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Malahne, the Art Deco yacht sailing through history

Malahne, the 1937 Art Deco yacht shaped by wartime service, Hollywood glamour and an exceptional restoration

Discover Malahne, the classic Camper & Nicholsons yacht now available for luxury charter in the Mediterranean

Some yachts attract attention through their size, while others are remembered for the lives they have lived. Malahne clearly belongs to the latter group. Built in 1937 by Camper & Nicholsons, this classic motor yacht of approximately 50 metres combines the elegance of a pre-war vessel with a remarkable story shaped by global voyages, military service, cinema and an ambitious restoration.

A grand yacht born in the 1930s

Malahne was designed by Charles E. Nicholson for British businessman William Lawrence Stephenson, who was closely associated with the development of Woolworth in the United Kingdom. Her long bow, balanced superstructure and graceful profile reflected an era when yachting combined exploration, social prestige and extended travel. Before the Second World War, she cruised between the Mediterranean, New York and other international destinations as an elegant home created for life at sea.

From elegant cruising to the Dunkirk evacuation

The outbreak of war completely changed Malahne’s purpose. The yacht was requisitioned for British military service and in 1940 became involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo. The contrast could hardly have been greater, as a vessel designed for refined private voyages found herself operating during one of the most dramatic maritime episodes of the conflict.

The Hollywood years

After the war and several changes of ownership, Malahne was acquired in 1960 by film producer Sam Spiegel. She soon became a gathering place for the international film community and was used as a floating production headquarters during the making of Lawrence of Arabia. Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas and Jack Nicholson were among the celebrated guests associated with her decks, helping Malahne become one of Hollywood’s most storied yachts.

A classic identity gradually transformed

Fame alone could not protect the yacht from changing tastes. During the 1980s, Malahne underwent extensive alterations to her superstructure and guest accommodation. Although the changes reflected contemporary expectations, they also concealed much of the clarity and balance of the original design. As the years passed, her general condition deteriorated and the prospect of recovering the yacht’s historic appearance became increasingly challenging.

A return to the original vision

Malahne’s fortunes changed when a new owner agreed to support an exceptionally demanding restoration. The project, developed with the involvement of Edmiston, was entrusted to Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth. Rather than simply updating the yacht, the team set out to recover her 1937 identity by removing later additions and reconstructing her profile, proportions and detailing with the help of original drawings and historical research.

Thirty months of craftsmanship and engineering

The restoration lasted 30 months and involved an almost complete rebuilding of the yacht. Electrical systems, plumbing, machinery and technical installations were replaced, while the exterior was returned to proportions much closer to the original design. Modern technology had to remain discreetly hidden within a yacht that was intended to look and feel authentically pre-war. Malahne was relaunched in Falmouth on 14 March 2015.

Art Deco interiors shaped by detail

The guest areas were recreated by Scottish designer Guy Oliver, whose approach drew on Art Deco and the decorative culture of the period. Dark woods, bespoke fabrics, balanced geometric forms and carefully selected finishes produce an atmosphere that feels historic without turning the yacht into a museum. Original 1930s Bakelite telephones, reconstructed portholes and specially designed lighting help make the experience convincing down to the smallest detail.

Historic character with contemporary comfort

Malahne can currently accommodate up to ten guests in six cabins, supported by a crew of eleven. Her main saloon, guest suites and exterior spaces retain a distinctly classical character, while navigation, air conditioning, safety systems and onboard services meet modern charter expectations. Even the custom-built 7.5-metre Cockwells tender, finished with mahogany detailing, was created to complement the yacht’s traditional appearance.

A charter experience beyond modern luxury

Chartering Malahne is not simply an opportunity to spend time aboard a luxury yacht. It offers the unusual experience of inhabiting a chapter of twentieth-century maritime history, within spaces once associated with leading figures from international cinema and society. During the summer season, the yacht is primarily available in the Mediterranean, with published weekly charter rates starting at approximately €155,000, excluding expenses.

An unmistakable presence at sea

In 2016, Malahne was named Best Rebuilt Yacht at the World Superyacht Awards, recognising the scale and quality of a project that preserved one of the few surviving pre-war motor yachts. She has no need to imitate the newest generation of superyachts. Her appeal is found in her measured proportions, authentic materials and extraordinary past, as well as in the quiet feeling of stepping aboard something that might easily have disappeared, but was instead given another life.

01 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Malahne, the Art Deco yacht sailing through history
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