Formula 1 Abu Dhabi: Charter Broker Lewis Mabey Shares His Experience in the Middle East

Denison broker Lewis Mabey tells us all about his Middle East tour–starting in Dubai at the elite Gumball 3000 and ending at the illustrious Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

Just six months ago, Denison charter broker Lewis Mabey had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the world-renowned Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco with a direct view from the new Denison Yachting office, which had just recently opened earlier this year. It turns out, at least for Lewis, that “once-in-a-lifetime” actually comes around more than just once. We sat down with him to hear all about his most recent incredible adventure: his attendance at both the elite Gumball 3000 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lewis’ arrival in the Middle East started in Dubai for the Gumball 3000, an exclusive car rally event that spans 3,000 miles and features some of the most spectacular supercars in the world. This particular occurrence was the first time ever the event was held in the region. According to the event website: “This year’s spectacular route [took] the Gumballers on an eclectic journey full of unique cultural experiences, from futuristic cities, to desert havens, to some of the best coastal roads in the world – before finishing this epic adventure at the Yas Marina Circuit for the finale of the Formula 1 season.”

The route went through the country of Oman, which Lewis described with enthusiasm how “you drive through the actual desert…it is super remote with camels all around, and people are driving Ferraris in the middle of the desert.” Some of the stops included Jebel Akhdar, Salalah, and Muscat. In Jebel Akhdar, Lewis shared the surreal experience of being up in the mountains, while supercars rode through the clouds on the mountain roads that were closed off especially for the event. The rally commenced in Abu Dhabi, where the Grand Prix perfectly lined up as the grand finale of the Gumball 3000. While there was a designated terrace for the Gumball rally drivers to watch the Grand Prix, Lewis had other, more water-based plans.

That Saturday that he arrived was the Qualifying, and he got the opportunity to watch it from a 40-meter boat at Yas Marina, virtually trackside. Since the circuit is located on Yas Island, watching from a boat docked at the marina is like having front-row tickets to the race–it doesn’t get much closer than that. On Sunday, the day of the main race, he watched the racecars shooting by from a different boat, this one a 45-meter. According to Lewis, watching the Formula 1 race from a yacht was a whole new level of awe. In contrast to watching the Formula 1 race in Monaco, which was during the day, this was a nighttime race under floodlights, which was a completely different energy and vibe. In addition, the track in Abu Dhabi was an actual race track–wide and open, with plenty of space–whereas Monaco’s tight and narrow track was a regular city road. Watching the race from the water and from the comfort and luxury of a yacht (as opposed to from the balcony in Monaco) was also a big difference. The yacht had about ten times the amount of people viewing the Grand Prix than were at the Denison Monaco office earlier this year, so the energy was much more intense, plus the added nighttime “party” atmosphere. While the Monaco experience was more intimate and with a great view from the sixth floor overlooking the track, watching from the top deck of these yachts gave a firsthand experience that cannot be matched.

“Being on the top deck, you are literally on top of the track itself,” Lewis shared, “I could feel the wind of the cars speeding past.” He described being so close to the track that he could even “feel the engine and the heat of the car.” The yachts were positioned on a curve of the track where drivers could overtake, which added to the overall excitement. “I felt closer to the race; I felt more involved.”

Hearing about Lewis’ first-hand experience watching this world-renown sporting event from a yacht got us thinking…there really is no other way to do it. Yachting offers a totally different kind of experience. You have your intimacy with your chosen group of friends and loved ones, the exclusivity you get from watching from a yacht, the freedom to have whatever food, music, or comforts you’d prefer. It truly is the most luxurious way to watch a Formula 1 race, or any similar event (as opposed to buying expensive tickets for each one of those aforementioned guests, sitting in 40-degree desert heat, minus all the comforts we just listed). “Even if you are a super keen Formula 1 fan,” Lewis insists, “you can’t really get this close any other way.” When he puts it that way…it really is a no-brainer.

Now is the time to start planning for the Monaco Grand Prix–which is the next race for which you will be able to get a yacht charter, Lewis urges. He, too, claims it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience…even though it’s been a couple of times for him now! The beauty of chartering a yacht for these events, he shares, is that once they’re over, you can continue…whether that means exploring at sea or traveling to nearby destinations. Between the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and the World Cup in Qatar, Lewis said it was evident that the Middle East was filling up with people. If you’re already halfway across the world, why not explore? And there’s no better way to do just that than by yacht charter.

For future events, you too can charter a boat from the marina and watch the racing from there. If you are interested in any of these elite experiences, contact Denison charter broker Lewis Mabey for more information.