This year’s Annual Meeting of the S&S Association took place at the Royal Danish Yacht Club's Tuborg Havn Marina near Copenhagen, Denmark. Ten stunning S&S boats and fifty-one members and friends from eight countries gathered for a sociable weekend of sailing and camaraderie. You can read the full report here:
1. Welcome
2. Apologies for absence
3. Matters and Actions arsing from 2022 AGM Minutes
4. Reports
a. Chairman’s report – Gavin Howe
b. Secretary’s report – Karen Blake
c. Treasurer’s report – Michael France
d. Classic and Wooden Hulls secretary’s report – Juha Apajalahti
e. GRP Hulls Secretary’s report – Bart Draijer
f. Race Secretary’s report (Trophies) - George Beevor
g. Webmaster’s report – Dan & Ellie James
h. Yearbook Editor’s report – Louise France
i. Regional Secretary’s reports:
i. UK
ii. N America
iii. Finland
iv. Netherlands
5. Election of Officers
6. Future Annual Meeting Plans
7. Any other business
Members are encouraged to send any comments, matters arising from last year’s minutes or items of any other business (AOB) for discussion at the AGM to Karen.
secretary@sparkmanstephens.org
Last year’s AGM minutes of the meeting can be found in the members area here:
https://sparkmanstephens.org/agms-minutes-of-meeting
With just a few days to go until the 50th anniversary of the Fastnet race, the designs of Sparkman & Stephens remain strong contenders in this historic event.
Excerpt the from Rolex Fastnet Race:
“Rated at the top end of the IRC Two band are some beautiful classics which will bring some latter-day glamour to the fleet. They include Quailo 3, a Nicholson 55 that used to compete in the Admiral’s Cup, the Swan 55 yawl Lulotte, and the US-owned S&S 49 Hiro Maru.
The beautiful classic Swan 55 yawl Lulotte © Rick Tomlinson
Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and launched in 1971, aluminium-hulled Hiro Maru previously raced as Scaramouche when she secured second in the 1972 SORC and won class in the 1977 Transpac under previous owners.
Hiroshi Nakajima's 1971 aluminium-hulled S&S 49 Hiro Maru © ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi
Current owner Hiroshi Nakajima has logged over 20,000 miles, competing in the Newport-Bermuda eight times and winning class in the 2019 Transatlantic Race. Nakajima believes the boat is tough enough for most offshore conditions: "This boat is built well (by the Palmer Johnson boatyard). It's a period boat from the late 1960s/early 1970s when they were building rugged aluminium boats.”
Read the full article here:
https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/news/1236-irc-two-preview-classics-doubles-and-round-the-world-adventurers
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
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.
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/
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
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:
Welcome
Apologies for absence
Matters and Actions arsing from 2021 AGM Minutes
Reports
Chairman’s report – Gavin Howe
Secretary’s report – Karen Blake
Treasurer’s report – Michael France
Classic and Wooden Hulls secretary’s report – Juha Apalajahti
GRP Hulls Secretary’s report – Bart Draijer
Race Secretary’s report (Trophies) - George Beevor
Webmaster’s report – Dan & Ellie James
Yearbook Editor’s report – Louise France
Regional Secretary’s reports:
Jan Schiereck– Netherlands
Esa Vesmanen/Veli-Matti Jarvinen - Finland
Kerry Costello – UK & Ireland
Hiro Nakajima – US East
Jim Koss – US West
Erika Peters/Henrik Philipsen – Germany/Scandinavia
Election of Officers
Future Annual Meeting plans
Any other business
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:
Number of places required
Arrival and departure date and approximate times
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.
Type of accommodation required – see the Portavadie website www.portavadie.com/staying/ for more details
Luxury apartment for 2
Lodge room for 2
Cottage for 4 – if you are happy to share with others please say and we will try to arrange this
Motorhome pitch
Camping pitch
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
Sleeping aboard another member’s boat (if berths are available)
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Social Media photo - From SailWorld - One Ton Cup 1974 - Torquay UK © George Stead archives
Please note that Sparkman & Stephens Association Merchandise can only be purchased by members.
