Pioneering Explorer Dardanella Made One of the Top Discoveries of the 2010s

"The whole point of having a boat is to take it to the far ends of the world" – this is what Johnny Pigozzi, a famous art collector and passionate explorer, once said. And all explorer yacht owners would agree. This is what Dardanella was born for, and its name is a perfect match.

Many of today's explorer yachts were initially commercial or even military vessels that were converted later in life. Dardanella is one of the few who were born as explorers, even though its roots go back to the mid-90s when private expedition adventures were far less popular than today.

The Vitters Shipyard, founded by the Dutch Jan Vitters in 1990, launched the beautiful Dardanella just eight years later. With it, it claimed to have achieved "the near-perfect compromise between a commercial ship and a yacht."

On one hand, the Dardanella was a rugged vessel designed to withstand the harshest sea conditions while traveling to some of the most remote locations on the planet. Its apparently modest size of just 36.9 meters (121 feet) was actually an important advantage. Together with the shallow draft, it allowed it to squeeze into narrow bays and mysterious, hard-to-reach locations.

It also sported an impressive 2.3-ton crane with hydraulic rams and a hydraulic hoist operating its large boom. It was added for launching the yacht's two large tenders housed on the spacious foredeck.

Dardanella combined long-range capabilities with enormous water tanks and a purification system. This resulted in exceptional autonomy during lengthy travels with no infrastructure in sight.

On the other hand, the Vitters explorer flaunted the impeccable style and cozy amenities of a regular yacht. The builder described its style as masculine, matching the bold exterior based on traditional deep-sea trawlers. An abundance of cherry wood paneling creates the atmosphere of a classic gentleman's yacht. The interiors are adorned with unique artwork, including tribal wood carvings and other gems collected from the ship's numerous past expeditions.

The five-cabin configuration includes a spacious master suite and twin-bed guest cabins, all with en-suite bathrooms. The crew quarters can accommodate up to eight people.

At the same time, Dardanella delights its guests with contemporary amenities such as a large jacuzzi, an outdoor cinema on the sun deck, and ample al-fresco dining and lounging space. Following the current trend, it allows guests to enjoy bold adventures while indulging in superyacht-style onboard experiences.

In addition to the water toys commonly found on explorer yachts, Dardanella comes with a Nitrox dive compressor, 12 sets of dive gear, and underwater photography equipment. After a full day of adventure, guests get to enjoy gourmet dining (including fine wines) and relaxing spa sessions.

The acclaimed Pendennis shipyard was in charge of keeping Dardanella in shape throughout the years. It completed its first refit in 2009 and a more extensive one at the end of 2010. During these visits, the '98 Vitters got a jacuzzi on the sun deck and a new wet room on the bridge deck, while the owner's en-suite shower was turned into a steam room. It was also fitted with Northern Light generators, and the aft main deck was equipped with an insulating screen enclosure for extra protection in higher altitudes.

The yacht’s trajectory changed when art collector Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza set her sights on it. By that time, Dardanella had already cruised around the world, proving its extreme prowess, yet had ended up nearly abandoned in Barcelona. When Francesca decided to take a long lease on it, it was the beginning of an incredibly exciting era that also turned her into a passionate ocean activist.

Under her patronage, the small explorer made some giant steps. In 2015, it was at the center of what was considered one of the 20 top discoveries of the 2010s era. It was during a trip to the Solomon Islands when David Gruber, a marine biologist, and National Geographic explorer, spotted a rare creature known as the biofluorescent hawksbill turtle. That exclusive footage became a historic achievement.

At the same time, many of Dardanella's unique expeditions either led to or helped establish marine protected areas, such as the first offshore marine protected area for the Navatu reef in Fiji.

This pioneering explorer traveled to Papua New Guinea multiple times and spent the entire year of 2017 navigating French Polynesia. It cruised to the Marshall Islands, the Lau Islands in Fiji, and some of the most remote areas in the Western and Eastern Pacific.

These major achievements were possible due to the fact that Francesca treated Dardanella as a floating research platform instead of a private adventure yacht. marine biologists, artists, and indigenous leaders were invited on board as part of the TBA21–Academy, an extension of Francesca's art foundation located in Vienna.

In 2021, Dardanella became available for charter for the first time. Francesca wanted to enable more people to enjoy the incredible capacities of this pioneering explorer and the crew's unique expertise. Today, this beautiful vessel can be chartered for $125,000 per week.

Plus, it's currently looking for a new owner, hopefully, another ocean activist who can take Dardanella's trailblazing career even further. The asking price of €9 million ($5.8 million) doesn't reflect this reputable ship's amazing achievements and potential.

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