“Between her berth in Cannes’ Old Port and any one of the Jet Set destinations around Europe she frequented, the M.Y. Zuricana hosted a roll call of influential characters, each of whom was taken with her charm and ability to nullify the stresses and strains of life in the public eye. Arguably the most famous was Sir Peter Ustinov, a signed copy of whose book Dear Me still resides aboard. There was reportedly one particularly amusing day when a group of American tourists were strolling past Zuricana in the port and mistook the yellow flag of the unfamiliar Suisse Cruising Club for that of the Soviet Union. Never one to let the opportunity for some harmless banter go, Ustinov began loudly conversing with the yacht’s owner in a hilarious, overexaggerated Russian accent, much to the horror of the intrigued Americans.”

Alex Easthope
Deputy Editor