Charade, an impressive 154-ft. superyacht custom built by Feadship De Vries Shipyard for Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen in 1990, on which Bill Gates spent part of his Hawaiian honeymoon in 1994, has been listed for sale by Merle Wood & Associates at $13.9 million. Allen, well known for commissioning some of the world's largest and most luxurious yachts, has since moved on to other eye-popping vessels; he currently counts the 416-ft. Octopus and the 303-ft. Tatoosh among his stable. It’s not known whether Allen still in fact owns Charade. He reportedly decided to sell the yacht when he had the Octopus built in 2003; according to some accounts his sister Jody then became the yacht’s unofficial owner. In 1996 he commissioned another Feadship christened Meduse.
Designed by De Voogt Naval Architects, Charade has accommodations for 12 passengers and 11 crew members and features interior design by McMillen of New York/Luis Rey. The luxury appointments include five large staterooms including a massive full-beam owner’s suite with his and hers baths where Gates held court; a private dining salon, sky lounge and al fresco aft deck. The very first Feadship to be completely electronically steered, Charade was a technical marvel at the time of her launch. Her twin 905 hp Caterpillar 3508 DI-TA engines are good for a top speed of 15 knots, and the yacht is well known for having navigated the furthest reaches of the globe, and made history when she sailed up the Amazon river. Other famed Feadship owners have included King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, Malcolm Forbes and Roman Abramovich.
