The yacht of King Juan Carlos I, the ‘Fortuna’, is one of the most famous vessels in Spain. For decades it was one of the symbols of Spanish royalty, sailing countless crossings of the king in the Mediterranean during his years of reign.
This imposing vessel, built in 1997 in the Bazán shipyard in Cádiz, was a gift from a group of businessmen to the monarch for a value of around 18 million euros.
What was King Juan Carlos’ yacht ‘Fortuna’ like?
With a length of 41 meters and capacity for 8 passengers and 8 crew members, the ‘Fortuna’ captivated with its majesty and speed, being able to navigate at 130 km/h thanks to its powerful Rolls-Royce turbines.
Its luxurious interiors, with a spacious salon, dining room, and 4 double cabins, were witness to the King’s meetings and celebrations for more than 15 years.
After the abdication of Juan Carlos I in 2014, the yacht was returned to the Tourist and Cultural Foundation of the Balearic Islands, who sold it months later for only 2.2 million euros to the shipping company Balearia. A price considerably lower than when it was built, but which represented the end of a golden era for the royal vessel.
What is its current situation?
Since then, the ‘Fortuna’ has been renamed ‘Foners’ and has been for sale intermittently without any luck. Initially offered for €8 million in 2018, her price plummeted by half the following year in the absence of buyers.
In 2021 it returned to the market with a purchase price of 2.2 million, but no bidder was encouraged to acquire it.
Experts point out that, despite its glamorous history, Fortuna’s very high maintenance and operating costs have deterred potential new owners.
Its powerful engines consume fuel at a rate that is difficult to afford for private use. Moreover, after years of inactivity, it would require additional investment in renovations.
The king’s yacht, awaiting a new owner
For now, the historic ‘Fortuna’ of King Juan Carlos remains anchored in the port of Denia, a faded shadow of the majesty it once represented.
The high costs of its ownership and operation seem to have buried, at least for now, any chance of the yacht regaining its past glory by sailing the seas under a new owner. A melancholy end for a symbol of Spanish royalty.