does eric clapton own a yacht

A Closer Look at Eric Clapton’s Yacht Va Bene

Think of what you and your friends do during your free time and then change that picture to what you would do if you had money. Money limits us in everything; for instance even if you know what a balanced meal is and the importance of eating one, it does not matter if you do not have the money to buy all that you need to eat a balanced diet. Even the kind of sports ordinary kids engage themselves in is not the same as those from wealthy families. While you cycle around the block taking turns since probably not all of your friends have a bicycle, rich kids will be taken to a ranch to ride a horse, and perhaps their parents will buy a pony for them to take home. It is the differences in our lives that help run the world because if all of us were rich, no one would work, and the economy would be a mess. That is not to say we should not aim high and also have a taste of fine living and dining; buy a yacht and go cruising for a few months for a change instead of taking a road trip. Eric Clapton had the luxury of doing so on a boat that was not even his and today he is a multimillionaire with a net worth of $250 million according to Superyacht Fan so maybe our time is coming. Although Eric later owned the yacht, let’s take a look at the boat in question and how Eric came about to buy it.

History of Va Bene

The story of Va bene does not start with Eric Clapton, and neither will it end with him seeing that the boat is listed as available for sale. Looking at it you can hardly tell that it is 27 years old, but that is how long Va Ben has been in existence ever since it was commissioned by a Greek sailing enthusiast in 1992. The yacht went ahead to be built by Kees Cornelissen, a Dutch company recognized for its experience in building luxury boats. The sailing enthusiast decided to get rid of the boat and put it up for sale where Bernie Ecclestone bought it in 1997. Bernie is a multibillionaire, and he bought the yacht for $35 million. He named the boat “Petara” after two of his daughters by combining the names of Petara and Tamara.

Eric Clapton buys the boat

For the average citizen, hanging out with friends means going to a club for a wild night out or maybe catching a movie at the theaters. However, for those who are privileged, unwinding means going all out and Eric is one not to spare any expense after traveling the world to make money with his band. In 2005, Eric thought about taking a breather from the rock star life, and he chartered the yacht.

Along with his friends, Eric cruised the Mediterranean, and he enjoyed the experience so much that upon getting back he had to borrow money for the first time in his life to have her, as detailed by CNN . It reminds you of an impulsive teenager who falls hopelessly in love with a girl that he would do anything to take her out and ask her to be his girlfriend.

Eric bought the boat and stayed with it for two years before taking it for a refit. He chose a UK service provider so that he could be close enough to monitor the work but also because he is patriotic and wanted to support his country by buying British products. Consequently, Pendennis Shipyard began working on the refit which was initially set to be completed in three months but the period doubled, but it stayed within the time limit that ensured Eric had the yacht in the month set aside to be with his family on holiday.

What does Va Bene have?

Eric parted with 9 million Euros in 2005, and since the boat still ended up needing a touch here and there, it makes you question what he fell in love with on the boat to spend millions on it. The renovation was done to ensure that the boat was changed to reflect his taste and the minute you set foot on the boat you cannot mistake to see Eric’s live for art with Club Yacht describing Va Bene as a floating art gallery. You not only notice small oil paintings of Venice but his collection of marble sculptures, ceramic vases, and abstract canvasses are impressive.

Nowadays, when people talk of cleansing their body, mind, and soul, it has become important also to go off grid as evidenced by celebrities who delete their social media accounts and switch off their phones for a while. For most of us, leaving your phone at home is equivalent to leaving your soul behind, and you would rather be late for work than go ahead without your mobile phone. It is for this reason that Eric installed Wi-Fi on Va Bene to ensure his guests felt at home while on board.

Other amenities also include exercise equipment to keep himself, and the guests fit, a jacuzzi to relax in, and an air conditioning unit to keep the temperatures bearable. While anchored, Va Bene is well at rest thanks to the stabilizers. Cruising on Va Bene is enabled by the two Caterpillar engines that can reach a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. Her fuel capacity is 84,000 liters meaning Eric has to spend millions of dollars to keep a full tank.

Entertainment is taken to another for the music and movie fans. You are not forced to listen to the owner’s choice of music. Instead, with the Arcam iPod docking station, everyone onboard has a chance to enjoy their songs from their music library. As for the ultimate movie experience, the Panasonic Viera flat screen televisions are enough to catch up on that film you have been putting away for so long; after all, you have all the time in the world while on the Va Bene considering that you are moving at 16 knots.

Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.

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Was Eric Clapton’s Yacht Docked in Marion This Past Weekend?

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There was a buzz crackling across Marion this past weekend like the hum of an electric guitar vibrating through an amp, with the rumor that legendary rock and blues guitarist Eric Clapton was in town.

A yacht called Blue Guitar was spotted in the harbor over the weekend; for years, online reports wherever it shows up suggest that this yacht is owned by Clapton. It would make sense, after all, that a man with the love of both the blues and the guitar would name his yacht Blue Guitar . It also has a British Union Jack flag flying and is home ported in London, England.

It all adds up, right?

The Marion and Tri-Town Facebook groups had multiple posts pop up of people sharing photos of the yacht, and attempting to figure out if indeed "Slowhand" himself was on board and why he may be in town. Someone claimed he came to Marion for a wedding (surely, he would have had to perform "Wonderful Tonight" for the lucky bride and groom); others stated that his daughter, 17-year-old Sophie Belle Clapton, is a student at Tabor Academy.

However, there is no definitive proof, at least anything found online, that proves that Clapton is the owner of the 103-foot yacht that was built in 1967. Almost all of the connections between the rock god and the yacht are anecdotal, as any stories about the Blue Guitar spotted in a particular port are followed in the comments sections with people claiming to moor their own yachts near it and seeing Clapton on the deck, strumming a guitar.

Even this 2013 YouTube video of the Blue Guitar sailing through the Cape Cod Canal suggests it belongs to Clapton:

We can prove, however, that Clapton does own at least one yacht, one far larger and more luxurious than the Blue Guitar – not that the Blue Guitar is anything to shake a Strat at.

According to BoatInternational.com , Clapton owns a superyacht, the Va Bene . Reportedly, Clapton purchased the superyacht in 2005, and now has it listed for sale for $7.5 million. He reportedly auctioned it off in November of 2020 with an expected bid of $10 million, but it’s not clear if anyone bid and took it off his hands. The site also says that Clapton "reportedly" owns the Blue Guitar .

It may be likely that Clapton did at one time own the Blue Guitar , and maybe he sold it to someone else. Since it was built in 1967, he could have purchased it just as he started to hit it big with the Yardbirds or later on with Cream. A listing on the photo website Alamy suggests that Blue Guitar is owned by James Benenson and Lawrence Small, so perhaps Clapton sold it to them when he purchased the bigger, better Va Bene ?

Whether he was in Marion or not, Clapton has been a controversial figure in recent years. First, he had to fight off claims that he was an anti-vax conspiracy theorist over his outspoken comments about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine. Then, a racist rant from a 1976 concert resurfaced , in which he lamented Jamaican immigrants coming to the UK and declared, “Keep Britain White!”

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Going for a song? Eric Clapton's yacht up for auction

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the "Layla" singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Clapton's representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the "Artifacts of Hollywood and Music" event.

The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers' website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 - $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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ERIC CLAPTON’S YACHT “VA BENE” IS AUCTIONED FOR 10 MILLION EUROS

British musician Eric Clapton could say good bye to the yacht “Va Bene”.

The 47.5-meter / 156-foot vessel, which the singer-guitarist bought in 2005, will go up for auction on November 28 in Los Angeles, according to the auction house GWS Auctions.

The sale operation would be close to 10 million dollars.

The yacht was built in 1992, has a capacity for 14 guests and six cabins.

The boat was also available as a charter service and could be rented from 140,000 euros a week.

The boat is being sold along with 300 other Eric Clapton items, including Elvis Presley memorabilia, and a 1983, never-made prototype guitar and is expected to fetch between € 40,000 and € 50,000.

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British rocker Eric Clapton unloading his luxury yacht for Sh1 billion

British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia. The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the “Layla” singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Read Also: Victoria Beckham flashes rare smile as family holiday on Elton john's yacht

Clapton’s representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the “Artifacts of Hollywood and Music” event. The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers’ website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

Read Also: Conor McGregor's yacht raided by police in front of fiancee and two children

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 - $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

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Going for a song? Eric Clapton's yacht up for auction

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the "Layla" singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Clapton's representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the "Artifacts of Hollywood and Music" event.

The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers' website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 - $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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Was That Eric Clapton’s Boat In Casco Bay This Past Sunday?

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There has been a slew of celebrity sightings in Maine this summer. Vacationland has seen its reputation trending upward for a really great place to stay for a few days. But while celebrities have been spotted at airports and eateries, there haven't been any sightings on the sea...until now.

Shared on Facebook by Jeff Grundy , the luxury yacht named "Blue Guitar" was spotted in Casco Bay on Sunday. According to Boat International , the yacht belongs to legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. To be fair, there's plenty of dispute on the internet as to whether Clapton has sold that boat or not. No concrete proof can be found.

The boat itself is still a marvel even though it was built more than 50 years ago. The 103 foot yacht was designed to accommodate seven people luxuriously, and clearly is still in terrific condition today.

So perhaps this still belongs to Eric Clapton and perhaps Mr. Clapton spent a day or two enjoying all that Portland, Maine has to offer. Perhaps this has a new owner and decided to hold onto the name that Clapton gave the boat.

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Going for a song? Eric Clapton's yacht up for auction

British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the "Layla" singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Clapton's representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the "Artifacts of Hollywood and Music" event.

The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers' website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 - $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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Eric Clapton’s yacht goes on the market

Tuesday, March 27th, 2018

Written by: Marine Industry News

Designed by Richard Hein/The A Group and built by Kees Cornelissen in Holland, VA BENE’s current owner purchased the yacht in 2005 and carried out a major refit in 2007/2008 at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall.

The interior redesign by H2 has given the yacht a modern, stylish interior resulting in her being a finalist for the ‘Best Refitted Yacht’ award at the World Superyacht Awards 2009.

A regular programme of yard periods throughout the current ownership demonstrates the continued investment and high standards this yacht is maintained to. The yacht sale is being handled by Burgess.

Key Features Major refit at Pendennis, Cornwall in 2007-08 Comprehensive yard period in winter 2015-16 including a complete repaint, Lloyd’s class intermediate survey, main engine servicing and replacement of carpets VA BENE is MCA LY2 compliant and has built an enviable reputation on the global charter market

Specification Asking Price USD 12,500,000 (EUR 10,120,000*) Built 1992, Kees Cornelissen, The Netherlands Length 47.5m (155.8ft) Beam 9.2m (30.2ft) Draft 3.4m (11.2ft) Type Twin screw diesel yacht Class Lloyd’s + 100A1 Yacht LMC Flag Cayman Islands Engines 2 x 1,750hp Caterpillar Range 4,000 nm Lying USA Note Not for sale to US residents while in US waters Gross Tonnage 496 Construction Hull – Welded Steel, Superstructure – Welded Aluminium, Deck – Teak Cruising Speed 12 knots Maximum Speed 16 knots Exterior Design Richard Hein/The A Group Interior Design The A Group No. Of Guests 14 No. Of Guest Cabins 6 (4 x Double, 1 x Twin, 1 x Double/Twin, 2 x Additional Berths) Crew 13 Tenders 9.8m Intrepid boat with 2 x Yamaha 300hp engines, 2 x 17ft (5.3m) Zodiac Sclaptonemi-rigid inflatables with Yamaha 115hp engines

Vabene’s current owner is Eric Clapton. So no mentions please about it going for a song…

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Going for a Song? Eric Clapton's Yacht Up for Auction

Thursday, 12 November 2020 07:21 AM EST

British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the "Layla" singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Clapton's representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the "Artifacts of Hollywood and Music" event.

The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers' website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 - $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

© 2024 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.

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Va Bene: Eric Clapton's Luxury Yacht

Eric Clapton is a legendary rock guitarist and singer-songwriter who has sold over 100 million records worldwide. He is also the owner of a luxurious yacht called Va Bene.

Va Bene is a 50-meter (164-foot) motor yacht that was built in 1992 by the Dutch shipyard Kees Cornelissen. It has a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. The yacht is powered by two MTU diesel engines that give it a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph).

Va Bene has a cruising speed of 18 knots (21 mph) and a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,500 km). It can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and has a crew of 12.

The yacht features a luxurious interior with marble floors, mahogany woodwork, and a grand piano. It also has a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, and a gym.

Features of Va Bene

• Length: 50 meters (164 feet)
• Beam: 9.5 meters (31 feet)
• Draft: 2.5 meters (8 feet)
• Gross tonnage: 499
• Power: 2 x MTU 16V 4000 M72 diesel engines, 2,500 hp each
• Top speed: 22 knots (25 mph)
• Cruising speed: 18 knots (21 mph)
• Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,500 km)
• Accommodation: 12 guests in 6 cabins

Luxury amenities

• Marble floors
• Mahogany woodwork
• Grand piano
• Swimming pool

Comparison to other superyachts

Va Bene is a relatively small superyacht, but it is still a luxurious vessel. It is comparable to other yachts in its class, such as the 50-meter (164-foot) Sunseeker Predator 50 and the 50-meter (164-foot) Princess Y75.

Va Bene News 🔗

As of October 7, 2023, Va Bene is listed for sale by Burgess for €10 million. The yacht has been extensively refurbished since Clapton purchased it in 2005, and it is now in excellent condition.

Va Bene is a popular yacht among celebrities and other wealthy individuals. It has been featured in several magazines and newspapers, and it has been used as a backdrop for several films and television shows.

The yacht is currently docked in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is available for charter.

Update 2024

Update on Va Bene, Eric Clapton’s Luxury Yacht 🔗

Eric Clapton ist ein legendärer Rockgitarrist und Singer-Songwriter, der weltweit über Millionen Platten verkauft hat. Er ist auch der Besitzer einer luxuriösen Yacht namens Va Bene . Va Bene ist eine Meter lang Motorjacht, die ursprünglich von der niederländischen Werft Kees Cornelissen im Jahr gebaut wurde. Sie hat einen Stahlrumpf und eine Aluminium-Superstruktur. Die Yacht wird von zwei MTU -Dieselmotoren angetrieben, die ihr eine Höchstgeschwindigkeit von Knoten (mph) verleihen. Va Bene hat eine Reisegeschwindigkeit von Knoten (mph) und eine Reichweite von nautischen Meilen (km). Sie bietet Platz für bis zu Gäste in sechs Kabinen und hat eine Crew von Personen. Die Yacht verfügt über ein luxuriöses Interieur mit Marmorböden, Mahagoni-Arbeiten und einem Flügel. Außerdem gibt es ein Schwimmbad, einen Whirlpool, eine Sauna und ein Fitnessstudio.

Neue Situation in 2024 🔗

Im Jahr 2024 wurde Va Bene von der Maklerfirma Burgess für Millionen zum Verkauf angeboten. Die Yacht wurde seit dem Kauf durch Clapton umfangreich renoviert und befindet sich jetzt in ausgezeichnetem Zustand. Va Bene erfreut sich nach wie vor großer Beliebtheit bei Prominenten und wohlhabenden Personen. Sie wurde in mehreren Magazinen und Zeitungen vorgestellt und diente als Kulisse für mehrere Filme und Fernsehsendungen. Die Yacht liegt derzeit im Mittelmeer vor Anker und kann gechartert werden.

Eigenschaften von Va Bene:

• Länge: Meter (Fuß)
• Breite: Meter (Fuß)
• Tiefgang: Meter (Fuß)
• Bruttoregistertonnen:
• Leistung: MTU V M-Dieselmotoren mit je PS
• Höchstgeschwindigkeit: Knoten (mph)
• Reisegeschwindigkeit: Knoten (mph)
• Reichweite: nautische Meilen (km)
• Unterkunft für Gäste in Kabinen
• Crewmitglieder
• Luxusausstattung: Marmorböden, Mahagoni-Arbeiten, Flügel, Schwimmbad, Whirlpool, Sauna, Fitnessstudio

Vergleich zu anderen Superyachten: Va Bene ist eine vergleichsweise kleine Superyacht, aber dennoch ein luxuriöses Schiff. Sie ist mit anderen Yachten in ihrer Größenordnung vergleichbar, wie z.B. der Meter langen Sunseeker Predator und der Meter langen Princess Y.

Insgesamt bleibt Va Bene auch im Jahr 2024 eine begehrte Yacht mit einer interessanten Geschichte und exquisiten Ausstattung.

Going for a song? Eric Clapton's yacht up for auction

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LOS ANGELES — British rocker Eric Clapton is unloading his luxury yacht, offering it up for auction at a sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

The 47.5 meter long (156 foot) Va Bene yacht, which the “Layla” singer and guitarist bought in 2005 and refurbished extensively three years later, is expected to fetch $7 million-$10 million at the Nov. 28 sale in Los Angeles, auction house GWS Auctions said on Thursday.

Clapton’s representatives declined to comment on the decision to place the yacht for auction at the “Artifacts of Hollywood and Music” event.

The yacht, which was built in 1992 and has accommodation for 14 guests in six staterooms, was previously listed for sale in 2018 on a marine brokers’ website when it carried an asking price of around $12 million.

It is being sold along with 300 other items including Elvis Presley memorabilia and an Eric Clapton prototype guitar dating from 1983 that was never manufactured. The guitar is expected to sell for $40,000 – $50,000, GWS Auctions said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)

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Toto Wolff on the America's Cup, designing his own yacht and freediving with Lewis Hamilton

Whether it’s steering a Formula One team to success, racing on board an America’s Cup yacht or designing his own Wally, Toto Wolff knows how to push the limits, as Georgie Ainslie discovers.

I am trying but failing to get Toto Wolff on to the subject of superyachts. All in good time. For now, he is enjoying winding me up about fast cars. It is the week after the British Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking and poignant Silverstone win, yet he is insisting with a wry smile that it’s business as usual at the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team headquarters at Brackley, Northamptonshire, from where he is speaking to me.

Well, perhaps it is, in that there are now 24 races in a Formula One season so each race does rather roll into the next, but it’s lost on no one how much that victory in particular would have meant to the team, to their outgoing driver or indeed to their CEO and team principal Wolff in a season that is starting to show signs of a turnaround for the eight-times World Championship-winning constructor, after a couple of years off top spot.

“It’s one F1 race. And we’ve got the next one to get ready for. Let’s go.” If you didn’t know him, you’d think he was being a fraction blasé about one of the more emotional moments we’ve seen in Formula One this season, but then he says, “I can be emotional. I cry when I’m watching Armageddon . When the guy says, ‘Requesting permission to shake the hand of the daughter of the bravest man I’ve ever met,’ I get emotional with that scene.”

Surely it doesn’t get more Hollywood than scenes of Lewis Hamilton winning in a Mercedes, in his final season with the team, at the home of British motorsport, with Wolff presiding? He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and there’s the hint of a grin. He knows better than anyone it was a blockbuster ending to a remarkable story, but the show must go on and next weekend there will be another race to focus on. Now we are ready to talk boats.

I ask him if he’s recovered from his day out as a cyclor on board Britannia with my husband Sir Ben Ainslie and his America’s Cup team in Barcelona. This America’s Cup campaign has been very much a 50/50 partnership between the British sailing team and the Mercedes F1 team, both supported by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who brought the two together. 

Mercedes F1 is leading the technical design programme for this edition and as someone who thrives in a competitive sport environment, Wolff loved getting out on the water in a physical capacity. “That’s the fastest sailing boat I’ve been on but there’s no moment where you don’t feel safe at 40 knots on foils. It’s so well designed. It’s a collaboration between them and us.”

The need for speed is clearly never far from his thoughts but a joyride on Britannia is anything but relaxing.

Putting an America’s Cup flying machine to one side, I ask him which is the other finest yacht he’s ever spent time on. Without hesitation he comes back with: “ Faith . A Feadship . That’s the best boat I’ve ever been on. The Nordic craftmanship and quality combined with the aesthetics and interior design by Chahan , it’s most appealing.”

For someone who adores the elegance of a sailing yacht like Vertigo , appreciates the Maltese Falcon for its “extravagance” but also loves the speed and performance of a motor yacht, has he tried to design his own perfect yacht yet?

“I’ve played around with Luca Bassani , the president of Wally , designing a 65-metre carbon-fibre sailing yacht but we haven’t got beyond the sketching phase,” he says.

Why not? “When building a boat with one of those great shipyards, it will cost a lot of time because I would want to make it perfect. And I would have far from the necessary time to do this because when running a company, a sports team, the hours that are free are not sufficient for designing and building a boat. I’ve chartered a lot, I’ve owned a bit and every year that passes, I know a little bit more of how I want it.”

He has a keen eye for detail so I ask him what his non-negotiables would be for a yacht he would be proud to call his own. “Seaworthiness is non-negotiable. I would like to take a boat around the world. Also new technology in terms of emissions. And lots of space for tenders and sports activities.  I would like a big gym. I don’t think boats have big enough gyms. It would need to have a helicopter garage because you don’t want the aesthetics to be disturbed by a helicopter outside.” He’s clearly given this more than just a passing thought...

And the structure? “A steel hull; an aluminium superstructure. The length of the boat would need to be below 80 metres, 79 metres perhaps because otherwise you need a pilot to bring you close to the coast in France.”

What about the interior design? He is keen on aesthetics and knows what he likes. “I’m really into beige interiors. I like the tones that, in a way, reflect the surroundings. For me it would be beige for the sand and blue for the sea and the sky.” And for fun? “Well, it needs to have some mega tenders. A 100-knot Cigarette and a sailing boat. I don’t need a submarine.”

What would he borrow or adopt from the world of Formula One? “Some of the lightweight technology, the carbon fibre. For me the perfect yacht is an explorer style, like Andromeda , and I think the lightweight structures that we develop in Formula One – composite materials, carbon, is what I would try to implement.”

And crew? For someone who heads up a large team, does he want to embrace or escape that on the open waves? “I love crews. I love to have competent and humorous people around me in a crew,” he reveals.

I ask about an office space and admit my husband Ben and I are a disaster when it comes to sharing any kind of work area, on a boat or otherwise. How do he and his wife, Susie, a powerhouse in her own right and managing director of F1 Academy, make working from home, or sea, in any way pleasurable?

He is amused by the idea of Ben and I failing miserably at this and concedes: “Susie and I share an office space on a boat. When there’s an overlap, Susie, as she works for a large corporate in F1, needs that office. I am more flexible because I’m running the team and I can choose my environment. That’s the advantage of owning it. I have no problem in doing that from the sofa or the dining table.” I make a note to check this with Susie later...

He continues: “If I want to go for a swim, I can do that and come back 20 minutes later and be refreshed.”

But let’s be clear, Wolff’s version of a quick dip is far from a casual swim. In recent summers he has become fixated on freediving. So far, he has managed 35 metres down. A quick online search reveals that 40 metres is the official limit of recreational freediving, the depth required to become an instructor, and the depth where most divers transition from basic freediving equalization to more advanced techniques.

“My record for holding my breath is four minutes three seconds without oxygen help. I did 35 metres last year. But my freediving coach and I believe this year it will be 50 metres. That’s what we are doing this summer.”

So beyond the official limit then and by some margin. I can’t recall him speaking of his passion for freediving before and I’m intrigued to know more. Does he consider himself a risk-taker in life? “Only calculated risks, when I know the worst outcome wouldn’t change my life and I could cope with it. Never take the risks you can’t manage. With the freediving, it’s never going to a point where I’m going to the limit.

“I once had a freediving session with Lewis [Hamilton], and we were pushing the limits. The expert who was with us, he’s a world champion and after a certain depth, I think it was 26 or 28 metres, he said, ‘We’re stopping here because you two are pushing each other too much.’  I think this is the calculated risk. Lewis was basically a rookie and  I only did it for recreation.

“The limitation wasn’t holding the breath; the limitation was the equalization because at a certain stage the ears would give up or the technique wouldn’t be good enough. I would never dive beyond 10 metres without having  an expert there who could save me, who knows the procedures. It’s a calculated risk. When I go to 35 metres, he’s there and we run through the safety procedures. I know what to do when coming up. When I drive the Cigarette, I’m well aware of the risks and how to drive it and where the limit is.

“At these speeds, I would never take someone from the family with me. It’s a calculated risk. This is an important philosophy I’ve had all my life.”

But back to the freediving, because I want to know where is best for a deep dive and it turns out the place he calls home, which is Monaco for the Wolffs, is a perfect spot. “There is a shipwreck in front of Monaco, in front of the Oceanic Museum. It’s at 35 metres. We have a boat and then there’s a little crane with a line that you put down with a weight, as deep as you want to go. I’m gliding with my hand around the line, head down. The line is important because you lose your orientation because it’s only water around you, only blue. 

"You slide around the line and then you equalize the ears. There is a huge serenity that comes with it. It becomes tranquil. Your pulse goes down. I love the direction with the water. I like to look at the watch to see how deep I am. The deeper I go the more pleasure I have because I’m competing against myself. Then when I reach the ground, it’s almost like I want to stay there. But that is also the risk, because you need to be careful of depth sickness. Nevertheless, it’s just fantastic to be down there.”

Wolff also enjoys Monaco above the waterline. “It’s a 360 place. We are very blessed to have this possibility. It’s a place that people choose for many reasons but for our family, it’s because of the lifestyle and the safety.”

Of course, for a single weekend in May every year, the Formula One circus rolls into town and takes over. “That weekend is madness,” admits Wolff, “but we need to appreciate it because that is a lot of the appeal of Monaco. I go to the apartment, I take a tender from the Meridian or the Monte-Carlo Beach hotel, I drive straight into the paddock, and I drive straight back. 

"This year, the team had a collaboration with Ritz-Carlton, and we exclusively chartered the Ritz-Carlton yacht Evrima . I spent pretty much every day there for events and it was unbelievable. It’s a cruise-sized superyacht with all the amenities a superyacht would have. They did a super job, and they are building a second one now."

I suggest that the one drawback of superyacht ownership must be the desire and pressure to constantly upgrade; after all, there’s always someone with a bigger boat. “Bernie Ecclestone said to me something that resonated a lot 20 years ago; ego is expensive.” It’s a great line, I say.

He adds: “If you want to compete in that space and you have ego, you will spend a lot of money. It will give you some sort of satisfaction to have the biggest boat. I have zero of that need.  I think ego is good. I love people with ego when it’s channelled in the right ways, because then it’s a force. But someone whose ego has run away in superyachts is ridiculous to me.”

So when there is enough time to design and build the perfect explorer yacht for the Wolff family where would Wolff take them in it?

“I’m in love with the Costa Smeralda,” he reveals. “Everything around Porto Cervo. I can spend six weeks in a row there without going anywhere. I like Croatia, around the islands, Greece, the Cyclades.  I would take it to the Bahamas, which I haven’t done, and the North Passage, which I also haven’t done.”

But when is this going to happen? Wolff reflects for a moment. “I think in life you must have three motivations; somebody to love, something to do and something to dream of. I don’t want to put a certain time on it; if you talk too much about it also, the bubble might burst and then there’s no dream any more.”

With the Monaco Yacht Show in town last month, there was plenty of temptation on the doorstep and for the shipyards, an opportunity to prove they can design and build the superyacht of Toto Wolff’s dreams.

First published in the October 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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