Climate activists have added a new layer to the “strike them where it hurts the most” mission against billionaires. We have seen some very aggravated examples of their love for the planet and their dislike for those they hold responsible for polluting it, namely, high-net-worth individuals and their floating palaces. A $70 million superyacht called Lady Christine became the latest subject of this life lesson at London’s Canary Wharf. The luxury vessel, delivered in 2010, was the target of a campaign group called Climate Resistance.
The group, which has a deep aversion to billionaires, did not rely on tactics like hurling paint on the ship and instead beamed several light messages onto the exterior of the 223-foot Feadship owned by Scottish businessman and philanthropist Lord Irvine Laidlaw and his wife, Lady Christine Laidlaw, for whom the yacht is named. In a matter of seconds, the elegant white hull was turned into a floating billboard for anger about extreme wealth and climate inaction.
Yes, it was nothing close to the catastrophe experienced by the $300 million Kaos yacht, not once but twice, when black and red paint tarnished her gleaming exterior. Climate Resistance took a less aggressive approach, but their message was displayed loud, or rather bright, and clear. Statements like “Seize me,” “Abolish billionaires,” “Wealth tax now,” and “Tax dodger” were projected on the vessel, which was moored next to the Phi superyacht, making the entire quay look like a curated exhibit of excess.
Despite becoming a target of climate activists, luckily for the owner, who spends an estimated $7–$10 million on the annual maintenance of the ship, he will not require a refit or touch-up after this stunt. Lady Christine is an imposing superyacht with a 1,608 GT volume, a very tall profile, and split-level decks.
The six-decker is a head-turner with Art Deco interior influences, a very swanky full-beam master suite, and two separate studies for uninterrupted me-time. There is a massive en-suite bathroom and dressing room, along with a private gym. The deck is highlighted by a forward-facing panoramic observation lounge.
Guests aboard the Lady Christine yacht enjoy amenities like a dedicated cinema, a large pool with a waterfall effect on deck, and a sun deck with lounging and bar areas. The 223-footer even flaunts a helipad (touch-and-go) aft. From the wharf, it is easy for agitated activists to get a sneak peek at the grandeur of the ship, which presumably made her an irresistible target for their wrath.
You almost worry that if they ever see how palatial it is inside, more like a floating private hotel than a boat, the light beams might one day give way to some very real, very damaging paint. The Laidlaws are serial superyacht owners who have previously owned two Lady Christines (a Heesen delivered in 1994 and an Oceanco delivered in 2001). They are passionate pleasure craft owners who, according to yacht forums, were incredibly involved in the yacht-building process. For them, watching their superyacht turned into a protest canvas is the kind of nightmare no one prepares you for, not even a warming planet.
