Comet’s design was inspired by Stormy Weather and Skylark both of which also emerged from the Sparkman & Stephens studio in New York. Her first owner was a Chicago-based lawyer called John P. Wilson who sailed her on the Great Lakes. In the 1970s, however, the yawl completed a four-year round the world voyage. In 2002, Comet’s new owner Peter Wood had her shipped from the US to Britain. There, she was restored at the Gweek Boatyard in Cornwall in line with her original plans and renamed Cometa. Transferred to the Mediterranean, she won the Porquerolles Classic in 2007, before being sold to a Swiss owner in 2012 who returned her to her original name of Comet.

Shipped from USA to Gweek Quay Boatyard in Cornwall for restoration in 2004.   She had new masts fitted and was renamed ‘Cometa‘. ‘Classic Boat’ magazine showed her refit in November 2004 with Olin Stephens having come aboard himself for the launch! 2007 – New ownership 2012 – New ownership and reverted back to the original name ‘Comet’ Based in Barcelona at the Real Club Nautico and will be participating in the classic regattas in the Med in the coming years .(Nov, 2012)

Participated in the 2013 Yawlba event on Elba island with 4 other S & S yawls.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2014 (Segundo Clasificado clase ESPIRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2015 (Quinto Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2016 (Segundo Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)

HISTORY

DesIgned by Norman Owens and built as the Owens 40 Cutter by the Owens Boatvard in Baltimore, USA in 1948, Rubicon was constructed with a technique and materials used for motor torpedo boats in WWII (see below). According to a contemporary advertisement, her list price was $11,500 and she was marketed as a fast cruiser/racer with a record of regatta wins in the American north east.

She was listed in Lloyds Register of American Yachts 1955 to owner (and was perhaps built for) Mr JM Sherwood of Gibson Island, Maryland. Owens Boatyard was later acquired by Hinckley ,which continued to build the design into the 1950s.

Rubicon was bought by a UK owner and shipped across to Southampton in 2006, with refit works in Cowes.

She was berthed in Lefkas, Greece when bought by her current owner in July 2019. Sailed back to Majorca, she underwent an extensive, 13-month refit at Santa Ponsa from October of that year to September 2020, completing afloat in Puerto Alcudia in November. She is currently berthed at Bonaire, Majorca.

CONSTRUCTION

Rather unusual for its time, the Owens cutters were constructed with conventional mahogany carvel strip planking externally and a diagonal quarter inch plywood interior plank. This was to reduce weight, increase strength and prevent the planking opening up:

- oak backbone and oak and bronze floor timbers

- double planked 7/8th mahogany fore and aft

- ¼ Inch diagonal inner layer plywood on laminated oak frames

- bronze strapping and fastening on the opposite diagonal

- laminated and solid oak structural keel

- 6,000 Ibs exterior lead ballast

- epoxied and Awlgrip plywood deck with bright mahogany deck trim

- mahogany deckhouse and toe rail

- Awlgrip trunk cabin

- mahogany and teak cockpit with ash tiller

REFIT

The objective of the refit was to investigate, repair and modernise, the latter especially in the interior and systems, while retaining Rubicon’s classic nature.

The work was carried out ashore at Santa Ponsa, using both the SNI (Servicios Nauticos Integrados) yard and a variety of local craftsmen. The whole project, part of which took place during Covid lockdowns, was expertly managed by Majorca-based surveyor Tim Rowe.

The only change on deck was to remove the pushpit, and to lower the pulpit and rail so as to emphasise her form. When built there were none of these. The previous owner had re-

installed a wooden mast and made sail-handling easier for a two-person crew by fitting boom roller-reefing, together with a single electric halyard winch. A flush forehatch and traditional coachroof openings had replaced the original perspex hatches.

The external hull was essentially sound, and works were mostly to replace old fastenings, secure the bow fitting and replace the horn timber.

At some point in her history the hull planks above her keel had been changed, necessitating removal of the inner plywood layer which was not then replaced, so weakening the hull and, especially, the hull/keel joint. New oak frames were fitted in this area, and bronze strapping re-secured where it had sprung throughout the inner hull.

Slats across the frames throughout the accommodation were removed, allowing 70-years of dirt/mould to be cleaned away. The varnished slats were replaced with white, several of the cupboard doors removed, and the galley/heads worktops replaced with corrian, all to give a light and airy feel to the accommodation.

The fuel tank, two water tanks and calorifier were replaced with new. The original gymballed alcohol stove was replaced with an induction hob, and all the electrics and plumbing stripped out and replaced. A tidy switch panel replaced a multitude of older switches and instruments, while a new recess for drinks and another for a Nespresso machine and phone charging, plus new internal LED lighting, mattress and saloon cushions, provided the ‘modern’ which complements the ‘original’ layout, joinery, brass fittings and (now decorative-only) cabin heater.

New canvas work for the sprayhood, hatches and liferaft cover and, of course, a complete re-paint/re-varnish externally and internally, complete the look.

OWNER

Owner/skipper Simon Timm has previously owned a Halberg Rassy 39, in which he competed in the AZAB (Azores and Back) two-handed race in 2003 winning 3^rd in class. Prior to buying Rubicon, he owned an Oyster 53, in which he crossed the Atlantic three times (twice westward with the ARC and once eastward), winning the Oyster Cup for fastest crossing by an Oyster in ARC 2005.

He competed in Antigua Week 2006 and in subsequent Oyster regattas in the Caribbean and UK, as well as three in Palma, Majorca in the years up to 2018.

He has crewed on the Southern Ocean leg of the 2015 Clipper Round the World race, and on a passage from Galapagos to Tahiti aboard an Oyster 56 participating in the Oyster World Rally 2022-23.

He competed in the 2022 Vela Clásica Mallorca as his first classic regatta, and will do so again in 2023, along with Cormoran Regatta in Puerto Pollenca and the Copa del Rey in Mahon. He sails with with a crew of family and friends.

Spartan is the last surviving example of the New York Yacht Club 50’ Class designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Built by the Herreshoff yard in Bristol, Rhode Island, she was launched in 1913 and was one of a series of nine yachts to emerge from there between 1913 and 1915. Her particular class had an LOA of 72’ and an LWL of 50’. Unusually for the day, it had no bowsprit.

Converted to a gaff yawl in 1945 and refit in the 1960s and 70s, Spartan was used for charter in the Caribbean. In 1989, a full restoration was begun but the work was halted while the hull and deck were being worked on. After being abandoned for some time, Spartan was moved to the Herreshoff Museum in 1993. A meticulous restoration was carried out between 2006 and 2009.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2016 (Primer Clasificado clase BIG BOAT)

One of only four 15-Meters remaining, the others being Tuiga, The Lady Anne and Hispania.

In 2004 she was up for sale after a complicated ownership and had been converted to a cruising ketch.

In July, 2007 a complete refit was started at the yard ‘Charpentiers Reunis Mediterran e’, La Ciotat, France to bring her back to her original rig.

Toda la información de MARISKA en este enlace:

http://www.mariska1908.com/en/history.html

Argyll is owned by well-known Welsh actor, writer and TV presenter Griffith ‘Griff’ Rhys Jones who also owns Undina, a 1956 Abeking & Rasmussen. She was design no. 628 to emerge from Sparkman & Stephens’ New York studio and in shape and proportions is reminiscent of the famous Bolero, designed the same year. Argyll underwent significant renovations in England in the noughties, involving the replacement of all her frame timbers and 80% of her mahogany planking. Her interiors, on the other hand, were also adapted to ensure that she would provide comfortable cruising in the Mediterranean. In 2010, the yawl competed in several rounds of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, not least Les Voiles d’Antibes and Les Régates Royales de Cannes.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2013 (Cuarto Clasificado clase ÉPOCA MARCONI)
• X REGATA PUIG VELA  CLÀSSICA 2017 (Tercer Clasificado clase ÉPOCA MARCONI)

El Calima cuenta con dos cumpleaños. El primero, su botadura en 1970 tras ser construido en los Astilleros Carabela con un diseño de Sparkman & Stephens. El segundo, en 1999 tras ser adquirido por Javier Pujol Usandizaga. Gracias a las mejoras conseguidas y a la pericia de sus marineros, el Calima cuenta con el honor de haber conquistado en 2001 la Fasnet Race en su clase.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2003 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2004 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2006 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2007 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2008 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2010 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2011 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2012 (Segundo Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2013 (Segundo Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2014 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPIRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2015 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2016 (Primer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)

Argos is a fast, comfortable, seaworthy craft that swept the boards in the many regattas she entered. Based in Spain, she has spent her entire life in the Mediterranean and has cruised as far as Morocco and Turkey. Argos has competed in numerous editions of the Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona and has been overall winner in the Spanish Rute de la Sal race. A regular at the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época at Mahon, in 2012, she won her category and also made it to the podium at the Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca regattas. In 2014, Argos went to Le Vele d’Epoca di Imperia for the second time. She is built from mahogany planking over a mahogany frame and has iroko interiors.

Regatas

Ganador de la VELA CLÁSICA MENORCA – COPA DEL REY DE BARCOS DE ÉPOCA en la categoría CLÁSICOS en las ediciones de los años: 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 y 2022

This steel-built Marconi cutter was commissioned from Olin Stephens by a Mr John B. Goulandris in 1970, who wanted a fast yacht to compete in the American East Coast regattas in general and the Bermuda Race in particular. From 1970 to 1977, Amazon took part in various events in America before completing several cruises between there and Europe. In 1992, her German owner Klaus Lower sent her to Holland for a major restoration, during which all of her interiors were dismantled to allow her hull to be sanded. In 2009, Amazon AYC changed hands again and underwent another refit at La Rochelle in France. In 2010, the Marconi yawl participated in the British Classic Regatta, the Brest Classic Week, the Judith Trophy (Douarnenez-Southampton) and took overall victory in the Atlantic Trophy (Douarnenez-Horta-Douarnenez).

Chinook (sail number NY-48), ex Pauline, is a NY 40, one of the so-called ‘Fighting Forties’. A total of 14 examples of this class were commissioned between 1916 and 1926 by members of the New York Yacht Club. Just four are still afloat, including Rowdy (1916) and Marilee (1926). The latter and Chinook are the only gaff cutter-rigged versions. Chinook was built simultaneous to 11 other identical NY40s in just six months between 1915 and 1916.

Purchased in March 2010 in Newport by Irish skipper Jonathan Greenwood and Sandra Ugolini, Chinook was cargo- shipped to Genoa and then Bizerta in Tunisia. Her next owner, Graham Walker, who had already won the Trofeo Panerai on several occasions with Rowdy, sold her on to London-based Paolo Zannoni, who sailed her to victory in the Vintage category of the 2014 Trofeo Panerai. 

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2013 (Primer Clasificado clase EPOCA CANGREJA)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2014 (Primer Clasificado clase EPOCA CANGREJA)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2015 (Tercer Clasificado clase EPOCA CANGREJA)

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2016 (Tercer Clasificado clase ESPÍRITU TRADICIÓN)

929 - 1938 Marquis Franco Spinola, admiral of the Italian Navy and representative of one of the most outstanding families of Genoa - name: La Spina - home port: Santa Margherita Ligure (Italy) - Rig: Bermudan sloop. The owner interest was more in seafaring than racing and particular care has been devoted to the boat's internal accommodation and fitting, with view her being used as an habitable cruiser as well as a racer.

The accommodation comprises a handsome saloon, an owner's cabin, lavatory and bathroom. The joinery work of mahogany and maple was especially admirable. The crew space comprised a skipper's cabin and berths for four hands. Immediately after launching, the vessel sailed to Genoa, escorted by the 8-metre Bamba and Vega both entrants in the International Week regatta at Genoa.

The occasion special for the opening of the new head office at the Yacht Club Italiano in presence of the Italian Royal family. The location of the Baglietto yard on an open beach required the boat to be launched completely equipped and fitted out for sea. One of the most interesting operations was the stepping of the mast. This was done by rigging a pair of shrouds on the roof of the building shed and hauling out the vessel into a suitable position beneath.

La Spina entered in just two regattas in Cannes and in Santa Margherita and due to the lack of competitors and the decision of other owners and members of Yacht Club Italiano not to build other Twelves, in March 1930, marquis Spinola decided to alter her to Bermudan ketch and to increase the sail area to 196 sq.m; a 35 HP engine was installed and the hull was sheathed with copper; all this was done at Cantieri Baglietto.

1938 - 1956 Marquis Gian Augusto Salina Amorini Bolognini - new name: La Vespa - home port: Santa Margherita Ligure and Venice (Italy). The bill of sale was dated April 19th, 1938

The 24.7m cutter Hallowe’en designed by William Fife III for Lt Col JFN Baxendale, was launched in 1926 just in time to compete in the ORC FastNet. William Fife III, designer of a number of classic yachts still racing today was quoted once as saying “Hallowe’en is the perfect gentleman’s yacht. She is a jewel”.

Racing in the 2nd Fastnet Race, Hallowe’en sailed the fleet home to cross the line some 10 hours before the next competitor. A record which would stand until 1939 when the new course was shortened.

Hallowe’en is a Marconi cutter inspired by the lines of the International 15-metre Classes. She not only won the Fastnet but also set an as yet unbroken record for the race in the year she was launched. Hallowe’en later spent time in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and, under the name Magda XII, in Norway.

There Prince Olaf, the future King of Norway, was often a guest aboard. Between the 1940s and 50s, she sailed in America as Cotton Blossom IV, winning numerous regattas. During the 1980s, she was restored by the Classic Boat Museum in Newport, to which she’d been donated.

In the course of her long career Hallowe’en has been converted from a Marconi cutter to a gaff cutter and then a yawl. In 1993, she was converted back to a Marconi cutter during a restoration job at Barcelona. In 1999 she was sold to a Dutch owner. She has been owned by an Irishman since 2007. Fife himself described Hallowe’en as “perfect, a gem”.

William Fife decided to rig the yacht as a low-aspect ration Bermudan cutter, which was uncommon in the days when gaff rigged racers dominated the various regattas. These experiments with her rig continued over the following years as her mast and boom heights changed and eventually she was transformed to a yawl. As a yawl– rigged COTTON BLOSSOM IV she dominated ocean racing for many years, and has held important records. After racing in the Mediterranean for a number of years she returned to the Atlantic under new owner Alfred Larsen, a Norwegian industrialist. She became the Royal Norwegian Racing Clubs official yacht and was helmed numerous times by future king to Norway, Prince Olaf.

In 1938 she ventured across the Atlantic and then disappeared off the radar. She was later discovered by Walter Wheeler and renamed Cotton Blosson IV before continuing her history of ocean racing and eventually being donated to the Classic Boat Museum at New Port, Rhode Island where she waited for a much needed refit. After 5 years of work in New Port, funds dried up and Hallowe’en was in need of new ownership and she eventually returned to the Mediterranean when Elizabeth Meyer (owner of J-Class Endeavour) helped find a buyer.

Under her new syndicate of Irish custodians, Hallowe'en has continued to improve the racing standards set in her early years by winning numerous Mediterranean regattas, as well as winning overall  the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge in 2017.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2014 (Tercer Clasificado clase BIG BOAT)
• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2015 (2º Clasificado clase BIG BOAT)
• X REGATA PUIG VELA CLÀSSICA 2017 (8º Clasificado clase ÉPOCA MARCONI)
• ILLES BALEARS CLASSIC 2017 (Cuarto Clasificado clase Época)

VIOLA was designed and built in 1908 by William FIFE III, who described her as “fast and bonnie”.  VIOLA crossed 113 years through the caring hands of 14 “keepers” who beautifully restored her to date while carefully preserving her authenticity. 

In recent years VIOLA and her crew of friends “the VIOLA lovers” were honored to receive the “MONACO CLASSIC WEEK Trophy” and fortunate to win Les Voiles de Saint Tropez (Fife Jubilee and Rolex Trophy) as well as Les Voiles d’Antibes, Argentario Sailing Week and Les Régates Royales de Cannes.

VIOLA and her crew are delighted to sail in the Copa del Rey for the first time.

Fjord III

Diseñado y construido por German Frers para la primer regata Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro en 1947. A pesar de partir 48 horas tarde llego segundo de la flota a Rio de Janeiro. Tal fue el éxito del Fjord III que le encargaron varias copias mas a German Frers como sea el Cippino y el Joanne que siguen, igual que el Fjord III, en competencia.

Paso por varios dueños quienes lo navegaron en regatas como el Newport – Bermuda donde gano su clase. Paso 20 años en las islas del Pacifico, otros 40 años en Los Angeles, California, el estado de Oregon y San Francisco donde lo encontró Scott Perry del Uruguay en 2011 en excelente estado de conservacion pero preparado para crucero en vez de regata.

Una vez en Uruguay se restauro como velero de regata pura sangre. Luego de 5 temporadas compitiendo en el Rio de la Plata se embarco al Mediterraneo en 2015 donde ha participado en regatas en España, Francia e Italia con resultados muy buenos.  

Designed and built by German Frers for the first Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro regatta in 1947. Despite starting 48 hours late she arrived in second place in Rio de. Janeiro. Such was Fjord III´s success that several copies were ordered from German Frers including Cippino and Joanne which, like Fjord III, are still competing.

She had several owners who sailed her in many regattas such as the Newport – Bermuda Regatta where she won her class. She spent 20 years in the Pacific Islands, another 40 years between Los Angeles, California, the state of Oregon and San Francisco where Scott Perry of Uruguay found her in 2011 in excellent condition but prepared for cruising rather than racing.

Once in Uruguay she was restored back to her present state as a thoroughbred racing yacht. After 5 seasons competing in the Rio de la Plata she was shipped to the Mediterranean in 2015 where she has participated in regattas in Spain, France and Italy with very good results.

Regatas

• VELA CLASICA MENORCA 2016 (Segundo Clasificado clase ÉPOCA MARCONI)
• X REGATA PUIG VELA  CLÀSSICA 2017 (2º Clasificado clase ÉPOCA MARCONI)