Arabella anchored off Sunset Beach on Shelter Island in summer 2018.

In the early 1980s, Arabella sprang from the drawing board of naval architect Frank MacLear and began her life under the name of “Centurion.”

Photo: Centurion’s original plans include this “Construction Sections of 90 foot Brigantine.”

The owner who commissioned Centurion was John H. Millar. He was a distinguished British citizen who was born in 1903 and lived to grand old age of 103. Millar was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, served in World War II and created aviation companies in Great Britain and Monaco. By the time he commissioned Centurion, Millar was an advocate for solar power and outfitted the yacht with early solar panels as a test platform.

Photo: Centurion with her distinctive brigantine rig. She is flying the ensign of the British Royal Navy which is a singular privilege afforded to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Centurion was constructed in 1983 by the famous Palmer Johnson Yachts in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Her build number is PJ-186. Centurion’s initial configuration was a brigantine yacht with a length on deck of 90 feet. Her bowsprit brought her to 110 feet overall. There are various stories of growing pains during the first years of the yacht, including running aground in Spain, having challenges with the hydraulic systems, and more. Suffice it to say that Millar was mostly an absentee owner and the crew was learning.

Eventually Millar sold Centurion and she ended up with her first celebrity owner. She was one the most iconic women actors of the 1980s – Kelly McGillis who stared next to Tom Cruise in blockbuster “Top Gun!”

Who can forget the flight instructor who taught life lessons to Maverick while also capturing the hearts and imaginations of most of the country.

Kelly McGillis was an active owner who even sailed onboard when Centurion crossed the Atlantic Ocean! After this trip, she went on the David Letterman Show to recount her experience.

These were the Hollywood days for Centurion. Glamour, celebrities, parties and more. In 1996, the boat next door to her in a Florida marina caught fire and the flames reached Centurion, damaging her superstructure. The curtain came down on her Hollywood chapter and Centurion became an insurance loss.

It was a chance encounter that helped Centurion rise from the ashes and soar into a new life rechristened as Arabella.

Don Glassie and his junior partner John Taft were builders up in Newport, RI.  They started in home construction and had success which enabled them to branch out into hotels. In Newport, they created the Yankee Peddler, Jailhouse and Harborside Inn.

In the 1990s, they began looking for hotels in other locations which were good values and needed renovation. Where did they land? South Beach, Miami, just as the go-go days there were taking off! They renovated five hotels along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.

Photo: Don Glassie was the Newport visionary who saved Centurion and converted her into a floating boutique hotel christened “Arabella.”

In winter, Don & John would fly back and forth between Newport and their projects in South Beach. Once, while sitting in the Miami airport, Don opened a newspaper and saw the auction advertisement for the hull of Centurion.

They were intrigued about what she could become, made a bid, and won. Then John, as the junior partner, had to ride onboard as she was towed from Miami up to Fairhaven Shipyard in MA.

Their vision was powerful. Don & John were, after all, hoteliers.  The dreamed of lengthening Arabella and converting her into a boutique floating hotel.

This is exactly what happened. Centurion was cut in the center and 40 feet added. She went from 120′ to 157′. This work was done at the Fairhaven Shipyard.  Centurion was rechristened with the name “Arabella” and she was floated over to Newport RI to be fitted out.

Don was also very involved in the Newport waterfront. He was one of the four original investors in the Newport Shipyard. He owned the charter vessels Rum Runner and Madeline. He also raced the classic yacht “Fortune,” winning most of the important competitions over the years.

A third mast was added. Her interiors and superstructure were fully rebuilt. In the end, Arabella was converted into a yacht with 20 guest cabins belowdecks and a grand salon on the main level. It was brilliant, both in terms of elegance and function. Arabella was now a distinctive, beautiful and timeless classic.

Photo: With her distinctive three masts and elegant lines, Arabella is one of the most recognizable yachts in America.

With the passing of Don Glassie, the stewardship of Arabella would change once more. This would bring her to the greatest city in the world where the young Manhattan Yacht Club was located.

Manhattan Yacht Club was born in 1987 as the dream of Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh. He graduated from Princeton University and moved to New York City to reintroduce recreational sailing to the harbor. It succeeded and over the years, Manhattan Yacht Club grew from a few members to a thriving club which changed the face of the city. Along the way, there were ups and downs, such as 9/11 when the club was located at North Cove Yacht Harbor, just one block from where the towers fell. Out of all the turmoil, Commodore Fortenbaugh was put in charge of North Cove in 2005 with a mandate to help bring back the marina to its former glory.

Photo: Commodore Fortenbaugh, pictured at the forward helm of Arabella, is a hands-on visionary who created Manhattan Yacht Club. He worked his way up from maintaining J/24s to now owning Arabella. In addition to his role of overseeing all club operations, he is a USCG-licensed captain who can drive Arabella.

After a year of hard work in the trenches, the right formula was established and North Cove and the Manhattan Yacht Club took off, helping to lead the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. People from all over the city started coming back downtown which led to some of the golden days of sailing and recreation in New York Harbor.

On its 20th anniversary in 2007, Manhattan Yacht Club acquired “America II, an America’s Cup 12 Meter, considered the pinnacle of American yachting tradition.

Then on the 25th Anniversary in 2012, Commodore Fortenbaugh led the Manhattan Yacht Club in the acquisition of Arabella which would serve as their clubhouse at North Cove.

For the next two years, Arabella was the scene of a great activity. People from all over the city and world would come to sit onboard and enjoy the mega-yacht lifestyle. There were also luxury sponsorships and visits by many celebrities and some of the most famous movie stars in America. Arabella had reached another peak in her story.

In 2015, Manhattan Yacht Club moved from North Cove to Jersey City where there was more space and calmer waters. Arabella followed with the club. Then in 2017, Arabella was chartered as a spectator boat for the America’s Cup competition in Bermuda. Club members also used her for a special 30th anniversary tour when they traveled with two America’s Cup 12 Meters to visit some of the most historic yacht clubs on Long Island Sound.

In 2018, Arabella renewed its partnership with the American Sailing Association which offered week-long sailing vacations to their members. Arabella started to visit Newport, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket again.

Photo: In 2019, Arabella served as the largest spectator yacht at the 12 Meter World Championships in Newport RI.

2019 ended up being the biggest year yet for Arabella with the 12 Meter World Championships in Newport followed by ASA vacations, another ocean trip to Bermuda, and then down to the British Virgin Islands for the winter.

Photo: In November 2019, Arabella docked at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club where she hosted a party for their members.

As 2019 turned into 2020, COVID brought the world to a halt. Arabella was in the Caribbean and a group of intrepid members sailed her back home while the financial markets melted down. Back in NY Harbor, Arabella was mothballed for the whole year.

With 2021, Arabella made her first baby steps back into action. She did a record number of charter weeks with the ASA. Then she went to the Annapolis Sailboat Show where she was the largest yacht. During the winter, she did not go to the Caribbean because COVID had not stabilized. Instead, this time was used to upgrade various systems onboard including a new water maker.

Photo: The view from the aft helm station where you can steer as well as monitor the charts and engines.

Arabella looks forward to a great 2022 season, which is also the 35th Anniversary of Manhattan Yacht Club. We are here waiting for you and will be happy to welcome you aboard for one of our special events or week long vacations. You can make Arabella a part of your life.

Until we see you soon, fair winds and following seas.