“Buying a boat was a more fun investment than buying a Van Gogh. And it’s the same as a work of art.” The boat in question is the Nabila, a megayacht paid $29 million. The man who uttered these words is the new president of the United States of America, Donald Trump. Perhaps this is the only intelligent phrase we have heard him say. This is a statement he made years ago to journalist Vincenzo Zaccagnino, who included it in his book “Paper Boats” (Mursia, 298 pp, 17 euros) recently released in bookstores.
THE NABILA
Called the “most spectacular boat in the world” at the time of its launch by Power and Motoryacht magazine, the former Nabila is an 86-meter (282-foot) yacht launched by the Benetti shipyards in Viareggio on June 25, 1979 and delivered to Saudi businessman Adnan Khashoggi on June 25, 1980 in the port of Monte Carlo. Khashoggi, in 1989, sells yacht to Hassanal Bolkiah, 29th Sultan of Brunei who almost immediately sold it back to Donald Trump, who renamed it Trump Princess, and, after a minor makeover, briefly used it as a casino and guest house for wealthy gamblers and refitted the hospital area into a warehouse. The yacht remains Trump’s property only until 1991, year in which ownership passed to Saudi Emir Al-Walid bin Talal (current owner) who renamed it Kingdom 5KR.
