Growing up in France I was always enriched by a sense of the coast, of the Riviera, of exploring the seas.
advisory team to see the progress being made. It was a great experience, and you think you know what you’re getting; but the truth is nothing prepares you for the day it’s delivered, which came during the summer of 2022 – it’s like everything you thought it was going to be but 10-fold.”
©AvA Yachts
While the star’s champagne lifestyle as one of the sport’s elite was perhaps always going to point him towards the opulence of a yacht, his passion actually comes from a rather more sedate place. “Growing up in France I was always enriched by a sense of the coast, of the Riviera, of exploring the seas. Unless you live in the middle of France, you are drawn to the coastline because it is so long and expansive, so really it made sense that I was going to pursue something marine based – it felt like reuniting myself with a part of my childhood.”
French tennis star Gael Monfils is a close friend of Parker’s, and the pair have relished spending time on Infinity Nine with friends and family. “Gael is a perfect sounding board for me and has been for many years. We have both been through ups and downs in our career and are quite competitive. I tell him I have beaten him to retirement!”
Of course, since hanging up his sneakers in 2019 having seen out the final year of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, Parker now has much more time to enjoy his passion; but also to get used to a life that doesn’t revolve around the bustle and expectancy of the NBA.
©AvA Yachts
“I think spending time on the yacht is the perfect reference to how my life has changed, and how I am winding down from some of the intensity of a professional sports career.”
Parker admits the transition has taken some getting used to, though he witnessed the same in his father’s retirement – Tony Parker Sr also had a professional career in the sport, albeit nowhere near his son’s standard.
“I’m lucky that the way the game is today it can set you up for life, and although I have invested heavily in the project that is Infinity Nine, I feel it’s probably going to be my only true extravagance.”
With running costs of up to $2million per year, Infinity Nine’s demands go well beyond the purchase price. There’s also the small matter of the cost of travelling to and from his craft – the icon still lives in San Antonio, which is over 230km from the Texan coast and the seductive harbour front at Corpus Christi. Yet with a range of over 9,000km, once Parker reaches his yacht he can at least travel without interruption.
©AvA Yachts
While he throws praise over his yacht, it’s fair to say having such a high-profile customer is good for the AvA YAchts brand too. The shipbuilder’s Chairman and Founder, Atilla Küçükdiker,
26 | SUMMER 2023 | ONBOARD
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