Classic_Boat_2016-02

Louis Vuitton has engaged the services of London

chandler Alasdair Flint (of Arthur Beale), Bristol

boatbuilder Tim Loftus and Brightlingsea sailmaker Mark

Butler (of James Lawrence) to create part of its major

retrospective show ‘Volez, Voguez, Voyagez’ (Fly, Sail,

Travel) at the Grand Palais. The famous luggage maker

exhibited at the first show at the Grand Palais in 1900, and

this exhibition is a look back at its 162 years in business.

Alasdair, Tim and Mark supplied, respectively, the

wooden mast, cotton sails and rigging for the Sail part of

the show, which runs until 21 February.

WORD OF THE

MONTH

Parish-rigged

In the days of

square-rigged ships, the

seaman’s term for a

vessel which, through

the parsimony of its

owner, had worn or bad

gear aloft and meagre

victuals below.

Oxford Companion to

Ships and the Sea

TELL TALES

Yachts are busy gearing up for the 29th

Antigua Classic, an event that has become

known for its buoyant Spirit of Tradition

class so strongly advocated by the event’s

late founder Kenny Coombs.

This year, the 139ft (42m) Germán

Frers ketch Rebecca is among the fleet of

yachts large and small, new and old, that

will make the voyage south to the sun to

race for four days in the deep Caribbean

swell from 13-19 April. “It’s a favourite

because the conditions suit Rebecca

perfectly,” said skipper Sparky Beardall. “It

is lower key than the other regattas but

most of all, it is the spirit on the dock after

the racing that makes it so much fun. Out

on the racetrack, it is truly amazing to be

at the helm stomping along at 14-15 knots

on a five-sail reach.”

The Panerai Trophy from the event’s

title sponsor has been won by the 105ft

(32m) Bruce King-designed Ketch

Whitehawk (1978) for the last two years,

so she will be the boat to beat this year,

although co-skipper Ralph Isham and

crew will be hoping to confound them by

scoring the hat-trick.

Herreshoff’s last design, the 65ft staysail

schooner Mary Rose (of 1926) will be racing

this year as always – she recently came to

the end of a long, intermittent restoration

which has kept her sailing every season and

is shortlisted for our awards this year (see

previous page). So far, she has won her class

five years on the trot!

The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta

invites entries that have a full keel, are of

moderate-to-heavy displacement, are built

of wood or steel and are of traditional rig

and appearance. Exceptional yachts not

fitting that description may be eligible for

entry into the Spirit-of-Tradition class. In

either case, owners should apply in writing

to [email protected] with

supporting photographs or drawings.

PARIS, FRANCE

British boatbuilding

celebrating Louis Vuitton

ANTIGUA

Classics set sights on the Caribbean

TIM WRIGHT/PHOTOACTION.COM TOBIAS STOERKLE

CORY SILKEN JAN HEIN

Clockwise from top

left: Rebecca, Mary

Rose, Whitehawk

and one of the

regular fleets of

colourful

Cariacou Sloops