United Kingdom

Sandeman Company

Top 10 largest sailing yachts on the market

SYT takes a closer look at the top 10 largest sailing yachts currently on the market.

The 49.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> classic schooner, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orion of the Seas49.29m (161'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1910">Orion of the Seas</a>, has been sold. Launched in Gosport, U.K. in 1910 as Sylvana, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orion of the Seas49.29m (161'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1910">Orion of the Seas</a> was designed by the renowned naval architect <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/229" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charles E. Nicholson (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson</a> and constructed for the Spanish royal family. Over the century, Orion has changed hands and names, a number of times, first purchased from her Spain owners by Colonel Courteney CE Morgan, who returned her to England and retained her in Portsmouth. In later years she was transferred to Dutch and then Argentinian registry, where she remained for many decades. Her previous names include&nbsp;Pays de France, Le Matin, Diane and Vira.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/193728/image/large-92636bdd2cd24a5ba6995fe57caa4119.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/193728">During her 111 years afloat, the schooner’s condition gradually deteriorated, with a number of catastrophes, including a severe fire in the 1930s and the loss of both of her masts in the 1960s. &nbsp;It was her previous owners that put the two-masted schooner through a complete rebuild between 2003 and 2005, in a purpose-built facility at Classic Works of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5375" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="La Ciotat Shipyards (Company)">La Ciotat Shipyards</a>, France. During this monumental two-year rebuild, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/554" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyds Ships (Company)">Lloyds</a> maritime insurers supervised the work and ensured she would be returned to her original Lloyds 20A1 classification - the highest available standard afforded to wooden yachts of her era. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/45788/image/large-95e8c10229d15656bf62337401da4805.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/45788">Every effort was made by her restoration team to ensure that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orion of the Seas49.29m (161'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1910">Orion</a>'s originality was restored, while raising her to the standard of her modern counterparts. During the refit, her hull was brought down to its steel frame, which was galvanised and painted, her original keelson and stern timbers were retained, some 70% of her planking was restored and refastened. In addition, her original interview was rebuilt, though with contemporary editions, and her galley and mechanical elements were refurbished or replaced.&nbsp;Today<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Orion of the Seas49.29m (161'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1910">&nbsp;Orion of the Seas</a> has a composite construction of teak and iroko planking, with teak decks, an entire teak superstructure and mahogany interior joinery. The schooner cruises at 11 knots, with a top speed under engine of 13 knots. She can accommodate up to 10 guests between her five staterooms, alongside a crew of seven.&nbsp;She was sold by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2969" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sandeman Company (Company)">Sandeman Yacht Company</a> representing the seller, with Yves Di Lena at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2493" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YDL Yachting (Company)">YDL Yachting</a> introducing the buyer.&nbsp;

Schooner Orion of the Seas sold

The 49m metre classic Camper & Nicholsons schooner, Orion of the Seas, which was launched in 1910 in Gosport, has been sold. 

49m classic schooner Orion of the Seas sold

Being one of the last remaining big yachts of the golden age of classic yacht building, Artemis was built in Southampton in 1900 to a design by Arthur E. Payne at Summers &amp; Payne in Southampton. The yacht was originally without machinery. The large sails as well as the anchor were operated by hand. She did however have a small steam operated tender which could be placed on deck. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/142607/image/large-f80000d5baeccb0fb9640417fc7586c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/142607">The outbreak of World War II left many yachts rotting away in remote harbours or at anchor, sails down and in major decline. Artemis at that time was laid up as a house-boat in West Mersea, de-rigged and her lead keel melted into bullets. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/142608/image/large-d3bb24bf2bd3d6b22fcc1012c4220625.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/142608">In 1994 her hull was sold and shipped to Germany. Many years of careful and dedicated restoration followed, a process lead by the Hamburg Maritim foundation. In 2008 she sailed again for the first time in many years. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/142609/image/large-0f6a051a7c770d6fcf60c2f93c45f7dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/142609">Unfortunately, not long after her re-launch, a fungus infestation on the yacht’s planks and frames was detected and the foundation started with the repairs. Furniture had to be removed, the hull was opened, planks removed and frames partly exchanged. Due to a lack of new sponsors, the foundation now was forced to put the Artemis up for sale. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/142610/image/large-1e650a9c662ebbd92d1cf5ff76054f06.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/142610">Yacht Surveyor Jendrik Odenwald learned of the project, and introduced the yacht’s owners to Barney Sandeman of Sandeman Yacht Company, who was appointed as the central agent for the sale of the vessel. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/142611/image/large-d1da7310978994f3998e677f730e43c3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/142611">Jendrik, keen to oversee the yacht's completion for a new owner, commented: “I believe Artemis is the perfect vessel for a classic yacht enthusiast, looking for an exciting project; and the yacht still bears enough potential for an owner to realize his own ideas. It is hard to dislike a boat like Artemis with her wonderful lines and the quality and extent of the work already carried out. The result will be a great enrichment for the classic yacht community and an extremely lucky new owner”. The yacht is now listed for sale at € 350,000. ODENWALD - The Yacht Surveyors +49 171 6457508 <a href="mailto:jo@jendrikodenwald.com?subject=Article%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">jo@jendrikodenwald.com</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jendrikodenwald.com/">www.jendrikodenwald.com</a> Sandeman Yacht Company +44 (0)1202 330077 <a href="mailto:info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk?subject=Article%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk">www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk</a> By Maarten Janssen