Palawan IV - Present and Past
Doug Hazlitt
Doug Hazlitt is well known for his dedication to restoring historic sailing vessels and sharing the thrill of sailing with others. After purchasing Palawan IV from the Maine Maritime Academy in 2015 he has overseen a rebuild including:
redesign of salon, galley, and navigation-station
luxurious updates to the fore and aft heads
optimization of the sail plan and rigging
upgrade to the electrical, fuel, propulsion, and waste management systems
Palawan IV’s Restoration Gallery
A look at some of Palawan IV’s previous global adventures
Both Thomas Watson Jr. and Geraldo Rivera have shared Doug Hazlitt’s passion for well-built sailing vessels; the commitment to build and preserve them; and, of course, the joy felt when the sails are full.
Geraldo Rivera
Palawan IV was purchased by Geraldo Rivera in 1995 and renamed “Voyager.” Under Rivera’s ownership she raced Marion to Bermuda four times, circumnavigated the globe for the turn of the millennium, and ventured 1,400 miles up the Amazon River.
Rivera reluctantly decided to part with the vessel and donated her to Maine Maritime Academy in Castin, Maine in 2013.
Thomas Watson Jr.
Palawan IV was originally built for Thomas Watson Jr. in 1972 by Abeking and Rasmussen in Lemwarder, Germany to the specifications of Sparkman & Stephens designer Francis Kinney. She was the fourth of seven vessels christened as “Palawan” by Watson and was purpose-built for extended global cruising.
Each of Watson’s “Palawans’” refer to the island in the Philippines where he spent time during his service in World War II — a place he felt to be the most beautiful he had ever seen and worthy of constructing a sailboat (or seven) to return with after the war.
