Rapture under sail

The sole US entry in this year's Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race is billionaire American media mogul Brook Lenfest's Southern Wind DS100 Rapture, one of the five 100 foot long super maxis in the 628 nautical mile race.

But unlike the other super maxis, Rapture is not a stripped out racing machine with no creature comforts.

Yachts such as Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo are as uncomfortable below decks as a third world jail cell. They are wet and noisy, there is crouching headroom only, and the only bathroom facilities are a single marine head without even a door for privacy.

Rapture, on the other hand, was built to be the world's fastest luxury cruiser at the Southern Wind shipyard in South Africa. With a hull designed by the Farr Design group, she is no slouch, particularly when the wind is slightly astern.

But the big difference between Rapture and the other super maxis is below decks. Rapture is fully air conditioned, has a luxury raised saloon with leather couches and 360 degree views through the panoramic windows.

The owner's cabin is the size of a motel room with a queen sized bed, a lounge, a desk and a marble en suite with a full sized bath, double vanity and shower. The guest cabins are equally flash. Even the crew quarters, with room for six, are rather more comfortable than any normal production yacht.

But while few people ever get the chance to sail on Wild Oats or Alfa Romeo, Rapture spends her time off the race course as a cruising charter yacht.

She is now half way though a global circumnavigation and she is off to New Zealand's cruising grounds after arriving in Hobart.

So, if you want to see how the very rich go racing, make a booking. Rapture charters for just 48,000 Euros a week.