Sail Number: ITA 12736
Type: Sloop
LOA: 90’0″ / 27.43m – LOD: 90’0″ / 27.43m – LWL: 71’10 / 21.67m – Beam: 21’05 / 6.55m – Draft: 9′ 02 – 12’08 / 2.80m – 3.90m – Displacement: 120,000lbs – Sail Area: 4,050 sq ft – Hull material: Wood construction – Designer: King – Built by: Renaissance Yachts, Maine – Year Built: 1983 – Current Name: Whitefin – Original Owner: Phil Long – Owners Website: whitefin.it – FLAG: Malta (MT) – Location: FleetMon
Historical:
Whitefin was the second commission by Bruce King for Phil Long of Hollywood California and Camden Maine. Upon completion of design work, Renaissance Yachts was formed to build Whitefin on the grounds of Phil’s new home in Camden, Maine. It was here that construction began on the tennis courts of its owner.
Whitefin was built cold molded with West System technology of multiple plies. A total of six layers were vacuumed bagged together. An inner layer of 3/4″ tongue-and-grooved white cedar, four layers of 1/4″ white cedar, and an outer layer of Port Orford cedar to a total thickness of 2 1/4″. The 1/4″ layers are diagonal and the others fore-and-aft. Laminated black locust serves for the stern, keelson, horn timber and floors. Deck beams are seven-piece laminations, two outer layers of locust and five inner ones of cedar. The cabin soles and the counters are of yew, and the trim in Honduras mahogany. Baltek balsa-cored paneling is used in non-structural areas, and in the area of the mast is a massive ring frame.
Whitefin’s keel was optimized at the Davisson Laboratory of Stevens Institute. She has a removable neutral buoyancy shoe which lowers the draft for deep water cruising, or reducing drag for downwind races.
The Launching
After completion, it was time to transport Whitefin from Camden to Rockport via Russell Avenue past Aldermere Farms and the Belted Galloways. Then on to Central Street, Main Street, Pascal Avenue, and finally to Rockport Maine’s most famous past resident….Andre the seal and his proving grounds at Rockport Marine Park.
A beautiful scenic short drive, but nearly a day in tow with powerlines, trees and numerous other obstacles, including the steep road down to the launching site.
A Date With Destiny
Whitefin real mission was to beat Whitehawk, for undisclosed reasons. Shortly after launching Whitefin headed south down Penobscot Bay, past the Cape and through the Nantucket Shoals in time for the 3rd weekend in August race. Tee-shirts with “We Eat Hawk Meat” were cleverly hidden. Although she had some technical problems during her encounter with the “Hawk” in the 1983 Opera’s House Cup Race off Nantucket, Massachusetts, Whitefin did take line honors, but Whitehawk won the overall corrected title for the win.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1983) – Phil Long
Owner/Guardian: Pasquale Natuzzi
Owner/Guardian: Alfredo Canessa