Photo: Sevenstar Yacht Transport
The legendary Amazone, a storied luxury yacht that once belonged to Sir Winston Churchill, is set to undergo a major restoration at the British Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, Cornwall.
The 128-foot (38.9-meter) vessel was built in steel by British shipbuilding firm Thornycroft and delivered to the UK's wartime prime minister in 1936. Back then, Churchill was the First Lord of the Admiralty. Apart from serving as his personal yacht, Amazone also played an important role during the Second World War, when it was used to repatriate Allied troops during the Dunkirk evacuation, between May 26 and June 4, 1940.
After spending the last 20 years in disuse as a houseboat on the Seine in France, the classic vessel was loaded last week on the 214M DYT semi-submersible Yacht Servant, ferried from Le Havre to Falmouth and then transferred from there to Pendennis, one of the world's leading custom superyacht builders and refit shipyards, where a team of experts plan on returning it to its former glory.
The ambitious restoration project is the result of a collaboration between Nicholas Edmiston and William Collier of classic yacht experts G.L. Watson & Co. and Sevenstar Yacht Transport. The pair have previously worked together on other impressive rebuilds, including Blue Bird, Nahlin, Malahne, and Cacouna.
"These are complex projects where you need the support of strong partners who understand your requirements and who remain focused on it throughout. Mike Herrebrugh is that partner, and this concludes our third successful project with Sevenstar in the last 12 months," said William Collier.
The tri-deck Amazone was ordered by Churchill himself but was the property of the British government. As Britain's First Lord of the Admiralty, he would frequently use it for personal and political purposes. The yacht has sailed all over the world and underwent two other extensive refits in 1990 and 2005, but on both occasions, great care was taken to preserve the interior as faithful as possible to the Churchill era. It was even renamed twice, as Welsh Liberty and My Evangeline, before getting its original name back.
Despite its old age, this iconic yacht flaunts a timeless design with impressive features even by today's standards. For starters, it can host up to 60 guests for parties and receptions with a living area of 650 square meters (nearly 7,000 sq ft) and 1000 square meters (10,760 sq ft) of terraces and balconies. It can accommodate up to twelve guests across six guest suites, including two of more than 25 square meters (270 sq ft).
An expansive 40-square-meter (430 square-foot) saloon with a bar, a dining room, an office, and a conference room, coupled with luxurious amenities like a large Jacuzzi on the top deck and a sunbathing area, enhances its ability to offer a fantastic yachting experience.
The illustrious yacht is no slouch in terms of performance either. It is powered by twin 700hp Cummins diesel engines, which give it a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 km) at 11 knots.
The upcoming restoration is aimed at making the vessel seaworthy again and marks a significant effort to preserve a piece of British yachting history.
After spending the last 20 years in disuse as a houseboat on the Seine in France, the classic vessel was loaded last week on the 214M DYT semi-submersible Yacht Servant, ferried from Le Havre to Falmouth and then transferred from there to Pendennis, one of the world's leading custom superyacht builders and refit shipyards, where a team of experts plan on returning it to its former glory.
The ambitious restoration project is the result of a collaboration between Nicholas Edmiston and William Collier of classic yacht experts G.L. Watson & Co. and Sevenstar Yacht Transport. The pair have previously worked together on other impressive rebuilds, including Blue Bird, Nahlin, Malahne, and Cacouna.
"These are complex projects where you need the support of strong partners who understand your requirements and who remain focused on it throughout. Mike Herrebrugh is that partner, and this concludes our third successful project with Sevenstar in the last 12 months," said William Collier.
The tri-deck Amazone was ordered by Churchill himself but was the property of the British government. As Britain's First Lord of the Admiralty, he would frequently use it for personal and political purposes. The yacht has sailed all over the world and underwent two other extensive refits in 1990 and 2005, but on both occasions, great care was taken to preserve the interior as faithful as possible to the Churchill era. It was even renamed twice, as Welsh Liberty and My Evangeline, before getting its original name back.
Despite its old age, this iconic yacht flaunts a timeless design with impressive features even by today's standards. For starters, it can host up to 60 guests for parties and receptions with a living area of 650 square meters (nearly 7,000 sq ft) and 1000 square meters (10,760 sq ft) of terraces and balconies. It can accommodate up to twelve guests across six guest suites, including two of more than 25 square meters (270 sq ft).
An expansive 40-square-meter (430 square-foot) saloon with a bar, a dining room, an office, and a conference room, coupled with luxurious amenities like a large Jacuzzi on the top deck and a sunbathing area, enhances its ability to offer a fantastic yachting experience.
The illustrious yacht is no slouch in terms of performance either. It is powered by twin 700hp Cummins diesel engines, which give it a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 km) at 11 knots.
The upcoming restoration is aimed at making the vessel seaworthy again and marks a significant effort to preserve a piece of British yachting history.
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