Sail Number: 97381
Type: Staysail Schooner
LOA: 70’0″ / 21.33m – LOD: 61’0″ / 18.54m – LWL: 43’4″ / 13.15m – Beam: 13’4″ / 4.04m – Draft: 8’4″ / 2.52m – Displacement: 64,200 lbs / 29182 kg – Ballast: 23,000 lbs / 10,455 kg – Sail Area: 2,026 sq ft / 188.30 sq.m.) – Original Owner: Horace Merwin, New York Banker – Original Home Port: – Year Launched: June, 16, 1930 – Designed by: John G. Alden – Design No. : 0458 – Built by: Dauntless Shipyard in Essex, Connecticut – Hull Material: Wood – Owner’s Website: schoonerdauntless.com
Historical:
Dauntless was designed by John G. Alden (design #458). She was launched at the Dauntless Shipyard in Essex, Connecticut on the 16th of June, 1930. In that same year she participated in the Newport to Bermuda Race alongside the schooners; Rose of Sharon, Curlew and Teragram – all of which she still sails against, with the exception of Teragram.
Paul Plotts owner of 38 years
“From the very start Dauntless was vigorously campaigned. She participated not only in races in San Diego but did a dozen or more in the Newport to Ensenada races,” Plotts explained. “In 1985 she raced in the Ancient Mariners Race to Maui and again in 1991 where we cruised the islands for three months. The classic McNish races out of Channel Island Harbor were a yearly event not to be missed. Immediately after the race we would spend a week cruising in the Channel Islands with a new anchorage every night.
“For a number of years we have taken the boat to San Francisco to race in the Master Mariners Race established in the 1850s,” Plotts continued. “We race with up to 70 other old classics on San Francisco Bay in 25-30 knots of breeze. Schooner Dauntless holds the elapsed time record for the course.”
Provenance. (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner: Horace Merwin, New York
Owner: Paul Plotts.
