In the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the craziest yachts attract holidaymakers

Along the Jean-Réveille jetty, strollers admire the largest vessels docking in the port (up to 89m long at the foot of the lighthouse). A contemplative stroll to the end of the jetty to observe these yachts waiting a short distance from the enclosure. It's a summer parade, worthy of the largest nautical gatherings, that takes place on the calm waters of the gulf.

Making a selection in this area is difficult, as the fleet seems to be constantly renewed from season to season. This summer, scoop hunters will have spotted these two behemoths off the coast of La Ponche: above, Breakthrough, a 118m superyacht (blue hull) whose mooring port is Antibes and which is said to be owned by Bill Gates. A boat powered by green hydrogen, without the diffusion of polluted air.

Following in its footsteps, Viva is also an interesting specimen at $175 million. As incongruous as it may seem, this 94m vessel is one of the most environmentally friendly vessels in the world: hybrid propulsion, with heat recovery and waste recycling systems.

Ahpo, its vast helicopter landing pad on the foredeck explains the sharp look of this 115-meter yacht, which we owe to the design firm Nuvolari Lénard and the shipyard Lurssen Yachts (Bremen). Estimated value: $300 million. Built for the Jamaican-Canadian entrepreneur Michael Lee-Chin, it is now owned by Patrick Dovigi: this former hockey goalie is at the head of GFL, a service company that offers environmental solutions…

In the memory of any skipper, there had never been so many ships anchored in the Gulf in the first half of July. The water was dotted with vessels, each more flamboyant than the last. The world of nautical activities is a major economic sector on the Var coast, whose growth has an impact on the entire local economy: the area around the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, which has five major ports, plus that of Cavalaire, is one of the epicenters of summer yachting in Europe.

Khalilah is a yacht accustomed to the Gulf waters, standing out in the nautical landscape with its sporty morphology. A robust bow, side decks made stealthy under this architectural arch. A distinctive feature of this 48-meter golden yacht (€30 million): a full carbon hull. Its owner, Russian banker Olga Mirimdkaya (ex-wife of Alexey Golubovich, a Russian oligarch), costs more than €37,000 per day to climb aboard this Palmer Johnson-designed jewel.

Ready for adventure... Pink Shadow is a real standout, part of the mega-yacht trend in the form of exploration vessels. In spring 2024, a container and a grenadier 4x4 were even installed on the aft deck, ready for any expedition. A yacht chartered for more than €500,000/week by its German owner, Hans Georg Näder, head of Baltic Yachts (Finland).

Stefania, a 41m superyacht exuding a whiff of sulfur, has returned to moor opposite the harbor master's office. Laid up in La Ciotat, the vessel was auctioned off at the end of March 2025 for €10 million to a discreet buyer. The boat was seized in 2021 thanks to Franco-Italian cooperation. Its owner, Belarusian billionaire Chaslau Koniukh, is under investigation for "arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and organized money laundering."