They say she was built as an ice breaking tug for use with the Soviet Navy who used her to clear passages for nuclear submarines as they made their way into and out of Russia’s ports.
But when we were part of her crew during her rebuild to become the expedition yacht Giant we saw a lot of dodgy looking electronics removed that suggested she might have had a more clandestine past that just breaking ice.
Painted a ruby red with a cream superstructure she was rudely nicknamed Rhubarb and Custard by several charter brokers as she tried to ply her trade as a luxury charter yacht
Built as a fully classified Class 1 ice-breaker, and now called Legend she is in the process of being converted again this time at the Icon Yachts shipyard with project management by Verkerk Yachting Projects.
When she emerges from the yard Legend will be capable of carrying 26 guests in luxury, without losing her safety and strength as an icebreaker.
Alongside the completion of the technical and system upgrades, extensive modifications to her exterior are being made. The stern has been extended by 3.6 metres and will be equipped with a swim platform and a swimming pool.
The helicopter landing pad will be commercially certified and a submarine will be stored in a garage on the forward deck. The helicopter and submarine will be offered for charters at an extra cost.
She will also feature a gym, a Balinese spa with sauna, jacuzzi and beauty salon, a movie theatre and entertainment system, medical suite, swimming pool and any toy you can imagine from paddle boards to jet-skis to snow scooters.
Legend’s interior configuration has been designed to comfortably sleep up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, including a Master suite, two VIP suites, four double staterooms and six twin staterooms (some of them convertible).
She is also capable of carrying up to 19 crew on board, plus an extra 10 expedition crew (doctor, ice-pilot, expedition leaders, naturalists, etc), which will ensure the most relaxed luxury yacht experience combined with the thrills of an unparalleled discovery adventure.
For around £450,000 a week Legend will be available for charters in the more remote areas of the world, such as South America, Antarctica, Greenland, the Norwegian Fjords and the Arctic circle.
Her launch is expected early next year and she will make her first appearance in the Baltic from February 2016. After an appearance in the Mediterranean for the summer months she will then spend her first winter cruising South America and Antarctica.
As Giant in a photo by Maarten Janssen