Shenandoah

Shenandoah is a historic three-masted schooner with a steel hull, launched on Staten Island, New York, in 1902. She was designed by naval architect Theodore E. Ferris for American financier Gibson Fahnestock and originally served as a private sailing yacht. Homeported in Newport during her early years, she cruised in the Mediterranean until 1905 and was noted for her resemblance to Meteor III, the yacht of German Emperor Wilhelm II, which had been built in the same shipyard. The vessel passed through a succession of international owners and identities during the twentieth century. In 1912 she was acquired by the German owner Walther von Brüning and renamed Lasca II, with Kiel becoming her home port. During the First World War she was confiscated by the British Navy. After the war, Lord John Espen acquired the yacht in 1919 and restored the Shenandoah name. Godfrey H. Williams bought her in 1921 and equipped her with engines, marking a transition from a purely sailing yacht toward a motor-assisted vessel. In 1925 she was sold to Italian Prince Spado Veralli and renamed Atlantide. A major chapter began in 1929, when Danish sculptor Viggo Jarl purchased Atlantide. Jarl, who came from a wealthy industrial family, modernized the vessel with diesel engines, electrical systems, and other equipment. During the Second World War he concealed the ship in a Danish shipyard at Troense. Her engines and masts were removed so that German occupation forces could not use her as a seaworthy vessel. After the war the yacht was restored and offered to Copenhagen University for a fully financed ten-month oceanographic expedition. The resulting Atlantide expedition, led by zoologist Anton Bruun, departed Copenhagen on 3 October 1945 and conducted research in tropical Atlantic waters. Scientific work began around the Cape Verde Islands and concentrated largely on the epipelagic zone along the western African coast, from the vicinity of Dakar southward to Luanda, Angola. The ship returned to Copenhagen on 17 June 1946. The expedition substantially expanded knowledge of oceanography and marine life in a region that had previously received relatively little scientific study. Its findings were eventually published in fourteen volumes of the Atlantide Reports, issued jointly by the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen and the British Museum of Natural History, with the final volume appearing in 1993. Jarl sold the vessel to France in 1952. Her movements in the following period are poorly documented, although reference material associates the ship with alleged contraband activity in Central America. French customs seized her in 1962, after which she remained moored and deteriorated. French industrialist Baron Marcel Bich acquired the yacht in 1972 following an extended legal and administrative effort. He carried out a major restoration, returned the name Shenandoah, and reintroduced her to the charter market, particularly in the Mediterranean. In 1986 the schooner was sold to Swiss businessman Phillip Bommer, who commissioned a comprehensive restoration at McMullen & Wing in Auckland. The work included replacement of most of the original riveted hull while retaining the vessel's historic character. In 1997 Shenandoah received an award for Best Classic Yacht Restoration. The yacht is currently owned by Italian businessman Francesco Micheli, registered on the island of Sark, and continues to operate as a charter vessel. As a maritime asset rather than a conventional consumer brand, Shenandoah's identity is built around heritage, naval architecture, preservation, private cruising, and high-end experiential chartering.

Shenandoah was designed by Theodore E. Ferris for American financier Gibson Fahnestock and launched in 1902 at Staten Island, New York. She was built as a private yacht with a steel hull and three masts. Newport served as her early home port, and she made Mediterranean voyages until 1905. Her appearance closely resembled Meteor III, the imperial German yacht constructed at the same shipyard. In 1912 Walther von Brüning purchased the schooner, moved her base to Kiel, and renamed her Lasca II. The British Navy confiscated the yacht during the First World War. Lord John Espen acquired her in 1919 and restored the Shenandoah name. Godfrey H. Williams became her owner in 1921 and installed engines. The yacht changed hands again in 1925, when Italian Prince Spado Veralli bought her and renamed her Atlantide. Danish sculptor Viggo Jarl purchased Atlantide in 1929. He invested in modern equipment, including diesel propulsion and electrical systems. During the Second World War, Jarl hid the vessel at Troense in Denmark and had one engine and all masts removed to prevent the German occupying authorities from using her. After the war, the ship was returned to operational condition and made available to Copenhagen University for a ten-month oceanographic expedition funded by Jarl. The Atlantide expedition departed Copenhagen on 3 October 1945 under the leadership of Anton Bruun. Researchers began work near the Cape Verde Islands in December and surveyed tropical Atlantic waters along the African coast between Dakar and Luanda. The expedition returned on 17 June 1946. Participants included British zoologist Francis C. Fraser, Torben Wolff, and Jørgen Knudsen. Its research generated extensive information about marine life and oceanography in a relatively little-studied region. The results were published in fourteen volumes of the Atlantide Reports by the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen and the British Museum of Natural History; the last volume appeared in 1993. Jarl sold the ship to France in 1952. Documentation for the next period is incomplete, though accounts associate the yacht with alleged contraband activity in Central America. French customs seized the vessel in 1962, after which it was left moored and deteriorated. Baron Marcel Bich bought her in 1972 after a lengthy dispute with French authorities. He restored the yacht, reinstated the Shenandoah name, and placed her into charter service, mainly in the Mediterranean. Swiss businessman Phillip Bommer acquired Shenandoah in 1986 and commissioned a complete restoration at McMullen & Wing in Auckland. Most of the original riveted hull was replaced during the work. In 1997 the restored yacht received the Best Classic Yacht Restoration award. Shenandoah is now owned by Italian businessman Francesco Micheli, registered on Sark, and operated as a charter vessel.

1. 1997Classic yacht restoration award

   The restored schooner was recognized as Best Classic Yacht Restoration.

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2. 1986McMullen & Wing restoration

   Phillip Bommer purchased Shenandoah and commissioned a major restoration in Auckland.

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3. 1972Restoration by Marcel Bich

   Baron Marcel Bich acquired the deteriorated vessel, restored her, and returned her to charter service as Shenandoah.

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4. 1946Return from the Atlantic expedition

   Atlantide returned to Copenhagen after surveying tropical Atlantic waters off western Africa.

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5. 1945Atlantide expedition begins

   The ship departed Copenhagen for an oceanographic expedition organized with Copenhagen University.

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6. 1929Viggo Jarl acquisition

   Danish sculptor Viggo Jarl purchased Atlantide and upgraded her for modern cruising and research use.

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7. 1925Renamed Atlantide

   Prince Spado Veralli acquired the yacht and gave her the name Atlantide.

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8. 1921Engine refit

   Godfrey H. Williams bought the yacht and equipped her with engines.

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9. 1919Return of the Shenandoah name

   Lord John Espen acquired the vessel and rechristened her Shenandoah.

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10. 1912Renamed Lasca II

    Walther von Brüning purchased the yacht, moved her home port to Kiel, and changed her name to Lasca II.

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11. 1902Launch as a private yacht

    Theodore E. Ferris's three-masted steel schooner was launched at Staten Island for Gibson Fahnestock.

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A restored heritage sailing yacht positioned for luxury charter, classic-yacht cruising, maritime events, and private experiential travel.

• ShenandoahHistoric sailing yacht1902

  A three-masted steel-hulled schooner launched in 1902 as a private yacht. After multiple ownership changes, name changes, wartime preservation, scientific use, and major restorations, the vessel operates as a classic charter yacht, principally associated with Mediterranean cruising.

• Atlantide expedition platformOceanographic research vessel1945

  During the 1945–1946 Atlantide expedition, the yacht carried scientists from Copenhagen University and British institutions through tropical Atlantic waters. The voyage supported biological and oceanographic research along the western African coast.

• 1972Return to charter serviceStrategy

  The vessel had been seized by French customs and left to deteriorate.

  What changed. Marcel Bich acquired and restored the yacht, restored the Shenandoah name, and relaunched her as a charter vessel.

  Aftermath. The restoration returned the schooner to active luxury sailing, mainly in the Mediterranean.

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• 1945Conversion for oceanographic researchStrategy

  After wartime concealment and the removal of her propulsion and masts, the vessel was made available to Copenhagen University.

  What changed. The ship was re-rigged and equipped for a ten-month scientific expedition in the tropical Atlantic.

  Aftermath. The expedition produced extensive research later published in fourteen volumes of the Atlantide Reports.

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• 1921Conversion to motor-assisted operationStrategy

  The yacht's new owner, Godfrey H. Williams, modernized the vessel after acquiring her.

  What changed. Engines were installed, supplementing the schooner's sailing capability.

  Aftermath. The modification helped adapt the historic yacht to changing expectations for private cruising and later expedition use.

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• 1997Shenandoah receives recognition for classic yacht restoration

  Following an extensive restoration commissioned by Phillip Bommer at McMullen & Wing in Auckland, Shenandoah was recognized as Best Classic Yacht Restoration.

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• Shenandoah continues Mediterranean charter operations

  Under the ownership of Francesco Micheli, the schooner remains registered on Sark and available for charter voyages.

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1. Shenandoah (1902)