Alexandria II - The Yacht - Built 1903

[Douglas]

Here we can place information on this second yacht named Alexandria.  She had two smokestacks.

[Joanna]

Can anyone identify if this photo is of the Polar Star?

http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/archipel9.html

Joanna

Note: Harald has identified it as the Imperial Yacht Alexandria built 1903-1904.

[Joanna]

From Nicholas II's diary entries:

Peterhof, Thursday August 24, 1906: "... 3:00 left to inspect new yacht Alexandria which stood against the pier [Peterhof]..."

Tsarskoe Selo, Wednesday November 8, 1906: "...After dinner inspected the objects and furniture from old yacht "Alexandria"..."

Joanna

[Arleen_Ristau]

Joanna, I love your post.  In August Nicholas talks about the Alexandria as the NEW yacht.....but then by November he talks about it in his Diary as the OLD yacht??

Would someone please fill us in about the Alexandria.....did Nicholas II have it built....was it for himself or some other member of the family?

Makes me wonder when the Standart was suppose to be the best yacht in the whole world, what does he need another one for?

One can't get ENOUGH of a good thing?

..Arleen

[Joanna]

My apologies Arleen for not clarifying the difference. The entry in August refers to the new yacht Alexandria that was built for NII replacing the older yacht Alexandria. He inspected it in Peterhof and then started using it. The entry in November refers to the old/previous yacht Alexandria that was used until 1906. I do not have information of what happened to this older yacht after decommission. The furniture from it was taken to Tsarskoe Selo which Nicholas went to see. I am not aware of the dispositions of these items if some were used in decoration of the new yacht or Standart.

Yacht Alexandria was smaller than the Standart. It was used similar to a 'tender' for short trips, plying between Peterhof, Kronstadt, St. Petersburg. The pier at Peterhof was not deep enough for the Standart.

Joanna

[Arleen_Ristau]

Thank you so much Joanna, I always look for your posts, I learn so much from you!  Your research means much to me.

..Arleen

[Svetabel]

Well, in fact Alexandria II was Alexandria III. The 1st Alexandria was built in 1831-1834. Alexandria II was built in 1851. Alexandria III - in 1903.

Alexandria I



Alexandria II



Alexandria III

[Svetabel]

And some interiors of Alexandria III

Working Study of Nikolay II



Bedroom



Dining room

[Mike]

When the new Alexandria was ordered, the specifications called for its being able of mooring at Peterhof, thus limiting its draught to 1.8 meter. A propeller-driven ship of the required dimensions would sit much lower, and other forms of propuslion alternative to paddle wheels (like water jet etc.) were unknown at that time.

[Alixz]

If I remember correctly, paddle wheelers were built for ocean travel as well.

There was a huge ship called The Great Eastern which was used on the Southampton/ New York run.  It was the only ship at the time that was big enough to carry the trans Atlantic cable. It was launched ca 1857.