18/10/2018
RIP Paul Allen. It was a pleasure taking care of your logistical requirements for your visit to the London 2012 Olympics
GR8 FR8's involvement in London's 2012 Olympic games
GR8 FR8 had the pleasure to be involved when supplying "My Octopus" (Microsoft
co-founder Paul Allen's 413ft-long superyacht) with all the necessities from around
the globe. Pimento wood from Jamaica for those essential BBQ's to 100% Woollen
carpets from New Zealand, totalling over 80's consignments we delivered as promised
on each occasion.
2012
The daily mail wrote:-
"The 12th largest yacht in the world, Octopus is also renowned for its star-studded parties and is set to be the scene for some of London’s glitziest showbiz bashes over the coming days as A-List Hollywood stars come to Britain for the Games.
It boasts enough gadgets to keep a Bond villain in business and due to Allen’s love of rock music, comes with its own recording studio.
The reclusive billionaire, 59 - whose boat arrived at Canary Wharf’s West India Quay on Friday - is a keen guitarist and keyboard player and employs his own band so when he wants to jam he’s got people to play with.
He famously bought the guitar Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock for $750,000.
Artists including the RnB superstar Usher, the Eurythmics Dave Stewart, U2 and Johnny Cash, have all played on board.
The crew spent all night preparing the boat for Allen’s arrival - with AC/DC blasting out from the on-board sound system.
Hundreds of people watched its arrival, with Olympic flag flying high, as it negotiated its way past the Dome this week.
Weighing 9,000 tonnes, the ship is the world’s largest expedition yacht - and Allen recently returned from taking her to the Antarctic.
It is also a regular at the French Rivera, Venice and the Caribbean. It has 41 suites and 60 full-time crew.
It has a 10-man submarine capable of two-week-long trips under the sea, as well as a smaller remote control-operated sub.
To launch the larger submarine the boats entire end opens up to allow the sub to leave.
The aft of the ship also contains hatches that can open to reveal a fully serviced spa, a bar area and access down to the sea to swim or to play with some of the yacht’s jetskis.
Allen snapped it up for $200 million in 2003 and it costs $20 million a year to run."
