alamshar yacht aga khan

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Aga Khan's superyacht Alamshar delivered after long build

The long-awaited 50 metre Project 305, superyacht Alamshar , has been delivered at the Devonport yard in Plymouth, UK.

She is perhaps record-breaking as the longest superyacht in build ever recorded – spanning some 13 years. Alamshar was started in December 1998 and originally launched in 2003, but a series of delays – from a fire in 2006 to numerous engine reconfigurations – have extended her delivery date until this time. Commissioned by the Aga Khan, the build has been cloaked in mystery since its inception. She is said to be named after one of the Aga Khan's race horses.

Alamshar features naval architecture by Donald L Blount and Associates with design from Pininfarina and interiors by Redman Whiteley Dixon in the UK. Construction is expected to be in aluminium and composite, and her layout should prove interesting as well. She is designed for extremely high speeds, reportedly briefed to hit top speeds between 60 and 70 knots, powered by six gas turbine engines. Failures in said turbines were largely responsible for Alamshar's delayed build progress. All speed expectations are points of conjecture until confirmation from the yard is received.

Up until this week, she was last spotted on sea trials in May, 2013, a full 10 years after her initial launch. Now she has been seen leaving Plymouth, and she is currently sailing off Brittany, France, en route to Porto, Portugal.

See the Top 20 fastest superyachts

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This Italian Yachting Haven Launched the Aga Khan’s Lavish Lifestyle

Sardinia’s costa smeralda was a sign of things to come for the spiritual leader of ismaili muslims., larry bean's most recent stories.

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The village of Porto Cervo, on Sardinia ’s 35-mile-long Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast)—home to some of Europe’s most expensive residences and some of the world’s priciest hotels—has been described as a hideaway for the upper crust, an exclusive playground for celebrities, oligarchs, supermodels, and playboys. This was not necessarily the intention of the person credited with creating Porto Cervo and the rest of Costa Smeralda. In 1964, 2 years into the region’s development, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV—the business magnate, philanthropist, and spiritual leader of the world’s million Ismaili Muslims—told an interviewer, “We are not foolish. We realize that there simply are not enough millionaires or playboys to make a 35-mile resort area prosper. There will be houses, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and sporting facilities for wallets of all sizes.”

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His Highness succeeded his grandfather as Aga Khan (a combination of Turkish and Persian titles meaning “commanding chief”) 60 years ago, when he was a 20-year-old undergraduate studying Islamic history at Harvard University. In 1958, around the time the Aga Khan graduated from Harvard, the English banker John Duncan Miller visited Sardinia in his role as vice president of the World Bank to check on the progress of a mosquito-eradication program. It was designed to prevent an outbreak of malaria, a constant concern on the island.

While sailing around Sardinia, Miller became so enchanted with the natural beauty of a stretch of the coast that he assembled a group of investors and purchased the land. The Aga Khan was among those investors, but he didn’t see the region until after the acquisition. The story goes that when he did visit, in the winter of 1958, he took a ferry that docked on the other side of Sardinia. Following a 4-hour trek along mule trails, he reached his new property and found no paved roads, electricity, or running water, prompting him to dismiss his investment as folly. The following summer, however, he returned and viewed the region from aboard his yacht and envisioned what would become of Porto Cervo and Costa Smeralda.

“The sea here takes on particularly lovely hues, ranging from the darkest blue to the purest green,” the Aga Khan said in that 1964 interview. “There are scores of fine, sandy beaches with not so much as a cat on them. Rugged green and gray mountains drop abruptly toward the water. A carpet of purple and yellow, and red and blue flowers perfumes the air. The climate is semitropical, much warmer than in the overcrowded resorts of southern France. The thermometer never sinks below 52 degrees Fahrenheit.”

To preserve the beauty of Costa Smeralda and prevent overbuilding, the Aga Khan and his fellow investors established strict architectural and zoning standards. The regulations required that the buildings blend into the mountainous landscape and not clash with the existing dwellings. They expressed a preference for pastel-colored structures and prohibited them from being painted white. “We found the place so beautiful,” the Aga Khan said in a 1965 interview, “and we were so happy, that we decided we had to be very careful, because if not the place would simply become another ugly, over-crowded tourist center.”

Worldly Posessions

Devotees of the Aga Khan bristle when Western media describe his life as lavish and extravagant. In a 1979 interview, he himself countered such a characterization: “I have stayed away from things which did not seem to me to be good sense, where it was affluence for the sake of affluence.” Nevertheless, with a personal wealth that has been estimated at $800 million, he possesses or has possessed the trappings of a lavish life.

Prince Karim with one of his many Thoroughbreds.  Photo: Courtesy Armando Pietrangeli/Rex/Shutterstock

The Aga Khan inherited the Thoroughbred stables and stud farms that his grandfather established. With multiple facilities in Ireland and France, it is one of the world’s largest and most successful horse racing and breeding operations.

In 2014 he took delivery of Alamshar, a 164-foot yacht named after one of his prized Thoroughbreds. When it was commissioned a decade or more earlier, it was going to be the world’s fastest superyacht. It didn’t achieve that status, but it does reach a reported 45 knots.

Private Island

He owns Bell Island, which lies within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas. The island’s main house is a cream-colored modern structure with a terrace overlooking the water.

Custom Cars

In his younger years, the Aga Khan had a fondness for Maseratis. In 1962, Maserati built him a bespoke 5000 GT coupe that was the precursor to the first-generation Quattroporte. It included a 45 rpm record player built into the dashboard. In 1974 he took delivery of a custom Quattroporte with an extra-high roof.

Photo: Courtesy

Private Aircraft

He owns at least two jets and one helicopter, but he has noted that because of the amount of travel he must do for his businesses and philanthropic endeavors, a private jet is a necessity, not a luxury.

Larry Bean has been with Robb Report since 1998. As the executive editor, he works primarily with the editors and writers involved with the magazine's automotive, motorcycle, collectibles, and…

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World’s fastest superyacht is worth £39m & named after famous race horse – it can go quicker than your car

• Georgie English
• Published : 12:04 ET, Jan 30 2024
• Updated : 13:11 ET, Jan 30 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THE world's fastest superyacht has made waves ever since it was built back in 2014 - going on to be worth a whopping £39million.

The stunning 174ft palace on the seas is named Alamshar - after the famous racehorse - and has multiple luxury decks trimmed with gold.

Owned by mega billionaire and horse racing fanatic Aga Khan, the beautiful white yacht is powered by six gas turbine engines and 112 water jets that make it soar across the water.

This propels it to a mighty impressive maximum speed of 70 knots or 80mph with its set of Rolls-Royce engines, according to Yacht Harbour .

This means the boat can travel quicker than you on the motorway with the UK speed limit being 70mph.

The yacht offers luxury accommodation for up to 10 guests alongside a helpful crew also of 10 in the five cabins.

This crew is responsible for Khan's wishes of an exceptional level of service and comfort on board at all times.

With multiple decks with a lavish gold interior the superyacht is regarded as one of the greatest boats on the ocean for its size and speed.

With the yacht being worth so much it also means the Alamshar costs an insane amount to keep up to scratch.

Her annual running costs are estimated to be at around £4million with this figure expected to rise upwards as the world continues to see an increase in prices for fuel, materials and new technology.

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As a marvel of engineering the yacht took 13 long years to complete after being designed by Redman Whitely Dixon and built by Devonport Yachts.

Spending most of her time at the Devenport shipyard in Plymouth until being finally ready to set sail in 2014.

But surprisingly the top speed was actually almost 30mph slower than what the original plans were aiming for.

Challenging construction issues plagued the yacht and delayed the finishing of it until 2014 where it failed to hit the 70 knots (80mph) ambition but still smashed past an impressive speed.

Owner Khan has been called the "world's most elusive billionaire" before and he boasts a sprawling property empire that also includes the biggest private jet on the planet.

A racing mogul who owned arguably the most famous horse ever in Alamshar, he is a spiritual leader and made headlines for his jaw-dropping £10.5billion net worth.

The world of superyachts

The title of the world's biggest superyacht goes to Yacht A that can accommodate up to 24 people and 54 crew members.

Coming in at 468ft-long, the £360million yacht, took four years to build and boasts eight decks, which are connected by multiple lifts.

It also has free-floating spiral staircases and three masts that are taller than Big Ben’s tower and stretch up from the extraordinary wedge-shaped boat hull.

Alongside a garage fit for four vehicles and a submarine, as well as a helipad on the bow.

And a superyacht dubbed the world's most expensive and unique one ever is wrapped with gold, covered in platinum and sparkling with an aquarium laced wall.

If all those glistening metals aren't enough to cover the jaw dropping £3billion cost there are also genuine T-rex bone shavings in the main bedrooms.

The yacht, named History Supreme, has long been known as the “king of bling of the high seas” as no other luxury liner has ever got close to beating its mammoth price tag.

Most of the price comes from the fact it is covered in 100,000kg of gold, platinum and dazzling jewels.

The railings, decking, dining area and even the base of the boat is all wrapped in gold and even the anchor was specially made to be dipped in gold.

Jaw dropping plans for a shark inspired £826million superyacht fit for a king have also been unveiled.

The flashy floater is set to be so huge passengers will need a golf cart to explore its lavish confines.

Outrageous is the brain-child of Italian design studio Lazzarini, and its design is inspired by a hammerhead shark.

The windows of the ship will pay-homage to this and will represent teeth and gills.

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The 322 metre long boat boasts a huge top deck which overhangs the bow, mimicking the distinctive eye and nostrils characteristics of its sea life inspiration.

The vessel is also painted in a shark-like grey for added effect.

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“This was supposed to reach 60 knots but it can go only half that speed, so the Aga Khan is taking legal advice. He’s not a happy man.” Alamshar More carthorse than racehorse … the Aga Khan’s £100m yacht

With a £100million price tag, the Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts, 165ft of exquisite luxury powered by engines capable of blasting it to more than 60 knots – and on to a new transatlantic speed record.

But the vessel’s billionaire owner, the Aga Khan, has reportedly been left hugely disappointed by claims that his eagerly awaited new possession cannot reach half the expected speed – and is now considering launching a major legal battle against the British dockyard that built it.

Scroll down for more…

Off the pace: The Alamshar during tests off Plymouth

‘Not happy’: The Aga Khan

The 70-year-old, who leads the world’s 20million Ismaili Muslims, ordered the vessel to be built specifically to take the record.

But sources say the Alamshar, named after a racehorse he owns, attained only 30 knots during sea trials off Plymouth – so the Aga Khan has hired a firm of top international maritime lawyers to handle any potential claim against boatbuilders Babcock Marine, who own Devonport naval dockyard where the Alamshar was built.

Although no High Court writ has been issued, the disagreement could lead to a multi-million-pound payout.

A source said:

The row is the latest setback to have hit the Alamshar.

Last year, during an earlier test, the turbine blades in its three Rolls-Royce gaspowered engines – which were originally designed for Sea King helicopters – burnt out.

They were replaced with engines made by Rolls’s US rivals Pratt & Whitney, which were used to drive water jets.

At full power the Alamshar was hoping to break the world speed record for super-yachts, currently 65 knots, as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, ten hours and 34 minutes – an average speed of 53.1 knots – set in 1992.

The Alamshar, codenamed Project 305, is made of aluminium and at 400 tons is a fraction of the weight of other yachts of its class.

It has been built under a veil of secrecy but luxury will not have been sacrificed in any of the three bedrooms or the stateroom.

The Aga Khan’s vast assets include homes on five continents, three private jets, several yachts – one worth £56million – an airline, hotels, factories and 600 racehorses.

Neither Babcock Marine nor the Aga Khan’s spokesman would comment last night. Alamshar (ex: P305)

Back to list of Yachts Project Name: Yacht type: Motor Yacht Based concept: Sub type: Planning Imo: MMSI: Call sign: SYT#: Y00386 Flag: Port of Registry:

Length Overall (m): 50.00 Length Overall (ft): 164.04 Length On Deck (m): Length On Deck (ft): Length Waterline (m): Length Waterline (ft): Beam (m): Beam (ft): Draught Max (m): Draught Max (ft): Draught Min (m): Draught Min (ft):

Shipyard: Devonport Yachts Year: 2008 Hull: 305 Status: Completed Port: Plymouth Country: United Kingdom Comment:

Naval Architect: Exterior Designer: Interior Designer:

Hull Material: Superstructure: Gross Tonnage: Displacement: Class: Class Comments: MCA: No

Guest Cabins: Guests: Max Charter Guests: Crew Cabins: Crew:

Total HP: Total KW:

Engines: 2 x Rollys Royce + Gas Turbines Max Speed: 60 Cruise Speed: Range: Propulsion: Water Jets

Fuel Capacity (Liters): Fuel Capacity (Gallons): Water Capacity (Liters): Water Capacity (Gallons):

Name: Alamshar Year: 2008 Exterior: 0 Interior 0 Country: Switzerland Top speed: 60 Cruise speed: 30 Listing ID: 1348

• Price: €100

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Fastest superyacht in the world in Mallorca yacht club

Alamshar is owned by the aga khan.

The yacht moored in Mallorca. Photo: Joan Llado.

The super-yacht, Alamshar , which can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots, is moored in a Calvia yacht club at moment. She was built at the Devenport shipyard in Plymouth (England) and was initially expected to have a top speed of 65 knots thanks to her six gas turbines. However, she only reached 45 knots during trials but she is still one of the fastest superyachts in the world.

She is owned by billionaire the Aga Khan who is a direct descendant of Muhammad, the last prophet according to the doctrine of Islam.The yacht offers lavish accommodations for up to 10 guests and a crew of 10, promising an exceptional level of service and comfort on board.With an estimated value of $50 million, the Alamshar annual running costs are approximately $5 million, influenced by factors such as size, age, level of luxury, and the cost of materials and technology used in its construction.

Aga Khan's net worth has been estimated over $13.3 billion. Forbes describes the Aga Khan as one of the world's fifteen richest royals. He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network , one of the largest private development networks in the world.

The Aga Khan was the lead owner of Shergar, the Irish racehorse that was kidnapped from Ballymany stud farm in County Kildare, Ireland by masked men in 1983 and held for ransom. The Aga Khan and the other co-owners refused to pay a ransom, and the horse was not recovered. The Aga Khan, the police and the public suspected the Provisional Irish Republican Army of the abduction, though the IRA denied all involvement. In 1999, former IRA member Sean O'Callaghan published an autobiography in which he implicates the IRA as being responsible for the abduction. Shergar had become a national symbol in Ireland, and the IRA had underestimated the public outpouring of support for the horse and the backlash for the IRA even among Irish republicans who had historically supported the IRA, leading the IRA to deny involvement.

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Pinkus Yes, project 305 by Babcock's Devonport Royal dockyard facility in Plymouth UK.

Devenport shipyard in Plymouth (England) ???

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World’s fastest superyacht is worth £39m & named after famous race horse – it can go quicker than your car

• Georgie English
• Published : 17:04, 30 Jan 2024
• Updated : 18:11, 30 Jan 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THE world's fastest superyacht has made waves ever since it was built back in 2014 - going on to be worth a whopping £39million.

The stunning 174ft palace on the seas is named Alamshar - after the famous racehorse - and has multiple luxury decks trimmed with gold.

Owned by mega billionaire and horse racing fanatic Aga Khan , the beautiful white yacht is powered by six gas turbine engines and 112 water jets that make it soar across the water.

This propels it to a mighty impressive maximum speed of 70 knots or 80mph with its set of Rolls-Royce engines, according to Yacht Harbour .

This means the boat can travel quicker than you on the motorway with the UK speed limit being 70mph.

The yacht offers luxury accommodation for up to 10 guests alongside a helpful crew also of 10 in the five cabins.

This crew is responsible for Khan's wishes of an exceptional level of service and comfort on board at all times.

With multiple decks with a lavish gold interior the superyacht is regarded as one of the greatest boats on the ocean for its size and speed.

With the yacht being worth so much it also means the Alamshar costs an insane amount to keep up to scratch.

Her annual running costs are estimated to be at around £4million with this figure expected to rise upwards as the world continues to see an increase in prices for fuel, materials and new technology.

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As a marvel of engineering the yacht took 13 long years to complete after being designed by Redman Whitely Dixon and built by Devonport Yachts.

Spending most of her time at the Devenport shipyard in Plymouth until being finally ready to set sail in 2014.

But surprisingly the top speed was actually almost 30mph slower than what the original plans were aiming for.

Challenging construction issues plagued the yacht and delayed the finishing of it until 2014 where it failed to hit the 70 knots (80mph) ambition but still smashed past an impressive speed.

Owner Khan has been called the "world's most elusive billionaire" before and he boasts a sprawling property empire that also includes the biggest private jet on the planet.

A racing mogul who owned arguably the most famous horse ever in Alamshar, he is a spiritual leader and made headlines for his jaw-dropping £10.5billion net worth.

The world of superyachts

The title of the world's biggest superyacht goes to Yacht A that can accommodate up to 24 people and 54 crew members.

Coming in at 468ft-long, the £360million yacht, took four years to build and boasts eight decks, which are connected by multiple lifts.

It also has free-floating spiral staircases and three masts that are taller than Big Ben’s tower and stretch up from the extraordinary wedge-shaped boat hull.

Alongside a garage fit for four vehicles and a submarine, as well as a helipad on the bow.

And a superyacht dubbed the world's most expensive and unique one ever is wrapped with gold, covered in platinum and sparkling with an aquarium laced wall.

If all those glistening metals aren't enough to cover the jaw dropping £3billion cost there are also genuine T-rex bone shavings in the main bedrooms.

The yacht, named History Supreme, has long been known as the “king of bling of the high seas” as no other luxury liner has ever got close to beating its mammoth price tag.

Most of the price comes from the fact it is covered in 100,000kg of gold, platinum and dazzling jewels.

The railings, decking, dining area and even the base of the boat is all wrapped in gold and even the anchor was specially made to be dipped in gold.

Jaw dropping plans for a shark inspired £826million superyacht fit for a king have also been unveiled.

The flashy floater is set to be so huge passengers will need a golf cart to explore its lavish confines.

Outrageous is the brain-child of Italian design studio Lazzarini, and its design is inspired by a hammerhead shark.

The windows of the ship will pay-homage to this and will represent teeth and gills.

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The 322 metre long boat boasts a huge top deck which overhangs the bow, mimicking the distinctive eye and nostrils characteristics of its sea life inspiration.

The vessel is also painted in a shark-like grey for added effect.

• Horse racing

Homes and Property | Home Page

More carthorse than racehorse ... the Aga Khan's £100m yacht

With a £100million price tag, the Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts, 165ft of exquisite luxury powered by engines capable of blasting it to more than 60 knots - and on to a new transatlantic speed record.

But the vessel's billionaire owner, the Aga Khan, has reportedly been left hugely disappointed by claims that his eagerly awaited new possession cannot reach half the expected speed - and is now considering launching a major legal battle against the British dockyard that built it.

Scroll down for more...

Off the pace: The Alamshar during tests off Plymouth

'Not happy': The Aga Khan

The 70-year-old, who leads the world's 20million Ismaili Muslims, ordered the vessel to be built specifically to take the record.

But sources say the Alamshar, named after a racehorse he owns, attained only 30 knots during sea trials off Plymouth - so the Aga Khan has hired a firm of top international maritime lawyers to handle any potential claim against boatbuilders Babcock Marine, who own Devonport naval dockyard where the Alamshar was built.

Although no High Court writ has been issued, the disagreement could lead to a multi-million-pound payout.

A source said: "This was supposed to reach 60 knots but it can go only half that speed, so the Aga Khan is taking legal advice. He's not a happy man."

The row is the latest setback to have hit the Alamshar.

Last year, during an earlier test, the turbine blades in its three Rolls-Royce gaspowered engines - which were originally designed for Sea King helicopters - burnt out.

They were replaced with engines made by Rolls's US rivals Pratt & Whitney, which were used to drive water jets.

At full power the Alamshar was hoping to break the world speed record for super-yachts, currently 65 knots, as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, ten hours and 34 minutes - an average speed of 53.1 knots - set in 1992.

The Alamshar, codenamed Project 305, is made of aluminium and at 400 tons is a fraction of the weight of other yachts of its class.

It has been built under a veil of secrecy but luxury will not have been sacrificed in any of the three bedrooms or the stateroom.

The Aga Khan's vast assets include homes on five continents, three private jets, several yachts - one worth £56million - an airline, hotels, factories and 600 racehorses.

Neither Babcock Marine nor the Aga Khan's spokesman would comment last night.

The extraordinary life story of the world’s most well-connected royal, the Aga Khan, on his 84th birthday

By Natasha Leake

Today marks the 84th birthday of one of the most prestigious high society figures in the world: Prince Karim al-Husayni, also known as the Aga Khan IV. He is one of the richest royals and most influential leaders in the world, often acknowledged as the world's most well-connected man. Born on December 13, 1936, he is the elder son of Prince Aly Khan by his first wife, Joan Yarde-Buller, the daughter of the 3rd Baron Churston. 

The Pope of his flock, he also possesses fabled wealth and inhabits a world of marvellous châteaux, yachts, jets, and Thoroughbred horses. Few people bridge so many divides — between the spiritual and the material; East and West; Muslim and Christian — as gracefully as he does.

Queen Elizabeth II hosts a dinner at Buckingham Palace to mark the Golden Jubilee of SAS Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the hereditary spiritual Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims

Having celebrated his Golden and Diamond Jubilees with Queen Elizabeth II , the Aga Khan has often appeared at state dinners alongside the likes of Princess Margaret and the Prince and Princess of Wales . Though he has no political territory, he is virtually a one-man state and is often received like a head of state when he travels. With a British passport, he spends a great deal of his time aloft in his private aircraft.

By Harriet Johnston

By Isaac Bickerstaff

Aga Khan IV at Le Rosey boy's school, Lake Geneva

Growing up in Geneva, Prince Karim attended Le Rosey, renowned for being one of the world's most expensive boarding schools, before travelling across the pond to study History at Harvard. Thrust into the limelight at the early age of 20, he became the religious leader of all the world’s Ismaili muslims following the death of his Grandfather in 1957. Since his abrupt ascension to the Imaan, that Aga Khan has helped his Ismaili flock navigate the end of the Cold War, the end of colonialism in Africa and communism in Central Asia, and the continuous turmoil in the Middle East, where militant Sunni jihadists brand the moderate Ismaili as apostates. 

‘An imam is not expected to withdraw from everyday life,’ he told Vanity Fair , in an attempt to square his activities as a venture capitalist with his religious responsibilities. ‘On the contrary, he’s expected to protect his community and contribute to their quality of life. The imamate does not divide world and faith.’ The title Aga Khan — meaning, in a combination of Turkish and Persian, commanding chief — was granted in the 1830s by the Emperor of Persia to Karim’s great-great-grandfather when he married the emperor’s daughter. 

Karim Aga Khan IV on slide leading from Ali Khan's pool to the sea 25 feet below

Prince Prince Karim al-Husayni's accession was unexpected: the title of Aga Khan skipped his father, Prince Aly Khan, and went straight to him. His grandfather explained in his will that ‘in view of the altered conditions in the world in very recent years, including the discoveries of atomic sciences, I am convinced that it is in the best interest of the Shia Muslim Ismailian Community that I should be succeeded by a young man’.  Thus, aged 21, he became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales (then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) meet with Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV 

Today, the most devoted of the Aga Khan’s flock, 15 million Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims scattered in 25 countries across the world hail him as the ‘the bringer of life’, and consider him to be the carrier of the eternal Noor of Allah (light of God). As Imam, he is responsible for looking after the material as well as spiritual needs of his followers, who are scattered in more than 25 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. His projects, however, benefit people of all faiths.

Alongside additional wording to reflect modern, multicultural Britain, King Charles's coronation is due to be a once-in-a-lifetime display

Aga Khan IV with his horse Zeddaan

For others, though, Prince Shah Karim is best known for his immense wealth. Described by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s 10 richest royals, the Aga Khan has an estimated net worth of over £13 billion. He owns hundreds of racehorses and premier stud farms, an exclusive yacht club on Sardinia, a private island in the Bahamas, two Bombardier jets, Alamshar — a £100 million high-speed yacht named after one of his prized racehorses — and several estates around the world. 

Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and Prince Karim Aga Khan IV fishing in the waters off the coast of Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda

His principal residence is the beautiful, breathtaking palace of Aiglemont, which is surrounded by water and sits at the heart of the town of Gouvieux, north of Paris. On-site, in addition to a château and an elaborate training centre for about a hundred of his Thoroughbreds, is the Secretariat, a modern office block that houses the nerve centre of what might be described as his own U.N., the Aga Khan Development Network. A staggeringly large and effective organization, it employs 80,000 people in 30 countries.

The Aga Khan and his bride, the former Lady Sarah Chrighton-Stuart sit sedately during the solemn Moslem religious wedding ceremony conducted in the privacy of the Aga's aris residence

In 1969, the Aga Khan married Lady James Charles Crichton-Stuart, who became Princess Salimah Aga Khan, and assumed the name  Begum Salimah Aga Khan upon marrying him. Sarah Frances was previously married to Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart, son of John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute. The couple had three children before their divorce in 1995. 

Aga Khan IV and his wife Princess Salimah Aga Khan, also known as Begum Salimah Aga Khan, as they leave the Élysée Palace in Paris

In 1998, he married Princess Gabriele of Leiningen, who assumed the name  Begum Inaara Aga Khan at her wedding. Born to Roman Catholic German entrepreneur parents in 1963, Gabriele was 27 years younger than the Aga Khan. Two years after the wedding, the Aga Khan became a father again at the age of 64, with the birth of a son, Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, born on 7 March 2000. 

The Aga Khan and Princess Gabriele Zu Leiningen

However, on 8 October 2004, after six years of marriage, an announcement was made that the Aga Khan and Begum Inaara would be seeking a divorce. After a decade-long legal battle during which he was accused of having an affair with an air hostess, the couple finally divorced in 2014, and Princess Gabriele’s eventual settlement was a reported £54 million. 

Prince Karim Aga Khan (Aga Khan IV) oversees the development of Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

For the past half-century, the fourth Aga Khan has been refining that work on both spiritual and society planes. His continued racing wins keep him in the very top echelon of the bloodstock world. In 2012, he won a record-breaking seventh Prix de Diane, France’s most prestigious horse race, held at Chantilly, a 16th-century Domaine near his estate on which he’s spent £40 million, restoring it to its ‘princely lustre’.

Karim Aga Khan and Salimah Aga Khan at the wedding of Caroline of Monaco in June 1978 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Meanwhile, the Aga Khan Development Network has overseen projects as diverse as restoring the mud walls of the 14th-century Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu (the oldest earthen building in sub-Saharan Africa), repairing key architectural components of the Old City in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and building a huge hydroelectric power network in Uganda that now brings 18 hours of electricity each day to the poor West Nile area, where there had previously been a scant four hours every other day. ‘He does a bloody good job balancing the task of increasing his capital with that of advancing the needs of his followers,’ his friend, former World Bank President James Wolfensohn, told Vanity Fair.

Yasmin Aga Khan and her half-brother, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV on the waters off the coast of Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda

Now, on his 84th birthday, the Aga Khan has kept his title through a long and impressive reign, while his three elder children work within his development network. 

Prince Aga Khan IV and Begum Salimah on the princely yacht in the port of Porto Cervo in August 1971

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Aerial 4K | Superior Pace Yacht ALAMSHAR – Aga Khan – Lürssen shipyard

Alamshar attributes naval architecture by Donald L Blount and Associates with structure from Pininfarina and interiors by Redman Whiteley Dixon in the Uk. Construction is envisioned to be in aluminium and composite, and her format should verify fascinating as nicely. She is built for incredibly substantial speeds, reportedly briefed to strike best speeds amongst sixty and 70 knots, powered by six fuel turbine engines. Failures in claimed turbines have been mainly accountable for Alamshar’s delayed build development. All pace expectations are factors of conjecture right until affirmation from the lawn is received. Take a look at demonstrated a max pace of 40ktn sadly.

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The Aga Khan yacht Alamshar delivered, is it the fastest?

• 10 years ago
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The yacht, named the Alamshar, belongs to His Highness The Aga Khan, who leads the world’s 20 million Ismaili Muslims. Built by Babcock Marine, it is rumoured that The Aga Kahn flew in by helicopter this morning to pick up his purchase. Weighing in at 400 tonnes, the yacht moved from the dockyard out to sea at 2.30pm, travelling past Devil’s Point. The 164ft yacht – named Project 305 – was commissioned in the 1990s in the hope that it might break the world speed record for super-yachts as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, 10 hours and 34 minutes. Built under a veil of secrecy, the Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts, powered by engines capable of blasting it to more than 60 knots. However the boat, named after the Aga Khan’s racehorse, returned to the dockyard in 2008 after sea trials off Plymouth showed it could reach only 30 knots. At the time a source said: “This was supposed to reach 60 knots but it can go only half that speed, so the Aga Khan is taking legal advice. He’s not a happy man.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqrQOAik9B0

The Aga Khan, whose full title is His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, is the current Imam of Ismaili Muslims. He has an estimated 20 million followers in more than 25 countries. The Aga Khan is believed to be a direct descendant of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. He is a religious leader, a multimillionaire philanthropist, and is known for his lavish lifestyle, and interest in beautiful women and racehorses. ‘Forbes’ magazine lists The Aga Khan among the world’s 10 richest royals with an estimated net worth of $800million. Other sources estimate his wealth at around $3billion.

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Multi-millionaire Aga Khan drops in to pick up troubled £200m super-yacht named after his top racehorse (but speeds off immediately to escape the British weather)

• The Alamshar set sail from Devonport Dockyard in Devon during torrential downpours and choppy water 
• It is rumoured the leader of the world's 12 million Ismaili Muslims flew in by helicopter to pick up his purchase
• The vessel was commissioned in the 1990s in a bid to become the world's fastest super-yacht
• However its top speed is only 45 knots, far behind the intended 70 knots set out when the project began

By Wills Robinson

Published: 16:17 EST, 8 July 2014 | Updated: 05:20 EST, 9 July 2014

View comments

As he arrived by helicopter to pick up his £200million super-yacht, the Aga Khan would have hoped he could have sailed off into the sun.

But as the 77-year-old, who is worth nearly £500 million, touched down at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, Devon, he was greeted by torrential downpours and choppy seas.

The 164ft luxury vessel, named the Alamshar after his retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, was commissioned in the 1990s and was destined to be the world's fastest yacht with a top speed of 70 knots (80mph).

Luxurious vessel: The £200 million yacht, the Alamshar, set sail from Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, Devon, in torrential downpours and choppy waters 

Ambitious: Named after the Prince's Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, the yacht is 164ft long and was commissioned in the 1990s in the hope it might be the world's fastest super-yacht with a top speed of 70 knots (80mph). However it has been revealed it can only reach 45 knots

But the over-ambitious project has only just been completed and the leader of the world's 12 million Ismaili Muslims has been left with the fact it can only travel at a mere 45 knots (51.7mph).

Originally named Project 305 - it was hoped the Alamshar would break the world speed record for super-yachts as well as beat the transatlantic record he set - two days, ten hours and 34 minutes. 

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The aga khan's dream vessel.

Manufacturer :  Babcock International Group   

Length: 164ft (49.9m)

Breadth: 36.7ft (11.2m)

Speed:  Up to 45 knots (51.7mph)

Range: 700 nautical miles at speeds of 45 knots, 950 nautical miles at speeds of 35 knots and 1040 nautical miles at 15 knots.

Engine manufacturer: Pratt and Whitney (used primarily by the Norwegian Navy)  

Propulsion Machinery:  Six gas turbines and 112 water jets

Built under a veil of secrecy by Babcock International Group, it was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts.

One source involved with the project told The Sunday Times that the Aga Khan was disappointed his dream could not be achieved following years of efforts. 

The project was mired but setbacks from an early stage. In 2008 during sea trials, it was forced to return to the docks as it could only travel at 35 knots (40mph).

According to a statement released by Babock and the Aga Khan, the project took so long because the mechanical targets were 'challenging'. 

It said: 'State-of-the-art shipbuilding and systems integration technology required to deliver the vessel to specification would have doubtless proved demanding even if employed in a commercial or military vessel.' 

Even though the speed has not reached its admired heights, guests on the boat will be given a comfortable ride, because of the gas turbine design. 

According to the manufacturer's website, it eliminates all mechanical vibration, and counters the effects of pitch and roll. 

In 1992, he managed to cross the Atlantic in a record two days, 10 hours and 34 minutes with another of his vessels, the Destriero. However, the speed of the Alamshar may mean he is not able to repeat that achievement. 

The Aga Khan, whose ancestors fled Persia for India two centuries ago, was born in Switzerland, and now spends most of his time in France, despite having British citizenship.

He inherited his title from his grandfather in 1957 and is believed by his followers to be 'the bringer of life'. 

In spite of his sometimes turbulent private life he remains revered for the worldwide charitable works he has directed funds to. 

He also owned the infamous racehorse Shergar, who was stolen by gunmen in Ireland in 1983 and never seen again. 

Arrival: The Aga Khan (pictured left at the 2013 French Derby ) is said to have flown to Britain in a private helicopter (right) to pick up his luxurious purchase

Slowed: The Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts, powered by engines capable of blasting it to more than 70 knots. Guests will however enjoy a comfortable ride because of the gas turbine design 

Name of a champion: The super-yacht was named after the Aga Khan's retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He won five of his nine races in a career which lasted from September 2002 to September 2003

Share or comment on this article: Multi-millionaire Aga Khan jets into Plymouth to pick up his £200m super-yacht

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Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

£200 Million Superyacht Due to Leave Devonport Dockyard Today

The yacht, named the Alamshar, belongs to His Highness The Aga Khan, who leads the world's 20 million Ismaili Muslims.

Built by Babcock Marine, it is rumoured that The Aga Kahn flew in by helicopter this morning to pick up his purchase.

Weighing in at 400 tonnes, the yacht will be moved from the dockyard out to sea at 2.30pm this afternoon.

The 164ft yacht - named Project 305 - was commissioned in the 1990s in the hope that it might break the world speed record for super-yachts as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, ten hours and 34 minutes.

Built under a veil of secrecy, the Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts, powered by engines capable of blasting it to more than 60 knots.

However the boat, named after the Aga Khan's racehorse, returned to the dockyard in 2008 after sea trials off Plymouth showed it could reach only 30 knots.

At the time a source said: "This was supposed to reach 60 knots but it can go only half that speed, so the Aga Khan is taking legal advice. He's not a happy man."

*Original story Plymouth Herald via Google News (search term: yacht) *Thumbnail image credit: flickr/Graham Richardson

Aga Khan’s $200 million mega yacht might soon set sail

The rich touch may not always help turn everything gold, and His Highness, the Aga Khan, is one example. For those who are not aware of the subject, Richard Engel of NBC News has defined him as – ‘one of the most active philanthropists in the Islamic world. He is the wealthy leader of a religious group with millions of followers. He is a Harvard graduate and is the grandson of the League of Nations’ former president and stepson of Hollywood bombshell Rita Hayworth’. The Aga Khan had commissioned a $200 million mega yacht ‘Alamshar,’ but he has not had too much luck with it. The work on this 50-meter vessel began 12 years ago at the UK’s Devonport. The yacht was intended at first to break the transatlantic speed record but only managed 30 knots when it was first put to sea.

Its features include a Pratt & Whitney engine, lightweight aluminum or composite construction, Bannenberg Designs in the interior, naval architecture by Don Shead, and a luxe interior from Redman Whiteley Dixon. [ Jameslist ]

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