The Standart

[rgt9w]

In addition to the earlier posted account by Spiridovitch, A.A. Mossolov provides a version of the Standart running aground in his book "At the Court of the Last Tsar".

Does anyone have any information on the actual extent of the damage to the yacht? Was the Standart returned to dry dock for repairs? How long was the yacht out of service?

These are just a few questions I had about this incident.

[Mike]

The Standart suffered a major lower hull damage but remained afloat. She managed to sail under her own steam to Kronshtadt and was put into Constantine dry dock. The repair lasted for a month, 26 September to 30 October 1907, after which the yacht returned to St. Petersburg to her normal winter berthing.

[Robert_Hall]

Just out of curiosity, would the Standardt have been capable of a trans-Atlantic crossing? Say, St.P. to NYC or Rio ?

[Mike]

Beyond any doubt! Look, she was a cruiser-size ship: 5557 tons, 113 meters long. Much much smaller ships are crossing the Atlantic on a regular basis. The Standart was also pretty fast, capable of over 21 knots - not bad even today.

[Robert_Hall]

Interesting, Mike. That could open up a whole new theme in Romanov fiction.....

[Mike]

OK, let's kick it off right away:
While being supposedly repaired after the staged "wreck", the repainted Standard actually sails to Boston carrying fifty dozens of Faberge eggs and a young and beautiful grand duchess - deeply in love with a US Navy lieutenant named Q. Q. Rodham... Exacly 100 years later, the post-Soviet FSB/KGB is plotting against a lady who, if elected US president, could also claim the Russian throne.

[rgt9w]

Mike,

Thank you for the information you provided about the wreck of the Standart.

[Robert_Hall]

How long do you think it would take the Standardt to make a crossing to Rio or Buenos Aires ? [forget NYC, that is boring, Tarzan did it, after all]

[Mike]

I believe she could make it from St. Petersburg to Rio in 25 days, maybe even 20 provided that speedy bunkerage was arranged en route from awaiting coalers.

[Robert_Hall]

OK, where would it obtain coalerage and provisions in that journey? 25 days for a state-of-the-art  yacht, would seem to me quite an accomplishment.  I fear  an Agatha Christie phase coming upon me- Murder On the Imperial Yacht ...
It is a perfect venue, after all.

[Mike]

She would probably need three bunkerage stations: off French coast/Brest; Canarias/Madeira; off North Brazilian coast/Natal/Recife.

[Robert_Hall]

Imagine the logistics...the menu on board would certainly change from  standard Russian fare, favored by Nicholas.  And, if we set this iscenario in relativly stable times,  there would be at least one escort ship, I would think.

[Douglas]

I just found your posts this morning. Most interesting.

 I suggest an around -the-world cruise of the Standart.  After Rio then around  Cape Horn up the west coast of S. America.  Stop-overs at Mexican ports, Los Angeles, then on to visit the royal family of  Hawaii, the King Fiji, then the Emperor of Japan at the Imperial Court of Japan, after that..... any ideas?

I am sure they would have several Russian Navy cruisers as escort of the Imperial yacht.

Was the Standart seaworthy for transoceanic travel?  Yes! Very much so.   Even so, such travel was not for the feint of heart in those days.

   

 

[Mike]

After Nicholas I, no Russian emperor had ever traveled farther than 3-4 days away from home. Only to Europe - Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen. Any journey farther than that was out of question. They could have stayed there for several weeks, but always made sure to be able to get back to St. Petersburg in three, maximum four days in case of emergency. And in the autocratic Russian regime, where everything depended on one man's decisions, such an emergency could have developed at any time from any minor issue - that in a constitutional state would be easily resolved by a minister or even by a lesser official.

[s.v.markov]

The idea of a semi-fictional epic novel centred around 'The Standart' is attractive.........Part 1 dealing with the vessel's early years from 1895, the state visits, the summer cruises for the Imperial Family, the royal passengers and their adventures, the officers and crew  etc. etc. Part 2 would begin after 1917, with 'Standart' now re-named 'Marti' and working as a minelayer. Then a re-fit in the 1930's, followed by service in World War II, until final withdrawal in 1963. What a story! I read the other day that Armand Hammer was once 'lent the Tsar's yacht' ~ I wonder if that was 'Standart' or one of the others? The photographers 'C. de Hahn' did loads of photos showing life on board 'Standart' , especially during the visit to England in 1909. Fascinating thread....I think I'll start writing the novel now !!!