Columbia Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, The World Is Not Enough, Octopussy, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall are among the ships named after James Bond films. Denison has named his 22 yachts after James Bond flicks since 1985, when he built the 118.1-foot For Your Eyes Only for John Staluppi.
If the movie titles are well-known, the ships are in a league of their own. The MI6 agent has pursued criminals on fast go-fast boats, courted Bond Girls on breezy sailing yachts, and entered villains’ lairs disguised as sleek leisure vessels.
Some vessels’ appearances in famous film pictures have increased their charter legitimacy, while others have backstories straight out of a Hollywood script. A few have even appeared on the brokerage market, allowing investors to own a piece of 007 history.
The following are the nine most well-known.
‘Delos’ (ex ‘Aurora’) in ‘From Russia With Love’
According to Christopher Wilson, the 293-foot Delos served as Spectre’s headquarters in the 1963 film From Russia with Love, in which Sean Connery reprised his role as 007, and also served as an inspiration for “The Love Boat.” Wilson, a former software entrepreneur, bought the German-built cruise ship in 2008 after it had become abandoned and was put up for sale on Craigslist. After 15 years of intensive renovation, Wilson plans to turn the ancient yacht into a museum and boutique hotel.
‘Kingdom 5KR’ (ex ‘Nabila’) in ‘Never Say Never Again’
The mythical MY Flying Saucer in Never Say Never Again has its own Hollywood origin story, having been built in 1980 by Benetti for Saudi weapons trader Adnan Khashoggi. Following its appearance alongside Sean Connery in the 1983 film, the Sultan of Brunei seized the boat and sold it to Donald Trump, who renamed it Trump Princess. Ownership was bought in 1991 by Saudi billionaire industrialist Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. He renamed it Kingdom 5KR and keeps it virtually constantly headquartered in Antibes, Côte d’Azur.
‘Trafalgar’ (ex ‘Moonmaiden II’) in ‘The Living Daylights’
Timothy Dalton makes his first appearance as the gentleman spy in the pre-title sequence of the 1987 movie The Living Daylights by parachuting onto the Moonmaiden II’s aft deck while on fire. Although there are less complicated ways to board a yacht, when does James Bond ever take the safe route? The classic 1970s canoe-stern yacht known as Trafalgar is presently up for sale through Ocean Independence with a $2,500,000 asking price.
Glastron GT-150 in ‘Live and Let Ԁιе’
The 1972 Glastron GT-150 utilized by Roger Moore in the Live and Let Die chase sequence was most definitely 007’s most thrilling water run. Bond rushed for ten minutes through the backwaters of the Louisiana Bayou, jumped multiple bridges, and eventually blew up his adversary’s boat in the name of Her Majesty. During filming, 26 Glastrons were employed, nine of which were GT-150s, probably to replace vehicles damaged during combat sequences.
Riva Aquarama in ‘Goldeneye’
In the 1995 film Goldeneye, Pierce Brosnan made his presence known as James Bond by accelerating out of Monaco’s Port Hercules and toward an anchored three-deck motor boat in a sleek Riva Aquarama. For this purpose, Marintek Verkstads of Sweden built the 142-foot Northern Cross in 1991. The lavish Mediterranean principality hasn’t appeared in a later Bond movie, but Brosnan went on to appear in three more movies.
‘Soufrière’ in ‘Casino Royale’
Casino Royale signaled the start of a new era for the film franchise. The 2006 film not only featured Daniel Craig’s gritty portrayal of Bond, but it also marked a departure from white boats: who can forget the classic scene in which Bond and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) glided into Venice on the 54-foot Soufrière from British boatbuilder Spirit Yachts? Berthon International is presently selling the vessel for $534,000 USD.
‘Casino Royale’ in ‘Casino Royale’
As James Bond rode Soufrière down the Grand Canal, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) constructed his floating hideaway onboard the 108-foot Sunseeker Predator dubbed Casino Royale. This speedy boat is perfect for brief escapes or, more realistically, summer day cruises between Saint Tropez and Monaco because of its top speeds of 45 knots. The yacht is a favorite due to its toy-filled garage and foredeck Jacuzzi. The plane is currently being rented by AeroVanti in Florida.
‘Aria 1’ (ex ‘Regina’) in ‘Skyfall’
In 2012’s Skyfall, Craig, who has a passion for classic sailing yachts, travels alongside Severine (Bérénice Marlohe) into another almost certain death. Regina, an 183.1-foot schooner constructed by Pruva in Turkey in 2011, played the part of the mythical Chimera. Up to its sale in 2018, the gulet-style boat was a well-liked charter yacht. It is now operated by new owners and is known as Aria 1. It is presently situated in Greece.
Spirit 46 in ‘No Time to Ԁιе’
Craig’s 007 understands that if you like a boat builder, you remain with them. Bond moves up to a larger boat in No Time to e, which will be released in 2021, a Spirit 46, likewise manufactured by Spirit Yachts. However, like its owner, the elegant 46-foot sailing yacht’s performance in tournament racing has been established.
