Seven of the finest classic superyachts currently listed for sale

4 April 2025 • Written by Emily Dawkins

With colourful stories and old-world charm, classic yachts built before 1975 offer a chance to own a rare and valuable piece of maritime history. BOAT handpicks seven of the finest classic superyachts currently listed for sale...

Christina O

Builder: Canadian Vickers
Length: 99.1m
Year: 1943

Famed for her iconic history and impressive list of celebrity guests, Christina O is one of the finest superyachts in the industry, let alone the brokerage market. Originally delivered as an anti-submarine vessel, the 99.1-metre served in the Second World War before being converted in 1953 by Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis, the second husband of Jackie Kennedy. Highlights onboard include the famous "Ari’s Bar", which is unchanged since 1956 when Onassis took delivery, and the one-of-a-kind mosaic pool which raises to become a dance floor. She is recognised for being one of the "most impressive superyachts anybody had ever seen" when relaunched.

Christina O is asking €90,000,000 with MORLEY.

Omnia

Builder: Amels
Length: 60.8m
Year: 1974

Delivered in 1974 by Dutch builder Amels, Omnia was launched as the all-steel Fomalhaut, commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy as a pilot vessel. After 25 years of service, she was retired by the Navy and purchased by Ocado co-founder Jonathan Faiman, who – after several upgrades and refits – used her to explore the world. Following a sale in 2020, Omnia was reborn in 2022 after an extensive 14-month structural, mechanical and cosmetic refit by H2 Yacht Design and Karageorgiou Interiors, at the cost of around $14,000,000. Transformed with all the necessary modern amenities to make her into a "nautical masterpiece", she boasts a Jacuzzi-adorned sundeck and tailored seven-cabin layout for 16 guests.

Omnia is asking €23,000,000 with Seara Maritime.

Madiz

Builder: Ailsa
Length: 55.4m
Year: 1902

At 123 years old, the classic motor yacht Madiz is the oldest yacht in the world to have Lloyd's classification and one of few motor yachts to have survived from the early 20th century. She was originally commissioned as a support yacht to a "sizable" schooner sailing yacht, but with the outbreak of both World War I and World War II, she was commissioned to serve the Royal Navy. Following her stint as a war support vessel, the motor yacht returned to private use and has been "lovingly cared for" since 2010 by her current owners, as an "icon of classic yachting style" with many of her original features restored. She boasts a six-metre Riva Superflorida tender on board and a grand seven-cabin layout.

Madiz is asking €9,750,000 with Camper & Nicholsons.

Asteria

Builder: Anastassiades & Tsortanides
Length: 48.8m
Year: 1970

Asteria started life in 1970 as a salvage tug. Initially constructed by Greek shipyard Anastassiades & Tsortanides, an extensive conversion in 2002 remodelled her into a luxury explorer, with French firm Charles Zana responsible for her redesign. She underwent a further refit in 2019 and not long after she took home the Voyager's Award at the 2022 World Superyacht Awards for completing a mammoth journey from Central America to Alaska with her owners. Features on board include a touch-and-go helipad, a movie saloon-come-library and a children's cabin aft of the master, which can be converted into a gym, study or wellness centre.

Asteria is asking $19,900,000 with Worth Avenue Yachts.

Merrymaid

Builder: Camper & Nicholsons
Length: 34.1m
Year: 1904

A proven pedigree sailing yacht, Merrymaid has a spectacular history of racing and world cruising. She enjoyed a successful regatta career for many years, even campaigning in the Big Class against yachts such as Britannia and Lulworth, between being laid up in Europe during the World Wars. After a long period of rest and several refits, she underwent a major two-year rebuild in 2006 with her new owner, before embarking on a circumnavigation – which she successfully completed in three years. Merrymaid still champions her original mahogany interior, including burgundy leather accents, for up to six guests. Other top features including a gas-fired fireplace and modern entertainment centre.

Merrymaid is asking €1,150,000 with Camper & Nicholsons and Edmiston.

Western Isles

Builder: Ishikawajima-Harima
Length: 48.9m
Year: 1974

Described as "elegant, but rugged", by her brokers, Western Isles is everything that she seems. Boasting a range of 8,000 nautical miles at a nine-knot cruising speed and a light volume of 399GT, the 48.5-metre is a more-than-capable explorer yacht with a comfortable live-aboard layout. Accommodation is for up to 14 guests in seven cabins, who can enjoy a vast yet sheltered upper deck with Jacuzzi, bar, al fresco dining and sunpads and a broad yet cosy main saloon.

Western Isles is asking $5,160,000 with Ocean Independence.

Shenandoah of Sark

Builder: Townsend & Downey
Length: 54.3m
Year: 1902

According to her broker, Shenandoah of Sark has been the "pride and joy of numerous aristocrats, industrialists and magnates throughout her 122 years of history". Penned by arguably the world's first superyacht designer, Theodore E. Ferris, the classic three-masted gaff-rigged schooner has not only been host to several A-list parties, but she has sailed in countless regattas and even circumnavigated the world multiple times. Unsurprisingly, the historic sailing yacht has benefited from several refits since she first hit the water in 1902, but her most notable is the award-winning interior redesign by Terence Disdale, with her baby Steinway piano remaining intact.

Shenandoah of Sark is asking €9,500,000 with Mediterranean Yachts.