THOSE relaxing near Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club yesterday may have caught a sneak peek of the luxurious catamaran Lady Barbaretta at Azzura Marine's Newcastle site.
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Azzura staff have been tight-lipped about the yacht's owner but it is believed to be the pride and joy of UK billionaire and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
The 110-foot (33.5 metre) carbon fibre yacht has just had its hull extended, with workmen cutting the hull and deck and adding an extension to lengthen the boat.
While most yachts are extended by cutting and lengthening the hull only, it is understood Sir Richard's yacht was cut through the hull and cabin to extend both.
The luxury yacht has all the comforts befitting a knight and can sleep 10 people in its comfortable and palatial cabin.
But despite being laden with all the modern luxuries, the yacht is built for speed, using lightweight carbon fibre, and has been pushed to the limit by Sir Richard on trans-Atlantic sailing record attempts.
The yacht will be tested in the harbour and off Newcastle's coast to make sure the extension is structurally sound before it is handed back to its owner.
