History of S/Y Southern Cross. A classic boat for private events in Barcelona
S/Y SOUTHERN CROSS
S/Y Southern Cross is a steel hulled ketch with wooden masts. It is the largest steel yacht built in Scotland by Yarrow & Co. shipyards, located in Scotstoun, Glasgow.
Yarrow was the company in charge of the construction and repair of the British Navy fleet since the post-war period, having the greatest construction boom in 1960.
It was then that S/Y Southern Cross was designed and ordered to be built. The design was carried out by W. McPherson Campbell, a renowned naval architect, who tried to design a yacht for navigation in rough waters such as those in the area of England.
Shipyard built metal plate
In 1962, the ship was equipped with the best and most innovative technology of the time, as well as some of the top interior design of the time. In fact, that same year it was awarded the prize for the best yacht of the year by Lloyd’s Register “Yacht of the Year” Trophy, competing with 86 other yachts from around the world.
Yarrow shipyard book
It has been speculated for more than a decade that its construction was, on the one hand, an agreement between magnates and, on the other, a gift to the British Royal Family.
The truth is that there are records of the ship at all levels, except for the four years subsequent to the launch from 1963 to 1967, in which there is no record. Experts in the matter affirm that it is the typical mark of the goods that have been enjoyed or have been at the service of some royal house. In any case, the promoter of its construction and the first owner was Major Frederick William Cundiff, a former naval officer and politician, as well as an influential member of the British Parliament.
The ship was launched under the original name of Southern Cross, the same name that she currently has and that her current owner very rightly recovered in 2001.
But it has not been the only one, it came to have other names that are detailed below:
Schierensee, Patrilla, Lola-Min, and Amstel.
During the 70s it is known that the ship was in the Caribbean area and it is very likely that one of its owners was a company linked to Frank Sinatra, in fact, there are photos of the actor on board S/Y Southern Cross.
In 1970 it had its first refit in which the superstructure was probably modified and the material was changed to aluminum.
In 1998 its second great refit, in which the solarium on the upper deck and some basic aspects of habitability were modified.
Even having spent a whopping 6 decades since her launch, the ship maintains the character and atmosphere of the British style, being the bridge a space-museum, since it still retains the original machinery control elements and in good working order. A relic of navigation!
Old controls in the bridge of the vessel
Currently, and since the year 2000, the ship sleeps in Barcelona, being a jewel of the historical navigation of the city. Her current owner, Ramón Tomás, who has definitively recovered his original name, is in love with classic objects. He is recognized for its authentic collection of vehicles (motorcycles and cars) from all eras, completing this same collection with S/Y Southern Cross ketch.
The ship is located in Barcelona and can be visited in the Maremagnum area. It offers private charter services for groups in events and company events up to 65 passengers as well as daily tours scheduled for sunset in Barcelona. Also can be rented as exclusive charter boat for a weekend or week in Balearic island, specially in Ibiza.
S/Y Southern Cross is registered as a commercial passenger ship in the Spanish Canary Islands Special Registry as (Group 1 Class H). It is rented regularly in Spanish waters. It is currently licensed to carry up to 65 passengers plus 5 crew members on coastal departures.