Theodore D. Wells KARINA

Photo Credit: Charles Washburn, Great Grandson of Theodore P. Burgess – Nathaniel Livermore Stebbins


Type: Three Masted Steel Schooner

Ex; 1920 Undaunted – 1923 Dauntless – 1942 G. K. Dauntless

LOA: 215’ 0” / 65.53m – LOD: 198′ 6.5″ / 60.53m – LWL: 150′ 0″ / 45.72m – Beam: 33′ 8.5″ / 10.30m – Draft: 17′ 0″ / 5.18m – Hull Number: 535 – Rig: Schooner – Mast: Lower section steel, topmast wood – Displacement: 590 gross tons / Ballast 150 tons – Crew: 26 – Designer: Theodore D. Wells – Built By: Staten Island Shipbuilding Company, New York, N.Y. – Original Owner: Commodore Robert E. Tod, New York, N.Y.Y.C. – Contract Cost: $250,000 – Contract Completion Date: May 1st, 1911 – Launched: April 13, 1911 – Status: Wrecked

 

Historical:

1951 – Wrecked
1922 – Addison G. Hanan (installs auxiliary engine – 280-450 horsepower Krupp Diesel with Krupp reversible propeller) see the Rudder December 22.
1920 – Narrowly misses destruction off Orient Point. Tugs used to pull her of bar. Coast Guards says water is full of rocks and vessel escapes miraculously.
1920 – Francis R. Mayer, Vice Commodore of the Atlantic Yacht Club, New York
1912 – Largest Sail-Powered-Only Yacht in America
1911 – Largest pleasure sailing craft ever built in America

 

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Known Racing History:

August 11-13, 1911 – Brenton’s Reef Challenge Cup – Won against the Yacht Atlantic – The cup had been held by the Atlantic since 1905 – A light breeze saw the Atlantic, from Brenton’s Reef Lightship to Ambrose Channel Lightship, garner a 35 minute lead on the 131 mile leg. On the return the breeze freshened the two great yachts were neck and neck with the Karina overtaking her onto a 1h. 12m. 10s winning performance. Elapsed time of 38h. 28m. 50s.

September 11-12, 1911 – Cape May Challenge Cup – Distance 214 miles – Ambrose Channel or Scotland Lightship to and around the Five Fathom Lightship off Cape May and back to the starting line. – Won by the Atlantic – Elapsed time 32h. 26m. 20s – Second Place Karina – Elapsed time 32h. 58m.

 

Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest of Karina/Undaunted)

Owner – 1922 – Undaunted – Addison G. Hanan (installs auxiliary engine – 280-450 horsepower Krupp Diesel with Krupp reversible propeller)
Owner – 1920 – Undaunted – Francis R. Mayer, commodore of the Atlantic Yacht Club
Owner – 1918 – Karina – France and Canadian Steamship Company (merchant marine training purposes.
Owner – 1912 – Karina – Theodore P. Burgess, Dedham
Owner – 1911 – Karina – Robert E. Tod, New York – Commodore of the Atlantic Yacht club
Crew – Karl Oscar Olander (Compiled by Grandson Peter Olande

 

 

 

Comments

 

Peter Olander – July 2, 2017

I have 2 photos of some of the crew of the Undaunted ca. 1921.
My grandfather Karl Olander was a crew member.


 

Mariette Oosterwijk Bruyn – July 18, 2017

Photo’s of trip Cowes to New York in private collection in the Netherlands.

 

Charles Washburn – January 9, 2019

Would love to see Cowes to NY photos.

 

Charles Washburn – February 12, 2018

I have many more pictures of “Karina” on and off boat. If you are interested I can submit …

 

Alice D. Murphy – December 16, 2022

I have some images of my great-grandmother having tea with Sir Thomas Lipton on board the Karina at Kiel, Germany in the Baltic Sea, on a trip she took with her daughter to watch the Stockholm Olympics in 1912. Are you interested in seeing them?

 

4 Comments

  1. Robert E. Tod was my wife’s great-grandfather and I am preparing a presentation about his life and accomplishments. I would love to see any photos from that era on the Karina or his other yachts.

  2. Charles Washburn

    My name is Charles Washburn and I have been submitting photos RE two sailing yachts that were owned by my mother’s grandfather, T P Burgess. I noticed (years ago) a post on a Syosset NY blog an entry regarding Tod Family and the Karina. Burgess purchased Karina from Tod. I have recently edited and colored and re-edited many of my ‘Karina’ original tiny black and white photographs to dramatic results. I have the silver and china from her as well. If you have any interest in any of this info, please write: androck51@gmail.com Coincidently I was sending some of my colored iterations of the tiny old black & whites to the editor here and saw your post.

  3. Charles Washburn

    My name is Charles Washburn … I just saw your post .I would love to see any pictures that you may have. Thank you.

  4. Robert Albrecht

    I would love to see pictures of Karina especially the early years owed by Burgess, looking for a picture of his pair of yacht signal cannons on deck. albrecht.rob68@gmail.com

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