The Ultimate Sugar Plum -- A Gift from Fifth Avenue's Sparkman & Stephens

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The season for giving and buying is always a challenge for those who lack want or need. Men resort to buying their special someone little fuzzy somethings from Bergdorf's or little sparkly somethings from Tiffany to add to her collection. The more adventurous may plunk down $4.5 million for Victoria's Secret's bejeweled lingerie ensemble or a treat her to a custom couture gown from Dior. Women face a bigger challenge. Maybe they head for Cartier and spill six figures on a Swiss timepiece Mr. Wonderful will leave on the hotel nightstand or worse, just not wear it.

Adventurous couples might consider thinking outside the wrapper and strolling farther down New York's Miracle Mile and picking up a little something salty-like a custom sailing yacht or powerboat.

The renowned Fifth Avenue yacht design firm Sparkman & Stephens is standing by, as it has been for 78 years, to help any couple indulge their ultimate fantasy with a gift that truly keeps on giving. From to-die-for- pretty semi-custom sailing yachts, such as the Morris M-Series in 36-52 feet ($350,000- $1,250,000), to have-it-all-your-way custom sailing superyachts (priceless). If you prefer something that doesn't need wind to move and isn't some off-the-rack picnic boat, S&S can set you up with a semi-custom cruiser perhaps with a salty Down East flavor [500,000 and up]. Better still, you can crank it up a notch and go for a fully custom, transoceanic motoryacht (if you have to ask ... ).

If you've never heard of Sparkman & Stephens, don't fret. Yacht designers often work in the background, realizing on paper-or now on screen-the visions of boatbuilders and private clients. Throughout its history though, S&S has maintained a very high profile in the rarefied world of yachting, designing America's Cup racers, small sailboats and some of the world's best-known superyachts. They've designed boats of every size and shape for some of the most affluent and demanding customers in the world including former Treasury Secretary Bill Simon, former IBM chairman Tom Watson, former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and Walter Cronkite. Chances are excellent if you look out over any harbor in the world, you'll see the results of their work.

Designing a custom yacht is a process, not unlike designing a home. You pick the arrangement of bedrooms, bathrooms and other amenities. You can create the decor yourself, or you-or S&S-can arrange to have an interior designer do the work. Most clients enjoy the process far more than that of designing a home because a yacht is the ultimate mobile getaway. Care for a pool? A hot tub? A spa? A gym? They can make it happen.

In recent years, the firm has expanded its "cradle-to-grave" yacht service for their clients. Not only will they design your boat, they'll arrange to have it built, they'll hire and manage the crew for you, They'll charter it out for you when you're not using it and they'll sell it for you when you're ready to move into a bigger one, which is, of course, the direction most enthusiasts take.

So, if you really want to blow the mind of your favorite guy or gal, or if you want to buy yourselves the ultimate joint gift, consider stopping by S&S and having them design a little floating something you both will cherish. It

won't be ready in time for Christmas this year, but depending on how big it is, it could be ready for ribbon and bow in '08.

Located on New York's Fifth Avenue, S&S was established in 1929 to engage in the practice of naval architecture and to conduct the business of yacht brokerage, charter and insurance. The company's founders, then-21-year-old yacht designer Olin J. Stephens II and yacht broker Drake Sparkman are towering names in the yachting industry. S&S remains one of the most enduring and venerated brands in yachting having delivered more than 2,700 commercial, military and pleasure craft designs throughout its storied history. Some of the company's best-known sailing yacht designs include Dorade, Stormy Weather, Finisterre, Running Tide, Bolero and Tenacious. It has also been heavily involved in the America's Cup, having designed successful defenders Ranger, Columbia, Intrepid, Courageous and Freedom. Notable recent S&S designs include the Grand Banks 44 and 59, the Morris M-Series and the 112-foot sloop Zingaro.

Additional information about the company can be found at www.sparkmanstephens.com <http://www.sparkmanstephens.com> Or call +1-212-661-1240. Sparkman & Stephens 529 Fifth Avenue, New York.

Images available at http://www.sparkmanstephens.com/news.html