WINTER 2011I sea&iI27x4PANTHALASSA 56M (184')A sailing yacht does not naturally spring to mind when you arelooking for a vessel with easy access to the water, but with thedrop-down 10m2(107sqft) swim platform aboard the award-winning Panthalassa, guests can hop off the yacht for a swim orto enjoy the plethora of watertoys aboard. The diving and jet-ski garage has its own side platform, allowing guests to use theplatform at the yacht's stern to access the inflatable trampolineand swimming pool that can be attached to the yacht. Panthalassa is available for charter in the Caribbean this winter. Prices fromUS$200,000 per week for up to 12 guests. ICON 65.2M (204') Icon boasts a vast beach club area from which a passagewayleads directly forward to the lower deck, meaning guests havethe considerable benefit of being able to access the oceandirectly from their cabins. An adjacent gym is tucked behindsmoked glass screens, offering perfect privacy for a work-out,or alternativley you can have a relaxing sauna before dippingstraight in the ocean. Reflecting the feel of a traditionalbeachclub, the décor is a simple blend of oak and teak, completewith a shaded bar and lounging area, complementedby asunning area with deck furniture and easy access to the sea,tenders and watertoys. Icon is available for charter in the Caribbean this winter. Prices fromUS$475,000 per week for up to 12 guests.HURRICANE RUN 53.5M (175'6)The award-winning Hurricane Run boasts a 20m2(215sqft) bathing platform which, at the flick of aswitch, unfolds from her stern. Not only does theplatform serve as a bathing and watersports area, it isalso an impressive entry point for guests arriving bytender. The platform does not open onto the tendergarage, instead jet-skis and toys are all launched viaa separate hull door on the port side. Hurricane Runwas recently honoured with two awards for her designat the ShowBoats Design Awards (for further informa-tion see page 18). Hurricane Run is available for charter in the Caribbean this winter.Prices from US$320,000 per week for up to 10/12 guests. sea&i'snew feature, entitled 'x4', sees us step aboard four top yachts eachissue to highlight their ultimate attraction. In the first of the series we uncoverthe finest on-board beach clubs

28Isea&iIWINTER 2011where in the[Agreat deal has changed for Raffles Hotels & Resorts since theoriginal Raffles in Singapore opened in the late 1800s, but onething that remains the same is the company's dedication toproviding properties with a unique characterand location.The new Raffles Makkah Palace in Saudi Arabia reflects thedistinctive approach the company has to its choice of locations asthe hotel is just a three-minute walk from the Grand Mosque andthe Ka'aba - the holiest site in Islam. The all-suite hotel occupies 15 floors of the new Abraj Al Baitcomplex and boasts facilities such as separate men's and women'sfitness centres, and a restaurant overlooking the Mosque. Further east, Raffles is opening its first resort in the Seychelles in2011 and is expecting its initial guests as early as February. Theproperty, on Praslin Island - the second largest granite island in theSeychelles - is situated a scenic 30-minute drive from the airport andis close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vallée de Mai.The hotel's general manager hopes to create an "unforgettableand enchanting experience", and this is not hard to imagine with its86 one- and two-bedroom villas, around-the-clock butler service,private plunge pools and stunning views of lush greenery and theIndian Ocean. The Raffles Spa is an extra highlight that will makeastay even more decadent.www.raffles.com sea&ibrings you the latest luxury travel newsworld.]RAFFLES TRAVELS FURTHER AFIELD