The summer season of 2024 will, forever, be remembered in superyacht circles. It was the year in which the 56 metre Bayesian was lost. A freak weather incident off the coast of Sicily in August resulted in the death of tech billionaire Mike Lynch along with his daughter and several of his close friends. Fortunately, accidents like this are extremely rare. Professional crews employed aboard are trained well, when it comes to looking after their guests and their safety. These crew members are also taught how to be discreet. And perhaps this is one reason that luxury yachts have become so beloved by corporate celebrities seeking holidays away from spying eyes.
Perfect escape
Superyachts have become the perfect escape vehicle for the rich and famous. Some tech billionaire own their own yachts. Others prefer to charter (rent) them by the day week or even, month. Superyachts can anchor off tourist hotspots well away from prying observers. This gives celebrities the opportunity of enjoying the very best of both worlds.
Lynch was not the only tech billionaire to fall in love with the concept of superyacht ownership. Mark Zuckerberg recently forked out $300 million to purchase a 118-metre Feadship. He then renamed; Launchpad. The yacht can accommodate 26 guests as well as 50 crew members. Not only does it have its own aircraft hangar, but Launchpad is also accompanied by its own toy carrying support ship. She is named Wingman, and she cost him an extra $30million!
With support
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, commissioned Oceanco in Holland to build a three masted 118-metre sailing yacht he calls Koru. She also sails together with her own support ship, that Mr Bezos christened Abeona.
The late Steve Jobs helped design his own superyacht. Venus was built by Feadship in 2012. Sadly, Jobs died before he was able to enjoy the fruits of his labours. Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft with tech billionaire Bill Gates who recently gave up on the idea of building his own superyacht. Allen however, owned several superyachts and is perhaps best known for owning Octopus, a 126-metre beauty built by Lürssen in Germany. It was while sailing in Octopus, that Paul Allen discovered the wreck of the warship HMS Hood and dramatically recovered the ships bell which can now be seen at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, in Portsmouth.
