The photographer Ara Guler in the owner’s speedboat as it moves alongside the Yacht in the Marmara Sea towards Istanbul in the near vicinity.

ISTANBUL.9 July 1992. The Turkish photographer Ara GULER was invited by his friend and compatriot the shipbuilder Mr Kahraman SADIKOGLU to come to the nearby Istanbul shipyards where was docked the former State Yacht Princess Savanora) of President Mustafa Kemel ATATURK the President of the Turkish Nation.Mr Sadikoglu had purchased the severely damaged wreck of the yacht that had during its lifetime also been in later years used as a training vessel for the Turkish Naval Academy but its upkeep was financially impossible to maintain.Thus the old yacht was completely restored and overhauled and modernised by Mr Sadikoglu and his team .This to updated facilities to the extent that Ataturk’s ‘personal cabin’ with its fireplace and portrait above it was maintained, the former brass railings of the 3 deck inner spiral staircase had in later years been used for scrap metal and only 1 meter of the original ornate handrail was found and thus copied and installed to its former glory. Mr Sadikoglu used the best Turkish craftsmen to completely restore the yacht and make it into an 8 cabin vessel to be hired out in future to wealthy patrons and admirors.The adjoining beautiful wooden “launch” that Kemal Ataturk used to go ashore, was also completely renovated in its original style.The new modifications included a HAMAM (Turkish bath) in the lower deck with a portal access to the sea, the 8 cabins were luxuriously decorated and each had “marble cabin doors” with private toilets and showers or baths. A large Anglo/Turkish personnel was hired and a hairdressing salon assistant, to cater for the new guests which had the facilities of both a Turkish and European Chef to prepare their meals and personal assistants were hired. At the rear of the yacht was a helicopter pad, and in the front of the ships’ foredeck was a Jacuzzi bath.Ara GULER was a private guest of the shipbuilder and escorted the vessel along the Bosphorus for its restored inaugural arrival and party docked near the Dolmabahce Sarayi (Palace) where hundreds of guests were invited to a black tie celebration.

(Photos copyright James A Fox)