Sail Number: US54
Last sail number reported: GBR54 (2016)
Type: 6mR (Rule 2)
Ex; Angelina, Sceptre
LOA: 36’9” / 11.20m – LOD: 36’9” / 11.20m – LWL: 23’6” / 7.16m – Beam: 6’8” / 2.03m – Draft: 5’3” / 1.60m – Displacement: 3,885 kg – Ballast: – Hull material: Mahogany Planking on Oak Frames – Sail Area: – Designer: Sparkman & Stephens – Built by: Henry B. Nevins Boatyard – Year Launched: 1931 – Current Name: Bob Kat II – Original Owner: Robert Meyer
Historical:
US 54 Bob Kat II was designed by twenty-three year old Olin Stephens and built at the Nevins yard on City Island, New York. She was built for Robert Meyer, who named the boat after his wife Katherine and himself – Bob Kat.
Bob Kat II was part of the famous American team that went to England for the 1932 British American Team Races. The other members of the team were US 55 Lucie, US 56 Jill and US 60 Nancy.
Bob Kat II was restored to her original racing configuration at Cantieri dell Argentario in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy and took part in the 2004 European Championships in Porto Rotondo and the Regates Royale at Cannes. She was joined in Porto Rotondo by her old teammate, US 60 Nancy, which was also recently restored. Onboard during that regatta was Olin’s brother Rod Stephens and Bob Kat II was the top scoring boat for that regatta. The team repeated their victory in 1934 at Long Island, she then went on to win the team race Seswankaka Cup and, in 1935, was the runner up in the One Ton Cup. Bob Kat II then spent time racing in Maryland towards the latter part of the 30s where there was a good fleet of Sixes. By the 1940s she was sold to a Californian who had her moved across to the West Coast. A number of the Californian fleet were having cabins built on the deck and, at some point during this period, Bob Kat II was fitted with a cruising style cabin which allowed her to take part in offshore racing.
Bob Kat II was a permanent resident at the San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC). She was renamed twice, Angelina and Skeptre, from around 1954 until mid 2002 when she was spotted by the famous yacht designer Doug Peterson best known for his One Tonners and America’s Cup designs. Doug purchased the very sad and tired looking Bob Kat II and had her shipped to the Italian yard of Cantieri dell Argentario where she underwent a comprehensive rebuild to her original deck and rig configuration.
Bob Kat II was then raced by Doug from 2004 until 2007, with a remarkable set of results. Highlights of this time include; 1st 2004 Regatta Royale Cannes, 1st 2004 San Tripez Classic 6mR and 6th Worlds Cowes. In 2007 she was put away in a shed until her current owner found her in 2014.
Bob Kat II was transported to the Elephant Boat Yard, most famous for their love of 6m’s. She had a cosmetic refit, new winches and her running gear was updated. Bob Kat II took part in the 2014 European 6m Regatta in Falmouth and then went on to the 2015 Worlds in La Trinite Sur Mer, France. Here she was involved in an unfortunate collision while sailing on starboard. Bob Kat II was shipped to Netherlands (Ventis Shipyard) where she underwent repairs of her bow and came back home to the Elephant Boat Yard better than new sporting her new Spruce mast.
Race History
Race Summary, Historic and Recent results:
1932 & 1934 British American Team Race Cup teams – on the winning team, high scoring boat.
1934 Seawanhaka Cup – winner
1935 One Ton Cup – runner up
1935 Very successful racing in Scandinavian regattas
2004 European Championship – Porto Rotundo. 4th Place – 2, 3, DNF, DNS, 3, 3, 3, 3 (rig troubles day 2)
2004 Regates Royales Cannes – 1st – 11 starts, 11 firsts.
2004 San Tropez – 1st Classic 6mR
2005 Worlds Sandham – 12th – 5, 30(DNF), 30(DNS), 3, 3, 12, 3 Very fast at Sandham. Spreader failure put her out of contention.
2007 Worlds Cowes – 6th – 10, 8, 5, 2, 5, 12, 5
2007 World Cup Rule 2 winner and Baum & Koenig Trophy winner.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
- Owner/Guardian: (1931) – Robert Meyer
- Owner/Guardian: (1937) – John S. Lawrence
- Owner/Guardian: – Doug Peterson
Resources
6 Metre Archive. 6metrearchive.org
North American 6 Metre Association. http://www.6mrnorthamerica.com/