key yachting reviews

Welcome to our unique little hideaway. Secluded, serene, and perfectly located, our self-contained cottages have everything you need for a relaxing waterfront vacation.

There are no hidden charges – your stay includes:.

• Unlimited private sailboat use
• Snorkeling equipment
• Stand-up paddle boards
• Fishing gear
• Use of BBQ grills
• Onsite parking

In the evening, just walk or paddle around to local dining and dancing. Or stay on site and enjoy Key Largo’s incredible sunsets from one of the area’s most intimate settings… the Key Lime Sailing Club & Cottages. Easy to reach, hard to forget!

This was my 10th year of staying at KLSC in early March – it continues to be my vacation site of choice – and I’m already in the book or 2016. Great location, amenities and staff. It doesn’t get any better than this.

We had the most wonderful vacation. I want to thank you and your staff. It felt like everyone went out of their way to see our vacation was more then we expected. And it was. If anyone ask me where to go on vacation I only have one answer, “The Key Lime Sailing Club!”

Totally enjoyed our trip,staff was great, my wife had never sailed. She is hooked now, will be back soon, thank you for a great vacation.

Can’t say enough about the staff, perfect! Enjoyed all the watercraft available for use, kids loved the place:) Really enjoyed our stay, Talofa was great, the people and staff really made the trip awesome!

We had an amazing vacation at the Key Lime Club and so much fun sailing in the Keys! The staff were MORE than helpful and so fun to talk with. Loved the relaxed atmosphere, the family feeling at the tiki, and being able to use the water toys was a big plus. Give our love to Captain G, Irene, James and CJ! And thanks again for the sunset sail and the hospitality! We’ll surely recommend the Key Lime Club to others:)

We had a fantastic time. All of the water equipment was awesome! It was so nice not to have to worry about bringing all of that stuff with us. Our home was also equipped with tons of movies and games. What an excellent option for a family to have. Thank you KLSC!

We had a great time at KLSC. The staff was especially wonderful and attentive! We loved it there.

Sailing was great and your staff was very accommodating and top notch.Hello to Capt. G, Irene and Jeff

Perfect for our family vacation. Not over commercialized and a great place to get outside and discover things! Out boys loved it.

We were so pleasantly surprised at Key Lime North! Breathtaking, beautiful, and very hard to leave! Sandra, Nick, and Heather were wonderful, helpful, and will be our lifetime friends. Paulie made everything special including remembering birthdays and beyond! Captain Sheldon was a fantastic sailing instructor. Nothing beats this vacation!

We LOVED our stay and your hospitality. Everyone went above and beyond to make the stay enjoyable, including John from Michigan who took us out in his sailboat one afternoon. That was definitely our treasure of the week, spending time visiting with him while sailing. Diamond in the rough, so glad we stayed! Definitely would book here again if the Keys were our destination.

We Still Have Cottages Available, Request to Book!

Sarasota's #1 Sailing Charter

We have just finished our fourth NYE sunset sail with Jan and Tim. Each year, we love it so much we book the next year as we leave the boat! This year, we had the most wonderful sunset, beautiful blue skies, gentle wind.

Jan and Tim are like old friends now.......and we look forward to many years of celebrating friendship and the end of an old year and beginning of a new one with Jan and Tim.

PS: Rumor has it that we are booked through 2020! We are looking forward to it! Thanks again, Jan and Tim. Wonderful way to end the year.

What better way to celebrate a birthday. Jan and Tim made certain everything was perfect. The roses, chocolates and Chris Cross's "Sailing" completed an excellent adventure. The sail was both peaceful and thoughtful. We certainly plan on doing this again and again.

Theodora ...

Fabulous experience sailing. My husband and I recently experienced the death of our son and I wanted my husband to have a wonderful memory

this year. I knew he loved to sail so as a surprise, I rented the boat for four hours for ourselves to sail intercoastal waters and the gulf.

Jan and Tim are the most compassionate and caring people in the world. My husband used to be a sailing instructor and said this was beyond anything he had imagined. Even if you do the 2 hour cruise, you will not regret spending one dime on this adventure. We will return for it every year. We love these people!

"Nursing88" ...

I've been sailing 4 or 5 times with Jan and Tim and the Key Breeze. It's better than a massage. Comfortable boat, big enough for you and your honey and a few friends, yet small enough to be personal. This is how vacation should be! And I live in Sarasota. I've brought my beginning swimming classes out on the boat and it's the perfect relaxing afternoon for them. The boat doesn't tip or lean, and the skipper would far prefer to be under sail rather than motoring. The dark chocolate didn't hurt, either. Five stars.

"melondash" ...

We have gone with Captain Tim and Janet before and had wonderful sails with them, but this was an incredible experience! We took our two grandsons and they were trained on sailing the boat and got extensive time at the helm. The wind was perfect and we enjoyed the best sailing experience I have ever had. It was the best in every way! Our hosts were more than accommodating. You really need to book a cruise with them!

We first met Jan and Tim during a cruise we took in March of 2011. We were visiting my father and wanted a romantic sunset cruise. We loved Jan and Tim from the beginning and returned for another cruise on our honeymoon visit in August 2011 to Sarasota for another cruise. Then we moved to Sarasota and I took my son and his wife for an adventure sailing. Finally this week, I called on Tim to take us out to drop my father's ashes in the Gulf. They were terrific during the whole experience. We've laughed and cried together and I am proud to call them my friends. If you want to get on the water, sail with Key Sailing under Tim and Jan. You will NOT REGRET it!!!

Kristine ...

Sailing with Tim and Jan Solomon aboard the Key Breeze 41 foot sailboat is an experience you don't want to miss! With years of sailing experience, as well as being world travelers, they are knowledgeable as well as delightful company. On the day we sailed the winds that morning were perfect so we were able to truly "sail" without using the motor. It was heavenly! We saw dolphins and a lot of interesting sights and the time went much too fast. Their motto "Fresh Air, Fine Chocolates, and a few hours of Peace on Earth" soothes the soul. No wonder they have won so many distinguished awards. We will definitely sail with them again the next time we are in Florida.

Jan and Tim were such good hosts we felt like we were sailing with friends. The boat was beautiful and the scenery even better but our wonderful hosts were the best part. We will come back again and again. I cannot recommend this enough. I'm relaxed, refreshed, tan, and I made new friends. Book your sail today!

Kristin ...

I was just in Sarasota last weekend visiting my best friend and was lucky enough to take a sailing trip with Key Sailing and it was WONDERFUL!!! I was a little nervous to go as I have not done much sailing, but the water was calm, the ride was smooth and you could not ask for better hosts!!!!! So accommodating and so nice, can't wait to go again the next time I go back to Florida:) What an AMAZING time we had! I went from being so nervous that I wasn't sure I wanted to go.....to I didn't want to get off the boat!

Jessica ...

Everyone I know is having a difficult time finding the "perfect" activity for family members as they visit Sarasota over the Holidays. That brought back my memories of a sailing trip we took on the Key Breeze on the Fourth of July this year. We didn't want to fight the insects and crowds as we waited for the fireworks to begin. We instead, opted to watch the fireworks from the water of Sarasota Bay. What an absolutely beautiful experience it was. We were able to observe all of the land displays, plus all the fireworks from the shoreline in downtown Sarasota, and all the other bays. It was so exciting. And we had a wonderful time meeting and getting to know, another couple on board. It's always nice to make new friends, and hear stories from all over our country and other countries. Hopefully, we will sail with our new friends again next year.

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My husband and I have sailed 4 times with Tim and Jan. We have sailed with our grown children and by ourselves, sunset and day cruises, and each time is better than the last. Jan and Tim give very personal attention and are very knowledgeable about the area. They will leave you alone if you like, or converse at length about their adventures if you inquire. We have sailed several different outfits in several different Florida cities and Key Sailing is by far the best. I highly recommend them - can't wait until our next sail!

Jan and Tim advertise a few hours of peace on earth and that is what we found. The sail itself was wonderful and we really enjoyed the tour of the boat and the chocolate treats. As well, we all felt this trip is excellent value. Why did it surpass my expectations? Jan and Tim create a warm, friendly environment and truly care that their passengers have the best possible sailing experience.

Our family of five went on a two-hour morning sail on a Wednesday. Tim and Jan were great, starting with our initial inquiry all the way through our sail. We had a nice, relaxing time, and even saw a few dolphins along the way. They were very helpful and friendly to our kids as well. We'll definitely call them again the next time we're in town.

Jan and Tim took my family out to intern my parents' ashes. In addition to the beautiful weather and sail, Jan and Tim were so compassionate and kind. It was a memorable day, and we were blessed to have them provide a beautiful service.

"Choving" ...

Tim and Jan, This was the most beautiful sunset! We’ll remember this as the greatest night of our honeymoon for years to come.

Tyler and Shawn …

We chartered a sunset cruise, my wife and I and our teenage kids (15 and 17), and family friends. Tim and Jan were excellent hosts and made us feel very welcome. They have a great knowledge of the area and gave us an excellent tour. The yacht itself was beautiful and comfortable.

This is an awesome way to create some family memories. It was a great value.

We couldn't have asked for a better time--a beautiful late afternoon sail with a terrific captain and first mate. Our family trio celebrated a reunion, a special birthday-- and made great memories. Thank you Jan and Tim. You're the best!

We cruised with Tim & Jan on a glorious evening set to have a wonderful sunset, and a full moon rise. The photos bring a smile to my face, remembering the relaxed evening we spent together with our family.

They will accommodate small groups, and their "open" charters are limited to 6 people. (If you get a babysitter for your kids, you won't find someone else's on yours). If you are wanting to sail with your children, you will have the whole boat to yourselves! No worries, they've got you covered! Prices are super affordable, and because of that, its in your best interest to book ASAP!

My fiancé proposed during the sail trip and it couldn't have been a more magical experience. Jan worked so well with my fiancé to plan this surprise for me and they completely pulled it off! The trip was beautiful and relaxing. Jan and Tim are very warm, friendly and fun to talk to. Our trip was originally supposed to be a sunset trip, but it was raining and Jan made sure we could do it first thing the next morning. I was already in paradise on this boat BEFORE my fiancé proposed-so as you can imagine the whole thing was really something special, and it was one of the best days of my life.

Without a doubt we will come back. Not only is it an awesome sailboat ride, but it is also very meaningful for us now. We will definitely make it a tradition to sail with them whenever we are in town.

It was a 33 year old dream to take a sailboat into the sunset, and Key Sailing made that possible for me. Captain Tim and his wife Jan were there to please us and make our experience the best one possible. We went out on a cold, January day, and they had blankets and pillows ready to make us comfortable. It was a beautiful sailboat which allowed for a beautiful sunset, even on a cold, blustery day. The boat ride was very family-oriented. I was amazed at how much joy Tim and Jan had as they carried out their job, and their joy was contagious. Any time you visit Sarasota, this is a must-do activity!

We and two other couples chartered a 3-hour sunset cruise which certainly lived up to our expectations--and exceeded those of a couple of us "sailors," one who was afraid of the water in general, and one who had a very bad back and wasn't up for any 'adventures'. We especially appreciated that we were able to have exclusive charter of the boat; there was comfortable space for the six of us to move around as desired and also made the experience more intimate and relaxed. The conditions were ideal for our purposes--just enough soft breeze to sail with, calm waters, and pretty sunset--just as Jan had promised--and Tim and his daughter were a great crew, providing interesting information about areas as we sailed past. We were all reluctant to end such a perfect evening. Our sail was serene and relaxing, and it was definitely a highlight of our stay in Sarasota.

Marlene ...

We went out with 4 children, ages 2 - 11. All four enjoyed the boat ride immensely, as did the adults. Great captain and assistant - very kind, super friendly. They provided snacks and drinks. Sent us pictures they took on the boat. Very safety conscious with the kids. Highlights included dolphin sightings and kids driving the boat! Wonderful time.

"I went out on a three hour sail with a group of mixed levels of sailing experience on a part educational and part recreational sail that was offered through local community education. Everyone had fun and the teaching while doing was excellent."

"5Hamburgers"  ...

Key Sailing | Sarasota’s #1 Sailing Charter © 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Is The Key Worth It On Royal Caribbean? My Experience (2024)

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Are you wondering if Royal Caribbean’s The Key is worth it? To be honest, I wondered as well. So, we decided to to purchase The Key for our recent cruise onboard Freedom of the Seas.

The Key has been a controversial topic among loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers and has many questioning it’s value.

On the one hand, some cruise passengers believe that The Key is a waste of money and is too pricey for what you get. On the other hand, some cruisers believe that given what is included, The Key is worth the price. In fact, they’ll purchase it every time they take a Royal Caribbean cruise.

I boarded Freedom of the Seas ready to try The Key and determine if it’s worth the price. With that being said, here is my honest review of Royal Caribbean’s The Key.

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How Much Does The Key Cost?

The price of Royal Caribbean’s The Key program can vary depending on the season and how many people are on your sailing. However, the price ranges between $25-$50 per day, per person.

As it gets closer to your sailing, the cruise line may offer discounts for The Key. Its common for Royal Caribbean to run online promotions on the cruise planner for drink packages, excursions and programs like The Key.

It’s important to note that each person over the age of 6 in the cabin must purchase The Key.

In our case, we purchased The Key for a total of $395.88, for 3 people on a 4-night cruise. This came to $32.99 per day, per person.

What Does The Key Include?

When you purchase The Key, you will enjoy the following benefits:

• Priority embarkation
• Carry-on drop off and delivery to your stateroom
• Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key Signature menu
• Fast lane access for onboard activities and private time at the Flowrider and rock climbing
• Priority disembarkation at tender ports (from ship to shore)
• Dedicated seating at shows in the Main Theater, Studio B, Aqua Theater, and Two70
• Voom Surf & Stream for one device (internet access)
• Exclusive breakfast on debarkation day

My Experience With The Key:

Throughout my 4-day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, I had the chance to test many of the benefits of The Key Program.

Since I was on a 4-day Caribbean cruise, I had no tender ports, so I never had the chance to test the priority disembarkation on port days. However, I was able to test all the other exclusive benefits that you get when you purchase The Key.

Priority Embarkation

Priority boarding is one of the benefits that you get when you purchase The Key program. This is a great way to enhance your cruise experience, and to take full advantage of your first day of the cruise.

This was my first surprise with The Key. I felt underwhelmed by the early check-in.

Upon arrival at the cruise port, there was a separate line for members of The Key. We were at the cruise terminal around 11:15-11:30 am and were able to enter right away. At this time, other passengers were also arriving, but there were no large crowds.

During the boarding process , there was no separate line for The Key holders, for check-in or security. Royal Caribbean’s boarding process was fast and efficient, but from what I could see there was no real benefit for Key guests.

We boarded around 11:50 am, along with many other guests who didn’t have The Key. In fact, the early embarkation benefit of The Key could be achieved by booking the earliest embarkation time possible.

Furthermore, when we asked the workers at the port if there is a separate line for Key members, they seemed to be unaware of the program. This could have been because of a language barrier, but there were several employees who confused “The Key” with the Seapass card (cruise card).

Welcome Lunch

One of the benefits of The Key is the embarkation day lunch. At The Key lunch, you will be served a 3-course meal that features menu items from Chops Grille.

Luggage Drop Off

At the embarkation lunch in the main dining room , The Key guests are able to drop off carry-on luggage. Carry on bags are then brought to each guest’s stateroom by the crew.

The carry-on luggage drop-off service was a very useful Key benefit, as we didn’t have to lug around our carry-on bags all afternoon. We went to our cabin directly after lunch and our carry-on luggage was waiting for us.

Related: 23 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On Bag

The Key Lunch Menu Review

The Key menu featured three appetizers, three main courses, and three desserts. Anyone expecting a similar menu and options to Chops Grill might be disappointed, as it in reality it pales in comparison to the specialty dining experience.

Upon further research, I noticed that Royal Caribbean used to offer a choice of 3 different side dishes. However, they no longer offer this, and the main courses come with a side of fries.

Appetizers:

• Ceasar Salad
• Wild Mushroom Soup
• Colossal Shrimp Cocktail

The appetizers were decent and tasted good. However, they didn’t seem very different from what you would normally order in the main dining room during the cruise. I had shrimp cocktail (they were not super large).

Entrees (main course):

• Chops Dry Aged Steak Burger
• 6 oz Angus Filet Mignon
• Grilled Branzino

We ordered the filet mignon, and it was served with crispy fries, ketchup and brown gravy. Unfortunately we were disappointed with the main course as our steaks were overcooked (even after returning our meals and pointing this out).

• Royal Chocolate Cake
• New York Cheesecake

The desserts were tasty. We had the chocolate cake and the New York cheesecake. I can definitely recommend Royal Caribbean’s cheesecake!

Discount on Specialty Restaurants (while onboard)

When you purchase the Key, you get a 10-20% discount on specialty restaurants. This is great for those looking to celebrate a special occasion or prefer an enhanced culinary experience, especially if they haven’t booked this before the cruise.

However, something we didn’t enjoy was having waiters trying to upsell specialty dining while you’re trying to enjoy the embarkation day lunch. While it was understandable, it felt like a sales pitch for us to spend more money on specialty dining.

We did go to Izumi and Giovannis during our cruise, but just aren’t fans of at table solicitations.

Beautiful View

One of the things that we enjoyed about the embarkation day lunch was the beautiful view. We got to sit by the window in the main dining room, which overlooked Miami.

Overall, The Key embarkation day lunch was a bit of a letdown. After all, there are other options for lunch on embarkation day. In hindsight we felt we would have enjoyed other lunch options instead, whether included or at an additional cost.

Private Time for Onboard Activities

If you’re cruising with teenagers and kids, or if you’re an adventurous cruiser, you may really enjoy this benefit. One of The Key perks is that you get private time for onboard activities.

Since my cruise was only four days long and stopped in two ports, I never got the chance to take advantage of the private time for activities. However, on a longer cruise, I could see this Key benefit coming in handy.

On the Freedom of the Seas, private time was designated for the Flowrider and rock climbing wall. However, you’d have VIP access to more even activities on Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships.

For example, on the Quantum of the Seas, you’ll have designated private hours to try The North Star, iFly, Bumper Cars, and Roller Skating.

If you’re on a busy sailing, these activities can be super busy. Having private access will prevent you from having to wait in long lines, and you’ll get to fully enjoy these onboard attractions.

Voom Surf and Stream Internet

When you purchase The Key, you get access to the Voom Surf Wifi package on one device included. The cost for Voom Surf and Stream can vary, but is typically $20-$25 a day for one device.

Oftentimes, this benefit alone makes The Key worth the price.

In our case, one main reason we purchased The Key is that we would have bought the internet package anyway. Since we often work while we cruise and like to stay connected on social media, a wifi package is something we buy on every cruise.

Since we were sailing on an older cruise ship, we had quite a few issues with the Wifi. For instance, the Wifi never worked in our oceanview stateroom on Deck 2.

Therefore, if we wanted to use the internet (even on our phones), we’d either have to go to a public area or walk down the hallway to the elevators.

On the bright side, the Wifi did work around the rest of the cruise ship. This wasn’t the biggest deal since we were only on a four-day cruise. However, having no wifi in our cabin would be an issue if we were on a week-long cruise.

That said, while we had an issue with connectivity in our cabin on Freedom of the Seas, the value of Voom is still there. Likely, the internet is better on newer cruise ships.

Related: 15 Cruise WiFi Tips, Secrets & Mistakes to Avoid

Dedicated Seating

One of the key benefits of purchasing The Key is dedicated seating at shows. I enjoyed this benefit, as I never had to worry about not having a good seat for the shows.

For example, I sat in The Key reserved seating area for the ice skating show, and I had some of the best seats in the venue. Studio B gets full quickly, so having a dedicated seating area is definitely a bonus.

It’s important to note that reservations are required for Quantum and Oasis-class cruise ships.

Exclusive Breakfast on Disembarkation Day

When you purchase The Key, you’ll get to enjoy an exclusive a la carte breakfast in the main dining room on disembarkation day . Furthermore, you get priority disembarkation, which is a big time saver on debarkation day.

Disembarkation morning is always a bit hectic, and the breakfast on the last day was one of my favorite perks of The Key. The Windjammer buffet can have long lines, and we were glad to avoid this.

The breakfast menu was quite good, and the food was really tasty. One of the nice things about the disembarkation breakfast is that you get a great view of the city while you eat.

Priority Disembarkation

Once we finished breakfast, we grabbed our carry-on luggage and met a crew member who escorted us with priority access off of the cruise ship.

One of The Key benefits is we appreciated most was skipping that long line to disembark from the ship. This made it our easiest and most stress-free debarkation days yet.

It was the perfect way to wrap up our Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.

Is The Key Worth It? The Verdict

Based on my experience, The Key is not worth the price. Unless you get a great deal on The Key program, it’s hard to justify paying between $33 to $50 per person, per day for the benefits.

For me, The Key’s highlights were priority seating, disembarkation day breakfast, and priority departure. However, these Key benefits alone are not worth the cost.

When I looked at The Key, I thought I’d really enjoy the special embarkation day lunch and take advantage of the Wifi. However, the embarkation day lunch just wasn’t great and we had many issues with the Wifi.

In theory, The Key is a great idea. However, the embarkation day perks need some tweaking. In particular, The Key lunch could have been better (and had more options for sides).

While I would consider purchasing The Key again in the future, it would only be if it was offered at a discounted rate. Based on our sailing on Freedom of the Seas, The Key needs some tweaking to make it a great value for Royal Caribbean passengers.

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Final Thoughts On Royal Caribbean’s The Key

Well, there it is, everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key program!

Although The Key was an underwhelming experience, I’m happy I gave it a try. The Key has been a controversial topic among cruisers, and after trying it for myself, I can see why.

On the one hand, The Key can make your cruise vacation more pleasant by reducing wait times in long lines, offering included Wifi, and serving an embarkation day lunch. On the other hand, many of The Key’s offerings were poorly executed, leaving me feeling underwhelmed.

In this post, I shared my review of The Key, as well as what’s included when you purchase The Key, how much The Key Costs, and if The Key is worth it.

Would you consider purchasing The Key for a Royal Caribbean cruise? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

If you found this article helpful, please pass it along. Please feel free to share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Thank you for an honest review. Doing the math based on a $50 per day for a family of 4 on a 7-day cruise = Too much money to justify purchase of The Key. Even if I received a 50% off discount, I still wouldn’t purchase it. Your review only cemented many of my thoughts on the value of The Key.

So glad this was helpful. Keep an eye on the pre-cruise prices if you are purchasing wifi as well 🙂

We always purchase Key, but never paid more than 24.99 day. (4, 7 and 9 day). 2 years ago I purchased it for 14.99/day. We leave in 4 days on a 4day and it was 22.99/day. To find the value, we deduct the cost internet. I wonder what your review would be if you had a better price.

Wow, great prices! Thanks for sharing this and have a great cruise

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Bayesian yacht sinking: Divers race to rescue Mike Lynch’s hard drive from boat’s safe on ocean floor

LIVE – Updated at 16:45

Divers are racing to retrieve Mike Lynch’s personal hard drives locked in a safe on the ocean floor, according to reports.

Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported that the tech billionaire, whose clients included MI5, the NSA and the Israeli secret service, didn’t trust confidential documents on the cloud and kept two encrypted hard drives in a safe which now lies 49 metres below sea level.

Investigators from Palermo said that no personal effects of the seven victims and 15 survivors have been recovered so far and that surveillance on the sailing ship continues 24 hours a day. They say the only hard drives brought to the surface are those of the ship.

An investigation into manslaughter is set to continue after specialist divers recovered video equipment that could explain how it sank.

Italian prosecutors will continue their probe after a source told Reuters Navy divers recovered parts of the deck , computer material, video surveillance systems, hard drives and various other equipment.

The electronic devices have been sent to specialised labs outside of Sicily to check their condition and possibly recover data, the source added.

Italian navy recover video equipment

• Two encrypted hard drives of Mike Lynch remain 49m underwater locked in safe - report

Professor fears more deaths by ‘medicanes’ after Bayesian tragedy

Mike lynch’s yacht was ‘unsinkable’, says boss of company who built boat, seven key unanswered questions around the sinking of the bayesian, darktrace to be taken over after mike lynch’s death.

Darktrace shares are set to stop trading publicly at the end of September, after the company set a timetable for its blockbuster private equity takeover to be completed.

The private equity group Thoma Bravo struck an almost 5.31 billion dollar (£4.3 billion) deal to buy Darktrace in April.

Darktrace AI interrupts in-progress cyber-attacks in seconds, including ransomware, email phishing, and threats to cloud environments.

It marks one of the biggest take-private deals for a London-listed company in recent years, and will see Darktrace leave the FTSE 100 on October 1.

Poppy Gustafsson helped to set up the Cambridge-based company in 2013 alongside Autonomy founder Mike Lynch.

Mr Lynch, and his daughter Hannah, were among seven people to die after the Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last month.

Bodies flown back to UK on private planes - report

The bodies of Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, and the other victims of the Bayesian disaster have been flown back to their families after their post-mortems, according to reports.

They were repatriated on private planes, with their private funerals expected to be held over the coming days, Italian media reports.

The British tech tycoon ’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning . It is now lying 50m below the surface.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates .

Jonathan Bloomer, the international chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank; his wife Judith, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a US lawyer; and his wife Neda, a jewellery designer also died in the sinking.

Also killed was the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, whose body was recovered floating near the wreckage.

Four victims found with carbon dioxide in lungs

Tech billionaire Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, and five other people died when the Bayesian went down in a downburst, which is similar to a small tornado.

Chef Recaldo Thomas, Jonathan Bloomer, the Morgan Stanley International bank chairman, his wife Judy, and Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and his wife Neda, were the other victims of the August 19 tragedy.

Four of the victims are feared to have suffocated to death in air bubbles that filled with carbon dioxide, according to their autopsies raising the frightening possibility that they may have been conscious after the yacht sank, according to Italian news outlet La Republica.

Fifteen people, including Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife, survived when they were rescued by a nearby yacht.

Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, said there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian and it is “one of the safest boats in the world”.

The Bayesian, a 184-ft superyacht carrying 22 passengers and crew, was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it disappeared beneath the waves in a matter of minutes after a freak tornado struck.

“The ship sank because it took on water, from where investigators will have to say,” Mr Costantino told television news programme TG1.

He suggested that the sinking was down to a series of human errors.

The CEO said that had the crew shut all doors and hatches, turned on the engine, lifted the anchor, lowered the keel and turned the yacht to face the wind, they would have suffered “zero damage”.

He added that data showed it took 16 minutes from when the wind began for it to sink.

Cartoisio said the tragedy will be even more painful if the sinking was caused by “behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping”.

Bodies of Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah flown back to families after Bayesian superyacht sinking

The bodies of those who died after the billionaire Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sunk off the coast of Sicily have been flown back to their families by private jet.

Italian publication Giornale di Sicilia reported post-mortem examinations were completed at a Palermo hospital and the bodies have now been returned.

My colleague Tom Watling reports:

Bodies of Mike Lynch and daughter flown back to UK after Bayesian tragedy

Captain gives his account of tragic sinking

Captain James Cutfield previously gave his terrifying account before invoking his right to remain silent.

According to Correire, he told prosecutors: “Seaman Griffiths came to wake me up and told me that there were 20 knots of wind.

“I looked at the instruments and indeed that was the case. I went out immediately and asked them to warn everyone because I didn’t like the situation.”

He said the Bayesian tilted 45 degrees “and remained like that for a bit and then suddenly fell to the right.

“We were catapulted into the sea”.

Seaman Matthew Griffiths, 22, said: “We somehow climbed back up to the bridge and tried to form a human chain to save those who managed to reach that gap from the accommodation deck ... they were struggling on the walls because the boat was lying in the water.

“The first in the chain was the captain who stretched down. He helped everyone, the ladies, the mother with the little girl ... But we were sinking and unfortunately some didn’t make it .”

Mr Griffiths joins fellow Brit Tim Parker-Eaton, 56, and Kiwi skipper James Cutfield, 51, on the official list of those being formally investigated for shipwreck and multiple manslaughter.

Being investigated does not equate to being charged and is a procedural step.

Professor Yoav Yair, Dean of the School of Sustainability at Reichman University in Israel, told the Mirror that storms dubbed ‘medicanes’ - Mediterranean hurricanes - could cause similar sinkings like the Bayesian superyacht.

He said: “It is not a matter of if this (the Bayesian disaster) will happen again, but rather it’s when and where.

“In the last couple of years we have seen medicanes - which are a new phenomena. These are hurricane-like storms that pack a lot of energy, and create flash flooding, torrential rains, lightning, hail and severe sustained winds. The 2023 “Daniel” medicane destroyed Libya and caused over 30,000 deaths there.

“The sea surface temperature has risen globally and in the Med as well, charging the atmosphere with increased fluxes of water vapor, which means a higher potential for massive storms.”

With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht , which experts will examine in the coming days.

The key unanswered questions around the tragic sinking of the Bayesian

Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the wreckage of billionaire Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht that could explain how it sank.

The British tech tycoon’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning. It is now lying 50m below the surface.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates.

Divers hunting for clues on how Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank make discovery

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The day of the underdog: What we learned from the third day of Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final racing

• Toby Heppell
• September 16, 2024

The third day of the Louis Vuitton Cup took place today, Monday in Barcelona as the four remaining America's Cup challnegers go head-to-head

Today, Monday 16 September saw the third day of racing for the four remaining America’s Cup challengers in the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals. And for two teams it was a crucial day as both Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic would be fighting to stay in the competition.

To date, the Semi-Finals have both been fairly one-sided in terms of results, with INEOS Britannia going 4-0 up against Alinghi and Luna Rossa also going 4-0 up against American Magic. This series is a best of nine races (first to five wins) so INEOS and Luna Rossa would each only need to win one of their two scheduled races today to book a spot in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.

Yesterday’s racing took place in a decent 1o knots, which built throughout the day to top out at 19 knots, by the final race of the day. Today’s racing was dogged by lighter unstable winds and there were many delays as the race committee waited for the wind to get over the 6.5 knot minimum needed for racing to start.

Even when the racing did get underway, it took place in marginal 6-8 knot conditions and with the thermal enhancement never really kicking in, only two races were able to be sailed today.

Tomorrow will see the start of the Youth America’s Cup racing, so Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final racing will resume on Wednesday 18 September.

Key takeaways from the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Day 3

• American Magic continue to look very close to Luna Rossa and it’s not impossible to imagine them winning a few more matches on the bounce
• INEOS look weak in the sub-6 knot conditions and struggled to stay foiling.
• Both Luna Rossa and INEOS will rue not having sealed up their Semi-Final today in order to get an extra day in the shed ahead of Louis Vuitton Final racing

Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

Race 9 Alinghi Red Bull Racing  Vs  INEOS Britannia

Skippers INEOS Britannia:  Ben Ainlsie  &  Dylan Fletcher Alinghi Red Bull Racing:  Arnaud Psarofaghis  & Maxime Bachelin

Having gone 4-0 down in this series to INOES Britannia, and with all of those wins being by a significant margin, Alinghi Red Bull Racing were looking for a minor miracle from today’s racing. But it all looked to be over for the Swiss team at the start.

Although the wind had filled in enough to officially start a race it was still looking very light with some big holes where the wind strength was probably under 6 knots.

Alinghi led back to the startline in the light winds and it was clear both teams were looking to minimise manoeuvres in order to stay on the foils, but the Brits did a good job of gybing round in front of the Swiss to lead them back to the line. With INEOS downspeed after their gybe, the Swiss looked to try to roll over the Brits, but they could not accelerate quickly enough and ended up to windward of the Brits, with both boats over the startline.

The only choice the Swiss had from there was to wait for the Brits to bear away down to the startline and follow INEOS to the line and start right on their hip, a very weak position. And to make matters worse Psarofaghis and Bachelin got their time on distance wrong and were over the line at the start, handing the lead to the Brits.

By the first windward gate, INEOS led round with a 17 second gap over Alinghi and stepped away in the final part of the first downwind to lead through the leeward gate by over a minute.

However, the wind was looking ever lighter and, as the Brits went to tack on the left hand boundary upwind, they dropped off the foils, allowing the Swiss to catchup and as the Swiss managed to stay on the foils though their tack, the Swiss grabbed the lead and sailed away for a huge lead.

For their part, the Brits seemed to drop off their foils almost every time they tried to tack, while Psarofaghis and Bachelin foiled their way upwind, rounded the windward gate and set off downwind. To add even more peril to the Brits’ predicament the Race Committee then shortened the course to move the finish to the top of the next beat.

But on their final gybe into the leeward gate, Alinghi dropped off their foils and with the wind around 5 knots across the course both boats gave up trying to get foiling and we were treated to a very slow low-riding race. Alinghi made it through the leeward gate and the question quickly became could they make it to the finish inside the 45 minute race time limit.

In the Alinghi crossed the line after 41 minutes 22 seconds and so officially took their first win of the Semi-Final and will live to race another day.

“The guys did a good job of fighting all the way and we got lucky on one puff and it was quite nice,” said Psarofaghis. “Of course we would like to cross the finish line at 45 knots, but we’ll take crossing it at 8 knots if it’s a win.”

What did we learn from Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Race 9?

Certainly INEOS will be concerned about their manoeuvres. Ainslie commented after racing that there were a couple of manoeuvres where they could and should have stayed foiling but they absolutely looked more prone to dropping off the foils than Alinghi did in this incredibly light weather.

The British boat was still clearly the faster when they were on the foils but this does add to some manoeuvrability problems we’ve seen previously. This is of particular concern as the weather becomes more changeable in October as the thermal winds become weaker. As such October sees some significantly windier days and some very light days too.

However, this weakness only looks to show its head in sub-6 knot conditions, so they need a race such as this where there is enough wind to start but it dies away to really see their manoeuvring be an issue.

Alinghi were impressive this race and they absolutely looked the better of the two in sub-6 knots. It was a bit naive in the pre-start from Psarofaghis and Bachelin – a weakness that has been clear throughout this Semi-Final.

Race 10  Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli  Vs  American Magic

Skippers American Magic: Lucas Calabrese &   Tom Slingsby Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli:  Jimmy Spithill  & Francesco Bruni

There was another delay as we waited for the wind ahead of the second race of the day, but after only 15 minutes or so, the breeze was back strong enough to get a race start completed. But it still looked pretty unstable and, though it was up to 9 knots in the startbox, it was again softer in other parts of the course.

It was gloves off from the start as Slingsby and Calabrese decided to lead back very early and started hunting the port-tacked Luna Rossa, hoping to put a penalty on the Italian team. But American Magic were not quite able to get up to the Italians to force a port/starboard incident.

The upshot of that is that the American-flagged boat was leading back to the line very early and were scrubbing off speed all the way back to the startline, while Spithill and Bruni were able to reach all the way down to the startline to cross to windward of the Americans but at significantly higher speed.

By the first boundary Luna Rossa managed to get bow-forward of the US boat and were able to tack on them immediately after the boundary, but American Magic did a good job to hang in there and break cover at the top end of the beat and round the windward gate 17 seconds behind.

Both teams then traded sides of the course downwind and the gap was exactly the same at the downwind gate, with Luna Rossa leading around the left mark and American Magic raking the right hand mark.

But there was a touch more wind on the right of the course and at the first cross the port-tacked Luna Rossa were forced to duck the American’s. But it was a late call by Slingsby and Bruni and they crossed the transom of American Magic a little too close and picked up a penalty.

The Italians still managed to snatch the lead back at the next cross, forcing the port-tacked American Magic to duck them. But that looked to have reversed when they crossed again with American Magic on starboard. But Luna Rossa tried to squeeze across their bow and got another penalty in the process.

At the next windward gate rounding, it was American Magic just leading by 3 seconds, with both boats splitting out to different sides of the course again. The gap remained as a 3-second advantage to the Americans all the way down to the leeward gate.

Coming into the leeward gate, the starboard tacked American Magic looked like they might just cross in front of the the port tacked Luna Rossa. But with Luna Rossa in the two boat length circle, Spithill and Bruni decided to go for broke and dive inside American Magic in the hopes of getting a penalty on the American team, who must give way to allow Luna Rossa room to round the mark.

Slingsby and Calabrese were live the danger with Slingsby stating “I think he’s going to go for a penalty here, so we’ll give room.” It was a very close thing, but Slingsby and Calabrese were just able to give enough room to avoid picking up a penalty. With the Italians diving so low coming into the mark they were always going to drop off the foils. They were clearly hoping to get a penalty and force the Americans to drop behind them.

“It was clearly the wrong call, I didn’t look well enough at the software, I just got a glimpse and thought we had a bit of them,” said Bruni after racing.

It took the Italians an age to get back up on the foils and, by the time they managed it, American Magic were long gone to pick up their first win of the series. “It feels really good,” said Slingsby of the win. “It’s been tough, they’ve been just knocking us off for four races straight. But we know we can do it, so we want another one in these conditions.”

What did we learn from Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Race 10?

These two teams have looked pretty evenly matched so far this Semi-Final and the 4-0 scoreline coming into today’s racing was not really a fair reflection of just how close this series has been. Once again this race there was not a great deal to choose between these two boats, with the teams once again trading the lead on a number of occasions.

Famously when Jimmy Spithill was asked how he felt when his Oracle Team USA was one 8-1 down in the best-of-nine 2013 America’s Cup against New Zealand he simply said: “Imagine if they lost it from here.” And after racing yesterday, Slingsby was asked how he felt being one point away from being sent home, to which he replied: “Imagine if they lost it from here.” Imagine, indeed.

Follow all of our 2024 America’s Cup coverage

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Connie and Maury’s key to a 40-year marriage? Don’t take it seriously.

She’s got a new memoir about her trailblazing career. he’s a daytime talk show legend. together, they’re still laughing at their “wall of shame.”.

I t didn’t take long for someone to spot Maury Povich on the street.

At the entrance to Central Park, a young woman in a white carriage gasped as she saw the tall, slender 84-year-old talk show host who was America’s patron saint of paternity tests for more than 30 years. (She asked for a picture, of course, and he obliged.)

Slipping by unnoticed was his wife of nearly four decades, Connie Chung, dressed in black leggings and a white jacket. She wore a visor, not to disguise herself to passersby, but because at 78 she likes the effect of it — “It’s like an instant facelift,” she joked. The pair were taking their caramel-colored golden retriever, Taxi, out for a late-afternoon constitutional.

Farther along, two police officers addressed Povich as he waited, Taxi’s leash in hand, to cross an intersection.

“I feel like I know you from somewhere,” one cop said, arms crossed over chest.

“That’s Maury Povich,” said his colleague.

“Oh, I was going to say Jerry Springer,” the cop said.

“What?!” Povich responded, his eyes raised high in (mostly) mock incredulity. Chung guffawed.

“Jerry Springer’s dead!” they cried in unison.

The scene is a reversal from the early days of their marriage, when Chung, the first Asian American to anchor a television news program in the United States, was on air at least six days a week delivering the news. Back then, Povich’s fame didn’t extend past D.C., where he hosted the political talk show “Panorama.” In fact, one of Povich’s favorite stories calls back to the time he, visiting Chung’s apartment in New York, introduced himself as “Connie’s husband” to her doorman. The attendant rang up her apartment, announcing, “Mr. Chung is here.”

Not that Chung minds not being stopped for photos. A self-proclaimed recluse, she swears by a mantra repeated in many late-night phone calls with Povich over the years: Take the work seriously, not yourself.

“I’ve been off the radar for so long,” Chung said. “I actually don’t know what people out there might be thinking or what it is they remember. Or do they even know my name?”

The Style section

For the better part of the last decade, Chung has been working on her memoir, “ Connie ,” released this week. The book takes readers through the sweeping arc of Chung’s life , from the birth of her parents in China at the turn of the 20th century all the way through the 2023 revelation of the “ Connie Generation ,” referring to the phenomenon of Asian American women named after the trailblazing anchor.

Chung is frank and funny throughout — coloring in a journalistic legacy that was complicated by celebrity, misogyny and sexism.

When I toured Povich and Chung’s prewar apartment in early September, some of the vast archives she had pulled from to tell her story were still out in the hallways, filed neatly into labeled plastic containers.

“She had every calendar from like, 1971,” Povich said. “She had all of her tapes, all her scripts.

“She never threw anything away,” he continued. That may inspire awe in others — Povich, not so much.

“I hate it. There’s so much s---,” he grumbled.

When Chung and Povich married in 1984, they were seen by many as an odd couple. She was the serious, superstar news anchor, gazing steadfastly into America’s homes and delivering them the news of the day. Povich was lesser known, a journeyman news anchor who would eventually become the face of tabloid journalism as host of the Fox TV show “A Current Affair.” (One of David Letterman’s favorite bits, when he would have Chung on his late-night show, was to “misremember” Povich’s name — calling him “Murray” or “Morley.”)

They are an odd couple in the more familiar ways, too: Chung is the neat one, the one who won’t rock the boat, the one who meticulously overprepares for public appearances. Povich is, in his own words, “a flinger of socks,” a natural ad-libber with a penchant for bending the rules.

But they also share plenty: A wicked sense of humor and timing; as likely to poke fun at themselves as they are at each other. When one sings the other’s praises (and they do this, too, a lot), the other squirms, as though flattery were some buzzy cicada landing at their feet.

They loathe people with big egos and sharp elbows, having run into their fair share in television newsrooms. They are deeply devoted to their family. Whether they’re sitting on a daytime talk show couch or walking their dog, their hands search for each other.

And they both hail from Washington, D.C., a city they credit with the best of their years, and the best of their work.

Chung and Povich grew up in 1940s and 1950s D.C., a town of wide, tree-lined sidewalks, Southern twangs and segregation. Povich, the son of renowned Washington Post sportswriter Shirley Povich , grew up in the stadiums and playgrounds of the city; a loud, confident and mischievous boy who, borrowing from Arthur Miller, “could get by on a shine and a smile,” as Povich wrote in his memoir.

Chung’s family lived in a White neighborhood, after her father managed to persuade a landlord to rent to a Chinese family. Chung recalls there were beaches her family could not go to because of their race. But the D.C. of her childhood is an idyllic one nonetheless, quiet and peaceful and rife with small delights.

Every night in their respective homes, the Chung and Povich families gathered in front of their TVs to watch Walter Cronkite deliver the evening news on CBS. Both of them dreamed of sitting at that desk.

The pair initially crossed paths at WTTG-TV Channel 5, when Chung got her first journalism job as a newsroom “copyboy” before working her way up to newsroom secretary. Povich was the sports director there, as well as host of the live daytime talk show “Panorama.” By then he was already married with two young daughters.

“When I delivered Maury’s wire copy to his desk, I was lucky if I got a thank-you or a nod,” Chung writes in her memoir. Povich didn’t take note of Chung until the day a position opened up to be an anchorman’s news writer. Chung, seizing the opportunity, asked her boss to hire her for the job. Her boss, however, still needed a secretary — she would have to find her replacement, he told her.

“She walked out of the newsroom, up the stairs, across the street into the American Security Bank, looked at the first woman teller and said, ‘Do you want to be on TV? Come with me,’” Povich recalled. (He loves telling this story; “he always tells it a little wrong,” Chung said.)

The teller got the job, and so did Chung.

Povich didn’t witness the scene, but the story traveled quickly around the newsroom.

“That’s when most of us, I guess, paid attention,” Povich said.

“I’d never heard of anybody getting a job that way.”

Within a few months, Chung was an on-air reporter. Then, a year later in 1971, she joined CBS News’s Washington Bureau, part of the first wave of women on-air reporters the acclaimed news organization hired.

C onnie and Maury don’t have a “Wall of Fame” — some staid mosaic of gilded award trophies, honorary diplomas and pictures with celebrity friends and colleagues. They have a “Wall of Shame,” and they were eager to show it.

“It’s hysterical,” Chung promised.

The Chung-Povich Wall of Shame is a collection of cartoons portraying Chung, Povich and their shows. There you’ll find cels from an episode of “South Park” lampooning “The Maury Show.”

“They … absolutely brutalized me,” Povich said with a grin.

There are several political cartoons depicting Chung’s 2001 interview with then-congressman Gary Condit about Chandra Levy’s disappearance. Some sketches from Bugs Bunny co-creator Chuck Jones (“a big fan of Connie,” Povich said) and Chung’s favorite contribution: a greeting card with an image of her beside her CBS co-anchor Dan Rather on the front.

“When I think of Connie and Dan together, I think of us,” the inside reads. “I’m cute, smart and dynamic, and you’re kind of old.”

For better or worse, Chung’s strained relationship with Rather is a significant part of her story. When she landed in the anchor seat in 1993, it was a historic ascension — she was only the second woman to anchor an evening news broadcast ( Barbara Walters was the first to shatter that barrier, in 1976), and the first Asian American to do so.

From the start, TV insiders, critics and audiences questioned how receptive Rather was to his new co-anchor. In “Connie,” Chung likens herself to “a bow around Dan Rather’s neck that would make him appear friendly and cuddly and normal.”

“But instead, it was I who ended up in a noose,” she writes.

The discomfort between the two was palpable, said Robert Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University, who still plays their live coverage of the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase as part of his “History of Television” class.

“The little microaggressions that keep being tossed Connie’s way are so obvious to us today,” he said, referring to the way Rather appeared to condescend to Chung.

Chung puts it more bluntly in the book: “I felt as if Rather despised my presence.” Chung’s tenure as co-anchor ended after only two years, following a series of public setbacks that included her controversial interview with Newt Gingrich’s mother and backlash over her live coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing. (In the book, Chung shares accounts that suggest Rather helped orchestrate the latter.)

When Chung was at CBS News’s Washington Bureau in the 1970s, she worked the political beat, “covering every burp and hiccup in government and politics,” Chung writes in her memoir.

She covered the Watergate hearings and chased down President Richard M. Nixon’s allies on stakeouts. Chung was part of the press corps that followed Nixon on official trips to Saudi Arabia and the Soviet Union. She tailed Sen. George McGovern and Nelson Rockefeller on the campaign trail.

She brushed off constant come-ons from her male colleagues with brusque put-downs (“In your dreams” and “You’re not good looking enough”). Nor was she safe from the very people she was reporting on, including McGovern, who, Chung writes, tried to kiss her.

Her oversize work ethic didn’t cease when her father fell ill, making Chung, who still lived with her parents, her family’s primary breadwinner at the age of 26. It ratcheted up the pressure to succeed.

So when the opportunity came to make more money — and gain some autonomy — in Los Angeles, Chung took it.

W hen Povich, then single, crossed paths with Chung again, it was to be her “second banana” on Channel 2, L.A.’s local CBS station. Their on-screen reunion was brief — Povich was fired several months later when the station changed managers — but commiseration led to courtship.

Theirs was a casual affair — both were preoccupied with their careers, lived in separate cities and were transparent about dating other people.

In Los Angeles, Chung was a bona fide star — a fact that did not escape Povich when he would visit her at her home.

“[Warren] Beatty called frequently. So did Marlon Brando,” Povich said.

They enjoyed the freedom of living apart, even as their relationship became more serious. By the time they got married in 1984, TV news had begun reaching the peak of its popularity, and Chung was a celebrity in her own right — her salary and her job prospects were fodder for tabloids, trades and legacy newspapers.

Chung and Povich still speak glowingly of that time, married but living in two different cities — New York for Chung, D.C. for Povich — “a perfect arrangement,” they both agreed. They would meet one night a week and eat in and, if Chung didn’t have to be on air the next day, drink some scotch.

“She decorated it,” Povich said of his D.C. apartment.

“Well, I wouldn’t call it decoration,” Chung replied. “I just bought you a sofa, a chair, a coffee table.

“He was a disaster,” Chung said. Underneath her feet, Taxi, in her checkered collar, had fallen asleep. “A bachelor who had nothing.”

Nonetheless, “it was very, very exhilarating to see each other,” she said.

Meanwhile, at NBC and then CBS, Chung had become a household name. She was eager to pursue investigative work, covering government and institutions and holding them to account.

But news had changed. While Povich’s program “A Current Affair” was derided by his contemporaries, network news brass sought to copy its winning formula — in Povich’s words, “celebs and crime, baby!”

Like other women journalists of the time, Chung was given the task of chasing down high-profile celebrity interviews and salacious “documentaries” with titles like “Scared Sexless.”

Chung feared that those stories would ding her credibility as a serious newswoman — and they did. She noted that male anchors like Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings were never asked to do them. But Chung felt she couldn’t risk saying no to a story, for fear of losing newsroom allies and opportunities.

Both Chung and Povich were at the forefront of seismic changes in the news industry. Their status as a celebrity couple drew increased attention; both were scrutinized and mocked for their work. And when, under pressure from CBS, Chung was forced to go public about their pregnancy difficulties, that was mocked, too.

Through it all, Chung and Povich soothed each other’s doubts and derided each other’s critics. They laughed at themselves.

“When celebrity became a part of television news, it tainted the process and tainted the business,” Chung said.

“The glory was wonderful, and I enjoyed it. But it did taint it.”

I n 2024, Chung’s day no longer begins with the news, though she still keeps cable news running in the background — in case something breaks. (This despite her distaste for the “bloviators” that cram its programming.)

Each night, Povich pours himself a glass of Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks and saves the first sip for Chung. “I’m such a cheap drunk,” she quipped.

The trail Chung blazed has appeared to crumble behind her. News anchors are no longer household names; no longer the accompaniment to family dinners. Chung herself feels the medium has become “irrelevant.”

Celebrity pushed her out of the kind of investigative reporting she loved best, though Povich is quick to remind her of her contributions.

“How many cosmetic surgeons hate you because you got silicone breast implants banned?” Povich said to her, referring to her 1990 report on CBS in which she talked to women whose implants had leaked silicone into their bodies.

Following the story, the FDA banned silicone breast implants. When they were reintroduced 14 years later, it was under more stringent regulations.

Those are the kinds of stories she’d like to be remembered for.

Years removed from that life, it’s been like “whiplash every day” to get ready for the release of her memoir.

Sure, there’s the matter of defining one’s legacy, but Chung had a more practical consideration for writing the memoir — “I really like the idea of earning a paycheck.”

Povich had heard this before.

“You always complained that you weren’t contributing financially for the last few years. And I remind you about supporting me when I had nothing,” Povich said.

Chung considered this, then continued.

“That’s part of the reason I wrote the book. I think I really have been sponging off Maury for many years,” she said. “I’m not happy about it.”