The yachting world has reached a new height of outrageousness with the launch of a new superyacht called History Supreme. The yacht, which is now thought to be the most expensive private yacht in the world, was recently unveiled by UK jewelry designer Stuart Hughes. It was created for an anonymous Malayasian businessman and is said to have cost $5 billion.

What does that kind of money buy? The 100 ft. yacht contains 100,000 kg of solid gold accented with platinum and precious stones. The main sleeping quarters feature a wall made from meteor stone and genuine dinosaur bone.

Find out more about History Supreme on the Stuart Hughes website.

Last weekend, the General Tire Diamond Drag Boat Nationals were the inaugural event at the new Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. In addition to seeing competition that drew more than 150 drag boats from across the country, spectators enjoyed an air show, boat displays, midway vendors and a swimming beach. The new facility allows drag boats to reach speeds of up to 244 mph.

The opening ceremony was attended by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Senator Mike Parsons.  Read about the race results at the Lucas Oil Speedway website.

The Bamba 50′ catamaran has been described as the first true power-sail hybrid catamaran. This power catamaran sails at 50% wind speed with a range of more than 8000 miles.

The Bamba 50 combines long range ocean trawling and sailing with onboard comfort and luxury. With twin tanks that hold more than 1300 gallons of diesel fuel, the Bamba 50 is equipped for transoceanic voyages.

The Bamba 50 is designed by the naval architect team of Joubert-Nivelt. Find out more about the Bamba 50 on the Bamba Yachts website.

Aspen Power Catamarans build a 28′ C90 Cruiser that features a modern Proa Hull design and 35% more interior hull square footage than comparable monohull designs. The Aspen is equipped with solar panels that can recharge onboard batteries at dock or anchor. Asymmetric hulls and a single diesel engine allow the C90 to use less than 4.5 gal/hour at cruising speeds of 18-20 mph.

Aspen powercats are design by Larry Graf and an engineering team that have more than 30 years of combined catamaran design experience. The C90 Cruiser is a fuel-efficient powercat that is the perfect solution for powercat lovers who care about the environment.

Find out more about Aspen Power Catamarans at the official company website.

Dave Hemmingson’s DCB (Dave’s Custom Boats), located in El Cajon, California, has introduced 15 new custom-built performance boat models the past 20 years.  According to the DCB website, every boat produced by the company is customized to satisfy the wishes of the boat owner. 

One of DCB’s newest models is the M31 Widebody.  See the incredible performance of an M31 equipped when twin Mercury Racing 1350s in this YouTube video.  For more information about Dave’s Custom Boats, visit the company website.

At the 2010 Miami International Boat Show, Mercury Engines unveiled their 1350 and 1300 HP turbocharged engines.  Mercury President Fred Kiekhaefer described the engines as the most sophisticated products from the company to date, featuring a 552-cubic-inch, 32-vale quad-overhead cam platform.  The close-cooled aluminum block and cylinder heads are designed to eliminate turbo lag and torque deficiency, problems often associated with turbocharged engines of this type.  The engines also feature a patent-pending pulse tuning exhaust which is unique for four-stroke engines.

The 1350 and 1300 are advertised as being significantly quieter and more fuel-efficient than other engines in the same power range.  They also meet all EPA exhaust emission standards.

Find out more about the 1350 and 1300 at the official Mercury company website.  You can also read a review at Boats.com.

The Big Cat Poker Run is scheduled to take place July 22-23, 2011, in the California Delta. Offshore monohulls and power cats will compete to raise money for local charities. The event is sponsored by the Discovery Bay Lions Club. 

We love the concept behind of Poker Run races and have blogged about it here in the past. This as much a game of chance as a race. Power boat navigate a charted course at top speed, stopping at 5 designated card stops to pick up a sealed envelope containing a playing card. At the finish line, all envelopes are opened and the boat with the best poker hand is the winner.

To see footage from another Poker Run held earlier this year, check out this YouTube video of the Miami Boat Show Poker Run 2011.  You can find out more about the Big Cat Poker Run on the official website.

The 2740 Renegade from Glacier is a stylish powercat that’s built to satisfy the needs of a boating and fishing family. Twin semi-displacement hulls provide lift and stability. Built-in rod racks, holders and insulated fish boxes satisfy the requirements for any fishing enthusiast who’s looking for a cat.

The Renegade is a product of the new Glacier Bay owner, PowerCat Group. This multihull features a composite core and full-fiberglass liner reflect the PowerCat influence.

Read a complete review the of Glacier Bay 2740 Renegade on the Boating magazine website.

You can also get more information about the 2740 Renegade on the Glacier Bay website.

Aspen Power Catamarans are among the world’s most fuel efficient power cats.  The Aspen C90 was introduced at the 2010 Seattle International Boat Show.  It’s the same boat that won an NMMA Innovation Award at the 2009 Miami International Boat Show, but with the addition of a cabin.  This 28-foot powerboat as a cruising speed of almost 18 mph with a fuel efficiency of 6.6 miles per gallon. 

The Aspen C90 has twin hulls, but its port hull carries about 35% less beam than the starboard hull.  The starboard hull carries extra weight in the form of the diesel engine, 2 water tanks and access to the king-sized bed equipped stateroom.  The single small diesel engine keeps keeps maintenance costs down and a built-in solar charging systems provides additional economy. 

The Aspen C90 was designed by Larry Graf, founder of Aspen Power Catamarans and former designer for Glacier Bay, one of the world’s largest power cat manufacturers.

Read a full review of the Aspen C90 on the Sea Magazine website.

When most people think of the Virgin Islands, it’s the U.S. or British Virgin Islands.  Less well-known are the islands of Culebra, Vieques and Palomino, known as the Spanish Virgin Islands, even though they are located just 6 miles east of Puerto Rico and about 20 miles from the more famous Virgin Islands. 

The Spanish Virgin Islands were ceded to the U.S. in the late 1900s and were used almost exclusively by the U.S. military until 2003.  This kept the islands in a pristine state, with crystal clear blue water, white sandy beaches and reefs teaming with marine life.  If you’re looking for a remote paradise for your next cruising vacation or charter, consider the Spanish Virgin Islands.

Read more about the Spanish Virgin Islands at Fodors.