Cityfile: New York's Most Notable and Influential

The Last Days of the Ultima III | Ron Perelman may be selling his 190-foot yacht for $67 million, but the billionaire mogul isn't dry-docking the ship until a buyer comes along: Daniel Benedict and Andrew Saffir report that they spent New Year's Eve aboard the "beyond chic" Ultima III off the coast of St. Bart's. "It's the only place we ever want to be on New Year's Eve," the duo tell Fashion Week Daily. Take heart, gentlemen: If the economy continues to spiral downward, Perelman should still be in possession of the boat to ring in 2010. [FWD]

We all have to cut costs these days and clearly Ron Perelman is no exception: He's in the process of selling his yacht for $67 million. The 190-foot Ultima III comes with eight bedrooms and a Jacuzzi and is where, according to the Guardian, the billionaire financier has "entertained" Gina Gershon and director Penny Marshall on the "yacht's lengthy sun deck in recent years." We can't imagine serving up drinks to an aged Penny Marshall will go down as Perelman's most memorable moment at sea, but you're welcome to chalk up Gershon's presence as further evidence of her questionable taste in men. Assuming the thought of Perelman and Gershon romping around in the hot tub doesn't put you off—and you have the aforementioned $67 million to spare—you'll find the full brochure here.

Pirate Protection | Good news for megayacht owners terrified to sail the seas this holiday season for fear of being attacked by rogue pirates. A company called Blackwater Worldwide says it has a 183-foot "security vessel" at the ready for any interested boatowners. The former Navy ship (left) comes with a helicopter, crew of 15, and three "commando-style inflatable boats," and has been used to protect cargo ships up until now. But we're pretty sure Blackwater will happily change course and link up Ron Perelman's Ultima III off the coast of St. Barts if he's interested. [NYP, previously]

A Smart Megayacht Owner Is an Armed One | Somali pirates have moved from attacking cargo ships to targeting the idle rich, at least if the assault on a cruise ship this past weekend is any indication. The boat's captain was able to use "evasive maneuvers" to dodge the armed bandits. But let this serve as a warning to the moguls out there in possession of very expensive, very large boats: If you've yet to add heat-seeking missiles to your boat's arsenal and you're planning to hit the seas for the holidays, now would be a good time to do so. [AP, previously]

Is it possible to turn on the news and not hear about another ship that's been hijacked by a bunch of Somali pirates looking to collect some extortion money? Piracy at sea hasn't generated this much public attention since the 16th century! Naturally, we don't condone these violent, criminal acts, nor do we recommend taking up a career as a pirate, even if you were just canned by a media company or investment bank and you're wondering how you're going to pay your rent next month. But if you've already made up your mind and you're planning to take the LIRR out to the Hamptons, rent a Zodiac, and take over the boat of a local billionaire—or you're just planning to pay a friendly visit and drop off your resume in person—we've put together a colorful chart of yachts owned by a bunch of notable New Yorkers, just so you make sure you're climbing aboard the right ship. Just don't blame us if you're subjected to a treatise on the economy by Steve Forbes, a lecture on Scientology by Greta Van Susteren, or a tongue-lashing by Judge Judy. The larger chart is here.

Live Like Saddam for $31 Million | Billionaire Carl Icahn has said he's selling his 177-foot yacht for $37.5 million to trade up to an even bigger boat. Well, this might just be a the bargain he's looking for: Saddam Hussein's former palace at sea, the Basra Breeze, is now on sale for $31 million. That's not all that much money considering the 272-foot vessel is bulletproof, comes with its own operating room, is fitted with surface-to-air missiles, and has enough china to serve dinner to 200 guests. The bad news? "The décor is a monument to 1980s bad taste," and it will probably cost another $30 million to refurbish. [Times UK]

Few billionaires have been spared from the horrors of the financial meltdown (just today it was reported that Warren Buffett has seen his net worth decline by more than $9 billion), but for many, it's vital not to relinquish the most significant status symbol: the luxury yacht. Global yachting company Edmiston & Co. is still receiving new commissions and is currently making 30 superyachts for new owners. So why are big flashy yachts, which cost millions to operate, still in demand? It's the Russians' fault, of course!More

Carl Icahn Trading Up? | The Post followed up over the weekend on our scoop last Friday that Carl Icahn is in the process of selling his 177-foot yacht for $37.5 million. Despite the fact he's taken a beating in recent months—his Icahn Enterprises is down 76 percent this year and he's lost a fortune with investments in Motorola and Yahoo!—Icahn's yacht broker claims the billionaire is selling the floating paradise to buy an even bigger yacht, which he plans to rent out to others to cover the operating costs. Who knew there are lots of people in the market these days for $250K-a-week yacht rentals? [NYP]

You probably won't find Carl Icahn reclining in a chaise lounge in the Caribbean this winter—at least not on the deck of his 177-foot yacht. In a grim reminder that even billionaires are feeling the pinch of the recession, this week Icahn put his boat up for sale for $37 million.  More

You may have heard the name Jonathan Leitersdorf in connection with his real estate dealings around town. The Israeli-born investor spent five years trying to sell off Sky Studios, the 11,000-square-foot triplex loft at 704 Broadway with a rooftop pool. The backdrop for several episodes of Sex and the City and the space where Chelsea Clinton had a big birthday party and Jerry Seinfeld married Jessica, the loft was only unloaded in late 2007, when Leitersdorf sold it to supermarket mogul Ron Burkle for $17.5 million. (He first listed the place in 2002 for $27 million.) Unfortunately, his investments at sea haven't been any luckier. His 178-foot yacht was just hijacked by pirates off the coast of Corsica! More

Dakis's Floating Artwork | No, it's not a Legoland exhibit, it's a 114-foot yacht designed by Jeff Koons and owned by Greek mogul/art collector Dakis Joannou. The Guilty's (yes, that's the name) headache-inducing color scheme and pattern are sure to counteract the tranquil effects of bobbing around on the ocean, but who cares when you can broadcast that your yacht cost so much more than anyone else's? [HighSnobiety]

Simon Doonan may have a brilliant eye for design, fabulous taste in decor, and a wicked sense of humor, but blind items don't seem to be his forte. In this week's Observer—and in between talk of his noble battle with toe fungus—Doonan recounts a special invite he and partner Jonathan Adler received during a recent trip to Capri:

Out of the blue, my Jonny and I received an unexpected invitation to dine with the velvet mafia aboard an extremely long yacht. Whose yacht? I refuse to name names. As you know, I am a very private person who would never divulge the details of his personal life. Just kidding! The truth is I don't want to annoy the velvet mafia. If they got annoyed, they might break my kneecaps, and then I could no longer skip. However, I will tell you this: To skip from one end of this particular boat to the other would take at least 20 minutes.

Starck at Sea | The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the massive yacht that Philippe Starck designed for Andrei Melnichenko, the 36-year-old Russian billionaire already known for his insane spending. What does the $300 million Starck-ified boat come with? Two swimming pools, helipad, hovercraft, garage, 100 audio speakers, 12 plasma TV screens, cream-colored leather walls, stainless-steel whirlpool baths, and motion sensors throughout. [WSJ]

Have a look at the Starfire, the 180-foot yacht co-owned by Carl Icahn, the billionaire corporate raider (or "activist shareholder") who's currently waging a war against the board of Yahoo. It's here that Icahn and wife Gail occasionally spend blissful summer days with friends and family. (Incidentally, it's named after one of his companies, Starfire Holding Corp.) When Carl isn't admiring the "high-gloss veneers," "exquisite wood inlays" and "Art Deco decor"—or sampling a meal prepared by the on-board chef—he can be found using one of the numerous satellite phones (or blogging using the high-speed WiFi system), which allow him to terrorize chief executives from the remotest parts of the globe. But Carl is a value investor: He'll happily rent you the boat for a week to cruise the crystal blue seas of the Caribbean. Prices, crew bios, sample itineraries—and many more photos—below.More

The economy may be slumping, but things are looking up in the jumbo yacht industry. Orders for yachts over 130 feet in length are up, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing something called "Superyachting Index," which must be totally impartial since it's tabulated by a bunch of companies that sell and lease these floating monstrosities. But you know what the sad part is? The industry would be growing even faster were it not for the pesky fact that billionaires can't find enough crew members to staff their ridiculously large ships!More