Half Moon

The Half Moon, originally known as the Germania, was a racing sailboat built in 1908 by Krupp-Germania-Werft in Kiel, Germany. Here’s its fascinating history: Origins: The yacht Germania, made of chrome-nickel steel, was a wedding gift from Bertha Krupp (daughter of the yard owner) to her husband, Count Gustav von Bohlen und Halbach. It carried an impressive 15,000 square feet of canvas and was rigged as a schooner. Racing Success: Germania was one of the fastest racing yachts of its time, winning the German Kaiser’s Cup and competing in prestigious regattas at Cowes, England, and Kiel, Germany. Seizure in Southampton: In 1914, as World War I was declared, Germania’s captain unwittingly brought the yacht into Southampton for water. British Customs officials seized it as a prize of war, making the crew among the first German prisoners of the war. Renaming and Ownership Changes: Sold in 1917 to H. Hannevig, the yacht was renamed Exen and sailed to New York. Later, former U.S. Navy Assistant Secretary Gordon Woodbury acquired it and rechristened it the Half Moon. Lavishly refitted, the yacht became a floating saloon during Prohibition. Stormy End: In 1922, during a voyage to the South Seas, Half Moon encountered a violent storm off Cape Charles, Virginia. High seas nearly sank the sailboat, and tragically, the quartermaster was washed overboard to his death Woodbury’s Near-Death Experience: Gordon Woodbury, the yacht’s owner, nearly drowned during a violent storm off Cape Charles, Virginia, in 1922. He later described it as “the worst experience of my whole life.” Ownership Changes: After Woodbury, Charles Vail of New York acquired the damaged Half Moon. The lead keel was removed, and the hull was offered for scrap. Later, H. Fink and A. Toplitz bought the hulk, restored its original name (Germania), and towed it to Miami. Floating Restaurant and Dance Pavilion: Moored in the Miami River, Germania served as a floating restaurant and dance pavilion. It even weathered the destructive 1926 hurricane. Captain Smiley’s Refit: Captain Ernest D. Smiley of Miami took over the vessel, refitting the hull and rechristening it as the Half Moon. The yacht became a fishing barge and cabaret, permanently anchored with heavy chains to an offshore reef. Stormy End: In 1930, during a severe storm, Captain Smiley and his family abandoned ship. The Half Moon broke free from its moorings and ran aground on a shallow sandy shoal near Key Biscayne. Efforts to raise it were futile, and the yacht disappeared beneath the Atlantic waves, its name forgotten. Rediscovery and Preservation: Local Miami divers and amateur historians later identified the wreck as the Half Moon. It was nominated to Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserve program. Contributions from historians in Germany and England added architectural data and revealed the yacht’s German origins. Historic Recognition: In November 2000, the Half Moon (formerly Germania) became Florida’s seventh Underwater Archaeological Preserve. In 2001, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places .