On a ‘Wild Goose’ cruise

TRAVEL

Sandra deDubovay and Joe DiDonato recently took an outing to Newport Bay that included a champagne brunch cruise aboard John Wayne’s yacht, “Wild Goose.” DeDubovay and Joe DiDonato were joined by fellow LWersAnnFrambachandMarina Tesla, as well as friends Cheryl and Claus Marx.

“Wild Goose” was built in 1941 as a Yard Mine Sweeper for the U.S. Navy; of the 481 made, only four remain today. Wayne purchased the 136-foot, converted vessel for $116,000 in 1965. It was one of “the Duke’s” most prized possessions, and he traveled extensively aboard the yacht while entertaining such luminaries as Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.

After boarding “Wild Goose,” deDubovay, DiDonato and friends enjoyed unlimited champagne and a delicious extensive brunch on the third deck. As the boat passed multimillion-dollar waterfront mansions, yachts and historic sites, a crew member pointed out the former, nowrenovated John Wayne family estate that overlooks the bay.

Following dessert, they took a self-guided tour of the library, card room and staterooms, and even got to lay on the Duke’s bed and take photos. In the salon, they viewed some of his movie posters and paintings by his former wife. The TV in the library showed some of Wayne’s many movies, including “True Grit,” for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor in l970.

Wayne’s last trip aboard the yacht was to Santa Catalina (reportedly his favorite destination) in 1979, just two months before his death. He sold “Wild Goose” for $750,000, and in 1991, the Wild Goose Yacht Corp. purchased it for an undisclosed sum.

After extensive repairs and renovations totaling $3.5 million, the historic ship was sold again in 1997 to Hornblower Cruises & Events.

DeDubovay, DiDonato and their friends thoroughly enjoyed their first official outing since the pandemic. “We had a lovely, sunny day to appreciate sailing,” said deDubovay. “It couldn’t have been better.”