Lucky are the billionaire tycoons who enjoy uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean. But what of the lesser mortals who have no such vessel at their disposal and have to admire nature’s beauty from a distance? That isn’t such a terrible thing until one of these very same gigantic superyachts interrupts the scenery. The global superyacht fleet is only expanding in number and scale, and a recent taste of this was experienced by holidaymakers in Devon. The luxury vessel Aviva, owned by the former owner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, dominated the sightline from Bovisand toward Plymouth Breakwater.
Imagine the sheer scale of the 322-foot custom build; its dominance made headlines, owing to the ire of locals. According to The Telegraph, the luxury vessel, which houses a full-size indoor padel court, blocked the views of two family resorts. Aviva is, in reality, a stunning superyacht boasting eight cabins, a beach club, a gym, a swimming pool, a spa, and a 164-foot owner’s wardrobe inspired by Chanel boutiques. Amusingly, it is so large the designer said it was larger than his house in France.
Aquila Aerial Photography
While it may all please Joe Lewis, the 89-year-old billionaire worth $7 billion, his yacht, luxurious as it comes, was termed an “eyesore” by onlookers. Clearly, they had their hearts set on the beauty of the Plymouth Sound, but unfortunately for those looking out from their rooms, there is this massive floating wall in the middle of the Sound, dwarfing everything around it. It is almost a tradition for the Aviva yacht to be spotted in Devon this time of the year.
This time however, Sandra Hunter, 52, from Bridgwater, Somerset, argued that it would belong more in a place like upscale Monaco than a quaint UK town, where its towering blue hull blocks the view across Plymouth Sound, rolling green hills and shoreline. She said, “Why does he feel that he has to park up outside of a place normal people wish to go on holiday for the bank holiday? These yachts belong in Monaco, not off the quiet Devon coastline. It was very strange to see it.”
Dartmouth is characterized by narrow, winding streets, cobbled market squares, and historic Tudor-style timber-framed buildings. While the rows of pastel-colored historic houses that look stacked on top of one another may make for a great view for businessman Lewis, they simply can’t return the compliment. The Aviva superyacht is a massive 5,000 GT ship that’s impossible to overlook. In a marina, its pale-blue hull, tall white superstructure, and multiple decks would attract admiration, but perhaps this isn’t an ideal setting. Still, it seems way too attached to Devon. In 2024, Aviva occupied Dartmouth for almost a month. Locals may not like the view of this billionaire parade, but no formal complaints have been reported.
The $250 million vessel is said to be Lewis’s full-time floating home and office. It is truly incredible how Aviva brings his life full circle. The man who was born above a pub in London’s East End now resides and enjoys life aboard a superyacht that boasts a wardrobe that its designer said was larger than his house. At the time of writing, Aviva had left its Plymouth anchorage, with Looe Bay listed as its destination, according to Marine Traffic.