Dorade (yacht)
Encyclopedia
Dorade was a yacht
designed in 1929 by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens
and built 1929-1930 by the Minneford Yacht Yard in City Island, New York
.
Dorade went on to place 2nd in the Bermuda Race
later that year. The crew for its first race received the All-Amateur Crew Prize. However, it would be the Transatlantic Race that would bring the boat its name. Placing first, she completed the race in 17 days – a race that takes an estimated 3–4 weeks to complete. A parade was held in celebration of the crew and ship's return with the mayor holding a reception in honor of Olin Stephens' victory.
Olin Stephens, the designer, was skipper through 1932 when he handed the boat to his brother, Rod Stephens. Led by Rod, Dorade sailed to victory in the 1932 Bermuda Race. From Bermuda
, Dorade sailed back to Norway, down to Cowes, England, and finally back to America after winning the Fastnet Race
. The victory of the 1932 Fastnet Race was of substantial significance given the unusually severe weather, several ships feared missing as well as one recorded drowning among the events that unfolded.
Dorade raced from the east coast 1930 through 1935, moving to San Francisco for several years, then on to Seattle in the late 1930s. She returned to the bay area from 1979 to 1984. Dorades home berth is now Newport, Rhode Island.
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
designed in 1929 by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens is a naval architecture and yacht brokerage firm with main offices on 5th Avenue in New York City, USA and offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The firm performs design and engineering of new vessels for pleasure, commercial, and military use....
and built 1929-1930 by the Minneford Yacht Yard in City Island, New York
City Island, Bronx
City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi long by .5 mi wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2000 census the island had a population of 4,520. Its land area is 1.023 km²...
.
Dorade went on to place 2nd in the Bermuda Race
Bermuda Race
The Bermuda Race, or Newport Bermuda Race, is a biennial yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island to the island of Bermuda, a distance of 635 nautical miles across open ocean. The first Bermuda Race started in 1906 from Gravesend Bay, N.Y. with three entries. The race was held several times in the...
later that year. The crew for its first race received the All-Amateur Crew Prize. However, it would be the Transatlantic Race that would bring the boat its name. Placing first, she completed the race in 17 days – a race that takes an estimated 3–4 weeks to complete. A parade was held in celebration of the crew and ship's return with the mayor holding a reception in honor of Olin Stephens' victory.
Olin Stephens, the designer, was skipper through 1932 when he handed the boat to his brother, Rod Stephens. Led by Rod, Dorade sailed to victory in the 1932 Bermuda Race. From Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, Dorade sailed back to Norway, down to Cowes, England, and finally back to America after winning the Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
. The victory of the 1932 Fastnet Race was of substantial significance given the unusually severe weather, several ships feared missing as well as one recorded drowning among the events that unfolded.
Specifics
- Length Overall: 52 ft. 0 in.
- Length Waterline: 37 ft. 3 in.
- Beam: 10 ft. 3 in.
- Draught: 8 ft. 0 in.
- Displacement: 14 3/4 tons
- Sail Area: 1100 sq ft (102.2 m²).
- Hull: Mahogany planking on oak frames
- Ballast: 18,000 lbs. lead
- Rig: Yawl
- Designer: Olin Stephens of Sparkman & StephensSparkman & StephensSparkman & Stephens is a naval architecture and yacht brokerage firm with main offices on 5th Avenue in New York City, USA and offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The firm performs design and engineering of new vessels for pleasure, commercial, and military use....
- Builder: Minneford Yacht Yard, City Island, New York
- Engine: Perkins 40 hp.
Major Races
- 1930 Bermuda Race, Class B: Second; First all-amateur crew ; Fall Rendezvous: Cruising Club of America, First in Fleet
- 1930 Trans-Atlantic Race: First ; Cowes Round-The-Island RaceRound the Island RaceThe Round the Island Race is a yacht race around the Isle of Wight, organized by the Island Sailing Club based in Cowes. It is the fourth largest sporting event in the United Kingdom and is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar attracting competitors from Europe and the...
: Second ; Cowes Cruising Class: Second - 1932 Bermuda Race: First
- 1933 Oslo to Hanko Match Race with "Jolie Brise": Winner ; Fastnet Race: First
- 1936 San Francisco-Farrolone Race: First ; Transpacific Race: First
- 1947-1979 Participated in fifteen Swiftsure races: First in Class AA 1947-1948, 1951, 1954, and 1964.
Dorade raced from the east coast 1930 through 1935, moving to San Francisco for several years, then on to Seattle in the late 1930s. She returned to the bay area from 1979 to 1984. Dorades home berth is now Newport, Rhode Island.