You would be forgiven for thinking Cape Town is currently having a superyacht convention, such is the unprecedented influx of floating palaces cruising into Table Bay these days.
Cloudburst, Opera, Anna, Game Changer and Blue are just some of the top tier superyachts to visit, all of them inevitably linked to high net worth individuals including one on a Ukrainian sanction list.
Politics aside, the influx is a massive boost to the local economy and comes at a time when key maritime stakeholders like the V&A Waterfront and the City of Cape Town are positioning as a superyacht maintenance and service hub.
It is unclear how long the unexpected bonanza will last.
Stakeholders say the influx is a good trial run for Cape Town’s ability to cater for vessels of this kind. It also coincides with national government efforts to invest in small harbours, some of which could themselves offer superyacht services along with facilities for cruise liners.