Sail Number: US 24
Type: 12 Meter (Third Rule AC)
Valiant Specifications:
LOA: 64’5″ / 19.63m – LWL: 47’7″ / 14.53m – Beam: 12’0″ / 3.66m – Draft: 9’0” / 2.76m – Hull Number: 1978 – Designer: Olin J. Stephens – Original Owner: 12 US/24 Syndicate – Current Owner: Paul G. Gregory III, Homeport: Marblehead, MA – Year Launched: May 1970 – Built By: Robert E. Derecktor Yacht Yard, Inc. – Hull Material: Triple-planked mahogany, laminated oak frames – Gross Displacement: 32.35 t. – Sail Area: 1,754.51 sq ft / 163 sq.m.
Historical:
1970-1972
Valiant was commissioned by Robert W. McCullough of the 12 US/24 Syndicate, her first homeport was New York, NY. She was one of the “jumbo twelves” and the heaviest ever built. She was eliminated from the 1970 Defender Trials by Intrepid, but won the Lipton Memorial Trophy (NYYC) that year.
1973-1989
She was owned by Brown University (Providence, RI) in 1973 and in 1973 she went to the Kings Point USMMA at Kings Point NY where she served as the trial horse to Mariner for the 1974 Defender Trials. In 1978, she was purchased by William Edwards of St. Petersburg FL, who installed an engine. From 1988-1989 she was owned by Charles W. Kem of Long Beach, CA.
Since 1989 Paul G. Gregory III – home port: Marblehead, MA (USA). He has done several modifications to improve successfully the yacht performances including several tests to discover why Valiant was performing better on port tack than starboard; he discovered that the lead in the ballast keel was asymmetric and its modification, and others more, improved her performance.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1970) 12 US/24 Syndicate
Owner/Guardian: Brown University (Providence, RI)
Owner/Guardian: (1973) USMMA, Kings Point NY
Owner/Guardian: (1978) William Edwards, St. Petersburg FL
Owner/Guardian: (1988-1989) Charles W. Kern, Long Beach, CA.
Owner/Guardian: (1989-) Paul G. Gregory III, Homeport: Marblehead, MA.
CHARLES W. KERN Not KEM. His wife was our maid of honor.