Rich pickings

NEWCASTLE property developer Jeff McCloy seems to have pulled off a big gamble after sinking tens of millions of dollars into building a giant floating gin palace in his home town. Yesterday McCloy’s 41m catamaran, Seafaris, was named a finalist in the 2007 World Superyacht Awards. McCloy wanted a super luxurious adventure boat to take 10 mates on Barrier Reef holidays. Since Seafaris was launched last year it has been chartered by a string of billionaires from the US and Europe and even by Princess Mary of Denmark and hubby Crown Prince Frederik. McCloy will have to wait until the awards ceremony in Venice in April to find out if he has taken the top prize in the over 40m category.