Boat Name: Sobre Las Olas
Length: 105 ft. Beam: 23 ft.
Draft: 8 ft.
Speed: 8 to 10 knots
Year Built: 1929.
The Back Story: Sobre Las Olas, meaning above or on top of the waves, h
Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu
9 Responses
I know the family that owned the Sobre Los Olas those 10 years in Seattle, during the eighties. (https://thelog.com/local/socal-classic-sobre-las-olas/) They used her for Seattle to Alaska, and San Juan Island cruises. This family is still running these cruises, but with the classic motor yacht Discovery.
Teri, you may be referring to the Wilsons. My grandfather, Rodney B Hearne, owned her in the 10 years before the Wilsons in the PNW during the 1970s. Before that in the 50s and 60s she was owned Vern Cole under whose ownership she was wrecked on Shelter Point in British Columbia. She was salvaged by Suthergren and Evans who restored her in Seattle, briefly owned by Larry Latin who purchased her from Evans’ estate before my grandfather purchased her in 1972. My grandfather donated her every December as the Christmas Ship for the City of Seattle until he sold her to Wilson. Wilson was able to pay off the note my grandfather had on her after she was rammed while moored in Winslow by the Jumbo Ferry, Walla Walla in the early 90s.
In 1989 my family of four spent a week on this magnificent yacht as we sailed around Admiralty Island out of Juneau, Alaska. We were part of a whale watching tour through a now defunct company. It had oversold the week and six lucky folks were assigned to Sobre las Olas, which was brought up from Seattle to take the overflow guests. You can imagine how miffed were the 15-20 persons who paid the same amount we had paid but were housed on a sixty foot boat where they slept stacked three high in hallway bunk beds—ouch— while we experienced the luxury of cabins, an elegant dining room, and the covered rear deck. For a few days we felt like royalty and were told of the Hearst prior ownership. And yes, the whale watching was magnificent!
I have news clippings of Sobre Las Olas in Seattle when she was owned by Vern Cole 1958 to 1963., If you wish copies, I am willing to share them with you.
The original owner of the boat may have been John Miller, president of Southern California Edison. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Miller-25819
I had the privilege to live on this amazing vessel in the early 2000 before she was sold. I will never forget her, a true incredible piece of history.
researching more on this yacht
My first job was cleaning the Sobre after parties at age 13 (1963). My father was foreman of Ocean Marine where she was towed and repaired after running aground. I know Blackie Evans bought it for $1. I used to live across the street from the locks, and for many years I watched it as the Christmas ship! Fond memories!
In 1989 my family of four spent a week on this magnificent yacht as we sailed around Admiralty Island out of Juneau, Alaska. We were part of a whale watching tour through a now defunct company. It had oversold the week and six lucky folks were assigned to Sobre las Olas, which was brought up from Seattle to take the overflow guests. You can imagine how miffed were the 15-20 persons who paid the same amount we had paid but were housed on a sixty foot boat where they slept stacked three high in hallway bunk beds—ouch— while we experienced the luxury of cabins, an elegant dining room, and the covered rear deck. For a few days we felt like royalty and were told of the Hearst prior ownership. And yes, the whale watching was magnificent!