"Launchpad": Mark Zuckerberg buys 118-metre Feadship

Feadship found a buyer for the 1010 project about a year after the 118 metres were completed. The high-gloss mahogany details, the dark blue hull with white and red waterline and the oval hull windows were reminiscent of multiple owner Vladimir Potanin. His 89 metre long "Nirvana" (issue 4/18) had a very similar appearance. As the Russian nickel magnate is on the sanctions list, Feadship has now sold the Øino design to an owner from a completely different cultural background: Mark Zuckerberg.

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Before the deal, the name "Katyusha" was doing the rounds - the Russian diminutive of Catherine, but also the name of a rocket launcher. In this respect, the Facebook founder's naming would refer to this. "Launchpad" means launch pad. It is quite possible that the yacht will be used as an oversized base for surfing adventures. Zuckerberg is an enthusiastic foil surfer and friend of bigwave pro Kai Lenny. The Hawaiian is likely to come on board when the yacht approaches regions with good waves. After delivery in Amsterdam, "Launchpad" set course for Gibraltar for bunkering, then headed for the Caribbean via Florida. It remains to be seen how actively the longest motor yacht ever built in the Netherlands will be used - and whether the rather old-fashioned Zuretti interior will be retained.

• Further information: www.feadship.nl