Martha at the helm
by Hinckley Yachts 28 Apr 2024 21:41 BST
Martha Stewart © Hinckley Yachts
Discover Martha Stewart's passion for her Picnic Boat, Skylands II, her adventures with family and friends, and how she's inspired others like Disney CEO Robert Iger to follow her lead aboard their own Hinckleys.
Martha Stewart is one of Hinckley's most passionate Picnic Boat owners and captains. Speaking from her Seal Harbor, Maine estate, Stewart recalls how she bought her Picnic Boat, Skylands II, nearly 30 years ago, right after she bought her house, a 1920s masterpiece designed by architect Duncan Candler. "I bought the most beautiful house on Mount Desert Island, named Skylands — and I just had to have the most beautiful boat to go with the most beautiful house," Stewart quips. "That's why it's called Skylands II. Plus, David Rockefeller Sr. told me that it was the only boat to get, and I care about fine workmanship." You could say she's the captain of her own ship.
Skylands II is also the only boat Martha has ever owned. "I learned how to drive it right from the get-go," she says. "It was the perfect size for me. I remember driving it over to Seal Harbor initially. For some reason I was given not one, but two moorings at the Seal Harbor Yacht Club, so they had to accept me, even if it was questionable back then for a nouveau riche woman from New York. They couldn't take my moorings away from me." With an air of nostalgia, she adds, "It's been so pleasant ever since. My grandchildren have gone to the sailing school and love going out on the boat—to Long Island, Maine—with me."
So, what's a typical day on the water like with Martha Stewart? "I enjoy hosting friends. We pack up a picnic, and literally go picnicking on my Picnic Boat. I like to explore, so we go to other islands and Lubec Harbor, which takes me about 4.5 hours to drive to. While there, we visit the summer house of the Roosevelts. And I've even gone to New York aboard Skylands II — my office used to be on 26th Street and I had a dock on the Hudson River, which was really fun."
Stewart's boat caught the attention of several friends who decided to follow her lead, including Disney CEO Robert Iger. "You would think my boat was made yesterday because it's in such good shape and has withstood the test of time," Stewart says. "But I also take good care of it. It's kept safe in the harbor on a secure mooring that is checked every year and is fully winterized at Hinckley's Southwest Harbor. My hull is a beautiful biscuit color, and the interiors feature orange upholstery and cherry wood trim. It's very chic and comfortable."
While she likes to bring a second captain along on her Skylands II outings in case she wants to take a break to entertain or relax, she has several trips on the 2024 docket, including one to Connecticut. "We can go across the sound to Sag Harbor, and Steven Gambrel has a really nice house there with a dock," she says. "And I'm also planning a trip early this summer where several of my friends and I will take our Hinckleys up the Hudson River as far as we can go, overnighting and perhaps seeing Eric Schmidt and Annie Leibovitz along the way."
This begs the question: Has her famous friend and creative collaborator Snoop Dogg joined her on Skylands II yet? "He hasn't been to see me in Maine, but everyone wants him here. Boating this year is only going to get more fun."