king of spain yacht

King Emeritus Juan Carlos I of Spain becomes World Champion

King Emeritus Juan Carlos of Spain has claimed an impressive victory in the six-metre class at the World Sailing Championships on the Isle of Wight.

With his boat “El Bribón”, the father of King Felipe reaffirmed the titles previously won in Canada in 2017 and in Finland in 2019.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, with strong winds and sea currents, King Juan Carlos and his team celebrated the triumph of this competition.

Although he was unable to skipper the boat on the final day due to the weather conditions, he was able to follow the performance of the boat from a boat and witness the achievement.

King Juan Carlos wins the World Championship of Sailing

The King Emeritus boat, skippered by Pedro Campos, was crewed by Olympic champions Jane Abascal and Ross MacDonald, Alberto Viejo, Roi Álvarez and the British Simon Fisher. Together they showed their talent and dedication in this competition.

After winning the championship, King Juan Carlos expressed his satisfaction with the work done: “We have a sensational team, a very good team. We have worked hard, we have fought hard and here is the result”. His words were echoed by his team, the Real Club de Navegación de Sanxenxo (RCNS), and published in the Spanish newspaper El País.

At the age of 85, Juan Carlos de Borbón has once again demonstrated his sailing skills and his commitment to the sport by confirming a title for which he has been preparing for months.

Before returning to Abu Dhabi, King Juan Carlos said goodbye to his daughter, Infanta Elena, who had also accompanied him for a few days in the United Kingdom.

He also expressed his intention to return to Spain soon and is expected to take part in the eighth edition of the King Juan Carlos Cup, which will be held in the city of Pontevedra at the end of September.

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King Gives Up Royal Yacht, but Donors Want It Back

By Raphael Minder

• May 27, 2013

MADRID — In hard times like these, everyone has to make sacrifices. And King Juan Carlos of Spain wanted it known that he was doing his part, too.

Two weeks ago, the royal palace announced that “for austerity reasons,” the king would hand over to the government one of his most famous possessions, a $27 million, 136-foot yacht he received as a gift 13 years ago to replace one given to him by King Fahd, the former ruler of Saudi Arabia.

If only it were that easy.

On Monday, the gesture turned instead into an ownership battle after the businesspeople who paid for the yacht announced that if Juan Carlos did not want it, then they wanted it back. In a letter to the administrators of Spain’s national patrimony, the foundation representing the businesspeople emphasized that the gift had been made with the stipulation that the yacht be used by the king and members of his family.

The 35-ton aluminum yacht, Fortuna, is moored off the island of Majorca, where the royal family has a palace and vacations each summer. The 30 or so executives who contributed to its purchase include hotel owners and bankers with links to Majorca and other Balearic Islands, whose regional government contributed a small part of the cost of the yacht, too.

The gift was presented as a way of thanking the monarch for helping to promote Majorca, one of Spain’s major tourism destinations. But Majorca, too, seems to be a problem.

It has become the scene of a corruption case undermining the reputation of the royal family and centering on accusations that the king’s son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin , embezzled millions from lucrative contracts for sports events organized on behalf of regional politicians.

Last week, the Majorca-based judge who is leading the inquiry said he would investigate whether Princess Cristina, Mr. Urdangarin’s wife and the king’s younger daughter, had engaged in tax evasion or money-laundering.

Mr. Urdangarin has not been charged with any crime. But the case has intensified pressure on the monarchy at a time when the king’s popularity has fallen to record lows in opinion polls, and there have even been some calls for the king to abdicate in favor of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.

The king came to the throne in 1975, when the monarchy was reinstalled after the death of the dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, but as the head of one of Europe’s poorest royal families after decades in exile. Recently, however, as resentment has mounted here over high unemployment and cuts to social services by a government struggling to balance its budget, the family’s wealth has come under greater scrutiny.

It is not that the king, who is 75 and has had several health problems recently, would miss the Fortuna all that much; he made only one outing on the vessel in 2012. But a representative of the royal household said the yacht’s future was not for the palace to decide.

Carmen Matutes, the president of the foundation that is trying to reclaim the yacht, told the Spanish news media on Monday that her organization had no intention of keeping it, which is understandable. Just filling its fuel tanks costs more than $30,000, according to Spanish news reports. And then there is the crew.

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The 13 Fastest Superyachts in the World

These boats prove that size doesn't have to mean slow..

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When American businessman John Staluppi embarked on his yachting journey, it was to break records. He wanted his first yacht to be the first boat over 100 feet to exceed 30 knots, or 34.5 mph. He achieved it with the 118-foot For Your Eyes Only, delivered in 1985. It was also the first motoryacht in the US to have a combination of MTU diesel engines with water-jet propulsion.

His second yacht would smash all previous records. Delivered by Heesen in 1988, Octopussy fulfilled the Bond enthusiast’s aim to break the then 50-knot barrier with a top end of 53.17 knots (61 mph)—a speed that every other shipyard at the time said couldn’t be done. Octopussy  immediately entered the record books as the world’s fastest yacht.

“That record was important to me because when you pull into any place there’s always a bigger boat or a prettier boat, but there aren’t many people who can say, ‘Hey, this is the fastest yacht in the world,’” Staluppi told Robb Report .

Heesen’s latest delivery, the 197-foot Ultra G , is one of the Dutch yard’s fastest projects these days, with a propulsion package totaling 22,000 horsepower, including four water jets that deliver a top speed of 37 knots (42.57 mph).

Of course, 43 mph is a paltry number compared to many of the yachts on this list, including the new Bolide 80. That Italian stallion, which will make its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show, runs at a blistering 84 mph. It shows that speed, even in the large motoryacht category, is very much alive.

Here are 13 of the fastest motoryachts, past and present, that have ever been on the water.

1. Bolide 80 | 84 mph

Victory Marine calls the Bolide 80 its first “Hyper Muscle Yacht,” which will be part of a limited-edition series from 60 to 170 feet. Designer Brunello Acampora and his tema of engineers pulled out all the stops on this 80, creating a full-carbon-fiber boat with more than 6,000 horsepower. The multi-stepped hull helps propel the Bolide to its top speed of 70 knots (84 mph), while accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of burning about half the fuel of a much smaller flybridge motoryacht at lower cruising speeds. The designer took care to give the Bolide a streamlined profile, with aerodynamic shapes to reduce resistance. The interior includes the captain’s cabin, a full-sized galley, open salon, and a forward owner’s area with a bedroom, en suite and wardrobe area. It will make its global debut at the Monaco Yacht Show.

2. ‘Foners’ | 80.56 mph

Clocking a thrilling 70.10 knots (80.56 mph), the 136-foot Foners has maintained pole position as the world’s fastest superyacht for over 20 years. Powered by two 1,280hp MAN engines coupled to three Rolls-Royce 6,700 hp gas turbines driving three KaMeWa water jets, the all-aluminum boat is less about piercing waves and more about parting the seas. Delivered in 2000 by Spanish shipyard Izar as the King of Spain’s royal yacht, no expense was spared, including a superstructure lined with Aramid fiber for the express purpose of bulletproofing the interior.

3. ‘World Is Not Enough’ | 77.1 mph

You need to only look at the 007-inspired name to know that World Is Not Enough is another rapid racer commissioned by John Staluppi, this time with an opulent interior designed by his wife Jeanette in partnership with Evan K Marshall. Delivered in 2004 by Millennium Super Yachts, the 139-footer is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines to produce a staggering 20,600hp and a breathtaking 67 knots (77.1 mph). When not leaving other boats behind, World Is Not Enough has a cruising range of 3800 nautical miles at a comfortable speed of 10 knots.

4. ‘Galeocerdo’ | 74.8 mph

Wally founder Luca Bassani designed the 118-foot Galeocerdo to maintain speed in rough seas. Launched in 2003 by Rodriquez Yachts, the boat racks up an eye-watering 65 knots (74.8 mph), thanks to its three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each driving a Rolls-Royce KaMeWa water jet. Another performance-enhancing feature is the lightweight titanium exhaust system designed to resist the extreme temperatures generated by the gas turbines. Wind tunnel tested at the Ferrari facility in Maranello, Italy, the boat generates 16,800hp and a 45-knot (51.8-mph) cruising speed that’s faster than most motoryachts running flat out. It also enjoys a highly futuristic exterior design.

5. Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 | 72.5 mph

When Italian supercar brand Lamborghini teamed up with yachting stalwart The Italian Sea Group, the end result had to be style and performance. The Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 is all about the power of ‘63’. Designed and built to celebrate the year 1963 when Ferruccio Lamborghini founded his car company, the 63-footer delivers a whiplashing top speed of 63 knots (72.5 mph). And naturally, it’s one of just 63 in the series that will ever be made. Built out of carbon fiber, it’s fitted with two MAN V12-2000HP engines. MMA fighter Conor McGregor took delivery of hull number one in 2020, which reportedly cost $4 million.

6. ‘Chato’ | 71.9 mph

Back in the mid-1980s, passionate Baglietto customer and leading US Porsche and VW dealer Baron John von Neumann, commissioned a new 85-ft. speed demon from the Italian builder. The entrepreneur was tired of his 34-knot (39-mph) Baglietto getting creamed from Monaco to St. Tropez by faster cruisers. With a hull design by the legendary Alcide Sculati, the all-aluminum Chato came with MTU’s latest 3,480hp V16s coupled to KaMeWa waterjets. Weighing 60 tons, and packing almost 7,000 hp, the military-looking superyacht with its battleship-gray paint and bright-red diagonal hull stripes, hit an astonishing top speed of 62.5 knots (71.9 mph) during sea trials. Chato is currently for sale in the South of France for $715,000.

7. ‘Oci Ciornie’ | 69.04 mph

Oci Ciornie’s Vripack-designed interior may take inspiration from aircraft designs, but it’s the boat’s naval architecture by Don Shead and the combination of two 1,800hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine and Arneson surface drives that put it on this list. Delivered in 1998 by Palmer Johnson with an aluminum hull, the 82-foot boat thrusts through water at 60 knots (69.04 mph), giving all eight guests the waterborne ride of their lives.

8. ‘Destriero’ | 68 mph

The numbers almost defy logic. With a length of 224 feet, the all-aluminum superyacht Destriero is massive. Now add a trio of GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines totaling an insane 60,000 hp and the incredulity only increases. Flat out, Destriero could scythe through waves at a staggering 59 knots, or 68 mph. Back in 1992, just one year after its launch, the Fincantieri-built rocketship showed its chops by challenging the famous Blue Riband trans-Atlantic speed record. Averaging 53.09 knots for the 3,106 nautical-mile run, Destriero shattered the record, only to be denied the trophy for being classed as a private yacht and not a commercial passenger vessel. Sadly, today the iconic yacht lies largely abandoned at one of Lurssen’s yards in Germany, awaiting rescue.

9. ‘Ermis²’ | 65.59 mph

Some yachts feature slippery hull designs, others are propelled by rockets, but the McMullen & Wing-built Ermis² is one of the fastest yachts on the superyacht circuit thanks to its lightweight materials. Built from a combination of carbon/epoxy, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium, the 123-foot boat taps out at 57 knots (65.59 mph.) Delivered in 2007, its 10,944 horsepower comes from three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines. Designed inside and out by Rob Humphreys, its classic looks disguise the speed demon within.

10. ‘Why Not U’ | 63.3 mph

Why Not U is a yacht that comfortably cruises at 47 knots (54.1 mph)—a speed most owners only dream of reaching. When time is of the essence, the boat cranks up its Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines to max out at 55 knots (63.3 mph). Delivered by Overmarine in 2001, Why Not U ’s 4.3-foot draft makes it well suited for cruising shallow waters, while its sunbathing areas allow guests to catch some rays traveling at the speed of light.

11. ‘Alamshar’ | 52 mph

Alamshar is another custom collaboration between Donald Blount and Pininfarina commissioned by Aga Khan IV, this time with interiors by Redman Whiteley Dixon. It was reportedly built for an estimated $200 million at the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom, and took 13 years to complete. When it was eventually delivered in 2014, Alamshar’s top speed of 45 knots (51.78 mph), generated by twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets, seemed worth the wait.

12. ‘Moon Goddess’ | 51.78 mph

Exterior designed by Espen Øino with an interior by Franco Zuretti, the all-aluminum Moon Goddess is a 115-foot yacht with a turquoise hull that matches the color of its oversized leather sunpads. When cruising at 30 knots (34.52 mph) or tearing up the oceans at 45 knots (51.78 mph), most other boats just catch a glimpse of sea spray that the planing yacht leaves in its wake. It’s powered by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines with twin water jets, which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

13. ‘Azzam’ | 35.7 mph

At a staggering 590 feet bow-to-stern, the Lurssen-built Azzam earns the title of world’s longest privately owned gigayacht. But with its remarkable-for-the-size top speed of 31 knots (35.7 mph), it’s also the fastest. Twin 12,000hp MTU V20 turbo-diesels do the day-to-day powering at up to 18 knots (20.7 mph). But crank up the twin GE LM2500 gas turbines, coupled to four Wartsila waterjets, and there’s a staggering 94,000hp on tap. Of course, like Azzam ‘s original owner, it helps if you own a few oil wells: At max speed, the yacht reportedly burns 13 tons of fuel an hour. Launched in 2013 at a reported cost of some $600 million, Azzam accommodates 30 guests pampered by up to 80 crew.

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King Juan Carlos gives up use of motor yacht Fortuna

News to prick up the ears of brokers as King Juan Carlos of Spain renounces the use of his royal yacht, the 41.5m ultrafast motor yacht Fortuna .

Delivered by Izar in 2000, Fortuna was crowned the world's fastest superyacht, reaching 68 knots. Her extraordinary turn of speed is delivered by three Rolls Royce gas turbines linked to triple waterjets plus two MAN engines. The recent news may be connected to the fact that polls show public confidence in the Spanish royal family slumping as people smart from severe cuts to welfare, a double-dip recession and an unemployment rate of more than 27 per cent.

So who will be the broker appointed to sell Fortuna ? Watch this space.

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