Meteor III was a schooner-rigged yacht built in the United States for the German Emperor Wilhelm II. She was the world's largest yacht built when launched in 1902. The yacht was mainly a pleasure craft, but did participate in races. She was christened by the daughter of US President Theodore Roosevelt. The yacht had a 40-year career with twelve owners. She was requisitioned by the US Navy during World War II and ultimately sold for scrap.
Video Meteor III
History
Meteor III, which was designed by Archibald Cary Smith, was an improved and enlarged version of the yacht Yampa which was originally built by Smith for Chester W. Chapin, a United States Congressman from Massachusetts. Yampa passed through several owners and eventually purchased by the German emperor. It was renamed Iduna and participated in foreign regattas. The emperor was so well pleased with the performance of Iduna that he placed an order with the naval architect Smith for the construction of a larger and improved version. The new schooner yacht was named Meteor III following the scheme the emperor had going of naming his pleasure craft, as she was the next sequenced Meteor.
Meteor III, was built by Townsend-Downey Shipbuilding Company at Shooters Island in New York City and launched February 25, 1902. It took four months to put together from Smith's architectural drawings. Miss Alice Roosevelt, US President Theodore Rooselvelt's daughter, christened the yacht upon launch. The emperor's younger brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, traveled from Europe to New York City to attend as the Kaiser's personal representative. Two thousand spectators were at the 10:30 A.M. launching including President Roosevelt and Prince Henry.
Miss Roosevelt christened the American-built schooner constructed for the emperor by breaking a bottle of champagne against the steel side of the yacht. She proclaimed in a loud clear voice, I christen thee Meteor. The yacht up to that point was just labeled job No. 24 by the shipyard. Next to her was Prince Henry, President Roosevelt, and a group of official guests. The time was 10:39 in the morning. As the champagne was still foaming she cut the holding cord to a key block of weights that held the yacht in place on the dock support cradle. Miss Roosevelt used a silver looking nickel hatchet to cut the cord that then released the yacht into the water. Cannons were fired and brass bands were played. There was a twenty-one gun salute.
Miss Roosevelt struck the bow of the Kaiser's yacht with her palm as it started moving into the water leaving its supports. President Roosevelt and Prince Henry followed her example. Nearby German officers did the same, with some nearly being knocked off their feet as the yacht was picking up speed. Immediately after the yacht was launched into the water a message was cabled to Berlin from Prince Henry to the emperor saying, Yacht just launched under brilliant auspices. Christened by Miss Roosevelt's hand. Beautiful craft. Great enthusiasm. I congratulate you - Heinrich.
In 1909, Meteor III was put up for sale by the emperor. She eventually was sold to professor Carl Harries of the University of Kiel. She was renamed Nordstern and took part in the Kiel Regatta. Harries put the yacht for sale in 1921 at Barcelona, Spain. It sold in 1922 to Maurice Bunau-Varilla, owner of the Paris newspaper Le Matin. In 1924 Bunau-Varilla sold her to Italian Baron Alberto Fassini. In 1932 Fassini sold the vessel to a Mr. Gillet, who turned her over to Camper and Nicholsons, British yacht brokers. After being on the market for a few months she was sold to the American Francis Lenn Taylor, father of Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor used her for several years as a pleasure craft. He then sold her to Sterling Hayden, who didn't fulfill his financial arrangement, and it was repossessed. In 1940 Taylor then resold her to Gerald S. Foley who later sold her to a Mr. David Feinburg. Feinburg sold her to Nicholas Allen. The last owner gave the schooner yacht the name Aldabaran. The Navy requisitioned her during World War II for service and became the property of the United States War Shipping Administration (WSA).
The yacht had ultimately passed through twelve owners. Some of the owners updated the yacht during their ownership. The vessel during this time had received new engines, radio equipment and a third mast. The yacht at one time was used as a fishing vessel. In 1942 she was taken to Shooters Island by the War Shipping Administration since they then owned her. Aldabaran, previously Kaiser's Meteor III, in 1945 was sold for $2,100 to John Witte, an iron salvager at Staten Island, a short distance from where the yacht was originally built in 1902. The yacht that was purchased by Witte from the United States government was then broken up and taken apart for scrap iron in 1946.
Maps Meteor III
Description
Meteor III had a overall length of 161 feet with 120 feet on waterline and a width of 27 feet. The draft was 15 feet. The sail area was 11,612 square feet. Her cost was $150,000. Meteor III was the largest yacht in the world when made for the emperor. The emperor left the overall boat layout design to Smith, but participated in the interior arrangements. The interior rooms were paneled with mahogany and decorated in Colonial Adams style. Meteor III, although mainly a pleasure craft with luxury accommodations, did participate in race events.
See also
- Jefferson (yacht)
References
Sources
- Hallock, Charles (1902). Greman Emperor's New Schooner. Forest and Stream. Forest and Stream Publishing Company.
- Kenealy, A.J. (1902). Sleicher, John Albert, ed. Kaiser William's New Yacht. Leslie's. F. Leslie.
- Leslie, Frank (1901). An Imperial American Yacht. The American Magazine. 53. Frank Leslie Publishing House.
- NYM (1946). The New Yorker. New Yorker Magazine, Incorporated.
- SA (March 1, 1902). The Emperor's Yacht - Meteor III. Scientific American. 86. Scientific American, Incorporated.
In point of size "Meteor III." should be compared with "Gleniffer," which previous to the launching of the Kaiser's yacht was the largest fore-and-aft schooner in the world. As it is "Meteor III." is slightly the larger vessel.
CS1 maint: Date and year (link) - Seitz, Sharon (2011). Other Islands of New York City. Countryman Press.
- Stephens, W.P. (1902). Bigelow, Poultney, ed. The yachting Outlook. Outing. Outing Publishing Company.
- Thompson, Winfield M. (1907). Day, Thomas Fleming, ed. Royal Yachts and Yachtsmen. The Rudder. Fawcett Publications.
- White, Trumbull (1902). The German Emperor's American Yacht. Our Wonderful Progress. Trumbull White.
External links
- Video of launching Meteor III
Source of article : Wikipedia
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