The scenery is grey, the sun pokes through the clouds for a few weeks a year and the rivers freeze over in winter, but Moscow is emerging as one of the world’s most unlikely yachting capitals.
For the city’s wealthy elite, a Bentley, a top-of-the-range BMW or a Hummer is yesterday’s fashion toy, and a boat is now the latest must-have accessory.
Guillaume Vorstelman, who runs a company selling luxury American yachts, said the Russian market was growing so fast he had sold five times as many boats this year as last.