The 30.72-metre Olga II and 22.77-metre Ventura represented a significant landmark in Feadship's development. Jointly commissioned in the summer of 1952 by shipping magnate Mr Topic and his son-in-law Frua d’Angeli, their sheer size made headline news both at home and abroad. The fact that they were being built simultaneously at the same yard was seen as truly astounding. Both Ventura and Olga II gave immense impetus to the Feadship profile. Equipped with automatic pilots, air-conditioning (a first), central heating, evaporators for desalinating sea water into drinking water, radio-telephones, depth-sound systems and an electric anchor winch, they managed to redefine the meaning of state of the art.