24 Ogos 2011

This port ain't big enough for the both of us

Even billionaires sometimes struggle to find space to park.

For Roman Abramovich, that moment came when he tried to moor his £1billion yacht Eclipse - the largest in the world at 557ft long.

The Russian tycoon was beaten to the only space in the harbour big enough to moor his giant vessel, Eclipse.

Chelsea battleship: Eclipse, the world's biggest yacht, owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, lies at anchor off the coast of Antibes, near Nice, south-eastern France

Chelsea battleship: Eclipse, the world's biggest yacht, owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, lies at anchor off the coast of Antibes, near Nice, south-eastern France

Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud - whose own yacht Kingdom KR5 is a mere 265ft long - took the coveted mooring in ‘Millionaire’s Quay’ in Antibes, in the French Riviera.

Prince Al-Waleed is the world’s 26th richest man with £12.3billion, according to Forbes magazine, while Mr Abramovich is 53rd with a fortune of £8.4billion.

Holiday on the Med: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and girlfriend Dasha Zhukova

Holiday on the Med: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and girlfriend Dasha Zhukova

The last space in Europe’s biggest yachting harbour simply wasn’t big enough for the two superyachts.

So the Chelsea FC owner was left with little option but to drop anchor several hundred feet out at sea - and then travel to his villa on the shore by motorboat.

Mr Abramovich’s crew had pleaded to be allowed to moor in the harbour, but were told it would be impossible to ‘squeeze Eclipse in’ as it was ‘far too big’.

‘Mr Abramovich has a villa in the town, and is, of course, always welcome to disembark with his family, but with a yacht this size it was not possible,’ a source at the port said yesterday.

‘Instead Eclipse had to be sailed out to sea and left there.’

Mr Abramovich, 41, who has six children with his first wife Irina and girlfriend Daria Zhukova, often uses his fleet of luxury boats to ferry his family up and down the Mediterranean.

But none has ever compared to Eclipse, which has two swimming pools, two helicopter pads, a dedicated disco hall, around 30 cabins, a mini-submarine, and even a missile defence system.

Inconvenient: Eclipse is too large to fit in next to all the other tycoons' boats moored in Antibes, said port authorities

Inconvenient: Eclipse is too large to fit in next to all the other tycoons' boats moored in Antibes, said port authorities

People carrier: Mr Abramovich often uses his fleet of yachts to ferry his family, including his six children, up and down the Mediterranean

People carrier: Mr Abramovich often uses his fleet of yachts to ferry his family, including his six children, up and down the Mediterranean

Luxury: Eclipse had an initial order cost of £300million, but this rose to nearly £1billion after all the fixtures and fittings Mr Abramovich wanted were added to the boat

Luxury: Eclipse had an initial order cost of £300million, but this rose to nearly £1billion after all the fixtures and fittings Mr Abramovich wanted were added to the boat

This port ain't big enough for the both of us: The super yacht of Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud was already moored in Antibes preventing Abramovich from parking his vessel

This port ain't big enough for the both of us: The super yacht of Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud was already moored in Antibes preventing Abramovich from parking his vessel

It also has armour-plating around Abramovich’s master suite, bullet-proof windows and a laser system designed to dazzle long-lens photographers.

Fabulous wealth: Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud

Fabulous wealth: Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud

When it was ordered the initial cost was estimated at around £330million, but by the time Mr Abramovich took delivery last year it was spiralling towards the £1billion mark because of the extra luxury fittings and security measures.

Prince Al-Waleed’s vessel, though smaller, has a fascinating history of its own.

The boat, which can carry 22 passengers and 31 crew, was built in 1980 and bought by Saudi billionaire, Adnan Khashoggi under the name Nabila.

It featured in the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again – as ‘The Flying Saucer’ – owned by villain Maximilian Largo.

Its other owners have included Donald Trump, who named it the Trump Princess.

Prince Al-Waleed bought the yacht in 1991, and renamed it Kingdom 5KR after his investment company Kingdom Holdings, his lucky number 5 and the initials of two of his children.

The prince is the owner of the Savoy hotel in London, and his investment company plans to finance the construction of the world’s tallest building - the Kingdom Tower - in Saudi Arabia.

Antibes is the largest yachting harbour in Europe with more than 2,000 moorings - but only one spot big enough for Eclipse.

Mr Abramovich had applied to Antibes council three years ago to build his own pontoon at the villa, but the plans were rejected.

A spokesman for the Antibes International Yacht Club said: ‘The only space where it could fit is already taken, though there are plans to build another large berth in the coming coming years.’

Eclipse was built by the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and delivered to Abramovich last December.

The oligarch also owns three other mega-yachts, the Pelorus (377ft), the Ecstasea (282ft) and the Sussurro (161ft).

Abramovich once lent the Pelorus to Chelsea footballers Frank Lampard and John Terry as a ‘bonus’ for playing well.

Annual running costs for his fleet are around £16million including full tanks of petrol at around £70,000 per yacht.

Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari 458 Spider 468x337 Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari officially released today the first images, together with all the details and a video of the new open-top, Ferrari 458 Spider.

The top is made from aluminium, achieving a 25 kilogram weight reduction over the previous system, and Ferrari says it can be raised or lowered in 14 seconds.

Power is supplied by the same 4.5 liter V8 unit from the 458 Italis coupe which delivers 570 PS (425 kW / 563 bhp) and 540 Nm of torque (398 lb-ft).

Ferrari 458 Spider photo 468x337 Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari claims a 0-to-62-mph time of 3.5 seconds, or a tenth of a second slower than the fixed-roof model, and a top speed of 198 mph.

The way the top is stowed has also freed up a storage compartment behind the seats – but removing the roof hasn’t harmed the 458’s striking appearance.

Ferrari 458 Spider picture 468x324 Ferrari 458 Spider

With the hood down, the main attraction is a pair of buttresses, allowing air to be channelled to the engine intakes and radiators.

Ferrari also includes an electrically adjustable wind deflector, which bosses claim allows occupants to have a normal conversation even at speeds of up to 124mph.

The Ferrari 458 Spider price list and exact “on sale” date will be announced later.

Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

Cadillac Ciel Picture 468x312 Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

Iconic American luxury auto brand Cadillac has unveiled its new hybrid concept, described as an “expression of Cadillac’s historical grandeur.”

The Ciel concept, which will be on show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a four-seat convertible powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, paired with hybrid drive.

Designed to fit in with the touring cars on display at Pebble Beach, the model is “about the romance of the drive,” says Cadillac-owner General Motors, featuring generous room for two couples across two rows.

The Cadillac Ciel 468x312 Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

Complete with rear-hinged rear doors, the Ciel concept is clearly trying to evoke a sense of the freedom and history of motoring through the great outdoors, with a polished aluminium windshield frame and vertical lights.

Cadillac Ciel inside 468x312 Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

Inside, the passenger space is characterized by Italian olive wood, machined aluminium and hand-tipped leather designed to add to the romance, with interior design manager Gael Buzyn likening the design to a “vintage wooden boat.”

Cadillac Ciel interior 468x312 Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

Luxury touches include a small humidor for holding cigars and an in-built cashmere blanket which appears at the pull of a tag to cover up the rear seat passengers, should they get chilly.

Cadillac Ciel wheels 468x312 Cadillac Ciel Concept unveiled

The concept is among several new models on show at this week’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, including models from Infiniti and Lexus.

Kerching! Samuel Eto'o quits Inter Milan to earn £345,000 a week AFTER tax at Anzhi

QUIDS IN ... Samuel Eto'o is the highest paid player in the world on £345,000 a week AFTER tax
QUIDS IN ... Samuel Eto'o is the highest paid player in the world on £345,000 a week AFTER tax

SAMUEL ETO'O has become the highest paid player in the world after quitting Inter Milan to join Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

The Cameroon striker, 30, will pocket a mind boggling £345,000 per week AFTER tax with Anzhi agreeing a £22million transfer fee for his services.

A statement on Anzhi's website read: "Today an agreement was reached between the football clubs, Anzhi and Inter, for the transfer of Samuel Eto'o.

"The terms of the transfer are completely agreed on both sides.

"Anzhi expresses gratitude to the leadership of Inter Milan for their professional and constructive approach in the negotiations.

"Tomorrow the player will undergo a medical examination, following which the player will be awarded a three-year contract.

"On Thursday, Samuel will arrive at the location of his new team and will begin preparations for the match against FC Rostov."

Anzhi are owned by billionaire Russian Suleyman Kerimov and also have Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos and former Chelsea player Yuri Zhirkov on their playing staff.

Eto'o scored 21 goals in 35 Serie A appearances for Inter last season, having helped Barcelona to Champions League glory in 2006 and 2009. He scored in the final victories over Arsenal and Manchester United.

DUIT