Cowes Classic Week - S&S Top of the Class

Another fantastic week at the Cowes Classic, with S&S Boats picking up two top spots:

SUNMAID V - Design 1894 takes Class One

SHEBA a SHE 31 - Design 1899, takes Class two

SUNMAID V, 1967 One tonner & KISWALA Swan 411

“Fittingly, from amongst the 143 yachts taking part, Lawrence Wride’s 1967-built one tonner Sunmaid V was the first yacht to get away at the opening gun of the day, when she led Class One, setting the pace once again after her overall win in last year’s event. Sunmaid V, back to defend the historic 1792 Cup, went on to win in class when she beat Stephen Brookson’s S&S Swan Kiswala into second place over a mid-Solent course.”

— www.cowesclassicsweek.org/

2019 AGM - Helsinki

SPARKMAN & STEPHENS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN HELSINKI, FINLAND

Jos of Hamble - © Esko Kilpi

Another fabulous annual meeting – 2019’s AGM was hosted in Helsinki by Esa Vesmanen and his amazing band of helpers who organised a wonderful weekend for more than 80 members and their guests – coming from seven different countries around the world.

Azzuro Winner of the 2019 Sparkman & Stephens Global Regatta & Challenge Cup

Azzuro during the 2018 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race © Andrea Francolini

Congratulations to Shane Kearns of Azzuro.
This year saw 9 entries. However, the year favoured overnight racing and consequently 3 entries by Shane Kearns from Australia continued in his usual style by winning  the 2019 Challenge Cup.

Remember that the racing in 2018 is what can qualify for the 2019 prize, the Challenge Cup

For more information on The Global Regatta and Entry requirements see:

2019 - Winter Gathering

SPARKMAN & STEPHENS ASSOCIATION WINTER GATHERING

8th - 10th February, 2019

SS Great Britain - Photo from BBC

A merry group of Association Members from around the UK gathered for a weekend of maritime history and fun early in February. Staying at a partly self-catered centre run by the Avon Wildlife Trust, we met up on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a sociable evening of catching up with old friends and getting to know some new folk. We were thrilled to be joined by three visitors from Germany, Holland and the US, proving again the strength of the ties built up between S&S enthusiasts.

Advance Notice of the Association AGM for 2019

The 2019 AGM and dinner will take place in Finland at Helsinki between June 14-16.

SAVE THE DATE!

For more information please see the events page to reserve your place.

NY32 “Siren” Wins 39th Annual Panerai Newport Classic Yacht Regatta

NY32 Siren - http://classicsailboats.org

“After two days of racing on Narragansett Bay Siren, owned by Peter Cassidy from Rochester, MA, won both the overall Vintage Corinthian Classic Class and the overall 39th Annual Panerai Newport Classic Yacht Regatta. In addition, the winners of the North American Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge also went to the New York 32 Siren in the Vintage Division and the 12 Metre Columbia in the Grand Prix Division.”

— © Classic Yacht Owners Association 2019

The S&S Mitch Gibbons Neff Memorial Cup 2018

As in each past year the competition takes place at The Newport Classic Race regatta. S&S designs competing this year were Black Watch, Columbia, Courageous, Dorade, Fidelio, Mah Jong, Salty, Siren, Sonny and Valiant.

Sonny - http://classicsailboats.org

 For the specialty/perpetual regatta awards; Sonny was the winner of the Sparkman & Stephens Designer Award and the Mitch Gibbons Neff Cup. Black Watch won the Atlantic Trophy, for the best overall elapsed time by a classic yacht. Columbia won the Candy Cup, for the 12 Meter with the best record in the fleet. Mah Jong won the Tom Benson restoration award, for the best restoration done within the past two years.

Siren won both the overall Vintage Corinthian Classic Class and the overall 39th Annual Panerai Newport Classic Yacht Regatta. In addition, the winners of the North American Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge also went to the New York 32 Siren in the Vintage Division and the 12 Metre Columbia in the Grand Prix Division.

2019 Classic Channel Regatta

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This Next Year’s Classic Channel Regatta will run in the week of Saturday June 29th to Saturday July 6th. This is a little earlier than usual as this is the week when the tide times and heights are right for the lock into Paimpol.

https://www.classic-channel-regatta.eu/

 The format will be much the same as in recent years and all the information on the 2019 regatta is at our great new website which we have just launched. Do take a look at 

New Owner of Sparkman & Stephens

NEWPORT, RI (August 15, 2018) - Sparkman & Stephens has announced that Donald Tofias, of Newport, RI, has purchased the iconic yacht design and brokerage firm. Mr. Tofias will assume the role of President of the firm, having purchased 100% of the assets.

Donald Tofias is a lifelong sailor and founder of the W-Class Yacht Company. His first boat was an Alcort Sailfish, purchased when he was 12 years old.

Over the past 30 years Tofias has owned and campaigned a Waldo Howland and Ray Hunt, Jr. Concordia Yawl, a W. Starling Burgess Cutter, and for the past 20 years, W-Class Racing Yachts, including the W.76 sloops, designed by Joel White, which will now be marketed by Sparkman & Stephens.

Donald Tofias said, "we intend to preserve the history of Sparkman & Stephens, while at the same time building and expanding on its great tradition in yacht design and brokerage."

The company will be headquartered in Newport, RI. Mr. Tofias is often quoted as saying, "Newport is the yachting capital of the world."

Contact

Riley Yuhas, Marketing Director, Sparkman & Stephens

+1 401.200.8467  |  ryuhas@sparkmanstephens.com

or

Donald Tofias, President, Sparkman & Stephens

+1 617.901. 5242  |  dtofias@sparkmanstephens.com

Donald Tofias, President, Sparkman & Stephens