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J. P. Morgan’s former yacht CORSAIR sailed as a deluxe cruise ship from California to Mexico until disaster struck in 1948.

Posted by: Michael Grace January 25, 2019

J. Pierpont Morgan Jr. could never imagine his yacht Corsair IV would be turned into a deluxe cruise ship just after World War 2  whose short career with voyages from California would end in tragedy, but it happened.

• J.P. Morgan Jr. and his legendary business tycoon father, J. Pierpont Morgan, owned four yachts christened Corsair and built three of them. Each yacht was bigger, faster, and more comfortable than the preceding one.
• The Morgan Corsair created major media attention for the times resulting in a legendary quote by the senior Morgan when he was asked how much it cost to operate a boat that size. His quick response: “Sir, if you have to ask that question, you can’t afford it.”

MORGAN’S YACHT CORSIAR IV COST $65 MILLION TODAY’S DOLLARS

• Corsair IV was constructed in Maine at the beginning of the Great Depression for $2.5 million (or about $60 million in today’s currency).
• Measuring 2,142 gross tons, with a registered length of 300 feet and overall length of 343 feet, the Corsair IV was the largest yacht ever built in the U.S. Designed in the traditional piratical look of Morgan yachts; Corsair IV was long, dark, heavy underneath – paler and suaver in the superstructure.
• When it was ready for launching in 1930, Morgan brought three private railway cars of family and friends up to the Maine shipyards for the occasion.

• Morgan used her for ten years, mostly on the East Coast, in the West Indies and for trans-Atlantic record-breaking crossings.
• After an eventful career with Morgan, the Corsair IV was turned over to British Admiralty in 1940.

RICH AMERICANS WANT TO CRUISE

Following World War II, rich Americans had money to spend on cruises, but choices were limited.

• Half the commercial passenger vessels had been sunk, and the surviving liners demanded extensive refurbishing.
• It would be several years before many refurbished ships would be back in service or any new ships built.

• This was especially true in California and on the West Coast. American Presidents Lines took three years to re-establish liner service to the Orient, and it wasn’t until 1948 when Matson Line’s famous Lurline sailed again to Hawaii.
• The magnificent pre-war Canadian Pacific and Japanese liners that once plied the Pacific had been brutally sunk in seagoing battles.

• Realizing there was an untapped post-War luxury cruise market, the Skinner and Eddy Corporation, owners of the Alaska Steamship Company, created Pacific Cruise Lines in 1946.
• The newly formed subsidiary immediately went looking for a ship and was lucky enough to quickly spot its prize, Corsair IV.
• The former Morgan yacht was bought from undisclosed buyers and placed under Panamanian registry.

THE NEW CORSAIR

The Corsair (the IV was dropped) was taken to Todd Shipyards in New York for repair and overhaul and then sailed to the Victoria Machinery Depot in Victoria, Canada, for conversion to a luxury cruise vessel.

• In charge of her interior was the firm of William F. Schorn Associates of New York. Schorn was also responsible for giving the pre-war Moore-McCormick Liners cruising to South America from New York – Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay –a much more contemporary look.
• He provided the same meticulous detail to designing the modern accommodations for the new elegant Corsair.
• This was not just a paint job but also a total conversion for the former Morgan yacht to create elegant surroundings for the line’s future passengers.

THE CORSAIR WAS PURE LUXURY

• The goal of Pacific Cruise Lines was to offer to the traveling public the world’s most luxurious cruise ship.
• The many letters received from the cruise passengers during the first year of service attested to that accomplishment.

Accommodating only 82 First Class passengers, all rooms were much larger and more commodious than as expected on shipboard at that time.

• No expense was spared in furnishing decorating each room with the very finest of materials and artistry available.
• There were no berths on the Corsair, and all staterooms featured beds. Each room had its own private bath.
• There were a total of 42 rooms on the ship, and the steward’s department personnel alone numbered more than forty.

NEARLY ONE CREW MEMBER FOR EVERY PASSENGER

• Each was responsible for the sole purpose of catering to the slightest desire of the carriage trade passengers.
• All public rooms, including the main lounge, forward observation lounge, cocktail lounge, etc., were completely carpeted and air-conditioned.
• This was also true of all bedrooms, sitting rooms, and suites.
• Top European chiefs were hired to create haute cuisine.
• A total of 76 crewmembers and officers were aboard the new cruise ship, making the passenger to crew ratio almost one to one, equaling or surpassing the most high-end cruise ships operating today.

The new Corsair made her debut on September 29, 1947 offering two-week cruises from Long Beach, California, to Acapulco, Mexico. The standard price per person rate averaged $600. Hardly a bargain since the ship’s cruise fare equaled more than a quarter of the 1947 typical U.S. family income.

The new cruise line placed attractive full-page ads for cruising on the new stylish first class Corsair in Holiday magazine.

• Demand for passage was heavy and the waitlists lengthy.
• During the summers of 1948, the Corsair was switched to Alaska.
• Sailing out of Vancouver, British Columbia, she provided the first deluxe two-week cruises ever offered to the Inside Passage.
• Another first for the Corsair Alaska cruises was a specially chartered train transporting passengers from Whittier to famed McKinley National Park.

A series of cruises to Mexico, Havana via the Panama Canal and the Gulf of California were scheduled and completed in the spring of 1949.

The cruise ship returned to Alaska for summer sailings and was to be followed by a season of cruises to Mexico from Long Beach beginning in October. Then tragedy struck on November 12, 1949.

• The Corsair, during one of her autumn Mexican Riviera cruises, struck a rock and beached at Acapulco.
• Her crew and 55 passengers were put ashore in lifeboats.

• There was no loss of life.
• Examined by her owners, the former Morgan yacht was determined to be a total constructive loss and abandoned to Davy Jones’ locker.

It would be more than 15 years until Princess Cruises began offering sailings to Mexico with a regular year ’round service would be offered. There would be numerous attempts to offer Mexico cruises in the meantime. At least five different cruise lines didn’t make it.

Even during this age of mega-liners, no other ships will ever equal the elegance, exclusivity, and style of the former Morgan yacht. The Corsair’s legacy lives on only for divers willing to explore the remains of the vessel deep in the warm seas off Acapulco.

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At Auction: Nautical Curiosities from J.P. Morgan’s Corsair

The second in a series of enormous steam yachts named Corsair was built for J.P. Morgan in 1890 by Neafie & Levy of Philadelphia, replacing an earlier craft used by the financier as a ferry between his Hudson River estate and office on Wall St. In 1897 the 241-ft. Corsair II became the flagship of the famed New York Yacht Club when Morgan was elected Commodore; in 1898 it was bought by the government and renamed the USS Gloucester , serving as a gunship in the Spanish-American War. Morgan, who commissioned an even larger Corsair to replace it, entertained great men of the day from Teddy Roosevelt and Thomas Edison to Mark Twain aboard the floating mansions fitted with every possible luxury.

Corsair with a Flagship banner. Some 220 pieces of it will be included in an historic sale of nautical curiosities from the various Corsairs and more at Boston Harbor Auctions on May 1. Other items from Morgan’s collection include a silver Tiffany & Co. cigar cutter designed in the Corsair ‘s crescent and star motif; his mahogany poker set complete with ivory chips; Boston-made brass ship’s clocks; embroidered table linens; specially bottled Scotch whisky and engraved tumblers; canvas covered wicker provisions trunks; and even a classic wooden launch from the Corsair III (pictured below in front of the NYYC in Newport). Not a bad haul….

Jared Paul Stern is the editor of Driven .

All photos courtesy Boston Harbor Auctions.

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Comments on “ at auction: nautical curiosities from j.p. morgan’s corsair ”.

Cute house.

Amazing. The interior is a wonder, I’m sure. I’ve been on Victorian Yachts at the Museum in Newport. Pianos, red velvet sofas. I can only imagine what’s in there.

Very cool. Great find MW.

Sweet! Bit of fun: the on-line catalog of the Morgan Library is called “Corsair.”

Jamie Dimon should buy it all.

I love the simplicity of the poker chips.

Comments are closed.

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Personal items revealing j.p. morgan's opulent life at sea to be sold.

• Artifacts to be sold from J.P. Morgan's yacht reveal high life of 19th-century American elite
• Items include silver sculpted lamp, ivory poker chips and hundreds of pieces of rare china
• Auction organizer says items show personal side of man known for exquisite taste
• Morgan commissioned the 241-foot yacht "Corsair II" in 1890

(CNN) -- Artifacts from the megayacht of 19th-century financier J.P. Morgan are to be sold this weekend at an auction set to reveal how one of America's most influential men enjoyed life aboard his second home on the high seas.

Commissioned by Morgan in 1890, the 241-foot yacht "Corsair II" played host to many of the era's richest and most prominent figures, including U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft, billionaire tycoons John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, as well as light-bulb inventor Thomas Edison.

Although the "Corsair II" has been long-since scrapped for parts, intimate items from the elegant, wood-paneled yacht will be auctioned Sunday in Boston -- with some lots expected to achieve bids in excess of $200,000.

The hundreds of artifacts for sale range from hand-crafted bone china bearing the Morgan family crest, to specially designed Tiffany cigar-cutters, to a vast and intricate silver lamp carved in the shape of a mythological dolphin and -- most luxurious of all -- a fully restored 30-foot launch boat.

But for Larry Lannan, owner of Boston Harbor Auctions , who will be handling the sale, the standout item is stored in a velvet-lined box with the "Corsair" flag embossed in silver: Morgan's set of ivory poker chips.

"The man loved poker and was known to play high stakes with all the heavyweight industrialists, financiers and politicians of the day," said Lannan.

"Imagine the hands that have touched these chips -- the likes of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford. Just imagine all the late-night cigar-fueled drama in the middle of the sea, the fortunes won and lost!"

John Pierpont Morgan dominated the world of corporate finance throughout the late 1800s until his death at the turn of the century, but was also renowned for his passion of and investment in the arts, once stating: "No price is too great for a work of unquestioned beauty and known authenticity."

While Morgan filled rooms with masterpieces of fine art and collections of expensive gems, "most of it he never touched," said Lannan. "What we have here is a selection of very personal belongings that he and his closest circle would have handled on a daily basis -- his whiskey tumblers, tea cups, his chess table."

But, though prosaic, they are no less refined. The 220 pieces of china on auction were specifically tailored to Morgan's demands by English firm Mintons -- who at the time supplied crockery to the royal family.

"The blue trim with the gold accents and the Morgan signature flag of a crescent moon and star alongside the New York Yacht Club burgee -- all this would have been to Morgan's specific wishes," Lannan revealed. "He was certainly a man of highly particular tastes."

And for those who'd like to know what success really tasted like in the 19th century, then the auction also contains a rare bottle of J & G Stewart Scotch whiskey direct from Morgan's cellar.

"I'm not sure that it'll actually taste very nice," conceded Lannan. "So I hope whoever buys it won't be doing so for the flavor!"

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

J.p. morgan jr.'s corsair.

12 comments:

Glamorous photo. As Morgan Sr. once said, "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it"

Incidentally, Corsair was built at the Bath Shipyard here in Maine. We look at it in this photo and we're moved both by its graceful lines, and its tasteful opulence. What isn't entirely clear is its size: At 343 feet, it was likely around 150 feet and more LONGER than the Morgan house at Matinecock Point. Think about it.

Aaargh, I didn't mean to comment three times, but forgot to include this link to a good article about Corsair: http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/30155

I don't own a hardcopy of this photo but it was among a number that sold at auction a few months ago that were part of a larger collection of Morgan family yachting possessions. Also sold was this beautiful trophy from J.P. and E.D. Morgan's racing yacht 'Columbia' (an America's Cup Defender): http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9921594

Today's word verification, "prime", is so appropriate for the subject of today's post. Also, great commuter yachton right of photo. My dad often told us about how he and his friends used to canoe under the bow of this magnificent yacht (while it was at anchor, of course). If any of you ever get to visit the Model Room of the New York Yacht Club, there is a large scale model of the Corsair (once the NYYC flagship)on display that is incredible. It features "cutaways" in the hull that allow you to peak into stateroom, head, coal bin, etc. Memorable, to say the least. OFLI

OFLI, I have indeed seen the model of Corsair at NYYC. Just extraordinary---as are so many of the models in that equally extraordinary room. There is also a magnificent model of the Corsair at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. It was made for the lobby of the Bath Ironworks, where Corsair was built. The fittings on that model are of gold to imitate the brass ones on the actual boat. Also on file at the Museum are the plans for Corsair. The various Corsairs plied Maine waters often---Mrs. Morgan Sr. and two of Morgan's Jr.s sisters all summered there (as did Morgan Sr.'s mistress), and the local Society columns of the day are full of tales of dinners held aboard the yacht, with sparkling guest lists, and tales of launches back and forth to shore. In his memoirs, Louis Auchincloss tells a marvelous tale of one Bar Harbor summer when his parents were summoned to dinner (his father sometime represented some of the Morgan interests). His mother, already invited to another party, made a social lie to her hostess of the sort that we're encouraged not to make as children, thus enabling them to go to the Morgan party. When called up by her children for the hypocrisy, she said that someday they would understand the necessity.

JP Morgan Chase owns a collection of dinnerware from the Corsair- terribly chic and elegant, emblazoned with the Corsair's flags (I think there's a nautical term for those triangular flags, but it escapes me) and comprising all sorts of items that no self respecting plutocrat would set to sea without: bouillon cups, oyster plates, celery dishes and the like.

DED, I'v driven past the Bath Iron works, but unfortunately, did not get a chance to stop in. I spent a few days at Small Point, Beautiful, but as one cruising book put it "... has mosquitos the size of sea gulls". Magnus, The small triangular flag you're referring to might be a burgee. For those of you interested in steam yachts, I would recommend the coffee table book, "The Steam Yachts: An Era of Elegance", by Erik Hoffman. Very nice book. In addition to the Ocean going yachts, it also features fast commuters, also owned by many of the North Shore's finest (such as the one pictured near the Corsair). On a nice day, it sure beatsa private train car or limo. OFLI

Magnus, love the details about the Corsair service. Quite remarkable, given the generally more casual air about even high end yachting nowadays, to think of the Morgans and their guests properly dressed for dinner, sitting down to delicate cups of consomme. The last time I was on a big yacht, a few months ago, it was ketchup bottles all the way. On the other hand, my great-grandfather, who was not particularly fancy in the big scheme of things, never went sailing without a tie, right into the 1960's. That era is very gone. OFLI, I have personally never seen a mosquito bigger than a sparrow up here, but I have heard of larger. I remember a summer evening many years ago, much too warm. I went down to the yacht club with the idea that I'd row a dinghy out to the center of the harbor and enjoy the still evening twilight. You'd think I'd know better in Maine at dusk in the summer. I lasted less than five minutes. I still remember the sound, like a million little dive bombers. It was like a scene in a horror movie---think 'The Birds' recast with mosquitoes.

I'm never clear on Morgan, Morgan Jr. - who owned "Matinecock Point"? Did Sr. first have property, then Jr. inherited? If I read the upside-down date(1894) stamped on copy I have - this yacht is Corsair II. Corsair I was a 185-foot purchase(1882) from Charles J. Osborn(Jay Gould's private banker}. Corsair II was 241-feet, commissioned after his father died around 1890. Designed by J. Frederick Tams and John Beavor-Webb. Corsair III was 304 feet built in 1899 by T. S. Marvel of Newburgh, NY. Corsair IV built at the Bath Works in 1929 was 343 feet. Link to captain's log on a early voyage - http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-24/wall_street/30046344_1_brooklyn-bridge-jpmorgan-skylight

Half & Half, Morgan Sr.'s country estate was on the west bank of the Hudson River. As far as I know he never owned Matinecock.

O(F)LI: Burgee- yes. Thank you

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A model Of The Steam Yacht Corsair (II) 52-1/4 x 15-1/4 x 58 in., cased dimensions. (2)

Sold for US$3,750 inc. premium

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A model Of The Steam Yacht Corsair (II)

Built for J. Pierpont Morgan in 1890, the Corsair served as flagship during his reign as Commodore of the New York Yacht Club. In April 1898, Morgan sold her to the U.S. Navy for $225,000. The Navy converted her to a dispatch vessel and patrol gunboat, and named her U.S.S. Gloucester. She was sold out of the Navy in 1919 and into commercial service. The Corsair was destroyed in a hurricane at Pensacola, Florida.

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Glencoe 1/130 Yacht Corsair II Kit First Look

By michael benolkin.

The Yacht Corsair II was the second vessel dubbed Corsair for the famous financier J.P. Morgan. Built in 1891, the Corsair II was 218 feet long, had a beam of over 27 feet, and a draft of 13 feet. She was a hybrid-powered vessel, employing both sail and steam for propulsion.

The Corsair II served a mere eight years for J.P. Morgan before she was turned over to the US Navy for service in the Spanish-American War. Lt.Cdr. Richard Wainright, the last commander of the USS Maine, took command of this vessel, christened USS Gloucester.

For naval service, the Gloucester was armed with four 6-pounder and four 3 pounder guns as well as two Colt machine guns.

At the battle of Santiago Bay, Cuba, July 3, 1898, the Spanish fleet was bottled up inside the bay by the US Navy. As the Spaniards were about to exploit a break in the lines of the US Navy's dreadnaughts and escape the bay, the USS Gloucester dove through the breech with its guns blazing, disrupting the Spaniards long enough for the dreadnaughts to maneuver back into position. This was one of several notable events of this small warship in the course of the war's 115 days that put the former luxury yacht into the annals of US Naval history.

The Glencoe 1/130 Yacht Corsair II is another timeless mold, originally developed by ITC. It nicely captures the look and shape of this famous vessel and doesn't lack for detail.

Molded in white styrene, with the exception of the black hull halves, this kit remains as originally designed. The kit features nicely molded detailing into deck and cabin surfaces that, while a little thick by contemporary standards, makes for an easy model to paint for the novice. The more experienced modeler will have some fun replicating the wood finish of the deck and structures.

The kit comes with a full array of lifeboats which are interestingly enough covered by the instructions. There is no armament provided to convert the model over to the USS Gloucester, but these should

Construction is straightforward with the only thing needed being thread to rig the masts. The more detailed modeler will want to make a simple jig to rig the rat lines in the proper scale.

Glencoe has definitely rescued another interesting piece of history as well as modeling history. It is hard to believe these molds are over 50 years old, but clearly Glencoe has been doing some serious maintenance on the hardware.

My sincere thanks to Glencoe Models for this review sample!

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To escape the often tempestuous financial scene, J.P. Morgan found solace on the sea and owned a series of yachts during the course of his lifetime. It is Morgan who, when asked the expense in maintaining such a vessel, is credited as saying the now cliché approximation of, “if you have to ask how much […]

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Corsair III in Vencie 1902

©The Morgan Library & Museum, Archives Collection

To escape the often tempestuous financial scene, J.P. Morgan found solace on the sea and owned a series of yachts during the course of his lifetime. It is Morgan who, when asked the expense in maintaining such a vessel, is credited as saying the now cliché approximation of, “if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”

Commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1897 to 1899, Morgan purchased his first luxury craft in 1881, a 185-foot steam sailor christened Corsair . Just nine years later, Morgan commissioned the 241-foot Corsair II (designed by John Beaver-Webb and built by Neafie & Leavy out of Philadelphia), which included a 30-foot tender.

A haven from the public eye, the yacht was a pelagic playground for an elite few. Included among the onboard opulence was handmade bone china by Minton, Tiffany cigar-cutters, and a set of poker chips carved from ivory. The latter sold for $66,000 at auction in 2011.

In 1898, the Corsair II was conscripted into service by the United States Navy and became the USS Gloucester , a gunboat used during the Spanish-American War. This naturally necessitated that Morgan have a replacement, so the 304-foot Corsair III was constructed the same year by T.S. Marvel Shipbuilding. Amidst the yacht’s lavish layout were found a library that extended across the beam, a player piano, cases of wine and brandy, humidors stocked with Cuban cigars, and a comprehensive collection of dining accessories, including pearl-handled fruit knives, julep strainers, finger bowls and, of course, asparagus tongs. After Morgan’s death, the third iteration of Corsair saw action as a patrol ship in WWI and as a survey ship in the Pacific theater during WWII.

Sharing his father’s nautical nature, J.P. Morgan Jr. carried on the tradition by having the 343-foot Corsair IV completed in 1930. The largest yacht built in the United States at the time, it came at a cost of $60 million by today’s standards.

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The Yacht "Corsair II"

Kleeware | no. 3192 | 1:130.

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CORSAIR yacht       J. P. Morgan's yacht       To escape the often tempestuous financial scene, J.P. Morgan found solace on the sea and owned a series of yachts during the course of his lifetime. He purchased his first luxury vessel in 1881, a 185-foot steamer christened Corsair. Nine years later, Morgan commissioned his first yacht -- the 241-foot Corsair (II). The Corsair yacht employed both sail and steam for propulsion. It was with the Corsair yacht that Morgan became commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1897 to 1899. A haven from the public eye, the yacht Corsair was a pelagic playground for an elite few. Included among the onboard opulence was handmade bone china by Minton, Tiffany cigar-cutters, and a set of poker chips carved from ivory. The Corsair yacht served eight years for J.P. Morgan before she was purchased for $225,000 by the US Navy for service in the Spanish-American War.  She was renamed USS Gloucester. The last commander of the famous USS Maine, Lt. Richard Wainright, commanded her. "I thought the work was exceptional and the model beautiful. The only feedback I would provide is that the Corsair yatch flag is missing and we couldn't find reference to the name or which version of the Corsair this model represents. I think it's the second one, but not sure.  Other than that, it was really great! Many thanks again. Warm regards, Jean Elliott Director, Corporate History Program JPMorgan Chase Bank July, 2011 "   New Boats Azimut Yachts Benetti Yachts Elan Yachts Sea Water RIBs Pre-owned & Demo Boats Stock & demonstration boats Pre-owned Motor Boats Pre-owned Sailing Boats Superyachts Services News About Contact J.P. Morgan's Corsair IV When J.P. Morgan Junior took delivery of the Corsair IV   in 1930, she was the largest and most luxurious private yacht ever built in the USA. Morgan used her for a decade, mainly on the East Coast and in the Caribbean, before gifting her to the British Admiralty to help with the war effort. After WWII she re-entered service as a cruise ship, plying routes in Alaska and from Long Beach California down to Mexico. The photo below shows her in Vancouver, 1948. Less than a year later she struck a rock and sank in shallow waters off Acapulco. The story began in 1882 when J.P. Morgan Senior, one of the world's richest men and an avid yachtsman, bought the 185-foot steamship Corsair . He then commissioned the bigger, faster and more luxurious Corsair II   (which the US Navy conscripted into service as a gunboat during the Spanish-American War) and the 304-foot Corsair III ,  a superyacht that featured a full-beam library, cases of wine and brandy, and humidors stocked with Cuban cigars. Each of these three yachts generated great publicity, but media attention was particularly intense when the Corsair III was launched in 1898. It was at this time that Morgan made one of the most famous comments ever recorded. When a journalist asked him how much it would cost to operate a yacht of this size, Morgan replied: Sir, if you have to ask that question, you can't afford it. J.P. Morgan Senior The Corsair IV The Corsair IV was commissioned by J.P. Morgan Junior and built at Bath Iron Works, Maine. When she was launched in April 1930 she measured 343 feet in length and was the largest private yacht ever constructed in the USA. Nicknamed the "Princess of the Sea", she was an object of beauty with her black hull, clipper bow and elegant teak interiors. Morgan adored her, and reveled in the privacy she afforded him. One of his annual guests while cruising in Europe was the UK's Archbishop of Canterbury, and on one memorable occasion the two of them sailed across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land. Following the outbreak of WWII and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, most privately-owned yachts in America were requisitioned by the US Maritime Commission and converted for use as gunships or patrol boats. For reasons which aren't entirely clear, Morgan gave the Corsair IV not to the US Navy but to the British Admiralty. Based in Bermuda, she served out the war as a patrol ship in the Western Atlantic. Life as a Cruise Ship After the war there was a dearth of cruise ships on America's West Coast. Many of the great Canadian Pacific and Japanese liners that serviced this coastline in the 1920s and 1930s had been lost in sea battles or fallen victim to mines. To plug this gap, the Pacific Cruise Lines company was formed in 1946 and promptly snapped up J.P. Morgan's Corsair IV . The yacht was re-named Corsair and taken to Canada to be converted to a luxury cruise liner. With accommodation for 82 passengers and a crew of 76, the new Corsair exuded luxury. Staterooms were not only bigger and better equipped than rival ships, they were fitted with carpets and air-conditioning (almost unheard of at the time), and included furnishings made from the finest materials. The Corsair debuted in September 1947, offering two-week cruises from California to Acapulco. Ticket prices were high, but in booming post-war America, so was the demand. The Corsair was a great success. Her cruises sold out well in advance and her popularity exceeded anything her new owners had imagined. Before long she switched from Mexico to Alaska and became the first ship to offer luxury cruises to the Inside Passage. Soon after she reverted to Mexico, the Panama Canal and across the Caribbean to Havana. And then tragedy struck: in November 1949 the Corsair hit a rock off the coast of Acapulco and sank. Fortunately none of her 55 passengers or crew were harmed. Made in China: the Nero In the early years of this century, British entrepreneur Neil Taylor began hunting for a classic yacht to restore and re-model along the lines of the Corsair IV . When he couldn't find what he wanted, Taylor set up his own company, Corsair Yachts, and commissioned a near replica of J.P. Morgan's yacht from Yantai Raffles Shipyard in China. Launched in 2008, the sleek, black-hulled superyacht was christened Nero . The following year she triumphed in the "Best Motor Yacht Over 75 Metres" category at the ShowBoats Design Awards. In 2014 the Nero was bought by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien. Two years later he had her refurbished in Spain, requesting that she be brought up to European standards and given a classic, contemporary elegance. The Nero is now available for summer charters in the Mediterranean and winter service in the Caribbean & Bahamas. Since her introduction to the charter circuit she has won praise for her fusion of old-world charm and tasteful styling, with many clients commenting positively on her spacious interiors, Ralph Lauren decor and relaxed living environments. Pinnacle Marine New Zealand We have years of practical experience dealing with luxury yachts and are supported by a network of contacts throughout the industry. If you would like more information about luxury yachts, or anything else connected to the world of yachting, please feel free to contact us. Grace, Michael (2008), The Tragic Life of the Corsair IV , New York Social Diary Merl, Risa (2017), Nero: Inside the 90m Modern Classic Superyacht's MB92 Refit , Boat International Viju, Mathew (2016), Eight Ways J.P. Morgan Defined the Good Life , Robb Report Wisner, Bill (1975), The Golden Age of Yachts , Motor Boating and Sailing Related Articles The Classic Talitha 27 August 2021 Owned by the Getty family since the early 1990s, the Talitha is one of the most luxurious classic motor yachts afloat. The Legendary Nabila 26 September 2022 One of the most famous yachts ever built, the Nabila was once owned by Donald Trump and starred in a James Bond movie. How can we help? Please enter your full name Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid phone number Please enter a message Send Enquiry Thanks. Your message has been sent. We'll get back to you as soon as possible. Looking for information or advice? Ask us anything We'll reply ASAP 235 IMAGES Corsair II Corsair II Corsair II Corsair II J.P. Morgan´s Corsair (II) in 1892 ITC 1/128 The Yacht Corsair II (USS Gloucester), 3720-298 VIDEO F31 versus J22 Razbam Vought Corsair II volume III NERO YACHT by Corsair Yachts 90m. 2008 $70M owner Denis O’Brien HAF A-7 CORSAIR II IN ACTION Царь Николай II умер в 90 лет... и 300 тонн золота. Часть 2 12 El A 7 Corsair II COMMENTS Corsair II Corsair II was custom built in 1926 for an avid predicted log racer and Tacoma Yacht Club officer. She participated in many early Seattle-Victoria races, and her feats were described in advertising for Buffalo Marine Engines and Standard Oil products. She was honored with the privilege of celebrating her 60th birthday as a featured yacht at the ... USS Oceanographer (AGS-3) He later bought the Corsair II, a 241-foot yacht, which the United States Navy conscripted into service as a gunboat during the Spanish-American War. The 304-foot Corsair III, the last yacht he owned, included a library, player piano and humidors stocked with Cuban cigars. ^ a b "Launch notes, lower left p. 16 Aphrodite & Corsair". J. P. Morgan's former yacht CORSAIR sailed as a deluxe cruise ship from J. Pierpont Morgan Jr. could never imagine his yacht Corsair IV would be turned into a deluxe cruise ship just after World War 2 whose short career with voyages from California would end in tragedy, but it happened. At Auction: Nautical Curiosities from J.P. Morgan's Corsair The second in a series of enormous steam yachts named Corsair was built for J.P. Morgan in 1890 by Neafie & Levy of Philadelphia, replacing an earlier craft used by the financier as a ferry between his Hudson River estate and office on Wall St. In 1897 the 241-ft. Corsair II became the flagship of the famed New York Yacht Club when Morgan was elected Commodore; in 1898 it was bought by the ... Personal items revealing J.P. Morgan's opulent life at sea to be sold Although the "Corsair II" has been long-since scrapped for parts, intimate items from the elegant, wood-paneled yacht will be auctioned Sunday in Boston -- with some lots expected to achieve bids ... USS Gloucester (1891) USS Gloucester was a gunboat in the United States Navy. She was built in 1891 as the yacht Corsair II for J. P. Morgan by Neafie & Levy of Philadelphia, to a design by John Beavor-Webb. [1] The yacht was acquired by the Navy on 23 April 1898 and commissioned Gloucester on 16 May 1898 with Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright in command. Corsair II Corsair II may refer to one of the following: Corsair II, second of the large yachts built by J. P. Morgan that saw service as USS Gloucester in the Spanish-American War. An exhibition standard model of J.P. Morgan's steam yacht Corsair (II An exhibition standard model of J.P. Morgan's steam yacht Corsair (II) W. Hitchcock. a solid hull with painted red bottom, black topsides with inset portholes, black waist, planked and pegged decks fitted with numerous details including: jackstaff, anchor davit, anchors, anchor windlass, bollards, skylights, cabin structures, search lights ... A Model Of The Steam Yacht CORSAIR (II) A Model Of The Steam Yacht CORSAIR (II) Anonymous; American, 20th century. A solid hull model with black painted topsides, green bottom and a gold waterline. The deck of the model is planked in mahogany and is fitted with numerous details which include: jackstaff, anchor davits, anchors, anchor windlass, bollards, deck plates, skylights, cabin ... A New Deal for a Ship's Wheel J. P. Morgan's yacht, Corsair II, August 1892 (left, Library of Congress photo), and USS Gloucester (1898-1919) at anchor in an East Coast harbor, circa summer 1898 (right, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo). The US S Gloucester was built in Philadelphia in 1891 for Gilded Age financier J. P. Morgan and originally named Corsair II. Old Long Island: J.P. Morgan Jr.'s Corsair If I read the upside-down date (1894) stamped on copy I have - this yacht is Corsair II. Corsair I was a 185-foot purchase (1882) from Charles J. Osborn (Jay Gould's private banker}. A model Of The Steam Yacht Corsair (II) A model Of The Steam Yacht Corsair (II) the hull, built up with black painted topsides, green bottom and a gold waterline. The deck of is planked and is fitted with jackstaff, anchor davits, anchors, anchor windlass, bollards, deck plates, skylights, cabin structures, search lights, deck railings, ship's wheel, binnacle, engine telegraphs, ladders, ventilators, funnel, signal cannons, five ... Glencoe 1/130 Yacht Corsair II Kit First Look The Glencoe 1/130 Yacht Corsair II is another timeless mold, originally developed by ITC. It nicely captures the look and shape of this famous vessel and doesn't lack for detail. Molded in white styrene, with the exception of the black hull halves, this kit remains as originally designed. The kit features nicely molded detailing into deck and ... Corsair II Corsair II was custom built in 1926 for an avid predicted log racer and Tacoma Yacht Club officer. She participated in many early Seattle-Victoria races, and her feats were described in advertising for Buffalo Marine Engines and Standard Oil products. She was honored with the privilege of celebrating her 60th birthday as a featured yacht at the ... Yachts In 1898, the Corsair II was conscripted into service by the United States Navy and became the USS Gloucester, a gunboat used during the Spanish-American War. Jekyll Island Club Wharf Naval Historical Center 3. Steam Yacht Corsair, as mentioned Photo #: NH 82201 Corsair (American Steam Yacht, 1899) Photographed circa the 1920s. Built in 1899 for financier J.P. Morgan, this yacht served as USS Corsair (SP-159) during World War I and as USS Oceanographer (AGS-3) during World War II. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975. USS Corsair (SP-159), later USS Oceanographer (AGS-3) Built as private steam yacht by T.S. Marvel Shipbuilding, Newburgh, New York, Corsair III was launched in December 1898. Upon United States entry into World War I, she was acquired by the U.S. Navy in May 1917 and renamed USS Corsair (SP-159). Departing with the first Atlantic Convoy of American Expeditionary Forces to France, she performed escort and patrol duties off France, later relocating ... CORSAIR 36 (WESTERLY) The CORSAIR was followed by the CORSAIR II (1986-1989) with nearly identical dimensions. A bilge keel version was also available as was a ketch rig. Sloop rig sail area: -Main: 296 ft² / 27.23 m² -Genoa (#1): 540 ft² / 49.68 m² -Genoa (#2): 445 ft² / 40.94 m² -Jib (#1): 328 ft² / 30.18 […] The Yacht "Corsair II", Kleeware 3192 (195x) External reviews We don't know about any in-box reviews for this The Yacht "Corsair II" (#3192) from Kleeware. JP Morgan's yacht Corsair The only feedback I would provide is that the Corsair yatch flag is missing and we couldn't find reference to the name or which version of the Corsair this model represents. J.P. Morgan's Corsair IV Yacht J.P. Morgan's Corsair IV When J.P. Morgan Junior took delivery of the Corsair IV in 1930, she was the largest and most luxurious private yacht ever built in the USA. Morgan used her for a decade, mainly on the East Coast and in the Caribbean, before gifting her to the British Admiralty to help with the war effort. Corsair Sprint 750 MK II I boarded the new Corsair Sprint 750 MK II with some trepidation. I'm far from the world's most experienced multihull sailor and wondered if I'd be up to the task of putting a rocket like the 750 through its paces. I needn't have worried, though; despite its horsepower, this is a boat that takes care of its crew and can make even a rank neophyte look good as it pours on the speed. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat trimaran yacht