Albrecht 'Ali' Peters

The sad news reached us that we lost one of our most enthusiastic S&S Association members: Albrecht Peters or better known to us as Ali. He died Sunday night 3rd June, 2018 in his apartment in Hamburg.

Albrecht 'Ali' Peters

 Ali and Erica restored and sailed their beloved “Sasha” in many regattas and were planning again to do the 2019 Transatlantic race organized by the NY Yacht Club. We will miss him not only as an enthusiastic member and an excellent sailor, but for many of us, as a dear friend.

SASHA

NYYC Annual Regatta

The New York Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta will be held in Newport, RI. The regatta racing takes place over three days and includes the Around-the-Island Race on Friday, June 8th. IRC, ORC, PHRF, One-Designs, Metre classes, S-Class, Multihulls and Classics.

June 8th – June 10th, 2018

The Sparkman & Stephens Association Mitch Gibbons Neff Memorial Cup will be presented to the S&S design that performs best in this series.

North America\'s oldest annual regatta will feature three great days of racing including the separately scored Around-the-Island Race on Friday, June 8, two awards parties and one fabulous regatta dinner on Saturday night. Competition will take place in IRC, ORC, ORR, PHRF and one-design classes, as well as for classic yachts and multihulls. The event will serve as the first leg of the Onion Patch Series, which will include the 2018 Newport Bermuda Race and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club\'s Anniversary Regatta.

The New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta was first run on July 17, 1845, on the Hudson River. Nine yachts started the 40-mile race with the 45-ton Cygnet winning with an elapsed time of 5 hour and 26 minutes. The race was run in or near New York City until 1988 when the purchase of Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., gave the Club a waterfront clubhouse from which to run all its regattas. The current format, featuring a round-the-island race on Friday and two days of buoy or navigator-course racing has been in place for more than a decade. Of special note this year is the return of the Maxi72 class, which last competed in the Annual Regatta in 2016

Olin Stephens Centennial Cup Challenge

AIVE (The Italian Classic Yacht Association) have just announced that Sparkman & Stephens Association Olin Stephens Centennial Cup Challenge series will be reinstated this year.

Stephens on perhaps his finest yacht, during America's Cup trials

The Challenge Cup will be won by the S&S design racing in Italan waters in a best of three races series with the winner accumulating the highest number of points. Eligable yachts are those conforming to articles 2 and 3 of the:

 Regolamento per la stazza e per le regate degli yachts d’epoca e classici 2018-2021 emanato dal Comitato Internazionale del Mediterraneo (C.I.M.).

Castine [Maine] Classic Yacht Race 2018

For the nineteenth annual Castine Classic Yacht Race to Camden on 2 August 2018, kicking off three days of spectacular racing on Penobscot Bay. For Race Notice, Registration and other information, please refer to our website, www.castineclassic.com. 

On 1 August we will honor some of the world-class sailboat builders from our home waters, including Brooklin Boat Yard, Rockport Marine, Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Artisan Boatworks, Gannon and Benjamin, and French & Webb, at an exhibition at the Town Dock and a symposium at Maine Maritime Academy. The symposium will be chaired by Gary Jobson.

Your registration for this race may now be completed on this website. If you prefer to register by mail, complete the attached registration form.  Please return your entry as soon as possible. Please note that for 2018 all yachts need a new CRF rating, which may be obtained online at http://classicratingformula.com/renew-certificate/

Marionette 2018 Winner of the Sparkman & Stephens Association Global Regatta

Regattas taking place in 2017 were eligable for the award of the Challenge Cup at the 2018 AGM in Norway in May.

For the third time the cup was won by Marionette [USA], a Dolphin 24 skippered by Ron Breault. She previously won best place in 2011 and 2016 and is perhaps the smallest boat to have won. There were seven entries this time with competitors from Finland, Germany and the USA.

MARIONETTE

90th Anniversary for Sparkman & Stephens Inc

Save the date! June 27-30, 2019

Two weeks before the NY 32 series Designer Series.Org are holding an event in Newport to celebrate Sparkman & Stephens. 

 \'The Designer Rendezvous aims to bring together yacht owners, enthusiasts, and former colleagues for a unique experience each year to honor one designer. \'A portion of revenues goes to our mentoring scholarship to help cultivate the designers of tomorrow.\'

All S&S owners are invited to attend. For further information check this website: http://designerseries.org/

In 2017 the event was held to honour Ted Hood.

NY32s Racing at NYYC

Sparkman & Stephens NY32s racing at NYYC again - https://sparkmanstephens.com/ny32s-nyyc/

July 15th – 20th, 2019

It has been nearly 70 years since the Sparkman & Stephens designed New York 32 One Design has raced as a class in a New York Yacht Club event. Originally built as a fleet of 20 by Nevins in City Island, the class spent more than a decade as a mainstay of the NYYC racing fleet until the boats spread to the Midwest and Europe. Now, as the New York Yacht Club celebrates the 175thanniversary of their founding, the NY32 class has once again been invited to participate in a celebratory regatta at their on-the-water-clubhouse in Newport.

Of the 20 original hulls, there are still more than 15 on the water, and already 7 boats have expressed interest in participating in this event. With only 8 boats needed to constitute a separate start, and multiple NY32s currently listed for sale or available to restore back to their original glory, the prospect of a double-digit fleet is not too farfetched. The NY32 already enjoys close racing with 4 or 5 boats regularly participating in the large and vibrant classics racing scene in Maine, but this has potential to be a once in a lifetime event for classics lovers, S&S enthusiasts, and competitive racers.

The current plan for the regatta is 5 days of racing on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, with lively social events and celebrations in Newport.

Castine Classic, Maine, 1-2 August 2018

https://castineclassic.com/

The nineteenth annual Castine Classic Yacht Race to Camden on 2 August 2018, kicking off three days of spectacular racing on Penobscot Bay. For Race Notice, Registration, pictorial History and other information, please refer to our website at www.CastineClassic.com.

On 1 August we will honor some of the world-class sailboat builders from our home waters, including Brooklin Boat Yard, Rockport Marine, Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Artisan Boatworks and French & Webb, at an exhibition at the Town Dock and a symposium at Marine Maritime Academy. The symposium will be chaired by Gary Jobson.

2018 English Channel Classic Racing

The Plymouth – La Rochelle Revival Race – July 14 – 20.

This companion event to the Classic Channel Regatta is run biennially by the Yacht Club Classique based in La Rochelle in the alternate years to Classic Channel Regatta. It’s a great opportunity for classics to get into their stride in a proper offshore race, and this year the stop-over port on the way to La Rochelle will be Port Louis in the Rade de Lorient.

Every 2 years, this great race revived by Yacht Club Classique, brings together an exceptional fleet of classic yachts to race across the Channel and along the Atlantic coast of France. The first race in 2012 was a great success with 18 boats entered, and that success has continued with the 2014 and 2016 editions with 45 boats entered in the last race.

The start of the 4th edition will be on July 14, 2018 in Plymouth. One of the innovations for the 2018 race is the stopover which will be in Port Louis in the beautiful Rade de Lorient. Everything is planned to make this race unforgettable: an interesting offshore course allowing multiple options, a festive time in Port Louis as part of the celebration of the 400 years of its foundation and, of course ... many social events.

Twenty nine boats (including only five Brits so far – come on guys!) are already pre-registered for the race, which leaves just eleven places still available. So, if you don’t want to miss the boat, do pre-register without delay at http://www.yachtclubclassique.com/sur-l-eau/les-courses/plymouth-rochelle/summury-plr-2018/

Western Approaches - English Channel

Dartmouth Classics Weekend – Friday July 6 - Monday July 9.

In this non-Classic Channel Regatta year, this standalone weekend regatta is being organised by the Royal Dart Yacht Club. For more information and details of how to enter visit the RDYC website http://www.royaldart.co.uk/racing/detail/dartmouth-classics-2018

Falmouth Classics – Friday June 22 – Sunday June 24.

Two hundred and twelve boats entered this ever popular Cornish regatta last year. Full information is at http://www.falmouthclassics.org.uk

Sydney-Hobart race 2017

The race in 2016 had what many considered to be freak conditions of fair weather but this was surpassed in 2017 with a reaching race akin to the Transpac and with few problems caused by currents. In consequence it was a race that favoured the more extreme modern designs. Light winds on a close reach and a swell of only one metre a far cry from the usual extreme conditions encountered. Last year\'s line honours, already exceptional were beaten by a further 4 hours. The 73rd Rolex Sydney Hobart will be remembered primarily for a record breaking run by LDV Comanche and the overall win by one of the sport’s great stalwarts – Matt Allen, owner of Ichi Ban. It will also stay in the memory for the epic downwind conditions experienced on the second and third days, which enabled the planning boats to demonstrate their prowess. Comanche is a 100 Super Maxi.

http://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/the-yachts/2017/kialoa-ii/

The two big S&S classic boats in the Race could not compete under these conditions. Kialoa II  23m aluminium crossed the line 68th but 23rd Corinthina placing whereas Dorade crossed 77th. There were two more S&S designs: Eve, a Swan 65 crossed 66th and second in the Corinthian category whereas the little S&S34 Komatsu Azurro crossed 92nd.

This small crew of six have notched up over 100 Hobarts. In last year’s race, they sailed Komatsu Azzurro, ‘the ‘little boat that could’, to 13th overall for second in Division 4; won ORCi Division 4 and was  third in the Corinthian Division in downhill conditions not suited to the S&S 34. The year before, almost snatched Sydney Hobart victory from Balance, but lack of breeze on rounding Tasman Island pushed them back to third overall (just six minutes shy of second place), second in Division 4, first in ORCi and Corinthian divisions. Kearns’ first Hobart with her was 2014, with a 33rd overall finish. Retired from the Cabbage Tree Island Race in November after a dust up off the start with the sizeable Eve left her with badly bent stanchions.

They won the 2015 and 2017 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast races and won Division 4 in 2016. This little miracle rocket, formerly known as Shenandoah II, was found by Kearns near sinking in 2014. Buying her cheaply on his credit card, restored her, adding a Code Zero and a new staysail. The boat was built for Ron White, a past SYC commodore who won Division H of the 50th Hobart (boat was renamed Commonwealth Bank Shenandoah II), with a faster finishing time than the winners of Divisions F and G.

The S&S34 is indeed a timeless design.

The Association 2018 AGM in Norway

Bragdøya - https://www.visitnorway.no/

Here are some details concerning the AGM to be held in Norway in beautiful surroundings. You are encouraged to come.

Imagine a small, secluded island close to the coast of southern Norway. It is quiet and undisturbed in all its natural beauty, that is until we go there for the Sparkman & Stephens Association AGM 2018, 25 – 27 May. The island of Bragdøya offers plenty of space for us, the roomy Kystlagets og Bragdøyas Storstue (Big Room) offers ample space for getting together, several different accommodation types are available and free mooring is offered for those who bring their boats. The chartered ferry will secure easy access to and from the island all through the event (a short 10 minute ride) and there are several routes from your countries to Norway by air, train, automobile and ferry. This is everything we could want for an S&S event, jolly and entertaining as always when S&S members are together, with a twist - little formality, simple pleasures and high on experiences.

There is one \"but\"! Other people have discovered this island and all amenities including accommodation are allocated on a first come, first served basis. So for Aud & Jon-Martin, who have bravely offered to arrange the AGM 2018, it is paramount you enrol early. Actually, right now, so they can provide the island guardians with a reasonable estimate of our requirements! However, to thank you for doing this, you are not bound until 15 March 2018 when payment must be made. So please, go now to http://www.sparkmanstephensuk.info/agm_2018.html, check it out and enrol online, or click on the PDF here with all the information and a hard copy enrolment form for traditional surface mail.

Further details about the programme and practical details will follow later. Go on, you know you want to be there - go for it!