Sail Number:
Type: Rhodes 33
Ex; Witch
LOA: 33’8″ / 10.26m – LWL: 22’4″ / 6.80m – Beam: 6’10” / 2.08m – Draft: 5’0” / 1.52m – One Design Number: #34 – Designer: Philip L. Rhodes – Original Owner: Ray Milland, Newport Harbor Yacht Club – Current Owner: Private – Year Launched: 1946 – Built By: South Coast Boat Building Company, Newport Beach CA – Hull Material: Wood – Displacement: 5,800 lbs – Ballast: 2,950 lbs – Sail Area: 386 sq ft
Historical:
The Rhodes 33 was originally designed in 1938 for class racing in Southern California, where there were 20-30 mile races to Catalina…etc. These events required boats that could accommodate a crew overnight and that were weatherly and reasonably able, for the races were in open waters and often upwind.
Rhodes #34 was purchased new by Ray Milland, the movie actor, sometime just after WWII. It was in the Newport Harbor YC roster in 1950 or 1951. There must have been some other owner between Milland and Strat Enright, who named the boat Witch. He sold it to Paul Loveridge, who sold it to Gale Post in about 1963. Gale renamed her Therapy and painted her bright yellow.
Gale performed extensive restoration after Paul’s “experimental” modifications. For instance, the mast was off-center since he wanted it to be more vertical on port tack. This was the favored tack going up the beach off Newport after a racing start.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner Actor/Guardian: Ray Milland – Ray was an enthusiastic yachtsman who was at one time Paramount Pictures’ highest paid actor, co-starred alongside many of the most popular actresses of the time, including Gene Tierney, Grace Kelly, Lana Turner, Marlene Dietrich, Ginger Rogers, Jane Wyman, Loretta Young and Veronica Lake.
Owner/Guardian: Strat Enright
Owner/Guardian: Paul Loveridge
Owner/Guardian: Gale Post