The Sunseeker Portofino 47 blog

SUNSEEKER PRESS RELEASE 25/10/06

Featuring Sunseeker motoryachts for the third time in succession, the production of the forthcoming 007 film CASINO ROYALE has proved to be the company’s greatest James Bond assignment to date. As a result, Sunseeker’s stunning Predator 108 was filmed on location in the Bahamas and the company also built full-scale models of accommodation on board for transportation to film studios in Prague. In total, five Sunseeker motoryachts were used and two feature in the film.

Working closely with Sunseeker’s designers and drawing office, film producers EON Productions took 6 weeks to create full-scale sets of the Predator 108’s Deck Saloon, Aft Cockpit and Master Stateroom, duplicating every aspect of equipment, luxury and style in the finest detail. Once created, the film sets were dismantled in the UK, transported and constructed in Prague, and mounted on a giant hydraulic platform to simulate the movement of the sea during filming.

According to Martin Guscott, representing Sunseeker’s design and manufacturing team, the operation was a major logistical exercise for the company. ‘Production teams on both sides collaborated on the design and build of each section, and to provide the finishing touch Sunseeker supplied a full complement of the highest quality furniture and fittings. Even the switches and dials in the Cockpit were identical to the real thing!’ he said.

Due for worldwide release in November 2006, CASINO ROYALE features a number of Sunseeker motoryachts on locations from the Bahamas to central Europe including a sequence involving the company’s high performance XS 2000 and a sea plane.

Commenting on Sunseeker’s appearance in yet another James Bond film, the company’s managing director Robert Braithwaite MBE said: ‘As a privately-owned British company and a leading worldwide brand associated with luxury, style and performance there’s a great deal of synergy with the quality and distinction represented by every Bond film. Worldwide exposure of this kind can further enhance awareness and recognition, and benefit our efforts to increase and extend international sales activity’.

Other James Bond films which have featured Sunseeker motoryachts include DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002) and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999) in which Sunseeker’s Superhawk 34 sped down London’s River Thames at over 60 mph in the longest-ever Bond pre-title sequence.

A global leader in the design and build of luxury motor yachts, Sunseeker International exports 99% of its product range and employs over 1,800 highly trained staff in their shipyards on Britain’s South Coast. Sunseeker International is widely recognised as the pre-eminent marine brand in the world today.

NOTE: A selection of images are available on request from Sunseeker and will be provided on the condition that they receive the following credit when used for any editorial:

Casino Royale ©2006 Danjaq, LLC, United Artists Corporation, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. 007 Gun Logo and related James Bond Trademarks ©1962-2006 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation. Casino Royale, 007 and related James Bond Trademarks are trademarks of Danjaq, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A United Kingdom – Czech Republic– German – USA Co-Production

EON PRODUCTIONSEon Productions is owned by the Broccoli family and has produced twenty James Bond films since 1962, including Die Another Day. The Bond films, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, make up the most successful franchise in film history and include the recent blockbuster films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. Eon Productions and Danjaq, LLC, are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising of the James Bond franchise.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Sunseeker PR and Marketing, Gemma Langridge Tel: +44 (0) 1202 381111 Fax: +44 (0) 1202 777005 Mobile: +44 (0)7764 320536 e-mail: marketing@sunseeker.com

See website www.sunseeker.com for downloadable copy and high resolution images

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Any figures given here are estimates or calculations based on information received from third parties. The information is given in good faith to act as a comparison between models in the Sunseeker range. Performance figures are based on ideal conditions with the vessel in light-ship state. The size and condition of the hull and underwater components, boat weight, ambient temperature and condition of the engines will all affect performance of the boat. The manufacturer, Sunseeker International (Boats) Limited, cannot accept any responsibility for any inaccuracies or for any misuse of this information.

Our handover trip from Poole to Southampton was a little more exciting than we'd planned. Lucky for us the wind was going in the same direction (otherwise we wouldn't have set off) and we had our handover Skipper from Sunseeker with us, Sam. Oh and of course the boat handled very well indeed. For a while it seemed we were surfing the waves on a forty seven foot surf board, especially as we hit the Christchurch shelf.

As we got into the Solent the waves calmed down to the usual Solent chop so we were able to relax a little more. In a little over two hours we'd made it from the Sunseeker Marina in Poole to Yaffa's new home of Shamrock Quay Marina in Southampton.

Great fun had by all... we even got to test the autohelm and Raymarine E120 Chartplotter - it all worked like a dream...