Brand new at 100 years old

Peter Silvester owns the Q Class sloop Q7 Falcon which marks its 100th anniversary in 2026. Falcon was among the first class of yachts to race under the “Universal Rule” developed by Nathaniel Herreshoff in 1902 and that governed eligibility to compete for the America’s Cup from 1914 to 1937.

“I’ve always loved classic designs from the 1930s Universal Rule era, epitomized by the mighty Js of America’s Cup fame,” Silvester says. “When I saw Q7 ‘Falcon’ and learned more about these so called ‘mini-Js’, I knew I’d found a new passion.”

Falcon has raced in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and off San Diego, winning two Chicago-Mackinac Races and five Queen’s Cups among other accomplishments. While the yacht was also known as Lively Lady, it has always raced under the sail number Q7, continuing that tradition today.

Falcon, designed by Burgess, Swasey & Paine and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, RI, is getting reimagined.

Silvester and Q7 Yacht Designs came to own Falcon in 2023, moving the boat to San Diego and returning it to the water after several years on the hard. The yacht was brought back to life through an extensive, years-long refit between 2007 and 2012 by renowned boat builder John Anderson.

Recognizing the immensity of Falcon’s centennial, Silvester and Q7 Yacht Designs have set out to build a new Q7 commission in which Falcon’s prowess is merged with modern boat building technology through a project known as the Falcon Study.

“The goal is that we could produce an incredible yacht that is beautiful, fast, and celebrates the heritage of the original Falcon and will be admired by sailors for the next 100 years.” He adds that there is also a dream that through the project Q Class racing will have a revival over a century after the first of these boats took to the water.

“The Falcon Study has been an amazing project. If there’s others out there who share my passion for design, great performance and exquisite craftsmanship give me a call.” The plan is to make a total of seven commissions to celebrate Q7 – and in the process, keep Q Class sailing around for another 100 years.”

Q7 Reimagined, as the new boat is known, retains the original Q7’s critical dimensions including the original Hull Lines, Sail Plan and Displacement making her ‘authentically Q Class’. The original 1926 Lines Plans were adapted for manufacture by Dystra Naval Architects, renowned for their work on the J Class revival of the late 1980s and built by the expert builders at Spirit Yachts in the United Kingdom.

The new yacht was launched and had its first sail in April of this year, punctuating 100 years of the original Falcon. Silvester and the Q7 team plan to race Q7-1 in the upcoming Mediterranean regatta season, where the boat will compete in Spirit of Tradition classes.

Source: CYOA