A custom megayacht dating to 1977 that has quite a turbulent history is going under court-ordered auction. Bella T is in barebones shape, but a survey shows she’s structurally sound. The auction also includes four containers of equipment ranging from engines to stabilizers and wood planks from meranti to teak.
The 148’6” (45.3-meter) Bella T started construction in Spain for Roy Carver, an American businessman. Among other things, he owned Bandag, a leading supplier of rubber for retreading tires. Carver enjoyed yachting, too, and commissioned Arthur De Fever and Doug Sharp to design Lac III, as he planned to call her. However, he never ended up taking delivery. Maritime de Axpe, the shipyard, ran late on construction. Therefore, Carver commissioned another megayacht, Lac II, from Feadship. That project saw delivery in 1975, 18 months before Lac III. Lac III ended up passing through several owners’ hands in the ensuing years, including the Sultan of Sabah in Southeast Asia and another unnamed Malaysian yachtsman.
The early 2000s, though, are when the tumultuous times really began. In 2001, Earl Romans, an American, bought the yacht, which was sitting in Malaysia. Romans and his wife christened the yacht Summit One and had her transported to South Africa for a refit. Work ceased in 2003, due to financial disputes between the Romans and the repair yard, court records show. The yacht has remained in South Africa since then, incomplete, despite a few further owners stepping into the picture over more than a decade. Finally, in late November last year, a court ordered Bella T to be auctioned early this year.
Sitting dockside as essentially a stripped-down steel hull and aluminum superstructure, Bella T has a value of 37.7 million South African Rand. That’s nearly the equivalent of $2.5 million. A survey performed in June 2020 found the yacht “in very good condition,” additionally meeting Lloyds standards.
Solution Strategists, a maritime-auction house in South Africa, is holding the auction. Ariella Kuper, founder of Solution Strategists, will personally be the auctioneer on March 1, hosting via Microsoft Teams starting at 4 a.m. Eastern time.
Registration for the auction is available at Solution Strategists’ website. Only registered bidders and their associated parties will receive a connection link.
Solution Strategists solutionstrat.com
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