GNS m/y Tueq

Why did they put those big round sat receivers in front of the top deck so they hinder vision??

They definitely look awful .

Yes it seems as this yacht is becoming a captains design more than a Mick Leach...?

Looking at it head on I can't help but wonder why they didn't complete the job. Paint the domes black, add some whiskers and a nose on the bow....

......

I'm not sure that lengthening the TUEQ by 7m. will do much for its handling characteristics, though the aesthetics may well have improved. I only say that because the TUEQ generally uses KINGDOM's berth in Port Canto when in French waters. And in 2005, TUEQ's skipper apologised for "not being in port as previously arranged", having left Port Canto to anchor off La Rague a few miles away for the day, only to find that the wind had picked up unexpectedly, resulting in the yacht remaining out at anchor for a whole 3 days. Before the skipper considered it was viable to attempt entering the confines of Port Canto once again, given the windage factor of the yacht...?!

By the way, is the yachtmati forum a YachtForum-approved offshoot? They even use the same forum software...?

Agreed. But we don't come across links to all those other hundreds of forums across the 'net that use it on YachtForums, do we...?!

i dont understand what you are saying here. yachts are getting bigger and quite a few will have the same problems. kudos to the capt of tueq for considering safety to be most important.

Well, I understand perfectly-well where you're coming from techmati:

For many years, Greek-crewed and/or managed yachts have had a reputation of falling below some of the standards others in yachting circles considered as acceptable.

The situation has changed in recent years.

Instead of jumping to the obvious (but out-dated) conclusions, could we turn the subject towards:

1) Sailboats can furl their sails.
2) Powerboats can use their main-engines and thrusters.
3) Superyachts which don't transport 20ft or 40ft containers with inadequate manoeuvering capabilities in windy conditions, should consider ports where tug facilities are available...

did you also consider the possibility that owners do not like to go underway in less than optimal conditions. This is rather common. What I am saying is that really there is not enough information about this specific incident to make an opinion about the capabilities of the vessel or crew.

wonderful. management capability can now be categorised by nationality......

I visited TUEQ today. No photos though - the flashes might have resulted in a half-dozen Uzis being aimed at me (would security on TUEQ really use Uzis though considering their origins?)...

What might be of more interest to yacht-spotters is that (unless I'm very mistaken) since last winter's refit and lengthening of the hull, it would appear that a stern side-thruster has also been installed. At least this year, the thruster symbol appears at the right place at the stern, whereas I never noticed any such warning symbol in previous years.

PS. Rumour has it that the yacht is now also equipped with 2 sets of the latest BOFORS 30mm "automated response system". They "pop out" each side of one of the newly-added sections. (Remember that on the Nabila, the Exocet missiles were fired out of the extended "exhaust wings"...?!) Also, the reason why she apparently sits so much lower in the water in 2007 is not that the fuel tanks are full, but because over 100 tons of the latest kevlar body-protection armour has been installed throughout. And a 15cm thick reinforced steel band has been added from just below the waterline upto 2 metres above in some places in order to protect the yacht against kamikazes in small boats.

All this is a real worry for the crew because they haven't been instructed as to how it all really works. All they've been told so far I guess, is that "it wouldn't be a good idea to approach the yacht at a high speed in the tenders and above all, never praise Allah within 100m of the yacht unless your voice has been pre-programmed into the system first". The Greek crew aboard just shrug their shoulders and take it in their stride. But are all the Filipinos entirely comfortable with this...?!