Superyachts Directory

After the party

So the media were right and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (avec Toots of the legendary Maytals) played the Gouverneur Bay Estate on Saturday night as predicted. We didn’t make it to the gig and realistically, we were never going to get near Eclipse, but it was easy to share the late evening buzz from the Rue de la République as the fireworks went off over Gustavia and the A-listers were ferried to and from Eclipse and the other yachts ranged around the tiny harbour. Was that George Lucas we saw, albeit at a distance?

By all accounts, Mahi-mahi was also on the menu for the 400-odd guests (who said 300?) who drove themselves or were limoed through the super-tight party security. Xavier Pinet, one of St Bart’s culinary elite did the catering for the Abramovich party – but our New Year’s Eve supper tasted just as good in town. Hey! It’s St Bart’s and fish heaven – what do you expect? 

Our extended and long-anticipated weekend certainly didn’t cost the £5 mil that Mr A reportedly put into his bash either. But it was still enormous fun getting a sniff of the island’s celebrity lifestyle before heading back to what will certainly be a cold and windswept UK next week.

In the meantime, back to superyacht business… Catching up on the media commentary online, we were surprised to read the suggestion in the Telegraph that some people might have considered the 536-foot long Eclipse an eyesore as it dominated Gustavia harbour.

As professional superyacht people with a valid and experienced view of superyacht style, we couldn’t disagree more. Having now seen Eclipse in the flesh – and I’ve seen most of the top yachts in my time – I can’t help wondering how anyone with any feeling for stunning lines could consider the Abramovich flagship anything but a gem, and a fitting crown jewel in the Terence Disdale portfolio – until his next masterpiece? Hey ho!

Just for the record, we love Eclipse. So, thank you Mr Abramovich for commissioning such delectable eye candy – even if the Super Yachts Directory didn’t get an invite to Gouverneur Bay. Maybe next year!