2024 AGM - Enkhuizen, Netherlands - Final Announcement

2024 International Meeting and AGM

Plans for the 2024 Annual Meeting are now complete. As previously advised we will gather in Enkhuizen, one of the most scenic towns that the Netherlands has to offer, on 14-16 June 2024. Currently about 60 members will be attending but there are still spaces available so please let us know if you’d like to come along (see contact details below).

On Friday we will catch up over an informal Indonesian buffet dinner. On Saturday our race officer will set a course on the IJsselmeer for some serious sailing*, followed by the prize giving and formal dinner (dress code smart(”tenue de ville”) at the Snouck van Loosen Hotel. We will round off the weekend on Sunday with the AGM and lunch at Enkhuizen’s most iconic building: the Drommedaris tower.

 

For those who plan to bring their own yacht to Enkhuizen – and we are already expecting a good number – berths will be reserved in the Royal Dutch Sailing & Rowing Association’s Buyshaven Yachtharbour. A discounted rate has been negotiated for those staying more than a week. Enkhuizen is easily reached by sea: via Den Helder and entering the IJsselmeer at Den Oever, via Terschelling and Kornwerderzand, or via IJmuiden, through the North Sea Canal, passing Amsterdam and crossing the Markermeer to Enkhuizen. Should you arrive in the Netherlands by plane or ferry, Enkhuizen is easily reached by train (72 minutes from Schiphol airport, one transfer). The train station is a ten-minute walk from the yacht harbour where we will be based, and close to the town centre.

Enkhuizen has plenty of options for staying ashore. You may consider booking at:

Hotel Snouck van Loosen
https://hotelsnouckvanloosen.nl/, info@hotelsnouckvanloosen.nl
tel.+31 - (0)228 - 72 26 72;

Hotel Die Port van Cleve
https://deportvancleve.nl/, info@deportvancleve.nl,
tel. +31 – (0)228 – 312 510;

Hotel De Koepoort
https://www.hoteldekoepoort.com/en/, info@hoteldekoepoort.com
tel. +31 – (0)228 – 314 966.

There are also several apartment hotels nearby but accommodation is going fast so please book soon.

If you wish, we will try to organise a berth on one of the yachts.

To see what Enkhuizen has to offer, take a look at https://www.visitenkhuizen.nl/en/to-see-and-do/

The cost of the event will be €165 per person. Payments are due by May 18th and various options are available which will be advised to you if you let us know you’d like to attend on the email below.

Warmest regards and looking forward to seeing lots of you in June for another enjoyable weekend.

Pauline Arnold, Margriet Kroes, Roland van Loenen and Jan Schiereck

To reserve a place please email as soon as possible to: agm@sparkmanstephens.org

*If you’d like to join a crew for the race please bring sailing gear.

The Sparkman and Stephens Association - Global Challenge Cup

Entries are invited from all Members of the Association for the Association’s 2023 Global Challenge Cup. Won last year by Peter and Alison Morton on Scherzo for an outstanding performance at Cowes Week, the Trophy will be awarded this year to the winner of an overnight race of more than 25 NM*.

To qualify the race should be competed in during 2023 by a Member on a Member’s S&S yacht, on the basis of national or international handicapping rules of widespread application in the locality. The entry should be for a class or overall win on handicap in a race in which at least 4 yachts completed the course and received a position and corrected time. The winning entry will be the one which had the largest percentage margin of corrected time over the yacht placed second in its class or overall.

To enter please complete the nomination form on our website here:

Entries may come from the sailing member or from any other member who wishes to nominate someone for the trophy.

The trophy will be awarded at our Annual International Meeting in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands in June.

* If there are no entries for qualifying overnight races in 2023, the competition will be opened to entries for day races of more than 15NM. A further announcement will follow if the need arises.

---

Royal Thames Yacht Club - Classic Yachts Season Opening Drinks - 13th March 2024

The Royal Thames Yacht Club extends its invitation to non-members for its Classic Yachts Season opening drinks evening:

S&S Association Members who would like to attend can register using the link below:

---

2024 AGM - Enkhuizen, Netherlands

2024 International Meeting and AGM

For the 2024 S&S Association Members Weekend, we will return to Enkhuizen, one of the most scenic towns in the Netherlands, on  14-16 June 2024.  We plan to welcome you on the Friday afternoon and catch up over an informal Indonesian buffet dinner. On the Saturday our race officer will set a course on the IJsselmeer for some serious sailing, followed by the prize-giving and formal dinner at the Snouck van Loosen hotel. We will round off the weekend on Sunday with the AGM and lunch at Enkhuizen’s most iconic building: the Drommedaris Tower. 

 

For those who plan to take their own yacht to Enkhuizen – and we hope there will be many of you – berths will be reserved in the Royal Dutch Sailing & Rowing Association’s Buyshaven Yachtharbour.

Enkhuizen is easily reached by sea: via Den Helder and entering the IJsselmeer at Den Oever, via Terschelling and Kornwerderzand, or via IJmuiden, through the North Sea Canal, passing Amsterdam and crossing the Markermeer to Enkhuizen. Should you arrive in the Netherlands by plane or ferry, Enkhuizen is easily reached by train (72 minutes from Schiphol airport, one transfer). The train station is a ten-minute walk from the yacht harbour where we will be based, and close to the town centre.

Enkhuizen has plenty of options for staying ashore. You may consider booking at:

Hotel Snouck van Loosen, https://hotelsnouckvanloosen.nl

Hotel Die Port van Cleve, https://deportvancleve.nl

Hotel De Koepoort, https://www.hoteldekoepoort.com

We can also organise a berth on one of the yachts if available.

To get an idea of what Enkhuizen has to offer, take a look at : https://www.visitenkhuizen.nl/en/to-see-and-do/

We currently expect the cost of the event to be no more than €180 per person and hopefully less. Further details will follow soon. If you think you will attend please let us know at the email address below.

Warmest regards and best wishes for the new year

Pauline Arnold, Margriet Kroes, Roland van Loenen and Jan Schiereck

For info and to register interest in attending please email Jan at: j.d.schiereck@gmail.com

If you’re not yet a member of the Association visit the Membership page at www.sparkmanstephens.org/membership

2023 - Association AGM Denmark

This year’s Annual Meeting of the S&S Association took place at the Royal Danish Yacht Club's Tuborg Havn Marina near Copenhagen, Denmark. Ten stunning S&S boats and fifty-one members and friends from eight countries gathered for a sociable weekend of sailing and camaraderie. You can read the full report here:

2023 - AGM Agenda

2023 Annual General Meeting

10.00h 10th September 2023, Tuborg Havn, Hellerup

Agenda

1.      Welcome

2.      Apologies for absence

3.      Matters and Actions arsing from 2022 AGM Minutes

4.      Reports

a.      Chairman’s report – Gavin Howe

b.      Secretary’s report – Karen Blake

c.      Treasurer’s report – Michael France

d.      Classic and Wooden Hulls secretary’s report – Juha Apajalahti

e.      GRP Hulls Secretary’s report – Bart Draijer

f.       Race Secretary’s report (Trophies) - George Beevor

g.      Webmaster’s report – Dan & Ellie James

h.      Yearbook Editor’s report – Louise France

i.       Regional Secretary’s reports:

                                                    i.     UK

                                                   ii.     N America

                                                 iii.     Finland

                                                 iv.     Netherlands

5.      Election of Officers

6.      Future Annual Meeting Plans

7.      Any other business

Members are encouraged to send any comments, matters arising from last year’s minutes or items of any other business (AOB) for discussion at the AGM to Karen.
secretary@sparkmanstephens.org

Last year’s AGM minutes of the meeting can be found in the members area here:
https://sparkmanstephens.org/agms-minutes-of-meeting

Fastnet Coverage for S&S Classics in IRC Two

With just a few days to go until the 50th anniversary of the Fastnet race, the designs of Sparkman & Stephens remain strong contenders in this historic event.

Excerpt the from Rolex Fastnet Race:

“Rated at the top end of the IRC Two band are some beautiful classics which will bring some latter-day glamour to the fleet. They include Quailo 3, a Nicholson 55 that used to compete in the Admiral’s Cup, the Swan 55 yawl Lulotte, and the US-owned S&S 49 Hiro Maru. 

The beautiful classic Swan 55 yawl Lulotte © Rick Tomlinson

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and launched in 1971, aluminium-hulled Hiro Maru previously raced as Scaramouche when she secured second in the 1972 SORC and won class in the 1977 Transpac under previous owners. 

Hiroshi Nakajima's 1971 aluminium-hulled S&S 49 Hiro Maru © ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Current owner Hiroshi Nakajima has logged over 20,000 miles, competing in the Newport-Bermuda eight times and winning class in the 2019 Transatlantic Race. Nakajima believes the boat is tough enough for most offshore conditions: "This boat is built well (by the Palmer Johnson boatyard). It's a period boat from the late 1960s/early 1970s when they were building rugged aluminium boats.”

Read the full article here:

https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/news/1236-irc-two-preview-classics-doubles-and-round-the-world-adventurers

2023 FASTNET - Another strong line up of S&S classics

Photo in banner: © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Excerpt from RORC:

“This year will see strong competition for the Sparkman & Stephens Trophy, appropriate given that the famous design house’s reputation was forged upon the success of Dorade, back-to-back overall winner in both 1931 and 1933. In addition to the famous maxis mentioned, are a plethora of S&S designs, especially from Nautor – the Swan 36, 43, 441, 48, 55 and 65. Winner of the Trophy in 2021, and returning for 2023, is stalwart competitor Harry J. Heijst and his S&S 41 Winsome, along with another Rolex Fastnet Race regular Ben Morris’ Brixham-based Swan 55 Lulotte, the 2019 winner who will be competing in his tenth Fastnet.

In addition, there is the welcome return of Sunstone, the 1965 S&S 39 aboard which Tom and Vicky Jackson hoovered up most available RORC silverware in the late 1980s/early 90s, before being taken on a massive 200,000 mile round the world cruise until 2015. Sunstone’s new custodian is Will Taylor-Jones. Richard Loftus’ Swan 65 ketch Desperado of Cowes has possibly raced more Fastnets than any other yacht and returns. Usually with a crew including several Whitbread Round the World Race legends, Desperado is renowned for its black tie dinners at the Fastnet Rock, but is always raced hard - in 1989 (when the race was scored under three different rating systems) she won overall under CHS.

Making the trip once again across from the USA is the S&S 49 Hiro Maru campaigned by Hiroshi Nakajima. A former Transpac and SORC class winner under her original name Scaramouche, Hiro Maru with her present owner won her class in the 2019 west to east Transatlantic Race before going on to compete in that year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, returning again 2021.

For Finland’s Tapio Lehtinen, the race will be a warm-up before he takes his Swan 55 Galiana round the world in September’s Ocean Globe Race.”

S&S 49 Hiro Maru campaigned by Hiroshi Nakajima © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

2023 - AGM

2023 Annual Meeting

Tuborg Havn, Copenhagen:  September 8th – 10th 2023

Following the successful 2022 Annual Meeting in Scotland we are pleased to move to the Baltic region for the next meeting and have decided on Copenhagen. The dates for this end of season meeting are from Friday September 8th to Sunday the 10th at the Tuborg Havn just north of the city and home to the Royal Danish Yacht Club. 

Henrik has booked the restaurant for the night of the 8th for the main dinner and awards and we plan to do the formal AGM business on Sunday the 10th in the morning with sailing on Saturday the 9th.

Copenhagen is close to midway between the UK and Helsinki with easy access from the North Sea and Baltic coasts. The Marina is close to the city center and the airport.  Communications are easy with plenty of attractions on the shore as well as afloat.  There are also lots of accommodation options nearby including many Airbnb’s.

Tigris will sail from Cowes to be there and we look forward to meeting up with many of our fellow members and your boats.

 

BACCARAT - Classic S&S for sale

We are pleased to announce a new listing for the Association Brokerage, the beautiful yawl BACCARAT

Design Number 1047 - BACCARAT was constructed in 1953 by Abeking and Rasmussen of Germany for Greek businessman and yachtsman George Coumantaros. Oak framing, teak deck, and double-planked mahogany hull. Originally BACCARAT was used for the Burmuda Classic Regatta under New York Yacht Club flag, and later as a family yacht in Greece and Antigua. 

For more information visit: https://www.yachtbaccarat.com/

2022 AGM - Portavadie, Scotland

There is hardly a more impressive environment to find for a meeting of yachts & owners than Scotland in the early weeks of autumn. The AGM 2022 was held in the Portavadie marina. 55 owners and 7 yachts showed up, the longest distance travelled by Jim who came from California (and left his boat there). Dan and Ellie James with SANITY (a Delta 94) had a shorter distance to cover from Milford Haven, but as they had sailed over from Vannes they’d added some 350 miles to their voyage. We sailed our Halftonner TOPAS (1971) with changing crew from Lübeck to Portavadie, although the initial plan was to bring her to the Mediterranean, at least down to warmer latitudes, e.g. Portugal or even further South. But then there was this invitation for the AGM…

After meeting the S&S folks in Portavadie, we could say, the trip was worth it, and Scotland is as beautiful as it is demanding from a nautical point of view.

The AGM, well-prepared and executed by Gavin, Karen and Mike, took place on Saturday morning. Nice professional atmosphere – the board members and the regional chiefs presented their reassuring reports, then Gavin announced that we would do some sailing in the afternoon “with 8 to 16 knots of wind”. One skipper later murmured, given this, he wouldn’t like to sail his boat in 20 knots. This Scottish sort of breeze was pretty challenging. At least two instruments showed peaks of 50+ knots in squalls.

“8 to 16 knots” - Aboard REINDEER

After a proper sail (Gavin even cast anchor under the coast and served biscuits & coffee on his Swan 76 Ketch TIGRIS ) we arrived without damage back in Portavadie and prepared for the dinner. Dress code was “no black tie”, so everybody looked nice and casual, several gentlemen in their dress kilts.

After a delicious dinner with Haggis and salmon as the main ingredients, it was time for a Scottish ceilidh, a mixture of dancing (“no excuses”) and military manoeuvre. We learned that the American square dance was definitely developed in Scotland.

After breakfast on Sunday, we squeezed ourselves into a bus which took us to the historical jail in Inverary. There have been substantial improvements in the last 200 years, although this jail already was an improvement in justice and law enforcement, compared to Shakespeare’s times.

Fruits de mer and a variety of potatoes & vegetables at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, before our bus driver, took us to Argyll castle. The driver was a former policeman, with profound knowledge of Scottish history. Who, for instance, knows that the first king of Great Britain was the Scottish King James VI, becoming the English King James I.? Well, our driver knew that and much more. Argyll castle was beautiful. Nearly a ruin some seventy years ago it was well restored, after the Campbell Clan, spread all over the world, put some money together.

On Monday morning after breakfast the S&S folk jumped into their cars or boats. The sailors – most of them – slipped lines, just in time before a short and fierce autumn gale came over Portavadie.

- Birke & Harry Schack (TOPAS)

TIGRIS - Swan 76, departing Portavadie, Scotland

2022 Annual General Meeting in Portavadie - the Agenda

All members are invited to send any comments, nominations, proposals or additional items for discussion to secretary@sparkmanstephens.org by 25th September 2020.

2022 Annual General Meeting

10.00 am 1st October 2022, Portavadie Marina

The Annual General Meeting of the Sparkman and Stephens Association will take place at 10.00 am in the Revie Suite at Portavadie Marina as part of our 2022 Annual International Meeting. The meeting will hear reports on the activities of the Association, approve the accounts and elect the officers for the next year.

The Agenda is currently as follows:

1. Welcome

2. Apologies for absence

3. Matters and Actions arsing from 2021 AGM Minutes

4. Reports

   1. Chairman’s report – Gavin Howe

   2. Secretary’s report – Karen Blake

   3. Treasurer’s report – Michael France

   4. Classic and Wooden Hulls secretary’s report – Juha Apalajahti

   5. GRP Hulls Secretary’s report – Bart Draijer

   6. Race Secretary’s report (Trophies) - George Beevor

   7. Webmaster’s report – Dan & Ellie James

   8. Yearbook Editor’s report – Louise France

   9. Regional Secretary’s reports:

      1. Jan Schiereck– Netherlands

      2. Esa Vesmanen/Veli-Matti Jarvinen - Finland

      3. Kerry Costello – UK & Ireland

      4. Hiro Nakajima – US East

      5. Jim Koss – US West

      6. Erika Peters/Henrik Philipsen – Germany/Scandinavia

5. Election of Officers

6. Future Annual Meeting plans

7. Any other business