Question for Greg about Southport

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Several years ago, I use to go scuba diving from time to time out of Southport. There was this big boat up on blocks called the "Mia-Mia". Gossip had it that it belonged to Frank Sinatra and was bought in honor of, or for Mia Farrow, his wife or wanna be wife at the time. Gossip had it that it never was in the water and neither of them had been on it.

Have you heard anything historical about this?

[Greg]

Several years ago, I use to go scuba diving from time to time out of Southport. There was this big boat up on blocks called the "Mia-Mia". Gossip had it that it belonged to Frank Sinatra and was bought in honor of, or for Mia Farrow, his wife or wanna be wife at the time. Gossip had it that it never was in the water and neither of them had been on it.

Have you heard anything historical about this?

I havent really heard anything about this....not sure I know which boat your talking about. Do you where this boat is up on blocks??? By waterfron in southport, waterway, not near water, etc???? I can sure find out if I can get an idea of what were talkin bout

[Jack-of-all-trades]

I havent really heard anything about this....not sure I know which boat your talking about. Do you where this boat is up on blocks??? By waterfron in southport, waterway, not near water, etc???? I can sure find out if I can get an idea of what were talkin bout

At the time I was down there, you would take them main road toward the sea and turn right into an area with long finger piers for boats. Most had "Ts" of of them to a covered part where 40-70 ft boats were docked under a shelter.It was just sitting in the high sand in that area.

Maybe it is in storage someplace and can be had for back taxes? Mia Farrow never struck me is the blue water sailor type. Things have flourished a bit since then but looks to be in the neighborhood of Potter's seafood and the Fishy Fish Cafe in the W Brunswick and Bay Street area.

Ask an old fart like me and he may remember. It was late 70's or early 80's.

[Greg]

Gotcha!!!! Now I know where you're talking about. That would be at the Southport Marina which they've almost completely redone so if you haven't been there in several years you are going to be very impressed with what it looks like new. New paved parking lot, brand new dock for entire marina, new buildings out on docks for gas and stuff and I'm not 100% sure but I think they plan to add another dry stack storage. Either that or they plan to put a roof on some of the boat storage racks that are uncovered. Really looks like a whole new marina.

I'll start asking around about the Mia Mia boat. I'm sure there are plenty of old farts still hanging around town that might know what I'm talking about. Now in all actuality I don't consider or routinely call my elders "Old Farts" but given the context it seemed like the right time to utilize that term....LOL

I'll report back to you my findings after I complete my reconnaissance mission and infiltrate the minds of my superior allies while targeting their pre-90's memories....LOL Sometimes I think and say things so dumb and corny I actually find them funny

[Cindylou]

Jack, I did a little snooping and you are very much correct. I read that Frank Sinatra had a boat named The Mia Mia, in the 70's and that it stayed in dry dock storage for a number of years in that area you are talking about. It will be fun to see what Greg digs up from the older locals.

[Rev. Zen]

I remember there used to be a green boat that was abandoned in the Southport Marina. When I was a kid, I always fantasized about it being an old pirate ship (although it was only about 20 ft. long).

I am not familiar with the legend of the Mia Mia, but I would love to hear how this story pans out.

[Jack-of-all-trades]

I remember there used to be a green boat that was abandoned in the Southport Marina. When I was a kid, I always fantasized about it being an old pirate ship (although it was only about 20 ft. long).

I am not familiar with the legend of the Mia Mia, but I would love to hear how this story pans out.

From time to time the last few days I've been surfing Frank & Mia. I did find one reference about them cruising the east coast but it didn't say if it was their boat or someone else's boat. I was too young to be up on the tabloids when they were married for two years in the 60's.

As I recall the Mia-Mia was more in the 90-100 ft range. I was diving some out of Southport in the late 70's. Word was the boat had been up on blocks for some time by then.

I did find some old pictures of other famous personalities that were interesting. About a third of the way down is a cheesecake of Sean Connery of 007 fame. In the 007 movies he seemed to be a bit more, lets say filled out. After seeing Sophia Lorianne in a commercial recently and her's of a while back I would say she now has a very good plastic surgeon. The is a pic of JFK and Marlyn Monroe that support the gossip that they were an item. Another one that got me for a while was a young Sean Peen with what looked like a snake behind his belt. Closer exam looks more like a bagel.
Rare Photos of Famous People (125 pics)

[Greg]

Jack,

Just wantd to let you know I havent forgot about you and am still questioning around. When was the last time you saw the boat??? Late 70's? Was it a complete boat at that time, not just the bottom of the hull or something? Any characteristics of the boat that you remember like color or height etc? was it a sailboat? We WILL figure this out! Just need a little help figuring out what it is I am looking for. I have a friend that works for the State Port Pilot (Souhtport's weekly newspaper) who said they can get me access to archived issues of the paper

[Jack-of-all-trades]

It was the late 70's or early 80's, maybe as late as '85. I don't recall seeing it but once and was not in great shape at the time. Me and my dive buddies went down after work one Friday, arrived in town about midnight. We got a room in this fleabag motel to sleep for a few hours before meeting at the boat at 5:30 AM. There was a couple next door who where taking care of their carnal needs all night it seemed. One was a moaner and the other caused the furniture to bang on the wall. I remember carrying a set of double tanks, a single tank and all my dive gear past the stern of the Mia-Mia early the next morning thinking I can't wait to get stowed away so I can sleep on top of the wheel house on the way out to sea. As I recall it was at least 70' or so but all boats look bigger out of the water. The boat was complete but looked like it had been setting unused for several years. It looked to be a late model boat that had been abandoned. It was a power boat.

We did most of our diving out of Morehead and Ocracoke NC as it is such a long boat ride to get to open ocean from Southport. Practically all of our trips were to wrecks of ships. For those who don't know this area is known as the graveyard of the Atlantic and too the German U-boats had field day in WWII sinking ships off the NC coast. The Gulf Stream runs North close to shore along NC at about 4 knots. Ships heading South would try to hug the coast to stay out of the Gulf Stream. The U-boats would use the lights of shore to back light the freighters and tankers heading south and blast 'em. During the first 6 months of WWII 69 ships were sink off the NC coast alone by U-boats. A good historical reference is this book By David Stick Graveyard of the Atlantic ... - Google Books

I did a Google Maps but it wouldn't link. It was in the area of PJs Restaurant.