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Yachting Monthly

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ON TEST: Spirit 44e – the sustainable future of sailing?

• Theo Stocker
• November 1, 2020

A wooden boat that blazes a trail for modern technology and sustainability sounds too good to be true. Theo Stocker went to see if the Spirit 44e is as good as promised

Product Overview

Spirit yacht 44cr electric.

• Most sustainable yacht available today
• Sails beautifully
• Stunning looks
• Limited accommodation for length
• Upkeep of wooden boat

Manufacturers:

Price as reviewed:.

Boats have been built out of wood since Noah first put axe to tree, but when it comes to cutting-edge yachts, timber is right back at the top.

Spirit Yachts have been building head-turningly pretty wooden yachts with stiff, lightweight laminated wooden hulls since 1993, including the largest wooden yacht built in the UK since the 1930s in the shape of the Spirit 111 , launched this year.

But away from all the fanfare, the Ipswich-based yard has also just launched Avvento , smaller sister to its 47 and 55 Cruising Range yachts.

Far from being a lesser vessel, however, the Spirit 44 Cruising Range Electric Boat (44e for short) hides advances in sustainable technology under its gleaming topsides that offer a glimpse into the future of boat building.

Unrecyclable fibreglass and sails, toxic antifoul, and fossil-fuel propulsion are replaced by sustainably sourced timber, self-sufficient electric propulsion and zero-carbon emissions.

The proud new owner is Vincent Argiro, a retired technology entrepreneur who lives and sails in British Columbia in Canada.

Explaining his motivation to go for such a radical concept, he said: ‘My first sailboat was also the first of its kind to be built all-electric. I have never owned anything else, nor will I.

‘To me, it is a terrible corruption of the beauty and simplicity of sailing to add internal-combustion propulsion to it.’

She is built, Spirit claims, to last a hundred years and to be largely recyclable when the time does come. In the intervening century, she will burn no hydro-carbons whatsoever with not even a backup generator on board, or, for that matter, any obvious renewable energy sources. I was curious to see how she worked.

THE TEST VERDICT

The Spirit 44e is a fabulously expensive boat given her limited accommodation and shorter than average waterline length, if you are going to judge her by volume.

As managing director Nigel Stuart says: ‘You need to think about her volume relative to her waterline rather than overall length.’ That’s a nice idea, if you have the luxury of not worrying about marina fees.

You can get a lot of boat for this kind of budget, so why would you buy the Spirit 44e? Firstly, she is drop dead gorgeous. From her sleek lines to her dovetail joints, there is no part of the boat that is not a pleasure to look at.

Then, she is utterly engaging to sail. Lightweight, powerful and responsive, helming her will put a smile on your face, while she should cope equally well with the rough stuff. Finally, she is light years ahead of most production yachts in terms of environmental impact.

I would opt for the smaller rig and higher boom, and I’d like narrower cockpit seats. Most owners would opt for a backup diesel generator for peace of mind, though with new battery tech on its way, unlimited range is within reach.

The Spirit 44e goes a very long way to prove that yachts can be built and run in a sustainable way.

Would the Spirit 44e suit you and your crew?

This boat isn’t about mass-market appeal, but who wouldn’t fall in love given half a chance? In reality, for the kind of cruising most sailors really do, weekends and a few weeks here and there, she is luxuriously comfortable for a cruising couple with occasional guests. Liveaboard cruising is more of a stretch, but entirely feasible, while she’ll also do well racing round the cans.

There’s plenty of entertaining space, particularly on deck once you’re in harbour, and if you don’t mind the stares, she turns heads wherever she goes.

Very few boats out there could hold a hydrocarbon-free candle to the Spirit 44e. Even Noah might have been tempted to leave his animals for this boat.

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• By Herb McCormick, photos by Billy Black
• Updated: January 17, 2012

Spirit 46 Main

Like many self-professed adrenaline junkies, Tina Felix doesn’t look like one. A lawyer by profession as well as a mother of four, at first glance she seems the very essence of those solid, grounded pursuits. Her “other side” was revealed early last fall on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, where a crisp northerly gusting toward 25 knots was coursing down the East Passage. Aboard Bamboozle , the Spirit 46 she owns with her spouse, Kevin, I was tagging along with the couple for the short but lively beat from Newport to Portsmouth.

We were two or perhaps three tacks into it, spray flying, clawing to windward at nearly 7 knots, when Tina suggested we shake out the single reef. The pumping breeze ever so slightly overpowered us, and the boat gained only a 10th or two of a knot. Tina seemed satisfied, though, and I completely understood why. With Bamboozle ‘s slim beam, low profile and long overhangs, she appeared above the waterline to be from a different era, but she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing: Thanks to a tall Southern Spars carbon rig, high-tech Quantum sails, the deep fin keel and ballast bulb, and a spade rudder, she tracked to weather as if possessed.

“Spirit is a pretty well-known brand in Europe and the United Kingdom, but this is our first foray into the United States,” the company’s founder, Sean McMillan, said last September while exhibiting Bamboozle at the Newport International Boat Show. “We started 17 years ago with the intention of building very beautiful, modern, classic boats. … The most significant thing was getting away from the long keel/keel-hung rudder configuration that all classics had. If you start with a ‘narrowish’ boat — but not uncomfortably narrow — with a firm turn in the bilge so it’s got good form stability and shallow rocker, you’re making a small hole in the water, with very efficient foils and a very efficient rig. You can’t really miss, frankly.”

View more photos.

What also separates Spirit from almost every other builder of traditional-style series yachts is the boats’ wood/epoxy construction. Like all Spirits, the 46 is built on laminated ring frames usually fashioned from Brazilian cedar, a strong, dark hardwood that looks like mahogany but at half the weight; the keelson is Oregon pine. The first layer of planking on the 46 is also Brazilian cedar (on bigger boats that are less weight sensitive, the choice is Douglas fir), and it’s glued to the ring frames to form a monocoque structure that’s then faired before a series of double-diagonal veneers are applied. The builders add a layer of glass/epoxy to stabilize the surface prior to the Awlgrip finish.

The deck is swept teak; the brightwork is highly varnished Brazilian mahogany. The keel is an SG steel foil to which a torpedo-shape lead ballast bulb is bolted. The stainless-steel rudderstock supports a finely tuned foam-cored carbon rudder. Custom hardware abounds. The attention to detail is staggering. The end result is irresistible.

Like most Spirit owners, the Felixes visited the yard as their boat, the 10th 46 to be built, came into existence before their eyes, an experience that McMillan strongly encourages. “They’re virtually custom boats,” he said. “You can have any interior you want. It’s not like buying one off the shelf. The owners have to work with us for a year or 15 months or more to create this thing, and that’s a big commitment. The more they come to visit, the better we can keep coming together to stay on exactly the same track they want.”

While McMillan said he’d delivered prior 46s with a variety of interior arrangements — an open floor plan, one cabin and two cabins — the Felixes chose a rather standard layout with a V-berth and head forward, a pair of opposing settees and dining table in the central salon, and the galley and navigation station, to port and starboard respectively, at the foot of the companionway. The joinery work is remarkable; the 46 is literally a yacht where one “takes the furniture” sailing. The one and only thing the boat lacks down below is a place to stand up; headroom is about 5 feet 2 inches.

To underscore the fact that the Felixes’ 46 is optimized for sailing and that they spend the majority of their time aboard topside, Bamboozle ‘s cockpit is two feet longer than those on her sister ships. She’s also the only Spirit to be tricked out with Harken hardware, which Kevin specifically requested.

Though our destination was dead upwind, once we were past the Newport bridge, we couldn’t resist the urge to bear away and ease the sheets, if only for a few moments. While we didn’t record the 21 knots of boat speed that another 46 notched during a race the previous year — many owners enjoy competing in the ever-growing Spirit of Tradition divisions at classic-yacht regattas — the knotmeter immediately ascended into double figures, topping off at nearly 11 knots. Unfortunately, too soon we hardened up, back on the breeze.

At my suggestion — I was interested to see what difference it would make, if any — we tucked the first reef back in and were able to lock in the mainsheet and forgo easing it in the puffs to luff the sail. The boat seemed a bit happier, her rudder a tad less loaded, and we gained a few more 10ths of speed, up to almost 7½ knots and tacking through 60 degrees. Despite the rather sporty weather, she was nearly dry on deck. Thanks to her light ends and a bit of flare to her bow, rather than plowing through the chop, she rose ever so slightly and gracefully up and over each passing wave. It felt like a curtsy. She appeared to be enjoying the outing as much as we were.

The best part of all, of course, was driving. Like an old 6-Meter or 8-Meter, Bamboozle was devoid of lifelines; not only were the sight lines forward clear and unobstructed, but the absence of railings also heightened the sensation of speed and one’s proximity to the water rushing by. To command a boat this long, lean and nimble, with a feathery-light tiller, was nothing less than pure joy.

Much too soon, the marina hove into view, so we threw in one last tack, luffed up, dropped the main and motored in. The boat is no slouch under power either, registering a solid 7 knots at 2500 rpm. Tying up was a letdown. Things became too quiet. Evidently, my adrenaline had been flowing too.

View a complete photo gallery.

LOA: 46’3″ LWL: 33’10” BEAM: 9’3″ DRAFT: 6’6″ DISPL.: 9,920 lb. FUEL: 13 gal. WATER: 25 gal. ENGINE: 1 x 18 hp Yanmar GM-20 diesel SAIL AREA: 684 sq. ft. (w/ 100 percent foretriangle) DISPL./LENGTH RATIO: 115 SAIL AREA/DISPL. RATIO: 23.7 PRICE: $600,000 Spirit Yachts, +44-1473-214-715; www.spirityachts.com

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Yachting World

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First look: Spirit 30 – Spirit’s smallest ever yacht

• Rupert Holmes
• November 11, 2021

The all-new Spirit 30 is the smallest yacht ever produced by the well regarded British yard which specialises in modern classic wooden yachts. Rupert Holmes reports

The sleek classic style of all Spirit Yachts is guaranteed to turn heads and the Ispwich-based yard’s smallest new model for many years, the spirit 30 is no exception.

The Spirit 30 follows the well-proven format of a light displacement, modern hull shape below the water allied to a performance rig and sails. It’s a combination that delivers speeds which belie the boat’s modest dimensions.

During the commissioning sail, for example, the Spirit 30 recorded 6.8 knots of boat speed close-hauled and 10 knots off the wind in 18-20 knots of breeze.

Yet this is civilised vessel with a self-tacking furling jib and all sail controls led aft for easy single and short-handed sailing. The first example is an open day sailer with a large cockpit, although there are also plans for a version with a cuddy and basic overnight accommodation.

Auxiliary power is from a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0FP electric pod drive. This offers a 16-mile range at five knots with the standard battery and a maximum speed under power of 6.5 knots.

The wood epoxy composite construction is one of the most sustainable options for building a new boat, requiring far less noxious resins and plastics than conventional fibreglass structures.

Typically three layers of timber are epoxy glued together, creating an extremely stiff, yet very light, monocoque structure. A protective outer layer of glass cloth and epoxy is then applied, which enhances waterproofing and provides impact resistance.

Spirit 30. Photo: Spirit Yachts / Waterline Media

Spirit Yachts has gone a stage further than usual with this boat, using flax fibres and bio resins for the outer layer. The result is what the company says is its most sustainable yacht to date and plans to roll out the same materials to the larger boats in the range.

The Spirit 30 is offered with a choice of fixed or lifting keels and the boat is light enough to be towed on a road trailer. The first example is scheduled to be exhibited at the Dusseldorf boat show in January 2022.

Spirit 30 specifications:

LOA: 9.15m 30ft 0in LWL: 6.5m 21ft 4in Beam: 1.9m 6ft 3in Draught: 1.6m 5ft 3in Displacement: 1,700kg 3,750lb Builder: www.spirityachts.com Base price: £250,000 ex VAT

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Republic of Mordovia

  Although the Republic of Mordovia is located in Russia’s Volga Federal Region, the River Volga does not actually flow through the republic.  It is situated between the Nizhny Novgorod, Ulyanovsk, Penza and Ryazan Regions and the Republic of Chuvashia.  Around 30% of the republic’s population is Mordvins - a Finno-Ugric ethnic people.  The Mordvins are further separated into two separate ethnic groups the Erzya and the Moksha.  The Mordvins are especially famous for their red and white traditional dress.

  The capital of the republic is the city of Saransk which was selected as one of the venues of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  The city also boasts the largest collection of the work of sculptor Stepan Erzya - himself an Erzya Mordvin.  Saransk was also the first city which the French actor Gérard Depardieu visited upon being personally granted Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin.  He has since been officially registered as a resident there.

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Superyacht sinks latest: Investigators reveal where bodies were found as probe looks at 'crew's responsibility'

Italian officials revealed at a news conference there could be "a question of manslaughter" as they opened a shipwreck investigation and said the probe is also looking at the "crew's responsibility".

Saturday 24 August 2024 18:33, UK

• Superyacht sinking

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• Prosecutor: There 'could be a question of manslaughter'
• Probe 'concentrating' on crew's responsibility
• Seven bodies recovered after five-day search of superyacht wreckage off Sicily
• Saturday's papers pay tribute to youngest victim Hannah Lynch
• Hannah's sister pays tribute to 'my little angel'
• Explained: Inside the superyacht | What challenges have faced divers?
• Eyewitness: Sombre scenes greet rescue teams as final body is brought ashore
• Live reporting by Niamh Lynch

We're ending our live coverage for this evening but here is a recap of what we know:

• Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the Bayesian sinking;
• Officials have revealed more details on their investigation and the difficult five-day rescue mission;
• The six bodies found during the search in recent days were all in cabins on the left-hand - and highest - side of the ship. Five were found in the first cabin and the sixth was found in the third;
• Prosecutors said the six passengers were most likely asleep when the boat sank;
• The probe is now focusing on the crew and their responsibilities, with the captain set to undergo more questioning.

Monday 19 August

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 56 metre vessel - including a mother and baby - but another seven remain missing.

One body, later confirmed to be the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas, is found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among six people that remain missing.

Tuesday 20 August

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy's fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were "unsuccessful" because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as "complex", with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

Tributes pour in for Mr Thomas, with his friend Gareth Williams saying: "I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit."

Wednesday 21 August

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht's internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

Thursday 22 August

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

Friday 23  August

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, Hannah Lynch.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of the Lynch family that they are "devastated" and "in shock" after the deaths of Mike and Hannah.

Hannah's sister Esme pays tribute to her "little angel".

Saturday 24 August

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town, Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

As the focus now turns to the manslaughter investigation, here's another reminder of the seven victims of the sinking and the 15 people who survived. 

A close friend of the Lynch family has added to the chorus of tributes for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in Monday's superyacht sinking.

Susannah Gurdun, who lives in Suffolk, recalled being "daunted" when she first met Mr Lynch at a dinner party, before discovering he was "so much more than the corporate cliche".

"He was riveting.  He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything," she said.

Ms Gardun said the businessman also had a "thrilling ability" to make complicated subjects "accessible to those of us less blessed with a science acumen".

"In particular, he was wonderful with children.  I will never forget hearing him explain to a group of them - including our ten year old son - the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset," she said.

She went on describe Mr Lynch as a "true genius" and "phenomenal creative".

Ms Gardun said his daughter Hannah was also showing "serious literary promise", and added that it was "beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led".

"I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain.  Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family," she said.

"He was an extraordinary human being and it was - truly - a privilege to have known him."

A yacht crew member who survived the sinking has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, calling her a "diamond in a sea of stars".

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, has released a statement after divers recovered the final missing body from the wreckage, which is believed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

"Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars," she said.

"Bright, beautiful and always shining. What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything. 

"While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. 

"I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive."

Ms Murray's statement comes as a new image of Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch is released:

Prosecutors announced in this morning's news conference that they have opened a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigation.

Officials were unable to answer several queries from the media, saying they needed time to establish the facts, but what are the key questions facing prosecutors? 

Why weren't passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that some passengers may have been asleep when others were awake.

Asked why they were not woken up or alerted, he said that is something investigators are trying to work out from the statements of the survivors.

He called it an "essential" part of the inquiry.

Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?

The press conference heard several bodies onboard the sunken yacht were found in a single cabin which was not theirs.

Mr Cammarano said investigators currently do not know the reason for them being discovered in the same cabin.

The chief of the Palermo fire service, Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the yacht pinned to the right and suggested people tried to go on the other side, taking refuge in cabins in the higher part of the wreck.

Why did the boat sink?

The vessel had been deemed "unsinkable" by its manufacturer - Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.

Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.

He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.

Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?

Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.

Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.

Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.

What weather warnings was the Bayesian alerted to?

Maritime director of western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, said the weather at the time of the yacht's sinking was abnormal and there was nothing to suggest such an extreme situation would arise.

He said there were forecasts of winds and a storm alert, but there was no warning of a tornado.

"Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising," he said.

"There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions."

How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?

Mr Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.

"Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it's only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation," he said.

"I can't say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, [said] that it will be eight weeks."

He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.

Italian authorities detailed the challenging and meticulous rescue operation to recover the six missing people from the Bayesian wreck (see 9.18am post).

But why was the five-day search so difficult? 

Read more below...

More on this morning's press conference. 

One of the main updates from prosecutors was that they have opened manslaughter and shipwreck investigations after the deaths of seven people in the Bayesian sinking. 

Watch the announcement below...

Prosecutors have given a lengthy news conference this morning on their investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian. 

Read the full report on the prosecutors' probe below...

Marine investigator James Wilkes has been speaking to Sky News after this morning's press conference.

"Naturally, there are more questions than there are substantive answers at the moment - that's the nature of investigative work.

"Something forced that yacht to roll beyond its nominal stability limits, such that it wasn't able to right itself with the ingress of a certain amount of seawater that was coming into the yacht. 

"So the investigators are going to ask themselves one initial question - what must the conditions have been for this to happen? 

"Then they are going to look at the contributing factors to the yacht, sinking, and, and the unfortunate loss of life." 

Prosecutors said this morning that the future of the investigation is reliant on recovering the wreck. 

Mr Wilkes said the yacht is a "major piece of physical evidence in and of itself." 

"It's lying at 50 metres, which is a recoverable depth. 

"If it was significantly deeper, then I'm not sure they'd be considering salvage at this stage or certainly, the salvage question would be a lot more complicated to answer. 

"But if there was the ability to raise that yacht in one piece safely, then it gives the investigators physically more to look at."

Mr Wilkes said he was unsure if the yacht would have a "black box" - called a voyage data recorder in shipping. 

"It would record things like GPS position, heading speed, engine telemetry, whether the radars were on, what they were recording, alarms, communications from the yacht itself, any audio on the bridge.

"But more often than not, these are on merchant ships. The yacht was a commercial yacht in the sense that it could be chartered out so it's quite possible it has a voyage data recorder on, but I'm not sure that it does. I don't know that as a matter of fact," he said.

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Kamala Harris formally accepted her nomination at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday. Earlier in the week, Michelle Obama delivered one of the most memorable speeches of the convention. Which of these lines did she say?

“The job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs.’”

“He’s afraid of losing to Kamala.”

“History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president.”

“It’s up to us to fight for the America that we believe in.”

“Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems; she’ll be focused on yours.”

State delegates were called in a roll call to pledge their votes to Kamala Harris. What played during each delegate’s vote?

An audio recording of Harris thanking each state

A playlist of songs that had meaning to each state

Recorded applause

TikTok videos of the delegates as they danced

The national anthem

New figures from the Labor Department this week showed that the U.S. economy did what over the past year?

Created 818,000 fewer jobs than thought

Experienced a 25.2 percent inflation rate

Fell into the worst recession since 1981

Had an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent

Had faster gross domestic product growth in the first quarter than China did

The tech mogul Mike Lynch, sometimes called the British Bill Gates, was among a half-dozen people who died in a disaster involving what type of vehicle?

A helicopter

A limousine

A private jet

President Biden approved a new nuclear plan that reorients the U.S. strategy to focus on the rapid expansion of what country’s nuclear arsenal?

Two companies locked out about 10,000 employees in a labor dispute before the Canadian government forced them into arbitration. Who are the employees?

Delivery drivers

Dock workers

Rail workers

Truck drivers

This week, Donald Trump shared an A.I.-generated image that suggested which celebrity had endorsed him?

Anthony Hopkins

Kim Kardashian

Bruce Springsteen

Taylor Swift

Ye (formerly Kanye West)

Which former congressman who lied about his background pleaded guilty this week to charges of wire fraud and identity theft?

Jamaal Bowman

Bob Menendez

George Santos

Aaron Schock

James Traficant

Which celebrity couple announced this week that they were getting a divorce?

Beyoncé and Jay-Z

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

A rare blue supermoon was visible this week. What, in this instance, is “blue moon” referring to?

A full moon tinted blue by Venus’s shadow

A moon that does not cross the horizon because of the planet’s tilt

A new moon illuminated by reflected light from Venus

The third full moon in a season with four full moons

When Venus passes Earth in transit and appears as large as the moon

Sphen, a male gentoo penguin whose partnership with another male penguin led them to become queer icons, has died at age 11. What is his partner’s name?

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World cruising, once in a lifetime adventures, sailing in style.

Designed for ocean crossings, island hopping, and everything in between, the Spirit 65 is a yacht for making memories. Incorporating all the necessary components and sailing stamina for long distance passages, the Spirit 65 is a proven bluewater cruising yacht that turns heads wherever she goes.

Her exterior showcases the iconic Spirit design hallmarks of clean flush decks, long overhangs, and the elegant fan light windows in her classically styled coachroof. Her large deck areas and spacious cockpit offer plenty of choice when it comes to relaxation and socialising. Down below, the option for a custom interior allows clients to be creative with fabrics, fittings, and finishings to create a real home from home on the water. With accommodation for six and additional pilot berths for overnight passages, the Spirit 65 is set up for family sailing, entertaining, and much more.

Whether you fancy relaxing in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean or exploring Scandiavia, the Spirit 65 can do it all in style and comfort. Where would you take her?

SPIRIT C65 AT A GLANCE

Specification & features.

• L.O.A 64'10" / 19.8m
• L.W.L 46'11" / 14.3m
• Beam 14'1" / 4.3m
• Draft 9' 2" / 2.8m
• Lightship Displacement 16 tonnes
• Ballast Ratio 40%
• Propulsion 2x 30kW electric pod drives
• Upwind Sail Area 150 m2
• Rig Fractional Bermudan Sloop (optional yawl)
• Keel Iron Blade 2180kg – Lead Bulb 4320kg
• RCD Category A (F8 winds 4m waves)
• RCD Max Persons 8

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Spirit Yachts’ contemporary, elegant design style is world renowned. Subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design with long overhangs, low profiles and smooth lines, married to contemporary underwater profiles, are synonymous with Spirit’s modern classic performance yachts.

Spirit Yachts are designed to be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today.

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