Classic Yachting’s Most Intriquing Mystery
Annapolis, MD, December 14, 2017 – Eighty-six years has passed since the magnificent 71’ Ketch, “Landfall” was secretly built in Lemwerder, Germany by Abeking & Rasmussen for the famous Oyster Bay yachtsman and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club member, Paul Hammond. Proclaimed “the World’s Most Ingenious Yacht” when launched,” we now know “Landfall’s” fate.
First, we wish to thank TheSailingChannel.TV, and ClassisSailboats.Org’s alliance of classic yacht owners, skippers, crews and preservationists throughout the world, and countless others who helped in our search. Your support made it possible for us to solve one of the classic yachting world’s most intriguing mysteries!
After surviving clandestine missions during WWII for British Naval Intelligence, a sinking and a salvage, countless Pacific and Transatlantic crossings, with memorable passages to New England, the UK, Mexico, the Caribbean, Med, Adriatic, Aegean, and Baltic Seas — “Landfall” found her final resting place — 8 miles offshore and two thousand meters beneath the Pacific waves.
During our multi-year search for “Landfall,” we have felt the admiration of past owners, captains and crew members for this beloved vessel. More details about “Landfall’s” tragic loss and history to follow soon, including the story of our search and a tribute to the men and women who built and sailed this fine vessel.
This message about Landfall is now nearly a year old but there have been no follow up details posted – any chance of something soon?
Also, I have written a biography of Mike Cumberlege (who skippered Landfall for Richie Paine 1937-39) which is due to appear in the U.K. in November 2018 which has a lot of new material about these years that may be of interrest to the more conspiracy-minded among you.
Mike sailed Landfall from Venice to Antibes at the end of 1939 before Italy entered WW11 against France. The yacht was subsequently sold to the Spanish Consul in Marseilles who was later killed. She was then sunk in Antibes harbour by the Nazi Germans, raised from the harbour after the war and used for a time as an “extra” in romantic films
Looking forward to your biography. Where is it going to be published?
“The Extraordinary Life of Mike Cumberlege SOE” – has now been published in the UK and USA by Fonthill Media. The book may be bought direct from http://www.fonthillmedia.com or on Amazon.
I was captain of Landfall from 1988 to 1990. She was owned by a Manual Asunsolo (Mexico, Palma de Mallorca) I sailed her from Ft. Lauderdale to Palma de Mallorca where she stayed until I left her.
I have many stories of her broken boom on the crossing to her risky departure from the Nioulargue regatta to charters in Palma.
Happy to pass it on.