaron Dyer, said his legal team plans on filing a motion to dismiss the suit.

 “Like father, like son," Blackburn said Thursday night after the suit was filed. "It gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs who has clearly adopted his father’s pattern and practice of depravity."

In the yacht studio

In her suit, O’Marcaigh alleges that Christian Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her. She included transcriptions of audio clips that she states are evidence of her denying his advances as he gropes her. The suit states that the clips were recorded by a producer in the studio. 

O’Marcaigh, who was 25 at the time of the alleged assault, worked as a steward providing dinner and drink service on the yacht from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and witnessed partying and drug use between a “constant rotation of suspected sex workers” and celebrities, the suit states. She also alleges in the complaint that she suspected bottles of alcohol were laced with drugs because women began to fall over themselves, panic or pass out after just one drink. 

Around Dec. 28, 2022, O’Marcaigh was informed that Christian Combs would be joining the party to record with music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in the yacht’s makeshift studio, the suit states. 

Christian Combs had been staying on shore at a villa, but often joined his father in the evenings, according to the suit. The woman’s suit alleges that he arrived “heavily intoxicated” and that he paid an inappropriate amount of attention to her. Christian then pressured O’Marcaigh to take shots of tequila that she believes he brought onboard, according to the suit.

After she took the shot, O’Marcaigh states in the lawsuit, Christian Combs became aggressive and insisted she drink more. 

O’Marcaigh became fearful and began to feel the effect of the tequila, which she “quickly suspected” had been spiked, the suit states. 

The situation “escalated” as Christian Combs groped O’Marcaigh’s legs, breast, anus and vagina, the suit states. The suit details audio recordings in which it states O’Marcaigh can be heard declining alcohol, saying she had to leave, and telling Christian Combs to stop touching her with what sounds like kissing noises in the background.

The audio was recorded by Jones, the producer who was in the studio during the alleged assault and who has alleged in his own lawsuit that he was required to record Sean Combs “constantly” and had hours of footage in which the music mogul and his staff allegedly engaged in criminal conduct. 

NBC News has heard two clips of audio transcribed in the suit purportedly from the night of Dec. 28, 2022, but has not verified who was recorded. 

“Excuse me, you don’t touch my legs like that. I’ll move my legs where I want to,” O’Marcaigh is heard saying in the recording detailed in the suit. “If I want to do this, then I will. You don’t touch my legs like that.” 

“Listen, you and everybody in the crew,” Christian Combs allegedly replies. 

“I can’t, I have to go down,” O’Marcaigh says. “I have to go down.”

Christian Combs then insists that O’Marcaigh stay with him, but she responds that she cannot unless he makes that request to a crew leader, the suit states, citing the audio recording. 

O’Marcaigh answered this way because she knew “anyone of authority” who could approve the request would be asleep and Christian Combs would not be able to contact them, the suit states. 

“Who can I talk to? I’m going to say I requested you right now,” Christian Combs said, according to the suit.  

“Well, you can take your hand off my ass for the first thing,” O’Marcaigh responded. 

O’Marcaigh then attempted to resume her duties and finish her shift once she was able to leave the studio, the suit states. Christian Combs allegedly found her a short time later and insisted she find him a place to sleep.

She directed him to the yacht cinema, which was used as an extra sleeping area, where he blocked her in, the suit states. 

Christian Combs allegedly began to grope her and took off his clothes. 

“His penis was erect, and he grabbed her arms and was trying to force PLAINTIFF to perform oral sex on him,” the suit states. 

The suit includes photos of bruising on O’Marcaigh’s forearm and alleges it was caused when Christian Combs grabbed her. 

O’Marcaigh fought him off until someone else walked in, according to the suit. 

Since the alleged attack

The alleged assault had a deep impact on O’Marcaigh’s mental health as well as her professional and personal lives, the suit said. When O’Marcaigh complained to the yacht captain the next day, the suit alleges, the captain did not believe her and failed to investigate.

She alleges that the captain retaliated against her until she was terminated in May 2023. 

Her mental health deteriorated, and the woman had anxiety and panic attacks as well as severe suicidal ideations, the suit said. O’Marcaigh alleges that the emotional strain affected her physical health and that she developed an eating disorder and epileptic seizures following the assault. 

She is seeking unspecified damages. 

"I am here to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves and I applaud Grace for being so brave to come forward with her truth," attorney Rodney S. Diggs said of his client. "Hopefully her story will inspire others to come forward."

O’Marcaigh’s suit is the first to accuse Christian Combs of sexual assault. Since November, his father, Sean Combs, has been accused in lawsuits of sexual assault by four women, which he has repeatedly denied. 

One of those suits has been settled , and the others have not been resolved.  

Jones, a producer who worked for Sean Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, alleged the rapper sexually harassed him, pressured him to engage in sexual acts and forced him to procure sex workers. He said he witnessed Sean Combs giving drinks laced with drugs to people at parties. 

An attorney for Combs said Jones’ “reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines.”

On March 25, agents with Homeland Security Investigations searched Sean Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami. A source familiar with the investigation told NBC News that a federal investigation began before this year and that authorities were aware of the layout of Combs’ properties before the raids. 

During the searches last month, federal agents discovered guns and seized his phones as part of a warrant issued from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, law enforcement sources have said. Christian Combs was detained at his father’s Los Angeles home last month when Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant, but he was not arrested. 

Investigators are also looking into allegations of statutory rape against Sean Combs, the source said. 

NBC News previously reported that at least three women and one man have been interviewed by federal investigators in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms. 

Aaron Dyer, one of Combs’ attorneys, issued a statement following last month’s property searches and said that Combs “was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.” He described the search as an ambush, saying there’s been a rush to judgment based on “meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”

“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” Dyer said. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles and Doha Madani reported from New York.

Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

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Bruce kessler, race car driver, yacht captain and prolific tv director, dies at 88.

After participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he called the shots for ‘The Monkees,’ ‘It Takes a Thief,’ ‘Adam-12,’ ‘The Fall Guy,’ ‘The Commish’ and many other shows.

By Mike Barnes

Mike Barnes

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Bruce Kessler, who directed episodes of shows including The Monkees , It Takes a Thief , The Rockford Files , McCloud and The Commish when he wasn’t driving race cars, designing boats or circling the globe in a yacht, has died. He was 88.

Kessler died Thursday at his home in Marina del Rey after a brief illness, his brother, author and columnist Stephen Kessler, told The Hollywood Reporter .

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Kessler served as second-unit director on Howard Hawks’ Red Line 7000 (1965), an action film about stock cars that starred James Caan , before embarking on a three-decade career as a director for television.

His credits included The Flying Nun , Adam-12 , Marcus Welby, M.D. , Get Christie Love! , Baretta , Switch , CHiPs , The A-Team , The Greatest American Hero , Hunter , Hardcastle and McCormick , The Fall Guy , Riptide , MacGyver , The Commish and Renegade , with the last episode of his career airing in 1997.

Bruce Michael Kessler was born in Seattle on March 23, 1936. He and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1946, and his parents, Jack and Nina, launched a ladies swimwear company in partnership with fashion designer Rose Marie Reid.

With the success of the business, they relocated to Beverly Hills, and Kessler would become pals with James Dean and Steve McQueen, future actors who were racing enthusiasts.

Kessler earned the nickname “Little Lead Foot” as a youngster, and when he was 17, he competed in amateur auto races driving a Jaguar XK120 owned by his mom.

Kessler was supposed to ride with Dean in his silver Porsche to a road race in Salinas, California, in September 1955, but “due to a last-minute change of plan drove up with another friend,” Stephen Kessler wrote last month in a column for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Dean would die in a car crash that day.

“My brother was 19 at the time, and that bit of luck was emblematic of his subsequent charmed life, on the track and off,” he added.

Shifting to show business, Kessler directed and produced The Sound of Speed (1962), a 19-minute, dialogue-free documentary about the Scarab race car, which he helped build. The short played at the Cannes Film Festival and got him work as a technical adviser on racing and chase sequences for action movies and as a script supervisor.

After his experience with Hawks, Kessler directed four first-season episodes of The Monkees in 1966 and helmed the 1968 films Angels From Hell , set in the world of motorcycle gangs, and Killers Three (1968), starring Robert Walker Jr.

He would direct two other movies, The Gay Deceivers (1969) and the Andrew Prine -starring Simon, King of the Witches (1971), as well as several telefilms, including 1977’s Murder in Peyton Place .

The adventurous Kessler and naval architect Steve Seaton helped design the first recreational motor yacht for the company Delta Marine, a 70-foot vessel that Kessler christened Zopilote and launched in 1985.

In 1990, Kessler and Freeman left California aboard Zopilote bound for the South Pacific, a 35,000-mile circumnavigation. When they arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Europe after the final leg in 1993, Zopilote had become only the sixth powerboat to complete a trip around the world, Baker noted.

Kessler later helped build the Seaton-designed, 64-foot Spirit of Zopilote, which was delivered in 1997. He and his wife lived and cruised on it for the next 27 years. He wound up logging more than 100,000 nautical miles (and 25,000 hours) as captain of his own vessels.

Survivors include his other brother, Rick.

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