He's used to having the best of everything, so it's unlikely Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich enjoyed battling for space to anchor his super yacht off the coast of St Barts.The tycoon was forced to moor his white luxury yacht Eclipse just a stone's throw away from the huge blue ship owned by Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.And with the two yachts anchored side by side in front of the harbor Gustavia on the Caribbean island, the battle was on for which billionaire has the nicest boat with the most luxury, helicopters, and jet skis.
Battle of the super yachts: Billionaire Roman Abramovich got to size up the competition after anchoring his white ship Eclipse (back) next to the Al Mirqab owned by the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani
Super rich: The two yachts are owned by the world's 50th richest man Roman Abramovich, pictured left, and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, pictured right
Abramovich's £1billion yacht Eclipse is the world's largest privately owned yacht at 557ft long - beating the Al Mirqab which is a mere 436ft (but still longer than a football pitch).
Despite being smaller than the Eclipse, the Al Mirqab is still one of the world's largest and was named the second most beautiful yacht across the globe after it was built in 2008.
The yacht can accommodate 24 guests in 10 guest suites with two VIP suites for the yacht owner, the Emir of Qatar, as well as a further 55 rooms to house the staff needed to man the ship.
The suites are large and each has its own bathroom, living room and double bedroom.
Size isn't everything: The Al Mirqab is more than 100ft shorter than Eclipse but still longer than a football pitch
The height of luxury: The Al Mirqab has 10 luxury guest suites that each come with its own bedroom, bathroom and living room
The boat boasts a cinema, outside bars, inside swimming pool, outside jacuzzi, sunbathing places and a helicopter pad. The yacht also has all the usual equipment for watersport entertainment and numerous jet skies and boys' toys.
But Abramovich, who was visiting the island for his annual New Year's Eve party at his Gouverneur Beach estate, has made sure his vessel is kitted out to be the ultimate in super yacht luxury.
The Eclipse has two swimming pools, two helicopter pads, a dedicated disco hall, around 30 cabins, a mini-submarine, and even a missile defence system.
The vessel has eighty members of staff to operate the craft who all wear discreet tan uniforms while on board.
Big competition: Abramovich's Eclipse is the largest private yacht in the world at 557ft and has around 30 individual suites
Powerful: The Eclipse has two swimming pools, two helicopter pads, a disco hall, a mini-submarine and a missile defence system
When the ship was ordered the initial cost was estimated at around £330million, but by the time Mr Abramovich took delivery in 2010 it was spiralling towards the £1billion mark because of the extra luxury fittings and security measures.
Mr Abramovich, 46, who has six children with his first wife Irina and girlfriend Dasha Zhukova, uses his fleet of luxury boats to travel around the world and to get to his large estate on the island where he has hosted New Year's Eve parties for the last four years.
The world's rich and famous descend on St Barts for the bash - which often cost several million - at the 70-acre estate.
As Al Thani arrived in his ship in time for the party, it seems he may have been one of the many influential guests of Abramovich - now the 5th richest person in Russia and the 50th richest person in the world.
ECLIPSE
- Owned by Roman Abramovich
- Worth £8.4billion
- 557ft long - making it the largest privately owned yacht in the world
- Accommodates 62 guests and 80 crew
- Maximum speed of 25 knots with cruise speed of 22 knots
- Two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, several hot tubs, steam room and disco hall
- Bullet-proof windows and its own missile defence system
- Master suite is armour-plated and has retractable roof
- Has a mini submarine with internal boarding for quick escape
- Anti-paparazzi shield with lasers to block camera lenses
- Built in Germany in 2010, at cost of almost £1billion
AL MIRQAB
- Owned by Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani
- Worth £150million
- 436ft long - longer than a football pitch
- Accommodates 24 guests and 55 staff
- Has two VIP suites for the ship owner
- Each guest room as its own bedroom, bathroom and sitting room
- Can cruise at 18.7 knots with a maximum speed of 20.3 knots
- One helicopter pad, one inside swimming pool, outside jacuzzi, sunbathing places, numerous bars and a cinema
- The yacht was built at Peters Schiffbau Wewelsfleth yard in Germany in 2008
- Described as the second most beautiful yacht in the world in 2008
- Al Mirqab won the coveted Motor Yacht of the Year
On the guest list: The two ships, Eclipse back and Al Mirqab front, were both pictured moored off the coast of the Caribbean island of St Barts where Abramovich holds his annual New Year's Eve parties
Party like no other: Celebs were treated to a massive fireworks display (pictured last year) at Roman Abramovich's 70-acre St Barts estate
CELEBRITIES CURRENTLY ON SUPER YACHTS IN ST BARTS
SIMON COWELL
Simon Cowell's luxury yacht: The music mogul's Slipstream cruiser, where he is currently residing in the Caribbean, is 196 ft long, accommodates 12 guests plus a crew of 14 and costs $450,000 per week to charter
MODEL LILY COLE AND TWITTER FOUNDER JACK DORSEY
Battle of the boats: Model Lily Cole is currently holidaying in St Barts with Twitter founder Jack Dorsey on super yacht Odessa, which is 160ft long and accommodates 12 guests with a crew of 10, worth $275,000 a week
P. DIDDY
Party boat: Sean 'Diddy' Combs is currently in St Barts on his luxury yacht 'Oasis', where he invited numerous celebrity pals to spend New Year's Eve
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2256170/Battle-mega-yachts-Roman-Abramovich-takes-Qatari-royal-billionaire-moor-enormous-private-ships-Caribbean-island-St-Barts.html#ixzz2R27HvmOv
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