Sail Number: LO/2
Vessel Type: Larchmont O Class
LOA: 58’0″ / 17.67m – LOD: 58’0″ / 17.67m – LWL: 38’6″ / 11.76m – Beam 12’0″ / 3.65m – Draft 7’6” / 2.28m – Hull Number: 215427 – Designer: William Gardner – Original Owner: James B. Ford of Rye, NY (Former Commodore of Larchmont Y C) – Built: 1917 – Built By: Wood & McClure of City Island New York – Contract Cost: $10,000 – Hull Material: Oak Frames Mahogany Planking – Displacement: 35,500 lbs – Rig: Gaff (adapted to Marconi by Gardner in 1926) – Sail Area: 1,670 sq ft
Historical:
The Class Symbol is an “L” Inside a Circle.
In 1917 William Gardner designed VARUNA, the Larchmont Yacht Club’s flagship, She was built for, the Commodore of the club, James B. Ford of Rye, New York. VARUNA was the first American designed yacht fitted out with the innovative and controversial Marconi rig. VARUNA was skippered by Butler Whiting and she proved conclusively, for the first time, that the Marconi rig was the fastest. The Marconi rigs came out in force at the close of World War I, and owe their success and use to ISTRIA and Larchmont O VARUNA.
Edmond Fish was instrumental in getting the Larchmont Yacht Club to form and build this one-design class boat which was designed by William Gardner to the Universal Rule. Six boats were initially ordered by the Larchmont Yacht Club, but 4 were launched and tried out first in the Spring of 1917.
All boats were built by Wood & McClure (Woods), and were favorably commented on by those who have seen them sail. But as it was the Larchmont Yacht Club had suspended all of its open regattas in 1917.
- 215427 GEORGIA- Charles Lane Poor (author of “Men Against the Rule”) – Gaff Rig – LO/1
- xxxxxx VARUNA – James B. Ford of Rye, NY (Former Commodore of Larchmont Y C) – Marconi Rig – LO/2
- 215428 NIMBUS – E. P. Alker and sailed by Edmund Fish in the Summer races – Gaff Rig – LO/3
- 215496 GRAY DAWN – Philip H. Johnson (of Philadelphia) – Gaff Rig – LO/4
- 215497 MAISIE – A. Brian Alley – Gaff Rig – LO/5
- xxxxxx BETTY – Harold L. Foss – Gaff Rig – LO/6
One of the original 6 boats built was still not commissioned after 2 years and was seeking a purchaser in 1919, possibly due to World War I lasting until 11 November 1918
Varuna carried around 270 sq ft more sail area than the P class racers. More area in proportion to their displacement the Os should be relatively faster. With finer more graceful lines than the NY 40s, but with less sail area, still should be relatively faster than the 40s as well.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1917) James B. Ford of Rye, NY (Former Commodore of Larchmont Y C)
Captain: Butler Whiting, proved conclusively that the Marconi rig was the fastest.