In 1976, Winston Knauss purchased a 28‑foot leisure craft to entertain family and friends, christening it Dyn‑AAA‑Mite as a playful nod to his career as a demolition expert in Indianapolis. That modest boat would become the spark that ignited one of the most distinctive charter yacht fleets in the world. Two years later, he designed and built a 40‑foot vessel of his own, naming it Wrecking Crew in honor of his beloved AAA Wrecking Demolition Company — a business he had since gifted to his employees. Upon completing the Wrecking Crew, Winston relocated his private yacht to a slip off the famed Las Olas Boulevard on the New River, placing it in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant boating community.
In the early days, his charters did not include onboard catering — until entertainment icon Liza Minnelli chartered the yacht and insisted on an extravagant seafood spread featuring jumbo shrimp, fresh‑shucked oysters, and extra‑large Florida stone crabs. That single event transformed the onboard experience and set a new standard for luxury dining on the scenic waterways of South Florida.
Winston loved captaining his own yachts, but he also took pride in mentoring young men and women, teaching them the craft of seamanship and hospitality. As his reputation grew, so did his fleet. He continued building vessels under the Sir Winston name, and twenty years after his first build, he launched a new tradition: a new yacht every other year, each one larger and more refined than the last, sailing under the monikers Grand Floridian, Grand Princess and of course Sir Winston.
Today, the Sir Winston legacy spans the globe. Sir Winston yachts can be found operating in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Shanghai, Mumbai, Boston, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Tampa, Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Delray and the Palm Beaches — a testament to the global reach of a fleet that began with a single 28‑foot leisure craft.
Winston Knauss remains the designer, builder, owner, and captain behind some of the most unique charter yachts in the world. As he celebrates his 50th year owning and operating his South Florida charter business, his legacy continues to shape the industry he helped define.