Wartime designation: (CGR-2529)
Type: Auxiliary Gaff Schooner (After Cockpit)
LOA: – LOD: 57’2” / 17.42m – LWL: 42’5” / 12.93m – Beam: 14’2″ / 4.32m – Draft: 7’8”/ 2.34m – Designer: John G. Alden (No. 267) – Original Owner: Henry Burrall Anderson, New York, NY. – Current Owner: – Year Launched: 1926 – Built by: C.A. Morse & Son, Thomaston, ME. – Hull material: Wood – Working Sail Area: 1,615 square feet – Downwind Sail Area: – Displacement: 53,000 lbs / 24,040 kg – Ballast: – Engine:
Historical:
Auxiliary gaff schooner Trade Wind was designed by John G. Alden for the 1926 Bermuda Race. She was built for Henry B. Anderson of New York, N.Y., by C.A. Morse & Son in Thomaston, Maine in 1926. One sister ship Nicomor (later named Pinta) was built in 1926 as 267-B. The 267’s lines were drawn by long time John G. Alden architect Clifford P. Swaine in July 1925.
WWII Wartime Service (CGR 2529)
Mr. Learoyd enlisted in the United States Coast Guard (possibly Coast Guard Reserve) in the spring of 1942. Due to some prior military service and his sailing experience, he was immediately made a Chief Bosun’s Mate (E7). Mr. Learoyd then skippered the “Trade Wind,” as part of the Coastal Picket Patrol Fleet. Trade Wind was given the wartime designation CGR 2529, and was on U-boat patrol out of Camden Maine in 1942.
Mr. Learoyd would occasionally talk about his WW II experience on Trade Wind. His son recalls that his father and his crew did five days out and two days in, as his mother mentioned he would be home a couple of days a week. Trade Wind sailed out of Belfast, ME, although may have been out of Gloucester, MA at times. His son remembers his father mentioning that they often worked with a blimp or dirigible, either which could carry a couple of depth charges. As far as his son recalls I know they never spotted a U-boat, but did participate in some rescues.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Notable Guest, and Reunion Information):
- Owner/Guardian: (1926) Henry Burrall Anderson, New York, NY. Principle in New York law firm, Anderson, Howland and Murray. Clients included Harold S. Vanderbilt, railroad executive, champion yachtsman and great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. In addition to advising Cornelius, was counsel for the City of New York.
- Captain: (1926-Bermuda Race) Henry Hill Anderson
- Navigator: (1926-Bermuda Race) Edward O. McConnell
- Owner/Guardian: (August 1975) Schooner, Inc., Homeport New Haven Harbor, a nonprofit organization, In 1975, four men (and the greater New Haven community) began Schooner Inc. It’s first goal – restore a 57-foot ship, Trade Wind, to sail Long Island Sound bringing attention to Long Island Sound and its plight. At a time when the Clean Water Act (1972) was starting to make a difference in the waters across the nation, Schooner was modeled after folk singer, Pete Seeger’s Clearwater. Original Board President, Ralph Halsey, explained to “use the Sound region as its living laboratory. [We] are developing school, civic, and member programs for use onboard Trade Wind to directly involve thousands of people in the sailing and research experience each year from April to November.”
- Captain: (1975) Alan Burnett
Resources
Charlie Learoyd
John G. Alden Database
John G. Alden and His Yacht Designs (Robert W. Carrick, Richard Henderson · 1983)
The Rudder ( Volume 42 – Page 14, Thomas Fleming Day · 1926)
New York Times article “A Schooner,” by Diane Henry (April 24, 1977.)
Daytonian in Manhattan (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)
Sea History 007 – (Spring 1977)
AARP (New Haven CT) Schooner, Inc.