The pandemic made explorer yachts more valuable than ever. Explorer class yachts can cruise for 9,000 nautical miles without a refuel, bringing their owners an unprecedented sense of safety during troublesome times. There are currently 64 explorer yachts in build. It is up from 58 last year, according to BOAT International data. There are very interesting specimens among them.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is building a 127-metre super-yacht with Dutch yacht maker Oceanco. At 127 metres, several decks, three masts, and a classy look, Bezos’ new super-yacht become one of the largest sailing yachts in the world. It will be a three-masted schooner in the style of Barry Diller’s 93-metre yacht Eos. Bloomberg states the Bezos’s secretive project cost around US$500m. Because of the masts and sails, the new vessel will lack a helipad. So Bezos, with his partner, Lauren Sanchez, has also commissioned a support yacht.
Bezos is not the only high net individual who decided to sail after a pandemic. In 2020 Lurssen commissioned a 142.6m long Nord vessel. The $500m yacht owner is Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov.
Another Russian billionaire, Vladimir Potanin, owned three super-yachts, Anastasia (now named Wheels), Nirvana and Barbara. He recently sold Barbara to a New-York based hedge fund manager and now builds a larger 330ft vessel in the Netherlands.
Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, the owner of Scarpa Winery, is selling the original Ragnar yacht for $69.5 mln. “Ragnar” icebreaker vessel was converted into a super-yacht in 2020 by Icon Yachts. RWD designed the interior of the yacht, and it is inspired by medieval war craftsmanship.
Bloomberg reported that Steven Spielberg has a new yacht on order, as well. His current Oceanco super-yacht – a 86m Seven Seas, was listed for sale for 131 million euros ($158 million).
Number of superyachts sold per quarter
Source:VesselsValue
