Rising to the Occasion

Here is a series of neat images capturing Vango rising in the Ballard locks transiting from Puget Sound to Lake Washington in Seattle. Thanks to Dave Genisman for the images. To find out more about Vango, check out America's 100 Largest Yachts in our November issue. She comes in at no. 81.

Making Her Debut

The boating scene has a new member—a 101'6" enclosed bridge motoryacht custom built by Burger Boat Company. Fully ABS certified, the Tò-Kalòn sports strong, lightweight materials and carefully calculated design and engineering parameters. Her interior features Sapele paneling with accents of Sapele Pomele, which flows throughout the main deck saloon and guest accommodations. A hard-to-miss feature is the centrally located open spiral staircase. Suspended in front of three full-length windows, the staircase was built from select Sapele veneers and hardwoods accented by custom brass balustrade with antique bronze finish supporting the Sapele hardwood handrail.

Rivaling the spiral staircase, which ascends from the owner’s accommodations to the skylounge and pilothouse, Tò-Kalòn’s skylounge showcases leather Chesterfield sofas and a domed ceiling, which was painted by a New York artist win a motif embracing the yacht’s name.

And not to worry, this American beauty is staying true her roots—she was built for a U.S. yachting family.

Driver Survives Wicked Crash

The Associated Press offered up this footage of a driver losing control of his boat last week in San Diego while preparing for a race in Mission Bay.

To the Rescue

“Prepare for docking.” Those three words were music to my clogged ears. Because of a cold accompanied by flu-like symptoms I found myself on the 11:30 a.m. Sen. John J. Marchi ferry boat leaving Manhattan for Staten Island (and my bed) on Tuesday. With the dock in sight, I rose from my seat and joined my fellow midday riders at the front of the boat. Looking out the window with dreams of my cold-remedy-filled medicine cabinet dancing through my head I noticed something odd. Was the boat going in reverse or was my mind playing tricks on me? When the ferry started turning in a circle I knew it was no trick...at least not one I found amusing.

Within seconds a voice came over the public address system informing us that the ferry was being delayed. A mile from the dock...so close yet so far. Before long chatter arose about a woman in the water. Coast guard boats and an NYPD helicopter converged on the area. Did the woman jump from the ferry? Was she pushed? Is she OK? So many questions swirled among the passengers. Less than ten minutes later (eight, to be exact), the voice from above came over the public address system to let us know the ferry was involved in a successful rescue operation. Applause rose from the crowd and we continued on our way to the Staten Island ferry terminal in St. George.

Later that day the rescue mission was recounted on the five o’clock news. It goes like this: As the Sen. John J. Marchi ferry boat was a mile from the Staten Island terminal the captain, through his binoculars, spotted a woman in the water. He immediately alerted authorities and dispatched two deckhands in a ferry rescue craft. The two deckhands reached the woman, pulled her into their boat—as she gasped for air—and brought her to land. Emergency officials met the rescue craft at the ferry terminal and transported the woman to a local hospital. Surveillance cameras later revealed the woman jumped into the New York Harbor from a Staten Island pier as the ferry was closing in on shore. The eagle eyes of the captain and the quick response of the ferry employees saved this woman’s life.

According to the two deckhands, ferry employees practice rescue drills once a week. And practice makes perfect...eight minutes perfect.

Photo courtesy of New York City Department of Transportation Web site.

Newport: Vicem V52 Video

The Turkish builder Vicem had its new V52 on display at Newport. This hull doesn’t have the flying bridge (see below) but it does come with the optional twin 800-hp Cummins diesel inboards (640-hp power plants are standard). The company states that her WOT speed is around 30 knots, while she should cruise at 25 knots.

As with the Sabre video I posted earlier, the camera work is rough, but it gives you a feel for the interior layout. For better videos, check out Vicem’s Web site.