Delivered in 1930 by the Welsh yard Dickie & Sons for W.G. Hetherington of Glasgow, M/Y Over The Rainbow has had a long and fascinating history. Originally christened Janetha IV, this yacht was constructed using teak over oak frames. It spent its early years cruising around the Scottish coast, ensuring maximum levels of comfort and luxury for Hetherington and his family until 1939 and the outbreak of World War II.

The Royal Navy commandeered Janetha IV during the war, renaming her HMS Corax and using her as a coastal patrol vessel. A unique tidbit from this period is that the yacht's dining room served as the principal officer's mess, where darts were a popular pastime. The original Honduras mahogany panels still bear the scars from missed darts, adding to Over The Rainbow’s rich history and character.

Post-war, she was renamed Lady Jeanetta and briefly travelled around the US before returning to the Mediterranean. There, anchored off Athens, she became a popular floating casino, allowing locals to bypass strict gambling laws. In the late 1940s, the yacht changed hands and names again, becoming Ismini III and disappearing from public view for nearly 40 years.

In the 1990s, an English yachting enthusiast purchased the vessel, introduced her to the charter market, and relocated her to the Cote D’Azur. In the early 2000s, a Belgian artist fell in love with her classic charm and romance, acquiring the yacht and renaming her M/Y Over The Rainbow in 2002. The vessel then underwent a meticulous two-year rebuild at a specialised Italian shipyard to preserve her historical value and breathe new life into her.

Under Captain Jean Louis Legros's supervision, the oak frames and teak planking were fully restored, the hull caulked using traditional methods, and the exterior wooden superstructure re-varnished.

Genova-based SYDAC managed the interior restoration, reconfiguring and upgrading the space while retaining many original features. The interior now boasts light cherry wood finishes, exquisitely appointed cabins, ensuites, and beautiful artistic features like stained-glass deck lights.

Upon completion of the rebuild in 2004, Over The Rainbow’s proud owner relocated her to Nice, France, where she has been meticulously preserved.

Technical Specifications

Builder: Dickie & Sons
LOA: 114’ 9” (35 metres)
Range: 2000NM
Year: 1930
Hull: Wood
Engine: Twin Gardner 230hp installed in 1990

Over The Rainbow can be chartered in the Mediterranean for €65,000 per week, plus expenses.

If you are interested in finding out more about this, or any other explorer yacht, feel free to contact me. Additionally, if you would like to charter a boat anywhere in the world, regardless of your budget, don't hesitate to reach out. You can contact me at john@yacht-buoy.com.

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John Johnson | Yacht Buoy

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