Mystery of the Sausalito Yacht and Helicopter Solved

Want to receive Sausalito event updates via email? Subscribe in the box at the upper right! We never ever share or sell email addresses.

Mystery of the Sausalito Yacht and Helicopter Solved

Looking for the July, 2011 Sausalito Mega-Yacht? Check it out here!

Looking for the August 2010 Sausalito Mega-Yacht? Check it out here.

A hot topic of discussion in Sausalito has been "Who owns the yacht with the helicopter that's moored off the Bridgeway promenade?" We've heard both Johnny Depp and Paul Allen suggested as the phantom yachtsmen, but we cross-checked yacht photos and neither answer is correct. (Photo credit: Sabine Stetson)

Here's the boat that matched, pictured at anchor in Vancouver:

The yacht's name is The Attessa III, at 225 feet the 71st largest yacht in the world in 2008, and it's owned by Montana billionaire industrialist Dennis Washington, Forbes' #292 among the world's richest people. It was built in 1998 as the Aviva, and remodeled and lengthened by 20+ feet when Washington acquired and renamed it after a fire.

It has one deck molded from a single piece of plastic, the largest such plastic composite component ever constructed for a yacht. Decorated in the art deco style, its features include a movie theater, gym, massage room, two outdoor Jacuzzis and a seven-seat helicopter. Washington is reported to have spent about $50 million on the Attessa, first to buy and then to restore the yacht.

Update: You can take an interactive tour of the Attessa here. Just take off your shoes first, sign this release form and don't spill anything on the carpets!

Update: Thanks to CBS Channel 5 in San Francisco for their compliments to OurSausalito.com on our breaking this story. We thought the piece that Mike Sugarman did for CBS News today by renting a boat and sailing right up to the yacht was priceless.