It’s called Legend for a reason. But perhaps it would be more fitting to call ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt a man who loves yachts as much as tech. The billionaire, who currently owns the superyacht Whisper (formerly Kismet, once owned by Shahid Khan), and almost bought the Alfa Nero, is now parting ways with one of his most remarkable purchases, the $50 million Legend yacht.
Originally built in 1974 by IHC Verschure with design by Diana Yacht Design B.V., the 254-foot vessel began life as an icebreaking tug. That all changed in 2003, when an extensive refit transformed her into a superyacht. A second, even more ambitious rebuild by Icon Yachts in 2016 gave Legend a new interior, a stern extension, and the full luxury treatment.
According to The Yacht Report, Legend is now set to be sold to French luxury cruise company Ponant, pending final agreement. The yacht, currently anchored in Bermuda, is already being prepped for the transition. The crew has reportedly been informed of the change in ownership and the formalities that will soon follow. As a cruise liner, her future looks anything but ordinary; Legend is expected to explore destinations like the Norwegian fjords, Greenland, Antarctica, and the Mediterranean, offering a highly exclusive experience with just 11 cabins accommodating 26 guests.
Only time will tell what course Legend will chart after the deal is finalized this October. Whether her current crew stays on or moves to another vessel in Schmidt’s growing fleet, possibly even the under-construction Project Incognita in Spain, remains to be seen. Either way, it’s worth pausing to admire the exceptional character of Legend herself.
Robust on the outside, regal on the inside-
Don’t let her rugged exterior fool you. Inside, Legend is every bit a floating five-star resort. Among her standout amenities are a massive spa pool with a waterfall that can accommodate 16 people, a 14-seat cinema, a fully equipped gym, and a Balinese spa complete with a sauna, Jacuzzi, massage rooms, and more. Several salons with fireplaces and a refined whiskey-and-cigar lounge add to the regal ambiance. A touch-and-go helipad rounds out the experience.
Interior designer Bereens captured the spirit of the yacht perfectly: “We wanted to make a walk through Legend an adventure by itself. Even if we had clients on board for four weeks, in the third week they should still be finding new things. With the destinations Legend is going to, they stay on board much more than they do here [in Europe], where at night you can go out for dinner. In Antarctica, there is no restaurant.”
The yacht’s foredeck garage holds two snowmobiles and a three-person U-Boat Worx C-Explorer submarine capable of diving to 300 meters with a pilot and two guests, yet another reminder that Legend lives up to her name, inside and out.
While he may be parting with an asset, the billionaire gained a $52 million Holland Park home last May, a grand double-fronted stuccoed mansion in West London, according to the Financial Times. For tycoons, it seems, acquiring and letting go of extraordinary things is all part of the game.
