A £150m super yacht belonging to a Kazakhstani billionaire has brought a touch of glamour to Dartmouth this week – and underlined the harbour as a port of choice.
The newly launched Lady Lara – believed to be the 51st biggest super yacht in the world – was taking shelter from Storm Clodagh.
She is owned by mining tycoon Alexander Machkevitch, who is worth an estimated £2bn – although he is not believed to on board the vessel.
Built by Lürssen Yachts in Germany, the 300ft long ship stopped in Dartmouth en-route to the Caribbean as part of her maiden voyage and crew training trip, after leaving Lürssen’s Rendsburg facility on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal.
The yacht was launched in April and embarked on her sea trials in July, arriving in the UK fresh from a trip to the Norwegian capital Oslo and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Dartmouth harbourmaster Captain Rob Giles, who piloted her in, said the super yacht was carrying out some systems operations work while sheltering in Dartmouth from storms that have been battering Britain.
He said Dartmouth had beaten off other ports to the berthing and Dart Harbour Navigation Authority had received some excellent feedback from the captain and crew.
Residents were delighted at the weekend when the vessel turned on her lights in the River Dart as part of the weekend’s Candlelit Dartmouth celebrations.
The vessel’s very distinctive lines and curves are the work of Reymond Langton Design.
Her exterior shape features grand sweeping curves and elegant proportions that resembles a feminine image, combined with masculine features such as defined lines and sculpted surfaces.
Lady Lara is expected to cross the Atlantic when she leaves Dartmouth, to cruise the winter season between Florida, the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean Islands.
The Lady Lara has onboard VIP suites with fold-down balconies, a gym, jacuzzi, a swimming pool and even a helipad.