For Mark Zuckerberg, being the Meta boss is not easy. In a 2022 interview with Joe Rogan, the tech tycoon confessed that waking up as Meta’s CEO can feel like being “punched in the stomach” because he opens his eyes to “a million messages” of bad news and then has to reset himself so he is not stressed all day. There is, however, another way to cope, which is to put his more than $400 million fleet to good use. It is entirely possible he has done exactly that, as the $300 million Launchpad and the $100 million Wingman (formerly Damen Yachting’s U-81) have been anchored off Costa Azul beach for days.
It looks like the almost half-a-billion-dollar armada of the 41-year-old tech tycoon is making the most of Mexico. Although the Harvard graduate’s presence has not been confirmed aboard his Feadship mothership, the fleet has been spotted at various locations from Los Cabos to Baja California Sur. It does seem like a good time to take a few days off, especially after the metaverse was widely dubbed a $70 billion failure.
It is no secret that surfing for about an hour each morning to cope with the daily onslaught of bad news is how this billionaire father of three likes to de-stress. Baja is famous for its waves, and Zuckerberg is well aware of that fact. Costa Azul itself is one of the region’s most reliable breaks, while other Baja favorites like Cerritos and the long right-hand points further up the peninsula have drawn surfers south for decades.
Baja California and Baja California Sur sit on a narrow strip of land with exposure to swells from both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, making the region one of Mexico’s most wave-blessed stretches of coastline. A 387-foot superyacht, a 262-foot Damen support vessel carrying every toy he might need, and consistent Baja swell sound like a near-perfect escape for the world’s fifth-richest man, worth $229 billion according to Forbes.
The presence of Wingman also speaks to Zuckerberg’s obsession with privacy. The shadow vessel allows the 387-foot Launchpad to remain farther offshore while tenders, water toys, and gear move back and forth discreetly.
Meanwhile, for people on shore, these imposing vessels standing on the horizon of the bay have drawn the attention of visitors and locals alike, reported Tribuneademexico. And why not? Launchpad is a Feadship mammoth that accommodates multiple entertainment decks, boasts space for 24 guests in 12 cabins, and offers several lounges, a helipad, a swimming pool, and a crew of nearly 50.
The Wingman shadow vessel adds another layer to the spectacle, with four additional guest cabins, a fully equipped gym and spa with cutting-edge fitness gear, a sauna, steam room, massage room, and storage for several smaller boats. The foredeck of U-81 can even double as a basketball court when it is not being used as a helipad. Whether anyone catches a glimpse of the Facebook co-founder or not, watching this maritime marvel loom off Baja’s coast is already a jaw-dropping moment for locals and travelers alike, a rare display of wealth, scale, and secrecy playing out against one of Mexico’s most celebrated surf backdrops.
