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A city of two halves, the Gold Coast manages to be both a surfing paradise layered in boho-chic, and a glamorous centre where the well-heeled spend elegant evenings socialising until dawn.

 This is a popular destination for visiting superyachts, enjoyed equally by both guests and crew. Superyachts have a phenomenal choice when it comes to luxury marinas in the Gold Coast. The Spit is the northernmost stretch of the Gold Coast’s famous beach, and here you will find a wealth of marina facilities including the renowned Southport Yacht Club (SYC). SYC boasts some of the largest berths in Australia and a vibrant Club atmosphere which has become a centre for yachting action in the region. Another well-visited marina for superyachts is Sanctuary Cove, with state-of-the-art berthing facilities and a thriving waterside retail and dining precinct.

In between two major airports, the Gold Coast offers splendid cruising grounds and more than 260 kilometres of protected waterways, so you are never far from water-based adventures. This dynamic city enjoys 300 days of sunshine each year, and guests can soak up the sun along the Gold Coast’s famous beaches, which stretch for 57 kilometres. To the south, Burleigh Heads has one of Australia’s most scenic treks, with breath-taking views back across the beaches from Tumgun lookout. After a day immersing yourself in the abundant nature of the Gold Coast, you can enjoy a relaxing drink at the exquisite Burleigh Heads Pavilion.

Further inland, the Gold Coast boasts enchanting UNESCO-protected rainforests, perfect for adding a different and unique experience to your superyacht charter. This city is never shy of things to do, with a packed calendar of events and exciting activities which range from major theme parks to casinos and premier gold courses.

In Surfers Paradise, the tourism hub, you can find plenty of fine dining restaurants overlooking the picturesque coastline. Superyachts based in the Gold Coast are within a short cruise from some fascinating cruising grounds including Musgrave and North Stradbroke Islands, which both offer a hive of yachting activity all year round. Heading further north, below the city of Bundaberg is Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Here you will find sculptured ribbons of coloured sands and glorious beaches and swimming sites, including freshwater pools.

Superyachts in the Gold Coast benefit from the phenomenal facilities available at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct. Gold Coast City Marina and The Boat Works are two world-class shipyards with incredible infrastructure and a wealth of specialised trades to support all superyacht refit and maintenance projects. The glowing reputation of the Gold Coast’s shipyards is a draw for superyachts in itself, and makes the city a comprehensive homeport for superyacht to be based.

Gold Coast Superyacht Guide

Welcome to one of Australasia’s most exciting Superyacht destinations – Queensland’s beautiful Gold Coast. The quick guide for bringing Superyachts into the city's waterways.

Posted on December 15, 2020 December 15, 2020 by Seal Superyachts

Originally published by Gold Coast Waterways Authority

Download the pdf here .

With 57 kilometres of ocean beaches, a coastal inland waterways network measuring 260 kilometres, World Heritage rainforests, international-standard sporting facilities, a thriving arts scene and an exciting annual events schedule, there’s plenty for visitors to see and experience in our waterways city.

Add to this a world-class supplier network and marine precincts backed by a skilled workforce which caters to the needs of superyachts, their guests and crews.

The Queensland Government has recently committed A$2.8 million towards the development of a superyacht berth at the Southport Yacht Club, proposed further superyacht facilities be developed on the Gold Coast under the Queensland Government’s Master Plan for The Spit and invested more than A$10 million in dredging facilities and works to improve access to the Coomera Marine Industry Precinct.

We recognise that it’s sometimes difficult to navigate your way through multiple websites to find what you need to know about specific destinations. To help you out, we’ve developed this guide to provide you with all the essential information you’ll need to plan your visit to the Gold Coast.

We’re excited about what the future holds. So whether you’re a repeat visitor, or you’re coming to see us for the first time, we look forward to having you drop anchor on the Gold Coast.

For international vessels entering the Gold Coast

Superyachts 50m and over in length require a pilot. Superyacht general size limitations are published in the Southport Port Procedures Manual and are based upon under keel clearance (UKC), length and area of operation. Oversized superyachts will be considered by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) on a case-by-case basis, utilising a risk-based process. You are encouraged to contact MSQ during the early stages of planning the visit of an oversize vessel.

Coming to Australia from international waters

96 hours prior to arriving in Australian waters

All non-commercial vessels arriving in Australia are required by law to give notice of impending arrival at least 96 hours before arrival. For a list of what you’ll need to provide, refer to page 9 of this document or visit the Australian Border Force webpage here . Please note, a 408 Superyacht Crew stream visa is required for all crew, with the exception of Australian and New Zealand passport holders.

Apply online here .

Australian Border Force

Email: [email protected] Ph: +61 2 6275 6413 or Fax: +61 2 6275 5078

Coming to the Gold Coast

48 hours prior to arrival to the Gold Coast’s pilot boarding ground

For up-to-date information on arrivals, see Maritime Safety Queensland’s page here .

Contact MSQ’s Gold Coast office to arrange entry to the Gold Coast and pilotage if required (vessels over 50m in length require pilotage). The pilot boarding ground is situated at a position two nautical miles east of the Gold Coast Seaway south wall, in position latitude 27° 56·2’S, longitude 153° 28·2’E.

Maritime Safety Queensland (Gold Coast)

Email: [email protected] Ph: +61 7 5585 1810 (during business hours) After hours ph: +61 7 3305 1700

Enter via the Seaway and head to the Boarding Station for arrival Head to Gold Coast’s Port of Entry at the Southport Yacht Club

Where is the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is strategically located on the edge of the Asia-Pacific rim, with access to two international airports. It has a customs clearance port two nautical miles from the Seaway and boasts a 250-hectare marine precinct, which hosts world-class manufacturers and internationally renowned brands.

Stretching along 57 kilometres of coastline, it’s home to over half a million people, beautiful surfing beaches, subtropical rainforest, spectacular waterways and breathtaking scenery.

Temperatures range between an average of 21 degrees Celsius in winter to 29 degrees Celsius in summer.

Important information for international vessels

Superyachts, passengers and crew entering Australia for commercial or recreational visits are subject to customs, immigration and biosecurity controls when entering and/ or departing Australia. The Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast has been appointed as a Port of Entry by the Australian Government and they can help you with obtaining the clearances you’ll need for your stay.

You can contact Southport Yacht Club on +61 7 5591 8577 or on VHF Channel 74 Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 8am–4pm, Sunday: 8am–2pm Email: [email protected] You’ll also need to file a yacht report at least 96 hours before entering Australia to let us know you’re coming.

To encourage superyacht visits there’ve also been some recent changes to Commonwealth laws regarding superyachts and taxation arrangements. The Special Recreational Vessels Act 2019 (SRV Act) is intended to allow ‘special recreational vessels’ (superyachts) to visit Australia for up to 12 months and conduct commercial activities without being regarded as imported under customs legislation.

The SRV Act achieves this by establishing a condition for qualifying special recreational vessels to ‘opt in’ to the coastal trading licence scheme established by the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 (Coastal Trading Act). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications administers both the SRV Act and the Coastal Trading Act.

Any vessel that obtains a coastal trading licence through the new condition established by the SRV Act will be subject to the Australian Border Force’s (ABF) existing arrangements for vessels operating under coastal trading licences.

Vessels that enter and operate in Australia in accordance with the SRV Act will be considered international commercial vessels rather than recreational vessels. The SRV Act does not change existing reporting and permissions for international commercial vessels operating in Australian waters under the coastal trading licence scheme. For more information, visit the Australian Customs Notice here .

How to navigate the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Seaway is your gateway to our city’s beautiful marine network and our attractions and services. — For vessels visiting the Gold Coast, there are some general operating limitations:

A minimum under keel clearance (UKC) of 1.0 metre is required to be maintained in the Gold Coast Seaway Entrance. A minimum UKC of 0.5 metres is required in all other areas. There are also varying requirements for vessels using different channels within the Gold Coast Broadwater, including pilotage arrangements.

A maximum of 65 metres length overall (LOA) has been set by Maritime Safety Queensland for vessels entering and exiting the Seaway and making their way to the Southport marina precinct via the South Channel. Vessels transiting to the Coomera marina precinct are limited to 60 metres LOA.

Oversized vessels will be considered by Maritime Safety Queensland on a case-by-case basis utilising a risk-based process for each movement. Additional requirements may include, but are not limited to, daylight, support craft escort and weather conditions. You are encouraged to contact MSQ during the early stages of planning the visit of an oversize vessel. Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) manages scheduling and provision of pilotage services on the Gold Coast. MSQ has an office on the Gold Coast and they’ll work with you to ensure your vessel and crew can arrive and stay safety. Further information is available on the MSQ website including the Southport Port Procedures Manual which provides further detail on movement requirements. Master/Agents are required to notify MSQ of arrival 48 hours prior but are encouraged to do so as early as possible. You can contact MSQ on +61 7 5585 1810 (during business hours) or email [email protected]

Marine capabilities

With over 57 kilometres of coastline and a coastal inland waterways network measuring 260 kilometres, it’s no surprise that the Gold Coast is the leading destination for marine refit and repair within the Asia-Pacific region.

Over 33,000 vessels are registered on the Gold Coast, cementing it as one of Australia’s largest boating communities. Local businesses are recognised worldwide for their innovation and quality workmanship. With 300 days of sunshine a year, it provides the perfect climate for any upgrade or maintenance works.

The Gold Coast has an extensive range of marinas clustered around the northern end of the city, on the shore of the iconic Broadwater and connecting river and canal systems.

The Gold Coast offers a one-stop shop for superyacht berthing, maintenance, services and fit out.

Destinations: Australasia , Australia

Footnote : Contact Seal Superyachts Australia for detailed information about cruising around Australia, superyacht charter regulations and about how we can support your visit. Principle agent Andrew Chapman is proud to have worked with many of the World’s largest Superyachts and has extensive knowledge of Australia and the surrounding area. Andrew Chapman Phone: +61 402 484 888 Email: [email protected]

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IYC sells trio of 70m Admiral superyachts in record deal

The Italian Sea Group (TISG) and IYC have announced that three new 70-metre GC-Force superyachts have been sold at the same time to a Greek family.

The Admiral GC-Force 70 yacht, which was designed by TISG’s in-house studio Centro Stile , features smooth lines, expansive deck spaces and large amounts of glass. Each yacht will feature seven guest cabins and 10 crew cabins and delivery of the three yachts is expected to take place in consecutive years, starting in 2026.

“The sale of the first “Admiral GC-Force fleet” represents a significant milestone, which we were able to reach thanks to the professionalism of our team and the high qualitative profile of our yachts,” said Filippo Menchelli, chairman of TISG. “It demonstrates the trust owners from all across the globe put into our organisation.”

Following this deal, IYC is now involved in seven construction projects with TISG, five of which are in excess of 70 metres LOA with two 72-metre projects in collaboration with Giorgio Armani.

IYC’s global managing partner, Michel Chryssicopoulos, will be supervising the build process for the trio of superyachts. “This incredible deal brings The Italian Sea Group and IYC even closer together, solidifying a relationship that started 12 years ago,” he said. “We have absolute faith in the vision and goals set by Giovanni Costantino and TISG team. Together, we are looking forward to these successful deliveries.”

Raphael Sauleau, CEO of IYC, also praised the “excellent working relationship” between the two brands. “We are proud to say that our partnership with TISG is incredibly successful, demonstrating just how exceptional their service and products truly are. These recent sales speak to the quality of their yachts and are a testament to the dedication and hard work of their team. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship and to our future endeavors together,” he added.

The confirmation of this triple sale follows an announcement in February that TISG had sold a 73m GC-Force superyacht in a deal finalised through Kitson Yachts. Other projects under construction for the Admiral brand include the 98-metre future flagship Project Titanium and the 82-metre Project Galileo , both of which are due for delivery in 2025.

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The Italian Sea Group lays the keel of its new mega yacht Admiral GC Force 73

Italian Sea Group launches another extraordinary project: Admiral GC Force 73 meters , the megayacht sold early this year whose keel has just been laid. After projects for Armani and recent deliveries for Lamborghini The Italian Sea Group is increasingly becoming the global player of reference in the large yacht segment.

“The keel laying ceremony is always a special moment during the construction of a yacht, especially for a custom-made project of this size and with these futuristic features, both from an aesthetic and engineering point of view – states Giovanni Costantino, Founder & CEO of The Italian Sea Group – The continuous and growing interest in our yachts confirms TISG’s ability to foresee and meet the needs of increasingly demanding and quality-oriented clients without any compromise, especially on large sizes. Admiral GC-Force represents an important milestone achieved, thanks to the professionalism that characterizes the Group, and confirms the value of engineering, design research and high quality standard of Admiral yachts, which are globally renowned.”

The Construction of the yacht will be coordinated by The A Group team led by Richard Hein as Owner’s Representative . The new megayacht will be made of steel with an aluminum superstructure in order to ensure luxury ocean crossings in absolute comfort.

The exteriors , handled by The Italian Sea Group’ s Centro Stile , feature elegant lines, large living spaces on the decks and generous windows which connect the outdoor view with the luxury interior of the yacht. Interior design is managed by FM Architettura design studio that is developing the spaces in joint collaboration with the owner.

“The entire FM team and I are delighted and honored to have been chosen by the Owner and his Family to develop the architecture and interior design of this beautiful vessel. There is a very clear and inspirational vision that is guiding us and the entire Project Team in creating something truly special – says Francesca Muzio co-founder of FM Architettura – We look forward to seeing her sail and explore the seas but, above all, give her Owners great joy”.

GC Force 73 meters will join the valuable fleet of Admiral , The Italian Sea Group ‘s flagship brand for megayacht design and construction, also recognized for its distinct elegance, classicism and prestige.

The newest Admiral will probably be delivered during 2026, adding another jewel to The Italian Sea Group’s precious collection.

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‘Yachts at the top’: power, privacy and privilege in the world of Australian superyachts

Superyachts are floating markers of power and luxury, and sales are booming. As Australia hopes to lure more of the vessels and their elite clientele, what do we know about this world?

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Visible from the footpath at the water’s edge, the superyachts berthed at Melbourne City Marina bob gently up and down, their sleek and shiny exteriors reflecting the placid waters below.

For me, and most people on this planet, this is about as close as we are likely to get to a superyacht. In Australia, that’s a pleasurecraft longer than 24 metres. Internationally, the starting length is 30 metres. The City of Melbourne recently spent $1.97m upgrading Victoria Harbour, including its four superyacht berths, to fit vessels up to 67 metres long. But for the tiny portion of the world’s ultra wealthy for whom superyacht size is a matter of concern, 67 metres is fairly moderate. The longest privately owned superyacht in the world is the 180-metre Azzam, reportedly built for the former president of the United Arab Emirates , the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Superyachts are markers of power and extravagance. They are floating, transportable six-star hotels, capable of including everything from nail parlours to gyms, helipads and boardrooms, marble bathrooms and priceless art, as well as what the industry calls “toys” – from jet skis worth the equivalent of the average Australian worker’s salary to private submarines worth millions.

In a recent memoir, the longtime Australian seafarer and superyacht captain Brendan O’Shannassy writes: “Until space travel becomes a commercial reality, [superyachts] are the greatest display of wealth on the planet.”

For all their capacity to allow long-distance travel in extreme luxury, though, superyachts aren’t frequent visitors to Australian waters. The local industry has been lobbying to change that, and state and federal governments have made superyacht-friendly moves, hitching millions of dollars in public infrastructure upgrades and tax concessions to claims that these will bring millions in economic benefits to every port in which a vessel makes anchor.

But despite public money going towards establishing and upgrading infrastructure that is only accessible to the very privileged few, there’s been little public scrutiny of this elite industry.

S uperyachts are not super common, although their numbers are growing. Sales company Edmiston recently estimated that the global fleet comprised a total of 5,892 vessels – representing an increase of 44% over the last decade. Most of those yachts are between 30 and 50 metres (4,957); 13% are between 50 and 80 metres (753) and 3% are over 80 metres (182).

There are only about 120 superyachts owned by Australians, concentrated mostly around Sydney Harbour and south-east Queensland. About half of them are charter vessels. It’s likely all of them have, at some point, been through Captain Richard Morris’s hands.

Fresh off the plane from the Dubai Boat Show, Morris tells Guardian Australia that he got his start in the merchant navy at 17, before landing a job as a deckhand two years later on the 86-metre superyacht Nabila, owned by the influential and extravagant Saudi arms dealer, fixer and liaison of presidents and tycoons Adnan Khashoggi. Nabila was Khashoggi’s third yacht and the height of ostentatious luxury when it launched in 1980. Its 100 rooms included Italian hand-carved onyx bathrooms, a patisserie, a movie theatre, a hair salon, a hospital with an operating theatre, and 320 metres of Italian leather upholstery. When Khashoggi’s empire began to decay in the late 80s, he sold Nabila to Donald Trump for $29m – considered a bargain – with the businessman who would later become US president renaming the yacht the Trump Princess .

Morris, meanwhile, left Nabila after a year and began building his own career as a seafarer, becoming a captain at just 27 and a master mariner. He moved ashore in 1999 and was hired by NSW Maritime to build a new superyacht marina in Rozelle Bay.

“That was the beginning of superyachting in Australia,” Morris says. “Prior to that, only a few people here had superyachts, because there was the tall poppy syndrome – high net wealth Australians were reluctant to show their extreme wealth.”

The Sydney Olympics in 2000 changed that, Morris says. The marina development was partly to accommodate the super wealthy who were planning to bring their yachts down for the Games. Morris managed the marina for the next decade, before moving into local superyacht sales and charters.

The Sydney experience is one that the industry is keen to replicate for the forthcoming Brisbane Olympics. The mining magnate Gina Rinehart may have been lampooned by the public in 2021 when she complained that she had nowhere to moor her yacht in Brisbane , but the Queensland Labor government appears to agree it should invest in more superyacht infrastructure. It’s had a multiyear superyacht strategy since 2018, and in May last year it was updated and extended to take the Olympics into account.

Its listed achievements so far include $28m to upgrade the Cairns Marine Precinct, $2.87m for a 160-metre superyacht berth on the Gold Coast, and planning for 80-metre superyacht facilities and additional marinas in new developments on the Spit. Its stated goal is for Queensland to be “world recognised as the major superyacht hub in the Asia-Pacific region”. Economic modelling for industry lobby group Superyacht Australia argues the 2032 Games presents “an unparalleled opportunity to springboard the sector on to the global stage and demonstrate the prosperity the sector can support in Australia”. It hopes Australia will reach 8% of the global market – that’s 533 vessels – in the next three years, which it says will yield hundreds of millions of dollars in direct economic benefits.

Until just prior to the pandemic, superyachts could not come to Australia without the owner paying a hefty tax on the vessel, with the visiting multimillion-dollar vessels treated as though they were being imported permanently into the country. That changed with the passage of the Special Recreational Vessels Act 2019. The act, which relieves the owner of having to pay import duties including GST, was hitched as a rider to various unrelated bills by the Coalition government until it was passed as a standalone just before Christmas in 2019.

The legislation allows foreign vessels to be chartered while in Australian waters, with GST payable only on the charter itself.

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The then member for the Queensland seat of Dawson, George Christensen, claimed it as a pet project. “I have been very, very pushy in getting this legislation to come forward,” Christensen said at the time.

Christensen claimed the bill was “just about ensuring that local communities can get some of the coin that these people drop”. Labor passed the bill with minor amendments.

Since then, six superyachts have applied for a temporary licence, with just four making the trip.

‘It’s your world’

The industry estimates that the local market for superyacht charter or purchase is 1% of the population. It sees it as a subset of the cruise market, which is estimated to capture about 5% of Australians.

It’s hard to ignore the symbolism of that figure, the 1%. Morris’s anecdotes help to illustrate just how that plays out in practice. In 2011, the manager of U2 called him, he recalls, hoping to find a suitable superyacht for the band who were dissatisfied with the crowds at the Park Hyatt. (He was unable to find one that met the band’s specific desires.) That same year, Morris put up the actor Kevin Spacey in the 37-metre Tango during Spacey’s run as Richard III in Sam Mendes’s production that toured Sydney’s Lyric theatre.

“Dinner was at 1am and [Spacey’s] guests would leave at 4am. Then the yacht would move to Rose Bay and he’d sleep till midday, and then come back and do it all again,” Morris says.

“It’s an option for these very high-profile people. They’re anchored in the middle of the harbour. The level of security and discretion that a superyacht provides is much better than any hotel. They can control their world. And that’s the essence of yachting – it’s your world.”

When Covid lockdowns hit, owners of superyachts raced to their vessels, escaping up to the Great Barrier Reef instead of staying at home, Morris says. The associated freedom saw a boom in superyacht sales in 2021 . Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, however, superyachts have also become associated with sanctioned Russian oligarchs. Not without reason: they represented 30% of the global market. Documents recently revealed, for example, that the former Chelsea FC boss Roman Abramovich owned 16 superyachts , a full eight of which were support vessels for the 162.5-metre A$649.5m Eclipse he’d had built in 2010.

Morris says there were Russians who had planned to come to Australia prior to the war – one of whom was going to contract him to manage his yacht. It would have put millions through his business. The sanctions, though, have “put the fear of God through the industry”, he says.

“If I was managing a Russian yacht I would have gotten rid of it. It’s so lucrative, though, that a lot of people didn’t. I’m glad that the Russian client didn’t come. Sure, I missed out on huge revenue, but that’s not the point.”

T he 2032 Olympics aren’t the local industry’s only goal. Another is to bring more vessels to Australia to make use of the shipyards – mainly in Queensland and Western Australia – for maintenance, retrofitting and building. Another still is to increase the number of Australians joining the superyacht workforce.

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On Facebook groups like Superyacht Crew , keen industry up-and-comers post pictures of themselves – snorkelling, in uniform, sipping a glass of wine in a party dress – alongside their formal qualifications and experience. The semi-casual CV comes with added notes about the seafarer’s personality, including whether or not they have tattoos (being tattoo-free appears to be a selling point).

Employment standards, however, can vary. Commercially registered yachts available for charter, which usually have permanent captain and crew despite the rotating guest list, are bound by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, which lays out minimum standards of employment, including legally enforceable contracts, maximum working hours per week, shore leave and annual leave entitlements, and the right to return to your country of residence for free. Enforcement of those standards is the responsibility of the country under whose flag the ship sails, and yachts chartering out of Australia need to be registered here.

Private yachts are a different story. They are not automatically covered by the Maritime Labour Convention, and employment contracts are often managed by owners’ personal office staff. Non-disclosure agreements are common, and rumours abound that upsetting the wrong people on board can see you unceremoniously dumped at the nearest port.

Superyacht crew in Australia are not covered by any union-based collective bargaining agreements. The Maritime Union of Australia national secretary, Paddy Crumlin, tells Guardian Australia that the MUA doesn’t have a real presence among the superyacht labour force, but alleges exploitation and harassment are rife. Morris vehemently rejects this, saying the working conditions on superyachts are “exceptional”, better than cruising or commercial shipping, higher paid, and far exceeding the minimums set by the Maritime Labour Convention.

Guardian Australia was unable to speak to any junior superyacht crew directly, despite attempts, but a survey of 402 superyacht crew members conducted by the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network in 2018 described them as mainly well paid. More than 90% of survey respondents – male and female – said they felt safe on board, though 53% of female crew said they had experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying from owners, other crew or guests, compared with 30% of men, who most commonly experienced it from captains or other senior crew. The level of work-related stress was high, particularly among women.

No matter who ultimately owns them, private yachts are likely to be flying what the industry calls a “flag of convenience”, which can make standards harder to enforce, as the boat can spend very little, if any, time in its country of registration. Flags of convenience are a common maritime business practice, though, including in cruising and freight. And the results can be ironic: a cursory registry search of some high-profile private superyachts reveals, for example, that the mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s 58.2-metre Pangaea Ocean Explorer – which will shortly carry out environmental surveys on the DNA of ocean life, assisted by $3m in federal funding to Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation – sails under the Jamaican flag. Clive Palmer’s 56-metre $40m yacht, despite being patriotically named Australia , is registered in Malta.

Control, chameleons and seasick fish

What is it that draws the ultra rich to yachting?

“Control,” says David Good, the chief executive of industry peak body Superyachts Australia. “You can control the itinerary, who is on board and what food is going to be served. During the pandemic, when you were on board was probably the only time you could fully take control of who was going to be with you and your family. Covid was probably one of the best things that ever happened to boating in general.”

Sam Sorgiovanni concurs. He’s used to catering to the whims of wealth: a sought-after designer based in Western Australia with about 35 years of experience, Sorgiovanni estimates he’s designed at least 20 superyachts. The biggest challenges usually relate to balancing functionality with the budget constraints of the commissioner. But some design requests are more complicated.

For the Nirvana, Sorgiovanni says his company designed two onboard terrariums for chameleons, water dragons, turtles and frogs, and a separate cricket facility to breed the reptiles’ food. The terrarium included curtains to shield the animals from the disco lights of an adjacent salon. On Anastasia and Barbara – owned by the same Russian billionaire as Nirvana – the designers were asked to include fish tanks. Unfortunately, they later discovered, fish kept in a tank on a boat die – from seasickness.

The origin of most of the super wealth that fuels superyacht ownership is natural resources, Sorgiovanni says. But criticism of the industry, he says, echoing Morris, is “tall poppy syndrome”.

“Yachting is the greatest redistribution of wealth around. Although it is for the privileged few, if you take a 100-metre yacht, there’s 50 crew on board, they’re all being paid, they’ve all got families, and wherever that yacht goes, especially if we’re allowing them to come into charter, as soon as it pulls into port … it would be millions generated every time the vessel comes in,” he says.

“It’s a pyramid. We’ve got the yachts at the top, and a pyramid of suppliers underneath it.”

S altwater and air is hard on boats, and superyachts require a lot of money for upkeep, and a lot of maintenance. So when an owner abandons ship, the vessels suddenly become very large and very unwieldy public burdens.

In February, the government of Antigua and Barbuda claimed and put up for auction the 82-metre Alfa Nero, which it said had been abandoned in Falmouth Harbour since early last year. The owner is rumoured to be the Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev; Guryev has denied owning the yacht, according to other reports.

That same month, the 29-metre superyacht Nakoa broke free of its moorings in Honolua Bay in north-west Maui, Hawaii, and drifted before running hard aground in shallow water, peppered by rocks and reef.

The US Coast Guard seized jurisdiction of the yacht after its owner, the charter mogul Jim Jones, informed authorities that he would not organise or pay for the boat’s salvage. Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a series of statements that Jones would instead receive a bill of at least US$460,000 for the salvage effort, and may face further penalties and possible legal action.

Facing widespread criticism, Jones told Honolulu media that he was “taking responsibility” for the matter. “We’ve been talking to the DLNR to let them know we’re not leaving them with the bill,” Jones said. “We’re not running.”

Timely and safe salvage was important to the local community but also to the environment. The grounding occurred just outside a significant marine conservation zone, and the yacht struck and damaged at least 30 corals and live rocks, its hull leaking diesel into the reef. Footage of the wreck circulated on social media, where commenters raged about the fuel seeping into the pristine water and the damage to the reef.

It took contractors three salvage attempts over nearly two weeks to dislodge the 122-tonne Nakoa. On 5 March, three tugboats managed to drag it back into the water. As they set off to tow the yacht to Honolulu, a pod of humpback whales surfaced and escorted the boats out of the bay, away from the marine sanctuary.

The Nakoa never made it back to dock . Halfway to Honolulu, the yacht began listing heavily. Unable to be dragged any further, it was scuttled in the deep channel between the islands of Maui and Molokai, and left to sink to the ocean floor.

The whales swam on.

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IYC announces three sales of 70m Admiral new builds

• May 19, 2023

In an “incredible deal”, the brokerage has secured a trio of sales of the new Admiral GC-Force 70 to a single client.

Admiral GC-Force 70

IYC has announced that it has simultaneously sold three units of the new Admiral GC-Force 70 to a European family. The deliveries of the 70m superyachts are scheduled for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Michel Chryssicopoulos, IYC’s Global Managing Partner, will be supervising the build processes of the three projects, which represent the latest chapter in the company’s relationship with The Italian Sea Group, which also includes Tecnomar, NCA Refit, Perini Navi and Picchiotti.

“ This incredible deal brings The Italian Sea Group and IYC even closer together, solidifying a relationship that started 12 years ago ,” Chryssicopoulos said. “ We have absolute faith in the vision and goals set by [founder and CEO] Giovanni Costantino and The Italian Sea Group team. Together, we’re looking forward to these successful deliveries.”

The Admiral GC-Force 70 was developed by The Italian Sea Group’s in-house Centro Stile (Style Centre). Each yacht has seven guest cabins and 10 crew cabins, and is characterised by elegant lines, expansive deck spaces and extensive use of glass.

Raphael Sauleau, CEO of IYC, said: “Our partnership with The Italian Sea Group is incredibly successful, demonstrating just how exceptional their service and products truly are. These recent sales speak to the quality of their yachts and are a testament to the dedication and hard work of their team. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship and to our future endeavours together.”

The triple-order transaction increases IYC’s current builds with TISG to seven superyachts, which include two 72m projects in collaboration with Giorgio Armani.

Filippo Menchelli, Chairman of The Italian Sea Group, said: “The first sales of the Admiral GC-Force fleet represent a significant milestone, which we were able to reach thanks to the professionalism of our team and the high-quality profile of our yachts. It demonstrates the trust owners from across the globe have in our organisation.”

Giovanni Costantino, founder and CEO of The Italian Sea Group, said: “ This important transaction, finalised in Europe, confirms the validity of our development journey in the megayacht market and The Italian Sea Group’s positioning as a global reference in this segment.”

www.iyc.com

www.admiral-yachts.com

www.theitalianseagroup.com

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Superyacht Marina Gold Coast

Our marina is renowned as a top-tier location for mooring your superyacht when cruising the Queensland Coast. With world-class service and state-of-the-art facilities, we are the preferred destination for vessel refit and restoration. 

Accessible Superyacht Marina for Secure Berthing

Surrounded by pristine Gold Coast water, our Queensland location is suited to meet the unique demands of visiting luxury vessels. 

The basin offers high freeboard to suit large vessel requirements and an excessive deck loading allowance, along with:

• Deep water berth access 
• Fuel and provisioning bunker
• Security and surveillance with onsite caretaker  
• Access to full power & water

Access provided includes wider gangways and pontoons for provisioning needs and servicing requirements with direct entry to free car parking. It’s our philosophy to provide the ease of direct access for deliveries with an adjoining crane pad, refuelling dock and bunkering depot to suit 65m length vessels .

Looking for Access By Air?

Catering to all your needs, we have a designated area to welcome guests by air.

Our Superyacht Marina offers an exceptional array of services and infrastructure with complimenting facilities and recreational crew zones. Located in the  North Yard , adjacent to Kokomo Kitchen & Bar and VIP Captain & Owners lounge.

All trades and services are welcome, ensuring they have insurance and have undergone the entire induction process with the Marina management.

Safe & Secure Facilities

When you visit our superyacht marina, you can expect only premium options when you berth at our world-class location, including:

• Safe, secure, and sheltered berthing up to 65m vessel
• Alongside and stern-to berths
• Power & water to each berth
• Single and three-phase power with multiple socket outlets
• Fuel bunkering services & pump-out availability
• Floating work platforms.

The Gold Coast Shoreside Experience

Your shoreside destination awaits your arrival, which is as grand as your impressive vessel. You can expect access to:

• Mooring assistance 
• Drive-up free car parking 
• Crane pad with dedicated berthing
• Refuelling & bunkering dock
• Provisioning dock
• Pump out service available
• Storage facility options
• Tender and ski storage options
• Boat ramp access
• Recycling & waste facilities 
• Crew facilities & recreational zones
• Laundry & ensuite facilities
• VIP Captain & Crew Lounge
• Beach recreational zones
• 3 x onsite cafes, restaurant and bars ,  breakfast through to sundowners
• Car museum, Barber & massage conveniently located onsite

Our Facilities

The ‘resort for your boat’ an oasis for visiting owners, contractors and their crew. work, stay and play, access to a diverse range of skilled marine professionals..

The point of difference comes down to abundance of choice, teamed with impeccable service for Owners, Captains and Crew.

This North – Superyacht precinct opened in 2020 and has proven itself as Gold Coast Superyacht Yard of choice, a boating paradise taken to new heights – it is literally a luxury resort for your vessel! Occupying over 50,000 square metres of hardstand and Superyacht refit sheds up to 20m clearance, no expense has been spared with innovative capabilities with the Gold Coast’s largest 300-tonne marine travel lift and space for up to 60 vessels, from motor yachts and sailboats to wide-bodied catamarans and Superyachts.

We offer captains, crews and owners every bespoke requirement you could want and need —from mooring assistance upon arrival and concierge services during your stay, to superb vessel refit facilities and convenient access to full project management and marine trade services from over 80 expert professionals.

For visiting Superyachts, “yard time” can be used productively with direct access to training courses at the leading maritime training organisation, the Paradigm Training Group. Captains and crew can also earn accredited maritime qualifications and first aid, with an array of courses suited to all vessels.

Joining the impressive calibre of our four other haul-out machines is the 300-tonne Marine Travel Lift, known as “Rhino”. Accommodating vessels over 24 metres & wide bodied catamarans. Boosting the lifting capacity for the Gold Coasts region to be the largest boat lift.

300T LIFT - "RHINO"

The largest boat hoist, “Rhino” operates within our dedicated Superyacht precinct and is able to haul-out both Superyachts and wider catamarans with seamless ease.

• CAPACITY = 330 tonnes
• LENGTH = 165 feet (50m)
• BEAM = 31 feet (9.65m) inside beam clearance

100T LIFT - "HARRY"

Complimenting “Rhino” is our 100-tonner “Harry”, which has an extended forebeam. This allows for the haul-out of yachts with no need for the removal of the forestay or de-masting. It also has an adjustable, conforming sling that enhances positioning and improves the load balance so stabilisers and sensitive elements on the hull can be protected.

• CAPACITY = 100 tonnes
• LENGTH = 110 feet (33m)
• BEAM = 26.3 feet (8m) inside beam clearance

Superior boat maintenance. With the capacity to accommodate Superyachts up to 75m.

Whether you choose to work on the hardstand or within a screened Super or MEGA Shed, you can work on your own boat, engage with our specialist marine trades or appoint a project manager who will coordinate your requests and requirements on your behalf.

Our unrivalled world class facilities include concierge and mooring assistance and full access to complimentary, resort-style amenities like Captain & Crew Lounges, laundries, ensuites, courtesy cars and barbeque facilities plus the region’s best Chandlery Superstore.

HARDSTAND BAYS

Our modern, expansive concreted individual work bays offer over 10,000m2 of hardstand space with the luxury of space accommodating up to 50m long vessels. With access to recycled water, power and light you’re free to work on your own boat or call on professional help when you need it.

You’ll even enjoy the added value of the numerous fruit trees along the perimeter of the hardstand; who doesn’t love a fresh lime with a corona at the end of a day!

Power 250 AMP - 3 Phase

Recycled water & waste, refit sheds.

The purpose-built Super Sheds + MEGA Sheds provide a private and controlled working environment for up to 50m length vessels.

Featuring LED Lighting within, unlimited power access with multiple access points within, suitable screening with ease of access.

• 16m wide Sheds
• 20m height clearance
• Suitable for tender/ski storage, scaffold and scissor lift access and cooling towers.

Value added benefits:

*Each Shed allows Captain & Crew access to their own individual private work office fitted out with ensuite, shower, air-conditioned, sink and storage options.

STORAGE SKI / TENDER OR GARAGE STORAGE

Storage precincts suitable for storage of skis / tenders etc. In addition specific lockable Garage storage options are available onsite for hire.

CRANE PAD/ REFUELLING & PROVISIONING

In addition the site features a dedicated crane pad for visiting vessels to undertake refuelling, provisioning or to install rigging. With convenient access to a deep water individual berth equipped with power & water.

SUPERYACHT BASIN

Our dedicated in-water Superyacht Basin accommodates up to twenty vessels up to 50 metres in length, with alongside berthing for vessels up to 70 metres in length. Facilities include full power and water and super-fendered padding.

Ease of access for provisioning with wide pontoons, access to trolleys and waste adjacent to free parking. Crew will welcome the ease of access to neighbouring crew recreational zones within the vicinity.

Ski & Tender Berthing / Storage Available

65m alongside berthing, 50m single shoot berthing, the destination.

The Boat Works’ prestigious new superyacht precinct takes the Gold Coast’s status as boating paradise to new heights.

With world-class service and state-of-the-art facilities, we are the preferred destination for vessel refit and restoration. 

We offer everything superyacht owners, captains and crews could want and need — from mooring assistance upon arrival, to comprehensive support and concierge services during your stay, to convenient access to expert marine trade professionals. 

Our extensive range of superyacht services and amenities include:

• purpose-built super refit sheds featuring private, lockable, ensuited work offices, high bay LED lighting, double-lined internal sheeting and screening
• expansive hardstand areas with access to water and hi-phase power
• marina and deepwater service berths
• 15 superyacht berths up to 160 feet
• a 160-foot super side shoot
• vast array of expert marine trade professionals on-site
• direct access to boating supplies, trade paints and the region’s best chandlery superstore.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING

Book your next boat service now

• [email protected]
• 07 55 000 000
• Gold Coast Marine Precinct 1 Boatworks Drive Coomera, Gold Coast, QLD 4209

Lat:  -27.8703 Long:  153.335

Emergency Lift Contact via the onsite caretaker 0437 522 903

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Admiral GC Force 66

Admiral gc force 66 luxury motor yacht tour.

Length: 65.90m  (216'2"ft) / Guests: 12 / Built: 2023

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Disclaimer: These particulars are a general guide to give a broad description of the yacht. They are not intended to constitute part of an offer or contract. All photographs, measurements, plans and specifications referred to are given as a guide only and should not be relied upon for the purchase or charter of this yacht. The copyright of all details, photographs and deckplans remains the property their respectful owners.

Central brokerage agent:

• Moscow Office Tel: +7 499 220 2402
• Athens Office Tel: +30 210 967 1661
• Singapore Office Tel: +65 9665 8990
• London Office Tel: +44 20 7766 4300
• New York Office Tel: +1 212 223 0410
• Beverly Hills Office Tel: +1 310 424 5112
• Dubai Office Tel: +971 4 425 5874
• Palma Office Tel: +34 971 495 413
• Shanghai Brokerage Office Tel: +86 21 6890 1656
• Tokyo Office Tel: +81 46 876 3646
• Miami Office Tel: +1 305 672 0150
• Hong Kong Office Tel: +852 6496 2094
• Seattle Brokerage Office Tel: +1 206 285 4561

Listed price and location :

Construction team:, interested in admiral gc force 66, other yachts from burgess :.

Length 53.95m  (177'0"ft)

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Length 44.20m  (145'0"ft)

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Builder Overmarine

Double Down

Length 65.20m  (213'10"ft)

Builder Codecasa

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Crystal Blue Yacht Charters

Luxury private yacht charter specialists.

Explore our exclusive selection of private charters: YOT Blue, YOT 75, YOT Vice, YOT Xpress & our premium YOT Club for your upcoming special occasion between the Gold Coast Broadwater & up to the Brisbane River.

YOT Blue is 80ft of pure super yacht luxury, offering a versatile layout for overnight escapes or unforgettable parties – the ultimate entertainer.

YOT 75 is the pinnacle of yacht entertainment, licensed for up to 68 guests across 2 luxurious levels with full-service bars in the main saloon and upper deck.

YOT Vice is Brisbane’s premier super yacht venue, licensed for up to 76 guests across 2 luxurious levels with a full service bar located in the main saloon.

YOT Club was designed to create the ultimate entertainment venue. A luxury floating oasis that takes the true meaning of “hospitality” to another level.

Cruise along the idyllic Gold Coast Broadwater at high speed to drop anchor for a swim. The opportunities for a sunset charter or a destination transfer are endless.

Sunset charter

Located in the Mediterranean, cruise to iconic locations including the French Riviera, the Italian Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, Greek Islands and Croatia.

Browse our private charter options to hire the YOT Blue, YOT 75, YOT Vice or our other boat YOT Club for your next Birthday, corporate event, or any celebration in the Gold Coast, Sanctuary Cove or Brisbane.

Plan Your Charter

From our luxury yacht charter events team to our dedicated onboard crew providing full service, we specialise in creating unique and memorable experiences on the water.

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As Australia’s superyacht charter specialists, The Superyacht People cater to an event-filled, experience driven niche of luxurious one-day to multi-day yacht charters. With the finest selection of yachts, locations, and experiences our aim is to put you and your closest out on the water in luxurious style.

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GC FORCE 66 Admiral

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GC FORCE 66 has 8 Photos

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Admiral S-Force 55 superyacht PROJECT ...

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WAYFINDER | From US$ 375,000/wk

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• GC FORCE 66

If you have any questions about the GC FORCE 66 information page below please contact us .

From the Admiral shipyard comes the 65.9m/216ft superyacht GC FORCE 66, designed by the Admiral in-house team with interiors from Mark Berryman. She is scheduled for launch in 2023 and will accommodation up to 12 guests over six en-suite cabins, with a crew of 15 for effortless living in the sunshine.

NOTABLE FEATURES OF GC FORCE 66: ~Sundeck spa pool ~Main deck winter garden ~Expansive beach club with pool, gym and sauna ~Touch-n-go helipad ~Fold-down bulwarks to increase outdoor area ~Air conditioning ~Wi-Fi

The main deck aft is a winter garden for outdoor use in a variety of climates and weather conditions. Sofa/sunbeds line the stern, and two steps lead down to the spacious lower deck swim platform and the beach club with fold-down sides.

The upper deck aft is a desirable place to enjoy drinks at sunset, with a symmetrical setting of two curving sofas ending in a circular sofa/sunbed, both accompanied by a drinks table.

The foredeck has a touch-n-go helipad, and the sundeck is furnished with a spa pool surrounded by sunbeds on both sides that can be covered by a canvas bimini. The central area is shaded for alfresco dining, with a bar for refreshments. The aft section has sofa-sunbeds lining both sides, and a table in the centre for resting drinks.

The lower deck hosts the guest and crew accommodation, with a beach club in the stern providing a gym, sauna and swimming pool, plus fold-down bulwarks to extend the space.

More details for the interiors have yet to be released by the shipyard.

The engines provide a top speed of 15.5 knots with a cruising speed of 14.5 knots.

GC FORCE 66 Specifications

The accommodation sleeps a maximum of 12 guests over 6 en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite and 5 further guest cabins.

The expert crew of 15 will ensure that guests have everything they need throughout their time on board.

Yacht Accommodation

GC FORCE 66 can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests in 6 cabins.

Amenities and Extras

We do have available further amenity, owner and price information for the 65.9m (216'2") yacht GC FORCE 66, so please enquire for more information.

GC FORCE 66 Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht GC FORCE 66 displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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"In fifty years the ADMIRAL brand has became a landmark in international yachting for yachts, super yachts and mega yachts, synonymous with style, creativity, quality and design." - Admiral Yachts

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The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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