Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Britannia would probably have to top the list. It's not easy to choose though when combining cruising yachts with modern speed machines. Dyarchy deserves a mention. As do Hiscocks Wanderers.
10 most famous yachts?
- Thread starter Seagreen
- Start date
mono
Well-Known Member
Trekka, Sopranino, Wanderer 111, Hurricane, Tzu Hang, Idle Hour, Gypsy Moth, Suhaili, Jester and any number of Virtues....they're amongst the most famous in my house anyway.
OGITD
Well-Known Member
The Modern Two!
Ming Ming & The Slug!
I was also going for Shrimpy, but she's already mentioned.
Another vote for Jester.
Ming Ming & The Slug!
I was also going for Shrimpy, but she's already mentioned.
Another vote for Jester.
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Kukri
Well-Known Member
The "America" must be near the top of the list, if only because of the Cup.
The Royal racing cutter "Britannia" would surely qualify.
When I was a little boy, all toy pond yachts were named "Endeavour", so she (TOM Sopwith's America's Cup contender) must have been famous.
The "Spray" must be a contender.
"Suhaili" must be another.
"Morning Cloud" (various) was certainly well known forty years ago.
After that it starts to come down to what books you like best, so my list goes:
"Mischief"
"Wanderer III"
"Moonraker"
"Tern IV"
The Royal racing cutter "Britannia" would surely qualify.
When I was a little boy, all toy pond yachts were named "Endeavour", so she (TOM Sopwith's America's Cup contender) must have been famous.
The "Spray" must be a contender.
"Suhaili" must be another.
"Morning Cloud" (various) was certainly well known forty years ago.
After that it starts to come down to what books you like best, so my list goes:
"Mischief"
"Wanderer III"
"Moonraker"
"Tern IV"
ianat182
Well-Known Member
Chay Blyth's British Steel, Lively lady, Wanderer3, Endeavour, Morning Cloud, Allcard's Temptress, Suhaili, Jester,L'Hydroptere.
petehitch
Well-Known Member
The schooner Atlantic which held the record for Atlantic crossing under sail from 1905 until 1998.
A replica has just been finished and was anchored in the bay in Alghero last week, incredible sight.
A replica has just been finished and was anchored in the bay in Alghero last week, incredible sight.
Seagreen
Well-Known Member
I ask for 10 and 64 get mentioned. Perhaps I could break this down into categories like "Best singlehander", "Best racer", "Best Experimental", etc. Would Team Phillips beat Hydroptere here?
Lets change the emphasis. Which boat of them all really inspired you get into the crazy world of yachting, in all its forms?
Lets change the emphasis. Which boat of them all really inspired you get into the crazy world of yachting, in all its forms?
agurney
Well-Known Member
Suhaili's still at the top of my list ... but Swallow and Amazon are now up there as well
Alisdair
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Goblin, without a shadow of a doubt.
TQA
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Joshua, Shrimpy, Wanderers 1 through 5, Trekka, Spray, Islander OK OK OK I am a cruiser so I was inspired by cruising boats. I might love the sight of Endeavour under sail but a a cruising boat fuggedit!
pyrojames
Well-Known Member
Wanderers, Goblin, Swallow and Amazon, Dyarchy, Suhali, Dorade.
glashen
Well-Known Member
The top three so far are, Suhail, Gypsy Moth IV, and Spray.
Speaking personally I can clearly remember Francis Chichester returning, I would have been 11, so that probably sowed a seed. The other Yacht that seems to have been significant is Endeavor, I saw her unloved in 1980 as a bare hull at Calshot when I was on a dinghy course and again when she had been restored. In the meantime I had sailed on Velsheda.
Suhali and Shrimpy though are more directly inspiring to me now, since my boat is somewhere in between them in size at least.
Speaking personally I can clearly remember Francis Chichester returning, I would have been 11, so that probably sowed a seed. The other Yacht that seems to have been significant is Endeavor, I saw her unloved in 1980 as a bare hull at Calshot when I was on a dinghy course and again when she had been restored. In the meantime I had sailed on Velsheda.
Suhali and Shrimpy though are more directly inspiring to me now, since my boat is somewhere in between them in size at least.
Seagreen
Well-Known Member
For those with better memories than I, did Sir F. Chicester get back into Plymouth in daylight or darkness after his voyage? I have a memory of my dad taking out from Royal William Yard in a small clinker dinghy, powered by an old wheezy (even then) seagull outboard at night in the darkness to join a throng of people cheering the return of a round the world racer in the Sound. I may have been about 6 or 7, so 1968 or 69? Was this Chichester or RKJ?
fishermantwo
Well-Known Member
Not sure why the Spray gets a mention. Surely killing your owner is a bit of a downer.
Top of my list would be Morning Cloud after winning the Sydney Hobart and starting the strong SS34 following in this country which led to the long list of singlehanders choosing this vessel. Gretel and Australia 2 and the American defender of the period that defended two in a row, name escapes me.
Not sure about Francis Chichesters boat, as I recall he complained about it non stop in his book.
Rum_Pirate
Well-Known Member
What about
BLUENOSE
Bluenose was a Canadian fishing and racing schooner from Nova Scotia built in 1921.
During 17 years of racing, no challenger, American or Canadian, could wrest the International Fishermen's Trophy from her.
It is notable that she was no mere racing ship, but also a general fishing craft that was worked hard throughout her lifetime.
She fished scallops and other kinds of seafood, and at least once won competitions for largest catches of the season and similar awards.
Fishing schooners became obsolete after World War II, and despite efforts to keep her in Nova Scotia, the undefeated Bluenose was sold to work as a freighter in the West Indies.
She foundered on a Haitian reef and was lost on January 28, 1946
She was later commemorated by a replica Bluenose II built in 1963.
A celebrated racing ship and hard-working fishing vessel, Bluenose became a provincial icon for Nova Scotia as well as important Canadian symbol in the 1930s.
Bluenose, under full sail, is portrayed on the 1929 Canadian Bluenose postage stamp 50 cent issue.
The Bluenose has been features on a 1982 60-cent stamp that commemorated the International Philatelic Youth Exhibition.
The Bluenose is featured on a 1988 37-cent issue that celebrated Bluenose skipper Angus Walters.
The Bluenose also appears on the current Nova Scotia licence plate.
The name "bluenose" originated as a nick-name for Nova Scotians from as early as the late eighteenth century.
BLUENOSE
Bluenose was a Canadian fishing and racing schooner from Nova Scotia built in 1921.
During 17 years of racing, no challenger, American or Canadian, could wrest the International Fishermen's Trophy from her.
It is notable that she was no mere racing ship, but also a general fishing craft that was worked hard throughout her lifetime.
She fished scallops and other kinds of seafood, and at least once won competitions for largest catches of the season and similar awards.
Fishing schooners became obsolete after World War II, and despite efforts to keep her in Nova Scotia, the undefeated Bluenose was sold to work as a freighter in the West Indies.
She foundered on a Haitian reef and was lost on January 28, 1946
She was later commemorated by a replica Bluenose II built in 1963.
A celebrated racing ship and hard-working fishing vessel, Bluenose became a provincial icon for Nova Scotia as well as important Canadian symbol in the 1930s.
Bluenose, under full sail, is portrayed on the 1929 Canadian Bluenose postage stamp 50 cent issue.
The Bluenose has been features on a 1982 60-cent stamp that commemorated the International Philatelic Youth Exhibition.
The Bluenose is featured on a 1988 37-cent issue that celebrated Bluenose skipper Angus Walters.
The Bluenose also appears on the current Nova Scotia licence plate.
The name "bluenose" originated as a nick-name for Nova Scotians from as early as the late eighteenth century.
bbg
Well-Known Member
On the basis that I have never heard of many of the boats listed, I find it hard to categorise them as "famous". Perhaps "historically significant" is more on the mark.
If that is the measure, I am astounded that Bluenose and Australia II were not mentioned earlier.
On the measure of fame, however, I find it hard to believe that Bluenose (or perhaps the replica Bluenose II) is not the winner hands down. Millions of people see a representation of her every day - she being on the reverse of the Canadian ten cent piece.
If that is the measure, I am astounded that Bluenose and Australia II were not mentioned earlier.
On the measure of fame, however, I find it hard to believe that Bluenose (or perhaps the replica Bluenose II) is not the winner hands down. Millions of people see a representation of her every day - she being on the reverse of the Canadian ten cent piece.
agurney
Well-Known Member
Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean that they aren't well known to others. I'm not familiar with Bluenose, but then I don't use Canadian currency. However, one of my earliest book purchases as a youngster was 'Robin Round the World' in 1970 so Suhaili is famous as far as I am concerned.
Alisdair
2nd_apprentice
Well-Known Member
Well I suppose Sea Dart would be worth mentioning, no matter what you think of her owner. She certainly inspired me more than any racing yacht.
bbg
Well-Known Member
"Fame" - the state of being widely known and esteemed or acclaimed.
Very few, if any, yachts fall into this category. I stand by my statement that if I (who have been sailing and reading sailing magazines and books for many years) don't know of a yacht, it probably isn't "famous" in the sense above. The fact that someone else has heard of them doesn't make them famous.
A very few yachts are "famous" within the sailing community, but this will obviously change from culture to culture. I would put Suhaili into the category of "famous" in the UK, but I suspect French sailors would put Pen Duick (or one of her many incarnations) higher. Some yachts get their "15 minutes of fame" and then fade from the public memory.
Very few, if any, yachts fall into this category. I stand by my statement that if I (who have been sailing and reading sailing magazines and books for many years) don't know of a yacht, it probably isn't "famous" in the sense above. The fact that someone else has heard of them doesn't make them famous.
A very few yachts are "famous" within the sailing community, but this will obviously change from culture to culture. I would put Suhaili into the category of "famous" in the UK, but I suspect French sailors would put Pen Duick (or one of her many incarnations) higher. Some yachts get their "15 minutes of fame" and then fade from the public memory.
Seagreen
Well-Known Member
Certainly Bluenose, and maybe Sea Dart. How about Hirta or whatever shes called today? In that case, Dylan Winter's Sea Slug is going to be a TV classic yacht in the making. If fact, I think that DW's putative tv series may inspire lots of people to take to the sea and go gunkholing. A future boom in old boats? That'd be something.. 
Nice vd of Bluenose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblVGH1Dmzc
Nice vd of Bluenose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblVGH1Dmzc
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