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Billionaire's $250m superyacht spotted off Isle of Man coast

The impressive vessel visited Manx waters this week

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A tech billionaire’s superyacht has been spotted off the Manx coast.

The $250m superyacht Norn is owned by tycoon Charles Simonyi, 75, the software pioneer who joined the Microsoft Corporation in 1981 and is credited with being the chief architect of Word and Excel.

His fortune is estimated at $7.8bn.

In 2007 he became the fifth paying traveller to be sent into space, spending 11 days on board the International Space Station.

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Two years later he made history as the first tourist to go into space twice with a second trip to the ISS, once again launching from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in a Soyuz spacecraft.

The 295ft megayacht Norn was delivered new to Dr Simonyi last year.

It was built by German shipbuilder Lurssen and boasts an open-air cinema and a pool that can be converted into a dance floor.

The Norn had travelled from Dublin and was seen moored in Douglas bay yesterday (Monday).

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£196million superyacht owned by Microsoft billionaire spotted near Oban

The 295ft luxury vessel is owned by tech tycoon Charles Simonyi.

A £196 million superyacht has been spotted off the coast of Oban.

Norn, owned by billionaire businessman Charles Simonyi, is anchored near Kerrera Marina in the Sound of Kerrera .

Mr Simonyi, 75, is the mastermind behind several of Microsoft’s programs including Word and Excel.

According to Forbes , he has a net worth of around £6.1 billion.

The exact reason for their visit to the west coast is unknown.

On board Norn, the luxury superyacht anchored near Oban

The 295ft luxury vessel was built by German shipbuilder Lurssen in 2023.

The top deck has a helipad and there is an outdoor cinema plus pool.

Inside it has eight cabins with room for up to 16 guests and 20 crew.

There is also a beauty salon and gym onboard.

The annual cost to run the vessel is more than £12 million.

Norn is believed to be the businessman’s second luxury yacht, replacing his 230ft yacht Skat – which he sold to a company owned by Swiss entrepreneur Eugenio Losa in 2021.

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The superyachts owned by tech moguls

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to join the exclusive club of yacht-owning tech tycoons as the rumoured owner of Oceanco's mighty 127m sailing yacht . Though it should come as no surprise - other big names in tech such as the late Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison and Paul Allen have been responsible for some of the biggest and most ground-breaking superyachts in the world...

The 127-metre Oceanco sailing yacht Koru, formerly Y721, was launched and reportedly delivered to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in April 2023. This three-masted schooner, meaning “new beginnings” in Maori, with an expected 33000 GT and a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, is the largest in the world and the longest built in the Netherlands at Oceanco. Knocking Lürssen's Eos , owned by Biller and Diane von Furstenburg, off the top spot, Koru harnesses design similarities with her black hull, white superstructure and classic lines. However, the intricate gold paintwork, scarlet bootstrap and elaborate figurehead on the bow particularly set her apart.

Larry Ellison

American business magnate Larry Ellison is the co-founder of the billion-dollar computer tech corporation Oracle. In 2004, he commissioned the 138-metre Lürssen superyacht Rising Sun (pictured), which stands today as the 15th largest yacht in the world. It was also the last yacht that ever came from the drawing boards of legendary designed Jon Bannenberg, sporting a military-esque profile with a lean destroyer-type hull and extensive use of structural glass . Rising Sun boasts 8,000m² of living space including a wine cellar and basketball court, with a crew of 45. One of her tenders, a catamaran, even carries the yacht’s 4x4 vehicle ashore. 

Ellison later sold the yacht to media mogul David Geffen and has since hosted a parade of Hollywood's glitterati on board including Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen and Oprah Winfrey – to name a few. 

In 2011, Ellison appeared to downsize and took delivery of the 88-metre Feadship Musashi . Not unlike Rising Sun in its appearance, structural glass features heavily throughout with a central glass lift, surrounded by a stainless steel and glass staircase that passes through every deck.

More about this yacht

The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is responsible for two of the most iconic superyachts in the world. At 126-metres in length, Octopus is perhaps his most famous. Built by Lürssen in 2003, this ice-classed superyacht was designed for extended cruising to the most remote locations on earth with a range of 12,500 nautical miles. Home to a helicopter garage, drive-in tender garage, six tenders, and a submarine, she packs a serious punch within her 9,932GT – not to mention the cinema, swimming pool, recording studio, basketball court and spa. At the end of 2019, she joined the market for the very first time , having completed an eight-month refit at Blohm+Voss, and remains the benchmark for exploration yachting.

Tatoosh is another honourable mention and was built by German shipyard Nobiskrug in 2000, three years prior to the delivery of Octopus . At 92-metres, she's smaller than her successor, but to describe Tatoosh as "small" would be a severe understatement. Highlights include a six-foot-deep swimming pool, a pair of helipads, a crew of 30, and a custom 12-metre Hinckley powerboat that she carries on her top deck. Tatoosh is also listed for sale following a refit earlier this year. 

Yachts for charter

The 78-metre Feadship Venus was built for the late Apple boss and founder Steve Jobs. Built under the codename Project Aqua, Venus was launched to international fanfare in 2012, heralded for its extensive use of glass and pared-back design courtesy of Philippe Starck . Innovative features include a false top deck that conceals the communication and television receivers from view and a passarelle that, when opened, looks like the charging port of an iPhone. Venus ’s interior details have been closely guarded since its launch. Sadly, Jobs died a year before the yacht was delivered.

Charles Simonyi

Charles Simonyi led the team that built the first edition of the Microsoft Office software suite and was rumoured to have previously owned Lürssen’s iconic 71-metre SKAT .  Nearly two decades after her launch in 2002, she joined the market for the first time and now Simonyi is thought to have upgraded to the 89-metre Lürssen Norn . Both yachts, penned by Espen Onion, share similar design features. Standout features include an alfresco cinema and adapted depth pool floor with dance floor. Norn was delivered in May 2023.

Sergey Brin

Google co-founder Sergey Brin reportedly owns the high-speed SilverYachts superyacht named Dragonfly , after Google’s once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Delivered in 2009, the 73.3-metre Dragonfly was hailed as the fastest, most fuel-efficient long-range cruising superyacht on the water with a transatlantic range at 22 knots and a fuel consumption of only 360 litres per hour at 18 knots, extending her range to 4,500 nautical miles. Dragonfly is said to have a dance floor and open-air movie theatre on board. The vessel was applauded for its contribution to the disaster relief effort in Vanuatu after Hurricane Pam devastated the island in 2015. The crew reportedly moved 62 metric tons of freshwater ashore, treated over 250 patients, facilitated three medical evacuations, and built shelters in multiple villages and cleared numerous helicopter landing zones for ongoing support.

Yachts for sale

Google’s billionaire co-founder Larry Page purchased the 60-metre explorer yacht conversion Senses from a New Zealand businessman Sir Douglas Myers back in 2011. The globe-trotting superyacht features interiors by Philippe Starck and can accommodate a total of 12 guests on board, with primary guests reaping the benefits of the master suite's gyro-stabilised bed. Senses also houses an exceptional toy box with three high-speed tenders, six wave runners, a jet board and a JetLev. According to the New Zealand Herald, Senses is currently undergoing a refit in Whangārei, New Zealand, after being sold to an unknown buyer in 2020. 

Barry Diller

The world’s largest three-masted schooner – also the third largest sailing yacht in the world – is owned by fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg and her husband Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia Group. The 92.92-metre sailing yacht, named Eos , was built in Germany by Lürssen and delivered in 2006 with a trio of masts that stand 61-metres tall. The sailing yacht has hosted the couple's star-studded group of friends including Andy Cohen, Gayle King, Bradley Cooper, Harry Styles and Karlie Kloss. The interiors were designed by Francois Catroux, who Vanity Fair named as “the super-rich's favourite interior designer" in 2016.

Mark Zuckerburg

The 107-metre Kleven superyacht Andromeda was built for serial superyacht owner Graeme Hart and delivered under the name Ulysses . In 2017, a year after its launch, rumours began circulating that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg had purchased the rugged, six-deck explorer (although a Facebook spokesperson was quick to stamp out the rumours and released a statement denying the claims). Andromeda can carry 36 guests and is equipped with an impressive inventory of toys and tenders, including six motorbikes, two ATVs, a helicopter and an amphibious rib. Five years after her launch, Andromeda still ranks among the largest explorer yachts in the world . 

Eric Schmidt

The former Google ceo Eric Schmidt backed out of the purchase of the abandoned 81.3-metre Oceanco Alfa Nero but has been said to have moved onto become the new owner of a 95-metre Lürssen. Kismet was sold in September 2023 to the billionaire as part of one of the biggest brokerage deal of the year. With the details shrouded in secrecy the yacht is now aptly known as Whisper . Espen Onio was responsible for her iconic exterior while inside was thanks to  Reymond Langton , achieving the original brief from the previous commissioning owner Shahid Khan of “caviar and champagne.” Standout details include the hi-tech, art deco saloon, a private observation platform and the Persian-inspired spa area.

The co-founder and former ceo of WhatsApp, Jan Koum, has been rumoured to own the 99.9-metre Feadship , Moonrise. The yacht’s clean and strong lines, penned by Chris Bottoms from Studio de Voogt , won the highly competitive class of best displacement motor yachts above 3,000 GT in the World Superyacht Awards 2021. Features include the helicopter landing deck and modern interiors by Remi Tessier . Accommodation is for up to 16 guests, and there are 32 crew members onboard Moonrise to attend to the guests' every need. The Ukrainian-American mogul is also said to own the accompanying support vessel Nebula.

Evan Speigel

The Silicone Valley ceo, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel has been reportedly said to own the 94.8-metre Feadship Bliss. Delivered in 2021 the motor yacht penned by Feadship's Studio De Voogt Naval Architects has most recently been spotted cruising Auckland in September 2023. Spiegel is rumoured to be Feadship's younger client. Bliss can accommodate up to 18 guests across nine staterooms; however little else is known about the 2983 GT yacht.

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Tech billionaire's £250million superyacht arrives in Scots town

• Yacht owned by Microsoft Office creator Charles Simonyi stopped at Oban in Argyll
• Crew members were seen returning to the vessel loaded with supplies, including Aldi shopping bags
• Harbour officials said it was unknown who was on the yacht, which did not have to sign in as it in open water

It is a £250million superyacht owned by Microsoft Word billionaire Charles Simonyi.

So it was some surprise to locals when the 295ft luxury vessel, Norn, cruised up to the town of Oban on Wednesday.

The boat had sailed into the west coast port after being seen in Dublin last week, where it was speculated Taylor Swift , who jetted in there for a concert, was on board at one stage.

The crew were yesterday (THURS) seen returning to the vessel loaded with supplies.

And from the Aldi shopping bags seen being carried aboard it seems like that even billionaires are savvy shoppers.

Oban harbour master Vicki McKenzie said it was unknown who was on the yacht, which did not have to sign in as it in open water.

Andy Spence, Chief Executive of business group BID4Oban. said: ‘I am not surprised that this amazing superyacht has come to Oban as the town’s reputation, among visitors on land and sea, is soaring.

‘Oban is now getting ready to welcome ocean racing yachts from the Round the World Clipper Race, for a stopover from July 12-21, which demonstrates its growing appeal.’ The gleaming superyacht has a white helicopter, open air cinema and a swimming pool which can be converted into a dance floor.

Hungarian Mr Simonyi, 74, is said to be worth £6.1 billion and made his money creating the MS Word and Excel computer programmes.

After working as a night watchman in a computer lab in the 1960s he co-founded and led a company called Intentional Software, which was bought by Microsoft in 2017.

One of Microsoft’s early employees, he went on to lead the company’s journey into great success in the software world.

He bought the new boat, which was constructed in Germany by Lurssen superyacht builders, after owning another yacht for over 20 years.

■ Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport 

Skat: The Most Famous Yacht That You’ve Never Heard Of

Constructed by Lurssen Werft out of Bremen, Germany as project 9906 (prominently displayed on the hull of the ship), and Skat, is a luxury yacht that boasts many geometric features which have found their way unto mainstream superyacht designs. Skat was the precursor to the continually-growing linear design language. During the design of the yacht, the designers extensively utilized a variety of computer programs which allowed structures to be optimized and more glass used during the construction. These design programs played a significant role in developing the daring features of the ship.

The Owner’s Vision

The owner, Charles Simonyi, approached Lurssen Werft with an idea that this superyacht should be visually dramatic. As a result, the chief designer and stylist on the project, Espen Oeino, determined that the best method of achieving this vision is to utilize linear design which allows for more daring activities. The designers succeeded by breaking the boundaries and showing the yacht industry that no ship needs to conform to a specific stereotype. The interior was designed by Marco Zanini to create a home away from home environment with all modern fixtures.

At the moment, the yacht is in private use, last seen in the Caribbean during winter 2015. The yacht is expected to return to Europe in summer 2016. The project began in November 1999 and finally launched in 2001. In Simonyi’s past, he had a Danish girlfriend who referred to him as Skat (Danish for treasure), which is a common term of endearment within the language, similar to honey in English. Simonyi purchased the yacht for $75 million.

The onboard helicopter is painted in the same grey color as the yacht, which also matches Simonyi’s private jet and home. These four assets all follow the basic military styling. The grey paint appears to be menacing but the number on the hall really makes it look more institutional and military. Despite its large size, Simonyi wanted it to operate quietly which has been achieved through double-resilient mounted machinery.

General Specifications

The hull of this beautiful ship is constructed from steel while the entire ship is made from aluminum. The fuel tank boasts a capacity of 55,000 U.S. gallons and the water tank can hold 15,000 U.S. gallons. The dimensions of the ship are 233-feet x 44-feet with a 12-foot draft. Under the hood is 2,700 horsepower with a cruising speed of 15-knots and a maximum speed of 17-knots. The ship holds 10 guests and 16 crew members.

In addition to its ground-breaking design attributes, the Skat has an elevator that serves all four decks, a leisure platform with a Jacuzzi and a gymnasium located under the mast at the center of the ship. On the upper aft deck is a helipad that services a helicopter painted in the same colors as the ship to blend in. Also, halfway up the central mast is an observation platform with helm control. On-board there are two tenders, two jet skis and even motorcycles with an accompanying lift for easy exit from the ship when on land.

13-knots is achievable with only a single engine. There is an integrated cooling pump within the gearboxes which ensures safe operation when using only a single engine. This is accomplished by pumping oil through the unused gearbox. When the shaft of the idle engine is disengaged, the idle propeller and shaft can freewheel.

The overall exterior look of the yacht is one of military styling. When viewing photos of this yacht, there are many angles and sharp edges. The interior was designed in a minimalist style to match the exterior and maximize the amount of space on the yacht. The interior boasts original artworks by Vasarely and Lichtenstein which significantly increases the value even more. All spaces, including guest cabins, are free from unessential lines and decoration. The surfaces of the ship are simple, clean, uncluttered and painted with lots of light shining on the ship. This allows for the focus to be on guests and other people on the yacht.

With so much glass around the perimeter, not only is there a significant amount of light shining in on the ship, there are spectacular views of the surrounding environment. The overhanging conservatory provides a unique look from within the yacht and out. Oeino designed a smooth transition between the interior and exterior areas which focuses on a logical yet contemporary creation.

Zanini specified several materials and colors but was still able to achieve the correct richness in every space onboard with minimum tolerances of modern detailing. However, there are splashes of color, mostly reds and blues, which can be found on the furniture. As previously mentioned, there is a McDonnell Douglas MD-520N helicopter permanently onboard with sign N486CS (with the CS standing for Charles Simonyi).

About Charles Simonyi

Charles Simonyi began working at Microsoft in 1981 as the head of the application software group. He was the developer behind Microsoft’s Office Suite and the chief architect of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and other highly-used applications. As the company grew, Simonyi became one of the highest-ranking developers and gained stock worth more than $1 billion. As of June 2016, his net worth is around $1.6 billion. In 2002, Simonyi left Microsoft to co-founded a new computer company called, Intentional Software which had a goal of making the knowledge around the world more accessible and useful.

Additionally, Simonyi is an active philanthropist and a two-time space tourist aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. He also owns a military-style house in Medina Washington which was resembles the styling of the Skat. The house boasts a variety of modern art and is known as Villa Simonyi. Furthermore, his Dassault Falcon 7X jet is also styled to the yacht and house featuring a large cabin and valued at over $50 million.

The Skat yacht designer created much more dramatic styling in yachts to come while showing designers that they do not need to maintain a presence within the boundaries of design. As a result, many yacht designers have made daring choices on ships that have resulted in aesthetically-pleasing yacht designs across the globe.

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

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