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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Istanbul >> Boat rides - Vapur gezileri >> Istanbul pictures - Bosporus boat rides > Bosporus trip 0219
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11-MAR-2006

Bosporus trip 0219

A lone but fine vessel. A viewer (see below) indicated it once belonged to Atatürk. Another viewer added it later served as a naval training vessel. And another one:

Originally Savarona was built in the German shipyards for an American lady in 1931. It was bought by Turkish Government in 1938 and became a presidential yacht, Ataturk loved this boat very much but unfortunately he could enjoy it only for 6 months before his death. After 1950s it was used as a training ship of the Turkish Navy school, but was badly destroyed in 1979 by fire. A rich businessman leased it from the Government and restored it in the beginning of 1992. Since than it's chartered for jet-set and high society rich people, sailing in the waters around the world. It's 136 meters long and now has all the luxury of a deluxe 5 star hotel including swimming pools, jacuzis, sauna, fitness center etc.

Thanks for all this information, I can relax, others taking over the work of writing. Or rather, someone wrote an alternative version:

The Savarona was built at the Blohm&Voss shipyards in Hamburg in 1931 for Mrs. Emily Roebling Cadwallader, granddaughter of John Roebling, the engineer who built the Brooklyn Bridge. She was bought by the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish flag was hoisted on the Savarona in Southampton, England in March 1938. The yacht arrived in Istanbul two months later; however, Atatürk was only able to enjoy the vessel for less than 2 months in 1938.

During the six weeks that he spent on the Savarona cabinet meetings were also held on board. The Savarona did not sail again until after World War II, when the Turkish Navy started to use her as a training ship. She was destroyed by a raging fire in 1979 and remained unused until 1989 when it was decided to scrap her. However fortunately, she was at that time then leased - by a prominent Turkish businessman - for 49 years. It took 3 years and 425 men to refit the yacht whose interior design was done by Donald Starkey. Today, the Savarona once again sails the waters of the world, bringing an experience of elegance and luxury to those who are privileged enough to be her passengers.

Great writing, and taking the spotlight away from current users to the history of the ship. Though I wonder: are the people who have this "experience of elegance and luxury" [and] "are privileged enough to be her passengers" just regular people, or indeed part of the jet-set and all that? Or are lottery tickets drawn and does many a shoe shine enjoy this luxury?

I am afraid I am a bit of a socialist, though I admire great writing. I think it depends on what interpretation you give to the word "privileged". Privileged by whom, and how how?

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1/80s f/6.3 at 125.0mm iso100 full exif

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Burak Sansal 11-Aug-2006 16:33
Originally Savarona was built in the German shipyards for an American lady in 1931. It was bought by Turkish Government in 1938 and became a presidential yacht, Ataturk loved this boat very much but unfortunately he could enjoy it only for 6 months before his death. After 1950s it was used as a training ship of the Turkish Navy school, but was badly destroyed in 1979 by fire. A rich businessman leased it from the Government and restored it in the beginning of 1992. Since than it's chartered for jet-set and high society rich people, sailing in the waters around the world. It's 136 meters long and now has all the luxury of a deluxe 5 star hotel including swimming pools, jacuzis, sauna, fitness center etc.
Ercan 06-Aug-2006 16:26
savarona was a naval school ship 1950 "s when i was in naval academy i spend one year on Savanora Best Regards !!!!!
Alpay 11-Jul-2006 11:59
This is Savorona; Mustafa Kemal Ataturk`s vessel...