La Malorquina was owned by a number of Jersey residents after being bought by Maurice Merhet (78) and David Thompson (74) in 1978.
She was recently acquired by Princess Yachts, a leading luxury yacht design company that originally produced the boats.
As part of the celebrations, the vessel – a ‘Project 31’ built in 1968 – will be restored and exhibited at locations all over the world.
- The restored La Malorquina will be unveiled at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, sitting alongside Princess Yachts latest 35-metre M-Class superyacht
- She will be making appearances at boating festivals around the world
- More than 150 Project 31 boats were produced between 1966 and 1969, with the original model selling for £3,400
- Watch the restoration project here
‘We are delighted that the boat is being used by Princess Yachts,’ Mr Merhet said.
‘We had it for a number of years, and during all those years we never had a cross word!’
Mr Thompson added: ‘When you see her all done up, it brings all your good memories back.’
Mr Merhet said that after realising that their original boat, Lady Eleanor, was underinsured, he contacted Rossborough to increase the cover to £10,000.
But on the same night, before the insurance paperwork could be completed, a storm ripped the vessel from its mooring in St Catherine’s Bay and Lady Eleanor sank.
Luckily, the policy paid out after the insurers said that they would honour the deal, which had been recorded on paper but not processed.
Mr Merhet, who was a butcher at the time, and Mr Thompson, who worked in office supplies, then travelled to the London Boat Show, hoping to buy the same model.
Although there were no Project 31s available at the show, they were told about a boat in Majorca that was being sold as part of an estate.
They rushed to the Spanish island and bought La Malorquina for about £4,000 in 1978.
She came with the white ensign of the Royal Navy, as its previous owner had been a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world.
While sailing her back to Jersey, near Bordeaux the pair passed a Royal Navy destroyer, and after hurriedly looking up the correct maritime protocol, they dipped their ensign and were duly saluted by the huge military vessel.
Once back in Jersey, the boat enabled Mr Merhet, Mr Thompson and their families to go on weekend getaways, usually to Port Bail or Sark.
They eventually sold La Malorquina, but Mr Merhet bought her back after a couple of years, later selling her to friends, Justin Surcouf and Charlotte Dickson, from whom Princess Yachts bought her.
And La Malorquina’s most recent owners have also asked if she can make an appearance at next year’s Jersey Boat Show.
‘We are in regular contact with Princess Yachts, who call us with updates,’ Miss Dickson said. ‘It is a lovely story of a Jersey boat that has gone on to a life of fame.’
