Yachts have often been considered status symbols of the wealthy and privileged, with their silhouettes in ports and harbours across the world standing as emblems of trade, wealth and prestige. With the future of yacht design constantly changing, every detail holds significance; and while diminishing in popularity, the figurehead of a boat once stood as a status symbol of tradition and individual expression. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9zpU3gPpYI?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> Figureheads are elaborately carved sculptures mounted at the bow of a ship, holding a rich maritime tradition that extends from ships to yachts, and more recently superyachts. The tradition of figureheads on vessels spans not only centuries, but countries, appearing throughout history across the globe.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300777/image/large-5e60526862a282fa2739e1d42364de56.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300777">Some of the first recorded use of figureheads onboard vessels date back to the Ancient Egyptians from around 3100 B.C. The Ancient Egyptians are said to have carved bull and ram heads, as well as birds onto the forward-most part of a ship's bow, believing that this would make the voyage for those onboard successful, and would also appease the gods.As time progressed, the Romans of the third century would place carvings of their deities on the bows of their galleys. In addition to these divine figures, they were also known to depict centurions to symbolise bravery and strength in combat. This tradition echoes that of the Viking ships which would be adorned with dragons’ heads to ward off malevolent spirits and instil fear into the enemy. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300781/image/large-53535f2e694385e7db560f8d5842d256.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300781">The 11th century Bayeux Tapestry displays the story of William of Normandy’s conquest of England in 1066 and depicts the invading ships embellished with figureheads of lions and dragons to serve as a tangible embodiment of ancient legends and beliefs. However, by the 13th century, a new trend in figureheads had emerged in Northern Europe, with swans becoming the favoured embellishment to signify grace and mobility.By the 17th and early 18th century, the lion was once again among the most common figurehead motifs at the bow of boats, symbolising power and strength of those onboard. But it was also around this time that the use of human forms became more popular in the design of figureheads.&nbsp;By the 18th and 19th centuries, figureheads had reached the pinnacle of their artistry. Often known as the “Golden Age of Sail,” figureheads became more elaborate and ornate during this period. The use of full-length human forms, mostly of classical or mythological figures to represent the name of the vessel, was on the rise, partly due to the illiteracy of many sailors during the period.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300780/image/large-c620de517a577449b2a9ef0811a71f79.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300780">Many figureheads of this period depicted women revealing one or both breasts. Despite prevailing beliefs that having women onboard was unlucky, sailors held superstitions that a semi-naked sculpted female form could calm the storms at sea.Historically, figureheads served both practical and symbolic purposes. They were initially designed to act as a form of spiritual protection for the ship and its crew, often depicting mythological or religious figures believed to offer guidance and safeguard against maritime perils.The figureheads of today however, have transitioned from their traditional role as symbols of protection, to more of an aesthetic and artistic expression of wealth. A number of modern superyacht owners have commissioned bespoke figureheads that reflect their personal tastes, themes, or even serve as a nod to the vessel's name. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300776/image/large-928bbb31498cac72b1b05b369ff1d0e6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300776">A prime example of this is the 92.92-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/669" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EOS92.92m (304'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2006">EOS</a>. Delivered in 2006, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/669" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EOS92.92m (304'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2006">EOS</a> is one of a few sailing yachts constructed by the Germany-based builder. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/669" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EOS92.92m (304'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2006">EOS</a> boasts exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/566" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Langan Design Partners (Company)">Langan Design Partners</a>, while her interior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/257" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Francois Catroux (Company)">Francois Catroux</a>, with naval architecture by her builder.The three-masted Bermuda rigged schooner was once owned by movie and media billionaire Barry Diller, husband of fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg and its this famous pairing that led to the creation of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/669" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EOS92.92m (304'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2006">EOS</a>’s figurehead. Named after the Greek Goddess of the dawn, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/669" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EOS92.92m (304'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2006">EOS</a> features a hand-crafted figurehead at her bow, modelled on Barry Diller’s wife, Diane von Fürstenberg. Crafted in stainless steel by artist Anh Duong, Diane von Fürstenberg modelled for the 2.7-metre figurehead during a series of different sessions.But it's not just sailing yachts that are known to sport figureheads, the modern evolution of maritime aesthetics has led to an increasing rise of motor yachts also showcasing these works of art. Whether evoking a sense of nostalgia for maritime traditions, or pushing the boundaries of contemporary art, figureheads continue to play a role in shaping the identity of yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300775/image/large-60f09810263ccad48c9f7eb669aab8cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300775">In 2010, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> launched the 90.02-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Phoenix 290.02m (295'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2010">Phoenix 2</a>, which displays a five-tonne eagle figurehead on her bow. The owner was heavily involved in the design of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Phoenix 290.02m (295'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2010">Phoenix 2</a>, with the theme evolving around the Art-Deco stylings of New York. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Phoenix 290.02m (295'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2010">Phoenix 2</a> 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 by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>. The giant stainless-steel chiselled eagle is said to be reminiscent of the eagles seen on the Chrysler Building in New York, and creates a bold vision for onlookers.&nbsp;Animal figureheads have become a popular theme amongst superyacht owners in recent years, with the 65-metre 2013 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/121" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmer Johnson Yachts (Company)">Palmer Johnson</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady M65.0m (213'3&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts2013">Lady M</a> displaying a two-metre pouncing cat on her bow. Although some people have described this as a jaguar or a panther, her designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> explains that she is simply just a cat. Crafted by the aluminium welders at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/121" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmer Johnson Yachts (Company)">Palmer Johnson</a>, the cat motif occurs throughout <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady M65.0m (213'3&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts2013">Lady M</a>’s design, thanks to the owner’s wife’s love for felines. A graceful cat symbol can be seen on the transom logo of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady M65.0m (213'3&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts2013">Lady M</a>, and repeated again as emblems on her gates and skylights. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300884/image/large-e2b2b91f1be240fd957065917b122d01.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300884">Like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3527" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady M65.0m (213'3&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts2013">Lady M</a>, Pakistani-American billionaire businessman and sports tycoon Shahid Khan’s former yacht is known for its distinctive jaguar figurehead. First seen in 2014 on the 95-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht Kismet (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Whisper95.2m (312'4&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2014">Whisper</a>), the 2.41-metre jaguar figurehead represented his ownership of the NFL football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.&nbsp;Positioned with one paw in the air and the other resting on an American football helmet, the silver jaguar was constructed by Belgium-based 3D-printing factory Materialise and symbolised elegance and power. The 100kg jaguar was created using 3D printed structural reinforcements, with its outer shell taking up 5.8 percent of the total volume. It was created using 5,000 printed layers, each measuring just 0.5 millimetres and with 10,260 lumens of electric light shining from its eyes. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/281145/image/large-49e45fdb7ae6dc0e2d2e3930b28dc7c5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/281145">The owner of the 122-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht Jag, now known as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kismet122.0m (400'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Kismet</a>, also sports a jaguar at the bow. The new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kismet122.0m (400'3&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Kismet</a> features <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>’s iconic elongated bowspirit, with the jaguar figurehead hugging the underside of her bow.However, there is one figurehead that has been dominating the headlines since the yacht’s launch in August 2022. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ 127-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7500" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koru127.0m (416'8&quot;)Oceanco2023">Koru</a> features an impressive carved wooden figurehead which has been drawing the attention of the world's press for months.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/300912/image/large-d3dc67eb6601eacdbf497c473fdafc88.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/300912"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7500" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koru127.0m (416'8&quot;)Oceanco2023">Koru</a> is the second largest sailing yacht in the world and the largest yacht built by the Netherlands-based shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>. Her name derives from the Māori fern-leaf motif, which is a symbol of creation and new beginnings to the native people of New Zealand.When she was launched, online news publications noted how the curvaceous winged figurehead at the bow of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7500" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koru127.0m (416'8&quot;)Oceanco2023">Koru</a> bore a striking resemblance to Bezos’ fiancé, Lauren Sanchez. The figurehead is dressed in a flowing gown with long hair, which many believed was modelled on the former TV personality. However, in an interview with Vogue magazine last year,Sanchez set the record straight about the design, “I’m very flattered, but it’s not, [me].” <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHLink2jPLY?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The polished female figurehead of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7500" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koru127.0m (416'8&quot;)Oceanco2023">Koru</a> is instead based on one of Jeff Bezos’ favourite mythological figures, Freyja. The Norse goddess of love, fertility, war, and gold also features a spiral shape necklace, with an unfurling silver fern frond, which signifies creation and perpetual movement.From their origins in ancient civilisations to their modern-day interpretations, figureheads continue to symbolise power, grace, and individuality and shape the identity of yachts. Despite the ever-changing seas of yacht design, figureheads still stand as a reminder of the timeless allure of the ocean and the creativity of the owners onboard.

History of yacht figureheads

Jag yacht launch

original

small

medium

large

extra_large

Phoenix 2 yacht figurehead exterior detail

EOS yacht figurehead

Egyptian carving of boats

Figurehead onboard a ship

Bayeux Tapestry ship segment

Kismet yacht figurehead

Koru yacht figurehead

Figureheads often stood as symbols of power and strength. We take a look at the history of figureheads from Egyptian beginnings to modern marvels. 

Video: The history of yacht figureheads

What is a Yacht Figurehead?

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

Sophie Spicknell takes a deep dive into the history of the 1916 schooner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a>, which is currently for sale with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311795/image/large-2ef8340d2413af081bce995632e01d36.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311795">Few yachts command the reverence and admiration of the classic 1916 schooner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a>. At 42.06-metres, her graceful lines, storied past and impeccable craftsmanship have, rightfully, positioned her as a beacon of timeless elegance and maritime heritage.Built by the illustrious <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Herreshoff (Company)">Herreshoff Manufacturing Company</a> and designed by the legendary Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> is not merely a yacht; she is a floating piece of history, a testament to the golden age of sail.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/332325/image/large-2ef9ae47bcf6383b82a884823b30a923.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332325">The steel-hulled schooner was launched from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Herreshoff (Company)">Herreshoff Manufacturing Co</a>. slipway in Bristol, Rhode Island, in spring 1916 under the name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a>. Launched as the American flagship, she was built for Jacob Frederick Brown, a Boston textile manufacturer and avid yachtsman, who paid $75,000 to have her commissioned (around $2.3 million in today’s currency).The name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> was chosen in honour of Brown’s wife, with all his yachts bearing her name. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> was crafted from the same half model as her near-sisterships <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5247" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vagrant39.0m (127'11&quot;)Herreshoff1913">Vagrant II</a> and Ohonkara, built in 1913 and 1920 respectively, with a design rescaled from Harold Vanderbilt’s first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5248" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vagrant of Burnham32.0m (104'12&quot;)Herreshoff1910">Vagrant</a> boat of 1910. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5247" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vagrant39.0m (127'11&quot;)Herreshoff1913">Vagrant</a> yacht featured steel frames and a wooden backbone and planking, with the rescaling of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> resulting in a 43 percent increase in length and a 35 percent increase in her beam, draft and freeboard. This not only saved on carving, but enabled him to tweak the already successful design to be better. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916"><img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/332327/image/large-ab5850dabb9fd4aa2e6f6790aaa84e1d.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20241011%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20241011T104749Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=05f749ac03ddba49068982af1911f294811c4be20b0fa99c9a30399bb222f88e" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332327">Mariette</a> remained in Brown’s fleet until 1927, when the schooner was sold to businessman Francis Boardman Crowninshield, the brother of renowned yacht designer B.B. Crowninshield. Renaming her Cleopatra’s Barge II, he painted her black with a white boot-top and a gilded stripe, inspired by the original Cleopatra’s Barge of 1816, which was owned by his family and reportedly “America’s first yacht.”&nbsp;Francis and his wife, Louise Evelina duPont Crowninshield, sailed aboard Cleopatra’s Barge II&nbsp;until 1942 when she was acquired by the US Navy for coastal patrol during the war. After the war, Francis refused to reclaim her, believing she had been ruined by naval operations.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/332326/image/large-6d7422a3cf76d092c5882e7ff839f0c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332326">Passing through several owners, the schooner was listed as Gee Gee III in 1946, according to a supplement to the 1939 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyd's Register</a> of Yachts UK. She remained in Boston until 1950 when she was registered in the 1950 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyd's Register</a> of American Yachts, as Evening Star by John P. Hazzard, from Morehead City, North Carolina. During this period, she received a new diesel engine, a Bermudan staysail rig, and new sails.By 1955, she was renamed Guinevere and registered in the 1955 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyd's Register</a> Of Yachts, as in New York, under Mrs Edgar Palmer. She was then sold in 1960 to charter captain Walter Boudreau, who renamed her Le Voyageur and offered sailing charters in the Caribbean.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/332323/image/large-92033a00497110a31ce9c846f9a53b79.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332323">Despite this, after just five years, Boudreau was talked into selling her to one of his charter guests. He later regretted this decision and bought her back in the late 1960s, this time renaming her Janeen, after his daughter. Janeen was eventually sold in 1975 to Carlo Monzino, a great art lover, who renamed her Kebyar and owned her until 1979. The boat reached Monaco in the autumn, where she underwent another quick refit that was to last till summer 1976.In 1979, Italian publisher and film producer Alberto Rizzoli purchased and renamed the yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> again. This also marked the start of her restoration journey at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4793" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri Navali Beconcini (Company)">Beconcini</a> shipyard in La Spezia, Italy. Between 1979 to 1982 she was completely dismantled and reconstructed, with everything restored, except for her original interior and her schooner staysail rig, which was fitted in 1949. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/332324/image/large-485a026400200cb1c7cb57be698ad0dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332324">Alberto Rizzoli continued to sail <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> until the end of 1988 when he sold her to a Neapolitan, Wolf Chitis. Six years later, she was sold to American Thomas J. Perkins by Mike Horsley of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>; and upon finding another vessel already registered as Mariette, he renamed her Mariette of 1915. Perkins appointed Tom Eaton as skipper, who convinced his owner to restore the boat to her original topsail gaff schooner rig.&nbsp;The original plans and data of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> were obtained from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where Nathanael Greene Herreshoff’s archives are held. Using these plans, her rig was constructed by legendary rigger Harry Spencer of Cowes and installed at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4793" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri Navali Beconcini (Company)">Beconcini</a> yard in Italy. In spring 1995 her hull was repaired again, as well as modifications made to her deck, with her wheel placed into a sunken cockpit. By the summer of 1995, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> was competing in Mediterranean classic yacht regattas under her new rig, earning many awards and accolades, before being sold again in 2005.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/252022/image/large-0b1abc54fc5a92a9b9423fe9af8e91f4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/252022">In 2000, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> completed a major refit at Tréhard in France, which saw her sails replaced, before she made her first visit to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pendennis Shipyard Ltd (Company)">Pendennis</a> Falmouth facility in February 2010 for a pre-summer refit. She returned for minor works in spring 2012, &nbsp;ahead of the Pendennis Cup. In autumn 2017, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> returned to Falmouth for a more extensive refit, in partnership with her crew. The refit saw her deck and sub-deck replaced entirely, with all but two deckhouses removed, re-varnished and put back into position.Internally her saloon saw a new flue installed for the wood burner and headlining fully replaced, while the guest and owner’s staterooms were renewed with carpet throughout, including an update of all electrical fixtures.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311777/image/large-8c23885028c0decdc5a69a3b0c563a75.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311777"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311774/image/large-ade0afb253452d38b0a9aea2d5adaf24.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311774">The interior of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> is a time capsule in itself, capturing the essence of sailing tradition from over a century ago. Her walls are adorned by beautiful wooden panelling, intricate golden light fixtures, and artworks centred around sailing. She can comfortably accommodate up to six guests across three sumptuous staterooms, all finished in her traditional interior styling. She features a master suite with its own separate office, along with one twin stateroom and a bunk stateroom.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311778/image/large-9f1bb2469872d936905db3c0d63ad58d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311778"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311781/image/large-8f645245e34b321384e16cf6374eea01.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311781">But <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> is not just a showpiece; she is a formidable performer on the water. Her powerful sail plan, combined with a deep keel and balanced hull design, ensures exceptional sailing performance and stability. Whether competing in classic yacht regattas or enjoying leisurely cruises, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916">Mariette</a> promises an exhilarating sailing experience.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311787/image/large-fa82a363ebae0d34afcfa820ea8acf49.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311787"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311789/image/large-c2406dfde6dc5b8f9da9365fd9c3c051.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311789">Mariette</a> boasts large open deck spaces for relaxation, allowing guests to take in the uninterrupted panoramic views. Towards her midship, she features an alfresco dining area with additional seating, sheltered by a removable awning. Guests are also never far from the water, with a ladder on her starboard side providing direct access. Meanwhile her bow is home to a further forward-facing sun lounging platform and her lower deck houses formal lounge and dining areas, all of which are surrounded by magnificent traditional finishings.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mariette 42.06m (137'12&quot;)Herreshoff1916"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311790/image/large-9f1bda1e634c255abc06edebce918d11.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311790"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311792/image/large-b545fe3fd2ec30e05e4775ca67ccf5f8.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311792">Mariette</a> now embodies sailing tradition in every sense, through her elegant profile, with a stunning dark navy hull, contrasted with the warm wooden toe rail and lighter teak deck finish. She is currently for sale with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a> broker Hans Van Doornmalen and has been meticulously maintained over the years, leaving her in great condition for collectors and sailing enthusiasts alike.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/311794/image/large-452dab2b4b040ab36e7276aeac576ebb.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/311794">This article was originally published in the 50th issue of the SuperYacht Times Newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-50" target="_blank">available for download here.</a>

The history of the 1916 sailing yacht Mariette

Sophie Spicknell takes a deep dive into the history of the 1916 schooner Mariette, which is currently for sale with Edmiston.

Magnificent Mariette: The history of the classic 1916 sailing yacht

Early March, Jim Offield returned after two years of circumnavigating the globe onboard sailing yacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a>, just in time for his 76th birthday. Leona Caanen sits down with Jim to dive into his journey sailing the seven seas onboard the 34-metre ketch.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397312/image/large-2d480c55397f28e4576e480c910ab08e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397312">As the world was closing up in July 2020, Jim’s longtime captain and dear friend Bruno, found the perfect ketch sitting for sale, docked in Palma de Mallorca. After a quick tour via FaceTime, Jim bought the yacht and had Bruno prepare it to set sail. Jim made his way to the yacht, where Gibraltar authorities granted him a sole 24 hours of entry before he and his yacht needed to leave.What followed was Jim’s very first Atlantic crossing on a sailing yacht. “We did the Atlantic crossing in August and I absolutely fell in love with offshore sailing. It was an absolute magical trip,” Jim shares. Crossing the Atlantic in the middle of hurricane season is quite a feat, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> showed what she was capable of and with Bruno captaining the vessel, Jim felt right at ease.After that, Jim, Bruno and the crew spent four years leisurely exploring New England and the Caribbean, sailing from island to island. After exploring much of the region, Bruno and Jim were having coffee one morning on shore when the question arose: what next? Having previously travelled to the Pacific and Oceania onboard a 156 foot <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/47" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Delta Marine (Company)">Delta</a>, Bruno floated the thought of sailing around the world onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a>. A simple ‘why not’ from Jim and a plan was made. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397341/image/large-e986b042286f4f2e39e0b8b2219a4a49.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397341">Around the worldIn early April of 2024, Jim and his wife, captain Bruno and their crew set sail from Savannah, Georgia, heading towards the Panama Canal. From there <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> sailed towards the Galapagos and towards New Zealand, taking time to sail past many islands of the South Pacific that lay along the route, the likes of French Polynesia and Tonga.To sail to such remote places, witnessing stunning wildlife along the way, felt like a true sailor’s journey, but in the comfort of the 34-metre superyacht. All these sailing experiences, exploring the Mediterranean, crossing the Atlantic, and cruising around New England and throughout the Caribbean, making minor tweaks to the vessel along the way, had unknowingly prepared her for the circumnavigation. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397298/image/large-cf68dc5ec2d388b4dac703ab8511d9ff.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397298">Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/52" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ron Holland Design (Company)">Ron Holland Design</a> (exteriors) and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> (interiors) and built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/60" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alloy Yachts (Company)">Alloy Yachts</a> in 1999, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> is a sturdy lady. Bruno shares how, as ”Jim goes to bed quite early, sometimes, when we sail at 10 or 12 knots through the night, he’ll come up in the morning and not have felt a thing!” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> was the right choice of vessel for the journey they took.One of the most exciting legs of the journey was sailing from Cairns to Cape Horn, through the Indian Ocean. “98 percent of this trip is going to be spectacular,” Captain Bruno had said to Jim, “but two to five percent of it, you're going to have to hold on to your shorts. And it didn't let us down.” The Indian Ocean is notorious for its strong, unexpected monsoon-like winds and heavy rains, accompanied by a chaotic sea with waves coming in from all directions. “In the middle of one of those days when it was full on, Jim looked at me and he goes, ‘it's worse than you said it would be!’”. As the duo tells the story, Bruno laughs, “I always said to Jim, ‘you haven’t crossed an ocean until you’ve sailed an ocean!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397339/image/large-9ffd3d4bc8d1c964c524477a86d0a59e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397339">Harmonious sailingHaving known each other for 25 years, Jim and Bruno share a special bond. Something that, in turn, had a positive effect on the rest of the crew. ”We travelled with an amazing group of people and many friendships were born,” shares Jim. “Being alone in the ocean for so many days with such a great crew, it’s the experience of a lifetime. It was harmony in every sense of the word.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397343/image/large-317e67d451ee84abdd838a57bf53debb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397343">Captain Bruno points out how Jim is also very conscientious of the crew’s well-being. “One day, in Tonga, Jim and his family went diving with the humpback whales. But I know that, if I don’t also get a boat for the crew to go diving, Jim won’t be happy.” Everywhere <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> sailed, Jim shared his experiences with the crew. “We would go diving, hiking up a mountain, or skydiving, and leave to go sailing in the evening but no one would complain because we had the most terrific day,” Bruno notes. “They were &nbsp;just like, ‘okay, what's the next adventure?”To have such camaraderie onboard over the course of two years has made the journey even more valuable to Jim. “Being 75 years old, there are no words to describe how absolutely magnificent it was to be able to do this, as an owner; to be part of the crew, to enjoy such a journey. I would have to say it's the greatest accomplishment in my life.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397400/image/large-246ee0ced6e7b7d52bb60e4bf1c45023.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397400">So why sell?Upon arrival back home to the US East Coast, Bruno held a speech and tears were shed, and within six hours of being on land, the crew talked about going back out for another trip around the globe. Yet a trip like this you can only do once for the first time: “I just don't think the repeat of it would ever compare to what we just did,” Jim says“I’m a big believer in not duplicating: there are other parts of the world and other adventures I want to do. I’m starting to feel the age a little bit, so I’m ready for a bit more comfort” Jim shares. Now, Jim is looking to explore on a more comfortable, slightly smaller yacht, “but I’ll never give up travelling the ocean!”“The boat was always there for us. She was amazing” shares Bruno. “Jim and I both feel that it's a pity we don't see more owners taking on these experiences.” The hope is that Jim’s experience will inspire not only the new owner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a>, but other owners to traverse around the world. A sailing yacht the likes of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend34.14m (112'0&quot;)Alloy Yachts1999">Legend</a> is born to circumnavigate and she’s more than proven her capability. “To cruise the seven seas on a sailing yacht is to truly experience the open Ocean,” notes Jim.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397313/image/large-9eaa45403680c94f2b2494324778a6a0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397313">

Traversing the seven seas onboard Legend: "It's the experience of a lifetime"

After sailing around the world onboard his 34m Alloy sailing yacht Legend, Jim is ready for his next adventure.

travel-hero#1

home-featured-topleft#0

Just as physical tank test models are giving way to computational fluid dynamics, so another form of virtual modelling is coming to the fore – the digital twin. But what is a digital twin, and how can we use them to streamline superyacht design, construction and operation?Providing an exact definition of a digital twin can be tricky, not least because different people use the term in different ways. With conceptual origins tracing back to NASA in the 1960s, the truth is that digital twins come in a variety of forms and offer multiple applications – all of which have the potential to change the approach to design and enhance the operational effectiveness of superyachts.“I haven’t found a consistent way that people use the term,” says software developer Boudewijn van Groos. “For example, some call a simple 3D model a digital twin, even if it doesn’t make predictions. It might show live sensor data from the vessel, but it’s really just a portal into the actual ship. That is fundamentally different to a software model that mimics the behaviour of a system based on physical or statistical calculations. Yet people refer to both as digital twins.”Models created in a software environment are arguably the purest form of digital twinning. They are increasingly being used both to train AI and to enable systems developers to code the core parts of a yacht’s controllers while the physical yacht itself is still in build – a decisive factor when faced with tight construction and delivery schedules.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397081/image/large-c63a38ee887c535cd43a28154e353077.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397081">Virtual virtuesVan Groos is leading a team of software developers who are undertaking the coding of a multifaceted monitoring and control system aboard Project Zero, the renewables-powered sailing yacht under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>. In collaboration with German company XRG Simulation, they have been building a virtual version of the yacht’s systems in Modelica, which allows them to write the code for the programmable logic controller (PLC) for the thermal harvesting and recovery system, for example, and test it before the physical system has been completed. While the team has also been using a current sailing superyacht as a test bed, creating a digital twin has brought additional benefits.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397079/image/large-c1ba2f94baf775740a49c5322a0b5621.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397079">“For everything we’re doing we first write the physical thing into code to form the digital twin,” Van explains. “That simulation can be very basic, or a deep mechanical simulation. It gives us an opportunity to prevent regression bugs and it means we can avoid having to run our code on a physical system that means needing the real machine every time, which is just a hassle.”Developing a digital twin not only creates a platform for virtual testing, it also provides an opportunity to explore or to train AI, which can have real-world applications in a finished project. Indeed, this is the approach that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1080" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rossinavi (Company)">Rossinavi</a> took, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, to develop the systems on the 42.84-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12135" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Seawolf X42.84m (140'7&quot;)Rossinavi2024">Seawolf X</a> catamaran.“On a yacht you have a lot of very high-tech systems, each optimised and each with sensor actuators,” explains Maurizio Minossi, CEO and CTO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a>. “The idea is to create a sort of manager that grabs the data coming from the different subsystems and, thanks to the use of AI algorithms, gives it added value in terms of monitoring and control.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397078/image/large-3bbe7f4296cb60275d58eb400d1d5976.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397078">“AI algorithms need to train on something – you need a story,” adds Sergio Saponara, director of the Department of Informational Engineering at the University of Pisa. “But if the technology is new, how do you create that story? Creating a digital model of a yacht allows you to fill the AI with data. You analyse the chiller in a model, then you combine it with all the other models to create the whole ship.”The system they have developed, which has been designed to be modular for use across multiple yacht designs and configurations, integrates various network-connected sensors, smart plugs, and actuators, such as HVAC systems, lighting, and automated blinds, orchestrated by an advanced AI algorithm. The digital twin enables the simulation of different configurations and operational scenarios, generating virtual data that can be used to train AI models – a useful approach given the challenges of limited experimental data on energy consumption and passenger habits.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397077/image/large-efe714be9d6f415bcddaf70b66ca2da0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397077">Test rig&nbsp;It’s not just in systems design that digital twins are being utilised. For Dale Morris, Group Head of Global Design at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2447" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Spars (Company)">Southern Spars</a>, the development of digital twins has enabled advanced, in-the-box testing before a rig is stepped – a serious advantage given the one-off nature and complexity of superyacht masts and sail plans.&nbsp;“The outcome is what’s on the water, but the model that came before it has been through all the conditions,” he says. “It starts with base mast properties, rigging pre-tension and tuning, but we add in the actual moulded sail shape and structural files from North Sails, and then we can assess the rig to a whole other level.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397082/image/large-2efc90f958531c34f23220a01c23ffdf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397082">This allows the team to see the effect of their rig design choices even down to its impact on the actual shape of the sails. They can go into a whole CFD loop, where the fluid structure interaction (FSI) loops back into the non-linear FEA – non-linear because the mast is flexible. That essentially means they can sea-trial the yacht before any carbon fibre even gets laid in the mast mould.“That also flows through into how we communicate the safe operation to the customer with all the sheet runs and all the load interfaces, so that boatbuilders can build-in the right safety factors,” &nbsp;Morris explains. “You can assess all that within the digital twin.”It also impacts the initial sea trial phases because, rather than the traditional method of stepping a mast and eyeballing the rig to tune it and ensure it is set up symmetrically, it can effectively be pre-set. Gone are the days where you put the rig in, go sailing and flop from tack to tack, make changes, rinse and repeat, which can be a two-day operation.“We are able to virtually go sailing before we even put carbon in the mast tooling, and for yacht designers, owners and crew that’s a huge benefit because it elevates confidence before you get further into the project,” &nbsp;says Vincent Guiot, Group Sales Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2447" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Spars (Company)">Southern Spars</a>. &nbsp;Further, the applications extend to the operational phase. By using the information from the load sensors from specific conditions. If something doesn’t look quite right, the team can plug that data back into the digital twin and help someone on board diagnose the issue more efficiently.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397080/image/large-77d39333b2a17751661ad462a20fdfc0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397080">Practical magic&nbsp;As CAD has advanced, so 3D models have become commonplace, not only in terms of determining the underlying engineering layout of a vessel but also to ensure the vessel can be built as efficiently as possible. But when one superyacht project approached Dutch company Goltens to take that 3D model further, the potential for an all-encompassing digital twin quickly became apparent.“Normally we design, engineer and create 3D models, and during that process a lot of information on the components – size, material, capacity, make, model – is put into a database,” says Sandra Jutte of Goltens’ Green Technologies division. “But when the vessel departs, most of that information, which can number thousands of data files, stays behind. For this project, we were asked how we could collect all the engineering data in one place during construction and use it to make the yacht smarter in operation.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397085/image/large-8490e120db5880a524554f471c7eb9b6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397085">To achieve that, the Goltens team combined ongoing 3D scanning during the build with CAD and engineering drawings to create a digital version of Project Zero that is a perfect match for the real thing. The result is that all the information on the build, systems and components is available for easy access – especially useful when it comes to fault-finding or in the event of a system alarm.&nbsp;“You need an exact copy of the yacht, so during the entire build our team has been on site with a 3D scanner capturing every stage of the build,” says Jutte. “We’ve scanned every detail, including 100,000 metres of cables and six kilometres of piping.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397086/image/large-39fff693692206113bdc5e36b8ec672b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397086">Every pump, pipe and system is connected and with e-sharing it’s possible to click into the engineering drawing and instantly jump to the same spot in the 3D model, and vice versa. All relevant details and spare parts listings are available with a click. What’s more, the digital twin will form the backbone for predictive maintenance and, potentially, AI-rooted energy efficiency and systems analysis during the operational phase – an aspect that could have huge impact for a project where every kilowatt counts.The potential goes further, however, because wherever the vessel goes, the digital twin goes too. This means designers can use the digital twin to experiment with new ideas or test layouts without ever touching the real vessel, while engineers can follow system performance and simulate improvements, and and owners can explore their yacht anytime, anywhere.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397087/image/large-8c4ef31785ce28bc95f037d27cf282ff.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397087">Such a comprehensive scan-based digital twin improves maintenance aspects – with all manuals and spare parts lists easily accessible, and with the potential to add predictive maintenance algorithms – but also aids efficiency in a refit phase.&nbsp;“Refits and repairs are no longer a guessing game,” says Jutte. “Because if a component needs to be replaced or a new component fitted, the digital twin already knows what’s there currently and if the new one will fit. It means you can order or prefabricate parts with confidence. It’s a complete feedback loop between design, operation, maintenance, fault-finding and improvement.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397089/image/large-cbdce16aec81ad92d4d28edb2f355442.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397089">

How is virtual modelling transforming superyacht design and operation

From rig testing to predictive maintenance, digital twins are reshaping how superyachts are designed, built and operated.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8076" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marina Port Valencia (Company)">Marina Port Valencia</a> has announced that the inner marina, Marina City, is now complete as part of their phased transformation. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397349/image/large-033282147cabe8f5a2ddb1d15d41bc62.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397349">Led by the IPM-IMG Group and Ocibar, the project aims to revitalise the three marinas that previously hosted the 2007 America's Cup, while introducing a cutting-edge refit yard, a state-of-the-art dry dock and modern commercial spaces.Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/62614" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="First renderings of new Marina Port Valencia development unveiled (2025-02-14 12:45:00 +0100)">First renderings of new Marina Port Valencia development unveiled</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397347/image/large-02f98e636005af30408a0493b3b9cb49.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397347">The Marina City is now ready to welcome its first customers for the summer season with a full range of premium services. Positioned in the most sheltered area of the port, it has been designed to welcome yachts between 12 and 130 metres and boasts an exclusive central pontoon with berths from 15 metres available for sale or rent for ten, fifteen or twenty years.Construction will soon begin at Marina Norte on a collection of new office buildings designed to attract leading companies and create a hub for networking, innovation and talent. Local residents will also be able to benefit from a restaurant that will open in the former Panorama building.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397346/image/large-ad9d771b5b626cd1085ee90660cd52f1.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397346">The redevelopment of the marina will be completed in planned phases over the coming years, with local residents able to experience the marina’s new public spaces as each stage is completed.With landscaping designed by GM Paisajistas, in coordination with the architects at ERRE Arquitectura, the plan links Marina Norte, Marina City and Marina Sur through a landscaped ‘green corridor’, creating a continuous route for pedestrians and cyclists lined by Mediterranean vegetation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397348/image/large-4ff447ed4895040fef35c2236798337f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397348">With this project, Marina Port Valencia will reconnect the city with the waterfront,” explained <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8076" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marina Port Valencia (Company)">Marina Port Valencia</a>. "In doing so, it responds to local leisure needs while providing businesses with an unrivalled waterfront environment, establishing Marina Port Valencia as a leading national and international destination built on the principles of sustainability."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/348287/image/large-0f4e8368c10bd6b34945367d123348e5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/348287">

Marina Port Valencia completes Marina City development

Marina Port Valencia has announced that the inner marina, Marina City, is now complete as part of their phased transformation.

Marina Port Valencia completes inner marina for yachts up to 130m

Italian studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8392" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SY design (Company)">SY Design</a> has unveiled Kairos, a 52-metre motor yacht concept centred around a stronger connection between the guests and the surrounding sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397334/image/large-8796d9063db33dbbfbb5f54882d17b18.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397334">Designed to remain under the 500 GT threshold, Kairos is conceived to be built with a lightweight aluminium structure, Kairos aims to make the outdoors the heart of life onboard. The designer has noted that the concept carefully combines open, flowing spaces with floor-to-ceiling glazing and wide hull openings. Moreover, the layout is intended to draw in natural light to flood her interiors, frame breathtaking sea views, and create a seamless access to the water. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397336/image/large-42daf1825f66f137b146990641679193.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397336">Outside, Kairos is characterised by slender proportions and a modern profile that flows effortlessly from the bow to the stern.Her stern serves as one of the focal points of the project. A magnificent pool set at sea level becomes the part of the beach club area, crafted to deepen the connection between the guests and the ocean and expand the sense of openness across her decks. Reflecting the project's philosophy, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8392" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SY design (Company)">SY Design</a> explained that "the objective was not to maximise gross tonnage, but to maximise the owner's experience of the sea."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397335/image/large-e57a868a18e96191861bfc535940ba8c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397335">Wide lateral openings in the hull further extend the views, and invites abundant natural light to dance across the aft, resulting in a bright and open area. Above, her main deck cockpit has been envisioned as a terrace overlooking the sea. In this space, two opposing L-shaped sofas are arranged for mingling and casual lounging, &nbsp;while glass bulwarks preserve uninterrupted views of the horizon.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397337/image/large-8562659c5dd2fd32334132b65c354912.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397337">Ascending further, the yacht’s expansive 105-square-metre fly deck serves as a defining outdoor living area, offering space for socialising, entertaining and open-air dining. Forward, her deck features a flexible layout, allowing owners to tailor the space based on their preferences. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397333/image/large-f17ca1e6f871b464c45ae86a2169b934.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397333">With a beam of nine-metres, accommodation onboard Kairos is arranged for up to 12 guests across six staterooms. The owner's suite is situated forward on the main deck, benefitting from expansive windows and stunning ocean vistas. The five guest staterooms are located on the lower deck.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397338/image/large-05b708fcf1585fa034d052d3d23270de.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397338">Further features include a dedicated bow garage for jet skis and a rescue tender, while a separate aft garage with side access stores the yacht's primary tender without impacting guest spaces.In addition, Kairos features a dedicated bow garage, discreetly housing jet skis and a rescue tender. Meanwhile, a separate aft garage with side access houses the yacht’s primary tender, stowed away to leave guest areas undisturbed. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397332/image/large-c9d3caeb265320db2d2d23a3105877a1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397332">

SY Design unveils 52m yacht concept Kairos

SY Design has unveiled Kairos, a 52-metre motor yacht concept centred around the owner’s experience of the sea.

 SY Design unveils 52m yacht concept Kairos with sea-level pool

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida has dismissed the entire complaint brought by Export Yacht Sales (Brill Maritime), which alleged that Boats Group illegally monopolised the US online boat-listing market through YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/355047/image/large-0bd8f332392990f5a08cac6ea37b81d1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/355047">The lawsuit was filed on 14 August 2025, with Brill Maritime alleging that Boats Group controlled approximately 75 percent of the market for listing and marketing recreational boats and used subscription agreements that either bar or discourage brokers and dealers from listing vessels on rival platforms.Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/64073" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="US boat dealers bring antitrust class action against Boats Group (2025-08-21 13:00:00 +0200)">US boat dealers bring antitrust class action against Boats Group</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/355053/image/large-d4b378b0bbe9bf56a1926a2d570b4fd5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/355053">According to Brill Maritime, competing platforms had been unable to achieve the scale or inventory to grow their services effectively, leaving brokers and dealers with limited options.The court found that Brill Maritime had plausibly alleged that the relevant market could be defined as an online boat listing and marketing service in the United States and that Boat Group may possess monopoly power in that market.&nbsp;Brill Maritime also alleged that Boat’s Group claimed 75 percent of the global share, reasonably supporting an inference that it has a dominant position in the US market. As a result of this, the judge did not dismiss the case because Boats Group lacks market power.However, the judge said that Brill Maritime had failed to show that Boats Group engaged in illegal anticompetitive conduct and under US antitrust law, being a monopoly is not illegal by itself.The court repeatedly emphasised that monopoly power is legal, but using that power through anticompetitive behaviour to exclude rivals is illegal.&nbsp;The judge found that Brill Maritime’s three main allegations were insufficient including that Boats Group became dominant by acquiring competitors such as YachtWorld.com, boats.com and YachtCloser.com.The judge said that acquiring competitors is not necessarily illegal and that Brill Maritime had not explained how these acquisitions had harmed competition. The complaint had described the acquisitions as “strategic” suggesting it was more of a successful business move than illegal conduct. The judge explained that Brill Maritime had shown that Boats Group bought competitors, but not that these acquisitions were unlawful. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/355039/image/large-513a0ee840e10e5371f647093bba58d9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/355039">Brill Maritime also claimed that Boats Group's subscription agreements stoped brokers from listing boats elsewhere. The judge examined the contract language and concluded that the provision merely prevented brokers from implying that a YachtWorld or Boats Group listing originated somewhere else. He therefore concluded that you can advertise on YachtWorld and on other sites and the contract simply prevented you from pretending a Boats Group listing came from another platform, meaning the clause is not an exclusive dealing arrangement.Finally, Brill Maritime argued that Boats Group had dramatically increased its prices. The judge responded that high prices alone are not an antitrust violation. The court cited multiple precedents saying a legal monopolist is generally allowed to charge whatever prices it wants. To prove monopolisation, Brill Maritime needed to show that the higher prices resulted from illegal exclusionary conduct.In conclusion, the judge accepted that Boats Group may hold monopoly power in the US online boat-listing market, but ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show that Boats Group acquired or maintained that position through illegal anticompetitive conduct.United States District Judge, Roy K. Altman dismissed the complaint without prejudice, meaning the plaintiff is able to resubmit an amended complaint, with a deadline of 30 June 2026.&nbsp;The lawsuit also contained claims under Florida law, with the federal court declining to hear the state claims as the federal antitrust claims were dismissed. These were also dismissed without prejudice, allowing for them to also be refiled.&nbsp;SuperYacht Times will continue to follow this story and will provide updates where necessary.

US court dismisses antitrust lawsuit against Boats Group

The US District Court for the Southern District of Florida has dismissed the antitrust lawsuit brought by Export Yacht Sales against Boats Group.

The 24.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Yachts (Company)">Princess</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H224.6m (80'9&quot;)Princess Yachts2022">N2H2</a> has been sold, with Joe Hill of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Brokerage International (Company)">Princess Brokerage International</a> representing the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377303/image/large-e9f5ee62744476943f9773dd48e429fb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377303">Delivered in 2022, the yacht features interiors penned in-house by her British builder. Meanwhile, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2740" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Olesinski Ltd. (Company)">Olesinski</a> took charge of her naval architecture and exterior design.At a volume of 78 GT, she can sleep up to eight guests across four well-appointed staterooms. Guests can enjoy communal areas such as the foredeck and aft deck fitted with sunpads and the flybridge with shade.Propulsion-wise, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H224.6m (80'9&quot;)Princess Yachts2022">N2H2</a> is 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, giving her top speed of 39 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H224.6m (80'9&quot;)Princess Yachts2022">N2H2</a> had a last known asking price of £3,175,000.00.Courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Brokerage International (Company)">Princess Brokerage International</a>.

Princess yacht N2H2 sold

Princess yacht, N2H2 sold, Princess yacht N2H2, Princess yacht sold, N2H2 sold.

25m Princess motor yacht N2H2 sold

The 29.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/112" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Custom Line (Company)">Custom Line</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Yaz29.7m (97'5&quot;)Custom Line2010">Lady Yaz</a> has been sold. Ferhat Kanbur of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7089" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Data Marin (Company)">Data Marin</a> introduced the buyer, while Ilker Bicaco of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5001" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Talia Marine (Company)">Talia Marine</a> represented the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/392305/image/large-86c88e62c5d466ff1f840f9818dce38b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/392305" 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 2010, the yacht features naval architecture penned in-house by her builder. Meanwhile, her interior and exterior designs were crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuccon International Project (Company)">Zuccon International Design</a>.Inside, her design is distinguished by light coloured woods that give the yacht a contemporary feel. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Yaz29.7m (97'5&quot;)Custom Line2010">Lady Yaz</a> can accommodate up to ten guests across four well-appointed staterooms at a volume of 177 GT. Moreover, a highlight of the yacht is a relaxation area on her flybridge, where guests can enjoy panoramic views.&nbsp;In terms of propulsion system, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Yaz29.7m (97'5&quot;)Custom Line2010">Lady Yaz</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> engines, giving her a cruising speed of 24 knots and a top speed of 27 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Yaz29.7m (97'5&quot;)Custom Line2010">Lady Yaz</a> had a last known asking price of €2,990,000.Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5001" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Talia Marine (Company)">Talia Marine</a>.

Custom Line yacht Lady Yaz sold

The 29.7-metre Custom Line motor yacht Lady Yaz has been sold.

30m Custom Line motor yacht Lady Yaz sold

The 35.4-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/602" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l. (Company)">Cantiere Valdettaro</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> has been sold with Yannis Stratis of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Broker House (Company)">Yacht Broker House</a>. The sale was concluded directly with a private buyer, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Broker House (Company)">Yacht Broker House</a> acting as both owner and central agent in the transaction.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/98550/image/large-7470442e827fa639586e6fb0099778c8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/98550">The sale was completed in spring 2026 at Yacht Broker House's home base in Corfu, Greece. Since changing hands, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> has departed Greece and is now cruising European waters under her new ownership.&nbsp;Delivered in 1992 by Italian shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/602" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l. (Company)">Cantiere Valdettaro</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> most recently underwent a refit in France in 2024. She features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/357" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Laurent Giles Superyacht Architects (Company)">Laurent Giles Superyacht Architects</a>, while her interiors were penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/618" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Garroni (Company)">Studio Garroni</a>.Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> has a beam of 7.95-metres and an interior volume of 171 GT. Accommodation onboard is arranged for up to 10 guests across a five stateroom configuration, while dedicated quarters house up to a crew of six, including her captain.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> is powered by a single <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engine that delivers a cruising speed of 9.7 knots and a top speed of 12 knots.&nbsp;At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Unplugged35.4m (116'2&quot;)Cantiere Valdettaro S.r.l.1992">Unplugged</a> had a last known asking price of €900,000.

35m Cantiere Valdettaro sailing yacht Unplugged sold

  The 35.4-metre Cantiere Valdettaro sailing yacht Unplugged has been sold with Yacht Broker House

The 57-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/106" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Trinity Yachts (Company)">Trinity</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elis Et Mar57.0m (187'0&quot;)Trinity Yachts2012">Elis Et Mar</a> is on the market, with Rob Newton of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>. The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale" target="_blank">yacht for sale</a> benefitted from a 2025 refit that refreshed her interiors and modernised her systems.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397161/image/large-157dd31b806639942ec6e7d2aeb4801c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397161">With a deck design built around guest flow, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elis Et Mar57.0m (187'0&quot;)Trinity Yachts2012">Elis Et Mar</a> features naval architecture and exterior design penned in-house by her American builder. Meanwhile, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/111" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Evan K Marshall (Company)">Evan K Marshall</a> took charge of her interior design which is distinguished by Italian marbles, Lalique glass, silk carpets and rich wood in birch, vavona, and bur.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397220/image/large-a05b27ee4abd4103f48fae88e6afdaf3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397220"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397195/image/large-5eb0377176736d577315088431b690c5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397195">At a volume of 782 GT, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/elis-et-mar" target="_blank">yacht Elis Et Mar for sale</a> can accommodate up to 12 guests across six well-appointed staterooms. Her full-beam master suite is found on the main deck. This area can be accessed via a private office and is fitted with a king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe, and his-and-hers bathrooms with a soaking tub, separate rain shower, and mirror TVs. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397199/image/large-86d7a9b383706d0176d50ebc3a5183fe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397199"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397208/image/large-d05e1e5f38e5dc5c8b79aa56962db52a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397208">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/of-type=motor" target="_blank">motor yacht for sale’s</a> VIP suite located on the bridge deck also showcases a king-size bed, elevated views, and a spacious ensuite. Four guest suites on the lower deck, all with fixed king beds and ensuite bathrooms, complete the accommodation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397214/image/large-27ec017e7e73699f2a44df284651fc7c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397214">Moving outside, guests aboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elis Et Mar57.0m (187'0&quot;)Trinity Yachts2012">Elis Et Mar</a> are spoilt for choice between adventure and relaxation. Her sundeck plays host to a large Jacuzzi, generous sunpads, a full bar, and an outdoor entertainment system. For those looking to keep active, a fully enclosed, air-conditioned gym is also on offer, equipped with a Pilates Reformer, treadmill, free weights, and audio-visual facilities. A portable ice bath is also available upon request.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397235/image/large-cd87a31b555950b9bd569392e9918873.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397235"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Elis Et Mar57.0m (187'0&quot;)Trinity Yachts2012">Elis Et Mar’s</a> bridge deck sky lounge provides a relaxed indoor retreat, complete with plush seating, a full-service bar, and alfresco dining for up to 12 guests aft. Guests may choose between a formal indoor dining space or an aft dining area with optional climate control, offering flexibility to suit any occasion, on the main deck aft.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397231/image/large-98b1ee45ae88293202adcd95833904d2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397231">Moreover, an impressive array of water toys ensures no shortage of thrills for the more adventurous. On the water, guests can make use of four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3030" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cayago AG / Seabob (Company)">Seabobs</a>, two Lift E-Foils, an Awake Ravic electric surfboard, three Jet Skis, a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5777" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yamaha (Company)">Yamaha</a> Superjet, inflatable towables, and full snorkelling and fishing gear, alongside two foldable e-bikes for exploration ashore. The entire guest experience is overseen by a professional crew of 13.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397191/image/large-7c46a1b67dc6f3193229d237bca28a4f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397191">In terms of propulsion system, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/built-by=trinity-yachts" target="_blank">Trinity yacht for sale</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, giving her a cruising speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 20 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397192/image/large-e9dc6c5d43d791366dd8c886a1767f06.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397192">

Trinity yacht Elis Et Mar for sale

The 57-metre Trinity motor yacht Elis Et Mar is on the market, with Rob Newton of IYC.

57m Trinity superyacht Elis Et Mar for sale

The 23.27-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6072" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lagoon Yachts (Company)">Lagoon</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13810" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Spirit of Ponant23.27m (76'4&quot;)Lagoon Yachts2024">Spirit of Ponant</a> is on the market, listed with Pierre Vezilier of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/397239/image/large-f1bb937cf0476fd3bcdc5812056e6442.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20260617%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260617T063333Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=262c295532260cfc74c32458fc7618902efd698bf345fdbf0eacd0c8ba9d3ec2" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397239">Delivered in 2024, the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale" target="_blank">yacht for sale</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6073" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Patrick Le Quément (Company)">Patrick Le Quément</a>, interior styling by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/153" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nauta Yachts S.r.l. (Company)">Nauta Design</a>, and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/39" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VPLP Design (Company)">VPLP Design</a>. She was conceived with a large sail plan and an optimised hull, delivering efficient open-water performance and stability at sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397254/image/large-5dd6261e35858f970d81b928ddaa7e07.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397254"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397252/image/large-c8d1bd1bbc866600bfd48dd91c2cdf50.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397252">The interiors onboard the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/of-type=motor" target="_blank">motor yacht for sale</a> are laid out with a strong emphasis on privacy and generous communal areas. Warm shades of brown, blue and neutral tones run throughout both the private and shared spaces, creating a cohesive atmosphere.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397249/image/large-dba320035103ae5c7f72055143b1b08b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397249"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397242/image/large-6501bd710eba06086f0cd2e755663aab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397242">The <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yachts/spirit-of-ponant" target="_blank">yacht Spirit of Ponant for sale</a> can accommodate up to 12 guests across six well-appointed staterooms, with a gross tonnage of 135 GT. On deck, guests may dine alfresco in the aft area, while a hydraulic swim platform provides easy access to the sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397255/image/large-1b4072cb4b8f209c2ca62d359f3ddbeb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397255"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13810" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Spirit of Ponant23.27m (76'4&quot;)Lagoon Yachts2024">Spirit of Ponant</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nanni industries (Company)">Nanni Industries</a> engines, giving the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/directories/yachts/for-sale/built-by=lagoon-yachts" target="_blank">Lagoon yacht for sale</a> a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top speed of 18 knots.Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>.

catamaran yacht Spirit of Ponant for sale

The 23.27-metre Lagoon sailing yacht Spirit of Ponant is on the market.