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A Closer Look at Richard Branson’s Yacht Necker Belle

While most people need to save up to even enjoy a package holiday, many rich and famous people have the financial means to buy their own means of taking a vacation. One toy that millionaires may buy itself is a luxurious yacht. They can use this to travel to anywhere in the world while enjoying the luxury of everything that a yacht has to offer. Each yacht is different, and this means that a variety of styles are available that feature different amenities. One particularly stunning yacht owned by someone who is both rich and famous is Richard Branson’s Necker Belle, and he certainly has the financial means to buy and enjoy this expensive toy. According to Yacht Harbour, this 32-meter catamaran was launched in 2009 and it was originally called Lady Barbaretta. In 2009, the yacht underwent a full refurbishment and was then bought by Richard Branson , who renamed the yacht, Necker Belle. He chose this name because he owns Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

Yacht Information

Branson had wanted a catamaran for some time as his previous vessel was the motor yacht in which he had broken the world record for crossing the Atlantic. Not a fan of motor yachts, he sold it as soon as he had broken the record and bought the catamaran instead. He based his catamaran at the island after which it is named and used it to sail around the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Islands. The interior of this yacht was originally designed by Chenus Presles $ Associates, but the 2009 refit was done by Azzura Marine while the catamaran was in drydock, says Superyacht Times . During this refit, both the interior and the exterior were updated, and a fourth stateroom was added. The year after the refit the boat won the World Superyacht Award for the Best New Refit.

Necker Belle has twin CAT 425 horsepower engines, can cruise at around 10 knots, and tops out at 14 knots. These speeds are achieved because the yacht is made from ultra-light carbon fiber. It has the capacity to host 10 guests in a layout over four large cabins, including a master, a double, and two twins. Each of the rooms is beautifully appointed and has its own en-suite bathroom, a flat-screen, and an iPod docking station. There is also enough space to accommodate six cabin crew. Richard Branson and his guests could also relax in the yacht’s main saloon, which is a spacious and relaxing area. This living space is fitted with bamboo and maple features that give the room a light and calming appearance. There is plenty of room for guests to spread out and relax. However, it is not the guestrooms or the saloon that are the main feature of this luxurious catamaran. The element of this yacht that sets it apart from the rest is what the catamaran offers on its yacht.

The deck is just as spacious as the interior and it is designed with fun in mind. There are several swimming pools on the platform if you want to take a cooling dip when you are in the Caribbean sunshine. If guests prefer to take a dip in the ocean, then they can use the six-foot diving board off the end of the yacht. An open-air cinema is another way that Branson and his guests could enjoy some entertainment. The deck area is designed in the style of a beach club, which adds to the sense of fun of this vessel. Necker Belle also boasts some exciting toys and equipment for guests to enjoy while onboard. Club Yacht says that the yacht also has water skis, equipment for game fishing, scuba diving gear, wakeboards, paddleboards, snorkeling gear, inflatable towel toys, and Hobie Cats.

Branson’s personal favorite toy that he liked to use when he spent time on Necker Belle was the excursion submersible Necker Nymph. Like a mini-submarine, this allowed Branson or his guests to go underwater in a tiny vessel that remained buoyant even when not under power. Branson also enjoyed scuba diving when he was on his catamaran as he loved to explore the underwater environment wherever he went. In the evenings, guests can relax in the warm breeze while sitting at one of the deck’s dining areas. Branson and his guests would often enjoy sipping wines in the evenings, as this yacht boasts its own wine cellar that Branson kept fully stocked. When Richard Branson owned Necker Belle, the vessel was operated by Captain Beez Evans who was supported in the running of the yacht by six crew members. They were responsible for keeping the ship up to standard, preparing meals for Branson and his guests, and generally ensuring that the needs of everyone on board were met.

Final Thoughts

Although Branson loved this catamaran, he decided that it was time to sell. Branson reportedly sold the catamaran in 2018 for its asking price of $3 million. His reasons for selling are not known, although it certainly isn’t that he needs the cash as he is one of the wealthiest men in the world. In fact, Wealthy Gorilla estimates his personal net worth at $5 billion. It is now called Bella Vita and it is available for charter via the company Charter World. The price for you and nine friends to enjoy a week on this yacht is a whopping $70,000. During that week, you will have access to the same amenities that were enjoyed by Branson and his guests. This includes a cabin crew that can fulfill your needs and make your experience on this yacht truly special and memorable . You can enjoy all this while sailing around some of the most beautiful areas in the world and using the Caribbean Sea as your playground. You may make several stops at various islands during your week of sailing, including the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Islands.

Lily Wordsmith is a freelance writer who has had a love affair with the written word for decades. You can find her writing blog posts and articles while sitting under a tree at the local park watching her kids play, or typing away on her tablet in line at the DMV. In addition to her freelance career, she is pursuing ebook writing with an ever-growing repertoire of witty ebooks to her name. Her diversity is boundless, and she has written about everything from astrobotany to zookeepers. Her real passions are her family, baking desserts and all things luxe.

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Sir Richard Branson’s newest addition to the Virgin Limited Edition collection, Necker Belle , is a magnificent 32 metre catamaran sailing tailor-made itineraries year round.

SEE MORE: MOST FAMOUS STYLE ICONS OF ALL TIME

“As long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by the world’s oceans, and I’ve spent a great deal of time sailing them in all kinds of conditions.  I’m therefore extremely pleased to welcome you to necker belle. as the name implies, the experience on board is not unlike a mobile version of necker island, my home and favourite hideaway. I hope you enjoy sailing her as much as I do ! ”

Sir Richard Branson

SEE MORE: 21 AMAZING SURREAL PLACES ON EARTH

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[…] SEE MORE: RICHARD BRANSON’S NECKER BELLE LUXURY CATAMARAN […]

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Inside Richard Branson’s Private Island Paradise of  Lagoons, Lemurs, and Wind Turbines

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Pulling up to the red boat slip under a fiery sunset, no one in the boat was looking at the vivid pinks of the Caribbean sky. Instead, our eyes were on the towering hilltop ahead of us, with its wind turbines and precarious Balinese-style treehouses. Night was falling, and glowing ambient lights flickered on as if by magic to light up a maze of jungle-nestled villas and dirt paths. A man in well-tailored dress pants, a button-down, and loafers emerged; not the billionaire we’d come for, but one of the many trusted Sir Richard Branson whisperers in a staff of 134 we'd encounter over the next few days. “Welcome to Necker,” Eddie beamed.

I arrived at Necker Island under the cover of night and in a fog of disbelief. Whizzing in a golf cart through the thick bushes and past a two-deep clay tennis court, the sounds of an evening tennis match penetrated the near-darkness: “There’s Richard,” Eddie said with a half wave—a clearing in the trees revealing a six-foot-tall man with a wild mane of white hair raising his tennis racket mid-serve. Moments later, at my shared five-bedroom, three-villa complex called Bali High, Eddie pointed out a well stocked pool-deck bar area before moving on to the enclosed rooms—one of which I recognized from an MTV Cribs episode in which Mariah Carey showed off the suite. “If you wanna throw a party, the only person who’s going to be bothered is this central one,” Eddie laughed. The roar of the waves just below us made it clear we’d have the sound lulling us to sleep each night.

“Ok, so it’s a bachelor pad,” I reasoned to myself as I fell asleep that night with many preconceived notions still strong, having only seen a small slice of an island well-documented for its lemurs, swim-up bars, and celebrity guests. Waking up the next morning for a hike up to the wind turbines with one of the island’s engineers—and over the course of conversations with Branson himself over the next few days—I’d find out just how wrong I was about that.

Necker Island's Great House (at top)—which burned down in 2011—is a short walk from the Bali High villa (at bottom)

The cliff-face bedroom of Bali High that the writer slept in, decorated with trinkets and hand-carved Balinese decor.

A self-sustaining paradise found

It should maybe come as no surprise that environmentalism is front of mind for a 73-year-old who has ambitions in commercial space tourism and owns hospitality properties all over the globe —but the rise of certain 21st-century billionaires in a modern space race may fog the perception people have of someone like Branson. Necker Island, once a flat, scrubby cay bought for $120,000 in the 1970s, is actually something of a testament to his life’s work in sustainability—but equally, it holds a mirror to both the sustainability advancements and issues of our lifetime.

The lush hills, sunken lagoons, and beachfront watersports and pool pavilions at Necker give way to fields of solar panels, three 120-foot wind turbines, and an underground sewage irrigation that grows much of the produce in a garden behind Branson’s private villa (the Virgin CEO lives on the island much of the year). Today, Necker Island is powered by wind (40%), solar (30%), and diesel (30%), with all of its water and electricity processed on-island. It is hoped that Necker will achieve full, daily carbon neutrality in the near future—and produce enough extra power to make other islands in its periphery self-sustaining, too. Perhaps even more impressive, everything here has been rebuilt, first (in part) when the main Great House was leveled by a 2011 fire, and again in 2017 after Hurricane Irma—a storm that devastated much of the British Virgin Islands.

The flamingo lagoons on Necker are also home to native ducks and red ibises

Tennis courts abut the island's beachfront as well as the lemur and parrot enclosures

Branson speaks wearily of those fits and starts when I ask him what's next for Virgin: The island and the broader BVI's recovery had demanded much of his attention the past several years. But now, he said, he can “finally” focus more squarely on his sustainability ventures, and most recently unveiled an initiative dubbed Planetary Guardians . The program unites scientists monitoring global climate change to biannually audit nine key climate change markers across sectors, from biodiversity to water use to chemical pollution.

“Is the world going the right direction, is it not going the right direction, and how much have [we] gone off path?” Branson said in an informal sit-down in his living room. “Because, basically, if you can't monitor these things, you're not going to be able to deal with it, so in the future we need to be very clear how the [markers] are progressing.”

Branson champions tourism as a realm that can and should power conservation—not hinder it. Here on Necker, for instance, the endangered lemurs and giant tortoises that wander the island and attract visitors may seem like something of an ornamental exercise in one man’s ego, but in fact make up a forward-looking effort to repopulate endangered animal populations that could one day go extinct in their original habitats. Branson credits environmentalists, like Rob Stewart of the Sharkwater Foundation that he partnered with to successfully abolish shark finning in the BVI, with challenging him to take on endangered populations and hire wildlife specialists. Today the lemur and tortoise programs on Necker have successfully had both species reproduce on Necker—the only place in the world outside of Madagascar and the Seychelles where the animals breed. The benefit to guests, of course, is running into these majestic creatures all around the island; an encounter with the gentle lemurs—who will eat from your hand and climb atop your shoulder for a ride—really captures the magic of this endeavor.

Around 70 percent of the species living on Necker Island have faced endangerment, including the island's trademark lemurs.

A cautionary tale of how far we’ve come—and can go

While Necker tends to be a place where people love to talk about the past—who’s stayed here (from Princess Diana to the Obamas), how it was built and rebuilt—Branson and his team talk more about the future these days, relieved to be in a phase of onward-and-upward planning toward complete self-sustainability. The challenge is to get to consistent carbon neutrality by harnessing enough wind and solar energy—sometimes a challenge on windless days, and with the current limitations of solar power . Necker has also begun sharing its solutions and resources with partner islands, like nearby Virgin Gorda, through new development that will benefit the entire area. “We're actually talking to the government about putting solar and wind up on Virgin Gorda so that you can then run a cable to other islands to get that clean energy,” Branson says.

Necker’s origin story goes that Branson could hardly afford the $120,000 island in 1976, but bought it anyway to impress his now-wife, Joan. Today, 48 years later, Branson has been to space , raised billions in non-profit philanthropy , chartered a zero-emissions biofuel plane powered by sugar and waste , and is laying the groundwork for a carbon-neutral future in his very own corner of the Caribbean. The business magnate has come a long way from his first ventures: running a student magazine in England and creating the record label that catapulted the Spice Girls to fame.

But even if you didn’t know about any of those greater-good accomplishments, Necker is something to be marveled at. Its sustainability efforts—alongside his charity work —will no doubt be Branson's swan song. Landing on Necker Island for a few nights is what I imagine is the closest real-world scenario to getting inside Willy Wonka's factory: a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world's greatest minds, personified by a bubble of innovation that offers a sightline into a sustainable future.

Necker Island, which has historically only been available for whole-island buyouts, recently opened to individual bookings. Next year's dates for individual bookings are available here .

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Adventures With Necker Belle - The Private Yacht Of Sir Richard Branson

Feel like cruising around in the Caribbean? There's a variety of islands to visit - the Bahamas , Antigua , St. Lucia, St. Croix or Barbados. And why not Richard Branson's Necker Island? Especially now that the Great House has been reopened and is once again receiving guests, after it burned down in 2011 and was raised anew over the last 18 months.

From Lady Barbaretta to Necker Belle

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Inside Billionaire Richard Branson's Yacht, Now Up For Rent

The 105-foot-long yacht owned by Virgin—the, uh, UK company, that is—mogul Richard Branson is now available for personal charter trips. Necker Belle, as the sailing catamaran is called, is named after the area Branson most oft cruised it: his obscenely giant private isle in the Caribbean called Necker Island. As he writes: "The experience on board is not unlike a mobile version of Necker Island, my home and favourite hideaway." Weekly charter rates start at $110K, which sounds expensive, but consider this: it can accommodate up to 10 guests, so it's really only $11,000 a person. Actually, though, considering the kind of luxury you can get for that much on an island, that seems mighty pricey for a week bobbing at sea. Plus, it's not even the nicest yacht out there.

· Charter Richard Branson's Necker Belle Yacht Before She Sells [Yacht Charter Fleet via tipline]

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Virgin Magnate Richard Branson has recently added a luxury catamaran to his collection of unique hotels. Necker Belle specializes in Whale watching, and every year it follows thousands of whales as they meet at Silver Bank in the Caribbean for the annual mating. During this time, the Whales come to the surface often and are easily seen from the deck.

There is a crew of seven, including a top chef. There is space for up to 12 guests in four cabins, but you might want to sleep on the luxurious upper deck lounge area. There is a diving board straight into the sea for the adventurous, while others might prefer the enclosed swimming areas within the boat. The boat comes with a 12 person fast boat, waterskis, a wakeboard, and diving equipment for 4 divers so you can explore the warm waters of the tropical ocean. Necker Belle boasts its own 3-person aero submarine, which will take you, James Bond-style, on trips underwater.

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Richard Branson's yacht

I spent a day on Richard Branson's private island in the Caribbean. It was as spectacular as you can imagine.

• I recently had the chance to visit Richard Branson 's Necker Island .
• The 74-acre Caribbean island was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and had to undergo more than a year of renovations.
• It was the first time I had ever been on a private island , and I must say — it'll be hard for any other island to compete.
• Here's what it's like to visit the billionaire entrepreneur's island, from a seemingly endless flow of Champagne to a sushi lunch that was delivered to me via wooden kayak.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I've traveled a lot, but I've never traveled to a private island owned by a British billionaire. In fact, come to think of it, I've never traveled to a private island at all.

So when I heard that I'd be part of the first group of media since 2016 to set foot on Richard Branson's Necker Island, I honestly had no idea what to expect.

Some background: Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, who founded the  Virgin Group and has a  $4 billion net worth , bought the 74-acre island for $180,000 back in 1978 . In September 2017, the Caribbean island suffered extensive damage in the path of Hurricane Irma. Several buildings on site were destroyed, and the resort was closed for months . Repairs started in December 2017, Travel + Leisure reported at the time, and have been ongoing.

About a year later, in October 2018 , it was officially back in business. And this past November, I got to spend a day on the island.

Spoiler alert: It was one of the top experiences of my entire life.

Note: This article was published in January 2020.

Necker Island is the privately owned island where Sir Richard Branson (of Virgin Group fame) has built an ultra luxurious, idyllic playground for the most exclusive of travelers.

The island is part of the British Virgin Islands , just off the coast of Virgin Gorda. Typically, Necker Island is booked exclusively for private groups, with a max capacity of 22 of your closest friends and family.

Since the retreat is usually booked year-round, it has been impossible for media to get there in the last few years. But by a stroke of luck, I was able to find a window to get there.

In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma wreaked havoc on many of the British Virgin Islands, including Necker Island. The island has been under construction since; it's slated to be wrapped by this summer.

At one point during the 2017 hurricane , the island was directly in the eye of the storm. A NASA photograph hung in the Great House bathroom on Necker Island shows the island smack dab in the center of the storm. Needless to say, Necker Island suffered a great deal of damage. And while much of the island is reopened and back in business, the reservation calendar isn't quite full yet.

The island is using the opportunity to rebuild and improve many of its facilities, including the newly rebuilt Bali High complex, which has an extended pool and outdoor lounge. Private plunge pools have been added to each individual house, as well.

And, according to the Virgin Group's website , Branson's goal for 2020 is to power the island using clean energy. In a blog post in late 2019, Branson wrote that there are now three wind turbines on the island that, along with the island's solar farm and battery system, power Necker Island without generators for about 90% of the day.

I recently had the chance to spend a day on the island.

I've been treated to massages in the dewy rainforests of Bali , have found myself sipping Champagne from a bar carved into a seaside cliff in Mexico , and have flown in a private jet through the Swiss Alps. So when I say Necker Island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I mean it. 

We arrived by boat to the island's dock, where we were met by the welcome team. It felt like arriving at elegant summer camp. Our hosts were wearing shorts and t-shirts, sports sunglasses, and massive smiles.

A stay at Necker Island comes with a seriously hefty price tag. While the experience it buys you is undeniably luxurious, everything about it also proved to be approachable, laidback, and, well, fun.

The arrival begins at the Great House, perched at the top of a steep hill that overlooks the surrounding sea and the whole island.

From here you can gaze out to Virgin Gorda, down to the powdery beaches of the island, or over to the new wind turbines.

Over a seemingly endless glass of Champagne, a few members of the island's staff gave us the tour of the Great House.

The Great House has 11 rooms, all of which are clustered around a common area. The common area sets the tone for the rest of the island. It's designed to be a place where friends and family can unwind with a drink while overlooking the views from the open-air wraparound terrace.

The best part, in my opinion, is climbing the outdoor steps to the Crows Nest, where a two-person hot tub has a bird's-eye view straight out to sea. Yes, you can bring your Champagne in the tub.

The vibe at the Great House is heavily Bali influenced, from the artwork and statues to the hand-carved wooden furniture. The al fresco accommodations have stunning views over the Caribbean and neighboring islands, and each of the 11 rooms has a balcony.

The upper floor is home to the Master Suite, pictured above. It looks like a tented safari dream come to life, with white linens draped over a four-poster bed, a private outdoor hot tub and deck, and uninterrupted views.

Suffice to say, at this point I was already ruined. I was walking and texting #humblebrags to everyone in my contacts. But the Great House was only the tip of the iceberg.

We headed down to the pool and beach area, where a row of staff served us even more Champagne and revealed a specially prepared lunch of snacks from across Asia.

But here's where I decided that I could die happy: From the other end of the pool, a wooden kayak began floating toward us. As it came into view, we could see that it was strewn with a sushi display, replete with all the trimmings.

Allow me to reiterate: It was sushi in a floating kayak that we could eat in the pool while we drank Champagne. Life complete.

Later, it was time to meet the other residents of the island: the lemurs. Yes, lemurs live on Necker Island. In addition to preserving the environment, Richard Branson has a passion for preserving endangered species, specifically the Madagascan lemur.

The lemurs live in enclosures around the sea-level Beach House and tennis courts, and yes, you can pet them. The friendly, playful creatures will even leap on your shoulders and hang for a bit — until, of course, you run out of treats to feed them.

When you're paying for a private island experience, there really is no such thing as a bar set too high. If you want it curated, the staff is there to do exactly that.

But for me, the best part about Necker Island (aside from the floating sushi), was that even though it's one of the most exclusive and expensive experiences in the world, it really feels like you're just hanging out.

While we were eating that fabulous floating sushi, the staff was sitting down with us, chatting and chilling. If we needed something they were there, but it didn't feel like they were there to do a job. That, I find, is rare among luxury experiences, no matter where you are in the world.

So what if you want to go to Necker Island but can't find 21 other people to commit to the trip? On select weekends during the year, travelers can book an individual room as a couple, single, or as a family, during what are known as "celebration weeks."

The special package allows visitors to book individual rooms for a total of seven nights and share the island with up to 10 other couples.

As of April, the island will be able to accommodate up to 40 people across 20 rooms.

To sum up: Necker Island is a dream come true that I never knew I needed. If you're into bucket lists, it's a place that knocks about seven of them off at once. Private island. Sushi boat. Champagne in a rooftop hot tub. Lemurs. Check, check, check, check. You name it, it can be done.

And while it is the highest level of service, the highest quality of ingredients, and one of the highest price points ( it's roughly $87,000 per night for up to 34 guests ), believe me when I say it's one of the most approachable experiences you'll find.

Make no mistake: You will be forever ruined, but in the best way possible.

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Charter richard branson’s yacht and vacation like a billionaire.

If living the high life on the high seas is your idea of a dream vacation, you’ll be pleased to know you can now charter a yacht that used to belong to billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson — who has a net worth of about $5 billion, two private islands and a company with out-of-this-world aspirations to send tourists to space.

One week aboard this luxury yacht will set you back a cool $70,000, but it’s a week you’re likely to never forget.

Dive In: Richard Branson’s Net Worth Primed to Soar

Branson sold the Necker Belle in 2018 (the name probably comes from his islands; one of them is called Necker Island). It’s now available for charter thanks to Charter World. The boat was built in 2003 and purchased by Branson in 2008. He had a refit done in 2009, and it won a World Superyacht Award for best new refit in 2010. The yacht was refit again in 2018.

What You’ll Get on Richard Branson’s Former Yacht

The boat is made of ultra-light carbon fiber, which helps it travel at 14 knots under power and up to 20 knots under sail. As many as 10 guests can sail on this yacht charter and stay in four air-conditioned luxury cabins, including a master suite, a double cabin and two twin cabins. Each cabin includes its own shower room, as well as a flat-screen TV and iPod docking stations.

For an extra fee, there’s also more fun to be had on the Necker Nymph, an aero submarine with the ability to dive 30 metres deep — allowing you to “live out your James Bond fantasies” and “fly underwater and explore ancient shipwrecks,” according to Charter World’s website.

See: 15 Luxurious Vacation Spots Beloved by the Rich and Famous

Passengers also get access to a professional crew of six and a saloon in the main area, which has room for two more guests in need of an overnight stay.

Do It: Spare No Expense to Vacation at the 17 Best Beaches in the World

Other Yacht Options

If you’re concerned that Branson’s luxury catamaran may not be enough to impress your friends, there are other yacht rentals available on Charter World. You can charter a 272-foot Amels Limited Edition superyacht, which sleeps 12, for €1.2 million ($1.34 million) a week. If you’re in a hurry to get there, don’t worry — there’s a helipad so you can land your helicopter on the deck.

Read: 5 Luxe Hotels You Can Actually Afford

Of course, if you are not as well-heeled as Branson, you might opt for a more wallet-friendly ride, and there are plenty of those to choose from as well. For just $11,500 a week, you can charter the 64-foot catamaran Malisi , which sleeps up to 10 guests in five cabins. Or, charter the Serene motor yacht, which accommodates eight guests and a crew of three. Compared to Richard Branson’s yacht, this boat will get you there faster, with a top speed of 34 knots, and cheaper, at €15,500 ($17,421) a week.

Click through if you can’t quite cover the costs and need tips on how to afford a luxury vacation .

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Charter Richard Branson’s Yacht and Vacation Like a Billionaire

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Richard Branson’s Charter Yacht ‘Necker Belle’ teams up with YachtAid Global

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By Editorial Team   14 November 2014

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Gonzalo that ripped through St. Maarten last month, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury catamaran ‘Necker Belle’ has been assisting Yacht Aid Global in delivering supplies to locals on the Caribbean island.

Once again the yachting community has shown its strong sense of community in helping out with the post Hurricane Gonzalo efforts to provide the families of St. Maarten with much-needed supplies. With just 30 minutes’ notice of what was thought to be a tropical storm had turned into a Category 3 hurricane, the island residents were unable to install proper protection from the elements and considerable damaged was caused.

YAG’s mission simply is to seek out and find like-minded captains and owners to participate in our humanitarian efforts. Dhardra Blake

With the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show set to open on the 30th October, YachtAid Global Volunteer Event Advisor, Dhardra Blake headed out to see which superyachts would be able to help out. She commented: ‘YAG’s mission simply is to seek out and find like-minded captains and owners to participate in our humanitarian efforts. There are so many yachts which travel close to areas in need, whatever the cause. It’s our suggestion to deploy private yachts as a transport vehicle for donated aid and relief supplies.’

Sir Richard Branson is renowned for his philanthropic outlook and his ‘Necker Belle’ Captain Beez Evans, along with his crew were keen to participate despite his vessel’s short turnaround time. The 32m/105ft luxury charter yacht was then stocked up with relief aid supplies from local yachting industry firms including Yacht Chandlers, Medical Offshore Support Limited, MedAire and The Ditch Kit. In St Maarten IGY Marinas has donated a slip for the offloading of the aid and supplies as well as an overnight stay for the crew.

The St. Maarten recovery efforts are still ongoing and Founder of YachtAid Global Mark Drewelow is still calling for help from yachts: ‘We are still seeking more yachts to deliver needed supplies to Antigua which was also affected by Hurricane Gonzalo, and would like to assist the island in preparation for the 2014 Antigua Charter Show coming up in a few weeks.’

For more information about YachtAid Global visit their website. For details on booking a charter on board ‘Necker Belle’ contact your charter broker . 

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