1931 Classic SAMUEL WHITE MOTORYACHT38m

Meltemi ex Amphora, ex Meltemi MM, exBraemar, ex Clorinde, ex Braemar was launched in 1931 at J.Samuel White & Co., an important shipyard of Cowes for George Paxton with the  name of Braemar, as the denomination of his manor house.

Meltemi ,with her  straight and powerfull bow her  very efficient hull  ,and her fascinating look has a lenght on deck of 37 meters . 

A very strong construction in naval steel 8 mm thick , five watertight bulkheads ,two ballast trimming tanks . Initially she was powered by two 225 HP MAN engines able to provide a maximum speed of 13 kts , a knot faster than declared in the construction contract .Today, after the thorough restoration received in the 90’ies the engines are two 480 HP Caterpillars . The yacht reaches today a maximum speed of 14 kts.

It is the actual owner in the 90ies who brought her back to the original utilization of a  charming and luxurious family yacht , recreating where possible  the original accommodations ,the decor of her early years, the original panelling  in mahogany and oak , the floars in douglas fir , the antique forniture , settees, sofas and armchairs in leather , carpets and brocade curtains .

The main changes have been : the shelter of the stern deck with which created a comfortable new summer laung area , protected also on the sides by the high original washboards and awnings;

Anyway the entrance door to the  inner accommodations it is  watertight as it was in the original layout as the yacht was and is able to navigate with any kind of weather safely. 

Some changes have been provided by the former owner, the rock star Elton John in the 80 ies  , for example the first boudoir , earlier the smoking room, which became the music room and it is still so. Trough a corridor we reach the main saloon , sumptsuosely decorated with damasks and sofas, wich overlooks  the dining room with precious decorations and objects , ship portraits and models. Oval dining table and elegant wooden chairs for six.

Proceeding toward the bow there is the wide crew quarters  with 5 double cabins for the crew : captain, cook, engineer, boatswain, two sailors,hostess.The crew and officers mens, and an ample and pratical galley.

Astern of the centrally fitted engine room (on the lower deck, ) to optimize the longitudinal trim, there is the owner and guests sleeping quarters: two double cabins with separate beds and a private bathroom where the panelling and decorations are still the original ones in austrian oak.another double cabin and the owner’s suite at full width and a wide bathroom ensuite.

On the upper bridge,in the delicious  navigation spaces there is a full set of navigations equipment , a classic steering wheel with a classic telegraph to the engine room and a wonderfull binnacle .The sun deck hosts the  various tenders : two rubber tenders , a dinghy 12’ and a replica of the now extinct runabout Riva Turismo Extra designed in 1946

Since its launch,the motoryacht was fitted out with the  most advanced technology of the time : electric pumps, hydraulic steering system, a Barr & Stroud distance finder  (telemeter) , electric lights. There was a generator  of 18 Kw with a Gardner engine and a Maudsley dynamo. There was a group of batteries made of 95 cells of 225 Ah. Initially she was powered by two 225 HP MAN engines able to provide a maximum speed of 13 kts , a knot faster than declared in the construction contract .Today, after the thorough restoration received in the 90’ies the engines are two 480 HP Caterpillars . The yacht reaches today a maximum speed of 14 kts. 

History:

When  Meltemi  was launched, with the name of Braemar,  the superstructures were smaller and the aft deck was not sheltered like now .

This yacht sailed a lot in the first part of her life . She took also a round the world cruise and several atlantic crossings  untill the start of the second world war when the motoryacht was seized by the Royal Navy and transformed initially in a patroller , then in a hospital ship .

After the war the yacht is still in the hands of  Paxton untill 1959 . She lost the Lloyds certification , but Paxton complied with the register requests and after an important refit, Braemar was back in class. Few owner’s changes  and under different names the yacht is back to ocean navigations , long vojages and a new round the world tour between 1981-83.

In the early 90ies with the name of Meltemi the yacht works in the  luxury charter business.

It is the actual owner who brought her back to the original utilization of a  charming and luxurious family yacht , recreating where possible  the original accommodations ,the decor of her early years, the original panelling  in mahogany and oak , the floars in douglas fir , the antique forniture , settees, sofas and armchairs in leather , carpets and brocade curtains .

SPECIFICATIONS

Shipyard: J.Samuel White & Co Ltd, Cowes, England

Year of launch: 1931

Lenght over all: 37,5 m

Lenght water line: 36 m

Max beam: 5,7 m

Draft: 2,4 m

Displacement: 240 t

Engines: 2 x Caterpillar 480 HP

Fuel tanks 32.000 Lt. -6000 miles autonomy

Speed: 12 cruisespeed , 14 knots max speed