Model of Saudi Prince’s Luxury Yacht Fetches £30K in Quirky UK Auction

Lavish superyacht mock-up, once centerpiece aboard a £55 million vessel, sparks global curiosity from a small auction house in Scunthorpe

It’s not every day that a scaled-down version of a Saudi prince’s superyacht goes under the hammer in northern England. And even rarer when it ends up selling for more than a brand-new family car.

But that’s exactly what happened this week when a detailed model of the Sarafsa—a 269-foot floating palace—was snapped up for £30,200 during a silverware and fine furnishings auction held by Eddisons in Scunthorpe.

What made this tiny boat such a big deal? Well, the full-sized version used to belong to Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. And the model isn’t your average toy boat—it’s a 4ft-long custom-commissioned centerpiece made when the real yacht was being built back in 2008.

A Superyacht’s Shrunken Twin Finds a New Dock

At just over four feet in length, the scale model might seem modest. But what it represents is anything but.

The original Sarafsa was a floating six-deck behemoth, designed for opulence and discretion alike. Built in 2008, the yacht’s name alone was enough to turn heads in Mediterranean marinas. It boasted lavish interiors, a spa, gym, cinema, and even an elevator.

When the yacht was sold last year to an undisclosed buyer, its contents—think fine art, goblets from the Louis XVI era, and silver cutlery that wouldn’t look out of place in Versailles—were taken ashore. Then came the auction.

That’s where this quirky little story began.

According to Eddisons, the model had pride of place in the yacht’s main saloon. It wasn’t just decorative. It was a conversation piece—shiny, handcrafted, and loaded with detail. A mini monument to power, taste, and, let’s be honest, serious wealth.

The Auction That Surprised Even the Auctioneer

Paul Cooper, the man wielding the gavel that day, wasn’t shy about sharing his amazement.

“We don’t get many superyachts in Scunthorpe,” he joked, adding, “or their contents.”

This wasn’t just some estate clear-out or local antiques day. The sale included pieces sourced from some of Europe’s most prestigious names in silversmithing, porcelain, and crystal. Buyers ranged from collectors and yacht aficionados to people who just liked unusual stories behind expensive things.

Here’s what caught bidders’ attention:

• A custom silver claret jug and gold-rimmed crystal glasses

• A black lion sculpture with gleaming red eyes

• Fine porcelain dinner sets

• A smaller yacht model crafted by celebrity London jeweller Theo Fennell

• And, most talked about of all, two goblets believed to have belonged to King Louis XVI

Some of those pieces pulled in four-figure sums even before the auction got underway.

From French Royalty to Saudi Luxury: Objects With Serious Provenance

It’s not often you see objects with ties to both Versailles and Riyadh in the same auction.

The goblets, said to have once belonged to France’s doomed last king, drew special attention from history buffs. Though provenance documents weren’t made public, the association was enough to light up pre-sale inquiries.

And then there was Theo Fennell’s involvement. Known for designing jewellery for Elton John, David Beckham, and the late Princess Diana, Fennell’s custom model was an auction highlight in its own right.

This strange combination—royal French goblets, Saudi yacht decor, and high-end British design—created a sort of cultural time capsule. It blended worlds you’d never expect to meet on the same auction list.

One sentence sums it up: opulence met oddity.

The Big Boat and Its Bigger Price Tag

When Sarafsa hit the market in April 2023, the asking price was €65 million—roughly £55.4 million at the time. The buyer remains unnamed, which is par for the course in superyacht sales.

Built by Devonport Yachts in the UK, the vessel had long been docked out of sight of the public eye. While most of the Saudi royal family’s fleet is rarely documented, Sarafsa occasionally appeared in Monaco or along the French Riviera.

And though details are scarce, it’s widely believed the yacht served as a private retreat more than a party palace. Less Gatsby, more discreet majesty.

Here’s a quick comparison between the real deal and the model:

The sale of the yacht itself may have gone mostly unnoticed. But this little model has stolen the spotlight.

More Than Just A Boat — It’s A Statement

To some, paying £30,000 for a model boat seems absurd. But for others, it’s a symbol. It speaks to craftsmanship, exclusivity, and maybe a little bit of intrigue.

The buyer hasn’t been publicly identified. But according to Eddisons, interest came from several countries and included private collectors, luxury yacht brokers, and one high-end design firm that apparently wanted to use it as a showpiece.

One sentence from Cooper sticks in the mind: “This model doesn’t just represent a yacht—it represents a whole lifestyle.