Leander G
 Leander G at Gunwharf Quays at Portsmouth Harbour UK | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
| |
| Name: | Leander G |
| Owner: | Sir Donald Gosling |
| Port of registry: | Hamilton, Bermuda[1] |
| Builder: | Peene-Werft, Wolgast, Germany |
| Launched: | 1992 |
| Identification: | IMO 1002445 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Type: | Luxury Yacht |
| Tonnage: | |
| Length: | 75 m (246 ft 1 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 12.9 m (42 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Speed: | 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) |
| Range: | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 14.5 kn (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
|
| Crew: | 24 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | S & X-Band ARPA radar |
| Aviation facilities: | Helicopter deck |
MY Leander G is a luxury yacht built by Peene-Werft at Wolgast in 1992. The yacht is owned by millionaire Sir Donald Gosling. As of 2007 she was the world's 60th-largest superyacht.[3]
Design
Leander G was designed by Claus Kusch, who had previously designed two yachts named Katalina for the original owner, Brigadier Sir Timothy Landon. Her steel hull has a bulbous bow, a classic canoe stern, together with a helicopter deck and topped by a three deck aluminium superstructure - six decks in total. She has a range of communal guest areas including a Main Saloon and Dining room on her Main Deck, a Boat deck saloon, Jacuzzi Deck, Observation Deck and Study, a Fitness room, a Dive Room and Swim Platform. There are 10 suites in total, consisting of two Master suites with office/study and a forward facing saloon, 3 double guest cabins with en-suite bathrooms and 5 twin guest cabins with bathrooms. In all, she can accommodate 22 guests as well as a crew of 23.[1][4]
Commission
The yacht was ordered in October 1990 by Brigadier Sir Timothy Landon from the former East German shipyard Peene-Werft at Wolgast to replace his yacht Katalina, his second of that name. After shipping to a Hamburg shipyard for outfitting, the arrangement of the interior accommodation was undertaken jointly by English designers Katalin Landon & Pauline Nunns Associates, and interior decorator Heinz Vollers of Hamburg. Part way through outfitting, Timothy Landon decided to keep his existing Katalina, reportedly due to ill-health, and sold the yet-unnamed vessel to former Royal Navy national serviceman Sir Donald Gosling, who took over the final stages of the build at what was described as an excellent price. Gosling (who coincidentally had later owned Landon's original yacht Katalina of 1992) named the yacht after the cruiser HMS Leander, the first Royal Navy ship in which he served.[4][5]
She was refitted in 1998 and 2001.[4]
Leander G habitually flies the British White Ensign as her owner is a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, but the Red Ensign is flown when chartered (see photograph).[6]
Chartering
As a charter yacht, Leander G has a crew of 23/28, and certified accommodation for up to 12 guests. She is available for charter from rates of US$490,000 per week hired plus expenses (registered in Bermuda, no VAT is payable),[7] one of the highest costs of yacht charter in the world. Leander remains one of the most expensive British-owned yachts on the charter market and, until the launch of the 280-foot Greek-built Annaliesse (today Delma) in 2004 was the most expensive charter yacht in the world.[8] Gianni Agnelli of Fiat and the gossip columnist Taki have previously chartered Leander.[9]
Royal charters
Following the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia, she has been used by members of the British Royal Family. In summer 2007, she was chartered by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall for a holiday in the Mediterranean. In February 2008, after vetting by his former valet Michael Fawcett, she was chartered by Charles, Prince of Wales and the Duchess for their royal tour of islands in the Caribbean, on the grounds of reduced carbon emissions over the use of an aeroplane. This later event was the first official royal cruise since the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia.[10] In 2011 Gosling made Leander G available gratis for use by Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee throughout 2012.[11]
See also
References
- 1 2 "LEANDER G". CharterWorld Luxury Yachts. 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ↑ "Leander Yacht Specifications". myleander.co.uk. 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ↑ Byrne, Diane M. (2012). "World's 100 Largest Yachts 2007 #42: Leander". powerandmotoryacht.com. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- 1 2 3 "Leander G". yachtspotter.com. 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ↑ Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
- ↑ "Grand yacht sparks Wills and Kate rumours Portsmouth News". Portsmouth News. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
- ↑ Luxury Yacht Charter: Yacht Leander
- ↑ "For green and country". The Scotsman. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- ↑ Hamilton, Alan (February 8, 2008). "It may not be old Britannia, but it will not cost the Earth". London: The Times. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- ↑ "The truth about Prince Charles's Caribbean carbon footprint". Daily Mail. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- ↑ No Royal Yacht? You'd better borrow mine for Jubilee year, Your Majesty, says car parking tycoon Daily Mail, 24 July 2011