the starship yacht

Yacht StarShip

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Yacht StarShip - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Yacht StarShip

• 603 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
• (813) 223-7999

Set sail on the waterways of Tampa Bay and Clearwater with Yacht StarShip and delight in a different kind of dining experience! When you come aboard our yachts, you can expect unmatched service, exquisite views and delicious, freshly-prepared dishes. Experience stunning Clearwater sunsets or the bright city lights of Downtown Tampa as you sip and savor your way through our upscale cuisine and cocktails. 

Yacht StarShip’s fleet of four luxury yachts are perfect for any size event from 25 – 600 guests and feature top quality service, breathtaking views, entertainment, and award-winning cuisine. Our all-inclusive event packages make planning easy seabreezy. Whether you want to tie the knot on a yacht, or create a sea of memories with a social celebration, our dedicated crew is here for you.

Make your reservation today! 

As America's first three-diamond rated dining yacht, Yacht StarShip offers the best views on the waters of Tampa Bay and award-winning cuisine. A dining experience on the 600-passenger Yacht StarShip, or the 150-passenger Yacht StarShip II is set to impress. Available for public or private cruises from Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and other local ports. Reserve your table today!

Dining/Nightlife

• Cuisine: American
• Days/Hours of Operation: Cruise dates and times vary. Call 813-223-7999 for information.
• Dining Reservations: Required
• Number of Indoor Seats: 600
• Private/Group Room Capacity: 600
• Style: Fine Dining
• Total Restaurant Capacity: 600

Dining & Entertainment

Parking facilities, things to do & see.

• Average length of Stay/Tour: Stay 3 hours
• American Express
• Largest Banquet Capacity: 600
• Largest Classroom Capacity: 300
• Largest Reception Capacity: 600
• Largest Theatre Capacity: 300
• Outdoor Facilities Sq Ft: 3000
• Total Capacity (Reception): 600
• Total Number of Meeting Rooms: 1
• Total Square Footage: 6000
• Map Show Map

• United States
• Tampa / Central Florida West

YACHT STARSHIP DINING CRUISES

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Additional information

• Dining style Fine Dining
• Price $50 and over
• Cuisines American
• Hours of operation Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–11:30 pm
• Phone number (813) 223-7999
• Website http://yachtstarship.com/
• Payment options AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
• Dress code Resort Casual
• Executive chef Michael Russel
• Location 603 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602-5443
• Neighborhood Tampa
• Parking details Parking is available in the Channelside area at the Tampa Port Authority Parking Garage: 369 South 12th Street, Tampa, Florida, 33602 located across the street from our location. You will receive a discounted parking rate by showing your cruise confirmation.
• Additional Banquet, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Overall ratings and reviews.

• 4.3 Service
• 4.3 Ambience

Noise • Moderate

At present, YACHT STARSHIP DINING CRUISES has no reviews. Please add a review after your dining experience to help others make a decision about where to eat.

603 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602-5443

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TAMPA BAY'S PREMIER DINING YACHTS

Tampa   •   st. petersburg   •   clearwater.

603 Channelside Drive Tampa, FL 33602

Click Here to Make  Your Reservations!

Yacht StarShip Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about Yacht StarShip. If you need further assistance, or information that cannot be found on this site, please contact Yacht StarShip Reservations at 813.223.7999. Please click on the question to see the answer.

Reservations

How do I make reservations?

You can make your reservations either online by visiting our reservations page here ​ or by calling us at 813-223-7999. Our reservations booth is open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm 7 days a week. 

Do I have to pay when I make the reservation?

Yes. We take the full payment in order to make your reservation. You can either do this online by our reservations page or over the phone with a credit/debit card. 

I do not have a credit card. Can I make reservations?

Our main office is located at our dock at 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa, Florida and open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm. A reservation may be made at this location with either cash or money order. Reservations can be made for both the Clearwater and Tampa locations.

How far in advance do you recommend I book my reservations?

We recommend at least a week in advance for a regular dinner cruises. Fridays and Saturdays are our busiest nights and tend to book up very quickly, so calling as soon as possible is always recommended.

For special event or holiday cruises, we recommend booking two weeks in advance. All of our special event cruises are very popular and have limited seating, the majority of them selling out in advance. We do not guarantee any availability for special events a few days leading up to the event. 

What is included in the price of my ticket?

For public lunch or dinner cruises, your ticket includes your cruise, reserved table, and 3-course seated meal (choice of soup or salad, choice of entree, and dessert). Dinner cruises include DJ entertainment and dancing after dinner. Your ticket does not include any on board purchases such as beverages or menu upgrades.

Does my ticket price include gratuity?

The compensation for your server for your meal service is included in the price of your ticket. For most special events and private charters, gratuity will be added to the ticket price. 

Can I request a window seat?

We do not take requests for window seats, however for your convenience you may purchase a guaranteed window seat for $25 per table. You can add this onto your reservation online or request it at the time of booking over the phone. The purchase of a window seat must be done in advance. We do not offer window seat upgrades once you have boarded the yacht.

Do you offer any senior discounts?

At this time, we do not offer any discounts for seniors. 

What is the dress code attire for dinner?

Resort Casual to Dressy Casual Attire. Also known as "Sunday Attire" or "Florida Casual". This includes: nice jeans, dress shorts, Tommy Bahama-style shirts, polos, button-down shirts, slacks, sundresses, dress sandals, and boat shoes.

 Cut-off or frayed jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, casual hats, skullcaps, and flip-flops are prohibited on the yacht. Management reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone if they are inappropriately dressed.

What is the dress code attire for lunch/brunch?

 For men, we recommend dress shorts or pants with a dress shirt, polo, or Tommy Bahama-style shirt. For women, we recommend a sundress or skirt/shorts with a blouse. Worn or torn clothing, tank tops, or flip-flops are prohibited in the dining room.

Where do we park for the cruise out of Channelside Tampa?

Paid parking is available in the lot directly in front of the Yacht StarShip's Dock at 603 Channelside Dr. There is also the Tampa Port Authority parking garage located across the street from Channelside. Garage parking is $2.00/hr. When special events are taking place at the Amalie Arena, Yacht StarShip offers ChipCoin validation for the garage to keep your rate at $2.00/hr. Please contact the parking companies for rates and parking schedule. 

Do you charge for parking?

Yacht StarShip does not own a parking lot, though there is parking in Channelside. Paid parking is available in the Garrison Surface Lot directly in front of the Yacht StarShip Dock. The Port Authority parking garage also charges a fee for parking.  Please call the Channelside parking companies for current rates and schedule. 

Where do we park for our cruise from Clearwater?

Parking is available for our Clearwater location in the marina parking lot. Daytime prices for parking are $3.00 per car and passes may be purchased at our ticket booth. 

Tickets/Boarding Passes

Where do I pick up my tickets?

Your tickets will be at the Yacht StarShip Ticket Booth (either in Tampa or Clearwater), located next to the ship. For your convenience, this booth opens one hour prior to the scheduled departure time.

What kind of security check is required when I pick up my tickets?

Your photo identification and reservation number are required at our Ticket Booth when picking up your tickets. Wrapped gifts or packages of any kind are not allowed onboard and will not be stored in our Ticket Booth. All gifts should be in gift bags and available to search by our marine crew.

Can you e-mail or mail me my boarding passes?

Your confirmation e-mail will include your confirmation number to pick up your tickets at our ticket booth when you arrive for your cruise. We do not not send the boarding passes to you prior to your cruise. 

Boarding Process

Is the vessel handicap accessible?

StarShip I has an elevator on board with a maximum capacity of three (3) passengers. StarShip can accommodate most wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and walkers. Please indicate when making your reservation that you have disabled guests in your party.

Yacht StarShip II can accommodate standard wheelchairs on the first deck of the ship, however there is no elevator for access to the second and third decks. There is a restroom on the first level with limited handicap access.

Yacht Sensation can accommodate standard wheelchairs on the first deck of the ship, however there is no elevator for access to the second deck. There is a restroom on the first level with limited handicap access. 

Is there pre-assigned seating?

As you board, our captain and marine crew will direct you to your deck. From there, our hostess will show you to your assigned table(s).

May I bring my own camera on board?

Guests are more than welcome to bring their own camera for personal pictures during boarding and aboard the ship. Our crew members will be happy to take your photo for you. 

Cruising & Dining

Where does the boat dock and depart from?

Yacht StarShip docks regularly out of Tampa and Clearwater. Your departure site is printed on your confirmation page when booking online. When docking in Tampa, Yacht StarShip normally departs from Channelside, near the St. Pete Times Forum. When docking in Clearwater Beach, the yacht will depart from the Municipal Marina

Where is the normal cruise route?

Yacht StarShip's normal Tampa route includes cruising out of Ybor Channel into the Hillsborough Bay and Garrison Channel. While in route, passengers view Bayshore Drive, Harbour Island, Davis Island, and Downtown Tampas Skyline.

Yacht StarShip Clearwater Cruise route includes views of the scenic intercoastal waterway from Bellair to Island Estates. Weather permitting, we will cruise into the Gulf of Mexico for a famous West Coast Sunset.

How soon will my party begin eating on our cruise?

Once on your deck, our hostess will greet you and escort you to your private table where your wait staff will introduce themselves and give you the opportunity to decide for yourself how to pace your service. Serving may begin immediately.

What type of entertainment do you have?

After dinner, dance to the sounds of our cruise directors vast repertoire on the lounge deck or relax beneath a blanket of stars, while taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of Tampa Bay or Clearwater Beach with 360 degree views from our promenade deck. From exciting dance music to romantic dinner music, Yacht StarShips Cruise Director will simply dazzle you.

Lunch cruise feature an interesting and informative narration that describes the points of interest along the route.

All cruise tickets include the compensation for your server for the meal service. 

Do you offer any vegetarian/vegan/gluten free options?

Yes, we offer a vegetarian option on all of our dinner cruises. For any other dietary restrictions, please let your reservations agent know at the time of booking so we can notify the chef. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions.

Do you have a kid's menu?

Children are welcome to order off of our regular dinner menu or we have chicken tenders and french fries available for purchase on the yacht.

Weather/Rescheduling/Cancellation Policies

What is your cancellation/refund policy?

Yacht StarShips cancellation policy states that public Yacht StarShip tickets are non-refundable, however they are transferable for up to one year. If you reschedule within the 24 hours prior to your cruise, the reservation may be subject to a $10 per person rescheduling fee.

Special event cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event you are not able to make it, you may change the name on your reservation to let someone else use your tickets.  

What if it rains?

Yacht StarShip will cruise in most weather conditions all-year round. Each enclosed deck is climate controlled and the weather will not affect your cruise. In the case of severe weather conditions or upon the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard, the ship will remain dockside for the length of the event.

Special Occasions

Does Yacht StarShip do anything special for anniversaries, birthdays, etc.?

For birthdays or special occasions, we will include a message on our welcome board in the boarding area and decorate their dessert plate. We also have bottles of champagne available for purchase on board. Please let us know when you make your reservation if you are celebrating a special occasion.

Can I bring a birthday cake on board?

Small cakes that do not require refrigeration are allowed to be brought on board. Your server will place the cake in our galley until it is ready to be cut and served.

Do you offer private parties?

Yes, we offer several options for semi-private or private groups of 50 people or more. For more information on booking a private group, please call us directly at 813-223-7999 and ask to speak with a group sales manager or you can fill out our event contact form here .

Do you offer gift certificates?

Yes, you can purchase Gift Certificates here .

Career Opportunities

How can I apply to work at Yacht StarShip?

 You can fill out our job application here .

Yacht StarShip

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STARSHIP YACHT CHARTER

43.59m  /  143'   van mill   1988 / 2020.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Large exterior spaces for dining and socializing
• Loaded with water toys and tenders
• Flexible cabin configuration to meet the specific needs of guests

Superbly refit, superyacht STARSHIP treats charter guests to a fantastic cruising experience

The 43.59m/143' motor yacht 'Starship' by shipyard Van Mill offers flexible accommodation for up to 12 guests in 5 cabins and features interior styling by Procasa.

Built in 1988, Starship offers beautifully proportioned decks for exquisite indoor/outdoor living during a luxury yacht charter.

Guest Accommodation

Families will particularly love Starship thanks to her child-friendly setup. She offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests with a layout comprising a master suite, two VIP cabins, one double cabin and one twin cabin. There are 7 beds in total, including 3 king, 1 queen, 1 double, 3 singles and 1 pullman. She is also capable of carrying up to 9 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

You and your guests can enjoy a variety of experiences on Starship such as a gym with all the latest equipment to maintain your fitness routine. Soak up the bubbles in style in the deck jacuzzi.

Whatever your activities on your charter, you'll find some impressive features are seamlessly integrated to help you such as Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure, she benefits from a semi-displacement hull to provide exceptional seakeeping and impressive speeds. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, she comfortably cruises at 10 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 17 knots with a range of up to 3,201 nautical miles from her 52,990 litre fuel tanks at 12 knots. Her low draft of 1.96m/6'5" makes her primed for accessing shallow areas and cruising close to the shorelines. Starship features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels.

When not cruising Starship has onboard an incredible selection of water toys and accessories for you and your guests to connect with the waters around you. Principle among these are waterslides for hours of fun for all ages. You'll be loving the huge adrenaline rush as you zip over the water on one of the five Yamaha VX 110 Deluxe WaveRunners. Additionally, there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. If that isn't enough Starship also features waterskis, a seabob, wakeboards, kayaks, WindSurfers. When it comes to Tenders, Starship has you covered - with three tenders, including a 11.58m/38' Intrepid Tender.

Based in the magical waters of the Caribbean all year round Starship is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let Starship Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the Caribbean.

Motor yacht Starship is an outstanding pedigree yacht that delivers on all fronts for superlative luxury yacht vacations.

TESTIMONIALS

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Starship Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Starship has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Starship is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 11.58m  /  38' Intrepid Tender with 3 x Mercury 275 HP engines plus fishing gear, full cabin and SAT TV
• 1 x 5.49m  /  18' Novurania Tender with 1 x Yamaha 115 HP engine
• 1 x 12.19m  /  40' Intrepid Tender with 3 x 350 HP engines

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

• + shortlist

Starship is reported to be available to Charter with the following on board wellness facilities:

• Elliptical Machine
• Free Weights

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Starship' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

$120,000 p/week + expenses

High Season

Cruising Regions

Caribbean Bahamas

HOT SPOTS:   Florida

Winter Season

October - April

$150,000 p/week + expenses

Charter Starship

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

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Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

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Locally owned and operated for 23 years

Yacht StarShip

Overview: Florida’s largest dining yacht! At 180-feet, this exquisite yacht has 3 decks, with four separate dining rooms to explore together or enjoy separately. After dining guest will enjoy the expansive promenade deck for sightseeing and dancing. Our entire fleet is United States Coast Guard certified. 

Dining: Cocktail, seated dining, and buffet options available from our award-winning menu, freshly prepared daily by our Executive Chef and Galley Staff.

Entertainment: Dazzling entertainment for dancing under the stars on the Promenade deck. The Cruise Director (DJ) can play to any crowd, making the dance floor the most popular place to be after dining.

Weddings: Ceremonies for 300 on the Promenade deck, bridal suite, and four separate dining areas make this yacht ideal for wedding parties of 50 – 400 passengers. Exterior Decks: The largest Promenade deck in Florida with space for 600 guests for fireworks, covered dance floor with cool mister fans in summer and heaters in winter. The 2nd deck veranda has exterior covered seating for 42.

Accessibility: The only dining yacht in Tampa Bay equipped with an elevator to all 3 passenger decks.

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Yachts for sale

STARSHIP is a 56.4 m Motor Yacht, built in the United States of America by Delta Marine and delivered in 2000.

Her top speed is 14.0 kn and she boasts a maximum range of 4000.0 nm when navigating at cruising speed, with power coming from two Caterpillar diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms, with 11 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 703.0 GT and a 8.99 m beam.

She was designed by Glade Johnson , who has designed 20 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Doug Sharp , who has architected 9 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a GRP deck, a Aluminium hull, and GRP superstructure.

STARSHIP is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 154 motor yachts in the 55-60m size range.

STARSHIP is currently sailing under the Jamaica flag, the 9th most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 222 yachts registered. She is currently located at the superyacht marina Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center, in United States of America, where she has been located for 1 day. For more information regarding STARSHIP's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: STARSHIP
• Previous Names: GALLANT LADY,NEWVIDA,MY SEANNA
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Displacement
• Builder: Delta Marine
• Naval Architect: Doug Sharp
• Exterior Designer: Glade Johnson

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Yacht StarShip is a cruise-ship wedding venue located in Tampa, Florida. This company features an array of dining cruises and luxury yachts for couples to host their romantic celebrations right at sea. The attentive on-site staff and all-inclusive packages ensure that soon-to-be-weds will have a stress-free, unforgettable voyage.

Facilities and Capacity

Yacht StarShip has four luxury yachts to choose from, each featuring both outdoor and indoor event spaces. They make an ideal setting for a variety of celebrations, from ceremonies with 25 close friends and family to receptions with 300 guests. A couple's yacht will go along the Tampa Bay or Clearwater Beach as they enjoy their first day as newlyweds. The open-air spaces give couples the chance to say "I do" with the Downtown Tampa skyline as a backdrop. Elegant decor items will be provided to add a sophisticated touch to your special day.

Services Offered

Couples will have a variety of packages to choose from, each with different amenities to suit their vision and budget. A wedding coordinator will be present during your rehearsal dinner and wedding day, to make sure everything goes according to plan. The onsite catering team customizes each soon-to-be-wed's menu to feature their favorite dishes and flavors. From your hors d'oevres to your dessert display, to your cocktail menu, they will work to make sure all of your guests have an enjoyable evening. Yacht StarShip also has different enhancements to complete a couple's dream day, including:

• Specialty linens
• Ice sculptures
• Custom ring buoys

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue, do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue, which of the following are included in starting site fee, which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering, which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service, what is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue, how many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer, describe your venue:, what kind of settings are available, which of the following wedding events does your venue service, what event services do you offer, what catering services do you offer, what bar services do you provide, what event items are available, what food and beverage items are available, what transportation and access is available, what months are included in your peak season, what months are included in your off-peak season.

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Reviews of Yacht StarShip

• Quality of service 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Average response time 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Professionalism 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Value 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Flexibility 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8

Review summary

Yacht Starship is highly recommended by multiple reviewers for weddings. The staff, including event coordinators Joey, Amelia, Wendy, Eric, Rachel, and Christine, were praised for their exceptional service and attention to detail. The food was described as delicious and the organization of the events was highly appreciated. The unique experience of having a wedding on a yacht was a highlight for many guests, and the overall experience was deemed smooth and perfect.

Absolutely Amazing

excceded expectations

Best choice for rehearsal dinner

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Chris is a Yacht StarShip Wedding Pro with over 20 years in the industry. From the moment you meet Chris you'll fall in love with her attention to detail and amazing customer service. Our couples adore working with Chris from booking to planning a wedding event she's the best in the business!

Professional Network & Endorsements

The Yacht Starship is such a unique event space will gorgeous views! We love working with their team of professionals. We've photographed events large and small and would highly recommend them!

We love the Yacht Starship! Every event, no matter the type or size, is given the utmost attention. There is nothing left to chance, the best food, beautiful sites, wonderful event coordinators, what's not to love?

We are BLOWN AWAY by our experience! The staff was so professional and sweet - class act, five-star service! And this is after they serviced a wedding earlier in the day! And the FOOD! Omgosh we were so pleasantly surprised! We eat a lot of catered food obviously lol and did not expect much for the food - but WOW were we wrong! Everything was DELICIOUS! Our favorites were the homemade salad dressing, prime rib and the creamy tomato soup. And the bread pudding!!!!! My goodness we felt spoiled! We are so very grateful for this experience. We truly had a lovely evening enjoying this experience and of course the beautiful boat ride and scenery. We even made it to the dance floor!

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Yacht StarShip

SpaceX Starship's next launch 'probably 3 to 5 weeks' away, Elon Musk says

"Objective is for the ship to get past max heating, or at least further than last time."

We're likely still a month or so away from the next launch of SpaceX's Starship megarocket.

That was the timeline Elon Musk offered in a post on X over the weekend, saying Starship's next test flight is "probably 3 to 5 weeks" away. "Objective is for the ship to get past max heating, or at least further than last time," the billionaire entrepreneur added. 

The 400-foot-tall (122 meters) Starship is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. It consists of two elements, both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable: a huge first-stage booster called Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall (50 m) upper stage known as Starship, or simply "Ship."

Related: Relive SpaceX Starship's 3rd flight test in breathtaking photos

A fully stacked Starship has flown three times to date, on each occasion from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas — in April 2023, November 2023 and March 14 of this year . The giant vehicle has performed better with each successive flight.

During the debut liftoff, for example, Starship's two stages failed to separate as planned, and SpaceX detonated the tumbling vehicle just four minutes after liftoff. Flight 2 achieved stage separation , but both Super Heavy and Ship broke apart early, ending the mission after eight minutes.

On Flight 3, Super Heavy successfully steered its way into position for a planned Gulf of Mexico splashdown but broke apart about 1,650 feet (500 m) above the waves. Ship reached orbital velocity and flew for nearly 50 minutes, though it ultimately succumbed to the violent forces of frictional heating when reentering Earth's atmosphere .

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As he noted in his X post, Musk wants Ship to do even better on the upcoming Flight 4.

— SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket into space on epic 3rd test flight (video)

— Starship and Super Heavy: SpaceX's Mars transportation system

— FAA to oversee investigation of SpaceX Starship's 3rd test flight

SpaceX has been gearing up for Flight 4 for a while now. The company has already conducted static fire tests for both the Super Heavy and the Ship assigned to the mission, briefly igniting their Raptor engines while the vehicles remained anchored to the pad at Starbase. SpaceX also recently rolled Flight 4's Super Heavy back to the pad, presumably for more testing, a move the company chronicled in a post on X on Saturday (May 11).

However, there may still be logistical hurdles to clear; SpaceX is seeking a license modification for its next launch from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is overseeing an investigation into what happened on the March 14 flight.

Editor's note: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that SpaceX is seeking a launch license from the FAA for the next Starship liftoff. SpaceX already has a launch license; it is seeking a modification of that license. The story was corrected at 11:15 a.m. ET on May 14 to make this clear.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with  Space.com  and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.

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• Rob77 Admit a little disappointed at the delay, I'm sure month ago they were eyeing early May? But I guess its to be expected. It looked like they were getting another ready, maybe they might try 2 test runs consecutively? Reply
• danR Translation: 6 to 10 weeks. From the days of Starhopper I'd been anticipating a gradual shift from linear cadence progress to exponential. That has been happening, but the exponent isn't very great, and isn't getting greater at any rate commensurate with getting manned missions to the Moon in under 4 years, or to Mars before 2035. Reply
• Classical Motion Putting a man on Mars is no problem. Getting him back is. You will have to send and build an oasis before you can send a man. And you will need gravity and shielding for the trip. 2035-------maybe cockroaches. A man would only demonstrate ego over reason. Hollywood over reality. PR taken too far. What is the true value in going? Who benefits from the cost, time and resources? There is nothing new there. Send probes to our outer edge, out beyond Pluto and farther for newness. Analyze the corrosion of our system. We have recently found debris fields for all the planets. Perhaps our system leaves such. Reply
• Classical Motion We might even excrete system debris in a pattern. Breadcrumbs. Reply
• View All 4 Comments

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‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Season 1 Almost Sank the Series

The first season of 'BDSY' traveled some rough seas.

The Big Picture

• Below Deck Sailing Yacht had casting issues and crew dynamics that led to a messy first season.
• The show learned from its mistakes and retooled for Season 2, introducing a new cast that brought magic to the series.
• Captain Glenn and his new trio have become the longest-running and best group within the Below Deck franchise.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht was the second spin-off of the flagship program that was launched on Bravo. The first season introduced viewers to the crew of Parsifall III, a motoryacht with a twist: a big, ol' sail! Led by Captain Glenn Shephard , the first season was filled with the typical yachties that have made fans love the Below Deck programs. They even welcomed a familiar face in Chef Adam Glick to the yacht. With two seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean under his belt, he was meant to help steer the ship to success. But something didn't work. Was it the awkward boatmance between Chef Adam and Chief Stew Jenna MacGillivray ? Was it the real-life couple working on deck, Padget Berry and Ciara Duggan ? Whatever it was, after Season 1, Below Deck Sailing Yacht essentially emptied the bunks of Parsifall III and Captain Glenn returned with an entirely new crew — and the rest is history. Season 1 had growing pains and needed to be retooled in order for Below Deck Sailing Yacht to truly sail off into glory.

Below Deck has been one of Bravo's biggest assets since its 2013 debut. Following the work lives of a crew on a superyacht, Below Deck showcases the highs and lows of one of the most stressful jobs on the planet. Sure, it looks all luxurious and incredible, but the drama is real. Like many Bravo hits, to capitalize on its success, Bravo green lit Below Deck spin-offs. Following Below Deck Mediterranean , Below Deck Sailing Yacht followed the same formula, but it had growing pains that almost kept it docked forever .

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

In a reality TV series, a crew aboard a luxury sailing yacht navigates the challenges of providing five-star service to affluent guests while managing personal dynamics and the unpredictable nature of the sea. Each episode reveals a blend of high-seas adventure and behind-the-scenes drama among the crew members.

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Botched Its Casting

Below Deck Sailing Yacht set sail in 2020 in the stunning locale of Greece. With the job tougher than ever and the stakes higher than before, the success of Parsifall III truly depended on the wind in their sails. Beause it came with a new type of vessel for viewers to see, the 180-foot luxury sailing yacht was billed as an even grander once-in-a-lifetime experience. Unlike the flagship franchise's Captain Lee Rosbach and the first spin-off's Captain Sandy Yawn , Below Deck Sailing Yacht relied on an old faithful captain who spent many years aboard the ship. While the others have gone from vessel to vessel, Captain Glenn Shephard's vast knowledge of Parsifall III allowed him to welcome the viewers into his home away from home. Captain Glenn wasn't there to be a reality star ; he was there to do his job, the job he loved to do. To supplement the reality show tropes that make these programs watchable, Below Deck Sailing Yacht had to ensure the rest of the cast was filled with personalities that would be enticing to watch.

Since Parsifall III already had members of the crew on board, the show decided to keep two members of the sailing yacht's crew, casting them as the power couple that they thought fans would fall in love with. Prior to the start of the season, Paget Berry was the yacht's First Officer, the closest position to a Bosun, while Ciara Duggan was a stewardess, working in the interior. But for some bizarre reason, likely for added drama, Captain Glenn pushed Ciara to the exterior to act as a deckhand, which meant she would be working under her boyfriend.

Fans also learned that this would mark the first time the pair ever worked directly with one another in this capacity. Has this ever worked to solidify a healthy relationship? Very rarely. With two familiar faces on Captain Glenn's staff, Below Deck Sailing Yacht brought on a Below Deck alum to help integrate the show into the Below Deck Cinematic Universe. Chef Adam Glick had a whiplash of a journey during his time on Below Deck Med . Often found bickering with Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier , undermining her authority, and going rogue with his meals like putting onions in dishes when the primary specifically put on his preference sheet that he did not want them, Chef Adam was an interesting option to be the familiar face for the franchise to start with. But hey, an angry, temperamental chef is a stereotype for Below Deck so it seemed fitting .

The Interior Team Was a Nightmare on Season 1 of 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht'

Knowing Chef Adam had a rocky relationship with the head of the interior, it was expected that whoever was in charge on Parsifal III would suffer the same fate as their counterpart in the Med. But it couldn't be further from the truth. Jenna MacGillivray was brought on as Chief Stew. She was not the warm and cuddly personality, but had a similar demeanor to the original Below Deck Chief Stew Adrienne Gang . Both women's mission was to assert their authority and had run-ins with many of their colleagues. For Jenna, there was one exception: A second romance bloomed on Parsifall III between Chef Adam and Chief Stew Jenna.

On paper, watching love blossom should warm the hearts, but this duo was toxic, and Jenna left a lot to be desired, as she rarely ever took accountability for focusing on her school-girl romance with Chef Adam over her duties as Chief Stew. The interior team is central to the story, as they spend the most time with the guests on camera. Jenna became unbearable when she fell in love , and things got messy. Her obsession with her relationship over her job almost sank the ship.

With so many questionable choices in the cast, there had to be someone on the crew that could breathe sanity into the Below Deck spin-off. Turning to the interior, Jenna's two stewardesses were Madison Stalker and Georgia Grobler . Madison very quickly became the audience's voice of reason as she saw the chaos on board. She dealt with the brunt of Jenna's frustrations and lack of interest in establishing a working relationship with her. Madison was great at her job, she just never got the praise she deserved. She became the season's punching bag; hence, the majority of her story was filled with Jenna trying to tear her down, and Chef Adam following suit because he had to side with his girl.

When it came to Georgia, the 3rd Stew was clearly unaware of relationship boundaries. It's one thing to have a crush, but when you're living and working with your crush, whose girlfriend is also sleeping feet away from you, perhaps it's best to turn things down a few notches. Georgia's crush on Paget was simply uncomfortable to watch. Her entire journey on Below Deck Sailing Yacht comprised of trying to serenade Paget with the only original song Georgia had in her songbook. What was worse? Paget fed into it — with his girlfriend present! Her flirtation was cringe, and yet it wasn't even as hard as Jenna went for Chef Adam.

'Below Deck Down Under' Is Bravo's Best Kept Secret

'below deck sailing yacht's season 2 cast turned the seri.

On deck, joining Ciara and Paget for half the season, was Parker McCown . He resigned from his position due to his well-being, as his back and forth with Paget was wearing him down. Parker was replaced by Christopher Miller , who was almost a non-existent personality for the remainder of the charter season. He was kind, he worked well, but suffered a back injury that nearly derailed his entire career. Unlike any other Below Deck series, Below Deck Sailing Yacht featured the Chief Engineer as an on-screen character. Byron Hissey was much older than the majority of the crew, so his presence wasn't as drama-filled comparatively. As a character, he was a swell guy, but he just didn't have the aspirations to make good reality television.

Every season of Below Deck features some sort of mess. Maybe it's caused by the elite vacationers or the drama within the bowels of the ship, but the mess of Below Deck Sailing Yacht 's first season was the mess of its cast. Casting is hard; these nine individuals lacked chemistry and didn't gel. There's no predicting how individuals will react — it's the core of the experiment of reality television. The stories that this cast created were ripe for drama, they just didn't play out well.

Thankfully, the show learned from its mistake and retooled the entire second season. The only returning cast member was Captain Glenn. Fans were then introduced to Chief Engineer Colin MacRae , Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher , and First Officer Gary King, and magic was instantly made! Captain Glenn and his new trio have remained with the program since Season 2, are the longest running tenured group within the Below Deck franchise, and make it one of the best in the franchise. The moral of this story is perfection takes time. You won't always catch lightning on the first try. Below Deck Sailing Yacht is proof. They ditched the navy blue polos and opted for those infamous orange ones ; that's how badly they needed to distance themselves from that first season.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.

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Founded in 1994, by Edwin Ho, Starship Yachts Ltd has been one of the pioneers of Yachting in Asia.

Since its inception, Starship Yachts Ltd. has brought to Asia some of the most iconic names in luxury boating, specializing Italian brands such as Ferretti, Pershing, Riva, Custom Line, itama, Mochi Craft, AB, Baia, ISA, and Cranchi, just to name a few.

By securing some of the best dealerships from the best Italian brands, Starship Yachts Ltd. was the first Yacht Dealer Company to sell boats in China, Hong Kong and all South East Asia.

The business model is simple and very effective, to offer a wide spectrum of Yachts in each specialized category: Cranchi for entry level clientele and best value for money, Baia and Pershing for the fast and big offshore vessels, Riva and Ferretti for high end luxury fast cruising, ISA and CRN for superyachts.

During 25 years of activity, Starship Yachts Ltd secured some of the best Yachts in the region and the positive trend has not yet came to an end.

Recent Yachts Sold

Riva 102 Corsaro Super

Custom Line Navetta 30

Riva Florida 88

Some of our other legendary yachts sold.

Custom Line Navetta 33

Pershing 140

Ferretti Yachts 920

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With offices and shipyard in Hong Kong, Starship Yachts Ltd offers a wide range of services, including a highly personalized Management Service Program to accommodate any clientele.

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A heat advisory in effect for 6 regions in the area

‘pretty dangerous’: yacht captain lends insights on area where teen killed in boat crash, he also says boat towing ella adler, 15, is ‘not ideal’ for wakeboarding.

Christina Vazquez , Reporter

Chris Gothner , Digital Journalist

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – A Key Biscayne yacht captain is sharing insight into the area where 15-year-old Ella Adler lost her life over the weekend.

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report said she was wakeboarding with someone else when she fell into the water near the Nixon Beach Sandbar and was struck and killed by the passing boater, who never stopped to help.

“She had the wakeboard on, she had fallen off from being towed, and she was just in the water waiting to be recovered by her vessel,” FWC Officer George Reynaud told “Good Morning America” Wednesday. “She was in the water, with her life jacket on, with her wakeboard attached at the time of the impact.”

Reynaud said, “Nixon Beach does have a sandbar where boats go to congregate, however, they were outside of that area.”

The report, released Wednesday, identified the operator as Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 78, of Coral Gables.

Yacht captain Griffen Diaz spoke to Local 10 News on Wednesday. He said he was anchored at Nixon Beach, about a mile north of the crash, when it happened at around 4 p.m. Saturday.

“My heart goes out to this girl’s family and everyone who was involved,” Diaz said. “I have been really heartbroken about this story.”

Diaz said the water was choppy that day.

“The wind and the waves were coming out of the west which is very unusual for Biscayne Bay, it is a rare wind occurrence and it makes the bay a lot choppier,” he said.

WATCH 4PM STORY:

The yacht captain told Local 10 News the channel is known to be treacherous.

“It is pretty dangerous there to water ski because of the heavy traffic; I would never recommend it,” Diaz said, later adding, “The last thing someone would expect is to find (someone) waterskiing in the water in that heavy traffic area.”

Instead, he said, “If someone were to want to waterski or go tubing or any kind of water sports there’s an area right in front of Brickell, right in front of the apartment buildings in Brickell, actually just North of the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge and that is a safe area because it is away from a channel and it is a safe place to waterski.”

We’re also learning more about the boat towing Adler: a 42-foot Fjord.

“Which is not the ideal boat you want to be waterskiing on or pulling somebody with,” Diaz said. “The ideal waterskiing boat has one single engine and can turn on a dime and pick you right back up.”

Regarding the crash, he said, “If she let go of the rope or fell, and the captain did not notice, that would be negligent on his behalf because your eyes are locked on the person in tow and that is usually the rule we follow.”

Diaz said it’s possible that Alonso, who authorities said is cooperating with investigators, didn’t know he even hit Adler.

“The last thing someone would expect is to find a waterskier in the water in that heavy traffic area,” he said. “It was a four-engine boat, they could have been going at a high rate of speed (and) by the time they got close they didn’t even see her in the water.”

It’s not clear whether Alonso will be charged.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Christina vazquez.

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Chris Gothner

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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After Living Much of Life at Sea, Captain Sandy Finds Love on Land

Sandy Yawn of “Below Deck Mediterranean” married Leah Shafer on — what else? — a superyacht in Florida.

By Tammy LaGorce

Sandra Dolores Yawn has been locked up, left for dead on a Florida highway and chased through the Red Sea by pirates.

In the summer of 2018, Leah Rae Shafer reached out on Facebook to send Ms. Yawn her blessings. Not because she thought Ms. Yawn, who goes by Captain Sandy, needed her well wishes, but because she had started watching “Below Deck Mediterranean” on Bravo.

The show follows a crew tasked with catering to a revolving cadre of guests who have chartered a superyacht. Ms. Yawn, a star of the series, is at the helm. Ms. Shafer had written to congratulate her on the show’s success. There was another reason, too. “I thought she was hot,” she said.

Ms. Yawn, 59, has been a yacht captain for more than 30 years. Her foray into television, which started in 2017, was not exactly foreordained. Until her mid-20s, “I was a mess,” Ms. Yawn said. “I was always in trouble. I got kicked out of 11th grade. I didn’t go to college.” At 13, at the start of an adolescence spent between Dundee, Fla., where her father lived, and Bradenton, Fla., where her mother lived, she started drinking. By 17, “I was getting arrested so many times I couldn’t even count how many,” she said. Usually a parent bailed her out. Her father’s refusal to do so after one drunken incident landed her a night in jail.

In 1989, when she was 25, the revolving door of South Florida treatment centers she had been pushing through quit spinning when a counselor told her she couldn’t return. “She said, ‘Sandy, as soon as you get some money in your pocket you’re going to start drinking again,’” Ms. Yawn said.

Fearing real jail time, she joined Alcoholics Anonymous. To start paying off the thousands of dollars she owed in legal fees and addiction treatment center bills, she got a job washing boats in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. By 30, she had earned her captain’s license from Maritime Professional Training, a school in Fort Lauderdale for mariners and yachting professionals.

Rehab — she still has an A.A. sponsor and attends meetings whenever possible — helped her pin down the roots of her teenage rebellion. “I think a big part of my drinking was that I couldn’t accept my sexuality,” she said. “When I got sober is when I accepted that, oh my gosh, I actually prefer women.”

For Ms. Shafer, that level of acceptance took much longer. It also cost her a career as a gospel singer.

Ms. Shafer, 50, is the entrepreneur behind a skin care line, Skin by Leah, and a jewelry business started with a friend, Cuff Me. When she messaged Ms. Yawn to congratulate her on the success of “Below Deck Mediterranean” in 2018, she and her husband of 20 years, then living with their teenage daughter in Denver, were going through a divorce. The relationship had gone stale years earlier, Ms. Shafer said, but fear and uncertainty prevented her from leaving.

“I had the security of not worrying financially, because he took care of everything,” she said. Her gospel career at a nondenominational church had taken off when she was still in high school in Hesperia, Calif. But that was mostly a labor of love.

“I toured and went to college at the same time,” said Ms. Shafer, who graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.

By her 30s, she was recording albums, touring megachurches and singing at major Christian conferences. A flirtation with secular performance in the 2000s landed her on the 2003-04 revival of “Star Search” and later a recurring role on NBC’s “The Singing Bee.”

But “I loved God and I loved inspiring people, and the platform I was given was on the stage of churches,” she said. The only problem: “There was really no money in that.”

Before their divorce was final in 2019, she and her husband tried therapy and prayed together. Finally, in 2018, “I just jumped,” she said. “I took a leap of faith. I wanted freedom.”

She found it financially first. Skin by Leah Studio, her Lone Tree, Colo. facial salon that she founded in 2017, was successful right away, she said. When she first saw Ms. Yawn on TV, she was settling into life as an entrepreneur. She didn’t expect to get a response to her Facebook message. But when she got one three months later, in October 2018, it came with an invitation.

In addition to her job as a TV star, Ms. Yawn had started touring with “I Believe,” a series of motivational talks she created to inspire women in leadership positions. When she finally read Ms. Shafer’s message — thousands had been piling up, she said, but something drew her to Ms. Shafer’s — she was in the market for an entertainer for the talks.

In her message, Ms. Shafer had included a video of herself singing the national anthem at a 2014 Denver Broncos game. Once Ms. Yawn clicked the link, she replied right away. “She gave me her phone number and said, ‘I heard you sing,’” Ms. Shafer said. “‘Let’s meet up and talk about how we can do something together.’”

The two continued to talk on the phone and over email. Ms. Yawn was then living in Los Angeles. Ms. Shafer had been planning a Disneyland vacation with her daughter, Lauren, in November, a trip that gave her an excuse to meet Ms. Yawn in person.

Both say they fell in love seconds after Ms. Shafer pulled into Ms. Yawn’s driveway in mid-November 2018. “I offered to park her car for her, and that’s when we hugged,” Ms. Yawn said. “I felt this energy I had never felt. I knew I had to pay attention to that.”

It was a life-changing hug for Ms. Shafer, too. “It was not a normal feeling when I met Sandy,” she said. “She wasn’t the stern captain you see on TV. She was just so fun and so beautiful. That hug melted me.”

Over dinner at Catch, a Los Angeles seafood restaurant, they acknowledged their attraction. “I was really honest with her,” Ms. Yawn said. But Ms. Shafer wasn’t ready to date a woman. “I knew I wanted to be with her,” she said. “I was just freaked out.”

By the end of the evening, Ms. Yawn told her she should take her time. It had been two years since Ms. Yawn’s last relationship. “So at that point I was like, ‘Why rush it?’” she said. “I was older and I’ve learned a lot of lessons. One was, let things happen naturally. Slow and steady wins the race.”

Six months later, the race was over. The women were in a committed relationship, and Ms. Yawn had moved to a place near Ms. Shafer’s in Denver. It was smooth sailing until the end of 2019, when news of the couple’s relationship started circulating in entertainment media.

The public outing ended Ms. Shafer’s gospel career. “I knew the minute I came out as being in love with a woman it would be over, and it was,” she said. Her six CDs, sold in dozens of church bookstores, were pulled from shelves and shipped to her doorstep. Christian radio stations stopped playing her music.

“I had worked for 35 years,” she said. “And it was over.”

Most painful of all were comments after her father’s death from Covid in 2020. “People in the church told me he died because of my sins,” she said. “But he had met and come to accept Sandy before he passed, and I thank God that happened.” Now, “my family adores Sandy.”

Ms. Yawn lost both her parents to heart attacks before she became a TV star — her father in 2006, and her mother in 2009. In 2015, she was en route to the Miami Boat Show on her motorcycle when she was hit by a car. The driver left the scene. “I felt my mother’s presence while I was flipping through the air, and I felt peaceful,” she said.

When she hit the pavement, she had a fractured pelvis and her foot “was on sideways,” she said. By then, though, she was used to navigating life and death scenarios, including fires at sea and run-ins with pirates. She credits her fortitude and empathy, qualities highlighted on “Below Deck Mediterranean,” which she joined in 2017, to her sobriety. “I’ve got nothing to hide and everything to share,” she said.

In 2022, Ms. Yawn and Ms. Shafer bought a house together in Parker, Colo. In September 2023, while Ms. Yawn was filming in Greece, Ms. Shafer flew overseas to visit. Ms. Yawn proposed with a diamond engagement ring on the beach , with violin players in the background.

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On May 11, Ms. Shafer and Ms. Yawn were married in Fort Lauderdale aboard She’s a 10 Too, a superyacht lent to the couple by their friend Carolyn Aronson. Fifty-five guests, the maximum allowed aboard the vessel, were in attendance. Among them were “Below Deck Mediterranean” castmates Aesha Scott, Kate Chastain and Dave White, known to viewers as Chef Dave. (And yes, there were cameras filming.)

Ms. Shafer, in a long white wedding gown by Leah Da Gloria, walked down the aisle with her two brothers, Matthew Dale and Justin Dale, to an altar decorated with white roses and hydrangeas; her daughter, now 18, was her maid of honor.

Ms. Yawn, in a white Veronica Beard suit, was escorted down the aisle by Mark Dunham, her brother-in-law. Michelle Dunham, Ms. Yawn’s sister, was her maid of honor. Most guests were barefoot, as is common on yachts. The brides and their wedding party were granted an exception.

Nadine Rajabi, the showrunner of “Below Deck Mediterranean,” who is ordained by the Universal Life Church, married them on the yacht’s bridge aft deck, a job made more difficult by the weather: wind caused her microphone to cut out and blew the pages of her speech around. But nothing could disturb the focus of the brides as they read handwritten vows.

Ms. Shafer told Ms. Yawn that she had taught her to be more optimistic, more playful and “to jump.” Ms. Yawn told Ms. Shafer that she had given her patience and grace.

The captain had been hoping to make it through the ceremony free of tears. But that, she said shortly after they were pronounced married, was impossible. “The minute I looked at Leah and started reading her all the reasons I fell in love with her I started to cry,” she said. “It’s so amazing to find this kind of love in your lifetime.”

On This Day

When May 11, 2024

Where Aboard the superyacht She’s a 10 Too, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Rescue Mission The couple chose “She’s a Lady” for their first dance during an onboard reception. Chef Dave prepared short ribs and a three-tiered, gluten-free vanilla, chocolate and strawberry cake that threatened to topple in the wind and heat (temperatures were in the 90s).

Cruising After the wedding, the brides took off for a five-day honeymoon to Little Palm Island on a yacht lent by Mr. Flynn. Ms. Yawn was at the helm, of course.

Onward In June, Ms. Yawn and Ms. Shafer will move from Denver to Ponte Vedra, Fla., to be closer to Ms. Dunham, who runs a private school for children with autism, Jacksonville School for Autism, in Jacksonville. On June 3, season nine of “Below Deck Mediterranean” premieres on Bravo. And on July 1, Ms. Shafer will open a skin care studio in Ponte Vedra.

An earlier version of this article misidentified   the man who escorted Sandy Yawn down the aisle. It was Mark Dunham, her brother-in-law, not her friend John Flynn. An earlier version of a picture caption also misidentified Mr. Dunham as Mr. Flynn. Additionally, the article misstated   the shoe rule aboard   the superyacht on which the wedding was held. The brides and their wedding party were allowed to wear shoes; other guests were not.

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‘Edible Haute Couture’: Bastien Blanc-Tailleur, a luxury cake designer based in Paris, creates opulent confections for high-profile clients , including European royalty and American socialites.

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Something Thrifted: Focused on recycled clothing , some brides are finding their wedding attire on vintage sites and at resale stores.

Brand Your Love Story: Some couples are going above and beyond to personalize their weddings, with bespoke party favors and custom experiences for guests .

Going to Great Lengths : Mega wedding cakes are momentous for reasons beyond their size — they are part of an emerging trend of extremely long cakes .

It sure looks like Mark Zuckerberg is taking a brand new superyacht out to celebrate his 40th birthday

• It seems as if Mark Zuckerberg will celebrate his 40th birthday on the  megayacht, Launchpad .
• The yachting world has speculated for months that the Meta CEO is the owner of the vessel.
• Now, both the boat and Zuckerberg's private jet have landed in Panama.

All signs point to Mark Zuckerberg celebrating his 40th birthday on what many speculate is his brand-new superyacht Launchpad .

The boating world has been buzzing about Launchpad — a 118-meter yacht built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship — for months, with rumors swirling that her owner is none other than the Meta CEO. But in the yachting world, where privacy is paramount , no party would confirm her owner.

"It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc," Feadship, the ship's builder, wrote to Business Insider in March. "Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information."

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Representatives for Zuckerberg did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Now there's even more evidence: The megayacht arrived in Panama on Monday, making her way there from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she's predominantly been moored since she made her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in March, according to public ship-tracking data. Wingman, the support superyacht that he is suspected to have purchased with Launchpad, made the journey with her.

Zuckerberg's plane also landed in Panama on Monday, per a private jet tracker, and if his Instagram is any indication, he was on board.

Putting two and two together — along with the many other clues linking Zuckerberg to the yacht — we can surmise that the Meta CEO is likely kicking off his new decade aboard his new toy.

Little is known about the luxury vessel, which was said to have been built for a sanctioned Russian businessman before it was handed over to the Dutch government, which served as a middleman for the purchase. Her final purchase price is unknown, but it's safe to say a yacht of that size from that shipyard would cost nine figures upfront and six figures a year to maintain.

The few photos of Launchpad available on the industry site SuperYacht Times show there appears to be a helipad and a swimming pool on her main deck.

A vessel of her size can typically sleep dozens of guests and crewmembers and likely has an expansive gym (where Zuckerberg could practice his jiu-jitsu), a spa, a movie room, and a garage to fit plenty of toys like his viral hydrofoil .

Zuckerberg's name was first connected to Launchpad in December when reports swirled that he visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands. By March, yachting blogs like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution suggested he officially snagged the boat at a $300 million price tag. Launchpad also bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory that is commonplace for American buyers to register their ships.

We will never know for sure whose name is on her title, so unless Zuckerberg confirms he's Launchpad's owner, we will have to wait for an invitation to Zuck's birthday party to confirm.

Watch: The scariest things OceanGate's CEO said about deep-sea diving

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