Sail Number: US-43
Type: 6 mR Class
LOA: 37′ O” / 11.27m – LOD: 37′ O” / 11.27m – LWL: 22′ 9″ / 6.93m – Beam: 6′ 0″ / 1.82m – Draft: 5′ 6″ / 1.67m – Displacement: 10,000 Lbs. – Designer: Clinton Crane – Year Built: 1930 – Built to: Rule 2 – Hull: Mahogany Planking on Steam Bent Oak Frames – Builder: Nevis Yacht Yard, City Island, N.Y. – Original Owner: George Ferguson – Current Owner: Greg Stewart and Mike Thomas – Home Port: San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, CA – Rig: 1934 updates to the Rule – Sail Area:
Historical:
Sprig – Reference to the Sprig duck that has a distinctive pintail was designed by Clinton H. Crane in 1930 and built by the Nevis Yacht Yard, City Island, N. Y. for Robert Smith of St. Louis, MO. Built to Rule 2, with her rig later modified by S&S in the mid 30’s to take advantage of the 1934 updates to the Rule.
Between the wars off Oyster Bay, N.Y., the international racing scene in the 6 Metre class were closely followed by the press, having drawn some of the best sailors to Long Island’s North Shore.
Sprig was a very fast boat, and during her inaugural year, should have been on the American international team for the British-American Cup trials in 1930. “Take me, take my boat,” and ultimatum that Sherman Hoyt gave the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club’s selection committee. Sprig’s owner Robert Smith was willing to lend his boat to Hoyt, but the committee yielded and Hoyt’s boat Aphrodite was chosen. Aphrodite contributed nothing to the success of the American team, and Smith quit the Seawanhaka scene, and never raced in the East again.
Under Greg Stewart/Mike Thomas Owner/Guardianship
Owners Greg Stewart and Mike Thomas put in a tremendous amount of work to make ‘Sprig’ as beautiful now as she ever has been. She carries her original 3 spreader, 1 jumper rig and bright finish boom. Besides being taken down to bare wood inside and out, Sprig received full length epoxy soaked e-glass splines.This method has been successfully employed for 20 years by many Pacific Coast (PC) Class boats in San Diego. She has 3 cockpits and not even the helmsman gets a seat. Sprig traveled to Seattle in 2001 and 2002 and was always in the hunt. She placed second in the 2002 Lipton Cup and 4th in the 2002 North Americans. Sprig is very active in the San Diego Ancient Mariner events and is based at San Diego Yacht Club. Sprig received a new deck and other refurbishment and was relaunched in October 2005. Sprig is the most far-flung member of the Puget Sound Six Meter Association and recently competed at the 2009 World Cup in Newport, Rhode Island. In order to qualify for the Baum + Koenig Trophy at the 2009 Worlds, Sprig ordered a full suit of Dacron sails to replace her modern versions. She ended 13th of 24 and took home the KSSS trophy for the highest placing Rule 1 or 2 (unmodified keel) boat at the Worlds.
Known Racing History:
2015 – 6mR Invitational Regatta – St. Francis Yacht Club – Rule 2 Winner
2009 – World Cup in Newport – Rule 1 and 2 Winner
2002 – San Diego Yacht Club’s Opening Day Inspection – Best Maintained Classic Boat
2001 – San Diego Yacht Club’s Opening Day Inspection – Best Maintained Classic Boat
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1930) Robert Smith, St. Louis
Owner/Guardian: Rev. George Ferguson
Owner/Guardian: (1942) Elmer J. “Bud” Doyle, Buffalo, N.Y., Youngstown Yacht Club Syndicate.
Owner/Guardian: Greg Stewart and Mike Thomas