april fool sailboat

The International Small Craft Center At The Mariners' Museum

“april fool”.

Effect : Pleasure-Adventure

Type : Sailboat

Place : North America

Size : 5' 11"

Date : 1966

Builder/Location : Designed by Ed Mairs; Built by Phil Van Deventer

Museum Location : 37

Hugo Vihlen sailed from Casablanca to Florida in 1968, aboard this 6-foot sailboat.

“April Fool”, 1966 Designed by Ed Mairs Built by Phil Van Deventer, Coconut Grove, Florida 5 feet 11 inches long, 5 feet wide, 1,222 pounds Gift of Mr. Hugo S. Vihlen

Would You Cross the Atlantic Ocean in this Boat? That’s exactly what Hugo Vihlen did when he sailed from Casablanca to Florida in 1968, aboard this 6-foot sailboat. On his third attempt Vihlen sailed 4, 480 miles in 85 days, and established the record for the smallest yacht to cross the Atlantic Ocean — a feat that stood for 25 years (1968 – 1993). If you look into the cockpit, notice the seat belt. Can you imagine being belted into this boat during an Atlantic storm?

    Excerpts from “April Fool or, How I sailed from Casablanca to Florida in a Six-Foot Boat”:   Casablanca, Morocco 30 March 1968 As I chugged through the harbor, the size of the place struck me for the first time. My boat was just a matchbox among the docked freighters. If I was concerned that my boat was so small in a harbor, how was I going to feel when she reached the middle of the Atlantic? At sea, I’d be like a grain of sand on the desert. 8 April 1968 – At sea Awful rough. Twenty-foot waves, and steep. Barometer is 29.65. Nine days out. 26 April 1968 – At sea I have been sailing four weeks today. I decided it was time for a haircut. I got out the clippers and went up on the bow leaning over the edge so the hair wouldn’t somehow get into the cabin. I took about 20 minutes and it wasn’t a bad job if I do say so myself. Then I hopped overboard after first making certain to attach myself to the boat by means of a line. My first bath in four weeks. 9 June 1968 – At sea Catastrophe. I ran out of toilet paper today. Thank God for Reader’s Digest. 21 June 1968 – Florida It was Friday night, and after 85 days at sea, I was home, and happy. Many times, while at sea, I had wondered how long it would take me to get used to sleeping in a bed again. I went to bed that night and slept straight through until the next morning. The voyage was over.

Origin : Coconut Grove, Florida, USA

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• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Vihlen

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MONTEREY LIFE

Hugo vihlen and the april fool.

Did you know April Fools’ Day—or some variation of the day set aside for pranks on family and friends—is celebrated around the world, or that it’s been around in some form since medieval times? While you may want to use the day to play tricks on your family and friends (and who could blame you?), we thought we’d share a story about Hugo Vihlen, an American sailor who traveled from Casablanca, Morocco all the way across the Atlantic… and he did it all in his six-foot sailboat, April Fool.

Vihlen, at the time a Delta Airlines co-pilot living in Homestead, Florida, was an adventurer at heart. He embarked on his sailboat—technically, April Fool measured in at five feet, eleven inches—from Casablanca, Morocco, on March 29 th , 1968. Over 84 days, Vihlen was able to sail 4100 miles, all while struggling with wind and strong ocean currents. He almost made the entire trip, but at around six miles off the shore of Miami, Gulf Stream currents pushed April Fool and himback out to sea, where Vihlen accepted food and water from a fellow boater; but he refused to quit his journey just yet. The United States Coast Guard Cutter Cape Shoalwater eventually picked up Vihlen and his boat, allowing for his safe passage back to Florida.

While Vihlen made his first journey in his famously-named April Fool, he returned to the ocean for another transatlantic trip in 1993, aboard his even smaller sailboat, Father's Day, which he sailed all the way to England.

When you find pictures online pertaining to Vihlen’s journey, you may be surprised at what you see—his boat was shorter than he was!

Does Vihlen’s adventurous journeys across the ocean inspire you to pursue your own record-setting trip? Tell us about your own crazy ideas are in the comment section.

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Hugo Vihlen & the Voyage of the April Fool

Hugo Vihlen sailing April Fool

On April 1, often referred to as April Fool’s Day, it seems fitting to recount the voyage of Hugo Vihlen in his micro-yacht April Fool . In 1966, Hugo Vihlen sailed from Casablanca to Florida, aboard his 5’11” sailboat. In 84 days he sailed 4,100 miles and got within 6 miles of Miami, Florida before being stopped by contrary winds and current. He was finally picked up by the US Coast Guard.

The micro-yacht April Fool   now resides at the I nternational Small Craft Center at The Mariners’ Museum  in Newport News, VA.  Their web page features excerpts from Vihlen’s book, “ April Fool or, How I sailed from Casablanca to Florida in a Six-Foot Boat .”  My favorite is from June 9, 1968 after 71 days at sea:

“ Catastrophe. I ran out of toilet paper today. Thank God for Reader’s Digest .”

This log entry may point out an unexpecting shortcoming of ebooks on longer voyages.

Hugo Vihlen & the Voyage of the April Fool — 2 Comments

FATHER’S DAY – http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/fathers-day.html

Yes, apparently April Fool was too big, so Vihlen sailed the other way across the Atlantic in Father’s Day, a boat 7″ shorter.

Father’s Day – the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic

11.06.19  –  By: Lindsey Skinner  –  In: News , People

All boats are designed and made with a specific purpose in mind, whether it is for leisurely trips along the river or for speed and agility to win races. Father’s Day , the boxy bright red boat in our Boat Hall, is no exception. She was designed to be small – as small as possible. Her designer and maker, Hugo Vihlen, allowed enough room for everything he needed to sail across the Atlantic Ocean – no room for luxuries, no room for non-essentials and barely any room for him.

A Korean War fighter pilot and former Delta Airlines Captain, Vihlen previously made an 85 day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1968 in what was then the smallest boat to have made the journey, the 5ft 11 inch sailing boat April Fool . To Hugo’s dismay his arch rival Tom McNally seized the World Record in 1993 by making the Atlantic crossing in a 5ft 4 ½ inch boat.

Determined to reclaim the record Hugo set out alone later that same year to cross the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Falmouth, having been banned from launching in the United States by the Coastguard, who declared his boat unsafe. This time he was in his plywood and fibreglass vessel Father’s Day , his home-built boat, which was, crucially, half an inch shorter than McNally’s.

During the crossing Hugo had to sleep on his back with his knees bent: he woke every hour to check his heading and general sailing conditions, as a consequence of which he never drifted more than 10 miles off course. After facing everything the Atlantic could throw at him, and some close encounters with large ships, Hugo arrived in Falmouth 105 days later. He could hardly walk, had lost 34 pounds in weight, but he had recaptured his record.

His reception on arrival in Falmouth was hardly a hero’s welcome. One of the waiting journalists found him a pasty to eat while his boat was towed to a local yacht club. When the party arrived at the yacht club for a celebration tea they found it closed as he wasn’t expected, so a member of the public produced a bottle of champagne to toast his success.

What better time to look back at Hugo Vihlen’s daring achievements than on Father’s Day. 16 years later, along with his boxy bright red boat Father’s Day , he, perhaps unsurprisingly, still holds the World Record for sailing across the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest boat.

Father’s Day is currently on display in our Boat Hall.

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April Fool: Or, How I sailed from Casablanca to Florida in a six-foot boat Hardcover – January 1, 1971

• Print length 216 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Follett
• Publication date January 1, 1971
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0006C0NIQ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Follett (January 1, 1971)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
• Best Sellers Rank: #4,629,126 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books )

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or, How I sailed from Casablanca to Florida in a six-foot boat.

By hugo vihlen.

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W ith it’s great dimensions (60.96 meters), the acclaimed April Fool meets all the expectations of all who board her.  Aboard this wonderful boat, we find a world of exclusive comfort and ship amenities; therefore, she not only satisfies for her size and space, but also for her luxury and quality. Created by the famed yacht builder Feadship and designed by the marine architects De Voogt Naval, this super yacht has an aluminum superstructure and can reach a speed of more than 16 knots.

The exterior looks spectacular with its multiple windows on both sides, which afford an unbeatable view from anywhere on board.  It’s amenities include an elevator on the four decks, and electric canopy for the spectacular sundeck, a gym and exercise area also on the sundeck, as well as a jacuzzi with an integral windshield, a dining area, a barbecue area, and exclusive sky lounge and the main lounge.

Every corner has been conceived for total relaxation, whether outside or inside. Passengers will find dining areas or exclusive lounges in which to relax, while the April Fool rules the seas.  The interior breathes an atmosphere of tranquility and peace; in every area there is a mix of classic and contemporary, giving each its own unique style.

The cabins are made using oak and are carpeted throughout; each a true VIP cabin. Their tones denote the quality of the materials used in the construction and in each perfectly-crafted detail. The owner has a main cabin, a television room, separate his-and-her dressing rooms, as well as a large private bathroom with a sauna and a jacuzzi.

The bathrooms have specially-shaped mirrors, which are framed at the sides by vertical lines of bulbs. The gallery and the service rooms are completely equipped; on the galley has everything necessary to create culinary delights on the high sea.  The circular, wooden dining area accommodates between 10 and 14 people.

The bridge, in a dark brown color, boasts leather seats, it’s windows feature wipers and its controls of the highest quality, which provide excellent orientation and bearings when sailing.      

Text: Viridiana Barahona ± Photo: Feadship.

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Catamaran Racing at OSYC

Catamaran racing.

One of our primary goals is to be the premier catamaran and small dinghy Yacht Club on the Gulf Coast. To accomplish this, we intend to grow our racers “from the ground up”. Through the use of weekly “round the buoy races” to the continued support of our flagship distances races (Slip to Ship and Island Hop) Ocean Springs Yacht Club through our charitable non-profit, the Ocean Springs Sailing Squadron will help you hone your sailing and racing skills.

Prior racing experience is not needed merely a desire to improve and have fun.

** Friday Night FUN FUN FUN Races **

Free for anyone everyone… sign in at 6pm under the club. Weekly from May 31 until Ocean Springs schools go back. Lasers, Optis, Bics, Sunfish, Hobie 16s, Hobie 14s, Hobie 18s and Formula boats You bring it, we’ll setup a course for it! See you on the water….

2024  Regatta Schedule

•  April 2 – 4: Hobie NAC
• April 5 – 7: Midwinters East and April Fools Regatta
• April 27 – 28: 1699 Regatta and GYA FWC Multi Hull Championship
• May 25 – 26: Slip to Ship Regatta
• July 6 – 7: Island Hop
• August 24 – 25: Katrina Memorial and OSYC Club Wave Championship
• October 19 – 20: Shearwater Regatta
• October 21 – 23: FWC Deep South FWC Championship

 OSYC Regatta Descriptions

Ocean Springs April Fool’s Regatta: Early April every year (The event formerly known as Mid-Winters East/North): This regatta is open to Hobie one design classes including Waves, H16, H17, H18 and H20s. It is being offered at OSYC in partnership with Hobie Division 15 and will be a HCA points event for Hobie one design fleets. We are also inviting Formula Waves to sail in their own concurrent regatta. This is a fun national level event and past competitors have traveled from Ottawa, Ontario, New York State, Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Texas and hopefully even Alabama. The event consists of 3 days of intense buoy racing off the OSYC beach mixed in with some casual dining and social interaction at the club.

1699 Regatta: Multi hull and One Design regatta featuring a (probably) reaching course right along the beach. Fast, fun and local. In connection with the City of Ocean Springs’ 1699 Historical Society’s annual reenactment and celebration of the 1699 landing of Pierre LeMoyne D’Iberville, befriending the Biloxi Indians, and the establishment of Ocean Springs. For 2020 we race up and down the beach Saturday and do some distance racing Sunday. Come on down and check it out! There will be cool trophies:)

Slip to Ship Regatta: Annual regatta on Labor Day weekend, a long distance multi-hull regatta that departs from OSYC for the first leg and races out to the Eastern end of Ship Island. The racers lunch on the island then race back. The final race is the following day when the fastest sailor around Deer Island will get their name on the Deer Island Perpetual trophy!

Island Hop Regatta: Annual regatta, a long distance multi-hull regatta that departs from OSYC for the first leg and races past the Eastern end of Deer Island to the Western tip of Horn Island. Join in on the island for some fun, eats, drinks, swimming and whatever else pops up. Race two is the run home to OSYC, same course, reversed. On Sunday, the final race is the following day when the fastest sailor around Deer Island will get their name on the Deer Island Perpetual trophy!  Entry includes breakfast both days, Sat night dinner, 2 t-shirts, fried chicken lunch on the island, with cold drinks and hamburgers and hot dogs at the awards ceremony Sunday.

Katrina Memorial Regatta-Club Wave Championship: Ocean Springs Yacht Club invites you to attend the 2022 Katrina Memorial Regatta. This regatta will also be the OSYC Club Wave Championship. This promises to be a fun regatta with 2 days of buoy racing sailed right off the beach in front of the OSYC clubhouse.

This will be a Hobie Wave one-design regatta. Hobie Waves that meet the Hobie or Formula Wave class rules will be eligible for this regatta. OSYC club boats will be available to OSYC members on a first come first-served basis.

Formula Wave Deep South Regional Regatta: Formula Wave events are open only to Hobie Waves, including Waves that have Hobie or after market sails and tramps. 30+ Waves on a course at the same time being sailed by experienced skippers gets fun and competitive in a hurry. Waves have not changed significantly from their original design, so this is your chance to put your skipper skills to the test on an even playing field. Please join us for 3 days of buoy racing at OSYC. this race is now being rotated among gulf coast yacht clubs and hosted at OSYC every couple of years.

Shearwater Regatta: The final official race weekend of the 2020 sailing season.  2 days of competitive and fun, buoy racing off the beach, any/all catamarans welcome.  Awards are from Shearwater Pottery and are priced possessions!

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Small Craft Advisor

Almost an April Fool

A cautionary tale about life jackets, gybes, and an errant taco.

I’m e-mailing this piece from my brand-new smart phone. Not that I’m trying to brag about my latest techno-toy or anything. Nope; the reason I bring it up in the first place is that my last phone—the one that I put in that special $18.00 waterproof plastic bag with the impermeable seal—it got drenched last time I went sailing. Seems I took a little spill, and that special plastic bag was only waterproof on the outside, because it was full of water on the inside.

And it’s not like I’m inexperienced. I’ve been sailing since the age of 12, when my dad bought a Lido 14 that we sailed all over Lake Dallas. Upon relocating to Houston, we traded in the Lido for a Gulf Coast 20, and had a great time sailing Galveston Bay. Later, we moved up to a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, a stout little drafthorse of a boat. She could take more weather than we could, and we always enjoyed sailing the bay when storm warnings went up. Years later, when I became a father, I bought a 12-ft Zuma, so I could share the sailing experience with my daughter. I christened the cat-rigged dinghy Lil SweeTart , and found her to be a staid and steady craft for my daughter and me. Now that my princess is in college, I’m sailing single-handed.

That single-handed aspect might have something to do with my story. During the last day of March, I felt a serious case of sailing fever coming over me as I stared out the window of my 8th floor office. I told my boss I needed to take off the next day to hit the lake. At that time, however, I had no idea that April 1st just might turn out to be my last.

In an ordinary capsize (if there is such a thing), the crew might be fortunate enough to be sitting on the high side of their boat, and in some cases they can just slide off the lee rail and onto the daggerboard.

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Undaunted – the 42-inch yacht still hoping to become the smallest boat ever to cross the Atlantic

• May 19, 2017

Matt Kent, age 33, turned back just 24 hours into his first attempt to sail across the Atlantic aboard the "stern-faced" tub Undaunted. Ryan Langley takes a close-up look at this tiny little ocean-crossing capsule.

Just 24 hours into his first attempt to sail solo across the Atlantic in Undaunted , his 42-inch yacht, Matt Kent had to turn back.

He set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 6 April, but returned after concerns about his boat’s seaworthiness.

He explains: “I wasn’t really in too much danger, [but] there was a weak point in the boat that was concerning me. The emergency floatation system component that was on the rudder assembly was getting hammered so hard in these really close together waves. The float was getting jammed upwards so fast and so often the boat’s movement couldn’t keep up.

“It was the worst, most unpredictable and erratic conditions I have ever sailed in with that boat. When it started gusting 45 knots I decided that I shouldn’t keep going with such an obvious weak link.”

Kent estimated his crossing time at some three months, so Undaunted cannot be fixed in time to avoid the hurricane season this year. He therefore plans to postpone his next attempt until the autumn.

He still hopes to set a record for the smallest boat ever to cross the Atlantic. “Both of the guys that held this record had to wait months or even years as setbacks took their toll.”

Where it all began for Undaunted

Skipper Matt Kent was working on a 200ft tall ship when he pondered what the smallest boat ever to sail around the world had been. On discovering that a 5ft 4in yacht had crossed the Atlantic, a seed was sown which resulted in the custom-designed Undaunted.

In 1965 Robert Manry sailed his 13ft 6in Tinkerbelle from Massachusetts to England (see video clip below), and the modern ‘microyacht’ trend was born. Tinkerbelle was followed by the 12ft Nonoalca and 8ft Bathtub across the Atlantic.

By 1968 Hugo Vilhen had made the smallest ocean crossing yet, sailing his 6ft April Fool from Casablanca to Miami. Vilhen went on to cross the Atlantic in his 5ft 4in Father’s Day , while in 2002, Tom McNally attempted, but failed, to cross the Atlantic in the absurdly tiny 3ft 11in Vera Hugh II .

Now Matt Kent, a 33-year-old professional tall ship sailor originally from Oregon, is preparing to cross the Atlantic Ocean aboard his three-and-a-half foot aluminium microyacht Undaunted . He expects the 4,700 nautical mile voyage to Florida, to take four months.

“ Undaunted is 42in long and 42in wide with a 5ft draught, 700lb lead ballast and a 40-gallon emergency water tank slung off the bottom of the keel,” explains Kent.

“Undaunted is designed to pitch rather than roll. That is counter to most boat designs. With better roll stability it will slip off the wind less as it leans forward. If it was more inclined to roll it would move forward and spill the wind from side to side, and be less efficient with more movement.

“Large twin rudders for low-speed efficiency and redundancy also help straighten the boat’s movement, along with a full keel.”

A test sail on Lake Erie demonstrated the unique handling of the boat Kent calls ‘a grumpy little man’.

“He sails downwind like a champ, self-tending downwind by sail angle alone due to the high mast being all the way forward. With a hull speed of just 2.5 knots he is not quick but he is stable and his square dimensions means he is affected by waves from any angle the same.

“He just bobs up and down. With a balance point about 16in above the keel and a 5ft draught he has a stability profile most designers would kill for.

“ Undaunted is a terrible boat, but he is a great storm shelter. A sailing capsule ready for the worst and also able to do the easy part, sailing in a straight line.

“We couldn’t make it go any faster, we couldn’t make it longer for the record. So we focused on safety and stability and through that our stern-faced grumpy little man was born.”

The emergency flotation system can be inflated three times using onboard CO2 canisters, or hand-inflated. Kent has calculated that one tube can support the entire boat, while three can lift the hatch out of the sea even with the boat full of water.

Capsule living

“Sailing it is quite simple, living on it is harder,” Kent comments. He cannot lie fully flat on board. “The boat is designed around my dimensions.

“We have enough space for me to sit upright, and lay my neck and spine out to decompress on the diagonal. The hatch I stand up in is just above my hip bones to prevent me from getting flipped out of the boat, though I will have a harness and tether on all the time.”

The boat is painted white to reflect heat and fully insulated above the waterline, Kent explains. “Below the waterline was left bare so the conductive nature of the aluminium hull will create a cold pocket for me to be in. For ventilation my dorade is at the top of the mast along with my running lights, AIS antenna, and radar reflector.

“However, if I have to keep the hatch shut, I have a neoprene mask with two one-way valves in it. One breathes in from the cabin down the mast and the other breathes out into a flexible hose attached to the inner tube going back out of the mast.”

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Provisions are stowed under Kent’s feet. “I have enough food – half freeze-dried – for six months at 1,500 calories a day. I have intentionally put on 20 extra pounds for the trip as well.

“My diet consists of nuts, dried fruit, protein powder, nutrition bars, a variety of soups, stews, pasta, peanut butter, Nutella and so on. I have a huge variety as well as 64,000 extra calories in the form of two gallons of olive oil to add to my food.

“None of my food needs cooking but I do have a 12V/120W heat coil wand to heat water for dinner or tea or coffee, if I can afford the power. With a two-minute boil time I should be able to use it often. All of this fits in the bilge and down the keel.”

Rather than carry a liferaft, Undaunted has its own emergency flotation system. “I had a white-water raft company make three inflatable tubes that will be rolled up and attached to the port, starboard, and bow of my boat. If I get swamped, holed or have an emergency I can turn a valve from inside the boat to have CO2 fill the tubes and float the boat until I fix it, or pump out,” explains Kent.

Undaunted has no engine, so the watermaker and battery charger will be operated by hand and foot pumps.

“I have two 1.2-gallon manual reverse-osmosis desalinators. One would be more than enough, but water is nothing to mess with.

“I will also have one month’s worth of water on board and one month of food that doesn’t need to be rehydrated if the watermakers fail or if I am injured and can’t pump. Making water and electricity will be part of my daily exercise.

“Also I will be able to swim behind the boat with a dual tether and harness system.”

The keel fresh water tank is divided into four ten-gallon compartments to avoid loss of stability in the event that Kent uses the water. Each can then be separately refilled with seawater.

Permission to land

When Vilhen crossed the Atlantic in 1993 in his 5ft 4in Father’s Day , his original plans were thwarted by the US Coast Guard and he eventually departed from Canada. Kent says this was one of the drivers in choosing a west-about route.

“Not only is the thought of coming home better than showing up someplace else after a long voyage alone, but it means that by the time I am in US waters I will have just crossed 4,600 miles of open ocean.

“If I can, I will pull into port, raise my Q flag and wait for Customs there. If I am near shore and I become too much of a traffic hazard, we will have a small boat come retrieve me.

“We are trying to make sure we don’t get in the way of other people’s livelihood or put anyone at risk with a needless rescue operation.”

His safety equipment includes AIS and an EPIRB.

“I have a satellite phone and a shore support team watching weather and my progress, giving me daily weather reports and receiving my location and status updates directly. I will also be tracked by my AIS system.

“I have a standalone GPS, GPS on my radio, GPS on my sat phone and on my smartphone and chartplotter, as well as redundant clocks and a sextant, and paper charts of the Caribbean and mid-North Atlantic.”

Kent says he is unconcerned about the psychological challenge of living in such a small space for four months.

“I have spent weeks alone in the Guatemalan Highlands, and lived alone in the woods for years. I have never been so alone or for so long, but few have.

“With plenty of digital media, books, daily check-ins and phone calls on the sat phone I will hardly be alone. Meditation has been a big part of my life, so the loneliness of the trip is not my biggest concern.”

Specifications

Length: 1m (42in) Draught: 1.5m (60in) Weight: 544kg unladen (1,200lb), or 816kg laden (1,800lb) Hull Speed: 2.5 knots Sail area: 49.5sq ft  (square sail) plus 27sq ft (rafee)

Undaunted has a modified square rig. “I have three identical yards and two sails, one square and one rafee [triangular topsail set above] a lower yard. One will be inside the cabin while the other is set.”

The boat has two watertight hatches: a small one set into the large one. The large hatch opens and locks over the back of the boat to act as a work table and guard against getting pooped. The small hatch has a lookout dome and is just big enough to allow Kent to get in and out.

Two 16-gallon polyethylene tanks or ‘saddle-bags’ are lashed to either side of the boat under a 4in port. They will hold lighter supplies like clothes and extra line, says Kent. “They are also reserve flotation in the event of flooding.”

The rudders are attached to the transom by two 4in piano hinges. Attached to that rack is a third tiller that travels through the transom inside a rubber boot to keep it watertight for steering from inside the vessel. There is no autopilot or wind vane self-steering.

Two roll-up solar panels can be deployed or stored down below.

The keel incorporates a 40-gallon water tank.

A large waterproof case houses all electronics, bolted to the port bulkhead. This includes breakers attached to the 105 amp-hour battery in the bilge.

You can learn more about Undaunted and Matt Kent’s Atlantic crossing on his Facebook page Little Boat Project or the website littleboatproject.org

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• Luxury Charter Yachts
• Motor Yachts for Charter

Samadhi (ex: April Fool)

• Amenities & Toys
• Rates & Regions
• + Shortlist

SAMADHI YACHT CHARTER

60.96m  /  200'   feadship   2006 / 2024.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Expansive sundeck
• Three al fresco dining options
• Sundeck gym with a skylight
• Separate dining salon
• Extensive glazing
• Rendezvous diving

Charter luxury yacht SAMADHI and experience the ultimate in outdoor living, supreme comfort and sophistication in abundance on your yachting vacation

The 60.96m/200' 'Samadhi' (ex. April Fool) motor yacht built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 5 cabins. This award winning yacht features interior styling by Larvor.

From bow to stern, Samadhi is brimming with an fantastic array of social and dining areas, both inside and out, making her the ideal yacht for relaxing and entertaining whilst on charter. Her features include a spa, elevator and gym.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 2006, Samadhi offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 5 suites comprising a master suite and four VIP cabins. The bed configuration includes 2 king and 4 singles. She is also capable of carrying up to 16 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

You and your guests can enjoy a variety of experiences on Samadhi such as a sauna to help you detox and regenerate. Take the opportunity to be thoroughly pampered and indulged in the spa and the swimming pool is perfect for exercising or admiring a romantic sunrise. You can visit the well-equipped gym so that you can keep up with your fitness routine at sea or sit back with a glass of champagne in the deck jacuzzi.

Samadhi benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter such as an elevator, making any part of the yacht quickly and easily accessible. With Wi-Fi connectivity you don't have to lose contact with the outside world, unless you want to and you can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Samadhi is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, she comfortably cruises at 13 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 16 knots with a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles from her 125,700 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed.

Onboard Samadhi has a large selection of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. Guests can experience the thrill and adventure of riding one of the two Yamaha WaveRunners. Also there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. If that isn't enough Samadhi also features waterskis, a seabob, wakeboards, kayaks, fishing equipment and much more. When it comes to Tenders, Samadhi has you covered - with three tenders, including a 13.7m/44'11" Vanquish Chase Tender.

Samadhi is available upon request for charter this winter. She is already accepting bookings this summer for cruising in Northern Europe.

With its luxurious interiors, vast array of onboard facilities and a highly-trained and professional crew, a luxury yacht vacation onboard motor yacht Samadhi promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Samadhi, please provide .

Samadhi Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Samadhi has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Rendez-vous diving only.

Samadhi is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 13.7m  /  44'11 Vanquish VQ45 Chase Tender
• 1 x 9.3m  /  30'6 Pascoe Open Tender with 2 x
• 1 x 7m  /  23' Pascoe RIB with 1 x

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Samadhi Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2007 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 500GT to 1,299GT (approximately 50m – 59m) Winner
• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Samadhi' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€380,000 p/week + expenses Approx $407,000

High Season

€425,000 p/week + expenses Approx $455,500

Cruising Regions

Northern Europe Finland, Norway

Winter Season

October - April

$360,000 p/week + expenses

$425,000 p/week + expenses

Please enquire .

Charter Samadhi

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

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NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

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The coolest marine-based April Fool's jokes of 2023

Notice something that made you look twice over the weekend it may well have been an april fool's joke..

Crack police paddleboard pursuit squad, variable-speed outboard engines, underwater trips and frothy coffee - here is our wrap of the best April Fool's jokes in the marine world.

April Fool's Day has come and gone, and once again the wags in the marine industry have had a field day with announcements that have challenged credibility.

We've had a scratch round to find the best of them, presented to you here in one compact package that you'll definitely need to take with a grain of salt.

Mercury Marine had two bites at the April Fool's cherry this year.

The first was from the US, whacking a Pro XS logo on its Mercury V12 Verado and promising prospective bass boat owners they could get to the fish “ridiculously fast”.

“What does it feel like to strap 600 horses to the back of a bass boat? In a word … unbelievable! 

“Introducing the biggest thing in bass fishing since forward-facing sonar - the brand-new Mercury V12 600hp Pro XS outboard. 

“It's performance-tuned to get you and your bass boat to the best schools (all of them) and back to weigh in before the competition has even finished its morning coffee.”

The second was the announcement of the Avator 50R by Mercury’s French division.

“To mark the 50th anniversary of its Racing division, Mercury is launching a brand new model: the R50 Avator; a limited edition that allows you to power your fishing boat at 50 knots for 50 minutes thanks to a 50 megawatts battery,” it said.

Over at Yamaha, the fun was all about introducing a new two-speed outboard engine for the days you need to go quick, and the others where you just needed to go slow.

Yamaha’s Australian team issued a release of a “new variable-set horse power” outboard engine.

“All new to Yamaha, the Variable Extreme Set Horse Power system,” it said, adding that the new 25hp or 50hp outboard would deliver “unmatched power to your small boat”.

“Simply select your chosen Horse Power and let the internal outboard tuning do its Job and switch your boating experience to the Extreme level,” it said.

Suzuki Marine’s UK division doesn’t often pass up the opportunity to have a laugh, this year introducing the new Barista range of outboard engines designed to froth up milk for coffee.

Meanwhile, Queensland Police poked a bit of fun at itself, announcing it would introduce a new fleet of mounted police patrols – using paddleboards.

“Today we launch our Stand Up Paddleboard Squad,” it announced in an official-looking statement posted on social media.

“They will be cracking down on reckless behaviours on our pristine waterways. If you see them, chuck a shakkas and say 'sup!”

The NSW SES weighed in, saying that it would expand its annual "Wear Orange Day" held to recognise the contributions of its volunteers by rolling out a new PR stunt; dying the waters of Sydney Harbour orange.

Geelong-based passenger and vehicle ferry service the Spirit of Tasmania also turned the joke on itself, announcing a new submarine service running alongside its boat-based service that has sometimes attracted the nickname the “vomit comet” due to the occasional rough passage across the notorious Bass Strait.

“Prepare to experience Bass Strait as no spirited traveller has before,” it said announcing the “new” service. 

“Introducing the Spirit VI submarine - our first underwater ferry!  A sleek exterior is matched by state-of-the-art design, features and facilities.”

The social media post said the other benefits of the trip below the waves included no sea breeze or views from the deck. However, it does promise an “unforgettable journey”.

“Strap yourself in for the ferry experience of the future, taking innovation to new depths.”

Earning a special commendation is Daiwa Australia, which pulled the wraps off a new travel rod that breaks down into 16 separate pieces.

“Introducing the latest addition to our Wilderness range, a 16 PIECE EXTRA-COMPACT travel rod!” it announced.

“Packed with a tonne of Daiwa technology like HVF Nanoplus, V-Joint Alpha, X45, Fuji Alconite guides and an exclusive Daiwa reel seat!

“If you're looking to travel this year and are in dire need of a rod, look no further than the new EXTRA-COMPACT model in the WILDERNESS range where you could even pack it into your own pocket measuring at only 20cm!”

The Boat Works on the Gold Coast also jumped on board for the day, announcing a 520hp custom-built haul-out vehicle affectionately nicknamed “The Beast”.

“The V8 prototype was built to enhance the service at the region’s most technically advanced boat yard, manoeuvring vessels efficiently around the yard,” The Boat works said in a statement.

According to The Boat Works, The Beast uses a big block Chevrolet 454 cubic-inch engine attached to a hydrostatic gearbox – technology normally found in drag cars.

“I know the capability and power from racing V8 Supercars myself, so I thought why not enhance our lifting capabilities to meet the demand of boats and put 520 horsepower to work to get the job done,” The Boat Works owner Tony Longhurst said.

“We’re taking shipyard service to the next level. We’re ready for anything at The Boat Works!”

And in something that we're not sure is a joke, online dating app Tinder announced over the weekend that it would modify its policies to ban people from posing with a fish in their profile images.

"For those (blissfully) unaware, a 'Fish Pic' is the puzzling phenomenon where singles add photos to their dating profile posing with a fish they’ve caught," it said in an obvious reference to a quite different and less savoury profile pic trend.

"A recent Tinder study revealed 92 per cent of singles reported 'getting the ick' after coming across a potential match’s fish pic."

"Effective immediately, Tinder will start removing all photos of members holding sea creatures big and small.

"All fish-related content is expected to be removed within 24 hours, making Tinder the first dating app in history to be 'fish free', because let’s face it - no one looks good holding a slimy fish."

We 100 per cent agree.

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News | The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show offered a…

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News | The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show offered a ‘First Sail’ workshop. Here’s how it went.

At the end of each April, the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is a weekend outing spent ogling boats along City Dock that cost nearly as much as a house, if not more, and dreaming about sailing around the world.

But for those who participated in the hands-on First Sail Workshop, the show was a chance to begin pursuing what could be a lifelong love of the sport. And, is there really a better way to spend your Friday morning?

For one student, the class was a way to dip his toes in the water, testing it out before he committed to a three-day introductory course. Another student had inherited a boat and needed the skills to sail it. Ron Soberano, a Montgomery County resident, had spent years watching sailing videos on YouTube and hoped to make his own channel. Others were seeking out something new.

I also wanted to get a glimpse of what it was like to learn how to sail, but full disclosure — it wasn’t new to me. I’m already a sailor and an American Sailing Association certified instructor with several years of teaching ASA 101, the introductory keelboat sailing course that many sailors start with, under my belt.

While it never hurts to brush up on skills, even as a seasoned sailor, the workshop was a chance to see others experience the same joy that I felt the first time I went sailing, an enchantment with the water that still holds steady more than a decade after my own first sail. That experience is craved by others, too — several dozen spaces offered in the First Sail Workshops on Saturday and Sunday are sold out.

We started our journeys before the show opened for the weekend, learning the ropes in our makeshift classroom, a sunlit space above Latitude 38. The blue skies outside and a light breeze made for a perfect first day on the water.

ASA instructor Ken Roach, a longtime sailor from Delaware, walked us through the basics, using a model cutter rig sailboat to show us the parts of the boat — keel, hull, bow, stern, mast, standing and running rigging, jib and mainsail, port and starboard, among others, scratching the surface of the new vocabulary to be learned when embarking on your first sailing journey.

Adding to the lesson, Roach also showed us how to interpret a diagram of the points of sail, the directions of the wind that dictate where a boat can sail, and informed us of the rules of the road, or water.

As we walked outside after our classroom lecture, eager to hit the docks, the boat show was coming alive. Vendors and yacht brokers milled around, setting up for an eight-hour day under tents and on boats. The three-day event continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Amid a sea of cruisers, our boat, a Beneteau First 22, awaited. The 22-foot keelboat boasts ample cockpit space and responsive, yet forgiving twin rudders, a design specifically tailored for beginner courses.

Rick Robey, another longtime ASA instructor and captain, was ready to get on the water, guiding each of us on the correct way to board the boat, ensuring we each had a hand on the shroud and a foot firmly planted on the deck as we stepped on — multiple points of contact are crucial when transferring from a floating dock to the boat.

The power of a tiny electric outboard motor would help us leave the dock once our lines were cast off, and Soberano guided us out past the mooring field in Spa Creek toward the Severn River. For him, taking the helm was bringing his years of watching others sail around the world on a screen to reality.

Once our bow was pointed into the wind, another classmate, Angela Ring, and I worked to raise the mainsail, tightening the foot of the reefed sail before unfurling the jib. With sails up, the motor was switched off, with only the sound of water lapping against the hull and a faint din from the show to be heard.

Ring, a Bowie resident who had casually motored around on powerboats for years before taking the workshop, decided to set sail on Friday to see if she liked it before diving deeper into lessons.

At 10 a.m. on a Friday, boat traffic on the water is light, lending itself to an ideal first-sail environment. A moored boat dead ahead, however, meant that we needed to change course. It was up to us, under the watchful eye of Robey, to navigate onto a new tack.

“Prepare to tack,” Soberano, our helmsman, said.

“Ready!” Ring and I replied, readying at the winches as the bow turned through the wind.

That would be the first in a series of tacks and jibes, with our responsibilities switching between taking the helm and working as crew over the 90-minute voyage. Although the breeze faltered at times, we were smoothly sailing throughout, possibly hitting a top speed of 4 knots.

All good things must come to an end, however, and the time came to drop the sails and motor back to the dock.

Though our arrival back to shore ended the trip, for my classmates, it wasn’t a true ending: it was the beginning of their sailing journeys. I can only hope that this morning excursion sparked a similar love for sailing in them, and that they, too, will find this to be a joy lasting a lifetime.

The First Sail Workshop, presented by the American Sailing Association, is available at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show in April and the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. 

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Florida Man Suspected Of Boat Theft Attempted To Fool Police Searching For Him By Dressing Up As A Woman

Police were hot on the trail of a suspected boat thief in Florida when he came up with what he thought was a brilliant plan to sneak past them.  His plan was to dress himself up as a woman and leave the area undetected.

The not-so well-thought-out plan backfired for several reasons.  The most obvious reason being that he doesn't look like a woman at all, not even with an elaborate disguise.

A Florida boat theft suspect dressed up as a woman in an attempt to slip passed the police. (Image Credit: Getty)

Deputies investigating a boat theft in Glades County, Florida, last week recovered the stolen property in Lakeport and identified 33-year-old Joshua Kolotka as the suspect.  They then started canvassing the area for him.

During the search, Kolotka thought he would be able to avoid arrest by putting on a dress, a cardigan, a pair of sunglasses and a wig.  Evidently, these are all items he keeps close by in case he finds himself needing to leave undetected.

Despite his best efforts, he didn't fool anyone.  However, the cardigan was a nice touch.  Deputies watched as he exited a home in the area where they were conducting their search dressed as a woman.

The Florida Boat Theft Suspect Had Other Possibly Stolen Items

Kolotka was quickly taken into custody, according to NBC Miami .  He was then arrested on two warrants, charges for the boat theft, and the theft of a John Deere Gator.

They could have very easily added more charges to his list for his poor sense of fashion.  They did not, but that doesn't mean they won't be adding to his list of charges.

Deputies found a number of other possibly stolen items at the scene.  Investigators are trying to identify those items and see if they match other theft cases.

Better luck next time.  It turns out you can dress up like a woman to compete in women's sports , but not to avoid arrest.