Virgin’s Branson Hits the Water in Cigarette 38’ Top Gun

Sir Richard Branson plays Sonny Crockett in a Cigarette 38′ Top Gun.

Cigarette Racing Team’s cross-promotional and brand expansion efforts continued yesterday when Sir Richard Branson, the maverick mogul who founded Virgin Atlantic Airways—and Virgin Atlantic Records—took to the waters in Miami’s Biscayne Bay in a Cigarette 38’ Top Gun with twin Mercury Racing 600 engines. A collaborative effort between Cigarette and Virgin Atlantic, event was set up to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Virgin Atlantic Airways’ London-Miami route with a “splash landing.”

According to a press release from Cigarette in Opa-Locka. Fla., the company and Branson staged a reenactment of a scene from the Miami Vice television show. Branson, playing the show’s lead character Sonny Crockett, overtook an adversary in the 38-foot Cigarette. His adversary was played by supermodel Karolina Kurkova.

Supermodel Karolina Kurkova, Cigarette Racing Team owner Skip Braver and Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson.

Cigarette’s Bud Lorow piloted the boat with Branson on board for the reenactment.

“I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him, but he seemed like a nice guy,” said Lorow of his high-profile passenger. “He didn’t get to drive the boat because we really didn’t have time.”

Cigarette’s Bud Lorow piloted the 38′ Top Gun for Branson (right, with bullhorn).

Spearheaded by Skip Braver, the owner and chief executive officer of Cigarette Racing Team, the iconic V-bototm builder’s recent cross-promotional and branding efforts have include Mercedes AMG luxury performance automobiles and Ducati motorcycles.