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The best James Bond Boats and Yachts (2024 update)

If you frequent the high seas, then you are certainly familiar with James Bond movies. After all, this iconic franchise has become synonymous with what it means to lead a life of luxury and danger. From speed boats to submarines and everywhere in between, Ian Fleming has given us some of the most memorable watercraft used by Bond himself throughout his adventures for more than 50 years now. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best James Bond boats and yachts that have been featured in recent 007 films – both large vessels like The World Is Not Enough’ super yacht as well as small ones such as Live And Let Die’s’ hydrofoil! So fasten your seat belts and get ready to explore these larger-than-life vessels from the world’s top spy!

From Russia With Love (1963)

One of the most memorable boat chases occurs in From Russia With Love . A young Sean Connery and Tatiana Romanova were traveling to Venice when the bad guys assaulted them. But Bond made a spectacular escape aboard a Fairey Huntress .

The speedboat is part of the Fairey Marine catalog. Created by English sailing enthusiasts, the company produced boats until the early 1980s. Its first motor cruiser appeared in the 1960s.

This James Bond boat sequence helps publicize the Fairey Huntress and the Fairey Huntsman motorboats. They became widely popular, and won multiple offshore races. They were the craft of choice for Royal Naval Skippers. 

Live and Let Die (1973)

The Glastron GT150 featured on Live and Let Die movie poster is crucial for the 007 boat history. Roger Moore drives the speedboat through Louisiana everglades and makes a 120ft leap over the pursuing Sheriff’s cars.

26 boats were used to create this iconic sequence, and 17 were destroyed during the shoot!

The Glastron GT 150 used to establish the world record was sold just after the shooting. It is now the property of the Ian Flemming Foundation, and it was part of James Bond’s vehicle exhibition in London.

For safety reasons, we don’t recommend these kinds of stunts with speedboats while you are on sailing vacations. But you can still experience high-speed sensation and jumps with water toys. Learn how to choose among them here!

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

In this Bond movie, the boat is, in reality, a Lotus Esprit. This beautiful white car is one of the best British sports cars of the 1970s. Q turned it in an incredible vehicle. It turns into a submarine to escape an attacking helicopter.

Filmed in the Bahamas (Nassau), the underwater scenes feature the extravagant vehicle that can fire torpedoes and anti-aircraft-missiles. 

Enjoy a superyacht charter in the Bahamas to immerse yourself in the James Bond movie ambiance.

Golden Eyes (1995)

The Manticore yacht is the villain’s lair seen in GoldenEye . Most of the scenes were filmed in Monaco. The actual luxury yacht is the Northern Cross , a 142ft boat built in Sweden in 1991.

Designed by Tor Hinders and Per Kavli, the motorboat has a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. The accommodation is designed to sleep up to 10 guests over five cabins.

The crew cabins accommodate up to 8 people. It was the property of a Finnish businessman before it was refurbished and sold for $7 million in 2006.

Check our Yacht available for charter in the French Riviera and cruise to Monaco to experience James Bond’s universe glamour.

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

In the longest Bond pre-title sequence, Pierce Brosnan is chasing Giulietta da Vinci’s Sunseeker Superhawk 34 .

Driven down the Thames at 60mph, the motor yacht is wiped out by mini-torpedos. The Superhawk 34 used in The World is Not Enough was for sale in January 2012 for $150,000.

After this film, the collaboration between the film producers (EON Productions) and the boat company becomes more notable. 

Sunseeker is a major boat builder for the sports and leisure markets in the world. The James Bond franchise helped the British luxury brand to become an international icon.

Try our Sunseeker Superyacht for a taste of James Bond lifestyle.

Casino Royale (2006)

In the 2006 James Bond film, several luxury yachts appeared. Among them, there are the Sunseeker Predator 108 and Spirit 54.

The Sunseeker superyacht is the villain’s “floating lair.” It was filmed on location in the Bahamas. With over 100 feet long, the performance yacht has four cabins, one master suite, and it can accommodate up to eight guests.

Full-scale models of accommodation on board were built for the film studios in Prague.

The large-scale sets were mounted on a large hydraulic platform to simulate the movement of the sea during filming.

In 2017 the yacht was for sale at $4.2 million. 

Daniel Craig and Eva Green also sail casually into Venice on the elegant Spirit 54 . This classic British 54-foot yacht was handcrafted in Suffolk by S pirit Yachts . She sleeps up to six guests in two en suite double cabins.

It has to be shipped to Miami, then Barbados and Croatia before finally arriving in Venice. It is also the first sailing yacht to go up the Grand Canal in over 300 years.

After the shoot, the luxury boat was used for cruising and racing, mainly in the UK and Ireland.

Skyfall (2012) 

In SkyFall , Daniel Craig and Severine (Bérénice Marlohe) sail on the Pruva Regina yacht gliding through Turkey’s sapphire waters. 

The actual superyacht is a 183-ft schooner built in Turkey by Pruva Yachting in 2011.

Regina has a maximum speed of 12 knots, and she can accommodate 12 guests in two master suites, two double staterooms and two twin cabins plus nine crew.

This James Bond yacht was listed on sale in 2012 for $14 million.

Fun fact: the shower scene which is supposed to take place aboard, was filmed in room 712 of the Four Seasons Hotel at Canary Wharf in London.

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No Time to Die (2021)

In No Time To Die, released in 2021, the 007 yacht is called Spirit 46. She is a very beautiful 14m sailing yacht that is initially designed for fast-pace racing. Clearly a true match for an adventurer such as James Bond.

In 2021, it seems that James Bond is going back to its old love from the Casino Royale time, the modern yet classic wooden sailing yacht.

The yachts named after James’ Bond movies

Although our article is intended to list the yachts that have been featured in a James Bond movie, you might also encounter boats that were named with one of the James Bond movies, without actually being a part of the movie.

John Staluppi is the most emblematic case of a James Bond fan that decided to show his passion through the naming of its yachts. As such, he named all of the 18 yachts that he owned over his life after James Bond movies.

Like James Bond, John Staluppi likes his yachts fast. To be more precise, he likes them unusually fast compared to their respective size.

One of his most famous posessions include yachts called :

• For Your Eyes Only : a 36m yacht that could go over 30 Knots
• Octopussy : a 43m yacht that can reach 50 knots
• Moonraker : a 36m that can sail at 57 knots
• Casino Royale : a 49m luxurious yacht
• Skyfall : a 57m superyacht with 3 VIP suites
• Diamonds Are Forever: a 61m motoryacht available for luxury charters

It seems that John Staluppi, like many of us, made the realisation that sailing a yacht truly makes you feel like you are part of a James Bond movie. Luckily, your yacht doesn’t have to be featured in a Hollywood movie or to bear its name for you to feel that way.

The famous Riva boats in the James Bond movies

Since the middle of last century, luxury Italian boat maker Riva has become a cornerstone in Hollywood blockbusters. From classic runabouts to modern variations with wooden cladding and impressive technical characteristics, their boats have been featured alongside stars like Clark Gable and Chris Hemsworth – all encapsulating style, wealth and status on screen.

Riva boats have been making a splash in the Bond films since Robert Moore first took up the mantle of 007. In 1995, Pierce Brosnan starred as James Bond for “Golden Eye” and with him came Riva ! Daniel Craig later paraded around on one too when he stepped into his version of Agent 007’s shoes in “Casino Royale”. Over time these beautiful vintage yachts continue to gain more admiration from film-lovers everywhere; even now with many new movies about our beloved secret agent coming out each year – so does their presence remain over all that time.

Do you want to feel like 007 ?

Experience the James Bond lifestyle (without the all the fighting) .

FAQ The Iconic James Bond’s Yachts

The yacht featured in the James Bond “From Russia with Love” released in 1963 was a Fairey Huntress from the Fairey Marine shipyard.

The yacht displayed in the James Bond “Golden Eyes” is the Northern Cross, a 142ft yacht built by the swedish shipyard Marinteknik Verkstads AB.

The yacht featured in “The world is not enough” is a Sunseeker Superhawk 34.

Two yachts appear in the James Bond “Casino Royale” movie released in 2006: the Sunseeker Predator 108 and the Spirit 54.

The yacht featured in Skyfall is Regina, a 183ft superyacht built in Turkey by Pruva Yachting.

The yacht featured in the new James Bond “No Time to Die” is the Spirit 46, a sailing yacht developped by Spirit Yachts.

John Staluppi owns or used to own many of the yachts that were named after James Bond movies such as: Skyfall, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only or Octopussy.

Roy E Carroll is the owner of the Yacht Skyfall, which was originally built for John Staluppi.

The original owner of the yacht Octopussy was John Staluppi. They yacht was sold in 2021 in an in-house deal by Moran Yacht & Ship.

John Staluppi is the owner of the yacht “Diamonds Are Forever”.

John Staluppi is the original owner of the yacht “Casino Royale”, named after a James Bond movie like all of his yachts.

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These ‘Bond Boats’ Have Made 007 Look Good on the Water for 60 Years

Ranging from cruise ships to go-fast boats to sailing yachts, these vessels have been major supporting actors in bond films for six decades., chrissie mcclatchie, chrissie mcclatchie's most recent stories.

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Pick a James Bond title and chances are you’ll find a yacht of the same name: There’s a Goldfinger , Diamonds are Forever , The World is Not Enough , Octopussy , Quantum of Solace , Skyfall and more. In fact, ever since Denison built the 118.1-foot For Your Eyes Only in 1985 for John Staluppi, the American businessman has named his 22 yachts after 007 films.

If the movie titles are famous, the yachts are in a league of their own. The MI6 secret agent has chased bad guys on zippy go-fast boats, romanced Bond Girls on breezy sailing yachts and infiltrated villain’s lairs that masquerade as sleek pleasure yachts.

For some vessels, the big-screen appearance has boosted their charter credibility, while others have backstories straight out of a Hollywood script. A few have even become available on the brokerage market, offering buyers a chance to invest in a piece of 007 history.

Here are nine of the most recognizable.

‘Delos’ (ex ‘Aurora’) in ‘From Russia With Love’

As well as starring as Spectre headquarters in 1963’s From Russia with Love , which was Sean Connery’s second role as 007, the 293-foot Delos inspired, of all things, “The Love Boat,” according to current owner Christopher Wilson. After falling into a state of disrepair, the German-built cruise ship was snapped up by Wilson, a former tech-entrepreneur in 2008 when he found it listed for sale on Craigslist. Wilson is now 15 years into an extensive restoration project and hopes to convert the historic vessel into a museum and boutique hotel.

‘Kingdom 5KR’ (ex ‘Nabila’) in ‘Never Say Never Again’

Originally built for Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi by Benetti in 1980, Never Say Never Again ’s fictional MY Flying Saucer has a Hollywood backstory of its own. After its turn alongside Sean Connery in the 1983 movie, the Sultan of Brunei seized the boat and sold it to Donald Trump and it became Trump Princess . In 1991, another Saudi billionaire businessman, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, took ownership. He renamed it Kingdom 5KR and keeps the boat almost permanently based in Antibes on the Côte d’Azur.

‘Trafalgar’ (ex ‘Moonmaiden II’) in ‘The Living Daylights’

In the pre-title sequence of 1987’s The Living Daylights , Timothy Dalton smolders on-screen in his first outing as the gentlemen spy, quite literally, as he parachutes onto the aft deck of Moonmaiden II while on fire. Sure, there are easier ways to board a yacht, but when does 007 ever play it safe? Now known as Trafalgar , this classic canoe stern yacht from the 70s is currently looking for a new owner via Ocean Independence with an asking price of $2,500,000.

Glastron GT-150 in ‘Live and Let Die’

The 1972 Glastron GT-150 used in Roger Moore’s chase scene in Live and Let Die was probably 007’s most action-packed water run. It involved ten minutes of running at speed through the backwaters of the Louisiana Bayou, jumping bridges and eventually seeing Bond blowing up his nemesis’ boat, all in the name of Her Majesty. As it turns out, 26 Glastrons were used in the filming, and nine were GT-150s—presumably to replace ones that were trashed during the action scenes.

Riva Aquarama in ‘Goldeneye’

In 1995’s Goldeneye , Pierce Brosnan announced his arrival as 007 in typical Bond style as he sped out of Monaco’s Port Hercules on a stylish Riva Aquarama towards a tri-deck motoryacht at anchor. Cast for that part was the 142-foot Northern Cross , launched in 1991 from Sweden’s Marinteknik Verkstads. Fun fact: while Brosnan went on to appear in three more films, the glitzy Mediterranean principality hasn’t appeared in a Bond movie since.

‘Soufrière’ in ‘Casino Royale’

Casino Royale heralded the start of a new era for the film franchise. Not only was the 2006 release the first time Daniel Craig’s gritty portrayal of the character graced the screen, but the film also marked a transition away from white boats: who can forget that classic scene where Bond glided into Venice with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) on the 54-foot Soufrière from British boatbuilder Spirit Yachts. The vessel is currently on the market with Berthon International for $534,000.

‘Casino Royale’ in ‘Casino Royale’

While Bond navigated the Grand Canal on Soufrière , nemesis Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) had set up a floating lair on a slick 108-foot Sunseeker Predator named Casino Royale . With top speeds of 45 knots, this sporty vessel is built for quick escapes — or, more realistically, nipping between Saint Tropez and Monaco for day trips during summer. A foredeck Jacuzzi and garage brimming with toys have made the boat a favorite. It is currently for charter by AeroVanti in Florida.

‘Aria 1’ (ex ‘Regina’) in ‘Skyfall’

Continuing his penchant for timeless sailing yachts, Craig sails towards near-certain death — yet again — with Severine (Bérénice Marlohe) in 2012’s Skyfall . The fictional Chimera was played by Regina , a 183.1-foot schooner built by Turkey’s Pruva in 2011. The gulet-style boat was a popular charter vessel until its sale in 2018. Under new ownership and now called Aria 1 , it is currently based in Greece.

Spirit 46 in ‘No Time to Die’

Like any experienced yacht owner, Craig’s 007 understands that, when you find a yacht builder you like, you stick with it. Trading up in 2021’s No Time to Die , Bond’s companion to his idyllic Caribbean retirement is a Spirit 46, again from Spirit Yachts. Yet, similar to its owner, this model’s competitive edge is always simmering just beneath the surface and the sleek-46-foot sailing yacht has proven performance credentials in regatta racing.

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Take A Closer Look At Bond’s Spirit Yacht

The second spirit yacht to appear in a 007 film.

Posted October 4, 2021 by AI

It all started when a Spirit 54 yacht was chosen for Bond to sail in Casino Royale . Handmade by British boatbuilders, Spirit Yachts, the Spirit 54 was used for Bond and Vesper’s memorable arrival in Venice before the film’s dramatic climax.

Sean McMillan, Spirit Yachts CEO and Head of Design, tells us how their 007 story continued when a call came in from the No Time To Die production team. The crew were looking for the right vessel for Bond to enjoy as part of his life away from active service in the tranquility of Jamaica. Together they settled on a Spirit 46 sailing yacht.

Sean tells us, “The Spirit 46 is one of the original Spirit Yachts designs and is an example of the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into each of our yachts. It suits the Bond character very well because of the combination of beauty and practicality.

Inspired by the elegant sailing yachts of the 1930s, the Spirit 46 has a modern classic design with long overhangs, flush decks and an elegant profile. Capable of up to 18 knots speed, the vessel looks good on the water and has the sailing performance of a regatta racing yacht. The day sailing yacht will take you on short trips or around the world at a moment’s notice – making it the perfect boat for Bond.

The James Bond films are a mainstay of British culture and we are honoured to be continuing our partnership with such an iconic brand.”

Each Spirit yacht is built to order by a team of world-class craftsmen and women in the company’s waterside headquarters in Suffolk, UK. Every vessel is tailored to suit its owner’s criteria, making each one completely unique.

Find out more here .

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James Bond boats: 11 times yachts have stolen the show in a 007 movie

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MI6’s most famous fictional agent can’t seem to keep away from the water - here’s our pick of the best James Bond boats and the fascinating stories behind them…

Who can forget Roger Moore’s comedic rendition of James Bond flying the Glastron speedboat in Live and Let Die ? Or the gorgeous Sunseeker Sovereign 17 in Quantum of Solace , starring the British actor with the bluest eyes, Daniel Craig?

James Bond boats are a key feature of every film they appear in. Sleek, classy, powerful and smart, just like everybody’s favourite British secret agent, these vessels have at times stolen the show, even from 007 himself.

Read on to see some of the beautiful and at times wacky craft that have appeared in James Bond films over the past 60 years.

11 of the most iconic James Bond boats

Fairey Huntress and Fairey Huntsman in From Russia With Love (1963)

It all began with a young Sean Connery heading to Venice, accompanied by Tatiana Romanova, four spare fuel barrels and a flare gun. When the baddies track him down, 007’s explosive escape is as spectacular as it is predictable.

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The producers clearly loved Fairey so much that they couldn’t pick just one model for Bond to drive – the exterior shots show a Huntress, but the interiors are from the Huntsman model. Meanwhile, the Venice boat chase was actually shot in Scotland.

Read more about the Fairey Huntsman

Disco Volante in Thunderball (1965)

The fictional Disco Volante that appeared in 1965’s Thunderball had quite the starring role. Owned by villain Emilio Largo, the hydrofoil boat was purchased with SPECTRE funds to carry two nuclear weapons. It cost the global terrorist organisation £250,000, which equates to roughly £4.3million in today’s money.

The vessel is destroyed following a battle between Largo and Bond. With nobody at the helm, it runs aground and bursts into flames.

Bond production designer Sir Ken Adam stipulated that Disco Volante had to be 160ft long and capable of 50 knots. No such boat existed, so they created one that shed its aft accommodation section before rising onto hydrofoils to outrun pursuing navy ships.

Glaston GT-150 in Live and Let Die (1974)

Possibly the most famous Bond boat ever, this 135hp Glastron performed a spectacular leap over two cars and a baffled Louisiana sheriff in Bayou Des Allemands.

The helm position, normally offset to one side to allow a passenger, was centrally mounted, and underneath the boat were small black skids designed to keep the boat level on terra firma.

A grand total of 26 Glastron boats were used in the filming of Live and Let Die , 17 of which were wrecked. But it was worth it, with an iconic movie moment in the can and a new world record for the biggest boat jump – a staggering 120ft!

As an interesting post-script, Roger Moore, who learned to helm a boat specifically so that he could be filmed in the chase, clearly got a taste for boating and in retirement kept one close to his private villa in Cap d’Antibes.

Read more about the Glastron GT-150

Watch a yacht tour of Sir Roger Moore’s Sunseeker Tomahawk 41

Lotus Esprit S1 submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

There is a more conventional motorboat in The Spy Who Loved Me (an Intermarine 40 was used to shuttle Bond out to meet the villain at his offshore lair) but the one everyone remembers is the amphibious Lotus personal submarine.

Fitted with fins, front-mounted rocket launchers, mines, a periscope, a smoke screen and a surface-to-air missile, it cost a reported $100,000 for Eon Productions to adapt the Esprit S1 roadcar into one of Bond’s most spectacular vehicles, lovingly known as Wet Nellie .

Glastron CV23HT in Moonraker (1979)

With all the ridiculousness of its extra-terrestrial finale, it’s easy to forget that Moonraker also features a fantastic Amazon boat chase.

Roger Moore’s silver Glastron Carlson CV23HT fends off Jaws’ henchmen by deploying homing missiles, and the big man himself is foiled when Bond makes a spectacular escape over the Iguazu falls. Wings pop out of the roof, allowing Bond to fly off as the baddies speed off the edge.

This hard top model was available to buy in a super-rare limited edition of just 300, but sadly they all came with that sparkly metal flake paint job.

The 86m superyacht Nabila was later renamed Trump Princess . Photo: Jacques Soffer / AFP / Getty

Nabila in Never Say Never Again (1983)

Never Say Never Again put villain Maximillian Largo aboard The Flying Saucer once again. This time it was the turn of the Benetti superyacht Nabila , built for Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and later sold to Donald Trump, to take centre stage.

At 86m long, this can lay claim to being the largest James Bond boat so far by quite some distance, and at the time of filming it held the honour of being the world’s largest private yacht.

Sunseeker Superhawk 34 in The World is Not Enough (1999)

In what is perhaps the most famous James Bond boat chase scene, a hair-raising race along the Thames provides a blockbuster opening to Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as 007.

Stealing Q’s retirement boat and bursting out of MI6, Bond jets through London (quite literally) and catches up with the mysterious assassin in the shadow of the Millenium Dome, after a highly implausible shortcut through the Docklands.

This time we prefer the villain’s choice of boat – a super-sleek Sunseeker Superhawk 34 that appears to be able to drive itself at times. Powerboat racer Sarah Donohue was the stunt double for Giulietta da Vinci in the scene and got the chance to show off her impressive helming skills.

Watch our yacht tour video of a restored Sunseeker Superhawk 34

Spirit 54 Soufrière in Casino Royale (2006)

The Bond reboot in 2006 coincided with the appearance of James Bond’s first proper sailing yacht.

British yard Spirit Yachts got the gig, providing the Spirit 54 Soufrière that 007 and Vesper Lynd sailed up the Grand Canal of Venice.

“Probably the most challenging voyage for Soufrière came during filming in Venice when we had to take the rig in and out ten times,” Spirit Yachts CEO and head designer Sean McMillan revealed in 2016. “She was the first sailing yacht to go up the Grand Canal for 300 years.”

Venice was just one stop on her exhaustive filming schedule though. Soufrière was shipped to the Bahamas, sailed to Puerto Rico and through the British Virgin Islands to Tortola Harbour, before being shipped to Croatia.

An honourable mention should also go to the Sunseeker Predator 108 that serves as Le Chiffre’s floating lair.

Sunseeker Sovereign 17 in Quantum of Solace (2008)

2008’s Quantum saw Bond go Sunseeker crazy, with a Sunseeker 37M Yacht, an XS2000 and a Superhawk 43 all featuring.

However, it was the vintage 1970 Sunseeker Sovereign 17 that stole the show, with Sunseeker founder Robert Braithwaite at the helm as 007 was skippered across a lake.

There’s further boating action when Bond steals a wooden fishing boat to escape the gun-toting villains giving chase in a RIB.

The spectacular chase scene that follows is courtesy of a secret stunt driver, who was hidden in the bow end of the indigenous vessel.

Pruva Regina in Skyfall (2012)

Pruva Yachting supplied the 56m sailing superyacht for Bond and Severine’s voyage to Silva’s Hashima island hideaway. Referred to as Chimera in the film, the schooner-rigged yacht was launched in Turkey the year before for 28-year-old Pruva vice-chairman Dogukan Boyaci.

For this reason all the scenes were actually shot off the coast of Bodrum, apart from Bond and Severine’s steamy shower encounter, which was done in a studio as the yacht’s shower wasn’t large enough. Pruva Regina , as the yacht was known in real life, has since been sold and renamed Aria I .

Spirit 46 in No Time To Die (2021)

Craig’s final outing as Bond saw him sail a Spirit yacht once more, this time while enjoying his retirement in Jamaica.

It was the Spirit 46 that was chosen for the big screen treatment, however, this wasn’t the only boat involved in the film, with a Royal Navy Destroyer playing a crucial role in the shocking finale.

Read an interview with Spirit Yachts CEO Sean McMillan about how the Spirit 46 was chosen for No Time To Die .

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December 09 2021

09 Dec 2021

NO TIME TO DIE: HOW SPIRIT YACHTS BECAME THE OFFICIAL BOAT OF JAMES BOND.

With a Spirit 46 making an appearance in the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, Spirit Yachts founder and CEO Sean McMillan gives an insight into the 007 filming process. 

In the recently-released James Bond film No Time To Die, Daniel Craig’s 007, now retired from active service, is cruising the waters of Jamaica on board his own Spirit 46 sailing yacht. Bond is well known for appreciating the finer things in life and his choice of a Spirit 46 aligns the builder with the likes of Aston Martin cars and Omega watches.

“ I think it suits the Bond character very well ,” says Spirit Yachts chief executive Sean McMillan. He emphasises that, unlike the gadgets Bond is given on the job, the yacht he sails reflects the agent’s personal taste.

“ While appreciating the very best of everything, and having had on many occasions access to the very best of everything, when it comes to making his own personal decisions [I think] he would choose to have something that was exquisitely good, that was probably very beautiful, but there was nevertheless an extremely practical expression of what he wanted to do in his life ,” he says.

Casino Royale

So how did the Ipswich-based shipyard become a staple of James Bond’s discerning taste? The journey began back in 2006 when production company Eon Productions was working on Daniel Craig’s first foray into the Bond role - Casino Royale. “ We just got a telephone call one morning which was a little surprising ,” recounts McMillan. Once he was reassured that no yachts would be harmed in the making of the film, McMillan was on board.

“ As luck would have it, we happened to have one yacht that was brand new and fitted the bill, so off we went ,” remembers McMillan.

The yacht McMillan refers to is the 16.4 metre Spirit 54’  Soufrière,  which hosts Bond and Vesper Lynd as the couple cruise through Venice. Filming took a total of six months and involved shipping and cruising the yacht to various locations. The yacht even made history as the first sailing yacht to go up the Venetian Grand Canal in 300 years.

During filming McMillan was charged with directing Craig on board and ensuring Bond appeared a convincing experienced sailor.

At times, this involved McMillan lying on the floor – out of shot – barking instructions up to Craig as the cameras rolled. “ By the time you've got cameras, cameramen and soundmen on a very small boat, there's not much room ,” says McMillan. He adds however that “ everybody just muddles on and gets along with it. There's no real difficulty about it at all because everyone wants the same end goal .”

Technicalities of the  Casino Royale  filming process also involved removing and replacing the   yacht’s rig 10 times to ensure the yacht could fit under multiple canal bridges. “ That was tricky, but the end result was two minutes in the film, and it did absolute wonders for us ,” says McMillan.

The spotlight cast on Spirit Yachts thanks to  Casino Royale  affected the company “very favourably”, says McMillan. As a direct consequence of the 2006 film, the company sold three boats and benefited from “considerable” interest. One buyer even contacted Spirit immediately after watching the film. “ He told me he stayed right through the credits to find out who made the boat and rang us up the next morning ,” says McMillan. The story has a happy ending, directly resulting in the sale and delivery of a Spirit 60.

No Time To Die

It wasn’t long after work got underway on the much-anticipated No Time To Die that McMillan received a familiar phone call. It was Eon Productions approaching McMillan for Spirit’s involvement in Daniel Craig’s Bond finale. “ The whole process started again ,” McMillan says.

The production team wanted a boat small enough to be sailed independently by Bond but still looked “ used and well-loved ”. They landed on a 14m modern-classic Spirit 46, which was due to undergo a winter refit. “ [Eon] said, ‘no, leave it like that, with that slightly end of season, slightly used look about it ,” McMillan says. “ They didn't want her to be pristine, although we did of course .”

The yacht was shipped over to Jamaica where McMillan once again joined Craig at the helm. “ He hadn’t forgotten anything at all ,” he says, describing Craig as a “capable chap.”

“ I think once he’s learned something, he doesn’t have to relearn it at all ,” added McMillan. The Spirit founder reminisces fondly on the experience, recounting that, with the sailing instruction in hand, he was even able to “ enjoy the sunshine and drink a bit of rum. ”

The Spirit 46 is now back with her owners, who recently cruised her around the Long Island Sound. Spirit Yachts, meanwhile, has been enjoying the attention from the film release, with McMillan suggesting that it will once again have a positive impact on enquiries and brand awareness.

As for the future, McMillan hopes the partnership will mean more appearances on screen “ I think it would hopefully mean that every now and again, we will certainly be involved ,” hints McMillan, adding that the partnership “ is a very nice accolade to have .”

©boatinternational

• Thunderball (film) Vehicles
• Villain Ships
• SPECTRE Vehicles

Disco Volante

• View history

The Disco Volante (from Italian meaning "Flying Disc" or "Flying Saucer") was a fictional luxury hydrofoil yacht owned by SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo . The vessel first appeared in Ian Fleming 's 1962 novel Thunderball and was later featured in its 1965 James Bond film adaptation of the same name . The vessel was subsequently re-imagined as the Superyacht Flying Saucer for the unofficial 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again and was mentioned in the 2015 mobile video game James Bond: World of Espionage .

• 1 Novel appearance
• 2 Film appearance
• 4 Behind the scenes
• 7 References

Novel appearance [ ]

The motor yacht, Disco Volante, was a hydrofoil craft, built for Emilio Largo with £200,000 of SPECTRE funds by the Italian constructors, Leopoldo Rodrigues, of Messina. [1] With a hull of aluminium and magnesium alloy, two Daimler-Benz four-stroke diesels supercharged by twin Brown-Boveri turbo superchargers, the Disco Volante could move her 100 tons at around fifty knots, with a cruising range at that speed of around four hundred miles. [1] An expensive vessel, its design had been chosen for the organization's scheme due to its unique combination of speed, cargo/passenger space, high stability, and the essential shallow draft for Bahamian waters. [1] In addition, the Disco Volante assisted Largo in maintaining his front as a millionaire treasure hunter. The vessel was shipped out to the Florida Keys by the South Atlantic route six months prior to the events of Thunderball and served as the method by which Largo moved their stolen atomic bombs.

Film appearance [ ]

A luxurious craft, it was decked out with sleeping quarters, living areas and many other luxuries. It was purchased with SPECTRE funds for £250,000. The craft plays a pivotal role in the seizure and transportation of two nuclear warheads. It is a high-tech ship that possesses a number of smaller underwater submarine craft. The crew in the movie wear shirts that say "M.Y. Disco Volante". The "M.Y." presumably stands for the ship prefix "Motor Yacht."

The Disco Volante was used primarily for the seizure and transportation of two nuclear warheads stolen from a hijacked Vulcan bomber. As part of SPECTRE 's plan, the Vulcan bomber would fly to the prearranged rendevous point with the Disco Volante and make a difficult landing on water, using the underwater landing lights which had been set up nearby. Frogmen would then recover the warheads and return to the ship through its underwater hatch. Once onboard, the bombs would be relocated to an atoll hiding place; awaiting the time when Largo would return with the Disco Volante to move the weapons to their target: Miami.

In the movie adaptation of Thunderball, the ship is destroyed during a pitched battle between Largo and Bond. With no one at the helm and the steering jammed, the ship ran aground at full speed and burst into flames.

The Disco Volante consisted really of two vessels, a front hydrofoil and a rear attached "cocoon", this enabled the hydrofoil to be detached and move independently at high speed. It included an underwater hatch for loading the bombs and giving access for divers.

Gadgets [ ]

Aside from its underwater hatch, the vessel's cinematic counterpart came equipped with numerous pieces of equipment which were not included in the novel Thunderball , including:

Behind the scenes [ ]

The real craft used in the film was a hydrofoil ferry, The Flying Fish, built by Rodriquez Cantieri Navali, who had built the first successful one at Freccia del Sole. The "cocoon" was built on set. It was purchased for the film for $500,000 and brought from Puerto Rico to Miami for refitting and refurbishment. The hydrofoil never sailed again after the filming. It was rented as a stationary houseboat, docked at a marina on Miami's MacArthur Causeway, until it sank at the dock in the early 1980s.

Gallery [ ]

Disco Volante/Gallery

See also [ ]

• Flying Saucer

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Fleming, Ian (2012). Thunderball . Random House, pp.143-144. ISBN 978-1448139330 .
• 1 James Bond (Daniel Craig)
• 2 Blofeld (Christoph Waltz)
• 3 Lyutsifer Safin

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SPECTRE Yacht – Dazzling $70M Superyacht

The SPECTRE yacht is a luxury James Bond-inspired yacht. Benetti Yachts, the premium Italian shipbuilders, built her. The annual running cost is approximately $7 Million per year.

SPECTRE yacht’s lavish interior was executed by Benetti’s Interior Style design department and reflects opulent decor combined with cutting-edge technology.

The naval architecture is penned by Mulder Design, with the exterior of the SPECTRE designed by Giorgio Cassetta. The luxury yacht was delivered in 2018.

SPECTRE yacht interior

The James Bond-inspired SPECTRE yacht was designed by Benetti’s Interior Style Department. The opulent design elements incorporate Art Deco styles and French modernity.

Across the five decks, many amenities make the SPECTRE a luxurious and elegant experience for guests.

From the touch-and-go helipad, swimming pool, hydromassage pool, and massage parlor, there are many relaxing features for guests to enjoy. There is also a gym onboard and a beach club.

The SPECTRE yacht features accommodation for 12 guests in undeniable luxury and comfort, with two owner’s cabins, two VIP cabins, and two cabins across the decks.

There is accommodation for 15 crew members. The garage is jam-packed with many water toys that offer guests fun and adventure on the water.

The SPECTRE is defined by indulgence and refined French living on the water with its Gatsby-inspired flair.

With expert exterior design by Georgio Cassetta , the SPECTRE features a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. The naval architecture was by Mulder Design , and the yacht was built in the Benetti shipyard.

The hull is a Hi-Speed Cruising Hull to deliver maximum navigation efficiency, and the exterior also features underwater lights. The ship was delivered from their Livorno shipyard in 2018.

Specifications

One of the most impressive features of the SPECTRE yacht is the state-of-the-art Naiad stabilizers from Naiad Dynamics.

This offers guests a comfortable experience onboard as the roll of the boat on the water is reduced. Another advanced feature of the SPECTRE is the Total Ride Control technology.

This was only installed on commercial vessels before its installation on the SPECTRE. These allow the superyacht to effortlessly cruise through choppy water and maintain a comfortable onboard experience for guests.

The 69m yacht has a beam of 11.2m and a draft of 3.2m. She has a range of 6500 nautical miles at 12 knots.

Her top speed is 21.2 knots, which is 30% above the max speed of a traditional displacement hull.

She has a volume of 1410 gross tons and 2 MTU engines that power her through the water. She has an annual running cost of $7 million.

She has won multiple awards, including Best Custom Built Yacht at the Asia Boating Awards 2019.

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A look at the most expensive superyachts at the Palm Beach yacht show and their insane features, from basketball courts on deck to ice baths and saunas

• The Palm Beach International Boat Show kicks off later this week.
• Eight megayachts are expected to be on display for would-be buyers and charter customers.
• These are the show's biggest yachts — and how many millions of dollars they are going for.

The Palm Beach International Boat Show — the yacht world's flashiest event stateside — is returning this year with over 800 boats for both deep-pocketed potential owners and window shoppers to peruse.

While it's impossible to know what exactly will be on display until the show begins on Thursday, it's expected that eight megayachts — generally defined as ships over 60 meters long — will be docked at the show and at nearby marinas like the Rybovich Marina in the ritzy Florida town.

Some of these are for sale at eye-popping prices, but others are available to charter in case you fancy living like a billionaire for a week or two this summer (and if you have six figures to spare on a vacation).

These are the eight biggest yachts that will be at the Palm Beach International Boat Show and nearby marinas, in size order.

Nero: 90.1 meters

Price: From $497,000 a week (charter) Standout features: Pizza ovens, beauty salon, massage room, resistance pool

Reportedly owned by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, Nero is modeled after J.P. Morgan's 1930s ship , and was built in 2007 and updated in 2021.

She now boasts a gym on her sundeck with multiple cardio machines and a beauty salon, and has an on-board beautician for manicure, pedicure, hair, and massage needs. There's also an upgraded movie theater, two new pizza ovens, and both a pool and a jacuzzi.

For those who want to go overboard, she has more than a dozen toys, including a waterslide, Jet Ski, and flyboard.

Victorious: 85 meters

Price: From $876,600 a week in the summer and $950,000 a week in the winter Standout features: Hammam (Turkish bath), wine cellar, wood-burning fireplace, children's playroom

Victorious brings a party vibe to the yacht show. With a beach club on board, a wine cellar, a cigar clubroom , multiple bars, and a lounge with a piano, the vessel is made for entertaining. Plus, there's a playroom and movie theater to entertain the kids.

For tamer charter clients, Victorious has a suite of wellness features such as a gym, massage room, beauty salon and hammam — perhaps a custom request of her owner, Turkish businessman Vural Ak.

She also boasts a treasure trove of water toys, including Jet Skis, jetsurfs, inflatable kayaks, and scuba equipment.

Casino Royale: 72 meters

Price: TBD Special Features: Infinity pool, helipad, private jacuzzi

Purchased and refitted by car dealer magnate John Staluppi last year, Casino Royale is the latest of his James Bond-inspired yachts (he's also owned an Octopussy and a Skyfall, among others).

Casino Royale has a helipad that turns into a dancefloor, an infinity pool, and a wellness center with a gym and sauna. The owner's cabin has its own deck, which features a private bar and jacuzzi.

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However, the boat's price isn't listed, and while she's not necessarily officially for sale, that might change depending on who's prepared to buy, Mr. Bond.

Talisman C: 70.6 meters

Price: $60 million (or from $567,000 a week to charter) Special features: Massage and beauty room, private library

Likely the largest yacht for sale (not just charter) at the show, the Talisman C is a 2011 six-bedroom boat. The owner's cabin comes with an en suite bathroom, dressing room, private library, and crystal chandeliers.

Amenities include a gym, a beauty room, oversized jacuzzi, and a fully equipped bar. Her crew of 19 includes a trained masseuse, and the toy room comes equipped with a wakeboard, eFoil , and WaveRunners.

Joy: 70 meters

Price: From $650,000 a week Special features: Disco club, basketball court, onboard fitness instructor

Superyacht Joy testifies to the fact that owners want as many on-board experiences as they can get.

There's an expansive suite of fitness features, including a basketball court (don't shoot that hoop too hard!), a personal trainer on staff, boxing equipment, and a handful of machines. For post-workout winddowns, there's a spa with a steam room and onboard masseuse. And for entertainment, there's both an outdoor and indoor cinema, and a disco club.

Triumph: 65.4 meters

Price: From $707,600 a week in the summer and $650,000 a week in the winter Special features: Sauna, helipad, banana boat

This 2021 superyacht is named after Triumph motorcycles — a reported favorite of her rumored owner, British businessman Chris Dawson — and even has one on display as an art piece in the upper deck's lounge. The primary suite is 1,400 square feet and has its own study , and there's a sauna, an indoor-outdoor gym, a helipad, and a massage room spread among her six decks.

She boasts an "armada of water toys," including two kinds of Jet Skis, electric water bikes, and a banana boat.

Seanna: 64.5 meters

Price: $54,000,000 (or from $462,000 a week to charter) Special features: marble foyer, movie room, sundeck pool

The recently refurbished Seanna is available for sale and charter.

Her indoor-outdoor gym is on sea level so that passengers can take a dip after a session with the onboard personal trainer. There's also a sundeck pool, a helipad, a two-room massage facility, and, for the more cerebral guests, a library with an electric fireplace.

There are a number of toys on board, including a popular water trampoline and two WaveRunners.

Come Together: 60 meters

Price: $65,000,000 Special Features: DJ and videographer on board, ice bath, sauna

Next-to-new yacht Come Together is looking for a new owner after doing charters during the 2023 season.

The Beatles' influence is evident beyond the yacht's name, with guitars dotting the sky lounge and a crewmember who doubles as a DJ. There's also an outdoor cinema and bar for entertainment and an ice bath and sauna for the day after the party. The owner's suite has a private study and lounge, and each guest cabin has its own ensuite.

The sale includes a number of toys, like Jet Skis, kayaks, and Seabobs.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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James Bond’s Casino Royale yacht Soufriere for sale

The 16.4 metre sailing sloop Soufriere is listed for sale by Sean McMillan at Spirit Yachts, but this is no ordinary yacht for sale .

Instead, it’s the very pretty (in yachting terms) co-star of Daniel Craig in his first outing as James Bond in the film Casino Royale . Delivered in 2006, she was built by Spirit Yachts with mahogany frames, Brazilian cedar planking and two Khaya veneers, all bonded with epoxy.

But back to Bond. When the producers first explained their requirements to McMillan he discovered that he had to take Soufriere first to Miami, then Barbados and Croatia before finally arriving in Venice. Each location change required taking down the mast, a two day job that had to take place 10 times.

Sean McMillan told the Daily Telegraph newspaper : “I had to phone them and say we just couldn’t afford to do it. The schedule also involved a 1,500 mile upwind voyage from the Bahamas to the US Virgin Islands. Very tough. But they said they’d pay. Most people pay them so they must have really wanted it.”

“It was the first sailing boat on that part of the Grand Canal in 300 years,” McMillan told the newspaper. Soufriere was subsequently sold to an Irish buyer and has since been used for cruising and racing, mainly in the UK and Ireland. She has been well cared for over the years and offers many more years of fun. She was given new upholstery in 2015 in all cabins and the saloon.

Soufriere sleeps up to six guests in two en suite double cabins and is powered by a single 54hp Yanmar diesel engine. Offers in excess of £600,000 are invited for this exquisite piece of Bond memorabilia.

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