Historical:

In 1927 Bob Prothero and Ernest McDonald opened the Prothero & McDonald Boat Company in a floating seaplane hangar, and Frank Prothero came aboard as shop foreman in 1930. In 1931 the brothers built for their own use the 42-foot schooner Allure, which they later sold to Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984), an Olympic swimming Gold Medalist also known for playing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ ape man Tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Prothero & McDonald Boat Company was on the west side of Lake Union, at 2046 Westlake Drive W., where the Electric Boat Company is today: see the site from the air on Google Here

Tarzan, My Father” by Johnny Weissmuller, Jr

“Almost every weekend, he [Johnny] raced his Allure to Catalina Island against Humphrey Bogart in his Santana and Errol Flynn in his Sirocco. All three would bet on the outcome. On one of these excursions, after they had anchored at Catalina, Dad went aboard the Sirocco to collect money from Flynn, who had lost the race. Errol was drunk and belligerent. The Sirocco had a small, old-fashioned cannon mounted on her bow — the kind that had a fuse at the touchhole — and Flynn pointed this cannon at Johnny’s boat, took the cigar from his mouth, and lit the fuse, muttering, ‘I’ll sink you, you sumbitch!’ Johnny ran over and kicked the muzzle upwards (it was actually a tiny thing, mounted on a swivel, so he’s lucky he didn’t break his foot), and the two men stood there in awe as the cannonball shot straight up in the air and then descended vertically. It missed them by a scant few feet and dropped cleanly through the upper deck of the Sirocco. After a few seconds, Flynn burst into uproarious laughter. The cannonball was not the explosive kind, and the boat was rafted up, so there was no danger of her sinking, but even so it could have been a disaster.”

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

Owner/Guardian: (1931) Prothero & McDonald Boat Company
Owner/Guardian: (1935) – Johnny Weissmuller – renamed Allure to Santa Guadalupe, in honor of his wife Lupe. Divorced in 1939, changed vessel name SANTA GUADALUPE back to ALLURE, official number 231002.
Actor: Errol Flynn
Actor: John Wayne
Actor: Humphrey Bogart
Actor: David Niven
Owner/Guardian: Guy S. Folsom
Owner/Guardian: Adam Weissmuller

Historical:

In 1935, when the New York Yacht Club was looking for boats to replace the 1905 “Thirties” designed by N.G. Herreshoff, their requirements included blue water seaworthiness in addition to grace and quickness. Olin Stephens and the Nevins Yacht Yard met the challenge, beating out competing designs by Alden and Nicholas Potter (the CAL 32). Twenty boats were built, with Olin Stephens specifying oak frames (1 5/8″ on 8″ centers), heavy Philippine mahogany planking, and a low, solid deck house, all without sacrificing speed or beauty. Originally priced at $11,000, the New York 32’s have stood the test of time, with about two-thirds of the original fleet still sailing.

In Olin Stephen’s words “We set out to design a good cruiser/racer with good all-around form, guided by the lines of Dorade, Stormy Weather and Edlu, and emphasized seaworthiness rather than around-the-mark agility.”

Historical:

Sandeman – Named after one of the brightest of stars ALTAIR’s near mythical status in the classic yacht world is all for very good reason – this yacht has become the standard bearer for the cause of authenticity since her landmark restoration in 1987.

William Fife III may have saved his best until last. Commissioned as an ocean going cruising boat for the southern seas and her designer’s last big boat, Fife could not help but create a blend of breathtaking beauty; fast safe and totally capable.

ALTAIR built by William Fife & Sons at Fairlie as yard number 789, was launched in May 1931. She was effectively a descendent of the famous fleet of big yachts that had revitalized schooner racing around the turn of the 19th century – William Fife’s own CICELY and SUZANNE having been notable members of that fleet. More specifically, ALTAIR’s origins lie in her first owner Captain H. MacCaw’ desire for “a sound, safe cruiser; safe to go to the South Sea Islands with no difficulty’ thus expressed in his brief to William Fife in 1929.

In the event the elderly MacCaw never undertook the world voyage he had planned, and after two years of ownership, sold her to Walter Runciman (later Viscount Runciman) Liberal MP for St. Ives. Having sailed her on the south coast of England and west coast of Scotland, he in turn sold her in 1938 to Sir William Verdon-Smith who enjoyed her for two seasons until she was bought by the Admiralty to play her part in the war effort. Post war, ALTAIR was extensively refitted and was to leave British waters under Portuguese ownership passing then to Miguel Sans Mora to be based in Barcelona until acquired by her next owners in 1985. It is largely thanks to Sans Mora’s great love for ALTAIR that during his 34 years of ownership, she was maintained in the tradition of her original build through that difficult period of “old but not yet classic”.

It was new owner Albert Obrist who, with project manager Paul Goss and Duncan Walker committed ALTAIR with almost obsessive attention to detail to the now famous restoration at Southampton Yacht Services on her owner’s insistence on absolute faithfulness to the original design – some of this dedicated and hand picked team would in due course go on to create Fairlie Restorations.

With extensive shipwrighting work complete, her walnut interior was refinished and all fittings including her original heads were restored to working order. Her rig which had been slightly shortened was restored to the full length by scarphing into the original spars. The dyed cream Dacron was developed by sail makers Ratsey & Lapthorn to resemble Egyptian cotton reflecting Obrist’s desire even for the sails to appear original. This was soon copied by other classic yachts.

ALTAIR then acquired by a well known Spanish family, was sold again in 2005 to her current American owner, who has cherished the yacht, doing everything to maintain her exactly as she should be; enjoying Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons with countless regatta successes.

Restoration:

1985-87 Southhampton Yacht Services – The restoration kept faithful to the original design. Her rig had been restored to her original height by scarfing new lengths on to the original spars. The sails were even dyed to resemble Egyptian cotton. The refit and launch of sailing yacht Altair, Pendennis 1995.

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

Owner: (1931-1933) – Captain Guy H. MacCaw
Owner: (1933-1938) – Walter Runciman
Owner: (1938-1940) – Sir William Verdon-Smith
Owner: (1940) – the Admiralty (War Effort)
Owner: (1951-1985) – Miguel Sans Mora, Barcelona
Owner: Albert Obrist
 

Historical:

AMADOUR (The saint who founded Rocamadour bore this name) was built with teak planks on oak frames. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, sailed aboard her, and in 1952, she also played host to actress Rita Hayworth. Between 1961 and 1991, Amadour belonged to Jean Borghini, Monaco’s Minister of Finance. Her next owner was Frank Holze, a German businessman who kept her until 2003. Since 2007 she has been in the hands of Tom Van Der Bruggen, a Dutch businessman who owns a wooden toy company (Kapla). He has competed her in such events as the Ladies Cup (third position 2010) as well as the Imperia, Antibes (2008-2010), Cannes, Nice, Monaco, St. Tropez, Porquerolles and Marseilles rallies. Amadour’s interiors were renovated between 2007 and 2010 at the Gilbert Pasqui yard in Villefranche.

Restoration:

2007 – 2010 – Gilbert Pasqui of Villefranche. – Amadour has undergone a refurbishment of the interior, carried out at the yard.

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

Owner:
Guest: (1952) Rita Hayworth
Owner: (1961-1991) – Jean Borghini, Monaco’s Minister of Finance
Owner: (1991-2003) – Frank Holze, German businessman
Owner: (2007-present) – Tom Van Der Bruggen, Dutch businessman
Captain: Jean-Michel Pastor

Historical:

Heavy displacement yacht built of Corten steel to Lloyds 100A 1 standards. Suited for elegant long range cruising, and spirited racing.

Restoration:

1992 – 1.5mil Dutch rebuild

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

Owner/Guardian: (1971) – Mr. John B. Goulandris