Marine

Monday September 15, 2003: Unless you happen to be a fisherman, the logistics of finding fulfilment in a SOHO (sailing office/home office) environment have been formidable up to this point, but the advent of global satellite communications and the rising demand for the lifestyle afforded by running a small business from on the water is bringing the technology within reach.  Read More

Friday August 22, 2003: Australian built and crewed super maxi Alfa Romeohas taken the line honours in the 2003 Fastnet Race, giving the Neville Crichton skippered maxi has a winning account of more than 60 races - including the sport's leading three races, the Sydney to Hobart, the Giraglia Cup and now the Fastnet Race - since she was launched 12 months ago.  Read More

Friday August 8, 2003: Powerful and large enough for ocean crossings and extensive coastal cruising, yet comfortably handled by two people, the 20 metre luxury Jackson 67 pilothouse power catamaran was designed and custom-built from scratch to meet Findlay Andrews' exacting specifications.  Read More

Wednesday July 2, 2003: Alfa Romeo, the high-tech Australian built and crewed super maxi that won the 2002 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, changed sails an amazing 24 times in smashing the race record by more than two hours in one of Europe's leading yacht races - the Rolex Giraglia Cup.  Read More

September 16, 2002 Sporting identity Neville Crichton has set his sights firmly on line honours at this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart having recently christened the most technologically advanced Super Maxi ever built: Alfa Romeo.The 90-foot long, 135-foot high super maxi is constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre and is odds-on favourite for a successful S2H campaign since clocking up a series of convincing wins and course records since its debut at Hamilton Island Race Week in August. Owner/skipper Crichton spoke with Gizmo after Alpha Romeo completed her first overnight ocean race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 85 nautical mile race from Sydney to Bird Islet (south of Newcastle) and back. Crichton was understandably "very happy with the way the yacht performed", finishing outside the race record due to light winds but still 5 hours 41 minutes in front of her nearest rivals including 80-foot S2H challenger Brindabella.  Read More

"The majority of yachts do not have the range to reach many of the world's inviting cruising areas and international playgrounds," reads the company's vision statement, but this need no longer be a limitation. Yacht owners simply sail their craft into the massive semi-submersible Yacht Express, where they are securely attached. The owners can then rendezvous with the yacht at its destination, or accompany their craft aboard the carrier in five-star luxury.  Read More

Next time you see a dolphin playing off-shore, diving and breaching the water, take a careful look because it just might be a Bionic Dolphin, with a motor and a human inside. The Bionic Dolphin or VASH (Variable Attitude Submersible Hydrofoil) has been a plaything for eccentric Northern Californian techno-artists for the last three decades but a wave of publicity in the last twelve months has seen the developers commit to creating and selling a production version. Specs are not yet finalised, but how does a two seater, tandem-control techno-toy with 400hp Corvette LS2 engine sound? It's already looking like the wildest ride in the sea!  Read More

A spate of new amphibious vehicles in recent times and the seeming resurgence of interest in the area has seen us receive a wave of correspondence informing us of many amphibious projects around the world. One of the most fascinating amphibious vehicles to come to light has been the German-produced Amphicar - the only non-military amphibious vehicle ever to go into mass production. Like the Gibbs Aquada, the Amphicar was a convertible and a serious watergoing vessel and a number of lengthy sea voyages were recorded, most notably Africa to Spain and three crossings of the English Channel, once in a Force 6 gale. Note, the Aquada now holds the record for an English Channel crossing by an amphibious vehicle.  Read More

Like the Australian marsupial from which it takes its name, it isn't pretty, but it sure is functional. With a top speed of 100 kmh on the road, it's not as fast as its celebrated fellow amphibians such as the Gibbs Aquada or Rinspeed Splash. But it is capable of seven knots on the water, can withstand heavy seas, and it's hardcore four-wheel-drive capabilities will get you just about anywhere you can imagine going. Most remarkable though is the price - when production starts in mid-2005, the Platypus will sell for less than US$40,000.  Read More