Super-rich still value their super-yachts
Oct 9th, 2009
The global recession has made little impact on the demand for super-yachts, it has been claimed.Monte Carlo Luxury Yachts broker George Fortune said that the market is driven primarily by those for whom money is no object and who are keen to show off their wealth by owning the biggest boat on the water, Bloomberg reports.
However, Jeff Flood, president of Balearic International Yachts in Palma, Majorca, believes yachts also serve an important practical purpose as they offer the super-rich the chance to conduct business in the kind of privacy not normally afforded by land.
"Nowadays, it's all about billionaires needing a secret place to conduct meetings and host events they can't have on shore," he told the news provider.
"Dry land is crazy."
Evidence of this includes the anti-paparazzi system attached to Roman Abramovich's 550-ft long Eclipse, which is the world's biggest private yacht.
The extent to which the super-rich enjoy their privacy is further emphasised by the fact that the Eclipse is said to have cost the Chelsea owner in the region of £750 million.
"I would recommend Dream Marine to others. Everyone was easygoing and helpful. I didn’t mind who I talked to. It was all good. Shame having to come back to London afterwards.
Come on Chris… when’s the next one?"
Come on Chris… when’s the next one?"
