Superyachts, supercars and powerboats - Ibiza gears up for summer of excess
With the Gumball 3000 Rally, Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and an eight million euro overhaul of the Port of Ibiza planned for summer 2014, this Spanish Island is in for a spell under the luxury spotlight. Agent Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty has a front row seat on the action.
Glynn Evans, Managing Director of Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty, says, “Ibiza is known for many things, for being home to partygoers at Pacha and Privilege, upwardly mobile jetsetters at world-famous beach clubs and middle class yoga fanatics staking out the gorgeous countryside, but the Island isn’t usually known for superyachts, supercars and powerboats – until now. In 2014 we will be lucky enough to experience it all from our waterfront Marina Botafoch office, as will millions of others as Gumball 3000 and Class 1 are both being televised globally. I am certain the world will be impressed by our gem of a White Isle.”
First to cruise into town is Gumball 3000’s 16th annual car rally. Starting in Miami on 4 June and concluding one week later in Ibiza on 11 June, the adrenalin-fuelled road trip will cross five countries in two continents enjoying parties, concerts and VIP hospitality along the way. Created by ex-racing driver, designer and entrepreneur, Maximillion Cooper, the Gumball 3000 now attracts live crowds of over a million people. Previous petrol head participants have included Dannii Minogue, Jodie Kidd, Danny Dyer, Rachel Hunter, Caprice and Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay. Ibiza is an obvious choice for the perfect hedonistic closing party.
Next up is a switch from the open road to the high seas and the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship which was established back in 1964. Ibiza is a new and exciting venue for this sport, joining Bulgaria, Italy and the UAE for the 2014 season, and will host its three-day Grand Prix weekend from 5 to 7 September. Regarded as the pinnacle of international offshore powerboat racing, a premium sporting brand to match its Moto GP and Formula 1 cousins, the twin-engined raceboats of Class 1 can reach speeds in excess of 250km/h and the ‘travelling circus’ will certainly make its presence felt when it comes into town towards the end of the summer.
Just one week after the powerboats leave the island, work will begin on the Port of Ibiza’s eight million euro facelift. The project will demolish the old disused ferry terminal and in its place create a large 5,000m² public square, a 400m² building housing storage, changing rooms, offices, a tourist office and public bathrooms, plus a 200m² street-level terrace. Road traffic and parking spaces will be restricted to the essential minimum and a cycle path will connect the Port to the City. Work will commence on 15 September and finish in May 2015, ready for the next summer season. Chairman of the Balearic Port Authority, Alberto Pons, said that once the upgrade was complete, this superyacht haven would be amongst “the best in the Mediterranean, if not the best”.
On the Market with Views of the Action:
Ref 6367 – Villa in Jesus, Ibiza
A newly built designer villa with panoramic sea views set in the secured gated community Can Rimbau, just minutes from Marina Botafoch, shops, restaurants and popular Talamanca beach. The minimalist-style villa has been strategically built to maximize the views, especially from the large inviting swimming pool. All bedrooms have private terraces and en suite bathrooms and there is a vast basement that can be custom-converted to suit the buyer’s needs.
Three bedrooms, Four Bathrooms
Built area 600m², Plot size 2,500m²
Price 3.95 million euros (approx 3.3 million GBP)
Ref 6427 – Villa in Talamanca, Ibiza
A modern villa of a very high standard benefitting from panoramic views across the Mediterranean, the island of Formentera, Ibiza’s marina zone and UNESCO-protected Old Town. Located in Can Pep Simo, just five minutes drive from Ibiza Town, this newly built home boasts a very special design and retains absolute privacy. The main entrance features a cave carved into the rock with a minimalistic staircase reaching the lounge and open-plan kitchen. At the same level is a terrace and swimming pool with glass portholes in its floor and windows along the sides. On the upper floor are a small lounge, master bedroom suite, and three further bedrooms and bathrooms. The roof terrace is a blank canvas for a chillout area with panoramic views.
Four bedrooms, Three bathrooms
Build area 461m², Plot size 924m²
Price 4.6 million euros (approx 3.85 million GBP)
For more information, visit sothebysrealty.com.
