Boat International - May 2018

Map – Jing Zhang

Jürg Marquard

Yacht: Azzurra II

Length: 47.9m

Year: 1988

Location: Bodrum

You’re having some work done...

That’s right. The yacht is still in the shipyard in Bodrum,

where she has undergone an extensive refit. We have made

a lot of technical improvements and my wife is constantly

upgrading the interior. She should leave the shed by the

end of March and go in the water by 9 April, after which

there will be a three week in-water test, trial and survey

programme. If everything goes to plan, I will join the yacht

with my family and spend 10 days on her in Bodrum, before

leaving for Capri where we plan to meet a group of friends

around 18 May. If the sea is calm I intend to stay on board

for the passage to Capri; if it’s not, we will fly home and

rejoin in Capri. All in all, I hope to spend up to three months

on board during the Med season

Do you work from the boat?

I work every day on board! I also use the yacht to conduct

board meetings – it makes a change from the office and the

team loves it

Where’s your favourite corner of the Med?

My wife and I both just love Capri in the springtime so we’re

really looking forward to May

Any advice for someone thinking of getting into yachting?

Definitely. Don’t think too long about it, just do it and don’t

let yourself get bothered by jealous people who roll out that

old joke about the two best days of your boating life being

the day you buy it and the day you sell it. There are a million

magic moments in between that make yachting the absolutely

best thing you can do with your money!

Congrats on the purchase. How long were you looking

for a yacht?

I have always enjoyed boating and being out on the water.

A few years ago I decided that it was the right time for my

family and I to look into buying a large boat to travel abroad

and see places that we have not had the opportunity

to travel to. Ultimately, I thought that the multi-year

commitment to a new build was too much and I looked

around at what was available on the market. Palmira

caught our eye because it has a strong pedigree, being a

Fitzroy and designed by Dubois, but she is also sporty with

large, light spaces. We loved her versatility and also the

smooth and comfortable ride. I do believe that this

is truly a unique and class-leading cruiser with the ability

to perform at peak racing conditions

What changes have you made to the yacht?

Although the boat was kept in excellent condition by the

previous owner, we undertook a major refit with a focus

on equipment and machinery as well as some aesthetics.

In the process we completed the following: complete

overhaul of the main engine and generators, upgraded the

communication and navigation systems, upgraded the A/V

system completely, updated and repaired the hydraulics

and pneumatics as well as the AC/ventilation systems and

the rigging throughout. In addition, we replaced the fabrics

on all of the furniture, redesigned one cabin which was

previously a gym and purchased all new toys and equipment

for ourselves and guests

Have you owned boats previously?

When I first moved from Europe to Canada I became

a lover of boating on the lakes and my first boat was a 16m

Carver. I then purchased a cottage and went down to

a 10m Regal, which I still have although unfortunately do

not use frequently enough. In 2013 I purchased an Alen 55

to have in the Caribbean and it has been one of the best

purchases I have made and an incredibly enjoyable boat

What are you most looking forward to with your new

superyacht?

I am sure everyone says this, but I am most looking forward

to sailing around the world and getting to places that few

human beings have ever travelled. I greatly look forward

to sailing in Patagonia and the South Pacific but also to

Central America and eventually the Indian Ocean and

South East Asia. Sailing is the most serene experience and

moving under the silence of the wind is truly incredible

Will you race her?

At the moment I have not had the opportunity to spend

too much time with her so I have not even thought about

racing. Ultimately, I want to spend one or two seasons

cruising and then eventually I would enjoy racing and

participating in some of the regattas

Is the family excited?

My older sons are excited, although given their work

schedule I am sure we will only see them on the holidays.

My girls are really looking forward to our trips and we will

have our first family trip in the coming weeks. It is definitely

a great opportunity to have everyone together and create

new family memories for everyone

Can you tell us about the name?

Picking a name for a boat is very personal and it takes

a long time. In this case I racked my brain and wanted

to find something relevant to my family and I. Finally,

I decided to name it after a company that I founded

in my 20s which was my first business success. Whenever

I see the boat and the name it will always remind me of my

journey from being a young man to a superyacht owner

Owner of Palmira

Length: 45m

Year: 2009

Location: St Kitts & Nevis

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; COURTESY OF OWNERS