Monkey Business (yacht)

Monkey Business is an American yacht built for the use of the Turnberry Isle Resort Marina in southern Florida. It is best known for its role in scuttling the campaign of Gary Hart for President of the United States.

History

An 83-foot (25 m) Broward motor yacht, Monkey Business was custom built for the Turnberry Isle Resort. The hull was made from aluminum; cabins had rosewood paneling and amenities included a hot tub and full bar.[1] Guests hosted aboard included Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Nicholson, and Julio Iglesias.[1]

Gary Hart incident

In March 1987, at which time it was owned by Donald Soffer,[2] the yacht was leased by William C. Broadhurst and he and former US senator Gary Hart sailed it to Bimini for an overnight trip with two women, one of whom was Donna Rice. After Hart became a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 election for President of the United States, the issue of whether he was having an affair with Rice was raised in the press, and he withdrew his candidacy shortly after the cruise on Monkey Business became known.[1][3][4][5]

Later career

In 1988, the yacht was seized by USCGC Cape Shoalwater after a safety inspection off Bimini found marijuana aboard; a total of 9 grams of the drug were found.[2] In 1990 the yacht was put up for sale for $1.5 million; the owner stated that the Hart scandal had affected business enough to make operation of the vessel unprofitable.[6] In 2004 the yacht was still docked at the Turnberry Yacht Club.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Charter Yacht Has Carried Lots of Celebrities AM-Hart, Bjt". Associated Press. May 7, 1987. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  2. 1 2 "Marijuana Is Found On Yacht Hart Once Used". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, PA. May 15, 1988. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  3. ↑ Dionne, E.J. Jr. (May 9, 1987). "Courting danger: The fall of Gary Hart". The New York Times. 'The Bimini trip did it - it just finished him,' said one former political associate.
  4. 1 2 Pohlen, Jerome (2004). Oddball Florida: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. p. 255. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  5. ↑ Cramer, Richard Ben (1992). What It Takes. New York: Random House. pp. 436–37, 452. ISBN 0-394-56260-7.
  6. ↑ "Monkey Business yacht goes up for sale". Ocala Star-Banner. Ocala, FL. January 2, 1990. p. 2B. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
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