A legendary yacht: the impressive history of Dorade

The classic 52′ sailboat Dorade won the Transpacific Yacht Race this year. A Transpac victory is admirable for any modern ship. But what makes this winning boat interesting is her impressive and long history and her unmatched pedigree. Dorade was designed in 1929 by Olin Stephens, one of the most recognized names in American sailing ship design.

Dorade won the Transpac, then called The Honolulu Race, in 1936. For more than 83 years since its launch, Dorade has been active in major ocean races, including The Transatlantic, The Bermuda, Fastnet and no less than fourteen Swiftsure races (Victoria BC). With various owners over the years, it has had a long active history. In 1978, Dorade was owned by the Mystic Seaport Museum, but she was returned to service when Antonio Gómez bought the ship from the museum in 1978. From 1996 to 1999 she was owned by Italian Giuseppe Gazonni-Frascara. The yacht was restored in 1997 by the Cantierre Navale Dell’Argentario shipyard.

The boat’s designer, Olin Stephens, was a living legend until his death in September 2008. Stephens lived to be 100 years old and was #1 on the New York Yacht Club’s seniority list, having been a member for over 78 years. . Dorade’s Transpac win in 1936 and then again 77 years later (beating many modern boats) in 2013 is a testament to Stephen’s early mastery of boat design. Early in his career, Stephens partnered with Drake Sparkman to form the famed naval architecture and brokerage firm Sparkman & Stephens. Sparkman & Stephens designed and sold many of the tall ships we are familiar with today: the America’s Cup J-class yacht, the Ranger, the popular Dolphin 24, and designs for many of the world’s luxury yachts such as Nautor , Hallberg-Rassy, ​​Hinckley and tartan.

The performance of the historic yacht belies its age. In the 1930s, Dorade entered, and won, in several of the world’s most prestigious races. The ship had an advanced hull design, an obsession of Olin Stephens. But she is probably best known for the innovative ventilation system that allowed air to flow through the ship’s cabin without letting in ocean spray. To this day, modern yachts of all kinds have “Dorade Boxes” fitted to their decks.

Dorade’s current owners, Brooks Levy and his wife Pam Rorke Levy, are on a grand tour to relive the yacht’s formidable years. Dorade has been refitted for ocean racing with the aim of re-entering many of the races she won in her early years. Many are concerned that the Levys will compete in what many consider to be an important part of maritime history. Others are cheering on Dorade, a yacht with a famous and relevant history.