The “Vajoliroja” has an eventful history: Actor Johnny Depp once sailed the seas in it, then Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling owned the ship and now – with the fourth name – it belongs to an unknown businessman.
A pirate captain without a ship is actually unthinkable. That’s probably what Johnny Depp thought too, who bought a yacht in 2007 to match his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. But unlike many mega yachts of the rich and famous, Depp did not opt for “white goods”, but an older, wooden example of the Turkish Proteksan Turquoise shipyard, today Turquoise Yachts.
The ship, then known as “Anatolia”, is a 48-meter yacht made of steel and aluminum and can reach a comfortable maximum speed of 13.2 knots (around 25 kilometers per hour). That’s actually slower than the frigate “Black Pearl” that Depp steers as Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean” – in the film it reaches a remarkable 17.2 knots, without any diesel generators.
Then “Anatolia”, today “Arriva”
But the Anatolia, which Depp renamed “Vajoliroja” when it was bought in 2007, was not intended to serve as a battleship in the fight against the British East India Company, but as a holiday retreat for the actor and his closest confidants. Depp reportedly used the ship to travel to his private island, Little Hall’s Pond Cay, in the Bahamas.
The name “Vajoliroja” already stood for his partner, Vanessa Paradis, and his two children, Lily-Rose and Jack. Just “Va” for Vanessa, “Jo” for Johnny, “Liro” for Lily-Rose and “Ja” for Jack. Some pictures showing the family on board the ship also date from this period.
When Depp married Amber Heard in 2015, he renamed the ship again. From then on it was called “Amphitrite”, named after a sea nymph in Greek mythology. The ship was a wedding gift to Heard at the time. Apparently, Depp gave the ship away not only once, because Vanessa Paradis also received it as a gift – obviously for a while.
As is now well known, the marriage to Heard did not last long and the “Amphitrite” changed hands. Shortly after marrying Amber Heard, Depp sold the ship to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who fell in love with the ship’s charm while vacationing aboard the yacht.
As is sometimes the case with holiday flirts, the author’s rose-colored glasses didn’t last long and only a year later she ditched the yacht again. The “Amphitrite” went to an unknown businessman for a little over 19 million US dollars, who then named it “Arriva”. The ship is currently in the port of Palm Beach in Florida, USA.
A dream of velvet, leather and gold
What has changed least over the years is the striking interior, which California interior designer LM Pagano designed for Depp in 2008. In numerous photos on her Instagram profile – and on her homepage – one gets an exciting insight into the personal taste of Johnny Depp, who was actively involved in the interior redesign.
In an interview a while ago, Pagano said the ship should feel like the Orient Express at sea. Apparently, the actor feels quite comfortable in rooms with velvet and Art Deco furniture. The couple spent their honeymoon with Amber Heard on the real Orient Express.
The yacht accommodates ten guests and nine crew members, with employment provided. The ship has a home cinema and a salon, the entire interior consists of lots of wood, velvet and antique furniture. Several pools save guests jumping off the railing.
While most of the yacht’s equipment is relatively timeless, such as jet skis or the dinghy, it would be interesting to know whether the technical equipment has remained – because consumer electronics clearly ages noticeably less than a ship. In reports that date back to the time when J.K. Rowling was captain of the “Amphitrite”, they proudly tell of modern technology such as several iPod docking stations, a Playstation 3 and a Nintendo Wii on board.
Sources: LM Pagano, The Richest, Autoevolution
