One of the Italian built legendary superyachts around is the 1972 built LADY SARYA.
She was built by Nuovi Cantieri Apuania in Marina di Carrara, Italy, for New York property developer William Levitt as LA BELLE SIMONE She use to host the most glamorous celebrities of the era, including Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Michael Caine, Harry Belafonte, Julio Iglesias, Gina Lollobrigida, Rex Harrison, and James Bonds Sean Connery and Roger Moore. The distinctive yacht also made an appearance in the famous 1978 film ‘The Greek Tycoon’ based on Aristotle Onassis’ life with Anthony Quinn. A refit by Van Der Giessen in 1974 she was lengthened by 36 feet. Twin 2,237 kW MTU diesel engines give her a 21 knot top speed.
Her owner was Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Arabia’s former oil minister from 1962 to 1986 and minister in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for 25 years. In December 1975, Yamani and the other OPEC ministers were taken hostage by the terrorist Carlos (the Jackal) in Vienna, Austria. The hostages were released after two days riding an airplane across North Africa, even though Carlos was ordered by his superiors to execute Yamani and his Iranian counterpart Jamshid Amouzegar. Yamani stepped down from his role as the oil minister when he was dismissed by King Fahd in October 1986. In 1990, Yamani founded the Centre for Global Energy Studies, a market analysis group, and remained involved in private investments and cultural foundations. Yamani died on 23rd February 2021 in London, aged 90, to be later buried in his hometown, Mecca.
Recently refurbished in 2020, LADY SARYA luxurious on board atmosphere has been respected and maintained while adding a fresh touch. For a new owner, there is the potential to re-configure the spacious interior and exterior areas to increase the number of berths. Depending on how the prospective owner envisages using the yacht, she could easily accommodate 17 guests as a private yacht or up to 49 guests as a support vessel.
All photos of LADY SARYA at Grand Harbour, Malta are back to Saturday 28th August, 1999.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. NO PHOTOS can be used or manipulated without our permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Wednesday 3rd March, 2021.
