The Meduse, Paul Allen’s #3 yacht arrived yesterday.
The Meduse, number 90 in the list of top 100 superyachts is apparently still a favorite within Paul Allen’s fleet. Built in 1996, and named rather ominously after the opera Le Naufrage de la Méduse (“The Wreck of the Medusa,” written in 1839 by the German-born French composer Baron von Friedrich Flotow), the yacht has served the Microsoft cofounder on cruises up the Amazon River and many other undisturbed areas of the globe. I believe it has an “ice breaker” hull – like his big yacht – the Octopus. (BTW, meduse means jellyfish in french.)
A keen student of music who has broken his share of Fender Stratocasters, Allen had her fitted out with a full digital recording studio with the reported assistance of Peter Gabriel, who has cut tracks on board, as have other stars, including the Eurythmics. The vessel also boasts a 12-seater acoustically optimized cinema. This 200 foot Feadship has the owner’s and principal guest suites on the main deck and four other staterooms below, together with a gymnasium for guests to work off the five-star a la carte fare.
Essential toys include a helicopter and a garage full of tenders, jet skis and scuba equipment. Meduse has a maximum speed of only 16 knots, but a range of more than 5,000 miles. When the helicopter lands on the boat – everyone on land watches. It is a good show.
Are the people on the yacht happier than I am in the cheap hotel on land – I doubt it. After all – they don’t have a Macbook Air. And maybe it is an iPod free zone?
I like to see and hear of great successes. Always thought it would be possible for me. I believe it has been, at least by my definition of great success, and well being.