The former yacht of Henry Ford II, "SOUTHERN BREEZE” is a semi-custom built motor yacht built by the Zigler Shipyard in Jennings, LA in 1964. The yacht has had major yard periods in 2000 (new CAT engines) in 2003 (complete new interior and transom) and later in 2006 (new master suite on top deck) at the Stabbert Marine yard in Seattle; and most recently at Merrill Stevens in Miami where it was refit by Twentieth Century Fox for the film "X-MEN FIRST CLASS".

The yacht has had several marine stylists and designers with input starting in 1983 with Jon Bannenberg, in 1989 with Francis Giuglaris of Antigue, France and later in January of 2003 by Joseph Artese Design from Seattle.

The yacht was originally built in 1964 as “SOUTHERN BREEZE”.

Famous guests have included royalty and celebs such as Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, Hugh Hefner, Sean Connery and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Built in 1964 by G.B. Zigler Inc. in Jennings Louisiana, the vessel known today as STARGAZER initially sailed as the "Southern Breeze." The steel hull was one of a series of sturdily-built military hulls designed for a South American navy.

Itʼs first Owner, Mr. Edwards of Houston, Texas cruised to New York with a guest list that included Frank Sinatra. In 1965, ownership went to Mr.Augustus J. Newman of Palm Beach, Florida. A British citizen, he registered the yacht and sailed under the Blue Ensign of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. The vessel became a fixture on the Palm Beach social scene during winters, and became a regular in Monaco and the Cote dʼAzure in the summers. Playboy Magazineʼs Hugh Hefner chartered the vessel in the Mediterranean. In 1974, a well-known French art dealer and racehorse owner purchased the vessel and initiated a major refit and style changes under the direction of the legendary British yacht stylist, Jon Banneberg. The work was carried out in Hamburg, Germany and Genoa, Italy. The yacht now cruised more extensively in the winter covering Florida, the Bahamas and the whole Caribbean basin. Guests often included film stars such as Sean Connery and Ursula Andress, as well as European Royals.

In 1980, the vessel was traded in exchange for a vast safari estate in Kenya. In 1983, it became the property of Mr. Henry Ford III who carried out the second Bannenberg refit. Mr. Ford spent summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean entertaining high society and high profile guests.