Wealthy Bond Fan Buys Sailboat From Casino Royale

A luxury yacht that appeared in the James Bond film ‘Casino Royale’ has been snapped up by one of the British spy’s biggest fans.

Image shows Dr Tim Rose, aged 53, undated photo. The man from the city of Leipzig, in Germany, bought the yacht from James Bond’s ‘Casino Royale’ in 2006. (Newsflash)

The Soufriere – on which Daniel Craig and Eva Green sailed to Venice, Italy, in the 2006 film Casino Royale – was bought by a German orthopaedist, media claimed.

The man – identified as 53-year-old Dr Tim Rose from the city of Leipzig, Saxony State – recalled the first time he set eyes upon the stunning, 54-foot-long vessel in on a trip to the British Isles.

Rose, a self-professed James Bond mega fan, said: “I visited her in Ireland.

“I heard about her and immediately flew there with the whole family. The yacht is now in southern England and I will pick her up from there this week.”

The 007 nut, who only recently got his sailing licence, revealed that he wants to transfer the yacht from England to Marina High Dune, near the city of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State.

He has reportedly just opened a James Bond exhibition featuring works by artist Michael Fischer in the Leipzig suburb of Markkleeberg.

Despite owning an Aston Martin – Bond’s signature vehicle – Rose added: “But buying a yacht is something else entirely. That’s a life decision.”

Image shows the ‘Soufriere’ yacht from James Bond’s ‘Casino Royale’ in 2006, undated photo. It was bought by Dr Tim Rose, aged 53, from the city of Leipzig, in Germany. (Newsflash)

Rose failed to disclose what he paid for the yacht, but reports say it was last put up for sale online several years ago for USD 1 million (GBP 821,000).

The Soufriere, also called the Spirit 54, was handcrafted for Casino Royale by Spirit Yachts’ skilled team of boat builders in Ipswich, Suffolk County.

After the movie, it was reportedly sold to an Irish buyer who used it for cruising and racing, mostly in the UK and Ireland.

It can reportedly host up to six guests in two double cabins. It also boasts a spacious living area, complete with a mahogany dining table and a well-equipped galley.

It is powered by a single 54hp Yanmar diesel engine.

The yacht is known for being the first sailing boat to go up the Grand Canal in 300 years.