classic sailing yacht names

List of Boat Name Ideas: Inspiration for Nautical Naming

Classic Boat Name Ideas

When selecting a perfect name for your vessel, you may consider choosing from the treasure trove of  classic boat name ideas . These names have weathered many a storm and still hold their charm and elegance, resonating with the grace and tradition of seafaring.

• Sea Queen : This name evokes a sense of majesty and control over the vast ocean.
• Black Pearl : Popularized by film, it suggests mystery and adventure.
• Freedom : This name carries the essence of what it means to sail—unbound and unrestrained.

In my search for timeless names, it’s clear that names such as  Odyssey  and  Poseidon  connect to the rich mythology and history of exploration, while names like  Endeavour  [ reflect an adventurous spirit ].

For a touch of regal elegance:

• Majestic Lady : Portrays a sophisticated and noble vessel.

Names that resonate a peaceful journey:

• Serenity : Perfect for conveying a tranquil experience at sea.

Choosing such a classic name for your boat will certainly bestow a sense of permanence and legacy, anchoring your maritime adventures in a lineage of maritime tradition. Remember, a boat’s name isn’t merely a label; it’s a declaration of what she represents to you and the waters she navigates.

Creative Boat Name Ideas

When I’m brainstorming boat names, I aim for a mix of whimsy, relevance, and individuality. Here’s a breakdown of creative names segmented by the vibe they exude.

Adventure-Seeking Names:

• Voyage Vanguard
• Mariner’s Mirage
• Questline Skipper

These names evoke a sense of exploration. I believe a boat is not just a vessel; it’s a gateway to adventures unknown.

Luxury and Elegance:

• Opulent Odyssey
• Majestic Marina
• Sovereign Seas

For a more lavish touch, these names are chosen to reflect the sophistication of a high-end yacht navigating the blue expanses.

Humorous and Witty:

• Knot on Call
• Seas the Day
• Nautical But Nice

A boat name with a pun reflects a laid-back and fun atmosphere. It’s a conversation starter at the marina and showcases my lighter side.

Inspired by Nature:

• Ocean Whisper
• Coral Caravel
• Zephyr’s Quest

These names pay homage to the elements and creatures of the sea. I select them to signify my respect for the marine environment I’m traversing.

Classics with a Twist:

• Sea Siren Redux
• Enduring Empress
• Eternal Voyager 2.0

I choose these for a traditional feel with a modern edge. These names stand the test of time while still feeling fresh.

When I compile boat names, I balance between the essence of my boat and a reflection of my personal narrative. Each selected name carries a story ready to be unfurled on the vast canvas of the sea.

Luxury Yacht Name Ideas

When I brainstorm luxury yacht names, I think of refinement, elegance, and the spirit of maritime adventure. Selecting an appropriate name for a yacht can reflect the owner’s personality or aspirations. Here are some ideas that might inspire:

Classical Allure :

• Odyssey  – paying homage to the epic voyages of Greek legend.
• Aurora  – inspired by the Roman goddess of dawn, signifying new beginnings.

Oceanic Majesty :

• Sovereign Seas  – denotes a commanding presence over the waters.
• Empyrean Wave  – evokes a sense of the heavenly or sublime in the vast ocean.

Modern Opulence :

• Eclipse  – suggests a yacht of such distinction it overshadows others.
• Quantum  – signifies modernity and cutting-edge technology.

Personal Touch :

• Mystique  – a name that can reflect the owner’s enigmatic presence.
• Serendipity  – for those who chance upon great and fortunate discoveries.

Bold Adventure :

• Voyager  – perfect for a yacht built to explore distant shores.
• Destiny’s Horizon  – a name that speaks to the future and what lies beyond.

Each name has its own character and hint of narrative. If I’m choosing a name for a luxury yacht, I’d consider how it will resonate with guests and the legacy I intend for the yacht. Remember, a yacht’s name often becomes its identity and a reflection of the adventures it will undertake.

Fishing Boat Name Ideas

When choosing a name for my fishing boat, I consider factors like personal interests, humor, and the character of my boating experiences. A great name can be a conversation starter and reflect my personality or attitude towards fishing.

Classic Names

• Serenity Fisher
• The Rodfather
• Marlin Majesty
• Angler’s Quest

These timeless names honor the tradition of fishing and have a certain gravitas that speaks to my dedication to the sport.

Humorous Names

• Bait’s Motel
• Hook, Line & Sinker

Humor is always a good angle—I love a good pun, and these names are sure to get a chuckle at the docks.

Adventure-Inspired Names

• Reel Adventure
• Voyager’s Hook
• Tackle Trekker

Inspired by my zest for fishing adventures, these names evoke the excitement and exploration inherent in the pursuit of the next big catch.

Clever and Unique Names

• Reel Therapy
• Pier Pressure

A clever or unique name sets my boat apart and expresses creativity – it’s the signature of my vessel’s identity on the water.

In the end, the name I choose becomes a part of the boat’s identity, and by extension, a part of my own fishing legacy.

Sailboat Name Ideas

When choosing names for sailboats, I often suggest options that capture the spirit of sailing and reflect the owner’s personality. Here are some curated sailboat name ideas, inspired by various themes:

Nature-Inspired:

• Whispering Wind
• Ocean’s Harmony
• Mystic Tide
• Silent Wave

Adventure and Exploration:

• Voyager Quest
• Horizon Seeker
• Nomadic Star
• Endless Journey

Classic and Elegant:

• Serene Siren
• Nautical Bliss
• Elegant Voyage
• Timeless Sea

Playful and Fun:

• Sailor’s Delight
• Breezy Rider
• Knot On Call

To convey a deeper connection to the sea, I emphasize the importance of selecting a name that resonates on a personal level, whether it’s reflecting a favorite place, a desired feeling, or a nod to marine lore.

If you’re searching for more inspiration, you might find the lists from  Blog Of Tom  or  BoatingWise  particularly helpful. They offer extensive collections of boat names that could spark that perfect name for your sailboat.

Remember, the name you choose will be with you and your sailboat for many trips over the horizon, so pick one that you’ll be proud to call out across the waves.

Speedboat Name Ideas

When choosing a name for your speedboat, I suggest selecting one that reflects both the spirit of the boat and your personal style. Here’s a curated list of names to inspire you, ranging from sleek and cool to adventurous and bold.

Adventurous and Bold:

Sleek and Cool:

• Turbo Vortex

For names that exude a sense of  luxury and class , consider options such as:

• Classy Lady
• The Finer Things
• Signature Style

If you’re looking for something more  creative and unique , these might catch your attention:

• Huckleberry
• Shore Thing

And for those with a  sense of humor , playful names like these can be quite fitting:

• Road Runner
• Freedom Fighter

Keep in mind that the name you choose will be a reflection of your boat’s identity, so take your time to pick one that resonates with you. If you need more inspiration, websites like  Blog Of Tom  and  MYLOVELYBOAT  offer extensive lists to browse through. Remember, a great boat name can make as much of an impact as the boat itself out on the water.

Funny Boat Name Ideas

When I think of boat names, I gravitate towards ones that show a sense of humor. Clever wordplay and witty puns can make a boat name memorable and can provide a good laugh for passersby. Below is a list I’ve crafted, with inspiration drawn from some humorous suggestions I’ve come across:

• Aqua Holic : Perfect for someone who can’t imagine a weekend away from the water.
• Knot Paid For : A playful nod to the financial investment that boating often entails.
• Pier Pressure : For the boat that often hosts friends and persuades them to join in on the boating lifestyle.

In selecting a funny boat name, I always keep in mind that it should reflect the boat’s personality or the boating experience. Here are a few names I found to be particularly clever:

• Seas the Day : A clever twist on the phrase “seize the day,” encouraging one to make the most out of their time on the water.
• Ship Faced : A humorous take for those who enjoy the boat’s party potential.
• Usain Boat : Ideal for a speedy boat or for an owner with a love for sprinting legend Usain Bolt.

For more inspiration, these lists have certainly caught my eye:  68 Clever And Funny Boat Names To Make The Whole Harbor Laugh  and  120 Boat Names That Are Cool, Clever, Funny and Unique . They showcase the creative and entertaining side of boat naming, and I always recommend them to fellow boaters in search of a name that stands out in a marina filled with the usual monikers.

Nautical-Themed Boat Name Ideas

When it comes to naming my boat, I prefer names that resonate with the spirit of the sea and sailing. Here’s a list of nautical-themed boat name ideas I find intriguing:

Names Inspired by Mythology:

• Neptune’s Fury : A nod to the Roman god of the sea.
• Poseidon’s Trident : References the Greek god of the ocean.

Sailing Terms Turned Names:

• Windward Bound : Indicates a boat that is heading into the wind.
• Jib Runner : The jib is a type of sail, making it an apt name for a swift boat.

Oceanic Creatures:

• Marlin Thunder : Marlin are powerful fish, suggesting speed and agility.
• Sea Serpent : Evokes the mystery of the ocean depths.

Exploration-Inspired:

• Island Hopper : Perfect for a boat that explores coastal regions and islands.
• Starboard Dream : Starboard, meaning the right side of a boat, also implies direction and aspiration.

I believe that a good boat name not only reflects my personality but also captures my passion for the sea. It’s an important tradition in boating culture that adds to the unique identity of my maritime adventure.

Romantic Boat Name Ideas

When selecting a boat name that exudes romance, I aim for options that capture the essence of companionship and shared adventures. I’ve curated a list that includes names from various themes of love and togetherness. Here are some of the most charming and romantic boat name ideas to consider:

• Sunset Serenade : Ideal for those who cherish evenings on the water.
• Cupid’s Arrow : Symbolizes striking love.
• Moonlit Cruise : Perfect for nocturnal escapades.
• Romantic Rendezvous : Invites intimate outings.

Here’s a more detailed list to inspire the perfect name for your seafaring love story:

Each of these names has been chosen to reflect a different facet of romance, from peaceful togetherness to the thrill of exploration. Whether you’re sailing into the sunset or embarking on a lifetime of aquatic adventures, these names can help encapsulate your experiences.

Inspirational Boat Name Ideas

Choosing an inspirational name for your boat sets a tone of positivity and motivation for every journey it undertakes. I’ve compiled a list of ideas that might resonate with mariners looking for that perfect moniker that not only reflects their aspirations but also serves as a beacon of inspiration.

• Liberty : This name denotes freedom and the sense of independence that comes with the maritime lifestyle. It’s a reminder of the open seas and the autonomy they represent.
• Dreamcatcher : For those who see their vessel as a vessel of ambition and pursuit, this name captures the essence of chasing and fulfilling dreams upon the waves.
• Horizons : A suggestion of the endless possibilities that lie beyond the bow of the boat, encouraging explorers to venture into the unknown.
• Starboard Dream : A creative twist that might appeal to those looking for a nautical touch in their inspirational name.
• Voyage of Vision : Suggesting every trip is part of a larger quest or dream.

Remember, these names can often hold personal significance, so I recommend choosing one that not only appeals to you aesthetically but also aligns with your own values or life experiences. Whether it’s an homage to nature, a reflection of personal liberty, or a playful twist on words, your boat’s name can be a source of inspiration for every voyage you embark on.

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Boat names: the best and most famous yacht names

Are you passionate about sailing and decided to take this pleasure to the next level by purchasing a boat? If the answer is yes, be aware that a difficult challenge is lying ahead: choosing the boat name .

You got here wondering why ships and boats have names? The main reason for boats having names is for identification purposes, to identify other boats at sea, for people is more easily to identify which boat they would board and describing a boat by using its name is a lot easier than trying to describe it by using a physical description.

This beauty that just entered your life needs to be named and it’s up to you to shape its personality and allow it to highlight yours. We love boating as much as you do, so we decided to do some research to help you choose the best boat name . Here are some tips that will help you name your boat.

What are the most popular boat names

On a top ten list of the most common boat names that stuck to our mind, we included the following.

• 1. Serendipity
• 4. Blue Moon
• 7. Carpe Diem
• 8. Serendipity
• 9. Relentless
• 10. Aquaholic

How about you, do these names ring a bell? We’re sure they do and we’re also sure it’s already becoming easier to brainstorm and try to come up with a perfect name for your vessel.

In addition to the tips above, here is a short list of boat names that fall into the following categories which might facilitate your endeavor. Our boat name suggestions are:

Clever boat names

In addition to the tips above, here is a short list of  yacht names  that fall into the following categories which might facilitate your endeavor. Our boat name suggestions are:

Your choice should be one that feels most comfortable. Make a shortlist, sleep on it and speak about your options with friends and family before deciding. You will be surprised how helpful such a brain storm is when making such a long-lasting decision. After all, is them also who will enjoy your new vessel.

Funny boat names

Having a cool, clever, or funny name for your yacht, sailboat, or other water vessel is practically a requirement to remain in good standings with the others. A funny name it says the people inside are fun people, they are enjoying themselves.

The funniest boat names

Are you curious about the funniest boat names? These amused us the most:

• Water You Lookin’ At?
• The Codfather
• What’s up Dock?
• Sea Señor or Sea Señora
• Knot on Call
• Seas the Day
• My Option II
• Whatshername
• Kids’ Inheritance

Talk about a conversation starter! These hilarious boat names are sure to have their attention and get a few laughs!

Cool boat names

The great boat names give folks pause as they think of the cleverness or humor of the selected choice. It seems that nearly everyone loves to relax on a boat on the water.

And, these same folks appreciate a well-chosen word or two. A good boat name brings a smile or a chuckle, and a great boat name really makes an impression

Unique and creative boat names

Boating can teach you a number of things: resourcefulness, independence, geography, cooking and of course, a wealth of information about fantastic legends, eerie seafaring stories and more.

When choosing a name, consider the image it creates to others. Take your time and consider, most of all, what fits your boat, your values and your lifestyle.

Majestic boat names

• Graceful Dancer
• Pacific Bliss
• Black Pearl
• Serendipity

Famous boat names

Naming or renaming a boat is not a task to be taken lightly; it requires thought and careful consideration. Looking to famous legends is a fantastic way to find a name.

In case you’re wondering, these are the most famous boat names .

Classy boat names

Remember that classic names don’t have to be boring. In our opinion some of the classiest boat names are the ones named after owner’s loved ones, idols, from art, literature or appreciated characters in history. This says a lot about your personality, your heritage, and education package.

Fishing boat names

You have many options if you’re choosing a name for a fishing boat. You’ll either have it for personal use or for charter, you can go for terms associated with fishing tackle or simply the pleasure of fishing.

Best yacht names

Everyone loves a great yacht, so who wouldn’t love a list of the best yacht names? We’ve scoured the internet in search of the best names for yachts.

Boat names for family

Boating is a great way to bring the families together. A family boat is a vehicle that brings your family closer and ensures the mental well-being of everyone. The name must be associated with the family, which completely represents your family’s significance and the connection between them.

“It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that’s what a ship needs but what a ship is…what the Black Pearl really is…is freedom.”

— Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

What are the most famous boat and yacht names in the history

Boats have always fascinated making since remote times. Moreover, they often paid a crucial role in milestone events like battles and expeditions. Here are some inspiring names that made history:

• USS Arizona : this boat witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack that occurred in 1941
• Mayflower : this boat carried the Pilgrims on the American Continent in 1620
• Santa Maria : Columbus discovered the New World sailing in this renowned vessel
• Mighty Mo alias USS Missouri : this is the boat that witnessed the end of World War II
• HMS Virginia : the famous ship guided by Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar
• HMS Victory : one of the oldest vessels, it hosted European fleets in the 18 th century
• USS Maine : another historical vessel that was subject to a mysterious explosion in 1985
• Titanic : this iconic ship needs no further presentations. If you haven’t seen David Cameron’s most famous movie, it’s worth to give it a try at least for the vessels’ replica.

Naming your boat by boat type

Whoever knows a little bit about sailing is aware that boats come in a vast range of shapes and styles designed to serve different purposes. To give weight to your boat and emphasize its unique qualities, you must choose a proper name according to its features. Here are some of our ‘pairing’ suggestions.

• Bass Boats : these slim vessels used for fishing ought to state their function. Fish Tales is a common name that can inspire you, but I’m sure you’ll find plenty other great names that ‘have fish’ in them. Check out fishing tips here.
• Motor Yacht Boats : these fast and modern beauties deserve a name that reflects their qualities like Pegasus, Zephyr, Freedom, Carpe Diem, Wind Seeker, Tide Runner, Escape.
• Houseboats : utterly luxurious vessels that can make you feel like lodging in a 4-stars hotel so why shy from showing it? La Dolce Vita, Dream Weaver, Serenity Now, The Good Life are some boat name suggestions.
• Cabin Cruise Boats : these are some of the coziest and most charming vessels you simply fall in love with. This feeling is prone to show through a personal touch, so they are often named after someone or something you truly hold dear.

Everyone wants to show they are skillful and serious about being on the water, so choose a name for your boat that reflects how comfortable you are on the water.

We hope you enjoyed this post and that now you feel more inspired in choosing the best boat name . If you are also interested in other topics related to boating, don’t forget to check out the rest of our articles .

If you already have a boat, we could help you in making your next marina reservation .

MarinaReservation.com  is here to help you book your berths among our partner marinas across Europe:

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200+ Best Yacht Names Ever- for Your Inspiration

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting out on the open water. Whether you’re sailing solo or with a crew, there’s something about being on a yacht that makes you feel like you’re living your best life.

But choosing what to name your yacht can be tricky! You want something that feels right for you and your lifestyle but has staying power—and maybe even some flair.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of 200 Best Yacht Names Ever, so you can make sure your dream boat has the perfect name.

Good yacht names

A good yacht name must be unique, memorable, simple, and easy to spell. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some yacht names that we think are great:

• Knotty Buoy
• 8 knot wind
• Docked Income
• Knotty By Nature
• Savoir Calm
• Loose Rigger
• Clear View Seas
• Ship Faced Party Boats
• Current Cruise Control
• Full Sail Ahead
• Balmy Allure
• The Last One
• The Little Prince
• The Lost Soul
• Heavenly Lass
• Silver Spoon
• Knot Paid For Yet
• Fair Fielder
• Lady of the Lake

Cool yacht names

Yacht names are often as exciting and unique as the boats themselves. They can reflect their owner’s personality or be a nod to their style. Here are some of our favorite yacht names

• Express Shipping
• Sea Ya Around
• Never Enough
• Isle See You
• Private Waves
• High Maintenance
• Yachtie Boatie II
• It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere
• Reel Happy Too
• Tide Me Over
• More! More! More!
• Lil’ Miss Sunshine
• Living the Dream
• Love to Sail

Clever yacht names

If you’re looking for a clever name for your yacht, consider one of these:

• Over Easy IV
• Most Wanted III
• Catchin’ Rays Too
• Black Pearl
• Iron Maiden
• Time Bandits
• Fools Paradise
• No Quarter Given
• Paradise Found
• White Squall
• Wait a Minute
• Gallant Lady

Classic yacht names

• In the Wind
• One More Time
• Dirty Deeds
• The Beastly Bride.
• Joint effort
• Now or Nevermore
• Incommunicado
• Coup de Ville
• Risky Business
• Cutting Edge
• Go With the Flow
• Ketch-a-Flick
• Ruffian’s Delight

Funny yacht names

There are plenty of funny yacht names out there. If you’re looking for a name that’s funny and memorable but still professional and sophisticated, check out these funny yacht names:

• Boats and hoes
• Drunken Sailor
• Butt-Boatay
• How Bow Dah
• Is it in yet?
• Baller’s Paradise
• Wasted Seamen
• Satan’s Mistress
• This Is The Life
• Winds of Fortune
• Big Fat Gypsy Bow
• Adios Pantalones
• Ship Happens
• The Bigger Boat
• Limp Kwiket

female yacht names

Here are some common female names that people use for their yachts.

• Blissful queen
• Bronze Goddess
• Butterfly Effect
• Dreamweaver
• Mighty Heart
• Positively Possible
• Sunshine and Roses
• A Woman’s Touch
• Absolute Elegance
• Vivacious Lady
• Slightly Naughty
• Knotty Girl
• Shoes to Fill

couple yacht names

A couple of yacht names are notoriously challenging to come up with. The decision is always a huge deal, so you want to be sure it’s perfect.

• Bonnie & Clyde
• Dock of the Bay
• Down and Downy
• Hang Together
• All Our Waves
• Second to None
• Smooth Sailors
• Lady and the Tramp
• Getting Nauti
• Get Boat-faced
• Aft for a Kiss
• Cute Nautie
• Hooked on the Sea

Luxury yacht names

This list will give you some fun ideas for naming a luxury yacht or boat, giving it the classy touch that makes it stand out among the rest.

• Alyssa Nicole
• Olympian Dream
• Serenity Two
• Bella Vita IV
• The Queen Mary 2
• The Rising Sun
• Southern Breeze
• The Whisper
• The Eclipse

Famous yacht names

• Prince Abdulaziz
• Jahre Viking
• Christina O
• Sailing Yacht A

fishing yacht names

These are some good names for fishing boats.

• Fish Finder
• Gone Fishing
• Little Jane
• Sea Charmer
• The Big One
• Show Me The Money
• Intimidator
• Catch the Wind
• Hooked On You
• Off The Hook
• Bobber Down
• Catch my drift?
• Fish or Cut Bait
• Fishing for Compliments
• Hooked on You

Celebrity yacht names

If you are a celebrity, you can name your yacht after anything!

• Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux – Snoopy
• Richard Branson – Necker Belle
• Johnny Depp – Vajoliroja
• Tom Cruise – Shockwave
• Tom Perkins – Maltese Falcon
• Lady Pamela
• Dolphin Dance
• Princess Elizabeth
• Summer Wind
• Bella Vita III
• High Spirits
• Magic Carpet II

How Do you Choose a Yacht Name?

You’ve got your boat, your crew—now it’s time to decide what to call the whole thing. Your yacht name is an important part of the overall experience of owning a boat, and there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing one.

So how do you go about choosing a name for your new yacht? Here are some tips:

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The Cleverest Names for Your Boat from A to Z

My, she sure is yar.

Whether it's for rest and relaxation or fishing and water sports, there are few things better than taking to the high seas. If you're like many others, buying a boat is a long-dreamt-of goal. The decision to purchase a boat is a big one, but picking the name? Now that's a huge decision. Should it be playful or meaningful? Clever or cryptic? The choice is all yours, and it's a choice you probably want to take some time making. From the iconic names of super-yachts to sea-worthy puns, we’ve rounded up the most chic, popular, and all around classic handles. You've got options.

If you want to keep your boat's name short and sweet, a strong name like Abyss or Andiamo ("Let's go") will surely do the trick. Or might we suggest something sillier, like Aquaholic ?

A cleverly crafted phrase like Black Pearl or Bankers Hours makes a statement without having to say too much. If it's more of a booze cruise you seek, Bottoms Up or Bacchus , for the Roman god of wine, are solid choices.

Something to keep in mind when naming your boat– no matter how big or small the name is you choose– is what it will look like on a hat or jacket for you and your crew. Classic names like Calypso or Carpe Diem sound as good as they look.

From Destiny to Dream Weaver there are tons of ways to demonstrate how much your boat means to you through its name.

A funny pun like Fish Tales or Fantasea as a name is sure to make you friends around the marina.

Boats are commonly referred to as 'she' and given feminine names, which many historians originated from the role of goddesses and mothers who were though to protect a ship’s voyage. Y ou can go with a common one, like Gemma, or choose a name with personal significance to safeguard your travels just as well, according to the superstition.

You are sure to have many memories of relaxation and good times on your boat and its name should reflect that. Onboard Happy Hours or Hakuna Matata , spirits are bound to be high.

With a name like Island Time you'll automatically switch to vacation mode when you board your vessel.

Want to feel like royalty? Take a cue from Queen Elizabeth and her yacht Jubilee . The regal name will have you ruling the high seas in no time.

A witty phrase that interchanges "knot" and "not" is great for a light-hearted and jovial boat name–and there's no better time for a nautical pun. Our favorites include Knot Working and Knot on Call, but feel free to let your creative juices flow!

Show off your sense of humor with something like Liquid Asset , or your sunny attitude with License to Chill or Life is Good .

A popular trend for boat names is translating a phrase into another language. Brazilian businessman, Alexandre Grendene Bartelle, used the French pronoun for 'miss' when naming his super-yacht, Madame Kate, while others have used the word Mahalo, which translates to thank you in Hawaiian.

Reference the past with names like North Star (which sailors historically used as guidance on long voyages) or Neptune’s Glory , alluding to the Roman god of the sea. Maybe you'd prefer to opt for something a little more zen, like Nirvana , Namaste , No Worries , or No Regrets .

When in doubt, a short and strong word goes very far– Ohana , Oasis , Orion , Obsession , Osprey , and Odyssey are all powerful options for your boat’s name.

You know what they say: money talks. People love to use financial terms for their yacht names. Principal Interest is just one of many different monetary puns that you could use.

Attaching a special meaning to your boat is one of the best things about being able to name it. A name like Querencia, which refers to a place where a person feels authentically like themselves, is a great way to ensure your boat's name is sentimental.

No one would be able to turn down an afternoon aboard the Rum Runner, as it sounds like a guaranteed good time.

For a classic and timeless name, there are a great deal of sea phrases to choose such as Sea Spirit or Second Wind . Names that play on words, such as Sea Senora or Seas the Day are quality names, too. T he options are as wide as the horizon.

Another route is to give your boat a name with a double entendre. Playful picks like The Good Life, Therapy, or Time Out are fun and don't take themselves too seriously. If you're Margaritaville-bound, we particularly like The Salt Shaker .

Meg is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com where she researches trends, tests products, and looks for answers to all your burning questions. She also co-writes a monthly column, Same Same But Different . Meg has previously written for Cosmopolitan and Town & Country . Her passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and sustainability. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.

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Boat & Ship Name Generator (with Tips)

• Updated: August 13, 2023

Our Boat Name Generator combines linguistic data, nautical traditions, and your personal preferences to generate the ideal name for your boat.

Whether you’re looking for something classic, witty, or funny, our generator is here to inspire you.

How to Use our Boat Name Generator

• Choose Your Boat Type: Whether it’s a sailboat, fishing boat, speedboat, or a luxury yacht, selecting the type of boat you have can influence the naming suggestions.
• Provide Important Words: Have any words that are significant to you? Maybe it’s a loved one’s name, a favorite destination, or a sentiment you want to convey. Feed those keywords into our generator, and watch it craft names tailored to your inputs.
• Select Your Preferences: Want something witty? Or perhaps you’re after a traditional maritime name? Let us know your style preference, and our generator will align its suggestions accordingly.
• Generate Names: Once you’ve entered your details, hit the ‘Generate Names’ button. In a few moments, you’ll be presented with a list of potential boat names that match your criteria.
• Pick Your Favorite: Go through the list and pick the one that resonates with you the most. Remember, the best boat name is one that feels right to you.

Why is the Boat Name Important?

A boat’s name is more than just a label. It often carries personal significance, reflecting the owner’s passions, memories, or hopes for their adventures.

It might honor loved ones, convey a sense of humor, or express the dream that inspired boat ownership in the first place. A well-chosen name adds character to your boat and makes it truly yours.

900+ Great Boat Names: Ideas for Everyone

Tips for the perfect boat name.

• Keep it Short and Sweet: Shorter names are easier to read when your boat is in motion and simpler to communicate over the radio.
• Make it Personal: The best names often have personal significance, reflecting the owner’s interests, life events, or maritime aspirations.
• Consider Pronunciation: Make sure the name is easy to pronounce.
• Test it Out: Before finalizing, say the name out loud, write it down, and maybe even share it with friends and family. Feedback can be invaluable.

With our Boat Name Generator, finding the perfect name for your boat has never been easier. We hope this tool helps you quickly identify a name that feels just right.

Happy boating!

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Top 25 classic boat types

What is a classic boat? The answer becomes ever harder to pin down, as more yachts are seen as ‘classic’ and as wooden boats themselves evolve.

Today the ‘classic’ fleet encompasses a vast range of floating marvels, from rugged Victorian work boats, to huge schooners raced by royalty 100 years ago, to the ‘everyman’ yachts of the 1950s, to pin-sharp Metre boats built for the America’s Cup.

This vintage fleet is now bolstered by a growing ‘Spirit of Tradition’ class of wooden yachts that have the look of yesteryear, but the fittings and performance of a modern boat.

If the answer to the question is that ‘you know one when you see one’, then a quick guide to some broad classic boat types surely wouldn’t go amiss. The following, of course, is a fraction of all the different types of traditional vessels out there. So, in no particular order…

Great yacht designs: the Nordic Folkboat

Great yacht designs: Jolie Brise

Affordable Classics: the Stella

Stormvogel: the first of the Maxis

The 100 club: the glory of centenarian yachts

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Boat name ideas: 21 tacks to take when naming your boat.

Post by Becky at Dockwa - Published on 04/28/21 12:00 PM

Do you stay traditional and name your boat after a sweetheart? If you've been jilted, do you name your boat something bitter as a form of catharsis? If you're not interested in naming your boat after a dame, your boat's name could represent a struggle you've overcome, a quest you're beginning, or something as simple as the cocktail you plan on sipping while at the helm.  Learn how to name your boat and see some of the country's best boat names.  

While you're here: Get the free Dockwa app , create your free account , scope out some sweet dockage discounts , or find your next long-term slip or mooring . 

Jokers beware: as the  British NERC researchers  can tell you, the name of your boat says a lot about you, and leaves a lasting impression.

To take a page out of the Halcyon Passages boating blog: 

You can name your boat anything you want to and my opinion is just that. And that opinion is that a name should be one word sometimes two, but one if you can do it. Under no circumstances should it be a whole sentence. ...I miss the days of boats with real names like, Victory, Ranger, Dauntless, and Endeavor.  When I send a distress call announcing that the vessel, that I have treated with such pride and respect, is taking me straight to the bottom, the Coast Guard undoubtedly will say, “Holy cow, now that’s a great boat name.”

How to Choose A Boat Name

1. check how common it is.

Before choosing a name, please give it a run through one of the boat name databases available online, and check out the annual BoatUS Top 10 Boat Names List . If you choose a popular name, and in particular a name that is popular in your boating region, there's a good chance you'll eventually cross paths with your name-doppelgänger and cause some confusion over the radio waves.

2. Check for adaptability

Imagine the scenarios in which you'll say or hear your boat's name. Envision yourself needing to call your boat name over a VHF, as you'll likely need to do many times before you and your boat part ways. As per PropTalk's recommendation, "Imagine yourself using this new name three times on Channel 16. Consider how easy it is to say and how easy it is for other boats to understand." What will it look like if your boat makes front-page headlines?

If you're a sailor, imagine winning a regatta. Do you want to hear "Congratulations,  B-Yacht'ch !" when you approach the podium? (...Maybe! It actually has a fun ring to it.) Once you've chosen a name, head to the  United States Coast Guard site  to make it official.

3. Make it official

Once you've settled on a name, you can head over to the United States Coast Guard site to get all the information you need to make it official.

Boat Name Superstitions

Once named, superstition dictates that it's bad luck to change the name of a boat. But if you must, check out this blog to see the tradition that follows (as with most things in boating), which can clear your boat of bad juju.  One boat renaming ceremony we found: place a piece of paper with the boat name on it in a small box, burn the box, then release the ashes into the sea or river. If you're not one for superstition, you're not alone – mainly as this one may have come about to dodge the attention of tax agencies when a large ship changed hands.

Popular Boat Name Categories

Don't call it a comeback! By far the easiest way to name a boat: ditch its predecessor. Whether your last vessel had a run-in with the sea floor or you wanted an upgrade, calling your second, third, and fourth boat after the first is a breeze. You don't even have to change the artwork on the boat decal. If you're attached to a boat name, there's no shame in wanting to keep it. Rendezvous II, Abigail Rose II, Act III, Adventure Us IIII – all names worthy of a second life.

Our favorite Repeat boat name in this category in 2016:  Nailed It Again

The 2017 Dockwa team favorites:  Double Down II ,  Karma II ,  Ship of Fools III

2018: Final Escape Plan and CurrentSea  

2019:  Have A Fun III – see the backstory and all the favorites of 2019

2020: Ai-Ki  – see the backstory and all the favorites of 2020  

2021: Sans Souci  – see the backstory and all 2021 favorites

The Workaholic

Whether you're obsessed with your job, want to reference how much you hate it, or see boating as a business networking opportunity, naming your boat something related to your occupation opens up a world of boat name puns to help break the ice when you're out on the water.

Our favorites of 2016:  Exit Strategy, Knot On Call , and  Floating Doc

2017's workhorses (or work-escapees):  FHARFRUMWORKEN  and  Aye Doctor

2018:  Effervescence and Monkey Sea  

2019:  Plane To Sea 

2020: Between Wakes

2021: Bone Voyage

The Love Boat

Naming a boat after the love of your life doesn't just score brownie points; it carries on an age-old tradition of naming ships after wives.

Our pals at GetMyBoat did the research on this one:

There are several theories about how this came to be. One is that since the word for “ship” in the languages of the Mediterranean was feminine, the gender of the ship remained the same even in languages in which the word for ship or boat was male or gender-neutral. Another theory is that since boats were traditionally given female names, they became associated with women. In addition, working boats and ships were historically manned by all-male crews. Some ships, like whaling ships, would be at sea for years at a time, and would have a closer relationship with the boat than the mothers, wives, or sweethearts they left behind on shore. Legend has it that ships would sometimes behave like women too, with their own personalities and the specific ways they liked to be handled.

In the Dockwa boat list we found a few  Carol Annes , a handful of  Jenny s, a  Jeaninne III  and a slew of boats named after their missus's -  Miss Molly, Miss Megan, Miss Maggie , the list goes on.

Our favorite Dockwa boat name in 2016:  Captain's Lady . Gotta give the captain credit for the built-in flexibility.

Our 2017 pick:  Sweet Caroline . Even if you're not a Boston fan, we love a boat name that gets the harbor humming.

2018: Lost Keys 

2019: Mr. T and Me 

2020: Platinum Dream

2021: P aumanok and Booger

The Weatherbird

The Eskimo language may have more than 100 words for "snow," but we'd be willing to bet that the number of terms for wind puts that to shame. As well there should be – every day on the breeze is different. So if a particular day or type of wind strikes your fancy, or stays with you for reasons you can't quite describe, perhaps you're a Weatherbird.

Our favorite wind-related Dockwa boat names in 2016:  Second Wind , and  Wind Chaser

The 2017 favorite:  Bris de Mer , which a boater relayed to us translates into French for "Breaking of Sea" – Sea Breaker. Lovely!

2018:  Stella Maris 

2019: Sowwanin II

2020: Irish Hurricane

2021: Witch of November

The Competitor You know them when you see them. When you read the name on the scratch sheet, these are the boats that give you a chill. You don't just want it to win. You want it to crush every other boat in the regatta. Comanche, Dark Star, and SPOOKIE are some of our favorites to see on the start lines. Favorite competitive boat names of 2016:  Triumph  and  STOLEN Our fastest pick for 2017:  Flight Risk 2018:  Bird of Prey 2019: None this year, but to make up for it we added a "Boater's Best Friend" category. This year's winner was Bosun:  We named our boat as well as our dog Bosun. Both are well trusted, dependable, and reliable. The definition of “bosun” suits both the dog as well as our boat well: "a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew." – Chris W., Rowayton, CT.  Check out this new category! 2020:  Lady Minx 2021: Miss Mayhem Goddess, Spirits, and Legends Boating can teach you several things: resourcefulness, independence, geography, cooking, and, of course, a wealth of information about obscure Germanic/Greek/Norse deities, fantastic legends, and eerie seafaring stories. Looking to tales is an excellent way to find a name for your boat that is unique and classic. A few of our favorites:  Calliope , the Greek muse often associated with eloquence and epic poetry,  Valkyrie , the Norse figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live, and  Freyja , a Norse goddess associated with love, sex, beauty, fertility , and gold. Our favorite goddess-themed boat name of 2016:  Hespera , the Greek spirit of immortality. 2017's pick: We like the sound of  Pyewacket , which was one of the spirits in the story of the witches of Essex, England, in 1644, described as both an imp and a polecat by the "witch" who claimed they visited her. If not that origin story, the boat could be named for the 1967 children's novel of the same name, in which the main character is an alley cat.  2018:  Dea Latis  2019:  Alobar 2020: Vayu 2021: PINCOYA The Heartstrings Whether you had your heart broken or lost your fortune in a drunken night of gambling–or both–naming a boat after your tale of woe can be cathartic. For instance, we can't imagine a vessel named After Child Support  had happy beginnings. The boat name that most stood out in the Dockwa roster:  Life's a Wreck . Hope everything's okay, buddy! 2017's, er, winners:  Bittersweet  and  Grumpy Old Man .  2018: Solace , No Regrets , Fighting Lady , and T n T Too  2019:  Knot A Day Goes By  2020: Burnt Out 2021: Peregrine The Musician Three Little Birds, Comfortably Numb, Aleggro, Adagio, Calypso, Cantada  –captains love music! From classical to contemporary, naming your boat after your favorite tune can give you a theme song to blast as you leave the harbor (we're looking at you,  Wild T'ing ), or a go-to to crank up once you've reached calm waters and are sipping on wine. Our favorite musically-themed boat name of 2016:  White Album , who apparently chose the name to avoid having to put the name on the hull.  Our 2017 pick:  The Madman Across the Water . Kudos to this captain for being boating-apropos while showing us there's more to  the Elton John album  than Tiny Dancer. We also love  Hotel California  – if we see that boat we'd expect the crew aboard to be living it up while living aboard.  2018:  Three Little Birds 2019:  Row Jimmy 2020: Bellini 2021: Alestorm The Fun-Lovin' Free-Wheeler! Boat Drinks! Comfortably Numb! Yolo!  You'll get no judgment from us. People buy boats for different reasons, and if yours is to have a boozy getaway on the water, so be it! But, be careful with this naming category. If the name is too on the nose, "Getting Slizzard" anyone?, don't be surprised when Coasties show up to survey the scene. Our favorite fun-lovin' boat name of 2016:  Zimbabalooba! Sounds like a wacky good time.  For 2017, we have a soft spot for  Dune Buggy . We imagine this is a sporty little runabout!  2018: Mad Cap 2019:  Too Much Weekend 2020: Weekend Bender 2021: Bad Idea The Pop Culture Fan From the The S.S. Minnow to Cast Away to the Pirate Ship Revenge , harbors always seem to have their fair share of pop culture references.  Our favorite pop-culture boat name of 2016:  Honey Badger . We assume this boat's namesake is the  2011 nature video  that went viral after some creative narrating, which would lead us to also assume that the owners of this boat don't care and have a pretty fun sense of humor.  2017's winner:  Kobayashi Maru  hands down. The name is apropos for referencing the captain's test in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot, and has an even sweeter connotation for Trek fans who know that this test is designed to be unbeatable, to see how a captain reacts in a no-win scenario. (Spoiler alert) Even better: the test is beaten by a captain who doesn't believe in no-win scenarios. Live long and prosper.  2018:  Squalus  2019:  Shortshank Redemption  2020: McHale’s Navy 2021: Millenium Dolphin The Pun Master Some people love a good pun–enough to slap one on the stern of a boat that will likely be one of the most significant investments they make in their life. Pun names are harmless, even if they are groan-worthy, to name a few:  ABSeas, Comocean, YEAH BOUY, Knot So Fast, Nauti Girl, Ships n' Giggles, Fanta-Sea,  and  Extra-Sea . Catamaran owners seem particularly guilty of indulging in puns, with names like  Cat-astrophe, KatAttack, Katnip, and  Katatonic . And then there are the puns that get a bit more risque–the afore-mentioned  B-Yacht'ch ,  Morning Wood , and  Master Baiter (Do you bring your mothers on that boat?). We'll keep things a little more G-Rated for our boat name pick.

Our favorite punny boat name of 2016:  Seas the Dream .

2017's punmaster: Whichever pirate owns  Arrr-n-Arrrr . 

2018:  Jaunty

2019:  Ship Show

2020: DEBAITABLE

2021: Pied à mer 

The Storyteller When perusing the long list of Dockwa boaters, many don't fit into one of the previous categories, and some in particular give pause. Twenty Two Bucks ? What's the story there? Witch of Tilloo ? Definitely needed to google that. Did the owner of Triple Dog Dare Ya buy their boat on a dare?  Ou r 2016 favorite boat name:  Against All Odds . 2017:  Chocolate Socks.  If you see a vessel by this name at your docks or on your mooring field, please approach with caution and get the story of this odd name. 2018:  OH NO 2019:  Deja Blue 2020: Off The Rails 2021: Sheekasay The Linguist In 2017 we updated this post to include another category, as we felt compelled salute captains whose boat names are nod to a cultural sentiment they appreciate or their own family's culture. This year's pick s:  Andiamo! , Italian for "Let's go!" and  Ladatio , which we've learned is Hindi for "scandal." 2018's favorite:  Satori Blue 2019:  Lagniappe 2020: Tallawah 2021: Hahalua All in the Family 2018:  OutNumbered : I am fortunate to have a wonderful wife & two teenage daughters... however I am truly outnumbered at home & in everything I do. We laugh that people at various ports/marinas sometimes ask if I am an accountant or deal with numbers to which I respond, you will see in a minute as the family comes aboard! – Dan F., Newport RI 2019:  Thisldu 2020: Beau Twyde 2021: The Belfry and Muthashp Paying Homage 2018:  Gray Ghost : My boat is a gray Robalo R227 named after my father’s ship in the navy. Officially the USS Newport News, the heavy cruiser earned the nickname “The Gray Ghost from the East Coast” during her service in Vietnam, due to numerous missions taking fire without being hit. Her sister ship USS Salem is berthed in Quincy MA. – Randy B.  2019:  Nauti Nelli 2020: Cupecoy 2021: Steinsvika Dinghy Duos We've seen some cute as heck dinghy names over the past year and thought they warranted their category. We, of course, love when they have their boat name backstory, particularly when they're a standalone vessel instead of a +1, but we also love when the name is a nod to the mothership.  2020: A close family friend joined the Special Operations Unit for the Marines and was KIA. During his brutal training where all he wanted to do was give up he would recite the phrase in his head "Beast mode no breaks." This phrase became common among our families aft er. Our boat is named Beast Mode and our tender is named No Breaks .  2021: Bubblecuffer A Boater's Best Friend 2019: Bosun 2020: Alpha Dog 2021: Gunny's Dream Literary Reference Boat Names 2020: SKYMARK  came from a poem from Robert Frost bemoaning being somewhat lost at sea on a cloudy night and asking the clouds to part so he could find his old "sky marks" in the heavens so he could once again determine his location; thus the name. I have used it since my first sailboat in 1981. 2021: Vagrant Gypsy Money Matters 2020: Bottom's Up : Purchased from the funds of liquor sales at Bourbon Street Pub in Key West.  – Conch Harbor Marine, Key West, FL 2021: Ka-Ching and A LOAN AT SEA   These Modern Times / Current Event Boat Names 2020 : Covid Therapy : Boat the boat while stressing out about being quarantined during Covid 19 and thinking there will be nothing to do in the summer – hence our new boat! 2021: Lake Mode , @sea.calm , and Social Distins Change of Pace A frequent theme we've spotted with boat names is that the owner(s) have decided to slow things down, downsize, upsize (usually upsize), or, as was the case of our 2020 winners, finally take charge of tackling their boating bucket list at breakneck speed.   2020:  Here Today : Here Today was launched In January 2019 in the Virgin Islands and has traveled to 57 different ports from the Caribbean to New England – for our short stays we are “Here Today”! 2021: Call Me Crazy and Last Dance

Want more Boat Names? See all of our favorites and honorable mentions of years past (updated annually).

What good is a great boat name if you don't show it off? Go exploring this summer! Set up your free Dockwa account and find your next adventure.

Be sure to check out our other blog posts to get an inside look at our favorite destinations, marinas, liveaboards, and tips for boaters. Join the conversation on Flipboard , Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram .

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Classic Yachts with Glamorous Histories

Each of the classic yachts featured here defined the glamor of her respective era.

By Miriam Cain

Admired for their elegance and desired wherever they go, classic yachts attract a large number of owners and charterers. For those wanting a genuine sailing experience or who want to capture the real romance and thrill of yachting, these historic beauties have an enduring appeal. Every classic has a unique story to tell — whether it’s racing with royalty or hosting the Hollywood elite, or perhaps even serving in the war effort.

And each of the yachts featured here defined the glamor of her respective era. But what is it about these storied vessels that makes every generation of owners prepared to sink time and financial resources into their restoration? Here, Miriam Cain presents 10 of the most exquisite classic yachts afloat today, a handful of which are available for the yacht aficionado to charter or even own.

[See also: Twenty for 20: Innovative Yachts of the 21st Century]

Kalizma served in the British Royal Navy in both World War I and World War II / ©Morley Yachts

Builder: Ramage & Ferguson Built: 1906 Refit: 1955, 1991, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2020 LOA: 150.1 ft Number of guests: 10 Crew: 10

One of the finest vintage yachts afloat, Kalizma (pictured top) has an iconic past with a tale steeped in history. Originally commissioned by Robert Stewart, vice commodore of the Royal Eastern Yacht Club (whose wealth came from his Scotch whisky distillery and estate), Minona , as she was named upon her launch, was the first steam-powered yacht to have electric lighting.

Designed by naval architect GL Watson & Co, leading designers of their day, and built by Ramage & Ferguson in Scotland, she is a testament to expert craftsmanship — and has stood the test of time with her classic Edwardian looks and fresh contemporary updates.

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As Minona , she served in the British Royal Navy in both World War I and World War II, serving as an Auxiliary Patrol Vessel between 1914 and 1920, and in 1939 as HMS Minona. During her time as the flagship and base for His Majesty’s Deep Sea Rescue Tug Services in Scotland, she was responsible for saving the lives of crewmen from over 1,100 vessels.

On being relieved from her wartime duty, Minona went on to have a couple of different owners during the 1940s and ’50s, and during that period she also underwent a significant refit converting her from steam to diesel. It was during the 1960s that the then-named Odysseia made headlines when chartered by Richard Burton and his wife Elizabeth Taylor, and thus began her dalliance with glitz and glamour.

The classic yacht was fully restored in 2020, rejuvenating her old-world charm / ©Morley Yachts

As a frequent guest of Aristotle Onassis aboard his yacht Christina O , Burton was inspired to purchase the classic yacht as a congratulatory gift for Taylor after she earned an Academy Award for her performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? The yacht was subsequently renamed Kalizma , after the stars’ children Kate, Liza and Maria, and refurbished with all new interiors said to have cost more than twice her asking price. Adorned with an art collection with works by Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, and an extensive library, she became their floating home for the next decade.

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It was on board Kalizma while berthed on the River Thames that Burton presented Taylor with the 33-carat Krupp Diamond, also known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Then, while berthed in Monaco, he gave her the record-breaking $1.5m 69-carat Cartier diamond, which arrived under police escort. Taylor wore the jewel, which became known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond, for the first time on a necklace at Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party.

[See also: Top 10 Explorer Yachts in the World]

A number of royalty, including Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Rainier III, and distinguished personalities such as Rex Harrison and Tennessee Williams, were later guests of the most famous Hollywood couple during their high-profile ownership.

Kalizma has gone on to have a number of owners since then, including serial classic yacht owner Peter de Savary. Kalizma was de Savary’s flagship and floating headquarters for the British team at the 1983 America’s Cup challenge, hosting several spectators in Newport.

Acquired by Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya in 2006, and then by philanthropist Shirish Saraf in 2019, she has since been fully restored, rejuvenating her old-world charm with all the luxuries and amenities expected of a modern superyacht. Today she is available to charter in the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific with accommodation for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a stunning master suite, two doubles and two twins.

From €90,000 to €100,000 (approx. $101,800 to $113,100) per week. Contact Tim Morley, founder, [email protected], +33 680 863 091, morley-yachts.com

Shenandoah of Sark

Shenandoah of Sark is a symbol of one the most glamorous eras in yachting / Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

Builder: Townsend & Downey Built: 1902 Refit: 1972, 1996, 2018 LOA: 178 ft Number of guests: 10 Crew: 12

Built at the turn of a century for American banker Charles Fahnestock, Shenandoah , as she was then known, was one of the most high-profile yachts of her age and a symbol of one the most glamorous eras in yachting. Delivered in 1902 by the Townsend & Downey Shipyard in New York, she quickly gained a reputation not only for her celebrated design but for the parties held on board.

During these formative years Shenandoah played host to some of the world’s most powerful families and international royalty while in her homeport of Newport, Rhode Island. A few years later, Fahnestock retired and sailed her to the Mediterranean, where her reputation as one of the most elegant sailing yachts on the circuit was solidified, with parties held along the Côte d’Azur and Amalfi Coast becoming the most sought-after ticket for the yachting fraternity.

While cruising the Mediterranean, Shenandoah turned the head of German aristocrat Landrat Walter von Bruining, who went on to purchase the three-masted schooner and rechristened her Lasca II. Under Bruining’s ownership, Lasca II spent time in Germany and England, where he enjoyed just one summer in Cowes on the Isle of Wight before World War I broke out.

[See also: The 10 Biggest Superyachts in the World]

Commandeered by the British, she subsequently became the property of British shipbuilder Sir John Esplen, who reinstated her previous name and installed two engines on board. Shenandoah then went through a number of different names and owners, including an Italian prince and the Danish sculpture philanthropist, Viggo Jarl, between the wars. Jarl endowed a substantial part of his fortune on the renamed Atlantide, updating her with new diesel engines and an electricity plant, and embarking on a series of long passages to the West Indies and through the Panama Canal to South America.

At the onset of World War II, Jarl returned to Europe and hid Atlantide from the Nazis, removing her masts and engines to render her useless to either side. Surviving the war, and with her engines and masts reinstated on board, Atlantide continued to turn heads wherever she cruised, and also welcomed European royalty on board, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Shenandoah of Sark is today a perfectly preserved piece of sailing history / Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

After surviving two World Wars, Atlantide’s run of good fortune was apparently over. During the next few decades she went ‘underground’ and is rumored to have seen her fair share of smugglers and gamblers, cruising throughout the Americas and Caribbean, before ending up in the Mediterranean, where she was seized by the French government in a tax scandal.

Following many years of neglect, she was rescued in 1972 by the inventor of the Bic ballpoint pen, Baron Marcel Bich. Restored to her former splendor and christened Shenandoah once again, Bich sailed the yacht back to America as a spectator boat for the America’s Cup — the first time she had been back to her original homeport of Newport for over 70 years.

Shenandoah spent several years under Bich’s ownership, immaculately maintained, before being purchased by industrialist Philip Bommer. Having witnessed Shenandoah sailing when he was just 13, Bommer had spent the ensuing two decades dreaming about owning her, and in 1986 his ambition was fulfilled. Extensively refit and restored once again, Shenandoah became a renowned charter yacht, before once again entering years of neglect.

Rescued once again, refit and refurbished, Shenandoah was an America’s Cup spectator for the second time, this time in New Zealand in 2000, before competing in the Millennium Cup superyacht regatta. Five circumnavigations later, with a number of successful transatlantic races and classic regattas under her belt, and via a number of owners and award-winning refits, the rechristened Shenandoah of Sark is today a perfectly preserved piece of sailing history.

From €110,000 (approx. $124,400) per week. Contact Burgess Yachts, +44 20 7766 4300,  burgessyachts.com

Christina O

Christina O is arguably the most famous classic yacht still afloat / ©Stef Bravin

Builder: Canadian Vickers Built: 1943 Refit: 1954, 2001, 2015, 2018 LOA: 325.3 ft Number of guests: 34 Crew: 3

Christina O is a part of yachting legend. Arguably the most famous classic yacht still afloat, the fabled yacht of Aristotle Socrates Onassis has regularly entertained some of the world’s most powerful and famous people. She may not be a classic beauty like Delphine and Talitha but, thanks to the lavish parties hosted aboard by Onassis, with guest lists full of some of the most well-known names of the time, including Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Christina (as she was then known) regularly featured in newspapers and on the cover of glossy magazines.

Becoming a part of the zeitgeist of her era — and as famous as some of the Hollywood stars who came aboard — she remains today a visible symbol of the glamorous lifestyle enjoyed by the yachting crowd from the late 1950s throughout the ’60s.

Originally built in 1943 as a Canadian naval frigate, Christina O remains the largest North American-built yacht still afloat. Purchased by well-known yacht owner and Greek shipping magnate Onassis in 1954, she was converted into the yacht that she is today. It is rumored that Onassis purchased the then-named HMCS Stormont for its scrap value of $34,000, and then spent over $4m converting the surplus anti-submarine frigate into the luxury yacht Christina, named after his firstborn child.

As an in-demand charter yacht, her eternal appeal to a modern clientele is proven / ©Stef Bravin

In those days this was a vast sum of money, but the investment paid off. Not only did Christina hugely enhance his status and fortune — as a venue for hosting businessmen and politicians, as well as film stars — but she also served as the backdrop for his famous romantic relationships, including his love affair with the renowned soprano Maria Callas. It was on board the converted frigate that John F. Kennedy met his idol Winston Churchill during a dinner hosted by Onassis, and a decade later where Onassis began his courtship of the widowed Jackie Kennedy. The yacht was even their wedding venue.

Despite seeing some deterioration under the ownership of the Greek government, Christina O has been refurbished and refitted; today she retains the fantastic opulence Onassis so extravagantly bestowed on her. In fact, she positively oozes ’50s Hollywood glamor; it could even be said she has only improved with age. As an in-demand charter yacht, her eternal appeal to a modern clientele is proven.

[See also: The Best Luxury Yacht Builders in the World]

All the modern comforts and luxuries that are expected on a luxury yacht seamlessly blend with her original features. All of the 17 guest suites have been refurbished, yet maintain the pastel decor selected by style icon Jackie O. The original, mosaic-tiled pool that transforms into a dance floor has also been restored, while the famous Ari’s barstools retain their original upholstery, believed to be sperm-whale foreskin — now there’s a conversation starter when you are perched at the bar.

Christina O is currently cruising the Caribbean and will be available for charter throughout the summer in the Mediterranean. The perfect yacht for large family groups or event charters, her SOLAS status allows up to 34 guests to cruise in total comfort in 17 double staterooms, 14 of which can be converted into twin staterooms.

Christina O is the perfect yacht for large family groups or event charters / ©Stef Bravin

From €620,000 to €700,000 (approx. $692,000 to $790,000) per week. Contact Morley Yachts, [email protected] , +33 680 863 091, morley-yachts.com

The Camper & Nicholsons-built Grace has led many lives during almost a century afloat / ©Classic Charters

Builder: Camper & Nicholsons Built: 1928 Refit: 1947, 2009, 2013, 2018 LOA: 147 ft Number of guests: 16 Crew: 12

With a unique and historic pedigree, the Camper & Nicholsons-built Grace has led many lives during almost a century afloat. Built as a luxury yacht in 1928 and originally christened Monica, she was used by the British as part of the war effort. While serving in the Royal Navy as HMS Rion, she sadly suffered serious damage as part of the Dunkirk evacuation fleet.

Rescued by Aristotle Onassis in 1951 and renamed Arion , she played host to iconic figures like Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor. On hearing of Prince Rainier’s engagement to Grace Kelly in 1955, Onassis presented the classic motor yacht to them as a gift for their forthcoming 1956 nuptials.

She was renamed Deo Juvante II , and the couple honeymooned aboard her, cruising Corsica and Sardinia. Acquired by the current owners in 2007, she spent more than two years in the shipyard being restored to her former glory and having additional superyacht luxuries installed, including air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

Grace is available for charter in the Galápagos Islands for up to 16 guests and 12 crew / ©Classic Charters

Rechristened Grace , she is available for charter in the Galápagos Islands for up to 16 guests and 12 crew. Great attention to detail has been given to restoring her original features, including the original brass ship’s wheel from 1927, which is still inscribed with the yacht’s original name. The master suite, known as the Grace Kelly Suite, is in the original location, while two further master suites and two twin-bedded cabins are all decorated to the highest standards.

Her communal guest areas feature period-style, custom furniture in keeping with her elegant build. In addition to her alfresco dining and lounging areas and hot tub, the toybox is geared towards exploring the Galápagos National Park and includes kayaks, snorkeling equipment and two Zodiac tenders.

From $129,000 to $139,000 per week. Dominic Meredith Hardy, director, [email protected] , +44 781 840 3524, classic-charters.com

Delphine is the largest steam-powered yacht ever to be built in the US / ©SS Delphine Cruises

Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works Refit yard: Scheepswerf Zeebrugge Built: 1921 Refit: 1926, 1997, 2003, 2016 LOA: 258 ft Number of guests: 26, 150 day guests Crew: 26

Commissioned by auto magnate Horace Dodge and named after his only daughter, Delphine is the largest steam-powered yacht ever to be built in the US. Sadly, Horace never got to see the launch of this third private yacht he built, as he passed away just a year before her delivery. However, his wife Anna and their family loved and cherished Delphine , cruising on board her in the Great Lakes and along the East Coast, hosting cocktail parties on board.

With all her luxuries, including 10 magnificent staterooms, a music room, card room, dining room and smoking room, and a crew of 55, she positively defined 1920s East Coast glamor. In 1926, while she was docked on the Hudson River in Manhattan, two cabins caught fire, and with too much water poured in by the fire department, Delphine sank. Unwilling to live without her, the Dodge family salvaged her from the deep and restored her faithfully, with some additional renovations to her interior.

She suffered further, minor damage when she ran aground in the Great Lakes, before being repaired and acquired by the United States Navy at the start of the war to become the flagship for Admiral Ernest King, commander-in-chief of the US Fleet and chief of US Naval Operations during World War II. While still in service as USS Dauntless, she reputedly hosted Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Viatcheslav Molotov as they met with Admiral King to discuss war strategies and prepare the Yalta Convention.

Delphine the largest luxury classic yacht of her era with her original steam engines still in service / ©SS Delphine Cruises

Reacquired by the Dodge family after the war, she was restored to a private yacht and rechristened Delphine once again. Over the next three decades Delphine sailed under numerous ownerships and different names, including almost 20 years spent as a training ship for merchant seamen, until finally being sold (for scrap metal prices) in 1997.

Having crossed the Atlantic for the first time and berthed in the Mediterranean, she was towed to Bruges, Belgium, where she underwent a six-year, $60m restoration. Her new Belgian owner scoured museums and archives for Delphine’s original blueprints, in an effort to ensure that the engineering and architectural refit was faithful to her original design, right down to the 20-ft-tall quadruple steam engines, six-person Turkish bath and hairdressing salon. Even her bespoke tenders, handmade from Honduran mahogany, remain exactly as they were when she was brand new.

Rechristened in 2003 as Delphine by HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco , she is today the largest luxury yacht of her era with her original steam engines still in service. To put that into context, her 6-ft-tall propellers are powered by water converted into vapor pressure by diesel fuel. She consumes 600 liters an hour at cruising speeds. When you consider that many modern motor yachts of a similar size use more than 1,000 liters of fuel an hour, Delphine could almost be considered environmentally friendly. Full steam ahead.

$400,000 per week. Contact Lionel Lebugle, manager, [email protected] , +33 621 282 496, ss-delphine.cruises

The iconic Haida has sailed through a succession of adventures / ©Edmiston Yachts

Builder: Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft Refit yard: Pendennis Built: 1929 Refit: 2018 LOA: 233 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 18

At the time of her launch in 1929, this clipper-bow yacht was christened Haida , after the native people of Alaska and British Columbia. It is the name for which she is best known, and to which she has recently reverted following a comprehensive refit. However, the iconic Haida has sailed through a succession of adventures and has had many different names during her storied life.

Haida’s original commissioning owner spent over a decade cruising the west coast of America, pursuing his interests in marine science and fishing. In 1940, the oceangoing yacht was commandeered for service in World War II by the US Navy. She had a heroic naval career, saving many lives and protecting key installations while patrolling San Francisco Bay.

In 1946, post war, she returned to her role as a private yacht and moved to Alexandria in Egypt, where she cruised for five years before moving to the French Riviera in 1952 — just in time for the birth of the Mediterranean yachting scene.

Haida’s recent, award-winning refit by Pendennis has combined the grandeur of 1930s yachting with state-of-the-art superyacht luxuries / ©Edmiston Yachts

She has resided in the Mediterranean ever since, under various ownerships of dedicated, high-profile owners, including Löel Guinness, becoming one of the world’s most famous superyachts.

Haida’s recent, award-winning refit by the renowned Pendennis Shipyard has combined the grandeur and elegance of 1930s yachting with state-of-the-art superyacht luxuries. Despite replacing over 100 tons of steel within her hull structure, Haida 1929 (as she is now known) retains the sophisticated and timeless exterior lines originally designed by Cox & Stevens.

Even the original Krupp engines remain, thought to be the oldest working engines of their type. Deck spaces are generous, especially on the recently extended sun deck, which has been split around her iconic funnel. Period furniture and artworks re-create the charm and ambience of her heritage, while a light color palette and modern amenities have been integrated.

Her notable features include a barber shop, spa, hammam, biofuel fireplace, indoor and outdoor cinemas, and stepped pool. Elegant and refined, Haida 1929 is a truly original classic. Refit project management by Edmiston Yachts.

Contact [email protected] , edmiston.com

La Sultana has led many lives during her 50-plus years afloat / ©Camper & Nicholsons

Builder: Georgi Dimitrov Built: 1962 Refit: 2018 LOA: 213ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 17

She may not hail from the golden era of yachting like other classic yachts her size, but this former Soviet spy ship is certainly not short on history. A true gentleman’s yacht, La Sultana has led many lives during her 50-plus years afloat. Originally built in 1962 in Bulgaria for use as a passenger ferry, Aji-Petri (as she was then known) was the fifth of a series of 12 ships that carried passengers and cargo through the Black Sea between the ports of Istanbul and Yalta.

She became a Soviet spy ship in the early 1970s when the Soviet Union took over the entire fleet of passenger ferries operating in the Black Sea to use for military purposes. Officially, she was in service in the North Atlantic for the International Telecommunication Union; however, in reality she was being used to eavesdrop and intercept radio telecommunications between the US and the UK. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Aji-Petri resumed her position as a passenger ferry before being used, in her original form, as a pleasure yacht in Tunisia.

La Sultana’s striking interior features Art Deco touches that draw inspiration from the stylish vessels of the 1920s / ©Camper & Nicholsons

Some 50 years after her build, she was discovered by a French gentleman. It was during a colossal seven-year, multimillion-dollar restoration in Casablanca that the yard unearthed several espionage instruments, including a radioactivity detector and several electronic devices from the Cold War. With the addition of her raised bow, touch-and-go helipad, machinery, piping and wiring, commercial engine and a huge keel, the rechristened La Sultana emerged from the shipyard as a majestic cruising yacht.

Today, her striking interior features Art Deco touches that draw inspiration from the stylish vessels of the 1920s, while the Arabian Nights-inspired decor is both eccentric and exotic. The new layout features an indoor 16-ft counter-current swimming pool and hammam, and seven luxurious staterooms, including a vast master suite on the upper deck, two VIP staterooms on the main deck, and four staterooms on the lower deck, all with en suites — quite a difference from the original build with its 102 cabins.

Her large deck areas include lots of relaxation and entertainment areas, as well as a classically styled spa pool on the foredeck, located forward of the new helipad. With more than a nod to the golden age of yachting, the rebuilt La Sultana is a classic motor yacht for modern times.

€12,500,000 (approx. $14,095,937). Contact Charles Ehrardt, senior sales broker, [email protected] , camperandnicholsons.com

Malahne is one of just a handful of British-built, pre-war motor yachts to have survived into the 21st century / ©Edmiston

Builder: Camper & Nicholsons Refit: Pendennis Built: 1937 Refit: 2015 LOA: 164 ft Number of guests: 10 Crew: 11

Designed by Charles E Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1937, Malahne is one of just a handful of British-built, pre-war motor yachts to have survived into the 21st century. Originally commissioned by William Stephenson, head of the British arm of the Woolworth store chain and a passionate yachtsman, this classic 1930s gentleman’s yacht has led a glamorous and colorful life, with many ups and downs. Stephenson owned both the J-Class yacht Velsheda and Malahne , and named them after his daughters Velma, Sheila and Daphne, with the first few letters of their names forming ‘Velsheda’ and the last few letters ‘ Malahne .’

She spent her first few years cruising the Mediterranean, and crossed the Atlantic a number of times before being handed over for military needs during World War II. During her time serving as a patrol cruiser in the English Channel, Malahne also participated in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.

Post war, Malahne passed through a few different hands before being acquired by the legendary Hollywood producer Sam Spiegel, who anchored her off Jordan to be used as a floating office while shooting Lawrence of Arabia. On retiring from her filming duties, Malahne became a fixture along the glittering Côte d’Azur, where Spiegel entertained Hollywood A-listers including Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Jack Nicholson. She also starred in the 1973 murder mystery The Last of Sheila , starring Raquel Welch.

A 2015 refit produced a design more faithful to the original / ©Edmiston

A decade later, she was sold to a Saudi sheikh who renamed her Adel XII and changed her beyond recognition, with an almost sacrilegious angular new superstructure and modern interior quite out of keeping with her classic past. Twenty years later, she passed into more sympathetic hands, and underwent a hugely ambitious restoration at the British shipyard Pendennis. The restoration experts there sought to bring her back to her original classic yacht form, but with the addition of a few 21st-century comforts.

While Pendennis worked on recreating her original hull form and undoing the damage wrought by the previous owner, classic yacht experts GL Watson & Co were drafted to rework her exterior lines; meanwhile, design experts from Oliver Laws — who designed the Art Deco interiors of the Connaught hotel and Claridge’s — set to work on her interior, producing a design more faithful to the original, including a number of original antique 1930s pieces but with a modern Art Deco twist.

Today, thanks to such a comprehensive and sympathetic refit by her devoted British owner, Malahne is a tribute to modern engineering and British craftsmanship. One of the finest classic yachts for charter , she features state-of-the-art equipment and Art Deco interior styling. Were he still alive, there’s no doubt that Sinatra would be delighted to tap his dancing shoes once again on board her stunningly restored teak decks.

From €145,000 to €165,000 (approx. $164,000 to $186,6500) per week. Contact Michaela Beitz-Biggi, head of charter fleet management, [email protected] , +44 207 495 5151, edmiston.com

There couldn’t be a more classic-looking yacht reflecting the golden age of yachting than Talitha / ©Unkown

Builder: Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft Refit: Devonport Yachts Built: 1930 Refit: 1993, 2009 LOA: 262 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 20

With her flared clipper bow, impressive funnels and traditional counter stern, there couldn’t be a more classic-looking yacht reflecting the golden age of yachting than Talitha . Originally commissioned by Russell Algar of the Packard Motor Car Company, the originally named Reveler was sadly not yet delivered by the German shipyard F. Krupp in Kiel when Algar died.

Sold to Charles McCann of the Woolworth family and renamed Chalena, she was later requisitioned by the US Maritime Commission in 1942, and entered service as a gunboat with new armaments mounted fore and aft. Operating under her new military name of USS Beaumont in the waters between Midway Island and Pearl Harbor, she survived the war without serious incident, and in 1946 was decommissioned and returned to private ownership.

Post war, like many of her classic cousins, she spent many years lying abandoned — in her case on the Greek island of Petali, before being rescued by the Australian film producer Robert Stigwood and renamed Jezebel. Stigwood spent millions restoring much of her original elegance, with the addition of modern comforts including air conditioning and satellite communications systems.

Talitha features an all-new Art Deco interior with all of the trappings of a modern classic / ©Unkown

Described by The New York Times as a “floating fantasy,” she featured a re-design of the distinctive clipper bow and new teak decks but, sadly, it wasn’t to last and, following some engine problems, she was laid up once again in the late 1980s. In 1993 she was brought to the attention of her next and current owner Sir John Paul Getty Jr.

Under the guidance of legendary designer Jon Bannenberg, she was painstakingly restored to her former glory, with both exterior and interior redesign and brand new engines. The addition of a pair of funnels and an extended wheelhouse was at the time criticized by many, but Bannenberg’s vision proved them wrong when the renamed Talitha G (named after Getty’s second wife) was relaunched to great acclaim, with more than a nod to her 1930s design.

One of the most detailed, distinctive and beautiful classic motor yachts to be relaunched in recent times, Talitha is suitably reflective of an incredibly glamorous era of yachting. Featuring an all-new Art Deco interior with all of the trappings of a modern classic, she is a real head-turner, not only for the Hollywood celebrities spotted on board, but for her own stunning looks.

The classic sailing yacht Eros has led a colorful past, with lords, ladies and royalty all captivated by her charm / ©Classic Charters

Builder: Brooke Marine Built: 1939 Refit: 1999, 2016, 2019 LOA : 115 ft Number of guests: 8 Crew: 5

Delivered in 1939 by British shipyard Brooks Motor Craft, the classic sailing yacht Eros has led a colorful past, with lords, ladies and royalty all captivated by her charm and beautiful lines over her eight decades afloat. Originally christened Jeanry , she was commissioned for the daughter and son-in-law of a British lord who unfortunately spent very little time on board her before she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to participate in the evacuation efforts at Dunkirk during World War II.

Following the end of her wartime service she went on to be owned by Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, second only to Aristotle Onassis in the shipping magnate stakes and also the first man to be called a billionaire. Niarchos rechristened her Eros in honor of the Greek god of love and passion, and under his ownership the wooden schooner became a fixture on the Mediterranean yachting circuit, hosting the cream of European society, including King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Niarchos gifted the newlyweds the use of Eros along with his private Greek island, Spetsopoula, for their honeymoon in 1962. The island also hosted Prince Charles and Princess Diana for the latter part of their honeymoon while they cruised through the Mediterranean and Aegean on board the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Eros offers charter guests the chance to experience genuine sailing on a stunning classic yacht / ©Classic Charters

Eros went on to change ownership just one more time before being rescued by her current owner in 1992. Meticulously restored to her original grandeur over the course of 18 years, she was relaunched in 2016 and now offers the refinement of a bygone era combined with the latest superyacht luxuries. Retaining many original details, including the Admiralty bronze fittings of the ship’s bell and restored Burmese teak planks, her complete overhaul involved repairs and replacements to her steel structure, and over 20,000 new bronze bolts, among many other things.

Today, Eros offers charter guests the chance to experience genuine sailing on a stunning classic yacht, either cruising in the Caribbean or Mediterranean or racing in classic regattas in the Caribbean and New England. Boasting state-of-the-art technology, 22 hydraulically assisted winches and 9,000 sq ft of sail, Eros can reach speeds of up to 10 knots under sail.

And for those looking to simply sit back and relax, her four guest cabins include a master stateroom with private en suite featuring a Jacuzzi bath, a double stateroom with en suite, and two twin cabins with shared bathroom. Out on deck, she boasts numerous seating and lounging areas for socializing, relaxing and alfresco dining.

Eros also offers plenty of on-the-water entertainment, with a great selection of water toys for her more active guests to enjoy.

From $44,000 to $48,000 per week. Contact Dominic Meredith Hardy, director, [email protected] , +44 781 840 3524, classic-charters.com

[See also: What Do We Know About Jeff Bezos and his Yacht?]

This article appears in the 04 Mar 2022 issue of the New Statesman, Spring 2022

Miriam Cain

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399+ Sail Boat Names (BEST Ideas)

Tom derbyshire.

Posted on: March 20, 2023

Updated on: September 18, 2023

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As a boat owner, naming your vessel is an important step in the process of buying a boat .

A boat name is more than just a label, it’s a reflection of the personality of the vessel and its owner. A perfect boat name can be catchy, memorable, and can evoke emotion.

In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 399+ sail boat names to help you find the perfect name for your vessel.

Let’s dive in.

Best Sail Boat Names

• Ocean Dreamer
• Blue Horizon
• Aqua Marine
• Ocean Whisperer
• Oceanic Explorer
• Seaside Escape
• Sea Serpent
• Island Hopper
• Sea Explorer
• Sea Voyager
• Ocean Voyager

Good Names For A Sail Boat

• Wind Dancer
• Ocean Cruiser
• Ocean Jewel
• Ocean Pearl
• Ocean Quest
• Sea Trekker
• Ocean Rover
• Aqua Explorer
• Ocean Seeker
• Wind Seeker

Cool Sail Boat Names

• Blue Thunder
• Sea Thunder
• Ocean Thunder
• Wave Thunder
• Aqua Thunder
• Sea Warrior
• Ocean Warrior
• Aqua Warrior
• Wind Warrior
• Ocean Rebel
• Sea Guardian
• Ocean Guardian
• Aqua Guardian
• Wind Guardian
• Sea Maverick
• Ocean Maverick
• Aqua Maverick
• Wind Maverick
• Ocean Blaze

Badass Sail Boat Monikers

• Black Pearl
• Dark Knight
• Ocean Predator
• Sea Predator
• Ocean Demon
• Storm Chaser
• Sea Monster
• Ocean Monster
• Aqua Monster
• Wind Monster
• Ocean Viper
• Sea Assassin
• Ocean Assassin
• Aqua Assassin
• Wind Assassin

Unique Names For A Sail Boat

• Mystic Mermaid
• Wind Whisperer
• Ocean Nymph
• Ocean Sprite
• Aqua Sprite
• Wind Sprite
• Ocean Queen
• Ocean Witch
• Sea Enchantress
• Ocean Enchantress
• Aqua Enchantress
• Wind Enchantress

Catchy Sail Boat Monikers

• Sea N Stars
• Sea Ya Later
• Sea Batical
• Wave Catcher
• Ocean Motion
• Aqua Vision
• Wind Chaser
• Seas the Day
• Ocean Drive
• Ocean Breeze
• Aqua Escape
• Aqua Paradise

Famous Names For A Sail Boat

• Black Magic
• Golden Gate
• Stars & Stripes
• Mari-Cha III
• Morning Light

Romantic Names For A Sail Boat

• Sea of Love
• Wind of Love
• Sea Romance
• Ocean Romance
• Aqua Romance
• Wind Romance
• Sea Charmer
• Ocean Charmer
• Aqua Charmer
• Wind Charmer
• Ocean Heart
• Ocean Lover

Funny Sail Boat Names

• Ship Happens
• Seas the Moment
• A Boat Time
• Sea Horsing Around
• Sea N Double
• Seas the Cheese
• Seas the Wine
• Seas the Beer
• Sea U Later

Stylish Sail Boat Monikers

• Ocean Style
• Ocean Class
• Sea Elegance
• Ocean Elegance
• Aqua Elegance
• Wind Elegance
• Sea Sophisticate
• Ocean Sophisticate
• Aqua Sophisticate
• Wind Sophisticate

Aquatic Sail Boat Monikers

• Whale Watcher
• Dolphin Dive
• Shark Attack
• Crab Crawler
• Squid Squirt
• Seagull Soarer
• Pelican Perch
• Jellyfish Jig
• Manatee Mover
• Lobster Lure
• Swordfish Swash
• Seahorse Sprint
• Eel Evasion
• Kraken Krawl

Nature-Inspired Sail Boat Monikers

• Stormy Weather
• Sunset Sail
• Sunrise Cruiser
• Rainbow Rider
• Moonlight Sonata
• Northern Lights
• Southern Cross
• Aurora Borealis
• Summer Breeze
• Autumn Leaves
• Winter Wind
• Spring Fling
• Purple Haze
• Golden Beach

Legendary Sail Boat Monikers

• Blackbeard’s Revenge
• Flying Dutchman
• H.M.S. Bounty
• Jolly Roger
• Mary Celeste
• Queen Anne’s Revenge
• Red October
• Santa Maria
• U.S.S. Constitution
• White Pearl

Nautical Sail Boat Monikers

• Anchor’s Away
• Port Starboard
• Buoyant Beauty
• The Skipper
• The Admiral
• The Captain’s Crew
• The First Mate
• The Navigator
• The Helmsman
• The Deckhand
• The Coxswain
• The Lookout
• The Masthead
• The Rigging

Maritime Sail Boat Monikers

• Atlantic Voyager
• Pacific Explorer
• Indian Ocean Odyssey
• Mediterranean Maven
• Baltic Beauty
• Caribbean Cruiser
• Gulf of Mexico Getaway
• North Sea Navigator
• South China Sea Seeker
• Tyrrhenian Treasure
• Aegean Adventure
• Black Sea Beauty
• Bay of Biscay Bliss
• English Channel Challenger
• Irish Sea Intrigue
• Norwegian Nightmare
• Red Sea Rascal
• Sea of Cortez Serenade
• Tasmanian Treasure
• Caspian Cruiser
• Gulf of Guinea Glory
• Labrador Lark
• Bering Strait Beauty
• Sea of Japan Joy

Creative Names For A Sail Boat

• Sea Serenade
• Ocean Odyssey
• Sea Whisperer
• Ocean’s Eleven
• Ocean’s Jewel
• Ocean’s Treasure
• Ocean’s Bounty
• Ocean’s Majesty
• Ocean’s Roar
• Ocean’s Fury
• Ocean’s Grace
• Ocean’s Promise
• Ocean’s Pride
• Ocean’s Glory

Vintage Sail Boat Names

• Yankee Clipper
• Constitution
• Chrysanthemum
• Southern Belle
• Belle of the Bay
• Lady of the Lake
• The Mermaid
• The Flying Fish

Colorful Names For A Sail Boat

• Purple Rain
• Yellow Submarine
• Pink Flamingo
• Orange Crush
• White Diamond
• Silver Streak
• Scarlet Fever
• Lavender Lady
• Citrus Splash
• Midnight Blue
• Emerald Isle
• Sapphire Sea
• Amber Waves
• Turquoise Treasure
• Aquamarine Adventure
• Jade Journey
• Coral Crush
• Pearl of the Sea

Adventurous Sail Boat Names

• Trailblazer
• Pirate’s Booty
• Treasure Hunter
• Swashbuckler

Name Inspiration

If you’re struggling to come up with a name for your sailboat, consider these sources of inspiration:

• Your favorite places: Think about places that you love or have special meaning to you. Maybe you want to name your boat after your favorite beach or your hometown.
• Your favorite things: Consider hobbies, activities, or interests that you love. For example, if you love to fish, you might want to name your boat after a type of fish.
• Your boat’s characteristics: Take a look at your boat and think about its color, shape, or features. Maybe you want to name it after its sleek design or its bright red sails.
• Famous sailors: Consider naming your boat after a famous sailor or explorer who inspires you.
• Personal connections: Think about people or things that are important to you. Maybe you want to name your boat after a loved one or a pet.

Help Choosing the Perfect Name

Choosing the perfect name for your sailboat can be a daunting task.

Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice:

• Consider the size and style of your boat. A sleek, modern boat might warrant a cool or stylish name, while a classic wooden boat might call for a more traditional name.
• Think about the location where you will be sailing. A sailboat that will be used primarily in the tropics might inspire a name that evokes sun, sand, and sea, while a boat used in colder, northern waters might warrant a name that evokes strength and endurance.
• Consider the personality of the boat’s owner. A fun-loving sailor might want a name that is playful or humorous, while a more serious sailor might want a name that is strong and classic.
• Brainstorm a list of potential names and then narrow it down. Ask friends and family for their opinions, and consider how the name will look on the side of your boat.
• Remember that the name of your boat will be with you for a long time, so choose a name that you truly love and that reflects your personality and style.

Naming your sailboat can be a fun and creative process. Whether you choose a name that is traditional, adventurous, or playful, the right name can make your boat feel like an extension of your personality and style.

Use this list of sailboat names as inspiration and remember to take your time in choosing the perfect name for your vessel. Happy sailing!

Related Posts

• Small Boat Names
• Speed Boat Names
• Pontoon Boat Names
• Irish Boat Names

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Admired for their elegance and desired wherever they go, classic yachts attract a large number of owners and charterers. For those wanting a genuine sailing experience or who want to capture the real romance and thrill of yachting, these historic beauties have an enduring appeal. Every classic has a unique story to tell — whether it’s racing with royalty or hosting the Hollywood elite, or perhaps even serving in the war effort.

And each of the yachts featured here defined the glamor of her respective era. But what is it about these storied vessels that makes every generation of owners prepared to sink time and financial resources into their restoration? Here are 10 of the most exquisite classic yachts afloat today, a handful of which are available for the yacht aficionado to charter or even own.

Kalizma served in the British Royal Navy in both World War I and World War II / ©Morley Yachts

Builder:  Ramage & Ferguson Built:  1906 Refit:  1955, 1991, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2020 LOA:  150.1 ft Number of guests:  10 Crew:  10

One of the finest vintage yachts afloat,  Kalizma  (pictured top) has an iconic past with a tale steeped in history. Originally commissioned by Robert Stewart, vice commodore of the Royal Eastern Yacht Club (whose wealth came from his Scotch whisky distillery and estate),  Minona , as she was named upon her launch, was the first steam-powered yacht to have electric lighting.

Designed by naval architect GL Watson & Co, leading designers of their day, and built by Ramage & Ferguson in Scotland, she is a testament to expert craftsmanship — and has stood the test of time with her classic Edwardian looks and fresh contemporary updates.

As  Minona , she served in the British Royal Navy in both World War I and World War II, serving as an Auxiliary Patrol Vessel between 1914 and 1920, and in 1939 as HMS Minona. During her time as the flagship and base for His Majesty’s Deep Sea Rescue Tug Services in Scotland, she was responsible for saving the lives of crewmen from over 1,100 vessels.

The classic yacht was fully restored in 2020, rejuvenating her old-world charm / ©Morley Yachts

As a frequent guest of Aristotle Onassis aboard his yacht  Christina O , Burton was inspired to purchase the classic yacht as a congratulatory gift for Taylor after she earned an Academy Award for her performance in  Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? The yacht was subsequently renamed  Kalizma , after the stars’ children Kate, Liza and Maria, and refurbished with all new interiors said to have cost more than twice her asking price. Adorned with an art collection with works by Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, and an extensive library, she became their floating home for the next decade.

It was on board  Kalizma  while berthed on the River Thames that Burton presented Taylor with the 33-carat Krupp Diamond, also known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Then, while berthed in Monaco, he gave her the record-breaking $1.5m 69-carat Cartier diamond, which arrived under police escort. Taylor wore the jewel, which became known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond, for the first time on a necklace at Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party.

A number of royalty, including Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Rainier III, and distinguished personalities such as Rex Harrison and Tennessee Williams, were later guests of the most famous Hollywood couple during their high-profile ownership.

Kalizma  has gone on to have a number of owners since then, including serial classic yacht owner Peter de Savary.  Kalizma  was de Savary’s flagship and floating headquarters for the British team at the 1983 America’s Cup challenge, hosting several spectators in Newport.

Acquired by Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya in 2006, and then by philanthropist Shirish Saraf in 2019, she has since been fully restored, rejuvenating her old-world charm with all the luxuries and amenities expected of a modern superyacht. Today she is available to charter in the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific with accommodation for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a stunning master suite, two doubles and two twins.

From €90,000 to €100,000 (approx. $101,800 to $113,100) per week. Contact Tim Morley, founder, [email protected], +33 680 863 091, morley-yachts.com

• Shenandoah of Sark

Shenandoah of Sark is a symbol of one the most glamorous eras in yachting / Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

Builder:  Townsend & Downey Built:  1902 Refit:  1972, 1996, 2018 LOA:  178 ft Number of guests:  10 Crew:  12

Built at the turn of a century for American banker Charles Fahnestock,  Shenandoah , as she was then known, was one of the most high-profile yachts of her age and a symbol of one the most glamorous eras in yachting. Delivered in 1902 by the Townsend & Downey Shipyard in New York, she quickly gained a reputation not only for her celebrated design but for the parties held on board.

During these formative years  Shenandoah  played host to some of the world’s most powerful families and international royalty while in her homeport of Newport, Rhode Island. A few years later, Fahnestock retired and sailed her to the Mediterranean, where her reputation as one of the most elegant sailing yachts on the circuit was solidified, with parties held along the Côte d’Azur and Amalfi Coast becoming the most sought-after ticket for the yachting fraternity.

While cruising the Mediterranean,  Shenandoah  turned the head of German aristocrat Landrat Walter von Bruining, who went on to purchase the three-masted schooner and rechristened her Lasca II. Under Bruining’s ownership, Lasca II spent time in Germany and England, where he enjoyed just one summer in Cowes on the Isle of Wight before World War I broke out.

Commandeered by the British, she subsequently became the property of British shipbuilder Sir John Esplen, who reinstated her previous name and installed two engines on board.  Shenandoah  then went through a number of different names and owners, including an Italian prince and the Danish sculpture philanthropist, Viggo Jarl, between the wars. Jarl endowed a substantial part of his fortune on the renamed Atlantide, updating her with new diesel engines and an electricity plant, and embarking on a series of long passages to the West Indies and through the Panama Canal to South America.

Shenandoah of Sark is today a perfectly preserved piece of sailing history / Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

After surviving two World Wars, Atlantide’s run of good fortune was apparently over. During the next few decades she went ‘underground’ and is rumored to have seen her fair share of smugglers and gamblers, cruising throughout the Americas and Caribbean, before ending up in the Mediterranean, where she was seized by the French government in a tax scandal.

Following many years of neglect, she was rescued in 1972 by the inventor of the Bic ballpoint pen, Baron Marcel Bich. Restored to her former splendor and christened  Shenandoah  once again, Bich sailed the yacht back to America as a spectator boat for the America’s Cup — the first time she had been back to her original homeport of Newport for over 70 years.

Shenandoah  spent several years under Bich’s ownership, immaculately maintained, before being purchased by industrialist Philip Bommer. Having witnessed  Shenandoah  sailing when he was just 13, Bommer had spent the ensuing two decades dreaming about owning her, and in 1986 his ambition was fulfilled. Extensively refit and restored once again,  Shenandoah  became a renowned charter yacht, before once again entering years of neglect.

Rescued once again, refit and refurbished,  Shenandoah  was an America’s Cup spectator for the second time, this time in New Zealand in 2000, before competing in the Millennium Cup superyacht regatta. Five circumnavigations later, with a number of successful transatlantic races and classic regattas under her belt, and via a number of owners and award-winning refits, the rechristened  Shenandoah of Sark  is today a perfectly preserved piece of sailing history.

• Christina O

Christina O is arguably the most famous classic yacht still afloat / ©Stef Bravin

Builder:  Canadian Vickers Built:  1943 Refit:  1954, 2001, 2015, 2018 LOA:  325.3 ft Number of guests:  34 Crew:  3

Christina O  is a part of yachting legend. Arguably the most famous classic yacht still afloat, the fabled yacht of Aristotle Socrates Onassis has regularly entertained some of the world’s most powerful and famous people. She may not be a classic beauty like Delphine and Talitha but, thanks to the lavish parties hosted aboard by Onassis, with guest lists full of some of the most well-known names of the time, including Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Christina (as she was then known) regularly featured in newspapers and on the cover of glossy magazines.

Becoming a part of the zeitgeist of her era — and as famous as some of the Hollywood stars who came aboard — she remains today a visible symbol of the glamorous lifestyle enjoyed by the yachting crowd from the late 1950s throughout the ’60s.

As an in-demand charter yacht, her eternal appeal to a modern clientele is proven / ©Stef Bravin

In those days this was a vast sum of money, but the investment paid off. Not only did Christina hugely enhance his status and fortune — as a venue for hosting businessmen and politicians, as well as film stars — but she also served as the backdrop for his famous romantic relationships, including his love affair with the renowned soprano Maria Callas. It was on board the converted frigate that John F. Kennedy met his idol Winston Churchill during a dinner hosted by Onassis, and a decade later where Onassis began his courtship of the widowed Jackie Kennedy. The yacht was even their wedding venue.

Despite seeing some deterioration under the ownership of the Greek government,  Christina O  has been refurbished and refitted; today she retains the fantastic opulence Onassis so extravagantly bestowed on her. In fact, she positively oozes ’50s Hollywood glamor; it could even be said she has only improved with age. As an in-demand charter yacht, her eternal appeal to a modern clientele is proven.

All the modern comforts and luxuries that are expected on a luxury yacht seamlessly blend with her original features. All of the 17 guest suites have been refurbished, yet maintain the pastel decor selected by style icon Jackie O. The original, mosaic-tiled pool that transforms into a dance floor has also been restored, while the famous Ari’s barstools retain their original upholstery, believed to be sperm-whale foreskin — now there’s a conversation starter when you are perched at the bar.

Christina O is the perfect yacht for large family groups or event charters / ©Stef Bravin

The Camper & Nicholsons-built Grace has led many lives during almost a century afloat / ©Classic Charters

Builder:  Camper & Nicholsons Built:  1928 Refit:  1947, 2009, 2013, 2018 LOA:  147 ft Number of guests:  16 Crew:  12

With a unique and historic pedigree, the Camper & Nicholsons-built  Grace  has led many lives during almost a century afloat. Built as a luxury yacht in 1928 and originally christened Monica, she was used by the British as part of the war effort. While serving in the Royal Navy as HMS Rion, she sadly suffered serious damage as part of the Dunkirk evacuation fleet.

Rescued by Aristotle Onassis in 1951 and renamed  Arion , she played host to iconic figures like Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor. On hearing of Prince Rainier’s engagement to Grace Kelly in 1955, Onassis presented the classic motor yacht to them as a gift for their forthcoming 1956 nuptials.

Grace is available for charter in the Galápagos Islands for up to 16 guests and 12 crew / ©Classic Charters

Rechristened  Grace , she is available for charter in the Galápagos Islands for up to 16 guests and 12 crew. Great attention to detail has been given to restoring her original features, including the original brass ship’s wheel from 1927, which is still inscribed with the yacht’s original name. The master suite, known as the Grace Kelly Suite, is in the original location, while two further master suites and two twin-bedded cabins are all decorated to the highest standards.

Her communal guest areas feature period-style, custom furniture in keeping with her elegant build. In addition to her alfresco dining and lounging areas and hot tub, the toybox is geared towards exploring the Galápagos National Park and includes kayaks, snorkeling equipment and two Zodiac tenders.

Delphine is the largest steam-powered yacht ever to be built in the US / ©SS Delphine Cruises

Builder:  Great Lakes Engineering Works Refit yard:  Scheepswerf Zeebrugge Built:  1921 Refit:  1926, 1997, 2003, 2016 LOA:  258 ft Number of guests:  26, 150 day guests Crew:  26

Commissioned by auto magnate Horace Dodge and named after his only daughter,  Delphine  is the largest steam-powered yacht ever to be built in the US. Sadly, Horace never got to see the launch of this third private yacht he built, as he passed away just a year before her delivery. However, his wife Anna and their family loved and cherished  Delphine , cruising on board her in the Great Lakes and along the East Coast, hosting cocktail parties on board.

With all her luxuries, including 10 magnificent staterooms, a music room, card room, dining room and smoking room, and a crew of 55, she positively defined 1920s East Coast glamor. In 1926, while she was docked on the Hudson River in Manhattan, two cabins caught fire, and with too much water poured in by the fire department,  Delphine  sank. Unwilling to live without her, the Dodge family salvaged her from the deep and restored her faithfully, with some additional renovations to her interior.

Delphine the largest luxury classic yacht of her era with her original steam engines still in service / ©SS Delphine Cruises

Reacquired by the Dodge family after the war, she was restored to a private yacht and rechristened  Delphine  once again. Over the next three decades  Delphine  sailed under numerous ownerships and different names, including almost 20 years spent as a training ship for merchant seamen, until finally being sold (for scrap metal prices) in 1997.

Having crossed the Atlantic for the first time and berthed in the Mediterranean, she was towed to Bruges, Belgium, where she underwent a six-year, $60m restoration. Her new Belgian owner scoured museums and archives for  Delphine’s  original blueprints, in an effort to ensure that the engineering and architectural refit was faithful to her original design, right down to the 20-ft-tall quadruple steam engines, six-person Turkish bath and hairdressing salon. Even her bespoke tenders, handmade from Honduran mahogany, remain exactly as they were when she was brand new.

Rechristened in 2003 as  Delphine  by HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, she is today the largest luxury yacht of her era with her original steam engines still in service. To put that into context, her 6-ft-tall propellers are powered by water converted into vapor pressure by diesel fuel. She consumes 600 liters an hour at cruising speeds. When you consider that many modern motor yachts of a similar size use more than 1,000 liters of fuel an hour,  Delphine  could almost be considered environmentally friendly. Full steam ahead.

The iconic Haida has sailed through a succession of adventures / ©Edmiston Yachts

Builder:  Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft Refit yard:  Pendennis Built:  1929 Refit:  2018 LOA:  233 ft Number of guests:  12 Crew:  18

At the time of her launch in 1929, this clipper-bow yacht was christened  Haida , after the native people of Alaska and British Columbia. It is the name for which she is best known, and to which she has recently reverted following a comprehensive refit. However, the iconic  Haida  has sailed through a succession of adventures and has had many different names during her storied life.

Haida’s  original commissioning owner spent over a decade cruising the west coast of America, pursuing his interests in marine science and fishing. In 1940, the oceangoing yacht was commandeered for service in World War II by the US Navy. She had a heroic naval career, saving many lives and protecting key installations while patrolling San Francisco Bay.

Haida’s recent, award-winning refit by Pendennis has combined the grandeur of 1930s yachting with state-of-the-art superyacht luxuries / ©Edmiston Yachts

She has resided in the Mediterranean ever since, under various ownerships of dedicated, high-profile owners, including Löel Guinness, becoming one of the world’s most famous superyachts.

Haida’s  recent, award-winning refit by the renowned  Pendennis Shipyard  has combined the grandeur and elegance of 1930s yachting with state-of-the-art superyacht luxuries. Despite replacing over 100 tons of steel within her hull structure,  Haida 1929  (as she is now known) retains the sophisticated and timeless exterior lines originally designed by Cox & Stevens.

Even the original Krupp engines remain, thought to be the oldest working engines of their type. Deck spaces are generous, especially on the recently extended sun deck, which has been split around her iconic funnel. Period furniture and artworks re-create the charm and ambience of her heritage, while a light color palette and modern amenities have been integrated.

Her notable features include a barber shop, spa, hammam, biofuel fireplace, indoor and outdoor cinemas, and stepped pool. Elegant and refined, Haida 1929 is a truly original classic. Refit project management by Edmiston Yachts.

La Sultana has led many lives during her 50-plus years afloat / ©Camper & Nicholsons

Builder:  Georgi Dimitrov Built:  1962 Refit:  2018 LOA:  213ft Number of guests:  12 Crew:  17

She may not hail from the golden era of yachting like other classic yachts her size, but this former Soviet spy ship is certainly not short on history. A true gentleman’s yacht,  La Sultana  has led many lives during her 50-plus years afloat. Originally built in 1962 in Bulgaria for use as a passenger ferry,  Aji-Petri  (as she was then known) was the fifth of a series of 12 ships that carried passengers and cargo through the Black Sea between the ports of Istanbul and Yalta.

La Sultana’s striking interior features Art Deco touches that draw inspiration from the stylish vessels of the 1920s / ©Camper & Nicholsons

Some 50 years after her build, she was discovered by a French gentleman. It was during a colossal seven-year, multimillion-dollar restoration in Casablanca that the yard unearthed several espionage instruments, including a radioactivity detector and several electronic devices from the Cold War. With the addition of her raised bow, touch-and-go helipad, machinery, piping and wiring, commercial engine and a huge keel, the rechristened  La Sultana  emerged from the shipyard as a majestic cruising yacht.

Today, her striking interior features Art Deco touches that draw inspiration from the stylish vessels of the 1920s, while the Arabian Nights-inspired decor is both eccentric and exotic. The new layout features an indoor 16-ft counter-current swimming pool and hammam, and seven luxurious staterooms, including a vast master suite on the upper deck, two VIP staterooms on the main deck, and four staterooms on the lower deck, all with en suites — quite a difference from the original build with its 102 cabins.

Her large deck areas include lots of relaxation and entertainment areas, as well as a classically styled spa pool on the foredeck, located forward of the new helipad. With more than a nod to the golden age of yachting, the rebuilt La Sultana is a classic motor yacht for modern times.

Malahne is one of just a handful of British-built, pre-war motor yachts to have survived into the 21st century / ©Edmiston

Builder:  Camper & Nicholsons Refit:  Pendennis Built:  1937 Refit:  2015 LOA:  164 ft Number of guests:  10 Crew:  11

Designed by Charles E Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1937,  Malahne  is one of just a handful of British-built, pre-war motor yachts to have survived into the 21st century. Originally commissioned by William Stephenson, head of the British arm of the Woolworth store chain and a passionate yachtsman, this classic 1930s gentleman’s yacht has led a glamorous and colorful life, with many ups and downs. Stephenson owned both the J-Class yacht  Velsheda  and  Malahne , and named them after his daughters Velma, Sheila and Daphne, with the first few letters of their names forming ‘Velsheda’ and the last few letters ‘ Malahne .’

She spent her first few years cruising the Mediterranean, and crossed the Atlantic a number of times before being handed over for military needs during World War II. During her time serving as a patrol cruiser in the English Channel,  Malahne  also participated in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.

A 2015 refit produced a design more faithful to the original / ©Edmiston

A decade later, she was sold to a Saudi sheikh who renamed her  Adel XII  and changed her beyond recognition, with an almost sacrilegious angular new superstructure and modern interior quite out of keeping with her classic past. Twenty years later, she passed into more sympathetic hands, and underwent a hugely ambitious restoration at the British shipyard Pendennis. The restoration experts there sought to bring her back to her original classic yacht form, but with the addition of a few 21st-century comforts.

While Pendennis worked on recreating her original hull form and undoing the damage wrought by the previous owner, classic yacht experts GL Watson & Co were drafted to rework her exterior lines; meanwhile, design experts from Oliver Laws — who designed the Art Deco interiors of the  Connaught hotel and Claridge’s  — set to work on her interior, producing a design more faithful to the original, including a number of original antique 1930s pieces but with a modern Art Deco twist.

Today, thanks to such a comprehensive and sympathetic refit by her devoted British owner,  Malahne  is a tribute to modern engineering and British craftsmanship. One of the finest classic yachts for  charter , she features state-of-the-art equipment and Art Deco interior styling. Were he still alive, there’s no doubt that Sinatra would be delighted to tap his dancing shoes once again on board her stunningly restored teak decks.

There couldn’t be a more classic-looking yacht reflecting the golden age of yachting than Talitha / ©Unkown

Builder:  Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft Refit:  Devonport Yachts Built:  1930 Refit:  1993, 2009 LOA:  262 ft Number of guests:  12 Crew:  20

With her flared clipper bow, impressive funnels and traditional counter stern, there couldn’t be a more classic-looking yacht reflecting the golden age of yachting than  Talitha . Originally commissioned by Russell Algar of the Packard Motor Car Company, the originally named  Reveler  was sadly not yet delivered by the German shipyard F. Krupp in Kiel when Algar died.

Sold to Charles McCann of the Woolworth family and renamed Chalena, she was later requisitioned by the US Maritime Commission in 1942, and entered service as a gunboat with new armaments mounted fore and aft. Operating under her new military name of USS Beaumont in the waters between Midway Island and Pearl Harbor, she survived the war without serious incident, and in 1946 was decommissioned and returned to private ownership.

Talitha features an all-new Art Deco interior with all of the trappings of a modern classic / ©Unkown

Described by The New York Times as a “floating fantasy,” she featured a re-design of the distinctive clipper bow and new teak decks but, sadly, it wasn’t to last and, following some engine problems, she was laid up once again in the late 1980s. In 1993 she was brought to the attention of her next and current owner Sir John Paul Getty Jr.

Under the guidance of legendary designer Jon Bannenberg, she was painstakingly restored to her former glory, with both exterior and interior redesign and brand new engines. The addition of a pair of funnels and an extended wheelhouse was at the time criticized by many, but Bannenberg’s vision proved them wrong when the renamed  Talitha G  (named after Getty’s second wife) was relaunched to great acclaim, with more than a nod to her 1930s design.

One of the most detailed, distinctive and beautiful classic motor yachts to be relaunched in recent times,  Talitha  is suitably reflective of an incredibly glamorous era of yachting. Featuring an all-new Art Deco interior with all of the trappings of a modern classic, she is a real head-turner, not only for the Hollywood celebrities spotted on board, but for her own stunning looks.

The classic sailing yacht Eros has led a colorful past, with lords, ladies and royalty all captivated by her charm / ©Classic Charters

Builder:  Brooke Marine Built:  1939 Refit:  1999, 2016, 2019 LOA : 115 ft Number of guests:  8 Crew:  5

Delivered in 1939 by British shipyard Brooks Motor Craft, the classic sailing yacht  Eros  has led a colorful past, with lords, ladies and royalty all captivated by her charm and beautiful lines over her eight decades afloat. Originally christened  Jeanry , she was commissioned for the daughter and son-in-law of a British lord who unfortunately spent very little time on board her before she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to participate in the evacuation efforts at Dunkirk during World War II.

Following the end of her wartime service she went on to be owned by Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, second only to Aristotle Onassis in the shipping magnate stakes and also the first man to be called a billionaire. Niarchos rechristened her  Eros  in honor of the Greek god of love and passion, and under his ownership the wooden schooner became a fixture on the Mediterranean yachting circuit, hosting the cream of European society, including King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Eros offers charter guests the chance to experience genuine sailing on a stunning classic yacht / ©Classic Charters

Eros  went on to change ownership just one more time before being rescued by her current owner in 1992. Meticulously restored to her original grandeur over the course of 18 years, she was relaunched in 2016 and now offers the refinement of a bygone era combined with the latest superyacht luxuries. Retaining many original details, including the Admiralty bronze fittings of the ship’s bell and restored Burmese teak planks, her complete overhaul involved repairs and replacements to her steel structure, and over 20,000 new bronze bolts, among many other things.

Today,  Eros  offers charter guests the chance to experience genuine sailing on a stunning classic yacht, either cruising in the Caribbean or Mediterranean or racing in classic regattas in the Caribbean and New England. Boasting state-of-the-art technology, 22 hydraulically assisted winches and 9,000 sq ft of sail,  Eros  can reach speeds of up to 10 knots under sail.

And for those looking to simply sit back and relax, her four guest cabins include a master stateroom with private en suite featuring a Jacuzzi bath, a double stateroom with en suite, and two twin cabins with shared bathroom. Out on deck, she boasts numerous seating and lounging areas for socializing, relaxing and alfresco dining.

Eros  also offers plenty of on-the-water entertainment, with a great selection of water toys for her more active guests to enjoy.

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Classic Yacht Register of Heritage

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

J Class: the enduring appeal of the world’s most majestic yachts

• October 9, 2023

Only ten J Class yachts were built before the Second World War stopped the movement in its tracks, but in the last 20 years these magnificent sloops have made an incredible comeback. Why has the J Class remained irresistable? David Glenn explains.

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in modern yachting is the Spirit of Tradition fleet blasting off the start line at the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. It happens every year at the end of April. Chances are it will include at least two J Class yachts, hitting the line on the gun at full tilt, exploding through the cobalt blue Caribbean rollers at anything up to 12 knots as they charge upwind.

Watching Velsheda , Ranger , Shamrock V and Endeavour will bring a lump to your throat, such is the emotion generated by these beautifully proportioned 130ft racing machines with their carbon rigs driving 170 tonnes of steel, aluminium and teak towards the weather mark. It’s heady stuff.

Watching them is one thing; racing quite another matter. In 1999 I was aboard the rebuilt Velsheda , taking part in the Antigua Classic Regatta. I had a single task as part of a four-man team – to tend the forward starboard runner. Nothing else. “Let that go once we’ve tacked and the whole rig comes down,” warned skipper Simon Bolt, as another wall of water thundered down the leeward deck and tried to rip me from the winch.

Dressed in authentic off-white, one-piece cotton boiler-suits, which had to be worn with a stout belt “so there’s something to grab if you go overboard”, they were tough, adrenaline-filled days out. God knows what it was like up forward as massive spinnakers were peeled and headsails weighing a quarter of a tonne were wrestled to the  needle-sharp foredeck as the bow buried itself into the back of yet another wave. Sometimes you daren’t look.

But with the race won or lost, back on the dock the feeling of elation, fuelled by being part of the 36-strong crew aboard one of these extraordinary yachts, triggered a high like no other. You knew you were playing a role, no matter how small, in a legendary story that began in 1930, was halted by World War II and then defied the pundits by opening another chapter 20 years ago. Today with five Js in commission, all in racing trim, and at least two more new examples about to be launched, the J Class phenomenon is back.

Why is the J Class so popular?

Why does a yacht with an arguably unexciting performance – they go upwind at 12 knots and downwind at 12 knots – costing £20 million to build and demanding eye-watering running costs, seem to be burgeoning during the worst recession since the class was born?

There is no single answer, but you only have to look back to the 1930s and the characters that owned and raced the Js on both sides of the Atlantic, sometimes for the America’s Cup , to understand why the class occupies a special place in yachting history. Underlying everything is the look of the J Class. It seems to transcend any change in yachting vogue, displaying a timeless line with outrageous overhangs and a proportion of hull to rig that is hard to better.

They possess true elegance. There is no doubt that captains of industry who want to flex their sporting muscle have been drawn to a class which only the very rich can afford and there are distinct parallels between J owners in the 1930s and those of the past 20 years. The difference is that in the 1930s owners liked to shout about their achievements and hogged the pages of national newspapers. Today, they are as quiet as mice.

Origins of the J Class

The J Class emerged in 1930 and marked a quantum leap in yachting technology, but comprised a hotchpotch of design altered over many years.

The J Class – so named because it was the letter allocated to its particular size by the Universal Rule to which the yachts were built (K and M Class yachts were, for example, shorter on the waterline) – emerged in 1930 and marked a quantum leap in yachting technology.

The so-called Big Class, which flourished in the UK in the 1920s, was impressive, but comprised a hotchpotch of design altered over many years. Yachts like King George V’s Britannia , built in 1893 as a gaff-rigged cutter but converted in the 1920s to Bermudan rig to rate as a J, Candida , Cambria , White Heather and schooners like Westward were even larger and more expensive to run. But as the greater efficiency of the Marconi or Bermudan rig became apparent their days were numbered.

One catalyst for the J Class itself was legendary grocer Sir Thomas Lipton’s final crack at challenging for the America’s Cup in 1931. He did so under the Universal Rule with the composite, wooden-planked, Charles E. Nicholson-design Shamrock V .

It was the 14th challenge since 1851 and the Americans, despite the withering effects of the Great Depression, reacted in dramatic fashion, organising their defence with four syndicates, each bulging with millionaires, putting forward separate Js: Enterprise , Whirlwind , Weetamoe and Yankee , which apart from Enterprise had already been launched.

Key to the American effort was the remarkable Harold Vanderbilt of the New York Yacht Club, who had inherited fabulous wealth from the family’s railroad companies, making him one of the country’s richest men.

Brought up on the family’s Idle Hour estate on Long Island Sound, he was a keen and accomplished sailor, and he used American technology and teamwork to build a far superior J in Enterprise. The defence completely overwhelmed Lipton’s effort. The British press castigated Lipton’s lack of preparedness and old-fashioned attitude. Vanderbilt, who among other things is credited with inventing contract bridge, left no stone unturned. “Mr. Harold Vanderbilt does not exactly go boat-sailing because summer is the closed season for fox-hunting,” stated an acerbic critic in the British yachting press.

Later when Shamrock was owned by aircraft builder Sir Richard Fairey and was being used to train crew for another Cup challenge, Beecher Moore, a skilful dinghy sailor who was draughted aboard the J to try to sort her out, reported in Yachts and Yachting many years later: “We found that when we got on board it was very much like a well-run country house, in that the gentleman does not go into the kitchen and on a well-run J Class the owner does not go forward of the mast.”

J Class tactics: Britain vs USA

A look at the huge gap between the British and American J Class tactics and designs in the early years of the America’s Cup.

In the early days there was a yawning gap between the way the Americans and British approached the Cup and, for that matter, how they ran a yacht. Revolutionary metal masts, Park Avenue booms to improve sail shape (the British copied this American design with their ‘North Circular’ version), bronze hulls that needed no painting, superior sails, and campaigns that cost £100,000 even in those days, blew away the Brits. Lipton had spent just £30,000 to build and equip Shamrock .

In the second Cup challenge in Js, in 1934, Sir T. O. M. Sopwith’s first Endeavour , also designed by Nicholson and equipped with wind instruments designed by her aircraft industrialist owner, nearly won the Cup, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after leading the series 0-2. Sopwith was also up against Vanderbilt, who this time sailed Rainbow , which many considered to be the slower boat. But the British campaign was hobbled by a pay dispute – Endeavour ’s crew got £5 a week but they wanted a raise for ‘going foreign’ – and the campaign approach was again brought into question when the first thing to be stripped off the yacht when they won a dispute over reducing weight was the bath!

Back in Britain, the 1935 season proved to be the zenith of J Class and Big Class racing, although by the end of it the Js were under the cosh for their tendency to lose masts. Five went over the side that year and Endeavour II , launched with en eye on the next Cup challenge, lost hers twice.

There was added spice in the competition off the shores of the UK with the arrival of the American J Yankee , now owned by millionaire and Listerine businessman Gerard Lambert, who enjoyed sparring with the Brits. But even Yankee lost her mast and the press rounded on the class for being dangerous and wasteful! That wasn’t enough to stop Sopwith, whose tail had been extracted from between his legs following the last defeat in Newport: Endeavour II was towed across the Atlantic in a veritable armada that included  the first Endeavour. The British yachts found themselves up against the most advanced sailing machine the world had ever seen – Ranger , dubbed ‘the Super J’.

Vanderbilt was the man to beat again. Not only had he bankrolled the entire defence as American business remained beset by a struggling economy, but he used highly scientific means to perfect design. The brilliant naval architect Starling Burgess, who had designed for Vanderbilt throughout the 1930s, was now aided by the equally brilliant but considerably more youthful Olin Stephens. Between them they finally selected ‘model 77-C’ from six tank tested.

The yacht was considered ugly by some and not a natural to look at, but Vanderbilt’s team trusted the science (still the difference between the Americans and the Brits) and Ranger with her bluff or barrel bow and ‘low slung’ counter was the result. She proved to be dynamite on the race course and Endeavour II didn’t stand a chance. She was beaten in five straight races by large margins. The Americans and Vanderbilt had done it again. War then brought an end to an extraordinary era in yachting.

Only ten J Class yachts were built to the Universal rule and not a single American yacht survived. Most were scrapped for the war effort. In any case, the American way was to discard the machine once it has served its purpose. In Britain they faired a little better, and some Js were mud-berthed on the East and South Coasts. Two survived in the UK: Velsheda , originally built by the businessman who ran Woolworths in the UK (W. L. Stevenson named her after his daughters Velma, Sheila and Daphne), but which never challenged for the America’s Cup; and Endeavour , saved by becoming a houseboat on the Hamble. Shamrock ended up in Italy and survived the war hidden in a hay barn.

J Class resurgence

Seemingly resigned to the history books, the J Class made a triumphant return in the 1980s.

In his seminal book about the J Class, Enterprise to Endeavour, yachting historian Ian Dear predicted in the first edition in 1977 that the likes of the Js would never be seen again. By the time the fourth edition was published in 1999 he was quite happily eating his words!

The American Elizabeth Meyer was, without doubt, instrumental in bringing the class back to life when in the 1980s she extracted what was left of Endeavour from a  amble mud-berth, began rebuilding her in Calshot, and then moved her to Royal Huisman in Holland, who completed the restoration superbly. With the transom of the original Ranger mounted on a bulkhead in her saloon, Endeavour is still regarded as one of the best-looking and potentially fastest Js.

She was owned briefly by Dennis Kozlowski, the disgraced tycoon who ran Tyco, who famously said: “No one really owns Endeavour, she’s part of yachting history. I’m delighted to be the current caretaker.” Unfortunately he ended up in prison and the State of New York became Endeavour’s ‘caretaker’ before they sold her to her current owner, who has kept the yacht in the Pacific. She’s currently being refitted in New Zealand.

Ronald de Waal is a Dutchman who until recently was chairman of the Saks Group in the USA and has made a fortune in clothing. He has dedicated a lot of time to improving Velsheda over the years since he had her rebuilt by Southampton Yacht Services to a reconfigured design by Dutch naval architect Gerry Dykstra. Ronald de Waal steers the yacht himself to great effect and has had some legendary tussles with Ranger, the new Super J built in Denmark for American realestate magnate John Williams.

The rivalry between the two is fierce and even led to a collision between the yachts in Antigua last year. But Velsheda would have been lost had it not been for British scrap-metal merchant Terry Brabant who saved her from a muddy grave on  the Hamble and famously sold his Rolls-Royce to cast a new lead keel for the yacht. With very little modern equipment he sailed her hard in the Solent, chartering her and crossing the Atlantic for a Caribbean season, all without an engine! Without Brabant’s initiative Ronald de Waal wouldn’t have what he has today.

Shamrock V is owned by a Brazilian telecommunications businessman Marcos de Moraes who had the yacht rebuilt at Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth in 2001. He tends to keep away from the race course but with a number of events being planned in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics he might be tempted back. The latest new J to launch, Hanuman, a modern interpretation of Endeavour II, has recently entered the racing fray. She was commissioned by serial yacht owner Jim Clark (Hyperion and Athena), the American who brought us Netscape and Silicon Graphics, and who remains a colossus in Silicon Valley.

Hanuman, named after a Hindu deity, built by Royal Huisman and designed by Gerry Dykstra, has had no expense spared when it comes to rig and sail wardrobe. Last year she beat Ranger in the Newport Bucket but in March this year she lost out 2-1 to the same boat at the St Barths Bucket. They were due to meet again with Velsheda at the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta in April. Another Dutchman, property developer Chris Gongriep, who has owned a number of yachts including Sapphire and Windrose of Amsterdam, has given the go-ahead for a new  version of Rainbow, which is well advanced in Holland at Freddie Bloesma’s aluminium hull fabrication yard. The yacht, reconfigured by Gerry Dykstra, will be in the water in 2011 with a full-on race programme.

About to be launched is Lionheart, the biggest J so far, redesigned by Andre Hoek and built in Holland by Claasen Jachtbouw, after an extensive research programme.  Unfortunately, her owner’s business commitments mean that he won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of this project – she’s for sale with Yachting Partners International and Hoek Brokerage. What an opportunity to join a class with such a remarkable history and one which looks destined to run and run!

First published on SuperYachtWorld.com on Aug 4, 2010