Every month, superyacht owners reveal where they are in the world and share their future plans. This month, BOAT speaks to the owner of Feadship's W about saving the life of a man who had been stranded at sea for five days, while the owner of Almyra II celebrates preserving the friendly Corinthian spirit through the newly launched Cyclades Cup.
David MacNeil, owner of W
Length: 57.6m
Year: 2013
Location: Fort Lauderdale, US
How did you come to buy W?
We purchased her in 2019 when she was lying in Antibes and we then enjoyed an amazing family trip in the Balearics. To maintain her Feadship pedigree, I then sent her to the yard for a 10-month, €10 million refit. Even though she was only six years old, we needed to upgrade virtually all systems to 2020 standards.
We also changed the cabin arrangement: there was one full-beam suite on the lower deck and two further guest cabins, so we split the full-beam cabin into two cabins, which is much more guest and family friendly. We squeezed in another cabin on the bridge deck, so we took her from a four-cabin to a six-cabin boat.
That’s a lot of work!
We continued the refit by changing every system on board – A/V, LED lighting, engines, black water treatment, watermakers, boilers – to the most environmentally friendly available. We opened up the main saloon by removing a conference table and turning it into a beautiful, open family-friendly area for entertaining or greeting guests in style or for an epic movie night.
We just went through the whole yacht, including painting her hull a matching Mercedes Alubeam Silver and turned her into a very civilised, but capable, family-friendly yacht. Then in 2023, we added Quantum XT stabilisers, upgrading from regular fins, which make the yacht feel as if it’s bolted to the ocean floor. W is for sale now, asking €49.95 million with Edmiston, and for that the next owner basically gets an almost-new 2020 Feadship without waiting five years for a new one.
Read More/A closer look at W, the 58m Feadship superyacht for saleCan you tell us about the rescue you were involved in last year?
We found a 28-year-old Moroccan man in the middle of the Mediterranean. He’d been in the water for five days and couldn’t even stand when we got him on board. The Spanish coastguard evacuated him from the top deck via helicopter, and we received a certificate from the Spanish coastguard saying we had saved this man’s life. He was trying to cross to Europe from North Africa with only a child’s inner tube for flotation. If we hadn’t found him, he would not have survived.
Which yachts have you owned previously?
I had a 23-metre Ferretti, then a 26-metre Pacific Mariner, then two 40-metre Westports before I purchased W. After the extensive refit, she crossed the Atlantic for the first time and when you do that you start to think about all the possibilities when you own a Feadship with true trans-oceanic capabilities.
Where’s your favourite place to take W?
I love the Bahamas. It’s the best water in the world – you can see right to the bottom. It’s a fabulous place to escape for a week or two. The last time we were out there for 10 days and it’s such a big cruising area you can always find something new to see and do.
Whenever we’re there we take the guests and crew and we clean the beaches. Last time we found a floating fridge door and filled bags with plastic debris. Discarded fishing nets are a menace and we’re constantly finding them just beneath the surface or tangled in rocks. We’ve all got to do our bit to keep the ocean we love clean and healthy.
Ilia Rigas, owner of Almyra II
Length: 50m
Year: 2000
Location: Schoinousa, Greece
Congratulations on the inaugural Cyclades Cup!
Thank you. We were working on it day and night from February with the Yacht Club of Greece, and we were so happy with the result. In the end we had 11 boats racing with a few more taking part socially, which we didn’t expect at all for the first edition.
Our aim with this event was to make it more of a rendezvous – we didn’t want super-competitive racing. Everyone still wanted to win, of course, but they came primarily for the fun. We had lots of friends from Greece taking part but also some international visitors, which was fantastic. We’ve set the dates for next year: 12 to 15 June.
Read More/All the coolest yachts that attended and competed at the Cyclades CupWhat was the inspiration for launching the event?
There was nothing like it in Greece and yet we have all the right ingredients: the Aegean Sea, the sun, the people, the passion and, most importantly, we have the superyachts and the meltemi.
How big do you want it to get?
We envision the Cyclades Cup to be just the right size, avoiding commercialism and large crowds, preserving the friendly Corinthian spirit while honouring the intimate and unique atmosphere of small islands like Antiparos that we aim to protect and cherish without altering their essence.
We aspire to become the rendezvous that no one can resist attending, where the summer kicks off in style with an exhilarating regatta and a grand opening summer party, setting the stage for unforgettable moments and exciting adventures ahead.
What are your cruising plans this summer?
Right now we’re at a little island called Schoinousa, which is a hidden gem. It feels a little like a private island – there’s a small port with some very big boats! There’s just a single taverna at the port and some tiny shops. We love it. We’ll head back to Antiparos tomorrow and plan to spend the whole month on board, cruising around the Cyclades.
There’s lots of talk about Greece at the moment. Do you feel it’s getting more popular?
A superyacht owner would relish cruising in the Greek waters for the crystal-clear azure seas, free of sharks and jellyfish, surrounded by unparalleled hospitality, a warm and inviting atmosphere and a sense of familiarity that welcomes them like an old friend.
In the Greek waters, an owner can discover not only vibrant party islands but also small, secluded islands that exude a nostalgic 1970s vibe, offering a unique blend of modern luxury and retro charm in an enchanting setting.
Read More/On board the 50m Perini Navi sailing yacht Almyra IIFirst published in the September 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.