S&S Annual Meeting Portavadie, Scotland, Sept 30 - Oct 3 2022

S&S Association 2022 Annual International Meeting

Portavadie, Scotland

September 30th - October 3rd

Dear S&S Friends,

Come and join old friends and new ones for 3 days on Scotland’s magnificent West Coast.  We will be based at Portavadie Marina at the entrance to Loch Fyne on the Clyde Estuary.  The marina is one of the UK’s most modern facilities, with 230 sheltered deep-water berths, purpose-built marina facilities, excellent shore-side accommodation and a stunning leisure centre with an outdoor infinity pool, indoor pool, spa pools, sauna and a fully equipped gym.

Draft Programme

Friday, Sept 30th:     Arrive, settle in, welcome drinks and supper at the Marina (barbecue weather permitting!)

Saturday, Oct 1st :    10.00 am S&S Association AGM

12.00 sailing with members’ boats on Loch Fyne and the Outer Clyde, or take the ferry to the Mull of Kintyre, explore the Cowal Peninsula, play a round of golf or take advantage of the Marina’s leisure facilities

19.00 gather for dinner and a traditional Scottish ceilidh (music and dancing)

Sunday, Oct 2nd:      Trip to the historic Inverary Jail www.inverarayjail.co.uk , lunch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar www.lochfyne.com and afternoon visit to Inverary Castle and Gardens www.inveraray-castle.com

Monday, Oct 3rd:     Breakfast and depart

Accommodation

Portavadie offers various options for accommodation:

• luxury apartments with bed and breakfast and full use of the Leisure Centre

• lodge rooms and studio apartments for two, or cottages for four, with either bed and breakfast or self-catering, and including use of the Leisure Centre

• motorhome pitches and camping

• berths for Members’ boats (around our Chairman’s Swan 76 Tigris, based at Portavadie for the summer). Some beds may be available on our visiting boats.

Cost:                     £165 per person plus accommodation (£70-130 per person per night for B&B; £ 25/night for camping/motorhome pitch; £35/night for a 10 m pontoon berth)

Travel:                  Both locations can be accessed from Glasgow Airport or Railway Station with connections by road, or by rail and bus/ferry.  If numbers allow, we will arrange transport from Glasgow

Booking: To book a place please email me at secretary@sparkmanstephens.org with the following information:

1. Number of places required

2. Arrival and departure date and approximate times

3. Method of travel – if coming by air or rail we will aim to arrange a suitable pick-up time in Glasgow. If you are not sure about your travel arrangements yet you can let me know later.

4. Type of accommodation required – see the Portavadie website www.portavadie.com/staying/ for more details

   1. Luxury apartment for 2

   2. Lodge room for 2

   3. Cottage for 4 – if you are happy to share with others please say and we will try to arrange this

   4. Motorhome pitch

   5. Camping pitch

   6. Pontoon berth – please state the length and draft of your boat. If you are able to offer berths to other members please say how many you can accommodate

   7. Sleeping aboard another member’s boat (if berths are available)

5. Do you want to join the trip to Inverary on Sunday – Yes or No.

It would be very helpful if you can reply by 30th May so that we can confirm the plans with Portavadie Marina.  If you think you might come but cannot confirm yet don’t worry, just let me know so that we can plan around possible final numbers.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to phone or email.

Hope you can make it and look forward to seeing old friends and new and welcoming you to our home waters.

FOR SALE - LIMBAS

We are pleased to announce a new listing for the Association Brokerage, LIMBAS

This classic 1936 Sparkman and Stephens design was built in 1949 at Ah King Slipways in Hong Kong to design #153. Her name is and has always been LIMBAS.

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Entries Open for Cowes Classics Week 2022

Cowes, UK. 1st March, 2022. Entries have opened today for Cowes Classics Week 2022. Racing will run from 27th June to 1st July.

The world’s biggest classic yacht regatta of its kind is open to a wide range of yachts and offers multiple race courses catering both for large one-design fleets and for all-comers in handicap fleets.

Classic yachts built in wood or steel before 1975, or GRP yachts designed at least 50 years ago, are eligible. So too are all classic S&S-designed yachts, including Swans and S&S 34s, regardless of design date. Spirit of Tradition yachts designed to classic lines are also welcomed. There will be a non-spinnaker division for classic yachts above 30’ in length.

Photo credit @Tim Jeffreys

Entries are anticipated from multiple dayboat fleets including Dragons, Swallows, Solent Sunbeams, Loch Long ODs, XODs, BODs, Squibs, Flying Fifteens and many more, together with metre boats, old gaffers and cruiser/racers such as Folkboats, Contessas, SCODs, Twisters and Nicholsons.

Cowes Classics Week follows immediately after the Round the Island Race, providing a week of varied, challenging and fun racing in Cowes. Furthermore, on Sunday 26th June over 60 high quality classic cars and interesting classic boats will assemble on the Parade and the Trinity Landing for the 2nd edition of Cowes Classics Day.

Early bird rates are available now and the Notice of Race can be found at www.cowesclassicsweek.org/the-regatta/nor. For eligibility enquiries, please contact the organisers, the Royal London Yacht Club at secretary@ccw-team.org.

To enter, visit www.cowesclassicsweek.org/the-regatta/enter.

1974 - One Ton Cup Video Emerges (Copy)

Not specifically S&S but an interesting watch. Lost video emerges on the 1974 One Ton Cup. Forwarded by one of our members, with a small feature of his yacht ‘America Jane’. Thank you!

“An 8mm video of the 1974 One Ton Cup, sailed off Torquay, has emerged in Ireland, discovered by well known Irish sailmaker Jonny McWilliam and has been digitised by his son Jamie.”

— Sailworld.com

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Social Media photo - From SailWorld - One Ton Cup 1974 - Torquay UK © George Stead archives

Feature in praise of the She 36

Of all the design offices to rise to prominence in the 20th century, Sparkman & Stephens must rank near the top. From cruising yachts to America’s Cup 12 metres (with an unsurpassed record of six winners), the iconic S&S name ruled supreme.

Brothers Olin and Rod made their mark in 1931 when their beautiful 52ft yawl Dorade carried off the Transatlantic Race closely followed by the Fastnet. And thus began a six-decade domination of inshore and offshore racing on both sides of the Atlantic. When the mould-breaking Dorade hit the scene, Olin was just 23. While he drew the lines with his unique blend of artistry and science, his brother Rod applied his seaman’s eye to gear, layout, construction and fit-out.

Thereafter, commissions cascaded in and thousands of cruising and racing S&S designs hit the slips, going on to enhance the sailing scene with their grace and sailing prowess.

Design No. 2166 started life on the drawing board in 1974/5 in the US as the Three Quarter Ton cruiser-racer Northstar 1500, subsequently renamed the Northstar 50 then the Hughes 35.

British builder South Hants Engineering introduced another take on Design 2166, calling it the She 36. The S&S website shows its dimensions as LOA 35ft 6in, LWL 26ft, beam 10ft 5in, draught 6ft and displacement 11,500 lbs. The She 36 brochure says it displaces around 5 ½ tons……

Article kindly reproduced courtesy of www.classicsailor.com

New Collaboration with Andersen Winches

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between Andersen Stainless Steel Winches and the Sparkman & Stephens Association. A fitting collaboration, Andersen Winches have attained a loyal global following for their exceptional finish and enduring quality. Likewise, members of the S&S Association recognise the designs of Olin Stephens as the highest benchmark of timeless designs.

Starting November 1st, 2021, we are looking forward to growing a special relationship between two prestigious brands and seeing members of the S&S Association enjoy the benefits of the newfound collaboration.

https://andersenwinches.com/aw/distributors.asp

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!