With colourful stories and old-world charm, classic yachts offer a chance to own a rare and valuable piece of maritime history. BOAT handpicks eight of the finest classic yachts currently listed for sale.
Monara
Builder: Feadship
Length: 25.8m
Year: 1969
Monara has sailed under many names over the years and despite her various owners, her classic canoe stern has stood the test of time. A 2016 two-year rebuild saw a fitting return to both her home yard and original name. Constructed in The Netherlands by Feadship for a Milanese banking family, the yacht has entertained many distinguished guests on her decks including English lords and Spanish royalty. The bespoke engines were built by the defunct but legendary Gardener of Manchester, a common sight in 1960s Feadships. Although the company no longer exists as was, it still maintains a service and manufacturing arm in Kent that has serviced the yacht throughout her life.
Monara is listed with Northrop & Johnson and her asking price is available on request.
Sans Souci
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
Length: 33.6m
Year: 1955
French for “no worries,” Sans Souci was initially commissioned in 1954 and designed by US naval architect Geerd N. Hendel. The original owner wanted a fast motor yacht and was familiar with the designer's previous work on the Coastal Corvette series of military vessels. Built by German yard Abeking & Rasmussen, the vessel underwent a major rebuild at an Italian wooden yacht specialist Guido Del Carlo in 2009 after being “dock expressed” from Fort Lauderdale to Genoa. Sans Souci was completely emptied and frames and planks were replaced where necessary while the owner scoured all over Europe to find original mid-century fittings to complement the interior. Another refit in 2018 has resulted in a perfectly coordinated, well-maintained classic masterpiece, evoking a sense of nostalgia and truly embodying her eponym.
Sans Souci is asking €5,200,000 with Edmiston.
Lady Sarya
Builder: Nuovi Cantieri Apuania
Length: 76.32m
Year: 1972
Lady Sarya was built in 1972 by Nuovi Cantieri Apuania at Italy’s Marina di Carrara shipyared. Created for New York property developer William Levitt, the yacht was originally named La Belle Simone and was designed for entertaining. Some say Levitt is responsible for creating the modern-day “suburbia" after his mass housing project, Levittown, on Long Island adopted assembly line construction methods to build more efficiently. Rinaldo Gastaldi is to thank for her exteriors, placing a large swimming pool and bar between staggering twin funnels on the upper deck. Elsewhere, her interior boasts artisan woodwork and was even featured in The Greek Tycoon (1978), a movie based on Jackie Onassis-Kennedy’s life with Anthony Quinn. Since her launch, she has hosted a star-studded list of guests on board including Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Michael Caine and Sean Connery.
Lady Sarya is asking €14,000,000 and is listed with Privatsea.
Amara
Builder: Feadship
Length: 57.3m
Year: 1986
A series of refits and upgrades throughout Amara’s history of long voyages have cemented her reputation as one of Feadship’s most adventurous vessels. Her most recent refit only added to her exploration potential with the addition of a reinforced helipad bearing Amara’s logo, rather than the customary “H”, and capable of carrying a twin-engine helicopter. A 12-person Jacuzzi and a bar complete the set-up on the sun deck. Work was completed at her home shipyard alongside her 35-year Lloyd’s survey.
Amara is asking €20,995,000 with Y.CO.
Impetuous
Builder: Feadship
Length: 25.9m
Year: 1977
With the initial owner’s main priorities squarely focused on a need for speed, this classic Feadship was duly constructed with an all-aluminium hull. Not only lighter, the intrinsic flexibility and malleability of the material also resulted in its adoption across superstructures in all Feadships. For the past 25 years, this influential 26-metre yacht has been maintained by an experienced owner and was last refitted in 2000. Her interiors were penned by the late Pierre Tantor, of Larvor Interior Design, and exteriors are courtesy of industry legends H.W. De Voogt. The 1977 yacht serves as a fully functional sportfishing yacht and is equipped with scuba diving capabilities, leaving Impetuous as the perfect watercraft for those in pursuit of exhilarating activities.
Impetuous is asking $1,750,000 and is listed for sale with Denison Yachting.
Shootin' the Breeze
Builder: Normandie
Length: 26m
Year: 1965
Shootin’ the Breeze was built by French yard Normandie in 1965 and has maintained the majority of her glorious polished wood interior details. The 26 metre was built in triple-planked mahogany and aluminium to a design by Raymond Hunt and has benefitted from excellent maintenance thanks to her dedicated crew, with a 1996 refit ensuring fixtures were modernised. Accommodation for seven is featured across a full-beam master and four guest cabins. Previously named Erida II, the vessel has a distinct family orientation with a comfortable L-shaped sofa and entertainment centre placed in the main saloon.
Shootin' the Breeze is asking €700,000 with VAT paid and is listed for sale with Fraser.
R. Paolucci
Builder: Picchiotti
Length: 29.8m
Year: 1970
R. Paolucci has not only functioned as an floating ambulance in the Italian Navy, but she also acted as the yacht on which the Presidency of the Italian Republic would host delegates and special events up until 2006. She was named after doctor and politician Raffaele Paolucci, who served in both World Wars and is hailed as a hero. Designed by Picchiotti with interiors by Cantieri del Tevere, the classic yacht underwent a comprehensive refit in 2006 and a restoration in 2018 to ensure modern comforts were realised onboard. Interiors are light and airy with white wood panelling and teak while above deck two sundecks and a flybridge measuring 80 square metres.
R.Paloucci is asking €3,000,000 with VAT paid and is listed for sale with Yachtzoo.
Lady Emma
Builder: Camper & Nicholsons
Length: 24.8m
Year: 1930
As the only steel-hulled motor yacht under 25 metres built by Camper & Nicholsons still in operation, Lady Emma is an integral part of yachting history. She duly reflects the glamour of her era, with her meticulous Art Deco styling courtesy of Charles E Nicholson embodying the roaring twenties. Launched as Albany in 1930, the yacht is also believed to be the inspiration for the historic Pacha III. Having changed hands only a few times in her 90-year history she was christened with her current name in the mid-80s and has been owned by the same family for over 30 years.
Lady Emma is asking €2,950,000 and is listed for sale with Camper & Nicholsons.