Colonel Paul’s Corner – The Yacht

When many of us hear the word, yacht, we think of long, sleek, opulent watercraft populated by scantily clad beauties sipping exotic drinks (shaken not stirred) while working on the perfect tan. The yacht being the epitome of decadence on display by the super rich.

Yachts have a long history. One of the earliest mentions of a yacht is that of Cleopatra VII, the last Pharaoh of Egypt. It is described as having purple sails and silver oars. Her yacht is often referred to as her “royal barge” as she used it only for pleasure trips on the Nile.

Yachts today are commonplace. They are measured in various ways, usually by length or cost. The largest yacht afloat today is the “Azzam”. At an estimated cost of $600 million, the Azzam is 590 feet long and owned by the royal family of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to its luxury accommodations, it is rumored to be equipped with a missile defense system. The world’s most expensive yacht is believed to be the 533 foot, Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, at a cost of $1.5 billion.

Most yachts today are being built in Italy and Germany. Under construction now is the superyacht, “Somnio”. At a length of 728 feet, it will be considerably longer than our World War II battleship, the USS South Dakota, at 680 feet. The Somnio, Italian for “to dream”, is described as a residential yacht. It will have 39 apartments onboard. The selling price for the apartments ranges from $11 million for a one bedroom to $32 million for a three bedroom suite. The owner, Australian investor Carl Le Souef, is offering the apartments by invitation only. In addition to the purchase price, the monthly fee for upkeep will be substantial. The rule of thumb is that a yacht incurs yearly operating and maintenance costs equivalent to 10 percent of the purchase price. Large yachts require a full time crew of more than 50.

Between 1880 and 1977, the U.S. had nine Presidential yachts used for both pleasure and business. None of the vessels were built to be presidential yachts. They were purchased from previous owners then converted for Presidential use. The three most notable were the Sequoia, the Potomac, and the Williamsburg. The Williamsburg was the largest at 243 feet. It had been used as a naval patrol gunboat in WWII and was converted for Presidential use in 1945, serving until 1953. The Potomac was used by Franklin Roosevelt from 1936 until his death in 1945. The Sequoia was used by John F. Kennedy for his last birthday party. In 1977, Jimmy Carter ordered the Sequoia sold as part of his government cost cutting effort. He saw the Sequoia as a remnant of an “imperial presidency”. Now the Sequoia sits in Cambridge, Maryland, where it is being privately restored. The owner plans to open it to the public in 2028.

Today, practically everyone who is on the list of rich and famous owns a yacht. Even if it is rarely used, it is a status symbol. More than a dozen used superyachts are currently for sale with prices ranging from $115 million to $317 million. Some have an unrefueled range of 10 thousand miles, making them truly intercontinental.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart”. Helen Keller, 1880 - 1968

By Paul Warrick: January 15, 2026 - Great Falls, Mt