Okay, so we've all seen a fancy yacht or two in our time. How couldn't we, we live in the UAE? But with the Dubai International Boat Show in full swing, and parties aplenty to prepare for, it's time to dust off the deck shoes and delve into the world of yachting, 2012-style. Listen and learn.
First things first, who has the most expensive yacht and where can we find it?
It's one hundred feet long, was finished just last summer, in Italy, and is worth a whopping Dh18 billion. Oh, and it's covered in 100 tonnes of gold. Meet History Supreme, the world's most expensive yacht. It might not be the biggest boat on the block but it's certainly the flashiest. Owned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, the modestly-named vessel boasts platinum-covered sleeping quarters and a statue made from the bone of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, while the deck, dining areas, rails and anchor are made from other precious metals. Not bad. And it makes our next contender, The Eclipse, the second-priciest yacht in the world, seem cheap in comparison at just Dh2 billion. This beauty is owned by Chelsea Football Club boss, Roman Abramovich, but it's not just good for sipping cocktails or topping up your tan. The 538-foot cruiser has an early-warning missile detection system, among other treats. It can also accommodate up to 30 guests in 15 cabins as well as 75 crew members. All this could be yours for a mere Dh7.346 million a week, plus expenses (notably Dh2.387 million for a single fuel fill-up). Well, that's the next Eid break sorted then.
So, if I were to be lucky enough to fall into a bucket of cash and buy one of these yachts, how much would it cost me to moor it?
As with all parking spaces, the cost very much depends on where and when. Prices start from a relatively modest Dh2,225 a day, to moor your superyacht at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi (aside from Grand Prix week when you can expect to pay up to Dh22,000 for the week) to the world's most expensive parking spot on the Italian Island of Capri which will set you back Dh14,340 a day, regardless of when you rock up.
And how would I decorate it? How can I fit it out with all the latest mod cons?
You don't have to go for gold, unless you really want to. The hottest yachts in 2012 are lightweight affairs. On the technical side, think superslim flat-screen TVs (smart or 3D or both), integrated audio and out-of-this-world computer and security systems. For interiors, Dubai-based Greenline Yacht Interiors have won awards for their work, while François Zuretti has got the high-end market covered. When picking the colour of your home on the high seas, look to Jotun Paints, whose recently released new product, Megagloss HG, has fared extremely well in tests. A top coat has been tested across two yachts measuring over 40 metres; the MY H2ome from Italy and the SY Canica from Spain; both vessels have reported great results.
But what's the point in splashing out on a boat if you've got to fit it out yourself? If you aren't good with your hands — or simply prefer to let someone else do the dirty work — check out Platinum Vision, a provider of full turnkey solutions. The company offers complete design and installation services as well as retro fit, redesign and maintenance to existing vessels. Platinum Vision, which has offices in the UAE, offers audio-visual, automation and integrated control systems. It has partnered with leading technology manufacturers such as Crestron, Sonance, Kaleidescape, Denon, Philips Dynalite and Lutron to design totally integrated solutions. Among its clients in the region is Ajman-based manufacturer Gulf Craft.
Okay, so what's next? Where is the most expensive yacht currently under commission being built, and for whom?
This is a tricky one as many of the world's hottest yachts have somewhat shy owners. But the most exciting new yacht, set to be completed this year, is definitely Topaz, the 482-foot motor boat, currently under construction in Bremen, Germany. Topaz is to have a steel hull and aluminium superstructure and is causing a real stir among the superyacht community. But if it's bling facts that float your boat, so to speak, another soon-to-be superyacht is sure to appeal. Currently under construction, and surely ripe for an eccentric celebrity owner, is the oddly-named Streets of Monaco. When it is finished, the superyacht will be bigger than Abramovich's Eclipse and include all manner of toys, as well as mini replicas of Monaco's favourite sights and experiences — including the Grand Prix circuit. The boat is said to be so extravagant it has coined a new term — hyperyacht — and will include a submarine, self-contained waterfall, helipad, miniature versions of the Monte Carlo Casino and Loews Hotel and a massive three-metre-deep swimming pool, . What are the chances it'll be landing on our shores in the not-so-distant future?
So what do these millionaire mariners have on board their pricey toys?
Aside from Abramovich's rather worrying missile detection system, most yacht owners tend to keep their on-board accessories a bit more playful. Abramovich himself has the ingenious ‘paparazzi shield', which shines a beam of light across the prying camera lenses of snappers trying to get shots of him or, more likely, his stunning girlfriend, Dasha Zhukova, lounging on deck. But that's nothing. There are also the full-size discos, apparently housed on a yacht not very far from here, and the fleets of staff and the helipads, decorating yachts from Monaco to Antibes. And that's not all. Belarus-born billionaire, Andrei Malinchenko, got creative with his yacht A, attaching two smaller ten-metre speedboats to the back of it — presumably, just in case Mrs M needed to pop out for a pint of milk. Even as Microsoft co-founder, and multimillionaire, Paul Allen, decided to add his very own yellow submarine, to his megayacht, Octopus.
I'm not a billionaire big-hitter but I really want a slice of the action…
Okay, okay, a day or night on the ocean wave can be yours, for a fraction of the price. If all this talk of yachts has made you hanker after a slice of the good life, you're in the right place to do it. Celebrities shell out up to Dh3 million a week to hire the superyachts they holiday on, but there's no need to be left out, if your means are more bucket and spade than bling. Here in Dubai, you can take to the seas in style from just Dh299 a day, courtesy of companies such as Xclusive Yachts. They can even organise for a Rolls Royce to pick you up and chauffeur you to the marina and a glamorous hostess to be waiting to serve you, and your guests, cocktails and canapés on board. Er, yes please, don't mind if we do. For more information , visit www.xclusiveyachts.com n
DOCK YOUR BOAT
(cost in dirhams)
45,170: Weekly bill for mooring a superyacht (of overall length 25m) during the Grand Prix at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi
39,780: Yearly cost to moor a boat (of berth length 15m) at Festival City Marinas
47,200: Yearly rental for a 15m boat at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club
