Italy

Campanella S.p.A. (Cantieri Navali)

Superyachts in St Barths for New Year’s 2026

SuperYacht Times takes a look at some of the many yachts that set the scene for celebrations on and off the water in St Barths.

In Pictures: Superyachts in St Barths for New Year’s 2026

The American Wall Street Crash of 1929 was caused by declining production and rising unemployment, as well as an excess of large bank loans that could never be repaid. Perhaps surprisingly, several large and luxurious yachts were completed in those times of growing tensions and declining fortunes.&nbsp;One such vessel was 56-metre superyacht, Kihna, the first ‘Elegant Lady’ we’ll touch on in this series. Built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> in 1930 and given her name by her American owner, Mrs. J. Fuller-Feder, Kihna was designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson</a>. Requisitioned by the British RN in 1942, she served as the auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kihna during the Second World War. In 1950, she was converted into a pilot tender for Trinity House by the London Graving Dock Co. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203355/image/large-62c64451e3b11aa8fd4bcacd2a3fdf3e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203355">In 1960 she was re-converted to a yacht. Named Kihna once again, her new owner was Australian David D. MacDonald. He kept her until 1968 when she was bought by Marsa Industries Ltd. Finally, in 1975, Kihna was bought by Charles Bailey’s Nationwide Transport, Cardiff, Wales. However, the yacht capsized in the Channel Drydock in 1983, deemed unworthy of repair and later dismantled. This was a sad outcome, marking the loss of a significant classic within a dwindling fleet of historic vessels. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The second ‘Elegant Lady’ was also built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> at their Gosport yard in 1937. Named <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malahne50.29m (164'12&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1937">Malahne</a> by her first owner, W.L. Stephenson, founder of the British Woolworth retail stores chain, the length of this yacht was 54-metres, and she was also designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson</a>. Stephenson used the yacht until she was laid up during the Second World War. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203358/image/large-738f72cadd63eb9924d1ed31a0f4e147.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203358">After the war, L.H. Prichard of Texas acquired <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malahne50.29m (164'12&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1937">Malahne</a> and renamed her Lev III. She changed hands again in 1951 when Greek shipping magnate, Maris A. Embiricos, bought her, naming her Narcissus. After only a year, the yacht’s next owner was arguably her most noteworthy — American film producer Sam Spiegel. In 1952 she was bought to be specifically used as a party yacht for his friends. He named her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malahne50.29m (164'12&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1937">Malahne</a> once again. At the time, Spiegel took exception to the arrival of Niarchos’s huge new yacht Atlantis which occupied a permanent berth next to his own yacht and blocked his view of Monte Carlo. He soon moved to a newly built house in St. Tropez where no one could spoil his view.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203356/image/large-0d256f7050441b75bbb67f5c3a328220.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203356">By then in need of a major refit, the yacht was sold in the early 1990s to a Saudi Arabian businessman and renamed Adel al-Mojil 12. Rather than restoring her, he built a new yacht, utilising two thirds of her hull and constructing a new superstructure. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/624" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campanella S.p.A. (Cantieri Navali) (Company)">Cantiere Campanella</a> at Savona were awarded the contract. The yacht ended up 12-foot longer, with a new bow and stern, plus a third superstructure deck, making her appear larger. She was later renamed Adel XII.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203357/image/large-d6858b02a4fb8103d0b9c1c6f77e6a47.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203357">Eventually rescued by her present owner and rebuilt to her original configuration by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pendennis Shipyard Ltd (Company)">Pendennis Shipyard</a> in Falmouth. G.L, Watson drew up the design and specification. It was a rather happy outcome to what could have resulted in the loss of one of today’s most important classic yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/41797/image/large-52a78b623d2f675d7c6c07a484361000.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/41797"> This article was originally published in the Autumn 2021 issue of The SuperYacht Times newspaper. To receive all future issues straight to your door, <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to the newspaper here</a>.

Yacht history Kihna and Malahne

SYT historian Malcolm Wood winds back the clock in our new series on ‘Elegant Ladies’ Kihna and Malahne

Elegant Ladies: Kihna and Malahne

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112860/image/large-558158389df3f059b2a99618f83f640e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112860">Spotted in Kusadasi Marina on Turkey’s western Aegean coast is the 1975-built 46.7-metre Italian motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2199" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adoria46.7m (153'3&quot;)Campanella S.p.A. (Cantieri Navali)1975">Adoria</a>. Built at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/624" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campanella S.p.A. (Cantieri Navali) (Company)">Campanella</a> shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2199" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adoria46.7m (153'3&quot;)Campanella S.p.A. (Cantieri Navali)1975">Adoria</a> is designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1245" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Anselmi Boretti Integral Designs (Company)">Anselmi Boretti</a> with an interior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/196" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio de Jorio (Company)">Giuseppe de Jorio</a> which accommodates up to 12 guests.

47m motor yacht Adoria in Turkey

The 47-metre motor yacht Adoria was built at the Campanella shipyard in Italy in 1975 and is seen here in Kusadasi, Turkey. 

The 47m motor yacht Adoria in Kusadasi

The Italian shipyard Mondomarine has revealed a new logo and website as part of their aim to construct a new identity for the brand. In addition, the company has also launched a new advertising campaign, with their new philosophy demonstrated in the tagline, ‘the next sea level’. The rebranding of Mondomarine comes after the company was acquired by Mr. Falciai and Mr. Zambrini.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/153579/image/large-6051925d74138ee2e7cfa54c710b0411.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/153579">Cantieri Navali Campanella will become the set for the production, the repair and refit offer and the showroom activities, but Mondomarine will continue to design, engineer and build yachts at the Savona Cantieri Navali Campanella production site, still offering full-cycle production right from the cutting of the hull plates all the way to completion.Mondomarine states, “The core idea is that constant evolution and striving for improvement are fundamental to achieve always the best result, that is why for Mondomarine the sea level is not enough if it’s possible to raise the bar.”Upcoming deliveries for the shipyard include the 40 metre SF40, which is schedule to be completed later this year. In 2016, the M50 and M60 superyachts will also be delivered, the M60 being the first 60 metre vessel built by the brand, and all the yachts mentioned will be constructed entirely of aluminium. In Spring 2017, an M40 Explorer will also be delivered.By Gemma Fottles

Mondomarine unveils new identity

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/141717/image/large-89dbc4430a02b211ffd357b2edc74988.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/141717">The 48.8 metre superyacht Mary JeanSuperyacht Mary Jean was built by Cantieri Navali Campanella in 1981, and is an extremely seaworthy and comfortable vessel. Mary Jean boasts an elegant and modern designed interior with muted fabrics by Steve Howard of H2 Design. Her unusual layout uniquely offers two staterooms on the main deck (a full-width master and a VIP), and four staterooms on the lower deck with three further doubles, two of which have recently been upgraded to VIP finish, and a twin cabin. By Maarten Janssen, photo by Giovanni Romero