Sea Cloud

Sea Cloud is a historic sailing vessel and luxury cruise product operated by Sea Cloud Cruises of Hamburg, Germany. The ship began life in Kiel in 1931 as Hussar V, a private barque commissioned by American heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, financier Edward F. Hutton. Designed as a highly personalized private yacht, it was exceptionally large for its time and incorporated interiors and fittings developed under Post's close supervision. The vessel made its maiden passage from Germany to Bermuda in late 1931. In 1935, after Post married Joseph E. Davies, the United States ambassador to the Soviet Union, the yacht was renamed Sea Cloud. Davies used it for diplomatic entertaining, leading to its description as a floating embassy. Guests and visitors included prominent European and American political figures, and the ship served as an informal setting for international contacts during a period of tense relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the Second World War, Sea Cloud moved from private luxury into government service. The United States Navy initially declined Post's offer of the vessel, but later chartered it for a nominal annual fee. The ship was refitted at the United States Coast Guard Yard, stripped of its sailing rig, painted gray, and commissioned as a Coast Guard weather vessel in April 1942. It operated on North Atlantic weather patrols, rescued survivors from the schooner Maria da Gloria, and supplied meteorological information used by Allied forces. In 1943 it was commissioned as USS Sea Cloud and assigned to the United States Navy, while retaining a Coast Guard crew. Its wartime record included weather patrols, searches for aircraft and rafts, and responses to suspected submarine contacts. Sea Cloud also became important in the history of racial integration in the United States maritime services. Under Lieutenant Carlton Skinner, the ship was used as an authorized experiment in fully integrated shipboard service at a time when Black sailors were generally restricted to steward duties. Roughly fifty Black sailors, including officers Joseph C. Jenkins and Clarence Samuels, served alongside white personnel. The crew passed fleet inspections without deficiencies, providing evidence that integrated crews could operate effectively. Artist Jacob Lawrence was also assigned to the vessel during this period and produced work while serving in the Coast Guard. After the war, the vessel was returned to private ownership and underwent a lengthy restoration. Its rig was reassembled in 1947, new sails were added in 1949, and the ship was restored to a white-hulled luxury yacht appearance. Post eventually sold it because maintaining a large year-round yacht crew was costly. In 1955, Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo acquired the ship, renamed it Angelita, and used it as a presidential yacht, residence, and government office. After Trujillo's assassination in 1961, his family attempted to leave the Dominican Republic aboard the vessel with his body but was forced to return. The ship subsequently passed through several commercial and educational ventures. It was renamed Patria after its 1966 sale to Operation Sea Cruises and later became Antarna under Miami-based ownership. A proposed conversion into an ocean-going school did not become a lasting operation, and the vessel spent years inactive or detained in port amid ownership and documentation disputes. In the 1970s, Hamburg businessman Hartmut Paschburg and associates acquired the ship and restored the Sea Cloud name. After a voyage back to Europe and an extensive refit at the shipyard where it had originally been built, Sea Cloud entered cruise service in 1979 with accommodation for approximately sixty-four passengers and a crew of about sixty. It remains a specialist luxury sailing cruise ship, marketed around historic character, traditional seamanship, intimate capacity, and the experience of sailing under wind power rather than around mass-market resort amenities. Extensive renovation work was carried out in 2011, and the ship continues to operate within the Sea Cloud Cruises fleet.

Sea Cloud was constructed in Kiel, Germany, for Marjorie Merriweather Post and Edward F. Hutton and launched in 1931 under the name Hussar V. Post treated the vessel as a highly individualized private yacht and participated closely in the design of its interiors. At launch it was regarded as the largest private yacht in the world. After Post married Joseph E. Davies in 1935, the ship was renamed Sea Cloud and became associated with Davies's diplomatic career. The couple hosted international figures aboard the yacht, giving it a role beyond private leisure and contributing to its reputation as a floating diplomatic venue. The ship's most consequential transformation came during the Second World War. Post offered it to the United States government, and the Navy later chartered it for one dollar per year. The Coast Guard converted the yacht into a weather station ship by removing its masts and rigging and applying a gray military finish. Commissioned in April 1942, Sea Cloud conducted North Atlantic weather patrols, rescued survivors, and reported meteorological conditions. In 1943 it became USS Sea Cloud under Navy control and continued to operate with Coast Guard personnel. Its wartime duties included patrols from the New England coast and Newfoundland, searches associated with aircraft and maritime emergencies, and responses to possible submarine sightings. It received the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. The vessel is particularly notable for an experiment in racial integration. Lieutenant Carlton Skinner, who became its commanding officer, argued that Black sailors should be allowed to serve in positions beyond the steward branch. With authorization from the Navy Department, he operated Sea Cloud with an integrated crew. Approximately fifty Black sailors served aboard, including Joseph C. Jenkins and Clarence Samuels as officers. The ship completed inspections without deficiencies, demonstrating that an integrated crew could perform effectively. Painter Jacob Lawrence served aboard during this period and continued artistic work while in uniform. Sea Cloud was decommissioned in November 1944 and returned to private ownership. Its postwar restoration included replacement rigging, new sails, and a return to a white luxury-yacht appearance. Post retained the vessel for a time but sold it after determining that the cost of maintaining its large permanent crew was too high. Rafael Trujillo bought the ship in 1955, renamed it Angelita, and used it as a presidential yacht and floating office. Following his death in 1961, an attempted departure by members of his family aboard the vessel was stopped by the Dominican Republic's new authorities. The ship changed hands several times during the 1960s. Under the name Patria it was associated with Operation Sea Cruises and was prepared for charter use. After another sale it became Antarna. A proposed educational conversion sought to use the ship as an oceanic school, but ownership conflicts, port fees, and documentation disputes prevented the project from developing into a stable long-term operation. The vessel then spent years inactive. Hartmut Paschburg and a group of Hamburg associates purchased the ship in the 1970s and restored the Sea Cloud name. They brought it back to Europe in 1978, after which it received an extensive refit at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Hamburg. The restored vessel was configured for roughly sixty-four passengers and a crew of about sixty and began cruise operations in 1979. Its small capacity, traditional sailing rig, historic interiors, and emphasis on nautical atmosphere distinguished it from conventional cruise ships. A further major renovation was undertaken in Bremerhaven in 2011. Sea Cloud remains in service as a luxury sailing cruise ship operated by Sea Cloud Cruises.

• 2011

  Extensive renovation

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The ship underwent major renovation work at MWB-Werft in Bremerhaven.

• 1979

  Entered luxury cruise service

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  After an extensive shipyard restoration, Sea Cloud began operating as a small-capacity sailing cruise ship.

• 1978

  Returned to Europe

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  Hartmut Paschburg and Hamburg associates acquired the ship, restored the Sea Cloud name, and sailed it to Hamburg for refitting.

• 1969

  Renamed Antarna

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was sold to Antarna Inc. of Miami and received the name Antarna.

• 1966

  Renamed Patria

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  After a sale to Operation Sea Cruises, the vessel was renamed Patria and prepared for charter-related use.

• 1955

  Acquired by Rafael Trujillo

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The Dominican ruler purchased the ship, renamed it Angelita, and used it as a presidential yacht and government facility.

• 1944

  Integrated crew experiment

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  Under Lieutenant Carlton Skinner, Sea Cloud operated with an integrated crew that included Black sailors and officers in broader roles.

• 1943

  Commissioned as USS Sea Cloud

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The United States Navy commissioned the vessel as USS Sea Cloud and assigned it to Task Force 24.

• 1942

  Commissioned as a Coast Guard weather ship

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The ship was converted from a private yacht into a weather observation vessel and entered United States Coast Guard service.

• 1935

  Renamed Sea Cloud

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  Following Post's marriage to Joseph E. Davies, the yacht was renamed Sea Cloud and used for diplomatic entertaining.

• 1931

  Launch as Hussar V

  [1]Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org

  The barque was launched in Kiel as Hussar V for Marjorie Merriweather Post and Edward F. Hutton and began its maiden voyage later that year.

An intimate, heritage-focused luxury cruise experience centered on a restored historic sailing ship, traditional maritime service, and wind-powered travel.

• Luxury sailing cruise ship · 1931

  Sea Cloud

  Sea Cloud is a historic barque configured for intimate luxury cruising. Its appeal combines a restored private-yacht interior, traditional sailing equipment, a relatively small passenger complement, and itineraries focused on destination access and onboard atmosphere. Unlike large contemporary cruise ships, the vessel is marketed as a heritage sailing experience in which the ship itself is a central attraction. It has operated commercially since 1979 and remains associated with Sea Cloud Cruises.

• 2011

  Major vessel renovationGeneration change

  Background

  The operating ship required substantial modernization while preserving its historic character.

  Action taken

  Sea Cloud underwent extensive renovation at MWB-Werft in Bremerhaven.

  Aftermath

  The ship continued operating as part of the Sea Cloud Cruises fleet.

  Source

• 1979

  Launch of commercial sailing-cruise operationProduct launch

  Background

  After years of changing ownership and inactivity, the restored vessel was repositioned as an intimate passenger ship.

  Action taken

  Sea Cloud Cruises placed the restored ship into service with capacity for approximately sixty-four passengers and a crew of about sixty.

  Aftermath

  The vessel established its continuing identity as a heritage luxury sailing cruise ship.

  Source

• 1944

  Integrated crew experimentStrategy

  Background

  Black sailors in the United States maritime services were generally restricted to steward duties, while Lieutenant Carlton Skinner argued that they should be permitted to serve throughout a ship's crew.

  Action taken

  With Navy Department approval, Sea Cloud operated with an integrated crew, including approximately fifty Black sailors and two Black officers.

  Aftermath

  The crew passed two fleet inspections without deficiencies, supplying evidence for broader integration in the armed services.

  Source

• 1942

  Conversion from private yacht to wartime weather vesselStrategy

  Background

  The United States needed additional vessels for North Atlantic weather observation during the Second World War, and the owner had offered the yacht for government use.

  Action taken

  The ship was chartered for a nominal annual fee, stripped of its rig, repainted, and refitted for Coast Guard weather patrols.

  Aftermath

  Sea Cloud served in Coast Guard and later Navy weather operations and received American wartime service medals.

  Annual charter payment. 1 United States dollar per year (1942 onward during wartime charter)

  Source

1. 1Sea Clouden.wikipedia.org