Q: What makes "Aussie Rules" and the Norman Expedition Yachts unique?

A: It's a state-of-the-art working expedition ship with all the luxuries normally associated with your typical high-end luxury yacht. The aft deck of "Aussie Rules" will house a 42-foot sportsfisherman and all the equipment necessary to offload it and other watercraft including tenders and submersibles. A decompression chamber will be housed in its lazaretto.

Q: What could Greg actually do with a yacht of this magnitude?

A: Just about anything he wants. Greg is a tremendous sportsman who enjoys off shore fishing, deep-water scuba diving and exploring new areas of the world. A Norman Expedition Yacht will allow him to explore virtually any navigable ocean or sea on earth, from watching piranhas feed in the Amazon to whales mating in the Antarctic.

Q: Has Oceanfast, or anyone, ever built a yacht comparable to "Aussie Rules"?

A: No. It is an entirely new classification of yacht unlike any ever built. It provides the exploration essentials typical of a commercial expedition vessel without sacrificing the luxury of a traditional yacht.

Q: What would you compare "Aussie Rules" to then?

A: It's a cross between the Calypso and the most luxurious yacht you can imagine. It's the first of its kind in that it provides everything an adventurer could want, without sacrificing luxury.

Q: How did the concept of the "Norman Expedition Yachts" come about?

Q: Nearly a year ago, Greg approached Oceanfast Chairman John Rothwell with a mission statement outlining his ideas for the line. The same mission statement was solicited to other builders as well. Approximately 10 months later, Oceanfast was able to provide a design and specifications to Greg for "Aussie Rules" that convinced him to choose the company.

Q: The series will feature aluminum-hulled vessels. Why, and are the properties of aluminum as reliable as steel?

A: The thick aluminum plates making up the hull of the vessels are as strong as steel but much lighter weight allowing for a higher power-to-speed ratio and lower maintenance costs. Most shipbuilders are still using steel for hulls primarily because of the expense involved in training welders in the proper use of aluminum. Welding aluminum and steel is very different, and requires a great deal of re-education. Austal Ships is the premier builder of aluminum fast ferries much larger even than the "Norman Expedition Yachts," and thus has this expertise.

Q: When will Aussie Rules be commissioned?

A: July 2002.