The terms luxury yacht, super yacht, large yacht and mega yacht refer to very expensive, privately owned yachts which are professionally crewed. A luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht. Between 1997 and 2008 there was a massive growth in the number, size, and popularity of large private or super luxury yachts in the 24- to 70-meter size range. Luxury yachts, mega yachts, or super yachts typically have no real home port as such, although a yacht must be registered in a port of the country where its flag state is registered. Popular flag state registrars for large yachts are Cayman Islands, Marshall Islands, Isle of Man, and the British Virgin Islands, among others. (Many times the yacht will have never been to these ports.) They are particularly bountiful in the Mediterranean Sea in summer and the Caribbean Sea in winter. Many can be chartered (rented) for sums of up to 1 million Euro for a week.
©Paul Todd/OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM
OUTSIDE IMAGES PHOTO AGENCY