THE YACHT BUILT FOR THE PUBLISHER OF FORBES MAGAZINE

One of the best-known symbols of big business, the yacht HIGHLANDER, which hosted Margaret Thatcher and President Reagan among other heads of state, is available for charter for the first time.

During her early years, when she cruised the east coast of the USA, the guest list read like a who’s who of world glamour and power. THE HIGHLANDER, as she was then known, was built in 1986 for Malcolm Forbes, the Publisher of Forbes magazine, who died in 1990. The yacht hosted HRH Prince Charles, President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as well as movie stars including Robert de Niro, Elizabeth Taylor and Harrison Ford, and musicians Mick Jagger and Sir Paul McCartney.

Malcolm Forbes once said: “On a yacht like The Highlander you can establish the kind of rapport you don’t achieve talking across a desk.”

HIGHLANDER is available for charter from today through superyacht broker Edmiston, with prices starting from €160,000 per week. She will be based initially in the Mediterranean before moving to the Caribbean later in the year.

Edmiston founder and Chairman, Nicholas Edmiston said: “This is glamour personified - the yacht has been an iconic location for some of the world’s greatest political powerbrokers and socialites. Her distinctive history is reason enough for chartering but I think many people will also be attracted by her extensive facilities, so that they can entertain just as Forbes did in the late 1980s.”

Now owned by American financier Roberto de Guardiola, who purchased the yacht in 2012, HIGHLANDER has recently undergone a comprehensive refit in Florida including substantial interior changes, lengthening of the hull, major mechanical overhaul and a full paint.

Built in 1986 by Feadship, HIGHLANDER is 50metres/162feet long and has a cruising speed of 13 knots. She has six staterooms, which can comfortably sleep up to 12 guests, and holds a crew of 11 people. Quantum zero-speed stabilisers ensure a fantastic cruising performance.

HIGHLANDER has timeless styling, original pop art work, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous interior features throughout her living areas which create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

The legendary yacht comes complete with a string of facilities which enable anyone chartering her to live as glamorous and lavish a lifestyle as the original owner. As well as a helipad and jacuzzi, she has two tenders; a 6.7metre Donzi which seats 12 passengers and a 5.8metre Cigarette which has been fully restored to its original condition after being custom built for Malcolm Forbes by The Cigarette Racing Team in Miami. She also has a 3.7metre inflatable.

Other ‘toys’ onboard include:

2 x Yamaha VX Cruisers

2 x Seabobs

2 x Double Sea Kayaks

1 x Inflatable Paddle Board

1 x Kneeboard

1 x set of Wakeboards

1 x Adult ski’s

1 x Children’s ski’s

1 x Outlaw Salom Ski

8-person Aquaglide Rockit Inflatable Gym

1 x 3-person Banana

1 x 3-person Aquaglide Retro Towable Tube

12 x snorkeling gear

4 x scuba gear

2 x fishing gear

1 x Treadmill, Adjustable Bench, Free weights, Exercise Ball

Edmiston recently announced that the yacht market was recovering markedly, with five yachts sold in five weeks. At a total asking price of over €40million.

Edmiston has already seen a surge in charter bookings for summer 2014, up by 15% on the previous year, and is now seeing buyers from traditional markets return, a sign that the economic upturn is starting to take hold.