HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HIDE FROM CORONAVIRUS ON A... MEGAYACHT

Last week, DreamWorks Animation co-founder David Geffen (# 185 on the global Forbes list, $ 8 billion) was criticized for posting on his Instagram page about self-isolation on a mega-yacht worth $ 590 million. The 77-year-old billionaire is in the Caribbean on one of the largest private ships on the planet, the 135-meter yacht Rising Sun, which has 82 cabins, a cinema, a wine cellar, a gym, and a spa area with a Jacuzzi (easily converted into a medical center), as well as a basketball court that acts as a helicopter...

Although Geffen’s behavior has been described as “shameful and grotesque,” ​​on social media, there is a rationale behind his actions. Market participants surveyed by Forbes Life note that the Rising Sun is far from the only megayacht that has become a haven from the pandemic. “A number of wealthy families with similar yachts are waiting for the situation on board,” says Julia Penzoni, head of the charter department at Arcon Yachts in Monaco. “The main flow of requests for charters was observed in February-March when yachts were urgently rented for 4-6-8 weeks.”

Several yacht owners of the American brokerage company Northrop & Johnson have been quarantined at sea for several weeks. London-based yacht broker confirmed the existence of orders for long-term charters and described how one family rented a yacht for nine whole weeks. “People are looking for ways to ride out the viral storm. And a yacht in a region with a good climate is a good place for self-isolation.”

Larger vessels have enough space to store supplies for several months, which means the vessel can spend that time at sea without contact with the shore, explains CEO spesialist. “Clients are organizing onboard training for children, including cooking lessons with a chef and a crew in the engine room to explore the technical side of the yacht.”

By all means, It seems a quite expensive asylum.

According to experts, the cost of a charter for a week is on average more than $ 100,000; renting mega-yacht costs about $ 600,000, excluding crew and fuel costs. The size of the vessel really matters: the larger the boat, the more resistant it is to weather at sea. Fifteen-meter motor yachts with a wave height of 5 m or more are recommended to enter the harbor and wait out the storm. For parking in a conveniently located marina in high season, the price per day can exceed $ 10,000. “And during self-isolation on a yacht, you may encounter restrictions. For example, captains of yachts in the Caribbean inform us that there are food disruptions in Antigua due to the high concentration of yachts. The local infrastructure has not been used to such heavy loads for a long time, ”says the expert.

If the epidemic catches travelers on the high seas, the scenario of the Diamond Princess ship blocked in Japan is unlikely to be repeated, unless no one is released ashore. After all, a yacht is not a cruise ship and, perhaps, the best place to escape the coronavirus and news about it.