Sail Number: D 10
Vessel Type: 15 Metre Class Racing Cutter
LOA: 99’0″ / 30.2m – LOD: 75’2″ / 22.90m – LWL: 48’6″ / 14.60m – Beam: 13’7″ / 4.15m – Draft: 9’11” / 3.00m – Displacement: 39 tons – Sail Area: 2,465 ft² / 229 m² – Original Name: The Lady Anne – Original Owner: George Coats – Designed by: William Fife III – Launched: 1912 – Built by: William Fife & Son, Fairlie, Scotland – Hull Material: – Flag: – ON: – Homeport:
Historical:
Ultimate Classic Yachts – The Lady Anne was designed by the legendary Scottish designer William Fife III and built at his Fairlie yard on the Clyde in 1911-1912. She was commissioned by the wealthy yachtsman George Coats in a bid to recover the coveted 15-Metre Cup from the Germans, who had won it in 1911. At the same time as The Lady Anne was being built, however, Charles Nicholson was conjuring up his own design for the class, the radical “speed machine” ISTRIA. With her revolutionary Marconi gaff-rig – whereby the topmast is built into the main mast, rather than “stepped” as was traditionally the case – she would dominate the class for several years, letting THE LADY ANNE come near only in light winds. Not surprisingly, two years after launching, Coat’s yacht was also converted to Marconi….read further.
Until 1920s she sailed with a Marconi rigging, then she was converted into a ketch, and it is said that she was used to transport ammunition during Word War II.
After spending a few years in Spain, The Lady Anne (sail number D10) was found in England on the Hamble river and restored at the Fairlie Restorations shipyard, near Southampton.
The Lady Anne is one of the rare, still sailing 15-Metre yachts designed following the International Rule.
She is the sister ship of Tuiga (1909), Mariska (1908) and Hispania (1909).
Restoration
Rescued 1990, restored 1998-1999
Fairlie Yachts – By 1998 the racing on the gaff cutters had become more serious. Although we fitted an engine, the ‘A’ bracket propeller and shaft are easily removed. The fuel tanks are aircraft quality flexi tanks. Sadly the original interior was un-usable, so we build the interior practically as original but in European walnut, including a corridor of high wide panels. The Lady Anne’s battles with the other three 15m class members are legendary and usually successful, finishing near the top of the class.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1912) – George Coats