Polar Star - Photos

[Douglas]

There is another thread on Polar Star which has plans and photos.  Here are some that may not have been posted before.


The Tsar


The Tsar's mother is seat at the left.

[Douglas]

Anna V. and Grand Duchesses


It says "Standart" at the top but this is actually the Polar Star.

Sailors carrying the canvas awning into position at the stern.


Getting ready to install the awning. The object at the left is the stair railing for access to the roof of the aft salon.


The wheels are the emergency steering at the stern of the yacht.

[Douglas]

Canon salute at the harbor of Copenhagen or .København


The deck salon. Anna V. seated with one of the GD.


The young Alexie with his back to the camera.


The Tsar sitting on the roof of the salon.

[Douglas]

Alexander III






The Tsar seems to be in a hurry.  


A visit to grandmother's yacht in 1906.

[Sarushka]

A question about the photos in your first post that show various members of the IF seated on benches with windows behind them (OTMA with NII & MF; OTMA with AF):

It seems like both the Polar Star and the Standart had a very similar row of benches. Can you tell me what features help you distinguish between this area on the two yachts?

[Douglas]

That's a good question and it's not always easy to know.  The thing to look for is that the underside of the eaves of the Polar Star were painted white and the stern end of the salon was open with a pillar and exterior drapes.

Also, in that photo we see MF with her little dog.  She was not known to take her personal pooch onboard the Standart.

A question about the photos in your first post that show various members of the IF seated on benches with windows behind them (OTMA with NII & MF; OTMA with AF):

It seems like both the Polar Star and the Standart had a very similar row of benches. Can you tell me what features help you distinguish between this area on the two yachts?

[blessOTMA]

Douglas thank you so much for these great pictures! So the famous dancing footage was filmed on the Polar Star?
Was the Polar Star bigger or smaller than the Standart? Thank you
 

[Douglas]

Maria F. loved to dance and so she always tried to get her family to participate.  The Polar Star was slightly smaller by  several feet.  They were designed to look similar to foil would-be terrorists that might attack the yacht.

 No ships was allowed to get near the yachts.  If they did,  they would be fired upon without warning by guard ships standing by at all times.  Also, each yacht carried several three inch guns that were always ready to defend the yacht.  Janes's Ships  listed them as "Armed Yachts".

Douglas thank you so much for these great pictures! So the famous dancing footage was filmed on the Polar Star?
Was the Polar Star bigger or smaller than the Standart? Thank you
 

[blessOTMA]

Maria F. loved to dance and so she always tried to get her family to participate. 

Interesting . Here I thought the dancing  was a matter of ship size...but of course, it turns out to be  a matter of will. 
It also figures dancing would be arranged on sea by someone who would also arrange it on land ....Maria F   
 

 

[Sarushka]

That's a good question and it's not always easy to know.  The thing to look for is that the underside of the eaves of the Polar Star were painted white and the stern end of the salon was open with a pillar and exterior drapes.

Also, in that photo we see MF with her little dog.  She was not known to take her personal pooch onboard the Standart.

So judging by the drapes and the dog, this is probably also the Polar Star?

[Douglas]

The is the Polar Star.  Also, you can tell this is Polar Star because the outside frame of the  windows is curved at the top and they are smaller. 

The deck salon of the Polar Star was less than half the size of the deck salon on the Standart.  So far I have only found two photos of the interior of the deck salon on the Polar Star.  Always looking for some more.

Maria F. always followed strict protocol and we can see this by her position on the bench.  She even appears to have the "upper hand", so to speak.

[morvilaRomanov]

Polar Star and Standart are used at the same time by the IF?

[Sarushka]

Polar Star and Standart are used at the same time by the IF?

Yes, but the Polar Star belonged to Marie Feodorovna, while the Standart was used by Nicholas II and his family.

[morvilaRomanov]

OHHH OK

Thanks for the explication,!

[bestfriendsgirl]

That's a good question and it's not always easy to know.  The thing to look for is that the underside of the eaves of the Polar Star were painted white and the stern end of the salon was open with a pillar and exterior drapes.

Also, in that photo we see MF with her little dog.  She was not known to take her personal pooch onboard the Standart.

So judging by the drapes and the dog, this is probably also the Polar Star?



I love the way MF's hand is resting on Nicholas' knee ... still her little boy!