schooner at sundown

Of course, I should think all our covers are equally wonderful but as we all know in these matters some things are always more equal than others. What can beat a schooner, the most romantic rig of them all, at sunset? The story of When and If’s build, in 1939 for one of the most famous generals of the war, George S Patton, is spookily resonant to the state of lockdown we are emerging from now. Patton planned to sail her around the world ‘when and if’ peace resumed, which of course it did, but not for Patton, who died in a car crash shortly after the war’s end. It’s all there in the photo: the boat, of course, but the sunset too, General Patton’s death. Eight decades later, a…

on the winds of war

The story of When and If began in a time of great uncertainty. It was 1937, war was imminent, and American George S Patton, a US Army Colonel at the time, was recuperating in hospital. His injuries were the result of an accident aboard the 67ft (20.4m) schooner Arcturus while en route to San Diego. In an effort to boost her husband’s downcast spirits, Beatrice Patton called in naval architect John Alden to design the couple a new yacht. Alden, renowned for schooners built for speed and grace, designed the couple a vessel that would also prove sturdy, comfortable and safe for long-distance voyaging. In January 1939, papers were signed authorizing FF Pendleton of Wiscasset, Maine, to build the 63ft 5in (19.3m), 43-tonne vessel. According to current owner Seth Salzmann: “Nothing…

tell tales

Classic Boat’s address: Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ cb@classicboat.co.uk Follow the Classic Boat team on Twitter and Facebook ST HELIER YACHT CLUB, JERSEY Yacht club’s ‘finest hour’ remembered Jersey’s Aubin’s Bay was filled with the colourful sight of more than 90 boats on 14 June, when members of St Helier Yacht Club commemorated the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of Saint-Malo, writes Philip Jeune. The annual race and rally to the French port, to mark the club’s ‘finest hour’, had to be cancelled, with all craft confined to local waters during the coronavirus restrictions. Instead, the club held an Evacuation 80 Parade, giving members the chance to cruise in procession across St Aubin’s Bay, close to the shore, and affording islanders on the promenade the opportunity to share in the celebration while maintaining…

new chapter for mariquita

Mariquita's sale in February sent shock waves through the classic yacht fraternity. The Fife III-designed and built yacht is the only 19-M class yacht afloat, and one of the world's most famous, not just for her size and beauty, but her vigorous campaigning at classic yacht regattas in the Mediterranean and UK since her restoration by Fairlie Restorations, which was completed in 2004. Her sale at auction, alongside the Fife III-designed 15-M yacht Mariska, another of the world's great classic yachts, was a 'no-reserve' affair and the boats sold at far below estimate, fetching €420,000 and €320,000 respectively. The new owner, Frenchman Benoit Couturier, plans to collect the boat from her Lymington mooring mid-September and send her to Chantier du Guip in Brest for a complete inspection by shipwright and yard…

national historic ships uk 2020 flagships announced

National Historic Ships (NHS) UK announced its Flagships of the Year for 2020, with HMS Belfast, moored on the River Thames, named the Flagship of the Year. The World War II Royal Navy warship, which served at D-Day, the Arctic Convoys and Korean War, was recognised for an Instagram tour of the ship created in February with television presenter Ben Shires, which attracted a huge following for the ship online. Stories from the her 82-year history will be told over the year via online tours and other initiatives. The Regional Flagships are: Medway Queen (South East), paddle steamer Zebu (North West), 1938 Tall Ship, once used by Operation Raleigh SS Explorer (Scotland East), research vessel Spartan (Scotland West), museum ship Each NHS UK Flagship receives a grant of up to £500, to be spent on the vessel…

dublin bay revival

Work on rebuilding seven Alfred Mylne-designed Dublin Bay 21s continues, writes Nigel Sharp. The first boat, Naneen, was completed by Kilrush Boatyard and launched into the Shannon estuary in December, with the second, Garavoge, set to follow by the time this issue is published. Construction of the third and fourth boats is under way and due for completion early next year. The new hulls are of veneered cedar-strip using the ballast keels of the original boats, which raced from 1903 to 1986 in Dublin Bay – from where they also occasionally cruised to the Isle of Man and Scotland. Their rigs, gaff sloop with no topsail, match Mylne’s modified 1917 design. All seven boats will be owned by the class association and will be available to sail by invited guests,…