A boat's license to thrill

Halle Berry aboard the Sunseeker Superhawk 48 in Die Another Day. [Photo/SUNSEEKER INTERNATIONAL]

"A private yacht is a good way to get out to sea and spend some time with the family, learn water sports－it's a good family pastime," explains Hui, as he looks out on the sun-drenched Aberdeen marina, where several distinctive Sunseekers are berthed. "People here just use them. It's like a floating villa－an extension of a holiday home that you can go to different places in and can spend the night on."

Hui contrasts that with the way luxury yachts are used in resorts such as Monte Carlo and Saint-Tropez, where people often charter boats "just to throw dinner parties" and to flaunt their wealth without ever leaving port. "It's a waste of money," he says. "I'd rather go somewhere quiet and enjoy a remote island or a white sandy beach. That's why I love boating."

A fun way to spend a weekend with friends and family, then－but with a hefty price tag. The entry-level Sunseeker Manhattan 52, which launched last September, costs ￡780,000 ($987,168, prices are fixed in pounds sterling worldwide) while at the top end, a 40 meter floating palace sells for ￡16.68 million.

The good news for those who can afford it is that buying a Sunseeker just became less expensive, thanks to the pound's spectacular fall since Brexit. The depreciation of the British currency has boosted sales among wealthy customers looking for a relative bargain, Hui reveals.