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

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