£40m SUPERYACHT SAILS IN AS NI TEMPERATURES TOP THE MEDITERRANEAN
AN extra special visitor to Belfast Harbour marina yesterday drew crowds of admiring visitors.
As the sun bathed the city on the warmest day of the year so far, the sight of the £40m Lady M yacht gliding up the sparkling blue lough transformed the scene to that of a postcard from the French Riviera.
The stunning Lady M is owned by one of the world’s richest men.
However, it is not known whether Alexei Mordashov (51), reputed to have a personal fortune of £13bn, was on board his vessel on the visit to Northern Ireland.
His yacht was spotted at Brest in north-western France on April 5 before moving on to Scotland in recent weeks where it called at Glasgow last Wednesday and Loch Fyne on Friday before coming to Belfast on Sunday morning.
Last night the yacht was sailing east towards England but its destination is not known.
The yacht left its berth beside the Odyssey complex at around 5.30pm yesterday following what appears to have been a re-stocking mission with workers spotted during the afternoon bringing boxes to shore.
The 65-metre, three-deck ship — built in 2013 — boasts its own helipad, jacuzzi and even a swimming pool on board, as well as a swimming platform for visits to warmer waters than Belfast.
It can sleep up to 12 guests in its six cabins.
It also has a crew of 14 who share seven cabins and has a top speed of 28 knots.
The yacht was much admired during its day in Belfast. However, the only way to enjoy its luxurious accommodation appears to be by befriending Mordashov — as it is not currently available for charter.
Mordashov is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, a Russian conglomerate with interests in metal, energy and mining companies.
He became Russia’s richest person last year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Fond of philanthropy, he sponsors a number of organisations in Russia, including the Bolshoi Theatre, the national chess team and a charity for homeless children.