Nahlin (yacht)

Nahlin moored in Dartmouth, Devon 17 July 2010
Career
Name:	Nahlin
Builder:	John Brown & Co
Launched:	1930
Status:	Currently in service
Naval Architect:	G.L. Watson & Co.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Charter Yacht
Tonnage:	1,574 metric tons (deadweight tonnage)
Displacement:	2,017 metric tons (maximum)
Length:	91.4 m (300 ft)
Beam:	10.98 m (36.0 ft)
Draft:	4.42 m (14.5 ft)
Propulsion:	2 x 200 hp
Speed:	17.4 knots (32 km/h) (maximum) 16.1 knots (30 km/h) (cruising)

Nahlin is a yacht previously owned by the Romanian Royal Family. Nahlin is one of the last of three large steam yachts constructed in the UK. She was built for Lady Annie Henrietta Yule, heiress of Sir David Yule, was launched in 1930.

History

Lady Yule ordered three small private cruise ships in 1929 from John Brown & Company, Clydebank with Nahlin being the first built. In 1934 Nahlin was classified as one of the biggest private cruise yachts ever built in the U.K. In 1936 Nahlin was chartered by King Edward VIII and used by him and Mrs. Wallis Simpson during their love affair. The yacht was bought in 1937 by King Carol of Romania for £120,000 and renamed Luceafarul,^[1] and later Libertatea.

She was owned by the Romanian Ministry of Culture under order no. 3041^{[citation needed]}, and in service as a charter yacht, a sailing museum of yacht building and development^{[citation needed]} as well as a floating restaurant on the river Danube.

After the Romanian revolution the yacht was sold to "Regal" S.A. - a privatised company based in Galati, Romania which, in her turn, sold it in unclear circumstances in 1999 for as little as 250.000 USD to EDMINSTON Comp. a British based company. Despite the ship, named at that time "Libertatea", was categorised as a Romanian national treasure by the Ministry of Culture order no.3041/1998, and legally it couldn't be sold to a foreign company and exported from Romania, in 1999 it was issued a temporary export permit under the claims that it needed urgent repairs and the "Even Port Royal" shipyard was the only holder of original plans. The permit expired on the 25th august 2000 - date by which the ship should have been returned fully restored to Romania. Today the ship is registered in the port of Glasgow under her initial name "Nahlin".

Design

The Nahlin is 91.4 m (300 ft) long, and has a beam of 10.98 m (36.0 ft). Her draught is 4.42 m (14.5 ft) and is fitted with a propulsion system providing 2x200 hp, and a maximum speed of 17.1 knots.

See also

• List of motor yachts by length

References

1. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1296137/Return-royal-love-boat-Back-Britain-yacht-Edward-VIII-married-lover-enjoyed-voyage-scandelous-hedonism.html

• Crabtree, R. (1975) Royal Yachts of Europe: From the Seventeenth to Twentieth Century. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 6754 4
• Findley, Timothey. Famous Last Words. p. 60. "H.S. MAUBERLEY, ESQUIRE, read the cable in my pocket, HOTEL GRAND BRETAGNE, VENEZIA: NAHLIN ARRIV¬ING DUBROVNIK NOON SEVENTEENTH."
• http://www.marinarii.ro/nave.php?id=9

External links

• http://www.glwatson.com/nahlin.htm
• http://powerandmotoryacht.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=954
• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756467-2,00.html
• Nahlin at Ship Spotting World including sightings
• http://www.marinarii.ro/nave.php?id=9