Superyacht owners 'mostly care only about the TV'

by Lee Mylchreest on 26 Jan 2014 If, as a 'normal' cruising sailor, you have the occasional stab of envy about those who own superyachts, here's some reassuring news from a superyacht designer: Most people who order superyachts are concerned more about having a room for a giant TV than anything else. So when you thought they were leading a super-glam life, they are more likely to be stashed in front of their big screen.

According to an interview with the Observer, superyacht designer Ken Freivokh says his clients could opt for helipads, tennis courts, submarines or a missile defence system, but most are more concerned about the TV placement.

Freivokh is designer of many of the world's greatest superyachts, including the £90m, 88-metre, three-mast Maltese Falcon pictured above and owned by hedge fund billionaire Elena Ambrosiadou.

Another is the Mikhail S Vortensof, pictured below: A new build 53m all wood classic schooner, this amazing yacht is the largest all wood classic in the World. The Dream Ship Victory shipyard completed construction of hull and deck in Turkey, and transported the yacht to the Balk Shipyard in Holland for final completion and installation of a high class interior by Sinnex.

Not all superyacht owner are like this, he admitted, but many are. 'The tricky ones are clients that come and say, 'I want a big boat with a big saloon and a very big TV', and they're almost not interested in the rest,' the Observer was told by Freivokh.

Freivokh also observed that he thought it was 'weird' and that some of the super-rich set just 'wanted to complete their sweep of trophy assets'.

So next time you're enjoying a sundowner, watching an exquisite red sunset, or flying across the waves with a high wind behind you, spare a thought for the poor old super-rich cruisers, stuck in front of their TV screens.