Category: Latest Classic Yacht News

Historical:

International 15-Metre HISPANIA, was designed by William Fife III, built by Karpad de Pasajes of Spain for the Spanish King H.M. Alfonso XIII. With over 4,000 people in attendance she was launched on Monday June 21st 1909, at 1800 hours.

Hispania participated in international regattas and celebrated many a triumph while promoting Spanish bays as one of the world’s main centre stages for sailing and water sports. The First World War interrupted the competitions. In 1916 it was acquired by a Norwegian ship owner and in 1936 it returned to England where it was almost abandoned. The English navy seized her and all the ship’s metal items were removed to be melted as war material. Later it was acquired by an English merchant and used as a floating home in England until 1998.

Her glorious days as a racer and the memory of her royal background slowly vanished as she was cast into oblivion and used as a floating home in England over the last 30 years. When Dr. William Collier, a Classic Yacht historian, and Jonathan Syrett of Camper & Nicholsons International, patron founder and member in charge of the International Relations of the Real Fundación Hispania, sought and found the yacht, she was in an almost deplorable state, with a missing keel and her hull buried in the mud.

Their unique “discovery” was immediately reported to Emilio Espinosa, the President, and José R. Bono, Public Relations and member in charge of Sponsorships, who traveled to the United Kingdom specifically to examine the boat, with the determination of buying, restoring and returning her to Spain for a re-launch on the regatta scenes and assign her the noble duty of training young navigators. This is how a strong urge to rescue the yacht from total ruin cropped up, and eventually HISPANIA was bought, transported to Fairlie Restorations in The Hamble, England, for full hull refit and later returned to Spain for her complete restoration and aesthetic work in Astilleros de Mallorca.

So far eleven long years of struggle and over 3 million euros have been spent on HISPANIA’s reconstruction before introducing her back into society, but her recent public presentation has made every effort worthwhile. HISPANIA’s recovery and revival are now a reality and a valuable achievement for all to share.

The Return of Hispania

On Saturday 18th of August 2007 the Real Fundación Hispania gathered numerous celebrities and guests in a remarkable celebration to praise the true essence of its existence, the return of HISPANIA. Whoever attended the event with a general knowledge of HISPANIA’s background could well observe this was a story of pride, passion and heritage, three ingredients which enhanced the yacht’s natural distinction to an almost sentimental uniqueness.

In a praiseworthy presentation the Real Fundación Hispania guests and attendees finally witnessed the long-awaited re-launch of a fully restored HISPANIA making a glamorous entrance into the Muelle de Golondrinas to a heart-throbbing opera session of Carmina Burana. A well-patterned blend of lights, sounds and performances designed an exhilarating ambience to complement the historical occasion while HISPANIA was escorted towards her audience for appraisal.

In all its sequences the presentation raised a series of emotional moments. Distinguished personalities, devoted seamen, general public and her unconditional saviors joined to share a sole purpose in a symbolic act to honor HISPANIA’s return from Rags to Riches after her several years of costly reconstruction. Throughout the act HISPANIA’s royal roots provided the touch of innate splendor in her general appearance while her magnificent restoration work, illuminating mastery and sacrifice, earned her vigorous applause and profound admiration.

Hispania sails under the harbor of Puerto Sherry which is also its port base and where most of its crew comes from. On board Hispania, there is a crew of 19-20 people very necessary and very trained to handle a surface of sail that can reach 500m2.

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

Owner: (1909) – King H.M. Alfonso XIII

Comments</h3

Christin Castberg Bråthen – May 19, 2021

Hello
You are writing on this page that this beautiful boat was owned by a Norwegian ship owner in a period from 1916. The man was the father of my grandfather, and his name was Jørgen Theodor Stang, called I.B. Stang. I have some photos from my grandmother showing young lucky people. Did You know this? I am living in Norway, and writing a familiy book. I hope it is OK that I use some photos and the description?
Perhaps You want some photos back from me?

Best regards Christin Castberg Bråthen

Sail Number:

Type: Staysail Schooner

LOA: – LOD: 70’8″ / 21.48m – LWL: 50’0″ / 15.20m – Beam: 14’4″ / 4.33m – Draft: 8’6″ / 2.50m – Displacement: 81,600 lbs / 37,091 kg – Ballast: 28,100 lbs / 12,773 kg – Sail Area: 2,242 sq ft / 208.40 sq.m.) – Original Owner: J.R. Miller, Baltimore, MD – Original Home Port: – Year Launched: 1931 -/Designed by: John G. Alden – Design No. : 0456 – Built by: M.M. Davis & Sons, Solomons Island, MD – Hull Material: Wood – Owner’s Website:

Historical:

HIGH TIDE was designed by John G. Aiden for J.R. Miller, Baltimore, MD and built and launched in 1931 by M.M. Davis & Sons, Solomons Island, MD.

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

Owner: 1931 – J.R. Miller, Baltimore, MD
Owner: Eugene Dupont

Historical:

Highland Light, was built by George F. Lawley & Son for Dudley Wolfe for long-distance ocean racing. Launched just weeks before the 1931 Trans-Atlantic race start, where Dorade (charting a bold course far to the north) finished first demolishing a 60-year coarse record, setting in motion the illustrious career of Sparkman & Stephens.

Upon her return trip from Europe Highland Light became the first boat to complete the Bermuda Race in less than 3 days (25 minutes less, in fact, averaging 8.8 knots) under charter to her designer, Frank C Paine, who reputedly always had a soft spot for her.

Wolfe was lost while trying to conquer the summit of K2 in the Himalayas in 1939. The estate of Dudley Wolfe donated the boat with a large maintenance fund in 1940 to the US Naval Academy Annapolis for sail training. President Roosevelt accepted the gift via U.S. Congressional Bill 3098 and Highland Light became USS Highland Light, Naval Ship IX-48, performing in U.S. east coast and Bermuda races. As part of the sail training program, many midshipmen

WWII service

Awards: American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal – 2 awards

Following her bequest to the Annapolis Naval College, Highland Light was raced and sailed heavily, including entry to every Bermuda Race until 1958, generally performing well in her class and becoming beloved by many a Navy-man that passed through the college. Among these sometimes fledgling sailors and voyagers were future Apollo astronauts, Jim Lovell and Wally Schirra as well as Admiral Halsey, while some recount that every US President between 1933 and 1953 had been entertained aboard.

Provenance. (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Notable Guest, and Reunion Information):

Owner: (1931) – (1940) Dudley Francis Cecil Wolfe
Owner: (1940) – (1965) Annapolis Naval Academy

Historical:

Has cruised the four corners of the world, including the Amazon, Alaska, New Zealand, Madagascar, Greenland, Spitsbergen and the South Pacific.

Known Racing History:

The Super Yacht Cup and the Spirit of Tradition Class of the Rolex Maxi Worlds

Known Restoration History:

2011 by Southampton Yacht Services.

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

Owner Guardian: Private

Historical:

SailingYachtHelena.com – Helena, a 64ft LOA Bermudan Cutter was launched in Devon, England in the summer of 2018 after the completion of her build which spanned a decade and more.

Her modern classic design, which incorporates her owners ideal blend of Fife, Mylne and Herreshoff, was one of the last designs to leave the drawing board of the late great Ed Burnett; A Yacht Designer renowned for elegant, luxurious and fast craft, Ed’s designs were described by Classic Boat as “the best in the world for what we might call contemporary traditional design”. Collaborating with Howard Swift of Yealmbridge Yachts in Devon, they set about designing a craft to fulfil the dreams of owner and builder Mike Ludgrove.

The whole project was overseen by Mike who conceptualised the idea of this modern classic sailing yacht and headed up the team of craftsmen who brought Helena into being, making every inch of her by hand, in his own workshop in Devon. The uncompromising manner in which Helena has been designed and built results in a vessel of classic timeless beauty, enormous strength and seaworthiness, and exceptional onboard comfort. She has also proven to be a boat capable of exhilarating speed, and an adept passage making go-anywhere blue water yacht.

Going back a few years, the story involves Mike learning his craft at Lyme Regis Boatbuilding Academy, building a classic clinker lugger followed up by a modern racing boat, and then finally committing to build Helena following design meetings with Burnett and Swift. The build then moved swiftly through to the completion of the hull, but the decks, the beautiful interior fit out, the hand crafted spars and the hand made stainless fittings took much longer.

Eventually the build swallowed up all of the original budget and more, and the difficult decision was taken to crowdfund the completion, which included sails and final launch costs. The process attracted great interest and was a runaway success resulting in numerous supporters being able to purchase day sails and weekend trips prior to launch. Significantly the publicity also attracted a larger investment, plus incredibly generous support from suppliers such as Naturalmat, a Devon based supplier of fine organic cotton soft furnishing and Hyde Sails who provided the beautiful cream classic cut sails at greatly reduced cost purely out of support for the project and a belief in fulfilling a dream.

Today Helena is cruising in Greece, or Italy, or possibly making a trip to the Azores or Antigua Classics, you decide, you can now become part of the story by having her to yourself for your own adventure. Just contact our Charter Agents and let them help you fulfil your own dreams.

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

Owner Guardian: (2018) – Mike Ludgrove