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[Update: 20200210_181822 UTC] The original source of the story reported the cost of the yacht to be £500; there were conversion errors in the stories quoted here. Click the spoiler for the details:
The Telegraph (a UK publication):
- Reports the price was: £500m
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Referred to The Telegraph as its source.
- Apparently gets the value wrong and thinks the £500m was $US500.
- Then converts the $US500 to Australian dollars.
- Being an Australian publication, it converts the $US to $AUS.
- reports it as (local $AUS) as: "$747 Million".
BBC then steps in and reports:
- that there was no such deal
- and states the amounts to be: £500m ($644m)
According to https://www.x-rates.com/, the current exchange rates are:
- 1.00 GBP = 1.291 USD
- 1.00 USD = 1.498 AUD
- 1.00 GBP = 1.935 AUD
Which then gives us:
- 500 GBP = (500 * 1.291 USD) = $646 USD
- 500 USD = (500 * 1.498 AUD) = $750 AUD
[The original, unmodified, story appears below.]
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is one of the world's richest men, so it's no surprise that he can afford to splash out on luxury items every now and then. But, even for him, $US500 million [$747 million] is a large chunk of money.
And what has he spent it on? A hydrogen-powered superyacht, that he won't take possession of until the year 2024.
The yacht, designed by Dutch company Sinot, will be 112 metres long and run on liquid hydrogen.
It will feature an infinity pool, helipad and spa and will have room for up to 14 guests.
The yacht was first revealed in Monaco in 2019 and advertised as being suitable for a "forward-looking" owner.
"For the development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology, to combine this in a superyacht with truly innovative features," marine designer Sander Sinot said at the time.
But Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story reported by the BBC:
Billionaire Bill Gates has not commissioned a hydrogen-powered superyacht from designer Sinot, the firm has told the BBC.
It has been widely reported that Mr Gates ordered a £500m ($644m) luxury vessel, based on the concept which was displayed in Monaco in 2019.
Sinot said it had "no business relationship" with Bill Gates. It added that that the concept yacht, called Aqua, was "not linked" to either him or any of his representatives. "Aqua is a concept under development and has not been sold to Mr Gates," a spokeswoman said. She added that it was shown "in Monaco [and] meant to build a better future, and inspire clients and the industry."
Bill Gates has been contacted by the BBC for comment.
Also at:
https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/bill-gates-orders-644-million-hydrogen-powered-superyacht-with-gym-helipad-infinity-pool/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/09/bill-gates-orders-500m-hydrogen-powered-superyacht
Meanwhile escquireme.com is supporting the BBC story and reporting that this is not true.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 10 2020, @05:05PM (5 children)
Staff are not guests.
Guests on this yacht require over 2000 sq ft of elbow room.
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Monday February 10 2020, @07:42PM (4 children)
You are correct. Staff are not guests.
However, the staff are probably lucky to get a 10x10 room below decks. At roughly 365ft long, that is enough to fit 70 staff rooms assuming it is 25 feet wide.(including a wide corridor.) And I would guess that most 365 ft yachts are normally a lot wider than just 25ft.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 10 2020, @07:56PM
Ok let's go with some approximations.
365ft * 40ft * 4 decks = 58,000 sq ft.
14 guests * 2000sqft + 10000 sqft (bill) = 38,000 sq ft. for guests and owner
That leaves 20,000 sq ft for staff, kitchen, bathrooms, helipad, pool, lounge, bar, theater, engine room, storage, etc.
Seems about right for a mega-rich mega-yacht. It surely isn't a transport ship, the entire point is excessive luxury. Numbers all pulled out of thin air, but luxury costs pile up quick.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 10 2020, @08:40PM (1 child)
Won't need that much room for staff since the ship will be run by Win10. :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 10 2020, @08:52PM
At least one staff member to play "Nearer, My God to Thee" on wax paper and a comb.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday February 10 2020, @11:17PM
And I would guess that most 365 ft yachts are normally a lot wider than just 25ft.
Destroyer experience? A 440 ft ship usually has a beam of about 40 feet. At a guess, I'd put this 365 footer at about 35 feet. Now I should google?
Steve Jobs' Venus is 256 ft long, beam 38 ft, draft 9.8 ft,
This list of super-yachts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_yachts_by_length [wikipedia.org] doesn't have a lot of info. You have to click each link to get the good data. It seems the 500 footers are pretty broad, with a beam of 60 to 70 feet.
Aquarius, built by Feadship, 302 feet long, with a beam of 44 ft.
For info, length, width, and draft all help to determine a ship's stability in various sea conditions. A 30 knot ship is considered to be stable over a wide set of sea conditions, although some 30 knot ships will never reach that speed (underpowered) while others will exceed that speed easily.