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Leonardo DiCaprio Proves That It Pays To Have Friends In High Places

While Leonardo Dicaprio's latest movie, Inception, is confusing audiences across the country, his summer vacation plans are a no-brainer. Leo and his new bff, billionaire Vladimir Dorinin, are currently getting some much needed R & R on Vlad's yacht in Sardinia with their hot model girlfriends.

Leonardo and his girlfriend, Bar Refaeli, joined Vladimir and his gal pal, Naomi Campbell, on the boat a few weeks ago. The foursome has spent much of their time in the billionaire playground of Porto Cervo, where Leo and Vlad were spotted doing yoga with a personal trainer yesterday.

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Paris Hilton Detained by Airport Police for Pot...Again

Paris Hilton got into a bit of hot water again Friday night when she flew into the Figari Airport in Corsica with pot in her purse. Paris, her sister Nicky, and a few of their girlfriends, flew to the French island via private jet, but didn't plan to stay long as they had a yacht waiting nearby to take them to Sardinia.

But, before the ladies had a chance to make it to their yacht, Paris was stopped by the police after their dogs detected drugs in her bag. They brought her into their offices for questioning but found less than a gram of pot on her so she was released without charges.

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When a Birkin Bag Just Isn't Enough: Sail on the Hermes Yacht

Luxury travel is not always about who has the plushest hotel bed or the glitziest gold sinks in their private jet, but more about personally created experiences—a haute couture version of a trip, if you will. One of the final true luxury good brands is Hermes, and in this vein, they will not only make you a Birkin bag, but also a Smart car or helicopter. The latest addition to their travel offerings might be the most intriguing, however; it's a futuristic Hermes yacht.

Like with other Hermes goods, the yacht will cost about ten times what you think it would. The "WHY 58x38"—as it's being called—is a $140 million dollar monster, outfitted with five suites and even solar panels for energy conservation. Thus far, only a life-size model of the yacht has been constructed, by its Monaco-based shipbuilder Wally. Still, the recession didn't hit everyone apparently, as the boat is being ordered by people.

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Somali Pirates to World: You Brought This On Yourselves

If you're like me, you can't wait for the winter yachting season to begin, but before you don your monocle and climb aboard your megayacht, you'd better plot your sun-seeking itinerary carefully. Just last week, pirates kidnapped a British couple from their yacht, the Lynn Rival, as they sailed off the coast of Somalia. As the AP points out, Paul and Rachel Chandler had been sailing to Tanzania when they activated their yacht's emergency beacon on November 23, 2009, and the British navy found their empty yacht on Thursday.

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Richard Branson Was With Us In Spirit Last Night At Le Bernardin

How do you throw a launch party for a luxury catamaran without the boat or its owner present? Well, if you're Virgin Limited Edition and Richard Branson and his new Necker Belle are unavailable to party, you just down canapes at one of New York City's best restaurants: Le Bernardin.

Surrounded by Virgin's signature red rubber duckies and with visions of Virgin Limited Edition's luxury properties—Swiss ski chalet and Moroccan retreat, anyone?—dancing in our heads, we managed to make it through a few Blue Margaritas at the Necker Belle party last night. Officially to welcome the twin-hulled beauty to the Virgin group, the event also showcased these other small and carefully curated properties owned by Branson through his Limited Edition Label.

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Aussie Gal Off To Sail The Seven Seas, Solo

Headlines down in Australia these past few weeks have been heavily littered with opinions on how 16-year-old Jessica Watson will fair with her attempt to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world solo. While there were plenty of experts saying she shouldn't even try—not a good omen that she crashed into a huge ship on her way down to Sydney to start the voyage—she finally set sail on Sunday.

Jessica's journey should take her around 240 days, following the recognized southern hemisphere "round the world" route which includes some mighty difficult sea conditions. But she's not as alone as past solo sailors have been; she's got plenty of communications and she's even keeping a blog, which is now getting hundreds of comments per post.

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Play With Richard Branson's New Toy For $88,000 Per Week

When we aren't out jetting around or hopping a high-speed train, we like to fantasize about that other form of transportation: the almighty ship. So to allay our own curiosity as much as yours, we're spotlighting yachts with either notorious owners or histories...or both. Know of a bootylicious boat? Let us know.

Who doesn't dream of owning a lush private island in the Caribbean? Perhaps Virgin Group head honcho Richard Branson, who has been living the dream since 1979, when he purchased Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and turned it into a private resort.

If you can't afford to take over the whole island for your vacation, at a cost of $47,000 a day, then how about chartering his new catamaran yacht, the Necker Belle, for a mere $88,000 a week? She'll be fresh from a makover (she used to be the Lady Barbaretta) in February 2010, just in time to catch the end of the rich exodus to the Caribbean in winter.

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France Has Made Off With Bernie Madoff's 'Bull' Yacht

When we aren't out jetting around or hopping a high-speed train, we like to fantasize about that other form of transportation: the almighty ship. So to allay our own curiosity as much as yours, we're spotlighting yachts with either notorious owners or histories...or both. Know of a bootylicious boat? Let us know.

Anybody in the market for a super deal on a yacht? Because boy oh boy does the harbor in Cap d'Antibes, France have the boat for you: it's Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff's old 88-footer, named Bull. The yacht, only built back in 2007, was seized by French authorities back in April, and now she sits with her propeller chained up and the dock roped off until someone steps up to buy her.

Although she is valued at $7 million dollars, it probably won't take all that much to get off her the yacht broker's hands. Madoff of course registered her in Georgetown, Barbados to tax advantage of their tax haven reputation, but now that she's docked in the South of France, she'll need to be moved by March 2010 or else she'll be liable to French sales tax.

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A Portofino Party For Madonna's 51st Birthday

You know, when you think of an "over the hill" birthday party, you usually think of gag gift diapers and getting something like the "Tour of Italy" platter at Olive Garden. Of course when it's Madonna celebrating her 51st birthday, all bets are off. This Sunday she arrived in the Italian resort town of Portofino for her own tour of Italy, or rather a stay at the town's Splendido Hotel after renting out a whole floor.

What then did Madonna get as a gift for her birthday? Her designer pals Dolce & Gabbana will be taking out for a spin on their yacht, with a possibly stay at one of their villas; no gag gifts here.

Madonna is hopefully relaxing in Portofino, seeing as how her last Sticky and Sweet concert in Warsaw was protested by conservative Catholics who didn't appreciate her performing on the Feast of the Assumption—which celebrates Mary's ascension straight to heaven—considering her name and everything. Alas, then Madonna went straight to Italy, cradle of Catholicism; that'll show those Polish religious fiends.

Related Stories:
· Madonna In Italy For 51st Birthday Bash [AFP]
· Celeb Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: AFP and Google Maps]

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Ponzi Travel: Visit Bernie Madoff's South Florida Stomping Grounds

The gig is up for Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, who is currently in a lower Manhattan jail awaiting sentencing for defrauding investors out of billions of dollars. Unfortunately for his victims, most of the money disappeared into thin air, but authorities are doing what they can to identify and liquidate his remaining assets. The action last week centered on south Florida, where marshals seized his yacht, "the Bull," from Roscioli Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale, and entered his $10 million Palm Beach Island home to inventory its contents.

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What to Do if the Wine Cellar on your Superyacht Does Not Suffice

I recently got my hands on the new 2009 issue of Burgess Superyacht Living & Style Magazine, and I'm more convinced than ever that superyachting is for me. There's simply no more potent symbol of wealth, success, and conspicuous consumption than one of these 40-meter-plus luxe boats. A private jet is nice, but who's going to see it beyond a few people at the airport? An opulent mansion is a little more visible, but you can't force people to drive by your house to envy you (yet). With a superyacht, however, you can seek out the poor people (i.e. owners of "regular" yachts) whether they're in Monaco or Wildwood and slowly cruise by with a margarita in your hand, guaranteeing the admiration and jealousy of all who witness the spectacle.

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Good Sportsmanship: Around-the-World Yacht Racers Alter Course to Aid Injured Competitor

The toughest solo yacht race on the planet threw an extra curve ball at French sailor Yann Elies on Thursday, as he suffered a broken leg when his sailboat was hit by a massive wave 800 miles from the coast of Australia. In an impressive show of sportsmanship and support for their stricken rival, two other competitors altered course to go to his aid, arriving at about the same time as an Australian naval frigate. British yachtswoman Sam Davies (pictured) and Frenchman Marc Guillemot both diverted their respective vessels to intercept Elies, because, as Davies notes, "most of the time we are our nearest rescuers." Elies was transferred to the frigate and put under a doctor's care, and Davies and Guillemot have since returned to the race.

And what a race it is: the Vendée Globe requires sailors to circle the globe all alone, without stopping, and with no assistance from anyone. This year's race began at Les Sables d'Olonne, France on November 9 and will end some time in February in the exact same place, after the racers have gone around the world following the old clipper route and passing through gates near South Africa, east and west Australia, and in the Pacific Ocean. Amazingly, some of these talented sailors finish in less than 100 days. It sounds exciting, but with broken legs, seasickness, and the possibility of drowning, we'll stick to the pleasure cruises for now.

[Photo: telegraph.co.uk]

Related Stories:
· British Yachtswoman Resumes Race After Rival is Rescued [Telegraph]
· Injured Vendee Sailor Elies Rescued By Navy Ship [AP]
· Vendée Globe [Official Site]
· Yachting Coverage [Jaunted]