WHEN you have an estimated wealth of around £4.3billion, you aren’t going to skimp on boys’ toys.
And billionaire Spurs owner Joe Lewis is testament to that fact – owning an astonishing £113million superyacht which measures 321-feet long.
The East End-born businessman is believed to live on board the Aviva, once spotted docked on the Thames, which has been referred to as his mobile office.
Better still, it has everything an 85-year-old would need in terms of amenities, including the very first full-size indoor tennis court ever installed on a yacht.
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NEW BALLS, PLEASE
Lewis does not need to be on dry land to get his tennis fix.
After all, he has an incredible tennis court built into the Aviva – the first of its kind – that he and his guests can play on.
At 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, the court area goes up to 6.65 metres high.
And it’s not just for tennis, as the yacht’s designer Reymond Langton explained.
“It is not only a lifestyle change for the owner but also for the crew as this is also the largest gym of any yacht,” the British design studio told Yacht Harbour.
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“The crew is encouraged to play with the owner and guests and when the court is not in use for padel (tennis), the net can be removed and the crew plays football and use other exercise equipment in the space.
“It is after all a sports hall.”
A MOBILE OFFICE
Lewis, who made his millions in currency trading after running several restaurants and nightclubs from the 1960s, spends most of the year on his boat.
For the Spurs boss, it’s not just a place where he can enjoy a luxurious life, the Aviva is perfect for working remotely.
“Communication and information are critical to me.” Lewis said in an interview with regards to his requirements for his floating office.
“To be effective, I need reliable phones and internet, these have improved much over the past few years, but, it is too expensive, too slow and not consistently reliable.
“Aviva is more than an office; it is also my home for much of the year. So for me, it is relaxing working from home, wherever Aviva may be in the world.”
It can also be used to entertain, just as it was when he invited the Spurs team on board in 2013 during their tour of the Bahamas.
Then-skipper Michael Dawson said: “I had never met him before, so it was nice to go over there and a great experience.
“What a really nice guy. And that yacht is unreal! But he’s just a normal guy. You could chat to him about anything. He tunes into all the games, he loves it. We just sat there chatting. He made us feel so welcome over there. It was relaxed. A lot of team-bonding together.”
BAHAMAS-READY
It’s mostly in the Bahamas where Lewis – among the richest men in the UK – spends his days as a tax exile.
And the Aviva, which can house up to 16 guests, is fully equipped for the Caribbean lifestyle.
The exterior relaxation area features a circular set of lounging pads on the sun deck, as well as smaller lounging pads towards the yacht’s bridge.
A cool swimming platform can also open up into the sea, that means you can have your own beach area with Aviva’s tenders coming out of side doors.
Talking about boys’ toys, the superyacht even has a speedboat and jet skis on board.
PERFORMANCE
The German-built Aviva, the 46th longest yacht in the world, took three years to complete.
And it’s certainly not lacking in spec, either.
Powered by an eco-friendly drive system, it can reach a top speed of 20 knots.
The unique hull design that comes together with an electric propulsions system means that less fuel is used.
Unbelievably, the Aviva can cruise at 11 knots purely on electric power only.
Now, where can we get one?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
