Bill Worple, who was head of account development for local e-commerce technology firm Digital River, launched 3luxe.com last summer with his brother, Doug, who runs a Cincinnati ad agency. 3luxe is a shopping Web site that narrows your choices down to three of the best products in each of more than 350 categories: bespoke suits, cigars, cutting boards, outboard motors. A 3luxe team of 25 researchers scours sources on line and off—product reviews, blog posts, manufacturer specs—to identify products with the greatest quality of design, quality of manufacturing, and ease of use.
“One thing we’re trying to do at 3luxe is simplify the consumer’s life,” Worple says. That includes providing links to manufacturer sites and to Amazon or Shopzilla for items that can be purchased there.
Sailing is one of life’s great adventures, but it can be frustrating when you have to rustle up a crew every time you want to hit the water. Leave the rest of the crew on land if you want to with the Wally 80. The advanced Wally 80 features hydraulic rams that position the sails to allow you to sail this 80-footer by yourself. Want to trim the sails from somewhere other than the foot buttons at the wheel? Grab your handheld remote control unit, which can be plugged in at several points around this “best of’s” deck. Another great feature of the Wally 80 is the lack of dangerous “toe stubbers” on the single-level teak deck. Everything from the deck hatches to the track for the jib is flush with the deck, resulting in a look that’s as elegant as it is safe. The hull is constructed of a composite PVC sandwich of Kevlar, carbon fibers, and epoxy resin for a strong and lightweight clipper. [Base price $9,450,000.] 8 Av. des Ligures, MC98000, Principality of Monaco, 377-931000936, wally.com
The Maltese Falcon
At 289 feet in length with a 41-foot beam, the Maltese Falcon built by Perini Navi USA makes one very big statement. It’s one of the three largest private sailing yachts in the world. Twelve guests can be accommodated in six cabins. There are eight crew cabins as well. An outrageous 4,650 square feet of space is provided in the guest and owner cabin areas of this floating mansion. Despite its massive size, the Maltese Falcon can be piloted by a single person thanks to an advanced computer system. This impressive “best of” also features three aerodynamic masts with five square sails on each. The sails take only six minutes to open, making it easy to take advantage of a fair wind that kicks up in a good direction. The Maltese Falcon has a range of 4,000 nautical miles and a 19.5 knot speed at maximum power. While the Maltese Falcon is privately owned by venture capitalist Tom Perkins, we feature it so that you can have Perini Navi USA build one for you! [Price not available.] Perini Navi USA, One Maritime Drive, Portsmouth, RI 02871, 401-683-5600, perininavi.it
Far Harbour 39
Is there some remote corner of the world that you’re itching to sail, but you can’t imagine how to get your boat there without a monumental hassle? Solve that problem with the Far Harbour 39 sailboat. This ingenious “best of” is the first and only cruising yacht that can be shipped in a standard 8-foot-by-40-foot shipping container. The Far Harbour 39 is designed to sail anywhere, with a pilothouse to shelter you from foul weather and sun. There’s plenty of room. The galley has a three-burner propane stove with oven, refrigerator, deep sink, one starboard and two port counters, storage lockers, and drawers. The main cabin is built for comfort over long hauls with settees and book shelves port and starboard, a drop-leaf table, and spacious head with counter, sink, cabinet, and shower. [Fully equipped and commissioned: $250,000.] Container Yachts, 534 Delaware, Suite 302, Buffalo, NY 14202, 716-361-3791, containeryachts.com
