Yacht owner and businessman Peter de Savary has died at the age of 78.
A passionate yachtsman, de Savary owned more than 30 boats during his lifetime, including a 30 metre rive barge named Savvy, the iconic Hollywood yacht Kalizma and Herreshoff-designed sailing yacht Vagrant.
The British entrepreneur also led the British challenge for the America’s Cup by Royal Burnham Yacht Club in 1983. The team made it to the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup but were beaten by Alan Bond’s Australian syndicate, who went on to claim the Auld Mug by defeating the New York Yacht Club for the first time in 132 years.
De Savary was also a regular on the regatta circuit competing in the Newport Bucket and the St Barths Bucket.
Famously expelled from school at the age of 16, de Savary started his business empire with an export business to Africa in the 1960s. However, he is best known for his work in the hospitality industry. He founded the St James’s Club franchise and started the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, where Guy Richie married Madonna.
De Savary also invested heavily in Grenada, developing the Port Louis site as a marina and owning Mount Cinnamon Resort on Grand Anse Beach. During his colourful career, he also founded Pendennis Shipyard and was the chairman of Millwall Football Club.
De Savary is survived by his third wife and his five daughters.
In memoriam/British investor Peter de Savary on the boats he's loved and lost