Sail Number: 88
Vessel Type: Original Gaff Yawl/ Current Gaff Cutter
LOA: 98′ 05″ / 30.00m – LOD: 81′ 04″ / 24.81m – LWL: 65′ 0″ / 19.83m – Beam: 15′ 05″ / 4.72m – Draft: 10′ 07″ / 3.25m – Displacement: 54 tonnes – Ballast: 19 tonnes – Built By: William Fife & Son, Fairlie, Scotland – Sail Area: 4628.48 ft² / 430 m² – Designed by: William Fife III – Original Name: Moonbeam III – Launched: 1903 – Hull Material: Teak/Elm/Oak Frames – Yard Number: 491 – Flag: France (FR) – Homeport: Saint-Tropez
Historical:
Moonbeam III was designed and built in 1903 by William Fife & Son, Fairlie for the well known London lawyer, prominent member of the RYS and the RTYC, son of the Queen’s personal physician, Plumtree Charles Johnson. She was the third in a series of four Moonbeams, sailing under the new RORC Royal Ocean Racing Club. tonnage rule, which included sailing ships with fitted-out interiors.
Throughout her more than hundred years old history, the Moonbeam III successfully participated in numerous regatta in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1927 and 1928, she won the Course Croisiere de la Mediteranee.
Known Restoration:
1988 – Shamrock Quay, Southampton, England – nine months, supervised by Surveyor John Sharp
2006 – Fairlie Restorations (now Fairlie Yachts) in the Hamble.
Current – Maintained annually at the Monaco Marine boatyard in Cogolin
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1903 – 1920) – Charles Plumtree Johnson, member of the RYS and the RTYC, son of the Queen’s personal physician
Owner/Guardian: (1920 – 1930) – Fernand Maroni, Parisian industrialist (renamed Eblis) Brest and then Cannes
Owner/Guardian: (1930 – 1947) – Raymond Philippe
Owner/Guardian: (1947) – Félix Amiot, Cherbourg
Owner/Guardian: Laurence Bouquet
Owner/Guardian: (1947) – Mrs Anthony, Greece
Owner/Guardian: (1979) – Dr. John Poncia
Captain: (2019) – Noblet Erwan