Famous Yachts

alloyed2sea · 10-15-2004, 10:39 AM

The kind that make headlines, no?
Or at least have hosted 25 or more of the world's leaders at any onetime.
Those are the criteria - post'em here.
To begin, let's start with the latest headliner, "Privacy" - Tiger Wood's 155 foot Christensen yacht, recently boarded by Coast Guard officials in Puerto Rico, all in an effort to enforce Homeland Security (got a problem - name a department after it).
More to follow...

YachtForums · 10-15-2004, 10:59 AM

How about Christina O...

Originally built in 1943 as a Canadian convoy escort, the yacht was purchased by shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1954. Onassis spent over $4 million to convert the ship, which he named after his daughter, into the most elegant and advanced private yacht afloat.

The Christina was Onassis' "floating home" from 1954 to 1975.

During that time, the vessel's guest list was the ultimate who's who of dignitaries and Hollywood stars, including such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, King Farouk of Egypt, opera diva Maria Callas and numerous others. John F. Kennedy first met Winston Churchill aboard the yacht and two of the most celebrated wedding receptions of the century were held on her decks - Prince Rainier to Grace Kelly and Onassis himself to Jacqueline Kennedy.

After Onassis' death in 1975, his daughter Christina donated the yacht to the Greek government. In 1998, the yacht was bought by John Paul Papanicolaou, an Onassis family friend and shipping industry leader. He began Christina's three-year restoration, involving meticulous research, engineering and

Perhaps the most famous spot on board is Ari’s Bar where John F. Kennedy first met Sir Winston Churchill in 1957. The intricately detailed bar contains barrels and sea chests hinting of pirate treasure, whaling harpoons and an illustrated wall map of the world. The circular bar itself was originally crafted from the timbers of a Spanish Galleon, wound with heavy sailing rope and is adorned with footrests and handholds of ornately carved whales' teeth. It features a glass top over a lighted relief of the sea, which depicts the development of ships through history with tiny model ships that can be moved around by magnets. The barstools are covered in whale foreskin, a fact that Onassis delighted in telling his guests.

YachtForums · 10-15-2004, 11:06 AM

Can't forget Malcolm...

The Highlander was built at the De Vries Lynch shipyard in Holland and has proven her seaworthiness on voyages across both the Pacific and the Atlantic, through the Great Lakes and up the Amazon. Still, the waters she knows best are those of her home port - Manhattan.

Designed by the late Jon Bannenberg with assistance from naval architect Fritz de Voogt, Highlander V is 151 feet long, 29 feet 3 inches at the beam with a draft of 9 feet 9 inches. Capable of worldwide sailing, the ship is powered by twin G.M. 16V149 diesels. The 1,800 horsepower these diesels deliver gives The Highlander an average cruising speed of 13.7 knots with a top speed of 14.3 knots. The ship has a water capacity of 5,300 gallons. Its fuel capacity is 19,700 gallons, providing The Highlander with a cruising range of over 4,000 nautical miles.

On board are a Bell Jet Ranger III helicopter, two tenders a 19-foot Cigarette and a 23-foot Donzi - and two BMW motorcycles... all greeen ofcourse!

DBowman78 · 10-15-2004, 11:22 AM

The 180ft Amels Lady Ghislaine (now Lady Mona K) made headlines a few years back when her then owner, Robert Maxwell disappeared from the yacht in the middle of the night. His body was recoved but I don't think it was ever determined what exactly happened.

YachtForums · 10-15-2004, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBowman78

The 180ft Amels Lady Ghislaine (now Lady Mona K) made headlines a few years back when her then owner, Robert Maxwell disappeared from the yacht in the middle of the night.

Hhmmm.... sounds like the "lady" wanted the boat all to herself.

alloyed2sea · 12-20-2004, 10:36 AM

Saddam Hussein's "Al Mansur" - bombed out during the American invasion, finally keeled over and met itz end in June of 2003 . Photos before and after.

alloyed2sea · 12-28-2004, 02:24 PM

Star and namesake of the TV Series "Riptide" (1984-86) - she's a 1939 Elco MY 54. Once the flagship of Boston Yacht Club, she was first shown by its builder at the 1938-39 New York Boat Show, where she was purchased by Howard Johnson. He in turn sold her in 1941 after a losing a fortune on a boat race (go figure). Eventually "Riptide" was shipped to the west coast and later restored for the first time during the 1970's. After her starring role on television however, the boat again fell into disrepair, and was only recently (1997) restored by Peter Riess and Dennis Ballard - members of the The Classic Yacht Association (http://www.classicyacht.org). Now named "Southwind" she is undoubtably the most famous member of CYA's Southern Fleet.

Renaming this boat however, may not have been such a great idea, as she was supposedly a cursed ship during her TV Series - one who's former owners had all been killed!

I'm afraid you'll have to rent out the episode of "The Curse Of The Mary Aberdeen" to find out why.

Richard R Torre · 12-28-2004, 08:41 PM

A Feadship from the De Vries shipyard, this is "DSV" She was launched in 1956 after being built for Marge Schott, the former owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. In fact, I have two, three gallon VSOP Cognanc bottles that she had made into lamps from the Reds 1940 World Series. "DSV" stands for Double Schott 5. Marge sold her to Arthur Godfrey, the TV personality in the 40's and 50's. There is a scene in a biography on film of Godfrey of him on her (the boat). From there she was sold to a banker in Maryland that donated her to the state while Spiro Agnew (Nixon's VP) was governor. Spiro had her amended so that she can be a legal charter boat in the US. While Agnew had her in the states possesion, he did a lot of "big wig" enteraining for the likes of Jackie Gleason, President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. In Fact, I have all of the log books from 1956 to present except for # 3 which supposedly "disappeared" because Kennedy and Monroe were on it together.

To Help save her please visit: www.ricked.com/boats3

alloyed2sea · 02-01-2005, 12:17 AM

Carson spent most of the last 3 years aboard this 2001 Westport 130' - he named "Serengeti" (after visiting Tanzania multiple times - 'nuther story).
Great yacht!

alloyed2sea · 03-02-2005, 12:56 AM

1928 Robinson Sea Gull 38 footer - went well with his new estate on Palm Island, FL. Originally bought by Ransom Olds, who sold it to Capone after the stock market crash of 1929 - she was recently found and restored. Now for sale at $385K, "Mert" was first named the "Flying CLoud" by the Olds Family after a success car model, and was sold by Capone to make good on his overdue tax bill - can you say RICO?

YachtForums · 03-04-2005, 01:00 PM

Howard Hughes’ 1939 Boeing 307 Stratoliner / Private Yacht, once owned by Jimmy Buffett is on Ebay for $9,000,000.00

(This ebay auction ended on 2/25/05)

(PRWEB) February 26, 2005 -- As mentioned in The Aviator with Leonardo DiCaprio, this was the first commercially built pressurized airplane that was designed to fly above the weather, or 20,000 feet, that was the reason for Howard Hughes purchasing TWA in 1939. This plane was one of ten built and only one of two still in existence. The other surviving 307 Stratoliner is owned by the National Air and Space Museum at the new Dulles Udvar-Hazy Annex.

In 1964 due to damage from Hurricane Cleo in Fort Lauderdale the surviving Hughes 307 fuselage was saved and modified into a 56’ yacht and launched in 1974. In 1992, while cruising around Fort Lauderdale, Jimmy Buffett discovered the “Plane Boat” and wrote her into his best- selling novel “Where is Joe Merchant?” He later composed “Desdemona’s Building a Rocketship”, from the “Banana Wind” CD also about the vessel.

This is the only land-based airplane turned yacht in the world and now functions as a personal yacht for David Drimmer and Aaron Kiss, owners of “Photo Sails”, a new and worldwide patented advertising medium featured at Photosails.com. Now this fully functional yacht is operated using the original 1939 aircraft controls that used to fly the plane. Powered by twin Yamaha 50 HP four-stroke, high-thrust motors and capable of cruising at 13 knots, this extremely maneuverable vessel can turn 360 degrees in its own length.

Teak and holly wooden floors now adorn the entire sole of the vessel and its newly rebuilt hull is in perfect shape. A generator and new electronics along with original Raymond Loewy designed furniture and fittings are featured in the salon next to the original bar that Rita Hayworth had custom windows installed so she could see the clouds go by while she poured martinis for many famous guests like Hedda Hopper and George Jessel.

Countless media outlets, including People, Oprah, Ripley’s, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Travel, Discovery, HGTV channels, have enjoyed the privilege of exposing the now named “Cosmic Muffin”, the name chosen by Jimmy Buffett and remains the name of the craft today.

For more information, visit Planeboats.com

alloyed2sea · 03-04-2005, 04:37 PM

I guess the guys in Ft. Lauderdale get to see her driving by all the time. But did you know she had a previous life as "Londonaire"?

Here she is, with Kenneth London at the wheel (bottom photo).
Indeed, back then she had twin V-8s inboards and could go 20+mph vs. the 13 knots she's limited to today powered by twin Honda 50hp outboards.

YachtForums · 03-04-2005, 05:18 PM

Londonaire? Really! That boat's been in Ft. Lauderdale longer than the Spruce Goose in mothballs. I never knew it by that name! However, we had our own names for it, including...

... airboat
... seaplane
... floating fuselage
... Buffet's barge

And my favorite, well... it rhymes with Toys for Tots.

"Yachts for *****"