Who knows about M-class yachts?

[Thad]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Don't know about actual boats but I used to have blue prints for a Mower designed M. I don't remember a date and don't think there is a name on the plan. I could check on that but you might find that data on the Mystic web site with the Mower plans. added: Looking at the Mystic collection the only Mower/M connection is a Rosenfeld image:

WINDWARD, M Class, #14, undersail, 1933

PHOTOGRAPHS - SOFT NEGATIVES
Black-and -white negative
Rosenfeld and Sons
1933
Safety film

That might well be the boat for which I know the blues. A beauty it looks.

[anguilla1980]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

I have all of the plans for Astrild and my mom's old Dragon as well.

[johnw]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

I believe several New York 50s were re-rigged to sail in the class, which was dominated by Istalena. Who designed Astild?

[anguilla1980]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Bump to the top...

I can't recall off hand who the designer or builder of Astrild was, I have the plans in a tube in storage 3,000 miles away unfortunately...

[rbgarr]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Istalena

[Jay Greer]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

I seem to remember mention that "Istalena" was scrapted during WWII for her metal. She sure was beautiful!
"What fools these mortals be!"
Shakespear
A quote by made by Puck in "A mid-summer's night dream"
Jay

[johnw]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

The only Universal Rule boat named Astrild that I can find was an R-boat R-46, which would only be about 40 ft. long. Is it possible the boat in question had another name at some point?

[anguilla1980]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Bump for any more info...

Would anyone have contact information for Ron who owns Pursuit? My mom is ready to sell some things from Astrild like the wheel, binnacle, fog horn, fire extinguisher, deck mount skeet shooter, etc. They are all original 1913 components.

Johnw, it is possible Astrild had another name originally. I will ask my mom.

Alex

[anguilla1980]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Bump again!

I have more info. My mom is 1000% positive our boats born-with name as Astrild. It did have another name though after WWII up until the mid-1970s when my parents bought it and named her back to original. She said when Guggenheim ordered the boat in 1911 it was thru the NY yacht club. The firm that designed her was Alden (spelling?), however the individual who worked at the firm who actually designed her was named Lawley (spelling?). Also she is positive Astrild was completed in 1913 because being that Guggenheim died on the Titanic, the new owner was on the west coast the Panama canal was not complete so she was sailed around the horn. When they did the restoration my father found all sorts of improvised extra ballast that they are presuming was put in for the voyage around the horn.

I meeting up with her in a couple weeks for my dads funeral and I talked her into brining some choice Polaroids from the giant album she has of the entire restoration. I told her I would scan them high resolution and post them here. I asked for a few of prior the restoration, during, and of course after.

I asked her if she knew where my dad stashed the plans for Astrild along with the plans for the Dragon (which they called baby lol), and she was unsure. I recall them being in a tube in storage. My mom said after my dad passed away there was ALLOT of paperwork up in his office that were so molded together she couldn't get them apart and they were thrown away. I'm pretty sure these plans were not among them. Most likely just pet projects he was designing during his last years. I recall, even as a boy, I hassled him to keep all the old plans and he promised he would and I even remember him showing me the tube he said they were in.

Anyway, if anyone has any more info M-yacht info please post it! I have updated my post #4 above with the latest info I have thanks to this thread.

[johnw]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

I believe the first boats built to the M class were constructed in 1928. Some earlier boats were modified to fit the class, such as the New York 50s, which came out starting in 1915. It is possible that a 1911 design could have been modified to sail in the M-class, and remembered for racing in that class.

[johnw]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

by the way, MIT has the entire Alden archive, which is searchable.


http://www.aldendesigns.com/99years/database.php

By the way, Lawley was a builder.

[anguilla1980]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Thanks for the information!!!! Good to know Lawley was the builder! I love correcting old here-say.

I have been searching their archive, that's where I got the link to post on Serena, but alas I cannot find Astrild or any other boat which would fit the right description between 1909 and 1924 which is where I stopped for now.

Also great to know M-class wasn't even a thing until 1928. I do know that Astrild and Serena were re-rigged/fitted so that would make perfect sense!

EDIT: I just finished the entire Alden database (the downloadable spreadsheet) using process of elimination, and found no sign of a boat which could have been Astrild. Hmmm.

Here is a great pic of her sister Serena tho from the Alden DB:

[jgsail4]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

Sirius II, ex Barlovento sold in 1980 an renamed Formidable, sailed from Newport Beach to Ft. Laudedale. I was a watch captain for the delivery. The boat had been almost rebuilt from the keel up in the 1970's. I say almost because she was composite built with galvanized steel frames that I believe were not replaced and finally gave up the ghost. Saw pictures of her on the interweb a couple of years ago she was being rebuilt in Europe. Pictures I saw showed her with new keel and all new frames and floors and thats all there was. Waiting for planking, deck, interior and rig.

I was crew on the delivery trip across the Atlantic, from Antigua to Plymouth (U.K.) in 1990. We sailed via Bermuda, as had to stop in for a replacement sail. Had endless engine problems, so could never use it, and remember drinking water was short as the tanks got dirty. A beautiful boat, and quite a handfull with only 6 of us, including the skipper, on the passage. If any of the crew or skipper see this thread, it would be good to hear from you again. James.

[Dave Lesser]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

There is a Barlovento undergoing a major restoration as Jesperson's in Sidney, BC. Looks to be about 65'. Different boat? I'll try to get some photos when I'm there in February.

[Jay Greer]

Re: Who knows about M-class yachts?

"Serena" is sitting on the hard waiting for someone to save her.
Jay