Most superyachts attract attention of the positive kind, where onlookers are left open-mouthed owing to the marvelous motoryachts and their many decks and features. That, however, wasn’t the case with the 322-foot custom-built Aviva yacht that has been parked in Dartmouth since the beginning of August after arriving from Troon, Scotland. The motoryacht, worth $250 million, has wasted the entire summer month staying put in rainy Devon instead of the picturesque Mediterranean.
Not only has the billionaire owner, Joe Lewis, opted for a rather unusual location, but he has also managed to irk locals who are now missing their views and calling his massive ship an eyesore. It would be hard for him to read that the superyacht that bailed the billionaire former Tottenham Hotspur owner out after charges of insider trading hit him is being called an unsightly sight.
The octogenarian owner, worth $6.4 billion, may call this splendid pleasure craft part-home and part-office, but for local residents, she is turning out to be an unwelcome guest whose long-term presence is becoming irksome. Interestingly, Aviva had not been seen in British waters for a long time as it was held as collateral by US courts, but now that she is here, she doesn’t seem to want to leave. Throughout the duration of her stay, this mammoth has not only dwarfed boats and other smaller yachts in the marina but even blocked views of the town’s buildings.
The beautiful county is home to two coastlines and two national parks, but all that one can talk about these days is the 322-footer that’s going nowhere. Resident Michael Rowland called the boat “an absolute eyesore,” and Geraldine Wood stated it was “totally out of place in beautiful Dartmouth.”
The Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht completed an extensive refit last month. The reclusive sports billionaire is perhaps unwinding on his most beloved boat in the calm English Riviera that lacks the madness of the Mediterranean. Listed below is a detailed take at what makes the Aviva yacht a vision and certainly not a visual intrusion-
Padel courts and palatial comforts-
In 2017, Abeking’s Aviva featured in the world’s top 50 boats at number 46. She became the talk of the town not owing to her decor or pools, but because this goliath was built around a padel tennis court, an unheard-of brief given by self-made businessman Joe Lewis.
It was an essential aspect of the luxury vessel that was to be his home and double as his private office. Living life king-size could’ve been the unspoken rule, as the owner’s suite is equipped with a 164-foot owner’s wardrobe inspired by Chanel boutiques. The vessel can accommodate 16 guests in 8 stately cabins and boasts a top speed of 20 knots, powered by an eco-friendly hybrid electric propulsion system. Its list of lavish features also includes a beach club, a gym, a swimming pool, and a spa.
