Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse Yacht and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Dubai Yacht
Camper & Nicholsons International, one of the oldest and most respected yacht brokers, sparked intrigue regarding the length of the world’s longest yacht Eclipse, owned by billionaire Roman Abramovich. In Camper & Nicholsons’ latest annual ranking of superyachts, the Russian oligarch’s yachtski is still in first place, but the gap between him and the former leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum’s the Dubai yacht, is not as significant as it was previously thought. Eclipse is only 50 centimetres or 18 inches longer.
Just as we predicted in our latest story, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum is reportedly having his own floating palace, the Dubai yacht, refitted to literally eclipse the Eclipse yacht. Now the London Sunday Times reports that Sheikh Mohammed is planning to have the Dubai extended by at least two feet, and possibly as much as eight feet, easily beating the Eclipse to recapture the World’s Largest title.
Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse Yacht
The Platinum Yachts, which built the Dubai, is considering updates that could include a black box radar to be mounted jutting forward from under the prow. That alone would make the yacht six inches longer than the Eclipse superyacht, the newspaper reports. It is also considering adding a 6 ft. swimming platform or beach to the Dubai’s stern. These beaches have become very fashionable among superyacht owners over the past couple of years, one shipping expert explained to the Times. They are extensions, platforms for sunbathing or holding a party at water level so you can just slide into the waves. The Dubai has room for a beach, but the Eclipse does not. So the sheikh could reclaim his crown as ruler of the seas.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum’s Dubai Yacht