88 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2016NIELSEN BOATYARD
Brooklin Boat Yard in Maine is
building a radical modern classic
STORY AND PHOTOS ROB PEAKEA
rolling drive through thickly wooded
waterside Maine and we find our way
down an unprepossessing track to the
great Brooklin Boat Yard.
Brooklin was for years one of the marine industry’s
biggest secrets, under the direction of founder Joel White
building some of the early boats on the Spirit of
Tradition scene and restoring many important vintage
yachts along the way. The secret, however, is out and
Brooklin, for the past 16 years led by Joel’s son Steve,
has become a top-of-the-list yard for anyone considering
either a restoration or the build of a modern classic. The
yard has built more than 80 boats since its launch in
1960 and the not inconsiderable trip to coastal Maine is
made by customers from all over the world. The yard
stands on the edge of the Eggemoggin Reach and
Penobscot Bay, one of the great cruising grounds and the
site is also, as we find out on our visit, a well-used
storage and maintenance facility for all kinds of local
boats, from Beetle Cats to GRP cruising yachts.
Brooklin’s most high profile project in recent years
has been Foggy, the 74ft (22.55m) Germán Frers-
designed daysailer that boasted eye-catching styling by
architect Frank Gehry. She was launched in 2015 and
almost straight into the shed thereafter was the projectthat is ongoing, due for launch later this year – a
similar length SoT yacht that pushes the
concept to its maximum. On pure looks you would
be forgiven for thinking this was an out-and-out
modern race machine, with a design by Spanish
company Botin Partners (known for designing grand
prix race yachts like TP52s and Volvo 70s) that boasts
an extended bowsprit, plumb bow, wide beam running
well aft, deep bulb keel (which lifts) and twin rudders.
Brooklin was mid-way through construction on our
visit – when we were shown around by project managers
Eric Blake and Brian Larkin – and at the point where
things were getting interesting.
Far from keeping the interior stripped back in pure
race mode, the owner has specified a full cruising
fit-out with “accommodations and amenities that will
allow those on board to cruise the world’s oceans in
comfort, style and speed”. With 1,100 litres of
transferable water ballast and a modern sailplan that
includes a masthead gennaker of 430m^2 (4,628sq ft),
this will be performance cruising.
Throughout, the boat is built of wood, carbon fibre,
foam and epoxy composites, with Brooklin’s
experienced team handling the mix of materials with
admirable craftsmanship.BROOKLIN BOAT YARD
Main pic: Infused
carbon layer in
the laminated
wood frames for
additional
strength.
Inset: Hull is
laminated with
cedar, then
carbon/foam/
carbon infused
skin. All
laminations are
with epoxyENVELOPE
PUSHING
THE
YARD VISIT
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