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My father owned Astrild. She was an M-class sailing yacht ordered by Benjamin Guggenheim in 1911, completed in 1913. Of course he never took deliver as he died on the Titanic.
She was destroyed (broken into 2) in 1989 in Ensenada Mexico. A hurricane left her bow on one side of the estuary and her stern on the other. By the time he got down there 5 days later, needless to say nothing was left but wood. My brother died a few months after. He was never the same until his death in 2010.
He had immaculately fully restored her in San Diego to "as-built" condition during the last 1970's/early 1980's. It was like a floating museum. I have great memories of living on her as a baby and young child, although not as many as I'd like, matter of fact they are very few because I was so young. My mom also had a Dragon which they had finished to look like a miniature of my dad's M-boat. Both had the exterior of the hull from the boot stripe up completely varnished only, no paint, they were gorgeous.
Anyway, it's difficult to find much info about M-class yachts on the internet. Seems J-boats are covered tho.
I recall Astrild had a sister boat in So-Cal, I have a picture of my mom behind the helm. I can't for the life of me remember the boats name though
Does anyone have a list of all of the M-class yachts that were built and possibly where they are today? I have lots of original items (steering wheel, binnacle, fire extinguisher, fog horn, etc) that I believe an interested owner may value and take care of.
I've read that there may be a boat called "Pursuit" which is in San Francisco? Does anyone have contact information for the owner?
First off, my intentions; it was my fathers life long dream to sail around the world the rest of his life on Astrild. He could not because I came along and he wanted me to have a proper education. He died absolutely broken hearted. IF I can find an original one, I would like to see if I could some how purchase her, god knows how at this point tho lol. The past 10 years I've also gotten the bug to sale around the world when my youngest son graduates high school in 7 years. At that point I'd be willing to sell literally everything I own to find an M-boat and fulfill the dream of my father and I.
Thanks!
Alex
She was destroyed (broken into 2) in 1989 in Ensenada Mexico. A hurricane left her bow on one side of the estuary and her stern on the other. By the time he got down there 5 days later, needless to say nothing was left but wood. My brother died a few months after. He was never the same until his death in 2010.
He had immaculately fully restored her in San Diego to "as-built" condition during the last 1970's/early 1980's. It was like a floating museum. I have great memories of living on her as a baby and young child, although not as many as I'd like, matter of fact they are very few because I was so young. My mom also had a Dragon which they had finished to look like a miniature of my dad's M-boat. Both had the exterior of the hull from the boot stripe up completely varnished only, no paint, they were gorgeous.
Anyway, it's difficult to find much info about M-class yachts on the internet. Seems J-boats are covered tho.
I recall Astrild had a sister boat in So-Cal, I have a picture of my mom behind the helm. I can't for the life of me remember the boats name though
Does anyone have a list of all of the M-class yachts that were built and possibly where they are today? I have lots of original items (steering wheel, binnacle, fire extinguisher, fog horn, etc) that I believe an interested owner may value and take care of.
I've read that there may be a boat called "Pursuit" which is in San Francisco? Does anyone have contact information for the owner?
First off, my intentions; it was my fathers life long dream to sail around the world the rest of his life on Astrild. He could not because I came along and he wanted me to have a proper education. He died absolutely broken hearted. IF I can find an original one, I would like to see if I could some how purchase her, god knows how at this point tho lol. The past 10 years I've also gotten the bug to sale around the world when my youngest son graduates high school in 7 years. At that point I'd be willing to sell literally everything I own to find an M-boat and fulfill the dream of my father and I.
Thanks!
Alex
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