2021 Fastnet - 16 S&S Classics

Given that Olin Stephens retired in 1979, to have 16 of his designs racing in the 2021 Fastnet is quite an achievement. There is a good collection of Nautor’s Swans with 2 classic 65’s racing; DESPERADO hull no. 24 from 1977 which races regularly and HARDSHIP III hull no. 10 with her attractive navy blue topsides.

Ben Morris’ Swan 55 yawl LULOTTE hull no. 14 which won the Sparkman & Stephens Fastnet trophy 2019. Two Swan 48’s, SNOW WOLF hull no. 38 and DANTES hull no. 43 are racing, these boats have a great track record with the design winning the Bermuda Race twice and also the Rolex Swan Cup. One Swan 44, ITHAKA, which was a top Admiral's Cup boat when they were launched. REINDEER the Swan 43 made famous by E. Newbold Smith in his book ‘Down Denmark Strait’ and who regularly competes in the Fastnet. Interestingly an early 43 called Whirlwind was owned by the founder of MFI furniture. Moving down in size of the Swan range there is the 411, KISWALA hull no. 12 a later version of the Swan 41 with a taller rig and deeper keel. The smallest Swans racing are two 38’s, XARA hull no. 6 and TRUWEN hull no. 48. XARA has won many awards, but shocked the RORC fleet earlier this year by winning the De Guingand Bowl Race race outright.

Ben Morris' S&S Yawl LULOTTE the winner of the Sparkman & Stephens Trophy in the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race © Kurt Arrigo/Rolex

Looking at the S&S designs which aren’t Swans there is REFANUT the 63-foot yawl from Sweden which has been in one family since her build in 1955, Hiroshi Nakajima in his S&S 49 HIRO MARU ex. SCARAMOUCHE the 49-foot aluminium racer is now out to claim their rightful place near the front after getting a penalty in 2019 for just entering (accidentally) one of the TSS areas. HIRO MARU is crewed by a very experienced US team. There are two S&S 41’s, which was the size of the most successful MORNING CLOUD and WINSOME, built originally for the owner of Berthon and sailed by Harry Heijst from SevenStar Yacht Transport and a regular in offshore racing. The other 41 is EASY GLIDER built from mahogany. Last but not least is the beautifully restored and optimised S&S 34 MORNING AFTER sailed by George Greenfield and Louis Clayton. This team have been having a very successful season in this boat so far.

We will be keeping a keen eye on these beautiful yachts next week, and look forward to announcing the 2021 Fastnet - Sparkman and Stephens Trophy

All these boats can be followed on the YB tracking system, ybtracking.com.

Gavin Howe - Association Chairman

#1862 S&S 46 "CHIMAERA" featured on Sailing Anarchy Retro Boat tour

Design #1862 - CHIMAERA built in 1967.

Chimaera is a sloop rig that was designed and built for Frederick Leibhardt, specifically to outrace other San Diego boats like Sally.

“We built it here in Driscoll Boat Works in San Diego,” said John Driscoll, the boat’s owner. “The man that had built it was an architect, but my dad, Gerry Driscoll, knew how to make the boat look right so he did the design and sent it back to Sparkman and Stephens, who added on to it from there.”

“I actually worked on it myself as a kid, building it I didn’t do much, maybe handed a few screws to the carpenter,” John Driscroll added. “I remember being on the boat and being in disbelief by how responsive it was – you pushed the helm down and the boat moved.”

Chimaera’s design copied elements of Intrepid, the 1967 America’s Cup defender, whose rudder was separated from the keel. “It was a major breakthrough in boating technology,” Driscoll explained.

“It made for a tighter hull with no calking and no cracks on the seams.”

— John Driscoll

Chimaera was carvel planked, but unique in that the outside of the hull was forged in compressions, instead of calking. “That technique wasn’t widely used, I think we might have even invented it,” Driscoll said.

Notable Moments in CHIMAERA’s History:

Chimaera’s first long distance race was the San Diego to Acapulco Race. The crew was comprised of the “who’s who” of North American yachting: Gerry Driscoll, founder of Driscoll Boat Works and skipper of four America’s Cup defender races; Lowell Orton North, founder of North Sails and Olympic Gold Medalist in the Star Class; renowned yacht designer, Olin Stephens; Gene Trepte, and Liebhardt.

“They led a good part of the race, then parked outside of Acapulco and didn’t make it,” Driscoll said. The crew came in second. Chimaera went on to win the Lipton Cup Regatta in 1970 and placed top two in the Ahmanson Cup Regatta in Newport Beach, Calif., and won most of the local races in San Diego and took every major championship in the area including the Rumsey Regatta and the entire series of individual races that led up to it. The boat continues its racing legacy “Currently we’re doing all the Ancient Mariner stuff,” Driscoll said, who’s been commodore of the Ancient Mariner Sailing Society since December 2013.

“We do the whole ancient mariner circuit , which includes the Guinea Cup Race, a seven race series in San Diego Bay; then we got the YesterYear Regatta in June; the Kettenburg & Classic Yacht Regatta – that one’s cool because you get to see all the old boats.”

Author: Scot Tempesta with John Driscoll
https://sailinganarchy.com/

Article kindly reproduced courtesy of sailing anarchy - Thank you Scot!

#2014 - Aqua 30

#2014 - Aqua 30

Aqua 30 - NIKI (Photo reproduced courtesy of Paul Gibbins Photography)

Also known as the S&S 30, this attractive ½ tonner was originally penned as an RORC sloop for Michael Winfield and Partners and produced by Aquafibre Ltd of the UK. They are known for being tough little boats, constructed of solid GRP and Lloyds certified. A few hulls were exported to the USA, rebranded and sold as PJ 30’s by Palmer Johnson boats, Inc. Although not a commercial success in the States, there were various rumours suggesting foul play which delayed her debut. This accompanied by the unfortunate overshadowing of the highly successful S&S 34, which was marketed with only a modest increase in price.

#2014 - Aqua 30

To account for the RORC rule the design features a moderate tumblehome that is both subtle and attractive. The more modern, flared aft sections provide greater downwind stability than previous S&S ½ tonners.

Sail plan & lines plan copyright Sparkman & Stephens

At release she was given an innovative (at the time) stem head designed by Rod Stephens, featuring twin fairleads and fixtures for two Jib tacks. Under NHC or IRC handicap they are still competitive today, particularly when the wind speed is above 12 knots.

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Photographs of NIKI with Gill Duncan at the helm

Kindly reproduced courtesy of Paul Gibbins Photography. Thank you Paul!
https://paulgibbinsphotography.pixieset.com/
@paulgibbinsphotography

Reference material and sources:

Giles Duncan (NIKI) instagram@gillduncan8
Patrick Matthiesen - ‘Pocket Cruisers & Racers’ (Some S&S thirty footers overall)
Happy Smith & Owen McCall - http://svexeat.com/

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Jon Sanders, an S&S 39 and #noplasticwaste

PERIE BANOU II leaving Western Australia in November

S&S Association Honorary Life Member and Australian sailing icon, Jon Sanders, as he set off on his 11th circumnavigation from Western Australia last November.  

Teaming up with #noplasticwaste he is filtering ocean water every day so it can be analysed to determine the number and types of micro plastic particles.  Currently in the pacific ocean on his S&S 39, PERIE BANOU II.  What a hero!

Track his journey at:

https://track.noplasticwaste.org

For more information see:

https://noplasticwaste.org/jon-sanders/

Image credits @no_plasticwaste

CCA’s Rod Stephens Trophy for Outstanding Seamanship

Heroic Solo Sailor Gregor McGuckin Revives Memory of Rod Stephens in Howth Fifty Years Ago

Rod Stephens in Howth aboard Jack McKeown’s S&S 34 Korar, May 11th 1970. Photo: John Bourke

In Ireland, these days, the name of Rod Stephens is most readily associated with an international award - the Cruising Club of America’s Rod Stephens Trophy for Outstanding Seamanship - for the very good reason that during the past six years, it has twice been awarded to Irish skippers: Sean McCarter in 2014, and Gregor McGuckin in 2018.

Read the full (fantasic) story by William M Nixon, in Afloat Magazine, link below:

#773 - 'Judy' - Huntington Class

#773 – Huntington Class

Meet Judy the feature of this month’s Classic Boat magazine. Penned by Al Mason in 1947 the 26’ Huntington class was developed to bridge the gap between small open racing classes active at the time and larger racing-cruising yachts on Long Island Sound. As a June 1947 article in Yachting magazine noted, this little sailboat "will make not only for a fine racing class but also day sailor and overnight cruiser. It will be a boat for the whole family to enjoy." She was built at Knutson’s Yard in Huntington, Long Island.

Photograph by Peter Braune

Read her unique story in the June issue of Classic Boat - “a bit of magic”! Written by Pat Mundus. Photography by Peter Braune, cover photo sailing in the fleet of classics based in Oyster Bay, NY – Thank you Peter!

S&S Association 2020 AGM

Dear S&S Friends

With much regret we have to advise that, owing to the worldwide health situation, we have had to cancel this year’s S&S Association AGM.  Rob Snoeks and Hans Kettering had put together a fantastic programme for the planned weekend in Thessaloniki in May, but sadly circumstances mean that a gathering such as ours would be inappropriate in the current situation.  Depending on how things develop we may be able to reschedule for the autumn and we will let you know if this is looking possible.

We will miss meeting you all this year but wish you all well and if you able to get aboard – good sailing.

Designer Series in Newport 2019 - Sparkman & Stephens

This years Designer Series Rendez-vous will take place in on June 27 - 30th 2019 honouring Sparkman & Stephens

Held at Ft. Adams from the 27th to 30th June 2019 where dockage will be available at Sail Newport.

This event will feature a wide variety of Sparkman & Stephens designed boats and will provide opportunities for not just boat owners, but for all those interested in the legacy of Sparkman & Stephens yacht designs.Activities will include social events honoring the history of Sparkman & Stephens, live entertainment, racing and awards and will culminate with a boat parade through Newport Harbor on Sunday the 30th.

See the discussion from last years event:

2019 - NAUTOR'S SWAN 38 - CELESTE

30TH NOVEMBER AT THE HSK YACHT CLUB, HELSINKI, FINLAND

A Presentation of the extensive and expertly executed refit of the Swan 38 CELESTE by Henri and Jan of d-marin boat works, the refit was carried out over the 2018 winter period. Presentation held at the HSK Yacht club in Helsinki on the 30th November.

Follow Henri on instagram @syceleste

Website for D-Marin yard: https://www.d-marin.fi/sv

Winner of the 2019 Olin Stephens S&S Association Memorial Cup Award

In 2019 the Cup is awarded to Ojala II.

Ojala II K 4702 designed by Sparkman & Stephens in 1973 and built by Royal Huisman in aluminium, she is a One Ton Cup design which is very actively raced by her owners .

AIVE writes the following explanation:

"The Cup is assigned according to the 'Notice of Race', that was meant to favour excellence in results more than consistency in participation to all regattas.

As far as I remember, you should have been receiving (and approving) the Notice of Race (in english) somewhere in April-May 2018 directly from AIVE’s secretariat.

 The ranking system, based on minimal points, is the sum of three best placement obtained by each single S&S yacht during the whole season in Italy, with a minimum of three events to be considered for qualifying. In order to avoid discrepancy between events in which there were two, three or four races, from each event the two best results obtained in each single race where selected. E.g.: Ojalà II at Argentario won two races, was second in one and fourth in another. For the purpose of the Cup the two wins were selected, i.e. 2 points.

Boats participating in less than three events where not eligible for ranking." 

 The winner is Ojalà II with 6 first places in the best three events, i.e. 6 points.

For full information on her racing record see

http://www.histoiredeshalfs.com/One%20Tonner/Ojala.htm

 and for information on her design see http://www.ssci.it/ojala.htm 

2019 - Sydney to Hobart Celebrations

SIR EDWARD HEATH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TRUST

5th September, 2019

In 1969 Edward Heath sailed Morning Cloud, a SS 34, over the line at Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania to win the famous Sydney to Hobart Race.

This was an epic achievement (and a first) for Ted Heath. The victory spurred him on to more glorious racing achievements in four subsequent, and larger, racing yachts - all named Morning Cloud

A celebration to commemorate this remarkable feat will take place on Thursday 5th September in the garden of his beloved Arundells