Christina O
Encyclopedia
Christina O is one of the world's longest private motor yachts at 325 feet 3 inches (99 m). She was originally a Canadian called HMCS Stormont
and was launched in 1943. She served as a convoy escort during the Battle of the Atlantic and was present at the D-Day
landings. After the end of the Second World War she was one of many surplus naval vessels and Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis
purchased her for just $34,000. He spent $4 million to convert her into a luxurious yacht and renamed her Christina after his daughter
.
The yacht was designed by Cäsar Pinnau and the children's room was designed and painted by the illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans
.
Apart from Onassis's mistress Maria Callas
and his wife Jackie Onassis other celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe
and Frank Sinatra
have sailed on her. She was one of the most famous society venues of the mid 20th century: John F Kennedy first met Winston Churchill
on board in 1957.
When Aristotle Onassis died in 1975, he left the yacht to his daughter, who gave her to the Greek government for use as a presidential yacht in 1978. She was rechristened the Argo but was allowed to decay and was put up for sale at $16 million in the early 1990s, but found no takers. In 1996 a sale to an American fell through (he was later convicted of wire fraud
in relation to his attempt to purchase the yacht). Finally in 1998 she was purchased by Greek shipowner John Paul Papanicolaou
who had sailed on her as a child. He changed her name to Christina O and undertook a major refurbishment between January 1999 and April 2001. As of 2006 she is available to charter at between 45,000 and 65,000 Euro
per day.
Christina O has a master suite, eighteen passenger staterooms, and numerous indoor and outdoor living areas, all connected by a spiral staircase. Compared to a typical 21st-century superyacht, her staterooms are small and Christina O lacks the indoor boat storage that is now standard; but on the other hand, the number of living areas is large, and the amount of outdoor deck space is very generous. The aft main deck has an outdoor pool with a mosaic floor that rises at the push of a button to form a dance floor, and there is a helicopter platform on the promenade deck. In Ari's Bar, the barstools retain the original upholstery made from a very soft, fine leather made from the foreskin of a Minke Whale
.
HMCS Stormont (K327)
HMCS Stormont was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943-1945.Named after Stormont, Ontario, she was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal...
and was launched in 1943. She served as a convoy escort during the Battle of the Atlantic and was present at the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings. After the end of the Second World War she was one of many surplus naval vessels and Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Sokratis Onassis , commonly called Ari or Aristo Onassis, was a prominent Greek shipping magnate.- Early life :Onassis was born in Karatass, a suburb of Smyrna to Socrates and Penelope Onassis...
purchased her for just $34,000. He spent $4 million to convert her into a luxurious yacht and renamed her Christina after his daughter
Christina Onassis
-See also:*Christina, a song dedicated to her by artist - Patty Griffin*Christina O - the Onassis family yacht, named after Christina by her father-External links:...
.
The yacht was designed by Cäsar Pinnau and the children's room was designed and painted by the illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans was an Austrian author, an internationally known gourmet, and a writer and illustrator of children's books. He is most noted today for his Madeline books, six of which were published from 1939-1961...
.
Apart from Onassis's mistress Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
and his wife Jackie Onassis other celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
have sailed on her. She was one of the most famous society venues of the mid 20th century: John F Kennedy first met Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on board in 1957.
Wire fraud
Mail and wire fraud is a federal crime in the United States. Together, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1346 reach any fraudulent scheme or artifice to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services with a nexus to mail or wire communication....
in relation to his attempt to purchase the yacht). Finally in 1998 she was purchased by Greek shipowner John Paul Papanicolaou
John Paul Papanicolaou
John Paul Papanicolaou was a Greek businessman active in the shipping industry. A family friend of the Onassis family, he is best known for his purchase and restoration of the Onassis family yacht, now known as the Christina O, which he operated as a charter yacht...
who had sailed on her as a child. He changed her name to Christina O and undertook a major refurbishment between January 1999 and April 2001. As of 2006 she is available to charter at between 45,000 and 65,000 Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
per day.
Christina O has a master suite, eighteen passenger staterooms, and numerous indoor and outdoor living areas, all connected by a spiral staircase. Compared to a typical 21st-century superyacht, her staterooms are small and Christina O lacks the indoor boat storage that is now standard; but on the other hand, the number of living areas is large, and the amount of outdoor deck space is very generous. The aft main deck has an outdoor pool with a mosaic floor that rises at the push of a button to form a dance floor, and there is a helicopter platform on the promenade deck. In Ari's Bar, the barstools retain the original upholstery made from a very soft, fine leather made from the foreskin of a Minke Whale
Minke Whale
Minke whale , or lesser rorqual, is a name given to two species of marine mammal belonging to a clade within the suborder of baleen whales. The minke whale was given its official designation by Lacepède in 1804, who described a dwarf form of Balænoptera acuto-rostrata...
.
External links
- Interior and exterior pictures of Christina O
- The Rebirth of Christina O – 2002 article from powerandmotoryacht.com about the restoration