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Superyacht seized by U.S. from Russian billionaire arrives in San Diego Bay

June 27, 2022 / 3:40 PM EDT / CBS/AP

A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.

The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge.

"After a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers), the Amadea has safely docked in a port within the United States, and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

But Justice Department  officials had been stymied  by a legal effort to contest the American seizure warrant and by a yacht crew that refused to sail for the U.S. American officials won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. 

The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. The Amadea boasts  luxury features  such as a helipad, mosaic-tiled pool, lobster tank and a pizza oven, nestled in a décor of "delicate marble and stones" and "precious woods and delicate silk fabrics," according to court documents.

"The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine," the Justice Department said.

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Russian superyacht seized by US arrives in San Diego Bay

The super yacht Amadea passes San Diego as it comes into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The super yacht Amadea passes the USS Midway Museum as it comes into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People look on from the super yacht Amadea as it arrives to the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People stand on the deck of the super yacht Amadea as it is escorted by a Coast Guard vessel in the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The super yacht Amadea sails into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.

The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge.

The Department of Justice said the Amadea was safely docked after a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) “and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale.”

The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Justice Department said.

Superyacht feds say was seized from Russian oligarch sails into San Diego

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A $300-million superyacht the U.S. seized from an alleged Russian oligarch in Fiji last month sailed into San Diego Bay on Monday morning.

Known as the Amadea, it is 348 feet long and features a helipad and swimming pool. The Department of Justice says it was owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a gold investor Forbes says is worth $14.5 billion .

It’s not clear how long the seized boat will stay in San Diego. Justice officials said the plan is to eventually sell it off.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Department of Justice said in a statement Monday.

The U.S. sanctioned Kerimov, who was accused of money laundering related to the purchase of French villas, in 2018. The European Union sanctioned him in March 2022, the Associated Press reported.

That same month, the Department of Justice created Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce the sanctions the U.S. and its foreign allies imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Two months later, on May 5, the Department of Justice announced it had seized the Amadea in Fiji. “Today’s action should make clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of individuals who violate U.S. law,” Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland said that day.

After winning a court battle in Fiji — there was a dispute over the yacht’s actual owner — the U.S. sailed the ship from the South Pacific island on June 7 .

The superyacht stopped in Hawaii last week before heading into San Diego, sailing under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge on its way to its berth Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Teri Figueroa covers courts, crime and breaking news for The San Diego Union-Tribune. A native Californian, she joined the North County Times in 2002, and the U-T in 2012. Figueroa reported on the 2003 and 2007 wildfires, and covered the criminal cases against Richard Tuite and John Gardner III, as well as war crimes cases. A San Diego State University graduate, Figueroa has won multiple journalism awards for her work.

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Russian Oligarch's Seized Yacht Sails into San Diego Harbor

The yacht amadea, which boasts a helipad and swimming pool, was seized earlier this month in fiji., by eric s. page and mari payton • published june 27, 2022 • updated on june 27, 2022 at 6:48 pm.

A $325 million 350-foot yacht owned by a sanctioned "beneficiary of Russian corruption" was put into port in San Diego Monday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Officials with the DOJ said the Amadea, which was seized in connection to the department's KleptoCapture campaign undertaken in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, is owned by Suleiman Kerimov a Russian billionaire.

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The yacht, which boasts a helipad and swimming pool, was seized earlier this month in Fiji.

Get San Diego local news, weather forecasts, sports and lifestyle stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC San Diego newsletters.

“Last month, I warned that the department had its eyes on every yacht purchased with dirty money,” Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in May. “This yacht seizure should tell every corrupt Russian oligarch that they cannot hide – not even in the remotest part of the world. We will use every means of enforcing the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine.”

According to CNBC , Kerimov "was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2018 for allegedly profiting from the Russian government through corruption and its illegal annexation of Crimea in Ukraine in 2014."

The Amadea sailed under the Coronado Bridge at around 8 a.m. on Monday before heading into a berth on the San Diego waterfront.

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“ After a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles, the Amadea has safely docked in a port within the United States, and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale," read a statement, in part, released Monday by the DOJ.

The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland.

After the yacht arrived in San Diego, John Kirby, a former federal prosecutor, told NBC 7 that he thinks the U.S. government hopes moves like the Amadea's seizure are efforts to apply pressure to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Incredibly, the owners of assets like the Amadea may just walk away rather than fight ther seizure.

"A lot of times people that own these objects … they don’t want to get involved," Kirby said. "For whatever reason, they don’t want people digging around in their life. And so sometimes they just let it go," adding that such seizures are "easy a lot of times because you often have bad actors that don’t want to come forward and don’t want to claim the yacht, don’t want to litigate about it, so it could go into default judgment."

The Associated Press contributed to this report — Ed.

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In the city that has it all, so do we….

Fifth Avenue Landing is a 12-slip boutique San Diego superyacht marina and transient berthing facility located in the heart of downtown just steps away from the Gaslamp District packed with shopping, dining and nightlife options at your fingertips.  Accepting reservations for superyachts up to 300 feet, each berth has  blackwater pumpout capabilities and ample shore power connection.  To top it off, amenities for captains and crew include complimentary concierge service, wireless internet, private parking, secured access and more.

Fifth Avenue Landing Celebrates Dawn’s One Year Anniversary As Dockmaster

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Port successfully woos superyachts, megayachts to San Diego waters

SAN DIEGO —San Diego made a push in 2007 and 2008 to remind those navigating the Pacific Ocean in large recreational vessels Los Angeles is not the only destination in Southern California for superyacht and megayacht owners to dock for a few days while traveling to Alaska or Mexico.

The campaign for multimillion-dollar yachts to moor in San Diego Bay started to materialize when port officials launched a trial program in 2008. Megayachts would be allowed to moor along San Diego’s embarcadero with the promise of a myriad of services for 100- and 200-foot vessels visiting the harbor. Services included concierge and boat maintenance.

Fast forward to 2015 and superyachts and megayachts appear to have a steady presence in the harbor, with a few docking at Fifth Avenue Landing in downtown and San Diego Mooring Co. offering docking opportunities for 100- to 300-foot yachts. The port’s campaign appears to be yielding positive results, according to a boatyard representative and yacht broker.

Ambitious Beginnings

San Diego Superyacht Association (SDSA), a collective of business executives, marinas, and superyacht brokers, builders and designers, was launched in 2006. Members included representatives from Driscoll Boat Works, Fraser Yachts, Kona Kai Marina, Marine Group Boat Works and Shelter Island Marina.

“The group’s mission is to promote San Diego as a world-class superyacht destination and provide a conduit to marine services and suppliers,” port staff stated about SDSA.

SDSA’s mission appeared to materialize in 2007 as the Port of San Diego campaigning for superyachts and megayachts to visit the harbor began.

The Port of San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners granted San Diego Mooring Co. a two-year lease to manage megayacht moorings the following year.

Princess Mariana was the first megayacht to dock in San Diego Bay; the six-deck, 225-foot yacht docked Mediterranean-style at the embarcadero in August 2008.

After the economic downturn an assemblyman from Carlsbad introduced legislation to make it easier for large recreational vessels to visit California’s ports. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law in 2012, making it easier for superyacht and megayacht owners planning to visit San Diego (among other ports) to submit an oil spill prevention and pollution plan to the state.

“Yes, we do have areas for megayachts. We had a couple of megayachts dock in secure port areas because their owners requested privacy and security,” said Marguerite Elicone, marketing and public relations representative with the Port of San Diego. “We had Luna , owned by Roman Abramovich, here for several months in 2013.”

Just Passing Through Fraser Yachts’ Neal Esterly said the port’s efforts to market San Diego as a destination for superyachts and megayachts is yielding results, particularly for vessels passing through the region while en route to Alaska or Mexico.

“There is no noticeable growth of superyachts based in San Diego, but … there is an increase [in large yachts passing through]. It’s growing bigger,” Esterly said.

He added San Diego is attractive to superyacht and megayacht owners for several reasons. The city, for example, features an accessible international airport and yards such as Marine Group Boat Works in Chula Vista capable of servicing large projects. Having the Navy and hi-tech companies in town means the right technology is available for most work.

“Boats like coming to this environment,” said Esterly, adding the weather in San Diego is more cooperative than harbors in Florida. “San Diego is ideal as a transition for going to Alaska or Mexico. It’s well situated.”

Available dockage at reasonable rates and cooperative government agencies are among the reasons San Diego’s position as a destination for large yachts passing through the area has met with positive traction, Esterly said.

“It’s a team effort between private industry and the government to keep boats coming. Captains have a good feeling about San Diego right now,” Esterly said. “Word is out there the port can handle this. Word would go around the world quickly if San Diego is a hassle.”

Marine Group Boat Works’ spokesperson Leah Yam echoed similar sentiments, saying San Diego Bay is large enough to handle superyachts and megayachts.

“San Diego is one of the largest port cities on the West Coast and acts as a perfect destination for leisure, rest and resources for superyachts,” Yam said. “It’s also arguable that many of the reasons that draw yacht owners to San Diego stems from the number of facilities equipped to handle them including Marine Group Boat Works, a shipyard with two locations that can haul vessels up to 220 feet and dock up to 350 feet for repairs, and Fifth Avenue Landing, a marina located in downtown that docks up to 350 feet.”

Superyacht vs. Megayacht vs. Gigayacht

Yam said the distinction between superyacht and megayacht is evolving. The type of vessel qualifying as a “superyacht” has grown since the turn of the century, while “megayacht” was not widely used until recently, Yam explained.

“If you were to ask me 15 years ago, I would’ve defined a superyacht as being about 85 feet or greater and there was no such thing as a megayacht.  Now I’d categorize a superyacht as being about 100 feet or greater and a megayacht would be 200 feet or more.  The terms are still evolving,” Yam said.

The term “gigayacht” could be the next term commonly bantered about from the large vessel lexicon, according to staff at Warsash Superyacht Academy (a division of Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom). Gigayacht could apply to vessels larger than 100 meters (about 328 feet).

Increased Presence and Economic Impact

Marine Group Boat Works serviced more than 60 vessels measuring larger than 100 feet in 2015, according to Yam.

“Between our two shipyards, just this year alone, we serviced [more than] 60 superyachts over 100 feet. That’s almost double than what we saw in 2013 during America’s Cup, which brought record number of yachts to the West Coast,” Yam said. “The megayachts are also booking at Fifth Ave Landing … especially during major conventions such as Comic Con.”

Visiting San Diego, be it during major events or while en route to points due south, north or east, each large yacht coming into the bay impacts the local economy, according to Esterly and Yam.

“These boats are a floating economic stimulus,” Esterly said.

A 200-foot yacht typically employs a crew of 10 or more people, according to Warsash Superyacht Academy staff. Food supplies for the crew during multi-day navigations are usually bought during stopovers in San Diego. Captain and crew would rent hotel space or housing if the superyacht or megayacht is being serviced.

Yam said superyacht and megayacht owners support employees at boatyards and bring revenue to fueling stations, restaurants, retail and local housing.

One superyacht, for example, could spend tens of thousands of dollars on one trip to Costco, stocking up on provisions for everyone aboard a long voyage south or west. Yam cited an example of one captain renting out two homes in coastal San Diego for his crew. Each home was rented out at $15,000 per month for three months, she said, infusing nearly $100,000 into the San Diego economy.

There are no recent economic impact reports to validate how much money is put into the San Diego economy courtesy of visiting superyachts and megayachts. A 2007 Marine Group Boat Works press release citing industry estimates stated for every $1 spent on repairing or maintaining a superyacht meant $7 was invested locally on entertainment, hotel rooms, restaurants and shopping.

“With such large vessels, whose value ranges from $10 million to $100 million and higher it is commonplace that at least 10 percent of the vessel’s market value is required to keep it operating each year. Expenses go for such essentials as captain and crew, provisions and fuel,” port staff stated. “For repairs it’s not uncommon for such yachts to spend several million dollars on refits – the industry term for complete refurbishing of the vessel – along with engine re-powers, hull and topside paintwork and general maintenance.”

Superyachts and megayachts also bring an aesthetic value to the local landscape, according to Yam. She said superyachts and megayachts are well-received by San Diego’s recreational boaters.

“In speaking for them, I think boat owners become boat owners because they’re fascinated by the aesthetics, mechanics and performance of the actual boat. For them to see so many different custom designed and engineered vessels is exciting to them,” Yam said. “I think it also helps to legitimize the services we perform. If we’re capable of repairing and maintaining vessels of that size and magnitude, especially if the work is logistically impossible and yet we’re still able to accomplish it, then we can find the solution to their needs as well.”

A few superyachts and megayachts are regularly spotted at Fifth Avenue Landing in the downtown area, which advertises itself as a “12-slip boutique San Diego superyacht marina”  capable of serving 300-foot vessels.

San Diego Mooring Co. and GB Capital Holdings LLC currently advertise the city’s waterfront as an ideal destination for yachts between 100 and 400 feet in length. Berthing rates start at $75 per day ($2,250 per month) for a 100-foot superyacht to $225 per day ($6,750 per month) for 300-foot megayachts. The mooring company charges $150 per hour for loading and unloading of equipment and provisions.

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Things to do | how san diego became a player in the super-glitzy world of superyachts, for superyacht owners, no extravagance is too extreme, no port too glamorous.

The San Diego Union-Tribune

The 145-foot super yacht Dumb Luck, center, is docked in Shelter Island basin on Nov. 6, 2019.

Take, for instance, Golden Shadow. Launched in 1995 by San Diego’s Campbell Shipyard, the 219-foot vessel has luxurious staterooms for 16 guests, more modest quarters for 22 crew members, a 50-square-foot dive chamber and an exterior elevator platform, powerful enough to hoist aboard a seaplane and spacious enough to set down a helicopter.

Impressed? Don’t be. Golden Shadow was built as a floating garage for Golden Odyssey, a Saudi prince’s 404-foot superyacht.

“These big yachts have so many helicopters and toys aboard,” said Neal Esterly, a San Diego salesman for Fraser, a premier superyacht broker. “They are building 200-foot shadow boats to carry the submarine, the helicopter, the dirt bikes.”

In the world of superyachts, no extravagance is too extreme, no port too glamorous. These palatial vessels anchor off Cannes, roam the Windward Islands, explore Norwegian fjords, wander across the Pacific. The owners — Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern sheikhs, American tech titans — travel in royal splendor with Cordon Bleu-trained chefs, masseuses, dive masters, pilots, tutors for the kids. On board, they are surrounded by African hardwood cabinets, spas fed by waterfalls, herb gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, basketball courts, hot tubs, Dale Chihuly glass chandeliers and Keith Haring originals.

Size alone doesn’t define a superyacht, but everything in this category is at least 75 feet from stem to stern. The largest, the 600-footer REV Ocean, is almost 100 feet longer than a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

“They are very much for the 1%,” said San Diego’s Kate Pearson, chair of the U.S. Superyacht Association. “Well, the .1%.”

During a leisurely voyage — from Alaskan glaciers to Costa Rican rainforests, say — these vessels often need to pause in a safe harbor for repairs and replenishment. That’s San Diego’s role in this glitzy world, offering shipyards, sheltered dock space and an army of woodworkers, welders, engineers, sailmakers, even specialists in the surprisingly delicate task of on-board carpet cleaning.

All of this, fans note, pumps money into the local economy. So do the live-aboard crew members who take advantage of our waterfront’s proximity to bars, restaurants, nightclubs.

“Most of them are 35 and younger. They pay no rent, no monthly bills, they’re not paying for food,” said Steve Brownsea, captain of the 145-foot Dumb Luck, moored at Shelter Island. “All they do is go and party.”

Like all industries, this business is sensitive to the market’s ebbs and flows. Orders for new vessels slipped during the Great Recession and brokers like Esterly keep a wary eye on signs that the global economy is weakening. As the gap between the .1% and everyone else widens, some superyachters fret about the “optics” of their seagoing displays of super-wealth.

Perhaps the greatest hazard, though, is also this lifestyle’s greatest attraction: the beautiful and unforgiving sea.

Port for all reasons

San Diego arrived late to the party. Massive pleasure yachts have been enjoyed by European royal families for centuries, while the ostentatious vessels of 19th century American tycoons commonly cruised near the Gilded Age mansions of Newport, R.I., and Long Island, N.Y.

In 1947, David Fraser founded a yacht brokerage house in Newport Beach. About 20 years later, he opened a branch office San Diego. Despite these deep Southern California roots, Fraser now has an Old World feel — in the 1990s, it merged with Europe’s United Yachting, and the company’s headquarters moved to Monaco. With Burgess and Y.Co, Fraser is one of superyachting’s Big Three brokers.

While Fraser maintains an office here, San Diego is home port for only a handful of superyachts.

“We don’t have the cruising grounds like you have in Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean or Europe,” Esterly said. “From San Diego, Cabo and Seattle are each 1,000 miles away. Between those two, there just isn’t any place to go cruising. You can only go to Catalina Island so many times.”

To this super-wealthy crowd, though, San Diego markets itself as the destination between destinations.

“We are not Monaco or the Bahamas,” said Todd Roberts, president of Fifth Avenue Landing, the superyacht anchorage south of Seaport Village. “We are effectively a transit port. But we are doing a pretty good job of giving the superyacht the whole package.”

The landing’s 12 slips can accommodate mid-size superyachts, up to about 300 feet in length. Vessels that moor here can hook up to shore power, pump out “blackwater” — yachtspeak for sewage — unload food, drink and other supplies straight off the dock. Fifth Avenue also owns the Marine Group Boat Works, which operates shipyards in National City and Chula Vista.

San Diego’s naval heritage guarantees plenty of people trained in ship maintenance. Brownsea, the captain of Dumb Luck, recalls the dismay of another superyacht’s owner, when he learned his vessel needed new parts that were only available in Europe. His sailing date would have been delayed — if he hadn’t stumbled upon a San Diegan able to machine the parts.

“They were delivered within 24 hours,” Brownsea said. “The owner couldn’t believe it.”

Geography, too, works in San Diego’s favor. For southbound sailors waiting for the Mexican hurricane season to blow itself out, this bay is a comfortable place to spend days or weeks while monitoring satellite weather maps.

“The captains that go down to the Sea of Cortez, they all stop in San Diego,” said Scott Whittaker, the Puget Sound-based skipper of Gayle Force, a 99-foot expedition boat. “Everybody does.”

Changing trends in sailing also benefit San Diego, as long voyages — to Costa Rica and Peru, say, then across the Pacific to New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Micronesia and finally back to the U.S. — appeal to a certain class of well-heeled wanderer.

“The boats we get in San Diego, the vessels you see on our waterfront that blow your mind, that owner is more adventurous,” said Fifth Avenue’s Roberts. “The yacht owner who wants to sit on the deck with a margarita and wave at his friends, those aren’t the owners we get. We get the more expeditionary owner.”

Expeditionary or sedentary, owners value their privacy. Typical is Robert Mercer, a New York tech millionaire and major financial contributor to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. On Sept. 11, his superyacht tried to enter San Diego Bay incognito, with tarps draped over her name.

Might as well put sunglasses on the Mona Lisa. One of the world’s most photographed vessels, this 203-foot floating mansion is instantly recognizable, thanks to her forest green hull and cream-colored decks. Few, though, have been invited aboard to marvel at the carved mahogany “tree” rising through four decks, the frescoes saluting Darwin and Newton, the hand-knotted carpet of Nepalese wool and silk.

During Sea Owl’s eight-week stay at Fifth Avenue, a sign dangled over her gangway: “Private yacht — no boarding.”

Peril on the sea

Like a garage full of Maseratis or a closet full of Valentino gowns, superyachts are a sure sign of wealth. TV’s Judge Judy owns a 152-foot cruiser, Triumphant Lady, while Tiger Woods’s Privacy is slightly larger, 155 feet. Steven Spielberg’s Seven Seas is grander still, a 282-foot home-away-from-his-other-homes-away-from-home, with crew of 23, flotilla of tenders and on-board movie theater.

San Diego has enjoyed occasional visits by ocean-going glitterati, such as Luna, the 377-foot vessel owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, and Tatoosh, a 303-foot wonder built for the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The latter’s five decks house a cinema, gym, massage room, swimming pool, 11 staterooms and a crew of 35. Fraser now charters Tatoosh — a week in the Caribbean this winter will run $650,000.

Attessa IV also made a big splash here, mooring in San Diego Bay often between 2016 and 2018. Her most recent visit ended in tragedy — while cruising off Imperial Beach on Oct. 26, 2018, Attessa IV slammed into the Prowler, a 65-foot sportfishing boat. One passenger, Richard Neff, was killed and another, John Schmit, critically injured.

Schmit, who suffered a fractured skull, vertebra, rib and sternum, sued the owners of Attessa IV and Prowler. A hearing in this case is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Both vessels reported poor visibility due to heavy fog, just one of the many hazards superyachts must navigate. A partial listing of recent victims: in 2015, Hurricane Carlos sank the 127-foot Bellissima near Acapulco; in 2017, Hurricane Irma sank the 131-foot Sierra Romeo in the Caribbean; and in 2018, heavy seas capsized the 124-foot Suegno off the Italian port of Genoa.

Some danger can be avoided by staying in port. Dumb Luck, the 145-foot tri-level motor yacht skippered by Brownsea, rarely leaves her Shelter Island dock. Even so, the usually absent owner is hit hard in his pocketbook.

“Just to keep her in port costs about $750,000 a year,” said Brownsea, citing the crew’s salary, docking fees, fuel, insurance and property tax, the latter levied on vessels that remain here at least six months a year. “If we were active, going more places, it would be about $1.5 million.”

That’s a lot of money — unless you are a superyachter. Fifth Avenue’s Roberts once priced repairs for an owner. The job wasn’t cheap, and Roberts advised the owner that expenses would climb astronomically if had to be done quickly.

“I’m old, Todd,” the owner responded. “I have way more money than time. Just make it happen.”

Super budget

If superyachts are for the .1%, the Nerissa is for the other 99.9% — or at least those with a decent amount of disposable income. A 73-foot motor yacht going to seed on the Gulf Shore, Nerissa was purchased by San Diego’s Shari and Amos Zolna, who restored it as a party vessel with a well-stocked bar and a hot tub.

Now docked on Shelter Island and Coast Guard-certified for 49 passengers, Nerissa specializes in day cruises on San Diego Bay. Summer is her high season, but year-round she is booked by bachelor and bachelorette parties, sightseers, sunset cruisers and others. Two hours on the water for 40 people, with a caterer and an open bar, runs about $5,000, or $125 a head.

The experience, Amas Zolna said, is priceless: “There’s nothing like sitting out there in the hot tub with a cold beer or a glass of wine.”

The true superyacht experience will always be far out of reach for most people. Kate Pearson, the U.S. Superyacht Association’s chair, laughs when asked if she owns one.

“No,” said Pearson, who is vice president of Safe Harbors Marina, the world’s largest owner and operator of marinas. “We are a boating family, but on a much more subdued level.”

While she has been a guest aboard numerous superyachts, she views them the way most people view the stars — something beautiful, magnificent and unattainable. When Pearson is sailing with guests and they see a superyacht, she quickly alters course.

“We take them up close,” she said.

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A seized superyacht shows up in Everett — minus one Russian oligarch owner

EVERETT — It’s not clear whether Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov had plans to visit Puget Sound this spring — the French Riviera is more the style of the U.S.-sanctioned mining and energy multibillionaire.

But Monday morning, the Amadea, a 348-foot, $300 million-plus superyacht said to be owned by Kerimov, arrived in the Port of Everett to have some work done at a local shipyard. 

A sleek, white shark of a ship with a knifelike bow, raked profile and quarters for 16 guests and 36 crew, Amadea swanned past Everett’s industrial waterfront with a tug escort and all the made-for-TV glamour of an international celebrity fugitive. Kerimov, of course, was not on board.

In 2022, Amadea (“God’s love” in Latin) was seized in Fiji at the request of U.S. authorities who claim Kerimov has enabled Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria. Money laundering and conspiracy were also alleged.

At the time, the seizure was hailed as a warning to “every corrupt Russian oligarch that they cannot hide — not even in the remotest part of the world,” as a deputy U.S. attorney general put it in a press statement . 

But as any boat owner in this boat-focused community will tell you , seizing a superyacht is one thing. Maintaining its value as an asset is another — especially when the asset is the size of a ferry and equipped with a theater, a gym, beauty salon, teak decks, 30-foot-long pool, helipad and twin 5,766-horsepower diesels. 

“They’re saying it’s costing us $7 million a year to keep it up,” said Chris Petersen, a retired fisherman who runs a metal coatings shop on West Marine View Drive, a few blocks from the port and who, like many here, has been following the superyacht saga since Monday.

Indeed, fuel, maintenance, insurance and salary for the crew of Amadea during its impoundment in San Diego ran around $740,000 a month, according to federal court filings by the Marshals Service. 

In February, the Justice Department told a federal court it intended to halt this “excessive … drain on the public” purse by auctioning off Amadea, which the government claims Kerimov acquired in 2021.

But selling off this excessive drain has been complicated. 

There is litigation challenging Amadea’s seizure because the vessel allegedly wasn’t owned by Kerimov, but by another Russian oligarch, who is not sanctioned, according to court papers. 

Another complication, more relevant to Everett: Amadea’s insurance policy, according to court filings, requires service that can only be done by hauling the vessel out of the water — a job that appears to be slated for the dry dock facilities at Everett Ship Repair, on the port’s East Waterway. 

Few details of the project have been shared. Port officials have referred all questions to Everett Ship Repair, whose vice president of service sales, Lane Richards, politely declined to comment.

But a Justice Department spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Amadea was indeed “in Washington for standard dry dock maintenance.”

And on Wednesday, the vessel in question could be seen berthed, like a slightly lost Imperial Starship, on the south side of Pier 3, adjacent to Everett Ship Repair’s dry dock and the Washington State Ferry Salish. 

All the no-commenting has only added to the atmosphere of maritime intrigue and speculation in a town ordinarily unperturbed by big, secrecy-shrouded ships, including those at the nearby Everett Naval Station. 

Many here wonder why the U.S. government spent the money to bring Amadea all the way to Everett, when there are dry dock facilities in San Diego, San Francisco and Portland; even Seattle is 5 nautical miles closer to San Diego. 

Amadea’s fuel burn “is probably in the 8-to-10 gallons per mile range,” said Dennis Butterfield, a retired car dealership manager and former boat owner, as he kept an eye on the Russian superyacht Wednesday from a viewpoint on Warren Avenue. “That’s the United States government at work, if you ask me.”

Butterfield’s estimate was close: based on vessel specifications featured on the yachting website, YachCharterFleet , the 4,400-ton Amadea burns roughly 11 gallons per mile at a cruising speed of 15 mph.

The Justice Department declined to justify Amadea’s four-day journey from San Diego to Everett.

Such secrecy would likely suit Kerimov, who Forbes once described as “one of the most private Russian billionaires,” and who is also said to have close ties to the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 58-year-old serves in the Russian Federation Senate, is reportedly worth nearly $11 billion and has owned villas on the French Riviera and elsewhere.

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He may also have owned a rare Fabergé egg, according to accounts of the search of the Amadea after its seizure .

Beginning in 2017, Kerimov was listed by U.S. officials as one of a number of Russian oligarchs “who profit from the Russian government through corruption and its malign activity around the globe .”

In March 2022, after the FBI reportedly linked Kerimov to the Amadea , the vessel was seized under a program known as Task Force KleptoCapture and eventually sailed to San Diego under an American flag.

But Amadea’s more recent trip likely had less to do with the vessel’s checkered lineage than with a shortage of West Coast dry dock capacity, especially for large vessels. 

Unlike the East Coast and the Gulf Coast, ship repair infrastructure on the West Coast is “is woefully undersized,” said Craig Hooper, a former naval ship building industry executive who writes and advises on security and defense issues.

In recent decades, several private shipyards with dry dock facilities have closed and building new capacity faces high costs and regulatory hurdles, Hooper said. As a result, “long transits to an open facility are relatively commonplace these days,” he added. 

In the case of the Amadea, Hooper hypothesized, “the responsible party may have put the job out for bid and an Everett yard was the available, lowest-cost option.”

According to court filings, Amadea’s dry dock work is expected to cost $5.6 million and take two months. 

By that time, federal officials may have sorted Amadea’s other complications. 

Last fall, attorneys for Eduard Khudainatov, the former head of state-owned oil company Rosneft, claimed Amadea isn’t owned by Kerimov, but by Khudainatov. Attorneys argue that since Khudainatov wasn’t under sanctions, the yacht was “not forfeitable, as it neither constitutes nor is derived from any unlawful activity.”

But federal prosecutors contend “that Khudainatov is just a straw owner put forward to disguise Kerimov’s ownership of the vessel,” according to an April 19 filing in a federal court in New York, where the case is ongoing.

In the meantime, Everett will take some pleasure in the Amadea’s august presence. 

Port of Everett officials, though tight-lipped about the vessel’s particulars, were clearly pleased by the message it sends of the port’s growing status as a maritime hub.

“Anything that puts Everett on the international map is a good thing!” said Kate Anderson, port spokesperson, in an email response to an inquiry about the Amadea.

Locals, too, appeared to be enjoying the celebrity by association.

“That magnitude of wealth — it’s just another world,” said Petersen, the retired fisherman.

Others wondered who would be foolish enough to buy a vessel whose ownership was being contested by Russian oligarchs.

But mostly, folks here appeared to sympathize with Uncle Sam’s desire to be rid of the costly, controversial craft. 

That was the sentiment of John Mostrom, who had taken a break from mowing his lawn Wednesday to peer down at the Amadea from the Warren Avenue overlook. 

“They say the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life,” Mostrom noted, “are when they buy the boat and when they sell it.”

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

Legacy Cruises & Events

A yacht party rental for the ultimate san diego luxury event, plan your event.

Step aboard the Sirara and into a world of ultimate comfort. Nothing says luxury like your own private yacht party rental, complete with curated food and entertainment and a 360-degree view of San Diego Bay as the backdrop to your day. Holding max. 85 guests, the contemporary Sirara is one of San Diego’s top boat wedding venues, an ideal corporate yacht charter, or as the backdrop for stylish family celebrations.

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Your event deserves The Sirara

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Celebrating Love Aboard: Carlee and Austin's Luxurious Yacht Reception in San Diego

Relive the Magic: Compass retreat on our Luxurious Yacht Sirara in San Diego 🌟

Boarding Locations

Join us at our base marina at Shelter Island, San Diego, or several selected pick-up and drop-off marinas in the local area, including downtown San Diego and Coronado Island.

Why Choose A Private Yacht Party Rental with Legacy Cruises?

The crew was amazing and super flexible! The yacht was in great condition and actually exceeded my expectations. Would rent again!

Janice Pilapil

Wonderful cruise with a great dj, catering and bar for a work event. Loved the up-close views of the air craft carrier too. Would definitely recommend.

The entire experience was top notch. Boat has a great set up with a large indoors area with multiple tables and a bar and area to dance. There is a large outside area on top of the boat with bar tables and tons of space to dance and enjoy the outside. The captain did a great job of touring the bay with a real close flyby of under the Midway. Staff was very helpful and took care of everything. We also purchased one of their charcuterie boards and it was pretty amazing. Highly recommend if you're looking for a large party on the water!

This was the one of the best decisions I made for my wedding weekend! The Legacy Cruise team and Sam really made us all feel at home on the yacht and were very accommodating to our whole party. They were attentive to all of our guests and the boat was such a fancy venue for our reception dinner. Our guests who traveled out of town were treated to such an unforgettable night cruising around the San Diego Harbor and dancing under the Coronado bridge! I also love that we were able to bring all our own food and drinks and would highly recommend the boats bar package! I highly recommend that you host your next event on Legacy Cruises!

Desiree Hsiou

Wow! The crew was phenomenal! We had the most amazing time and they created the most amazing experience. The bartender was wonderful and everyone on the crew was super helpful and informative. This was truly a perfect experience!

Kiandra Chun

We hosted visiting executives in San Diego and took them on a Sunset Dinner cruise. The experience was exceptional beyond our expectations. The service, from booking, thru selection of dinner, beverages (open bar), flexible with timing, and during the cruise, was above and beyond. I highly recommend if you need to entertain C-Suite executives in San Diego. We even brought live entertainment with us (acoustic music) and I would give it 10 stars out of 5. Thank you!

Christy Wendte

Wow, what an experience! I have no words to describe what a great time we had on the yacht! I received a message from every single guest that they never experienced something like this before, couple of them even asked about yacht details and how it works... Thank you so much for being an amazing host and part of our special day! Sam and the entire crew made our event to go as smoothly as possible and we’re super grateful! You simply can’t go wrong with them. We hope to be back and to see you again!

We had a Fantastic time celebrating Ethan and Annabella’s love ! Views were spectacular! All staff on board were wonderful and service impeccable! Perfectly perfect !

The Legacy team does a great job at providing a wonderful private boating experience. They are super professional, extremely friendly, and great at processing any requests that you may have. Time out on the water is great, seeing a bunch of local landmarks. The layout of the boat is perfect, with 2 bathrooms, a bar, tons of seating inside on the first floor and lots of room for dancing on the top floor. Would highly recommend booking Sam, Fred and team if you want a fun experience for any sized group.

Matt Perrone

We had a medical/dental CE course on this beautiful luxury yacht. The event went as it was planned. Staff are super professional and helpful before and during the event. I highly recommend Legacy Cruises !!!

Oral Surgeon San Diego

We had a great time aboard Sirara for our company event. The boat is beautifully maintained, and the layout was great for or party of 18. The boat has plenty of capacity for more passengers, and we will definitely be chartering her again in the future!

Craig Taylor

Excellent organization and communication. Our chartered yacht was meticulous, and the crew went out of the way to make sure we were all having a great time. Worth every penny!

Eric Steinberg

We rented the 65' luxury yacht for New Years eve and it was INCREDIBLE. We had about 50 people and it could not have been a better night/ experience. The crew, captain, and owners of the boat were super friendly and seemed like they enjoyed themselves as well. Definitely recommend!

Isabella Barbieri

Great experience all around. The staff are very friendly and accommodating and the set up was perfect for the occasion. Wish I could use this service for every event. They were that good.

Evan Sirkey

We were very excited to host our event with Legacy Cruises, as it looked to be one of the most updated boats to host an event on in the marina.. and it did not disappoint! The staff was incredibly helpful from the planning to day of execution and the boat itself was perfect for a luxury event. We will definitely be working with Legacy Cruises again!

Get Ready To Cruise

The lowdown on chartering our luxury private yacht, Sirara, for your San Diego event. For more details and to discuss how we can make your onboard event a reality, contact us today.

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The #1 Superyacht Agent For Exceptional Value And Expertise

California Superyacht Agent

Since 2003, c2c is recognized by the industry as the west coast experts regarding superyacht operational issues and support while cruising the eastern north pacific waters. , our expertise covers san diego, newport beach, los angeles, santa barbara, morro bay, monterey, san francisco, crescent city, brookings, astoria, and portland..

Due to the ongoing shortage of berth space and shipyard slots, C2C is also known for finding suitable berth space in California and evaluating shipyard needs and making suggestions.  Contact us early if coming to California to secure the best berth space for your operational objectives, especially in San Diego.

C2C works close with luxury yachts as a traditional port agent,  providing solutions you  need.  We also work with entities ashore such as ports, pilotage associations, USCG, CBP, Department of Fish and Game, etc, to help them understand luxury yachts.

Company founder Captain Mark Drewelow is a former Chairman of  The Association of Yacht Support Services .  AYSS is a worldwide network of the world’s very best superyacht agents and support service providers to which Captain Drewelow provides leadership and vision.  When you see the red AYSS logo, you can be sure that whomever displaying that meets our strict requirements for membership.

Mark is also founder of  YachtAid Global  ( YAG ).  When you do business with C2C you can be proud to say you support YAG too!

Questions? Contact us at  [email protected]  or call  +1-619-630-4626

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San Diego’s 59-Mile Scenic Drive

SanDiego.org  

This 59-mile scenic drive loops its way through San Diego’s charming neighborhoods and visits unique attractions and natural wonders. Enjoy sweeping, panoramic views of the coastline, the shimmering yacht-dotted bay, downtown’s skyline, Mexico and the surrounding mountains along the way.  

If you want to cover the entire trip in one adventure, carve out at least three hours, but you might need a fews days if you want to make leisurely stops at various destinations. Blue and yellow signs bearing a white seagull mark the drive every quarter mile. 

San Diego Visitor Center  

Start downtown and gather maps, brochures and Visitor Guides at the San Diego Visitor Information Center, operated by Old Town Trolley Tours. Located at 996 North Harbor Drive (south of the Broadway Pier). Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 

The start of this scenic drive celebrates San Diego as a seaport city. See the massive bay filled with aircraft carriers, cruise ships, historic sailboats and private yachts. Head north on Harbor Drive, past the Broadway Pier, where you can catch a ferry across to Coronado or explore the bay on a harbor excursion. 

Next is the Cruise Ship Terminal, where some of the world’s finest ships call on San Diego. Further along the Embarcadero, the tall masts of beautiful historic ships designate Maritime Museum of San Diego, one of the world’s top collections that includes the ferryboat Berkeley, built in 1898; the luxury yacht Medea, built in Scotland; the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, built in 1863, which has circled the globe 27 times; and, when she’s in port, the San Salvador, a replica of explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo’s 1542 flagship that discovered San Diego Bay. 

Harbor Island,   

Take the exit marked “Harbor Island” and do a loop of the island, which affords spectacular views of San Diego Bay, Point Loma, the Coronado Bridge and downtown. 

Spanish Landing and Shelter Island  

Return to Harbor Drive, bear left, and continue driving west along Harbor Drive past Spanish Landing Park, a nice spot for biking or a picnic. Ahead at Scott Street make a left, followed by another left onto Shelter Island Drive. Most of San Diego’s sport fishing fleet is docked in this area. Take a loop around Shelter Island, home to hotels, restaurants and marinas. On the tip of the island you will find the “Yokohama Friendship Bell,” representing Yokohama, Japan, one of San Diego’s sister cities. 

Point Loma  

From Shelter Island Drive make a left turn back on Scott Street, then a right turn at Talbot Street and head up the hill. Turn left onto Canon Street, and then make a left at Catalina Boulevard, where the road eventually turns into Cabrillo Memorial Drive. The peninsula is home to a seaside residential community, military bases and a national cemetery. Striations of white gravestones of the Fort Rosecrans Cemetery line both sides of the street as you head out to the tip of Point Loma. 

Cabrillo National Monument  

Continue driving to the Cabrillo National Monument, named for Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. On September 28, 1542, he sailed into what is now known as San Diego Bay. Historians believe he docked on Point Loma’s east shore, the first landing by a European in present-day California. Point Loma has been described as “where California began.” 

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse began operating here in 1855; though it’s no longer in use, it is open for viewing. (In 1891, another lighthouse was built at sea level and still operates today.) The tip of Point Loma is the most southwestern point of the continental U.S., and an excellent perch to watch the gray whales migrate south to Mexico during the winter months. You can also visit the tide pools, join in a ranger walk, explore the museum and drink in the panoramic views of the harbor, city and Mexico. 

Ocean Beach  

Return to Cabrillo Memorial Drive whose name eventually changes to Catalina Boulevard. Continue along Catalina and turn left at Hill Street. Follow Hill and then turn right at Cordova Street, which becomes Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. As you continue along Sunset Cliffs, you will enter the bohemian seaside community of Ocean Beach. Take a short side trip to the Ocean Beach Municipal Fishing Pier by making a left turn onto Newport Avenue. The pier is an excellent spot for fishing, bird watching or seeing surfers ride the waves. Stroll along Newport Avenue for shopping or a bite to eat. 

Mission Bay Aquatic Park  

Return to and continue driving along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard for a visit to Mission Bay Aquatic Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic playground with 27 miles of beaches. To reach the park area, follow Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to West Mission Bay Drive. Follow signs to West Mission Bay Drive; it turns into Ingraham Street. You’ll see the exit for SeaWorld San Diego here. Continue driving North on Ingraham Street, across two bridges. At the second bridge, which crosses over Fisherman’s Channel, turn right onto Cr own Point Drive. From here you can see wind surfers and catamarans zipping across the water. To explore the area further, take a walk or bike ride on the pathway around the bay, or glide across the water on a kayak or stand up paddleboard. 

Soledad Mountain  

Follow Crown Point Drive and turn left at Lamont Street, which traverses the residential areas of Crown Point and Pacific Beach. At the intersection of Beryl Street, the name will change to Soledad Road. Drive up the hill past Kate Sessions Park (which has a nice playground) and turn left onto Soledad Mountain Road. Travel .8 miles and turn right onto La Jolla Scenic Drive that weaves through one of the exclusive residential areas of La Jolla. Look for the turnoff to Mount Soledad Park. Climb up the Veterans Memorial to the Cross for one of San Diego’s most soul-stirring views. From this lookout point, you can see San Diego County for miles in every direction. If timed right, it’s a wonderful spot to watch the sun sink into the Pacific. 

UC San Diego  

As you leave the park turn right on Via Capri, drive down the hill, and turn left on Hidden Valley Road. This hillside residential area of La Jolla offers spectacular ocean views. At La Jolla Parkway, go through the intersection and follow the signs to Torrey Pines Road. Follow it up the hill and through the canyon and then left on North Torrey Pines Road. On the right is the beautiful University of California, San Diego campus, known for its spectacular architecture, several Nobel Prize-winning faculty members and contemporary art installations. 

Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Salk Institute  

While you are in the UCSD area, you can take two short side trips from the marked route. To visit the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, turn left from North Torrey Pines Road onto Expedition Way and follow signs to the aquarium, home to marvelous kelp tanks, Pacific Ocean marine life habitats, sea dragons and more. When you leave the aquarium parking lot, turn left onto North Torrey Pines Road. Then continue north along North Torrey Pines Road, past the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, named after Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine. Just beyond the institute is the Torrey Pines Glider Port (off Torrey Pines Scenic Drive) where hang gliders soar along the jagged cliffs and sea. When leaving, make a U-TURN and then turn right on North Torrey Pines Road and head south, down the hill, along La Jolla Shores Drive. 

La Jolla Cove Park and La Jolla Cave  

Continue along La Jolla Shores Drive and turn right onto Torrey Pines Road. Turn right at Prospect Street, an upscale boutique shopping street referred to as the “Rodeo Drive of San Diego.” Turn right onto Coast Boulevard and head down to the La Jolla Cove, an enchanting spot for swimming, snorkeling with the orange Garibaldi fish and sea cave kayaking. 

Further south along the coast is the Children’s Pool, a popular gathering place for snoozing harbor seals and swimming. From the Cove, you can walk up Cuvier Street to the elegant shopping and dining district around Prospect Street and Girard Avenue. 

Pacific Beach  

Follow Coast Boulevard, past the Museum of Contemporary Art, and then turn left onto La Jolla Boulevard. Keep going through the charming beach community of Bird Rock. As you reach the bottom of the hill, the street name will change to Mission Boulevard. As you proceed, on your right is Pacific Beach, a confluence of sunbathing, surfing and SoCal culture. For a taste of the San Diego beach scene, stroll, bike or rollerblade along Ocean Front Walk (stop and make a right at Diamond Street). Watering holes and snack shops line this street that hosts a carnival of colorful characters who make for great people watching. 

Mission Beach  

Continue driving along Mission Boulevard into the seaside community of Mission Beach. Just past the roller coaster, turn right at the light, and park your car in the lot. Explore Belmont Park and enjoy an adrenaline-thumping ride on the Giant Dipper built in 1925. Play laser tag, take a dip in the ocean, or stop at one of the seaside restaurants or shops located along the boardwalk. 

Old Town State Historic Park  

Exit the parking lot and head east on West Mission Bay Drive, following the signs for Sports Arena Boulevard. Drive under the freeway overpass and turn left at the first stoplight to continue along Sports Arena Boulevard. Bear left onto Rosecrans Street and go under another freeway overpass. At the stoplight the street name will change to Taylor Street. For a walk back in time, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park awaits on the right with shopping bazaars, cantinas, adobes and museums. This historic park represents San Diego’s Hispanic heritage and merging of cultures from 1821 to 1872, when this area was the center of San Diego. You can also visit charming Heritage Park Row, where a number of Victorian buildings scheduled for demolition were relocated. 

Serra Museum and Presidio Park  

Continue driving along Taylor Street. Turn right on Presidio Drive, drive up the hill and turn left on Presidio Drive. Visit the Serra Museum, named for Father Junipero Serra, the Franciscan friar who established Alta California’s first mission and presidio in 1769. The Spanish Revival-style museum (built in 1928/29) displays artifacts and photographs depicting the early days of San Diego. 

 After visiting the Serra Museum, continue up Presidio Drive and turn left at Arista Street. Turn right at Fort Stockton Drive. You are now driving through Mission Hills, one of San Diego’s first suburbs, and a charming residential area with great Spanish-Revival architecture. Turn right at Goldfinch Street. Continue one block and turn left onto Washington Street. You are now in Hillcrest, which attracts a large LGBT community, as well as many others drawn by the rich selection of trendy boutiques, breweries, art galleries and excellent eateries. 

Balboa Park  

Turn right on First Avenue and then left onto Laurel Street, which becomes El Prado and delivers you into Balboa Park, the largest urban park with cultural institutions in North America. Named for the Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513, Balboa Park is cultural gem. Many of the park’s lovely buildings are examples of ornate Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, constructed for the Panama-California Exposition (1915-16), and also used for the California-Pacific International Exposition in 1935. The sprawling 1400-acre park, includes renowned museums, lush gardens, cafes and the internationally acclaimed The Old Globe Theatre, known for its Shakespeare Festival and Broadway-bound premieres. 

Called the “Smithsonian of the West,” Balboa Park has 17 museums devoted to art, history, space, sports, physical and natural sciences. Favorites include the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Continuing along El Prado, turn right onto Pan American East Road, which leads to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, an outdoor concert setting featuring the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. Enjoy free music here on Sunday afternoons. To the right is the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, where each Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM (between March and mid-November), one of the houses sponsors ethnic folk dances, music or entertainment. 

San Diego Zoo  

Head southwest on Pan American East Road and turn left on President’s Way. Turn left on Park Boulevard and then take another left into Zoo Way. The world-famous San Diego Zoo encompasses 100 acres of Balboa Park and houses 4,000 animals of 800 exotic species. Wander through the natural habitats and discover Tasmanian Devils, playful polar bears, swimming Sumatran tigers and the largest colony of sleepy koalas outside of Australia.  

Seaport Village, USS Midway and The Headquarters  

To exit Balboa Park, turn right onto Park Boulevard and follow it downtown. Take another right at B Street and then a left on Fourth Avenue. Next, take a right on Broadway and then a left on Pacific Highway toward the city’s excellent waterfront dining. About one-half mile farther down, you will reach Seaport Village. Park in one of the lots and stroll through this bustling, waterfront shopping and dining destination. Kids will love the hand-carved carousel from 1895. A little further north, along Harbor Drive, between Seaport Village and the Visitor Center (where your tour began), sits the USS Midway Museum. Berthed along the Navy Pier and open daily, the museum pays tribute to the over 200,000 service men who served aboard the now decommissioned USS Midway. Next, walk over to The Headquarters (789 W. Harbor Drive), the former police station. At this stylish, open-air mall, you’ll find art galleries, a toy store, boutique shops, gourmet chocolates and many family friendly dining options. 

Convention Center, PETCO Park and Embarcadero Marina Park  

When you leave Seaport Village, turn right onto Harbor Drive and head east. On your right is the San Diego Convention Center; across the street is the home of the San Diego Padres baseball team, PETCO Park. New to the city’s skyline is the striking three-story dome of the San Diego Central Library. Just beyond the convention center, turn right on Park Boulevard and explore the Embarcadero Marina Park, home to bike paths, picnic tables, a gazebo, a fishing pier and great views of the Coronado Bridge. 

Gaslamp Quarter  

Return to Harbor Drive and turn left, and then turn right onto Fifth Avenue, which leads to the historic heart of San Diego and its vibrant Gaslamp Quarter. During the California Gold Rush, this raucous waterfront area was once known as the Stingaree District, home to saloons, gambling halls, brothels and opium dens. Today, the dynamic entertainment district boasts more than 100 restaurants, 35 nightclubs and 100 retail shops. Weekend guided walking tours of the area start at the Gaslamp Museum at the William Heath Davis House, which was built in 1859 in New England and said to be haunted. Aspiring ghost-hunters should take a late-night tour for a spine-tingling experience. 

Headquarters At Seaport Village  

Follow Market Street east towards Harbor Drive and you’ll reach The Headquarters at Seaport Village. Through the restoration of San Diego’s Old Police Headquarters, the city has reclaimed a majestic urban treasure by offering an extraordinary new experience; a delightful destination where restaurants on the order of Puesto & Eddie V’s and specialty boutiques such as Urban Beach House and LOLO can make a lasting impression. 

Michele E. Buttelman contributed to this story. Photos Courtesy Visit San Diego.  › 

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