Once named ‘Lady Barbaretta,’ when Richard Branson purchased a 32m CMN catamaran for transporting guests in the Caribbean and luxury charters across the globe, he was faced with the challenge of renaming his vessel with something personal yet original.
From adjectives like M/Y SERENE, to foreign words like M/Y KISMET (translates to ‘fate’ in Eastern languages) and the widely-used women’s names like with superyacht ‘Lauren L,’ or unusual – motor yacht ‘Wally KokoNut’, finding a unique and memorable name for a yacht can trouble even billionaire entrepreneurs like Richard Branson.
Richard gathered the crew and contractors for a renaming ‘ceremony’ to christen the 32m sailing yacht 'Necker Belle'
History books were dusted off to begin the process, in which Richard says he delved into the legend of Poseiden and Neptune – who must be consulted, according to Greek and Roman mythology. The name of each yacht was said to recorded in the Ledger of the Deep – known to the god of the sea.
‘Lady Barbaretta’ would be reinvented as ‘Necker Belle’ - a name inspired by his British Virgin Islands retreat, Necker Island. Following an extensive refit in 2007, Richard stated that he gathered the crew and contractors for a renaming ‘ceremony’ to christen the 32m sailing yacht Necker Belle. Her new name was celebrated with toasts, readings and ample champagne – one bottle of which was broken on her hull.
Richard Branson’s appeal the gods of the sea for Necker Belle to offer excellent sailing to many appeared to have been answered, as the aptly-named S/Y Necker Belle has chartered successfully in the Mediterranean summer season and during winters in the Caribbean under her new owner.
For more details about chartering Necker Belle, please contact your preferred charter broker.
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32m
CMN Yachts
2003 / 2018
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