Yatching News #3

The Daily Mail / MailOnline carries a story and video of Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch on their new $30M Superyacht ESTROS as seen in this screenshot from that newspaper. The Estros is certainly a welcolm addition to Sydney Harbour with it's graceful old world charm. The only other yacht that can give it a run for it's money is the ENA (pictured below) which is moored at the Maritime Museum and was restored by a consortium headed by former Prime Minister Paul Keating and sailing legend Dennis O'Neil. Alas, the famous Mail Sub Editing Gremlins have struck once again with this caption : "The rebuilt 42-metre 1954 classic Istros was once once by the Pappadakis shipping dynasty". Still, you get the idea. For the full story go here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10862731/Lachlan-Sarah-Murdoch-look-happy-cruise-Sydney-new-30million-yacht.html

Yachting News

According to the Sydney Morning Herald News Corp supremo Lachlan Murdoch has purchased a rather charming 1950s "superyacht" for $30M to possibly boat around Sydney Harbour,as one does. From photos in the prestige Yachting News online magazine the interiors seem a tad austere. No insult Lachlan- we mean that nicely (we know Lachlan puruses Whisper's pages occasionally). Certainly compared to the Superyachts of the world. There are a reputed just under 6000 yachts that fit the category. Perhaps this will just be his Sydney runabout as he has another larger yacht being built.

Whispers has had a short history with Superyatchs. In the early 80s we were a guest for 3 nights on Adnan Kashoggis Nabila when it was docked in Monte Carlo. Working on a European fashion magazine funded by Kashoggi, an extremely charming host, we were summonsed to cover a series of events and although we shared a "double cabin" the yacht was wonderfully luxurious and huge, a bit like a rather large country mansion in decor. Certainly not as glitzy as the Trump Princess which it became when Trump snapped up the ship for a knock down $30M.

There are several superyachts we actually missed out on visiting due to unforseen circumstances and prior committments. An invite to attend a party on the famed Aristotle Onansis yacht Christina O and Rupert Murdoch's NYC based Lady Ghislaine (as it was then called) when he was launching something or other (or was it his wedding to Wendi ?). Murdoch bought the yacht from the infamous Robert Maxwell.

These older yachts like Lachlan's and the Kashoggi yacht really look spectaular and in their day were considered huge. But they are dwarfed by monsters like Aussie billionaire James Packer's $200M IJE which, apparently after just one summer sailing the Medeterranean, is now for sale for $300M. No photos exist of the interior and apparently guests on that trip were forbidden to take any.

Still, it could be worse. Take the $700M Scheherazade said to be owned by Vlad Putin, invader of Ukraine. It's hard to see if it will ever set sail on the Med and may be doomed to cruise the Black Sea for eternity.

## You can charter the Onansis ship below with it's grand piano room and pool for aorund $1M a week for 20 guests!

WE were there and it's all true

An interesting tale about Molly Meldrum screwing up the atmosphere on a Sydney Harbour cruise for Elton John. We know it's true because Whispers was there. Not only did many people immediately ditch odd little packes of white powder overbiard as a police boat delivering Molly approached (not us- we lead a clean life) what this atory doesn't mention is that Molly slipped as he was trying to board the Elton cruise and plunged into Sydney's deadly harbour. Why didn't a shark take Molly? Good taste I guess. And yes the party that was in full swing become a tad sober after that as the guests were forced to rely on alcohol only. READ IT HERE: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/elton-john-confirms-wild-sydney-party-rumour-with-molly-meldrum/news-story/e9483d7d26ff5228d113c8da3c627fda

For your entertainment..

Whispers knows you are all going crazy with "isolating" yourself. There's only so much television you can watch, so many dodgy recipes whipped up by desperate tabloids to keep you entertained.
Fortunately a video lands upon our desk.
Sydney party personality Sharon Sargent has been featured in our pages many times, usually for naughty but nice adventures. All very innocent of course such as posing in LA'S Rodeo Drive while appearing in her own reality TV show and as above with the English Rugby team at a lunch at Sydney's uber smart Otto's Restaurant at the Wharf in Wolloomooloo.

We still can't understand why one of Britain's top tabloids the Daily Mirror went a bit crazy over this episode. Sharon was merely waving the team goodbye as they headed off on a Sydney Harbor cruise with a bunch of scantily clad lasses who, if anyone had experienced Sydney's summer heat would understand the gels were sensibly dressed for the climate.
 Or undressed in this case. All healthy harmless fun.

Now Sharon has penned a song and put it to film. It's a pleasant little ditty and describes her feelings under "social isolation", the latest craze sweeping the world. In Sharon's' video she is pictured touring a Sydney almost devoid of any traffic or even people! It really sums up what we are going through today. Collectively-ie: no-one else is having a good time so stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Fashion moment

To the glorious Sydney Opera House for a preview of department store David Jones upcoming fashion season.
The northern hall of the Opera House really is quite sensational especially in the day time. Stunning views across the harbour to the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park ('Just For Fun').
And of course.. the fashions...what fun.

Fairwater, Uri Geller and Lady Mary Fairfax

 The recent reports that  Fairwater, the former home of the late Lady Mary Fairfax has sold for a whopping $100M brings to mind a chat that Whispers once had at Fairwater with Lady Mary, who died in 2017, and the famous "spoon bender" Uri Geller.

Whispers arrived very early for a gala charity ball to be held in a marquee in the garden at the Fairwater mansion. Arriving minutes later and also early was Geller who was in town at the time.

Connections: Uri with Theresa May

We started to chat as Uri grilled Whispers on who the guests would be for the night- the usual shakers & movers of Sydney society. Soon Lady Mary joined us and during the conversation as Uri asked Mary about the history of Fairwater, she commented that she had left the property to the National Trust with a provision that her staff were entitled to live there for the rest of their lives. It was the second time we had heard this from Lady Mary.
But anyone can change their mind and, obviously she did as Fairwater was sold recently to a tech billionaire making it the most valuable house in Australia.

# As the night progressed Lady Mary sent her loyal butler to retrieve some silver forks and spoons from her collection which Geller proceeded to bend for the 200 guest's delight- and in front of Whispers who was no further than 2 feet from the man. Uri also commented that the guests may find strange things happen with their personal items.

The lady who accompanied Whispers to the function, a writer for the National Enquirer found her late mother's watch, a sentimental item she always carried in her handbag but which had never worked, started ticking. She also found an eye-brow pencil in her make-up bag (branded "ESP") had split down the middle. Spooky !.

A giant (bent) spoon outside Geller's new museum in Israel

The local manager of the French champagne company Veuve Clicquot found his car keys had twisted completely out of shape and he had to catch a taxi home. Likewise a well known hairdresser who accompanied Whispers and our date up the long Fairwater driveway while leaving the party commented that Geller, as he passed him on the way out had tapped his shoulder. Reaching into his pocket to get his car keys- he found them twisted beyond recognition. We report- you decide!.

Uri Geller has moved from the UK to Israel where he now lives. He is opening a museum in Old Jaffa in a splendid building which will house his vast collection of items including his amazing car covered in bent spoons and forks. Is Lady Mary Fairfax's cutlery among them?
# Uri thanks Lady Mary Fairfax in the forewood of his latest book.

Made for Me

Whispers is an unashamed reality TV junkie. Now there's a new streaming service Hayu dedicated to just that : reality TV shows and often on the same day they appear in the US or elsewhere.

So we jumped when we heard Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne was in town to promote the service.

Here is  snap of Erika on a glorious harbour cruise with stylist-about-town Danny Galella.  Disclosure : we've never actually watched Real Housewives of Beverly Hills nor anything with the Kardashians in it.

Our tastes are somewhat a tad more down market. Mafia Wives was a favourite and Real House Wives of New Jersey a particular favourite- oh those fights !.
And dare we admit a sneaky love for 60 Minute Makeover which has suddenly disappeared from our broadcast TV screens?
You can find more about hayu here.

Supermoon

The clouds cleared as if by magic..here is our best Super Moon picture :

Vivid Sydney

Whispers ventured out on a chilly night with our Box Brownie to check out the cities colourful Vivd Sydney festival.

The New Years Eve Party We Missed

Whispers saw in the New Year at a small party of just 10 people in a harbourside apartment. That's as hectic as it gets for us these days and even then, it took about an hour in traffic to get out of the Eastern Suburbs. But here is one party we wished we had attended but alas , it was 1954 (not '47 as labelled) . Having attended 2 Chelsea Arts Balls in our day, always fun but this one looks extra special. A weeks break and then back on board on the 7th January. A Happy New Year to our loyal readers and all the best for 2016

How do they feed the masses?

 Pictured is the amazing scene at the 4th annual Le Diner en Blanc at the Sydney Opera House. And what a view!. There were a staggering 4000 guests and I'm reliably informed every single one was watered and fed in timely fashion. This event has been happening around the world since 1988 and is now celebrated in 60 cities in 25 countries. But do they all have such a spectacular location as our glorious harbour?. Naturally every guest must wear white- that's the theme -and they even pack up after themselves and leave the place spotless. I think I'll book my table for 2016.

Meet Sid The Camel

It's become one of Sydney's favourite January events- the annual opening of the St George open air cinema by the harbour at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Fine food and wine, a sea breeze, an incomparable location and always a latest release.
pictured left : Robyn Davidson & Mia Wasikowska with Sid the camel



This year's offering is Tracks, an adaptation of Robyn Davidson's memoir of the same name, chronicling the author's nine-month journey on camels across the Australian desert.
Directed by John Curran and staring the very lovely Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Tovey and Adam Driver.

Robyn Davidson was there as was the film's producer Emile Sherman who picked up an Oscar for The King's Speech.      right : Jessica Tovey

Robyn Davidson, Jessica Tovey,Mia Wasikowska, Emile Sherman and Caroline Sherman

Our guest snapper Stephen Fry

Just received from Stephen Fry..a snap from a grey day on Sydney Harbour.

Fry's Sydney Opera House appearances have been a sell-out success. Last night he celebrated by dining with Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton at Aria.
Today he is filming in Cronulla-the scene of the infamous race riots in 2006 - for a BBC documentary on language. Let's hope he understands the locals.

..and let's not forget Max Markson in Rome !