CHRIS-CRAFT
“She runs flat and fine... to top out at over 35 knots in a gorgeous ‘classic’ roar”
The tycoon, Creole and the Stavros S Niarchos
Stavros S Niarchos, the Greek shipping tycoon and one of the richest men on earth, amassed a huge fortune after the Second World War. As early as 1955, his fleet of oil tankers – then the largest in the world – exceeded one million tons. He was a true lover of the seas, and spent several months of each year aboard his Nicholson- designed three-master Creole, launched in 1927 and bought by him in 1947. He sold her in 1977 after two of his wives had died aboard, both of overdoses. She went to the Danish government for use as a sail-training ship, before being sold to the couturier Maurizio Gucci,
who restored her at vast expense. Following Gucci’s brutal murder in 1995, ownership passed to his daughters Allegra and Allesandra, who use Creole as a tender when racing their 60ft (18.3m) Avel. In 1956, Niarchos became associated with Britain’s Sail Training Association when he loaned Creole to the Royal Navy so that cadets could take part in the first Tall Ships Race, and again in 1958. The Stavros S Niarchos Foundation was formed after his death in 1996 and made a major contribution towards the building of the STA’s new brig, named after him, in 2000.
Above left: Stavros S Niarchos Above right: By the late-1950s, Niarchos had swapped his tender for a more utilitarian speedboat, seen here, moored alongside Creole
Finding the right supplier to obtain the exact nuances of wood was to be especially challenging; the Capri 19 is a complex mix of wood colours and the right match was vital. Then, to ensure reliable running, Pavlos has replaced the original KBL Chris-Craft 131 HP, six-cylinder engine with a brand new 5.7-litre V8 Mercruiser, whose exhausts produce a surprisingly exciting sound, ideally suited to the style of the boat. The original six-cylinder engine, restored in the classic blue livery of the Chris-Craft blocks, was preserved and is stored for posterity as part of the history of this unique hull’s pedigree.
AFFORDABLE VINTAGE
In Latin countries, one is traditionally tight-lipped about the price because, when one loves, one doesn’t count the cost. But prices in the United States, where the Capri 19 is pretty well rated for its compactness and intermediate style between two eras
52 CLASSIC BOAT MAY 2012
of speedboating, can give a good idea. Boats can be found for $35-40,000 (about £25,000), while a boat that’s complete but in need of a total restoration, can be negotiated for around $15,000 (£9,500). The Capri 19 changed little during its years of production from 1955 to 1958. To be able to recognise and distinguish these vintage craft at first glance, we know that the first models were lined with off-white upholstery and ‘gold’ Tolex, the trendy vinyl material also used to cover the famous Fender amps in the golden age of rock and roll. In the two following years, Chris-Craft used a ‘special flame’ colour. In 1957, the firm updated its colour chart with a delicate mint green, while in 1958, the Capri finished its production career sporting red and white. There’s nothing like a few milkshake colours to joyfully transport us back to childhood and driving daddy’s boat. This Capri 19 runs flat and fine, reaching planing speed in just a few seconds to top at over 35 knots in a gorgeous ‘classic’ roar.
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