Have you heard about the fabulous Flying Fox superyacht? How could you not? It is a multi-award-winning Lürssen masterpiece known for its stunning stature, stupendous interiors, and spellbinding luxuries. It’s hard to believe that not some centibillionaire or Middle Eastern royalty, but a man who was once gearing up for a career in economics owns the lavish 466-foot luxury vessel. Dmitry Kamenshchik switched paths from academia, having earned a PhD in economics, to pursue a commercial venture. In hindsight, when that path led him to become one of Russia’s wealthiest businessmen, it seemed like a wise choice. Kamenshchik, who came from a family of radio physicists, took the road less traveled, leaving behind his studies in physics and energy Engineering at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute to own Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, one of Eastern Europe’s largest.
Such a leap is rare, but it began in 1992 when, at 24, he chartered a plane to transport goods from China to Moscow. By the age of 30, Kamenshchik had taken control of Domodedovo Airport. Now worth $2.2 billion, he is its chairman and sole shareholder. Kamenshchik is reportedly the owner of the opulent Flying Fox yacht that has recently captured global attention following the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Known as the world’s largest and most expensive charter yacht at $3.5 million a week, this 446-foot masterpiece epitomizes opulent seafaring and the bold dreams of its intrepid owner. Let’s take a closer look at this mecca of magnificence –
Stealthy, sly, and stunning, the Flying Fox-
What can a whopping $3.5 million a week get you aboard the fantastic Flying Fox superyacht? A quick glance reveals that this fee buys you a journey of a lifetime aboard a vessel so grand that you’ll forget the staggering price tag.
The six-deck Lürssen yacht is a floating monument boasting interior design by Mark Berryman Design and her exterior styling by Espen Øino, resulting in a $455 million mansion of the high seas. There’s much to discuss about this mighty boat, but we’ll focus on a few standout features that deserve special mention.
The luxurious vessel accommodates 20 guests in 10 suites, while the palatial owner’s suite offers exclusive space for its owner. At the heart of the yacht lies a 400-square-meter “sea lobby,” but the star attraction is undoubtedly the 40-foot spa pool. This versatile pool can shift from steaming to icy in about 10 minutes, doubling as a plunge pool or even a hammam. Located aft in a horizontal orientation (an unusual style chosen by the owner to maximize space), the pool is perfectly set within the vessel’s 22.5-meter beam.
The Flying Fox also boasts the first cryosauna ever installed on a yacht, allowing guests to enjoy a three-minute stint at -60°C in the antechamber, followed by -110°C in the main chamber, a perfect way to revive after a rigorous workout with ex-British military instructors onboard. The self-made owner is an accomplished black belt in Burmese martial arts, enjoys diving, alpine skiing, and practices the Shanxi martial art form, making the cryosauna a perfect addition for the bachelor.
The spa is a 4,300-square-foot, two-floor sanctuary offering the finest treatments, a beauty center, and a dry massage room. The pièce de résistance is the massage room with rain showers, where guests can relax on a warm water bed while being gently submerged in the soothing flow of a shower.
Among its noteworthy outdoor spaces is the enormous helipad on the sundeck aft. This massive pad can accommodate helicopters with up to an 18-meter D-value, including the Airbus H175 that weighs 7 tons. Staying true to the cleverness associated with a fox, this superyacht even offers power points and a DJ alcove within the mast, allowing the helipad to double as a dance floor when it’s not in use. This 9,022 GT marvel of style and sophistication has a second helipad on the bridge deck and even features a departure lounge for guests after a truly memorable experience at sea.
Interestingly, this 2019 Lürssen goliath was once linked to centibillionaire Jeff Bezos, perhaps due to rumors that the Amazon co-founder had commissioned a superyacht. Although Bezos’s net worth, at $204 billion, is approximately 90 times greater than Dmitry Kamenshchik’s, his vessel rivals the $500 million Koru in grandeur. In fact, the Flying Fox at 446 feet is even longer than the 416-foot Oceanco masterpiece.
