The Royal Yacht Squadron motor yacht Fantôme (II) in the Bay of Naples

Originally christened Belem and built by A. Dubigeon at Nantes in 1896, the steel barque later known as Fantôme (II) began her career as a purely commercial trader owned by Denin Crouan et fils and working out of Nantes. First registered at 546 tons gross (407 net) and measuring 168 feet in length with a 29 foot beam, her working life came to an unexpected end when, shortly before the Great War, she was purchased by the Duke of Westminster for cruising. Presumably laid up for the duration of hostilities, by 1921 the Duke had installed two petrol engines by Bolinders of Stockholm and enjoyed the use of her until 1927 when he sold her to the Hon. Arthur Guinness. Since her new owner already had a steam yacht called Fantôme [see lot 367], he renamed his new acquisition Fantôme (II) and sailed her until his death in 1949 when she was sold for use as an Italian sail training ship and rechristened Giorgio Cini. Subsequently sold back into French ownership, she resumed her original name of Belem and is still sailing.