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Trieste isn’t actually part of our core sailing area, but for us sailors, this news is simply too fascinating (and absurd) to leave out.
Some things in life are expensive. And then there’s the “Sailing Yacht A.” This 143-meter-long, futuristic three-masted behemoth has “graced” the Gulf of Trieste for the past four and a half years—and, in the process, burned a gigantic hole in the Italian treasury. Now, the 530-million-euro vessel owned by Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko is leaving its mooring for an inspection. The real scandal, however, is the astronomical bill it leaves behind.
Ever since the yacht was impounded in March 2022 as part of EU sanctions, Italian taxpayers have been forced to act as the yacht’s sponsor. After all, a ship of this class doesn’t just sit at the pier for free: Maintaining this floating fortress—including a 20-person crew, special cleaning, insurance, and fuel—costs a staggering 26,000 euros. Every single day! That adds up to a whopping 45 million euros that have been squandered so far on this involuntary parking spot. The mayor of Trieste has already aptly called this sponsorship a “disgrace.”
Now the sailing giant must temporarily head to the shipyard in Ancona for its mandatory 5-year classification. What’s particularly amusing: It was actually supposed to go to Genoa in Liguria, but transporting it there simply proved to be “too costly.” After 45 million euros in mooring fees alone, it seems that Italy is suddenly starting to pay attention to travel costs.
The bitter irony for the government: The ship may have left the port, but the maintenance costs keep piling up. It’s true that there’s a law in Italy allowing the government to recoup those fees from the owner later. But whether the oligarch will actually transfer half his fortune to Rome as port fees once the sanctions are lifted is highly doubtful—with a big wink. Until then, the “A” will likely remain the most expensive pet Italy has ever had to feed.
