TIMOTEO
A journey through history
Timothy, a journey through history…
The ship Timothy is a burcio built in the F.lli Cobelli shipyard in 1920.
Burci were originally a class of flat-bottomed river transport boats typical of the Po Valley.
At one time Timothy was used to transport sand on the Sile by sailing to the river delta, then, having closed the sails on the third, it was hauled by rope by special horses.
Burcians participated and made a great contribution during World War I; in fact, they were used to transport tons of bulky materials and many soldiers to areas that could not be reached except by water.
The story goes that in order to protect Timothy from the bombardment that had become incessant, it was decided to sink it temporarily and then resurface at a time of less conflict.
Ottavio Missoni, world-famous entrepreneur and fashion designer, in the early 1980s ,saw this boat left to its decay near the island of Torcello. Timoteo belonged to a local painter such as Diavolin who over time had abandoned it to itself.
Ottavio fell in love with it and immediately decided to buy it; after the purchase he had the interior of the ship designed with the construction of a wooden deckhouse that gave life to a large covered space.
Below decks today take up space in two very large salons that house a living area and an area equipped with a massive dining table.
The number of rooms is deliberately limited wanting to make Timothy’s a living room where over the years to host friends and numerous celebrities. The scope and purpose with which the ship sails make it unnecessary to have on-board cabins but ample space to entertain conversation and confrontation.
Octavius’ personality was not accustomed to the mundanity of overly formal and elegant settings but loved informal company and sea life.
There are many people who are Ottavio’s guests on this boat on occasions such as the Barcolana in Trieste, Biennale art or cinema in Venice, or simply for an excursion in the lagoon always accompanied by excellent food and wine.
A classic saying of his is, “to dress badly you don’t need to follow fashion, but it helps,” and about his clothes : “I don’t buy designer clothes; I wear what I like. When I was invited to the Quirinal I needed a tuxedo […] Since I don’t make that stuff, I went into Armani and bought one.”
For many, many years, Timoteo was a second home for the Missoni family who spent long days in the lagoon in the company of friends when professional commitments permitted.
With the founder’s passing, the boat remains part of an important legacy.
Today, it is in the family’s interest to make this valuable legacy known to others as well, sharing its history and value.
Timothy is to this day the last remaining tumbler of his size in the world and still sailing.
