<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10513" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Llys Helig32.77m (107'6&quot;)John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd1922">Llys Helig</a>, a 100-year-old yacht originally built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6078" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd (Company)">Thornycroft</a> as a luxury “gentleman’s yacht” in 1922, has officially left Burnham on Crouch on her way to be restored. This is her first trip in over 30 years. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/255426/image/large-59f8d68d4ad4c4f939fe246b34377e8a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/255426"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10513" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Llys Helig32.77m (107'6&quot;)John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd1922">Llys Helig</a> was locally referred to as the “Burnham Titanic'' after she dramatically capsized in the town’s moorings in 2017. Her remarkable survival astounded the local residents, who witnessed her decks and superstructure slowly decay. Initially, the local council, harbour authority and yacht club were adamant for her to be cut up and removed, deeming her to be an eyesore. However, London-based businessman Howard Dawber decided to take on the hefty task of salvaging and restoring the yacht, and bought <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10513" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Llys Helig32.77m (107'6&quot;)John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd1922">Llys Helig</a> in 2018. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/255427/image/large-7c2d8e0001f63dc3b91b5cf89f94bce1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/255427">With help from the Essex Marina, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10513" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Llys Helig32.77m (107'6&quot;)John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd1922">Llys Helig</a> was raised from the mud and refloated in 2020. Now, she has been loaded into a floating dry dock and transported to Sutton Wharf’s boatyard in Rochford for surveillance and repairs. The tow and repairs are being led by Mike’s Boatyard of Leigh-on-Sea. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/255425/image/large-0ce89d2c59466ea1fa6908d94875d508.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/255425">In terms of specs, the 157 GT yacht measures at 32.73-metres with a 5.82-metre beam. She was initially fitted with twin oil engines by Plenty &amp; Son of Newbury, and was constructed from steel, with a steel and teak superstructure and pine decks. Since her delivery, she has endured many refits, with her original engines being replaced twice with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1451" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gardner (Company)">Gardner</a> diesels. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/177463/image/large-6b6847c358b08e2367c8a8b3957abbab.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/177463"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10513" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Llys Helig32.77m (107'6&quot;)John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd1922">Llys Helig</a> has lived a long life, and is registered on the list of National Historic Ships. Within her century-long life she has sailed the Mediterranean, worked as a motor-racing hospitality vessel, and served as offices for Pirate Radio Caroline. Before the incident, she spent 30 years being used as a house boat.

100-year old yacht Llys Helig leaves Burnham 

Llys Helig yacht cruising

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Llys Helig yacht freight transportation 

The 100-year-old superyacht Llys Helig has left Burnham after 30 years.

History: 100-year old motor yacht Llys Helig leaves Burnham after salvage

Sophie Spicknell delves into the history of the 106 year-old sailing yacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a>&nbsp;to learn more about her regatta career.&nbsp;Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1109" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="William Fife & Sons (Company)">William Fife &amp; Sons</a> in 1914 and launched in 1920, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> has spent more than a century sailing the same waters, including those of the golden age of yachting. Designed as a gaff cutter, she was the fourth yacht in a line of vessels with the same name, built for lawyer Charles Plumtree Johnson, the son of Queen Victoria of England’s personal physician.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398238/image/large-308b8573823c9caef805b7156c5413c0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398238">Constructed in teak over steel, the 32.1-metre sailing yacht was built for speed and performance. She wasted no time in proving her capabilities and completed her first regatta season in 1920, shortly after her launch. During her first decade on the water, she established herself as a strong competitor, winning the Kings Cup regatta in Cowes, England in 1920 and again in 1923, before finishing second in 1924 and 1930 and third in 1931.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398244/image/large-5ea6d6a9b9817b41c1a8c63f80aa2733.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398244" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> was sold by her first owner in 1926 to Henry Sutton, who converted her to use a Marconi rig, before she was bought by HRH Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1950. Renamed Deo Juvante, she was refitted as a luxury family cruiser, with spacious interior staterooms and a saloon installed. Her sail area was also reduced from approximately 1,000 square-metres to a more manageable 350 square-metres, with Bermuda ketch rigging and twin six cylinder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1883" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baudouin (Company)">Baudouin</a> engines added. Following his marriage to Academy Award-winning actress Grace Kelly in 1956, Prince Rainier and his new wife famously spent their honeymoon onboard the yacht in the Mediterranean.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398241/image/large-4478024accab505177fe79ba13d5dacc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398241">By 1960 the yacht changed hands again, with Deo Duvante sold to Count Hannibal Scotti of Italy who rechristened her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> and installed new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2207" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="mtu - a Rolls-Royce solution (Company)">Rolls Royce</a> 185 horsepower diesel engines. But it was in April 1995 that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> received her second life, when she was acquired by Scotsman John Murray and his French wife François Murray. Residing in the Savoy Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar, the couple fell in love with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> in Greece and decided to restore and relocate her to Burma in April 1999. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398240/image/large-6cc493de11cb61a3fa3cbeb25715d76f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398240">Carried out at Myanmar Shipyard, the refit saw a core team of 15 carpenters, almost entirely locally sourced and led by a Chinese master craftsman known as William. The team inspected, repaired and re-fastened her teak planks, leaving more than 80 percent of her originals from 1914. Inside, Burmese rosewood and satinwood were selected for her interior, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="T. Nielsen & Company (Company)">T Nielsen and Co</a> assisting with the technical aspects of the project.&nbsp;Relaunched in July 2002, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> immediately set sail for Auckland, New Zealand, to participate in events surrounding the 31st America's Cup. In the years that followed, she became an active attendee of events such as Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the Westward Cup, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the Trophée Bailli de Suffren and the Palma Superyacht Cup. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398243/image/large-5b831328ac822b36d79daf0120295801.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398243">In 2022, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> underwent an extensive refit at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/745" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="JFA Yachts (Company)">JFA Yachts</a> in France, in collaboration with renowned naval carpentry expert Hubert Stagnol. The refit included major restoration works to her Oregon pine hull and rig, with her teak hull stripped and overhauled, seacocks replaced and a new Vanilla White <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1485" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awlgrip (Company)">Awlgrip</a> finish applied. Additional works included the restoration of her skylights, the replacement of her headmast and the sanding and re-varnishing of her bulwarks and rig.Following her refit, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> travelled to Brest, where she collected her new sails before undergoing sea trials. From here she sailed north to Scotland where she participated in the Fife Regatta in Fairlie. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398242/image/large-e53b5e4e1417322c1d68da9204099ffc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398242" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Since then, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> competed in the Cutter Class at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Richard Mille Cup - 2023">Richard Mille Cup Regatta 2023</a> in Falmouth, where she narrowly missed out on a podium finish, completing the regatta in fourth place with 609 points.&nbsp;In terms of accommodation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2342" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonbeam IV32.1m (105'4&quot;)William Fife & Sons1920">Moonbeam IV</a> can comfortably sleep up to seven guests across three staterooms, as well as a crew of six. Inside she is adorned with fine waxed rosewood panelling, Persian rugs and antique lamps.

Moonbeam IV: 106 years of regatta racing

Explore the 106-year history of the classic sailing yacht Moonbeam IV, from royal ownership and restoration to her enduring regatta career.

Recently spotted in Èze, Côte d'Azur, France, the 111-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> was delivered in 2019 as Tis. Designed to feel light, fresh and open with a classic twist, she boasts a well-balanced sheerline to create an elegant character. SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> to find out more about her ownership history. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397020/image/large-e841e651ed970b4171229b1c2cd6d942.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397020">The project was first unveiled in September 2014 as Palo Alto, when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/227" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moran Yacht & Ship (Company)">Moran Yacht &amp; Ship</a> announced her sale to a long-time charter client, who had previously chartered some of the largest yachts in the world for over seven years.&nbsp;The yacht was the largest <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> yacht to-date that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/227" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moran Yacht & Ship (Company)">Moran Yacht &amp; Ship</a> had worked on, and was designed for a family-oriented owner. The construction of the yacht was overseen by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/227" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moran Yacht & Ship (Company)">Moran Yacht &amp; Ship</a> new-build team.Watch her:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/48890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Video: Launching of 111m Lürssen superyacht TIS (2018-08-15 15:30:00 +0200)">Video: Launching of 111m Lürssen superyacht TIS</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397026/image/large-2f9af564329d4c88e425cf5bcfc54223.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397026">Launched in August 2018 as Tis, the yacht features interior and exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a>, with naval architecture penned by her German builder, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen Yachts</a>. Spanning six decks and an internal volume of 4,699 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> pairs a sleek exterior with a traditional interior style.&nbsp;Constructed at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> Rendsburg facility, the yacht was seen for the first time on the banks of the Nord-Ostsee Canal, before she underwent final outfitting and sea trials. Built according to the PYC code, she was described by her designer Andrew Winch as “a pinnacle of classic design”, during an <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49593" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Delve in deep with Andrew Winch: Founder of Winch Design (2019-02-18 16:00:00 +0100)">interview with SuperYacht Times in 2019</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> features a sophisticated interior design nicknamed ‘cashmere cream’ which adds to her timeless charm. “It’s soft, gentle and classic. You could say it has the appeal of a London hotel like Claridge's or the Ritz,” added Winch.&nbsp;Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49593" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Delve in deep with Andrew Winch: Founder of Winch Design (2019-02-18 16:00:00 +0100)">Delve in deep with Andrew Winch: Founder of Winch Design</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397030/image/large-02f708caf92edd27a67f8a9178947595.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397030">Inside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> boasts choices such as parquet flooring and staircases reminiscent of Chateau de Versailles. Antiquities such as De Gournay silk fabric and custom <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a> sofas, armchairs and chandeliers further enhance this atmosphere. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397021/image/large-60747a07d339b371d59e946525fc44ae.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397021"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 18 guests across nine staterooms, with her owner’s suite situated on its own private deck. The deck includes his-and-hers bathrooms and dressing rooms, with a massage room and a forward-facing stateroom. With 180-degree views, the owner’s suite includes fold-down balconies which extend her connection with the sea. Characterised by floral designs and cream-colored finishes, her interior evokes a sense of warmth and privacy.Her private living room showcases furniture styles from Louis XIV to Louis XVIII eras, creating a relaxed atmosphere with green-yellow hues. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> also boasts a discreet day head concealed behind a bookcase and a modern fireplace.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397024/image/large-2c1fc81bb939cc28fe792c5575484864.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397024">Each of her staterooms are inspired by world locations, with colour palettes reflective of their namesakes. The main deck is home to four guest staterooms, as well as a formal office, dining room and her main saloon. The London stateroom includes a Claridges-inspired design, while Paris is adorned with elegant Fleur-de-Lis and Toile de Joie fabrics, New York captures the essence of Art Déco and Marrakech reflects the vibrant colours and textures of the Moroccan city.Moving to the lower deck, there are four additional guest staterooms, alongside a cinema and her crew accommodation for 38. The Provence stateroom uses summer hues, while the China Seas suite features greens reminiscent of oriental bamboo forests, and the Russian Dacha and Tuscany rooms mimic Russia's frosty landscapes and Italy's sun-kissed terrains.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397022/image/large-a4c0f97e09aa7510840553ebcadfd3f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397022">Key features onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> include a 12-metre swimming pool on her main deck aft, two helicopter pads and a resort-inspired spa area at beach club level. Inspired by Capri, she is equipped with a sauna, icy fountain, shower, relaxation room, hammam, and massage parlor. &nbsp;Alaiya also features a year-round usable winter garden on the main deck stern, which uses climate control and a tea room, reminiscent of France's Ladurée.&nbsp;She made her debut at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2019">Monaco Yacht Show 2019</a> before being sold and completing a refit in Germany in 2020. Designed originally with a dark blue hull, she emerged with a beige hull under the name Lady Gulya.Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52013" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="111m superyacht TIS renamed Lady Gulya and refitted with new beige hull (2020-11-10 17:00:00 +0100)">111m superyacht TIS renamed Lady Gulya and refitted with new beige hull</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397025/image/large-1441506c47cfd9f9573eb2819a47da7a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397025">In 2021, Lady Gulya was sold once again in an off-market deal, before she was renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a>. In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> 20V 4000 M73L diesel engines, which provide her with a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots.&nbsp;At the time of publication, AIS data shows that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.0m (364'2&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a> is currently situated in Saint Tropez.

Alaiya: 111m Lürssen yacht in Èze, France

SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at the 111-metre Lürssen superyacht Alaiya in Èze, France to find out more about her sophisticated design. 

Alaiya: A closer look at the 111m Lürssen yacht in Côte d'Azur, France

Film producer Simon O'Gorman’s search for the superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> stems not just from a passion for storytelling, but in something far more personal: a childhood spent onboard. His grandfather, Sir John Brayley, purchased the superyacht in 1965, leading to Simon spending his first few summers running along the deck and being out on the blue waters of the Mediterranean. The superyacht was eventually sold in the 70s, but for Simon, was never forgotten. Now a film producer and screenwriter, Simon has been hunting down the 49-metre superyacht in hopes of locating her and her lost history.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391489/image/large-0734771282f3ce4aaf60afc1a52368ad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391489">A vivid pastThe story starts in 1929. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>, then named <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Alice</a>, was built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5634" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson (Company)">Swan Hunter &amp; Wigham Richardson</a> under commission of millionaire Sir Richard Ashmole Cooper. Responsible for her sleek, elegant hull is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/94" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cox & Stevens (Company)">Cox &amp; Stevens</a>, who did both the naval architecture and exterior design. Her interiors feature richly furnished and decorated staterooms, numerous saloons, a dining space, library, smoking room, as well as a cinematograph and photographic studio and workshop, including specially-designed electrical lighting. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383512/image/large-377379ed0c079fc3f50464672ae413ac.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383512">Sir Cooper owned the superyacht until 1941, when she was commandeered by the Royal Navy as a patrol boat. Her clipper bow was removed, giving her a much more militaristic look; a machine gun was mounted on her foredeck.At the end of the war, the 49.37-metre motor yacht was bought by Sir Edmund Crane, who changed her name from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Alice</a> to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>. Sir Crane and his wife Kitty were quite the socialites and spent many days hosting, cruising and entertaining. One notable guest was American-British Lady Astor, who was the first woman seated as a Member of Parliament in Britain.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391488/image/large-ad7c6cd2e7bc4145ba144e155a778e18.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391488">In 1959, an Australian millionaire under the name William Buckland purchased the superyacht. Owning a similar superyacht in his homeport of Sydney, Buckland saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> cruising along the French Riviera and, upon finding out she was for sale, immediately purchased the superyacht. Buckland spent the next five years cruising around the Mediterranean with his wife, until his death in 1964. The superyacht was put up for sale and sat moored in Southampton with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a>, until it was recruited for a movie, The Woman of Straw&nbsp;starring Sean Connery, that would see it relocated to Palma de Mallorca.In 1965, a Welsh industrialist named Sir John Brayley was getting ready to retire, and, upon hearing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> was up for auction, he drove down to Southampton and placed a bid. Sir Brayley equipped her with a captain and crew, and spent some time fixing her up and cleaning her out, as the superyacht had been sitting docked for quite a while. Ready to set sail, Sir Brayley took his superyacht on her first trip north to Port Barry, near Cardiff.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383503/image/large-b88d5b2f1b1c974c23ae7adc195336d0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383503">A search of personal importanceIt is here that the story gets more personal. Sir Brayley spent lots of time onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> with his family, including grandson Simon. Spending the first five summers of his life onboard the superyacht, “my great grandparents came down for lunch onboard, and my grandfather would entertain old school friends and show off the superyacht”, Simon recalls. “My grandfather was a local boy done good.”Sir Brayley moored the superyacht in London during the first year, where he entertained his friends, including the Prime Minister, as well as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Burton was in the process of purchasing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalizma50.29m (164'12&quot;)Ramage & Ferguson1906">Kalizma</a>, but asked if Sir Brayley would consider selling <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>. “My grandfather would say, ‘she’s not for sale, I’ve haven’t enjoyed her enough!’“ Simon recalls. Burton based a lot of his refurbishments onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalizma50.29m (164'12&quot;)Ramage & Ferguson1906">Kalizma</a> on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>’s interiors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391485/image/large-9f5f7b079ca740a655910ccf9a6799f5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391485">After her time in London, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> sailed down to the Mediterranean, and to her new home-base in Malta. “My mother, my father, my step grandmother, my cousins all piled aboard and went cruising around the coast of Italy, Mallorca and France.” Simon shares, “Even at that young age, I have solid memories of being onboard.”&nbsp;In 1970, when Simon’s grandfather's health deteriorated, he decided to sell the superyacht. “I remember a black limousine pulled up by the boarding ladder and these immaculately dressed men in black suits, dark glasses - almost like a movie - arrived.” The men were representatives from the Japanese consortium. A personal tour from Simon’s grandfather and a few handshakes later and the superyacht was sold. “We were very sad because we knew it would be our last time onboard.”Unknowingly, these memories would lay the groundwork for Simon’s search for the superyacht 50 years later. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391487/image/large-18358f47487255434e1db536d985162f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391487">Cruising the Japanese coastOnce sold, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> was soon underway to Japan. With the closure of the Suez Canal between 1967 and 1975, the superyacht instead made her way around the Cape of Good Hope, before heading through the Indian Ocean and making her way towards her new home in Hiroshima, Japan.Throughout his research, Simon has managed to find captains and crew who were onboard during the long journey. “They said it was a really wonderful trip, despite having engine troubles along the way, causing a three-week delay whilst waiting for parts to be flown in.” The weather made the journey more arduous, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> showed her strength: “The captain said she was a phenomenal superyacht at sea; some of the weather they encountered was so rough, with waves breaking over the bow and going down the stack, but she was built to the same technical standard as advanced naval ships.”&nbsp;Upon arrival in Tokyo, the captain was asked to stay with the superyacht. Together they spent another four years cruising up and down the Japanese coast, with most trips being centred around business deals and sweeteners. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>’s interiors were kept perfectly intact, but the decision not to refurbish her eventually led to her suffering from the tropical weather. While her hull was made of steel, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>’s deck, railings, doors and windows were made from wood, for which the Japanese climate proved too humid. While her owners were wealthy enough, they decided to sell rather than undergo a refit.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391486/image/large-006155ce88790e2815dd48f7c6f7b74d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391486">It was this sale that has caused much of the mystery as to where <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a> was. Her new owner made an unexpected move: he took the motor yacht out of the water and placed her in the middle of a water park in Hiroshima. Simon notes how “Japan went through a phase where they were fascinated by water parks. Anything to do with water and fun, they became experts at it.” Placing her in the water park, in a city previously defined by devastation, the superyacht brought an opportunity for joy. “She became a focus for courting couples, dates, English tea or lunches. You could go aboard and dress like an English lady or gentleman and be served tea.” She was so well-loved that the park was renamed in her name: ‘Hiroshima <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>’.Eventually the park was sold for redevelopment and the superyacht was dismantled, with various of her parts used to decorate the shopping mall that replaced the park. “It’s a bit strange, in a way, to think my family owned the superyacht that now sits spread out across a mall” Simon shares.While the superyacht has been decommissioned and will never return to sail the seas, Simon is keeping her alive by sharing her story. “There are so many details of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Natalie49.37m (161'12&quot;)Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson1929">Natalie</a>’s story that still sit uncovered,” Simon notes, “but her story is one of love and joy, both on and off the water.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391490/image/large-da49bbb19da41f650b7a6f023c1aebae.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391490">If you have any information regarding Natalie’s history, please reach out to Simon O’Gorman:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:simondkogorman@gmail.com" target="_blank">simondkogorman@gmail.com</a>

searching for motor yacht Natalie

Searching for Natalie: A grandson’s search for the decommissioned yacht.

Searching for Natalie: A grandson’s search for the decommissioned yacht

Launched in 1865, the now 145.72-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> has spent her years serving as a royal vessel, a state yacht and a witness to political transformation in Egypt for more than 160 years. Commissioned by Khedive Ismail Pasha and built by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1648" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Samuda Bros. (Company)">Samuda Brothers</a> shipyard in London, construction on Egypt’s first royal yacht began in 1863.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/3536/image/large-b202bae6ba9f51d9cba24b458a21b241.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/3536">Built with a steel hull and fitted initially with paddle wheels, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> was one of the largest and most advanced yachts of her era. Her owner Khedive Ismail had also requested that the vessel’s interiors reflect the richness of the civilisations that had flourished in Egypt. The result was an opulent design that combined European craftsmanship, with Middle Eastern decorative traditions. When the yacht was delivered in 1865, Ismail travelled to Istanbul to board her for her maiden voyage to Alexandria, Egypt.In 1868, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> became central to one of the 19th century’s defining maritime events, when Ismail used the yacht to tour Europe, inviting kings and princes to attend the opening of the Suez Canal. On 17 November 1869, the yacht led the multinational fleet that sailed through the canal during its inauguration.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/382614/image/large-386503509531b9df70e5901f6eeb6ed9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/382614">Distinguished guests included Empress Eugénie of France who presented Ismail with a piano, which she played during the ceremony, as well as the Emperor of Austria, the Crown Prince of Germany, Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands and French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, who was responsible for the construction of the Suez Canal.In 1872, the yacht was sent to London by Isma'il Pasha to increase her length from 125-metres to 137.5-metres. Several years later in 1905, she was sent to Glasgow by Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, where her paddle wheels were removed in favour of a more efficient screw-propeller steam system, while in 1912 a telegraph pole was installed.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385853/image/large-60a03fb3d29eeb5a4ff1c0e9b9f40df3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385853">For the following five years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> stayed anchored in Istanbul in order to protect her from the dangers of the First World War. In 1919, while Egyptians were amidst the revolution, the yacht was sent to England by King Fuad I to change the shape of her aft and increase her length by eight-metres, to her current length of 146-metres.&nbsp;In 1939, King Farouk I of Egypt sent the yacht to Iran to bring the Crown Prince Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to the wedding of his sister, Princess Fawzia. Just seven years later, the yacht was sent to Jeddah and back by King Farouk, where she hosted King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for his visit to Egypt. Upon his arrival, King Farouk had arranged a parade in celebration of Saudi Arabia’s national anniversary, becoming a landmark in the history of the Saudi Egyptian bilateral relations.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385852/image/large-b6863a98073f0bf1304cce0b2a058391.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385852">Following this, in 1949, the yacht was sent to the port of La Spezia, where the Italian company Ansaldo performed a series of renovations and modifications involving her propulsion capacity.A fifth deck was added in January 1952, and the same year, King Farouk departed Egypt onboard the yacht as he went into exile alongside Khedive Ismail and Khedive Abbas II, marking the end of the monarchy. Rather than being decommissioned, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> was retained as Egypt’s official presidential yacht for Mohamed Najib, becoming part of national heritage. Her name was later changed to El Horreya (meaning Liberty) by his successor Gamal Abdul Nasser, who regarded the yacht as a symbol of Egyptian pride. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385850/image/large-0338766b54b95efc64248be401c560cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385850">On 5 June 1975, President Anwar Sadat insisted that the yacht would be the first vessel to sail through the Suez Canal for its second inauguration, to emphasise the return of Egypt’s glory. In 1976, the yacht sailed its longest journey yet of 12,700 nautical miles to participate in the bicentennial celebration of the Independence of the United States of America, and in 2000 a presidential decree was issued, giving the yacht back its old name of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a>. &nbsp;Today, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> is maintained by the Egyptian Navy and is occasionally opened for official visits and national celebrations. She appeared during the opening of the New Suez Canal in 2015, linking her 19th-century origins to a 21st-century milestone and reinforcing her enduring importance in Egypt’s maritime identity.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/385851/image/large-a93b5dc476d9347b89825eb42fcbd661.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/385851"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2837" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Mahrousa145.72m (478'1&quot;)Samuda Bros.1865">El Mahrousa</a> is currently the oldest yacht in the <a href="https://iq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a> database, surpassing the next oldest yacht in service by six years. There are currently over 14,000 yachts within the database, from over 1,500 builders and 66 countries. If you would like to find out more about <a href="https://iq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a>&nbsp;and its database, then please visit: <a target="_blank">www.sytiq.superyachttimes.com/</a>

el mahrousa oldest royal yacht egypt

Sophie Spicknell explores the 160-year history of El Mahrousa, Egypt’s storied royal and presidential yacht.

The legacy of El Mahrousa: Egypt’s oldest royal yacht

Launched on 28 April 1930 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John Brown & Sons (Company)">John Brown &amp; Sons</a> at Clydebank, in the UK, if the 91.44-metre yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> could talk, she would speak of a storied past entwined with royalty, industrialists and surviving one of the most constitutional crises of the 20th century.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380647/image/large-0bed0a22f5fc597b14276531abc60623.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380647">Spotted here by SuperYacht Times’ Content Creator Fabio Lima during the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/304" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Antigua Yacht Show - 2025">Antigua Charter Yacht Show 2025</a>, we take this opportunity to explore more about the history of the 95-year-old vessel.&nbsp;Commissioned as a private steam yacht by Annie Henrietta Yule, known as Lady Yule, her owner was one of the wealthiest women in Britain at the time of her launch. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> was originally powered by four steam turbines and was among one of the last great examples of the classic steam yacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380649/image/large-89d35abb2f911c7cf185232069e9b43a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380649">Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="G.L. Watson & Co. Ltd (Company)">G.L. Watson &amp; Co</a>, which were responsible for her exterior design and naval architecture, her name is believed to have Native American origins, reportedly meaning “fleet of foot”, a reference echoed in her figurehead, which wears a chieftain’s headdress.During the early 1930s, Lady Yule and her daughter undertook an extensive world cruise onboard Nahlin, after which the yacht became internationally famous in the summer of 1936. That August, King Edward VIII chartered the vessel for a Mediterranean cruise with Wallis Simpson, discreetly shadowed by two Royal Navy destroyers, HMS Grafton and HMS Glowworm.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380646/image/large-fa8a8f84a25180bfdef284f6a2f0e1ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380646">In 1937, Lady Yule sold <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> to King Carol II of Romania, after which the yacht largely vanished from British records. Over the following decades she underwent multiple changes of use and ownership, eventually re-emerging in the 1990s when British yacht broker Nicholas Edmiston discovered her moored on the Danube, operating as a floating restaurant.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380643/image/large-3cbe5c44671bfb6c92929595bbf5d570.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380643"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> was sold several times in the 1990s, before being acquired by her current owner who undertook an extensive rebuild between 2005 and 2010. The rebuild saw German shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nobiskrug (Company)">Nobiskrug</a> responsible for the body of the restorative work, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a> were charged with her engineering. The whole rebuild was overseen by her original builders <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="G.L. Watson & Co. Ltd (Company)">G.L. Watson &amp; Co</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380645/image/large-1d8821910d27686b6bb312ee8d1f1730.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380645">In 2010, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> returned to the British Isles in full, turnkey condition. The classic superyacht now has diesel engines, providing her with a top speed of 18 knots, with contemporary interiors now designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rémi Tessier (Company)">Rémi Tessier</a>.According to AIS, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a> is currently in Guana Island, British Virgin Isles in the Caribbean.

Nahlin: History of 91m steam yacht

SuperYacht Times takes a look at the history of the 95-year-old yacht Nahlin, following her attendance at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show 2025.

In Pictures: 91m former steam yacht Nahlin in Antigua

Among the few surviving pre-war superyachts still navigating the world’s oceans, the 58.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> stands as a rare testament to 1930s British yacht building. Launched by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons International (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> in Southampton in 1931 as hull number 388, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a>, later to be named Evadne, was originally commissioned by the automotive pioneer Montague S. Napier, though he passed away before her completion. Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/229" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charles E. Nicholson (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson</a>, her elegant canoe stern and classic sheerline have remained virtually unchanged for nearly a century.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/369224/image/large-672754b26eb29ffe6480a47872ec09ef.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/369224">Delivered with twin 1,000-horsepower <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> diesel engines, Evadne was ahead of her time, offering a transatlantic range and generous accommodation across two decks. The steel-hulled motor yacht made her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1931 and cruised extensively along the east coast of the United States. Her early ownership changed hands over the years, including a stint as Zapala under American businessman Robert J Reynolds, Jr.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/369227/image/large-a8bfbc42156310a8f596e613c642d1e8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/369227">However, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a>'s most transformative chapter came during World War II. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1939, she was renamed HMS Evadne and converted into an anti-submarine escort vessel. Serving as part of the Western Approaches Command, she was based in Gibraltar and Liverpool, operating vital convoy duties throughout the Battle of the Atlantic. Her sleek lines belied a new military edge, complete with depth charge throwers and communications equipment.Following her decommissioning in 1946, the yacht was returned to civilian service and spent time in Italy, before passing into the hands of Chilean businessman Arturo Lopez-Willshaw in the late 1960s.&nbsp;Lopez-Willshaw’s ownership was short-lived, and by 1970, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> was sold to Robert de Balkany, a colourful French entrepreneur known for his larger-than-life lifestyle and love of the sea. De Balkany kept the yacht in Monaco, where she became a fixture in Port Hercule for over two decades. Though not a commercial charter vessel, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> was occasionally made available for select private charters, particularly during July, to help offset operational costs.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/369223/image/large-83f01643057d1b0e364f63e8de581c85.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/369223"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/369225/image/large-9d8c8d9629b35b4a4acd36fd8d759ef2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/369225">Over the years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> welcomed a host of distinguished guests, including Frank Sinatra, King Carlos of Spain and Princess Alexandra of Kent. Sinatra’s Mediterranean cruise onboard the yacht in the early 1970s drew attention from the international press. Society columnist Suzy Mehle wrote at the time: “Frank Sinatra has chartered the yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> for the month of June and will cruise the Mediterranean… Marala belongs to Robert de Balkany, [who] married Princess Maria Gabriella of Italy… <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a>… is one of the most luxurious yachts afloat.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/369226/image/large-0e0ea34118fce7f8ba2fbdb99b055d02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/369226">For de Balkany, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> was more than a yacht; she was a platform for pleasure. Her decks groaned under the weight of Donzi speedboats, a custom four-engine Miami-built powerboat and a rotating fleet of PWCs and watersports gear. Yet, despite the high-octane amusements, her classic structure remained preserved, cared for by a loyal captain and longstanding crew.By the 1990s, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a>'s age was beginning to show, and her use became sporadic. The yacht was eventually acquired by her current owner, who recognised the need for a comprehensive restoration. In 2019, she arrived at Pendennis in Falmouth, UK, where a meticulous three-year rebuild commenced. The restoration focused on preserving her original character while modernising her technical systems, guest areas and crew facilities.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/94751/image/large-18ecdb3a89c43f9fbe37e881acfe5575.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/94751">In 2022, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> was reintroduced to the world in immaculate condition, one of the most significant historic yacht restorations completed in recent years. Her original <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/229" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charles E. Nicholson (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson</a> exterior lines remain, but below deck, she now features a sensitively reimagined interior by London-based design studio Muza Lab, capturing the glamour of her interwar origins while meeting modern superyacht standards. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/228704/image/large-cae7c9358f19dccb283a09be462e16e2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/228704"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33301/image/large-00f6a1765bd0a9363daf6fdbe3eafc95.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33301">As she cruises once again, nearly a century after her keel was laid, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/534" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marala58.8m (192'11&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1931">Marala</a> continues to turn heads, offering a rare glimpse into what yachting was like in the golden era. Marala is currently available for charter with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/136" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Independence (Company)">Ocean Independence</a>.This article was first published in issue 54 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, available for download here. <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-54" target="_blank">https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-54</a>

Marala yacht history

Sophie Spicknell explores the history of the 58.8-metre superyacht Marala.

Magnificent Marala: The enduring legacy of a 1930s superyacht

The 31.33-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/160" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr (Company)">De Vries Lentsch</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5063" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piet Hein31.33m (102'9&quot;)Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr1937">Piet Hein</a> has been spotted passing through Amsterdam, close to the SuperYacht Times office.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/368519/image/large-eb3fc4e53f5ce5e4fa237955911731ab.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/368519">Built at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/160" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr (Company)">Amsterdamsche Scheepswerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr</a>. yard and designed by H.W. de Voogt, she was launched on 14 August 1937. The classic motor yacht was gifted to Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard by the Dutch people on the occasion of their wedding and delivered to the royal couple two weeks after her launch.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/368524/image/large-9f1e8b652a84be7de780ce1800d485a3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/368524">During the Second World War, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5063" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piet Hein31.33m (102'9&quot;)Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr1937">Piet Hein</a> was seized by occupying forces and transported to Emden. She returned to the Netherlands in 1945 and was restored to her former condition. In 1953, she played a humanitarian role when she was deployed to assist during the devastating North Sea flood.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/368523/image/large-09cfc7a503c02889cbd353e381366964.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/368523">The yacht remained closely tied to the royal family for decades. In 1979, Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard established <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8352" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Stichting Piet Hein (Company)">Stichting Piet Hein</a>, a foundation created to safeguard her future. The royal couple made their final cruise aboard in 1980, after which <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5063" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piet Hein31.33m (102'9&quot;)Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr1937">Piet Hein</a> underwent extensive restoration between 1985 and 1990 and a second major overhaul between 2014 and 2015.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/368520/image/large-0c2d95472e17db03fa007034db8ed3b2.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/368520">Constructed in steel with a wooden superstructure, Piet Hein accommodates six guests across three staterooms, alongside crew quarters for five. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7258" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DAF (Company)">DAF</a> diesel engines, she cruises at around 11 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/368522/image/large-979ce793ec9faef168d01a3544cb69e6.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/368522">Now maintained in near-original condition under the care of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8352" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Stichting Piet Hein (Company)">Stichting Piet Hein</a> and a dedicated team of volunteers, the yacht continues to sail. Today, she can be privately chartered for day trips with up to 30 guests.On Tuesday 19 August, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5063" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Piet Hein31.33m (102'9&quot;)Amsterdamsche Scheepwerf G. de Vries Lentsch Jr1937">Piet Hein</a> was officially welcomed into the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Heritage Fleet during a formal ceremony. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Heritage Fleet is an association of owners of classic <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>s that are at least thirty years old. The organisation is dedicated to preserving these vessels, sharing knowledge, and organising joint activities on the water.

Piet Hein: 31m De Vries Lentsch yacht in Amsterdam

The 31.33-metre De Vries Lentsch motor yacht Piet Hein has been spotted passing through Amsterdam, close to the SuperYacht Times office.

In Pictures: 31m historic De Vries Lentsch yacht Piet Hein in Amsterdam

When she first hit the water on 28 February 1931, the regal 135.94-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> was the world’s largest yacht. What ensued for the German-built motor yacht was nearly a century worth of prominence, demolition, abandonment, scandal, and resurrection.&nbsp;The yacht was originally designed for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwalader, granddaughter of John A. Roebling, who was an engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. She nonetheless belonged to a range of owners throughout her history, including founder of modern-day Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33371/image/large-3eb4c0c0d7d5c49d131ef783da2e8592.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33371">Christened after an African swan living in the Indian Ocean, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> features exterior design crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/94" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cox & Stevens (Company)">Cox &amp; Stevens</a>, while her interior styling stems from the drawing boards of London-based studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/41" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Donald Starkey Designs (Company)">Donald Starkey Designs</a>.&nbsp;Described as “probably the most sumptuously fitted yacht afloat” by Janes Fighting Ships in 1949, the yacht even made an appearance on the big screen, alongside a star studded cast in the 1934 German science-fiction film Gold. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/31761/image/large-d066336e7cc55460a349d9871cfdb588.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/31761">After spending seven serene years in the ownership of Cadwalader, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> was purchased by the Turkish government in 1938, and gifted to the country’s then ailing president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.&nbsp;Following the late president’s death in November of that year, just six weeks after obtaining the yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>’s glory days were seemingly behind her. The once majestic watercraft was left to gather dust in Kanlıca Bay on the Bosporus throughout World War II. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33377/image/large-ae0dcca36409c937e28d97d8f4d1564d.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33377">However, by 1951, the tide was beginning to turn for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>, as she was converted and repurposed to the training ship Güneş Dil, which translates to “Sun Language” in English, going on to explore the globe for the next 28 years.&nbsp;Unfortunately, disaster struck for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> once again in October 1979, when a fire broke out onboard the Turkish navy school ship off Heybeliada Island in the Sea of Marmara, leaving her ravaged beyond use. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/75270/image/large-67263cca37648ff4adad4b1c093ed31e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/75270">Now only a shell of her erstwhile self, the demolished superyacht was deserted and virtually forgotten over the course of the next decade. It wasn’t until 1989 that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> became the centre of any attention, when she was chartered for 49 years by Turkish businessman Kahraman Sadıkoğlu. Sadıkoğlu undertook an extensive refurbishment of the vessel, restoring her to her former glory.&nbsp;Carried out at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/184" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tuzla Shipyard (Company)">Tuzla Shipyards</a>, the thorough three-year rebuild saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>’s original steam turbine engines get replaced by modern <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> diesel engines. Her updated engines propel the superyacht to a cruising speed of 16 knots along with a top speed of 18 knots.&nbsp;The refit breathed new life into the superyacht’s interiors, so that she could play host to the rich and famous across her 16 guest staterooms, in order to preserve the memory of her best known owner, President Atatürk. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/318/image/large-1e9f9e8716c3fd882c7880399e204fba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/318">In addition to her new luxurious accommodation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> was now home to a Turkish bath, a movie theatre, and a library suite, which paid tribute to the late Atatürk through the presence of several of his personal artefacts, including his handkerchief and gloves. Meanwhile, the standout 86-metre gold-trimmed, grand staircase from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>’s previous life still remained following this refit.&nbsp;Other notably lavish features onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> were her helipad, Jacuzzi’s, swimming pool, water sports facilities catering to water-skiing, jetskiing, scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing, along with her well-appointed fitness centre. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/323/image/large-30edb6ee0ee66881eb0344cd160803bf.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/323">It wasn’t until August 2014 that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> would be ready for official use again, after a 10-month restoration period. This refit involved the renewal of her electronic devices and installations, as she was fitted with the latest technology. Additionally, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>’s capacious saloon was redecorated to accommodate new seating and dining arrangements, making her ideal for hosting larger social gatherings.&nbsp;On 4 March, 2014, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted the first official reception on board, which involved a cruise along the Bosporus with his guest, the Bosnian politician Bakir Izetbegović.&nbsp;Most recently, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> benefitted from nearly a year-long refit at the Istanbul Shipyard Command’s drydock as part of the recommissioning efforts launched by the Turkish Naval Forces. The drydocking maintenance and repair operations first commenced in September 2023, and the historic superyacht was relaunched in the summer of 2024. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/319/image/large-c679b7e984afaeb10f0d859436185335.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/319">According to Turkish media reports, the Naval Forces had discovered asbestos in the coatings, circuits, and insulation of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> during their 2023 repair works. Not only that, but materials failing to meet certain quality standards were present in the vessel’s electric cables and pipe circuits. In light of these flaws, the Istanbul Shipyard Command proceeded to decontaminate the affected areas in late November 2023. Furthermore, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>’s twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines and the machine control system were overhauled during the comprehensive maintenance and repair work carried out by the shipyard personnel.According to local media outlets, the Defense Ministry announced that moving forward, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> would be used for the sea training of Naval Academy students. Thus, in spite of her repurposing and refurbishing, as well as her many trials and tribulations, the legacy of the historic superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a> continues to live on. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/31760/image/large-ee102ff5872944f4e4d5d72ab7314ce0.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/31760">This article was first published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-52" target="_blank">Issue 52 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, available for download at this website.</a>

The Blohm and Voss yacht Savarona's refit history 

Ellen Ranebo takes a deep dive into the rich and tumultuous history of the 135.94-metre historic Turkish yacht Savarona. 


From riches to rags to restoration: Savarona's refit history 

Nearly ninety-four years after her launch, the classic motorsailer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> has been relaunched following a meticulous rebuild by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>'s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Huisfit (Company)">Huisfit</a> division. The 37.28-metre motor sailor has rejoined the global fleet with numerous technological advancements, while maintaining her historic aesthetic, but the scope of her refit far exceeded her owner's original expectations. Acquired by her new owner, the serial yacht owner Jim Clark, who also owns the J Class <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/384" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hanuman42.1m (138'1&quot;)Royal Huisman2009">Hanuman</a>, in 2020, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> arrived at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Huisman</a> in 2021 for a year-long refit. Upon arrival at the yard, however, it became clear that the historic yacht was desperately in need of a major reconstruction. Fortunately, Jim and his wife were willing to undertake this transformation and the yacht has now been relaunched in beyond original standard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337624/image/large-075e9ca96b35e6396237348e601ce584.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337624">The refit team had not seen the yacht out of the water before her arrival, leaving the full scope of the project undetermined. Once <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> was hauled into the yard, however, a troubling discovery quickly emerged – what appeared to be a crack in the hull. Concerned, the craftsmen began a careful inspection, probing and chiselling at the gap. Relief came as chunks of material fell away to reveal not damaged steel but an unexpected layer of filler – in some places, nearly two inches thick. While the revelation was less catastrophic than feared, it highlighted the extent of the restoration challenge ahead.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337592/image/large-8c1cc33d61c214098235288034c684b9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337592"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a>, launched in 1930 as Caleta, has a long and storied history, not least as an integral member of Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation of June 1940. Designed by famed Scottish yacht designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/239" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A. Mylne & Co (Company)">Alfred Mylne</a>, she was originally built to serve as tender to Sir William Burton's 12-metre racing yacht. Though compact, she carried a full sail plan, reaching speeds of seven knots under sail. During the Second World War, Caleta was pressed into service for the Royal Navy, playing a valiant role as one of the "Little Ships of Dunkirk." Braving enemy fire, she rescued 35 soldiers during the nine-day operation and earned the right to fly the distinguished St. George’s Cross.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/25401/image/large-325f4572e084ac23f7dc6b83f87c5f48.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/25401">Post-war, she began a new chapter as Ariane, sailing to the Mediterranean after a two-year refit at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/270" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vosper Thornycroft (Company)">Vosper Thorneycroft</a>. Under various owners and names, including Corisande and later <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a>, she became synonymous with glamour, gracing ports from Antibes to New England. A significant refit under the ownership of Tom Perkins in 1999 saw her transformed with Art Deco interiors and a gleaming new superstructure. Yet, despite her illustrious career, the passage of time took its toll, setting the stage for her comprehensive rebuild at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337632/image/large-c2651265f12a73f605c8c3fca9328afc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337632">During the course of two years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Huisfit (Company)">Huisfit</a> replaced approximately 40 percent of the yacht's hull, deck and frames, overhauling her systems, including her original Gardner diesel engines, and completed a complete interior refit. For six months the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7286" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Huisfit (Company)">Huisfit</a> team scanned, studied and redesigned the yacht in 3D, ensuring that her new systems and interior configurations maximised the potential volumes, while introducing contemporary technology. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337634/image/large-5a856f619b3607db27a82f0d9dbf61e8.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337634">The yacht's exterior profile has remained true to her post-war silhouette, while her interiors were redesigned with a refined 1930s aesthetic by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="deVosdeVries design (Company)">deVosdeVries Design</a>, complemented by the artistry of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8176" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Acanthus International (Company)">Acanthus International</a>. Her owners were determined to retain her and return her to her aesthetic, but they wanted to simplify the styling, removing much of the more elaborate Art Deco touches favoured by Tom Perkins. The Clarks briefed a less ornate 1930’s style, married with the look of Hanuman’s classic interior that was created by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>’s artisans in French walnut. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337629/image/large-9311e5e7dbdfbfac73322b2c23c593a6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337629">While owner's suite and guest VIP stateroom aft have retained their original configuration, their styling has been dramatically redesigned, while the saloon and media room offer casual spaces for modern living. The saloon features a shallow coffered ceiling style – updated from the lacquered tongue-and-groove panels installed during the 1999 refit, alongside french-polish straight grain walnut joinery, creating a classic 1930s styling. Dining has also moved outdoors, with a stunning custom teak table under a fixed bimini, offering her guests a closer interaction with their environment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/287134/image/large-e0b9a3686762bc98d7b5916a2a10c9f6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/287134">Now in her next era <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/260" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atlantide37.28m (122'4&quot;)Philip & Sons1930">Atlantide</a> complements Clark’s fleet, which also includes the 56.18-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5848" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Apsara56.18m (184'4&quot;)Royal Huisman2018">Apsara</a>. With her rebuild complete, the historic motorsailer stands poised to write a new chapter in her long and storied life – a beacon of maritime heritage brought gloriously into the modern age.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/337625/image/large-0a0da2fa327c8bdd9a1fb04987cf9293.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/337625">This article was first published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-52" target="_blank">Issue 52 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, available for download here.</a>

Atlantide yacht rebuild 

Behind the rebuild of the yacht Atlantide at Royal Huisman. 

Atlantide reborn: Behind the rebuild of the historic motor yacht

Sophie Spicknell delves into the legacy of the 28.35-metre yacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a>, which served five U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a>; a name that is well-known in U.S. history, as a vessel that was once used by five former U.S leaders. The 28.35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/753" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Defoe Shipbuilding Co. (Company)">Defoe Shipbuilding</a> motor yacht carries nearly a century's worth of stories onboard – some whispered amongst the walls of political power, others exchanged in the quiet moments of family gatherings. Her history is as rich as her polished mahogany interiors, echoing with the footsteps of presidents, dignitaries, and some of the most influential figures of the 20th century.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328199/image/large-bd1f00240aec81391548c4913ce84928.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328199">Launched in July 1931 by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/753" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Defoe Shipbuilding Co. (Company)">Defoe Boat and Motor Works</a> in Bay City, Michigan, USA, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> was designed by renowned naval architect J.A. Defoe, a man known for his attention to detail and his ability to blend form with function. Commissioned by American businessman magnate Sewell Avery, she was built from humble beginnings. Originally named Lenore after Avery’s daughter, she was his private escape, a refuge from the pressures of running Montgomery Ward &amp; Co, one of the largest department store chains in the United States at the time and was primarily used on Lake Michigan by the family. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/327971/image/large-96e0ef4e22cfb663b7a3fb4b201a04e3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/327971">Requisitioned for War ServiceHowever, on 15 August 1942, the U.S. Government requisitioned Lenore, repurposing her for use during the Second World War. From here, Lenore was assigned to the United States Coast Guard where, like many luxury yachts of the time, she was transferred to a yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland and converted for military use.By then renamed CG-92004 and refitted for wartime duties, she spent the next few years patrolling the waters along the East Coast. During this time she was assigned to various duties, including coastal picket patrol at Rockaway Point and Fire Island, New York, as well as detachment duty with the Comsublant (Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic) headquarters in New London, Connecticut, where she aided officers in training preparations against enemy submarines. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/327960/image/large-f370c5d4e739752d02ea4ec6c2242074.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/327960">But it was under her later names that the yacht would become a floating symbol of American political heritage. At the end of the Second World War in November 1945, CG-92004 was transferred to the U.S. Navy. At this time, she was stationed in Washington D.C. and served as a tender for Franklin D. Roosevelt's 50.3-metre presidential yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5303" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Potomac50.3m (165'0&quot;)Manitowoc Shipbilding Corp1934">USS Potomac</a>, before she was passed on to President Harry S. Truman in 1945.During the presidency of Truman, the vessel was renamed Lenore II, a nod back to her previous name before the war. However, when she was placed under President John S.D. Eisenhower’s ownership in 1953, she was renamed Barbara Anne after his eldest daughter. Barbara Anne underwent significant refurbishments during this time and was used by the first family for various events, such as the President and First Lady's 42nd wedding anniversary on the Potomac River and as a tender for the U.S. Navy gunboat USS Williamsburg to carry the secret service. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328214/image/large-c92f234fd621de8352a29bba0e9b75ca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328214">Kennedy’s Floating RetreatBut it was under the John F. Kennedy administration that the vessel truly gained her place in the annals of American history. Just like his grandfather John F. Fitzgerald, Kennedy had a deep affection for the sea, which led to the vessel being named in his honour, as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328204/image/large-80f011e74839a2265026782397232d26.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328204">Honey Fitz</a> was refurbished according to the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy's tastes and was frequently used for family trips along the East Coast. The vessel became Kennedy’s personal retreat, a place where he could escape the rigours of the presidency and spend time with his family. During his time in office, the yacht was often seen cruising the waters off Cape Cod, with his children playing on deck, and his wife, Jacqueline, lounging in the sun. The Kennedy family’s time onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> was well-documented, with photographs of these moments becoming iconic images of his presidency. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328212/image/large-8182379fc70d2c26223db02158a41f5c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328212"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328203/image/large-851fcd485ed7adb9de265c093407907f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328203">The Kennedys spent Easter and Christmas holidays onboard the yacht and President Kennedy often hosted dignitaries on official outings. Amongst some of the guests <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> welcomed onboard were, the former Prime Minister of Japan Hayato Ikeda and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Harold Macmillian. The yacht’s intimate but luxurious setting provided a stark contrast to the more formal spaces of the White House, allowing for open, candid discussions between some of the most powerful figures of the time. After Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> continued to serve subsequent presidents, including Lyndon B. Johnson, who honoured President Kennedy by retaining her name as Honey Fitz. During the administration of Richard Nixon in 1969, the yacht underwent refurbishment and was renamed after Nixon’s daughter Patricia. However, by the 1970s, with changing tastes and advancements in security, the use of presidential yachts fell out of favour, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> was retired from official service. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328209/image/large-084c90d2b4026a71a6c32d95304c1b76.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328209">Nixon decommissioned the yacht and put her up for sale, stating that it was a needless luxury. The yacht was sold at auction in 1971 and was passed into private hands once again, marking her first civilian owner since Sewell Avery in 1931. Her new owner, Joseph B. Keating, renamed the yacht The Presidents and chartered her for dinner parties and day cruises. But by the late 1990s, the yacht was put up for sale at auction once again, after falling into a state of disrepair. She was then placed onto a barge to prevent her from sinking, until Texas businessman William Kallop placed the winning bid at a 1998 Guernsey’s Auction of Kennedy memorabilia. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328206/image/large-4df22207015eb5dbab0acd0170abe734.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328206">A Historic Restoration and RevivalUnder the ownership of William Kallop, the vessel was once again renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> and began her journey of restoration. The Kallop family hosted many charity events onboard Honey Fitz and chartered her once again along the East Coast. Despite numerous attempts at topside repairs, she began to fall back into a state of disrepair and sat dormant for several years.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a>’s story is one of elegance, transformation, duty, and above all, resilience. In 2020, in partnership with Lessing’s Hospitality Group, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> was purchased and embarked on a three-year restoration journey to preserve her historical significance and return the yacht to her Kennedy-era grandeur. Her comprehensive refit, which was overseen by Charles R. Modica saw her systems updated and modernised, while her interior was preserved to retain her classic elegance. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328202/image/large-fa6fcb7a052969ac7c67fa0f53de9280.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328202"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a>&nbsp;made her official debut at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palm Beach International Boat Show - 2022">Palm Beach International Boat Show 2023</a>, where she was on display in her fully-restored glory. Today, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> boasts all the modern amenities one might expect, but her heart remains firmly in the past, a relic of a bygone era. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 35 passengers, with spaces such as a main saloon, sun deck, fully outfitted galley, and a private stateroom. She also features state-of-the-art navigational and safety equipment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/328200/image/large-00418a8e8761b245f1cb499c0a91cfe0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/328200">Now listed for private charters, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> stands as a reminder of a time when yachts were not just symbols of wealth, but played an active role in shaping the nation’s political landscape. Whether she was ferrying a president to a diplomatic meeting or serving as a backdrop for family photographs, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13377" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Honey Fitz28.35m (93'0&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1931">Honey Fitz</a> has always been an extraordinary yacht – she is a living piece of American history, a vessel that carries with her the memories of presidents and the weight of history.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/327987/image/large-3b8f4e6b37a10d30b28b81ddb1825eed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/327987">This article was first published in Issue 51 of the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/superyacht-times" target="_blank">SuperYacht Times</a> <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper" target="_blank">Newspaper</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-51" target="_blank">available for download here.</a>

History of Honey Fitz yacht

Sophie Spicknell delves into the legacy of the 28m yacht Honey Fitz, which served five U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy.


The history of Honey Fitz: JFK's presidential yacht

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> has announced that the 29.18-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2465" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Little Perle29.18m (95'9&quot;)Moonen Yachts2008">Little Perle</a> has been sold. Marco Fodale of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> Monaco introduced the buyer, while Peter Redford and Eugenio Cannarsa of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> Australia represented the seller, supported by Richard Lambert of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a> Monaco.&nbsp;According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> Australia, the transaction marks its latest sale completed in just under six months.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/382399/image/large-fa16ed3c4352d301a230215b9bee7c04.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/382399" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Delivered in 2008 by Dutch shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2465" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Little Perle29.18m (95'9&quot;)Moonen Yachts2008">Little Perle</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/241" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="René van der Velden Yacht Design (Company)">René van der Velden Yacht Design</a>, with interiors penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Art Line (Company)">Art Line</a>. Her naval architecture was crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a>. The yacht was last refitted in Australia in 2023.Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2465" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Little Perle29.18m (95'9&quot;)Moonen Yachts2008">Little Perle</a> has a beam of 7.3-metres and a shallow draft of 1.9-metres.&nbsp;At an interior volume of 190 GT, accommodation onboard is arranged for up to nine guests, across a six-stateroom configuration. Dedicated quarters are provided for five crew members, including her captain.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2465" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Little Perle29.18m (95'9&quot;)Moonen Yachts2008">Little Perle</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 14 knots.Image courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a>.

29m Moonen motor yacht Little Perle sold

The 29.18-metre Moonen motor yacht Little Perle has been sold, with Fraser representing both the buyer and seller alongside Burgess Monaco.


29m Moonen motor yacht Little Perle sold in less than six months

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/136" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Independence (Company)">Ocean Independence</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SES Yachts (Company)">SES Yachts</a> have unveiled the EPOQ 36, a modern gentleman's yacht concept. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="STURGE & TOTH (Company)">Sturge &amp; Toth</a> and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen Naval Architects</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400569/image/large-0c89a87d0aee8bde68fe98cd0bfa62fe.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400569">EPOQ 36 is the first model in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SES Yachts (Company)">SES Yachts’</a> new series, launched to celebrate the Turkish shipyard’s builder heritage of more than 50 years. The EPOQ series marks a new chapter for the shipyard, introducing a semi-custom platform designed to make its craftsmanship and design approach accessible to a wider range of owners while maintaining its focus on quality and personalisation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400565/image/large-20d293054d15a0c0dc6b137139a0f534.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400565">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/136" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Independence (Company)">Ocean Independence</a>, the concept is aimed at owners who prioritise lifestyle over status. Inspired by the Belle Époque, the yacht reflects the era's sophistication and refined way of life."Today's owners increasingly seek yachts that reflect their lifestyle rather than their status," said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/136" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Independence (Company)">Ocean Independence</a> CEO Peter Hürzeler. "The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1556" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SES Yachts (Company)">SES</a> EPOQ 36&nbsp;delivers exactly that. She is elegant without excess, technically sophisticated without unnecessary complexity, and designed for people who genuinely love spending time at sea."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400566/image/large-63cb2310939097f080c323c6b2af113c.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400566">Penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="STURGE & TOTH (Company)">Sturge &amp; Toth</a>, the exterior reinterprets the classic gentleman's yacht through subtle references to traditional British yacht design rather than direct historical recreation. The generous outdoor spaces have been designed to maximise the guest experience, while the interiors offer a flexible living environment. In the main saloon, loose furniture is paired with traditional wood craftsmanship and contemporary fabrics. This allows owners significant scope for personalisation, even during the later stages of construction.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400564/image/large-f3a4a613890d066a41292d76abb8cf15.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400564">One of the yacht's standout features is a glass-bottomed Jacuzzi on the sundeck, which also serves as a skylight for the alfresco dining area below. Incorporating switchable liquid-crystal glass technology, it can alternate between transparent and translucent.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400563/image/large-8ffbc700a28713013153529d5d4b8015.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400563">The yacht features a steel displacement hull, paired with low-revving engines. At the heart of EPOQ, however, is her renowned Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), developed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen Naval Architects</a>. Combining the efficiency of a displacement yacht with the performance of a semi-displacement design, the hull reduces fuel consumption while improving cruising efficiency and onboard comfort.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400571/image/large-dc0b102bc8291654051f818c68f998d5.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400571">Her lower deck layout has been standardised to optimise build quality while retaining flexibility for owner customisation. "EPOQ was never about adding complexity," concluded designer Benjamin Toth. "Every design decision has been evaluated through the lens of how owners actually use their yachts. The result is a vessel that offers exceptional comfort while remaining practical to own and operate for decades."

SES Yachts EPOQ 36 yacht concept

 Ocean Independence and SES Yachts have unveiled the EPOQ 36.

SES Yachts unveils Belle Époque-inspired EPOQ 36 yacht concept

Croatian yacht brokerage <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> has expanded its international presence with the opening of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> Exclusive, its new sales and brokerage office in Monaco.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400581/image/large-cd60de5aaee3d09e88758dafc055bede.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400581">Strategically located at Port Hercule, the new office will serve as the company's international sales and brokerage hub and will represent the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5305" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Solaris Yachts (Company)">Solaris</a> and Stradivari boating brands on an exclusive basis. The expansion is also intended to strengthen <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a>'s position in the superyacht segment and enhance its offering to ultra-high-net-worth clients across the Mediterranean.Located at 7 Avenue J.F. Kennedy, the Monaco office is the newest addition to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a>'s growing network, following the opening of its Slovenia office in 2025. The company said the new location will strengthen connections between its established Adriatic operations and the wider Mediterranean market. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> Exclusive will be led by Commercial Director Carlos Vassallo, who brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the role.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400577/image/large-984c4f1c0ecf46a43da3102f38d36c95.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400577">"The opening of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> Exclusive in Monaco represents an important milestone in our long-term development," said COO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a>, Fredrik Delić. "Monaco is the natural meeting point of the international yachting industry, and this presence allows us to strengthen the connection between our established Adriatic operations and the wider Mediterranean market."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400582/image/large-fa942b4a4b374d5724ecbfd9de3e5318.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400582">Founder and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a>, Gordan Zadro, added: “When I founded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> in 2010, my ambition was to build a company that clients, partners, and manufacturers would trust for its professionalism, integrity, and long-term commitment. That philosophy has guided every decision we have made over the past fifteen years and continues to shape our future."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400578/image/large-cbb9d1a50858e9aa6841602100321099.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400578">Founded in 2010, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6275" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navis Marine (Company)">Navis Marine</a> is a yacht brokerage specialising in yacht sales, acquisition advisor, charter services and yacht management. Headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, the company now has offices in Split, Trogir, Ljubljana and Monaco, with further international expansion planned before the end of 2026.

Navis Marine opens new sales and brokerage office in Monaco

Navis Marine has expanded its international presence with the opening of Navis Marine Exclusive, a new sales and brokerage office in Monaco.


<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V. (Company)">Van der Heijden</a> has announced the sale of its new 26-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17240" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Explorer IV26.0m (85'4&quot;)Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V.2027">Van Der Heijden Explorer IV</a> yacht. Construction is currently underway at the Dutch shipyard's facility in Waalwijk, with the project marking the latest addition to its explorer range.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400560/image/large-324295561c7077030e1500eecb7e7d99.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400560">For the shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17240" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Explorer IV26.0m (85'4&quot;)Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V.2027">Van Der Heijden Explorer IV</a> represents a new generation of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V. (Company)">Van der Heijden</a> explorer series, which benefits from an increased interior volume with contemporary exterior lines and a highly customised layout.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400553/image/large-cabfc6c2a3f4eb9bbbdab74188ba81c6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400553">Developed around the owner’s cruising plans and requirements, the yacht has a beam of 7.5-metres and a draft of 2.3-metres.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400554/image/large-6ee481de108019c8703f1aacfe7848f8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400554">Stepping inside, the yacht has been designed with amply proportioned living and dining areas, while her layout separates private guest accommodation from social living spaces, technical areas. Large windows allow plenty of natural light and a close connection to the surrounding ocean vistas.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400555/image/large-6b02cbfdfe7221803da3b42e43edc048.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400555">Outside, extensive spaces for outdoor relaxing and entertaining can be enjoyed by the guests while cruising the Mediterranean seas.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400552/image/large-8f91b1c085af9231e8e347887c391d5d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400552">Accommodation onboard is arranged for up to eight guests across four en suite staterooms, alongside separate quarters for four crew members across two quarters.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400561/image/large-2b01b4ef0735ded9012edff7dc848599.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400561" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Being built to applicable <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1457" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RINA (Company)">RINA</a> class requirements and intended to meet CE Design Category A - Ocean, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17240" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Explorer IV26.0m (85'4&quot;)Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V.2027">Van Der Heijden Explorer IV</a> has been conceived for long-range cruising. The final propulsion package, onboard systems and cruising capabilities will be tailored to the owner's preferences.All images provided courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Der Heijden Steelyachts B.V. (Company)">Van der Heijden</a>.

26m Van der Heijden Explorer IV yacht sold

Van der Heijden  has announced the sale of its new 26-metre Explorer IV yacht, which is currently under construction at the Dutch shipyard's facility.

In-build 26m Van der Heijden Explorer IV yacht sold

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">The Italian Sea Group (TISG)</a> has announced the resignation of chairman and CEO Giovanni Costantino and non-executive director Gianmaria Costantino. This move triggered the dissolution of the company's entire board of directors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/386329/image/large-5b57b6cc7647b019165636d2e632aab4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/386329">The resignations, effective 20 July, automatically dissolved the board under the company's articles of association and Italian corporate law, as the majority of directors appointed by shareholders are no longer in office.The existing board will continue to operate on an interim basis until shareholders appoint a new board, with a meeting to be convened as soon as possible. The company said this would ensure business continuity and allow its ongoing restructuring process to continue.According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a>, the resigning directors said they had done everything possible to address the company's crisis and advance its restructuring efforts. They believe a change in governance will help strengthen stakeholder confidence, ensure continuity and maximise value for creditors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/330852/image/large-4bf3eaa2517d3433bc0352c08e9306b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/330852">Read more:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66488" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TISG granted 60 days to file restructuring plan (2026-07-06 09:00:00 +0200)">TISG granted 60 days to file restructuring plan</a>The announcement comes just weeks after the company entered a court-supervised crisis regulation procedure under Italy's Crisis Code. Earlier this month, the Court of Florence confirmed protective measures allowing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> to continue operating while it prepares a restructuring plan. The measures prevent shipowners from terminating existing contracts due to shipyard defaults or enforcing related guarantees, while also providing temporary relief to key suppliers involved in projects nearing delivery.The company has said the court protections will support the completion of ongoing yacht builds and the implementation of its restructuring strategy. Subject to agreements with suppliers, clients and financing institutions, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> is also considering a capital increase of around €100 million from the fourth quarter to strengthen its financial position.Despite stepping down as chairman and CEO, Giovanni Costantino remains <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG's</a> majority shareholder, indirectly controlling 53.6 per cent of the company's share capital through GC Holding S.p.A. Gianmaria Costantino does not hold shares in the company.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/306419/image/large-23e9c0556425fdb09d6ac0efd3046cf3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/306419">Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66451" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TISG reports over €178 million net financial debt in latest restructuring update (2026-07-01 09:15:00 +0200)">TISG reports over €178 million net financial debt in latest restructuring update</a>The company added that neither director had raised objections or disputes regarding board decisions as part of their resignation. Giovanni Costantino also has no ongoing employment or contractual relationship with the company, while Gianmaria Costantino will remain an employee under his existing employment contract.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">TISG</a> said it will continue to update the market on developments as the restructuring process progresses.

TISG Costantino resignation

The Italian Sea Group (TISG) has announced the resignation of chairman and CEO Giovanni Costantino

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TISG chairman Giovanni Costantino resigns, triggering board dissolution

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of former <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> broker Robert D. "Bob" Leslie. He passed away at his home on 11 July.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400536/image/large-ea6639b392ac2fa5fde114c606722852.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400536">A highly respected figure in the yachting industry, Bob built a career spanning more than five decades and was admired for his professionalism, integrity and unwavering commitment to his clients. He was also a mentor to many within the brokerage community, earning a reputation as a trusted and generous colleague.Bob’s passion for life on the water began at an early age after restoring an abandoned 10-foot dory when he was just 11 years old. Following his graduation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a brief period of service in the U.S. Navy, he dedicated his life to sailing and yacht brokerage. An accomplished ocean racer, he competed in numerous offshore events, including the Newport to Bermuda, Marblehead to Halifax and Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) races.He began his brokerage career in 1971 at Graves Yacht Yard in Marblehead, Massachusetts, before acquiring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson's</a> Massachusetts office in 1985. He led the office for more than two decades before selling the business in 2007, while remaining part of the company and continuing to serve clients from the firm's Newport office.Beyond his brokerage work, Bob played an influential role in advancing professional standards across the industry. A former president of the Yacht Brokers Association of America, he was named Broker of the Year in 1991. He then helped develop the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) examination, which went on to become the industry's national certification standard.According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a>, Bob believed a broker's role was not simply to make a sale, but to provide trusted advice and help clients make informed decisions. That philosophy earned him the lasting trust of clients and the respect of colleagues across the yachting industry.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> Chairman Kevin Merrigan reflected on Bob’s death: “He treated everyone with respect, conducted business with unwavering integrity, and proved that success comes from earning trust over a lifetime. I will always be grateful for his mentorship and friendship. He represented the very best of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> and of our industry.”Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop & Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a>.

Northrop & Johnson Broker Robert Leslie dies

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of former Northrop & Johnson broker Robert D. "Bob" Leslie.

In Memoriam: Former Northrop & Johnson Broker Robert “Bob” Leslie passes away

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a>, a brand of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyachts</a>, has announced the delivery of the 67-metre ISA Gran Turismo superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Raider X67.0m (219'10&quot;)ISA Yachts2026">Sea Raider X</a> ahead of her debut at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/338" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2026">Monaco Yacht Show 2026</a>. The four-deck vessel is the flagship of the shipyard's fleet.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400545/image/large-4fbca6a4069f50b7e6da10a4f2589553.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400545">She features an exterior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/289" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vallicelli Design (Company)">Vallicelli Design</a>, while the interiors were created by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1197" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi (Company)">Team for Design – Enrico Gobbi</a>. Her naval architecture was developed in-house by the shipyard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400546/image/large-928f1afcc8ee92defa9d9bf135594e07.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400546">The yacht's black-painted steel hull and silver aluminium superstructure complement her sporty silhouette. She stands out for her blend of flowing curves and angular styling, with sweeping deck lines contrasting against the diamond-shaped design of the stern and upper sun deck for a contemporary appearance. A distinctive frame-like element connects the wheelhouse roof to the aft section of the main deck. This creates a dynamic profile while reflecting the signature styling of the Gran Turismo range.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400542/image/large-d652ff1602b6af93fac30e4043144d6f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400542">Inside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Raider X67.0m (219'10&quot;)ISA Yachts2026">Sea Raider X</a> accommodates up to 14 guests across seven staterooms, including a full-beam owner's suite located forward on the main deck. Accommodation is also provided for a crew of 13, including the captain, across eight cabins.Aft on the main deck, the yacht offers a spacious outdoor lounge centred around a 6.5-metre panoramic swimming pool. Fold-down side terraces expand the available deck space, while integrated staircases provide seamless access to the aft swim platform and beach club.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400547/image/large-b681a7811fb1ba8e14a4ce4e58fa49be.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400547">On the lower deck, the yacht's 7.5-metre-plus primary tender is stored in a dedicated garage and launched through a side-opening hatch. The garage connects directly to the beach club, which is equipped with a hammam, bar and gym. Once the tender has been deployed, the covered aft garage area can be converted into an expansive entertainment space, increasing the size of the beach club.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400541/image/large-244ece862d9ea8113faeaa758d10ad1d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400541">Commenting on the delivery, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a> concluded: “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sea Raider X67.0m (219'10&quot;)ISA Yachts2026">Sea Raider X</a> embodies the evolution of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a>' Gran Turismo philosophy, combining performance, engineering innovation and outstanding build quality in a project that redefines the contemporary yachting experience.”

ISA Gran Turismo Sea Raider X yacht delivered

ISA Yachts has announced the delivery of the 67-metre ISA Gran Turismo superyacht Sea Raider X.

67m ISA Gran Turismo yacht Sea Raider X delivered ahead of Monaco debut

The 29-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4411" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bozburun Shipyard (Company)">Bozburun</a> gulet <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17070" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Alize29.0m (95'2&quot;)Bozburun Shipyard2020">Princess Alize</a> has sunk after a fire broke out while anchored in Hamam Bay, Göcek, according to local media reports.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400549/image/large-625fc3379408f97c79cd097a3265d7da.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400549">Turkish news outlets TRT Haber and Anka reported that a fire broke out aboard the yacht at around 06:30 local time. TRT Haber said the blaze originated in the engine room. Five passengers and three crew members were safely evacuated before the blaze spread through the vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400551/image/large-73258cb2b1a4130f9e54c30a2724d870.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400551">Coast Guard, coastal police and port authority teams responded to the incident, extinguishing the fire after approximately two hours. However, the yacht later sank. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17070" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Alize29.0m (95'2&quot;)Bozburun Shipyard2020">Princess Alize</a> was designed in-house by her Turkish builder. The 29-metre sailing yacht has a 7.5-metre beam and a volume of 150GT, with accommodation for up to 10 guests across five staterooms. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> engines, she cruises at 9 knots and reaches a top speed of 12.5 knots.

Princess Alize yacht fire Göcek

The 29-metre Bozburun gulet yacht Princess Alize has sunk after a fire broke out while anchored in Hamam Bay.

29m sailing yacht Princess Alize sinks following fire in Hamam Bay, Göcek

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400504/image/large-977b98f8de1a3df5c739e8f122477f60.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400504">The 35.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/16" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Brooke Marine Ltd. (Company)">Brooke Marine</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3194" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Deep Blue35.3m (115'10&quot;)Brooke Marine Ltd.1988">Deep Blue</a> was spotted cruising in Sydney, Australia, in February this year. According to AIS data, she is currently located at Hope Island on Australia's Gold Coast, Queensland.Delivered by the British shipyard in 1988, the flybridge yacht was originally named White Rose of Drachs. She benefitted from a refit in 2017 and features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/353" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Don Shead Yacht Design (Company)">Don Shead Yacht Design</a>. At an internal volume of 214 GT, she accommodates up to eight guests across four staterooms.Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3194" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Deep Blue35.3m (115'10&quot;)Brooke Marine Ltd.1988">Deep Blue</a> cruises comfortably at 15 knots and reaches a top speed of 16 knots.

Brooke Marine yacht Deep Blue in Sydney

The 35.3-metre Brooke Marine motor yacht Deep Blue was spotted cruising in Sydney, Australia, in February this year.

35m Brooke Marine motor yacht Deep Blue in Sydney

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere delle Marche</a> has announced the delivery of the 35-metre Deep Blue 115 explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a> to her owners.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/392154/image/large-071cee919b7fec1d887e19f017e75e50.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/392154">Delivered to experienced American yacht owners, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a> is a highly customised project featuring exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Horacio Bozzo Design (Company)">Horacio Bozzo</a>, with interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cassetta Yacht Designers (Company)">Giorgio M. Cassetta</a>. Her naval architecture was developed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1403" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axis Group Yacht Design (Company)">Axis Yacht Group</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/392155/image/large-8827b1ee7ddc92b4b92a886f35293fbc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/392155"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a> was launched in April this year as the first unit in the Deep Blue 115 series. The series was inspired by the 42.9-metre Deep Blue 141 yacht Acala&nbsp;(now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8242" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orixa'42.9m (140'9&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2022">Orixa'</a>), the first yacht conceived from the Deep Blue vision, having received multiple requests from clients seeking yachts inspired by the same concept. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a>&nbsp;was sold following a collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere delle Marche</a> and Jamie Swaine of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>'s London office.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400518/image/large-627df7202594ee39a53b91e991dc19c3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400518" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65983" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="35m CdM Deep Blue 115 yacht Octopus launched (2026-04-30 13:00:00 +0200)">35m CdM Deep Blue 115 yacht Octopus launched</a>"We are delighted to deliver Octopus to such knowledgeable and passionate owners," said Co-Founder and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) (Company)">Cantiere delle Marche</a>, Vasco Buonpensiere. "Working with clients of this calibre, who brought a clear vision and deep understanding of yachting, has been both stimulating and rewarding."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400517/image/large-912995a7807e83b9d07f2b60276a055a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400517">Outside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a> boasts main deck aft fitted with a swimming pool, ample seating and generous storage, while a spacious swim platform grants direct access to the water. Aft, a tender garage with a port-side opening hatch adds to her explorer credentials, allowing for the convenient launch and retrieval of tenders and water toys.Stepping Inside, interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cassetta Yacht Designers (Company)">Giorgio M. Cassetta</a> was conceived as an homage to the spirit of voyaging, combining organic forms, colourful accents and exotic materials to create a warm, contemporary living, intended for long-range exploration.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400512/image/large-9c3aa3d145a55486dca65b537f14bb28.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400512">At an interior volume of 299 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13603" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopus35.0m (114'10&quot;)Cantiere delle Marche (CdM)2026">Octopus</a> accommodates up to 10 guests across five suites, including an owner's suite on the main deck forward. Dedicated quarters sleep up to seven crew members, including her captain.&nbsp;In terms of performance, she is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of nine knots and a top speed of 13.5 knots.

35m CdM Deep Blue 115 explorer yacht Octopus delivered

Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) has delivered the 35-metre Deep Blue 115 explorer yacht Octopus to her owners following her launch earlier this year.
