It's a kind of magic – not in the way the legendary Freddie Mercury sang it with the equally-legendary band Queen, but in a way that's illustrative of the current geopolitical situation.
La Datcha, the spectacular and impressive $100 million superyacht explorer owned by Russian banker Oleg Tinkov, has resurfaced. And – believe it or not – it did so just shortly after sanctions against its owner were lifted in the UK. If you believe in coincidences, that's a huge one.
Jokes aside, this is no coincidence, and neither is the entire story in black and white, as you might think. La Datcha, one of the most impressive and competent superyachts delivered in recent years, is back to broadcasting its location more than a year after it went dark. The owner of this impressive vessel is Russian banker Oleg Tinkov, a former billionaire who has been saying all along that he had cut ties with Russia – and had already paid a very high price for it back in his home country.
February 2022 marked the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Third-party countries voted for sanctions against Russian oligarchs only a few weeks later, saying that these sanctions – and subsequent seizures of luxury assets – would serve to discourage oligarchs from funding Putin's war. We all know how that worked out, and it wasn't as it was hoped it would be.
Photo: Damen Yachting
Oleg Tinkov, founder of Tinkoff Bank and a former multi-billionaire, was included on sanctions lists in the UK in May that same year. Within hours, two of his biggest assets, the $100 million La Datcha and a $63 million 2018 Dassault Falcon private jet, "disappeared." Both craft stopped broadcasting their location and were stowed away to prevent British authorities from seizing them.
Meanwhile, Tinkov argued his case publicly, saying that he had long been a critic of Putin's politics, for which reason he'd lost his business operations in the country and had been blacklisted. Earlier this week, his lobbying paid off, and after an intervention from Sir Richard Branson, the country's most prolific and popular businessman, Tinkov's name was removed from sanctions lists.
Again, within hours, La Datcha pinged on the map. Vessels over a certain tonnage are obligated by international maritime law to have AIS tracking (automatic identification system) turned on at all times so their position and movement are visible to authorities and other vessels. As sanctions went into effect in early 2022, most Russian-owned superyachts used the turning off of AIS as a means to "disappear" while they fled sailed to safety in friendly waters.
Photo: Damen Yachting
In May 2022, when it went dark, La Datcha was in Cabo San Lucas, in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Its AIS is now showing it moored in the port city of Ensenada, Mexico, where it sailed the other day from Cabo San Lucas. Now that its owner is no longer sanctioned, La Datcha is able to move around freely.
Truth be told, La Datcha was born to move. Described as "the icebreaker of superlatives," this spectacular vessel is a custom superyacht explorer and the world's first privately owned icebreaker. It's based on Damen Shipyards' SeaXplorer series, measuring 252 feet (77 meters) in total length and offering accommodation for 12 to 14 guests and a crew of 25.
La Datcha features exterior design by Azure Yacht Design, with Amels handling the interior design in direct collaboration with Tinkov and his family. Tinkov knew from the start what he wanted from his future superyacht, and excellent range, icebreaking capabilities, and luxury amenities were on that list.
Photo: Damen Yachting
La Datcha is immediately recognizable for its brown color theme, which extends to its tenders and even the three-person Triton submarine tucked neatly in one of the garages. This is an expedition vessel in every sense of the word, so those garages are packed full with expedition gear, from the sub to two beach lander tenders, diving equipment (there's also a decompression chamber), two helipads and hangars, RIBs, snow scooters, and bikes for all kinds of terrains.
But this is also a luxury vessel, so it comes with the usual amenities of a superyacht, from a jacuzzi on the sundeck to a gorgeous, glass-encased observation lounge with panoramic views, a fully-equipped gym, a wellness area with massage room, spa, treatment room, and Turkish Hammam. Interior spaces are lavish but elegantly styled in a way that invites calm and relaxation.
La Datcha has a 40-day autonomy at sea, which means it can travel 40 days without stopping at a port of call for resupplies. The Ice Class hull allows it to sail even through 16-inch (40.6-cm) thick ice, so it's built to reach the farthest destinations on Earth.
Photo: Damen Yachting
When Tinkov took delivery of the icebreaker in late 2020, he announced plans to use it himself for 20 weeks a year and charter it for the remainder of the time. He even came up with a few routes he imagined would be of interest and listed La Datcha with a $825,000 per-week charter starting price, not including fuel and provisions.
Right now, La Datcha is yet to make its return on the chartering market, but we assume that this is only a matter of time.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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