This week, Mumbai has been lashed by rains in a way that I haven’t seen since I moved here a decade ago. Having barely made it back home on the water-logged roads, I couldn’t help but think that more than a four-wheel drive, what all of us needed right now were boats! I reminisced about all the wonderful Instagram feeds I had been looking at over the past few weeks — of friends on fancy yachts cruising the Mediterranean. What I’ve noticed is that the yachts my pals favour — both rented and owned — are getting bigger and better. To me, this is the ultimate vacation — island hopping and exploring while living on a gorgeous, fully kitted out boat replete with well-trained staff and an accomplished cook. August, a month when India is deluged by rains, is vacation time for the West and, thanks to social media, everyone’s wonderful jaunts in Sardinia, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Mykonos, St Tropez and all the other azure towns of the Med seem tantalisingly near — and yet so far. I sure could’ve used even a small dingy to traverse the north and south of this maximum city over the past few days, given how quickly the roads dissolve as soon it rains heavily.
India greatly lags in the luxe boating scene, even though some of our one percent own fancy yachts that they park far away, not only to keep away from the tax man’s prying eyes but also out of necessity — we lack a decent marina in this country. This, despite us being a sea-faring people once upon a time, before the Brits came and ruined our ship building and water navigating culture (yes, I did read Shashi Tharoor’s An Era of Darkness ). Even though yachting companies are hoping to make inroads — I get regular updates from various companies like Oceanstyle, Burgess, The Q Experiences — and yachts are now available for hire in Mumbai, we have a long way to go. No wonder people go overseas to avail of the best boating experiences.
The World, the aptly named 15-year-old residential super yacht — apparently the only one in the world — won’t even let you get a toe in the cabin unless you’re worth $10 million. The units, about 165 in all, go anywhere from $3 million to $15 million. This behemoth comes with a full size tennis court, a 7,000 square foot spa and gym, and a massive wine cellar. The World’s uber rich residents typically occupy their abodes for only about a few months a year. Given the monsoon havoc wrecked on our urban metros, maybe some of our ultra wealthy ought to consider it as an option during this wet season. I would certainly sign up for August!
Nowadays, a host of apps have made the global yacht renting process seamless. GetMyBoat, the Airbnb for boat rentals, has listings across 171 countries; YPI Selection lets you book or buy motor or sailing superyachts; YachtNeeds offers everything from fishing trawlers to high end luxury yachts. There are even apps to check yacht sizes for those with a competitive streak — imagine dining on a friend’s palace on the sea only to realise it’s smaller than yours. What satisfaction!
YPI Selection offers some of the most exclusive boats, with minimum yacht rentals starting at $30,000 a week. But that seems like a steal when one compares it to the uber high end rentals, which can go for anywhere from $450,000 to more than $1,000,000 per week. Obviously these beauties come with cinemas, gyms, jacuzzis and much needed popcorn machines! What’s not to love?
This fortnightly column tracks the indulgent pursuits of the one-percenters.
