Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Logbook

By Lydia Rao

Over the last nine decades, Haida has changed owners a dozen times, with almost as many name changes. The first, Max Fleischmann, enjoyed Haida for 10 years, during which he traveled along the Pacific Coast of North America. He once wrote in a letter that “I have had the Haida somewhat over a year, and during that period made two extensive trips with her; one to Mexican and Gulf of California waters, a trip of approximately 4,000 nautical miles, and another one to Alaskan waters of approximately 2,500 miles. I have had the chance to try out the boat under every and all conditions, and I can state that the Haida is more satisfactory than any yacht I have ever owned.” 

Her service as a patrol yacht was mostly uneventful, with one happening of note. On October 25, 1944, a wartime support ship, the SS John A. Johnson left San Francisco with a hold full of provisions, trucks, and ammunition destined for Hawaii. Four days later, about halfway into the journey, the ship was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-12. The ship rapidly took on water, and within 10 minutes had started to split in two. Most of the men made it to the liferafts, but the Japanese submarine commander was not satisfied with just destroying the cargo ship.

As the sub surfaced, it first shelled both halves of the ship, lighting them ablaze. Then the sub turned to ram the lifeboats, firing on the survivors with deck guns. Men jumped into the ocean to escape the onslaught, and 10 lost their lives. Without time to send a proper distress signal, the remaining 60 men found themselves afloat in the Pacific Ocean, over a thousand miles from land in either direction. It was by sheer luck that the pilots of a Pan American Airlines plane flying overhead saw the flames below and radioed to San Francisco. Argus was notified and located the surviving crew members the following day, before safely delivering them to San Francisco four days later. 

After the war, Argus was decommissioned on April 15, 1946 and purchased by Maurice Ada, an Egyptian cotton tycoon. At the same time, Max Fleischmann had purchased another Haida (believed to be his last). This 167-foot diesel cruiser was built by Bath Iron Works and delivered in 1947, and is still around today as Ashtoreth. Meanwhile, Maurice Ada had renamed Argus to Sarina, painted her white, and changed her home port to Alexandria, Egypt. Due to political disturbances, the ship was later moved to the French Riviera for a serious restoration effort. 

In 1968, Sarina briefly returned to American ownership when car businessman Larry Green owned her for a year, before selling to Loel Guinness in 1969. Guinness spent his summers cruising the Mediterranean Sea, and winters were spent making much needed maintenance and upgrades in an Italian dry dock. The British parliamentarian also funded the construction of Jacques Cousteau’s oceanographic ship Calypso. A decade later, Robert Stigwood purchased Sarina and made significant changes to the interior, decorating in the English country house style. He also added a second, fake smokestack as a way to mask the newly installed satellite communication dish. During his two years of ownership, Stigwood cruised the world, inviting along many world-renowned musicians and Hollywood stars. Several years after he sold Sarina, he purchased and restored her sister ship, still afloat today, Talitha G. 

In 1981, Stanley Seeger purchased Sarina, and the eclectic art collector renamed the motor yacht Rosenkavalier. Seeger removed the fake smokestack and had the interiors redesigned in the art deco style. A very private man, he ended up living on his yacht for some time after selling his famous house in England. Seeger didn’t do much cruising, but certainly kept up on much-needed maintenance. This was also the first time she was offered for private charter, albeit very quietly. 

In 1988, the Japanese Isaka brothers purchased Rosenkavalier, having seen immense financial success during the Japanese tech boom. The ship made a  9,000 mile trip from Monaco to Yokosuka, Japan. Unfortunately, her new home port was poorly equipped for a yacht of her size, and the humidity and frequent monsoons started to take their toll on the 50-year old ship. As a charter vessel, she was required to ascribe to the British Marine & Coastguard Agency’s safety standards according to classification, even though she hadn’t been built to a class. After only a few years of ownership, the owners, sensing a downturn in the market, decided to sell the yacht at a strategic loss for financial reasons. In the meantime, she was moved to yards in Singapore and Thailand, where it was affordable to retrofit the ship to the required charter standards. 

In 1992, British Cypriot Andrea Liveras, who had always admired the yacht, acquired Rosenkavalier for an unbelievable price. Like Mr. Fleischmann, Liveras was an avid yachtsman and a pilot. Unlike Mr. Fleischmann, Liveras claimed to be a self-made millionaire. Coming from humble beginnings as a truck driver for a bakery, he went on to turn the company into one of the largest frozen cake manufacturers in Europe. A longtime admirer of the yacht, he was so invested he didn’t even have a survey made, because he was so committed to whatever restoration was necessary.  Rosenkavalier made the journey from Thailand to Greece in 25 days, and Liveras described the journey “as though [he] was in heaven.” After restoration efforts in 1995 and 1998, he chartered the ship out to royalty and celebrities. 

At the turn of the century she passed on to a Swiss-based businessman, who pledged to have Haida brought back to her original glory, even naming her Haida G. In Marseilles, France, Sud Motors was contracted to take apart the engines and refurbish all parts to their original “zero hour” condition, with many mechanical parts manufactured from scratch. The Krupp engines don’t have hour meters, but instead revolution counters, which roll back over to zero after a million hours. Turquoise Yachts was responsible for the rest of the updates, which included replacing all the generators, wiring, and piping. Modern conveniences like televisions were added in hidden locations to keep the classic appeal. 

Significant structural repairs were made as previous repairs began to deteriorate, with more than 100 tons of steel hull plating replaced. She was retrofitted with modern safety and technical standards without altering her timeless clipper ship silhouette. After refurbishment, all engine parts were rechromed and the original air start system was updated to include air tanks that provided up to 25 engine starts. With a new cream coloration, she splashed back down in 2005 as Haida G at the 15th Annual Monaco Yacht Show, and returned to charter soon after. In 2008, she had her first film debut in Mamma Mia!, serving as the backdrop for Meryl Streep’s rendition of the ABBA hit, “Money Money Money.”

It is unknown when she passed to the next owner, but in 2007 she underwent another refit by Amico & Co. in Italy. This included a significant overhaul, upgrades to satellite and navigation systems, generators, furnishings and of course, loving attention to her 1929 Krupp engines. In 2011, she was rechristened Dona Amélia, and was restored in Falmouth, England by Pendennis Plus, the largest refit in the company’s history. After several years of inactivity in England on the River Fal, she was listed in 2015, awaiting a new owner, who hopefully remains dedicated to keeping her afloat. 

Check back next month to learn more about recent work done to keep Haida in her original condition, and where she is today, almost 95 years after she first arrived in Santa Barbara. 

Questions, corrections, or suggestions for the next Curator’s Log? Write to SBMM Collections Manager Lydia Rao at lrao@sbmm.org.

Some sources below for those inclined to read more:

“Argus II (PY-14).” Naval History and Heritage Command. Jun. 18, 2015. 

Byrne, Diane. “Happy Birthday, Haida G.” Nov. 6, 2009. 

“Daily Event for October 30, 2013.” Maritime Quest. Oct. 30, 2013. 

Fahey, James. The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Fahey’s Second War Edition. 1944. 

“Haida G.” Turquoise Yachts. 2022

“Haida Yacht.” SuperYacht Times. 2024. 

Maclean, Malcolm. “Classic Superyacht Dona Amelia for Sale.” Boat International. Apr. 9 2015. 

Pelly, David. “Haida G.” Boat International. Jul. 2005. 

“Special Report: Haida G Celebrates her 80th Year.” SuperYacht Times. 2009.

Sunk By Submarine, 1944.” EyeWitness to History. 1999.

Wheeler, Sessions. Gentleman in the Outdoors. 1985. 

Wisden, John. “Haida G – Class and Distinction.” Yachting Matters, iss. 10, 2006, pp. 36-59.