Photo: IYC
During the pandemic, most of us weren't out there buying luxury toys, but that wasn't the case for millionaires like Gary Ball. Despite the inherent challenges at the time, he and his wife decided to invest in a unique Dutch superyacht, which they would enjoy for less than three years.
It's crazy to think that someone would be willing to spend millions of dollars on a superyacht based only on remote viewings. Yet, this risk didn't stop the Canadian entrepreneur Gary Ball and his wife from purchasing a new home away from home right at the height of the pandemic.
It was the summer of 2020 when the two decided to start looking for a boat. They had their heart set on Snowbird in just a few months – a record time, especially considering that they had to stick to remote viewings.
That's one of the advantages of buying a pre-loved superyacht: it saves time. While the world was dealing with the restrictions and downfalls of the pandemic, these two were ready to cruise to Florida and the Caribbean. They got their new toy in November 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed it in the following years, including a lavish six-week vacation along the Eastern seaboard of the US.
Despite their declared love for the 13-year-old Dutch vessel, Ball and his wife said goodbye to Snowbird after less than three years. It's true, they weren't avid yacht lovers to begin with, having owned just one other boat prior to that. Perhaps that's why it was so easy to part with the recently acquired Snowbird.
As for the sale itself, it was a slam dunk. The pleasure craft stayed on the market for just six months before finding a new owner willing to pay $13.9 million for it.
What distinguishes Snowbird from many other similar superyachts is the fresh, artistic approach to its interior style. This 128-footer (39 meters) is quite literally a floating gallery. David Ostrander of Iluminus Design Group redesigned the original Michela Reverberi interior during a refit, turning it into a vibrant space packed with unique works of art.
The original ink drawings by Hans Hofmann, dubbed "the father of abstract expressionism," are the most valuable items in the art collection on board. They can be admired in the main salon, highlighted by the unusually vivid mix of colors throughout. Roy Lichtenstein's 1965 print "Shipboard Girl" is another iconic art piece, among other limited-edition prints scattered throughout the yacht.
It was rumored that David Ostrander's father, Gary Ostrander, was one of the yacht's owners. Gary Ball himself was so impressed with this art-focused concept that he worked closely with Ostrander to replace the works of art that were no longer on board with similar ones. The yacht's new owner will most likely add his own personal touch to the timeless art collection that defines this beautiful Dutch build.
It was the summer of 2020 when the two decided to start looking for a boat. They had their heart set on Snowbird in just a few months – a record time, especially considering that they had to stick to remote viewings.
That's one of the advantages of buying a pre-loved superyacht: it saves time. While the world was dealing with the restrictions and downfalls of the pandemic, these two were ready to cruise to Florida and the Caribbean. They got their new toy in November 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed it in the following years, including a lavish six-week vacation along the Eastern seaboard of the US.
Despite their declared love for the 13-year-old Dutch vessel, Ball and his wife said goodbye to Snowbird after less than three years. It's true, they weren't avid yacht lovers to begin with, having owned just one other boat prior to that. Perhaps that's why it was so easy to part with the recently acquired Snowbird.
As for the sale itself, it was a slam dunk. The pleasure craft stayed on the market for just six months before finding a new owner willing to pay $13.9 million for it.
What distinguishes Snowbird from many other similar superyachts is the fresh, artistic approach to its interior style. This 128-footer (39 meters) is quite literally a floating gallery. David Ostrander of Iluminus Design Group redesigned the original Michela Reverberi interior during a refit, turning it into a vibrant space packed with unique works of art.
The original ink drawings by Hans Hofmann, dubbed "the father of abstract expressionism," are the most valuable items in the art collection on board. They can be admired in the main salon, highlighted by the unusually vivid mix of colors throughout. Roy Lichtenstein's 1965 print "Shipboard Girl" is another iconic art piece, among other limited-edition prints scattered throughout the yacht.
It was rumored that David Ostrander's father, Gary Ostrander, was one of the yacht's owners. Gary Ball himself was so impressed with this art-focused concept that he worked closely with Ostrander to replace the works of art that were no longer on board with similar ones. The yacht's new owner will most likely add his own personal touch to the timeless art collection that defines this beautiful Dutch build.
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