Sinanation

Philippe Starck’s first and in my opinion the best yacht project. Wedge Too, unlike many of the ultra-expensive yachts we see all over the world, was built with character. The exposure of wood and the classic curves we witness in timeless yachts from the past are present in this attentively designed 68m palace on water. The exterior space on the top is enough to comfortably accommodate guests in the sun and refresh them in the jacuzzi if the sea is too cold or too dark to swim in. Although I am not a big fan of super yachts if I am ever daring enough to spend so much on something you can only visit a few times a year, I would go for something like Wegde Too. With 3 VIP rooms and 4 guest staterooms, I might as well invite family and close friends along the amazing trip around the south of Turkey.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko’s brand new 119m toy. Designed by Phillippe Starck and built by Blohm & Voss the boat was initially named Project SIGMA with 99m in length. Given that Mr. Melcichenko  has enough money (he is best-known for his energy and banking businesses and is worth approx. USD 4.6bn) to own a few other immense, but more comfortable yachts compared to the submarine-like A, I think it is my obligation to give him credit for funding a brand new vision to luxury on water. The media estimates the total cost of A at USD 300m.

It is just a two-hour drive away and it gives you all the things you have been so longing for in Manhattan: nature, quiet, peace of mind and space. Make I-495 your new best friend. Hope for a sunny weather, but don’t get discouraged if the sky is cloudy and its chilly outside. As long as you have good company and a few nice albums to take you through the highway, you will have a great time.

Twice a year I take a drive to Long Island. Visit two of my favorite vineyards: Martha Clara and Roanoke. A case of Martha Clara Rose and a few bottles of Roanoke Grapes of Roth does the trick for me. All that wine tasting asks for a quick stop in one of the best McDonald’s I have ever seen in America. A few minutes from the vineyards tucked inside a tiny garden surrounded by the peaceful Long Island nature, it is the perfect townhouse to have a bite of Mcchicken. The next stop is Shelter Island. The ferry fights the waves of Gardiner Bay while get of the cat to gaze at the big mansions that defines this small island. A few minutes later I am passing through Bridgehampton. I feast my eyes with the huge yachts at the port while the people cheering up at the restaurant terraces sing to my ear. Little shops are scattered around, all with their own amazing specialties. It is now a tradition to walk the beaches of East Hampton even if the sand is not yet warm because of the cold weather. The search for collectible rocks and shells is always a good distraction. A nice drive on Main St. and Newton Lane, I make my way to East Hampton Point to have a nice dinner while I breathe the nice breeze from the restaurant’s waterview. Only then is my battery recharged to make it back to the city.