CLASSIC BOAT JANUARY 2018 57
BUDI
Juliana seemed very attached to the warm water of the
Mediterranean. She frequently ventured, even at a
greater age, to dive off the almost five-metre-high
flybridge and swim to the rocky shore, followed by her
security detail in a rubber dinghy. Up to his death on
1 December, 2004, Bernhard owned Jumbo VI, a steel,
25m yacht manufactured by Moonen in 1990.
As you might have guessed, the Prince was an
elephant aficionado. “Yes, I do collect elephants,” the
Prince said himself. “I have so many, the Americans
think I’m a Republican.” His study was filled with
elephant busts and models in all shapes and sizes. He
had one that he took with him everywhere as a kind of
talisman. That is now in the possession of the current
King Willem-Alexander. In 1989, HRH Bernhard
convinced the leaders of African countries to stop
hunting his favourite animal. He played a role in the
international ban on the trade in ivory. And all his boats
carry the names of elephants. Including Budi.the Starfighter F104. The so-called Lockheed bribery
scandals came to light through an investigation by the
American Senate. It was to cost Bernhard the privilege of
wearing his beloved uniforms in public, among other things.
GRAND BANKS
He was also crazy about everything that floats. Prince
Bernhard loved being on the water. In later life, he liked
to make trips on his Jumbos – as he called his big yachts.
Of the first three Jumbos, very little is known. Jumbo
IV and V are both Grand Banks. Jumbo IV is a 36-footer
and the Jumbo V measures 58ft. Only nine 58s were
made, between 1991 and 1993. These ships are among
the flagships of Grand Banks and were allocated to the
‘happy few’, among them HRH Prince Bernhard of the
Netherlands. Prince Bernhard used his Jumbo V from
Porto Ercole in Italy to set off on family day trips from
his country house l’Elefante Felice (the Happy Elephant).
He himself liked to stand at the helm, while Princess
Top: simple
interior after a
major refit
Above, l-r: 1960s
throttle levers;
the happy
elephant motif
remains;
windlass; Budi’s
yard plate