| Yacht of the Week: James Bond's Regina |
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While some of us labour to put on our own antifoul to save the cruising budget, others are doing it a lot easier. If you don't want the hassles of never-ending maintenance, chartering a yacht when you have the time is a great alternative. And then there is Regina: Regina happens to be the largest of private yachts built in the Bodrum district of Turkey, hub of hedonistic sailing in the waters which also edge many bays of the Greek Islands.
Wherever Regina berths she attracts a gaggle of onlookers, snapping shots. Even other cruisers respond to the allure of this gulet-style yacht, the epitomy of style on the Turkish coastline. Unlike many gulets sailing in these waters, who last for a mere ten years before they are swapped for new, she is made of high tensile steel and finest mahogany and burmese teak to achieve a one-of-a-kind classic schooner with utmost luxury amenities and water toys. It took almost two years to build this beauty where 12 privileged guests can be accommodated in utmost comfort and luxury.
So who could blame the sightseers for gaping? At 56m (170ft), with her sweeping, scimitar-like profile, lustrous mahogany woodwork, and towering masts, it’s a megayacht born to draw goggle-eyed stares. And while Regina has been turning heads on the Aegean since its maiden voyage in 2011, this is not all. But that wasn't all, and the rumour was around the dock in Bodrum quickly, only increasing her allure: Not many months ago the Regina dazzled an international audience of millions as the backdrop for a steamy encounter between James Bond star Daniel Craig and co-star Bérénice Marlohe as Severine in 'Skyfall,' the newest 007 film. It was true. In the movie SkyFall, James Bond and Severine sail on the Regina. In the film the yacht is referred to as the 'Chimera'. So what is it really like? The master cabins have a separate dressing room and feature Satellite TV, DVD and music systems. Every detail has been considered for comfort – the other three guest cabins are considered to be as luxurious as the master suites. The large saloon and spacious deck areas are ideal for entertaining highly esteemed guests like Bond and Severine.
For a mere $120,000 for the week you can charter this yacht, and you'll get a centralized remote control system that controls both music and televisions all over the yacht, and a selection of water toys and recreational amenities including a 115 Hp Zodiac dinghy, a 3-person wave runner, 2 sea kayaks, Ringo, water skis and wake board. Just the kind of stuff Bond happens to love!
Hearing all this on the dock made the onlookers gape anew - yes, those who had seen the film remembered, that was the boat!
If, however, you don't want to spend your weekends applying antifoul and other similar grotty tasks, yet you don't have $120,000 to spend on chartering Regina, there's good news. Southern Turkey is brimful of charter companies offering cruises aboard sailboats modeled on traditional wooden gulets at a range of prices. Most provide the same amenities: a tailor-made itinerary, skilled captain, cook, and small crew to tend to guests.
Sailing a gulet may not be the ultimate in tough sailing, but it certainly beats antifouling as a pastime.
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