Karim Aga Khan IV 1936 - 2025

Prince Karim Al-Husseini better know as the Aga Khan IV or Karim Aga Khan has left for the better World in Lisbon, Portugal, on 4 February 2025, at the age of 88.  The billionaire philanthropist and spiritual was reported to have passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, his charity the Aga Khan Development Network announced.  Aga Khan IV was the 49th imam of Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025.  He held the position of imam and the title of Aga Khan after succeeding to the position at the age of twenty upon the death of his grandfather, Aga Khan III.  Aga Khan IV was also known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Isma'ili followers.  Beside being a multiple yacht owner, Aga Khan yachting feats are his Blue Ribbin record, sponsoring Italy's first America's Cup challenge, and creating one of the most beautiful important Mediterranean yacht marinas with Porto Cervo in Sardinia.  Aga Khan debuted Italy in the Americas Cup when he challenged for the Old Cup in the 25th edition of 1983, co-sponsoring the challenge with Giovanni Agnelli and under the tutelage of his 1967 founded Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.  With Azzurra boat number I-4 the Italian debuted will take fourth position in the Louis Cup, and start the love of Italy and Italians for the Americas Cup.   Azzurra challenged again for the cup in 1987, with Azzurra III boat I-10 and Azurra IV boat I-11, arriving seventh in the round robin stage.  His Americas Cup Challenge will be the inspiration to further Italian Americas Cup challenges, but most important three Italian Americas Cup finalists in 1991, 2000, and 2021.  Aga Khan also created and founded Porto Cervo, with five other partners, considered since the sixties as one of most luxurious and natural settled marinas in the World.  Porto Cervo started its construction in 1962 and in 1964 was completed in its first phase, and was followed by other important investments from Aga Khan IV in Sardinia, from the re-opening of the old Venafiorita airport then renamed to Costa Smeralda, to the founding of Alisarda airline in 1963 which will become Meridiana in 1991 and then Air Italy in 2018.  For us motor boaters though Aga Khan biggest feat is Destriero which was specifically build to beat the Atlantic Ocean record of three days and secure the Blue Riband.  In 1992 Destriero crossed the Atlantic, without refuelling, twice, first westbound and then east-bound.  Her eastbound voyage from the Ambrose Light to Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, a distance of 3,106 nautical miles which Destriero will do at an average speed of 53.09 knots, will be held in the record time of 58 hours, 34 minutes and 5 seconds.  Despite this Destriero was denied the Hales Trophy, because she was classed as a private yacht and not a "commercial passenger vessel". Destriero did, however receive the Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy, awarded by former record-holder Richard Branson for the fastest crossing by any vessel, and the Columbus Atlantic Trophy sponsored by the Costa Smeralda and New York Yacht Club for the fastest trans-Atlantic round-trip.  Destriero still holds the fastest Atlantic crossing record till today.  Unfortunately the faith of the Fincantieri build Donald L. Blount designed 68.19 meters triple 20,000hp gas turbine engines powered super ship will get lonely as she was laid up in HMNB Devonport dockyard, Plymouth, England for ten years, and then removed in February 2009, taken to Lürssen ship yard and then unfortunately scrapped on second May 2023.  Aga Khan IV owned various yachts over the years, with these having one thing in common, being fast and named for his horses, the rest was different with his yachting ownership starting with three Baglietto's and then going into various Donald L. Blount designs.  One of his first yachts was a 1963 Baglietto Majorca 22-meter titled m/y Amaloun and this being the fastest of three Majorca's made which was unfortunately lost to a yard fire.  Following this Aga Khan will commission two other Baglietto's a Minorca 20m in 1964, and 14m in 1967 titled m/y Silver Shark what was the first Italian pleasure boat commissioned with turbine jets.  Current Aga Khan yachts include the 1983 Lurrsen 46.6 meter m/y Shergar, the 2010 Hodgdon 26 meter m/y Zarkava as designed by Donald L. Blount, her slightly smaller 25 meter 2013 build sister-ship titled m/y Valyra, and his latest build the m/y Alamshar the 2014 delivered Devonport 49.9 meter as designed by Pininfarina and naval architecture by Donald L. Blount and Associates.