Classic Boat — January 2018

58 CLASSIC BOAT JANUARY 2018

BUDI

BAKDEKKER

Prince Bernhard was set, on the occasion of his 50th

birthday on 29 June, 1961, to officially accept the

motor yacht Budi, a Bakdekker of 52ft 4in (16.5m). In

anticipation of this, he performed the inauguration of

the boat earlier that year. The Prince chose the name

himself. Inevitably, it was inspired by a large, grey

animal with a trunk. The Prince had even chosen a tie

pin in the form of an elephant. The word Budi is

derived from the African term for a young elephant

without tusks. “The Africans believe that these are

lucky elephants,” Prince Bernhard had said.

Bernhard came to the yard, or ‘shipwarf’, of

Nicolaas Witsen & Vis, in Alkmaar, to receive his

present. Roelof Noteboom says: “The ship was a

present from the cream of the Dutch business

community, men such as Cornelis Verolme (a yard

magnate), Fokker (aircraft manufacturer) and the

families Stork, Ten Cate and Phillips. This gesture was

an acknowledgement of the efforts of HRH in

promoting the national business community abroad.

Bernhard wanted to use the motor yacht during

holidays at the country house, ‘The Happy Elephant’,

in Porto Ercole.”

SEAWORTHY

The design brief was simple: fast, sporty, dynamic and

prestigious. It also needed to have space for a great

number of guests, for exclusive sightseeing tours on the

Mediterranean with a glass of champagne in hand. The

large teak deck was a consequence.

On that sunny day in 1961, the royal smile was wider

than ever. “It’s a beautiful ship,” he said. The director of

the yard, Abraham Vis, concurred: “This order is a

highlight of my career as a shipwright. We have done our

best to adjust the ship to your wishes.”

CHAMPAGNE

Abraham Vis invited the Prince to launch the yacht. With

force, he threw the traditional bottle of champagne

against the hull and said: “I name this ship Budi, may

God bless her and all who sail her.”

A moment later he informed those present there

would be no professional skipper for Budi. The Prince

would take her to Porto Ercole himself.

He navigated Budi with great pleasure for years. Over

the summer, the ship was staffed and maintained by two

marine officers and a steward. By the mid-1970s, the

Prince felt the need for a bigger yacht. The era of the

Jumbos commenced. Budi, the small elephant, was sold

to friends for a nominal amount.

RESTORATION

Roelof, with his brother-in-law Dick de Regt, is the

current owner of the ship. Seven years ago, he bought

her in a run-down state.

“We had to seriously restore Budi,” says Noteboom.

“We did so using old drawings and photographs. But in

the meantime, it has been restored to its original state for

a few years, even a little better than that. I bought it off a

widow who wanted to get rid of it after the death of her

husband. She tried unsuccessfully to auction it off, that’s

how I noticed it. A year later, I approached her and was

able to buy the boat after all.”

I am standing on the teak deck with a glass of

excellent wine in my hand. The lifebuoys of the Budi,

with the happy young orange elephant on them, smile

at me. The sun slides over the deck and sparkles in the

chrome. That chrome takes me back in time. Back to

the Sixties. The glory time of this yacht, when the jet

set of the world, invited by the Prince, enjoyed the

good life. For a moment, I fancy myself a guest of the

charming man. I hear the guests laugh, and when I

close my eyes, I feel the Italian sun.

Life is great aboard the royal Budi. Even on the

Loosdrechtse Plassen.

Above: her

launch at the

Nicolaas Witsen

& Vis yard in

Alkmaar, 1961

BUDI

LOA

52ft 4in

(16.5m)

BEAM

11ft 4in

(3.5m)

DRAUGHT

3ft 6in

(1.1m)

ENGINES

2 x 120hp

Detroit

diesels

BUILT

1961