B.B. Crowninshield FAME

Photo Credit: Willard B. Jackson

Sail Number:

Vessel Type: Schooner

FAME Specifications:

LOA: 45”0″ / 13.72m – LOD: 40’0″ / 12.19m – LWL: 30’0″ / 9.14m – Beam 8’1′ / 2.46m – Draft 5’8” / 1.72m – Hull Number: – Designer: BB Crowninshield (MIT class of 1889, Harvard University 1890) – Original Owner: Bowdoin Bradlee Crowninshield – Year Built: July 12, 1910 – Built By: Rice Brothers, East Boothbay Maine – Hull Material: Wood (cedar planking on white-oak frames) – Gross Displacement: 12,500 lbs – Ballast: 5000 Sail area : 786 sq/ft. – Former name(s):

 

History:

B.B. Crowninshield “The Largest and Fastest Boat I could handle and take care of alone; one that would lie quietly at the mooring with sails up; a strong, light and comfortable boat in a seaway.”

Sister vessel to the Fifty Foot 1925 Schooner Fortune.

Schooner FAME was designed in 1910, by B.B. Crowninshield of the prominent Crowninshield family, as his personal yacht. FAME was moored off of his estate, Peach’s Point, Marblehead, MA.

FAME spent her early years in Massachusetts, before being sold to new owners in Chicago. Ninety years on the Great Lakes, dominating the racing scene for several decades. Numerous perpetual trophies named after Fame are on display in yacht clubs in Chicago

In 2009 Fame was purchased by Americas Cup winning skipper, Dennis Conner

Fame was shipped to San Diego where she underwent a complete restoration by Koehler Kraft, San Diego, in under 100 days in time to celebrate her centennial birthday.

Fame is equipped with a traditional wooden gaff rig and two sets ofsails (heavy and light) along with various top sails and spars. She is currently carrying a modern aluminum rig with roller furling, with a large and a small mainsail, staysail, foresail, plus 3 asymmetrical spinnakers. B&G electronics.

 

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

Owner/Guardian: (1910-1914) Bowdoin Bradlee Crowninshield, Peach’s Point, Marblehead, MA.
Owner/Guardian: (1914-1918) Crowninshield sold Fame during World War I
Owner/Guardian: (1918-1920) Bowdoin Bradlee Crowninshield
Owner/Guardian: (1920-1925) Benjamin Carpenter, Jr., Chicago
Owner/Guardian: (1925) Theodore “Ted” M. Dunlap in partnership with Fred W. Weston. Lake Michigan
Owner/Guardian: (1990s) Ray Kazas and Gint Karaitus (bought at auction)
Owner/Guardian: (2009) Dennis Conner
Owner/Guardian: (Sept 2022- current) Todd Feinroth (Port Townsend, WA)

 

 

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