Key Takeaways
- The two prime berths (A01 and A02) on Port Vauban’s Billionaires’ Quay in Antibes were originally secured by Bill Gates in 2020 for a 20‑year lease valued at roughly €63 million (≈ $80 million).
- They were purpose‑built to accommodate Gates’ hydrogen‑powered superyacht Breakthrough (118.8 m) and her support vessel Wayfinder (68 m), requiring extensive marina upgrades—including a mole extension to >120 m, helistation relocation, and hydrogen‑refuelling infrastructure.
- Port Vauban became the world’s first marina capable of supplying liquid hydrogen to a superyacht, a milestone demonstrated when Breakthrough refuelled there in 2023.
- Gates never used the berths personally; both yachts were sold (Breakthrough to Canadian billionaire Patrick Dovigi for ≈ $650 million, Wayfinder in 2024), leaving the bespoke infrastructure and prime waterfront real estate on the market.
- The berths now offer a rare, permanent foothold on one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive stretches, complete with ISPS‑level security, concierge, VIP pontoons, helipad access, crew facilities, and potential sub‑rental income, making them highly attractive despite the departure of the original yacht program.
The berths on sale—designated A01 and A02—occupy a coveted stretch of Quai Camille Rayon, better known as Billionaires’ Quay at Port Vauban in Antibes. This section of the quay, originally constructed in the 1980s to host King Fahd’s yacht, is renowned for accommodating vessels over 100 metres in length and sits between Monaco and Saint‑Tropez, a location that few marinas can rival for prestige and accessibility. The package includes a 140‑metre primary berth and a 70‑metre secondary berth, a configuration deliberately designed to support a mothership‑and‑support‑vessel operation.
When Bill Gates entered into the agreement in 2020, the vision extended far beyond merely docking two yachts. To realise the hydrogen‑powered superyacht Breakthrough and her 68‑metre tender Wayfinder, Port Vauban undertook approximately €7.1 million (over $8 million) of civil works. The main mole was lengthened from about 40 metres to more than 120 metres, secondary docking zones were rebuilt, maneuvering areas widened, the helistation relocated, and dedicated access routes for heavy trucks and crane operations installed. A 20‑metre pedestrian gangway was added to facilitate crew movement. These upgrades transformed the marina into a specialised hub capable of handling the stringent requirements of liquid hydrogen storage and transfer.
The technical highlight of the project came when Port Vauban became the first marina worldwide able to supply liquid hydrogen to a superyacht. Liquid hydrogen must be kept at –253 °C (–423.4 °F), necessitating a tightly coordinated effort involving specialised transport trucks, port authorities, hydrogen experts, and local emergency services. In 2023, Breakthrough successfully refuelled at Antibes, a procedure completed within hours and widely reported as a breakthrough for clean maritime propulsion. The event underscored the marina’s readiness to host cutting‑edge, zero‑emission yachts and positioned Antibes at the forefront of a nascent hydrogen yachting ecosystem.
Ironically, Gates never realised the personal use of these berths. Breakthrough was sold before he ever stepped aboard, with Canadian billionaire Patrick Dovigi acquiring the vessel in a deal reportedly worth around $650 million. The support yacht Wayfinder followed suit, changing hands in 2024. Consequently, the bespoke infrastructure—originally tailored for a hydrogen‑powered flagship and her tender—now stands as a standalone asset. Despite the departure of the yachts, the berths retain extraordinary value: they offer long‑term, secure mooring in a market where large‑yacht slips are exceedingly scarce, and they come with a full suite of luxury services, including ISPS‑level security, concierge assistance, VIP pontoons, helipad access, crew facilities, event spaces, and maintenance support. Owners also retain the ability to sub‑rent the slips, creating an income stream.
In essence, the sale of these berths presents a unique opportunity: not merely the acquisition of two prime moorings, but the purchase of a purpose‑built, hydrogen‑ready superyacht base on one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive waterfronts. The infrastructure that enabled a world‑first liquid‑hydrogen refuelling remains intact, offering the next buyer a permanent, strategically positioned platform that is arguably harder to obtain than the yachts themselves. For anyone seeking a foothold at the apex of yachting luxury and technological innovation, the Antibes berths represent a compelling, rare proposition.