A comparison of the major yachts of the Russian Imperial Fleet. Standart, with a reinforced hull and lavish interiors. It had intricate bow carvings and a more robust profile. Polar Star, served Empress Maria. Similar in silhouette, but distinct funnels and a simpler bow structure. #yachts #Romanovs

Polar Star (1890) Built at the in Saint Petersburg, Polar Star served as Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna’s private yacht. With its distinct twin-funnel profile, it was a royal fixture in European waters. Requisitioned for naval service in WWI, it marked the end of an era.
#ImperialYacht #Romanov

Columbia (1899) was a dominant defender in the America’s Cup, designed by Nathanael Herreshoff.

Built for speed, she won the 1899 and 1901 races against Shamrock and Shamrock II. A marvel of Gilded Age yachting, she set the standard for racing yachts of her era.

#Columbia1899 #AmericasCup

Shamrock (1898), Sir Thomas Lipton’s First America’s Cup Challenger. She raced against S/Y Columbia but fell short of victory.

Despite the loss, Shamrock marked the beginning of Lipton’s legendary five-time pursuit of the Cup, cementing his legacy in yachting history.

#AmericasCup #ThomasLipton

Sir Thomas Lipton (1848–1931) built a tea empire, turning Lipton into a global brand. A dedicated yachtsman, he challenged for the America’s Cup five times but never won. Known for his sportsmanship, he left much of his wealth (today approx £1.2bn) to Glasgow City & various charities. #ThomasLipton

Sir Thomas Lipton’s Yacht Erin.

Commissioned in 1896, Erin was the personal steam yacht of Sir Thomas Lipton, built by J. & G. Thomson of Glasgow. 344 ft (105m) long. Erin was Lipton’s floating base during his five America’s Cup challenges between 1899 and 1930.

#ThomasLipton #America’sCup

JFK’s Presidential Yacht.

Originally built in 1931 as Lenore II, this 92-foot wooden yacht became Honey Fitz during JFK’s presidency, named after his maternal grandfather. Today, it remains a cherished piece of American maritime history.
#PresidentialYacht #MaritimeHistory #JFK #HistoricYachts

Sir Thomas Lipton & Shamrock III

In 1903, Sir Thomas Lipton introduced Shamrock III, his third attempt to claim the prestigious America’s Cup. Designed by the renowned William Fife III and built by Denny Brothers in Scotland. Although the trophy remained elusive.

#ShamrockIII #YachtRacing

HMY Victoria and Albert I (1843)

Queen Victoria’s first steam-powered royal yacht, combining luxury and innovation. Captured in a painting by J. Jeram, it symbolizes Britain’s Victorian-era naval power.

#HMYVictoriaAndAlbert #QueenVictoria #MaritimeHistory #VictorianEra

⚓ HMY Royal George (1817) was a luxurious sailing yacht for George IV, showcasing Regency-era elegance.

Its surviving figurehead of King George III, now at Royal Museums Greenwich, is a rare link to this iconic royal vessel and its grandeur.

#HMYRoyalGeorge #MaritimeHistory #RegencyEra

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich (1827-1892). The Romanov who modernized Russia’s navy and championed the Emancipation of the Serfs. He commissioned, for the Czar, HMY Livadia in 1873. A complex legacy of progress and controversy.

#RomanovHistory #GrandDukeKonstantin #NavalReforms #RussianEmpire

Floating Diplomacy: Imperial yachts like HMY Alexandria were more than luxury vessels, they were tools of soft power. Used for voyages to strengthen alliances, host dignitaries, and project influence, these yachts blended opulence with diplomacy.

#ImperialYachts #RomanovHistory #MaritimeHistory

HMY Alexandria-Launched 1851, a 195ft paddle steamer, built in London for Tsar Nicholas I, symbolized Russian imperial domination. Powered by 140hp engines, she transported royals across the Baltic and Black Seas, showcasing Russia’s ambition and ties with Britain. #RomanovHistory #MaritimeHistory

HMY Victoria and Albert I

She served as a floating palace, taking Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the Prince of Wales on notable voyages to Malta and Alexandria. Renamed HMY Osborne in 1855, it continued royal service before retiring in 1868

#HMYOsborne #QueenVictoria #RoyalYachts #VictorianEra

HMY Victoria & Albert. Built in 1843 at Pembroke Dockyard, this 200ft yacht featured twin paddle wheels, a steam engine, and a 33ft beam. Victorian luxury with naval innovation, it served Queen Victoria until 1855.

#HMYVictoriaAndAlbert #PaddleSteamer #VictorianEra #RoyalYachts #MaritimeHistory

HMY Victoria and Albert I: Queen Victoria’s 1st royal yacht

Launched in 1843, this 200-ft paddle steamer symbolized Britain’s naval power, blending luxury and innovation. Retired in 1855, it marked the rise of royal yachting.

#QueenVictoria #RoyalYachts #MaritimeHistory #VictorianEra”

Explainer from my previous post!

S.M.Y. in S.M.Y. Hohenzollern stands for “Seiner Majestät Yacht”, which translates to “His Majesty’s Yacht” in English.

The designation was used for the official vessels of the imperial household, used for both state and personal purposes by the Emperor and family.

SMY Hohenzollern

Built in 1892, SMY Hohenzollern was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s luxurious imperial yacht. At 120 meters long, it combined opulence with naval innovation, hosting diplomatic voyages and attending royal regattas like Cowes Week.

#Hohenzollern #KaiserWilhelmII #MaritimeHistory #RoyalYachts

King Edward VII and Kaiser Wilhelm II were more than rivals on the water. They were family! Wilhelm II was Edward’s nephew, through Queen Victoria. Their love for yachting brought them to events like Cowes Week, where Britannia and Meteor often competed.

#EdwardVII #RoyalFamilyHistory #YachtRacing

Meteor I: Kaiser Wilhelm II’s racing yacht. Originally built as Thistle, in 1887 for the Royal Clyde Yacht Club, symbolised German Imperial ambition in international yachting. A key player in regattas pre WW1 often racing against Edward VII on Britannia.

#MeteorYacht #kaiser #MaritimeHistory

Britannia: King George V’s legendary racing yacht. Built for his father Edward VII in Glasgow in 1893. She dominated regattas all over Europe and became a symbol of royal prestige and maritime excellence. Scuttled in 1936, fulfilling the King’s final wish.

#BritanniaYacht #GeorgeV #MaritimeHistory”