Aristotle's Yacht

Aristotle Socrates Onassis, who added the world's biggest tanker to his 100-ship fleet only two weeks ago (TIME, June 14), is not the man to let barnacles grow. Last week, out from a Kiel shipyard for a trial run with Onassis on board sailed his new yacht, probably the fanciest private ship afloat. Called the Christina (after his wife), Onassis' floating palace is a 1,445-ton, 303-ft. Canadian destroyer escort (Stormont) rebuilt into a yacht at an estimated cost of $2,500,000. In the afterdeck is a marble swimming pool, with a mosaic floor that can be raised for dancing. In the lounge is a huge fireplace of ornamental lapis lazuli, while in the cozy barroom, decorated as an old sailor's haunt, cocktail sippers can sit in whaleskin chairs at a glass-topped bar enclosing a tiny fleet of ancient and modern ship models. Said Onassis, after a look around: "I am very pleased with the job done." Not content with his new ship, Tycoon Onassis also announced some big plans for Monte Carlo, which he bought both as headquarters and playground last year. With a three-story office building (remodeled at a cost of $100,000) to house his 100-man staff, Onassis plans to spend $1,000,000 a year to air-condition and modernize the famed old Casino itself, and build a new dance pavilion. For tourists he will start direct air service between England, Italy and Monte Carlo, with huge, four-engine aerial freighters so that guests can fly in with their cars. For yachtsmen he will build a huge concrete pyramid 200 yds. outside the harbor entrance, thus breaking up the Mediterranean swells that rock yachts in the harbor. As a final bow to luxury, Onassis plans to smooth Monte Carlo's pebbly, ankle-spraining beach by laying a carpet of concrete out 20 ft. to a depth of 5 ft. 6 in. "From there on," says 5 ft. 7 in. Swimmer Onassis, "you can float."

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