Author: admin

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.

Historical:

VIGILANT was one of Uffa’s early ventures into keelboat design. Built in 1930, she is based on the 22 Square Metre Skerry Cruiser rules. She is of very light construction, so much so that the Q Class which raced on the Solent refused to allow her to compete.

Compared to the international 6 meter yacht, Vigilant is of about the same size, with half of the sail area, and half the displacement.

Uffa cruised Vigilant to Sweden to race in the Royal Swedish Yacht Club Centenary Races at Stockholm. He did not excel in the racing there, possibly because his racing experience had largely been in dinghies.

Restoration:

Vigilant was partly restored in the 1970s when her cabin was extended to provide better accommodation but was then laid up in 1975. She was rediscovered in Loddon, Norfolk by Andrew Thornhill who spent from 1990 to 1994 bringing her back almost to her original condition. Today she is part of the International Sailing Craft Association (ISCA) Maritime Museum’s fleet based at Lowestoft from where she has visited events as far apart as the Clyde and Solent.

She was one of the stars of the show at the Uffa Fox Centenary Regatta in 1998.

The boat is recorded in Uffa’s 1934 book Sailing

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

Guardian: (1930) – Uffa Fox
 

Historical:

In 1932 Hull number 94, was purchased by Joe and Rose Kennedy as a present for their son Jack’s fifteenth birthday. The “Victura,” latin for “about to conquer,” would become the Kennedy Family’s favorite boat. With a draft of 2.5 feet, with the centerboard up, the Wiannos could easily sail over most shoats, but still had to be sailed with caution around Nantucket Sounds shallowest spot Horseshoe Shoals at 6″

With a graceful low shear the Wianno Seniors were very “wet” boats. Racing the Wianno meant never finishing a race in dry clothes. Former Iowa Sen. John Culver, Harvard classmate of Wianno sailor Ted Kennedy, so eloquently and humorously describes his first sail over to Nantucket on “Victura” (discussion on Wianno experience starts one minute and eight seconds into the video)

The Victura was a lucky boat having been struck by lightning in 1936, rescued from ruin by John F. Kennedy as he dragged it onto a beach during the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, and escaped ruin in December 2003 when a fire swept through the Crosby Yacht Yard in Osterville, Massachusetts, destroying an estimated 50 yachts, but sparing the wooden sloop once owned by the 35th President of the United States. Victura now resides safely ensconced at the John F. Kennedy Library Museum from May to November, and at the Crosby Yacht Yard during New England’s long winters.

Two boat yards are still building Wianno Seniors. Crosby Yacht Yard, Inc. in Osterville, Massachusetts, and Shaw Yacht, Inc, in Thomaston, Maine. About 200 Wianno Seniors have been built. Hull numbers through 173 were wooden boats; subsequent boats are being built of fiberglass. Hull number 222 was launched in 2011 by Crosby Yacht. Several hull numbers were omitted in the sequence.

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

Owner/Guardian: (1932) Joseph P. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy
Owner/Guardian: Edward M. Kennedy Family

References:

The Founding 14 – The Legacy of the Wianno Senior – Website

James W. Graham – Author of Victura: the Kennedys, a Sailboat, and the Sea. – A communications and public affairs professional for a major-brand retailer, was a senior adviser to former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and the Illinois House of Representatives. He races and cruises his sailboat Venturous out of Wilmette Harbor, north of Chicago.

Osterville Historical Museum – Executive Director Jennifer Williams

The Barnstable Patriot – Reporter Susan Vaughn

Photo Credit: Bob Schutz, July 30, 1961.

Photo/Video Credit: JFK Presidential Library and Museum

Historical:

Junius Spencer Morgan III, of West Island, Glen Cove, New York, the son of J. P. Morgan, the renowned financier, was instrumental in forming the Victory Class the year after World War I in the fall of 1919. Mr. Morgan did the seemingly impossible feat of inducing twenty yachtsman to come forward and build Victory Class boats. Henry B. Nevins was commissioned to construct the vessels at his Shipyard in City Island N.Y. Launched in May of 1920, the raised fore-deck marconi rigged sloop proved to be a very fast dry capable yacht.

The class was formed to revive the sport of yachting after World War I with an affordable one-design class. They were named Victory-class in tribute to the yachtsmen who participated in World War I. Each boat was originally named after a phase of or reference to the war.

Victory Class Sloop (Original 20)

1. *Ace – Adrian Iselin Jr (World War I flying aces)
2. Alerte – Robert W. Martin (the sound of sirens during air raids) Status lost in Galveston Bay during a storm and was scrapped during Word War II.
3. Blue Devil – Howard Whitney (The 88th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I) Won the 1941 Larchmont Race Week
4. Buddy – Carroll B. Alker
5. Spad – Ex; Dragon – Harold I. Pratt (named in honor of a World War I bi-plane) Was last known to be sailing in Galveston Bay well into the 1970’s.
6. Soixante-Quinze – Swan & Stewart (field gun used in World War I by the American Expeditionary Forces, French for 75) – ex; Avanti
7. Blue Jacket – James B. Ford (The Bluejacket’s Manual is the basic handbook for United States Navy personnel.)
8. Nieuport – R.A. Brown (French bi-plane fighter)
9. A. E. F. E. G. – Potter
10. Otranto – R. B. Meyer (the 1917 Battle of the Strait of Otranto)
11. Arethusa – C. D. Norton (HMS Arethusa was the name ship of her class of eight light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s. She saw a considerable amount of action during the early years of the First World War, participating in the Battle of Heligoland Bight and the Battle of Dogger Bank.)
12. Naviator – F. Trubee Davison
13. Bois de Belleau – F. R. Mayer (the battle of Belleau Wood, June 1918, the most important battle fought by US forces since the US Civil War.)
14. Mongolia (Mongolia) – H. M. Curtis (December 29, 1911 the Mongols declared their independence from the collapsing Qing dynasty following the Xinhai Revolution.) Last known (2019) to be for sale in Portsmouth, RI (Yacht World YW#: 1877-3500670
15. Cantigny – Dr. C. I. Atkinson (The Battle of Cantigny, fought 28–31 May 1918, was the first American battle and offensive of World War I.
16. Black Jack – H. S. Morgan (John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was the general in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces to victory over Germany in World War I, 1917–18.)
17. Mary Rose – Rear Commodore, J. S. Morgan, Jr (HMS Mary Rose, launched on 8 October 1915, was an Admiralty M-class destroyer . sunk on 17 October 1917 approximately 70 miles east of Lerwick while escorting a convoy of 12 merchant ships from Norway.) ex; Flapper
18. Gopher – F. W. Hine
19. Carry-On – Wm. H. Appleton
20. Briquette – John T. Pratt (The compaction of loose combustible material for fuel making purposes, used commonly during World War I.) Status lost in Galveston Bay during a storm and was scrapped during Word War II.

* Ace was originally built for Sherman Hoyt, but Mr. Hoyt was on board Vanitie, so was sold to Mr. Howard L. Curry for his son Gordon Curry

The Victory Class was governed by strict rules, Four persons allowed, but no paid hands. The boats were allowed to be hauled, but once in three-weeks, and not more than 48 hours. One suit of sails a season, and a detailed list of equipment must be carried, and no changes to lead ballast, and spar dimensions.

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

Alerte (Number 2)

Owner/Guardian: (1932) – Commodore Will E. Hamilton, Houston Yacht Club (1937 Chronicle Trophy Winner)
Skipper: Ivan Rader

Spad (Number 5)

Owner/Guardian: (1955) – Lew Mickley (vessel name Dragon)

Mongolia; ex Blue Streak (Number 14)

Owner/Guardian: (1946) – Member of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Port Washington, N.Y.
Owner/Guardian: (1950s) – Michael Hausman Family

Black Jack (Number 16)

Owner/Guardian: (1946) Commodore R.W. Fraser, Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Port Washington, N.Y.

Mary Rose, ex; Flapper (Number 17)

Owner/Guardian: (1945) – Bayard S. Litchfield (New York Yacht Club)
Owner/Guardian: (1946) – W.L. Bosworth (Stratford, CT)

Victory (Number ) 1951

Owner/Guardian: (1951) – Dom Genitempo (Galveston Bay, TX)

Mongolia (Number 14)

Owner/Guardian: Thorpe Leeson
Owner/Guardian: (1984 to 2008) – Lynton Gardiner

Carry -On (Number 19)

Owner/Guardian: W.H. Appleton, N.Y.
Owner/Guardian: H.S. Shonnard, N.Y.Y.C.

Briquette (Number 20)

Skipper: Tommy Lee
Crew: Bob Creech, Slue Robertson, Tommy Lee, Howard Lee, Kirwin Derden

Comments

William Hamilton – August 30, 2015

Anyone know any more about the WWI yachtsmen who were honored by the naming of the 20 yachts? Who were they and why were they honored? My grandfather was the 2nd owner of the Alerte.

Admin – September 1, 2015

Victory Class Sloop (Original 20)
*Ace – Adrian Iselin Jr
. A. E. F. E. G. – Potter
Alerte – Robert W. Martin
 Arethusa – C. D. Norton
 Black Jack – H. S. Morgan
 Blue Devil – Howard Whitney
 Blue Jacket – James B. Ford 
Bois de Belleau – F. R. Mayer
 Buddy – Carroll B. Alker
 Briquette – John T. Pratt
 Cantigney – Dr. C. I. Atkinson
 Carry On – Wm. H. Appleton
 Gopher – F. W. Hine
 Mary Rose – J. S. Morgan, Jr
. Mongolia – H. M. Curtis
 Naviator – F. Trubee Davison
 Nieuport – R.A. Brown
 Otranto – R. B. Meyer
 Soixante-Quinze = Swan & Stewart
 Spad – Harold I. Pratt

* Ace was originally built for Sherman Hoyt, but Mr. Hoyt was on board Vanitie, so was sold to Mr. Howard L. Curry for his son Gordon Curry.

Michael Hausman – July 7, 2017

My family owned blue Streak and raced it in Manhasset Bay in the 1950’s
. Are any still sailing?

Roger Klein – January 15, 2018

I sailed aboard Arethusa in the early 50s on Manhasset Bay She was owned by a Mr. (?) Probst of Great Neck at the time.

Michael Hausman – March 21, 2018

Roger, 
Just saw your response
…Are any of these still afloat in manhasset Bay or up near boston.
they were a great boat.

Tim Hampton – February 12, 2019

Michael,
My great-grandfather owned “Blue Streak” in 1946. I have his 3rd place race trophy while he was a member of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. I also have two photos of “Blue Streak” (V14). I can email you scans if you are interested.
Thanks!

Lynton Gardiner – April 24, 2019

Nice to see this site dedicated to the Victory class sloop.
I owned Mongolia (hull #14, not #15 as indicated on the site) from 1984 to 2008.
I also owned the hulk of Nike, hull #13, for a very brief time in the late 1990s. Nike suffered from serious rot and was too far gone to restore, but I was able to use her excellent original Douglas fir mast, sails, original hardware and other accessories in the restoration of Mongolia.

Over a period of several years Mongolia was fully restored on City Island and she was finally relaunched in 2000. Nat Wilson up in Maine made beautiful new sails and I kept her in Oyster Bay, NY and later in Westport, CT.
With her low freeboard and powerful mailsail, she was a delight to sail especially on a reach. I never tired of her beautiful lines and still miss those happy days of sailing in Long Island Sound.

Lynton Gardiner – April 27, 2019

Thank you classicsailboats for posting the fine update
 on the Victory class. The vintage pictures of Victories under sail are terrific, with
 many views I’d never seen. It’s a special pleasure to see Mongolia
 being enjoyed by previous owners who clearly shared my enthusiasm for her. For any who have interest, I’m happy to share my Victory class experiences and look forward to visiting this site often.

Fair winds,

Lynton Gardiner
, Miami Beach

Alan Butler – December 16, 2019

Hi
, I am trying to find out any information about a “victory’ class sail boat called “Kathleen” once owned by the Governor of Tasmania (Australia) Hugh Binney. Also where would I get a set of class rules, any help would be greatly appreciated.


Regards

Alan

Historical:

Victory was built originally as a fishing boat. Built by the Logan brothers in 1906. Victory was commissioned exactly 100 years after Horatio Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. She was built and launched at Logan Bros’ yard in 1906 for Mr. Jagger who leased her for fishing in the Hauraki Gulf.

“Sinful, ginfull rum-soaked men,
Live for three score years and ten,
But we, perhaps the mighty few,
Stay pickled till we’re ninety-two!”

Victory was a big gaff-cutter, including a gaff-topsail. She was constructed on the three-skin diagonal principle, displacing 7 tons. Victory’s design was based on the well known keelers of the Aukland “snapper fleet,” which set long lines and needed to get back fast to the markets, while their catch was still fresh.

Historical Racing Record

• 29/01/1907 AAR Entrant fishing boat hcp race – 2nd
• 19/11/1909 DYC race to Rakino
• 22/11/1909 DYC race Class A – 3rd
• 26/11/1909 RNZYS 1st race of season entrant
• 14/01/1910 DYC race entry
• 28/01/1910 AAR entry, cruising yacht, line honours
• 31/01/1910 AAR bona fide cruising 3rd
• 3/12/1910 RNZYS race
• 14/01/1911 DYC race Class A
• 28/01/2011 AAR cruising yachts race – 2nd
• 11/02/2011 RNZYS race
• 27/01/1912 AAR bona fide cruising class
• 17/01/14 DYC race
• 24/01/1914 DYC race to Kawau
• 31/01/1914 AAR 2nd class
• 28/03/1914 DYC race
• 28/01/1919 AAR 1st class race – 12 m 1st hcp
• 15/12/1919 NSYC Class1 race – 1m 2nd
• 10/01/1920 RNYS cruising race to Waiwera and Russell
• 30/01/1920 AAR 2nd Class race – scr – 1st line -2nd hcp
• 09/02/1920 won Ingram cup
• 16/02/1920 1st line and hcp NBReg 1st Class race
• 18/09/1920 won NSYC Ingram Cup – allotted to ocean racing
• 22/11/1920 combined race to Matiatia – 2nd hcp RNZYS
• 18/12/1920 RNZYS general hcp race; great tussle with old rival MOANA who beat Victory in by 30 seconds
• 14/02/1921 NSYC Regatta – Class 1 – 1st line 2nd hcp
• 21/02/1921 NSYC Ocean Race; 1st line 5 m hcp; rare dusting on beat back to Matiatia
• 26/02/1921 NYSC Ocean Race; V has ability to go to windward in heavy weather
• 12/03/1921 RNZYC race to Rocky Bay; hard breeze to her liking; beat Iorangi to the Bay by nearly 2 min;Fresh NE; only boat to carry topsail
• 30/04/1921 won 2 first prizes in combined cruising race to Isl Bay; breeze fickle and light
• 11/11/1921 Opening cruising race to Matiatia
• 02/12/1921 NSYC cruising race to Awaro Bay
• 22/12/1921 RNZYS race
• 21/12/1921 Ocean race to Tauranga; carried topsail from the start; soon opened up good lead; 1st line
• 31/01/1922 won 1st class race AAR: AHB 60guinea cup
• 06/03/1922 won NYSC Dunning Cup from scr; went into lead under spinnaker soon after start and lead all the way
• 10/03/1922 NSYC Dunning Cup 1st
• 17/06/1922 win AHB Jubilee Cup; also win Macky Memorial Cup
• 15/01/1923 AYC Dunning Cup; Lady Jellicoe on board; finished well ahead of fleet but beaten on time by VANITIE
• 29/01/23 RNZYS Harbour race – 18m 30 s; sailed by Lord Jellicoe; ARIKI won easily
• 12/01/1923 Akarana YC Dunning Cup entrant – scr
• 30/01/1923 AAR 1st Class yachts – 4th line
• 23/02/1923 NBreg 1st Class yachts race entrant – scr26/02/1923 NBreg 1st Class yachts race entrant – 1st line and hcp10/03/1923 RNZYS Ocean race – 2nd line 5th hcp19/03/1923 RNZYS Cruising race to Matimatia – 9 m – 1st hcp 2nd line16/11/1923 PCC opening day races 9m, 5m; Akarana 4.5m28/01/1926 AAR Heather Cup 1st Class race, 3rd line and hcp29/03/1926 DYC cruising race to Rocky Bay – 2nd22/11/1926 Opening Day A&B Classes – 2nd
• 24/01/1927 8m before start RNZYS Macky Cup struck launch MARORO with bowsprit tearing out 6″ cabin top – retired
• 31/01/1927 AAR A Class race 20m; protest port and stbd by MOANA
• 27/01/1930 AAR entrant A Class race 18m 30s
• 27/01/1930 RNZYS Macky Cup entrant
• 22/03/1930 NB Reg A&B Class race – 2nd
• 1997-1998 Logan Cup 1st & 2nd

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

Owner/Guardian: (1906-1914) – Mr. Jagger
Owner/Guardian: (1914) – Mr. Joe Winter
Owner/Guardian: Mr. T.M. Alexander
Owner/Guardian: Mr. H.H. George
Owner/Guardian: (1965) – Edith George
Owner/Guardian: M.S. Nicholson
Owner/Guardian: (1984) – J.W. Lee
Captain: George Harold