New Schooner Association Founded

(October 3, 2018) – The grace, power and complexity of classic schooners engenders great passion in all who see these wonderful examples of naval architecture, mostly heralding from that golden age of yacht construction in the first decades of the 20th century. In recent years, many of these yachts have been beautifully restored, or replicas have been built, with painstaking attention to historical detail and with no expense spared.

These yachts have been taking part at classic yacht regattas, but here they face the difficulty of having very different sailing characteristics compared with other classic yachts. This leaves them at a disadvantage under most current rating systems.

Schooner owners do not come more passionate than Tomas de Vargas Machuca, who owns not one, but two, of these famous vintage craft. A new initiative, nurtured by his enthusiasm and that of his captain Simon Pandolfi, is the formation of the International Schooner Association.

Ten schooner owners are fully committed, while others have so far expressed strong interest. The ten founder members of the International Schooner Association are the owners of:

• Invader 1905
• Orion 1910
• Mariette of 1915
• Puritan 1931
• Orianda 1937
• Aschanti IV of Vegesack (1954)
• Elena of London 2009 (replica of 1910 design)
• Atlantic 2010 (replica of 1903 design)
• Germania Nova 2011 (replica of 1907 Germania)
• Naema 2013 (replica of an Alfred Mylne design)

The intention is for the Association to run events specifically and exclusively for classic schooners. The hope will be to build a programme and a series such that, as well as individual regatta prizes, there can be an annual perpetual trophy awarded to the ‘Schooner of the Year’.

Plans are already afoot for the first event to be held by the International Schooner Association in Capri next spring.

The formation of this new association has been encouraged and supported by the International Maxi Association, the officially-sanctioned international body whose function is to guide, structure, and encourage all types of maxi yacht racing worldwide.

“This organisation is a wonderful addition to the maxi world,” notes Andrew McIrvine, Secretary General of the IMA. “Modern classes may come and go. The interest in preserving these magnificent craft suggests that they will outlive them all. ”

For more information on the International Maxi Association: www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

Source: International Maxi Association