Amazing efforts to save Amazone

Nicholas Edmiston and William Collier of GL Watson & Co have completed the first stage in saving another grand inter-war period motor yacht. Having previously worked together on the restorations of inter-war motor yachts Blue Bird, Nahlin, Malahne and Cacouna, they had been keeping an eye on the 1936, 128ft (39m) Thornycroft-built Amazone for several years.

For over 20 years she had been a houseboat on the Seine and the time had come to intervene if she was ever to return to sea. In an ambitious two-week programme, the yacht was acquired, prepared for towage and taken to Le Havre where she was loaded on the semi-submersible Yacht Servant and delivered to Falmouth where she was unloaded and transferred to Pendennis Shipyard recently.

Achieving this tight schedule in heavily regulated waters relied on detailed collaboration between Mike Herrebrugh of Sevenstar Yacht Transport and William Collier. The move included the charter of four specialised vessels on the Seine and the heavy-lift, cross-channel transport. Mike Herrebrugh of Sevenstar Yacht Transport commented: “The arrangements for the tow in France were extensive and very complicated. But it is amazing to be trusted by Nicholas Edmiston and William Collier to handle their project, which is clearly a labour of love, to preserve an historic piece of yachting.”

William Collier of GL Watson added: “These are complex projects where you need the support of strong partners who understand your requirements and who remain focused on it throughout. Mike Herrebrugh is that partner and this concludes our third successful project with Sevenstar in the last 12 months.”