Mohamed Al Fayed Shuns Super Yachts to Holiday On Sail Boat in St Tropez
- Former Harrods owner was spotted enjoying some downtime before strolling through the exclusive French port
- But while other tycoons choose to sun themselves on modern super yachts, Mr Al Fayed prefers classic sail boat
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- The yacht, built in 1913, has previously been used by the Al Fayeds for family holidays in the south of France
Savouring an ice cream in the sun, billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed looked relaxed as he joined flocks of wealthy holidaymakers summering in St Tropez. The former Harrods owner was spotted enjoying some downtime before strolling through the exclusive French port with his family.
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But while other tycoons choose to sun themselves on the decks of modern super yachts – complete with nightclubs, helicopter pads and even missile defence systems – Mr Al Fayed was pictured unwinding on a vintage sail boat.
The 86-year-old appeared in good spirits as he sat barefoot on board the 112ft Sakara, his head protected by a hat emblazoned with the vessel’s name. The yacht, built in 1913 by an American shipbuilding firm, is used by the Egyptian tycoon for holidays around Europe.
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In 2009, Mr Al Fayed was seen soaking up the sun with his daughter, Camilla, in the south of France, and hosted the Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar later that year.
While still impressive, the yacht is a far cry from the state-of-the-art Eclipse owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, which can accommodate 36 guests in comfort, and boasts a cinema, conference facilities and children’s playroom.
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Mr Al Fayed last year sold his own superyacht, named the Sokar, to an unknown buyer. The 208ft yacht was used by Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, and the couple were pictured on board the vessel shortly before their deaths in 1997.
Today, Mr Al Fayed is understood to have been joined by members of his family – and a small army of attendants. He enjoyed an ice cream on a deck chair before sharing a joke with staff as he disembarked.
Dressed in a check shirt, loose black trousers and casual white shoes, Mr Al Fayed seemed happy to blend into the crowd as he strolled through the streets of St Tropez.
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His holiday comes just months after he made headlines when it emerged he was facing a police probe into a claim that he raped a young woman following a job interview. At the time, Mr Al Fayed furiously denied the allegations.
