Today is the official release date (in the U.S.) of the new James Bond film "Spectre," the 24th 'official' title in the series and the fourth film starring Daniel Craig as Bond. Boat lovers know that in several of the Bond films, a high-tech car or boat often steals the show, and some of the most iconic scenes involve boat chases.
To celebrate the release of the latest film, yacht charter company, The Moorings, has released their list of the top eight boats featured in the franchise. The site features an interactive format with behind-the-scenes facts, vintage-style animation, and a 'License to Thrill' rating based on how much each boat adds to the film.
Some of the most outlandish boats, including a Lotus that transforms into a submersible and an Iceberg 'Sub,' feature Bond actor Roger Moore who was known for his unbelievable and sometimes unconventional scenes. Click to the Moorings site here, and discover the true stars of the James Bond movies; the boats. Fellow Bond aficionados are encouraged to share their ratings with The Moorings across social media using the hashtag #licensetosail. Here are some of our favorite scenes ( in no particular order):
Q-Boat in "The World is Not Enough" (1999). Pierce Brosnan steals his quartermaster's retirement boat and chases an assassin through London, at times performing barrel rolls, diving underwater, and even driving on land. The villain's boat is a Sunseeker Superhawk 34.
Glastron Gt-150 in "Live and Let Die" (1973). Roger Moore at the helm of the Glastron manages a 110-foot leap over two cars and one dumbfounded sheriff. It is said that the jump sequence took 100 takes to get it right, with several boats becoming damaged or destroyed in the process. But the end result was spectacular.
Fairey Huntress in "From Russia With Love" (1963). Both the 28-foot Huntsman and Huntress models were featured in the film. Years later, Fairey models would win repeated acclaim in offshore powerboat races and for a time became the craft of choice for Royal Navy Skippers. Fitting choice for Bond, a former commander in the Royal Navy.
And of course this scene from "Quantum of Solace" (2008) in which Daniel Craig steals a wooden fishing boat to escape gun-toting villains in a RIB. So even though Bond enjoys his high-tech gadgets, it's clear that he also can pull off an epic boat chase without the help of a Lotus transforming into a submarine ("The Spy Who Loved Me") or a Glastron that can shoot homing missiles ("Moonraker").
Got a favorite Bond boat or chase scene? Let us know!