Mermaid

Model: 46-Foot Custom Ketch

Design #: 1230

Year: 1957

Builder: Paul E. Luke & Sons, E. Boothbay, Maine, USA

Now in the possession of only her third owner in nearly 70 years (Joshua Goldberg of New York and Cape Cod who feels privileged to have become her steward), MERMAID is a well-known 46-foot Sparkman & Stephens custom ketch commissioned by Austin Goodyear and built by Paul E. Luke & Sons of E. Boothbay, Maine., USA.

MERMAID was custom designed for Goodyear, who worked closely with the Stephens’ brothers on her design and build (we still have the extensive correspondence between them), adding numerous features for long range sailing, including berths for seven in a two-cabin layout, two heads (one hidden in the fore-cabin), a mid-century wood burning stove (for heating the interior), a built-to-order Luke ‘Heritage’ alcohol cooking stove, and a custom dropleaf gimbaled dining table. She is comfortably sailed single-handed with jib & jigger.

MERMAID has been a proven performer on the classic yacht racing in New England (and as far north as Nova Scotia) having competed in races north to Halifax and south to Nantucket’s famed Opera House Cup. Her notable finishes include: the 2009 Sail Nantucket (1st in class) — the 2011 Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race (1st in division) — the 2017 Camden Classics Cup (1st in Classics) — the 2022 Eggemoggin Reach Regatta (1st in Classic C) — the 2022 CYOA Classic Yacht Challenge Series (1st in Maine District) — the 2023 Camden Classics Cup (1st in Classics) — and the 2024 Camden Classics Cup (2nd in Classics).

Seal Cove Boatyard (of Harborside (Brooksville), Maine, USA) has lovingly maintained MERMAID in Bristol condition for over 40 years.