The ''Necker Belle'' is a 105-foot
[ (32 m)][ private charter ]catamaran
A catamaran () (informally, a "cat") is a watercraft with two parallel hull (watercraft), hulls of equal size. The wide distance between a catamaran's hulls imparts stability through resistance to rolling and overturning; no ballast is requi ...
yacht
A yacht () is a sail- or marine propulsion, motor-propelled watercraft made for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a ...
,[New York Times]
"Ahoy, Matey - Let's Get Nautical"
Michael Cannell, ''28 March 2010'' (accessed 1 August 2010) offered through Virgin Limited Edition
Virgin Limited Edition is a hotel company in the British multinational Virgin Group of companies. It has 9 properties in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
Locations
In 2025 the properties held by the company were:
* Necker Island,. in the Br ...
and based at the resort Necker Island.[CNN Money]
"Charter Richard Branson's yacht"
Hibah Yousuf, ''7 January 2010'' (accessed 1 August 2010) The ''Belle'' superyacht is one of the few luxury sailing catamarans in the world.[CharterWorld.com]
(accessed 2 August 2010)Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, and controlled 5 companies remaining of once more than 400.
Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneu ...
's Virgin, the yacht was called ''Lady Barbaretta'', and cost £5.3 million for Branson to obtain.[eTravel Blackboard]
"Virgin Limited Edition welcomes Necker Belle into fleet"
''Thursday 10 September 2009'' (accessed 1 August 2010) It required a two-year refit to emerge as the ''Belle'',[Daily Record, "The £5.3 million Catamaran", Jon Kaila, ''4 January 2010''] operates with a crew of seven, and is currently captained by Captain Piers Helm.[BTN]
"Sir Richard Branson says 'Ahoy' to Necker Belle ..."
''30 September 2009'' (accessed 1 August 2010) The refit won the ''2010 best new refit'' at the World Superyacht Awards.[ The yacht has a top speed in excess of 20 knots,][ being rare in the world as being able to do so.][
The '' Necker Nymph'' excursion submersible also operates from the yacht.][SuperYachts]
"Necker Nymph 'Underwater Aircraft' announced by Virgin Limited Edition"
, M. Tempest, ''31 January 2010'' (accessed 1 August 2010) It is reputedly the first-of-its-kind "aero submarine", buoyant when not under power.[ABC News]
"Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind"
Ki Mae Heussner, ''4 February 2010'' (accessed 1 August 2010)
References
External links
*
Virgin Limited Edition
Individual catamarans
Individual sailing vessels
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