Christina O

Christina O in 2018
History
Name	1998–present Christina O 1978–1998 Argo 1954–1978 Christina 1943–1954 HMCS Stormont (K327)
Builder	Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal
Laid down	23 December 1942
Launched	14 July 1943
Maiden voyage	1943
In service	1943
Identification	IMO number: 8963818 MMSI number: 248383000 Callsign: 9HA2344
General characteristics
Displacement	2250 tonnes
Length	325 ft (99.06 m)
Beam	36 ft (10.97 m)
Draft	14 ft (4.27 m)
Installed power	2× 2,069 kW (2,775 bhp) main engines[1] 3× 476 kW generators 1× 176 kW emergency generator
Speed	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Capacity	34
Crew	39

Christina O is a private motor yacht that once belonged to billionaire Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis. At 99.13 metres long, she was the 59th largest yacht in the world as of 2022.^[2][3][4][5]

History

Christina O in her previous life as HMCS Stormont

The ship originally served as a Canadian anti-submarine River-class frigate HMCS Stormont, launched in 1943. Stormont served as a convoy escort during the Battle of the Atlantic and was present at the Normandy landings.^[6] Onassis purchased Stormont after the end of World War II as naval surplus, at a scrap value of US$34,000. He spent US$4 million to convert the vessel into a luxury yacht, the first postwar superyacht.^[7] He named it after his daughter Christina.

Christina O set a new standard for lavish personal yachts, especially amidst the austerity of post-war Europe. The yacht was remodelled by architect Cäsar Pinnau,^[8][9] who made full use of the ship's size and powerful naval engineering systems to create large, ornate interiors and elaborate luxuries. These included a mosaic swimming pool that converted to a dance floor, and a children's dining room designed and painted by the illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans.^[10][11]

A competitive rivalry with Stavros Niarchos likely drove some decisions around the purchase and outfitting of the ship by Onassis.^[7]

After her 1968 marriage to Onassis, Jacqueline Onassis selected a pastel color scheme and decor in all of the cabins.^[12][13][14]

Notable passengers

Apart from his mistress Maria Callas and his wife Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Aristotle Onassis entertained celebrities such as Umberto Agnelli, Giovanni Battista Meneghini (Callas' husband until 1959 when she left him for Onassis) , Richard Burton, Clementine Churchill, Diana Churchill, Winston Churchill, Jacqueline de Ribes, John F. Kennedy, Greta Garbo, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, Grace Kelly, Anthony Montague Browne, Rudolf Nureyev, Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan, J. Paul Getty, Eva Perón, Françoise Sagan, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and John Wayne.^{[12][15][16][17][18]}

In 1956 the wedding of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly held its reception on Christina O.^[19]

Ownership

Onassis willed the yacht to his daughter Christina, with second wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis next in line. If neither was interested, the vessel would be turned over to the Greek government, on condition that it would be properly maintained and serve as presidential yacht. Upon Onassis' death in 1975, both women declined the inheritance.

The Greek government changed the vessel’s name to Argo,^[12] but allowed it to decay. It was put up for sale at US$16 million in the early 1990s. Unsold, an attempted 1996 purchase by American Alexander Blastos fell through when his deposit check bounced,^[20] later resulting in a wire fraud conviction.^[21]

The vessel was purchased in a 1998 government-sponsored auction by Greek shipping magnate John Paul Papanicolaou, an Onassis family friend. He reverted her name to Christina O,^{[22][23][24][25]} in tribute to her namesake,^[20][26] who had died in 1988. A major refurbishment was carried out between January 1999 and April 2001.^{[27][28][29][1]} Naval architect Costas Carabelas was hired to spearhead the $50 million refit, engaging interior architect Apostolos Molindris,^[30] Decon as construction manager, and the Viktor Lenac Shipyard in Croatia to carry out the work.^[20][31]

The Christina O Limited Partnership bought the yacht for €65 million in 2000.^[32] As of 2023 Ivor Fitzpatrick, an Irish lawyer and businessman, owns the yacht,^[33] which is available for charter.

Amenities

Hacker-craft tender and Christina O

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; however, the number of living areas is large, and the amount of outdoor deck space is generous. The aft main deck has an outdoor pool with a minotaur-themed mosaic floor that rises at the push of a button to become a dance floor. Bar appointments once included whales' teeth carved into pornographic scenes from Homer's Odyssey.^[7] The bar stools in Ari's Bar retain the original upholstery crafted from soft, fine leather made from the foreskins of whales.^[34]

Whilst owned by Onassis, Christina O was also notable for employing a seaplane for use as a supplementary tender. Over the years three different Piaggio P.136s have been used (G-AOFN, G-APNY later re-registered SX-BDB, and SX-BDC)^[35][36]

In popular culture

Christina O was prominently featured in the 2022 film Triangle of Sadness as the filming location for the second act.^[37]

See also

• List of motor yachts by length

References

1. "Motor Yacht Christina O brochure 2018" (PDF). Morley Yachts. 12 March 2018. pp. 1–23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2021.
2. "Top 100 Largest Yachts". Super Yachts. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
3. "Aristotle Onassis: The life and achievements of the man who became the quintessential cosmopolitan business magnate of the twentieth century". Onassis Organization. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
4. Aristotle Onassis (1959). "Greece: Shipping Magnate, Onassis Cruises". British Pathe (Motion picture). Greece. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
5. "The Maria Callas Experience onboard the legendary Christina O yacht – archived link". Maria Callas Experience. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. A bespoke recital of operatic classics with a storyline of the life of Maria Callas by some of Europe's renowned Bel Canto Sopranos including Nelly Miricioiu, (20 & 21 May, 3, 4 & 5 June) Claire Rutter (22 & 29 May) and Mary Plazas (27 & 28 May). During the voyage a tour of the yacht will reveal all the secrets that she has witnessed over the years.
6. "Canadian Participation on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy". Veterans.gc.ca. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021.
7. Osnos, Evan (25 July 2022). "The Floating World". The New Yorker. p. 36. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
8. Marc de Charentenay (8 May 2012). "Christina O: Rebirth Of A Legend". Yacht International. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
9. "Cäsar Pinnau 1906–1988". ITBOAT. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
10. "More than Madeline Onassis Yacht Playroom – Ludwig Bemelmans". Forbes. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014.
11. Cascone, Sarah (14 July 2014). "New-York Historical Society Fetes Ludwig Bemelmans's Plucky French Heroine". ArtNet. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014.
12. Lean-Vercoe, Roger; Boulton, Peter (14 January 2015). "Iconic yachts: Christina O". Boat International. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
13. Thomas, Mark (19 September 2017). "Famous yacht Christina O docks in front of Lokrum island in Croatia". The Dubrovnik Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020.
14. "Motor yacht Christina O Canadian Vickers 99.13m". Red Sea Management. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
15. ""Christina O", el mega yate de recreo de lujo de Aristóteles Onassis, a la venta" ["Christina O", the mega luxury pleasure yacht of Aristotle Onassis, for sale]. Embelezzia (in Spanish). 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
16. "From 1958 to 1963 Winston Churchill made eight lengthy cruises on the private motor yacht Christina –later chartering yacht". Winston Churchill Organization. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
17. McDonald, Trevor. "The Secret Mediterranean With Trevor McDonald – Episode 1". The Secret Mediterranean With Trevor McDonald. ITV. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Episode 1: Trevor McDonald boards the luxury superyacht The Christina O – once owned by Greek tycoon Aristotle Onasis. It was on this boat that he seduced his future wife Jackie Kennedy and entertained Sir Winston Churchill.
18. "All at sea with the magnate and the diva". The Independent. 13 December 2009. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
19. Mikelbank, Peter (30 March 2003). "For Rent: Floating Mansion". St Petersburg Times. p. 4E. Retrieved 19 March 2022. – via newspapers.com (subscription required)
20. John Lassiter (August 2002). "Megayachts: The Rebirth of Christina O". Power & Motoryacht. p. 1. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
21. "United States of America, Appellee, v. Alexander Blastos, Defendant, Appellant, 258 F.3d 25 (1st Cir. 2001)". Justia US Law. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
22. "Motor Yacht Christina O official website – archived link". mychristinao.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
23. "Wedding party on-board on Jackie Kennedy' and Aristotle Onassis' superyacht Christina O". Yacht Harbour. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021.
24. "Christina O: the story of the most famous yacht in the world". The Gentlemant’s Journal. 2016. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021.
25. "Jackie and Aristotle Onassis's Former Yacht Is Available to Rent". Town and Country Magazine. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021.
26. Kaan, Jochem (1 March 2014). "Superyacht of the week: The legendary Christina O". Super Yacht Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020.
27. "Luxury Yacht Christina O: 99M, 17 Cabins, 34 Pax, 34 Crew". World Luxury Yacht. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021.
28. Purday, Annika (17 April 2019). "The Onassis Family yacht is available to charter for the summer". Tatler. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021.
29. Perino, Marissa (3 April 2019). "Aristotle Onassis' iconic yacht Christina O". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021.
30. "Molindris and Associates: M/Y Christina O". Molindris. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
31. Martin, Michael (9 August 2011). "Hit the high seas like Ari and Jackie O". The Street. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021.
32. "Revenue challenges Harris tax relief on yacht". The Irish Times. 20 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021.
33. "CHRISTINA O Yacht – Ivor Fitzpatrick's Big $40M Superyacht". Yacht Bible. 3 January 2023.
34. "Aristotle Onassis's yacht enjoyed by Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor". Daily UK News. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021.
35. "Onassis' yacht with Piaggio G-AOFN, circa 1955". edwardquinn.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
36. "Photo of Onassis' yacht with Piaggio P136 G-APNY, circa 1958". edwardquinn.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
37. Östlund, Ruben (14 March 2023). "Triangle of Sadness" (PDF). Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

External links

• mychristinao.com Archived from the original on 2019-01-05
• Charter specs & images