Malizia

A prince's yacht

Perini Navi delivered Malizia to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1989, the last of the Viareggio yard's line of 25-metre yachts. Her lines were drawn by the naval architects Murphy & Nye, and she was built with a composite hull beneath a teak deck.

Her name recalls the founding legend of Monaco's ruling family. In 1297 François Grimaldi, known as Malizia, took the fortress of Monaco disguised as a Franciscan monk, beginning the Grimaldi dynasty that Prince Rainier would lead for more than half a century.

From the Prince she passed to Carlo Traglio, owner of the Italian jewellery house Vhernier, who bought her directly from him. She was later renamed Ma Geisha, and took back her original name in 2011.

Refitted and renewed

An extensive refit in 2010 rebuilt her engine room and replaced her soft furnishings. In 2019 her interior was renewed under the Florentine architect Michele Bönan, known for the J.K. Place hotels in Capri, Rome and Florence. In the winter of 2021 to 2022 she was given a new 400 hp Caterpillar engine, new air-conditioning and a new generator.

Aboard

Seven guests sleep in three cabins, each with its own bathroom. The master and VIP cabins lie aft, with a king and a queen bed. Forward, the third cabin has a double bed with a Pullman berth above for a third guest. The saloon spans the full width of the yacht.

Most of the day is spent in the cockpit: a sheltered oval of teak aft, with a cover against the sun and a large table that lowers to become a sunbed. The big steering wheel sits right at the stern, and the wide foredeck is laid out with cushions. A crew of three, a captain, a hostess and a chef, looks after you.

Days on the water

She is based in Sicily and cruises the western Mediterranean, from the Aeolian Islands and the Bay of Naples to Sardinia, Corsica and the Riviera, at about 8 knots under engine. She carries a jet tender, paddleboards, a kayak, windsurfers, water skis and a wakeboard, and snorkelling gear. Diving can be arranged with a local dive centre.