Bloomberg Businessweek published a story last Monday (4) about a “hidden” billionaire named H. Gary Morse. He owns much more than the 147 foot yacht that is flagged here in the Cayman Islands. The yacht is called “Cracker Bay” and can accommodate 12 guests and a full time crew of nine. The yacht’s home port is Fort Lauderdale

The luxury yacht was crafted at Hakvoort Shipyard in 2002 and was then called “Campbell Bay” before Morse acquired her.

In 2002 she was actually launched to celebration in Monnickendam and post sea trials and finishing touches was thereafter handed over to the owner who commissioned her. Hakvoort Shipyard completed their new build motor yacht in the Netherlands. Her main hull was built out of steel. The motor yacht superstructure is made mostly with aluminium. With a width of 8.8 m or 28.9 feet “Cracker Bay” has fairly large size. She has a fairly shallow draught of 2.8m (9.2ft). She had refit improvement and changes carried out by 2005.

“Cracker Bay” subsumes two agile CATERPILLAR diesel engine(s) and can touch a impressive max speed at 14 knots. The main engine of the yacht gives 1014 horse power (or 1363 kilowatts). Her total HP is 2028 HP and her total Kilowatts are 2726. For propulsion CRACKER BAY has twin screw propellers. For stabalisers she was supplied with Quantum Zero Speed. This yacht’s high cruise speed is 13 knots which makes a range of 5000.

On Sept 2009 “Cracker Bay” sailed to Fort Lauderdale, in United States. The yacht has cruised the waters around Broward County during the month of October 2009. Heinen & Hopman was the outfit that made the A/C. Her deck material is predominantly a teak deck.

However, Morse who is 75, controls almost every facet of life at the Villages, one of the world’s largest retirement communities.

On a 33-square-mile parcel 15 miles south of Ocala, Florida, halfway between Jacksonville and Tampa, he’s built and sold more than 44,000 homes since 1983. He’s created 39 golf courses and developed 4.5 million square feet of commercial space, including two hotels, 60 restaurants and two movie theaters.

Morse owns the local newspaper, a television channel and an AM radio station. His realty company controls 60 percent of the re-sale market in the Villages, whose commercials have been fixtures on the Golf Channel. His bank lends to retirees fleeing south; his insurance company provides them coverage. He even gets paid to pick up the trash and organise tee times. For all his ubiquity, most outside of Florida have never heard of him.

For the whole story go to:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-04/hidden-billionaire-morse-a-man-behind-curtain-at-villages#p1