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Mathilda-Southern Breeze -Khalidia

Discussion in 'Vintage & Classic Yachts' started by Bram, Sep 6, 2008.

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  1. Bram, Oct 8, 2009
    #41
    Bram

    Bram New Member

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    Hello Terry Xdub , Allan et all


    I think that everybody has the to know about the way yachts ,ships etc etc ,are in progress of a new future.:)

    first off all my thanks to Capt.David Clews for all the infrmation,and of course his agent.

    I haven`t put the pictures in here .but you can find them with Google by searching Premier Shipbuilding Company


    Khalidia
    Saturday, 9 August 2008 By Captain David Clews

    Designed by P.B. Pandelis and built in 1961/62 by the Atlantic Shipbuilding Company, Great Britain, Khalidia was launched with the name Ariane III and was retained by the Pandelis family for their private use.

    After much persuasion Mr Pandelis very reluctantly sold the vessel to the British business man John Bloom who later sold her to The Revlon family, of international cosmetics fame, when she was renamed Ultima.

    Her next two owners were American business men who renamed the vessel Kara Kara followed by Tracinda Jean. Probably her most famous owner to date was Mr. Adnan Khashoggi, who was responsible for the name change to Khalidia and was the owner for over twenty years until the mid nineties.

    Up until the time Khalidia was put into a South of France shipyard for a major overhaul and refit she was a busy privately operated vessel making regular long distance passages including circum-navigation on more than one occasion.

    It was from the shipyard in the south of France that our story begins and must be the story of how an amazing, tried and tested “Classic Motor Yacht” can be given a new lease of life.

    While searching for a vessel to satisfy client requirements, Captain David Clews came across the motor yacht Khalidia lying in a shipyard not too many miles away from the shipyard he was project managing at that time. After extensive meetings with the yard, clients and lawyers a deal was done and arrangements were made to remove Khalidia to the shipyard being managed by Captain Clews.

    The vessel was moved, some thirty miles or so, to the yard which was to become her berth for the next few years. After an intensive survey and much investigation it became apparent that the hull and superstructure were in amazingly good condition. Plans were drawn up and agreed with the new owners and the rebirth of the vessel thus began. The first job was to totally strip out the interior, this included all fixtures fittings, the complete engine room, all electrical and pipe work installations, everything had to go until a bare hull and superstructure was reached.

    Unfortunately, before the end of the year 2000 the new owners found themselves in a position where they were no longer able to continue to fund the on going rebuild and work stopped. At this time the strip out had not been completed so the vessel stayed where she lay until she changed hands.

    Following the premature end to the Khalidia project and other works at the shipyard, Captain Clews found himself managing the Premier Shipbuilding Company in Portugal where, out of the blue, came a request for the yard to take on the job of recovering Khalidia and completing the rebuild according to the plans made by Captain Clews some years earlier.

    The contract was put in place and arrangements were soon made to remove Khalidia from the French shipyard and transport her to the Portuguese yard.

    As quite often happens in life, things did not immediately go according to plan and it was to be some months before work would be able to recommence.

    Due to the non-performance by a large international heavy haulage specialist for the movement of Khalidia from the docks across the highway to the main shed buildings, the shipyard decided to carry out the work utilizing it’s own resources.

    First it was necessary to construct a huge trailer to carry the vessel. This was done by jacking up the vessel using two special lifting beams, constructed by the yard, and then building a thirty meter long by six meters wide trailer capable of carrying over four hundred tons. This construction was carried out below the vessel where she lay on the dockside.



    Finally with the trailer completed, Khalidia was moved, using two heavy haulage tractor units, to her new resting place in shed No. 2 where she is now being completely rebuilt by Premier Shipbuilding Company.

    Since work began at PSC in Portugal 2.2 million Euros has been spent on her, virtually all steelwork has been completed and ship is ready to receive the proposed redesigned aluminium bridge deck structure.

    Work on the new steering gear system has been started along with bow thruster tube installation and bushings for the new stabilizer system. No other outfitting work is underway at this time.

    All work as been carried out in accordance with class rules and under the supervision of the class surveyor for the purpose of classification and MCA certification. This will of course allow the vessel to be chartered world wide.



    Premier Shipbuilding Company is open to proposals and discussions with prospective investors to complete the rebuild of Khalidia. An advantageous financial package may be available to serious investors. When finished Khalidia could be presented to the charter market for the first time in the life of the vessel and it is expected that she would be an immediate success due to the extremely high standard of finish, an exciting new layout, her undoubted proven sea going record and her 4500 mile range. The new lower operating costs attainable with modern technology will also greatly appeal in today’s modern world .

    As a private yacht, Khalidia has all the wonderful attributes of the classic “gentleman’s yacht” which should be a great attraction to the more discerning yacht owner.

    Greetings Bill
  2. Fishtigua, Oct 8, 2009
    #42
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Er....Sorry to say I was on a joint charter with her for Christmas/New Year in '86/'87 in the Virgins.
  3. K1W1, Oct 8, 2009
    #43
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    That is the same text that you posted last year. (Now removed).

    It looks like there hasn't been much if any progress since that was written so the old girl might have fallen victim to yet another well intentioned over zealous owner without the readies to back up his ideas.
  4. Fishtigua, Oct 8, 2009
    #44
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Yep, yet again ambition undersways the accountant's humour and whimsy.

    I'm sure we've all seen it many times; though without a few dreamers, yachting would be a very dull place.
  5. Spike62, Oct 12, 2009
    #45
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Khalidia

    OK Fish and Kiwi, you've had your fun, we're talking about a ship here guys...
  6. Spike62, Oct 12, 2009
    #46
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Talking about a yacht here...

    What the **** does that mean, Fish?
  7. K1W1, Oct 12, 2009
    #47
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Wow wee it's a ship he says.

    It is actually an old yacht in need of refurbishment or wrecking.

    I have spent some rather messy times aboard her myself as a guest of some of the Engineers including a time in Monaco in late 1988 when AK returned unexpectedly with some Swamis in tow who took up residence on the Aft Deck and I was given the choice of either waiting for them to leave and continuing to be entertained or leaving via a porthole into the harbour.

    I chose the former and suffered all day the next day.
  8. Fishtigua, Oct 12, 2009
    #48
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Spike,

    We're not taking the p*ss, we've all worked on projects where everyone said "It'll never happen"; and along with restoreing a true classic, we've added another chapter to Classic yachting's beautiful history.

    Just in my Dad's yard, Cariad, Vagrant, and Ring Anderson were restored (some from complete wrecks) with true love and were part of our lives. Seeing your Mom working 'till 3am stitching buffalo hide by hand just to get everything perfect tells you a little about commitment.

    Restoreing a boat is a bit more than a few bucks and a dream.
  9. Spike62, Oct 15, 2009
    #49
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Miss Understanding

    Yeah, I know where you're coming from Fishy, it's just that these old vessels mean something to a lot of us and all we seem to get is some faceless, strangely named and obscure guys saying things like 'I was with her in St Thomas USVI in diddly squat and she chartered THEN! SO what are you'all talkin' about'...
    See where I am O FishyOne?
    It's all about perspective, some people were involved and were on board and lived there, when others were, OK, sewing cowhide until 3.00a.m. when they coulda been tucked up in their beds, but I digress (and I think you two may have done, too), I went into this blog on an invite by a friend who asked me to check something out, I did and thought that it would turn out to be enlightening and informational, providing info for those of us who have the memories of pleasanter times, more fun and young, sun filled Caribbean and Mediterranian sea time. Let's keep it like that, eh?
    At least you're not 'Anonymous' I s'ppose...
  10. Spike62, Oct 29, 2009
    #50
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Tracinda Jean/Khalidia Charter

    We also chartered her back in the early 70's with Doug and Margie Havers. We had all the Playboy crowd on at one time, including Hefner and some little film director called Polanski. A story going round (which I know is true) is that dinner was called and stewards were sent to rustle up the guests. The chief stew was a great Frenchman called Jo-Jo who searched high and low for the guests but couldn't find Polanski. He eventually found him in the deckhead, giving it large with a female. Jo-Jo knocked on the door, only to get the reply 'I'll be there in a minute, Boy'
    Jo-jo then went on to serve the guests, Polanski arrived and Jo-jo continued to serve everyone with wine and water, except Polanski. At the end of the meal, Polanski, understandably annoyed by now, stood up and called to Jo-Jo, 'Why haven't you served me with any wine or water throughout the meal, Boy'? To which Jo-Jo's reply was,
    'Sir, I wouldn't pee-pee on you, even if you waire on fire'
    Note the French accent there? Classic response to a complete tw*t. Needless to say, the remaining guests burst into gales of laughter and Jo-Jo, naturally, was fired. Real shame, nice guy. What a wit!
    And yes, not that you're asking but I feel I do have to say proudly, I did end up getting my own Playboy bunny...For the week!
  11. Fishtigua, Oct 29, 2009
    #51
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Hi Spike,

    The charter I did with Khalidia too ended-up with a damp bird but not in the Playboy way.

    A Young Steward's Story.

    Bernard Tapie, the disgraced businessman, and his dodgy bankers had chartered the 2 boats for Christmas. His Swiss banker had a very pretty 16 year old daughter, Christina. I had turned 18, so was all grown-up(yer, right!), and drank beer and wine, smoked and wore big titanium Porsche sunglasses; what 16 yearold girl could resist? ;)

    New Years night we were in St. Thomas USVI for the firework display, Christina and I sneaked onto the foredeck so we could be on our own at midnight. Being the older man, I had planned ahead and bought a bottle of champagne, a pack of ciggies and a blanket. We held hands and watched the fireworks, sipped wine and were just about to kiss when...............


    "DAVE, HERE, RIGHT NOW" was bellowed from the bridge.

    The skipper's wife had just found the water inlet pipe to the icemachine had blown off and was flooding the laundry room and food store. So for the next 8 hours was spent mopping up and drying stuff.

    In the morning, having been up for almost 36 hours, I served breakfast. Christina was giving me the evil-eye for disappointing her. I crashed out and she avoided me for the rest of the day. The next morning they were leaving and Christina took me to one side and gave me a stuffed toy, that bloody yellow bird from the Birdy Song with soundbox and flapping wings. Da da diddi da.....

    As they left in the tender, waving to each other, I accidently touched the sound button. Da da diddi.... The Engineer snatched the birdy from my hand, stamped on it and kicked it into the water. Da da diddi ..gurgle, gurgle...

    I think one of us had a tear in our eye and one very damp bird.

    Shame.

    Fish
  12. Spike62, Oct 29, 2009
    #52
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    At least I got my leg (and other parts) over! But then, I was more experienced and bought a bottle of Vodka - which we only got two shots each of - and I was in my late 20's...
  13. Spike62, Nov 29, 2009
    #53
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    A Continuation!?...

    I hate to leave it like this... I have to have closure (as the Americans say) C'mon guys, continue the tale...
  14. Bram, Nov 29, 2009
    #54
    Bram

    Bram New Member

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    Hoi Terry

    Hefner and some little film director called Polanski

    I still remeberr this ,if I am correct this happend in St,Tropez.

    just before the refitt

    Greets Bill
  15. Spike62, Nov 30, 2009
    #55
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Bram

    Tot Seins Bill.
    Pas op! Yes, absolutely right, the Bunnies, the spare 40' boat that I had to take round to the beach as the skipper didn't show up - it's the first and only time I ever 'bump started' a boat by running one engine at full, selecting drive on the other and then pushing the start button, giving it enough power to help start the engine! All because he didn't keep the batteries fully charged. St Tropez it was and we sure had a good time. I remember the beach but not the name, never mind, the sights on the beach-front probably made me forget! Any more Photographs in your album Bill?
  16. bikemonster, Apr 10, 2010
    #56
    bikemonster

    bikemonster New Member

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    I was crew on the Breeze 86, 87 & 88.

    The stories that we could tell ... :eek:

    Good to see her classic lines and steel hull again. Plus I love to see they have kept the Ford blue hull and white superstructure
  17. Bill E. Fish, Dec 9, 2010
    #57
    Bill E. Fish

    Bill E. Fish New Member

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    Southern Breeze 1980

    This thread brought back memories. I was backpacking in Greece in 1980, and got picked up to work an island cruise out out of Piraeus for a few weeks. The names escape me, but I remember the cruise well. I would have traveled back across the Atlantic to Ft. Lauderdale, but wasn't really needed unless I could cook (the chef flew back). I'm sure I would have been remembered (though not fondly) had I accepted that position.

    Often wondered what became of her. Now I know.
  18. stgeorge123, Jun 28, 2011
    #58
    stgeorge123

    stgeorge123 New Member

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    Mathilda, Khalidia & Southern Breeze!!

    Hi Guys - just found this fascinating forum thread full of memories and souvenirs of an epoch none of us will experience again, but wow did we have some fun in those heady days of the '70's!! I'm Graham and I joined the Mathilda as Bosun in April 1970 - I remember Bill very well from SB and later as Eng on the Khalidia for that famous refit in Voisins when they built a false gate to block the outside entrance to the drydock, to raise her sufficiently over the lip! Joe Stokes the Ch.Stew - I wonder what happened to him, and Terry of course who took over from Bill! Kirk Kerkorian from MGM owned the yacht for a while as Tracinda Jean, and we went alongside them in Alicante before it became Khalidia - the parties on the Pilotage Quai in Monaco were famous - I have photos at home which I'll dig out and embarrass us all!:)
  19. K1W1, Jun 28, 2011
    #59
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    St George 123, I see in your profile you show the old Delfino II

    What ever became of her?
  20. Spike62, Jun 28, 2011
    #60
    Spike62

    Spike62 New Member

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    Graham, I can't wait to see those photographs...And I remember Joe Stokes and the others, Pigpen and all. Last I heard, Joe was married and living in Canada. If it's any compensation, I tracked down Doug and Margie Havers, who have now retired (at last) and are living in Nova Scotia, or thereabouts. I keep in touch and if anyone would like their email address, I can supply. Let's have some of those photographs then!
    Last edited: Feb 29, 2012
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