Phocéa (boat)

For the other significance of “Phocéa”, to see the article Marseilles.

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The Phocéa (old name of old Marseilles in Greek) (baptized at the origin “ Club the Mediterranean ”) is a Bateau of race Transatlantique as a recluse of 4 masts, 1.000 m² of aerofoil, 75 m length, built for the navigator Alain Colas in 1976. It was about the one of the largest boats of race, fastest and equipped with a technology more to the avant-garde in the world with 30 nodes out of top speed. It was renamed and transformed into Yacht of luxury under house French by the Business man Politicien Bernard Tapie starting from 1982.

History

Alain Colas

In 1976 the navigator Alain Colas (recordman of the round the world tour to the veil as a recluse of 1973 in 169 days on its PEN Duick IV “Manureva”), makes build this ship avant-gardist by Alain-Cola-Tahiti SA and the naval architect Michel Bigion (creative of PEN Duick IV and PEN Duick V) with the Arsenal of Toulon. It finances the whole by an exceptional capacity to request sponsors.

75 m length single and revolutionary boat, it is baptized at the beginning “Mediterranean Club”, and comprises 1000 m² aerofoil, 4 masts of 30 meters haut.
It is equipped with revolutionary technological innovations for the time: bathymetric Sondeur, log, Radar, Décodeur Météo, VHF and BLU, calculation of position by 6 satellite of American navigation Sylosat with an accuracy of 300 Mr. the boat is entirely automated by a system Hydraulique to be operation by only one navigator, to make it possible to carry out the English Transat (Transatlantique as a recluse) and the round the world tour as a recluse.
This boat with the point of the technology of then is one of the largest boats of race and fastest in the world, able to reach a top speed of 30 nodes (either 55 km/h).

In 1978 Alain Colas is reported missing at sea the November 16th whereas it takes part in the Route of Rum on his PEN Duick IV “Manureva”. His wife Teura Colas inherits then her company and her left boats of many years to the abandonment with Tahiti.

Bernard Tapie

In 1982, then at the top of its media popularity and its social rise, the Business man Politicien Bernard Tapie repurchases Club the Mediterranean and the company Alain-Cola-Tahiti SA of Teura Colas of which it makes a Filiale of his group. It repatriates the wreck of the boat with Marseilles since Tahiti where it entirely makes it restore and transform into de luxe hotel of floating luxury. He wants to make Phocéa the most beautiful sailing ship of the world, a formidable tool for promotion and the symbol bursting of his success with four years of complete restoration at a cost of 68 franc million (10 € million). Nothing will be too beautiful for this yacht, renamed Phocéa (old name of old Marseilles in Greek). Marseilles is the prefecture of the department of the Rhone delta of which he wants to become Maire and Député. The Phocéa is then anchored in the Old man-Port of Marseilles vis-a-vis the Mairie of the city.

The May 23rd 1987, as inauguration, it marries Dominique Mialet-Damianos, of Greek origin, on its board in Greece during a ceremony deprived with some friends, celebrated by a Pope orthodoxe Greek and carries out its first cruising in the Mediterranean on its board for its honeymoon.

In 1988 Bernard Tapie personally beats the world records of the crossing of the Atlantic out of monoshell with this boat in June.

This ship of dream totals to him 12 franc million per annum of expenses + 100.000 francs of expenses per day of cruising and thus makes it possible Bernard Tapie not to pay a Impôt in 1990 and 1992 thanks to the Déficit of company FIBT (holding of the personal goods of the Tapie family in personal name).
But in 1994, it is continued for this reason for “the business of Phocéa” by the Fisc and is accused by the judge Eva Joly of the 11th Criminal Court of the court of Paris to 12 million francs of fine for Abuse of corporate asset and Tax evasion.

Mounya Ayoub

In July 1997, following the Bankruptcy of Bernard Tapie in his many financial businesses, the Phocéa is repurchased 6 million euros by the Businesswoman billionaires Lebanon ease Mounya Ayoub (ex-wife of the billionaire Nasser Al-Rashid, Business man Property developer Saoudi and personal friend of the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd Ben Abdel Aziz Al-Saoud). It then makes of it its personal address and rents it starting from 175.000 € the week for fortunate customers.

Characteristics

naval Architect: Michel Bigoin (Co-creator of PEN Duick V).
Zone of navigation: the Atlantic Mediterranean/.
20 passengers and 15 men of crew.
10 double cabins.
transformable Living room out of nightclub.
Hairdressing salon, Gymnasium, Sauna, Jacuzzi, etc
Estimate 2007: 25 € million.
Hiring: starting from 175.000 € per week (tariff 2007).

Prize list in competition

1988 : “World records of the crossing of the Atlantic out of monoshell” by Bernard Tapie.

Sources

Data sheet of Veritas Bureau.

See too

English Transatlantic race
List of the private yachts
Record of the round the world tour to the veil

External bonds

Phocéa on www.yachtchartersdeluxe.com
Phocéa on www.rnryachts.com
Phocea File - File of INA

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