Windward Passage, again, check out this photo of her restored.... Options

[Still]

I know this link may not be to everybody's favorite site, but check out the photo of Passage as restored: http://www.yachtracing.com/

Just beautiful. They seem to have gotten the restoration right, as well.

This is what I call a real boat; she's not some million dollar throwaway with oil-canning bow sections.

[Tom O'Keefe]

Windward Passage is my all time favorite. Even the guys off Black Fin said the current restoration far exceeds what they remember of the boat. She's just as beautiful below as she is top side.

[Presuming Ed]

Top looking restoration. So what have they done below? Cruising fit-out, or just a very tidy recreation of what she had before?

What are they going to do with her? Race? Cruise?

[Guest Anarchist GL Sailor_*]

This is what I call a real boat; she's not some million dollar throwaway with oil-canning bow sections.

Boat does look beautiful but when built ('70 or so) it was out of plywood and obviously they tried to keep it light. The limited technology of that day had to lead to some quality issues and I also would like to hear the evolution of modifications.

I recall someone on this site having some history with the boat and hope they will provide more insights.

Thanks in advance if you do.

[Guest Anarchist Guest_*]

She certainly is a stunning yacht.

For those of us who are not familiar with her. would someone kindly give us the scoop re. her history and restoration. It looks like someone loves her dearly.

[Tom O'Keefe]

When I managed Newport Marine, much of my crew was involved on the interior restoration. We did not have the capacity to haul her and do the exterior. It was hard enough just loading her new boom from our travel lift. The interior is not like the open race boats of today. And, with $250,000.00 in white Italian leather in the aft sette, I can guarantee that she's not stripped out. Lots of deep high gloss LP white with varnished and clear LP mahogany trim throughout. Oh yeah, the previous owner aside from perfect deep paint finishes also had a passion for lots of custom machined stainless. The entire galley was brushed s/s. It's been about 7 years since I've been down below. But, knowing the previous owner, I'm certain that it is every bit as perfect as when I last saw her.

The problem with finishing out a yacht to this degree is that it becomes very difficult to use. Everyone is always afraid they'll drop a winch handle and ding the finish. They took her for a fast cruise to Cabo shortly after the restoration and accidentally jibed. The ladder rack on the boom got smashed real well against the shrouds. So, we had to go through the agonizing job of off loading and later reloading the boom again, when we could only get her bow part way into the ways.

[Tom O'Keefe]

Oh yeah the history. The Johnson Family commissioned the yacht I believe around 1968 with a yawl rig (?). It was an effort to out preform Black Fin in the 69' TransPac. At the last position report prior to entering Molokai channel, W/P was reported 40 miles behind Black Fin. Black Fin had blown out all their kites save for their 1/2 ounce and had spent the previous night or two with a winged out jib. They were already breaking out the celibritory beer when they enered the Molokai only to find W/P about an hour ahead. The owner called for the 1/2 ounce, which did not survive the set. Black fin finished some 57 minutes behind Windward. There was a controversy over the position reporting, which was explained by the Windward crew as Bob Johnson's thick pencil and loose interpritation. But, Black Fin was given the Barn Door due to crew contact with a man over board pole on a class C boat at the start line and W/P was penalized 2 hours. Black Fin did win by 5 hours regardless on corrected time. But, they had a hard time with collecting the Barn Door. Ultimately, the commodore of TPYC had to demand that they accept the trophy or become banned from future T/P's. Bob Johnson died a few months later after declaring he would never sail another Transpac. But, two years later at the encouragement of their mother, Mark & his younger brother won the Transpac with out any questions.

[Nick G]

Tom, nice details. It brings back memories. I followed the TP's those years as a teenager and finally had the chance to see WP up close at the St FYC dock during a layover. Can still remember trying to see up over the gunwhales and check out the coffee grinders.

Did my first TP in '77 and the next 5 after that.

[Bill J]

I did the '69 Transpac on a Cal-40 and saw Passage and Blackfin up close. They were both awesome. Passage looked like a great big dinghy.