Sail Number: 15
Vessel Type: Gaff Cutter
Fife “Nan of Fife” Specifications:
LOA: 81.85′ / 24.94m – LOD: 63.15′ / 19.24 – LWL: 44.19′ / 13.46m – Beam: 11.58′ / 3.52m – Draft: 8.53′ / 2.59m – Displacement: – Hull Number: – Rig: Gaff Cutter – Designer: William Fife III – Built by: William Fife & Son – Built for: Thomas Burrowes – Current owner: Philippe Menhinick (1998) – Year Built: 1896 – Homeport: Cannes
Historical
“Nan” is the oldest William Fife designed yacht still sailing today.
Launched in 1896, two years before the famous “Pen Duick” by Eric Tabarly, “Nan” is one of the many yachts built by the FIFE family.
The 28 year old William Fife III, known as FIFE Junior (1857-1944), who, as the head of the family business in 1885, designed and built “Nan” in Fairlie, a small Scottish port located some 40 km from Glasgow.
“Nan” was commissioned by Thomas Burrowes, an Irishman who already owned several sailboats. “Nan” is the older brother of the fabulous yachts designed by William Fife Junior and the oldest Fife plan sailing to date.
In 1998, Philippe Menhinick found “Nan”, his grandfather’s boat and began restoration in September 1999. It was then that a difficult but enthusiastic adventure began: to revive this large classic yacht of over 100 years
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner: (1896) – Thomas Burrowes
Owner: (1948-1952) – G.H.Menhinick
Owner: (1998) – Philippe Menhinick
Dear Philippe,
I came across your website, when I found that NAN was still in existence following links for the Fife boats in the Cowes Harbour Handbook 2023-2024 and the Richard Mille Cup notification having just completed Cowes Week in my small Beneteau. I am the great grandson of Thomas Cosby Burrowes of Lismore Lodge Co Cavan Ireland, the house that I grew up in. I have a few photographs of that time, if that is of interest to you. kind regards
Charles