The yacht Attessa III was docked in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour during my trip, and yes that is a helicopter perched on the rear of the ship. Attessa III is 205 feet long and ranks as the thirteenth largest yacht in America, and the sixty-ninth largest yacht in the world.
I have been obsessed with super-mega yachts for the past year, there is just something about having a ship capable of a trans-Atlantic passage. There would be no end to my freedom, well other than pirates! I thought that I had at least one of Katherine’s colleagues convinced that we could easily over power the staff and get into International waters with the yacht, but no one else showed up in black pajamas at the appointed time. I guess my argument that we could use the helicopter for a quick getaway if the Canadian Navy got too close wasn’t persuasive enough.
September 21st, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Wow Randy — taking over a ship! And I thought plotting to steal a penguin was trouble…!
September 22nd, 2005 at 7:33 am
My first thought was actually that I bet Holly’s dad could build me one of these! Then I moved on to the fact that I couldn’t afford even if he did give me a discount, and decided that I needed to liberate the ship from the grip of the oppressors!
November 19th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
I live in Los Angeles and had the pleasure of seeing this yacht up close last Thursday. Attessa was docked in Marina Del Rey and my friend and I were walking a block away. We just had to take a detour to make sure our eyes weren’t deceiving us. We were able to walk up to about 20 feet from it - it is a magnificent ship.
November 21st, 2005 at 5:46 pm
I hung around and waited to see this magnificent ship leave MDR at 1.00 pm today.
Drawfing everything in the main channel, and Mr. Washington on one of the stern decks,it was an impressive sight as ‘ATTESSA’ made its way to Long Beach and beyond.
November 28th, 2005 at 12:33 pm
My wife and I saw the “Attessa” at the gas dock in Alamitos Bay, Long Beach, while we were walking. Really impressive. The amazing thing is I saw a picture on the internet today (Monday) of the “Attessa” at what I am sure is the same gas dock. How the picture made it to the internet so fast is as amazing as the ship. (Well, not just as amazing, but amazing never-the-less.)
January 9th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
The Attessa is snug in the harbour at Cabo San Lucas today, the crew is very friendly and waving from the top deck. Must be nice. Beautiful dayh here from my balcony on the Holland America Oostedam.
Ken CE
January 17th, 2006 at 11:15 am
As I sit here in my La Estancia ocean front condo I have had the pleasure of viewing this beautiful ship everyday directly in front of our room in Cabo San Lucas bay. Watching the helicopter take off and land today was so cool.
January 20th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
January 14/05 in the harbour at Cabo San Lucas, observing from the Carnival Pride. The Attessa is testing out the lengthy banana jet boat it towed into the harpour. A smaller jet boat ties up alonside and the driver sets up his fishing rod to catch dinner and disappears onto the Attesssa.
January 26th, 2006 at 12:58 am
We just returned from Puerto Vallarta on Monday. This amazing yacht was anchored in the bay not far of shore from our hotel. It arrived on Wednesday the 18th and was still there when we left. What a way to live life! Here we live in Vancouver where it was rebuilt but it took going to Mexico to see it.
February 1st, 2006 at 9:29 pm
This beauty was cruising into the bay at Yelapa last Saturday and was still in Puerto Vallerta on 1/30. Quite something to see.
February 3rd, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Last weekend we all sat on the beach in Yelapa watching the drama unfold. It dwarfed our tiny Yelapa bay. Some of the crew joined us and were kind enough to answer our questions about the yacht. Amazing sight.
February 6th, 2006 at 11:29 am
I was fortunate enough to see and take a picture of this ship while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, we could see it from our hotel every day from January 21st throught the 28th, and we also rode on a pirate ship that went right beside it so we got a real close up view. There were many rumors about who owned this ship but I took a picture and found it in a magazine so they were all wrong. But this was a very beautiful ship with the helicoptor on the rear, I was glad I got to see it.
March 9th, 2006 at 10:28 am
The ATESSA III arrived in Flamenco Marina (Panama), March 08. I recognized it from the magazine ShowBoats International sitting in my office. Incredible vessel, if you read the article you realize how its owner paid attention to detail. Hopefully, 1 day I could afford such luxury.
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:35 pm
ATTESSA is presently on anchor in the North Sound at Virgin Gorda
April 16th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
The Atessa was on anchor at Virgin Gorda until april 3rd. The yacht left during the evening for Tortola island. Pictures available!!
July 14th, 2006 at 10:08 am
I have been on this boat - fantastic. 24 ft + a new deck were added to the original.
July 31st, 2006 at 7:10 am
Jack, now I am jealous!
September 10th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
I saw Attessa on Friday in Zadar (Croatia)
nice boat, nice helicopter, nice whirlpool
September 14th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Sitting in Zadar on the 14th of Sept - helicopter just landed - amazing!
September 20th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
The Attessa is on anchor in Venice on 18th September. It was an amazing picture when we passed by on the car ferry boat to Venice Lido.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
We saw the Attessa in Puerto Vallarta on mon. march 19. We were returning from a whale watching excursion and this “palace on the sea” attracted more attention than the whales from the tourists on our boat!
April 8th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
We saw the Attessa this morning in La Paz, Baja Mex. it’s a beautiful!
April 30th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I saw the amazing Atessa in La Paz, Baja yesterday April 30. Wow….
May 8th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Attessa is docked at the Kona Kai in San Diego as of tonight 5/7/07. What a magnificient vessel she is, dwarfing all others in both size and beauty.
May 17th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
It’s a pretty Cool Yacht… docked in San Diego: Shelter Island…
Just Imagine all the Fun you can do with it… specially with that Helicopter…
May 29th, 2007 at 10:12 am
We spotted Attessa anchored off Sausalito, California yesterday, May 28th. We didn’t observe any activity on deck, but what a magnificent craft she is. Can anyone tell me about the flag she is flying? It has a red field, a union jack canton, and some sort of device that we couldn’t make out on the field.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Just saw Atessa as we awoke this a.m. as it passed by our condo in Victoria, B.C. What a way to begin a new day and new month! Will get a closer look at it later in the harbour here.
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 am
We just saw the Attessa docked in Victoria’s inner harbour. We asked the security who the Yacht belongs to and he said it was confidential. Does anyone know who owns or sails in the Attessa.
June 3rd, 2007 at 3:36 am
Attessa caused quite a commotion here in Victoria today. I had spotted her earlier in the day on a bike ride into town and had to go back for a closer look. Hubby says he remembers her when she was here in 2005. At ~7:30 pm while oohing and ahhing over her we noticed the matching tender boat bringing in the owner. We theorized he had just gotten off a harbour float plane - maybe visiting his son and/or had business dealings in Vancouver for the day. Such a beautiful boat!
We talked to one of the crew after they tied up the tender. He filled in a few blanks for us :
1. The flag she flies is from the Grand Cayman Islands where she’s registered
2. They tow the ~40 ft. tender behind the ship
3. Spent 1 year on the way to the Mediterranean, summered there, and 1 year to get back to BC
4. While the crew member politely declined naming the owner we googled to discover he’s a Montana multi billionaire Dennis Washington who does a lot of business out of Vancouver RE: tug boats, cargo boats, etc.
5. Mr. Washington doesn’t fly that pretty little helicopter himself but has someone on board who does that for him
6. 2 panels on either side of the bow of the boat actually open outward and there are 2 26 ft. speedboats inside that can be lowered by crane
7. There are 2 hot tubs on board - one at the very stern.
8. Googled information - built in 1999, originally named the Aviva, had a disastrous fire 2 years later, sat in harbour for 2 years until brought to Vancouver for a complete refit, 20 ft added on to make it 225 ft in total
8. The crew member we spoke to admitted it’s quite a nice job to have
It’s funny how this one blog entry became such a phenomenon! Thought I would just keep adding the info for those interested. I think we all dream about what it would be like to own such a beautiful boat. Completely out of reach for the majority of us - but dreaming about it ‘don’t cost a thing’.
Cheers!
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Victoria BC
Attessa was hangin’ in Victoria’s inner harbour. “nice boat, nice helicopter, nice whirlpool”
Best part was the bodyguard in a black business suit. He wore an earpiece and as he made his rounds he would routinely slash his hand playfully in the pool. Bringing his wetted hand to his nose, he would test-smell it for the right temperature, chemical mixture, and possibly for the correct dosage of strawberry scented water.
“Too much pool, not enough whirl.”
June 5th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Saw her berthed in Victoria’s Inner Harbour
A Nightmare to me NOT a dream… Yuck
SV “Pacific Swift” was berthed nearby. What a contrast between 21st century consumption and Old-World grace and class.
June 7th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Saw her on a recent trip to Vancouver Island. What a site. Here is a link to some shots of her interior. Almost too much luxary, but I wouldn’t mind being invited for a trip. I have the feeling guests are taken VERY good care of while on board.
http://www.gjdi.net/gjdi_projects.htm
July 4th, 2007 at 10:30 am
July 3, 2007
Attessa moored in Coal Harbour, Vancouver. I have seen many mega yachts as I live across from the Marina but the Attessa is a dream. Small party going on there and rumour has it that Wayne Gretzky is one of the guests.
July 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Attessa just passed my apartment in West Vancouver, BC. Beautiful (although I’m a sailor with a J37). Cool drizzly evening and grey skies. Interior lights on. No sign of occupants.
I was in Sydney, Australia (did the Sydney to Hobart Race) and saw many fantastic boats at CYCA. Attessa would be right at home…
August 1st, 2007 at 11:20 pm
The Attessa is berthed in Coal Harbour in beautiful Vancouver Canada on July 31, 2007. after extensive googling it is apparent she is owned by Montana industrialist Dennis Washington. This man has made and lost lots of money over the years. One wonders how such conspicuous consumption goes unnoticed when crack heads and homeless are always in the news in East van. I am now in tears over the dichotomy between the ultra rich and the desperately poor. Is this what will dominate our world in the coming years? Two ridiculous extremes with nothing left in in the middle?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:01 am
You wrote:
“I have been obsessed with super-mega yachts for the past year, there is just something about having a ship capable of a trans-Atlantic passage. ”
If you want to see something that’s truly capable of any passage, regardless of the weather, check out our site. A lot of seaworthiness and space for a lot less money.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Walking around Coal Harbour and the Attessa is still moored there. Very impressive and you can walk within 75 feet of it. Saw the Attessa 1 month ago at Coal Harbour but not the helicopter, it was there tonight. Took pictures, fantastic !!!
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Just got back from Puerto Vallarta, the Attessa was anchored off the beach in front of the Golden Crown resort and moved into the harbour on the 29th of Feb. Impressive ship.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
ATTESSA WAS IN YELAPA (A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE) ABOUT 40 MINUTES SOUTHWEST OF PUERTO VALLARTA ON MARCH 7TH 2008. WE HAD TO LEAVE THAT DAY. NOT SURE IF IT IS STILL THERE.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Atessa is right now anchored in Costa Baja Resort in La Paz, BCS, Mexico, just 5 miles from La Paz. it’ll leave the docks on wednesday 23rd, 2008.
it’s a must to see it.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Saturday, June 21st, 2008 - currently anchored in Cabo San Lucas (and has been all week). It is a beautiful site from our room at Pueblo Bonito Rose.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
We just saw Attessa in Shelter Island, San Diego, CA over the weekend of 7/12/08, she’d pulled in the week prior so we were told. VERY beautiful and impressive ship - definitely a must see if you get the chance.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:38 am
I saw the Attessa today in San Diego CA. This is a very big and beatiful ship. My wife brother sister and I could not believe how big this boat was.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I saw the Attessa docked in Marina del Rey on October 1,2008. What a beauty.