Madoff's 33" Sportfisher on the block
It was just last December that Bernie Madoff confessed to the largest Ponzi scheme in history.  He was a well respected power broker on Wall Street for over 30 years but left in his wake thousands of unsuspecting investors and charities literally bankrupt with nothing at all to show for their investments with Mr. Madoff.  In addition to ruining these people financially two of his clients committed suicide as a result of his actions.  Many believe, as do I that his intentions initially were not to grow this gorilla to the size it became, leaving himself and his clients so exposed.  Ultimately greed took over and as in most of these cases the end result was nothing but disaster, for both Bernie and his investors.
Bernie is destined to spend the rest of his life in prison with no possible chance of parole and for many of us we have slowly begun the process of forgetting him and his actions.  Today that all changed for me at least with the knowledge that three of Bernie’s prize marine beauties were sent to the auction block.  The boats included a vintage 55’ Rybovich sport fisherman, a 33’ Shelter Island runabout and a 24’ Maverick bay boat.  Now if you’re not a mariner at heart you probably have little comprehension of the grade of yachts old Bernie owned.
I can assure you much like everything else he owned they are the absolute best of the best.  The Rybovich, named Bull, was built for him in 1969 and he has been the sole owner since commissioning, a true museum piece that can only be viewed as a work of art.  Even more ironic this vessel has enjoyed the same captain since she was brandnew, adding to the mystery of the Madoff saga.  Today a boat like this would cost somewhere in the 4-5 million dollar range but at auction it brought only $700,000.00 dollars.
The Shelter Island “Sitting Bull” went for a steal at $320,000.00 and “little Bull”, the Maverick fetched $21,000.00.  Although these boats were purchased and funded with corrupt monies, I still can’t help but feel sad that their pampered life is now over, given to the highest bidder with no assurance that any of them will enjoy a fraction of the maintenance, love and care they have received since they were built.  Being a boat person at heart I see these vessels as ladies, true Southern Belles that are soon to be no more.  Bernie has confessed to his crimes and is paying the ultimate price locked away forever, but the pain still continues on the outside.
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