Paul Allen’s superyacht sells after €235 million listing

The 126-metre (414-foot) Lurssen-build superyacht Octopus, owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been sold. It was last offered for $278 million (€235 million) and has been sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The sale comes amid an increase in the sales of both new and used superyachts, the result of a recent surge in personal wealth.

During the first quarter of this year, 219 superyachts were sold, doubling the number during the same period in 2020, according to ship valuation service Vessels Value. Superyacht enthusiasts who would usually prefer to rent or charter a boat before jumping straight into a purchase, are now leaping straight in and buying. Clients are recently reluctant to wait for a custom new build to be completed, and instead are opting for second hand vessels, causing the market to boom.

Explorer yachts, such as Octopus, are a particularly popular category. This yacht is capable of cruising 9,000 miles before needing to stop for a refuel, therefore reducing the number of port stops and preventing the possibility of viruses infiltrating the guests and crew.

Octopus, one of the world’s largest explorer yachts, was initially offered at $348 million (€295 million) and was put on the market about a year after Allen’s death in 2018. The sale has been confirmed by a spokesperson for Burgess, one of the brokers involved with the sale of the well-known superyacht.

As reported by the SuperYacht Times, the new owner plans to make Octopus available for hire for the very first time through yacht firm Camper & Nicholsons.

The vessel boasts 13 cabins and can hold up to 26 guests, with room for 63 crew members. Excluding its submarine and other equipment, the yacht is said to be worth $208 million (€177 million), according to Vessels Value estimates. Octopus also has features such as two helipads, two elevators and garage parking for both cars and helicopters.

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Source: Bloomberg