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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Aqua Marine Partners and Vertical Yacht Club Development recently announced plans for its newest project, Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile -- the first vertical dry storage facility designed exclusively for mega yachts up to 85 feet in length and weighing up to 90 tons (180,000 pounds).
Yachts of this stature are traditionally relegated to wet slips where they are exposed to harsh elements and hurricanes. In the face of a worldwide boom in mega yacht construction, dock space for these yachts has become increasingly difficult to find. To address these issues, the Vertical Yachts team spent three years devising the unprecedented concept for Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile.
Located at 3000 W. State Road 84, on Fort Lauderdale's prestigious Marina Mile, this state-of-the-art indoor facility will be home to 46 luxury yachts. It will provide unparalled protection with a hurricane-resistant design that is capable of withstanding up to Category 5 force storms.
“Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile is a breakthrough for the world’s sophisticated boaters, the people who respect ingenuity and have an eye for the extraordinary,” said Andrew Sturner, CEO of Aqua Marine Partners and co-founder of Vertical Yacht Club Development. “A high-tech approach to mega yacht storage is long overdue.”
The revolutionary Hercules™ system transports each yacht and stores it in a fully enclosed, private Yacht Storage Suite™ within the building. The Hercules™ system is the big brother of the company’s proven Vertical Yachts System™, which employs an overhead bridge crane and a high-tech open-rack system to maneuver boats with precise guidance.
“Through the evolution of this engineering marvel, larger yachts can now be lifted out of the water, stored vertically, and enclosed within a first-of-its-kind pod,” said Chris Rosenberg, co-founder of Vertical Yacht Club Development.
Hercules™ transports and stores each yacht on its very own custom platform designed specifically for each hull that stays with each yacht by sliding into its suite on sky rails. Each private suite will be climate-controlled with individualized air conditioning and humidity settings to maintain the integrity of each yacht’s interior. A 250-square-foot mezzanine as well as a fire suppression system and biometric controls to secure access will also be included. Domestic and European power will be accessible, along with standard hook ups in each suite.
“We’re taking protection to a new level with this facility,” said John Ross, senior vice president of Vertical Yacht Club Development. “Owners and their captains need to consider the substantial savings in maintenance, lack of wear and tear and the retention in the value of the vessel when considering where to store their multi-million dollar yacht.”
In addition to cutting edge technology, Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile features a monthly maintenance program to ensure engines, electronics, and systems are properly preserved. The Club will feature a lounge, business conference center, gym, spa, concierge and offices for captain and crew.
Vertical Yacht Club Development plans to break ground on this facility in the summer of 2008.
Earlier this year, Vertical Yacht Club Development and Aqua Marine Partners ignited a vertical dry storage revolution with plans for Vertical Yacht Club Thunder Alley, a state-of-the-art marina in Aventura, Florida. This hurricane-resistant facility will house 211 vertical boat slips capable of storing vessels up to 43 feet in length and weighing up to 30,000 pounds. Owners will have reciprocal rights privileges at all other Vertical Yacht Club facilities.
About Vertical Yacht Club Development: Vertical Yacht Club Development (VYCD) is developing marinas using a patented technology that brings state-of-the-art automation to marina dry storage. VYCD is developing a network of reciprocal rights yacht clubs with its own capital along and with the support of its partners across the country. The Vertical Yachts team offers turnkey development services, technology licensing, architectural and engineering services and complete staff training. For more information, visit www.verticalyachts.com or www.verticalyachtclub.com.
About Aqua Marine Partners: Aqua Marine Partners (AMP) is an integrated marina investment company based in Hollywood, Florida. AMP owns, develops and manages marinas in the United States on behalf of itself and its equity partners. AMP is also founder and strategic investor to a portfolio of leading marine industry companies, including Vertical Yacht Club Development, which is pioneering a renaissance in the marine industry with its flagship development Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile. For more information, visit www.aquamarinepartners.com
Media Contact: Galena Mosovich of Boardroom Communications at (954) 370-8999 or mosovich@boardroompr.com for Aqua Marine Partners.