With the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games just a few days away it has been a busy weekend at Canary Wharf in London’s Docklands, where the first superyachts have been arriving. Dominating the scene is the monster Octopus (below), owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.



The 126-metre Lürssen was berthed alongside, and when we visited on Monday afternoon the crew of her tenders, including the 25-metre Man’O’War, were busy putting on an impromptu show of their berthing and close-quarters handling skills for the hundreds of office workers taking a lunchtime stroll. Alongside the dock was the 74-metre Amels Ilona, fresh from a recent refit that has seen a new helideck added, capable of taking the owner’s Agusta 109 helicopter. On the other side of the dock was the 65-metre Benetti Seanna (below left, with Octopus right), launched last year, and just across the way from her was the Feadship F45 Harle, launched in 2007 and in pristine condition. The 36-metre Benetti Classic Sea Blue Z was also nestled in the dock.



With more superyachts expected here and at Royal Docks by the ExCeL Olympic site, it has been a busy time for MGMT Yacht Services, who have been co-ordinating the arrival and berthing of the superyachts. “The interest from the media has been huge,” says Benjamin Sutton from MGMT. “It’s the biggest gathering of superyachts London has ever seen and we are providing a range of concierge services for the yachts, from transfers to the Olympic events to getting a reservation at the right restaurant. It’s full on at the moment and will remain so for the duration of the games.”