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Lady Moura: a very private passion
2010-10-01 14:08
Owned by Saudi billionaire Nasser Al Rashid, the beautiful motor yacht Lady Moura is one of the highlights for any visitor to Port Hercule. And when you consider that the aesthetic lines and sheer scale of this 105m beauty still hold their own against many of today's equivalent superyachts, it's hard to believe that she's celebrating her 20th birthday this year.
photo ©Jilly Bennett
The Moura was built in Germany at the Hamburg-based yard of Blohm+Voss, and delivered in 1990. Famous for her concealed equipment and tenders (specifically designed to be hidden from view so as not to compromise the boat's clean architecture) even more secrets are retained within the Lady Moura's seven decks.
Not much is known about her interior, except that it was designed and styled by Luigi Sturchio, and she is rumoured to have a 60ft dining table, the handiwork of royal designer Viscount Linley. Other noteworthy features include a large pool with retractable roof, a private Sikorsky S-76B helicopter and - extraordinarily - an entire onboard beach resort complete with sand and palm trees.
And whyever not? After all, the Lady Moura, with her crew of sixty, is the year-round permanent residence of the owner's family. Her 20 knots, delivered by twin 6868HP Deutz-MWM TBD510BV12 diesels, tend to take her mostly between Monaco and Palma.
But since 1991, when she was first seen at the Monaco Yacht Show (which shares her 20th birthday celebrations) she has remained paradoxically one of the most public and yet the most private of all the boats in Port Hercule.