Two days after competing in Panerai’s North American Yacht Challenge’s grand finale event in Newport Rhode Island, the MoY Classic Yacht Regatta, LUCIE got hauled out for a quick stop at the shop to take care of a few blemishes she took on earlier this year, both in France and Newport.
LUCIE The last six meter designed by Clinton Crane, and arguably his best, was built to the second iteration of the International 6 Metre Rule. She was built in Henry B. Nevin’s yard on City Island in New York in 1931, for the noted sportsman Briggs Cunningham, and named after his first wife, Lynn (Lucie) Bedford Cunningham Warren. Lucie was named to three successive British-American Cup teams, her last in 1936. She is the only Crane design to stay in major competition after WWII. In addition to campaigning Lucie, Briggs Cunningham also won both the Prince Edward VII Gold Cup, the so-called “Bermuda Gold Cup” and the Scandinavian Gold Cup in 1937 with US 72 Lulu. Among his many other sporting pursuits, Mr Cunningham also won the America’s Cup in 1958 on the 12 meter Columbia.
After her refreshing, LUCIE was packed up into full travel mode for her trip back home, albeit the long arduous road trip west to San Francisco, owner Matt Brooks’ home club. To make the trip as comfortable as possible for the 84-year-old legend, she was placed onto an air-suspended flatbed trailer for the 3,100-mile road trip.
Since the LUCIE campaign started in 2011, she has sailed under the St. Francis Yacht Club burgee; the club now is in the midst of the Invitational 6 Metre Regatta, which it is hosting through October 9. LUCIE jumped at the occasion to race on San Francisco Bay and measure herself up against the other West Coast boats racing (coming from Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego).
October 7th 2015 – Today, Lucie along with seven other 6 Metres kicked off Day 1 of the International 6 Metre Invitational on San Francisco Bay. Click here to see the official results from racing.
From the St. Francis Yacht Club:
“History Comes to Life: International 6 Meter Invitational”
Throughout the summer of 2015, St. Francis Yacht Club has hosted some phenomenal racing featuring world-class sailors and a wide range of fast boats. From kites to windsurfers to dinghies to big boats, StFYC has hosted a bevy of events that continue to up the level of competition along City Front. Now, as we enter the last month of a busy racing season, we get back to our roots and welcome the “Class of all Classes” to the International 6 Meter Invitational.
From Tuesday, October 6 through Friday October 9, a fleet of eight 6 Meters will race in San Francisco Bay, just as they did a century ago. With entries from Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego and France, this international fleet will be as competitive as it is majestic.