Microsoft’s Paul Allen Snags Top Superyacht Spot for London Olympics

With the 2012 Olympics in London just around the corner, the race for position among megayacht owners is well underway. Berths for about 30 yachts are being prepared around London’s waterways for the big event, but most of them will only accommodate smaller vessels. Several more are expected to visit though they won’t all be in town at the same time. Only one of moorings will be able to accommodate a truly enormous yacht – and word is Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen has already snagged it for his 414 ft. Octopus, the world’s 12th largest, the Australian reports.

So far about eight superyachts are booked in for the big event.

Mark Upton of superyacht advisory service MGMT is marketing packages for superyacht owners that include tickets for the top Olympic events as well as a concierge service featuring everything from tailors and hairdressers to sommeliers in addition to the dockage. “I am confident that we will see between 30 and 50 very large yachts in London next summer,” Upton tells the paper. “West India Dock has a few and from what I understand the Royal Docks has taken bookings this week for three or four boats of a substantial size – in the top 15 per cent of the largest yachts in the world.” Allen’s yacht will no doubt be the largest, as usual. Designed by the famed Espen Oeino and built by Germany’s Lürssen in 2003, Octopus features two helicopters, two submarines, a music studio, a swimming pool and a basketball court.

Source: JamesList

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