Racing to the Bottom: Exploring the Deepest Point on Earth

 From: http://www.theatlantic.com
 
Teams led by Richard Branson, James Cameron, and some unknown guy from Florida are all hoping to make it to the Mariana Trench

At the southern end of the Mariana Trench, a deep scar that cuts into the bottom of the ocean floor, there is a point known as Challenger Deep. Here, just outside of the Marianas or Ladrones, a series of 15 islands made up of volcanic mountains that peak just above the water line, a small slot-shaped valley plunges nearly seven miles down. At 35,797 feet, Challenger Deep is the deepest known point in the oceans. It is so deep that, if you were able to place Mount Everest inside of the valley, there would still be 6,811 feet of water separating it from the surface.
At just 7,000 feet down, about where the tallest mountain in the world would peak, the pressure becomes so great that whales rely on unique evolutionary traits when hunting for giant squid. Whales have lungs that can collapse safely under pressure and ribs bound by soft cartilage that allows the cage to shift and settle in extreme environments rather than snap. Without similar anatomical gifts, we don't know much about what happens below that level. Imagine what creatures might live at depths five times greater than where whales and giant squid battle in the pitch-black ocean.
We've been there once before, to the bottom of Challenger Deep. But we didn't see or learn much. On January 23, 1960, Jacques Piccard suited up, plopped down inside of Trieste, and sank to the ocean floor. The Swiss-designed, Italian-built, U.S. Navy-owned Trieste is an inelegant machine. The observation gondola, a sphere welded to the bottom of the ship's main flotation system, has walls that measure five inches thick and a tiny, cone-shaped Plexiglas window.
Story continues after the gallery.

TRIESTE

Historic Naval Ships

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After spending nearly five hours sinking to the bottom of the ocean, Piccard and Don Walsh, a Navy Lieutenant that accompanied him, were only able to peer through the Plexiglas while shivering in the 45-degree capsule and munching on chocolate bars for sustenance. Surrounded by a cloud of sediment that Trieste had kicked up when it smacked into the ocean floor, Piccard and Walsh couldn't see a whole lot from their window, which had cracked on the way down. What they did see, though -- a variety of sole and flounder, two types of flatfish -- proves that at least some vertebrate life can handle the extreme pressure in one of the Earth's most extreme places. Twenty minutes later, Trieste dumped tons of magnetic iron pellets and spent three hours rising back to the surface.
Now, more than 50 years later, humans are nearly ready to return to Challenger Deep. This time, though, they're planning to stay a while, collecting samples, videotaping whatever might be down there, sending out small remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and then bringing home $10 million. Earlier this year, the X Prize Foundation made that prize money available to the first privately funded submersible to make two visits to Challenger Deep. This money, though, is little more than proof that humans are fascinated with the extreme: climbing Mount Everest, walking on the Moon, searching the floor of the ocean. Ten million dollars will only cover a fraction of the race to the bottom. And it is indeed a race; one with at least three competitors, each close to claiming the prize.

RICHARD BRANSON'S VIRGIN OCEANIC

Billionaire Richard Branson is known for the hundreds of companies that fall under the Virgin Group umbrella, including Virgin Megastores, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Records and Virgin Galactic, his space tourism company that aims to bring passengers into sub-orbital space for $200,000 a head. As part of his team perfects SpaceShipTwo, the plane that will fly more than 60 miles above the Earth as those inside gleefully float about the cabin for six minutes of weightlessness, another crew is busy preparing a kind of ship meant to take humans in the opposite direction.

Branson's team, led by legendary submersible designer Graham Hawkes and chief pilot Chris Welsh, has been planning to take the Virgin Oceanic out for water tests as early as this summer, but, due to setbacks, no date has been confirmed. In early rounds of laboratory testing, the borosilicate viewing bubble through which the Oceanic's crew would peer out at the ocean floor cracked under just 2,200 pounds per square inch of pressure, about one-eighth of the 16,000 psi expected at Challenger Deep.
Story continues after the gallery.

VIRGIN OCEANIC

Virgin Oceanic

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The 8,000-pound, 18-foot-long submersible that Hawkes has designed "represents a transformational technological advance in submarine economics and performance," according to Virgin Oceanic's official website. "The submarine provides the currently unequalled capability to take humans to any depth in the oceans and to truly explore." Taking some of the most elegant creatures of the sea as inspiration -- whales, dolphins and rays -- the Virgin Oceanic uses two sets of wings to fly through the water.

The Virgin Oceanic will be carried out to sea and launched by an enormous 125-foot racing catamaran that was once owned by adventurer, aviator and sailor Steve Fossett. Welsh, the pilot for the submersible who made his money in real estate and then decided to take to the seas, purchased the catamaran after Fossett disappeared in a single-engine airplane over the Nevada desert in 2007. He traveled to Fossett's estate to close the deal on the Cheyenne and was sold on the Challenger, the original name for what would become the Virgin Oceanic, as well.

JAMES CAMERON'S DEEP CHALLENGE TEAM

The Avatar and Terminator director is an explorer first and a filmmaker second. The box office-breaking Titanic wasn't on Cameron's radar as a Hollywood project because he knew it could earn huge dividends, rather, he has long been obsessed with the famous sinking of the ship. He has made several trips to the wreckage, shooting footage using 3-D cameras he designed himself to capture the 100-year-old ship as it has never been seen before. He plans on using some similar technology at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Admittedly, Cameron doesn't care if he's the first (well, the first of this group) to reach the bottom ... he just wants to be the best. Cameron's team is working on building what appears to be the most high-tech (and least reliant on a tourism-based model to fund future exploration) submersible. The as-yet-unnamed project will include a giant lighting array, several 3-D high-definition cameras, an arm that can grab samples from the ocean floor and a small ROV similar to that used to swim in and around the Titanic wreckage, according to an email that Cameron sent to Outside's Anna McCarthy.

Unlike Branson's Virgin Oceanic, Cameron's Challenger Deep project has passed pressure tests; at a Penn State University lab, the team turned the dials to 16,000 psi and waited. Nothing. But at what cost? Nobody knows how much time or money Cameron has put into this submersible, about which he has been pretty tight-lipped since kicking off the design stage with a couple of sketches in 2003. Now, more two dozen people are working around the clock to prepare the sub for sea trials next April.

BRUCE JONES' TRITON SUBMARINES

Bruce Jones is the odd man out in this triumvirate. And that's because you have no idea who Bruce Jones is -- and you're not alone. Building a vessel that can safely sink to the bottom of the ocean is no easy feat; it's one that requires big backers with deep pockets, something that Jones doesn't have. While the 55-year-old entrepreneur has drawn up plans and marketing materials -- they call this project the "race to inner space!" -- he has not yet secured the funds to construct a prototype. He's currently shopping around the idea. "We're talking to a number of first clients because, quite frankly, we don't have the money to build one of these on spec," Jones told Outside.

Jones' Florida-based company is hoping to build a number of Triton 36,000s -- named for its maximum depth, obviously -- and sell them for about $15 million each to individuals who can shuttle people down to the bottom of the ocean for even more than Branson plans to charge for a space ride: $250,000 each.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

SpaceShipTwo Returning to Earth Looks Just Awesome

Jesus Diaz
from: http://gizmodo.com/

—Virgin Galactic has tested the return capabilities of their SpaceShipTwo spacecraft for the first time. The video of its first feathered flight is just too beautiful and elegant to describe. Just watch it:

Click on video to see at full screen

The test was conducted at the Mojave Desert, in California. WhiteKnightTwo lifted the suborbital spacecraft to the skies and then released it. Shortly after breaking free, SpaceShipTwo started its feathered descent maneuver. The video—which was taken with telescopic cameras provided and operated by the Clay Observatory—demonstrates that Burt Rutan's shuttlecock technology works like a charm. Such a simple design, yet so effective. This is exactly why I love aircrafts and engineering.

The 27-foot wingspan ship—which has a cabin of just 12 feet (3.66 meters) long by 7.5 feet (2.28 meter) in diameter—will take six people to space for $200,000 a head when it's operative. Start saving, people!

Then send me your money.

http://www.virgingalactic.com/

Richard Branson Gives Island To Lemurs

From: http://www.visualnews.com/

Not many animals can say their new best friend is a British billionaire but lemurs are proud to announce such extraordinary news. Sir Richard Branson has taken an interest in the cute, furry little primates and has decided to turn one of his private Caribbean Islands into a lemur paradise. Lemurs are native to the island of Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa, and is the only place in the world where lemurs live in the wild. A coup in 2009, and the rise of illegal logging in Madagascar’s rainforests, threaten to destroy the endangered animals habitat and push them further towards extinction. Sir Richard looks to create a preserve to help the lemur step back from the brink; but his aim at cultivating lemurs in an environment — which isn’t their own natural habitat — has garnered criticisms as to how the lemurs will affect the islands natural habitat and ecosystem.

The idea of transporting species from place to place for the sake of conservation has scientists questioning his methods — moving species from one continent to another for conservation purposes is relatively unheard of — and pointing out that other previous species’ introductions have proven disastrous to native wildlife. Sir Richard’s team maintains that both the lemurs — coming from zoos — and native animals will be fine. “We’ve been helping to try and preserve lemurs, and sadly in Madagascar because of the government being overthrown the space for lemurs is getting less and less,” Sir Richard told BBC News. “Here on Moskito Island we’ve got a beautiful rainforest – we brought in experts from South Africa, and they say it would be an absolutely perfect place where lemurs can be protected and breed.” Sir Richard is known for being responsible when it comes to his many philanthropic endeavors, and has told The Guardian that local species would be protected if it ever became clear that the lemurs were posing a threat.

via: CNN

Sir Richard Branson's Deep-Sea Submarine to Explore Ocean's Unknown Depths

by Jaymi Heimbuch

from http://www.treehugger.com/

Images via Virgin Oceanic Sub set on Flickr CC

Our ocean, particularly deep ocean, is one of the least explored places on earth. We know just a fraction of what plants and animals live under the waves, and barely understand the complexity of ocean ecosystems. One part of this is because we haven't spent as much time designing and building the sophisticated tools required for diving into the deepest parts of the sea as we have building space ships. That needs to change, and Sir Richard Branson wants to be a leading figure in that change. He has unveiled the Virgin Oceanic submarine, capable of diving into even the Mariana Trench. But this will be just one of five incredible trenches the submarine is set to explore.

VIrgin Oceanic is a five-journey proposal, which includes the Mariana Trench, the Puerto Rico Trench, the Diamantina Trench, the South Sandwich Trench and the Molloy Deep in the Arctic ocean.



The team will be Sir Richard Branson and Chris Welsh, an American explorer, and they'll be working in conjunction with Scripps Institution of Oceanography as well as other top marine science programs. And the submarine is designed by Graham Hawks. The craft will be able to dive 37,000 feet, or about 7 miles deep (about as terrifying a trip as orbiting the moon) and will be made of carbon fiber and titanium to resist the extraordinary pressure. Also, the craft will be able to dive at a rate of 350 feet per minute, which seems quite fast and a round-trip venture to the bottom of the Mariana Trench would take about five hours.



Of course, the features of the submarine that make it an exploration vessel are just as important, and it will have sensors and cameras for recording the voyages and taking measurements for scientists. Here's a video of the concept:



Virgin Oceanic states, "If we are successful in our mission with this innovative design of submarine, then we will have proven that a vehicle can be built to withstand the extreme pressures of the oceans and that it is possible to take humans at far reduced risks to the bottom of our Oceans... When we have evolved our capacity for exploration, we will unlock opportunities to discover vast areas of our planet that we currently have no knowledge of. This is our vision."

It's an inspiring vision to be sure. And if there is a team of cleaver and resourceful people who can help get explorers to the darkest places of the earth that no human has ever seen, I'm sure there will be innumerable grateful scientists and researchers excited to take part in the project.

First craft lands at Spaceport America (Exclusive Video)

by Stephen Greenwood

from http://www.gadling.com/

The future of travel is one step closer to taking off. Last Friday, Spaceport America officially dedicated its recently completed tarmac by welcoming two craft to land in front of a large crowd of Spaceport officials, future astronauts, and press.

Gadling was on-site to witness history as Virgin Galactic's spaceship VSS Enterprise, carried by mothership White Knight II, made a dramatic flyover and landed on the enormous 200 ft wide by 10,000 foot long runway.

Situated under restricted airspace in the desert of New Mexico, the Spaceport is the first purpose-built commercial facility designed for vertically and horizontally launched spacecraft. The facility will serve as Virgin Galactic's headquarters for the initial 20 years of operation, but aims to serve as a base for many types of commercial spacecraft as this new industry is formed.

For more information about Virgin Galactic's approach to commercial spaceflight, head on over to their website. For a look at the event and interviews with Richard Branson, Governor Bill Richardson & a few future astronauts, watch our exclusive video below!

Virgin Galactic opens first spaceport

By: Jeffrey Van Camp
From: http://www.digitaltrends.com/

Virgin Galactic has opened its first commercial spaceport "Spaceport America" in New Mexico. The facility will be able to launch all known types of spacecraft.

Fresh off its first successful solo space flight, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic airline has completed the runway to its first commercial spaceport. “Spaceport America,” in Upham, New Mexico, is now operational. The port includes a two-mile long runway with a thickness of 42 inches, or 3.5 feet. It’s built to support any form of spacecraft currently in existence–a short compatibility list.

Virgin CEO Richard Branson: “The last few weeks have been some of the most exciting in Virgin Galactic’s development. Our spaceship is flying beautifully and will soon be making powered flights, propelled by our new hybrid rocket motor, which is also making excellent progress in its own test program. The investment deal with our new partners Aabar has successfully closed, securing funding for the remainder of the development program and we are seeing unprecedented numbers of people coming forward to secure their own reservations for this incredible experience. To be here in New Mexico to witness this historic moment is the perfect end to a great month.”

In addition to the runway, the terminal hangar facility is nearly completed. The building will be able to house up to five spacecraft and two guiding planes.

“With the recent signing of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 by President Obama, it is clear that our nation’s future space efforts will be working even more closely than with the growing commercial space transportation industry,” said Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator of NASA. “Innovative approaches that foster this new commercial industry will bring more competition and opportunities that will lower the costs of spaceflight and payload services for America’s aerospace programs, and introduce new human space transportation systems.”

Space flight isn’t all that Virgin has up its sleeves. Branson also has a commercial underwater plane (a submarine) called the Necker Nymph. For a modest $25,000, you can rent it for a week.

Virgin Unveils First Ever 'Flying Submarine'

By Timon Singh
From http://www.euinfrastructure.com/

The Necker Nymph

Not content with conquering the air with Virgin Airlines and space with Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson is now making a play for the deep blue sea with an 'underwater plane'.

Named the 'Necker Nymph', this sleek looking submarine allows divers to go to 40 metres below the surface and swin with the fishes in such a nimble way, it is like "flying underwater".

According to Virgin Limited Edition, Branson's boy's toy division, the submarine can even perform 'dolphin-like flips' out of the water.

However while this may sound like a fantastic way to scare surfers, it is not cheap. As you'd expect, this toy is for the super-rich only and costs $25,000 for a week's charter and another $88,000 for the sub's superyacht launch vessel, "Necker Belle."

The only way to whalewatch

Designed and built by renowned engineer, Graham Hawkes, of Hawkes Ocean Technologies, the $631,000 sub actually utilises fighter jet technology in its design. Unlike all conventional subs which use ballast to sink in the water, Necker Nymph uses downward ‘lift’ on the wings to fly down to its desired depth.

Its cockpit also gives divers a 360-degree view of marine life and unsurprisingly Virgin is marketing it as a way to view whales, dolphins and other marine life up close. It is also environmentally friendly as its buoyancy prevents it from landing on reefs and its advanced noise emission technology ensures it doesn't disturb the ocean's ecosystems.

Like Virign Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, Branson's foray into space tourism, the Necker Nymph is the British entrepeneur's latest addition in 'adventure technology'. It seems that while Branson may have a private island, a superyacht and a spaceship it seems he won't be content till he has conquered every possible environment, above and below the waves.

If you're rich enough and curious about renting the Nymph, potential deep-sea divers must take half-day safety courses beforehand and can then dive for up to two hours at a time. You will also have to follow standard SCUBA procedures and will be trained/accompanied by a certified Necker Nymph pilot.

Virgin Introduces the Necker Nymph ‘Underwater Plane’ aka Submarine

• By: Dena Cassella
• From: http://www.digitaltrends.com/
  

Sir Richard Branson has a new underwater toy to accommodate the rich and adventurous--the Necker Nymph submarine.

Sir Richard Branson is at it again—whether it’s luxurious trips to outer space or stylish underwater adventuring, the Virgin Mobile tycoon wants to be the first to market it. Virgin Limited Edition announced today it will be going underwater with its new Necker Nymph aero submarine. The Necker Nymph a DeepFlight three-person aero submarine. Graham Hawkes of Hawkes Ocean Technologies, engineer and designer behind the Necker Nymph, likened this open cockpit winged sub to an underwater aircraft.

Virgin’s new Nymph sub will fit nicely into the company’s other luxuriously designed Necker-named properties and transports like the Necker Belle—a 105 foot catamaran—and Necker Island. Sir Richard plans to lend the Nymph out to visitors of his high-class hideaway, Necker Island. The Necker Nymph can glide through the ocean doing full 360 degree turns while carrying its pilot and two visitors on a two-hour trip.

“Gliding on the water’s surface like an aeroplane on a runway, one of the three pilots will operate the joystick to smoothly dive down, and the thrilling experience begins,” the company says. “Uncover ancient shipwrecks, fly side-by-side with dolphins, or spyhop with whales; the options are endless.”

The Nymph is available to hire for $25,000 a week, but only if your spend at least $88,000 for seven nights on the Necker Belle—we’re going to guess Sir Richard’s motto might be similar to “go big or go home.” The sub is expected to be delivered on February 20^th of this year.

Virgin Racing Formula 1 team launches

From: http://www.virgin.com/

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The Virgin Racing Formula 1 team was officially launched in London today, where it was confirmed that one of the sport’s four new entrants has teamed up with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin brand to embark on an exciting F1 (ad)venture.

300 guests assembled at the Louise Blouin Foundation in Notting Hill, the London district where it all began for the Virgin brand. The Rick Parfitt Jr band provided the icebreaker before the venue rocked to the electrifying sound of a Formula 1 car courtesy of a collection of up and coming musicians playing electric guitars.

Richard Branson and the Virgin Racing management team of Nick Wirth, John Booth and Alex Tai outlined the vision for their lean, mean racing machine and revealed the team’s dynamic young driver line-up. Alongside Timo Glock were two new additions to the Virgin Racing stable - Brazilian hot shot Lucas di Grassi and GP2’s Portuguese revelation Alvaro Parente.

Virgin Racing also welcomed no fewer than nine new partners to the team.

Virgin Racing had better get used to the lights, cameras and action. A star is now born and the countdown to the 2010 curtain-raiser has begun.

For more information head to Virgin Racing.

First glimpse of Branson's new toy: The aeroplane built to launch a ship into space.. with tourists on board

By Mail Foreign Service

The grin on Richard Branson's face says it all.

Hundreds of air show spectators watched in awe as he revealed his latest toy - the WhiteKnightTwo, the aeroplane built to launch a ship in to space.

It was the first glimpse the public had of the plane, which was made by Virgin Galactic as part of its effort to jump-start commercial space travel.

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WhiteKnightTwo, designed by Burt Rutan and financed by Richard Branson, approaches the Wittman Field site of the Experimental Aircraft Association Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin yesterday

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We did it: Burt Rutan, right, and Richard Branson are all smiles as the WhiteKnightTwo flies

Branson, along with engineer Burt Rutan, watched and smiled from the tarmac as the twin-fuselage craft, looking like two planes connected at the wing tips, circled the runway several times on Monday before touching down at the Experimental Aircraft Association's Air Venture annual gathering.

It was 'majestic,' said 13-year-old Alura Law of Reddick, Florida.

Virgin Galactic's plan calls for WhiteKnightTwo to lift SpaceShipTwo, a pressurized spacecraft, into the atmosphere from a base in New Mexico. When they reach 50,000 feet (15,240 meters), the spaceship would detach and blast into space at four times the speed of sound.

The six passengers would experience about five minutes of weightlessness and get a glimpse of Earth. The spaceship would glide back to Earth much like the space shuttle. Take-off to landing is expected to take about 2 1/2 hours.

Virgin Galactic doesn't have a launch date yet, but has taken 300 reservations at $200,000 each and is holding $40 million in deposits. Customers include scientist Stephen Hawking and 'Superman Returns' director Bryan Singer, according to Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn.

'Superman Returns' even features a sequence involving two aircraft much like WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. In the movie, Lois Lane boards a launcher jet with a space shuttle-like vehicle attached. The jet lifts the shuttle into the atmosphere, but the plane ends up plunging to Earth and Superman must race to save it.

Virgin Galactic officials say safety will be their 'guiding star'.

'We not only have to do it safely, we have to give (passengers) a good time,' said Virgin Galactic's commercial director, Stephen Attenborough.

The plan came about after Rutan partnered with Virgin Group chairman Branson. Rutan had made history in 2004 when his SpaceShipOne became the first private manned craft to reach space with help from launcher plane WhiteKnightOne. The feat earned him the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

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WhiteKnightTwo is pulled into the show grounds yesterday

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Richard Branson gives a thumbs up as he gets pre-flight instructions in preparation to fly on WhiteKnightTwo yesterday

WhiteKnightTwo has now made 16 test flights, Attenborough said. The company will keep testing it until fall, when tests will begin on SpaceShipTwo. Branson himself plans to take the first trip and bring his 92-year-old father and 89-year-old mother with him.

The WhiteKnightTwo, nicknamed 'Eve' in honor of Branson's mother, sports a painting of a woman in a space helmet on both fuselages and looks like nothing so much as a gleaming white half of the letter 'E'.

'Most people never really believed it would be a reality,' said Branson. 'By just trying these things, new things come out of it.'

Matthew Pritzker, a science fiction fan since his youth, has his trip booked. The 27-year-old from Chicago, who runs his own investment firm, is looking forward to being weightless and said he's no more nervous that he would be getting on a roller coaster.

Pritzker said he wants to walk on the moon someday, and SpaceShipTwo marks a step toward that.

'This venture will prove to be a huge, huge turning point in the world of travel,' he said. 'It means so much to people who grew up looking at the stars.'

Watch the video below:

Guinness offers drinkers chance to win space flight

Guinness has launched a competition offering drinkers the chance to win a trip into space aboard Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

Guinness is offering the chance to fly to space with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceline. Photo: EPA

The brewer is putting three once-in-a-lifetime experiences up for grabs themed on the colour of its famous black stout beer.

To mark its 250 years in business, the company is sending one winner into space, another to the depths of the ocean, and a third to an exclusive Black Eyed Peas concert.

A Guinness spokeswoman said: "Since 1759, Arthur Guinness and the Guinness brand have been behind some remarkable and hugely momentous achievements.

"To continue this legacy and as part of the 250 celebrations, Guinness is giving something back to supporters around the world."

The competition is open to adults in 28 countries at its website www.guinness.com until the 250-year anniversary on September 24 – dubbed Arthur's Day.

The Guinness space experience gives one person the chance to become one of the first non-professional astronauts to venture into space with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline.

After training in New Mexico at the Virgin Galactic's home at Spaceport America, the winner will take a flight through the Earth's atmosphere at almost 2,500mph – three times the speed of sound.

Sitting 68 miles above the Earth's surface, they will experience the feeling of weightlessness before they view Earth from the blackness of space.

The winner of the Guinness sea experience will travel to the Lofoten Islands in Norway with two friends where they will venture to the depths of the sea and plunge into the black stuff in the first ever Guinness deep sea bar.

There the group will be surrounded by a breathtaking seascape to depths of up to 70m below sea level.

The final winner and two friends will get an exclusive live performance by The Black Eyed Peas at an intimate recording studio as part of their forthcoming world tour.

Richard Branson And A Naked Denni Parkinson (NSFW PHOTOS)

New pictures are online of Richard Branson cavorting around his private island Necker with a naked supermodel.

Branson was posing for photographer Stephane Gautronneau when he asked Branson if model Denni Parkinson, Gautronneau's girlfriend who was present at the time, could get in some pictures.

She clung to the billionaire's back while he kite surfed and also lolled around on the sand as Branson stood on the shore in a white linen shirt.

Branson told the Mail on Sunday 'What can you say if you are asked to pose with a naked lady? I only wish I had eyes in the back of my head.'

The paper added Branson's wife and two grown children watched the shoot from the shore.


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New pictures are online of Richard Branson cavorting around his private island Necker with a naked supermodel. Branson was posing for photographer Stephane Gautronneau when he asked Branson if model ...

New pictures are online of Richard Branson cavorting around his private island Necker with a naked supermodel. Branson was posing for photographer Stephane Gautronneau when he asked Branson if model ...