ALL PICTURES AND TEXT ON THIS PHOTO WEBSITE ARE COPYWRIGHTED BY DONALD L. SCHULTZ

LIFE STYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS


The popularity of this recent television program hosted by Robin Leach was based on a curious fascination most of us have with what it must be like to live in the world of the super rich. Not that any of us would want to endure all the stress and worry that goes with it. Yeah, right. Well, maybe just for a week or so, maybe a bit longer would be ok. Just long enough to see what it is really like. It was with that curiosity that Sara and I jumped at the chance to see a 130 ft luxury yacht owned by a famous real estate mogul whose identity will remain anonymous.

This opportunity was afforded to us by a dear friend that Sara taught with for many years in Belleville, WI. Annika, who is very Swedish as is her husband Ake, live in the North Miami area. Ake is the engineer on the yacht that is docked in Fort Lauderdale.

We were given directions to the marina and our trusty GPS unit faithfully took us there. The guard asked the nature of our business, and we proudly gave the name of the boat and announced that we were guests. A phone call by the guard to the boat was required and finally the huge iron gates opened. We were informed with some suspicion that the yacht was docked at Pier B.
In the courtyard, in the shadow of a multi floor condo complex, a valet popped out to park our little Chevy Cavalier convertible. With a Mercedes in front of us and a stretch limo behind, we secretly worried that the valet would skip over us for more important clients, but he took the keys. I think I did detect a slight whiff of distain, however. It was a first for our humble little Cavalier, valet parking, I mean.

We found the boat, not that a 130 ft craft is hard to miss, but it actually was, considering it was nestled among several other yachts including 200 footers owned by the likes of people like Bill Gates and George Steinbrenner. One was rather distinctive with its own mini submarine high on the top deck. Suddenly we saw Ake waving from the bridge. Standing almost six feet tall with handsome blue eyes, white wavy hair, mustache and a Swedish lilt that makes his voice seem to roll to your ear like a soft ocean wave, Ake has spent his life on the sea. He has worked on several boats over the years and is part of a six person crew on the yacht. There is a captain, first mate, a chef, two domestics and Ake, chief engineer. The rest of the crew was gone for the day and Ake invited us on board. We saw a row of shoes lined up at the top of the stairs, and we didn’t need to be told what to do before boarding.

How does one describe a three level 130 ft luxury yacht? How about: a gleaming white, sleek silhouette, with shining chrome, contrasting teak rails and decks, and all scrupulously clean. One would be hard pressed to find a finger print anywhere. Starting on the top deck, rising above the bridge, which is where the captain steers the boat, is a battery of antennas and domes used for communications and radar. By the way, Ake explained that the boat can also be steered from several other locations for easier docking. A new international Internet dome, six feet high and several feet wide, rested on the deck and was being prepared for installation above the boat. The top deck included a semi enclosed room for enjoying the fresh salt air while cruising, with built in white leather seats and teak trimmed tables.
In front of the outside bridge was the enclosed bridge with a panoramic view of the front and sides of the boat. The panels contained countless switches and screens that controlled the movement of the boat and its exact location at all times. Radar shows everything above and around the boat for miles in every direction and Sonar everything below the boat.

Numerous book shelves contained books and charts for ports of call around the world. There was seating behind the captain’s chair for guests to watch the control of the boat.

Ake explained that this yacht was somewhat unusual in that in has no props or propellers. Water is sucked in large portals or tubes under the boat, and through the force of three gigantic, diesel engines, each over 12 feet long, then forced through jets in the back of the boat with such force that they produce rooster tails over fifty feet long. All three engines can be coordinated with one joy stick for steering. This was one fast boat. The boat burns over 400 gallons of diesel fuel an hour when under full power, so for the sake of efficiency, they normally only run two of the three engines unless the owner is in a hurry. The boat holds 10,000 gallons of fuel and a fill up can cost up to $40,000 depending in which part of the world you are gassing up. Another fuel saving measure that is often used for trips to the Mediterranean, Europe and South Africa is the Dockwise Yacht Transport. A group of yacht owners rent the use of this dry dock boat for up to $200,000 a pop one way, to transport the yacht over to the playground. I asked Ake how many days under full steam it takes to get to the Mediterranean and he said about 10 days. At 24 hours a day, for 10 days or 240 hours, and at 400 hundred gallons an hour, at $2.50 a gallon, quick math showed fuel costs would add up to $240,000 if you cruise to the destination or a savings of $40,000 using the dry dock boat and hey, that is just one way. Besides, Ake said you have to consider wear and tear on the yacht and a lot of owners don’t like to put up with the waves.

On the upper deck there was a large speedboat, locked down and covered with a tarp. With no visible method to lower the boat, I asked Ake the obvious question, “How do you get it down to the water?” Ake explained there was a built in crane hidden in the side rails of the upper deck that is used to lower the run about and jet boats. You have to be kidding.

Ake meticulously locked each and every door as we moved though the boat with an almost automatic attention to security. This was one loyal employee and his admiration for the yacht became more and more obvious. We then moved to the second deck down and admired the main lounge area. Tastefully decorated in retro, there was glass and chrome everywhere with pillows for laying back and couches for lounging. We enjoyed a picture of Hillary Clinton shaking hands with the owner and pictures of his handsome family.

The adjoining dining area can seat up to fourteen guests and Ake explained that it often does. We then saw the gleaming galley where the chef prepared a variety of gourmet meals all at specific requests of the owner. We briefly saw the main cabin for the owner, king-size bed, electronic entertainment center and the accompanying head for the suite. Head is boat talk for the bathroom but this one had his and her sections and its own hot tub. The two guest cabins also had their own heads sans hot tub but were very, very nice.

Finally, we saw the personal quarters for the captain, first mate, chef and domestics. They became progressively more Spartan in that order. Ake explained that when the owner is on the boat everyone has a lot of work to do, and most staff spend little time in their private quarters. When the boat is moving, by law, and probably a high dose of prudence, the Captain, first mate and Ake, as the chief engineer, take four hour rotating shifts on the bridge to watch where they are going; wouldn’t want to hit anything huh.

Our final stop on the tour was Ake’s real domain, the engine room. As we entered from the stern doorway, we were barraged with a battery of tubes, wires, gauges, motors and levers. My gosh, how could one man know how to run and maintain all this equipment? Ake explained that most chief engineers are trained as the boat is being built, and he spent two years in Europe watching every part of the yacht being fitted together. He is responsible for every aspect of its operation whether it be mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or basically everything.

Lining his workshop area bookshelf were countless manuals for reference. While the three diesels dominated the engine room, there was a fuel centrifuge to remove water from the fuel, a saltwater de-saltation system, an auxiliary power generater, a heating system to pre heat the engines, ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems for the entire boat.

An hydraulic gangplank had recently been installed on the roof of the engine room that extended 25 feet from the stern of the boat so that the owners and their guests can walk from the main deck to the shore without having to climb up and down steps.

As we left the engine room in utter amazement, Ake showed us his quarters which consisted of a bunk room complete with TV and refrigerator. An adjoining shower and head were located conveniently next door. I asked Ake, “Is it noisy down here when you are underway. Can you sleep?” Ake gave me a sympathetic smile as if to say “What do yah think?” but responded with Swedish simplicity, “Vell, yah, et can be, vut I monage!”

As we thanked Ake to retrieve our shoes and de-boat, I noticed a large boat tethered to the yacht. “What is that?” I asked and Ake explained that that was the $340,000 tender boat for the owner to use for fishing and exploring and it is towed behind the yacht were every they go. A new
$400,000 model was on order. I asked Aka if they planned to take the tender boat on the dry dock transfer boat for an up coming trip to the Mediterranean this summer. Ake responded with a Swedish smile and, “Vat du yah tink?”

As we retrieved our humble Chevy Cavalier, Sara asked me, “What do you think? Would you like to be rich like that?” To which I responsed, “We already are!!”