A yacht that moves at $1 per second

Not many yachts equipped with on-board helicopters cruise within scoffing distance of Venice Beach, so when the Princess Mariana drifted lazily past on Sunday afternoon it was … well, OK, only a few people actually seemed to notice.

Perhaps everyone but yours truly was already aware that the Princess Mariana, a 258-foot vessel that CNNMoney.com calls one of the most desirable charters, reportedly rents for a whopping $606,500 a week.

That works out to about $1 per second, which is about how long it took to focus and snap the photograph above. I couldn't find any references to fuel consumption, but it's got to be horrible for something so … yeah, I know … probably not an issue.

CharterWorld.com says the craft went through a $12 million refit in 2006 "taking her to a new standard of mega yacht." Among its amenities is a 12-meter swimming pool and a starboard hull wall capable of being lowered to give the private terrace off the owner’s suite full exposure to both water and sun.

From CharterWorld.com:

"There is also a helipad on board – and when the helicopter has left, it becomes a golf driving range with a massive screen showing a host of well-known courses.

The decks on board Princess Mariana are extremely spacious and there are plenty of dining opportunities to choose from. One level up from the bridge deck is the party deck with two bars, casual seating areas, a raised dance floor, a grand piano, three cinema screens, a barbeque, sun beds and a spa pool! There is a cinema on the main deck with seating for 13 guests.

There are six staterooms which all have plasma TV’s and private ensuites. The entertainment system on board has a huge capacity for storage with plenty of music and DVD’s to choose from. This system can be accessed from all staterooms."

Links to more photos of the yacht, and a few other shots of what those of us not on a yacht were doing Sunday at Venice Beach, follow: