Imperial yachts were part of the Russian Navy for over two centuries, until 1917. In the mid-19th century, the design and appearance of imperial yachts experienced dramatic changes. They became elegant and high-speed vessels with improved seakeeping characteristics and comfort level. Their furnishing and interior became almost as luxurious as those of palaces.
In late 1856, Alexander II decided to build a large comfortable yacht, and as early as July 1857, the paddle-driven yacht named “Standart” was laid down in France. The 4-gun two-masted paddle-driven wooden yacht cost 345,000 rubles. Its unique headpiece consisted of an oval shield with a crown in the center and relief images of two waving emperor standards along the boards.
Every year, between July and September, the “Standart” yacht sailed in the Finnish skerries, visited Helsinki, Fredrikshamn, and Copenhagen, and sometimes reached Åbo. The yacht sailed to the Mediterranean Sea and visited San Remo. For several years, before being removed from the fleet in 1892, the yacht was used for the summer cruises of Grand Dukes.
On April 28, 1866, the last wooden paddle-driven yacht of the Baltic Fleet named “Derzhava” was laid down in the dockyard of the New Admiralty, Saint Petersburg, in the presence of Alexander II and General Admiral Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia. The hull was made of oak, the boards were lined with larch and the bottom — with bay wood. The interiors were finished with teak wood. The emperor ordered to mount the traditional headpiece in the shape of a double-headed eagle. On July 31, 1871, the launch ceremony of “Derzhava” was conducted in the presence of the tsar and his large retinue.
The yacht remained in service for 27 years, and almost every summer season, the royal family used it to sail to the Finnish skerries and visit cities and towns on the coast of Finland. The yacht traveled to England visiting Copenhagen on its way. On several occasions, the emperor’s yacht was used to supervise the maneuvers of the Baltic Fleet ships. “Derzhava” was part of the fleet as an imperial yacht until the beginning of 1898 when it was written off as a training ship. As such, the vessel served under the name “Dvina” until October 1905.
In late 1856, Alexander II decided to build a large comfortable yacht, and as early as July 1857, the paddle-driven yacht named “Standart” was laid down in France. The 4-gun two-masted paddle-driven wooden yacht cost 345,000 rubles. Its unique headpiece consisted of an oval shield with a crown in the center and relief images of two waving emperor standards along the boards.
Every year, between July and September, the “Standart” yacht sailed in the Finnish skerries, visited Helsinki, Fredrikshamn, and Copenhagen, and sometimes reached Åbo. The yacht sailed to the Mediterranean Sea and visited San Remo. For several years, before being removed from the fleet in 1892, the yacht was used for the summer cruises of Grand Dukes.
On April 28, 1866, the last wooden paddle-driven yacht of the Baltic Fleet named “Derzhava” was laid down in the dockyard of the New Admiralty, Saint Petersburg, in the presence of Alexander II and General Admiral Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia. The hull was made of oak, the boards were lined with larch and the bottom — with bay wood. The interiors were finished with teak wood. The emperor ordered to mount the traditional headpiece in the shape of a double-headed eagle. On July 31, 1871, the launch ceremony of “Derzhava” was conducted in the presence of the tsar and his large retinue.
The yacht remained in service for 27 years, and almost every summer season, the royal family used it to sail to the Finnish skerries and visit cities and towns on the coast of Finland. The yacht traveled to England visiting Copenhagen on its way. On several occasions, the emperor’s yacht was used to supervise the maneuvers of the Baltic Fleet ships. “Derzhava” was part of the fleet as an imperial yacht until the beginning of 1898 when it was written off as a training ship. As such, the vessel served under the name “Dvina” until October 1905.
