William Fife III VIOLA

Historical:

Viola a combination of old growth timbers crafted as only the men from Fairlie knew best, the Stradivarius of her day.

VIOLA was built in 1908 by William FIFE at the FAIRLIE (SCOTLAND) shipyards. Her original registration at GLASGOW is No. 53/1908. She was again registered at GLASGOW under number 39/1934, with the installation of a fixed engine. Her REGISTRED BRITISH SHIP OFFICIAL NUMBER is 128198. VIOLA is to date French owned under the number 7684/3220 and measured by the French services in August 1992, and was classified as a historical monument, 12 June 1993.

William FIFE the Scotsman had grace. His ships built at the dawn of this century, on the banks of the Clyde, defy time and now embody a form of eternal aesthetic….

The history of Viola began with her first owner Thomas M. Hunter, who kept her for nearly twenty-six years. She remained in Glascow, was motorized in 1926. In 1965, after a couple of short stewardships, she changed ownership to Mickael E. Thomas and he based her in Swanick, and removed her engine in 1969. Peter Graves buys Viola in 1972, and installs a new DUCATI engine in 1976. Mickael Owen acquires VIOLA in 1977, unfortunately, he was not able to enjoy her for a long time, since he dies 3 years later. His wife, Eliete, nevertheless retains her husband’s yacht, which was anchored on the river Orwel, about 100 kilometers north-east of London. Ten years later, she remembers her husband’s great unfinished project. With her daughter and skipper she undertakes a one-year cruise from Brighton via Gibraltar, the south of Spain, the Canaries and Madeira, then along the south coast of England, between Brighton and Cornwall.

“VIOLA had sailed beautifully and was admired everywhere,” she wrote in 1993 to Dominique.

Twentieth owner in title of VIOLA – 12.75 meters of classic beauty built in 1908 – Yvon repeats willingly that he feels as much depositary as owner of his sailboat: “I am not the skipper, I am the keeper, her guardian,” says this Vendean entrepreneur who loves beautiful things. I fell in love with her. “His predecessor, the Paimpolais of ADEPAR and especially Dominique, had the same passion for the beautiful Viola.” When we sold the boat, I did not want to keep anything, “he says. – as we are talking about a sentimental tearing together with the other members of the association that organized the PAIMPOL Marine Song Festival, He reminisced for a while the dream of reviving the yacht regattas at PAIMPOL At the beginning of the century, under the auspices of the local nautical society, the third to be created in France was in 1854. VIOLA was to be the project’s charming ambassador. “We found her in Dover. In sailing conditions and rigged her as a marconi, “says Dominique, under the canvas, engraved on the bow, the dragon of the fife, love at first sight: VIOLA crosses the sleeve, long keel, small freeboard, long elegant vault, VIOLA has all the attributes of the Fife legacy. This now French cutter, built of oak, fir and mahogany is a fine example, which William Fife launched for himself, a quasi sister-ship, Sheervra, today in Italy.

In the meantime, the Paimpolais project is falling apart, VIOLA has become a French historical monument in 1993 and has once again changed its port of call, heading to Ile d’Yeu. “We have made our contribution to the work by having the original rigging and the sails completely rebuilt,” commented a disappointed Dominique, but relieved to have given VIOLA to the right person. “Yvon has beautifully completed the work. She is participating in the traditional sailboat regattas of the Bois de la Chaise, in Noirmoutier. Yvon is thinking of acquiring an old yacht. An advertisement soon puts him on the VIOLA track. The magic fife sails, but does not alter the pragmatism Vendéen. “VIOLA is of modest size, so ease of handling and maintenance. The ideal size in my opinion …” Case concluded, the boat returns in early 1997 to complete a makeover. Hull, bridge, accommodation, everything is restored to new in the initial spirit. For six months, the owner is every weekend in St Malo.

Known Racing History:

1999: 12th of the Atlantic Classic Challenge
2000: 1st of CCA
2nd of the Coupe des 3 Phares, the Classic Escape of Quiberon & the Pavois Classic
Winner of Falmouth Classic and Bouvet Ladubay Cup
2001: 3rd of the CCA
Winner of La Charente Classique
2002: 6th of the CCA
Winner of La Classique du Pavois
2003: 7th CCA
5th of Fife Regatta Fairlie (Scotland)
2004: 3rd of the Sails of St Tropez
Fairplay Prize at the Royal Regatta Cannes
2006: 9th of the CCA.
3rd of La Rochelle Classic Week
2007: 14th of the CCA
Winner of La Classique du Pavois
2008: 15th of the CCA
Winner of La Rochelle-Yeu Centenary Regatta
2009: 31st of the CCA
2010: 30 th of the CCA
Winner of La Classique du Pavois
2013: 17th of CCMA, Winner of Appetizer and 3rd of Regatta Fairlie (Scotland)

Restoration

1996 – Raymond Labbé shipyard, Saint-Malo, France
2000 – Shipyard Candela La Rochelle

Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):

Owner/Guardian: (1908-1934) Thomas M. Hunter, Glasgow
Owner/Guardian: (1934) Arnold R. Lapthorn, Lee-on-Solent. Hants.
Owner/Guardian: (1943) Executors of Arnold R Lapthorn (died 10/10/1940)
Owner/Guardian: (1943) Harold A. Russell, London
Owner/Guardian: (1944) Lt Cdr William B. Luard, RN, Falmouth, Cornwall
Owner/Guardian: (1944) Brigadier Francis E Spencer, Stoke Fleming, Devon, and Colonel Richard A. Spencer, Guildford, Surrey, joint owners
Owner/Guardian: (1945) Hugh Ruttledge, London
Owner/Guardian: (1945) Group Captain John D’Arcy Keary, RAF, London
Owner/Guardian: (1948) Frank H. Robinson, Exeter, Devon
By 1963 Waller Trust Ltd., Finchley, London.(Not mentioned in BT110/1979/11)
Owner/Guardian: (1965) Richard S. Pollock, Old Windsor, Berkshire
Owner/Guardian: (1965) A H. Moody & Sons Ltd, Southampton
Owner/Guardian: (1965) Michael E. Thomas, London
Owner/Guardian: (1969) Jean M. Schaerer, London & White Plains, New York. USA, (VIOLA- Glasgow – Home port, Woolverstone)
Owner/Guardian: (1972) Peter R. Graves, London
Owner/Guardian: (1977) Michael D. Owen, Brighton, Sussex
Owner/Guardian: (1981) Mrs Eliete F. Owen, Brighton, widow of M D Owen who died 09/05/1980
Owner/Guardian: (1991) Mark R. Williams, Dorking, Surrey
who then asked for Registry to be closed
Owner/Guardian: (1992) – ADEPAR
Owner/Guardian: The association of the Song of Sailors Festival of Paimpol in order to reinvigorate the classic pleasure in North Brittany
Owner/Guardian: Yvon Rautureau
Owner/Guardian: Kostia Belkin

Resources:

Viola Website
Clyde ships – Scottish Built Ships, the History of Shipbuilding in Scotland.