MGC GT Roof And More
January 17, 2024
Lydia has been hard at work over the last week or so on the roof of our 1969 MGC GT. First, she stripped the old
January 17, 2024
Our Defender
January 17, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop as Mauro has been painting the roof before polishing
DB2/4 Refurbishment Of Parts
January 17, 2024
Christian has had our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 in the fabrication bay as he has been making some repairs on the chassis. While he was
Social Media Use On-Board Yachts
January 17, 2024
The Superyacht industry has always been known for luxury, excess, exclusivity and above all, discretion. Whether it’s the golden teak decks, unique interiors, or luxury
The Opulence Of Superyachts
January 17, 2024
In the world of luxury and extravagance, few things are as iconic and beautiful as a superyacht. These floating gin palaces represent the pinnacle of
MGC GT Roof And More
January 17, 2024
Lydia has been hard at work over the last week or so on the roof of our 1969 MGC GT. First, she stripped the old headlining from the roof. As with a lot of materials from the 60s and 70s, the foam had disintegrated, leaving a sticky mess.
Taking the roof apart was challenging as it was not immediately apparent how the headlining part came off the exterior of the roof. Two hidden screws finally showed themselves after a thorough inspection. Lydia used the old headlining as a pattern and made the new one from a brushed nylon fabric. As you can see, it looks a lot fresher and plumped up as it should be compared to the old one. Whilst doing this, she also took time to renew the cover on the rear crash bar, which goes over the boot hinges. This needed a completely new foam underlayer and then new brushed nylon on top. She refitted the rear interior light back to this as well.
Next were all the parts on the actual car body. Lydia first cleaned off the old foam and used a scotch brite pad to prepare the surface. Then, she applied new foam to the sides to offer some sound deadening and a base for the headlining to go on top. After this, she had to put the frame and the outer skin of the roof on, and tighten the nuts to hold this on.
Afterwards, Lydia cut the headlining to size on the job, then sewed it where necessary, and glued it to the car. The edges were glued to the metal frame and finished with some top on edging. The front piece of headlining was looking somewhat bumpy, so she cut a piece of cardboard to size and placed this underneath. It helped to smooth out the bumps and give it a much better finish. Then Lydia replaced all of the items attached to the roof, wind deflector, rear view mirror and sun visor clips.
The doors and the bonnet of our MGC were painted before the car was flatted and polished.
Our Defender
January 17, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop as Mauro has been painting the roof before polishing it too.
As well as the painted roof – for the rear panels, Craig chose a simple vinyl to match the existing interior colour, which really helped to brighten up the back of the vehicle as it was very dark. Lydia applied a thin scrim foam and then the vinyl, and stapled that to the back. She then refitted the panels and secured them with screws and cup washers. Lydia then had to refit the seat and the toolbox before Mauro helped her to attach the bolts to them.
DB2/4 Refurbishment Of Parts
January 17, 2024
Christian has had our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 in the fabrication bay as he has been making some repairs on the chassis.
While he was doing this, many of the parts are now being stripped, cleaned and checked ready for painting. New bushes and other small parts have been ordered, and when the parts have been painted, the sub assemblies can then be rebuilt ready to be fitted to the chassis and body.
Social Media Use On-Board Yachts
January 17, 2024
The Superyacht industry has always been known for luxury, excess, exclusivity and above all, discretion. Whether it’s the golden teak decks, unique interiors, or luxury destinations, superyachts are floating gin palaces that cater to the world’s elite. However, behind this world of extravagance, there exists a crucial aspect that is often overshadowed these days – the importance of discretion and secrecy by the crew, particularly in the age of social media.
Everyday I see photos from crew tagging their location and even their next destination, clearly with guests onboard, if you see enough of their ‘stories’ you can piece together exactly what cruising the yacht is doing. Dinner table and party set up pictures, posted in real time can easily give away numbers of guests coming, a 200 person party set up is bound to be attended by some persons of interest.
I remember the days we were asked to not mention to anyone our upcoming plans on-board, which was easy to comply with, as long as you didn’t blab about it when at the Blue Lady or the Mad Mongoose. These days you ask the crew not to post anything on social media about the upcoming trip with resounding nods and agreement, then day one of the voyage and everybody has seemed to have turned into Cameron Crowe, documenting every wave that hits the porthole or every glistening sunset.
A simple location tag on a photo from a crewmember is often enough for a keen yacht spotter to deduce where the yacht is and reveal the presence of high-profile guests on board, potentially compromising their privacy and safety.
The crew onboard superyachts are privy to the personal lives, preferences, and sometimes even the darkest secrets of their guests. Business deals, mistresses, prostitutes, secret games and affairs are all to be kept tight-lipped about. While crew wouldn’t intentionally post about the guests themselves, it is getting more and more usual for guests to add crew as ‘friends’ on their social media accounts, this then means if a crew member posts about the yacht, they may inadvertently give away some personal information the guests would rather their friends not know about. Crew often sign non-disclosure agreements and are expected to maintain the public perception of their guests, however, these are usually forgotten about and not followed up by the senior crew. Discretion and secrecy are of utmost importance to protect the privacy and reputation of the guests and the integrity of the superyacht industry as a whole.
Maintaining confidentiality is not just about respecting personal boundaries; it is about creating an atmosphere where guests can unwind, be themselves, and enjoy their time without the fear of being exposed to the public eye.
The superyacht industry’s success largely depends on its reputation for providing a secure and discreet environment for high-profile clients. Business meetings with rival firms are kept quiet while it could effect stock prices and trust from shareholders. Any breach of confidentiality can damage this reputation and deter future clients from seeking the superyacht experience.
The introduction of social media has transformed the way information is shared and consumed. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube allow anyone to become a content creator and instantly share their experiences with a global audience hoping to become the next big thing. While this has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits to individuals, it has also presented challenges to the industry. All too often the news outlets are grasping onto negative stories shared on social media, barely having to do any investigatory work themselves as people have shared their limited thoughts on an incident all over their profiles.
The use of social media is a worry to all who hold a position of command in ensuring the privacy of their guests is maintained, paparazzi, fans, or even fellow crew members can inadvertently or deliberately share sensitive information, photos, or videos of guests on social media platforms.
On the flip side, social media can be a valuable tool for marketing and promoting the superyacht industry. Crewmembers can showcase the beauty and fun of the industry, its destinations, and the exceptional service provided – as long as it’s done without violating the privacy of guests. These days we have all seen certain yachts that have their own social media pages or YouTube channels to help promote themselves for charter and I’m sure they do well out of it, although I often wonder what potential charterers watch these.
It is a delicate balancing act between preserving guest privacy and leveraging the power of social media for positive promotion. This requires careful training, clear communication, and strict adherence to guidelines, often the best approach is to employ someone with prior training in social media and marketing. In doing so, the superyacht industry can continue to offer a haven of luxury, exclusivity, and discretion for its discerning clientele.
The Opulence Of Superyachts
January 17, 2024
In the world of luxury and extravagance, few things are as iconic and beautiful as a superyacht. These floating gin palaces represent the pinnacle of wealth, showcasing not only exquisite craftsmanship, the finest materials money can buy and cutting-edge technology. From immaculate decks to opulent interiors, superyachts spare no expense in creating an unparalleled experience for their fortunate owners.
Superyachts are known for their stylish and designer exteriors, often crafted from expensive materials to achieve a perfect finish of beauty and functionality. From the keel up, generally, on larger vessels, the hull is made from marine grade steel and the superstructure from aluminium, renowned for its lightweight properties and corrosion resistance. It not only contributes to the yacht’s overall durability but also allows for weight-saving and intricate exterior designs. The bare metal is then sealed with primers and faired numerous times until a perfectly smooth surface is achieved to paint over with polyurethane paints, leaving a perfect mirror finish.
Teak, a hardwood renowned for its natural beauty and resilience, is another favourite for superyacht decks. Its warm, golden tones not only provide a stunning visual contrast against the painted elements but also offers a comfortable, hardwearing and non-slip surface for guests to enjoy on the open sea. Teak is also used for perfectly varnished handrails, supported by mirror-finished stainless steel railings.
All fittings on the exterior are made from highly polished mirror finish stainless steel, from door handles, to mooring bits, fairleads and windlasses.
The extravagance of a superyacht is most evident in its interiors, where no expense is spared to create a haven of luxury. Hardwoods such as mahogany, teak, and oak are commonly used for wall panelling, and bespoke built furniture.
Marble is used for the flooring throughout communal areas, bathrooms and dayheads, with silk carpets used in cabins and salons. The yacht’s bathrooms are usually crafted with marble countertops, floors, walls and even intricately designed sinks, sometimes with gold or crystal fittings.
The interiors are adorned with the finest fabrics and furnishings, elevating the onboard experience to unparalleled heights of comfort. From custom-designed sofas to handcrafted bed linens, every inch of a superyacht’s living space is a testament to luxury. There may be exotic materials such as stingray skin, leathers and silk used to create bespoke wall coverings or furniture. Exquisite curtains and blinds delicately filter the sunlight, adding an extra layer of refinement and privacy.
Priceless paintings and art pieces adorn the living spaces, many being one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.
In addition to the lavish use of traditional materials and handcraftsmanship, superyachts boast cutting-edge technology, integrated into the overall design. Smart glass technology allows windows to transition from transparent to opaque with a simple touch, automatic blinds, curtains and lights offer both privacy and ease. Huge entertainment systems, onboard Internet, air-conditioning and lighting are all controlled through sophisticated touchpad interfaces, enhancing the overall onboard experience.
The other extravagance of a superyacht, is the level of crewing involved, from ratios of 2 or 3 crew to every 1 guest onboard, all highly trained and highly skilled in their fields. The crew offer every type of service imaginable and make every request of the guests a priority, all while maintaining absolute discretion.
The extravagance of a superyacht is not merely a display of wealth, it is an artful combination of engineering prowess and the use of the finest materials available. These floating marvels are a testament to the limitless possibilities when money meets craftsmanship, creating an experience that is truly beyond compare.
