What is the fastest "classic" pre WWII era yacht

[CapDave]

I can only think of Dorade/Stormy Weather

I worked as a deckhand on Stormy Weather in 1979 in her old age as a USVI charter boat. She was fun to sail, but a real bear on the helm downwind in a sea. She certainly won a lot of silver in her day, but of course no match for the mega-yachts of her era.

 

[Wckoek]

I worked as a deckhand on Stormy Weather in 1979 in her old age as a USVI charter boat. She was fun to sail, but a real bear on the helm downwind in a sea. She certainly won a lot of silver in her day, but of course no match for the mega-yachts of her era.

I see, the schooners would probably fare worse by today's standard.

 

[Alan Crawford]

Define "Yacht". Pre WW-2 International 14 was pretty fast.

 

[MauiPunter]

Atlantic.   Held the world record for a century for crossing the Atlantic.

 

[Squalamax]

Atlantic.   Held the world record for a century for crossing the Atlantic.

Impressive, but that's only averaging about 10.3 knots. For a 228 foot boat sailing in breeze(which that race was known for), that's about what I would expect. 

There were other yachts which broke that record sooner but not in an official capacity.   

 

[Amati]

That's a 110 you have pictured. RH designed 110's, 210's 310's, 410's and I think even a 510(which I don't think was ever built.)

There's a Hunt 410 in Quisett harbor on Buzzards Bay called Huntress. 

She’s a Lawley

 

[fastyacht]

She’s a Lawley

View attachment 447181

View attachment 447182

That's a 225 not a 410 an yes that is a Lawley. I have the *original* brochure!

 

[fastyacht]

View attachment 445816
Was lucky enough to get a ride in a classic regatta on this beauty 

The big daddy to the 110 and 210

Any guesses

Ray Hunt was a genius 

She still races. And wins. Maybe with you trimming the main!

 

[Snaggletooth]

She’s a Lawley

That's a 225 not a 410 an yes that is a Lawley. I have the *original* brochure!

Lawley 225

 

[KC375]

Define "Yacht". Pre WW-2 International 14 was pretty fast.

I14s were / are dinghies – see CDA

 

[fastyacht]

https://live.staticflickr.com/5561/15050470500_b404b02fa9_o.jpg

 

[Snaggletooth]

https://live.staticflickr.com/5561/15050470500_b404b02fa9_o.jpg

sweete!                                 

 

[Snaggletooth]

Thack you foire sharreng!                       

 

[Amati]

She still races. And wins. Maybe with you trimming the main!

Is that the one that has an Etchell’s rig?

 

[fastyacht]

Just the mast. But shorter.

 

[shanghaisailor]

Fastest? Probably the Schooner Yacht Atlantic.

Got to agree with you there Jack, not only the fastest pre WW2 but her Trans-Atlantic record in 1905 of just over 12 days 4 hours stood for 90 years until Mari Cha IV beat it in 2005 so not only the fastest pre-war yacht but a damn sight faster than most things since unless they have more than one hull and even with one of them it took Eric Tabarly 75 years to best the record with Paul Ricard.

 

[Squalamax]

https://live.staticflickr.com/5561/15050470500_b404b02fa9_o.jpg

Any idea what the year was on that brochure? 

 

[Kevlar Edge]

She still races. And wins. Maybe with you trimming the main!

Let me know I would love to rip another bullet with you. 

 

[Trovão]

Pre war is 1914 or eariler.

It was my understanding that a yacht was a vessel over 24 feet that sailed on its own bottom from race to race, had berths and a galley. Also most pre war yachts where commercial vessels fishing or from trade first then made into gentlemens cruisers and racers. The objection to the Cat of Herroshoff created was that it did not have any of those attributes to make it a fine well founded yacht. Hunt and Herreshoff made boats that did not comply with those understandings. The titans of industry who paid for those hot designs wanted to win regardless of the traditions or would not to comply with the rules of understanding of the race organizers and yacht club members who had interests in racing the boats they aleady had. Eventually the titans won as more orders came in for hot cheater boats as everyone who is someone wants to win at sailing in the big venues.

That would make RELIANCE the fastest prewar yacht beating Fifes' SHAMROCK III.

View attachment 445822

no, the op said pre-WWII, so 1939...

 

[Black Jack]

no, the op said pre-WWII, so 1939...

You know historians will eventually admit there was just 1 war with a break. The Armistice was the ceasefire that ended hostilities between the Allies and Germany on the 11th of November 1918. The Armistice did not end the First World War itself, but it was the agreement which stopped the fighting on the Western Front while the terms of the permanent peace were discussed. Prewar is a designation for 1914. It can be also argued that pre ww2 starts in 1931 with the Japanese invasion of China.