Salt Water Palaces
by A wander through the beautiful and opulent millionaires yachts of yesteryear.
During the First World War SEMIRAMIS was fitted with a twelve pounder gun and became a flagship on the China Station, with her name changed to ALACRITY. At the end of the war she was bought by Lt.Commander Montague Graham-White and added to his post war charter fleet, reducing her crew to a mere 60!
Sadly, this vessel also became a victim, being sunk on active service during the second World War.
The steam yacht ERIN was owned by one of the most famous yachtsmen of the past, Sir Thomas Lipton, principally known for his many failed attempts to wrest the Americas Cup from the Americans.
This vessel was built in 1896 by Scotts of Greenock as the AEGUSA for Ignatio Florio of Palermo who only kept her for two years. At 247’ overall she was classed as a screw steamer.
As a young Irish boy Lipton had emigrated to America to make his fortune, but matters did not work out and he returned to Glasgow where he started a small grocery business. This one shop became two and then expanded into a chain, and finally a business that spread around the world, including tea plantations and large American interests.
Tea Tom as he became known, was to issue five challenges for the Americas Cup in five SHAMROCKS without success, and ERIN was very much a part of this effort acting as tender for all the races before the First War. She was known to be an excellent sea boat with a good turn of speed able to cruise at over 15knots. This vessel also was added to the fleet when war broke out in 1914. Lipton placed her at the disposal of the Red Cross in which role she ferried doctors and medical staff across the English Channel and then into the Mediterranean. She then continued as a patrol vessel, but she was torpedoed with the loss of six lives.
After the war Sir Tom continued his quest in pursuit of the Cup to no avail, but gained an enviable reputation for his sportsmanship and gentlemanly manner. His success in business was not gained through aggressive or arrogant behaviour, but by having a good head, a singular power of organisation and a smart eye for publicity.
The story of Sir Thomas Lipton is an epic all on its own.
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Post CommentJ M Lennox
On February 13, 2011 at 9:05 am
A really interesting article Harry. I confess before reading it I had no knowledge at all about these yachts, and the only sea vessel that came to mind while I was reading was the ”Titanic” from seeing the movie (regarding the grandeur of them), and that was a ‘’ship” and not a yacht (I think I got that right). These are certainly salt water palaces indeed.
Harry D
On February 16, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Thanks for your comment Jan, yes these sumptious yachts were ships in effect, but really palatial. The present day equivalent are mostly built of plastic, but just as beautifully fitted out, but just don’t have the evocative saltiness of the original yachts built of the best timber, and are mostly owned by the oil millionaires,,, Saudi, Russian et al.
Mezaa
On March 31, 2011 at 12:12 am
Great share!